A floral tribute at the bus stop on St John’s Road His mother Carole Whorrall attended a memorial event nearby About 50 people have today packed into an Auckland restaurant near the site of a bus stop attack in which US student Kyle Whorrall was tragically killed The memorial event at the Meadow cafe included a silent auction with gifts and services donated by local businesses to help raise funds for Whorrall’s family Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Ōrākei Local Board chair Scott Milne were in attendance said while drawing a butterfly for the memorial one child asked: “Does Kyle have wings now?” She said Whorrall was “deeply admired” by his colleagues and friends the community and Whorrall’s sister Heather Thomas were shared with the gathering who said her brother’s love for nature blossomed shortly after he learnt to walk turning over rocks or sifting through soil He was always on the lookout for some captivating bug.” Carole Whorrall travelled to New Zealand from the United States and spoke to the Herald this week about how she wanted her son to be remembered gentle and deeply caring person whose love for the natural world shaped his life and inspired those around him,” she said in a written statement “He was passionate about his work and admired greatly by his colleagues and friends “He was dedicated to making a difference and about to embark on a brilliant career He was deeply loved and admired by his family.” was in the last stages of a PhD in entomology at the University of Auckland and was based at Landcare Research in St Johns Local body chair Scott Milne said there is a sense of shame in the community but he is proud about how the community has come together to honour Whorrall “I’m trying to find the silver linings in all of this awful situation.” He hoped Whorrall’s family didn’t become strangers and felt able to return and reconnect with the community because we feel the loss and the tragedy that has occurred But sweet because our community has really rallied beautifully together to support Kyle’s family and flatmates.” Simpson said today was one of a number of things organised for Whorrall by the community “I think this community has shown resilience warmth and wrapped its arms around all of those affected.” The Ōrākei Local Board has arranged for another memorial service on Monday at St Johns Bush where a pōhutukawa will be planted to honour Whorrall Meadow owner Gina Henry said there had been an outpouring of grief in the community She said about 40 businesses gave services or goods for the auctions His mother will fly home to California on Monday evening and said the family planned to hold his funeral there “There have been a number of memorials here in New Zealand by friends colleagues and those who never knew him but wished to celebrate his life,” she said “We are deeply moved by the kindness and concern of everyone here in New Zealand.” A family friend has set up a crowdfunding page to help the family cover the costs of their travel US$53,000 ($89,000) has been raised towards a goal of US$60,000 “The circumstances of Kyle’s death have introduced unexpected and uniquely challenging obstacles to his family who must now travel thousands of miles to deal with this horrible tragedy,” the organiser of the fundraiser said the family arranged for professional photos to be taken of Whorrall‘s bedroom in his St Johns flat as a memento Photographs showed a room crammed with plant life on every surface US National Park posters and natural artefacts Display cases of insects filled one corner of the room Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said there had been no further arrests or charges in the homicide investigation but search warrants had been executed in the past few days Police were following “positive lines of inquiry” Police had also found the occupants of a silver Mitsubishi Grandis they were seeking last week saying that they could hold information about why Whorrall was killed Carole Whorrall said the police had been “very diligent” in their investigation and “extraordinarily kind” to the family Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night. An official website of the United States government John’s Wort © Steven FosterCommon Names: St The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary and integrative health approaches including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice Telecommunications relay service (TRS): 7-1-1 Website: https://www.nccih.nih.gov Email: info@nccih.nih.gov (link sends email) A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed® contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. 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Herbs at a Glance HerbList App St. John's Wort - Randomized Controlled Trials (PubMed®) St. John's Wort - Systematic Reviews/Reviews/Meta-analyses (PubMed®) Depression and Complementary Health Approaches St. John's Wort and Depression: In Depth Contact Us National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health & Human Services USA.gov Privacy and Policies Accessibility FOIA Vulnerability Disclosure NCCIH Website Archive Archive NCCIH Home A man has died following an assault in the Auckland suburb of Saint Johns overnight Detective senior sergeant Mark Greaves said emergency services were called to St Johns Road about 10pm on Saturday following reports a person had been assaulted by more than one person The offenders were believed to have left the area in a vehicle The 33-year-old victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition St Johns Road would remain closed between Blackett Crescent and Dorchester Street while a scene examination was carried out "We are making enquiries to locate the offenders and the vehicle they left in and at this time are still working to determine why this tragic event occurred." Police are requesting for any information that may be useful to be submitted online or by phone using the reference number P062295607 Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"/2025/04/20/man-dies-following-bus-stop-assault-in-aucklands-st-johns/"},"datePublished":"2025-04-19T21:18:20.26Z","dateModified":"2025-04-20T03:40:40.646Z","headline":"Man dies following bus stop assault in Auckland's St Johns","description":"The 33-year-old victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greaves said emergency services were called to reports a person had been assaulted by more than one person on St Johns Rd about 10pm on Saturday "The offenders are believed to have left the area in a vehicle travelling towards Remuera Rd," Greaves said and one manager to the scene shortly before 10pm and transported to Auckland City hospital in a critical condition," a St John spokesperson said St Johns Rd would remain closed between Blackett Crescent and Dorchester Street while a scene examination was carried out Auckland Transport said three bus routes - 65 75 and RBE - were detoured to Glen Innes via Temple St Parsons Rd and Dorchester St while the road was closed Footage captured by 1News showed forensic investigators and police photographers working at the scene on Sunday morning A blue tent had been erected over the bus stop where the assault happened "We are making inquiries to locate the offenders and the vehicle they left in and at this time are still working to determine why this tragic event occurred," Greaves said Anyone with information that could help the investigation was urged to contact police on 105, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 A tent has been erected by police at the scene of the assault A homicide investigation has been launched after a man was fatally assaulted at a bus stop in the Auckland suburb of St Johns last night Emergency services were called to St Johns Rd about 10pm on Saturday Forensic investigators and police photographers at the scene on St John Rd Anyone with information that could help the investigation was urged to contact police on 105, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Crooks culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria Bush picked to take over as Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes Crime and Justice Police experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising Technology has outpaced a currently underway review of the Arms Act and criminals are already taking advantage US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Health Arrest after person assaulted A nurse leaving her shift last month was held up at gunpoint outside the grounds of the hospital More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1'We made it more dangerous': Separators for cyclists to be removed US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fans Sun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, date Thu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Mon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay A person is in custody after an alleged theft which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital Police said officers were called to a Ruahine St carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later "Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious Staff have been calling for security improvements Health NZ MidCentral operations group director Sarah Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer She said these included a security escort to vehicles increasing security services on hospital grounds and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts "Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said "Interim access to well-lit parking onsite with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed." rnz.co.nz More than 25kg of cocaine has been seized and four men arrested following an joint investigation into the importation of the drug into Christchurch Police and Customs received information about a "significant importation" of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port on March 29 Search warrants were then executed across the country by specialist teams to support investigators with evidence gathering including possession of cocaine for supply and burglary and will appear in various district courts across a range of dates Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Sparks said the seizure equated to more than 250,000 doses of cocaine and $9 million of harm "That is an enormous amount of damage and misery that had been heading into our communities that has now been halted through this investigation." Sparks said the success of the investigation was partly down to the "excellent partnership" between Customs and the police "We continue to have a focus on engaging with businesses and supporting their legitimate services by keeping them safe with prevention advice to deter drug trafficking organisations’ attempts to exploit their people and premises." Customs acting investigations manager Rachael Manning said the investigation resulted from quick action and close collaboration between the agencies as well as industry partners "We know that transnational and serious organised crime groups are actively targeting New Zealand to drive up both demand and supply of illegal drugs such as cocaine for maximum profit They’re using every method possible to exploit any vulnerabilities within international supply chains in secure areas or on vessels themselves." A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." The concrete separators along a Richmond road will be removed after they attracted the ire of residents and raised safety concerns Tasman District Council sought to accommodate some of the feedback it had received on its contentious Streets for People cycleway projects Councillor Glen Daikee proposed to have the Salisbury Rd separators removed and described situations where cyclists had collided with the separators and fallen into the carriageway We have inadvertently made it more dangerous," he said The separators were installed to create a physical barrier between cyclists and motor traffic to increase the perceived safety of cycling to appeal to "interested but concerned cyclists" Some schools in the project area have suggested that more students are cycling to school since the cycleways were installed with reports of their cycle racks being "full to overflowing" Feedback from council surveys also show that respondents feel that Salisbury Road is now safer than it was without the separated cycleways many respondents specifically voiced dislike of the separators with some saying they were distracting and were obstructions on the road Drivers had repeatedly hit the concrete separators with some crumbling or becoming detached from the road and creating obstacles for cyclists in the cycleway Councillor Mark Greening was concerned that removing the separators might be premature he didn't vote against Daikee's proposal "I'm a little bit more concerned about the safety of the cyclists than necessarily a car hitting these concrete things because they didn't see them I think the real problem is probably the visibility of them." the separators were pale grey with white ends and a red reflector on top Greening suggested painting them yellow or replacing them with yellow rubber separators like those currently installed on Salisbury Rd outside of the schools Rubber separators currently on Salisbury Rd would remain in place as would the concrete separators along other roads across the district targeted by the Streets for People programme The other change coming to Salisbury Rd would be the reinstallation of two car parks outside of the Florence Medical Centre Some Richmond residents had been vocal in their opposition to the removal of car parks for cycleways but the Salisbury Rd survey highlighted the medical centre as a specific area of concern would also come to an end with the 50km/h speed re-enacted The lower speed limit was not being complied with by most drivers — likely because of a lack of traffic calming measures Car parking along the affected section of Hill St would remain with no separated cycleways slated to be installed The changes made would continue to be monitored and further changes could occur in the future pending further community feedback and usage data Tasman's Streets for People programme was 90% funded by Waka Kotahi and prioritised trialling low-cost adaptable infrastructure which can be easily and cheaply modified as needed The modifications agreed to by the council would be made before funding for the programme ran out on June 30 Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” The government 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 Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Kyle Whorrall was "dedicated to making a difference" The mother of an American student who was killed at an Auckland bus stop says the family will take his body home for a “celebration of his life” next week Carole Whorrall travelled to New Zealand from the United States after her son Kyle was fatally attacked on St Johns Rd on Easter Weekend Speaking publicly for the first time since his death she told the Herald about how she wanted her son to be remembered “He was passionate about his work and admired greatly by his colleagues and friends of which he had many the Ōrākei Local Board has arranged for a memorial service at St Johns Bush where a pōhutukawa will be planted to honour Kyle $51,000 has been raised towards a goal of $60,000 “The circumstances of Kyle’s death have introduced unexpected and uniquely challenging obstacles to his family who must now travel thousands of miles to deal with this horrible tragedy,” said the organiser of the fundraiser A photographer friend of the flat came by to take photos commemorating his “beautiful” space and capturing his uniqueness saying that they could hold information about why Kyle was killed Carole said the police had been “very diligent” in their investigation and “extraordinarily kind” to the family Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Road in the suburb of Meadowbank shortly after going to a supermarket A 16-year-old male has been charged with murder and aggravated robbery and a 32-year-old woman has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder A remembrance is being held at 3pm at a restaurant just down the road from where Whorrall was attacked his father John Whorrall said his son was a "gentle and caring soul" who was deeply committed to his science "It breaks my heart that he can't fulfil his final contributions in the world I'm sure he would have made some amazing discoveries." friends and colleagues of Whorrall gathered for a vigil on April 24 at the bus stop where he was attacked said the American student had left a deep impression on all of them he was the kind of person who would just unapologetically geek out on anything he was passionate about because he cared so much about it," he said "He had a beautifully found family here in New Zealand lots of people that cared about him." rnz.co.nz Former colleagues have named Kyle Whorrall, 33, as the victim of a fatal assault at a bus stop in Auckland's St Johns. (Source: Facebook) A remembrance for the 33-year-old PhD student killed in Auckland over Easter Weekend is expected to take place this afternoon. Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Road in the suburb of Meadowbank shortly after going to a supermarket. A 16-year-old male has been charged with murder and aggravated robbery, and a 32-year-old woman has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. A remembrance is being held at 3pm at a restaurant just down the road from where Whorrall was attacked. Speaking to RNZ, his father John Whorrall said his son was a "gentle and caring soul" who was deeply committed to his science. "It breaks my heart that he can't fulfil his final contributions in the world. I'm sure he would have made some amazing discoveries." More than 50 members of the community, friends and colleagues of Whorrall gathered for a vigil on April 24 at the bus stop where he was attacked. Many left flowers, sang waiata, and shared emotional tributes to Whorrall, and sobs were heard throughout the crowd. A friend and flatmate, who didn't want to be named, said the American student had left a deep impression on all of them. "He was gentle, he was kind, he was very thoughtful, he was the kind of person who would just unapologetically geek out on anything he was passionate about, stuff most people wouldn't care about, but when he talked about it, you cared, because he cared so much about it," he said. St Johns bus stop killing: Teen charged with murder tearful vigil heldAt the bus stop where Kyle Whorrall was attacked mourners gathered soon after police announced a teen and a woman have been arrested Dad speaks of anger grief over shock death of Kyle WhorrallThe father of the US student who died after being attacked at a bus stop says it's "such a waste" of a gifted person's life Professors pay tribute to student killed in Auckland bus stop attackFormer professors have described him as "soft-spoken rnz.co.nz A remembrance for the 33-year-old PhD student killed in Auckland over Easter Weekend is expected to take place this afternoon A 16-year-old youth has been remanded in custody after being charged with murdering Kyle Whorrall He was also facing a charge of aggravated robbery The accused youth entered no plea and would reappear in the High Court in May A 32-year-old woman also appeared this afternoon charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact Charging documents alleged she actively suppressed evidence against the murder accused She was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody without plea to reappear at the same time as the murder-accused US PhD student Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a St Johns bus stop on Saturday night Police appealed for information about the "senseless attack" which left the 33-year-old in a critical condition before he died in hospital flatmates and friends gathered for a emotional vigil at the site where Whorrall was set upon Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said officers carried out a search warrant at a Beach Haven address in the North Shore late yesterday afternoon “A 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and murder," he said A 32-year-old North Shore woman was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder Baldwin said the investigation "is by no means over" as police believed "there were other occupants in the vehicle" when Whorrall was attacked He said officers have since seized a black SUV on the North Shore It was being forensically examined by police "Our enquiries are ongoing to locate these persons of interest and I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest police station or phone us." The detective inspector said police were also seeking "critical witnesses" including a white Toyota ute that was cut off by the black SUV doing a U-turn in front of them He said police were "still working to fully understand the events of Saturday night" “I want to reiterate to those occupants that they are witnesses and their information is important to our investigation,” Baldwin said “Please come forward at the earliest opportunity.” He acknowledged a "stream of information" provided to police and the support from the St Johns community Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Whorrall's sister Heather Thomas said Kyle was a "witty and funny gentle soul with an absolute love for bugs and nature" She said there were "so many unknowns" and the expense to bring Kyle back home to the United States would be "significant" my sister and I - as well as our whole family and Kyle’s friends and colleagues during this difficult time." A GoFundMe page had been created to contribute to travel expenses between the US and NZ "Thank you in advance to all who donate — whether you knew Kyle personally or simply wish to support the memory of a compassionate soul who cared so deeply for the world around him especially its smallest creatures," the page read A vigil was held on Thursday morning at the bus stop where Kyle Whorrall was killed in Meadowbank and place flowers at stop on Blackett Crescent Whorrall's flatmates — who didn't want to be named — described him as "gentle He built up a network and had a beautiful found-family here in New Zealand with people who cared about him." songs and blessings were shared with the emotional crowd as many told stories and personal anecdotes about Whorral's character A representative from University of Auckland partner Manaaki Whenua but everybody being here with us today is a testament to his character," she said Pippa Barber said she was pleased the police had acted swiftly to arrest someone following the "just horrendous and horrific" crime "I'm relieved for Kyle's family back in America She said finding out the young age of the alleged offender was "shocking" St Johns resident Angie Winnington told 1News she lived just around the corner and what had happened at her local bus stop was terrible She said she would usually do a similar route as Whorrall did which was why it felt "very close to my heart in a weird way” I know how hard it is for people's parents who are nowhere near to them My parents worry about me and I’m sure his parents are just devastated.” Whorrall’s former entomology professor at Western Kentucky University told 1News Kyle was an "enthusiastic field worker and a great entomologist" "We just had so many good times having a pint in different places after a days field work… He really loved the work and I just really loved being with him," he said Philips said Whorrall had "really thought of New Zealand as home" and had been planning to stay for the rest of his life "It just makes me so sad that he’s such a great kid and I really loved him but for somebody like Kyle it is just such a shame." A 16-year-old has been charged with the murder of an American student who was fatally attacked at an Auckland bus stop on St Johns Rd over the weekend The news came just before a tearful vigil started at the scene to pay tribute to the victim was known for scouring the streets at night for insects and may have been doing so on Saturday night when he was attacked Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said this morning police had executed a search warrant late yesterday afternoon at an address in Beach Haven “A 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and murder.” He would be appearing in the Auckland Youth Court today A 32-year-old North Shore woman has also been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder She would will be appearing in the Auckland District Court today Police had “obtained further information” about a black SUV that became the subject of a media appeal when Baldwin held a press conference about the case on Tuesday “The Operation Aberfeldy team commenced investigations into this vehicle of interest and its movements “I can confirm we have now located this vehicle on the North Shore and it has been seized by police with a detailed forensic examination underway.” Baldwin said police were aware there were other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crime “Our enquiries are ongoing to locate these persons of interest and I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest Police station or phone us.” He acknowledged the support of the community “There has been a stream of information that has come into us “We value and appreciate the community support.” He said police were still working to fully understand the events of Saturday night They were still seeking information on a white Toyota ute which had been cut off by the black SUV ahead of the fatal attack Meanwhile Whorrall’s father told the Herald he was grappling with the violent attack on his son who had no enemies and was a “kind soul” I am still trying to wrap my head around how any of this is possible,” said John Whorrall He said his son was a kind soul who had dreamed of moving to Auckland to study at the university his whole life “His mother took them there on vacation years and years ago John said he envisioned his son living happily in Auckland and fulfilling his lifelong dream for the rest of his life eventually becoming a professor at the university but I didn’t think it would be like this.” He said his son was not the type “at all” to start a fight About 100 people gathered at the scene of the crime this morning to farewell him and try and reclaim their neighbourhood who described themselves as his “chosen family” he was kind he was very thoughtful,” one of the five flatmates said They loved how he would “geek out” over the “weirdest things” that he would love He loved sewing and his stuffed animals and was a fantastic friend He was a master board game player and was very social despite his shy nature “He cared so deeply about what he did… the sweetest person.” shared messages from Whorrall’s family overseas and the community This tragedy has affected us all very deeply So today we gather here to show our aroha for his family We will not fully understand how hard and how painful this must be [for his family] “No matter how long we have been here… our neighbourhood has been a peaceful and lovely place to live." but the group gathered was a “true testament” of her character The college yesterday said the vigil would be be an opportunity to “reflect pray for Kyle’s whānau and to stand together for peace The college added that it wanted to “reclaim the neighbourhood with life who was sitting at the bus stop at around 10pm “It is just the senselessness and randomness of it,” said Mike Maloney a resident who lives 150m from the bus stop Footage from an Auckland Transport bus captured images of Whorrall at the bus stop The bus shelter has been turned into a makeshift memorial for Whorrall and seeking CCTV or dashcam footage from motorists who may have been passing through on Saturday night Baldwin said earlier this week that police were also committing significant resources to finding two suspects involved in the attack Whorrall moved to New Zealand from the United States in 2021 to study for a PhD Fellow students and academics spoke about his enthusiasm for entomology He had shown a particular interest in beetles Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"/2025/04/24/st-johns-bus-stop-killing-teen-charged-with-murder-tearful-vigil-held/"},"datePublished":"2025-04-23T21:00:17.768Z","dateModified":"2025-04-24T06:22:22.384Z","headline":"St Johns bus stop killing: Teen charged with murder tearful vigil held","description":"At the bus stop where Kyle Whorrall was attacked Sixteen-year-old charged with murder and aggravated robbery US PhD student Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a St Johns bus stop on Saturday night Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin at a media conference at the scene of the assault on St Johns Rd Police at the scene of the fatal assault on St Johns Rd on Sunday A GoFundMe page had been created to contribute to travel expenses between the US and NZ, funeral and memorial expenses, therapy and grief counselling, as well as legal, administrative and other unexpected costs. "Thank you in advance to all who donate — whether you knew Kyle personally or simply wish to support the memory of a compassionate soul who cared so deeply for the world around him, especially its smallest creatures," the page read. Mourners gathered to grieve at the Blackett Crescent bus stop on St Johns Rd (Source: 1News) A vigil was held on Thursday morning at the bus stop where Kyle Whorrall was killed in Meadowbank. Many mourners gathered together to grieve, and place flowers at stop on Blackett Crescent. Speaking through tears, Whorrall's flatmates — who didn't want to be named — described him as "gentle, kind and very thoughtful". Kyle Whorrall's flatmates. (Source: 1News) "He came here four years ago, on his own, and made an impression on all of us. He built up a network and had a beautiful found-family here in New Zealand with people who cared about him." Tributes, songs and blessings were shared with the emotional crowd, as many told stories and personal anecdotes about Whorral's character. A representative from University of Auckland partner Manaaki Whenua, where Whorrall studied his PhD, said he was a "gentle soul". “He was quiet, and shy, but everybody being here with us today is a testament to his character," she said. Pippa Barber said she was pleased the police had acted swiftly to arrest someone following the "just horrendous and horrific" crime. "I'm relieved for Kyle's family back in America, because can you imagine being so far away, and having your son taken from you. But I’m just so sad, so sad that it’s happened. It's just awful.” She said finding out the young age of the alleged offender was "shocking". St Johns resident Angie Winnington told 1News she lived just around the corner, and what had happened at her local bus stop was terrible. She said she would usually do a similar route as Whorrall did, but earlier in the day, which was why it felt "very close to my heart in a weird way”. "I'm also away from home, so I felt for him in that way. I know how hard it is for people's parents who are nowhere near to them, who worry for them. My parents worry about me and I’m sure his parents are just devastated.” Whorrall’s former entomology professor at Western Kentucky University, Keith Philips, told 1News Kyle was an "enthusiastic field worker and a great entomologist". "We just had so many good times having a pint in different places after a days field work… He really loved the work and I just really loved being with him," he said. Black SUV 'critical witnesses' sought after Akl bus stop homicideThe 33-year-old victim received "serious head injuries" and later died in hospital after the "violent and senseless" attack in St Johns on Saturday night Man dies following bus stop assault in Auckland's St JohnsThe 33-year-old victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition Philips said Whorrall had "really thought of New Zealand as home", and had been planning to stay for the rest of his life. "It just makes me so sad that he’s such a great kid and I really loved him. It was such a senseless act, you just have to ask why? It shouldn’t happen to anybody, but for somebody like Kyle it is just such a shame." Police have appealed to "critical witnesses" as part of the investigation into the homicide of a man who was fatally assaulted in Auckland's St Johns over the weekend Emergency services were called to a bus stop on St Johns Rd shortly before 10pm on Saturday following reports a person had been attacked by at least two offenders The victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition with "serious head injuries" Former colleagues have named him as 33-year-old Kyle Whorrall a US doctoral student studying entomology at the University of Auckland A Facebook post read: "One of our former UCR undergrad students who was working on his dissertation under my friend Rich Leschen in New Zealand was killed in an assault at a bus stop in Auckland this past weekend Whorrall reportedly worked at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research The scene examination on St Johns Rd had been completed and a post-mortem was scheduled to begin on Monday Speaking at a media conference at the scene on St Johns Rd Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said police were continuing to follow "several lines of inquiry" in relation to the investigation Police are seeking a black SUV and its occupants which was at the scene and fled at speed following the attack who they believed were involved "This vehicle came to a stop near the bus shelter with at least two offenders exiting the vehicle "There is possibly a third offender and or other occupants may have been driving this vehicle at the time and this is forming part of the investigation." Baldwin said police were also seeking "critical witnesses" driving a white Toyota ute that were cut off by the black SUV doing a U-turn in front of them "I'm confident those people may remember that journey because they witnessed some pretty erratic driving "I urge any occupants of that vehicle to contact us as you may have crucial information to our investigation." The victim's movements prior to the fatal assault were also being clarified He went to the Meadowbank supermarket and then stopped and sat in the bus shelter but did not flag down a bus Baldwin said the victim had been subject to a "senseless and violent attack" and expressed his condolences to the family "This is a life changing event for them and a horrible event that will endure with them for some time and I send my deepest condolences to them." Police had not identified or located the weapon involved and were keeping an open mind Baldwin said police were not in a position to release the name of the victim "We are still working through the formal identification process with the Coroner’s Office and are speaking to his family who live overseas." The family were still in the process of notifying loved ones of what had occurred "It’s the news no one should have to receive so out of respect for them I won’t be releasing further information today." Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 Police have revealed they are seeking two people in relation to a fatal attack at a bus stop in an Auckland suburb Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said this morning that police were still piecing together the events that led to the 33-year-old man’s death in Meadowbank on Saturday night Baldwin said that police believed there were two attackers involved in the incident on St Johns Road someone will know who these people are,” he said “Please do the right thing and contact police.” The motive for the attack was not yet clear and police said they were keeping an open mind as to what may have happened Baldwin said it was not known if the victim was waiting for a bus at the time he was attacked or taking shelter from the storm Investigators were gathering and reviewing CCTV and tracking the victim’s movements throughout Saturday A large investigations team was working on the case “We believe there are members of the public who may hold crucial information that can help us,” Baldwin said “Police urgently want to speak with anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area We especially need to hear from any motorists who have dashcam footage from around that area.” Police had not yet formally identified the victim but believed they knew who he was and were speaking to his family He was described as a 33-year-old Caucasian man A post-mortem was scheduled to begin today Emergency services were called to the scene just after 10pm on Saturday night The victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition A scene examination at the bus stop has now been completed and the road has reopened Police officers went door to door on St Johns Rd One resident who lived nearby said they were walking to their usual bus stop yesterday when they ran into the police cordon He was shocked that someone had apparently been harmed in his street “You read about it in the news but you never think it’s going to happen in your neighbourhood.” Police have asked anyone with information that could assist the investigation to make a report via 105 Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-nz.org Emergency services were called to a bus stop on St Johns Rd shortly before 10pm on Saturday, following reports a person had been attacked by at least two offenders. The victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition with "serious head injuries", where he later died. Former colleagues have named him as 33-year-old Kyle Whorrall, a US doctoral student studying entomology at the University of Auckland. A Facebook post read: "One of our former UCR undergrad students, Kyle Whorrall, who was working on his dissertation under my friend Rich Leschen in New Zealand, was killed in an assault at a bus stop in Auckland this past weekend. I’m sure all of his friends, family, and colleagues are in shock, as I am. Senseless and tragic." Whorrall reportedly worked at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. The scene examination on St Johns Rd had been completed, and a post-mortem was scheduled to begin on Monday. Speaking at a media conference at the scene on St Johns Rd, Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said police were continuing to follow "several lines of inquiry" in relation to the investigation. Police are seeking a black SUV and its occupants which was at the scene and fled at speed following the attack who they believed were involved, he said. "This vehicle came to a stop near the bus shelter, with at least two offenders exiting the vehicle. "There is possibly a third offender and or other occupants may have been driving this vehicle at the time, and this is forming part of the investigation." Baldwin said police were also seeking "critical witnesses" driving a white Toyota ute that were cut off by the black SUV doing a U-turn in front of them. "I'm confident those people may remember that journey because they witnessed some pretty erratic driving. The victim's movements prior to the fatal assault were also being clarified, Baldwin said. He went to the Meadowbank supermarket and then stopped and sat in the bus shelter but did not flag down a bus. Baldwin said the victim had been subject to a "senseless and violent attack" and expressed his condolences to the family. "This is a life changing event for them and a horrible event that will endure with them for some time, and I send my deepest condolences to them." Police had not identified or located the weapon involved and were keeping an open mind, he added. Baldwin said police were not in a position to release the name of the victim. The family were still in the process of notifying loved ones of what had occurred, he added. "It’s the news no one should have to receive, so out of respect for them I won’t be releasing further information today." Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105. Police at the scene of the fatal assault on St Johns Rd on Sunday. (Source: 1News) Police have appealed to "critical witnesses" as part of the investigation into the homicide of a man who was fatally assaulted in Auckland's St Johns over the weekend. Emergency services were called to St Johns Rd about 10pm on Saturday. (Source: 1News) Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin at a media conference at the scene of the assault on St Johns Rd. (Source: 1News) Police have formally named the man who died in the Auckland suburb of St Johns on Saturday night Police have said two occupants of the erratically driven vehicle attacked him while he was sitting alone at a bus stop on St Johns Rd on Saturday night Whorrall was struck with a “long” weapon at around 10pm Police said officers are investigating Whorrall’s death and working to identify those involved and their lives have been forever altered,” Auckland City CIB Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said today “We are in ongoing contact with the family providing updates on the investigation as this develops “Police are ensuring there is support in place for them.” Police say they do not know why Whorrall was at the bus stop and that he may have been waiting for a bus or sheltering from stormy weather Whorrall was based at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research which has an office in St Johns about 3km from where he was attacked Police said they had pieced together “snippets” of the incident from witness accounts and video footage from a passing bus and shopping centre had bought groceries at a Woolworths supermarket on Gerard Way about 9.40pm on Saturday He then walked about 400m up St Johns Rd to the bus stop a white Toyota ute was cut off by a black SUV that was performing a U-turn Footage from a passing bus captured an image of Whorrall sitting at the bus stop and the two vehicles Two occupants got out of the car and attacked Whorrall for about 30 seconds before speeding in their car in an easterly direction towards College Rd The occupants of the white ute were “critical” witnesses and police were appealing for them to come forward while emphasising they were not suspects in the investigation They could be able to confirm how many people were in the black vehicle or might have captured the car’s number plate While footage had been captured of the black SUV it was not clear enough to identify a number plate The weapon used by the attackers had not been found The hunt for the attackers is now a major police exercise with detectives called back from holiday to assist A 26-year-old man has been charged with murder in that case Thorpe had also worked on and off for Landcare Research Landcare declined to comment while police investigations were under way Sign up to The Daily H A black SUV is at the heart of a police investigation into the “senseless” death of an American student in Auckland Police say two occupants of the erratically-driven vehicle attacked Kyle Whorrall while he was sitting alone at a bus stop in Meadowbank on Saturday night “He did nothing wrong,” said Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin yesterday And we are determined to hold those people to account.” had bought groceries at a Woolworths supermarket on Gerard Way about 9.40pm a white Toyota ute was cut off by a black SUV which was doing a U-turn It was not his usual bus stop and it was not yet known why he was there - he did not flag any buses Baldwin said he might have been sheltering from stormy weather Two occupants got out of the car and attacked Whorrall for about 30 seconds before speeding in their car in an easterly direction towards College Road “The victim was subjected to a senseless attack leaving him with multiple head injuries,” Baldwin said “No one should be subjected to the appalling level of violence that the victim suffered on Saturday night.” Whorrall moved to New Zealand from the United States about four years ago to study for his PhD in entomology at the University of Auckland He was based at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Whorrall was studying a highly specialised area of entomology and was invited to New Zealand to research his doctorate Colleagues said he had nearly completed his thesis and was working overtime to finish it His supervisor told the Herald it was too soon for him to comment thoughtful and deeply interested in his science Douglas Yanega of the University of California told the Herald he taught Whorral as an undergraduate which is fairly typical for an entomology student,” he said that he was keen to take his interests to the next level as he had approached me looking to do genuine taxonomic research as an undergrad - with firefly beetles Most entomology students don’t get into research until they begin their graduate studies so Kyle had clearly made up his mind that he wanted to turn his interest into a career.” He said he was happy to hear Whorrall had moved to New Zealand to work with a friend Yanega had gone to graduate school with at the University of Kansas “While it is certainly not the same as being family the relationship between a student and their thesis advisor can be very close.. The entomological community is very close-knit and supportive and even as briefly as Kyle had been involved in entomology there were many people who knew and respected him at least a few new species described and named in Kyle’s honour as that’s very much the kind of thing entomologists do to pay tribute to lost colleagues - a small but meaningful form of immortality Whorrall was a member of the New Zealand Entomological Society of New Zealand which described him as an expert on Coleoptera The University of Auckland has said it would not release details while an investigation is underway The US Embassy has confirmed it is aware of the death and was providing support to the family A makeshift memorial has been set up at an Auckland bus stop where a student was killed as his former teacher said he wouldn’t be surprised if a new species was named after him as a tribute Kyle Whorrall, 33, was sitting at the bus shelter on St Johns Rd on Saturday night when two people jumped out of a black SUV and attacked him mourners have filled the shelter with large bouquets of flowers and solar-powered lights have been set up to illuminate the stop at night Grieving friends and colleagues gathered there this morning “I interacted with Kyle while he was an undergrad from the University of California’s entomology department which is fairly typical for an entomology student “Most entomology students don’t get into research until they begin their graduate studies Yanega said he was happy to hear Whorrall had moved to New Zealand to work with a friend Yanega had attended graduate school with at the University of Kansas the relationship between a student and their thesis adviser can be very close.. friends described Whorrall as kind-hearted and kind-spirited “His love for bugs and nature was wholesome and innate,” one said The police investigation is centred on a black SUV captured in footage from the scene Police say two occupants of the erratically-driven vehicle attacked Whorrall while he was sitting alone at a bus stop in Meadowbank on Saturday night He was struck with a “long” weapon about 10pm Friends and former colleagues said Whorrall was known for scouring the streets at night for insects and may have been doing so on Saturday night or might have captured the vehicle’s number plate The victim of a “senseless” attack at an Auckland bus stop has been named by colleagues as US doctoral student Kyle Whorrall 33 - who was studying entomology and may have been out looking for insects when he was assaulted - died in hospital after being attacked on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank on Saturday night A manhunt is underway for those responsible Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said police are seeking a midsize black SUV and its occupants who they believe are involved They are also seeking “critical witnesses” in a white Toyota ute driving in a westerly direction along St Johns Rd which had been cut off by the SUV Police believe they will have witnessed erratic driving The police are seeking to clarify the victim’s movements on Saturday He went to a supermarket - understood to be Woolworths on Gerard Way - and purchased some items about 9.40pm before walking to the bus stop about 400m away They are trying to understand why he stopped at the bus stop the SUV did a U-turn on St Johns Road at around 9.51pm a member of the public has had to bring their vehicle to an abrupt stop,” Baldwin said The white ute that was cut off had a black roll cage sports bar on it “I would like to stress that the occupants of this white ute are witnesses “I urge any occupants of that vehicle to contact us as you may have crucial information to our investigation.” the black SUV came to a stop near the bus shelter “There is possibly a third offender and or other occupants may have been driving this vehicle at the time and this is forming part of the investigation leaving him with multiple head injuries.“No one should be subjected to the appalling level of violence that the victim suffered on Saturday night.” The vehicle fled the scene at speed towards College Road People who witnessed the attack called emergency services The victim succumbed to his injuries at Auckland Hospital Baldwin said police had been contacted by a number of people with key information over the past couple of days “The victim was subjected to a senseless attack which left him with serious head injuries Police had not identified or located the weapon involved Baldwin said police were still in the process of formally identifying the victim “This is a life-changing event for [the family] and a horrible event that will endure with them for some time “This is not the news that anyone would want to receive.” Fellow students and former colleagues identified Kyle Whorrall as they paid tribute he was a University of Auckland PhD student who had been in the country for around four years His supervisor told the Herald it was too soon for him comment A former teacher in California described his death as “awful news” was killed in an assault at a bus stop in Auckland this past weekend,” he posted on Facebook The US Embassy also confirmed today it was aware of the death “The Embassy is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance to the family we have no further comment on the matter,” a spokesperson said Police say they do not know why the victim was at the bus stop at St Johns Rd about 10.10pm on Saturday and believe he may have been waiting for a bus or sheltering from stormy weather But those who knew him said he was known for scouring beaches Remuera and St Johns for beetles and other creatures They said that because most New Zealand insects were nocturnal it was common for students to do field work in the evening or overnight Baldwin said yesterday they were speaking to the victim’s family and a formal identification process was ongoing Police were still piecing together the events that led to the death and were unsure of the motive behind the attack Baldwin said police were seeking two people in relation to the incident The suspects were believed to have driven away from the scene “We especially need to hear from any motorists who have dashcam footage from around that area.” said the violent incident would have a significant impact on the neighbourhood And there were also a large number of people who walked their dogs and were active in the area The apparent randomness of the attack would make residents afraid to walk the streets “I’ve lived here for nearly 10 years and we’ve never had an incident like this before It’s going to have a far-reaching effect.” Isaac Davison is a senior reporter for the New Zealand Herald and has a special interest in inequality The teenager accused of murdering 33-year-old American entomology student Kyle Whorrall has been remanded in custody He appeared in the Auckland District Court today charged with aggravated robbery and murder His case has been transferred to the High Court at Auckland for his next appearance on May 14 charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder also appeared and was granted interim name suppression Charging documents seen by the Herald allege she “actively suppressed” evidence against the teen by selling a car to help him escape after arrest She has been remanded until the same date without plea Whorrall was struck with a “long” weapon at around 10pm Police had “obtained further information” about a black SUV that became the subject of a media appeal when Baldwin held a press conference about the case on Tuesday “I can confirm we have now located this vehicle on the North Shore and it has been seized by police with a detailed forensic examination under way.” “Our inquiries are ongoing to locate these persons of interest and I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest police station or phone us.” Baldwin acknowledged the support of the community Baldwin said police were still working to fully understand the events of Saturday night On Thursday morning a tearful vigil was held at a bus stop on St Johns Rd to pay tribute to Whorrall he was very thoughtful,” one of the five flatmates said but the group gathered was a “true testament” of his character Anyone with information is being asked to contact police online or call 105 using the reference number 250419/9858 A man who was fatally attacked at an Auckland bus stop was a US entomology student who may have been out looking for insects on the night he died It is the second case in a year in which a bug collector has been fatally attacked on an Auckland street It is understood that the 33-year-old victim of the assault in Meadowbank was an American University of Auckland doctoral student who had been in the country for around four years The Herald has chosen not to name him while police inform his family Police said this morning Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin will hold a press conference at 1.30pm at the scene of the incident The University of Auckland has said they will not release details while an investigation is underway The US Embassy also confirmed today that it was aware of the death we have no further comment on the matter,” a US Embassy spokesperson said Police say they do not know why the victim was at the bus stop at St Johns Rd at around 10.10pm on Saturday night The victim was based at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research which has an office in St Johns around 3km from where he was attacked Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said that they were speaking to the victim’s family and a formal identification process was ongoing Police were still piecing together the events that led to the man’s death and were unsure of the motive behind the attack On an unseasonably sunny and warm autumn morning a woman cries as she places a stuffed toy beetle at bus stop 7435 It’s for slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall. He loved bugs and stuffed animals As rain and wind raged on Saturday, a night nestled between the two holiest days of the year, Whorrall met a violent end in the dark, returning home with his groceries. Whorrall was fondly remembered under the light of the beaming sun Love poured down his flatmates’ faces in the form of tears came out of colleagues’ mouths through tributes and were put on the last place he sat as vibrant blooms Whorrall’s life was spelt out on the bus stop bench where he met his end his favourite drink and a poignant piece of his American homeland notes of prayers for his friends and family The wails and sobs dangled in the autumn air intermeshed with the sound of bustling traffic shame it wasn’t busy Saturday night,” a mourner whispered to her friend if the words of his flatmates are anything to go by gripping each other as if a gentle breeze would knock them over “When he talked about [the things he loved] He preferred the social aspect to any reward “He loved crafting and painting and sewing and creating plushies – he loved plushies so much “He cared deeply about what he did and the people in his life.” Love for Whorrall and his family was also being shared online as the service played out, with a fundraiser on GoFundMe set up to collect donations for his family The money raised will go towards travel-related expenses between the United States and NZ – including getting the slain man’s body home – funeral and memorial expenses therapy and grief counselling and any legal and administrative costs a bottle of L&P filled with water was tipped over hands others stopped for a second for a glance at the beautiful place that was once home to a shocking act of violence a gentle man who followed his dream across the world Fairy lights placed by the community keep twinkling at stop 7435 Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin will speak to media at the scene on St Johns Road MetService National Weather Update: May 7 - May 9 Police said emergency services were called to a Mahia Rd property just before 10am after a report of a person seriously injured Mairehau house fire: Firefighters battle two-storey house blaze 10 patients were assessed and treated by our crews in total Auckland commuters face a chaotic morning after two highways leading into the central city have been majorly disrupted by crashes NZ film industry faces uncertainty over US tariff ongoing decline in livestock numbers and questions over longer sentences reducing reoffending Reporter Sierra is at Magnificent Moa Day where experts are revealing their incredible 3.6 million year-old find Emergency services are attending the fire at a McDonald's on Pakuranga Rd A video of a dog abuse incident is circulating on social media showing a dog swinging in the air and slamming into the ground on a walk in Manurewa A memorial tree has been planted at the entrance of St John’s bush in honour of slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall Victim of abuse is wanting a judicial review Goodman Group is upgrading Highbrook Crossing to add retail dining and public space to New Zealand’s largest business park in East Tāmaki where hip hop crews from all over the world are battling to see who’s the best and Parliament tackles alcohol and mental health The Coleman family has been melting down precious metals for more than 40 years This is the first time they've shared inside their multi-million dollar gold and silver operation The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking in the Newstalk ZB studio to talk all the big politicial issues Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was joined by Deputy PM Winston Peters and Minister of defence Judith Collins to make a pre-budget defence announcement and 3D-printed limbs help child amputees in Gaza Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to be joined by Defence Minister Judith Collins and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters make a pre-Budget defence announcement Neighbours heard explosions as a fire ripped through a Mt Roskill house Mum pays tribute after Auckland bus stop killing Australians vote early and insurance companies brace for claims Megyn Cordner and Lucas Prince started their business from the back of a van in 2022 Andrew Che lost his life savings after sending it to the wrong account Barclays Bank has refunded his money after a prolonged battle for compensation Aerial footage reveals the scale of flooding across areas of Canterbury after a destructive weather system hit the region and prompted a state of emergency North Shore real estate agency chief responds to a Real Estate Disciplinary Tribunal decision Mark Mitchell provides an update on the state of emergency in Christchurch and Selwyn A possible mini tornado was spotted about Auckland Harbour as the latest band of wild weather hits the city Fire and Emergency NZ said it responded to more than 30 callouts overnight more Kiwis turning to methamphetamine and Drs are back at the negotiating table NZSA chief executive Oliver Mander speaks about CEO pay in 2024 Waiwhetu woman Julie Paterson heard 'a loud cracking' and saw a tree branch falling towards her during Wednesday's storm Heather Keats updates the powerful system battering New Zealand breaks down why Wellington is under a rare red warning with extreme winds and Local MP Hon Nicola Grigg speak to the media on the local state of emergency in Selwyn Gisborne locals and health workers marched to Heipipi Park where speakers highlighted what they say is a regional health crisis NZ Herald Live: Simeon Brown talks to media The 33-year-old Caucasian victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said "the motive for this attack is not yet clear" "At this stage we believe that there are two assailants Baldwin said investigators were continuing to gather and review CCTV and track the victim's movements throughout Saturday "We believe there are members of the public who may hold crucial information that can help us," he said "Police urgently want to speak with anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area "We are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened in the moments before the attack "We also do not know if the victim was waiting for a bus at the time he was attacked or whether he was taking shelter from the storm," he said to "do the right thing" and come forward to police with any information Baldwin said efforts were continuing to formally identify the man "We will be working with them through this process and keeping them informed of any developments," he said The scene examination on St Johns Rd has been completed and a post-mortem is scheduled to begin today could be the missing puzzle piece we need to hold these offenders to account," Baldwin said or provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Police say they are searching for two assailants following the fatal assault of a man in Auckland's St Johns on Saturday night. The 33-year-old Caucasian victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition, where he died from his injuries. In an update, Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said "the motive for this attack is not yet clear". "At this stage we believe that there are two assailants, and while they are not yet identified, someone will know who these people are. Baldwin said investigators were continuing to gather and review CCTV and track the victim's movements throughout Saturday. "We believe there are members of the public who may hold crucial information that can help us," he said. "Police urgently want to speak with anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area, around a bus stop near 69 St Johns Rd, between 9pm and 10pm on Saturday. "We are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened in the moments before the attack, and the events preceding it. "We also do not know if the victim was waiting for a bus at the time he was attacked, or whether he was taking shelter from the storm," he said. He urged members of the public, including drivers with dashcam footage, to "do the right thing" and come forward to police with any information. Baldwin said efforts were continuing to formally identify the man, "but we believe we know who he is, and are in contact with next of kin". "We will be working with them through this process and keeping them informed of any developments," he said. The scene examination on St Johns Rd has been completed, and a post-mortem is scheduled to begin today. "Even a small piece of information, which you might think is insignificant, could be the missing puzzle piece we need to hold these offenders to account," Baldwin said. Reports can be made online through 105, or provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Police say they are searching for two assailants following the fatal assault of a man in Auckland's St Johns on Saturday night 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. City on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 10:00AM (unless sold prior) Families love St Johns Park — and it’s easy to see why a strong sense of community and an easy commute to the city make it a suburb where people tend to stay there’s even more reason to put down roots two-bathroom cedar-clad home has been designed with modern family living in mind Three bedrooms are located downstairs with one bathroom while the principal bedroom enjoys its own level — complete with ensuite — giving parents a peaceful retreat away from the rest of the household living and dining area has been recently renovated to offer light spacious family living that flows to a deck with automated Louvre roof creating a year-round second living zone that’s perfect for entertaining Or close the doors and settle in for movie night in front of the automated 120" projector screen that discreetly disappears into the ceiling when not in use there's lawn at the rear for backyard sport privacy and practicality all wrapped into one this is an easy-care home that works for everyone 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 Police are hunting for another vehicle linked to the alleged murder of Kyle Whorrall in St Johns over Easter Weekend The police said the vehicle is a silver 2004 Mitsubishi Grandis with the registration number GNG652 Police said this vehicle is believed to be connected to people police want to speak to as part of their investigation “We believe they have crucial information to share with us about the events surrounding Kyle’s tragic death,” police said The vehicle may have travelled to Northland in recent days Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin is asking those occupants to make contact with police as soon as possible “These people of interest could have the information we are looking for that will help us understand why Kyle was killed “We know they are likely feeling apprehensive about speaking with us but we are asking them to come forward as soon as possible “If you have any information about this vehicle or the people involved “We will be continuing to carry out our enquiries to locate this vehicle and the people with it as a matter of urgency.” Contact police online or call 105 using the reference number 250419/9858 A Gofundme set up to help Whorrall’s grieving family has nearly reached its US$35,000 goal the amount raised was sitting at US$33,604 - about $56,250 A message on the Gofundme page said the money would go towards travel costs for his family and other related expenses “Although no one can eliminate the overwhelming grief and difficult tasks that Kyle’s family now faces we can help relieve the associated financial burden.” Whorrall was fatally attacked last Saturday on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank while he waited at a bus stop with his groceries At a tearful vigil held yesterday, flatmates Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said yesterday police had arrested a 16-year-old and charged him with Whorrall’s murder He appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday and also faced an aggravated robbery charge Whorrall was struck with a “long” weapon about 10pm on Saturday Police had “obtained further information” about a black SUV that became the subject of a media appeal when Baldwin held a press conference about the case on Tuesday Johns County is offering residents a "front row seat" into the dialogue between departments and community partners as it begins the process of shaping its budget for Fiscal Year 2026 The county is hosting a Budget Workshop Series May 8-13 at the St “I would like to give you a clear view of how funding decisions are made — and how your voice can influence those decisions,” County Administrator Joy Andrews said in a letter to county residents County departments will give Andrews their operational needs priorities and plans for the upcoming year regarding public safety services such as fire and rescue plus infrastructure for quality-of-life investments such as parks libraries and future economic developments “This is your chance to understand the landscape of community needs and the strategies behind how we fund the public services that serve you,” she said in the letter residents and volunteers who help enhance “our quality of life.” “Whether you’re revitalizing Vilano Main Street or historic Hastings Main Street organizing book sales through the Friends of the Library to enrich our readers' experiences or advocating in West Augustine to bring vital medical facilities and safe spaces for our youth — your impact is felt,” she said “From Ponte Vedra leaders who keep a careful watch over the quality of our streets to those who maintain our ballfields in perfect condition for the next tournament to our firefighters who are always ready between called your commitment shines in every corner of our county.” Andrews described the county’s first Strategic Plan by the Board of County Commissioners as a significant milestone used to prioritize residents' needs by delivering services in alignment with the community’s vision “It [the plan] is our essential reference to move forward prudently making well-informed decisions that reflect our focus on transparency The Daily Briefing: Get the latest St. Augustine news in your email each day. Sign up for The Record's newsletter Auckland CityPrice by Negotiation32Stylishly renovated single-level retreatWelcome to 15a Allen Johnston Place this fully renovated cedar and tile home offers the perfect balance of character and contemporary elegance brings a sense of space and tranquillity with a nod to Japanese-inspired architecture filled with natural light and opening to outdoor living spaces • Two fully renovated bathrooms with modern finishes and elegant fixtures seamlessly flowing into a slate-floored conservatory for relaxed entertaining • Wraparound deck and landscaped courtyard with a tranquil garden cabana ideal for morning coffee or evening relaxation • Large two-car carport with space for at least three additional vehicles off-street with direct access to the landscaped garden and outdoor areas Located just minutes from Allen Johnston Reserve and in-zone for St Thomas School and Glendowie College this home offers easy access to everything you need 15a Allen Johnston Place isn’t just a home; it’s a retreat that blends modern comfort with timeless design Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Former colleagues have named Kyle Whorrall as the victim of a fatal assault at a bus stop in Auckland's St Johns Former professors of a PhD student slain in an Auckland bus stop attack have described him as "soft-spoken Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Road in Meadowbank on Saturday night He was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries said he taught Whorrall as an undergraduate "I interacted with Kyle while he was an undergrad which is fairly typical for an entomology student," he said "Most entomology students don't get into research until they begin their graduate studies so Kyle had clearly made up his mind that he wanted to turn his interest into a career." "I was very happy to hear that Kyle had gone to New Zealand to work with my good friend "While it is certainly not the same as being family the relationship between a student and their thesis advisor can be very close and I know that Rich is devastated by this." "The entomological community is very close-knit and supportive there were many people who knew and respected him." at least a few new species described and named in Kyle's honour as that's very much the kind of thing entomologists do to pay tribute to lost colleagues - a small but meaningful form of immortality Dr Christiane Weirauch from the University of California said the entomology community had been rocked by the news "I was fortunate to mentor Kyle Whorrall in my lab during his time here at the University of California He was a wonderful student dedicated to discovering and documenting biodiversity," she said "Members of my lab and I will always be proud of the taxonomic research we did together that resulted in the publication of a new genus of true bugs from Costa Rica titled 'a giant among dwarfs' with the scientific name Meganannus." "We are shocked by and are grieving the senseless death of a promising young scientist," said Dr Christiane Weirauch Police said the motive for the attack was still unknown but believed someone in the community knew the two offenders involved Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said they were seeking witnesses in a white Toyota ute which was driving in a westerly direction along St Johns Road They believe the black SUV was involved in the crime and they would like help to identify its occupants The occupants of the white ute are critical witnesses went to the supermarket about 9.40pm and walked 400 metres to the bus stop and did not flag down a bus that was in the vicinity It was only a few minutes later that he was attacked "He was subjected to a senseless attack by people in a black SUV," Baldwin said Police have been contacted by a number of people but are still seeking witnesses in the vicinity of St Johns Road before 10pm Baldwin said police were not ready to release Whorrall's name and were still contacting family overseas The US Embassy of New Zealand said it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance to Whorrall's family rnz.co.nz Police say they’re continuing to piece together the events that led to a man’s death after being assaulted in St Johns, in east Auckland, on Saturday night. Emergency services were called to a bus stop on St Johns Road shortly before 10pm on Saturday April 19, following reports a person had been attacked by at least two offenders. The victim was transported to hospital in a critical condition, where he died from his injuries. Police say the victim is a 33-year-old Caucasian man, and efforts continue to formally identify the man. “But we believe we know who he is and are in contact with next of kin,” says Auckland Police detective inspector Glenn Baldwin. “We will be working with them through this process and keeping them informed of any developments.” A post-mortem is scheduled to begin today April 21. “We believe there are members of the public who may hold crucial information that can help us,” Baldwin says. Police say they urgently want to speak with anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area, around a bus stop near 69 St Johns Rd, between 9pm and 10pm on April 19. “We especially need to hear from any motorists who have dashcam footage from around that area,” Baldwin says. “Investigators are continuing to gather and review CCTV and track the victim’s movements throughout the course of Saturday. “At this stage we believe that there are two assailants, and while they’re not yet identified, someone will know who these people are. “Please do the right thing and contact police. The motive for this attack is not yet clear. “We’re keeping an open mind as to what may have happened in the moments before the attack, and the events preceding it. “We also do not know if the victim was waiting for a bus at the time he was attacked, or whether he was taking shelter from the storm. “Again, information or footage from the public is crucial to helping us understand that.” Baldwin says the scene examination on St Johns Rd has been completed, and a large investigation team is continuing the work to answer the many questions around this tragic event. “If you can help us, please get in touch with us. Even a small piece of information, which you might think is insignificant, could be the missing puzzle piece we need to hold these offenders to account.” The Times is published by Times Media, an independently-owned publishing company based in East Auckland, founded in 1972. Keep informed with the latest breaking news, sports, events & competitions. 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/ Auckland CityPrice by Negotiation4221,466m²The golf and racquet challengeSituated on a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking the lush scenery of the Remuera Golf Club’s 10th fairway this stunning family residence is perfectly positioned to capture all-day sun with its desirable north-west facing orientation Spread across two titles comprising an unparalleled 1,466sqm that encompasses a floodlit tennis court An exquisite Morgan Cronin kitchen forms the heart of the home family and living areas which all open to the extensive outdoor entertaining domain and immaculately presented grounds where mature palm trees and the sparkling swimming pool imbue the whole experience with the ambience of a tropical resort The accommodation features four generously proportioned bedrooms The master suite opens to a deck overlooking the tennis court and includes a beautifully tiled ensuite while the family bathroom and additional powder room cater to the needs of a busy household Thoughtfully designed to enhance both privacy and practicality this home offers the perfect balance for family living Located in one of the area’s most sought-after enclaves enjoy an easy stroll to the golf clubhouse for a leisurely lunch and you are just moments from Waiatarua Reserve a haven for dog walks and outdoor adventures it is now time for the next owners to enjoy an exceptional lifestyle in a breathtaking setting Experience the perfect harmony of family lifestyle comfort and convenience in this truly special property Marco Monge ST Johns County announced Monday that it is launching a new program to honor the brave men and women who have served in the military RELATED: St. Johns County residents seek solutions for unpleasant odor, say it smells ‘like human poop’ the “Salute to Service Program” will connect local veterans to discounts and special offers from participating restaurants “Veterans have given so much for our country and this is one small way we can give something back,” said Brandon J Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller “The Salute to Service Program not only honors their sacrifice but also strengthens the bond between our veterans and the St veterans must record their DD-214 with the Clerk’s Office they will be issued an ID card that serves as member verification and veterans typically receive their ID card within seven business days Local veteran Robert Shannon expressed his gratitude for the program For those who would like to make an appointment Appointments can also be made online, which can be found here Johns County are participating in the Salute to Service Program: For more information about the Salute to Service Program, visit stjohnsclerk.com/salute-toservice-program/ or contact the office at (904) 819-3600. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. John anchors at 9 a.m. on The Morning Show with Melanie Lawson and then jumps back into reporter mode after the show with the rest of the incredibly talented journalists at News4JAX. Marco has over 30 years of experience in the field. His career has seen him traversing the globe, capturing impactful images for various networks across the USA and other countries. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Auckland CityAsking Price $659,00021254m²Refurbished Unit - Ideal for First Home or RentalKey Features: • Unobstructed view of Half Moon Bay - prime position with peaceful outlook • Beautifully presented 2-bedroom unit - freshly painted • Light-filled lounge - opens through sliding doors to a sunny deck • Two good-sized double bedrooms - comfortable and inviting • Separate kitchen - functional and close to the living area • Combined dining and lounge room - bathed in natural light laundry and separate toilet - for convenience • Exclusive stairway access - private and easy entry • Carport + garden shed - handy storage solutions • No Body Corporate fees - more control and fewer costs Contact us today to arrange a private viewing Auckland Police say their investigation into the tragic death of Kyle Whorrall over Easter Weekend in St Johns has progressed significantly Detective inspector Glenn Baldwin says on Tuesday afternoon police obtained further information about a black SUV that was subject of a public appeal through the news media the investigation team have also identified a person of interest in the case Baldwin says late yesterday Wednesday afternoon police executed a search warrant at a Beach Haven address “A 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and murder “He will be appearing in the Auckland Youth Court today [April 24].” The woman is due to appear in the Auckland District Court today Baldwin says: “We’re aware that there were other occupants in the vehicle at the time this crime was committed I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest police station or phone us.” Police acknowledge the support from the St Johns community in east Auckland police say they’re still working to fully understand the events of last Saturday night Police are still seeking information on the white Toyota ute which had been cut off by the vehicle of interest and their information is important to our investigation,” Baldwin says Homicide in St Johns update: Witnesses in white ute sought https://www.times.co.nz/news/homicide-in-st-johns-police-urgently-seek-publics-help/ https://www.times.co.nz/news/man-dies-after-assault-at-auckland-bus-stop/ 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 Police say they’re continuing to follow several lines of enquiry in the homicide investigation launched in St Johns during Easter Weekend Detectives have been working over recent days to piece together the violent events that unfolded on Saturday night Police say they’ve had several members of the public come forward with information Police are now appealing for witnesses in a vehicle to come forward in the investigation Detective inspector Glenn Baldwin says Auckland Police are seeking the driver of a white Toyota ute who may have been cut off by a vehicle carrying the offenders Baldwin says it has been established that prior to the fatal attack a dark-coloured SUV turned around further down St Johns Road in east Auckland at around 9.51pm a member of the public has had to bring their vehicle to an abrupt stop “This vehicle was a white Toyota ute with a black sports bar attached on the back heading in a westerly direction towards the Meadowbank shops from College Rd “I’m confident that someone will remember being cut off while they drove along St Johns Rd,” Baldwin says Auckland Police says they’re still piecing together the victim’s movements throughout Saturday and “efforts continue to formally identify the man” The investigators can confirm the victim had purchased items from a nearby supermarket at around 9.40pm The victim then walked on foot to the bus shelter on St Johns Rd before the assault occurred just before 10pm leaving him with multiple head injuries,” Baldwin says “No one should be subjected to the appalling level of violence that the victim suffered on Saturday night the weapon used in the assault has not been located.” Baldwin says the police are keeping an open mind about why the attack occurred “We’ve had a number of people contact us in recent days with information and the investigation team are working through this with some urgency and I continue to ask anyone with additional information to get in touch.” Baldwin says they’re not yet in a position to formally release the victim’s name “We’re still working through the formal identification process with the Coroner’s Office and are speaking to his family who live overseas “The family are still in the process of notifying loved ones of what has occurred “It’s the news no one should have to receive so out of respect for them I won’t be releasing further information today.” Police would still like any information on a black SUV that was at the scene and left at speed following the fatal attack “This vehicle came to a stop near the bus shelter with at least two offenders exiting the vehicle,” Baldwin says and this is forming part of the investigation.” The vehicle fled the scene at speed towards College Rd Auckland CityAsking Price $2,150,000542277m²577m²Beautiful Spacious Home on the 5th FairwayStep into a world of luxury with this spacious 277sqm all complemented by breathtaking views of the 5th hole at the Remuera Golf Course Host in style with expansive outdoor spaces that overlook the picturesque Whether it's a summer barbecue or a quiet evening under the stars this home offers the perfect backdrop for memorable gatherings Enjoy direct access to the course with a unique golf cart driveway and a covered parking area for your cart This seamless convenience is tailored for those who love the game and the lifestyle it offers The lower level features a self contained studio unit providing an ideal option for guest accommodation Nestled in the sought-after Saint Johns Park this home offers a tranquil lifestyle within a close-knit neighbourhood it's the perfect haven for families and professionals alike Don't miss this rare opportunity to secure a home that truly offers the best of lifestyle and location The father of the student killed at an Auckland bus stop says he is grappling with the violent attack on his son who had no enemies and was a “kind soul”. A vigil will be held this morning for American student Kyle Whorrall at the location on St Johns Rd where he was fatally injured on Saturday night. Kyle’s American-based father John Whorrall told the Herald he is still coming to terms with his son’s tragic death. I am still trying wrap my head around how any of this is possible. “He’s never had an enemy in his life.” He said his son was a kind soul who had dreamed of moving to Auckland to study at the university his whole life. and he just fell in love with the place.” eventually becoming a professor at the university. but I didn’t think it would be like this.” He said his son was not the type “at all” to start a fight. Meadowbank vigil to ‘reclaim neighbourhood’ Organisers of this morning’s vigil say they want to “reclaim the neighbourhood” after the fatal attack in Meadowbank. A group of students and staff from the nearby St John’s Theological College will lead a short vigil at 9.30am saying it would be an opportunity to “reflect healing and aroha in our neighbourhood”. has unnerved people who lived nearby. “The way they saw a bloke sitting at the bus stop Floral tributes were left at the St Johns Rd bus stop where Kyle Whorrall was murdered on Saturday night. Neighbours are also determined that the offenders be caught as soon as possible. or someone will know what has happened,” Maloney said and seeking CCTV or dashcam footage from motorists who may have been passing through on Saturday night. Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said earlier this week that police were also committing significant resources to finding two suspects involved in the attack Whorrall moved to New Zealand from the United States in 2021 to study for a PhD. He had shown a particular interest in beetles. from the University of California’s entomology department. which is fairly typical for an entomology student. as he had approached me looking to do genuine taxonomic research as an undergrad so Kyle had clearly made up his mind that he wanted to turn his interest into a career.” Yanega said he was happy to hear Whorrall had moved to New Zealand to work with a friend Yanega had attended graduate school with at the University of Kansas. the relationship between a student and their thesis adviser can be very close .. there were many people who knew and respected him. as that’s very much the kind of thing entomologists do to pay tribute to lost colleagues – a small but meaningful form of immortality friends described Whorrall as kind-hearted and kind-spirited. The police investigation is centred on a black SUV captured in footage from the scene. Police say two occupants of the erratically-driven vehicle attacked Whorrall while he was sitting alone at a bus stop in Meadowbank on Saturday night. Herald graphic on US student Kyle Whorrall's death. “He did nothing wrong,” said Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin on Monday. And we are determined to hold those people to account.” Police said they had pieced together “snippets” of the incident from witness accounts and video footage from a passing bus and shopping centre. which was part of his usual routine. Auckland University student Kyle Whorrall was attacked at a bus stop and died later in hospital. a white Toyota ute was cut off by a black SUV Footage from a passing bus captured an image of Whorrall sitting at the bus stop and the two vehicles. Baldwin said he might have been sheltering from stormy weather. Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin speaking to the media about the homicide investigation Friends and former colleagues said Whorrall was known for scouring the streets at night for insects and may have been doing so on Saturday night. Two occupants got out of the car and attacked Whorrall for about 30 seconds before speeding in their car in an easterly direction towards College Rd. leaving him with multiple head injuries,” Baldwin said. “No one should be subjected to the appalling level of violence that the victim suffered on Saturday night.” Police launched a homicide investigation after the incident on St Johns Rd while emphasising they were not suspects in the investigation. or might have captured the vehicle’s number plate. The attackers’ weapon had not been found. died after being attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank on Saturday. There are concerns for the wellbeing of a teenager reported missing from the Auckland suburb of St Johns She is described by police as of a medium build about 165cm tall with brown eyes and long straight black hair Both her family and police have concerns for her wellbeing Anyone with information on her whereabouts was asked to call 111 and reference file number 240727/7285 The St John's Hill shopping centre is up for sale with the owners hoping it will be picked up by a keen-eyed developer who will upgrade it A large commercial site in the heart of St John’s Hill is up for sale with the owner hoping it will be developed into an upgraded shopping centre for the community The site at 13-15 Great North Rd and 3 St Leonard St includes two commercial buildings which house a pharmacy A fire in November last year gutted the HillTop Fish Supply and destroyed a 40-year-old hair salon on the site. Damage from the fire forced the HillTop Fish Supply, Shirley McDouall School of Dance and Hair Creations to move out of the property. The section is owned by Bristol Properties, which involves two family trusts. Frank Bristol, who is the manager of Bristol Properties, said now the trustees and beneficiaries were getting older they had decided to sell the site. He would like to see it remain a shopping centre and ideally for the buildings to be upgraded to make it into a more thriving hub for St John’s Hill. “It’s the first time it has come on to the market for about 55 years,” Bristol said. “We thought it was time to hand over the vision to someone who could really redevelop the property.” In 1967, Bristol’s late uncle owned a butcher’s shop that was leased out of the Maypole Supermarket on the corner of St Leonard St and Great North Rd. “The owners [of the Maypole Supermarket] decided to start selling meat and they were asking my dad and uncle to leave the premises – but they didn’t want to leave St John’s Hill. “So they ended up approaching the surrounding properties and acquiring them and building that shopping centre. “By the time they had to exit the lease in the butcher’s shop, they were able to rebuild and carry on selling meat to the good people of St John’s Hill.” Bayleys real estate agent Amie Rowan said there was “a lot of potential for the site” because of its prime location on St John’s Hill and with the flow of traffic along State Highway 3. “We are aiming at developers; obviously there was the fire that happened there so there will be some work that’s required for anyone who does want to come along and put an offer in there,” Rowan said. “It’s not really for investors; I mean they could if they’re happy to do a bit of work and keep the income that’s existing, but definitely developers would be the ones to go for.” In total, the site has a land area of 1948sq m and includes a large villa which is split into three tenanted flats. Bristol said the residential property was acquired for extra car parks but was never converted and, if the zoning was able to be changed, there could be the potential to add apartments on to the shopping centre. “It’s been a very busy and well-tenanted shopping centre for a long time so we’d hope that it would continue to be so.” He said he had heard from the tenants who moved out because of the fire that they would like to return to the site if they were given the opportunity. “It’d be good to get those buildings rebuilt for the tenants who were affected by fire.” Rowan said if a developer wanted to go down the route of trying to get resource consent to potentially move the shopping centre back, they could possibly extend the site. “I think it’ll serve the St John’s suburb really well once there’s something nice and updated.” Bristol said the popularity of the shops and the way the site served the community showed it was a significant parcel of land with good potential. Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023. Low temperatures are forecast to temporarily return to double digits this week. Auckland CityEnquiries over $1,500,000322172m²Tee Off To A New BeginningSet in a quiet peaceful neighbourhood next to the Remuera Golf Course this brick and cedar beauty offers a sunny north-facing patio perfect for entertaining where opportunity and potential meet in a prime location and ample space for you to add your own personal touch this home is ready to become your dream retreat Whether you're looking to renovate or move right in the potential to create something special is endless and public transport as well as Waiatarua Reserve Perfect for children and four-legged friends It's a central commute to Auckland CBD with the main arterial routes close by Zoned for St Thomas' School and Glendowie College this home is perfect for families Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to secure your family's future - book a viewing today Scholastica baseball team closed out their regular season with a doubleheader split against Saint Johns CSS senior Jake Schelonka ended the regular season on a high note breaking the Saints’ all-time career hits record with 248 hits in his seasons with the Saints the Saints wouldn’t see the scoreboard change until the bottom of the third inning and would keep their lead until the top of the ninth inning The Saints would do their best to rally back offensively CSS will return to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball playoffs on Thursday, May 8th through Saturday, May 10th in St. Paul. Click here to view their full season schedule Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Vicki Kaping at vkaping@wdio.com or (218) 727-6864 Hato Hone St John says Saturday's rolling strikes by ambulance officers took place without any harm to patients The 24-hour action by members of FIRST Union and the Ambulance Association finished at 4am on Sunday St John deputy chief executive Dan Ohs said the ambulance service was helped by people with non urgent matters who found their own transport to a medical facility or hospital Hato Hone St John has not yet identified any adverse incidents or patient harm resulting from strikes throughout Saturday," Ohs told RNZ late on Saturday night "Our focus throughout the day was to maintain a safe level of service for New Zealanders and we would like to thank our own people who have contributed to this effort." The strike followed similar industrial action earlier in the week, the first ever carried out by ambulance workers Ohs said about 300 ambulance workers and call-centre staff took part in the Tuesday strike ambulance services are covered by the Life Preserving Services framework which required ambulance providers and unions to work constructively to maintain core services that prevent a serious threat to life or permanent disability during strike action Unions have warned more strike action was likely unless the government came up with more cash for ambulance services Ohs said the focus next was on "getting back to the bargaining table next week to discuss moving forward with our unions" The charity would also be seeking more funding from the government in 2026 rather than relying on donations to pay its bills "We are grateful for what we have received from our purchasers in recent years the cost to run the ambulance service has been significantly affected by high inflation and increased demand "We remain focused on getting our people back to work and moving towards 100 percent operational funding." John's basketball facilities that the school announced plans for in 2024 Longtime St. John’s benefactor and chair of the school’s board of trustees William J Janetschek has given the school the largest philanthropic gift in its 155-year history a donation that not only benefits the school as a whole but will help keep its basketball teams competitive with the top programs in the country The $32.5 million donation includes $25 million to be directed to previously planned construction of a basketball training facility on the Queens campus The other $7.5 million is to be directed to student scholarships “The generous contributions made by loyal alumni and by Board Chair Bill Janetschek exceed any monetary measure,” St “Bill’s transformative gift will significantly enhance St John’s basketball programs and provide student-athletes with unparalleled opportunities to excel both on and off the court.” “We are incredibly grateful to Bill Janetschek for his visionary support,” men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino said in the announcement “His donation will have a lasting impact on our program and our players We look forward to seeing our students thrive in this exceptional new environment.” Groundbreaking on the basketball training facility is expected before the end of the year it will include modern strength and training equipment hydrotherapy pools and spaces for film study and team dining it will also have areas for community engagement to foster “a sense of unity and collaboration among students “I believe in the power of sports to shape young minds and build strong communities,” Janetschek said in the announcement John’s basketball program and inspire students to pursue and achieve their dreams with passion and dedication.” The school said the facility is scheduled to be completed in 2027 and encouraged other supporters to join Janetschek in its campaigns to support its athletic programs Since Pitino was hired in March 2023 he has placed an emphasis on the need to improve the school’s facilities and modernize Carnesecca Arena spaces inside Taffner Fieldhouse — the current training facility — have been reallocated to meet the team's needs a portion of the practice courts now has weight training equipment and other rooms have been converted for film study New seating is being installed in parts of Carnesecca Arena “The new basketball practice facility will be a game-changer for the women’s basketball program,” women’s basketball coach Joe Tartamella said in the announcement “The facility will provide our student athletes with state-of-the-art resources to further develop their skills and elevate their performance We are grateful to Bill Janetschek for his gift and his support of St John’s athletics.” Janetschek retired as a partner and CFO of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co In addition to providing leadership for the board and pursuing other Catholic education initiatives he is a guest lecturer and partner in The Executive-in-Residence Program at St “We thank Bill Janetschek for his incredible generosity to St John's,” Pitino wrote in a social media post The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months All renderings shown are for illustration purposes only May 2, 2025St. John’s University announces today that Chair of the Board of Trustees William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON, retired Partner and Chief Financial Officer, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. already a generous and longtime University benefactor has gifted a $32.5 million donation—the largest single financial commitment in St This gift launches the construction of a new, cutting-edge, basketball practice facility at the Queens, NY, campus for the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams Janetschek’s support directs approximately $25 million toward the construction of the basketball practice facility and $7.5 million toward student scholarships. Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President, stated: “The generous contributions made by loyal alumni and by Board Chair Bill Janetschek exceed any monetary measure Bill’s transformative gift will significantly enhance St John’s educational and athletic initiatives expressed his excitement about the project: “I believe in the power of sports to shape young minds and build strong communities Rick Pitino, St. John’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee shared his gratitude: “We are incredibly grateful to Bill Janetschek for his visionary support His donation will have a lasting impact on our program and our players Construction of the basketball facility is scheduled to begin in the coming months with an anticipated completion date in 2027 The University invites all stakeholders to join in celebrating this milestone and supporting the continued growth of its athletic programs “The new basketball practice facility will be a game-changer for the women’s basketball program,” Head Coach Joe Tartamella said We are grateful to Bill Janetschek for his gift and his support of St John’s athletics.” Naming opportunities are available that allow major gift donors a tangible benefit to support St John’s Basketball and offers a variety of ways donors can leave a legacy in the new building The transformative gift helps launch HEARTS ON FIRE comprehensive campaign—the most ambitious in the University’s history—dedicated to strengthening a St John’s education through visionary investments in its students transformative investment in the future of capital improvements at the University Having worked full-time while completing his education Janetschek prioritizes and values providing financial opportunities to young people and families burdened by hardship Recognizing the special nature of Catholic education he has quietly sponsored tuition costs for primary Janetschek supports various scholarship programs to advance Catholic education and allow young people to attend Catholic high schools and colleges one of the Queens campus’s three inaugural residence halls that opened in 1999 The name change was enacted through a gift from Mr The goals of the HEARTS ON FIRE campaign are to For more information, visit HEARTS ON FIRE St. John’s University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, actual or potential parental, family, or marital status, pregnancy and related conditions, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, [email protected] has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies absolutely baffled by Rick Pitino benching RJ Luis Jr Smith questions Rick Pitino's decision to bench Big East player of the year RJ Luis Jr St. John's is replacing UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic and will face Kentucky next season on Dec The annual four-team doubleheader debuted in 2014 and has featured North Carolina, Ohio State Kentucky and UCLA in each of the past 11 seasons The 2025 event will take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta The matchup puts St. John's coach Rick Pitino against his former school and player in Kentucky coach Mark Pope. Both teams were also in the top 10 of ESPN's top 25 rankings in April "I think we should give the Johnnies and all of BBN the greatest Christmas gift ever, on Dec. 20 in Catlanta. What do you say?" Pope said to Pitino in a social media video announcing the matchup Pitino coached at Kentucky from 1989 to 1997 leading the Wildcats to the national championship in 1996 Pope was on the national title team under Pitino and took over as UK coach last spring When Pope was tabbed to replace John Calipari Pitino praised the hire and made an appearance at Big Blue Madness in October After leaving the Wildcats for an NBA stint with the Boston Celtics, Pitino returned to college coaching at Louisville in 2001 and went 6-12 against Kentucky John's-Kentucky matchup will be Pitino's first game against the Wildcats since 2016 I've said it many times," Pitino said in a statement "So now to play against The Captain [Pope] who made so many special moments for me and the team in a battle that CBS is putting on is quite special John's to the Big East regular-season and conference tournament championships in his second season at the helm in 2024-25 while Pope guided Kentucky to the Sweet 16 in his debut campaign UCLA director of athletics Martin Jarmond said in a statement that the school must be "strategic and have some flexibility" as they explore future schedule options and I know that our fans are excited for the opportunity to add a game in Pauley Pavilion," Jarmond said Bruins coach Mick Cronin has made no secret of his disdain for his team's travel schedule during Big Ten play UCLA and the other West Coast teams in the Big Ten face some of the most arduous travel of any power-conference teams in the country "We have to go back four times," Cronin said in January the Big Ten teams get to come to Los Angeles where it's 70 degrees one time a year "We've seen the Statue of Liberty twice in the last three weeks while we were landing and then we've got to go back for the Big Ten tournament while discussing how UCLA returned from a road trip in the early hours of the morning and then had to play a couple of days later against a team with a much longer break between games Thanks for visiting