A fire at a private property on Wellington hillside has been extinguished The blaze's huge plumes of black smoke caught the attention of people on social media when the fire started shortly before 1.30 on Saturday afternoon on a Stokes Valley hill in Lower Hutt Fire and Emergency shift manager Murray Dunbar said a standard double garage was put out about an hour after FENZ was called He said no request for a fire investigator has been made yet Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday A fourth man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in his 80s and the arson of his Stokes Valley home last year Yesterday it was revealed three men were arrested for the murder of Ian David Moller, 82. A homicide investigation was launched in November after one of three arson attacks at the Hanson Grove block of flats. It was the third attack on Hanson Grove in the space of a month. The first took place on October 10, another on October 14, and the third on November 5, all during the early hours of the morning. Moller was critically injured before he died four days later. Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said a 26-year-old Upper Hutt man was arrested overnight and has been charged with murder, arson, conspiring to commit arson and participating in a criminal group. The man is due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court today along with the three other men. Four others were arrested during the course of the search warrants on unrelated matters. Yesterday, Ryan said it had been a “long and protracted inquiry, which has culminated in today’s arrests through the dedicated work of a team of detectives in the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington District”. Moller’s niece, Denise Harrison, previously said it had been hard to find peace and move on while the person responsible was still out there. “Had my uncle died at 82 of an illness or just old age, I could have reconciled that a lot more easily. But it did occur to me when I was speaking at his funeral that the circumstances of this were just not right.” Ryan said on Wednesday she had spoken to the family. “I have spoken with the Moller family, who were relieved to hear the news, in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened,” Ryan said. She said police were confident there were further witnesses who might now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking to them. People can report information on 105 either online or over the phone, referencing file No 241105/2249 or quoting Operation SOVE. Nine-year-old Harper Davis saw "a flicker of fire" and raced to tell McDonald's staff. Ian David Moller was critically injured in a fire at a block of flats in Hanson Grove last November. A homicide investigation was launched after the 82-year-old succumbed to his injuries several days later. A 26-year-old arrested overnight was the third person to be charged with Moller's murder. He is also charged with arson, conspiring to commit arson, and participating in a criminal group. The man will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court later today. Three others, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested yesterday morning after police carried out searches in the Hutt Valley area. Two were charged with murder, arson and conspiring to commit arson, and the other with arson and conspiring to commit arson. All three were also charged with participating in a criminal group. The trio were due to appear at the Hutt Valley District Court yesterday afternoon. Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said the fire that killed Moller was one of several that had been allegedly let at the block of apartments where he lived. "Police continue to investigate three incidents on Hanson Grove, on Thursday 10 October, Monday 14 October and Tuesday 5 November," she said. "All three of these incidents occurred in the early hours of the morning. "If you have information that may assist in our ongoing investigations, please contact Police." Anyone with information is being asked to call 105. Yesterday Ryan said it had been a "long and protracted" investigation. "I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news, in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened," she said. "Police would like to thank the Stokes Valley community who their continual support throughout this enquiry. "We are confident there are further witnesses who may now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking with us and I would like to take this opportunity to urge them to do so." A fourth person has been arrested in the wake of the death of a man in his 80s in a house fire in Stokes Valley last year. Arrests after death of man in alleged Stokes Valley arsonIan David Moller was critically injured in a fire at a block of flats in Hanson Grove last November Crime and Justice Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office Police said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Police said they were investigating the incident which occurred outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa at around 3pm on Monday Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Emergency services were called to the property on Mahia Rd just before 10am to a report of a man "seriously injured" Vandals in 4WDs mow down The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death SPCA inspectors found evidence suggesting Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight EU launches drive to lure scientists after Trump freezes funding 58 mins ago Auditor-General launches probe into school lunches 2:57pm Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office 2:45pm Police plea after 'oversight' left Bondi killer without help 2:18pm Sullivan's four-try onslaught highlights Chiefs' vulnerabilities 2:03pm Full video: Question time as Parliament resumes after recess 47 mins ago 1Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Vandals in 4WDs mow down, destroy 38 pōhutukawa trees in Napier Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fans Sun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, date Thu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Mon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon A fourth person has been arrested in the wake of the death of a man in his 80s in a house fire in Stokes Valley last year Ian David Moller was critically injured in a fire at a block of flats in Hanson Grove last November A homicide investigation was launched after the 82-year-old succumbed to his injuries several days later A 26-year-old arrested overnight was the third person to be charged with Moller's murder The man will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court later today were arrested yesterday morning after police carried out searches in the Hutt Valley area and the other with arson and conspiring to commit arson All three were also charged with participating in a criminal group The trio were due to appear at the Hutt Valley District Court yesterday afternoon Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said the fire that killed Moller was one of several that had been allegedly let at the block of apartments where he lived "Police continue to investigate three incidents on Hanson Grove Monday 14 October and Tuesday 5 November," she said "All three of these incidents occurred in the early hours of the morning "If you have information that may assist in our ongoing investigations Anyone with information is being asked to call 105 Yesterday Ryan said it had been a "long and protracted" investigation "I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened," she said "Police would like to thank the Stokes Valley community who their continual support throughout this enquiry A 25-year-old man has appeared in court after he allegedly fired a gun at another person inside a Ministry of Social Development office in Masterton yesterday Police were called to the incident on Lincoln Rd at around 12.40pm on Monday Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom said there were no reports of injuries from the incident "Following police's initial enquiries one person was taken into custody a short time later nearby." Cordons were put in place around the area and some staff were armed as a precaution Thom said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public "Police would like to commend Ministry of Social Development staff for their prompt actions in following their lockdown procedures as this enabled police to provide a swift response to resolve this incident quickly." A 25-year-old man appeared in Masterton District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and conducting a dangerous act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm A stranger allegedly tried to force an 8-year-old boy into a car outside an Auckland primary school yesterday before bystanders intervened and the man drove off Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa "Police are still working to understand exactly what was occurring at the time and our enquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson said "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said in a statement to social media that other parents had intervened "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the police." Vasau told 1News the pupil was "doing fine" following the incident and was surrounded by a "supportive "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe It's about working with that child to make them feel safe again but also looking forward to returning back to school with a little bit of normality." Police had reacted "pretty quickly" to the reports "They've been in this morning to touch base and connect the community police constables are going to come back to tomorrow to address the whole school in relation to what had happened and around keeping themselves safe before and after school." Increased police patrols would remain in the area after school from Wednesday Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 A Southland man whose dog was found starved to death has been sentenced to community work was found dead in his kennel by Invercargill City Council Animal Control officers in June 2023 SPCA inspectors executed a search warrant and found evidence which suggested Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" with a rusty chain He was prosecuted for failing to seek veterinary care for the severely malnourished dog The ground Mike was restricted to was described as "worn down" "His body was in extremely poor condition and pelvis were clearly visible," SPCA said A post-mortem confirmed the dog had the lowest possible body condition score which suggested Mike had been starved over several weeks His stomach and intestines were "almost entirely empty" The offender admitted he had not checked on the dog for "about a week" The man claimed he had not contacted a vet or the SPCA because he could not afford to do so He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the treatment of Mike He was also ordered to pay reparations of $233.88 for veterinary costs and $500 towards legal costs He was disqualified from owning dogs for a period of five years SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Mike's death was the result of neglect that could have been avoided This case is a clear reminder that if an animal is unwell It’s a basic responsibility of pet ownership,” he said He said prolonged tethering was "unacceptable and heartbreaking", which was why the SPCA advocated for new regulations that would be released later this year "The prolonged tethering of dogs is an issue that our inspectors deal with daily While it is difficult to gather accurate numbers it is safe to say this issue impacts the lives of thousands of dogs in New Zealand." Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said in April that the new regulations would give animal welfare inspectors the tools to intervene quickly when dogs are suffering harm from being tied up for long periods Hoggard said he had "been hearing a lot from members of the public" who want to see action taken" on the issue of dog chaining "Most dog owners in New Zealand treat their animals well and these regulations will have little to no impact upon them," he said "I’m confident these regulations will result in better outcomes for those dogs "We have a few steps to follow to get these proposals ready to become law but it is my expectation that these will be finalised by the end of the year That will be followed by a short period with a focus on education so that all dog owners understand their obligations and to allow those who need to make changes time to adapt." The changes agreed on through Cabinet included: A law change was first proposed and consulted on two years ago Nearly 30,000 people signed a petition to Parliament on the issue in 2021 Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 The European Union launched a drive to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans after the Trump administration froze US government funding linked to diversity no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this programme," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the Choose Europe for Science event in Paris "No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas," Macron said Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU’s executive branch would set up a "super grant" programme aimed at offering "a longer-term perspective to the very best" in the field She said that €500 million (NZ$948 million) would be put forward in 2025-2027 "to make Europe a magnet for researchers" It would be injected into the European Research Council which already has a budget of more than €16 billion (NZ$30 billion) for 2021-2027 Von der Leyen said the 27-nation EU intended "to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law" with a new legal act As "the threats rise across the world Europe will not compromise on its principles" The White House responded by describing DEI as "an inherently discriminatory policy" "If the European Union wants to embrace policies that divide rather than focus on real scientific discovery they should not be surprised when US innovation continues to outpace Europe," said spokesperson Anna Kelly "America will continue to attract and cultivate the best talent in science Macron said that the French government would also soon make new proposals to beef up investment in science and research hundreds of university researchers in the United States had National Science Foundation funding cancelled to comply with US President Donald Trump’s order to end support for research on diversity More than 380 grant projects have been cut so far including work to combat internet censorship in China and Iran and a project consulting with Indigenous communities to understand environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic region Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the diversity of people studying science researchers and doctors have taken to the streets in protest While not mentioning the Trump administration by name von der Leyen said that it was "a gigantic miscalculation" to undermine free and open research "We can all agree that science has no passport "We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected." Von der Leyen's drive to promote opportunities in Europe in the field of science and take advantage of US policy shifts dovetails with the way that she has played up the potential for trade deals with other countries since Trump took office in January and sparked a tariff war last month vowed that the EU would also address some of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers faced notably excessive red tape and access to businesses Macron said science and research must not "be based on the diktats of the few" Macron said Europe "must become a refuge" for scientists and researchers and he said to those who feel under threat elsewhere: "The message is simple The Auditor-General's office has announced plans for an inquiry into the school lunch programme that has drawn criticism since a revamp It will cover Ministry of Education planning procurement and contract implementation under David Seymour's alternative model Terms of reference for the inquiry set out its scope: The Auditor-General's office said it decided to investigate because of concerns raised about aspects of the revised lunch programme and what the Ministry communicated with previous providers," it said "Because of the importance of these services we have decided to carry out an inquiry." the Office noted the ministry had in October last year awarded a two-year contract to the School Lunch Collective under which lunches would be provided for $3 each The ministry was also reported to have paid a further $8.9m to the collective for Year 9 and older students which had been part of the School Lunch Collective A further $4m grant was provided to KidsCan for a food programme in Early Childhood Education services rnz.co.nz A coroner is likely to recommend improvements after an overworked police force failed to connect a mass killer to the mental health system before his unprovoked attack had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen and was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he killed six people and injured 10 at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024 An inquest has been told Queensland Police had a number of chances to plug him back into mental health treatment and medication ahead of the tragedy Cauchi was homeless and living apart from his family in Toowoomba when he was shot dead by police during his stabbing rampage He had stopped taking his medication in 2019 and stopped seeing a psychiatrist in 2020 Queensland police officers made several calls for change including greater numbers of mental health officers within the force They also suggested that laws regarding when mentally ill people could be forced to take an involuntary psychiatric examination be amended to be less confusing manager of the Queensland police's vulnerable persons unit said the changes were needed to prevent the criminalisation of those with mental illness "Mental health shouldn't just be a police response," he told the NSW Coroners Court "It's a no-brainer to me that there should be appropriate responses that are health-led." Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer said that changing legislation around police powers was "shaping up to be a significant recommendation" at the inquest This week's evidence has focused on one particular incident in January 2023 when Cauchi called police to his family's Toowoomba home He accused his father Andrew of stealing his collection of knives telling attending officers that they had to be returned or he would become bankrupt or homeless A follow-up visit to the Cauchi family home was requested and the fill-in police mental health incident co-ordinator for the Darling Downs region saw the email — but he forgot to action it due to an "oversight" the co-ordinator he was filling in for backed the officer "His oversight on that email is devastating," she said "It's not indicative of him as an officer or how he performed my role." She also backed a call for further assistance saying police officers were under greater pressure due to increasing numbers of call-outs relating to mental health despite not being trained in this area "If it's not bleeding and it's not on fire the police are the people who have to attend," she said police were called to Cauchi's unit in Brisbane after residents heard a man screaming and the sound of someone being hit He told attending officers that he had been slamming his fridge Cauchi was also pulled over three times in 2020 and 2021 by highway patrol police for erratic driving The Chiefs are putting their faith in first-five Damian McKenzie recovering from a hand injury in time to play the Crusaders in what is a pivotal game in Christchurch on Saturday But just as important to the Super Rugby Pacific leaders will be improving a defence which leaked 26 unanswered points in the second half of their 35-17 defeat to the Hurricanes It was an uncharacteristic defensive lapse by a usually highly consistent side who retained their place at the top of the table thanks to their superior points differential compared with the Crusaders the Chiefs face Moana Pasifika in Hamilton and the Highlanders in Dunedin in the run in to the playoffs – games very much in the winnable category although the former have surprised a few this season The Crusaders’ run-in features the Waratahs in Sydney the Highlanders in Christchurch and a potentially difficult trip to Canberra to play the third-placed Brumbies Every team has looked vulnerable at times this season The Crusaders’ two losses came against the Chiefs in Hamilton and a shock defeat to Moana Pasifika — both heavy although they did escape a Hurricanes’ comeback in Wellington in round nine They also needed two James O’Connor penalties in the final 10 minutes to beat the Blues a week later But the Chiefs’ downfall at the weekend was as unexpected as it was spectacular after they led 17-9 at the break Replacement wing Bailyn Sullivan made history when scoring all four of the Hurricanes’ tries after the break as the home side too easily unlocked the Chiefs’ defence via a long pass a break through Cortez Ratima and Shaun Stevenson close to the line an excellent wide cross-kick by Ruben Love and a shorter grubber kick by Riley Higgins Getting McKenzie back on the field after he missed the last two weekends for the Chiefs will be important for their game management but a Crusaders attack that ran in six tries against the Highlanders last time out will threaten them in different ways the Crusaders may be without All Black Will Jordan Jordan has played in all 10 Crusaders matches this season and head coach Rob Penney has been guarded about Jordan's rest plan of his All Blacks No.10 McKenzie: “Everything's tracking in the direction that he should be available but we won't count our chickens before they hatch.” the defending champion Blues must win in Suva against the Drua to force their way back into the playoffs mix after being overtaken for the sixth and final spot by Moana Pasifika Moana Pasifika beat the Highlanders 34-29 in Dunedin – their first win over the southerners in another Ardie Savea-inspired performance 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 Tory Whanau launches Golden Mile project yesterday Become a Wellington.Scoop Supporter » charged with throwing a molotov cocktail at a property in Stokes Valley The 21-year-old appeared in Hutt Valley District Court facing a count of damaging the property with an explosive The police say it relates to a fire at the block of flats on 10 October He has been remanded in custody without plea until a bail hearing on 5 December Meanwhile, there were two other fires at the same property in recent weeks. One on Tuesday left an elderly man seriously injured Police were continuing to investigate all three fires "We believe there is a strong possibility that other people are involved with that fire on Thursday 10 October which is why it's so important that we get as much information from the public as possible to help us build a picture of what occurred on that occasion Police have also established a silver or grey car was seen driving in the vicinity of Hanson Grove just prior to the latest fire "We need to hear from anyone who may have CCTV footage of this car We know it has been speeding around the Stokes Valley area when the fire started "We also still want to hear from anyone with information about a male seen riding a bike barefoot around that time." It was possible neither the cyclist nor the occupants of the vehicle were involved in the fire but they may have crucial evidence that could help "At the heart of this is a respected 82-year-old man who is critically injured as a result of this act." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Police say this is the third fire at the Stokes Valley block of flats within the last month A homicide inquiry has been launched after a man regarded as a “local fixture” died from injuries suffered in a fire at a Lower Hutt property. Police today named 82-year-old Ian David Moller, of Stokes Valley, as the victim of last Tuesday’s fire. They say his death is now being treated as a homicide. Moller was injured in the fire at a Hanson Grove block of flats in the early hours of November 5, the third arson reported at the address in weeks. Police said he was pulled from the blaze in a critical condition and died in hospital late on Sunday afternoon. A 21-year-old man had previously been arrested and appeared before the courts in relation to the first arson on October 10. At this stage police were yet to establish if the arrested man had any connection to the two later arsons, on October 14 and November 5. Wellington district field crime manager Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said Moller was a respected elderly man who deserved to live out his last years in a safe place in the heart of the community he loved. “Hutt Valley police pass on our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the wider Stokes Valley community, who knew him as a local fixture.” Ryan said police were still seeking the public’s assistance in helping establish what had occurred, why it had occurred and to identify those responsible for the fires. “Police believe there is a strong possibility that there could be other people involved,” she said. Police are also asking for more information about a vehicle and a cyclist seen in the area during the November 5 fire. A silver or grey car was seen driving in the vicinity of Hanson Grove just before the fire on Tuesday, and a male was seen riding a bike barefoot around that time. “We know [the car] has been speeding around the Stokes Valley area when the fire started,” Ryan said. “There will be people in our close Stokes Valley community who will know who lit these fires or hold vital information that could assist us. “Our investigations team are committed to finding out the full circumstances of all three incidents and holding those responsible to account.” Ryan urged anyone with information, no matter how small they thought it was, to come forward to police. Three men have been arrested after a man in his 80s was killed after his house was set on fire in Stokes Valley last year. Ian David Moller was critically injured in a fire at a block of flats in Hanson Grove last November. A homicide investigation was launched after the 82-year-old succumbed to his injuries several days later, on November 10. It was the third alleged arson at the property in the past month, with two other incidents on Thursday, November 10, and Monday, November 14. The trio — aged in their 20s and 30s — were arrested this morning after police carried out searches within the Hutt Valley area. "Two of the men have been charged with murder, arson and conspiring to commit arson and the third male has been charged with arson and conspiring to commit arson," Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said. "All three men have also been charged with participating in a criminal group." The men were due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court this afternoon. Four others were arrested during the searches on unrelated matters. "This has been a long and protracted enquiry, which has culminated in today’s arrests through the dedicated work of a team of detectives in the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington District," Ryan said. "I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news, in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened." Man critically injured in 'deliberate' Hutt Valley fire diesThe investigation into the Stokes Valley fire is now a homicide inquiry following the death of 82-year-old Ian David Moller Man sought after suspicious Lower Hutt fire which left 82yo injuredPolice are asking for the public's help to identify and locate a barefoot man seen in the vicinity of the Stokes Valley flats before the fire Man arrested after fire at Lower Hutt block of flatsA 21-year-old Wellington man has been charged with arson Police thanked the Stokes Valley community for support in the police investigation, she said. Ryan said police "are confident there are further witnesses who may now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking with us and I would like to take this opportunity to urge them to do so". A 21-year-old Wellington man has been arrested and charged with arson after a fire at a block of flats in Lower Hutt last month Police specified that he was charged in relation to only one of three recent fires at the Stokes Valley address "The charge relates to a fire at a Hanson Grove flat on October 10," a police spokesperson said "Two further fires were reported at the flat on October 14 and November 5; the latest blaze left an 82-year-old man critically injured." The man arrested last night was set to appear in Hutt Valley District Court today "Police are continuing to investigate all three fires however the charge only relates to the first arson," Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said "We believe there is a strong possibility that other people are involved with that fire on Thursday which is why it's so important that we get as much information from the public as possible to help us build a picture of what occurred on that occasion Police said a silver or grey car was seen driving in the Hanson Grove area just before the November 5 fire "We need to hear from anyone who may have CCTV footage of this car The car was speeding around the Stokes Valley area when the November 5 fire started "We also still want to hear from anyone with information about a male seen riding a bike barefoot around that time "It is possible neither the cyclist nor the occupants of the vehicle are involved in the fire but they may have crucial evidence that can help us "At the heart of this is a respected 82-year-old man who is critically injured as a result of this act Anyone who could help was urged to call 105 An elderly man injured in a fire at a block of flats in Stokes Valley last week has died The victim was 82-year-old Ian David Moller and a homicide investigation has been launched The Hanson Grove building was set alight in the early hours of Tuesday 5 November - the third arson at the property inside a month said the family was sad Moller had died in such tragic circumstances and they were "heartbroken" "He was a very quiet man who went to church and spent time with his friends and he was never a bother to anybody," she said "So to have his life ended so tragically is just completely heartbreaking for all of us." She said a funeral date was not yet decided as an autopsy had to be completed first A 21-year-old has been charged in relation to the first arson but it was not clear yet if he had any links to the second and third blazes "We are still seeking the public's assistance in helping us establish what has occurred why it has occurred and identify those persons responsible for each," Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said "Police believe there is a strong possibility that there could be other people involved." Ryan said Moller was "an elderly man who deserved to live out his last years in a safe place "There will be people in our close Stokes Valley community who will know who lit these fires or hold vital information that could assist us no matter how small you think that piece of information might be Police were still looking for information about a vehicle and a cyclist seen in the area on 5 November. Anyone that can help was urged to call 105 or go online and use the reference number 241105/2249 and quote Operation SOVE Police have been investigating three suspicious fires at a block of flats in Stokes Valley By Kate Green of RNZ Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in his 80s and the arson of his Stokes Valley home last year A homicide investigation was launched in November after one of three arsons at the Hanson Grove block of flats Ian David Moller was critically injured and died four days later It was the third attack on Hanson Grove in the space of a month Charges against one person relating to the first blaze were dropped last month Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said on Wednesday morning that police conducted multiple search warrants in Hutt Valley the three men have been charged with participating in a criminal group The men are set to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Wednesday afternoon Four others were arrested during the course of the search warrants on unrelated matters Ryan said this had been a “long and protracted inquiry which has culminated in today’s arrests through the dedicated work of a team of detectives in the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington District” previously told RNZ it had been hard to find peace and move on while the person responsible was still out there “Had my uncle died at 82 of an illness or just old age I could have reconciled that a lot more easily But it did occur to me when I was speaking at his funeral that the circumstances of this were just not right.” Ryan said on Wednesday she had spoken to the family “I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened,” Ryan said She said police were confident there were further witnesses who might now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking to them People could report information on 105 either online or over the phone referencing file No 241105/2249 or quoting Operation SOVE Nine-year-old Harper Davis saw "a flicker of fire" and raced to tell McDonald's staff A woman charged with killing one man and wounding his brother at a 50th birthday party has described dumping the gun and her partner’s gang patch in the backyard at her best friend’s house The woman and her partner, whose names are both suppressed, are on trial in the High Court at Wellington, where they deny charges of murder and attempted murder The woman also denied an additional charge of assault with a weapon Rawiri Wharerau was fatally shot during birthday celebrations for their cousin The festivities were held at the brothers’ house in Stokes Valley in December 2023 the woman gave her account of events that night She explained she’d been at her own work drinks that night and had not expected to go to the birthday party But on returning home and finding her partner was still out She said the mood at the party was initially fine “the son of a narking dog s***” — a derogatory term for the Mongrel Mob The couple both have family members in the Mongrel Mob Others sitting around the table had stood up and thinking it was time to go, she had started walking back to the car. Her partner argued for a bit before following her to the car Rawiri Wharerau jumped into the backseat beside her partner “I still don’t know why he got into the car After they’d driven the short distance home She told the court she’d never seen the gun before and was angry “I thought ‘what the f*** is that doing in my house?‘” and she told the court she would never have allowed it because her young son could have found it They drove back to the party to drop Rawiri Wharerau off and during the trip there was no mention of the gun and Rawiri Wharerau did not seem worried about it Arriving back at the party they found everyone was out on the street and their car was surrounded “It was like they were waiting for us,” she said She said her partner got out and was immediately attacked by three people She added her recollection of events was hazy and she could not recall how she came to be holding the gun but said she had never held a gun in her life She said she had hit Hemi Wharerau over the head with it after she’d felt him approaching her from behind and I hit him in the head to get him away from me,” she said She said she’d hit him on the ground with her hands because she didn’t want him to get up and attack her She could hear him on the phone to Hemi Wharerau But she said Hemi Wharerau did not sound angry She told the court she thought the point of the trip was to go back to the party and sort it out collect $2000 that had fallen out of her partner’s bum bag and return the gun before coming home to sleep She said they parked the car on the street and her partner had gone up the driveway while she had stood and talked to a carload of people parked at the bottom of the driveway She’d asked if they’d seen her partner’s money she found her partner who was yelling at partygoers She said she did not understand what had happened at which point the woman had picked up a bottle broken it and began advancing on her while holding it She could see her partner arguing with Hemi Wharerau She’d heard a bang and seen Hemi Wharerau crouching on the ground She had kept walking backwards down the driveway I was walking down the driveway at a fast pace,” she said there had been little conversation between them although she said she didn’t know anyone had been shot her partner asked her to get rid of the gun and his patch She had taken both to her best friend’s house leaving the gun in long grass behind a shed at the back of her property and the patch inside the shed The woman said that was the last time she’d seen the items the woman said she just wanted to go to bed She didn’t think anyone had been hurt or that the gun was loaded “Then he said it was Tubs [Rawiri’s nickname] you could tell from his face he was upset,” she said She said he told her they had to leave because the gang would come to the house she described the trip as the quietest in her life she had returned to Wellington to collect her son Crown prosecutor Stephanie Bishop played the woman phone footage taken by a neighbour of the fight on the street Bishop challenged the woman’s account that others were being violent towards them saying it only showed the couple being aggressive and not the other way around it was clear they weren’t welcome at the birthday party But the woman said the phone footage had not captured all the fight Asked about the decision to return to the party the final time Bishop asked her if she was upset by her partner’s decision to bring the gun She said she was not because he had had the gun earlier in the night Asked by Bishop if the purpose of the final trip was to hurt someone and that is why the gun was taken He had not intended to hurt or kill anyone The jury trial before Justice Dale La Hood is expected to finish this week Catherine Hutton is an Open Justice reporter She has worked as a journalist for 20 years she was working as a media adviser at the Ministry of Justice The Festival of Consent runs until Sunday with events including talks and a dance party Police investigating an arson attack in Hutt Valley, which left an elderly man with critical injuries are seeking a barefoot man seen riding a bicycle near the property at the time Emergency services were called to a block of flats on Hanson Grove An investigation found the blaze was deliberate and most likely linked to two other suspicious fires at the same property on 10 and 14 October told RNZ the family would prefer him not to be named at this stage and said the family was horrified by the events and you're not the type of person that has probably warranted or attracted that kind of awful thing," she said Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said police needed the community's help to identify the barefoot man who was seen in the vicinity around the time of the most recent fire "Someone in the Stokes Valley community will know who this male is "We need the community's help to identify and locate him or for him to voluntarily come forward and speak with us "This male may be a potential witness and could have seen something or hold information that could assist us identify the person or persons responsible." Police also wanted to hear from any residents with CCTV footage or from any motorists with a dashcam who were travelling though the area during the early hours of Tuesday "The victim of the fire is a well-regarded gentleman of the Stokes Valley community; he has lived there for many years and he and his family deserve answers We hope the community can help them with that." Police at the house in Stokes Valley where Rawiri Wharerau died in December 2023 A party-goer has described the moment she felt a bullet pass her hand and watched her friend fall to the ground Rawiri Zane Wharerau narrowly escaped the same fate after being shot at a party in the early hours of December 16 The party, a surprise 50th birthday, was held at their home in Stokes Valley. who also attended the party but have interim name suppression deny charges of murder and attempted murder after Stokes Valley shootings The woman also denies an additional charge of assault with a weapon Wharerau and the man now facing charges were both patched members of Mangu Kaha — a gang associated with Black Power Manawarangi Hori told the High Court at Wellington she arrived at the party at about 9 pm after attending a work dinner in Wellington She brought two boxes of vodka premixes with her Hori told the court she spent most of the night sitting in one of two marquees erected for the party outside the house she said Wharerau called the man (who by this time had left with his partner after an argument with other partygoers) and told him to come back and “sort it out” Minutes later she’d heard the click of a gun loading and saw the gang member walking around the corner of the house holding what she thought was a semi-automatic got up from where he was sitting in the marquee and began running towards the sound She’d followed and they’d run towards the driveway “The next thing I saw was Tubs (Wharerau’s nickname) running back I put my arm up and started running back and another shot was let off and it went past my hand,” she said She’d begun CPR and called emergency services who’d been unable to revive him and he was declared dead at the scene But Hori’s account was questioned by the man’s lawyer Rob Stevens He asked why Hori hadn’t mentioned the bullet passing her left hand in either of her two police statements in 2024 and 2025 She said the interview ended before she could and there wasn’t the opportunity to do so Hori then told the court the bullet had grazed her hand as it flew past but denied a suggestion by Stevens that she’d made it up When Stevens produced police photographs taken of her hands that night she said the graze couldn’t be seen because it was on the side of her left hand She added that the blood that was visible on her hands was from the bullet grazing her Stevens then put his version of events to Hori He said after the phone call the man had returned to the house stood by the fence and said “f*** yous guys are cheeky” She denied Stevens’ assertion that the man had fired a warning shot before the gun was loaded He suggested a further two shots were fired as the group ran towards the driveway A third shot then hit Rawiri prompting him to yell that he’d been hit Hori said the bullet that grazed her hand was fired when she and Rawiri were retreating back to the house Stevens also challenged Hori on how much she’d drunk that night She agreed that she was too drunk to remember some things including standing out on the street earlier in the evening - despite being shown footage that placed her there She did admit to police that she was oblivious to some things that happened that night she’d told police she wasn’t “black out” drunk as Wharerau lay dying his brother Hemi was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds His admission records described him as “heavily intoxicated.” operated on Hemi telling the court his injuries were “life-threatening” The court heard bullets were lodged in Hemi’s pelvis Doctors were able to remove the shot from the buttock and leg because it was deemed too dangerous to do so Under cross examination from the woman’s lawyer on the temple and earlobe were less serious requiring some stitches and surgical “glue” The jury trial before Justice Dale La Hood is set down for five weeks Most recently she was working as a media adviser at the Ministry of Justice The backyard of the Wharehau brothers' house in Stokes Valley A key witness in a murder trial was arrested and made to come to court to give evidence on a shooting at a milestone birthday party that left a gang member dead and his brother injured the woman revealed while being cross-examined that she was reluctant to give evidence because of threats she had received attended a birthday party in December 2023 a patched member of Mangu Kaha – a gang associated with Black Power was shot and killed and his brother Hemi Wharerau was seriously injured The party at the brothers’ house in Stokes Valley was a surprise 50th for their cousin Robert Huaki senior – a patched Black Power member are now on trial in the High Court at Wellington charged with murder and attempted murder Earlier, the Crown witness described in evidence the defendants’ demeanours as being “angry” that night The defence lawyers went on to challenge her evidence accusing her of lying and embellishing her account of events the witness agreed she’d been summonsed to appear in court on Tuesday She told Stevens she chose not to come to court because her safety had been threatened She also denied being pressured to make a statement to the police Stevens suggested the “biggest lie” she’d told the court was her account of hastily leaving the scene that night after the shooting she’d told the court of hearing gunshots at the house She’d then seen the defendants running down towards her She said she’d run up the drive and found Rawiri Wharerau lying on the ground but because it was dark she couldn’t find bullet holes and didn’t see evidence of bleeding The woman said she left shortly after in her car But Stevens suggested the real reason she’d left the house in such a hurry was because she and another person were removing weapons that were stored at the house before police arrived Re-examined by Crown prosecutor Sally Carter the woman clarified why she hadn’t thought he was badly injured “When I saw Tubby [Rawiri’s nickname] on the ground The woman said if she’d known the extent of his injuries she would have stayed I never removed things from the property and there’s nothing to suggest that I did,” she said also challenged aspects of the woman’s testimony particularly a claim that her client had argued that night with Huaki snr The court heard evidence of a fight between the man on trial and Huaki snr which allegedly prompted the couple to leave the party The witness said she’d been in the kitchen when she heard the man’s partner “yelling” outside the witness heard the woman accuse Huaki snr of “disrespecting” her man Ord put it to the woman witness that not only had she failed to mention this detail to police “It’s completely ridiculous to suggest a woman who is barely 22 years old yelling at a senior gang member,” she said The woman denied Ord’s suggestion that the only thing the man’s partner had called them both was “idiots” The trial before Justice Dale La Hood is set down for five weeks The niece of a Stokes Valley man who died after an arson attack says it is hard to find peace and move on while the person responsible is still out there Ian David Moller, 82, was critically injured when his block of flats on Hanson Grove in Lower Hutt was set on fire in the early hours of 5 November 2024 He died four days later It was the latest of three suspicious fires at the block in a month charges against a person relating to the first blaze at the flats have been dropped That fire came before the one that claimed Moller's life Moller's niece Denise Harrison is adding her voice to the police plea to the public for more information to catch the culprit "Had my uncle died at 82 of an illness or just old age But it did occur to me when I was speaking at his funeral that the circumstances of this were just not right." It was hard to find closure when the person who lit the fire was still out there "The fact that he's died in the way that he has died is constantly in your thoughts." She was sure her uncle had been collateral damage and said he was not the kind of person to get on anyone's bad side his friends spoke fondly of him at the funeral and had co-founded the Wellington Scandinavian Club Harrison said she was touched by the fact that the name given to the case by police "Sove is actually the Norwegian word for sleep," she said "And of course he was pulled out of the fire while he was sleeping." "To find somebody would not only put me a little bit at peace in terms of finding someone who was responsible for this horrendous act if somebody is inclined to go around lighting fires knowing that they are putting someone's life at risk what's to say that person is not continuing to do those things?" and tell the police if they had seen anything out of the ordinary around Hanson Grove that day And her message to whoever started that fire was: "How would you feel Because I certainly still remember the police knocking on my door that day .. The fire was the third arson attack at the block of flats in the space of a month A 21-year-old man arrested in relation to the first fire appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court last week with the prosecution citing insufficient evidence to proceed Police said at the time of the arrest they had not established a connection between the three arsons A hearing regarding permanent name suppression for the 21-year-old is scheduled to be held in March Police are still seeking help from the public about a vehicle and a cyclist seen in the area at the time of the 5 November fire Ian Moller's death is now part of a homicide probe The driveway leading up to the Whareraus' house on Stokes Valley A man accused of fatally shooting a fellow gang member and wounding his brother during a milestone birthday party says a hit was put on his life after the killing and he and his partner fled Wellington that night fearing for their safety Rawiri Zane Wharerau The party at the brothers’ house in Stokes Valley in December 2023 was a surprise 50th for their cousin Robert Huaki snr – a patched Black Power member A man and woman also at the party, whose names are suppressed, are now on trial in the High Court at Wellington charged with murder and attempted murder told the court today that text messages he’d received after he’d fled the house informed him Wharerau had been killed He didn’t believe them and thought there’d been a mistake But he told his partner to get rid of the gun and his patch fearing it would be taken from him with force he’d be outcast and wouldn’t be able to give his side of events leaving their child behind but collecting him days later he spoke of the events that night and how he was “p****d off” when a derogatory slur about a rival gang was directed toward him and his partner While the man is a patched member of Mangu Kaha both he and his partner had a family member in the Mongrel Mob The man said he was annoyed because he didn’t like people attacking him or his partner Huaki snr allegedly told others sitting around them if a Black Power member could tell a Mangu Kaha member what to do or direct them to attack another Mangu Kaha member The man said there was a bit of pushing and shoving which surprised him because his fellow gang members had turned on him “I said wait until the bros hear about this He said the couple got into their car and left the party and drove back to their house had also got into the car and was sitting beside him he’s jelly [jealous].” The man said he felt “gutted” about what happened and wasn’t happy about it which the man told the court he’d collected from Wharerau’s place that morning He said he’d asked for it because after the party he and his partner planned to take a holiday up north He explained the gun – a Ruger rifle – belonged to the gang and he’d borrowed it before to go hunting The man retrieved the gun from under a couch and the three of them returned to the party they’d been surrounded by a group on the street “I just jumped out with the gun and they’ve told me to put it down and fight like a man.” The man said he couldn’t recall exactly what they were saying He said he’d passed the gun to his partner and fought He’d been punched in the head a few times and his teeth were chipped the couple got back into the car and left the party His partner had gone to bed and while standing in the kitchen he’d realised that he’d left $2000 inside a bag he wore to the party upset and asking the man to return the gun and collect his money The couple got back in the car and drove around to the party parking at the bottom of the driveway to the house He’d gone up the driveway and seen everyone sitting at the party A woman had rushed at his partner and everyone stood up The man said he took off the safety catch to the gun and fired a warning shot he heard people behind him and fired another shot into the darkness The man said that during the following weeks he heard “heaps of stories” about what happened that night He’d also heard there was a hit out for him But he claimed he would never have killed Wharerau “I was just trying to spook them off so they’d stop chasing me and my missus Crown prosecutor Stephanie Bishop challenged many aspects of the man’s account She said no one else had recalled seeing the “pushing and shoving” the man had described after Huaki snr’s comment he maintained he’d defended himself and his partner When Bishop suggested the neighbour’s phone footage of the fight on the street showed only him being aggressive he said it hadn’t captured the start of the fight Bishop questioned his decision to return the final time after the phone call “That moment you decided the right thing to do was to go back to the party where you’d knocked out the birthday boy and sort things out and get your money back?” she asked Bishop said the man’s account simply didn’t make sense The trial before Justice Dale La Hood continues next week Three men have been arrested in connection to the murder of a man in his 80s and the arson of his Stokes Valley home last year Ian David Moller, 82, was critically injured and died four days later Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said on Wednesday morning police conducted multiple search warrants in Hutt Valley The men appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court on Wednesday afternoon Ryan said this had been a "long and protracted enquiry which has culminated in today's arrests through the dedicated work of a team of detectives in the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington District" Moller's neice, Denise Harrison, previously told RNZ it had beenhard to find peace and move on while the person responsible was still out there Ryan said on Wednesday he had spoken to the family "I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened," Ryan said She said police were confident there are further witnesses who might now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking to them referencing file number 241105/2249 or quoting Operation SOVE It's hard to find closure when the culprit is still out there victim's niece says: "The fact that he's died in the way that he has died is constantly in your thoughts." The backyard at the Wharerau house in Stokes Valley where a 50th birthday party was held in December 2023 during which Rawiri Wharerau was killed and Hemi Wharerau was injured Today a man was found guilty of Rawiri's manslaughter A man has been found guilty of manslaughter following a fatal shooting at 50th birthday party in Stokes Valley His partner was cleared by a jury in the High Court at Wellington of all but one of the charges she faced The case centred around a surprise 50th birthday party at a Stokes Valley address in December 2023 Rawiri Zane Wharerau, a patched member of Mangu Kaha – a gang associated with Black Power – lived at the house with his younger brother, Hemi Wharerau The party was for their cousin Robert Huaki Sr Rawiri was fatally shot and killed and Hemi was also shot and badly injured and discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm The woman also denied a charge of assault with a weapon a jury of 11 delivered their verdicts today finding the man guilty of manslaughter and discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but not guilty of murder and attempted murder The woman was found guilty of assault with a weapon Today’s verdicts follow a lengthy trial which is now in its sixth week, with evidence from more than 60 Crown witnesses including partygoers The Crown case alleged the couple left the party after an argument between them and Huaki Sr They returned with a gun and fought with partygoers on the street before leaving and returning a final time - firing several shots that killed Rawiri and wounded Hemi Defence lawyers claimed the injuries weren’t intentional They said the couple returned to the party that final time to return the gun and collect $2000 which had fallen out of the man’s bum bag earlier in the night The defence said the man fired the fatal shots after partygoers advanced on them Lawyers representing the man said Rawiri was not only his friend but a fellow gang member and he would never have intentionally shot him The woman’s lawyers said she didn’t foresee how events would unfold that night and never fired the fatal shots or told her partner to do so The verdicts were delivered to a silent and virtually empty courtroom only two representatives from the Wharerau family were seated in court to hear the verdict Family members of the defendants and victims watched from separate courtrooms or listened to the verdicts by audio link Four court security officers stood inside the main courtroom while another six were stationed in two other courtrooms within the High Court Three police officers stood inside the courthouse while two others stood outside It’s understood members of the Wharerau family who were seated in another courtroom were upset at the verdicts with some yelling expletives as they were read out Justice Dale La Hood convicted the man and remanded him in custody before his sentencing in June The woman was remanded on bail and will also be sentenced in June Justice La Hood also ordered a continuation of the couple’s name suppression The niece of an elderly man killed when his home burned down in an alleged arson attack says she's happy to hear there have been a number of arrests Four men have now been charged with a combination of murder arson and participating in a criminal group appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court on Wednesday is expected to appear on Thursday afternoon and the third - in which Moller was critically injured - on 5 November Denise Harrison is the niece of Ian Moller She said she felt some satisfaction when police told her there had been progress but I know that these investigations can take a lot of work .. I think the police have done exceptionally well," she said She said she would be following the progress of the court case Three others appeared on Wednesday on similar charges The fire that killed Moller was the third alleged attack on Hanson Grove in the space of a month Police continue to investigate the three fires Anyone with information has been asked report it on 105 with reference file number 241105/2249 or quote Operation Sove 82-year-old David Moller died after the blaze at his Stokes Valley home The Lower Hutt house where Rawiri and Hemi Wharerau were allegedly shot in December 2023 Two people are on trial in the High Court at Wellington where they deny charges of murder and attempted murder A gang member and his partner accused of killing one man and wounding another at a 50th birthday party were so desperate to leave town they fled Wellington leaving their child behind but the defence denies that version of events they say the pair were not aware anyone was injured the man had killed a fellow gang member and good friend Rawiri Zane Wharerau said her client had not fired the gun or ordered her partner to shoot anyone and had no idea how things were going to unfold that night deny charges of murder and attempted murder after the shootings at the birthday party in Stokes Valley in 2023 narrowly escaped the same fate following the party in the early hours of December 16 Opening the Crown’s case in the High Court at Wellington Crown prosecutor Wilber Tupua told the jury the shootings took place during a night of festivities to celebrate the 50th birthday of Wharerau and Hemi’s cousin The Crown alleges the couple were at the party when they got into a heated argument with Huaki Senior the woman allegedly told Huaki Senior he had “disrespected” her man The couple got into their car and left the party Wharerau also got into the car and sat in the back seat to try to resolve tensions between the man and Huaki Senior The couple drove back to their house a short distance away which the Crown says was a semi-automatic rifle and what happened next was the starting point of what transpired later that night stood on the road and started waving the gun around Huaki Senior tried to apologise for his earlier comments Wharerau and Hemi saw what was happening and intervened Hemi was left with cuts to his head and ear after the woman allegedly hit him with the butt of the rifle which she was seen brandishing and pointing at people The Crown says Wharerau rang and told the man to come back to the party and “sort it out” referring to the earlier fight on the street Tupua said that had angered the man and he again returned with the gun After returning to the party and getting out of the car the man accused people of taking $2000 from him Tupua said the couple ran up the driveway and appeared to be “hyped up” the man allegedly fired towards a gazebo that had been erected for the party at the side of the house there was a brief pause before Wharerau was shot The court heard he died from a lethal gunshot wound to his abdomen which caused massive internal bleeding and blood loss Tupua said CCTV footage from the couple’s house showed the gun never left the car and was never seen again footage again showed the couple leaving the house Tupua said the Crown’s case was they wanted to get away so quickly they left their young child behind in Wellington the Crown said the woman texted her friend saying she was “heartbroken but would absolutely do the most for her man” The Crown’s case is that when they drove back to the party fatally shooting Wharerau and injuring Hemi They say when the man shot Wharerau he was reckless and intended to hurt him The pair were arrested in January outside Wellington lawyers for the couple argued their clients were not guilty there was a good reason for the two to leave the Hutt Valley,” Hall told the jury adding it was not the police he was fleeing Hall said when the party started that night everyone had been in good spirits Hall said the gun belonged to the gang and the man was returning it to Rawiri He’d fired the fatal shots because he felt threatened and because others at the party were “bearing down” on him Hall said he had not fired the shots to hurt Rawiri and Hemi but in a bid to stop himself from being attacked Ord asked the jury to consider if a woman was responsible for the actions of her man She said the woman had never ordered her partner to shoot anyone and this was a case where she’d been there when things had gone wrong “She was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Ord said An elderly man has been critically injured in a suspicious house fire in Stokes Valley Police have said it is believed the fire is linked to two past fires at the same block of flats on 10 and 14 October were called to the property on Hanson Grove just after 3am on Tuesday an 81-year-old man was taken to hospital in a critical condition and police were working with Fire and Emergency to examine the scene The fire is the third at the block of flats in a month and all three had been lit in the early hours of the morning Residents in Stokes Valley say they were shocked by the blaze A neighbour said he was kept up half the night after he saw the flames coming from the building He described the occupant of the home as a recluse Another local said they knew the person through their son's father They said the neighbourhood was close-knit but the area had experienced other fires in recent years "It's buzzy because we've had a few fires around here too They said they were unsure if the home would be repaired or rebuilt "The house down on [nearby] George Street that got burnt down isn't getting [rebuilt] at all." Kāinga Ora's regional director for Greater Wellington Vicki McLaren confirmed the block where the man lived was owned by the housing provider Front-line teams had been in contact with other residents in the apartment block "to offer support at this difficult time," she said Anyone who may have CCTV of the fire or who witnessed the incident should get in touch with police "Even the smallest piece of information could prove vital in our investigation residential or commercial premises in any areas of Stokes Valley or were in the area at the time of the fires even if you didn't witness the incidents please contact us." using the reference number 241105/2249 and quote Operation SOVE Photo / Supplied- A Roger Walker-designed home in Lower Hutt sold within days of hitting the market - The buyers were the first to view the five-bedroom "castle" on Stokes Valley Road - Vendor LJ Shaw praised agent Annette Sliper for the quick sale before Christmas A striking home designed by architecture guru Roger Walker sold within days of hitting the market Vendor LJ Shaw told OneRoof that the buyers were instantly smitten “They just fell in love with it,” she said When she first saw the five-bedroom home on Stokes Valley Road the house is a modern take on a medieval castle designed by Walker for his head builder Colin Parker had unique features including a circular archway and plaster koru art built into the lounge wall First-time visitors to the property would get lost in the five-level home it felt like we were looking at a piece of art rather than a house,” Shaw told OneRoof last month had only been on the market for a couple of days in December when Shaw's agent received a conditional offer The deal went unconditional before Christmas and settles this month Shaw said she and husband Peter Tompson had been “gobsmacked” by how quickly it sold Viewings had been by appointment only and the first and only people to view it bought it “I think people need to understand it comes down to more than price sometimes,” she said “You can’t just buy a house like this and live in it like a cookie-cutter suburban new build You put your heart and soul into places like this and they keep giving you a return on it.” - Young woman with terminal cancer is on the hunt for her dream home - Historic bach linked to 'Heavenly Creatures' murder case sells for $590,000 - 'No one’s judgey' - The town where buyers are ditching the mortgage The sale price has not yet been publicly disclosed Parker House was designed by Walker and built by his head builder who lived there for more than 40 years before selling it to Shaw and Tompson Parker spent his weekends and evenings building the artistic home which had numerous stand-out features including a circular archway and plaster koru art built into the lounge wall Shaw said she would miss her "castle" a lot We’ve had some fantastic costume parties here… and it’s time for a family to enjoy it now,” she said Shaw and Tompson plan to rent before deciding on their next move is also for sale and inviting buyer equiry over $1.599m Shaw credited Ray White agent Annette Sliper for getting the deal done so quickly adding: “It was done and dusted before Christmas.” Walker designed 500 homes in his long and distinguished career His own home, at 75 Grant Road, in Thorndon, Wellington is on the market and seeking buyer enquiries over $1.595m The listing for the pink and green Wellington castle describes it as an “extraordinary opportunity to own a unique piece of Wellington’s architectural history” Walker told OneRoof last year that it was the only house he had ever built for himself and also his favourite His late wife Elizabeth gave him free rein on the design with the exception of the kitchen “It was a great opportunity to express myself I was wearing the client hat and only had to listen to myself,” he said Tommy’s listing agent Alexia Stoddart said it was an interesting property and incredibly spacious “It’s got underfloor heating down the bottom The kitchen is massive and it has a big dining room that flows out onto a deck The lounge is massive with another big balcony off it.” Stoddart said Walker had a huge following and a lot of people who had gone through the open homes were fans “We ran open homes and everybody that came through the door was like 'Look I’m just being nosey because I follow Roger Walker’s work and I can’t believe I’m getting to see his home.'” Stoddart had sold other Walker-designed homes and said they always attracted interest “People do love a good Roger Walker home.” - Click here to find more properties for sale in Wellington A man critically injured in a fire in the Hutt Valley last week has died. Ian David Moller, 82, was injured in the fire in a block of flats in Stokes Valley on November 5. He was pulled from the Hanson Grove fire — the third suspected arson at the property in the past month — and died late yesterday. "Hutt Valley Police pass on our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the wider Stokes Valley community, who knew him as a local fixture," Detective Inspector Haley Ryan, Wellington District Field Crime Manager, said. The police investigation has now been upgraded to a homicide inquiry. A man aged 21 has been arrested over an alleged arson on October 10, but a connection between him and the fires on October 14 and November 5 has yet to be established. "We are still seeking the public's assistance in helping us establish what has occurred, why it has occurred and identify those persons responsible for each," Ryan said. "Police believe there is a strong possibility that there could be other people involved. "Our investigations team are committed to finding out the full circumstances of all three incidents and holding those responsible to account." She called on anyone in the community who had information to come forward. "Mr Moller was an elderly man who deserved to live out his last years in a safe place, in the heart of the community he loved." 3:14pm 49 mins ago A fourth person has been arrested and charged with the murder of a man in his 80s and the arson of his Stokes Valley home last year The 26-year-old Upper Hutt man had been charged with murder conspiring to commit arson and participating in a criminal group The man was due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Thursday Three others appeared on Wednesday on similar charges Police continue to investigate three fires Police say there are more people of interest after they found the vehicle they believe was involved in the Stoke Valley murder of 82-year-old Ian David Moller The silver Mazda Atenza - found by police - was seen on CCTV footage travelling on Stokes Valley Road and George Street just after the third fire at the Hanson Grove block of flats Police said they were speaking to the owners of the vehicle - registration LKA609 Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said police were asking for anyone with information CCTV or dashcam footage of the vehicle or its occupants to get in touch "We are yet to contact a number of people within the community who we believe know details of the three arsons and Mr Moller's murder including why these offences were committed and who is involved to come forward and speak with us before we knock on their door." A homicide investigation was launched in November after Ian David Moller Police have arrested four people over Moller's murder and the fires They said all have name suppression and are due to appear in the Wellington High Court on 4 April The street in Stokes Valley where the birthday party was held A man who was shot at a 50th birthday party he was hosting says he recalls a burning pain and feeling like he was “paralysed” before calling an ambulance The next thing Hemi Wharerau remembers is waking up in the intensive care unit at Wellington Hospital The 41-year-old was in court today giving evidence about that night, which not only left him with life-threatening injuries but claimed his brother Rawiri Zane Wharerau’s life in 2023 who also attended the party in Stokes Valley are on trial charged with murder and attempted murder The party was a surprise 50th for the brothers’ cousin also gave evidence today in the High Court at Wellington describing angry scenes in the moments before Hemi and his 39-year-old brother were shot The woman told the court she was sitting in her car at the bottom of the house’s driveway when the defendants’ vehicle roared up the street The man got out holding what she described as a hunting gun accusing those around her of stealing $2000 from her partner’s belt bag “Their eyes just looked angry,” said the woman before she heard shots and saw them running back down towards her “You need to clean the mess up at the house,” she recalls the man’s partner saying before they got back into the car and fled She ran up the driveway and found Rawiri Wharerau She looked for bullet holes but was unable to find any because it was dark The woman didn’t realise he was fatally injured or that his brother Hemi had also been shot She left the party shortly after and it was only later she learned Wharerau had died The woman told the court she’d recognised the gun from an earlier confrontation that night the couple had roared up the street in their car stopping on the road in front of where she was parked She said he got out of the car holding his gun and saying “I’m going to shoot any n***** around” The woman told the court she watched the man throw the gun to his partner before punching Huaki snr and knocking him to the ground she said the partner began hitting Hemi with the gun The woman said the partner continued attacking Hemi Hemi was pretty badly bleeding from his forehead which included the playing of his police interview that was recorded about a month after the shooting He explained the party at their house was a big deal because “we don’t have much cousins that reach 50″ food was cooked on the barbecue and a haka was performed when Huaki snr arrived at the house in the early evening the children were taken home and the party ramped up A couple of patched Mangu Kaha members turned up as Rawiri Wharerau was also a patched member He wasn’t falling asleep but he was highly intoxicated The court heard Hemi wasn’t certain where he was before the shooting he couldn’t recall an earlier fight where he was knocked to the ground that left him with a bloodied face – until cellphone footage was played and he recognised himself lying on the road because of his blue sweatshirt All he recalled was hearing the man’s voice and then feeling pain Burning pain and being unable to move “like you‘re paralysed” Realising he’d been shot he called for an ambulance The next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital suggested there were tensions at the party that night Hemi agreed his brother had been a patched member of Mangu Kaha for about a year That meant he was also responsible for the tikanga and if these weren’t followed it was his job to discipline them But Hemi denied there’d been an incident earlier at the party involving a vest and a breach of tikanga He didn’t recall Huata giving anyone a hiding that night He also rejected Stevens’ suggestions that his brother was responsible for the gang’s weapons The woman’s lawyer Letizea Ord referred to a video taken by a neighbour of the fight on the street He agreed it showed him fighting with the woman There was a lighter moment at the end of Hemi’s evidence Told he was free to go by Justice Dale La Hood Two house fires have been extinguished overnight A fire in Stokes Valley in Lower Hutt around 3am saw fire crews attend from five stations Fire and Emergency said one person had been transported to hospital a fire in Glen Eden in Auckland around 3.30am has also been extinguished Photo / Supplied- A neglected Wellington home in Stokes Valley sold for $342,500 at auction - Bayleys Wellington’s Grant Henderson noted high demand - Flippers and investors showed renewed confidence in do-up properties with several selling at auctions nationwide A neglected Wellington home covered in black mould and thick grime was a magnet for six seasoned flippers who battled it out at auction hoping to nab a bargain The auction for the deceased estate in Stokes Valley on Thursday opened at $100,000 and finally sold under the hammer for $342,500 – well below its RV of $560,000 It was one of several rundown properties to have caused a stir in auction rooms around the country this week Bayleys Wellington had two do-up properties on the block yesterday and both sold after some competitive bidding Bayleys Wellington general manager Grant Henderson said the Logie Street house had been in hot demand with a total 35 bids made “The bids came in thick and fast and that was good to see You know $324,500 to get a three-bedroom house in Stokes Valley is still great buying and if you are physically able to do work and you spend $100,000 on that it would come up great.” He said it was nice “easy coin” for the right person as once renovated it could easily fetch around the high $500,000s The Logie Street home was empty for many months after the owner of 25 years died which had been neglected after the owner of 25 years fell ill and later died were property traders looking for their next project to do up and flip The owner paid $112,000 for it in 1999 and the family had decided to sell the estate without doing any work to it even cleaning it because they just “wanted it gone” The listing photos showed rusty appliances holes in the living room and peeling wallpaper the paint was flaking off the weatherboard and the roof appeared to be in poor condition These types of property traders were always looking for the next project to buy so they could give their team of plasterers builders and painters work to do and not lose them to other clients “The guys who are out there are seasoned campaigners looking to keep that momentum going and I think that’s where we are with the flippers.” While there had been first-home buyers ready to roll up their sleeves and do it up if it did not sell they were unable to bid cash unconditional - Liquidation sale of crumbling Otago estate with dark past - House built and owned by 40 Kiwi tradies heads to auction - Tony Alexander: Big surprise in my last real estate poll of 2024 an untouched 1900s triple-bay villa with original features on Ohio Road ended up being snapped up by owner-occupiers who beat off three other homeowners and flippers The auction opened at $300,000 and after a total 17 steady bids paused for negotiation at $650,000 The auction then resumed and the property was announced on the market and sold for the same price but they weren’t the people who were going to pay enough money The people who wanted to live in it and make it their family home those are the ones that paid the money.” Henderson said while the property would likely be a big and costly renovation it could be worth between $1.1 million and $1.2m once completed “Because it was such a character property everything you touch costs a lot of money Whether it was weatherboard – those big 10-inch boards – so everything on that property costs a lot to get it where it should be Someone will go we just love the style of dwelling we just love what it offers – something like that.” Henderson believed the prices for both Logie Street and Ohiro Road properties were fair A homeowner who paid $650,000 for a rundown villa on Ohiro Road An entry-level do-up property in Melville also struck a nerve with flippers in Harcourts Hamilton’s auction room yesterday and eventually sold to an investor for $590,000 which was marketed by Shaun Crosby as “detonate or do-up” was only on the market for a week when the auction was brought forward The listing photos showed wallpaper missing from the walls and curtains hanging off the tracks Harcourts Hamilton co-owner Campbell Scott said there were seven bidders in the room for the ex-rental property ranging from traders builders to first-home buyers and flippers Scott said the development market and flipper market in Hamilton had stopped for a few years but buyers for these do-up properties seemed to be feeling more confident again “Buyers for this type of property are going to see they are not going to burn their hands by purchasing it adding value to it and then selling it in what is an improving market “We’ve seen several examples over the last few months of people buying them with the intention to flip.” one-bathroom bungalow on a 671sqm section on Wilsons South Road The auction was brought forward after two weeks on the market and sold after one bid for $700,00 Scam alerts: we’ve seen an increase in scam texts and emails claiming to be from us, asking for payments.Check our example scams or report a scam to us NZTA App: our mobile app provides a simple and secure way to access your driver licence and vehicle information.Learn more and download the NZTA app Kennedy Good Bridge will be closed to all traffic on Sunday 8 December from 9pm Drivers wanting to get to and from Lower Hutt will have to use the Melling Link intersection instead This intersection will be under stop/go which will cause delays Drivers can still travel in both directions on State Highway 2 Stop/go traffic management will be in place Monday and Tuesday nights at Kennedy Good Bridge/Major Drive intersections Road crews will resurface State Highway 2 at the Kennedy Good Bridge and Major Drive intersections to improve the road’s surface and its skid resistance which carries around 36,000 vehicles daily Contractors will make the most of the closure to complete other critical maintenance including work on traffic signals – this will help improve traffic flows through the intersection This is part of ongoing work on State Highway 2 through the Hutt Valley It has seen almost nine lane kilometres of road resurfacing already completed between Dowse Interchange and Belmont and River Road and Totara Park in Upper Hutt A further five lane kilometres of resurfacing work is planned for State Highway 2 in the Hutt Valley in the New Year This will be for southbound lanes near Grounsell Crescent to Tirohanga and Petone Further updates will be provided before this work starts View larger map [PDF, 211 KB] State Highway 2 will be closed between Whakatiki Street and Totara Park Road to all traffic on Monday 9 December between 9pm and midnight Drivers will need to detour via Upper Hutt Road crews will be carrying out minor traffic signal sensor maintenance at the Gibbons Street intersection Site inspections will also be done in preparation for future maintenance works View larger map [PDF, 240 KB] NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport The Wellington Gang Disruption Unit and the Offender Prevention Team have arrested and charged a 38-year-old man A man has been arrested after cash, drugs, a vehicle and an $8000 watch were seized in a Hutt Valley police raid Last Thursday the Wellington Gang Disruption Unit and the Offender Prevention Team charged a 38-year-old man in relation to Operation Cinderella Detective Sergeant Vincent Smylie said about $19,000 in cash was seized as well as 70g of methamphetamine Police also found an $8000 watch and impounded a vehicle The man appeared in Hutt Valley District Court on multiple drug and drug supply offences He was remanded in custody and is due to reappear later in February “Police work hard to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs as we see first-hand the serious impacts and harm these illicit drugs have on our communities every day,” Smylie said “Police will continue to target those who supply illicit drugs which cause extreme harm and damage to our communities.” Smylie said anyone with information about the supply of illicit drugs should contact police on 105 Information can also be reported to local police stations or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111 Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist Police said emergency services were called to a Mahia Rd property just before 10am after a report of a person seriously injured Hutt Valley Police have arrested three men in connection to the murder of a man in his 80s and the arson of his residential property last year A homicide investigation was launched in November 2024 after one of three arsons at the Hanson Grove Stokes Valley residential property resulted in the death of 82-year-old Ian David Moller Police executed multiple search warrants within the Hutt Valley area targeting the three men aged in their 20s and 30s Two of the men have been charged with murder arson and conspiring to commit arson and the third male has been charged with arson and conspiring to commit arson. All three men have also been charged with participating in a in a criminal group. All were due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court this afternoon Four others were arrested during the course of today’s warrants on unrelated matters “This has been a long and protracted enquiry which has culminated in today’s arrests through the dedicated work of a team of detectives in the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington District,” said Detective Inspector “I have spoken with the Moller family who were relieved to hear the news in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened “Police would like to thank the Stokes Valley community who their continual support throughout this enquiry “We are confident there are further witnesses who may now feel comfortable coming forward and speaking with us and I would like to take this opportunity to urge them to do so “The three incidents occurred on Tuesday 5 November and Monday 14 November on Hanson Grove all occurring during the early hours of the morning “If you have information that may assist in our continued enquiry please contact Police,” Det Insp Ryan said The public can report information on 105 either online or by phone Please reference file number 241105/2249 and quote Operation Sove Information and Events for the New Zealand Public Service Contact us: newsdesk@insidegovernment.co.nz goes to auction with expectations it will sell below RV Photo / Supplied- Deceased estate in Wellington’s Stoke Valley is being sold "as is kitchen and bathroom covered in thick black mould - Agent says it’s a renovation opportunity A deceased estate in Wellington’s Stokes Valley has hit the market with a kitchen and bathroom covered in thick black mould The rundown three-bedroom home at 73 Logie Street was owned by a long-time MetService worker who fell ill and could not care for the property He paid $112,000 for it in 1999 and lived there for 25 years The property has been vacant for many months since his death and his family members have listed it on the market to be sold in “as is Bayleys Wellington general manager Grant Henderson said the beneficiaries just wanted “the property gone” “We made recommendations to the family and said ‘Why don’t you clean it and tidy?’ They said We are happy for someone else to do it all “Their instructions to us is they want the property sold on auction day The Logie Street property has been empty for many months The beneficiaries decided not to spend any time cleaning it before putting it on the market Outside the paint is flaking off the weatherboard and the roof appears to be in a poor condition “Someone really has an opportunity to add some value and have a good home It’s got some good solid bones,” Henderson told OneRoof He expected it would be picked up by a seasoned renovator or a young couple who wanted to get ahead in life and transform it into their dream home Someone just needs to get in there and tear everything apart and move on “It’s the sort of thing where you put on the PPE gear – the mask and the white overalls and you go in there and get the bin and tear everything out and go again.” - House riddled with fleas: I had to race home and take a shower - Expats clash over the phone at auction of 'old school' bach - 'Batman' apartment ditches stripper pole as it aims to snag Asian buyer Henderson said not many first-home buyers wanted to do such massive renovations is expected to sell below its RV of $560,000 where is” properties typically attracted plenty of attention Bayleys is set to auction two more do-up properties on December 5, including an untouched 1900s triple bay villa with original features at 22 Ohiro Road, in Aro Valley, and two railway cottages on the same title at 20 Kauri Street, in Miramar The Ohiro Road villa had been a rental property for more than 20 years and the landlord was now ready to sell it on Henderson said the property was not for the “faint-hearted” but had some beautiful period features including ornate fireplaces “It has some of the most beautiful features I’ve seen in a home in years One of the two cottages up for grabs at 20 Kauri Street “The people who built it obviously had a lot of money at some stage He expected the two “really cute” cottages at 20 Kauri Street to attract everyone from flippers to first-home buyers A new bathroom and kitchen had already been installed in the front cottage but work needed to be done to the weatherboard exterior and roofs “You could just about live in these as they are.” Another rundown Wellington home which hit the market earlier this year is also looking for a buyer. The house at 4 Puketiro Avenue, in Northland is too dangerous to step inside but the site is being pitched as a redevelopment opportunity No work had been done on the property since it was built and the owner had to move out after Wellington City Council issued a “dangerous and unsanitary building” notice in February 2021 The price of the crumbling concrete home has dropped from $795,000-plus since it was first listed in February this year to $650,000-plus - 73 Logie Street, in Stokes Valley, Wellington; 20 Kauri Street, in Miramar; and 22 Ohiro Street, in Aro Valley, are all being sold at auction on December 5 It’s on the market for sale for only the second time in almost 50 years Photo / Supplied- Couple selling their Roger Walker-designed home in Lower Hutt - Walker’s chief builder built the unusual house as his own home When LJ Shaw caught an Uber to her new home, the driver commented: “You fullas must have won the lottery." For six years, that’s exactly how Shaw and her husband Peter Tompson have felt every time they've walked through the door of their Roger Walker-designed home at 454 Stokes Valley Road, in Lower Hutt The business consultant cried when she lost out on a more conventional-looking home nearby in 2018 The next property she looked at was Parker House The property boasts a koru-shaped doorway and several other unique flourishes You feel like a caretaker for a house like this - preserving its integrity and beauty.” who had lived there for more than 40 years He took them on a tour of the home and pointed out some of the more unusual features “He built this home lovingly on weekends and after work over several years and care and attention he put in is truly remarkable,” Shaw said - Mysterious block sells for $65,000 at auction - $10,000 more than expected - Award-winning home next to billionaire's mansion snapped up for secret sum - Revealed: Banks put the brakes on 'secret' mortgage rate discounts A central archway in the home is koru-shaped and plaster koru art is built into the lounge wall Parker designed multiple lead lights for the home “The builder was extremely artistic – a very creative man who designed features like the curved kitchen doors and intricate woodwork make this home truly special,” Shaw said She added: “You get views out of every single window and it’s private and secluded yet central to both Lower and Upper Hutt.” The atrium is the current owner’s favourite spot The owners feels like they are caretakers of a work of art Shaw’s favourite feature of the home is the glass atrium with a bleeding heart [lamprocapnos] plant that’s over 25 years old.” The windows in the atrium are built out of concrete pipes with tilting windows Parker reminisced about the period in the late 1970s when he constructed the home “He pulled out photo albums of the original build,” she said That included pictures of Parker in his stubbies [shorts] and Ray Ban sunglasses and we’ve preserved these on a USB for the new owners.” They will also hand over the original plans Shaw said the couple have kept most of the original features but had to carry out some upgrades “We’ve future-proofed the home while maintaining its character The five-bedroom house sits on a 892sqm section and has an RV of $880,000 She added: “Every time you drive down the driveway you never stop being amazed at how privileged we are to own a property like this When someone sees it for the first time you re-live the magic.” That magic extends outdoors as well The number of native plants that just spring up .. you truly are connected to nature,” Shaw said “There’s a boardwalk that completely surrounds the back part of the house so you’re walking through the treetops.” Some of the garden features are Gaudí-esque She added that the house came with all the sculptures and garden ornaments “We had been here for a whole year and were still finding amazing little sculptures and handmade items throughout the property.” One special feature of the neighbourhood is that couple’s home has a sibling next door which was designed by Walker for Parker’s sister Another Walker home can be picked up at 65 Parrs Road “The two properties blend like a beautiful whimsical garden with bespoke architecture,” Shaw said Shaw and Tompson are selling 454 Stokes Valley Road to be closer to their parents “We know we’ll never own another house like this,” Shaw said But we’re excited for a new family to create loving memories here.” Walker-designed homes at 65 Parrs Road, in Hurworth, New Plymouth, and at 56 Pomare Road, in Tirohanga, Lower Hutt - 454 Stokes Valley Road, Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt City, is for sale by negotiation Warning: This story contains details of abuse A man charged with abuse after two Lower Hutt children received "very severe" injuries including multiple broken bones can now be named of the Hutt Valley has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including assault on a child wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and attempting to pervert the course of justice Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Cotton described the injuries as "very very severe" lacerated internal organs and one had brain bleeds "Their injuries were so extensive one required surgery and it has taken two weeks to understand the full extent of damage to their bodies the suspected abuse was uncovered when one of the children was taken to hospital in an ambulance Allen's lawyer Steve Gill withdrew his name suppression application His other charges include wilful ill treatment of a dog and selling and cultivating cannabis A woman has also pleaded not guilty to charges in relation to the case They include two charges of failing to protect a child and two of attempting to pervert the course of justice and refusing to assist police with a search If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk Oranga Tamariki still has a "considerable amount" of work to do to improve privacy practices A former Destiny Church youth leader who sexually abused several young boys has been sentenced to six years in prison Emergency services, including fire crews from five stations, responded to a block of flats in Hanson Grove, Stokes Valley, at around 3.10am. Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said the area was cordoned and a forensic scene examination was being conducted alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand and ESR. "The fire is being treated as suspicious and is suspected to be linked to two other fires at the same block of flats on Thursday 10 and Monday 14 October 2024, both of which were also lit during the early hours of the morning." Ryan said police were appealing for information from people who have CCTV footage, witnessed any of the three fires or were in the area at the time of the fires. "Even the smallest piece of information could prove vital in our investigation," she said. Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105. Police are investigating a fire at a previously targeted Lower Hutt property this morning that left an 81-year-old man in a critical condition. 50 mins ago Police are investigating a fire at a previously targeted Lower Hutt property this morning that left an 81-year-old man in a critical condition responded to a block of flats in Hanson Grove Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said the area was cordoned and a forensic scene examination was being conducted alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand and ESR "The fire is being treated as suspicious and is suspected to be linked to two other fires at the same block of flats on Thursday 10 and Monday 14 October 2024 both of which were also lit during the early hours of the morning." Ryan said police were appealing for information from people who have CCTV footage witnessed any of the three fires or were in the area at the time of the fires "Even the smallest piece of information could prove vital in our investigation," she said Due to extreme rainfall Hinemoa St pumping station has discharged sewage into the Waiwhetū Stream We advise people to stay away from this area and south of Hinemoa Street for the period of this notice Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness aims to be New Zealand’s most sustainable pool when it opens in early December through massively reduced carbon emissions and lower energy use It will also be resilient to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters through the design features and the enhanced seismic strength of the new build produced 546 tonnes of carbon emissions each year from its electricity and gas-powered pool heating and ventilation systems - the equivalent emissions of driving 3.28 million kilometres in a diesel car Emissions from energy usage at the new pool will be slashed by 56% and energy use intensity will reduce by 53% The innovative design and efficiency measures include heat pumps for heating water and ways to manage temperature and humidity This will see the total energy usage reduce by 22% when compared to the old complex despite the building’s footprint being more than 60% larger The range of sustainability features will be included in an application for a Green Star 5 sustainability rating Australasia’s largest voluntary rating system for non-residential buildings with gas boilers swapped with heat pumps and Stokes Valley and Wainuiomata pools are scheduled for decarbonisation later this decade Te Ngaengae pool water will be conditioned through a filtration system using sand to trap particles It replaces a system called Diatomaceous Earth (DE) aquatic organisms. Head of Aquatics Iain Brown says sand filters achieve high water quality and are the way of the future “Over the coming years we’re replacing DE systems with new sand filters at all Hutt City Council-operated pools including those yet to be converted at Huia and the Stokes Valley pools “Once we transition all pools to sand filtration it will stop the use of nearly 3000kg of DE a year.” Other design features of the Te Ngaengae complex include: Sustainability measures were in place from the beginning of the project which saw about 80% of all demolition material from the old pool recycled or reused saving more than 13,000 tonnes of scrap metal and concrete from going to landfill. Concrete from the old pool tank was crushed and re-used on-site salvaged timber and other items were donated to residents and the timber from the old hall was reused 24 hours a day – 7 days a week 04 570 6666 | 0800 488 824 contact@huttcity.govt.nz Privacy Policy Accessibility You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image He was due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court today A homicide investigation was launched in November last year after one of three arsons at the Hanson Grove block of flats Three other people appeared yesterday on similar charges another on October 14 and the third on November 5 Anyone with information has been asked report it to police on 105 By Catherine Hutton, Open Justice Reporter of narrowly escaped the same fate following the party in the early hours of 16 December Opening the Crown's case in the High Court at Wellington Crown prosecutor Wilber Tupua told the jury the shootings took place during a night of festivities to celebrate the 50th birthday of Wharerau and Hemi's cousin Wharerau and the man now facing charges were both patched members of Mangu Kaha - a gang associated with Black Power the woman allegedly told Huaki Senior he had "disrespected" her man The Crown says Wharerau rang and told the man to come back to the party and "sort it out" Tupua said the couple ran up the driveway and appeared to be "hyped up" Tupua said CCTV footage from the couple's house showed the gun never left the car and was never seen again Tupua said the Crown's case was they wanted to get away so quickly they left their young child behind in Wellington the Crown said the woman texted her friend saying she was "heartbroken but would absolutely do the most for her man" The Crown's case is that when they drove back to the party there was a good reason for the two to leave the Hutt Valley," Hall told the jury He'd fired the fatal shots because he felt threatened and because others at the party were "bearing down" on him and this was a case where she'd been there when things had gone wrong "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Ord said * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald Rawiri Zane Wharerau was shot and killed in December and his brother was transported to hospital in a critical condition The man fatally shot at a Lower Hutt birthday party was 39-year-old Rawiri Zane Wharerau The two men shot at a Lower Hutt address in the early hours of Saturday morning - one fatally - were attending a birthday party at the time One person is dead and one is critically injured after a serious incident in Lower Hutt overnight A judge was forced to leave the courtroom and a defence lawyer told court security to "arrest them all' Police have made an appeal for sightings of a car they believed was involved in the death of Wellington man Ian David Moller and arsons at his property The 82-year-old was left with critical injuries after a fire at his Stokes Valley home in November 2024 The man died in hospital several days after the blaze Four people have been arrested and charged in relation to Moller’s death and arsons at his property Now police have made an appeal to Stokes Valley locals for sightings of a vehicle they believe is linked to the incidents “Police have identified and subsequently located a silver Mazda Atenza and are speaking with the current owners of the vehicle who are assisting in our investigation,” Detective Inspector Haley Ryan “Police urge those who have seen this Mazda Atenza within Stokes Valley in recent times to come forward and speak with us as we would like to identify those who have recent known links to this vehicle.” The car was caught on CCTV travelling on Stokes Valley Rd and George St between 1.40am and 3am on Tuesday Despite the time that has lapsed between Moller’s death the launch of a homicide investigation and now police have appealed to the Stokes Valley community to review their CCTV or dashcam footage from the following dates last year: the early hours of Thursday “Police encourage anyone who may have information CCTV or dashcam footage of this vehicle or its occupants to please get in touch with us,” Ryan said “The investigation team are working diligently on these incidents and we are yet to contact a number of people within the community who we believe know details of the three arsons and Mr Moller’s [death] to come forward and speak with us before we knock on their door.” All four people charged in relation to the death and arsons are in custody and have been granted name suppression They will make their next court appearances on April 4 police confirmed a 26-year-old Upper Hutt man was arrested overnight and has been charged with murder Three other men face charges of participating in a criminal group The fire that claimed Moller’s life was the third attack on Hanson Grove in the space of a month Ryan told media on Wednesday that police had spoken to Moller’s family about the arrests She said they were “relieved to hear the news in what is a further step forward in coming to terms with what happened” had urged anyone with information to come forward She said it was a heartbreaking time for the family After the launch of a homicide investigation Ryan said Moller was a respected elderly man who deserved to live out his last years in a safe place in the heart of the community he loved “Hutt Valley police pass on our deepest condolences to his family If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please contact us at 105.police.govt.nz clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105 Please use the reference number 241105/2249 and quote Operation Sove You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111 Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 33 years of newsroom experience Wellington Region Emergency Management Office is urging residents in the Greater Wellington region to work from home today if they can It is asking people to avoid all travel if possible A northbound lane on State Highway 2 through the Hutt Valley has had to be closed due to flooding Trains on the Kapiti Line have been replaced by buses between Plimmerton and Waikanae due to a slip - rocks fell and hit a train between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay There are reports of flooding in Hutt City WREMO's Regional Manager Jeremy Holmes speaks to Kathryn See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes