A 4.1 magnitude earthquake has struck off Levin this afternoon GeoNet reported the quake hit 10 km northwest of Levin and at a depth of 36km “Was quite rumble first had me thinking earthquake long before jolt.” “Sounded like a truck hit the side of my house then the shake a few seconds later,” another local said “Big rumble first as I was sitting at the computer,” another said clean-up efforts took place last month after two tornadoes struck the region These tornadoes left damage in Levin and Waikawa Beach Mayor Bernie Wanden said at the time of the tornadoes in April: “Please know that we’re here for you and doing everything we can to support our community through the response and recovery.” Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday 'This is not something we’ve seen before.' [wh] 'Definitely a good one': Levin shaken by moderate 4.1 earthquake Levin has experienced an earthquake registering 4.1 on the Richter scale on Monday evening centred about 10km northwest of the Horowhenua township It was felt as far north as Taupō and New Plymouth "Was in Levin and it hardly moved," Marilyn Dolan posted on the Horowhenua District Council's Facebook page "Nope didn't feel a thing," Margaret Williams posted "Was definitely a good one," Leah Hoby posted "Felt pretty decent out at Hokio," Tabitha Woods said The quake was the strongest measured in New Zealand since last Wednesday when GeoNet recorded one at 4.8 south of Stewart Island at a depth of 5km Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The Central Otago District Council has a plan that could save millions but many locals say it comes at the cost of history The long-awaited new home for Christchurch's Court Theatre has officially opened its doors in the central city 14 years after the devastating quakes that drove it out of the Arts Centre The Dunedin Gasworks Museum was closed earlier this month Lawyers for Wellington City Council deny staff pushed councillors towards demolishing the City to Sea Bridge The magnitude 6.2 quake was one of the strongest to shake the city in years and left 151 people injured Two young people have been arrested after an aggravated robbery at a liquor store in Levin on Sunday Police said two youths entered the store at 11.30am armed with a weapon and stole alcohol before fleeing in a stolen vehicle Officers recovered the vehicle a short time later They will appear in court on charges of aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle I thought I needed to use the bathroom right in the middle of swimming lessons but as soon as I was out of the pool I realized I didn’t have to go anymore Just stood there by the lifeguard platform If I went back in the water and the need returned and using the bathroom meant lowering my swimsuit then pulling it back up my body all wet and I was trying to decide which one of the options would be less unpleasant I guess my nipples woke up in the breeze while I stood there some of the boys in line for the high board pointed and shouted Every camper that summer shouted that phrase when they spotted hard nipples It came from that movie “Christmas Vacation.” By then it had gotten shouted so often that people barely looked up to see whose chest was being shouted about Read an interview with the author for the story behind the story. who something was wrong with—his voice was too loud his eyes didn’t move—shot out of the line at me and he reached with both hands and clutched my left breast while he squeezed my crotch involuntary noise that had never before come out of my throat even while his eyes remained flat and distant and he wasn’t letting go of me and thought my name was Jenny I can’t say how long he was groping me for but it was long enough that I had time to wonder why no one was helping me Podcast: The Writer’s VoiceListen to Adam Levin read “Jenny Annie Fanny Addie.” Then someone helped me. Kelly, the lifeguard, jumped off her perch and yanked Harel back, toward the lockers, by the hair. I don’t know where Kelly took him. My counsellor wrapped me up in some towels and walked me to the nurse’s. I was given bags of ice and a bright-red Popsicle. I napped in the nap room, and when I woke up all the ice was water and my mother’s soft hand was warm on my forehead. She asked how I was. I said mostly better, just my chest hurt a little. I showed her the bruise that was under my arm. I didn’t want to mention the pain in my crotch, but she asked me, and I said that it wasn’t as bad, which was true. I mostly liked camp. I liked the story-time powwows under the parachute. I liked bombardment, the trampoline, and weaving. It seemed like maybe I shouldn’t anymore, though. Like I should be afraid of Harel showing up and groping me again. What she would prefer to think was unclear. I asked if I could take the weekend to decide. She told me that I could, and that, whatever my decision, the camp director, when he’d called her earlier, had assured her that Harel had been kicked out for good. “That boy should be kept in a cage,” my mom said. Then she paid the waiter, and we went to the movies at Deerbrook Mall. I picked “Terminator 2” because Edward Furlong, who plays a sort of young messiah in the movie, had seemed, from the trailer, like a different kind of boystar than the Coreys or Macaulay or any of the other boystars who starred in most of the movies starring boys at the time. But he wasn’t any different. He was equally as whiny and in love with himself. He just had a better haircut. A Phoenix-brothers haircut. I might have even thought, when I’d seen the trailer, that he was a Phoenix. So I’d made a good choice, picking “Terminator 2.” Its hug-and-cry ending was cheesy and obvious, but I didn’t think that while I watched it, and throughout the whole movie I forgot about the groping. I forgot about myself. I really disappeared. Before leaving the mall, we split a cinnamon bun by the fountain near the entrance and had that satisfied type of after-movie conversation where you mention certain scenes in order to relive them and impress and maybe outdo each other by being the first to name the best one of all. On the car ride home, when the oldies station started airing commercials, I dialled down to the classic-rock station, which was playing “The Weight,” by the band the Band, a song from the sixties that’s pretty much impossible not to like, and that, a few months before, my older brother, Len, had brought up at dinner. He’d been teaching himself to play the guitar. “The Weight” was in the songbook he was using to learn, and he asked our mom and dad to write down what they thought the lyrics of the chorus were, and both of them wrote the exact same thing: Take a load off, AnnieTake a load for freeTake a load off, AnnieAnd you put the load right on me That’s what I would have written if Len had asked me, and Len told our parents that’s what he’d have written, too, and that pretty much everyone he’d asked to write the lyrics down wrote the same thing, but everyone was wrong. He showed us the book. The song’s real lyrics were: Take a load off FannyTake a load for freeTake a load off FannyAnd you put the load right on me But Len hadn’t been going for anything like that. He said, “You know what, Mom? I don’t know what to make of it. Most people are blind and stupid, I guess. I mean, they’re even fuckin’ dumber than I’ve always suspected.” “Not you, though, Addie,” he turned to me and said. “You noticed there wasn’t a comma, right?” I hadn’t, but I hid my red face and shrugged, like to say, Well, yeah, but I don’t want to show off. While “The Weight” played on the car ride home from seeing “Terminator 2,” I tried to hear it both ways, and succeeded. Fanny and Annie. With comma, without. And, while I did that, I realized I’d been wrong at lunch. What she’d wanted to save or protect me from, I came to understand on the car ride home, must have been the other campers: from feeling embarrassed in front of the other campers for having been groped in front of the other campers. From a million movies and TV shows, I knew that that was something that occurred sometimes: a girl could feel embarrassed by something that she believed had humiliated her, something that was usually sexual and not her fault, and she’d be damaged for years and need to get therapy. Those very same movies and TV shows were usually about how it wasn’t her fault, though, how what she believed had humiliated her wasn’t in any way her fault, which meant she hadn’t actually been humiliated, and so she shouldn’t be embarrassed. And that’s what I’d thought, too. That’s what I’d thought every time I’d watched one of those movies or shows. So either I’d been too stupid to see that I had in fact been humiliated and should feel embarrassed, or my mom thought that I was so weak that I’d believe I’d been humiliated and feel embarrassed. Or my mom wasn’t as smart or as strong as I thought she was: my mom was too stupid or weak to understand that I should not believe I’d been humiliated or feel embarrassed, and she would have believed herself to have been humiliated and would have felt embarrassed if Harel had groped her in front of everyone at the pool at summer camp. So either I shouldn’t believe I’d been humiliated and shouldn’t feel embarrassed but should be ashamed to be the daughter of a weak and stupid mother, or I should believe I’d been humiliated and should feel embarrassed and my mother should be ashamed to be the mother of a weak and stupid daughter. None of this was speakable. It was barely thinkable. My mother turned the volume down on the Band and said, “Anything you’d like to do before dinner?” She said, “I know I’m kind of slow and boring at Scrabble, but I bet, if I called him at the office and asked, Dad would let Len off work early, and you two could play Scrabble. Do you want me to do that?” At home, I fell in and out of sleep on the couch. When I got too antsy and cold to keep lying there, I went for a walk to the end of our street, and the sunlight and grass smells burned off my grogginess. The end of our street overlooked a ravine, and through the crowd of trees that grew off the slopes you could see the beach and sometimes you could maybe hear the waves on the lake when the wind was violent, but the sound might have only been the rustle of the branches. I’d wondered a lot about that waves vs. branches thing. I tried to remember why I thought it was important. ♦ University president Jonathan Levin ’94 and Provost Jenny Martinez expressed support for Harvard after its president Alan Garber M.D. ’83 — a Stanford Medicine professor emeritus — vowed to resist the Trump administration’s demands to end diversity cooperate with heightened immigration enforcement and undergo federal audits for “viewpoint diversity.” “Harvard’s objections to the letter it received are rooted in the American tradition of liberty a tradition essential to our country’s universities and worth defending,” Levin and Martinez wrote in a statement that Levin shared with The Daily “America’s universities are a source of great national strength creating knowledge and driving innovation and economic growth,” they also wrote “This strength has been built on government investment but not government control The Supreme Court recognized this years ago when it articulated the essential freedoms of universities under the First Amendment as the ability to determine who gets to teach The statement continued: “Universities need to address legitimate criticisms with humility and openness But the way to bring about constructive change is not by destroying the nation’s capacity for scientific research or through the government taking command of a private institution.” Members of the Trump administration sent a lengthy list of demands to Harvard on Friday directing the school to discontinue DEI efforts prevent the admission of international students who might be “supportive of terrorism or anti-semitism,” submit to a federal audit for “viewpoint diversity” and stop recognizing pro-Palestinian campus groups the government threatened to withdraw $9 billion of federal funding if Harvard did not comply The new directives came after huge government funding freezes against universities including Brown Cornell and Northwestern over the schools’ alleged failure to rein in campus anti-semitism In a Monday letter to Harvard community members, Garber rejected the orders “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.” He added that the Trump administration’s list of demands “threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit Garber’s statement made Harvard the first major university to take such a forceful stand against the White House’s actions targeting higher education. Within hours, the Trump administration announced it would freeze over $2.2 billion in grants to the school Garber himself attended Harvard before receiving his medical degree from Stanford in 1983 He then joined Stanford Medicine as a faculty member holding various academic appointments on the Farm for the next 25 years in economics from Harvard and was a senior fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI) where he served as director of the interdisciplinary Center for Health Policy Health policy professor Douglas Owens ’78 M.S who succeeded Garber as director of the Center wrote to The Daily that “Alan is one of the best leaders I’ve ever worked with and I’m sure he weighed the issues carefully.” Although Owens said he could not speak to whether Garber’s statement set a precedent for Stanford he added that “There are larger issues at stake Stanford has faced threats to its federal funding from the Trump administration including over race-conscious decision-making though it has not yet seen a targeted freeze like Harvard Last month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would investigate Stanford’s admissions policies to ensure the University’s compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action an action the DOJ called a routine “compliance review.” Cuts to research funding at the National Institutes of Health have also affected Stanford, with an estimated loss of $160 million annually. The change has already interrupted research labs on campus. Along with a potential new endowment tax, the cuts led the University to freeze all staff hiring Amid these changes, a growing number of community members, including members of the Faculty Senate, have called on Levin and Martinez to publicly oppose the Trump administration’s policies Levin did not comment on whether Stanford would issue a statement of its own against the government’s funding threats Garber left Stanford in 2011 to become Harvard’s provost. Last year, after the contentious resignation of Harvard president and Stanford alumna Claudine Gay ’92 The Harvard corporation later extended his appointment through the 2026-27 academic year Coinciding with Garber’s statement, Harvard’s legal team sent a response letter to the Trump administration Monday, expanding on their opposition to the demands is a Stanford Law School alumnus who served as executive editor of the Stanford Law Review “Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle,” wrote Hur and William Burck The Daily has reached out to Hur and Garber for comment This story is breaking and will be updated staff writer and former Building 10 beat reporter Contact George at gporteous ‘at’ stanforddaily.com University Academics Campus Life Graduate Students Business & Technology Equity Project Fall Sports Winter Sports Spring Sports Screen Culture Music Reads Columnists Editorials Letters from the Editor Letters to the Editor Op-Eds Video Podcasts Cartoons Graphics Tech © 2025 THE STANFORD DAILY PUBLISHING CORPORATION Privacy Policy Accessibility Advertise Donate and support The Daily when you shop on Amazon Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has announced the promotion of Magdalena Blanch-de Wilt and Kristin Northway as executive counsel in Australia The elevations were part of the firm’s annual worldwide executive counsel promotion round “Congratulations to our new executive counsel on their promotions,” said Kristin Stammer executive partner – Asia and Australia “The promotions recognise the outstanding contribution of Magdalena Blanch-de Wilt serves as HSF’s Asia Pacific cyber risk advisory lead She has two decades of experience in the technology sector Her experience covers the areas of data breach and governance matters and cyber incident response She advises clients in the critical infrastructure and government sectors on matters such as governance and legal issues across the technology lifecycle Levin practises from the firm’s Melbourne office including with M&A transactions such as acquisitions She acts for Australian and international clients in the projects Her M&A background also encompasses industries such as private equity and financial services Low practises in Perth and has advised lenders and sponsors on various financing transactions Low also assists clients with a broad array of domestic and cross-border financing matters Low also handles real estate and development finance matters Low’s practice focuses on project finance in the mining Low’s experience also spans African jurisdictions has nearly two decades of experience focusing on international and domestic resources She assists clients with the legislation regulating new resources projects and project expansions making arrangements for rail and port capacity Her work includes preparing and advising on project and joint venture agreements for exploration as well as engaging in purchaser and seller due diligence on mineral The current global promotions round saw the elevation of 25 HSF lawyers in all comprising 21 counsel and four knowledge counsel across the firm’s offices “We are excited to be promoting our counsel and recognising their expertise in some of our key areas including energy and infrastructure project finance and cyber risk,” Stammer said in the news release “It is a very exciting time to be stepping into a leadership role at our firm as we prepare to combine with Kramer Levin in the United States and further cement our leading market position globally.” A tornado that swept through Levin on April 8 has prompted emergency response efforts and financial assistance measures underscoring the continued exposure to weather-related risks despite a sharp national drop in insured disaster losses causing property damage including downed trees and dislodged roofing and fencing across parts of Horowhenua Local authorities have prioritised cleanup operations and welfare checks in affected neighbourhoods Horowhenua District Council confirmed that while its Incident Management Team had been stood down teams remain available to respond if necessary “Our after-hours team is available 24/7 and residents are encouraged to call 06 366 0999 to report any urgent issues,” said local controller Brent Harvey skip bins have been placed on Collingwood Street and Wilton Street These are designated for storm-related waste and will be monitored for capacity and traffic safety The council’s Welfare and Neighbourhood Support teams have completed welfare checks Community members are encouraged to reach out if further support is needed particularly for individuals experiencing urgent hardship The council has reiterated the importance of contacting insurers as soon as possible with photographs and relevant policy information ready to streamline claims An allocation of $40,000 has been made available to those affected by the event Eligible households can apply for grants of up to $1,000 to cover costs not reimbursed by insurance and other needs related to the storm’s financial impact Application forms will be accessible through the Council’s website or by phone starting April 9 “Thank you to all those involved in the response and to our neighbouring councils for their offers of support It’s truly encouraging to see our agencies and council officers working together to support the community during this time,” said Mayor Bernie Wanden Nationally, insured losses from natural disasters have declined significantly. According to Aon’s latest Climate and Catastrophe Insights Report, New Zealand’s insured catastrophe losses fell from more than A$3.6 billion in 2023 to near-zero levels in 2024 The report contrasted New Zealand’s figures with over A$562 billion in global economic losses which exceeded the 21st-century annual average by 10% As New Zealand continues to face extreme weather events, the government is moving ahead with new climate adaptation policies. Parliament has begun reviewing a framework aimed at improving governance, funding, and public access to climate risk information The Finance and Expenditure Committee, which led the inquiry into climate-related economic impacts recommended clarifying roles between agencies and standardising support for risk mitigation The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) expressed support for the policy direction Chief executive Kris Faafoi said the framework would help set clearer expectations for all stakeholders including local authorities and the insurance sector You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image Levin locals have described a vicious wind that blew out windows ripped off roofs and left dozens of birds dead The Horowhenua District Council said the area was hit by a tornado around 7.45am on Tuesday Caroline Beaufort-Puna said she was still in shock at the destruction at her property in Waikawa "We can only explain it as the strength of a tornado "The cottage on the farm's roof has been completely ripped off and all the windows on the west side have been blown in." She said the wind lifted two empty water tanks into the air and dumped them in different paddocks about 100m away Little dead birds obviously ripped out of their trees concerned that she might find one "chucked in the river" but said they were spooked but otherwise unharmed "It must have been really terrifying for the animals Levin Top 10 Holiday Park owner Debbie Wright said she was in her office when the weather started ramping up as the tornado came through her park "I heard the rain and wind getting bigger and bigger I didn't know if it was an earthquake or what it was We've got a couple people who were a bit shaken up and just needed a hug." Wright said residents gathered together in communal areas and were looking after one another damage was clearly visible - although residents said debris and loose items had been cleaned up She said the storm came on all of a sudden she said she was able to stay in her house and was waiting for assessors to arrive trampolines and corrugated iron and trees down We've got trees in our backyard that don't belong to us and corrugated iron that doesn't belong to us.. She said the severe weather caused the fence around her balcony to suddenly lift "We were standing by the right hand window and saw the balcony detach and came towards the window Extensive damage' but no emergency - council Horowhenua District Council chief executive Monique Davidson said there was "extensive damage to many parts of Levin" Damage had been reported to buildings and properties in a number of places She said the council had not declared an emergency but had activated its incident management team Davidson said contractors were out helping people and clearing roads and council staff had been checking with the worst-affected places Skip bins were being taken to the worst-affected places so debris could be collected Mayor Bernie Wanden said it did not appear to have caused as much damage as 2022's tornado Fire and Emergency's Craig Gold said there were multiple crews out in the community The Horowhenua mayor says people should stay inside while the weather remains blustery Residents described a vicious wind that blew out windows ripped off roofs and caused "extensive damage" to many parts of Levin around 7.45am on Tuesday Mayor Bernie Wanden said it was mainly superficial No homes were expected to be yellow-stickered and the council was not declaring a state of emergency But with the weather "still pretty blustery" There had been a fantastic response from the community and people were getting on with the cleanup Skip bins were placed around the community for people to use and pies and pizza had been delivered to Fire and Emergency workers and council crews This tornado had not caused anywhere near as much damage as the one in 2022 Council chief executive Monique Davidson said the first the council knew of the tornado was when a tree fell on a council worker's car She said crews would be going door to door on Tuesday afternoon to check in on damage on people's properties Horowhenua District Council said this afternoon that residents affected by today's tornado would be able to apply for a grant of up to $1000 The Mayoral Relief Fund was originally set up to support residents impacted by an earlier tornado in May 2022 The council said the grants were designated to assist with damaged property costs not covered by insurance and financial burdens that may have been created by the tornado Contractors were continuing to clear debris and support affected households in Levin and nearby Waikawa Beach Mayor Bernie Wanden said the council's thoughts went out to those affected by today's weather "Please know that we're here for you and doing everything we can to support our community through the response and recovery," Wanden said ripped off roofs and caused "extensive damage" to many parts of Levin The Horowhenua District Council said initial reports suggested the area was hit by a tornado about 7.45am on Tuesday The cottage on the farm's roof has been completely ripped off and all the windows on the west side have been blown in." Bubs Williams was making lunch for her children when she saw what she described as a tornado come towards the windows She told the children in the house to get away but it struck the house John Dorland woke to the sound of a tree breaking Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Residents were left shaken after 'extensive damage' to homes More than 250 volunteers turned out in droves in Levin yesterday joining the clean-up effort after a tornado wreaked havoc in the North Island town on Friday A woman who was trapped under a tree in Cambridge earlier today has died at the hospital Follow all the latest updates from RNZ's newsrooms around the country as gales are forecast for large parts of the country Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The Barnes Street industrial area has a history of flooding MetService says there will be severe gales across central and southern New Zealand Armed police are still searching a Levin suburb for a person who fled in a car on Friday afternoon while police and the Armed Offenders Squad carried out a search a police unit saw a vehicle of interest on State Highway 1 in Levin and signalled the driver to stop who followed the car into Macarthur Street where the three occupants fled on foot Police found a firearm and ammunition near the vehicle a woman was taken into custody without incident police said a second person has been taken into custody officers are still searching for the remaining person While Donald Trump is being widely cited as a reason/explanation for Anthony Albanese’s landslide victory on the weekend, that’s like blaming the icing for the state of a badly baked cake. In no particular order of incoherence...although allegedly being the party of low taxes, the Liberal opposition voted against Labor’s tax cuts. Liberal coalition leader Peter Dutton also offered a natural gas policy that even the industry and his major donors (e.g. Gina Rinehart) slagged off in public. The Pinnacles Hut and Summit Track are often used by international tourists visiting Coromandel and is one of DOC’s busiest with 15,000 bednights per year. The report focuses on the transparency of public funding in the aged residential care sector, and shows how our tax system allows multi-national providers to avoid paying the taxes that the public would expect them to pay, demonstrating this through the example of UK-owned BUPA. The PSA has welcomed the news from the NZDF that $33 million will be allocated to staff pay increases over the next four years as the result of last year’s industrial action. As a maritime nation we are prioritising naval capability. The new helicopters will be able to go further and carry larger loads, including weapons, personnel and equipment – all of which is critical for Defence to protect New Zealand and New Zealanders. If we change the way farming is done, we can prevent the worst of the climate crisis by reducing methane pollution from intensive dairy, and we can protect drinking water, lakes and rivers here in Canterbury, which are under threat from intensive dairy pollution. At the event in Wellington, Jotika will join Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Executive Director, Gina Lockyer, to explore the struggles and resilience of Fiji's garment workers and their collective fight for better pay and conditions. Police have seized 200 rounds of ammunition, 30g of methamphetamine and $23,000 in cash from a Levin property. Acting Detective Sergeant Richard How said police executed a search warrant on Wednesday last week. “A large amount of ammunition was seized from the property, as well as a .303 calibre rifle and 30 grams of methamphetamine. “The ammunition seized included nearly 200 rounds, for a range of rifles, shotguns and pistols. “Police also seized approximately $23,000 in cash.” A 22-year-old man is due to reappear in the Levin District Court at the end of April. How said he has been charged with selling and supplying methamphetamine, unlawfully being in possession of firearms and ammunition and possessing methamphetamine for supply. How said Levin police will continue to hold people to account who are supplying drugs and causing harm to the community. “If you have concerns about illegal drug use in your community, please call 111 if there is an immediate public safety risk, or contact us via 105 online or by phone to make a report.” Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. A heavy swell warning is in place along the Kapiti/ Porirua coast from Ōtaki to Pipinui Point until 6pm today. In an update at 12pm, Horowhenua District Council confirmed Levin was hit by a tornado at approximately 7.45am taking down trees, impacting utilities lines and lifting roofs and fences. Horowhenua District Council Mayor Mayor Bernie Wanden said Levin had suffered "significant damage in various parts" of Levin township. He said some people in the community were feeling "pretty anxious" following the tornado, but was glad most of the damage was superficial and nobody was injured. Wanden said it was "quite a surprise but not unexpected" to be informed of a tornado in the area, after a tornado previously hit in May 2022. "Unfortunately our community has had to deal with a similar event a few years ago," he said. Wanden said the focus would now shift to focus on cleaning up the debris. “There will be welfare checks out and about this afternoon, knocking on doors and ensuring people are safe. But what I’ve seen from driving around this afternoon is people getting on with it. Neighbours helping people from the other side of town, chipping in, and most of the cleanup I'm sure will be done quite quickly." Chief executive at Horowhenua District Council Monique Davidson gave an overview of damage and said it was “incredible to see how much work has already occurred in the cleanup phase”. She said contractors were working hard clearing debris, unblocking drains and supporting impacted households. "Fortunately, it appears that this morning is not as significant as the tornado event in May 2022, but we are aware that many of those properties impacted were those properties impacted in May 2022," Davidson said. Fire and Emergency assistant commander Craig Gold said crews responded to 12 calls around Levin, and council were now leading the response. "Skip bins are being distributed to assist affected residents in Collingwood St and Wilton St," the council said. Local Controller Brent Harvey said "fortunately it appears the event this morning is not as significant as the Levin tornado event of May 2022". "We’ll continue to work closely with affected residents as the recovery continues." Are you impacted by the weather? If you are safe and able to, send any images or videos to news@tvnz.co.nz Earlier, MetService meteorologist Katie Hillyer said a "very organised line of rain and thunderstorms moved through Otaki and Levin at around 8am this morning". "This band had an incredibly strong wind signal along it (hinting at very large gusts). "There is some evidence that there could have been a tornado along that line, but without seeing more photos from the track of damage on the ground we cannot determine from radar alone if a tornado occurred," she said. "What we can say for certain though, is that there have already been very strong and gusty winds around the region this morning, so that coupled with a very localised intense line of gusty thunderstorms, it is not surprising that there are damages. This line was very short lived and has since eased off, so any line like that from now is much less likely." Wellington Region Emergency Management Office regional manager Dan Neely told 1News this morning he had "not observed any significant impacts from the swell warning or recent thunderstorms over the past few hours". "Conditions remain windy and wet, so we're advising drivers to be especially cautious as there may be some surface flooding and debris on the roads," he said. "With the swell warning still in place until 6pm tonight, we also advise people to take care when walking or driving near roads and beaches exposed to the sea, particularly around high tide during the early morning commute." Neely urged surfers, divers, recreational reef fishers, and surfcasters to avoid exposed coastal areas until the warning has lifted and to check the forecast before heading out on a boat. A Hutt City Council spokesperson said there was surface flooding earlier this morning on The Esplanade and Jackson St, which has since subsided. "Surface flooding remains on Seaview's Barnes St and Port Rd. Work is underway to clear the stormwater drains in that area. We urge motorists to be vigilant and drive to the conditions." An orange strong wind warning was also in effect for Banks Peninsula for seven hours from 11am, with severe gale southwesterlies gusting 120km/h in exposed places expected. Wairarapa including the Tararua District, Hawke's Bay about and south of Hastings, Tasman northwest of Motueka, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds, Coastal areas of Dunedin and North Otago, Canterbury Plains, Christchurch and the Chatham Islands were all under a strong wind watch. "Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService said. "A period of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria within 20km of the coast. Moderate chance of upgrading to a warning." Heavy weather brought down a number of trees in Levin this morning, earlier closing part of State Highway 1. In a statement to 1News, a police spokesperson said a tree fell on a vehicle on Oxford St shortly before 8am, but that nobody was injured or trapped. An earlier diversion on Oxford St has been lifted and the road is open to through traffic. A roof blown off in Levin. (Source: Supplied) Strong winds are battering parts of New Zealand, with heavy swells set for parts of the lower North Island and damage reported from a tornado which swept through Levin this morning. A fence damaged by a tornado pictured in Levin. (Source: 1News) Officials provide an update after mini tornado tore through Levin. (Source: 1News) Damage to a roof in Levin. (Source: Supplied) A damaged trampoline in Levin (Source: 1News) A fallen tree pictured on Bartholomew Rd, Levin. (Source: 1News) A heavy swell warning is in place for parts of the lower North Island. (Source: 1News) Victoria Uni law students to sit handwritten exams due to AI fears Professor Geoff McLay said he had become "increasingly worried that the embedding of artificial intelligence in many students' laptops" New Zealand Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office Police said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public Crime and Justice 'Light' 4.1 magnitude earthquake jolts lower North Island Geonet said the earthquake struck 10km northwest of Levin at 5.16pm at a depth of 37km Man's cigarette smuggling attempt stubbed out Customs said the body-packing of the more than 1600 cigarettes was "an attempt to defraud Customs revenue" Wellington Airport's giant eagles to depart terminal "They have been a huge success and travellers from around the world have loved admiring them." Good Sorts: The retired Feilding GP running a mobile medical service Dr Warren Nicholls has taken his skills on the road to increase access to healthcare Health Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 35 mins ago More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ 38 mins ago Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand 41 mins ago US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe 52 mins ago Victoria Uni law students to sit handwritten exams due to AI fears 4:45pm Five Big Things That Happened Today: Tuesday, May 6 7 mins ago 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 Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death New Zealand's Cardinal John Dew prepares to go into conclave Erica Stanford concedes use of personal email 'untidy' 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 fans Sun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, date Thu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Mon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon Strong winds are battering parts of New Zealand with heavy swells set for parts of the lower North Island and damage reported from a tornado which swept through Levin this morning A heavy swell warning is in place along the Kapiti/ Porirua coast from Ōtaki to Pipinui Point until 6pm today Horowhenua District Council confirmed Levin was hit by a tornado at approximately 7.45am taking down trees impacting utilities lines and lifting roofs and fences Horowhenua District Council Mayor Mayor Bernie Wanden said Levin had suffered "significant damage in various parts" of Levin township He said some people in the community were feeling "pretty anxious" following the tornado but was glad most of the damage was superficial and nobody was injured Wanden said it was "quite a surprise but not unexpected" to be informed of a tornado in the area after a tornado previously hit in May 2022 "Unfortunately our community has had to deal with a similar event a few years ago," he said Wanden said the focus would now shift to focus on cleaning up the debris “There will be welfare checks out and about this afternoon knocking on doors and ensuring people are safe But what I’ve seen from driving around this afternoon is people getting on with it Neighbours helping people from the other side of town and most of the cleanup I'm sure will be done quite quickly." Chief executive at Horowhenua District Council Monique Davidson gave an overview of damage and said it was “incredible to see how much work has already occurred in the cleanup phase” She said contractors were working hard clearing debris unblocking drains and supporting impacted households it appears that this morning is not as significant as the tornado event in May 2022 but we are aware that many of those properties impacted were those properties impacted in May 2022," Davidson said Fire and Emergency assistant commander Craig Gold said crews responded to 12 calls around Levin "Skip bins are being distributed to assist affected residents in Collingwood St and Wilton St," the council said Local Controller Brent Harvey said "fortunately it appears the event this morning is not as significant as the Levin tornado event of May 2022" send any images or videos to news@tvnz.co.nz MetService meteorologist Katie Hillyer said a "very organised line of rain and thunderstorms moved through Otaki and Levin at around 8am this morning" "This band had an incredibly strong wind signal along it (hinting at very large gusts) "There is some evidence that there could have been a tornado along that line but without seeing more photos from the track of damage on the ground we cannot determine from radar alone if a tornado occurred," she said is that there have already been very strong and gusty winds around the region this morning so that coupled with a very localised intense line of gusty thunderstorms it is not surprising that there are damages This line was very short lived and has since eased off so any line like that from now is much less likely." Wellington Region Emergency Management Office regional manager Dan Neely told 1News this morning he had "not observed any significant impacts from the swell warning or recent thunderstorms over the past few hours" so we're advising drivers to be especially cautious as there may be some surface flooding and debris on the roads," he said "With the swell warning still in place until 6pm tonight we also advise people to take care when walking or driving near roads and beaches exposed to the sea particularly around high tide during the early morning commute." and surfcasters to avoid exposed coastal areas until the warning has lifted and to check the forecast before heading out on a boat A Hutt City Council spokesperson said there was surface flooding earlier this morning on The Esplanade and Jackson St "Surface flooding remains on Seaview's Barnes St and Port Rd Work is underway to clear the stormwater drains in that area We urge motorists to be vigilant and drive to the conditions." An orange strong wind warning was also in effect for Banks Peninsula for seven hours from 11am with severe gale southwesterlies gusting 120km/h in exposed places expected 📡Radar update⛈️Some lightning showing up around the edges of the country as thunderstorms roll through — some bringing strong gusts and possible hailIn Canterbury and Wairarapa, the possibility for thunderstorms continues into the afternoon pic.twitter.com/UES1pqbRle Hawke's Bay about and south of Hastings Christchurch and the Chatham Islands were all under a strong wind watch especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService said and amounts may approach warning criteria within 20km of the coast Moderate chance of upgrading to a warning." Heavy weather brought down a number of trees in Levin this morning FINAL UPDATE 9:20AMSH1 Levin is now OPEN in both directions. ^EH https://t.co/KH0lK9zW67 a police spokesperson said a tree fell on a vehicle on Oxford St shortly before 8am An earlier diversion on Oxford St has been lifted and the road is open to through traffic A law student at Victoria University of Wellington said students had been "left in the lurch" after an announcement on Monday that said next month's exams for two law subjects would have to be handwritten also said a timetable had still not been provided he said he had become "increasingly worried that the embedding of artificial intelligence (AI) in many students' laptops makes ensuring that students' work is their own very difficult" He had hoped the university would have a technical solution although he hoped one would be available at the end of the year "This means that we will not be able to allow students to use laptops for exams next month," McLay wrote "I want to make this announcement as soon as possible so students have time to prepare for handwritten examinations." McLay added that there would be an exception for students with a disability that required them to use a keyboard The situation affected the LAWS 312 Equity and LAWS 334 Ethics exams The student said the announcement was stressful during an already stressful time a representative of the Victoria University of Wellington Law Students' Society said the Council of Legal Education had to be certain that everyone who passed the exams in Equity and Ethics deserved a pass (and did not cheat) "Previously in person invigilation has been sufficient to manage these concerns due to the increasing ability and sophistication of AI the faculty were concerned about the reliability of the exams leading to their decision to make the Equity and Ethics exams handwritten." The representative said the law students' society had expressed that students' preference was for typed exams — "reflecting how our professional lives will look" once it became clear that the faculty felt they needed to proceed with handwritten exams we emphasised that students should be informed as early as possible accessibility options should be made clear and exam content and timing should reflect the fact that many students have not done handwritten exams since high school and are not used to writing for extended periods of time." The representative added it was separate from the delay to the exam timetable Victoria University Provost Professor Bryony James said students' handwriting their exams meant the university could be confident that the results truly reflected the students' own knowledge and effort — free of any suggestion of the influence of AI James said she would ensure that no student was disadvantaged and was committed to working with students — including those with disabilities — who might need further support to participate in exams and final assessments as a result "As part of this undertaking the Faculty of Law will review this Trimester's exam results to ensure this cohort's performance is in line with previous years and confirm that students are not significantly impacted by this decision." President of Victoria University's Students' Association Liban Ali told Morning Report he was aware that this could happen as early as last year "It has been on the card as of last year I feel like there was something that was going to happen." Ali said the announcement had come at the wrong time and that the Students' Association were very concerned for students He said the Students' Association had engaged the Law Society and the faculty to determine the best way to support students He added that he would make sure that any changes were communicated early in the future rnz.co.nz A 25-year-old man has appeared in court after he allegedly fired a gun at another person inside a Ministry of Social Development office in Masterton yesterday Police were called to the incident on Lincoln Rd at around 12.40pm on Monday Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom said there were no reports of injuries from the incident "Following police's initial enquiries one person was taken into custody a short time later nearby." Cordons were put in place around the area and some staff were armed as a precaution Thom said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public "Police would like to commend Ministry of Social Development staff for their prompt actions in following their lockdown procedures as this enabled police to provide a swift response to resolve this incident quickly." A 25-year-old man appeared in Masterton District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and conducting a dangerous act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm A magnitude 4.1 earthquake has jolted the lower North Island this afternoon It described the shaking as "light" with close to 2000 reports from people feeling the tremor by 5.45pm M3.6 quake causing weak shaking near Levin https://t.co/aJM2e4ScOx One Facebook poster said it was "definitely a good one" while another described it as "only little but strange" Horowhenua District Council said it was a "good reminder" to chat about being prepared for earthquakes Wellington's famous eagles will take flight from the airport this week after 12 years in the terminal They will be replaced by a new display that is currently being kept under wraps Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said that the departure of the birds (and their passenger Gandalf) will be emotional for staff "They have been a huge success and travellers from around the world have loved admiring them After 12 years it's the right time for them to fly the nest “We’re working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique locally themed replacement to take their place." The eagles were created by Wētā Workshop as a tie-in with the Hobbit movies and unveiled in December 2013 Each bird weighs 1.2 tonnes and has a 15-metre wingspan Wētā Workshop co-founder and chief creative officer Richard Taylor said it's a "bittersweet moment" saying goodbye to them "There are many more stories to be told and we're looking forward to working with Wellington Airport on bringing a new chapter to life." The eagles will be taken down and disassembled on Friday May 9 and placed into storage with long-term plans for them still yet to be decided "We’ll unveil what’s next later this year so keep watching the skies," Clarke said Tolkien fans will be relieved to know that Smaug the Magnificent will remain in the check-in area Tonight's Good Sort is Dr Warren Nicholls a retired GP from Feilding who never quite stopped being a doctor Dr Nicholls took his skills on the road as part of a mobile medical service aimed at increasing access to healthcare There are no appointments needed – people just show up the team checks basic information like weight "There's a huge need for it," Dr Nicholls said The service began with local farmer Dean Williamson who wanted farmers to get more than their tractor checked up "To be able to book a health check in with the doctor you're looking at four or five weeks in advance and goodness knows what the weather's going to be like or what they're going to be doing on farming," Williamson said "I've signed a thousand death certificates but I've also delivered a thousand babies so the ledger of life is balanced," he said One caravan has now turned into a three and they've seen over a thousand patients He said one in four patients need further help "We've got a person who's probably a diabetic with a sugar of 12 and they don't know it." A mental health survey always finishes the visit it's their first doctor's visit in years "I haven't retired yet," Dr Nicholls said he wants to expand his operation into Northland "It's become my glorious obsession now." 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." More than 25kg of cocaine has been seized and four men arrested following an joint investigation into the importation of the drug into Christchurch Police and Customs received information about a "significant importation" of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port on March 29 Search warrants were then executed across the country by specialist teams to support investigators with evidence gathering Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation including possession of cocaine for supply and burglary and will appear in various district courts across a range of dates Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Sparks said the seizure equated to more than 250,000 doses of cocaine and $9 million of harm "That is an enormous amount of damage and misery that had been heading into our communities that has now been halted through this investigation." Sparks said the success of the investigation was partly down to the "excellent partnership" between Customs and the police "We continue to have a focus on engaging with businesses and supporting their legitimate services by keeping them safe with prevention advice to deter drug trafficking organisations’ attempts to exploit their people and premises." Customs acting investigations manager Rachael Manning said the investigation resulted from quick action and close collaboration between the agencies as well as industry partners "We know that transnational and serious organised crime groups are actively targeting New Zealand to drive up both demand and supply of illegal drugs such as cocaine for maximum profit They’re using every method possible to exploit any vulnerabilities within international supply chains in secure areas or on vessels themselves." 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.” The Government halts all current pay equity claims Stanford concedes use of personal email 'untidy' and a Kiwi motorcyclist has been killed in a crash in England Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden said the proposed changes would "significantly reduce costs to the Crown" and would discontinue current claims There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and rest home workers The PSA union said the changes were a "dark day for New Zealand women" while the nurse's union described it as a "blatant and shameful attack" Read More Erica Stanford has spoken after 1News revealed she sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email last year and had used her Gmail for ministerial business over the course of her time as a minister who holds the education and immigration portfolios said today she was "not a perfect human" she put the practice down to printing issues But Stanford said she had "taken lots of steps" to avoid the issue from arising further Read More 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 Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau told 1News the pupil was "doing fine" following the incident and was surrounded by a "supportive Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa Read More 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 The duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane but it has caused problems for 36 years and he's approached Gill Higgins for help Read More was fatally injured alongside Englishman Owen Jenner on the first corner of the race at Oulton Park 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" Read More Homegrown will be held at Hamilton's Claudelands Oval confirmed it would be leaving Wellington's waterfront after being there for 18 years Organisers said Hamilton offers potential for the festival to expand and evolve as New Zealand's fastest-growing city Read More 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 Cardinal John Dew is about to go into conclave to vote for a new pope is among the 133 cardinals gathered in the Vatican to elect a successor to Pope Francis Dew and his fellow Cardinals will be locked away from the world as they participate in daily votes in the Sistine Chapel until white smoke billows from the rooftop signalling a new pope is selected Read more about how the conclave works here He follows in the footsteps of Cardinal Reginald Delargey and Cardinal Thomas Williams - Kiwis who had previously entered conclave in 1978 and 2005 Dew said cardinals had been meeting daily to share their perspectives on the needs of the church and what qualities a new pope would need to possess to address said needs “Listening to what everyone is saying and the kind of person they're looking for to hear the passion that people have for spreading the work of the Gospel,” Dew said “I think one of the things that a new pope will need to do is to continue to try and give hope to the world “But as well as being the leader of the Church he needs to be a world leader who's prepared to speak out and in this world of disinformation and misinformation and sometimes lies Dew said other cardinals who had previously participated in conclavce described the centuries-old tradition as "divinely inspired" “A couple of the cardinals actually said you can go into the conclave and even have some ideas but it's only after a vote or two that things start to clarify,” he recalled but it became very clear that he was the one They described that as the work of Holy Spirit “And the fact that you're in a place where you have no contact with anybody else – no cell phones no iPads – the whole thing becomes a bit like a retreat and a real time of prayer.” Dew said finding a successor among a sea of so many contenders also had him feeling some "apprehension" the fact that this only happens once every few years and it has incredible consequences for the Church and for the world 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 A person has been flown to hospital with serious injuries after a being hit by a vehicle at a property in Wairarapa The person was hit on a private property on the Masterton-Castlepoint Road in Tinui and was later taken to Wellington Hospital in a serious condition While another two people are also in hospital following a crash that flipped a car into a paddock in Manawatū Emergency services responded to the two-vehicle crash on State Highway 57 near Levin at 9.30am The road was closed for approximately an hour and a half Fire and Emergency said no one was trapped but one of the vehicles was found upside down in a paddock St John said crews assessed seven people and transported two patients to hospital with minor and moderate injuries the Transport Agency and motorists are reporting heavy traffic travelling north between Ōtaki and Levin on State Highway 1 A motorist spoken to by RNZ said traffic on the 110km/h expressway was down to a 10km/h crawl and guessed it would take about an hour to travel from Ōtaki to Levin the Transport Agency estimated a 28 minute travel time 100+ subjects to choose from at our beautiful Hamilton and Tauranga campuses the Waikato University offers study pathways for everyone Experience vibrant student life at University of Waikato From sports clubs to high performance programmes Discover impactful research at New Zealand's top-ranked research university The University of Waikato is driving innovation for societal progress and global sustainability linking knowledge with industry for a better world Explore University of Waikato's rich history and vibrant community From our humble beginnings to global recognition Discover updates on events and news at the University of Waikato keeping you connected with campus life and academic developments Expression of Interest – Partner Organisations Ella Cooper-Levin studied a Bachelor of Computer and Mathematical Science and says she chose the University for its computer science reputation It also allowed her the flexibility to pursue her passion for horse riding from her Te Kauwhata home Ella Cooper-Levin's study enabled her to pursue her passion for computer coding and launch a career in digital business “Studying at Waikato allowed me the flexibility to work with my horses while earning a highly respected degree,” says Ella she received a Blues Award for her riding and worked as an intern coding one of New Zealand’s largest online equestrian event listing websites “A degree at Waikato lets you try different disciplines and discover your interests and it exposes you to the real working world I’m now working as a technical business analyst being the link between website developers and clients.” Ella also enjoyed Waikato’s clubs and was involved in the Computer Science Students Society Ella received several scholarships to support her study including the ‘Ko Te Tangata’ School Leaver Scholarship the Sir William and Lady Judi Gallagher Foundation Scholarship and the Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Scholarship *The BCMS(Hons) which Ella studied, is no longer offered at Waikato, however, two popular three-year Mathematics and Computer Science programmes are on offer, including the Bachelor of Computer Science and the Bachelor of Science in either Mathematics or Computer Science (or both if you choose to do a double-major) You’re currently viewing the website as a domestic student, you might want to change to international. You're an International student if you are: A train was stopped and a section of railway had to be temporarily closed after a car was crashed and abandoned on tracks near Levin this afternoon. Police signalled for a vehicle to stop after it was sighted travelling at excess speed in Koputaroa at around midday. "It instead fled from police and was not pursued," a spokesperson said. The vehicle was driven along railway tracks and crashed. Police said cordons were in place as staff work to locate the occupants. KiwiRail had to stop a train and close the track temporarily between Levin and Koputaroa due to the vehicle on the tracks. Lower North Island Infrastructure manager Michael Jones said teams attended the site and assessed the track for any damage. "We have since received police clearance to reopen the track." More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson was one of four guests invited to Patterson's home in the regional town of Leongatha in 2023 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 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" Vandals in 4WDs mow down The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees 39 mins ago 8 mins ago "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 A third man has now been charged with murder after a body was found in a building at a Levin park earlier this year A 36-year-old man came to Levin Police Station yesterday and was subsequently arrested He is due to appear in the Levin District Court today A homicide investigation was launched after Robert Nattie Albert was found in Muaūpoko Park at Lake Horowhenua with a gunshot wound on the evening of October 17 Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said Thompson, the Manawatū area investigations manager, said his team of investigators had “worked diligently to comb through CCTV footage and other information from members of the public”, resulting in the arrest of a 23-year-old earlier this month - who was charged with murder The following week police arrested a second man accused of murder following two search warrants in Levin township as part of the investigation as was a cut-down firearm,” Thompson said at the time Police earlier said they knew there were “others involved” and said they would be working hard to “bring further closure” to Albert’s family The building Albert was understood to have been found in was burnt down shortly after the discovery OPINION: The enduring legacy of local stories in the Horowhenua Chronicle Members Area FAQs Contact My Account It was a big move out of Wellington nearly 40 years ago when my wife Sharon and our 6 week old daughter left the big smoke of Wellington and joined my in-laws in the family bookshop in Levin They were looking to retire as you did in those days when you got to 60 A bookstore has been on the site since 1929 and has been owned by only 3 families – my in-laws arrived from Christchurch in 1965 so the store has been in the same family for 58 years When they arrived they didn’t change the previous owners name so it is still known by many locals as McLeod’s A couple of years later we joined what is now known as the Paper Plus Group and we have been lucky enough to have survived many challenges over those years principally because of our ability to have that buying power and support that we have had from belonging to a franchise Being a book and stationery store in provincial NZ is never easy and we probably would not have survived if we were not part of the franchise The store has gone through a number of refits and changes over the years including knocking out the wall and taking over the store next door which doubled our size in 1995 It has been an interesting time to say the least but one that has been thoroughly enjoyable although some of the economic and technology challenges we have faced over those years have certainly caused their fair amount of stress As a bookstore we have always tried to be a reasonably good stock holding store which can be very hard at times – there is a fine line between having not enough stock and having too much especially in the environment we are operating in today I have always believed that if I expect my community to support their local bookshop then we need to support them so being part of the community is a big deal for us and we have supported many local projects schools and other organisations over the years Being behind the counter has also given me a good perspective of what is happening in the town so I have been involved in many community organisations over the years With all the talk about an Expressway around Levin I finally stood for Council in 2016 and 3 years later decided to stand for the mayoralty in Horowhenua – I am now in my second term as Mayor and am extremely grateful and fortunate that the bookstore has given me a profile that no amount of billboards or advertising can buy plus some great staff that keep the place humming As you can imagine I get little time for leisure reading but always try to fit it in when I can I enjoy many authors but generally it is crime/thriller/saga authors like Ken Follett My favourite non-fiction book is Boys in the Boat and has been my go to book for years for those males who don’t read much This is an inspiring sports and history story set around the depression years and the 1936 Olympics – the film directed by George Clooney is due for release early in the New Year and will be a must see I am sure Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Visit BookHub Refunds & Returns Buy Tokens Buy Gift Cards My Account Members Store Become a Member Discounts & Resources Created by Grow My Business Two people are in custody after an incident which saw armed police swarm streets in Levin this afternoon Police say the vehicle’s driver did not stop Police followed the vehicle to Macarthur St where three occupants fled “Upon searching the area around the vehicle A woman was taken into custody without incident Armed police searched the area for the pair and an area around Macarthur St was cordoned off as police asked the public to stay away Police confirmed shortly before 5.30pm that police had since taken one other person into custody and were making enquiries “to locate the remaining person” The cordons surrounding Macarthur Street have been stood down Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. My Vaccine Pass requirements have not been set for this event have been unleashing sonic assaults and kicking against the pricks since 1980 delivers a raw and energetic performance that harks back to the genre’s incendiary origins But Condenser isn't just a band; it's a culmination ofWellington's rich punk history and PJ are all veterans of the scene,having cut their teeth in noted Wellington bands including Condemned Sector were instrumental in shaping the Wellington sound and fostering a spirit ofrebellion that continues to resonate.Their sets are a potent mix of classic covers and blistering originals drawing inspirationfrom the titans of punk and post-punk Expect a tightly packed set featuring the rawenergy of the Buzzcocks and the sheer rebellious power of the Sex Pistols.Condenser's music isn't just a performance; it's a living history lesson connecting thedots between Wellington's punk past and its present The experience gained in theirwild youth has coalesced in Condenser creating a potent force that keeps the flame ofpunk rock burning bright in Aotearoa.Support band details coming soon {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"/2025/03/22/three-light-earthquakes-within-7-minutes-recorded-near-levin/"},"datePublished":"2025-03-21T22:22:48.579Z","dateModified":"2025-03-21T22:24:04.793Z","headline":"Three light earthquakes within 7 minutes recorded near Levin ","description":"GeoNet recorded all three earthquakes within 15km of Levin as \"light\" GeoNet recorded all three earthquakes within 15km of Levin as "light" The first two hit simultaneously at 7.25am and the third followed seven minutes later at 7.32am More than 2600 people were reported to have felt the first two quakes while 955 people reported feeling the third On a Facebook post from GeoNet one user said: "at first [I] thought it was thunder - it was so loud" Another claimed to have felt it in Christchurch and one commentor said they felt it in Palmerston North along with the "proceeding boom with it too!" GeoNet reminded people on social media that "earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand at any time" and in the event of a large earthquake to drop Three earthquakes that struck within seven minutes of one another jolted the bottom of the North Island this morning GeoNet recorded all three earthquakes within 15km of Levin as "light", ranging between 2.8 and 4.1 in magnitude. The first two hit simultaneously at 7.25am, and the third followed seven minutes later at 7.32am. More than 2600 people were reported to have felt the first two quakes, while 955 people reported feeling the third. On a Facebook post from GeoNet one user said: "at first [I] thought it was thunder - it was so loud". Another claimed to have felt it in Christchurch, and one commentor said they felt it in Palmerston North along with the "proceeding boom with it too!" GeoNet reminded people on social media that "earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand at any time" and in the event of a large earthquake to drop, cover, and hold. Four injured State Highway 2 at the intersection of Wi Duncan Rd is currently blocked Farmhand died after poorly maintained quad bike rolled A Tararua farm manager has been ordered to pay $75,000 in reparations to the family of a farmhand who died after the poorly maintained quadbike he was riding rolled Newsmakers: Student Army founder reflects on leading from the front Sam Johnson was instrumental in establishing the Student Volunteer Army that mobilised 11,000 members at its peak Why Mark Lundy's release from prison doesn't mean he will be free Lundy will be released from prison next month after more than 23 years behind bars for the murder of his wife Christine and their daughter Amber in 2000 36 mins ago 42 mins ago 53 mins ago Four people have been injured following a two-vehicle crash south of Dannevirke this evening Police said they were called to State Highway 2 at the intersection of Wi Duncan Rd around 7.10pm One person sustained serious injuries following the crash Motorists have been asked to take alternate routes Double convicted murderer Mark Lundy will be released from prison next month after more than 23 years behind bars Lundy was convicted in 2002 for the killing of his wife Christine and daughter Amber in Palmerston North in 2000 and was sentenced to life with a 20-year non parole period the Privy Council quashed the convictions and ordered a retrial as was the case with all paroled prisoners Lundy would be subject to release conditions "They are conditions that relate to circumstances: Where he lives Any breach of those conditions would mean Lundy would be recalled to prison where he would continue serving his sentence "That is why he is not free in the sense of freedom." Lundy has always denied carrying out the killings and continues to fight to prove his innocence Dyhrberg said asserting his innocence would not have prevented him being paroled but would have made it more difficult to achieve "It's almost a Catch-22 situation then that will often preclude you from engaging in certain programmes If you don't engage properly in these various programmes for rehabilitation and reintegration She said continuing to fight to clear his name would not be held against him by the Parole Board "The Parole Board already knows that he is maintaining his innocence and they wish to take legitimate steps to try and prove their innocence or show maybe you know then they are entitled to do that and won't hold against them at all." said extensive preparation was undertaken ahead of the parole hearing "The parole board will always have concerns and they've expressed those concerns at earlier hearings that he's had so we were able to look carefully at the issues that they thought were important and then do the work that helped satisfy them that those concerns are ameliorated sufficiently for him to be granted." When and where Lundy would be released would be kept private "The people who need to be notified of all these details do know and it's just not information that needs to be in the wider public domain That's for the safety of Mark and the people he's living with." Asked whether Lundy would continue efforts to clear his name Kincade said an application with the Criminal Cases Review Commission had been underway for "some years now" "Work will just carry on with that — as it has been." Information translated from English into other languages Find information in your own language about New Zealand Red Cross services Our translated information is mainly about the support services we provide to refugee background communities There is also information in other languages about our restoring family links service. It’s been five long years since Wisthon Suarez Quintero their son Anthony and daughter Valeria left their home in Maracay to finally find a safe place – Taitoko | Levin They arrived in August and this will be their first Christmas in their new community New Zealand Red Cross refugee settlement team in Levin are supporting them to feel at home Lesly Villa Higuita and a small team of dedicated refugee support volunteers and with help from volunteers they are beginning to start again in their community They are also busy planning their festivities They share many similar traditions with New Zealand and also bring their own from both Venezuela and Colombia “It’s a very important time for all the family emotionally – and is mainly focused on children,” says mum Like many households who celebrate Christmas they are decorating a tree and buying gifts for their children – which they’ll hide until 25 December “As we lived in Colombia for several years we have adopted some of those traditions too the family will light candles to celebrate Día de las Velitas or Day of Candles – ‘to welcome Mary into our home’ We play ‘gaita’ music and sing songs celebrating the start of festivities,” says Wisthon Gaita is traditional folk music and dance from Maracaibo northwestern Venezuela and dates back to the 1800s “We love Christmas.” Nelvet describes their traditions we usually swap gifts with friends and family remembering the spirit of the season We put up the ‘pesebre’ or nativity scene and on 24 December the children write a letter to baby Jesus” On Christmas eve Valeria and Anthony will be allowed to stay up late – past midnight "We make ‘hallacas’ - a corn wrap with pork chicken and beef and vegetables and a Russian salad but I also want to try the pavlova,” says Nelvet It takes time to adjust to a new culture – and to start again both parents had careers before they had to leave Wisthon was a high school teacher and Nelvet "I didn’t know we had courage until we were in Colombia We arrived with nothing and had no support We learnt to sew and we made clothes to survive The local Red Cross settlement team supports the whole family to feel welcome in Levin who was also a former refugee from Colombia and local volunteers Pearl and Linda help the family to orientate themselves – such as attending school and medical appointments “One of the things that makes it easier is the friendship they give us – and we’ve been very welcomed by Māori too,” says Nelvet Muaūpoko iwi welcomes former refugees to Horowhenua including performing a blessing at every newly arrived families’ home The family – used to the hustle and bustle of large cities – find Levin quiet comparatively Nelvet and Wisthon are already using the sewing skills they learned in Colombia to alter clothes for other people in the community with donated sewing machines Anthony and Valeria are over 12,500 kilometres away from family and friends but their mobiles will be busy as they stay in touch with loved ones Wisthon is looking forward to celebrating New Year and has expectations for 2025 I’ll eat 12 grapes – one for each month of 2025 and make a wish for each I won’t tell you what they’ll be as I want them to come true – but we’re thinking positively and hope the children settle well I’ll also put some lentils in my pocket – a tradition which means we’ll have abundance and cash,” says Wisthon with a grin As with New Zealand and Venezuelan traditions there’ll be hugs at midnight and dancing as they welcome in 2025 the family would gather at the grandparents’ house on New Year’s Day the family may catch up with other former refugees they met when they first arrived at Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre and who’ve also settled in Levin have already enrolled at their schools and are taking extra English lessons to end 2024 Lesly’s fluency in Spanish and English and her own settlement experiences She has just finished her degree in Aviation Management at Massey University  “I am now on the other side and understand the difficulties I try to make it easier for them than my own experience The language barrier is the main thing to overcome because you can’t integrate when you don’t have the language; you can’t express yourself," she says Lesly also encourages anyone in the community who has a few hours to spare each week to volunteer with Red Cross in Levin “You can never regret helping another person and help them to grow in another culture Learn about our services supporting former refugees If you would like to volunteer to help former refugees settle in Levin New Zealand Red Cross Incorporated is a registered charity (CC21860) making you eligible for a tax refund of up to a third of your donation All transactions are billed in New Zealand dollars New Zealand Red Cross operates from 69 Molesworth Street Police are seeking information after the discovery of a man’s body on Hōkio Beach Police are seeking information after the discovery of a man’s body on a beach in the Manawatū-Whanganui region A member of the public alerted police to the dead body on Hōkio Beach, near Levin “While his death is not currently considered suspicious police are making inquiries on behalf of the Coroner and are working to establish the circumstances surrounding it,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Wilson said Wilson said police are looking to speak to anyone in the area around the time the man was last seen – which was between midnight and about 2am on Thursday our inquiries have established that a white ute – possibly a Ford Ranger with ‘Wild Trax’ written on the rear – was at the beach and the two male occupants assisted a female member of the public to tow her vehicle after it became stuck,” he said “While we have no reason to believe these men had any involvement in the man’s death we are eager to speak to them as we believe they may have valuable information to share.” Anyone with information is urged to contact police via the 105 phone service Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 we bring you some of the most interesting events and happenings coming up in Aotearoa this weekend Tonight we're heading to Levin and speaking to Anna Harris the chair of the Medieval Market committee This Saturday marks 30 years of the Medieval Market Levin which began in Manakau back in 1995 as a fundraiser event for a local daycare See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes A commuter train has hit a person in Levin The Capital Connection train was travelling from Palmerston North to Wellington when at 6:50am on Tuesday it hit a person at Tyne Street None of the 82 passengers on board or the train crew were injured Emergency services were at the scene and the train had been moved to Levin Station Shortly after 10.30am the Capital Connection was given clearance to leave the area but the track remains closed while Police continue their investigations coffee and water and cared for the passengers who would be offered rides to Wellington or back to Palmerston North Tuesday evening's northbound Capital Connection service from Wellington may be replaced by buses Police said the road would be closed for some time Trains have been stopped around Meadowbank following the incident Those who were passengers on the train and the victim's family are being offered support Police say a person has died on railway tracks in South Auckland this morning Police have confirmed three people died after the incident at a railway crossing in Peachgrove Road in the early hours Trains on the Hutt Valley line are running again after thousands of Wellington train commuters were disrupted due to the service being halted when a person died after being struck by a train PM Christopher Luxon speaks to the media from Levin Police said emergency services were called to a Mahia Rd property just before 10am after a report of a person seriously injured Mairehau house fire: Firefighters battle two-storey house blaze 10 patients were assessed and treated by our crews in total Auckland commuters face a chaotic morning after two highways leading into the central city have been majorly disrupted by crashes NZ film industry faces uncertainty over US tariff ongoing decline in livestock numbers and questions over longer sentences reducing reoffending Reporter Sierra is at Magnificent Moa Day where experts are revealing their incredible 3.6 million year-old find Emergency services are attending the fire at a McDonald's on Pakuranga Rd Christopher Luxon holds a post-Cabinet press conference A memorial tree has been planted at the entrance of St John’s bush in honour of slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall Victim of abuse is wanting a judicial review Goodman Group is upgrading Highbrook Crossing to add retail dining and public space to New Zealand’s largest business park in East Tāmaki where hip hop crews from all over the world are battling to see who’s the best and Parliament tackles alcohol and mental health The Coleman family has been melting down precious metals for more than 40 years This is the first time they've shared inside their multi-million dollar gold and silver operation The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking in the Newstalk ZB studio to talk all the big politicial issues Moana Pasifika beat the Highlanders 34-29 in Dunedin Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was joined by Deputy PM Winston Peters and Minister of defence Judith Collins to make a pre-budget defence announcement and 3D-printed limbs help child amputees in Gaza Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to be joined by Defence Minister Judith Collins and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters make a pre-Budget defence announcement Neighbours heard explosions as a fire ripped through a Mt Roskill house Mum pays tribute after Auckland bus stop killing Australians vote early and insurance companies brace for claims Megyn Cordner and Lucas Prince started their business from the back of a van in 2022 Andrew Che lost his life savings after sending it to the wrong account Barclays Bank has refunded his money after a prolonged battle for compensation Aerial footage reveals the scale of flooding across areas of Canterbury after a destructive weather system hit the region and prompted a state of emergency North Shore real estate agency chief responds to a Real Estate Disciplinary Tribunal decision Mark Mitchell provides an update on the state of emergency in Christchurch and Selwyn A possible mini tornado was spotted about Auckland Harbour as the latest band of wild weather hits the city Fire and Emergency NZ said it responded to more than 30 callouts overnight more Kiwis turning to methamphetamine and Drs are back at the negotiating table NZSA chief executive Oliver Mander speaks about CEO pay in 2024 Waiwhetu woman Julie Paterson heard 'a loud cracking' and saw a tree branch falling towards her during Wednesday's storm Heather Keats updates the powerful system battering New Zealand breaks down why Wellington is under a rare red warning with extreme winds and Local MP Hon Nicola Grigg speak to the media on the local state of emergency in Selwyn Gisborne locals and health workers marched to Heipipi Park where speakers highlighted what they say is a regional health crisis NZ Herald Live: Simeon Brown talks to media A second murder charge has been laid after 56-year-old Robert Nattie Albert was found dead in a building at a Levin park earlier this year A homicide investigation was launched after Albert was found in Muaūpoko Park at Lake Horowhenua with a gunshot wound on the evening of October 17 Thompson, the Manawatū area investigations manager, said his team of investigators had “worked diligently to comb through CCTV footage and other information from members of the public”, resulting in the arrest of a 23-year-old last week - who was charged with murder But police have today arrested a second man accused of murder following two search warrants in Levin township as part of the investigation as was a cut-down firearm,” Thompson said today The man is set to appear in the Levin District Court on Wednesday charged with murder and with unlawful possession of a pistol A 23-year-old man was due to appear before the Levin District Court last week on a charge of murder This man was previously arrested and remanded in custody on other charges and appeared in court last week on those also There have now been three men charged with murder A man found dead in a building at a park in Levin died after being shot A homicide investigation was launched after Robert Albert was found deceased at Muaūpoko Park near Lake Horowhenua on Thursday 17 October. Detective senior sergeant Dave Thompson said Albert was fatally shot and a large amount of video surveillance footage has been seized from the area "Information from people who were in the area at the time continues to come in and we would like to thank those who have reported information to date" Thompson said police have spoken with several people who had given them information or were at the lake on 16 and 17 October "I urge anyone that was at Lake Horowhenua on the 16th and 17th especially in the evening of the 16th and early hours of the 17th to come forward so your vehicle and presence can be eliminated from our investigation," he said The body of 56-year old Robert Nattie Albert A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of Robert Nattie Albert at Lake Horowhenua in Levin last month Police launched a homicide investigation after the 56-year-old's body was found in a building in Muaūpoko Park on October 17. Manawatū area investigations manager Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said a number of lines of inquiry have since been completed, resulting in a murder charge being filed. "This is a huge step in the investigation, but it is only the beginning." He said a team of investigators combed through CCTV footage along with information provided by members of the public. "We know there are others involved, and the investigation team will be working hard to bring further closure for the family." Levin Court House (file image). (Source: 1News) A 23-year-old man facing the murder charge was due to appear before the Levin District Court today, December 4. Homicide investigation after man's body found in Levin parkThe man was found dead in a building at Muaūpoko Park Man found dead at Levin park was shot police sayA homicide investigation was launched after Robert Albert was found dead in a building at Muaūpoko Park by Lake Horowhenua on October 17 Death of man in Levin park treated as suspicious — policeThe man's body was found in a building at Muaūpoko Park This man was previously arrested and remanded in custody on other charges and would appear in court today on those also. Thompson urged anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area or had any other information to get in touch on 105, online or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 40 mins ago 9 mins ago Police say a man found dead in a building at a park in Levin died after being shot was found in a building Muaūpoko Park at Lake Horowhenua on October 17 "A postmortem and scene examination was completed and police can now reveal he died from his injuries sustained from a gunshot wound," police said "A large amount of CCTV footage has been seized from around the Lake Horowhenua area which is being examined." Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said police are appealing for anyone who was at the lake on October 16 and 17 to come forward so their vehicle can be removed from the investigation "We know that there are still people that haven’t come forward yet," said Thompson Police have spoken to some people who came forward to say they had been down by the lake on those days Police have named the man whose death is at the centre of a homicide investigation in Horowhenua The body of 56-year old Robert Nattie Albert was found in a building at Muaūpoko Park Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said police were analysing CCTV footage from surrounding areas to determine the movements of vehicles and people Police had spoken to people who were in the Lake Horowhenua area around that time but would like to hear from anyone else who was near the lake on 16 and 17 October A funeral service for Albert had been held at Ngāti Huia marae A man was found dead in a building at a park on Thursday