A gun-wielding man jumped into a Palmerston North hospital worker's car and threatened her as she left work late at night Police said they were called about 11pm on Friday after a man got into the back seat of the woman's car and pointed a gun at her "The woman drove a short distance before getting out of the car and asking for help at a nearby house but this would have been a terrifying experience for the woman." Health NZ said it had boosted security at the hospital "This has been a traumatic experience for our staff member and we are wrapping all the care and support around them that we can," said MidCentral Health's group operations director Sarah Fenwick "We have put additional security measures in place and will continue to speak with our teams about what more we can do." said security would be available to walk staff to their cars if they needed it and all afternoon and night shift workers would have access to the staff car park They encouraged people to "walk with a buddy" before and after their shifts if possible Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Palmerston North residents using Fitzherbert Avenue may need to plan for extra time in their daily commutes as infrastructure upgrades take place over the coming weeks The upgrades include repairing the top layer of road at the intersection of Fitzherbert and Te Awe Awe Streets and upgrading the size of the stormwater pipes from the Fitzherbert Bridge to Hughes Ave opposite Fitzherbert Park We’ll also be repairing some handrails on the Fitzherbert Bridge Several small patches of road repairs on Fitzherbert Avenue will also take place between Te Awe Awe Street and Ferguson Street These will all take one or two days each and require a lane closure but will take place between 9am and 3pm to avoid peak traffic We've coordinated the projects to minimise disruption with stormwater upgrades to start on Monday 7 April Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of June Some repair work is required on Chaytor Street and we’ll provide another update to affected properties and the community when these details are confirmed later and we’ll put the details on our roadworks webpage and social media Transport and development group manager Glen O’Connor encourages residents and schoolchildren who travel along this route to be aware of the upcoming works and plan accordingly "We need to repair the Fitzherbert/Te Awe Awe intersection as the road surface is deteriorating due to water damage We need to do this before winter to avoid further damage to the road during the wet months we’ll also repair some of the handrails on the Fitzherbert Bridge and other parts of Fitzherbert Avenue which are starting to fail.” Three waters group manager Mike Monaghan says we’re taking the opportunity to upgrade the stormwater network at the same time as the roadworks Existing stormwater pipes in the area are too small which leads to flooding during heavy rain and causes a safety risk in heavy traffic Larger pipes will improve drainage and reduce the risk of flooding Our council water team will install the new pipes during the day while our road maintenance contractor Fulton Hogan will do most of the Fitzherbert/Te Awe Awe intersection work overnight from 6pm to 6am to keep the intersection fully functional during the day such as resealing the street which can only be done in warmer temperatures though the intersection will always be kept open to one lane when this happens Fitzherbert Avenue will have a temporary traffic layout during the construction period with all four vehicle lanes shifted over and separated by flexi-poles to provide a safe workspace for water pipe installation and to reduce the number of road cones People on bikes heading into town will be detoured via the river pathway or Victoria Esplanade (depending on the location of the worksite) and bikes heading to Summerhill will be detoured via Hughes Avenue On-street parking in the affected area will be removed to enable space for the new traffic layout Two bus stops opposite the Victoria Esplanade entrance or Fitzherbert Park will be temporarily relocated to the other side of Hughes Avenue The Fitzherbert/Te Awe Awe intersection will remain operational during the day but speeds will be reduced to 30km/h as some sections of the road may be unsealed The Victoria Esplanade entrance off Fitzherbert Avenue will remain open except for about two days when pipes beneath it are being upgraded Esplanade user groups will be notified of these days ahead of time The cost of stormwater upgrade is $1.2 million Fulton Hogan is starting safety upgrades to the intersection of Kelvin Grove Road and Henaghans Road in early-April This includes widening the road and improving visibility for motorists The intersection will be closed for two months with detours in place Construction of the Amberley Ave bridge will be completed by the end of April with the road planned to be reopened shortly after Anzac Day and Ashhurst/Stoney Creek Roads are all on schedule we’ll also be carrying out repairs to sections of Botanical Road and Pioneer Highway You can stay updated on roadworks in the city by visiting the roadworks page or by checking our weekly Friday infrastructure posts on our Facebook page We appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding as we continue to improve our city’s infrastructure The web app you have attempted to reach has blocked your access Ambulances and fire trucks say they are taking longer to respond to callouts since a controversial new road layout was introduced on a busy Palmerston North street But there is support for the changes made to a 900-metre section of Featherston Street The changes - introduced last year - include creating a cycleway away from traffic next to the footpath reducing car parks and moving others close to traffic and creating bus stops in the traffic lanes including at well-attended public meetings last year and from businesses along the route but also staunch support from those who say roads are not just for cars In a report to a city council committee meeting this week emergency services are among those who have shared their views about the route The council committee is reviewing the changes a year after councillors voted for them to stay The work cost $2 million and was 90 percent funded by the NZ Transport Agency Hato Hone St John area operations manager Gareth Collings said the street was historically used as an important cross-city route "Due to the changes to the road layout and the inability for cars to move over sufficiently to allow ambulances past when travelling under lights and siren Featherston Street is no longer a viable option as a key response route." Using other routes led to an increase in response times but the general consensus is that response times have increase by some minutes "This can have an extremely negative effect when responding to a cardiac arrest." Fire and Emergency group manager for the district Gary Ward said the layout changes meant fire trucks could be delayed The "lane separators" keeping traffic from the cycleway were designed for fire trucks to straddle but that would involve queued traffic moving to the centre of the road Police Inspector Ashley Gurney said officers knew local traffic conditions so used other roads to travel across the city including Palmerston North Boys' High School Deputy rector Gerard Atkin said the loss of car parks outside its grounds meant it could not at times hire out its function centre "We estimate that this will cost us approximately $14,000 per annum in lost income which will affect the budget for arts activities across the school." as school pupils had a safer and more inviting route Others who bike the road said they felt safer since the new layout was introduced Karen Tutt said she biked to work along the route every day although she said driver inattention still meant riding was risky "The changes on Featherston Street are a step from Streets Ahead Palmerston North - which advocates for active transport - said the changes were positive "It feels safer when cycling in the protected cycleway It feels safer when crossing the road over either pedestrian crossing." Information from council officers shows fewer vehicles use the route and there are more cyclists and pedestrians The council officers' report said in-lane bus stops had a "less than minor" effect on traffic flow Between July and February three crashes were recorded involving a young person crossing the road From 2019-2024 92 crashes were reported on the stretch of road The council said spending in the area was down about 1.4 percent in the six months since the previous report No further monitoring of the route is budgeted for debate on the controversial project took some unusual turns A controversial new road design in Palmerston North has caused one business to move but a regular cyclist says the changes could avoid potentially fatal crashes How did this get through council?": A cars versus bikes battle continues to rage over a busy city road Business owners say the changes to Featherston St are scaring off customers - but council says it's all part of a wider network that's been years in the making We're proposing to update trade waste fees from 1 July 2025 to ensure the cost of these services is covered by users we're proposing some increases to keep up with rising operating costs The changes to the various volume-based charges for trade waste reflect the trade waste volumes and costs for the last 2 years and are based on formulae contained in the Palmerston North Waste Bylaw These charges are proposed to increase by 10 to 13% Sampling and analysis charges for compliance monitoring are proposed to increase by 7% to cover increasing costs Trade waste refers to liquid waste that businesses discharge into the wastewater system For the full list of proposed fees and charges Consultation document: Proposed Trade Waste Fees 2025/26(PDF, 215KB) Submissions on this consultation are now closed Elected members will consider all submissions before making a decision If you have indicated you would like to speak about your submission at a hearing If you've any questions about this process, please contact our governance team on 06 356 8199 Low levels of E Coli have been detected at a drinking water testing site in Palmerston North The Palmerston North City Council said in a statement there was no need for people to do anything differently but they are informing the public in the name of transparency "The city's drinking water safety plan only requires public notification if levels are five times higher than this reading which is why we're keeping you informed," it said in a statement A sample taken Wednesday afternoon showed a very low presence of the bacteria - only just above detectable levels including of chlorine levels across the city yesterday It said that given yesterday's rainy and windy conditions external environmental factors might have contaminated the sample causing a false positive Further test results would be available on Friday afternoon said water tests had come back without any trace of E Coli "Our water has now been confirmed safe to drink after the latest tests done around the city have shown it to be clear of e-coli contamination "We will continue to investigate the cause of the sample result but it is highly likely to be a result of the rainy and windy conditions on the day it was taken Palmerston North Hospital staff have not noticed the promised boost in security after a gun-wielding man got into a nurse's car and threatened her after her shift two weeks ago The nurse was leaving after her shift at about 11pm when the man got into her car pointed a gun at her and told her to drive She drove a short distance before getting out of the car and asking for help at a nearby house Police told RNZ they were still searching for the man Staff said they were "freaked out" after the incident, and wanted improved security Health NZ immediately boosted security and had temporarily improved staff parking arrangements while it worked on a more permanent solution But New Zealand Nurses Organisation Palmerston North delegate Pip Fissenden said staff had not noticed increased security "Some staff are trying to encourage a buddy system to walk to cars together but people don't want to wait they just want to go home," she said "A couple of staff also said they get dropped off and picked up by a family member now rather than bringing their car." Health NZ's MidCentral group operations director Sarah Fenwick said staff could request security escorts to their cars and those working afternoon and night shifts would continue to have access to car parking "This measure will remain in place until a permanent solution is finalised and implemented." but demand outstripped availability so the hospital could not continue issuing parking permits to everyone Police are still looking for a man who jumped into the hospital worker's back seat late at night The nurses' union said it had been raising concerns about staff parking at the hospital for months Christchurch Hospital staff who have been left with life-long health effects after being exposed to toxic fumes at work have been let down by their employer Fifteen out of 19 health districts have seen increases in assaults on staff My Vaccine Pass requirements have not been set for this event TURKEY THE BIRD GOES BRASS - With Palmerston North BrassSATURDAY MAY 17 7:30PMAn Unmissable Musical Fusion!Join Palmerston North Brass and acclaimed folk trio Turkey the Bird for a spectacular night of music that blends the bold brilliance of brass with the vibrant charm of folk known for their polished performances and rich soundscapes will team up with Turkey the Bird’s infectious energy and feel-good vibes to create an unforgettable live experience.Expect a dynamic setlist featuring brass band classics and Turkey the Bird’s original songs — all brought to life with unique collaborative twists From soulful ballads to foot-stomping anthems this concert promises something for everyone whether you're a seasoned music lover or just looking for a great night out.Come along and witness the magic when two musical worlds collide — it’s a show you won’t want to miss!Tickets available here https://nz.patronbase.com/_GlobeTheatre/Productions/TTBB/Performances 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. A ‘save the date’ on the Manawatū calendar the Palmerston North Book Sale over King’s Birthday Weekend is annual proof of how our members and branches are here for humanity. a committed group of Red Cross members unite with community organisations local businesses and members of the public to hold a four-day extravaganza selling books From its earliest days in the early 1990s — where $1,000 was raised from the back garden of a local Red Cross building — the event has grown to encompass three halls All are full of bargains that savvy buyers flock to With coordination and organisation provided by Red Cross members and volunteers descend on-site to bring ambition to life. Volunteers begin setting up a week before the event relocating more than 4,000 boxes of books — each weighing roughly 15kg — for a combined total of close to 60 tonnes. Supporters and helpers all contribute to getting the book sale set up They include people from Palmerston North Boys’ High School and New Kiwis Youth Group – which is made up of former refugees who’ve settled in the area. They’re supported by students from two different language schools many of them former refugees who help as a way to give back to New Zealand Red Cross. The community bands together to keep all volunteers fed throughout the four days All money raised goes towards New Zealand Red Cross We are grateful to all the volunteers — and the supporters — who make the Palmerston North Red Cross Annual Book Sale the must-attend event that it is. Event: Palmerston North Red Cross Annual Book Sale View our book sale details on Eventfinda 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 Palmerston North hospital staff are "freaked out" and want improved security after a gun-wielding man threatened their colleague who was walking to her car after her Friday night shift The nurses' union said it had been raising concerns about staff parking for months Health NZ said it was working on improving safety Police were called about 11pm on Friday after a man got into the back seat of the woman's car and pointed a gun at her said staff were "freaked out" by what happened Staff had told management they were worried about their safety walking to their cars at night in the dark He believed the hospital was trying its best and he understood people could call security and ask for an escort "Improved security would be nice," he said "Hospital staff are almost used to that kind of stuff at this point NZ Nurses' Organisation Palmerston North Hospital delegate Pip Fissenden said they had been calling for car park improvements for up to a year Workers had been struggling to find staff parks in the Wilson's car park because it was too full but they had been told not to park in the public spaces there "We've been told Te Whatu Ora is waiting for a national car parking policy But I don't know how you have a national policy about that when it's a local issue," she said Staff were stressed after hearing about what happened on Friday night and were thinking 'that could have been me' They had been told the hospital had been working on a permanent fix for months Health NZ's MidCentral group director of operations Fiona McCarthy said they recognised staff concerns and were committed to improving safety "The team is urgently working on increased permanent parking options for staff who work afternoon and night shifts." Staff had a range of options including paid onsite parking Historically all staff could park on site but demand outstripped availability so the hospital could not continue issuing parking permits to everyone after Friday's attack the hospital had opened up access to the staff carpark for those working afternoon and night shifts and boosted security on the hospital grounds Community tensions will surround the release of convicted double-murderer Mark Lundy from prison and Palmerston North does not want him back Lundy is expected to be released on parole from prison in May He was convicted in 2002 of murdering his wife Christine and daughter Amber in their Palmerston North home in 2000 A retrial in 2015 arrived at the same judgement re-mposing a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years Forensic evidence showed the killings were particularly brutal However, Lundy has continuously maintained he did not kill his wife and daughter, and a group of supporters have formed around him to fight for his cause Lundy filed for his case to be reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission Palmerston North residents want Lundy to stay away the Manawatū city's mayor Grant Smith said "For the people of Palmerston North [the case] was quite confronting I can recall at the time it really was almost disbelief that that had happened in our city," he said "I think most people will be going 'we don't want him in town Lundy said he would abide by the geographical restrictions placed on him when he is released Smith said he was surprised to hear Lundy had been granted parole and hoped the release restrictions stay in place regardless of what people think on all sides "And I'd have to say that those that were either connected to the trial or the police - even some family members it's etched in their minds what happened with the murder of his wife and his daughter." and was initially denied parole in both 2022 and 2023 His life sentence means that at any time he can be recalled to jail People living in the immediate area he will be living will be notified he will be living nearby he will be under a curfew and will be electronically monitored The parole board has also met with the people he will be staying with Lundy is forbidden from using drugs or alcohol and is not allowed to use social media or dating sites talk to the media or contact any registered victims or their families Probation officers have permission to access any internet-capable devices he has Lundy himself has told the parole board he has concerns about reactions to his release including worries about his own safety and about any repeat of an earlier experience where media had arrived in the street he was staying in He had also previously met with hostility from some in the community - including being yelled at aggressively and told to drop dead he told the parole board there had been more positive community interactions Lundy is scheduled to meet with the Parole Board in October Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The 66-year-old was twice convicted for the murder of his wife Christine and daughter Amber who will be released from prison next month after serving more than 23 years for murdering his wife and daughter say his fight to clear his name is continuing The 66-year-old has been granted parole and will be released from prison next month Here are all the key moments since the deaths of his wife and daughter The 66-year-old has served more than 23 years in jail since he was arrested for the murders of his wife and daughter First Person - As the latest hearing wraps up on the Mark Lundy case RNZ Court Reporter Anne Marie May looks back on both the High Court trials investigative journalist Mike White was approached by a supporter of Mark Lundy The Palmerston North City Council has come up with a creative solution that avoids lifting speed limits on some of its local roads A new Land Transport Rule came into effect in October last year requiring local councils to reverse certain speed limits reductions to their previous speed limits But instead of reversing lowered speed limits the council reclassified the roads The city's mayor Grant Smith describes the move as not 'anti - government' just 'common sense' See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes We’re keen to hear your views on our proposed annual budget for 2025/26. the cost of running the city is still going up and essential services all cost more than they used to the Government has reduced transport funding for Palmy That’s why we’re staying focused on delivering the services you rely on sticking closely to Year 2 of the Long-Term Plan we’re proposing a total rate increase of 7.7% which is lower than what we originally planned in the Long-Term Plan. Check the proposed rates for your property You can find the full details about what we’re proposing the financial challenges we’re facing and the programmes we’re planning to deliver in the consultation document and supporting information Consultation Document: Annual Budget 2025/26(PDF, 2MB) Supporting Information: Draft Annual Budget 2025/26(PDF, 12MB) While we are proposing a total rate increase of 7.7% it doesn’t mean every rates bill will go up by exactly that amount Council will hear oral submissions on 30 April and 1 May Index ordered by submission number(PDF, 466KB) Alphabetical index, ordered by surname or organisation name(PDF, 479KB) Submissions 1 to 71(PDF, 7MB) 72 to 88(PDF, 7MB) 89 to 92(PDF, 7MB) 93 to 98(PDF, 10MB) 99 to 104(PDF, 9MB) 105 to 109(PDF, 7MB) 110 to 113(PDF, 6MB) 114(PDF, 8MB) 115 to 119(PDF, 8MB) 120 to 131(PDF, 8MB) 132 to 135(PDF, 7MB) 136 to 138(PDF, 5MB) 139 to 163(PDF, 5MB) Quotable Value (QV) reassessed property values Many residential properties dropped in value but lower valuations don’t necessarily mean lower rates so we’ve adjusted how rates are shared among residential and industrial ratepayers to keep things fair We’re in year two of shifting more rates to be based on capital value (land and buildings) If your capital value is high compared to your land value kerbside recycling and rubbish+public recycling along with variable charges based on land and capital values As part of setting the city’s budget Some fees will increase from 1 July 2025 to keep services running smoothly Parking is an example of a user-pays charge and a large amount of parking revenue comes from people who don't live within our city The fees we are consulting on are for trade waste Council approved all other fees and charges for the year ahead at its meeting on 12 February 2025 Consultation document: Trade Waste Fees 2025/26(PDF, 215KB) Consultation document: Planning & Miscellaneous Fees 2025/26(PDF, 271KB) Excerpt from Council report: Fees & Charges 2025/26(PDF, 634KB) Read submissions on proposed fees & charges for planning & miscellaneous Services(PDF, 1MB) Council considers submissions and draft budget amendments Contact elected members Content warning: This story contains discussions of sexual abuse of children The prominent Palmerston North man jailed for sexually violating a 14-year-old boy in 2007 will keep his name secret for now The man was sentenced to seven years and two months imprisonment in Palmerston North District Court last Friday He was regarded as a leader in his profession and was well-known in the community Judge Stephanie Edwards declined his application for permanent name suppression but she made a temporary order until 11am today to allow his lawyer to file an appeal against the decision The court confirmed this morning one was to be filed so suppression will stay until a decision about that is made in the Court of Appeal in Wellington The man's application for suppression included concerns about safety in prison due to the actions of the victim or his associates something Judge Edwards said wasn't supported by evidence "The submission is speculative and casts aspersions on the victim's character," she said The application also cited concerns about the effect lifting suppression would have on the man's family members Judge Edwards said in favour of lifting suppression were the conviction of serious sexual offending and loss of presumption of innocence; public interest; the victim's views; and the chance more complainants would come forward as a result of publication told RNZ: "I want him to be named so that others can come forward At sentencing, the court heard the man denied his offending, which he was found guilty of at a trial late last year. He has also appealed against his convictions The victim's profile said he was 19, but the Crown said the man knew he was younger when they chatted online. the man plied the boy with alcohol and then engaged in sexual activity It was initially consensual but that changed and the victim said he was raped although in New Zealand rape only involves a penis and a vagina Police investigated in 2008 but didn't press charges before relooking at it in 2023 when another complainant came forward The man was in that case found not guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy who visited his Manawatū house after the pair chatted on gay dating app Grindr The victim from 2007 has told RNZ he felt sorry for the complainant in the 2023 incident as without him coming forward police wouldn't have relooked at the 2007 case "He's the reason I was able to get closure in my life The court heard last week the man had been diagnosed with an alcohol and drug disorder and depression although references provided to the court were positive about him and his selfless approach to his profession Defence lawyer Steve Winter said the man had two sides to his life If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk The man has been charged over two incidents A man who was 14 when he says he was raped by a prominent professional on trial for sexual abuse says the professional knew how young he was Manawatū residents at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer are vowing to fight a pause on surveillance colonoscopies at Palmerston North Hospital Some have already gone private to ensure they get the procedure done while Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson Malcolm Mulholland said protest action is planned said it is taking steps to work through the waiting list But those steps have not come quickly enough for Palmerston North man Bruce Culley He is one of about 850 patients in the MidCentral region who late last year received a letter saying surveillance colonoscopies at the city's hospital were on hold "I was meant to be having a colonoscopy in January "I got the other letter that everybody else got in December Health NZ said it was prioritising people with symptoms as regular check-up colonoscopies were paused for at least six months It has now told Checkpoint that from Saturday it will start some weekend sessions "Six more Saturday sessions are confirmed and booked and it is our intention to continue with at least two full Saturdays each month," said Sarah Fenwick Health NZ's group director of operations for MidCentral we are actively in the process of outsourcing further surveillance colonoscopy procedures and backfill lists." Culley last had a colonoscopy five years ago and previous ones had found polyps "I'm going to have it because I have got private health insurance and I'm going to hopefully use that Culley was one of about 60 people at a public meeting in Palmerston North on Tuesday night "This should not be happening," he told the meeting If this continues people will die and they will die of advanced bowel cancer because you're already at high risk of having bowel cancer That's why you have a surveillance colonoscopy." Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton came armed with numbers outlining the situation "We know that there are over 1600 people waiting for endoscopies here at MidCentral and we think about three quarters of those are colonoscopies "There are about 150 new referrals to the gastroenterology service every week and the number of new referrals that are being declined is about 25 every week." There were about five specialists working in the service at Palmerston North Hospital Dalton spoke about the moral injury medical professionals felt when they could not offer a required service and said there was a danger staff would be overworked and burn out staff at the service had built up about 280 days of unused annual leave telling people affected to complain loudly "It is painfully obvious that what is available at MidCentral currently falls far short of what is acceptable." Bowel Cancer New Zealand nurse support co-ordinator Victoria Thompson told the meeting about other options available to people waiting costing $3000 to $6000 in the private sector Herman Regan is another who had his appointment deferred and the pair said the pause affecting them spurred them into action concern about people from families such hers She is one of seven siblings and is the only one who has not had cancer Mulholland said Health NZ was invited to the meeting He told Checkpoint its initial steps to ease the backlog created by the pause were a drop in the bucket "The first thing I'll be doing is reaching out to the minister of health [Simeon Brown] and having a sit down asking him to help and roll his sleeves up to come up with some answers for the community "The second step will be to raise awareness through protests at a local level." Other options debated at the meeting included seeing if a private provider would provide a discount for a bulk referral a charity hospital to pick up the gaps in the public sector could be on the cards for the region Group director of operations at MidCentral Health New Zealand Sarah Fenwick told Checkpoint they could not keep up with demand for colonoscopies "We took the really difficult decision to pause surveillance colonoscopy because of resource constraints but due to staffing shortages here at mid central." "We needed to prioritise those who were acutely unwell and those who have symptoms we felt it was really critical that we were honest and transparent with our community." There were two vacancies within the service "We've been working to fill that as quickly as we can and that's where we thought it was a real priority to communicate with our patients about the waiting list for surveillance She said the initial pause had not impacted any patients who had symptoms of bowel cancer The pause would be short and MidCentral Health was working hard to get back on track MidCentral Health had been funding additional procedures through the private system "We already have some outsourced capacity; we're actually looking to increase that significantly But obviously we have to go through a procurement process for that." She said she acknowledged people who were waiting were worried about their health "That's incredibly distressing and scary for people to hear But what we are is incredibly committed to resolving this matter." "I'm genuinely sorry for the distress that this is causing to patients We do want to make this right and we're working really They were hoping to get through the backlog of patients by the end of June "Completely acknowledge that prevention is the best methodology But at the minute we have to work with the resources that we've got which is why we've been prioritising those patients that are acutely unwell or who are symptomatic." Manawatū residents at higher risk of developing bowel cancer have been told they will not get their regular check-up colonoscopies for at least six months The government is refusing to put a timeframe on meeting its pre-election promise to lower the age for free bowel screening The patient was told she needed an urgent colonoscopy just two days after the previous procedure showed normal results Staff have now been allowed to return to Wellington and Palmerston North district courtrooms after they were evacuated due to a bomb threat Wellington District Court was evacuated at 10.45am and staff and members of the public remain outside Palmerston North District Court was evactuated as a precaution before midday Both courts have now allowed people back inside knuckledusters and even a small axe are just some of the items Palmerston North property owners will soon receive new three-yearly rating valuations Updated values have been prepared for 34,888 properties in the city by independent valuers Quotable Value (QV) on behalf of Palmerston North City Council They reflect the likely price a property would have sold for on 1 September 2024 Since the city’s last revaluation in 2021 the value of residential housing has decreased by an average of 15% The average house value is now at $670,000 while the corresponding average residential land value has decreased by 24% to a new average of $368,000 QV registered valuer Simon Willocks said “Palmerston North wasn’t the only territorial authority to experience reduced capital and land values this year and it would not be the last after the previous triennial revaluation was undertaken at around the peak of the market.” The average capital value of an improved lifestyle property has eased back by 5.9% to $1,215,000 and the corresponding average land value for a lifestyle property declined by 4.8% to $556,000 “Lifestyle properties have followed a similar trend to the residential market but with moderate reductions by comparison,” Mr Willocks added commercial property values have had a slight decrease of 0.9% however property values in the industrial sector have increased by 12.0% since the City’s last rating valuation in 2021 Commercial and industrial land values have decreased 3.8% and increased 20.8% respectively Palmerston North’s rural sector is relatively small Its average capital and land value have also decreased slightly since 2021 The total rateable value for Palmerston North is now $30.96 billion with the land value of those properties now valued at $15.5 billion The Palmerston North City Council will use the new values as the base for setting rates from 1 July 2025 Council’s Manager of Financial Strategy said Council staff are now reviewing the values to assess the impact on rates for individual properties “It’s important to realise that changes to values do not increase or decrease the total rates revenue of the Council,” he said “Rates are based on the City’s long-term plan and annual budgets and are distributed according to each property’s share of the total City value New valuations help to redistribute rates fairly but do not impact the total revenue collected by the Council.” In addition to the changes to rates as a result of the revaluation there will also be changes due to the progressive implementation of the new rating system where a greater share of the rates is being based on the capital value rather than the land value of each property Council’s decisions about proposed rates from 1 July 2025 will be shared with the public as part of the consultation for its annual budget scheduled for March/April 2025 Rating valuations are usually carried out on all New Zealand properties every three years to help local councils assess rates for the following three-year period They are not intended to be used for any other purpose including raising finance with banks or as insurance valuations They reflect the likely selling price of a property at the effective revaluation date Any changes in the market since that time will not be included in the new rating valuations which often means that a sale price achieved today will be different to the new rating valuation Rating valuations are calculated using a highly complex and detailed process that utilises all relevant property sales from your area A large number of properties were also physically assessed particularly those that have been issued building consents in the last three years the updated rating valuations have been independently audited by the Office of the Valuer General to ensure they meet rigorous quality standards If owners do not agree with their rating valuation they have a right to object by 03 February 2025 Check the latest value of your property Get in touch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Police responded to reports of the incident on Thomson St in West End at around 5.40pm on Saturday. Acting Detective Sergeant Jo Gallon said no shots were fired, no injuries were reported and a 19-year-old male was arrested at the scene. "Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what occurred. "We know people recorded the incident on their phones, we are keen to view any footage obtained of the incident or male’s behaviour." A 19-year-old will appear in the Palmerston North District Court on March 24 on multiple charges in relation to the incident. A young man has been arrested after allegedly presenting a firearm at members of the public and police officers in Palmerston North yesterday. Crooks culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria Bush picked to take over as Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes Crime and Justice Police experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising Technology has outpaced a currently underway review of the Arms Act and criminals are already taking advantage US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Health Arrest after person assaulted A nurse leaving her shift last month was held up at gunpoint outside the grounds of the hospital More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one 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 A young man has been arrested after allegedly presenting a firearm at members of the public and police officers in Palmerston North yesterday Police responded to reports of the incident on Thomson St in West End at around 5.40pm on Saturday Acting Detective Sergeant Jo Gallon said no shots were fired no injuries were reported and a 19-year-old male was arrested at the scene "Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what occurred "We know people recorded the incident on their phones we are keen to view any footage obtained of the incident or male’s behaviour." A 19-year-old will appear in the Palmerston North District Court on March 24 on multiple charges in relation to the incident The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay A person is in custody after an alleged theft which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital Police said officers were called to a Ruahine St carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later "Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious Staff have been calling for security improvements Health NZ MidCentral operations group director Sarah Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer She said these included a security escort to vehicles increasing security services on hospital grounds and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts "Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said "Interim access to well-lit parking onsite with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed." rnz.co.nz 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 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." A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate 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 Have you received your enrolment pack in the mail from the Electoral Commission now’s the time to enrol or update your details so you can vote in the upcoming council elections and Māori Ward referendum More than 61,300 enrolment packs have been sent out across Palmy this week says one of the main reasons people miss out on voting is because they haven’t updated their address “It’s easy - update your details now and your voting papers will arrive in your letterbox in September we see people disappointed because their papers went to an old address meaning they have to visit us in-person to enrol and fill out extra forms.” Alongside voting for Palmerston North’s mayor and councillors you will also elect representatives for Horizons Regional Council and decide the future of Māori wards and constituencies in a binding referendum Palmerston North has a large transient population meaning many people need to update their details If you’ve changed addresses recently there’s a good chance your voting papers could end up at your old place,” says Mrs White You may also want to consider swapping between the Māori and General electoral rolls You can do this up until 11 July this year but still own a property and pay rates here you can vote by making sure you’re registered as a non-resident ratepayer elector but voting starts well before election day Enrolling early is the best way to ensure you get your say Update your details by the end of June to be sure we’re working to restore the mana and identity of Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park one of our city’s most significant sites we’re creating a space for everyone in the community to enjoy The planned facility will include a public café It will also have a strong educational focus making it a great place for school trips and a meaningful spot for locals to bring friends and whānau Work is expected to take place between late 2025 and 2027 but this depends on when funding is confirmed the design and exact location of the marae and cultural centre must go through the necessary Resource Management Act 1991 and Building Act 2004 approval processes which we’re currently working on. In 2019 we entered into a formal co-management agreement with Rangitāne o Manawatū to preserve this wāhi tapu (sacred place) This partnership ensures Te Motu o Poutoa is restored in a way that honours its deep significance to for Rangitāne and acknowledges those who have fallen The proposed visitor attraction will include a building to cater for a variety of uses It will be available for cultural and civic events Read more about the park and its significance for Rangitāne We’ll keep this page updated with the latest on funding Recently, we've been seeking community feedback on how the facility should be governed and managed in the future Health NZ says the hiring of three senior doctors will ease the pressure on the cardiology clinic at Palmerston North Hospital But a patient advocacy group says there are still concerns about the number of people being forced onto waiting lists Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland raised concerns about the clinic when it recently turned down a referral for a check-up ultrasound for a man who had had a triple heart bypass Health NZ group director of operations for MidCentral Sarah Fenwick said officials accepted there was a period of "reduced clinic capacity due to workforce constraints from March 2024 to March 2025" "This has now been resolved through additional staff including three senior medical officers," she said we were only able to accept referrals that had been triaged and determined by a cardiac specialist as urgent." Presently there were four to five a week with five appointments each we receive approximately 60 cardiology referrals per week with approximately seven declined each week." These numbers meant 20-25 patients were seen at the clinic a week Some weeks between March 2024 and March this year that would mean more than 30 people were added to the list "We know that from March 2024 to March 2025 that they are at least 1000 appointments behind Even with increased capacity in cardiology there's still some backlog to get rid of over and above trying to keep up with the demand that they face." Palmerston North Hospital had recently advised patients who were scheduled for surveillance colonoscopies there that the service was paused due to pressure on the gastro clinic although it had started doing some procedures Mulholland said cardiology patients deserved the same level of transparency if similar problems were to arise At least 15,000 patients are currently waiting for an echocardiogram for cardiac and cancer treatment Myles Dieming's ordeal began when he was at work the day of the rugby world cup final "If this continues people will die," a patient advocate says Health Minister Shane Reti says $6 million allocated to Palmerston North Hospital's ED will help ease waiting times and improve patient care and safety Hopefully this will be an annual event so let's start this off with a bang Get tickets and tell your punk pals!One more band to be announced so we'll update the poster then We are proposing to create a water organisation jointly owned with other Councils The water organisation would deliver water services to Palmerston North and this would be included in our water service delivery plan which we submit to the government before September This proposal satisfies the requirements of the legislation Option 1 and Option 2 explain potential arrangements for different council combinations We believe these options have the best outcomes for our community The impact of not proceeding with these options means we would not meet legal requirements The full impacts of this are detailed in Option 3 which we are legally required to consult on council staff and elected members have worked hard to understand the reforms to ensure our community is well taken care of in the future we think there would be advantages to working together in collaboration with others and we started talking to other councils about this some time ago We’ve looked at everything from our assets The options The money Under the Local Water Done Well legislation an economic regulator will monitor the pricing of water under any option The legislation asks us to explain to you how water can be funded in different ways Under the options it will be up to either Council or a new water organisation to determine how to do this in the future This is what we do currently in Palmerston North Residents connected to our water and wastewater networks pay a fixed rate each year for each service Everyone in the city pays a proportional amount for stormwater management Some people don’t think this is the best or a fair way to manage water as some homes use very little water but pay the same as those who use large amounts of water and may have things like outdoor irrigation These charges pay the day-to-day costs of getting you water Many Councils are introducing water meters Kāpiti Coast District Council uses water meters Palmerston North uses water meters for our commercial water users. Water meters are connected to each property and measure the volume of water used That then determines how much a property pays for water When Kāpiti Coast introduced meters there was a significant reduction in water use Some people view meters as a fairer option as you only pay for what you use It also means people with pools or irrigation systems pay for those large volumes of water some have concerns about the impact on large families or people who use more water for health reasons If councils collaborate to create a water services organisation there will need to be conversations about how water is charged to ensure it is consistent This could also be a conversation during any transition set-up We suspect that at some point in the near future The legislation requires that any organisation adopts pricing structures that reflect the cost of the services the legislation allows for charging people connected to the drinking water and wastewater networks We would also expect that all properties (regardless of if they’re connected to the water supply) would continue to contribute towards the cost of stormwater management The legislation requires that the costs for each are itemised It also allows for charges to be applied to properties not connected to the network but within the service area to reflect the cost of maintaining the service We expect that commercial water users and our trade waste (wastewater) customers will also continue to pay for their water Any new water organisation would look at how this works across the wider region to ensure it’s consistent Currently, your water costs are charged as part of your rates we expect that in time you would receive a separate invoice from the water organisation where you may receive an invoice monthly or quarterly You’d also talk to that organisation directly for any concerns or feedback about water or bill payments The legislation allows for late fees for unpaid charges There would be some large initial costs to set up a new water organisation They include things like transferring some legal responsibilities These costs wouldn’t apply for Option 3 most of the costs would be paid for by the water organisation These costs are included in the examples in Options 1 and 2 Read about the options In February and March this year we asked you to have your say on who manages Palmy's water in the future This is one of the most important decisions we'll make for our city in decades We received 290 submissions on our proposal They are now available to read via the link below Keep up with what's happening That’s the important question we need your feedback on Under the government’s Local Water Done Well programme and associated legislation all councils must consult with their communities on how they will manage and deliver water services in the future New Zealand is facing major challenges in maintaining and upgrading infrastructure such as roads Our city has generally managed its water assets well in an ever-changing legislative environment the costs of maintaining and improving this infrastructure are putting pressure on both central and local government agencies—and We must consult on our current approach to delivering water services, even though this option isn’t financially sustainable for us. This means it wouldn’t meet legal requirements under the new legislation. We have two alternative options for you to consider, along with high-level cost estimates for the coming decades. Read more about the options but one thing is clear—scale matters The more people (and their home or business water connections) we have contributing to costs the more affordable water services will be in the future but it’s crucial that you understand the challenges and have your say about the future of your water services This will be one of the most important decisions we make in the coming decades We’re not happy with the timeframes set by the government but we’re committed to providing you with the best information available and submit your feedback before 4pm on 30 March we must ensure water services continue to be done well in the future Read our consultation document(PDF, 2MB) We're proposing to create a water organisation jointly owned with other councils We've got three options for you to consider A man has been found critically injured after what Palmerston North police believe was an assault Saturday in the suburb of Cloverlea A police guard remained at the property overnight with a scene examination to be carried out over the coming days The man remained in hospital in a serious condition Detective Sergeant Shelley Ross said initial enquiries established the attack was an isolated case The woman was taken to hospital in a critical condition Inspector Paula Enoka said they have been charged with aggravated burglary assault with a weapon and possession of an offensive weapon Government ministers are claiming it as a win A person has died after a serious single-vehicle crash blocked the road between Pahiatua and Palmerston North on Tuesday Police were called to the scene on Pahiatua-Mangahao Road between Ridge Road North and Soldiers Road Two other people have also sustained minor injuries The Serious Crash Unit was at the scene investigating and the road will likely remain closed for some time Police said support was being offered to the family of the person who died and their death would be referred to the coroner Te Kete Aroha Massey University Foundation has announced the Te Waimana o Turitea project as part of its For a Better World fundraising campaign The Filtration Garden is to be the first phase of the Te Waimana o Turitea project Te Kete Aroha Massey University Foundation is proud to announce an exciting new initiative that will transform the 4.5-kilometre stretch of land along Palmerston North’s Turitea Stream into an innovative world-first environmental and educational park will serve as a lasting legacy for future generations and a living laboratory for environmental The Foundation is embarking on a fundraising campaign to support the first stage of this groundbreaking park which will be a dynamic space for research The project is set to solidify Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University as a global leader in sustainability and environmental research while enhancing the health of the Turitea Stream students and staff and providing a valuable resource to the local community and beyond Foundation Development Director Mitch Murdoch says the garden will provide a much-needed pathway for rangatahi into higher education “It will showcase the cutting-edge research and real-world solutions that Massey University is contributing to the environmental challenges of our time Te Waimana o Turitea will offer a literal pathway for students into higher education showcasing the university’s expertise in agriculture The park will serve as an open-air classroom highlighting research in areas such as ecology It will also provide the local community and international visitors with a unique space for recreation and learning all while contributing to the broader conversation about sustainability and environmental stewardship The first stage of development is planned for completion in time for the university’s centenary celebrations in 2027 The project has already garnered strong support from the tangata whenua Rangitāne o Manawatū and Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) with whom Massey is working in partnership to ensure the cultural and ecological integrity of the park Tanenuiarangi Manawatū Ropu Tumaki Danielle Harris says “The Turitea Stream and surrounding areas are an integral part of the tangata whenua rohe and we have been working for a number of years to restore it to its rightful mana and feel this exciting project will only enhance that journey for the benefit of current and future generations environmental sustainability and recreation.” Mayor of Palmerston North Grant Smith says “Council has chosen to make a one-off grant to Massey University for this project following a submission to our Long Term Plan in 2021 The funding is for the development of the landscape designs We believe this project will become an important destination for people of all ages from students to families and conservationists It will contribute to the region’s reputation as a vibrant sustainable community while providing critical research and educational opportunities for generations to come.” Te Waimana o Turitea is more than just a park; it’s a vision for a sustainable future As a research-led garden it will feature diverse plantings and will be used to study and demonstrate the regeneration of native forest ecosystems The park will also become an essential teaching resource for schools and students particularly those in the fields of agriculture addressing the growing need for skilled professionals in these critical industries Senior Lecturer in Plant Science Dr Vaughan Symonds will be playing a key role in the development of the garden He says the trail will be good for the ecosystem and for staff “The development of Te Waimana o Turitea presents significant opportunities in the education This project will function as a living laboratory fostering stronger connections between students of all ages and the natural world by providing valuable hands-on learning experiences in environmental stewardship for both the university and the wider community.” Te Waimana o Turitea will be developed in stages with the first phase being the Filtration Garden This initial phase will include a 1.6-kilometre pathway all designed to engage the public and provide space for educational programmes Future stages of the park will include areas like Te Ara Ranganui a treetop walkway telling the stories of Rangi and Papa which will be transformed into a multifunctional space for education and recreation Each stage will be designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing landscape providing both practical and symbolic connections to Massey’s broader sustainability goals The university will work closely with Rangitāne o Manawatū to embed in the garden stories that are important to tangata whenua and our region There are opportunities to teach Rangitāne history investigate the healing power of traditional Māori plants and most importantly to teach kaitiaki of the land The filtration zone has a high research and teaching impact and can be entered from several access points It will form the first 'loop' walkway extending from He Ara Kotahi to the Urban Eels platform along Poultry Farm Road and back to He Ara Kotahi This area has already been cleared of willow Adding an approximate 1.6km pathway and boardwalk over the restored wetland areas will allow the public to access the area which will be planted in natives and have approximately four research gardens built along the path with a teaching platform to allow large groups of students to gather alongside the stream The heartline path will then be extended beyond the filtration zone through the garden along Turitea Stream to Old West Road allowing pedestrian and cycle access through the entire space – creating a myriad of different opportunities and paths for visitors and allowing other gardens to be built off the path as funding becomes available Te Ara Ranginui is the proposed second zone that the university would like to progress This garden joins the filtration zone and is a treetop walkway which ascends 30 metres from the historic Craiglockhart building through a stand of (approximately) 100-year-old Kahikatea down into Te Mara Papatānūka; a walled garden which will display taonga from all around the motu The walkway can be experienced on several different levels: it will give students and visitors access to the different canopy layers in the Kahikatea it can be experienced purely as a high-level walkway or it can be enjoyed as an architectural structure and artwork.The walkway offers potential to be lit during Puanga and tell this significant story It also serves as a platform to view Ranginui and the rising Puanga star The area is likely to be a major attraction for schools and groups from the local area and attract environmental tourists and day-trippers The existing arboretum will be transformed with several amphitheatres that can be used as teaching platforms or as stages for plays An old pond/oxbow will be reinstated to assist with drainage and the ‘diggings’ from the pond will be used to build up the stop banks of the stream which will be sculpted and used for seating around the main amphitheatre The mature trees of the arboretum will be used for teaching students but also provide a mature park-like space for visitors The Foundation is seeking support from local bodies philanthropists and funding agencies to make Te Waimana o Turitea a reality with an ambitious yet pragmatic plan to develop the park in stages The success of this campaign will depend on community involvement and the generosity of those who share Massey’s vision for a more sustainable future The first phase of the Te Waimana o Turitea project will cost approximately $10 million to build and a further $2 million will need to be endowed to maintain the area in perpetuity to give a total budget of $12 million For more information about the Te Waimana o Turitea project or to learn how you can support the campaign, please visit the Te Waimana o Turitea website or contact Foundation Development Director Mitch Murdoch via email or on + 64 (0)6 951 6599 or +64 (0)21 423 668 Te Waimana o Turitea is part of the Foundation’s For a Better World campaign which has a goal of building Massey’s endowment fund to $100 million of assets by the end of 2027 coinciding with the university’s 100th anniversary For a Better World aims to help pioneer a brighter better world for us all by building on Massey University’s world-leading expertise in the food environment and health sectors to support New Zealand with leadership highly skilled graduates and industry-driven research This will enable Massey to help pioneer solutions for some of the most compelling issues of our time: issues like sustainable food production alternative energy sources and flood mitigation Read more about the campaign online. A visionary transformation of the stream that runs through its Manawatū campus to inspire generations towards a more sustainable future is at the heart of an exciting fundraising campaign by Massey Foundation launching today Two Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University alumni have gifted a total of $2.3 million to the Massey University Foundation which will support students in their study journey through scholarships Philanthropist and veteran businessman and director Bryan Mogridge is the new chair of the Massey University Foundation Board Email: contact@massey.ac.nzPhone (NZ): 0800 627739Phone (International): +64 6 350 5701Text: 5222 Social media More ways to get in touch Download the Massey Uni app Donate We pride ourselves on being a camper-friendly city with several Council-owned locations offering a range of amenities for your stay. Whether you're travelling in a self-contained campervan or looking for a full-service campground and enjoy the best of our city and its surroundings This picturesque riverside location is perfect for those seeking a natural setting close to the city and is right next to pathways and a dog park Fully self-contained campervans may camp for up to 3 consecutive nights Stays longer than 3 nights require Council approval before you park up For more information, see our Ahimate Reserve page This Department of Conservation style campground (pictured above) includes showers Ideal for those wanting a cost-effective option with basic amenities while enjoying the natural charm of Ashhurst playgrounds and walking tracks for your furry friend this is a great destination for the whole whānau For more information, see our Ashhurst Domain page A more traditional camping experience with comprehensive facilities for both campers and caravans. No dogs are allowed here For more information, visit the Holiday Park website This is an inner city car park with designated parking spaces for campervans making it an excellent choice for a quick stopover Easy walking distance ( about 700 metres) to bars and restaurants in the city centre See the location on a map Keep our environment clean by using one of our designated wastewater dump stations across the city Click on the links for information about the individual dump stations on the NZMCA website Totara Road (pictured above) Custom Street, Ashhurst To ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience A man has been charged with murder after a person died following an assault in Palmerston North on Tuesday Police were called to a Te Awe Awe Street address in the suburb of Hokowhitu just after 8am Tuesday, where they located a critically injured man who died a short time later Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said a 24-year-old man has been charged with murder and is expected to make his first appearance in the Palmerston North District Court on Wednesday Thompson said the pair were known to each other The scene examination at the address is expected to finish on Wednesday and post mortem is being carried out The man's body was removed from the scene on Tuesday during which members of his family were present and a karakia was conducted "Police extend our sympathies to the family of the deceased as we continue to work to piece together how he came to suffer fatal injuries," Thompson said Emergency services were called to Te Awe Awe Street just after 8am Tuesday The family first disappeared in September 2021 Some parents are angry the school was not closed until after they left their children The 39-year-old man died at a social housing complex on Sunday Police cordons have been removed from a Palmerston North street after an earlier possible sighting of a man who aimed a gun at an officer The gunman has been on the run since Tuesday night police approached a man and established there was a warrant for his arrest The man then became agitated and presented a firearm to an officer A Palmerston North chemist owner said police swarmed a street in Highbury on Wednesday afternoon The street was blocked off by officers and Carroll said parents were waiting at the cordon for their children who were coming home from school Carroll said he felt a lot more safer knowing police were in the area Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham on Wednesday evening offered his apologies to residents in the area for the disruption or for any fright caused Residents were now able to return to their homes and locals within the area could go about their business Grantham on Wednesday told Midday Report he believed the public was safe and there was no immediate threat to the community or any associates to provide any information on his location "We have the Criminal Investigation Branch engaged in locating this young man and we have a very experienced set of detectives," he said Grantham would not disclose physically defining features of the man but stressed police were working hard to bring him into custody "I don't think it would help in this situation for us to describe the male because we know who he is "The public are safe with what we know and the actions we are taking." The same man also aimed a gun at a member of the public who was walking on Featherston Street as he was fleeing police Grantham said police were providing support to the officer involved who was not physically harmed They would not accept violence or attempted violence against officers or anyone in the community Grantham said further disruptions in the area were possible if the man did not turn himself in Police are asking for anyone who witnessed the incident or know the person involved to get in touch on either 105 or online using the reference file number 250212/1858 By Jeremy Wilkinson, Open Justice reporter of Warning: The story contains details of animal abuse Two 4-month-old puppies were beaten so badly with a fence paling one never recovered and had to be euthanised Crimson Toto's neighbour called the SPCA after watching the man beat his two dogs after they escaped his house and hid under a tree As Toto lashed out with the fence paling at the dogs where he was struck at least three more times before being taken inside The neighbour heard thumps from inside Toto's house accompanied by a "screaming puppy," Judge Jonathan Krebs described at Toto's sentencing in the Palmerston North District Court on two charges of willful ill-treatment of animalstoday "It's clear from the material that the dogs were under a significant degree of pain," Judge Krebs said "You injured their bones and their internal organs The judge said after Toto's neighbour called the SPCA the animal welfare charity immediately attended and confiscated the dogs Veterinarian staff later found Hunnie had suffered a fractured pelvis and blunt trauma to one of her back legs suffered a fractured thigh bone and injuries to his lungs The SPCA noted he was cowering and afraid of men That fear did not subside and despite attempts to have him adopted he had to be returned to the SPCA and was later euthanised Hunnie recovered from the injuries and was successfully adopted Judge Krebs told Toto he was charged with the most serious offence of animal cruelty available "The beating of a dog with a piece of wood The judge noted while the beating Toto handed down was not sadistic Judge Krebs said Toto had endured a rough home life and was subject to violence growing up and there was a clear link between his background and his offending He sentenced Toto to 14 months home detention and disqualified him from owning a dog in the future SPCA chief executive officer Todd Westwood said a veterinarian concluded the injuries would have caused severe pain for the puppies "These puppies should have had better care from the person responsible for them not made to cower in fear of being beaten," Westwood said in a statement "I am grateful to the member of the public for her brave intervention to get help for the puppies "You heard their helpless screams and knew to take action * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald We’re asking residents to jump on board our Summer Water Use initiative to help Palmy avoid water restrictions for the fifth year in a row While we’ve been getting the rain these past few weeks, Three Waters Group Manager Mike Monaghan says we all need to be mindful about our water use now Summer Water Use began 5 years ago to encourage Palmy residents to voluntarily act as though they’re already in water restrictions and to only use water outside between 7pm and 9pm every second day. The day you choose should be based on the number on your letterbox: even houses water on even days “Our community listened and we’ve managed to get through the past few summers without any restrictions We need everyone to get into summer water use now so that we can hopefully avoid or at least delay the need for water restrictions in 2025 We’re asking people to start these efforts now It was great that we could avoid water restrictions these past few summers and we really hope we can make it 5 summers in a row.” Mr Monaghan says come January we will be doing a lot of reminders to our community as summer heats up Palmy will only move to compulsory restrictions on outdoor water use if our water conservation efforts aren’t enough and we have concerns about a water shortage. Palmy's water supply mainly comes from the Turitea Dam but it also has several aquifer bores around the city and villages Longburn and Bunnythorpe each have only one bore to supply them. but that can change quickly with a few hot sunny days Mr Monaghan says once the dam level begins dropping water conservation efforts become very important. He thanks the community for being stewards of a precious resource. “Our city is extremely fortunate compared to many others around the country We have planned well and have a range of water sources available It focuses on choosing to minimise our water use over summer changing our behaviour long-term and valuing water as the incredibly precious taonga it is.” Mr Monaghan says we will provide frequent updates on our website social media and to media about the city’s water use We also have an icon that will be on our website social media and on the isite billboard showing our how water conservation efforts are going We’ve adopted a similar icon to the Fire Service warning of fire risk We can all make easy changes to save water this summer: Support was being provided to the officer who the gun was pointed at Police have been working through the night to find an armed offender who pointed a gun at officers and a member of the public in Palmerston North “A number of inquiries” were made overnight to try to find the man who brandished a firearm as police were trying to arrest him Officers spotted the man walking in Highbury about 8.30pm on Tuesday and approached him as they believed there was a warrant for his arrest and approached the man who had since walked to a nearby address on Brentwood Ave He was confirmed to have a warrant for his arrest after police attempted to take him into custody presenting a firearm at the officer before fleeing the scene,” a police spokesperson said in a statement Police today corrected their earlier statement that said he was believed to have been involved in an earlier incident where a gun was pointed at a member of the public while walking on Featherston St The spokeswoman confirmed this incident actually occurred after he had pointed the gun at police Police put cordons in place around the area on Tuesday and responded with armed officers as a precaution “We will not accept violence or attempted violence against our officers We are out there every day working to keep our communities safe in what is increasingly a hostile environment,” the spokesperson said “We are providing support to the officer involved in this incident – while they were fortunately not physically harmed the impact on this officer cannot be underestimated and have not yet reported information to us please contact police on 105 either online or over the phone and reference file number: 250212/1858.″ Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Mark Lundy is expected to be released on parole from prison in May Community tensions will surround the release of convicted double-murderer Mark Lundy from prison Lundy is expected to be released on parole from prison in May He was convicted in 2002 of murdering his wife, Christine, and daughter, Amber, in their Palmerston North home in 2000 A retrial in 2015 arrived at the same judgment reimposing a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years However, Lundy has continuously maintained he did not kill his wife and daughter and a group of supporters has formed around him to fight for his cause Palmerston North residents want Lundy to stay away, the Manawatū city’s mayor Grant Smith said I can recall at the time it really was almost disbelief that that had happened in our city,” he said “I think most people will be going ‘We don’t want him in town At a Parole Board hearing on Thursday, Lundy said he would abide by the geographical restrictions placed on him when he is released Smith said he was surprised to hear Lundy had been granted parole and hoped the release restriction stayed in place “And I’d have to say that those that were either connected to the trial or the police - even some family members it’s etched in their minds what happened with the murder of his wife and his daughter.” Lundy served 23 years in prison and was initially denied parole in both 2022 and 2023. His life sentence means that at any time he can be recalled to jail People living in the immediate area where he will be living will be notified that he will be living nearby He is also forbidden from talking to the media or contacting any registered victims or their families Lundy himself has told the parole board he has concerns about reactions to his release including worries about his own safety and about any repeat of an earlier experience when media had arrived in the street where he was staying He had also previously met with hostility from some in the community including being yelled at aggressively and told to drop dead Lundy is scheduled to meet with the Parole Board in October to review his release Ngāi Tai) is about to release his first Māori language album also announces a 11-date album tour of Aotearoa.Performing with his long-time band The Yarra Benders as well as some special appearances from some of the album’s collaborators Marlon Williams will bring Te Whare Tīwekaweka to life across the main stages in our most illustrious theatre venues.In another first Marlon will make his debut headline appearance at Tāmaki Makauru’s Spark Arena this Matariki in what promises to be a sparkling and spectacular arena show.“Ko te reo Māori he matapihi ki Te Ao Māori” goes the Māori whakatauki that has guided Te Whare Tīwekaweka Translated to “The Māori language is a window to the Māori world,” it expresses Marlon’s motivation behind this album “Through the process of constructing these songs sorrows and humour in a way that feels both distinctly new yet also connects me to my tīpuna and my whenua.” Throughout the five years Marlon spent creating the album Ōtautahi after a globe-trotting decade establishing his career His journey developing his ancestral tongue unlocked both a newfound lyrical honesty and a grand sonic vision Supported by long-time touring band The Yarra Benders co-producer Mark Perkins (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) the He Waka Kōtuia singers and featuring the collaboration with Lorde the album is a collection at once contemporary and timeless traversing Marlon’s familiar folk-country-bluegrass territory while continuing his exploration of poppier waters and the inherent rhythms of Māori music I had a bucketload of whakamā to push through before I could even approach my friend KOMMI about helping me write songs in Māori We took this song out on the road with us five years ago and it just felt so damn good to play I’m proud of it for reasons deeper than I’ve felt as a songwriter before This song acted as a guiding light for the rest of the album to follow.” “I hope that music may do the mahi that conversation cannot and that it may broaden and deepen our sense of interconnectedness,” he says Marlon has widened the portal through which that connection might happen.Opening all shows throughout Aotearoa is Marlon’s dear friend KOMMI.KOMMI (Kāi Tahu Te-Āti-Awa) is a non-binary solo music artist and a lecturer in Māori and Indigenous Studies and Te Reo Māori at the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University They also teach reo Māori within the community of Ōhinehou/Lyttelton and throughout Ōtautahi They have just completed the recording of ‘TAUWHENUA’ Experimental Hip-hop Reo EP with producer Infectiouss (Zac Harding) KOMMI regularly composes reo Māori waiata with various NZ musicians including Troy Kingi (Te Arawa Delaney Davidson and more recently the significant collaboration with Marlon on Te Whare Tīwekaweka Tickets go on sale midday Wednesday 5 March we’ll be asking the Palmerston North community to share their thoughts on how our city’s water services should be managed in the future. Council met today in an Extraordinary Council session to consider the options for our city Elected members voted to seek public feedback on options which would see us partner with other councils to create a council-controlled organisation for future water services Mayor Grant Smith says over the past few years both Council staff and elected members have spent a lot of time working on what our future water management could look like under different government proposals and advocating for our community throughout those different processes we’ve been working closely with other councils in the Horizons boundary area to consider options for our local councils We’ve considered things from governance potential water service delivery models and the costs for our community That work has meant each council now has their own set of options to consider with their own community Some of them will be different to ours based on what is important for their community.” In today’s meeting elected members expressed concerns and how uncomfortable they felt about the pace needed to meet the government guidelines They commented that it isn’t good for our community to not have full detail needed to provide thorough feedback nor for them to make good decisions in a condensed timeframe for such a significant decision. Our elected members have identified option 2 as the preferred option to take out for consultation Elected members were keen to send a strong signal to those councils that we think there are increased benefits if we collaborate That’s because it has scale with 230,000 people & 71,000 water connections and includes a number of other values that matter to our community. a single Palmerston North City Council-controlled organisation That’s because it would not be cost-effective for our community and therefore is very unlikely to meet legislative requirements long-term. Under options 2 and 3 we would transfer the drinking water and wastewater assets to a water services organisation The council will need to decide what the future strategy for stormwater will be and how this is then considered with the options presented. The government is releasing its third bill in December The bill has some crucial information for us to consider before consulting with our community It includes the requirements for financial sustainability and the requirements around setting up a council-controlled organisation We expect to consult with our community from late February We will have hearings so people can speak to their submission and then make a decision in June. We need to have a water services plan lodged with the government by 3 September 2025 That plan will outline how we currently manage our water services and how we plan to do it in the future The plan will also need to demonstrate that the model will be financially sustainable record how we engaged with our community on the decision outline how we will ensure that our water services will be compliant and our plan for maintaining and upgrading our water infrastructure over time. Mayor Grant Smith says this will be one of the most important decisions for Palmerston North and it’ll be essential that everyone has their say. “Over the summer we will be running an education campaign about this project with open days at our wastewater plant info at our libraries and Customer Service Centre and we’ll be out and about at events this summer During consultation you'll have plenty of opportunities to feed into the process and ask questions too.” The District Courts in Wellington and Palmerston North were evacuated after receiving threats According to the spokeswoman who confirmed the incidents the Wellington High Court was targeted as well but no call for evacuation was made The specifics of the threats made were not disclosed security staff herded people out of the Wellington District Court and into the streets Robinson told the Herald that a staff member said the evacuation was caused by a bomb threat Another witness passing by the scene said a warden had told him the same thing A loudspeaker announcement was not made during the evacuation at the Wellington District Court Police confirmed that the Palmerston North District Court was evacuated an hour after the Wellington District Court People were permitted to re-enter the courthouses again a little before 1:30pm Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man died following an assault in Hokowhitu where a man was critically injured following an assault One person was taken into custody at the scene "Those involved were known to each other and police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident," Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said A scene examination will be occurring over the next couple of days while police work to piece together the circumstances leading up to the fatal assault Emergency services were called to an address on Innes Rd in Mairehau about on Sunday night as rose lovers across the country showcase their blooms at displays and competitions Palmerston North is preparing to mark the 54th anniversary of the International Rose Trials at the Victoria Esplanade Gardens this weekend Palmerston North City Council staff have been nurturing 50 roses submitted by growers and hybridisers worldwide for these trials highlights the exciting innovations in the rose industry reflected in these trials “Breeders around the globe are focusing on roses with more blooms It's an exciting time for rose enthusiasts.” The roses are assessed by a dedicated panel of 20 judges over two years Roses scoring 70 points or more are awarded Certificates of Merit Special honours are reserved for roses that excel in fragrance or bring unique characteristics Should a New Zealand-bred amateur rose receive an award it will earn the prestigious Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North is awarded annually to the top-performing rose grown in the International Rose Trial Grounds Mr Ford notes that this recognition benefits the breeder and agent by boosting the rose’s visibility and marketability throughout New Zealand “These awards enhance Palmerston North’s reputation and highlight the Victoria Esplanade Gardens as a world-renowned rose-growing destination.” The winners will be announced by Mr Ford and Mayor Grant Smith at the gazebo in the Dugald MacKenzie Rose Garden on Sunday Don't miss the opportunity to witness these spectacular blooms and celebrate the art of rose breeding