SERIOUS SELLERS DEMAND ACTION !!Tender: Closes on Tuesday 20 May 2025 at 2:00PM (unless sold prior) POULTRY INVESTMENT WITH 1O YR LEASE - MULTIPLE INCOME STREAMS For the purpose of this transaction the vendor is GST Registered and the Purchase Price Plus GST (if any) Attracting smart investors and land bankers is this exceptional passive poultry investment with a 10 year lease to Tegel Foods Limited with an income of $667,416 + GST pa As the property owner you get to sit back Tegel Foods Limited is one of New Zealand's largest and most prominent food producers in NZ producing the most consumed meat in NZ The leased area consists of approx 3 ha of land five sheds with a total production area of over 6800 sqm (approx) along with the scope for future expansion with a resource consent granted for a further three sheds being an additional 5400 sqm (approx) which could add to your nest egg The property is situated on 9.27 hectares (22.9 acres) of gently contoured land The balance of the land along with a spacious lockwood style home & a substantial 242 sqm high stud shed with accommodation facilities are not part of lease and therefore provide the opportunity to generate an additional healthy income or provide a comfortable lifestyle living home & income The lockwood style home brings a combination of comfort & warmth throughout the timber interior alongside large windows streaming light in which has a rental appraisal for up to $750 per week The addition of the rent from this house could provide further income potential of approx $39,000 per annum plus additional possibilities for the lease of the implement shed Not only will this property give you an opportunity to landbank on the outskirts of Pukekohe but also generate a healthy return at the same time Being strategically located south of Auckland and 5km from motorway access making this an ideal location for a parent stock rearing farm for Tegel Foods limited Having been in the family for several years the retired vendor has made the decision to sell Excellent opportunity for investors to acquire a substantial agribusiness enterprise in an industry with a reputation for regular and consistent income and high returns on investment Calculate your returns and present your Tender See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started Please note NoR 5 Pukekohe South-East Arterial is currently in the Appeals Phase and does not have a confirmed designation in the Auckland Unitary Plan The Pukekohe arterials will provide connections to the future urban zones in Pukekohe These arterial routes will connect people with key local destinations provide connectivity and greater access to the wider transport network and provide an alternative route to the current main road through the Pukekohe town centre.  1845: Paerata connections 1846: Pukekohe North-East Arterial 1847: Pukekohe South-West upgrade 1848: Pukekohe North-West upgrade The following corridors are confirmed and operative in the Auckland Unitary Plan with conditions Use the links to view the conditions for each designation Alternatively, you can view the conditions in Chapter K of the Unitary Plan (opens in a new tab).  This project is currently in the appeal period Submitters had 15 working days in which they could appeal to the Environment Court against the whole or any part of the decision from AT Appeals are under Section 174 of the Resource Management Act 1991.   During this process AT works together with appellants to come to a resolution  If both parties can't resolve the appeal independently the Environment Court can appoint a mediator to facilitate the conversation If a resolution can't be reached through court assisted mediation then an Environment Court hearing will take place and the Environment Court will issue a decision on the outcome There is currently no funding for detailed design or construction of this project We anticipate the project will be delivered sometime within the next 30 years in line with Auckland Council’s land release strategy A school bus with 20 children on board has crashed into a ditch south of Auckland this morning A parent says the bus slid off the road while it attempted to move out of the way of a truck on a narrow road Police say none of those in the bus at the time were injured but the driver raced to get the children out through the emergency exit A police spokesman said the bus “came to rest in a ditch” on Jericho Rd “The bus was carrying approximately 20 children at the time.” A concerned parent said the bus slid off the road when they were forced to reverse due to a truck coming in the opposite direction on the narrow road “The road is not wide enough for two vehicles in a lot of sections let alone a bus and an oncoming truck approaching from the opposite direction “The bus driver had to reverse to a wider section of road for the truck to fit past but slid off the road as the road has broken away over the years and the council hasn’t fixed it.” The parent said their bus driver “was awesome” and he did not want people to believe he had “crashed” this morning A St John spokesman said one person was “moderately injured” and treated at the scene The spokesman said the children were helped out of the emergency exit by the driver and were taken to school by their parents Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. An ambulance and rapid response vehicle are on-site. 15 May 2025 17:00424240m²2.51haLifestyle Shedding and more to DiscoverThis dream lifestyle property is located in Pukekohe East with easy access to the Motorway at Bombay and Pukekohe's town amenities Prominently placed on a secluded 2.5050 hectares of picturesque land this charming 4-bedroom home offers the perfect blend of comfort This meticulously renovated home boasts a modern kitchen and two spacious living areas The dining area and second living offer spectacular views of the property The master bedroom has its own fully tiled ensuite and is located for the morning sun Landscaping has been truly thought out for easy care giving you more time to enjoy lifestyle living at its finest The al fresco living area is a lovely place to enjoy friends and family while soaking in the view This well considered integrated outdoor living flows seamlessly from house to land THE SHED has been set up for true versatility Behind the roller door you will find a large workshop area toys or projects that require further space Behind that is a stable and tack room for the horse or pony you even get your own entrance You have a smoko room or quiet personal space in the back of the shed for your cuppa while working on your next project The fencing is just as meticulous as the home A well thought out water system has a redundancy built in to help with a dry summer Six paddocks with a separate road entrance giving you full truck access making it easier to bring in or send out stock from your own stockyards You gain some truly unique features with native bush waterfall and even a swimming hole to cool off on a hot summer's day A truly idyllic lifestyle property like this does not come on the market often Now is the time to secure your own personal piece of paradise and escape the ever-growing city Viewings on this one-of-a-kind property are by open homes make the time to introduce yourself and family to your new home To be sold at Auction (unless sold prior) 5.00pm 15th May 2025 ay 24 Seddon Street Pukekohe The first of two ‘tie-ins’ to connect our new Pukekohe East reservoir with the water supply network will begin early tomorrow morning on Wednesday 15 June. Construction on the 50-million-litre storage reservoir began in 2018. Its completion next month will enable the Waikato Water Treatment Plant to treat 175 million litres of water a day. Project manager Faiz Salim says work to connect the reservoir with the existing watermain will be carried out in two stages, with the first starting in the early hours of tomorrow morning. “We’ll be temporarily diverting the water to maintain supply to all residents while the connection is completed,” Salim says. “We expect this first tie-in to be finished within 24 hours.” Engineers will be constantly monitoring water flow and pressure during this time. “There is a small chance that we may get some air in the pipes, which could make the water appear cloudy in parts of Pukekohe, Tuakau and Pokeno,” Salim says. “If this happens, there is nothing to worry about – it’s just tiny air bubbles in the water which will soon disappear, leaving you with normal clear water that’s perfectly safe to drink.” The Waikato Water Treatment Plant can currently treat up to 165 million litres of water a day. The reservoir’s completion will lift this to 175 million litres a day. “This is a crucial project for Aucklanders and we’ve worked really hard to deliver it on time, even with the Covid-19 shutdown,” Salim says. “It means we can treat more water from the Waikato River and ease some of the pressure on our Hūnua dams, which have been particularly hard hit by the drought. “It also adds resilience to the southern water network. It holds 50 million litres, so if we were to have a power failure at our Waikato plant, for example, we would be able to maintain supply with the water stored in this reservoir.” At 57.5 per cent, Auckland’s total dam storage level is still far below the historical average of 83 per cent for this time of year. Long-range forecasts are predicting a very dry spring, which is why we are still asking all Aucklanders to save 20 litres per person every day. Copyright 2024 Watercare. All rights reserved FranklinAsking price $1,850,0003228,870m²!! PRICE DROPPED - $100,000 - ACT NOW !!!PRICED $140k UNDER CV Electric gates offer entry to this private peaceful 8870m2 (2.19 acres) gently contoured property and its black brick with metal tile roof and double glazed joinery home constructed in 2021 by Golden Homes and boasting a floor area of 291 square metres and under roof expanse of 383 square metres Over-sized doors and 2.55 metre ceilings throughout amplify the spacious ambience insulation and ducted air conditioning cater for total comfort and rural views add to the tranquil environment Double doors open into the entry foyer where a long wide hallway with sensor lighting leads past a lounge/media room offering endless hours of enjoyment Equipment here is included with the sale of the home Four wall mounted TV’s throughout the home are also included in the chattel list both with built-in wardrobes and serene views across a neighbouring farm share a family bathroom with bath and shower and wall heater double doors reveal expansive open plan living where sliding stacker doors in the family area open to a northern patio This adjoins the super-stylish kitchen with matt finish engineered stone benchtops and splashback wall oven in the butler’s pantry and island bench with breakfast bar A wall of sliding stacker doors in the dining section spill out to expansive under-roof entertaining and leisure There’s also entry to the lounge/media room from here A separate hall off family living leads to the ultra-scenic master bedroom generously gifted with expansive views ensuite with dual head shower and dual basin vanity and sliding door patio access There’s also a laundry here with outdoor access and entry off the hall to the double lock-up garage a filtration system and plenty of extra parking community amenities and the northern motorway this stand-out home in its well-regarded location invites your early inspection metal tile roof & double glazed construction • Chattels include media room equipment + 4 mounted TVs • Double doors off entry foyer into large light open plan living • Sundrenched family zone spilling out to a northern patio • Dining section with sliding stacker wall opening outdoors • Large covered patio – scenic entertaining & leisure area • Dual entries to lounge/media room + projector & speakers • 2 scenic bedrooms with built-in wardrobes • Spacious laundry with storage & outdoor drying access • Home entry into double lock up garage + door to garden • Abundant extra outdoor parking for numerous vehicles • Zoned for Bombay Primary School and Pukekohe High School See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life A person has been killed in a crash between a truck and car in Pukekohe East The vehicles collided on Pukekohe East Road Police said Pukekohe East Road was closed to traffic A teenager has been charged with murder after the death of a woman in the Dunedin suburb of Wakari overnight Te Whatu Ora Waitaha has confirmed gang members blocked off public parks at Christchurch Hospital in the lead-up to Christmas The Associate Agriculture Minister says Cyclone Hale has taken a mental toll on Tairāwhiti farmers and growers as they've seen too many floods over the years to count The body of a surfer has been found on a beach in South Taranaki New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News Franklin Arts Centre provides a space for the local Pukekohe community to experience the visual arts The centre hosts two gallery spaces for exhibitions a retail shop featuring local arts and crafts The New Zealand Steel Gallery is the main exhibition space and shows the work of national Exhibitions in the gallery are typically scheduled for six weeks A feature of the exhibition schedule is ongoing free (or affordable) programme events related to each exhibition Franklin Arts Centre is an Auckland Council arts facility Check out our upcoming events and exhibitions on Facebook. Charges may apply to workshops and special exhibitions. There is accessible parking nearby, and the facility (including gender neutral bathrooms) is wheelchair accessible. You will not receive a reply. Do not include personal information. FranklinBy negotiation63239.27haFUTURE URBAN ZONED - HIGH GROWTH AREAFLEXIBLE SETTLEMENT TERMS AVAILABLE After many years of being held in the same family this financial growth opportunity is for sale This brilliant property has elevated views across Pukekohe township and a gentle to rolling contour It has approximately 325 metres of road frontage along Pukekohe East Road and comprises a total of 39.26 Hectares split between Auckland and Waikato Council It has a 360 square metre house along with multiple other outbuildings with this site positioned 1.5km from Pukekohe 36km south of the Auckland International Airport and 4km from northern and southern motorway access at Bombay There is an uncovenanted stand of picturesque native bush The Auckland Council portion is 22.05 Hectares Zoned Future Urban while the remaining 17.21 Hectares is zoned Rural under Waikato Regional Council The Future Urban Zone is a transitional zone applied to greenfield land that has been identified as suitable for urbanisation Land may be used for a range of general rural activities but cannot be used for urban activities until the site is rezoned for urban purposes The Pukekohe - Paerata structure Plan 2019 proposes this land to be rezoned to Residential - Mixed Housing Suburban This plan is estimated to provide about 12,517 houses/dwellings and 5018 jobs with a population of about 33,809 this approximately doubles the existing population of Pukekohe Notable plan changes and developments in the area include: * Anselmi Ridge is 700m to the west with current residential properties and further development underway * Kohe Development — 1.2km west of 140 Pukekohe East Road; 30 Hectares of Future Urban Land rezoned to Residential Mixed housing Urban * Proposed Private Land Change 98 — Borders the western boundary of 140 Pukekohe East Road and is proposed to rezone 27 hectares of Future Urban land to Mixed Housing Urban Zone * Golding Meadows and Auckland Trotting Club Development — 82 hectares re zoned to a combination of Business - Light Industry Zone (19.97ha) Residential - Mixed Housing Urban (62.35ha) and Neighbourhood Centre Zone Forward-thinking developers and investors will be quick to recognise the potential this property offers Whether you land bank it while council rezones it or apply for a private plan change the potential in this pre-programmed high-growth area is unmatched See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life. With no need for quotes from tradies, we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started. Please sign in to your account to add a vehicle to favourite NZTA has revealed where nine new speed cameras will be deployed throughout Auckland. The speed cameras, according to NZTA director of regional relationships Steve Mutton, will be installed in the upcoming weeks, and more will be introduced later this year. ”We know that a small change in speed can make a big difference to the outcome of a crash, and it’s what will most likely determine whether anyone is killed, injured or walks away unharmed from that crash,” Mutton said. The speed limit at all locations is 80km/h. The cameras, according to NZTA, are part of the Government’s Road to Zero campaign, which seeks to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries from road crashes in Aotearoa. A man single-handedly created havoc on Auckland’s Southern Motorway last week after he parked a 2009 Nissan GT-R northbound on State Highway 1′s middle lane near Highbrook, blocking traffic in protest at the campaign. A witness told the Herald the man was “sitting there meditating like a monk”. The man was protesting against the Road to Zero policy. The new cameras are scheduled to be put up in the middle of the month. DRIVEN Car Guide is the first stop for any Kiwi looking to buy their next car. With in-depth vehicle reviews, latest motoring news, car comparisons, and ask an expert - drivencarguide.co.nz has all you need to know to buy your next car. Three days plus two friends multiplied by one TrailLite motorhome equals a chance for a short break in the Waikato The first place I wanted to show my friend was the historic Pukekohe East Church on a windy ridge between Waikato and Auckland one of the first battles of the Waikato wars was fought here Unlike many other significant sites around New Zealand there is little explanation of what happened here more than 160 years ago but the scars are visible: bullet holes pierce the wooden walls of the pretty little church and the shadow of earthworks are also still visible in green banks between the structure and its graveyard The tiny cemetery next to the church is crowded with marble crosses and carved tombstones that mark the tragedies of local families listing the deaths of the young and the old on which the six Māori warriors who died in the battle are remembered with a memorial plaque Situated on a ridge between Waikato and Auckland the little wooden church is a brooding but historic spot it is significant as one of the first Presbyterian churches and one of the oldest buildings in Pukekohe who keep it well-maintained and its gardens mowed Less than half an hour’s drive south of Pukekohe East we pulled the TrailLite off State Highway 1 to park near the Rangiriri Pa another significant site in the Waikato wars Trenches built by the Māori in an ultimately futile effort to protect their lands have been preserved and reconstructed From a small gateway under the spreading branches of a tree we walked up a grassy bank to see the lines of pou marching towards the motorway on the other side The site has been reinstated and reinterpreted after the new motorway cut through the site and the pou mark the battle lines The traditional carvings represent the women and young people’s part in the battle and the warriors who were imprisoned afterward Heading to Cambridge was a hairy drive in a near-10m motorhome in the dark and heavy rain We gained more sympathy for tourists wrestling New Zealand’s poorly marked and it was with great relief we pulled up at the town’s Top Ten holiday park The park is only blocks from a small collection of eateries and despite the rain and the late hour we borrowed an umbrella from the park staff and walked to the local Sahara India for a warming curry The small Leamington shopping precinct is also home to the Ophelia cafe a repurposed villa where we stopped the following morning for breakfast One of the pleasures of simply moseying about with no fixed itinerary is discovering local little gems such as Sahara India and Ophelia: simple fare done well and with a smile The only thing better than a well-renovated old villa is one that serves great coffee and eggs benedict Cambridge has a wide selection of interesting stores from the Wholly Cow Butchery and its beautifully presented meats to the high fashion of Annah Stretton Its collection of old buildings also makes Victoria St a pleasant meander on a lazy My wallet lightened and my wardrobe heavier thanks to a pair of couldn’t-resist leather boots from Bettie Monroe we clambered back into the TrailLite and moseyed out of town We almost had the town to ourselves but struggled to find a place to park our oversized vehicle so pulled in at the Raglan Holiday Park where a bridge linking back to the town turned an awkward drive into a 10-minute walk The sunshine of the morning had been replaced by random squalls and we ran from covered storefront to covered storefront as we prowled the town for food to take back to the motorhome We ate to the sound of the surf pounding the Raglan bar and fell asleep to the unrelenting roar of the ocean we picked our way among the driftwood in the inner harbour and past the old World War II pillbox that is slowly sinking into the sand before crossing the bridge again to La La Land The boutique cafe specialises in chocolate – waffles bars and the hot steaming liquid variety but it was the divine strudel that caught my eye It was the perfect accompaniment to the cafe’s European-themed spirit Raglan has a wilder vibe in the depths of winter It’s a blessed spot that is just as glorious whether it is bathed in sunshine or drenched in rain summed up with the row of advertising signs offering cosmic consulting classes (“energetic healing”) alongside lunch and sunset boat cruises of the harbour We headed north knowing three days was simply not enough For more things to see and do in the Waikato, visit waikatonz.com A group of children are safe after their school bus crashed into a ditch in South Auckland Police say the bus was carrying 20 children when it went off the road and ended up in a ditch on Jericho Road in Pukekohe East They said the driver helped the children out of the bus through the emergency exit before they were then taken to school by their parents Hato Hone St John said one person was treated at the scene for moderate injuries An ambulance transporting a patient to hospital has collided with a school bus in central Auckland The driver crashed through the gates and then continued across the grounds FranklinAsking price $695,0008,210m²TITLE ISSUED - NO COVENANTS!In an elevated position looking over rolling countryside is this 8210m2 (approx.) lifestyle opportunity in a prime location this desirable spot being easily accessible and makes the work commute a breeze then a coffee break up the road at Bombay is hard to pass up With Pukekohe being an easy drive into town you’ll have the luxury of rural living with nearby amenities power to site and a Geotech report available No covenants in place lets the imagination run wild and include the shed or facilities that you would expect with lifestyle living This is a unique offering in this popular location Call today to start exploring this fantastic opportunity 8210m2 Lifestyle Block (Just Over 2 Acres) See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson FranklinBy negotiation321178m²Affordable Modern Living with a Cosy TouchWelcome to 16 Oopunga Road Prepare to be swept off your feet by the perfect fusion of modern luxury and suburban charm in this dazzling brand-new 3-bedroom haven located in highly sought-after Pukekohe East Immerse yourself in the lap of luxury with this freehold beauty boasting two impeccably designed bathrooms and a chef's dream kitchen complete with high-end appliances Step out onto the sun-kissed deck at the back a haven for entertaining guests or basking in your own private outdoor sanctuary this home offers the perfect blend of peace and connectivity – a serene retreat just moments away from the Bombay Motorway and the vibrant Pukekohe town centre Don't let this extraordinary opportunity slip through your fingers Be the first to call this stunning masterpiece your own and kickstart the new year in unparalleled style Act now – get in touch with us today and make your dreams a reality See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson is for sale by tender closing September 14 Photo / SuppliedWhen she and her husband Alan bought a three-acre block of land to build a home from scratch Judy Cordier knew she didn’t want a ‘new’ house She wanted something that looked as if it had been there a hundred years She knew she’d nailed it when a tradie came to the door one day and said he was looking for the new house that had been built in the area and she admires the architecture of Europe That passion was behind the timeless design of Casa Collina – the house on the hill where old and new blend beautifully 142A Runciman Road in Pukekohe East, Franklin, is for sale by tender closing September 14. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home has an RV of $2.125 million and, according to OneRoof data, the property last changed hands in 2011 for $750,000. Having had some experience in the building industry, Judy had the knowledge and confidence to draw up the floorplan herself, and then put it in the hands of ‘an amazing builder from Hawke’s Bay’. “If you’ve got the right builder, you can achieve anything,” she says. The Pukekohe East home, dubbed Casa Collina, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a double garage and an RV of $2.125m. Photo / Supplied Distinctive European elements enhance the appeal of the vast open-plan living spaces with their herringbone tiled floors, bespoke timber ceiling beams, and timber detailing such as the barn door, wooden display shelves and a handcrafted wooden facing on the marble island bench. In the kitchen, the high-end modern appliances are gently integrated into the vintage design. The colour palette is neutral. “These colours are easy to live with and the house has a lovely feel,” Judy says. Her choice of furnishings and textiles contributes to the feeling of warmth. The house has three wings, and Judy was adamant that the roof lines should be perfect. “Rooflines are special and the pitches have to be right,” Judy says. In one wing is the master complete with an elegant ensuite, French doors to a private patio and a large, European-inspired private garden. This is designed as a sanctuary and is positioned to capture all-day sun. The guest wing has three bedrooms, each with French doors opening to separate patios overlooking private gardens. Also in this wing is a comfortable sanctuary named ‘the den’ by Judy and Alan. In the kitchen of 142A Runciman Road, the high-end modern appliances are gently integrated into the vintage design. Photo / Supplied The current owner wanted the home to look like it had been there for a hundred years. Photo / Supplied During the build the couple lived in a studio which already existed on the property and planted out the section complete with full sized tennis court, to further the impression of a long-established residence. Adjacent to the studio is a shed/workshop which is actually larger than the house itself. “This is a property that could suit a multiplicity of purposes,” says agent Ian Buchanan. He and Michele Mathieson of Bayleys, Pukekohe are listing 142A Runciman Road. “The studio could well be used as an office for a business from home, and anyone with an interest in motor vehicles would be thrilled with the workshop space,” he says. The location will also be a major drawcard, Buchanan says, being less than an hour from Auckland and Hamilton, and an easy commute to the Coromandel. While leaving the 345sqm of beautifully curated space will be a wrench, Judy is thinking small for her next project. “I’d love to build a little stone house,” she says. sited beautifully on its 1.57ha (moreor less) hilltop location east of Pukekohe Situatedat 142A Runciman Road and just a few minutes from State Highway 1 thisexquisite and timelessly designed home offers unobstructed Interestedparties are invited to contact Bayleys Pukekohe residential and lifestyle salespeopleIan Buchanan or Michele Mathieson to arrange their own inspection Details ofthe price are available on application but it feels like it’s stood the test oftime for much longer and will do the same for decades to come,” says Buchanan “Thecurrent owners have created a beautiful 344sqm home with many bespoke featuresand filled it with furniture they have collected from their many tripsoverseas.” all imported from Italy to the choice of claddingon the walls nothing has been spared in the construction of this Frenchfarmhouse design homestead,” he says and a large kitchen connect to outdoorareas for that classic alfresco dining experience Entertaining is easy withgreat indoor-outdoor flow from the kitchen and living areas to covered patiosand outdoor areas for any occasion and open fires ensure the home retainsits welcoming Themaster bedroom is in its own wing of the house complete with ensuite andFrench doors leading out to a separate patio and European-inspired privategarden Theguest wing of three bedrooms was once used as a bed and breakfast venture withFrench doors opening onto separate patio areas overlooking private gardens Thesecond living area adjoins this wing of bedrooms and is north-facing to snaremaximum sunshine through the day and into the evening.“Thecurrent owners call this ‘The Den’ to reflect the feeling of escape and comfortthey get from spending time there,” says Mathieson Aseparate 380sqm barn-studio and workshop is accessible through a seconddriveway or the front yard It offers scope for a range of activities andstorage options ideal for car collectors or that dream boat and the associatedextras Mathiesonsays this extra space will appeal to collectors who are looking for space tohouse a number of vehicles and motorcycle enthusiasts too Thebuilding offers room for the storage of business equipment and room for a largestudio office for running your own home business it could also be the getaway space for teenagers to enjoy as well,” shesays Positionedjust at the back of the lawn is a fully fenced tennis court to enjoy Theproperty has its own water bore and pump feeding the home and studio-workshopbuilding and comes with a garden irrigation system plus a woodshed Clickhere for more information on this listing. FranklinAsking price $1,149,000422666m²Stunning New Build in the Heart of ValleyNewsflash - The electrified trains are now open in Pukekohe child-friendly cul-de-sac in the sought-after Valley Set on a spacious section with a large back lawn ideal for kids to run free or your pets to enjoy this modern gem has everything you’ve been looking for From the expansive designer kitchen to the sleek bathrooms and light-filled large designer kitchen with an oversized island bench and dining areas that flow seamlessly to the back patio perfect for entertaining or enjoying family time while overlooking the spacious lawn • Four generously-sized bedrooms with abundant storage space for the whole family Master suite featuring a large walk-in wardrobe and a luxurious ensuite with a tiled shower modern family bathroom with sophisticated tiles ensuring year-round comfort no matter the season • Double garage with internal access and laundry just 650 metres away - perfect for the kids to walk to school • Just 350 metres to the local Valley shopping village and a hairdresser - everything you need just moments from home • Bus stop by the Valley shopping village connects you to the electric train for a direct service to Auckland City Central • A quick 4-minute drive to Pukekohe Township • Handy to the Bombay Motorway Interchange making commuting to Auckland and beyond a breeze This incredible home is designed for families modern space in a peaceful yet connected location Don’t miss out - make contact today to book your private viewing See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson As the mother of two boys born in Asia and two more born in New Zealand Amanda Rutherford knows all about change and challenges given husband Duncan's career in finance and his postings to Sydney Singapore and then Auckland nine years ago Take this top-shelf villa on its rural south-of-Auckland acreage that fell into their lives after four years of apartment living in Hong Kong and Singapore "We wanted space around us and I've always loved the charm of villas so I always assumed that we'd end up living in Remuera or somewhere like that when we came back," says Amanda That assumption was flipped on its head the first time they saw this place "Maybe it was meant to be — the Rutherfords of Rutherford Rd," she says of a happy coincidence that wedded them to this property the property came into view and it was so beautiful And we didn't have to go anywhere in the weekends Their city friends wrongly assumed the distance would isolate them "We're so glad we did it otherwise we'd never have known how special it would be here how different it was from the city and how it has kept the boys grounded "We'd have barbecues and our friends would bring their kids and their bikes .. FOR MORE PROPERTY NEWS AND LISTINGS GO TO ONEROOF.CO.NZ Inside this home with its ornate plaster ceilings and leadlight windows the boys' mother cut them enough slack so they knew this was their space "We put in the heating to make it snug and changed the aesthetics to modernise it," she says It was the previous owners who installed the country-style kitchen with its granite and timber benches and traditional cabinetry "We wanted to work with all of that," says Amanda of the booth-style seating to compartmentalise the kitchen and the dining area Reflecting on this rural gem from their smaller home in Sydney Amanda has treasured the life her boys got to enjoy near their retired grandparents in Pukekohe 67 RUTHERFORD RD, PUKEKOHE EAST• 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 parking spaces.• Land 3.47ha, house 326sq m.• Sale price: CV $2,375,000.• Inspect: Sat/Sun 11-11.30am.• Auction: June 27.• Schools: Pukekohe East School, Pukekohe Intermediate, Pukekohe High School.• Contact: Scott McElhinney, Barfoot & Thompson, 027 210 8887, barfoot.co.nz/757431 Rare plot of land is home to ancient kauri trees Indicative plans for a new town centre at Drury Auckland Council has approved high-level plans for up to 34,500 new houses around Drury and Pukekohe over the next 30 years Broad plans for the two areas approved by the council's planning committee today also provide for new town centres near the existing Drury village east of the southern motorway and on State Highway 22 near Jesmond Rd west of the motorway They allow for 22,000 new homes in the Drury-Opāheke area and another 12,500 homes in undeveloped areas around the edges of Pukekohe and Paerata Both new blocks are mostly zoned "future urban" and development will be phased over the next 30 years after current developments further south of Drury and on the Wesley College site at Paerata The two areas are expected to accommodate 60,000 more people at Drury-Opāheke and 34,000 in the Pukekohe-Paerata area a combined total of more than the current population of the country's eighth-biggest city Planning committee head Chris Darby said the plans had been drawn carefully to take account of the area's fertile soils for farming "I believe we've achieved a balance of how we can provide homes and thousands of local jobs while caring for the natural environment and limiting urban encroachment on Pukekohe's productive food growing soil," he said He said the plans also provided 245ha for light industrial and business development "It's vital that where possible people have the opportunity to both live and work in the same locale without having to resort to long and costly commutes," he said "What is proposed in these plans is place-making on a grand scale with public transport as the core connector." Franklin Local Board deputy chair Andy Baker said the sign-off on the new plans followed "extensive community engagement" and the council had "made genuine efforts to amend the plans along the way to best serve local outcomes" Indicative designs for the new Drury town centre show apartment blocks up to five storeys high surrounding large open spaces The residential parts of Drury will be a mix of low including some that look like traditional NZ bungalows with back gardens and some townhouses and apartments The plan says they will contribute to housing affordability by developing housing at scale and including medium- and high-density units with small land areas The Pukekohe-Paerata plan also provides for a mix with terrace housing and apartments close to a proposed new Paerata railway station but medium and low-density housing further out in tongues of land stretching north to Paerata east towards the motorway and southeast of the existing built-up area The new area at Drury is north of the "Drury South Crossing" project on land previously owned by Stevensons near its Drury quarry which is now New Zealand's second-biggest residential construction company is building 800 homes there which are expected to be priced at between $550,000 and $650,000 The casino operator has downgraded its earnings guidance for the second time the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) revealed the locations of the nine new speed cameras it's placing around Auckland which detect vehicle speed and lane positioning are being installed at their respective locations and will reportedly be operational within two to six weeks NZTA General Manager of Regulatory Transformation and System the agency reviewed evidence and selected the camera locations based on where speeding-related crashes occur most in the Auckland area "At these nine new sites we've seen vehicles travelling between 30-60 percent over the 80 km/h speed limit and at these kinds of speeds there's a higher risk of crashes resulting in deaths or serious injuries.. We just want to see the public travelling at or below the speed limit in order for them and others to get home safely," Macmillan said Auckland Transport and Police will be responsible for camera operations until sometime in 2024 That could be because more cameras will be installed with one batch arranged for November and another set next year NZTA will take over the day-to-day responsibilities these are the locations of the nine new Auckland speed cameras: The speed limit at all locations is 80 km/h DRIVEN Car Guide is the first stop for any Kiwi looking to buy their next car and ask an expert - drivencarguide.co.nz has all you need to know to buy your next car Dam levels have risen past 90 per cent for the first time since February 4 Recent rainfall events have had a positive impact on Auckland’s water storage A Watercare spokesperson said at the moment with Auckland still recovering from 2020’s severe drought it is minimising production at its Ardmore Water Treatment Plant which treats water from the four Hūnua dams and maximising production at its Waikato water treatment plants where it treats water from the Waikato River allowing them to fill up as much as possible when it rains Since restrictions were put in place in May 2020 Watercare has: A large proportion of Auckland’s drinking water comes from 10 dams in Auckland’s Hūnua and Waitākere ranges was recently reconnected to the network boosting Auckland’s capacity initially by six million litres a day and by up to 12 million litres in the second half of 2021 “Recent rain has helped replenish our dams following the drought of 2020 but our total storage is still sitting below the historical average,” Watercare said Dam storage today sits at 90.49 per cent (90.32 per cent yesterday) just shy of the 91.1 per cent which is normal for this time of year Yesterday’s consumption was 403MLD against a target for October of 420MLD or less Yesterday’s 7-day rolling average was 389 million litres Watercare said although Auckland’s water supply is currently stable stage one outdoor restrictions remain in place we will be reviewing our position on water restrictions,” Watercare said “The additional factors we will consider are the weather forecasts for spring and summer; production volumes at our treatment plants and customer use.” an independently-owned publishing company based in East Auckland Keep informed with the latest breaking news Our digital papers are emailed twice month on a Thursday You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/ There were 3.7 million beef cattle in 2024 similar to the total in 2014,' agricultural statistics spokesperson Tehseen Islam said “We are concerned at the apparent decline in monarch butterflies in NZ,” said Jacqui Knight founding trustee of the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust The New Zealand Plumbing Awards acknowledge the many positive achievements and success stories in the plumbing the national conference has been held for over 100 years "Insurers recognise that in the early stages of recovery many people may not be able to quickly lodge a claim," ICNZ chief executive Kris Faafoi said "While you should contact your insurer as soon as possible don’t wait to take steps to reduce further damage and begin recovery if it’s safe to do so." As most seasonal influenza vaccines are made using chicken eggs the SMC asked experts for background on seasonal flu vaccine manufacture and alternatives to the standard jab "ODF is much more than a technical specification: it is a symbol of freedom of choice support for interoperability and protection of users from the commercial strategies of Big Tech," said Eliane Domingos Pukekohe is known for its 'long-keeper' onion Origin of name: Maori for "hill of the kohekohe" it's the country's 18th-largest urban area What's more: It's also New Zealand's fastest-growing secondary urban area — whatever that means Claim to fame: With its fertile volcanic soils and the Pukekohe "long-keeper" onion renowned all over the globe Town icon: The Possum Bourne statue; originally erected in a field outside Wanaka where an accident took Bourne's life it was moved to the Pukekohe town centre in 2012 wander the historical society's heritage trail and read the plaques along the main street Andy Dalton (former All Black captain) and Simon Doull (cricketer turned broadcaster) All Black legend Jonah Lomu went to school just down the road Best website: pukekohe.org.nz or franklincountry.com Source of pride: The Counties Manukau rugby team is a force to be reckoned with and Big business: The economy is largely driven by agriculture Toot toot: It takes just 80 relaxing minutes to get to central Auckland by train which makes this an ideal location to buy an affordable home Thomas the Tank Engine is a twice yearly visitor Speed freaks: Each November, Pukekohe Raceway hosts The ITM 500 Auckland one of the largest sporting events in the country Here for a short time: Visit the New Zealand Steel Gallery (at the Franklin Arts Centre) browse the boutique shopping and then settle into one of the many cafes Hoe down: The Stampede Country Music Festival is heading to town on March 4 Scotty McCreery and the beloved Tami Neilson tenpin bowling and Spookers are all popular ways to spend a day feed the friendly ducks at Ernie's Reserve and keep your eyes peeled for the new skate park going in soon Best parks: Ernie's and Cape Hill are both charming reserves or super-size your playtime at Bledisloe Park there are three different tracks to the top and fantastic views when you get there visit neighbouring Hunua Ranges for hearty hiking and hunting Best view: Drive up Anzac Rd to the Pukekohe Hill Summit for views out to forever as well as wonderful artworks by local iwi Ngati Tamaoho Best place to pull over: Historic Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church on Runciman Rd is like something from a storybook — if you want to get married here Swim and Fitness centre has a 25m heated pool as well as badminton the Jubilee Pools at Bledisloe Park are where you go to cool off Best museum: Pioneer Memorial Cottage run by the Franklin Historical Society features an original homestead built in 1859 filled with artefacts and curiosities from Pukekohe's colourful past Open the first and third Sunday of each month Nice arts: Franklin Arts Centre is where you'll find the New Zealand Steel Gallery featuring work by nationally and internationally renowned artists The Artefact Gallery Shop is the commercial arm of the centre where you can buy outstanding works of art Top shops: Pukekohe is heaven for shopping from high-end fashion boutiques to big-box retail Cream of the coffee: With almost as many cafes as Ponsonby Rd - grab your flat white from Goodness Kitchen, Town Mouse or Kaos Baked: Albert's Bakery sells phenomenal artisan breads Best mountain biking: The tracks at Puni are out of this world with 7km of single-track Tee off: The Pukekohe Gulf Club is a charming parklands golf course featuring three lakes beautiful native trees and a very pleasant cafe Tums of fun: You can learn to do Bellyesque dancing here Wildlife: Aside from all the superb native birds You only get 60 minutes of free parking in the centre of town Take advantage of the free parking round the back of King St Website intended for a New Zealand health professional readership mjohnston@nzdoctor.co.nz Care Group might be the primary care corporate you haven’t heard of Business editor Martin Johnston finds out about its modus operandi Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Not a subscriber? Unlock this article by subscribing here. Hall discusses the evaluation of thyroid nodules which primarily aims to determine the likelihood of malignancy He then reviews the treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online is intended for a New Zealand health professional readership. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online is not a consumer medical advice service. Consumers should seek advice from a health professional and not act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided. The cameras are being installed in Franklin, Pukekohe East, Tupaki, Waiuku, Dairy Flat, Ardmore, Karaka and Kingseat. They'll be using NK-7 cameras which measures the speed of vehicles and identifies which lane they're travelling in. Drivers travelling over the speed limit could face an infringement. The cameras are in the final stages of preparation before they'll begin operating in the next two to six weeks. Waka Kotahi's general manager of regulatory transformation Tara MacMillan said the locations are based on evidence of where crashes occur most often as a result of speeding. "At these nine new sites we've seen vehicles travelling between 30-60% over the 80km/h speed limit, and at these kinds of speeds there's a higher risk of crashes resulting in deaths or serious injuries," MacMillan said. "We just want to see the public travelling at or below the speed limit in order for them and others to get home safely." Speed surveys were conducted at each site before construction began to confirm that speeding was an issue at the specific locations. The safety camera expansion is in partnership with Auckland Transport and Police. However, they will be operated by the police until the full camera operation is transferred to Waka Kotahi mid next year. MacMillan acknowledges that everyone makes mistakes and that unexpected things can happen on our roads, but prevention is important. "The worst part of my job is getting a notification every time someone is killed on our roads. "We want the behaviour to change. We don't want to issue infringements but we will do if we're not seeing what we need to get everyone home safely," MacMillan said. More will be installed in November and through to 2024. Waka Kotahi – the transport agency – is installing nine new cameras in the Auckland region. (Source: 1News) Waka Kotahi's nine new speed safety cameras on high-risk roads across Auckland are closer to being operational. Revealed: The location of Auckland's nine new speed cameras The new batch of cameras will be installed over the next few weeks New Zealand Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Police said they were investigating the incident which occurred outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa at around 3pm on Monday Crime and Justice Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Emergency services were called to the property on Mahia Rd just before 10am to a report of a man "seriously injured" Qantas confirms new Auckland-Perth flights Flights between Auckland and Western Australia's capital would begin in December Business Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning 'Wake up call': Businesses warned over lithium battery fires Authorities urge the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling but have also told merchants to "take responsibility for disposal" Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 55 mins ago 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 44 mins ago 1US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon Waka Kotahi's nine new speed safety cameras on high-risk roads across Auckland are closer to being operational The cameras are being installed in Franklin They'll be using NK-7 cameras which measures the speed of vehicles and identifies which lane they're travelling in Drivers travelling over the speed limit could face an infringement The cameras are in the final stages of preparation before they'll begin operating in the next two to six weeks Waka Kotahi's general manager of regulatory transformation Tara MacMillan said the locations are based on evidence of where crashes occur most often as a result of speeding "At these nine new sites we've seen vehicles travelling between 30-60% over the 80km/h speed limit and at these kinds of speeds there's a higher risk of crashes resulting in deaths or serious injuries," MacMillan said Speed surveys were conducted at each site before construction began to confirm that speeding was an issue at the specific locations The safety camera expansion is in partnership with Auckland Transport and Police they will be operated by the police until the full camera operation is transferred to Waka Kotahi mid next year MacMillan acknowledges that everyone makes mistakes and that unexpected things can happen on our roads "The worst part of my job is getting a notification every time someone is killed on our roads We don't want to issue infringements but we will do if we're not seeing what we need to get everyone home safely," MacMillan said More will be installed in November and through to 2024 A stranger allegedly tried to force an 8-year-old boy into a car outside an Auckland primary school yesterday before bystanders intervened and the man drove off Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa "Police are still working to understand exactly what was occurring at the time and our enquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson said "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said in a statement to social media that other parents had intervened "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the police." Vasau told 1News the pupil was "doing fine" following the incident and was surrounded by a "supportive "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe It's about working with that child to make them feel safe again but also looking forward to returning back to school with a little bit of normality." Police had reacted "pretty quickly" to the reports "They've been in this morning to touch base and connect the community police constables are going to come back to tomorrow to address the whole school in relation to what had happened and around keeping themselves safe before and after school." Increased police patrols would remain in the area after school from Wednesday Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 Qantas has announced that direct flights between Perth and Auckland will take off later this year Flights between Auckland and Western Australia's capital would begin in December The airline also added flights between Perth and Johannesburg and Sundays with an approximate flight time of 8 hours Perth to Auckland flights would operate as QF111 on Monday The approximate flight time was around six hours and 45 minutes Both flights would use Qantas A330 aircraft with 27 business class seats and 224 economy seats The new flights would allow a one-stop route to London via Perth It would also allow for connections via Perth from Auckland to airports across South Africa the new flight to Auckland would also allow a one-stop connection to New York on the airline's QF3 service “We’re so excited to be launching two new international routes unlocking more options and greater choice for all Australians to connect to the world through our growing network," Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace said “By connecting Perth directly with Auckland and Johannesburg we’re supporting the local economy by opening valuable inbound tourism opportunities for Western Australia as well as generating new jobs for the state These routes also enable further growth throughout Australia with connections across our domestic network." Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said A string of fires linked to highly combustible lithium-ion batteries has been deemed a "wake-up call" for waste businesses by Auckland officials with the public facing exposure to toxic smoke from repeat blazes Auckland Council is urging "industry vigilance" around the problem after a scrap metal company was fined $30,000 over a 2023 fire that released toxic smoke near Ōtāhuhu A fire at a recycling plant near Glenfield last month was also initially linked to lithium batteries although investigators were continuing to probe the blaze Auckland Council compliance field operations manager David Pawson emphasised "the importance of remaining vigilant despite the novelty of the issue" Authorities urged the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling The batteries were inside most portable electronic devices Pawson said in a statement: "We recognise this is a new issue and we’re all finding our way with lithium-ion batteries and those handling them "But businesses still need to take responsibility for their disposal — this is their business Emergency alerts were issued to tens of thousands on Auckland's North Shore last month after the largest fire "for a few years" broke out at an Abilities Group recycling plant Residents were urged to close windows to avoid fumes and some beaches were closed due to chemicals released into waterways Takapuna fire station officer Steven Callagher said there were reports that flames broke out in the area of the facility where batteries were recycled and an official cause had not been determined Other recent battery-linked fires have broken out in rubbish trucks in Auckland caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery within a large scrap metal stockpile highlighted a "growing national and international issue surrounding battery disposal and fire risk," according to Auckland Council recognised the unique challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries He noted: "There has been considerable difficulty in finding a technical solution to the problems with batteries catching on fire "This is not only a national problem but an international one; these orders form a workaround solution until more technical solutions The judge described the situation as “a new and emerging issue" While acknowledging Sims Metal’s cooperation and the absence of intentional wrongdoing reduced from an initial starting point of $50,000 The enforcement orders issued require Sims Metal to implement several improvements at the James Fletcher Drive site in Favona "The orders are registered with the Environment Court and will remain in place unless superseded by conditions with a new resource consent," the council said Pawson said the council viewed the 2023 case as an "important precedent in balancing empathy for emerging challenges with the necessity of regulatory compliance "It also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and industry-wide collaboration to adapt to evolving environmental risks." A Sims Metal spokesperson said: "Following the May 2023 fire at our Favona facility we have implemented more stringent control measures to support the ongoing management of potentially concealed materials like lithium-ion batteries "We are grateful to the communities and businesses in and around Ōtāhuhu We want to reiterate our appreciation to FENZ and all those who acted diligently to extinguish the May 2023 fire safely and continue to refine and improve our processes." A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims." Van Velden told Midday Report she believes in pay equity but the current thresholds were "a bit too loose" Asked how she ensure women were not hurt by this the minister said "I'm a woman and I support women who work" "I also support removing gender based discriminations from our workforces but what I don't support are muddied laws and unclear laws," she said "So these changes are better for all women who are working where we can genuinely say hand on heart that what they are finding with their claims is genuine gender based discrimination." Van Velden told reporters at Parliament any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new threshold to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right She gave a figure of 33 current claims that would be stopped as the legislation was put through under urgency "You have librarians who've been comparing themselves to transport engineers We have admin and clerical staff at Health New Zealand comparing themselves to mechanical engineers." Social workers had compared themselves to air traffic controllers "We don't believe we have that setting right." Any comparison would now be between female employees and male employees at the same employer "But you cannot go fishing for discrimination across the New Zealand workforce." All current settled claims would continue but the government was drawing "a line in the sand" "We're not stopping claims." The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers The union said the changes would make it "impossible for people in female-dominated professions to be paid fairly" "Women across the country will pay the price for this," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said "The government's changes today are a dark day for New Zealand women as the government says it will repeal the pay equity law and extinguish 33 existing claims in a constitutional overreach "The PSA is exploring all possible avenues to oppose these unconstitutional amendments and stop this attack on women We will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all." "This is a blatant and shameful attack on women," New Zealand Nurses organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said "Women in workforces predominantly performed by female employees have been underpaid and undervalued for generations That is what pay equity claims seek to rectify," he said "This move by the government will widen the pay gap between men and women." The union had at least 10 pay current pay claims across Aged Care These cover many nurses and support workers The E tū union also called the changes an attack on women and a green light to pay them less for work of equal value The government was pulling the rug out from under a 13-year-long fight in aged care "These changes are not about evidence — they are about saving money by keeping women underpaid," national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said in a statement A number of unions have called a snap rally at Parliament at 1pm today in light of the announcement the Council of Trade Unions and representatives of other unions say they will be "protesting the government's attack on women and the destruction of progress on pay equity..." rnz.co.nz Kiwi motorcyclist Shane Richardson is one of two riders who died in an 11-bike crash at a British Supersport Championship event was fatally injured alongside Englishman Owen Jenner on the first corner of the race at Oulton Park A statement from British Superbikes said the race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed "Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled," a spokesperson said "This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another sustaining significant injuries." Richardson was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit's medical centre before he was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with "severe chest injuries" Jenner was also initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre where he died from a "catastrophic head injury" British rider Tom Tunstall suffered back and abdominal injuries and a further five riders including New Zealander Morgan McLaren-Wood were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries which did not require transfer to hospital Three more riders were also involved but were uninjured who was a previous New Zealand rider of the year Cemetery Circuit in Whanganui posted to its social media in tribute to Richardson a fantastic and talented racer and a genuine human" "Devastated to hear we have lost another of our racing family Our thoughts are with Hannah and the family along with our condolences to Owen’s family too." Richardson's sponsor Whites Powersports said the team was "extremely saddened" by the news of his death "Shane will be remembered by many as a great racer Our thoughts go out to Shane’s young family and friends during this tough time The New Zealand Superbike Championship said its "deepest sympathies" went out to Richardson's family and friends Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album, 2021's Solar Power. Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama. Last year, she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl, so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat. Virgin is Lorde's fourth studio album. 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. More than eight years later, 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, 2016. 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. I’m like, ‘What is happening? Are we gonna die? Just tell them I have children. I have babies, I have a husband, I have a family.'" Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box. One of them has died, and another is seriously ill and can't be tried. According to the investigation, 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. Shortly afterwards, Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured. She filed a complaint, 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, with which he threatened the victims. The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery, including a ring of great value, 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, as their DNA was found at the crime scene. The alleged ringleader, 68-year-old Aomar Aït Khedache, is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment. Nicknamed "Old Omar", his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian. He left the hotel on a bicycle, as did two other robbers, then met his son, 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. Yunice Abbas, 71, said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area, making sure the escape route was clear. 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. In 2021, he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian. Didier Dubreucq, 69, known as "Blue Eyes", is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat. He denies any involvement, although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement, according to the investigation. 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, Belgium. First-time nominees Chubby Checker, 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 hip-hop pioneers Outkast, the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden. Salt-N-Pepa, the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status, and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award. The late record producer Thom Bell, pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award. The late Cocker, who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends, had the backing of Billy Joel, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Pete Thomas, 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, a former head of Warner Bros. Records who signed Prince and R.E.M., and had a part in records from Madonna, Randy Newman, the Doobie Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Simon and Gary Clark Jr. Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey, Phish, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, the Black Crowes and Oasis. Checker’s recording of The Twist, 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. I’ll tell them to drop dead, 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. OutKast, made up of André 3000 and Big Boi, 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". Last year, Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted. Waka Kotahi have revealed the locations of Auckland's next batch of road safety cameras. (Source: istock.com) Waka Kotahi have revealed the locations of a new batch of road safety cameras to be installed in Auckland over the coming weeks. There will be nine new cameras across the region, the first phase of a planned roll-out under the Road to Zero safety strategy. Waka Kotahi director Steve Mutton said the move will help keep communities safe, particularly on high-risk roads. "Our bodies are vulnerable and can only withstand so much impact," he said. "We know that a small change in speed can make a big difference to the outcome of a crash, and it's what will most likely determine whether anyone is killed, injured or walks away unharmed from that crash. "The cameras will be installed over the next few weeks, with more expected later this year." There will also be a new camera installed at 5744 State Highway 1 in Northland's Kawakawa. Auckland Transport's Stacey van der Putten said the agency was "pleased" to work with Waka Kotahi and police on the move. 'What is wrong with this?' Brown challenged over bilingual road signsNational's transport spokesperson was shown a road sign in te reo Māori and English and asked for his thoughts on it Te Ao Māori Revealed: Where some drivers are getting away with pavement parkingThose with limited mobility children and older people are among those badly affected by inconsiderate parking but there's little consequence for the drivers who are caught Find out how much drivers will pay to use new $830m Auckland roadConstruction has already begun on the highway and is expected to be finished in 2026 [this initiative] help keep everyone safe on our roads," she said All 10 locations have a 80km/h posted speed limit. 45 mins ago National's transport spokesperson Simeon Brown has been shown a road sign in te reo Māori and English and asked for his thoughts on it It comes after Brown last week said his party did not support having road signs in both te reo Māori and English Waka Kotahi - the transport agency - last week launched consultation on bilingual road signs It proposes using bilingual signs when old ones are being replaced It said it's done considerable research around safety This morning he was directly asked for his thoughts on a bilingual road sign by a reporter while making his way through the halls of Parliament we are playing a game today and that is 'what is wrong with this sign?'" the journalist asked "Well what we've said in the National Party is that we don't have an issue with bilingual signage when it comes to place names but when it comes to critical safety signs even the prime minister said that this morning that it's really important people understand that quickly and easily especially when travelling at speed," Brown replied After repeating the above points a number of times Brown was then directly challenged again on the sign in front of him and whether he found it acceptable "The point there is we need to make sure that people who come to New Zealand as well can understand what's being said on a sign and it's critically important we get the balance right," Brown said He was then asked if the sign with English and te reo Māori expressway names on it didn't have the balance right for him Brown didn't answer the question directly "What we should be focused on is fixing our roads and fixing our potholes this Government is fixated on changing signage," Brown said before being interrupted and asked again if the balance on the sign wasn't right for him but the point here is we need to get fixing our roads and the Government wants to change signage rather than doing that," Brown stated Another reporter then added that road signs are being replaced as needed with bilingual ones due to weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle "Well there's a whole lot of officials at NZTA spending huge amounts of taxpayers money focusing on changing signage," Brown replied He went on to add the consultation process around the signage is a huge waste of money "What they should be doing is fixing potholes on our roads" Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was also asked for his thoughts on the bilingual signage debate this morning "It's not uncommon for signs around the world to be bilingual the safety signs will all continue to be the same so stop signs and give way signs for example won't be affected but in terms of using Māori place names and so on I have got no issue on it," he said When asked if he went too far when calling National's comments on the signs "dog whistles" Hipkins said National leader Christopher Luxon introduced lots of te reo when head of Air New Zealand into the airline's branding and practises "So I'm not sure why he has an issue with this." Luxon this morning echoed Brown's words when asked about the signs "We have to make sure are roads are safe and this is an absolute distraction "I am not opposed to te reo or bilingual signs per se what is wrong is what we are discussing today rather than fixing roads." Some drivers don't seem to know the difference Hamilton man Liam Carter reckons people "know that they can get away with it" because "they know that they're not gonna get fined" The 16-year-old has started a petition lobbying the government and councils to ensure footpaths and cycleways are clear and accessible for everyone People who have signed the petition have described how they've had several near misses when forced to walk on the road "by drivers who think they have the right to park wherever they like Figures released to Fair Go have revealed where in the country fines are being enforced and where they're not The programme approached 10 councils across New Zealand asking how many fines they've issued for parking on footpaths each year Hamilton City Council had one of the lowest rates of enforcement with 175 fines issued on average each year compared to its population of nearly 180,000 that's one in every 1000 people getting a ticket under their wipers a person would be eight times more likely to be fined the number shot up by 370 in the year just been after the city tightened up enforcement to make it a more accessible place just five in every 1000 people were fined in the past year Auckland Transport only provided a complete set of data for the year 2022 It told Fair Go the rest is stored in a way that would require staff to manually check each parking infringement for its type New Plymouth District Council has seen a spike in enforcement there were 989 fines — that's a jump of more than 800 compared to five years ago The council says it's in response to calls from the community for greater monitoring of hot spots Hamilton City Council's infrastructure operations general manager Eeva-Liisa Wright told Fair Go the infringement data "tells one story but we offer education as our first response" "We do talk to people and instead of issuing a fine next time this warning will possibly be an infringement notice' "We can always improve and we do have our challenges around that so we only have a certain number of people who can enforce our city of 180,000 people Currently the fee for parking a vehicle on a footpath is $40 The penalty is much higher in various parts of Australia A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport expects work on various parking offences and penalties to be progressed either later this year or in early 2024 This should include the infringement fee for parking on footpaths Regulatory policy manager Megan Moffet said while fees and fines play a part in deterring behaviour "enforcement is also very important" "It is ultimately up to councils to determine the most effective approach for enforcement for their regions." This story is part of the Fair Go campaign LIMITLESS shining a spotlight on accessibility issues in New Zealand Previously the programme reported on accessible venues and accessible playgrounds 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 Neighbours of a proposed egg farm that would have housed more than 300,000 chickens say a court decision declining consent is a huge victory Craddock Family Farm appealed to the Environment Court after its bid to build a new farm on a 19 hectare site near Pukekohe The court backed the council's decision to deny the resource consent because of concerns it would be too smelly for nearby residents and businesses One of the three neighbours who fought the proposal in court said the decision showed it was possible for individuals to stand up against large businesses She said it was a victory for both the neighbours and animal welfare Craddock Farms has declined interview requests but in a statement said it was considering the decision and would then review its options Ms Berry said she and her husband had spent over $100,000 in legal costs fighting the proposal Stop Craddock Farms spokeswoman Deirdre Sims said the group had been fighting the consent for two years "That proposed farm would have been one of the biggest colony cage chicken farms in the country and we think it's a really big step towards a ban on these types of cages .. Craddock Family Farms has been farming hens in cage housing at an operation in Pukekohe East since 1962 with a maximum of 160,000 layer hens and wanted to expand its business Craddock Farms managing director Stefan Craddock told the judge that the farm would comply with the Animal Welfare Code of Welfare 2012 which will phase out conventional cage egg production in 2022 Craddock Farms said in a statement that the appeal was entirely focused on concerns about potential odour and the decision was based on this only "Obviously we are disappointed - we only received the decision yesterday so we are spending time reviewing it and looking at our options," Mr Craddock said Animal rights activists opposing plans to build one of the country's biggest caged chicken farms in South Auckland have staged a protest outside the Environment Court Regional RSS Pukekohe East has a moderate level of seismic activity Based on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 81 quakes on average per year in or near Pukekohe East Pukekohe East has had at least 3 quakes above magnitude 5 since 1970 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 15 to 20 years The last earthquake in Pukekohe East occurred 4 days ago and had a magnitude of 2.8: Mag. 2.8 earthquake New Zealand - writeAge(1746183946)A light magnitude 2.8 earthquake hit 67 km (42 mi) away from Hamilton, Waikato,  New Zealand The quake had a moderate depth of 165 km (102 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so) Pukekohe East has had 3 quakes of magnitude 3.0 or above and 14 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0 There have been also 3 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel 2025 at 1.36 am local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12) The quake had a moderate depth of 130 km (81 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so).