07 May 2025 09:00412113m²812m²#THEDAY - Brick & Tile on 812sqm!Solid bones This solid 4-bedroom brick and tile home at 23 Forbes Road in Favona offers a superb opportunity for first-home buyers freehold section leaves plenty of space for kids to play and pets to roam there's ample scope to renovate and add your personal touch increasing value and creating your ideal family haven A short drive to the bustling Mangere Town Centre for shopping and services with the Otahuhu Train Station and bus routes within reach Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to secure a solid home with significant potential in a excellent location #THEDAY 7th May 2025 from 9:00 am at Ray White Manukau (unless sold prior) Disclaimer - This property is being sold by auction and therefore a price guide can not be provided The website may have filtered the property into a price bracket for website functionality purposes All prospective purchasers shall complete their own due diligence and satisfy themselves with respect to information supplied during the marketing of this property including but not limited to: the floor and land sizes 2 LeftEnquiries over $750,000 4 Bed 2.5 Bathroom and Internal garage Discover this stunning 4-bedroom & 2.5 bathrooms new home in one of Favona’s most sought-after locations Ideal for families and professionals alike this thoughtfully designed home offers a practical layout with everything you need for comfortable living You will be impressed by the spacious kitchen with quality Bosch appliances dining and living area that opens on to a private deck - perfect for entertaining guest and family get togethers The roomy driveway leads to a single internal access garage with a laundry area * Upstairs – 4 bedrooms once of which is a spacious master bedroom with its own walk-in wardrobe and ensuite A family bathroom makes this a comfortable space for the family * A 10-year Master Build Guarantee adds value and peace of mind Mangere Mountain and the airport are a short drive away Don't miss the opportunity to call this stunning home yours - call us to arrange a viewing today See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started Police investigating concerns around burials at Waikumete Cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Glen Eden have made an arrest Auckland's Criminal Investigation Branch has been investigating the matter since the beginning of August said a 48-year-old woman was taken into custody on Tuesday "The woman was arrested in Favona and has since been charged with misconduct in respect of human remains and nine counts of obtaining by deception." The woman is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Friday Detective Inspector Baldwin said the arrest was a significant development in the investigation "We cannot rule out further charges and hope this arrest brings some reassurance to those affected by this woman's offending." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News An emergency services incident has closed James Fletcher Drive, requiring the detour of bus route 324.All stops on James Fletcher Dr, Tui St and Kata St will be missed.The nearest alternative stops are the Ōtāhuhu Station or Stops 6302 and 6607 on Favon Rd, by Harania Creek. pic.twitter.com/kafe6eJSx7 Can see the smoke from that fire in #Favona from here in #TeAtatuSouth pic.twitter.com/YCrZfUJ9sc Favona residents were told to keep their doors and windows closed this morning as thick smoke billowed from a building blaze in the Auckland suburb Thick smoke was seen billowing into the air above the premises in Titi St Assistant Commander Phil Larcombe said the fire has now been extinguished “Our crews did a fantastic job to quickly contain control and then extinguish the fire,” he says “Crews will remain on site dampening down hotspots for the remainder of the afternoon.” Kaka and Titi Streets had been closed but are expected to reopen shortly The black smoke was seen from surrounding suburbs One person in Pakuranga told the Herald they could smell the smoke from there Police say the fire broke out in an industrial building just after 10.30am this morning “We recommend nearby residents keep their doors and windows closed due to the large volume of smoke in the area.” Fire and Emergency NZ said the blaze was now contained with eight fire trucks and several support vehicles at the scene Incident controller Phil Larcombe said the fire was in a single-storey building used for wrecking cars “We ask people to stay away from the immediate area around Titi St to avoid the smoke and to allow emergency teams to work Those close by should stay indoors with their windows shut.” The fire forced the closure of James Fletcher Drive An emergency services incident has closed James Fletcher Drive, requiring the detour of bus route 324.All stops on James Fletcher Dr, Tui St and Kata St will be missed.The nearest alternative stops are the Ōtāhuhu Station or Stops 6302 and 6607 on Favon Rd, by Harania Creek. pic.twitter.com/kafe6eJSx7 firefighters were also responding to a second The church is a three-storey building and crews are working to extinguish a fire in a first-floor roof A worker from a truck repair company in nearby Kaka St said the fire was burning in a car wrecker’s yard next door to his company on a raised bridge over the railway crossing where he could see fire teams fighting the blaze ”It hasn’t gone into our premises,” he said ”They’re starting to get it under control.” Can see the smoke from that fire in #Favona from here in #TeAtatuSouth pic.twitter.com/YCrZfUJ9sc The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night. Emergency services were called to the Titi St address to reports of a "well-involved" fire just after 10.30am today. Fire and Emergency NZ said the fire was extinguished after 10 fire trucks, four ladder trucks and multiple support vehicles responded to the fire. Incident Controller Phil Larcombe said: "Our crews did a fantastic job to quickly contain, control and then extinguish the fire." "Crews will remain on site dampening down hotspots for the remainder of the afternoon." Crews attended from Otahuhu, Ellerslie, Mangere, Papatoetoe, Parnell, Onehunga, Otara, Avondale, and Mount Roskill. Nearby fruit and vegetable retail manager Sally Matafeo told 1News she was preparing for the lunchtime rush when "thick, heavy smoke" began to billow into the shop. "It was the smell of burning tyres, and it's always safety first so we had to bring the roller door down." Smoke continued to make its way into the store despite Matefeo turning on fans and opening vents, prompting customers and staff to evacuate. She said the fumes coming through the store were "overwhelming". "I wasn't sure what was going to happen." A police spokesperson said officers were assisting with traffic management around the site. "A number of surrounding roads are closed and diversions are in place." A 1News reporter on the scene said a police cordon was in place at the intersection of Favona Rd and Savill Dr, blocking access to James Fletcher Dr. There is a "large volume of smoke" in the area, the spokesperson added. Smoke from the fire was visible from Te Atatu South, nearly 20km away. A fire at a Favona car wrecking yard seen from Māngere Bridge. (Source: 1News) A fire at a car wrecking yard in the Auckland suburb of Favona that saw residents advised to close doors and windows this morning has been extinguished by firefighters. Residents have been urged to avoid the area due to a "large volume of smoke". (Source: Supplied) Fire crews have contained and are working to extinguish a fire at a car wrecking yard in Favona. (Source: 1News) Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Police said they were investigating the incident which occurred outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa at around 3pm on Monday Crime and Justice Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Emergency services were called to the property on Mahia Rd just before 10am to a report of a man "seriously injured" Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning New Zealand 'Wake up call': Businesses warned over lithium battery fires Authorities urge the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling but have also told merchants to "take responsibility for disposal" Explosions heard in 'suspicious' blaze at east Auckland McDonald's Pakuranga Rd was closed in both directions and buildings were being evacuated around the immediate area as a precaution Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash Destiny Church to move out of its South Auckland headquarters Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon A fire at a car wrecking yard in the Auckland suburb of Favona that saw residents advised to close doors and windows this morning has been extinguished by firefighters Emergency services were called to the Titi St address to reports of a "well-involved" fire just after 10.30am today Fire and Emergency NZ said the fire was extinguished after 10 fire trucks four ladder trucks and multiple support vehicles responded to the fire Incident Controller Phil Larcombe said: "Our crews did a fantastic job to quickly contain control and then extinguish the fire." Nearby fruit and vegetable retail manager Sally Matafeo told 1News she was preparing for the lunchtime rush when "thick heavy smoke" began to billow into the shop and it's always safety first so we had to bring the roller door down." Smoke continued to make its way into the store despite Matefeo turning on fans and opening vents She said the fumes coming through the store were "overwhelming" A police spokesperson said officers were assisting with traffic management around the site A 1News reporter on the scene said a police cordon was in place at the intersection of Favona Rd and Savill Dr There is a "large volume of smoke" in the area Smoke from the fire was visible from Te Atatu South A stranger allegedly tried to force an 8-year-old boy into a car outside an Auckland primary school yesterday before bystanders intervened and the man drove off Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa "Police are still working to understand exactly what was occurring at the time and our enquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson said "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said in a statement to social media that other parents had intervened "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the police." Vasau told 1News the pupil was "doing fine" following the incident and was surrounded by a "supportive "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe It's about working with that child to make them feel safe again but also looking forward to returning back to school with a little bit of normality." Police had reacted "pretty quickly" to the reports "They've been in this morning to touch base and connect the community police constables are going to come back to tomorrow to address the whole school in relation to what had happened and around keeping themselves safe before and after school." Increased police patrols would remain in the area after school from Wednesday Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said A string of fires linked to highly combustible lithium-ion batteries has been deemed a "wake-up call" for waste businesses by Auckland officials with the public facing exposure to toxic smoke from repeat blazes Auckland Council is urging "industry vigilance" around the problem after a scrap metal company was fined $30,000 over a 2023 fire that released toxic smoke near Ōtāhuhu A fire at a recycling plant near Glenfield last month was also initially linked to lithium batteries although investigators were continuing to probe the blaze Auckland Council compliance field operations manager David Pawson emphasised "the importance of remaining vigilant despite the novelty of the issue" Authorities urged the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling The batteries were inside most portable electronic devices Pawson said in a statement: "We recognise this is a new issue and we’re all finding our way with lithium-ion batteries and those handling them "But businesses still need to take responsibility for their disposal — this is their business Emergency alerts were issued to tens of thousands on Auckland's North Shore last month after the largest fire "for a few years" broke out at an Abilities Group recycling plant Residents were urged to close windows to avoid fumes and some beaches were closed due to chemicals released into waterways Takapuna fire station officer Steven Callagher said there were reports that flames broke out in the area of the facility where batteries were recycled and an official cause had not been determined Other recent battery-linked fires have broken out in rubbish trucks in Auckland caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery within a large scrap metal stockpile highlighted a "growing national and international issue surrounding battery disposal and fire risk," according to Auckland Council recognised the unique challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries He noted: "There has been considerable difficulty in finding a technical solution to the problems with batteries catching on fire "This is not only a national problem but an international one; these orders form a workaround solution until more technical solutions The judge described the situation as “a new and emerging issue" While acknowledging Sims Metal’s cooperation and the absence of intentional wrongdoing reduced from an initial starting point of $50,000 The enforcement orders issued require Sims Metal to implement several improvements at the James Fletcher Drive site in Favona "The orders are registered with the Environment Court and will remain in place unless superseded by conditions with a new resource consent," the council said Pawson said the council viewed the 2023 case as an "important precedent in balancing empathy for emerging challenges with the necessity of regulatory compliance "It also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and industry-wide collaboration to adapt to evolving environmental risks." A Sims Metal spokesperson said: "Following the May 2023 fire at our Favona facility we have implemented more stringent control measures to support the ongoing management of potentially concealed materials like lithium-ion batteries "We are grateful to the communities and businesses in and around Ōtāhuhu We want to reiterate our appreciation to FENZ and all those who acted diligently to extinguish the May 2023 fire safely and continue to refine and improve our processes." A large fire which caused "significant damage" to a McDonald's restaurant in east Auckland this afternoon is now being treated as suspicious Emergency services were notified of the fire at around 3pm on Monday Fire and Emergency NZ said the building was "totally involved" in flames by the time crews arrived and Papatoetoe were in attendance at the blaze "Everyone was out at the time and there are no reports of injuries." FENZ said the fire was being treated as suspicious "A fire investigator is attending to determine cause and origin." Pakuranga Rd was closed for nearly two hours in both directions with road users advised to avoid the area "Investigations into the cause of the fire at the McDonalds are underway," police said told 1News he heard a couple of explosions coming from the restaurant as the blaze began He said he heard "one or two" explosions The restaurant was adjacent to a Z petrol station and 250 metres along the same road from Pakuranga College A staff member at the service station said they had closed their fuel pumps and there was "huge fire and huge smoke" coming from the fire The Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre Courts were also closed this evening due to the blaze Auckland Transport said several bus routes Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown thanked emergency services who had been responding to the incident "Please follow the advice of emergency services A McDonald's spokesperson said the McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga had "suffered significant damage" in the fire "Procedures were followed to raise the alarm and safely evacuate staff and customers McDonald’s is assisting emergency services as they begin the investigation into the cause of the fire." A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Kiwi motorcyclist Shane Richardson is one of two riders who died in an 11-bike crash at a British Supersport Championship event was fatally injured alongside Englishman Owen Jenner on the first corner of the race at Oulton Park A statement from British Superbikes said the race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed "Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled," a spokesperson said "This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another sustaining significant injuries." Richardson was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit's medical centre before he was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with "severe chest injuries" Jenner was also initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre where he died from a "catastrophic head injury" British rider Tom Tunstall suffered back and abdominal injuries and a further five riders including New Zealander Morgan McLaren-Wood were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries which did not require transfer to hospital Three more riders were also involved but were uninjured who was a previous New Zealand rider of the year Cemetery Circuit in Whanganui posted to its social media in tribute to Richardson a fantastic and talented racer and a genuine human" "Devastated to hear we have lost another of our racing family Our thoughts are with Hannah and the family along with our condolences to Owen’s family too." Richardson's sponsor Whites Powersports said the team was "extremely saddened" by the news of his death "Shane will be remembered by many as a great racer Our thoughts go out to Shane’s young family and friends during this tough time The New Zealand Superbike Championship said its "deepest sympathies" went out to Richardson's family and friends Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Favona residents have been told to keep their doors and windows closed as thick smoke billows from a building blaze in the Auckland suburb Thick smoke can be seen billowing into the air above the premises in Titi St The black smoke can be seen from surrounding suburbs One person in Pakuranga told the Herald they can smell the smoke from there DO YOU KNOW MORE? EMAIL US  Emergency services at a fire in Favona which broke out in an industrial building just after 10.30am this morning “We recommend nearby residents keep their doors and windows closed due to the large volume of smoke in the area.”  Those close by should stay indoors with their windows shut.”  The fire has forced the closure of James Fletcher Drive The fire began at a car wrecker's yard in Titi St Meanwhile firefighters are also responding to a second ”They’re starting to get it under control.”  Thick smoke can be seen drifting across the suburb Thick black smoke can be seen coming from the area Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you Manukau CityBy negotiation312245m²Investor Alert-Sitting tenant until July 2027This sturdy 2000s family home offers an excellent opportunity for investors seeking stable this low-maintenance 115sqm property provides ample space Set on approximately 245sqm of Freehold title Complete with a single internal access garage and additional off-street parking Conveniently located with easy access to motorways Enjoy a guaranteed monthly income of $2,648.00 ensuring a secure investment with the potential for extension by Kainga Ora or owner occupy after lease expiry Take advantage of this stress-free rental property with a guaranteed return year-round Contact me now for more details or a private viewing See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson People were heard screaming at residents to get out as their adjoining townhouses went up in flames in the Auckland suburb of Favona. Fauzia Ali and her partner were on their way home last night when they drove past the fire on Walmsley Rd. Ali said they only saw the smoke at first and thought someone must have been burning tires, but as they got closer they saw one of the townhouses “completely engulfed in flames”. She said people were standing outside the properties yelling to others to “get out of the house”. Ali said flames were coming out of the back of another townhouse and the fire had spread to the fence at the boundary of the property. Police have urged anyone with information about the fire to get in contact with them. “At this stage, our enquiries are in the very early stages to determine the full circumstances,” a police spokesperson said. “We ask anyone with information or footage to please contact police.” Information can be given by calling 105 or online using Update My Report, quoting the event number P056705350. Alternatively, information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) said they were in attendance “at a multiple property fire used as a house” last night. Photos from a Herald photographer at the scene show the row of townhouses on Walmsley Rd badly damaged by the blaze. Staff at the petrol station across the road reported seeing smoke and five to six fire trucks on site. “All persons are accounted for and crews are dampening down and setting up a decontamination centre,” a Fenz spokesperson said. Firefighters could be seen being decontaminated after leaving the block of units. Fire investigators were seen arriving last night while firefighters were still present to extinguish any remaining hot spots. Traffic control was in place and a section of Walmsley Rd remained closed. Caitlan Johnston is a breaking news reporter based in Waikato. She joined the Herald in 2022. Manukau CityPrice By Negotiation432180m²411m²PRICE GUIDE - $865,000 - $920,000Welcome to 4 Royalpark Place two-bathroom home in one of Favona's most desirable pockets With its modern upgrades and unbeatable location this is a home that delivers both comfort and value-and it must be sold • Freshly Updated - Enjoy the feeling of a brand-new home with fresh paint • Spacious Living - Four generous bedrooms and two bathrooms provide plenty of space for families • Double Garage & Extra Parking - Secure parking plus additional off-street options for convenience knowing your home is insulated and ready for all seasons • Prime Location - Nestled in a sought-after area of Favona • Great Transport Links - Quick access to motorways and public transport makes commuting a breeze Homes in this location and price range are in high demand-this one will not last Call or text Michael Pham 021 214 7240 today to book your private viewing before it's gone Police arrested the 33-year-old after the killing in Favona, South Auckland. Photo / NZME A man charged for the 2021 killing of a South Auckland grandfather has been found not guilty by reason of insanity and can now be named. Farish Zaid Khan was arrested and charged with murder shortly after the death of 72-year-old Mohammed Hakim at a property in Favona on September 21, 2021. Khan, 33, stood in the dock at the Auckland High Court this morning with short-cropped hair and wearing a grey T-shirt. Justice Sally Fitzgerald said reports by two health assessors agree that Khan should be detained as a special patient at the Mason clinic, a psychiatric unit. She declared him not guilty by reason of insaity, and allowed his name suppression to lapse. Police said at the time of the killing that it was not known if the two men knew each other. “Police are supporting the victim’s family at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them as they grieve the loss of a much-loved family member,” said detective and senior sergeant Tom Gollan of Counties Manukau Police. Manukau CityNegotiation321124m²176m²Attention first home buyer’s - Investor’s10 Years Halo Guarantee This property listing presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a brand-new With titles and Code Compliance Certificates (CCC) anticipated in March 2025 (subject to council approval) these homes are ideal for first-time buyers or investors.Property Details:Lot 1 & Lot 2: Approximately 124m² offering 3 bedrooms with 1 ensuite.Key Features:Brand-new Smeg appliancesMethven tapwareQuality New Zealand-made vanitiesPremium acrylic kitchenLED lightingSecurity alarm systemFull insulationInternal access garageLow-maintenance fully fenced garden area suitable for children and petsLocation Highlights:Easy access to motorwaysProximity to Auckland Airport and Middlemore HospitalClose to local amenities and the Southwestern MotorwayFor more information or to arrange a viewing please contact:Aveshkar PokharkarPhone: 021 0210 5566Note: The 10-year Halo Guarantee provides added peace of mind for your investment based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life After nine fires at the same scrap metal yard in five years nearby heavy industries forced to stop work due to toxic smoke are questioning the business’ operations black smoke billowed over the city from a burning scrap heap at Sims Metals on James Fletcher Dr in South Auckland’s Favona from early this morning One local business owner called the recurring fires “inexcusable” telling the Herald Sims Metals ought to be investigated for any issues Auckland Council said it would review any issues which may have caused the fire Fire and Emergency NZ said recurring fires at the site were “not good enough” Firefighters continued battling the blaze through the night after 14 trucks fought to manage the fire when crews first arrived just after midnight Trains were ordered to stop and were cancelled about mid-morning before returning to limited services after a control centre near Favona was evacuated Authorities told people to wear face masks and keep windows and doors shut amid concerns about the toxicity of the smoke Council environmental and pollution officers were at the scene Residents as far as 19km away in Maraetai reported smelling smoke Clouds of smoke spread northeast across the city A Herald reporter described it as nauseating Authorities told people to contact Healthline or ring their GP if they had difficulty breathing or chest pain Mobile Emergency Alerts were issued for people affected nearby A nearby business owner told the Herald his trade had been majorly disrupted as he’d had to send his workers home because of health concerns He demanded WorkSafe and Fire and Emergency NZ investigate Sims Metals for the recurring fires “My staff can’t work there due to the toxic smoke we have 150 clients who depend on that site and now we have had to let them know we are unable to open due to the fire,” he said The last major fire there went on for three days Something is definitely wrong in their operations.” Sims Metals has been approached to comment on those concerns Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) district manager Brad Mosby said they had responded to nine fires “Four of these required firefighting activities two of which were scrap metal pile fires in 2018 and 2021,” Mosby said More than 80 firefighters tackled an out-on-control blaze “as high as warehouses” at the scrap yard on March 7, 2018. Fenz incident controller Phil Larcombe told 1News the recurring fires were “not good enough”. “We’ve been working with management over the years to put better systems in place,” Larcombe said. Earlier in the day, Sims Metals apologised to neighbours and nearby employees for the inconvenience created by the fire. “The health and welfare of our community ... is of paramount importance to us, and we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience that this incident has caused,” the company said. “Our practice is to never speculate on the cause of a fire, but we will conduct a review of the incident and take appropriate action to mitigate the possibility of a recurrence, including further review and assessment of inbound material to identify potentially harmful components.” Auckland Council’s general manager of licensing and regulatory compliance Mervyn Chetty said council officers were working alongside Fenz to assess any environmental damage and health risks caused. Chetty said there were moderate to high risks associated with scrap metal yards and they were not allowed to discharge any contaminants into the land, water or air. “Scrap yards serve a purpose; however, site owners must take their responsibilities seriously, around storing, stockpiling and managing this material,” Chetty said. “In a fire such as this one, Auckland Council will work with partner agencies such as Fire and Emergency and the site itself to review procedures that may have led to the cause.” Firefighters were using three hoses to douse the fire from two ladders, one unmanned, about midday. Two claw excavators were moving scrap as the fire continued to burn and metal shredding machinery and conveyor belts were still operating. Piles of scrap metal were being separated out to make them smaller and easier to extinguish faster, Fenz assistant area commander for Waitematā Garry Lane said. “It is a really big pile, [the smoke is] 10m high,” Lane said. Mosby said the wind shifted about 10am and smoke began moving north over Greenlane, Ellerslie, Mt Wellington and Penrose. One resident living 8km from the scene, Jo Robertson, said the smell of smoke woke her and her husband about 2.30am. “We went to all the rooms, around the house, and outside we couldn’t find anything on fire. But the smell was very strong. I had to turn the air filter off.” Police have opened a homicide investigation and charged a man with assault after a 49-year-old died at Oceanic Lodge in Favona on Sunday morning A man who died in a suspected homicide early on Sunday morning has been described as humble and more likely to break up a fight than start one The 49-year-old died following an alleged assault at Oceanic Lodge on Abiru Crescent in Favona Police have not released the victim's name as a post-mortem examination and formal identification are yet to be completed However the Herald has spoken to several locals who knew the man - either as acquaintances or because they had lived for a time at the lodge where he died Police were called to the Oceanic Lodge just before 4am on Sunday to find the man critically injured Emergency workers attempted to save him but he died at the scene and police opened a homicide investigation A 37-year-old man has been charged with assault and was remanded in custody when he appeared in Manukau District Court today One man who used to live at Oceanic Lodge said it was common for tenants to drink heavily and doors were open at all hours so people often turned up for parties at the weekends But he had never seen the dead man have big drinking sessions at the lodge - nor get into a fight despite sometimes being called on to deal with issues with tenants I like him." He was horrified to hear that the man had died saying he was a "lovely person" and his death was "a waste" "I can see him trying to break something up If anything went down - he's not a bully or anything like that Other locals described the dead man as humble and quiet and said he had often carried out chores at the property One woman said she had only met him twice and just to say hello Another woman who lived in a nearby lodge said talking to the man he came across as "very humble" and she was saddened to hear of his death One police car was still at the scene when the Herald visited Abiru Crescent today A person at the lodge asked the Herald to leave the property saying it was not appropriate to have reporters there as family were grieving The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Auckland Council’s compliance response and environmental health officers have been on site throughout the day They are working alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fire and Emergency) and taking direction from their officers Our role is to assess the potential environmental and health risks and to provide relevant advice and information where necessary Certain activities require consent to authorise the use of land and discharge of contaminants to land and/or water and air subject to compliance with conditions Their activity status is based on the risk associated with the type of industry and scale at which they operate Sites with scrap metal range from moderate to high risk This does not permit discharges but informs the levels of controls required Typically scrap metal yards (and industrial and trade activities in general) require documentation often called an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to avoid or mitigate their environmental risk and especially the case for scrap metal facilities this also includes the need for treatment devices to be installed and operated to ensure discharges from the activity are at an acceptable level site owners must take their responsibilities seriously Compliance monitoring follows sites reporting to the council on any changes made to site discharge sampling and reporting of results and maintenance and improvement works undertaken This information is submitted to the council’s Regulatory Compliance team and the site is visited and assessed Auckland Council will work with partner agencies such as Fire and Emergency and the site itself to review procedures that may have led to the cause the council continues to work with the site to ensure improved onsite practices and compliance with all relevant authorisations This included updated authorisations relating to industrial and trade activities and an ongoing programme of works for upgrading the site and its activities are concerning to us and we will continue to work with Fire and Emergency partner agencies as well as the site as the response unfolds our focus will move to any procedures we need to review that may have led to the cause supporting Fire and Emergency on the ground Visit Auckland Regional Public Health Service for public health advice, including what to do if you live in an area affected by smoke and have respiratory concerns.  © Auckland Council 2025 All rights reserved For more information on what data is contained in the cookies, please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button. To accept cookies from this site, please click the 'I Agree' button. Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news. Fire crews at the blaze on Walmsley Road, Favona. Photo / Hayden Woodward Emergency services battled a major fire that gutted a townhouse in the Auckland suburb of Favona last night. Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) said they were in attendance “at a multiple property fire used as a house”last night. “All persons accounted for and crews are dampening down and setting up a decontamination centre,” Fenz said. Manukau City$689,00032156m²Owner wants this SOLD NOW!Attention investors and first-time homebuyers A unique opportunity awaits at 17 Aumarire Lane this recently completed townhouse must be sold urgently • 3 Spacious Double Bedrooms: Perfect for families or guests With extra space available down the side of the property you can personalize this townhouse to suit your lifestyle needs Impeccably maintained and in fabulous condition this home is ready for you to move in and enjoy • Just minutes away from Auckland Airport - perfect for frequent travelers • Easy access to the Southwestern Motorway provides a direct link to Auckland CBD and beyond This is your chance to secure a fantastic property in an excellent location Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity - this property must be sold Contact us now to arrange a viewing and make this exceptional townhouse your new home or investment Act fast - opportunities like this don't last long Disclaimer - All prospective purchasers shall complete their own due diligence died when she was shot at her home on Calthorp Close Meliame Fisi'ihoi was sleeping in the sitting room of her South Auckland home when there was a knock at the front door Opening that door would be her final act; she was shot point blank through a crack in a side window - a bullet that might have been meant for one of her sons A source told the Herald Fisi'ihoi's death was a case of mistaken identity - the gunman was heard calling out for one of her adult sons shortly before the fatal shot "They insisted and so she went to open the door and - bang." It has been a week since the 57-year-old mother and well-respected member of the Auckland Tongan community was gunned down in the early hours of the morning at her Favona home was spraypainted on a shed next to the house The shooting happened at the same property emergency services were called to last month when a man - understood to be Fisi'ihoi's son - was shot No one has yet been arrested for either shooting and the person or people responsible remain on the run with police treating Fisi'ihoi's death as a homicide Police were called to the house in Calthorp Close for the second time in a month just before 3am last Wednesday after receiving reports of a gunshot A Givealittle page has been set up to help Meliame Fisi'ihoi's family. To donate, visit: For Our Mum Meliame It is understood the son was recently released from prison and is also the same man who was shot at the property last month He suffered critical injuries but is recovering The source said a request had been made for police protection for that son so he could attend his mother's funeral services this week "[He] is the actual person that they're trying to get hold of - the people that are upset with him but I think he switched [gangs]," the source said "He's taking it a bit hard now because it's cost his mother her life." Fisi'ihoi has been described as a woman who was known for her loving and caring nature and was heavily involved in the local Tongan community She was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints She's got nothing to do with any activities of her son The source said those close to the family were trying to figure out why the alleged gunman decided to shoot "We're thinking that the shooter is probably a prospect with the other group and probably panicked." extended family members from overseas had started to arrive in the lead-up to birthday celebrations for Fisi'ihoi's mother-in-law who celebrated her 90th birthday at the weekend was cancelled as the family is now in mourning said there was a lot of fear and frustration among her neighbours The first shooting incident was bad enough but the second highlighted that police had not caught the initial gunman "I only hope that justice will be served for the woman who lost her life and her family will one day find some sort of peace." Māngere MP Aupito William Sio said he knew people in the community were "genuinely afraid" but wanted to reassure them that there was now a high police presence in the area we don't want it and whatever excuses people might have for being involved in criminal activities I think people needed to see there's been a pattern so far - that family members have died as a consequence of the actions of others." He encouraged anyone with information in relation to criminal activity to come forward - even if it was anonymously "I know it's sometimes difficult to tell on your relatives or people who are related to you "When we are silent on this evil that's been committed we are also participating and allowing it to happen." Counties Manukau acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said police were still trying to identify the person "Police are keeping an open mind around the motive at this point and I would reiterate that anyone with information concerning this case should contact police." Anyone with information is asked to phone Counties Manukau Police on (09) 261 1321 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Firefighters are battling a house fire in Auckland’s Favona this afternoon A spokeswoman for Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) said the fire was “well-involved” when crews arrived shortly after the first call about 3.24pm and several more supporting vehicles were en route Everyone inside the property had been accounted for A black BMW Sedan was spotted by CCTV on January 15 shortly after the shooting of Meliame Fisi'ihoi The alleged getaway car used on the night Meliame Fisi'ihoi was fatally shot in her home was seen soon after running red lights in the neighbourhood The Black BMW sedan was picked up by CCTV footage as it drove past a Favona dairy at 2.48am on January 15 Fisi'ihoi was shot through the window at close range at her Calthorp Close house minutes earlier The Crown said at around 2.45am one of Fisi'ihoi's neighbours heard a knocking sound followed by a male voice saying "hurry up" The trial for brothers Falala Iongi and Valiami Iongi jointly charged with murdering the South Auckland grandmother resumed today in the High Court at Auckland Brothers Falala and Valiami Iongi have also pleaded not guilty to charges of discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at an incident at the same house in December 2019 The CCTV footage from the night of Fisi'ihoi's death captured 22 sightings of the car in question travelling from Robertson Rd The vehicle was identified after witnesses contacted the police about a speeding car Detective Sergeant John Faga told the court Police then requested footage from before and after midnight and received more than 100,000 video files so we made inquiries to receive CCTV footage from surveillance cameras surrounding the area "We started to look for identifying details on the car for example checking that the tail lights and number plate were in the same line," Faga said Faga told the jury although there were a number of dark-coloured cars on the road none had the same identifying features as this particular vehicle A witness whose name is suppressed saw the black BMW 320i speeding on the night of the shooting The man was driving past the local dairy around the same time as the vehicle of interest and contacted police about the speed of the car Today the man told the court that he couldn't quite remember what colour the car was The cross-examination of Faga is set to continue tomorrow was watching TV in the sitting room in the early hours of January 15 2020 when she got up to check a noise she heard outside her Favona home raised her right hand and opened the curtain The Crown claims the bullet was meant for Fisi'ihoi's eldest son Stephen Fisi'ihoi The trial is set to continue for five weeks Police have referred a sudden death at Norfolk Pine Lodge to the Coroner Police have attended a sudden death at a boarding house in the Auckland suburb of Favona overnight Emergency services were called about 12.15am to the Norfolk Pine Lodge on Tome St in the Auckland suburb of Māngere A photographer at the scene said police could be seen walking up and down an alleyway with torches They appeared to be looking at blood spots on a resident's door A spokeswoman confirmed police had attended a sudden death last night at the lodge A St John spokesperson said the ambulance service was notified of an incident in Favona at 12.10am Two ambulances were sent to the lodge but they were not required for transportation The spokesperson referred all further enquiries to police The lodge on Tomes Lane is a few hundred metres from Oceanic Lodge where a man died in a suspected homicide just two months ago Both lodges are part of a cluster of privately-owned boarding houses on the grounds of the old Māngere Psychopaedic Hospital They are typically used as transitional housing, with one housing advocate describing such lodges as "the worst of the worst" "There is a certain cohort that would feel comfortable living in a boarding house Police at the scene after a man was found dead on Wakefield Rd in Favona early this morning A man has been found dead on Wakefield Rd in Favona The man's identity is not yet known and police say they are still investigating how the man died The incident was reported to police at about 3.30am "Enquiries are underway to establish how the man died this includes speaking to witnesses in the area at the time," a police spokesperson said "Wakefield Road is currently closed while a scene examination is carried out." The Herald understands the man may have been run over A St John spokesperson said the ambulance service was notified of a motor vehicle incident in Favona at 3.29am One ambulance and one managing vehicle were sent to the scene They referred all further enquiries to police Police are investigating the sudden death of a person at a Favona property this afternoon A spokesperson said a person at the Hall Ave property understood to be known to the deceased male Police inquiries are in the early stages and are working to ascertain the circumstances of what has occurred Police have taped off the house with yellow crime scene tape The taped off property is one of many brick homes on a quiet A neighbour spoken to by the Herald said the people who lived at the house were lovely Fire and Emergency New Zealand will decide this morning on the next steps of action regarding the Sims Metal yard blaze Firefighters have entered the second day of fighting the inferno which started in a pile of scrap car parts at the premises on James Fletcher Dr in Favona The cause of the blaze, which sent out plumes of thick black toxic smoke across the city - noticed by residents living 18km away in Maraetai - is yet to be established A FENZ spokesperson told the Herald there remained only three crews at the site overnight for monitoring And a decision by FENZ staff was to be made this morning The cause of the fire was not yet established We are unsure of whether it was suspicious at this stage Fire investigators are not at the site anymore.” This was the ninth fire in the past five years at the exact location and a nearby business owner who experienced a significant trade disruption yesterday wants the site to be investigated One local business owner called the recurring fires “inexcusable” two of which were scrap metal pile fires in 2018 and 2021.” More than 80 firefighters tackled an out-on-control blaze “as high as warehouses” at the scrap yard on March 7, 2018 Fenz incident controller Phil Larcombe told 1News the recurring fires were “not good enough” “We’ve been working with management over the years to put better systems in place,” Larcombe said Today Sims Metal confirmed to the Herald that in the past five years there had been a couple of fires; one in 2017 and one in 2018 “The fire in 2017 was an electrical fire in a piece of equipment which was extinguished quickly by our team onsite,” a company spokesperson said and it was similar in nature to the fire that occurred yesterday Sims Metal chief operating officer APAC David Burrows said the fire at the James Fletcher Dr location had been “successfully extinguished” as of 2.20am “Our team worked collaboratively with Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) throughout the day and evening to significantly reduce the material infeed pile separating and exposing the incendiary material to mitigate further ignition “FENZ is winding down its response but will remain on site until daylight hours to conduct a final assessment Our team is beginning clean-up efforts onsite and James Fletcher Road has been re-opened to traffic.” The company thanked FENZ for its “quick and diligent” response to the incident Sims Metal works collaboratively with local fire departments and fire detection firms to ensure our control measures in fire prevention and methods for response continually improve with new technologies Sims Metal has partnered with fire detection firms to trial state-of-the-art machine-learning early detection warning systems to control fire risk.” Speaking about the disruption caused to businesses and local community Burrows said he thanked them for their patience as emergency services ensured the fire had been extinguished in a safe and efficient manner disruption and inconvenience this incident has caused our community neighbours “Our after-action investigation will begin immediately and we will also review our protocols to determine the appropriate actions needed to mitigate the possibility of a future recurrence.” Auckland Council’s general manager of licensing and regulatory compliance Mervyn Chetty said council officers were working alongside Fenz to assess any environmental damage and health risks caused Chetty said there were moderate to high risks associated with scrap metal yards and they were not allowed to discharge any contaminants into the land Auckland Council will work with partner agencies such as Fire and Emergency and the site itself to review procedures that may have led to the cause.” Firefighters were using three hoses to douse the fire from two ladders Two claw excavators were moving scrap as the fire continued to burn and metal shredding machinery and conveyor belts were still operating Piles of scrap metal were being separated out to make them smaller and easier to extinguish faster Fenz assistant area commander for Waitematā Garry Lane said Mosby said the wind shifted about 10am and smoke began moving north over Greenlane said the smell of smoke woke her and her husband about 2.30am and outside we couldn’t find anything on fire is on three titles and identified by a blue border for sale and earning $1.16m in annual holding income That's the message from brokers selling the 6.98ha industrial property where three freehold titles are available individually or together Colliers International industrial specialists Greg Goldfinch Hamish West and Greg Watson are selling the property by deadline treaty "This property is just two minutes from the motorway interchange," says Goldfinch "It's centrally-positioned among the Onehunga Otahuhu and Mangere Bridge industrial areas; close to transport links and a short drive from the SH20 motorway interchange The drive to Auckland Airport is 12 minutes while western and northern suburbs are easily accessed via the Waterview Tunnel so connectivity to most of Auckland is superb." Goldfinch says the property is on three leases earning $1,157,280 plus GST in net annual rent "With the leases due to expire between 2021 and 2023 this provides ample holding income while the new owner makes plans to redevelop this substantial site." a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Turners & Growers occupies the largest two titles Hooper adds the combined landholding benefits from five access points to Favona Rd "Status Produce's tenancy comprises an extensive area of glasshouses along with a plant room workshops and associated offices and amenities," he says The company is on two leases paying a combined $1,108,780 in net annual rent Termination of the leases is available with 12 months' notice in favour of the tenant Fixed annual rent increases of 2.5 per cent provide growth on the holding income until final lease expiry in June 2023 The 10,085sq m property at 42 Favona Rd comprises a mostly level site with a well-presented 3778sq m warehouse Hooper says the main warehouse has a medium stud height of 6.5m at the knee "A more recently-built extension has low to medium stud warehouse space along with a mezzanine storage and amenity area." West says the coolstore has a medium stud height of 5.6m at the knee rising to 6.65m at the apex with access via an automatic roller door at the front or internally from the main warehouse via a single roller door on a single level at the front of the site some open plan accommodation and staff amenities." The site has 102sq m of road frontage with two entry and exit points; sealed car parking and plenty of room for container dropping The 58,228sq m property at 60 Favona Rd is predominantly occupied by two large glasshouses with a combined area of 41,790sq m Two low-stud workshops are located between the glasshouses while a low-medium stud workshop with multiple bays and roller door access is at the front of the western glasshouse The property shares two access points with 42 Favona Rd while secondary access is via a driveway one property removed to the east The 1500sq m property at 70 Favona Rd comprises a level yard with 46m of road frontage and no improvements It is currently tenanted by eConcrete Ltd for machinery The company is signed to a two-year lease earning $48,500 plus GST in net annual rent One market rent review is due upon renewal in October next year Rare plot of land is home to ancient kauri trees Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the death after the woman's body was found in the early hours of Wednesday morning Emergency services were called to the scene about 2.50am after reports that a gunshot had been heard The female victim's name is yet to be released as are any other details about her The incident comes just over a month after a man was allegedly shot at the same property on December 4 Neighbours described seeing an injured man gasping for air as he was held up by two men trying to get him out into a ute after another vehicle had just fled the scene bang!' I thought it was Guy Fawkes,\" one neighbour told the Herald at the time \"I looked outside and have seen two guys running into a car \"I could hear that guy that got shot panting They loaded him into a ute that was parked on the grass there and left.\" Police said this week it was too early to speculate whether the two incidents are connected but that it was part of their investigation The man involved in last month's incident was later discharged from hospital to recover in South Auckland on December 5 after a man was allegedly shot the night before a man was critically injured after allegedly being shot at a house in Auckland a woman was found dead at the same property with some calling for the people at the property to leave One neighbour wrote online that there was "always trouble" there and said it was time for authorities to remove the residents in order to avoid further incidents telling Newshub: "We don't let [our kids] walk to school because we never know what's going to happen Three men have been convicted over the murder of a South Auckland grandmother Meliame Fisi'ihoi was killed in her home in Calthorp Close in Mangere in January 2020 when she answered a knock at her window Viliami and Falala Iongi were found guilty of her murder in the High Court at Auckland Manu Iongi was found guilty of manslaughter Viliami and Falala were also found guilty of reckless discharge of a firearm as well as wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a separate incident in December 2019 Detective Inspector Tofilau Fa'amanuia Va'aelua said the Operation Truro team worked tirelessly to put those responsible before the court Three men have denied murdering a South Auckland woman who was shot and killed in her home last January Meliame Fisi'ihoi was killed in her Favona home in January 2020 While a homicide investigation underway in South Auckland police have now named the person who was found deceased at a property in Favona Manukau CityPrice By Negotiation428164m²401m²Last Open Home Before Auction!!This beautiful double-story home offers 4 bedrooms(1 en-suite) open plan living and double internal access garage with tons of off-street parking walking distance to schools (Koru and Favona School) and this amazing property must be sold on auction day so enquire now for more details and viewing times available Please note that this property is being sold by auction or without a price and therefore a price guide cannot be provided jointly charged with the murder of south Auckland woman Meliame Fisi'ihoi have made their first appearance at Manukau District Court The 22-year-old and 28-year-old also face a charge each of causing grevious bodily harm to a person and discharging a firearm at three people in Favona on December 4 All three appeared separately before the court They have been remanded in custody until their next appearance at the High Court in Auckland on May 5 A large group of people were in the public gallery for the trio's appearance The three accused each acknowledged the group before being remanded into police custody Fisi'ihoi was watching TV in the sitting room when she got up to check a noise she heard outside her Favona home in January last year She was shot through a window near the front door about 2.45am It is understood her killing was a case of mistaken identity "We hope the arrest today provides Mrs Fisi'ihoi's family with some degree of comfort following what has been an extremely difficult time for them," said Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Bright "We want to thank the Favona community for their co-operation during this investigation and hope they are also comforted by these developments." Police said their commitment to the investigation - which has been ongoing since the death in January last year - has "never wavered" "We were always confident that arrests would ultimately be made some investigations are more complex and challenging than others and can take a significant amount of time and effort to resolve," Bright said would have celebrated her birthday in June and would have spent another year doting on her grandchildren - one born just a month after she was shot dead on Calthorp Close Bright also paid tribute to the hard work and dedication shown by officers who worked on the homicide investigation Police released new CCTV footage and images in December of a car described as "a vehicle of interest" to the investigation Images of the blurred black BMW 320i sedan (2005-2009 model) captured minutes after the shooting were issued publicly in October Two of the men in court today have also been charged in relation to a shooting that happened at the same property on December 4 bang!' I thought it was Guy Fawkes," one neighbour told the Herald at the time "I looked outside and have seen two guys running into a car "I could hear that guy that got shot panting They loaded him into a ute that was parked on the grass there and left." A homicide investigation is underway at Oceanic Lodge in Favona after a man died early this morning A man who died overnight in a suspected homicide was found at a rundown boarding house in Favona Police were seen entering Oceanic Lodge on Abiru Crescent this morning after a homicide inquiry was launched into the man's death Eight police cars were visible outside the South Auckland lodge A person at the scene told the Herald while neighbouring properties looked well maintained the boarding house itself appeared to be "a dump" Blankets were hung in some windows instead of curtains and hinges were rusted through or missing while the window frames were rotted It would be interesting to know what people are paying to live there… in such a dump." Photos from the scene show broken washing lines and overgrown lawns bikes and boxes stashed down the side of the property A photographer said neighbours were gardening and mowing their lawns None of those he spoke to knew what had happened or wished to talk Police said they were called to an address on Abiru Cres this morning just before 4am He received medical attention from emergency services Police have now launched a homicide investigation Police are speaking with a person in relation to the incident and a scene examination was to begin this morning Oceanic Lodge - formerly called Abiru Lodge - is among a cluster of boarding houses on the street They were considered "lodges of last resort" and were the centre of a government crackdown on slum landlords more than a decade ago after media reports highlighted the squalid conditions people were living in In 2017 a newborn baby boy was taken to Starship Hospital from Oceanic Lodge after receiving unexplained injuries A man who has been living with his family in a South Auckland boarding house for seven years says the government is now trying to put him back on the social housing register Raymond Teinaki and his family have been living at Favona Lodge in Mangere because they could not get a state house and could not afford to pay market rents removed his family from the social housing register after waiting five years for a house live in one room at the lodge and share facilities with the other tenants READ MORE: Growing up in a lodge: 'We just want a house to be normal' After speaking to RNZ for a story published yesterday Mr Teinaki was contacted by the Ministry of Social Development He said he thought it was a joke when the ministry rang to put him back on the social housing register he said the ministry advised him to check private rentals and let it know what the rent would be He said he was unsure why they wanted him to do this With the family living from his wife's income only paying market rent would be out of the question "It would be nice if the government department would understand our problems," he said everyone in one room - it's like putting two cars in a garage Mr Teinaki is to have a phone meeting with the ministry early next week He said he would prefer to meet with the ministry face-to-face because he wanted them to see his expression Emergency housing provider Monte Cecilia Trust said homelessness had peaked over the past 18 months vulnerable people waiting longer and longer for a house Chief executive Bernie Smith said many such as Mr Teinaki gave up "There's stigmatisation of people that are living in poverty then there's the whole issue of going into a WINZ office and waiting hours and hours in reception to get an appointment "There is a lot of frustration from people with genuine need that give up," he said He said it was frustrating that the Ministry seemed to only get in touch with families after media exposure "Suddenly the bureaucrats come out of the woodwork and want to shut it down and there's all sorts of offers that were never available before." While it was a huge advantage to this family he wondered about all the other families out there in similar situations "Are they going to have to get a headline too?" The Ministry of Social Development said anyone going through a housing assessment must check if there was an affordable private rental option first the housing package could include a house or an accommodation supplement First Person - Raymond Teinaki gave up after waiting years for his family to get a state house write about what their life in a lodge is like who have lived at a boarding house for seven years have given up hope of ever getting a state house is battling to remain in their Mangere state house The Anglican Church believes the government has abdicated its responsibility to house the most vulnerable Put your best foot forward and take a stroll or a ride along the new boarded shared pathway around the perimeter of Norana Reserve Recently opened by Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board the Norana Esplanade Walkway links Māngere Bridge at the northern end of Mahunga Drive with Favona via a 2.5m wide Suitable for pedestrians and those on scooters and bicycles the path includes eight elevated timber boardwalks across mangrove and wetlands and concrete paths across the estuary this public asset will be widely used by the community says local board chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene it’s important to have opportunities to stay active This shared pathway will provide for safer walking and cycling route while better connecting our community across the area.” The stage two of the project has already been consented for and once built the bridge will link across to Beach road in Favona and will be connected to the future Market Cove development and another Mahunga Drive connection Bring your mates and whanau along to join Auckland Council CLL and Oxcon for an action-packed morning of coastal clean-up of Norana Walkway You can find out more about what to expect and bring on the day, and register for the event here you’ll receive important health and safety information gloves and other important equipment and be assigned a clean-up location in the surrounding area clean-up the environment around this new walkway and congregate back at home base for a photo and some refreshments For more information on the day or to find out if we can cater to your group’s requirements, please email Dan on dan@sustainablecoastlines.org For more information on what data is contained in the cookies please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news Six weeks after a respected mother and grandmother was brutally shot dead in her South Auckland home Now the Tongan and wider Pasifika communities in the area are reporting a sense of fear among locals at the escalation in gun violence They are calling for more urgency from police investigating the case of Meliame Fisi'ihoi before another innocent person ends up dead, It has been 45 days since the 57-year-old was gunned down in the early hours of Wednesday in what is understood to have been a case of mistaken identity with a man related to Fisi'ihoi being critically injured in December Auckland Tongan community leader Will 'Ilolahia said people were starting to question why there appeared to be no progress in the case An innocent mum is killed and they can't even find the killer "Ilolahia said many within the Tongan and Pacific community were conservative and there was a sentiment among them to let police do their job They should be coming up with a profile or witnesses." Māngere MP Aupito William Sio has also put out a call to the person responsible for Fisi'ihoi's death to do the right thing and come forward "Those responsible must be held accountable If whoever killed her had any respect for their own criminal code they should immediately come forward and own up to this murder," he said a woman was arrested in relation to an incident where graffiti was spray-painted all over the Favona property Black Power" were scrawled across a cabin outside the house Despite those words - it is not thought the gang is connected to the death described how afraid they had been since the now infamous Favona homicide all the windows in their house are locked tight The member says that even speaking out about the incident is something that brings fear still - not just a fear of being identified police should get on and do their job because everyone is scared - the family even the kids in the community," they said "They're scared because no one knows who did this crime "It could happen again and they still don't know who killed Meliame." The official comment from police is that there is no further update "The police investigation is continuing," a spokesman told the Herald last week The Herald has put more detailed questions to police today about the homicide investigation but is yet to receive a response Late last month, Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said the investigation indicated there was no wider risk to the general community "We believe the Calthorp Close property has been specifically targeted because of people known to frequent the address." The scared community member said that in the meantime locals would continue to wait for the person or persons responsible to be brought to justice "Because it's like you're a prisoner in your own home - I'm a prisoner in my own community." Anyone with information can contact Counties Manukau Crime Squad at any time on (09) 261 1321 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Valiami Iongi and their cousin Manu Iongi appeared in court for the death of Meliame Fisi'ihoi The trial over the killing of an Auckland grandmother shot through her window with a bullet allegedly intended for her son has been aborted The jury had heard almost a month of evidence in the case before it was aborted by Justice Grant Powell in the High Court at Auckland today The jury was excused and no new trial date has been set Meliame Fisi'ihoi was watching TV in the sitting room in the early hours of the morning when she got up to check a noise she heard outside her Favona home raised her right hand and opened the curtain.As she looked out killing Fisi'ihoi instantly.The court heard earlier this month that the 57-year-old woman's husband and younger children were home in bed at the time The Crown says the bullet was meant for Fisi'ihoi's eldest son after a botched gun deal.Brothers Falala Iongi Valiami Iongi and their cousin Manu Iongi all pleaded not guilty to Fisi'ihoi's murder The trio all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Meliame Falala and Valiami Iongi also pleaded not guilty to charges of discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at an incident that happened in late 2019 Both shootings took place at the same location and were intended for the same man Instead Fisi'ihoi's mother was found slumped over the back of the couch facing out the window First Person - Yesterday, RNZ reported on a family at a South Auckland boarding house who have given up hope of ever getting a state home Raymond Teinaki and his family have been living at Favona Lodge in Mangere for seven years his wife and his two teenage sons live in one bedroom and share shower and toilet facilities with other tenants Mr Teinaki's sons write about what it's like growing up and living in a lodge "The reason why we ended up living in a lodge was because my family couldn't get a state house from the government "My family and I have been living in a lodge for seven whole years We get to socialise with many different people of many cultures it's always the bad that outweighs the good having to share toilets and showers with other people the kitchen can get crowded sometimes which means we have to wait a while to cook dinner we want our own rooms away from our parents because it doesn't feel normal Children at school wouldn't understand how hard it is at times I never let anyone know that I stay in a lodge because it is embarrassing "I have experienced living in a lodge now for over seven years "I don't know why the government doesn't build more homes or gives us a house to live in "I find living in a lodge bad because I would like my own privacy away from everyone The good thing about living in a lodge is the people that come and go who are nice to me all the time "Me and my brother are the only children in our lodge right now and we are bored All the other children have moved out and got given homes We are still waiting for our house so we can live happily." Update: After RNZ's story yesterday, Raymond Teinaki said he received a call from the Ministry of Social Development seeking to put him back on its social housing register He had removed his family from the register after waiting five years for a state house He will have a phone meeting with the ministry early next week House-hunting beneficiaries say the rental situation is dire and many people do not know what they can do The government has spent almost $8.5 million on four motels at more than double the QV to temporarily house homeless people - and it plans to buy another two Comment & Analysis RSS this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read Dudley Barton: his company sold family land for $21m Dudley Barton worked in the searing heat inside his family's tomato glasshouses and tried to stop mangroves by pulling them out of the water in front of his home it might," said the retired grower after the 2.4ha site was sold conditionally to Stride Property Group's industrial venture Industre Property He plans to buy a one-level home on a flat site on Waiheke Island between Oneroa and Onetangi but says those are proving hard to find The deal on 14-20 Favona Rd is due to settle on March 29 and Barton said costs and commission would be deducted In 2019, he complained to the Herald that he wanted the industrial land rezoned residential because he thought he could get more for it But industry experts estimated the prices were now about level due to the pandemic pushing up industrial land prices because of rising needs for storage and warehousing The never-married man living in what most would consider a type of paradise down a long driveway off Favona Rd on a flat waterfront site surrounded by trees He complained about the failure of a tomato-growing business in vast long-disused glasshouses Barton wouldn't then sell for what he estimated could be a $10m valuation for light industrial-zoned land compared to $20m he expected if it was zoned for terraced housing and apartments Auckland Council valued the Bartons' place at only $4.2m:• $1m for 5390sq m,14 Favona Rd [rates $3400];• $1.1m for 6649sq m at 14a Favona Rd [rates $1900];• $2.1m for 1.1ha at 20 Favona Rd [rates $4800] "It'd be double the price if it was rezoned he says he won't quite believe it until the money is with Barton Growers Rates of around $10,000 a year have been funded by savings and income from a house he has rented He has previously refused to pay rates based on the existing land zoning claiming that even as light industrial he was being charged too much because the assessment of value was too high That got to the point where he said the council claimed $400,000 in unpaid rates and penalties an agreement was reached and he paid a much lesser sum but he still remains sore about that Barton says he'll be pleased to pack up and leave after the deal brokered by CBRE's Bruce Catley "We can't touch the money until it's in the account of the company and the company is liquidated and the company is wound up," Barton said He said in October 1.2ha of the land was up for sale Barton first tried to sell half the site in 1996 and said it had therefore taken 26 years to close the deal "My brother was a bit reluctant to start with," he said adding that Rodney eventually agreed all the land should be sold Stride said in an NZX notice this month it wanted the land because it is "near the Favona Rd interchange with the Southwestern Motorway and has ready access to the airport Uncommitted indicative development costs are expected to be approximately $35m to $40m" Goodman Property Trust is building 36,000sq m of floor area for Mainfreight at the Favona Estate That will consolidate operations from a number of other sites The casino operator has downgraded its earnings guidance for the second time Police arrested a 33-year-old after a Mohammed Hakim A 33-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder after a senior citizen was killed in Favona this week The South Auckland man appeared at Manukau District Court after the death of Mohammed Hakim He has been remanded in custody until October 13 He has interim name suppression on the basis of mental health issues being investigated His next appearance will be at the High Court in Auckland Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Gollan earlier said police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the homicide "Police are supporting the victim's family at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them as they grieve the loss of a much loved family member," Gollan said Hakim was named as the homicide victim this morning He died at a property in Favona on Tuesday evening police announced a man in his 30s was charged with Hakim's murder Police were called to an address in the area on Tuesday evening said officers were helping the family involved "Police are supporting the victim's family at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them as they grieve the loss of a much-loved family member." The circumstances of the death or whether Hakim and the man charged are known to each other have not been revealed by police at this stage Due to building fire, James Fletcher Dr is closed between Beach Rd and Tui Street.Bus route 324 services will be detoured until further notice.05 bus stops between Savill Dr and Walmsley Rd are impacted: Stop 6991, 6609, 2412, 6989, 6984. Expect delays. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/tzkbzAJyS9 A change in the wind has pushed toxic smoke across more suburbs in Tāmaki Makaurau as crews continue to battle a blaze at a South Auckland scrapyard The south Auckland blaze stopped trains in their tracks for nearly two hours toxic alerts were issued to residents earlier in the morning and a dozen fire crews are involved in fighting the fire at Sims Metal on James Fletcher Drive Fire and Emergency’s Waitematā assistant area commander said they responded to the third alarm fire on James Fletcher Drive - triggered by a pile of car parts that had caught fire smoke billowing from the blaze began making its way across the southern and eastern regions of Auckland - with residents reporting its reach over the last few hours Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) district manager Brad Mosby says there had been a shift in the wind and smoke from the fire was now moving north to include suburbs of Greenlane South Auckland remains affected by the smoke “We’re asking people to take care and keep their windows and doors shut,” he said “and wear a mask as a precaution while outside.” reported smelling smoke around 9am before noticing vapours begin to cover the skyline One woman said it wasn’t until she took her dogs for a walk that she noticed a smell comparable to burning cables “It was just like a stench but you could see it looked like very heavy fog over the distance,” she said Another resident who lives in neighbouring Beachlands told the Herald that smoke smelling like burning plastic had also drifted up to her residential area residents in Glendowie noticed smoke begin to loom over their houses at approximately 9.30am One woman living on the edge of the region looking over the Gulf said her husband smelled smoke in their bathroom The thick vapour mostly covered her usually clear view of Rangitoto and Browns Islands Photos from Remuera in central Auckland show the smoke plume rising from Favona businesses and locals closer to the blaze are more directly affected by the fire - which sparked on a pile measuring 35 metres by 35m Trains were stopped in their tracks for close to two hours KiwiRail’s Wellington Train Control Service is looking after Auckland’s train services while the Auckland Train Control Centre remains evacuated stopping at all stations between Britomart and Swanson The Southern Line currently has train services running between Britomart and Penrose Buses are shuttling passengers between Penrose and Puhinui while Ōtāhuhu Station is closed because of potentially toxic smoke from the fire in Favona Services on the Ōnehunga and Eastern Lines remain cancelled until further notice Smoke is blowing directly over Walmsley Rd with a smell like burning plastic hitting the back of your throat A reporter at the scene said it is somewhat nauseating but only two people have been seen wearing masks while outside One masked person said she was wearing it for the smoke which she said “smells toxic” people still mingled around shops and people spoken to seemed unfazed Security guards handed out face masks at the station Fourteen fire trucks and approximately 40 firefighters were at the scene at 5am and the plan was to separate the piles out to make them smaller in able to extinguish them quickly [the smoke is] 10 metres high,” commander Lane said at the time Lane said crews were working from aerial appliances and ladder trucks and had a number of hoses out A Fire and Emergency alert at 6am advised nearby residents to close all doors and windows A Fenz spokesperson said the fire had been contained to the scrap metal pile but it would be burning for some time “There are concerns the smoke from the fire is toxic and may affect people in the area Auckland City Council environmental and pollution officers are also in attendance at the fire.” A resident said part of the road had been closed and detours were in place Many residents reported on social media groups they woke up to a very strong smell of burning plastic Jo Robertson lives around 8km away from the site of the fire in Favona Robertson told the Herald the smell of smoke was very strong even at her house she and her husband woke up to the smell of burning rubber Some schools closed early as the fire blazed at the scrap metal yard Due to building fire, James Fletcher Dr is closed between Beach Rd and Tui Street.Bus route 324 services will be detoured until further notice.05 bus stops between Savill Dr and Walmsley Rd are impacted: Stop 6991, 6609, 2412, 6989, 6984. Expect delays. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/tzkbzAJyS9 A house has been destroyed after a large fire ripped through it late last night Fire crews were called to Calthorp Close in Favona about 9.50pm after reports of a house blaze A northern fire communications spokesman said the single-storey building was well-involved when firefighters arrived A video of the blaze posted on Facebook shows huge flames and smoke coming from the building as explosions and glass breaking can be heard in the background Residents can be seen standing just in front of the house Four fire crews from around the area responded to the scene The circumstances of the blaze are not yet known at this stage The fire comes after a number of serious incidents on the same street; including a woman being shot dead at a property almost opposite the property on fire No one is yet to be arrested or charged in relation to her death Editor March 28, 2017News Make a Comment OMD traded in a normal day at the office to participate in Do Good Day an annual event that gives the agency and its staff the chance to give back to communities in need OMD was able to support Favona Primary School by providing an army of media specialists to complete a series of tasks in one day (Thursday last week) that would have taken the school six months to complete shifting furniture and teaming up to be the opposition for lunchtime basketball “The highlight of the day was the smiling faces from the students when we managed to shift 2000 wheelbarrows worth of bark into their new which alone saved the school $2500 in labour,” said OMD client service director Chrissy Payne Do Good Day gives OMD and its staff the opportunity to give back to the community by supporting schools that have limited funding and resource for upkeep and maintenance Aside from providing resource to the community it gave the staff the chance to work together using a totally different set of skills Favona principal Diane Wiechern said: “We are still buzzing and glowing from more than the sunburn today Our whole Favona whanau feels very blessed and proud of the lovely and also of the great time enjoyed yesterday Selleys and Stihl Shop also got involved with Do Good Day by supplying OMD with product to help on the day Brought to you by TheM+AD TEAM OMD was able to support Favona Primary School by providing an army of media specialists to complete a series of tasks in one day that would have taken the school 6 months to complete client service director: “The highlight of the day was the smiling faces from the students when we managed to shift 2,000 wheelbarrows worth of bark into their new principal of Favona Primary School: “We are still buzzing and glowing from more than the sunburn today our whole Favona whanau feels very blessed and proud of the lovely you achieved so much more than just improving our property and our school values were outworked in your actions.” Register for Free and receive the Campaign Brief Daily Bulletin Type your email address in the space below