this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read The debts of an insolvent Auckland development business have been put at $4.6 million after it built 112 apartments and townhouses in South Auckland’s Wattle Downs Developer Marcus Brian Jacobson is the sole director of Mahia Village but he co-owns it with Andrea Jean Jacobson but Marcus Jacobson told the Herald: “That project was completed a couple of years ago and has been delivered This is part of the issue with the funder” He was referring to American business Arena The liquidators said the company owes $3.6m to Kiwibank as the first-ranking mortgagee and $1.09m to Inland Revenue The IRD debt is unpaid GST on apartment sales including interest and penalties being charged for outstanding amounts but the liquidators do not know how much it is owed “We have been advised the company undertook a residential property development and 12 were held by the company for the purpose of long term leasing “The liquidation of the company was precipitated by poor economic conditions caused by Covid-19 the company owned and was leasing 12 residential properties to a community housing provider,” the initial liquidators’ report of April 3 said which says it completed Wattle Park on the Manukau Harbour in January 2022 “Wattle Park has been developed as a mixed development with community housing providers including Accessible Properties Penina Housing Trust and Emerge Aotearoa,” Watchman says Some of the houses were sold as KiwiBuild and others were sold at market rates They were built on a number of sections off Mahia Rd Other Jacobson companies have also struck financial trouble of which Marcus Jacobson is the sole director and shareholder went into receivership and liquidation in December last year Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed as receivers while Waterstone’s Botterill and Grant are the liquidators The company went into receivership after defaulting on its loans while developing 42 townhouses in Rotorua’s Mountview Green housing estate A Florida-headquartered financier was owed $28.2m was listed by Waterstone as the single largest creditor of Roto Whare The liquidators’ first report cited Jacobson saying it was a Property Law Act notice by that mortgagee which resulted in him seeking advice and having liquidators also appointed The company was finishing the last of the homes in the project when American funders had receivers appointed and Jacobson called in liquidators the liquidation was related to financing issues unique to the development and the process protected the interests of buyers In 2021, the Herald reported on trouble with DDL Homes and DDL Estates in South Auckland Jacobson was DDL Estate’s sole director and the sole director of its shareholder Rua Whare Auckland Council sought orders against the two companies for work at its project where land stabilisation of the Hera St site off Flat Bush School Rd created problems The Environment Court issued three orders after the council raised alarm at the standard of works and the environmental consequences if it was allowed to continue the Waterstone accountants will issue an update in six months Total liabilities are unknown at this stage but they have liaised with the tenants of the rented Wattle Park units What deficit there will be after their investigations also remains unknown Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas. Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read. 'Somebody, please build something here – anything' debate on a site empty for 36 years. Manukau CityBy negotiation64Modern Duo in Wattle DownsLooking for style Look no further than these two near-new homes in the peaceful and family-friendly suburb of Wattle Downs or adding to your investment portfolio – this double offering delivers unbeatable value 44A: the floor area is 132sqm and Land is 166Sqm 44B: The Land size is 136sqm and floor is 132sqm • 3 Spacious Bedrooms – Ideal for families • 2.5 Bathrooms – Ensuite off the master + guest toilet downstairs • Open-Plan Living – Flowing effortlessly to an outdoor area • Single Internal Garage – With laundry nook and internal access • Quality Build – Low-maintenance materials and contemporary design • Outdoor Back Yard with Deck – Perfect for relaxing or entertaining well-presented street just minutes from Wattle Farm Reserve this location offers both lifestyle and convenience Whether you’re interested in one or both properties this is a smart move in a growing neighbourhood Don’t miss your chance – contact Rupi Sekhon today on 027 310 0000 to arrange a viewing See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started A dog owner has been left a $700 vet bill after her pet ate one of the more than 200 dead eels found washed ashore at Ōrākei Basin while scores more eels have been discovered floating in a second Auckland waterway About 180 dead eels have been found in a stream in Wattle Downs with local leaders saying ammonia poisoning is behind the mass fish deaths Sarah Walsh-Devoy said she wants to warn others of the danger of dogs consuming the dead eels after her miniature schnauzer Elvis made a costly mistake Walsh-Devoy said she was letting Elvis run on the off-leash area on Monday when she saw him rolling in something hid away from the family and refused to eat or drink Walsh-Devoy said she rushed her pet to the vet when he began to vomit “white foamy stuff” “They were not surprised when I said he had tried to eat an eel.” The eel’s small bones had scratched Elvis' oesophagus He was able to be taken home straight away with pain relief She also had to buy a special shampoo to get the rotten eel smell out of Elvis' fur While the death of the 201 eels at Ōrākei remains under investigation the death of more than 180 of the creatures in a Wattle Farms stream is more clear-cut with Auckland Council saying the two incidents are not linked Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman said the eel deaths were the result of wastewater overflow “I am informed that the dead eels are likely to have been the result of a wastewater overflow as the council got a positive ammonia result “This is particularly outrageous given the long dry period – there has been no significant rain that might otherwise have triggered infiltration into the stormwater network.” He said it was essential that “residents remain vigilant” for many contaminants in the water network said the stream passes through many commercial spaces so there is a big risk of contamination He said stormwater from Manurewa village commercial areas roads and carparks drains into this stream The Auckland Council head of operations for healthy waters said a contractor removed the dead eels yesterday in Wattle Downs “We do not have any reason to believe that this incident is related to the dead eels found last week in the Ōrākei Basin.” Pete Mazany was biking around Ōrākei Basin on Thursday evening when he discovered numerous dead eels lining the basin’s shoreline He said he counted more than 100 longfin and shortfin eels lying dead and noted a “smell” while filming the scene “These eels are the canary in the coal mine We know that they die when the environment is imbalanced.” Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. A pilot's flight path spelled 'I love you' in the sky over Auckland and Warkworth. based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image A man has died after being shot in Clendon Park in South Auckland this afternoon Police have confirmed the man entered Clendon Park Medical Centre with injuries but sustained the gunshot wound at another location The man was taken to Middlemore Hospital where he died but police are making inquiries at a nearby Wattle Downs address as part of the investigation "We are speaking with a number of individuals as part of those enquiries to understand what has taken place this afternoon," Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Hassall said Police would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Gambare Place area this afternoon and witnesses reported seeing Armed Offenders Squad members and a St John ambulance outside the medical centre Entry to the shopping complex via Palmers Rd had also been blocked off "The community can expect there to be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days," Det Snr Sgt Hassall said A neighbour says she was too scared to send her younger brother to school after a fatal shooting in South Auckland.  Police have begun a homicide investigation after a man presented at a South Auckland medical centre with gunshot injuries on Thursday.  He was rushed to Middlemore Hospital but later died.  Police have set up a crime scene at a property on Gambare Pl erecting a blue specialist search group tent and beginning what looked like forensic investigations.  A neighbour told the Herald today that her husband came home around 3.30pm to police officers “everywhere.”  “He called us to check if we were alright.  “It’s first time something like this has happened here,” said the woman who has been living in the area for about five years.  She said she didn’t know anything about the incident until police knocked on her door looking for more information.  The housing complex where forensic teams have been deployed has only been built recently and tenanted in the last year.  She said she didn’t let her younger brother walk to school today after last nights events.  “I called the school to let him know why he was absent When the Herald visited the scene this morning a police investigation tent remained outside the house Forensic investigators were huddled around a vehicle Another group of investigators stood outside the door of one of the town houses The driveway behind them had a trail of orange evidence markers.  Yesterday Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Hassall said the man arrived about mid-afternoon at the Clendon Medical Centre in Clendon Park in a critical condition.  we believe he has sustained gunshot injuries at another location.  “The man was transported to Middlemore Hospital however despite best efforts by medical professionals he has since succumbed to his injuries.”  Counties Manukau Police remain at the Clendon Medical Centre this evening after a male presented with critical injuries and subsequently died with a homicide investigation being launched Police are making inquiries at a nearby Wattle Downs address as part of the investigation.  ”We are speaking with a number of individuals as part of those inquiries to understand what has taken place this afternoon,” Hassall said.  One resident on Gambare Place took to social media saying police had chased the alleged offender to an address on the street.  The cops are across the road from my driveway,” the witness said.  Police said no arrests have been made at this stage.  ”A scene examination will take place in due course along with a post-mortem [examination].  “The community can expect there to be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.”  A heavy police response rushed to an incident outside the South Auckland medical centre this afternoon which ambulance staff initially said left one person critically injured.  Witnesses reported seeing the Armed Offenders Squad multiple police officers and ambulance staff outside the Clendon Medical Centre which is inside the Clendon Shopping Centre in Clendon Park.  One person claimed someone ran into the medical centre yelling A Hato Hone St John spokesman said one ambulance one operations manager and two rapid response vehicles attended Clendon Park at 2.50pm.  One person was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.  A video seen by the Herald shows armed police standing in front of the medical centre as ambulance and Fire and Emergency NZ staff erect a black tarpaulin in front of the building.  Police vehicles can be seen blocking the entrance to the shopping centre via Palmers Rd.  It’s understood the police Eagle helicopter was also called out.  Others online said police had cordoned off the area outside the medical centre.  A spokesperson for Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora referred all questions to police.  Police said they would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Gambare Place area this afternoon.  Anyone with information is asked to call the 105 phone service and reference the event number 241205/5771.  Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.  Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Daniel Newman says the incident is an "appalling tragedy" Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Daniel Newman – who lives in Wattle Downs and has been an enrolled patient at the Clendon Medical Centre for decades – described the incident as an “appalling tragedy”.  “I am shocked to learn that a man entered the medical practice with life-threatening gunshot injuries and I am deeply sad that he subsequently died in Middlemore Hospital,” Newman said.  “I am grateful to the staff at Clendon Medical who tried to offer assistance as well as paramedics and emergency clinicians at Middlemore who fought I support the police to investigate this homicide and bring those responsible to justice.  and I want my constituents to have confidence that our community continues to be a good place which is supported by health care and other first responders who work hard when tragic incidents occur.”  A neighbour says she was too scared to send her younger brother to school after a fatal shooting in South Auckland Police investigators are still piecing together who is responsible for killing the man A homicide investigation was started after a man presented at a South Auckland medical centre with gunshot injuries on Thursday. He was rushed to Middlemore Hospital but later died. Police have set up a crime scene at a property on Gambare Pl, Wattle Downs, erecting a blue specialist search group tent and beginning what looked like forensic investigations. A neighbour told the Herald today that her husband came home around 3.30pm to police officers “everywhere.” “He called us to check if we were alright. “It’s first time something like this has happened here,” said the woman who has been living in the area for about five years. She said she didn’t know anything about the incident until police knocked on her door looking for more information. The housing complex where forensic teams have been deployed has only been built recently and tenanted in the last year. She said she didn’t let her younger brother walk to school today after last nights events. “He usually walks (to school), he walks everywhere. “I called the school to let him know why he was absent, and they said they’d pick him up.” Detective Inspector Karen Bright said a post-mortem examination is taking place today. “As part of this, formal identification procedures will be carried out and Police will look to confirm the man’s identity once this is completed.” Bright said the “investigation is still in the very early stages” as police continue to establish the facts about what unfolded in Wattle Downs yesterday afternoon. “Police anticipate being at the Gambare Place address over the coming days.” When the Herald visited the scene this morning, a police investigation tent remained outside the house. Forensic investigators were huddled around a vehicle, leaning on it to write notes. Another group of investigators stood outside the door of one of the town houses. The driveway behind them had a trail of orange evidence markers. Yesterday Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Hassall, of Counties Manukau CIB, said the man arrived about mid-afternoon at the Clendon Medical Centre in Clendon Park in a critical condition. ”At this point, we believe he has sustained gunshot injuries at another location. “The man was transported to Middlemore Hospital, however despite best efforts by medical professionals he has since succumbed to his injuries.” One resident on Gambare Place took to social media saying police had chased the alleged offender to an address on the street. “We weren’t allowed to leave our homes. The cops are across the road from my driveway,” the witness said. Police said no arrests have been made at this stage. ”A scene examination will take place in due course, along with a post-mortem [examination]. “The community can expect there to be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.” A heavy police response rushed to an incident outside the South Auckland medical centre which ambulance staff initially said left one person critically injured. Witnesses reported seeing the Armed Offenders Squad, multiple police officers and ambulance staff outside the Clendon Medical Centre, which is inside the Clendon Shopping Centre in Clendon Park. One person claimed someone ran into the medical centre yelling, “My friend [has] been shot”. A Hato Hone St John spokesman said one ambulance, one operations manager and two rapid response vehicles attended Clendon Park at 2.50pm. One person was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition. A video seen by the Herald shows armed police standing in front of the medical centre as ambulance and Fire and Emergency NZ staff erect a black tarpaulin in front of the building. Others online said police had cordoned off the area outside the medical centre. A spokesperson for Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora referred all questions to police. Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Daniel Newman – who lives in Wattle Downs and has been an enrolled patient at the Clendon Medical Centre for decades – described the incident as an “appalling tragedy”. “I am shocked to learn that a man entered the medical practice with life-threatening gunshot injuries and I am deeply sad that he subsequently died in Middlemore Hospital,” Newman said. “I am grateful to the staff at Clendon Medical who tried to offer assistance as well as paramedics and emergency clinicians at Middlemore who fought, unsuccessfully, to save the man’s life.” Police said they would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Gambare Place area on Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information is asked to call the 105 phone service and reference the event number 241205/5771. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Manukau CityAsking Price $919,000312Premium Affordable Entry Into Wattle Downs!Nestled in the heart of the sought after Wattle Downs 20 Hadley Wood Drive offers an incredible opportunity for those looking to break into this premium suburb at an affordable price point move-in-ready 3-bedroom home is elevated and ideally located just a short stroll from top schools a wide driveway leads to a spacious double garage with ample parking the layout offers two separate lounge areas The generous dining area is conveniently located near the kitchen and a separate laundry for added convenience The backyard courtyard provides a fantastic space for children and pets to burn off energy and it's a perfect spot for enjoying a summer BBQ with loved ones Fitted with two heat pumps and HRV the home can be kept warm and toasty all year round Whether you're looking to secure your first home or a solid investment in Wattle Downs your #1 Ray White sales team for Wattle Downs Disclaimer - All prospective purchasers shall complete their own due diligence and satisfy themselves with respect to information supplied during the marketing of this property including but not limited to: the floor and land sizes A police scene guard is in place tonight at a Wattle Downs address believed to be linked to a fatal shooting in South Auckland Police have begun a homicide investigation after a man presented at a South Auckland medical centre with gunshot injuries He was rushed to Middlemore Hospital but later died. This evening, police were at a property in Wattle Downs erecting a blue specialist search group tent and beginning what looked like forensic investigations. Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Hassall, of Counties Manukau CIB, said the man arrived about mid-afternoon at the Clendon Medical Centre in Clendon Park in a critical condition. Police are making inquiries at a nearby Wattle Downs address as part of the investigation. ”We are speaking with a number of individuals as part of those inquiries to understand what has taken place this afternoon,” Hassall said. A heavy police response rushed to an incident outside the South Auckland medical centre this afternoon which ambulance staff initially said left one person critically injured. Police vehicles can be seen blocking the entrance to the shopping centre via Palmers Rd. It’s understood the police Eagle helicopter was also called out. Police said they would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Gambare Place area this afternoon. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. “I am grateful to the staff at Clendon Medical who tried to offer assistance as well as paramedics and emergency clinicians at Middlemore who fought, unsuccessfully, to save the man’s life. “This is a tragedy. I support the police to investigate this homicide and bring those responsible to justice. “This incident is not normal, and I want my constituents to have confidence that our community continues to be a good place which is supported by health care, law enforcement, and other first responders who work hard when tragic incidents occur.” Manukau CityAsking Price $849,000311120m²610m²So Much Potential Priced To Sell!Our proud owners have made the decision to move on elevated family home is ready for its next lucky owners with solid timber floors that highlight the charm of this classic 1960s home A generous living area perfect for family gatherings the 610m² section offers plenty of space for garden enthusiasts or a great space for children and pets to play Huge Potential with a large site to buy and hold for future development subject to council approval our motivated owners are eager to move forward with their next chapter Don't miss your chance to view this lovely home-either by appointment or during scheduled open homes Contact Sam Steel and Brett Norris for any further information Disclaimer -This property is being sold by auction or without a price and therefore a price guide can not be provided The website may have filtered the property into a price bracket for website functionality purposes All prospective purchasers shall complete their own due diligence 14 May 2025 13:00428621m²Spacious Entertainer!Auction: 62 Highbrook Drive East Tamaki on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 1:00PM (unless sold prior) Available to the market for the first time is this meticulously cared for modern family home in the heart of Wattle Downs The layout is excellent for all dynamics with a spacious 214m2 approx Situated at the end of a wide private driveway on a generous 621m2 wrap-around section this property has masses of space for outdoor recreation - there is even room to add a swimming pool Constructed by Fletchers in 2004 you are sure to be impressed by the quality Fletchers design The exterior brick and tile with feature cladding that has been freshly repainted and has a cavity system Other recent improvements include; brand new carpet new blinds and curtains and updates to the kitchen and bathrooms A large entrance welcomes you into the home and leads through to a beautiful open plan lounge and dining area Exceptional flow through to the second living and stylish updated kitchen with engineered stone benchtops is perfect for the chef in the family to create those special meals Upstairs you find a spacious landing that is utilised as a study nook/work from home option The luxurious master bedroom benefits from its own smart ensuite and the must have walk-in wardrobe The further 3 bedrooms are all doubles and share a spacious updated family bathroom Entertainers will delight with a superb covered outdoor entertaining area Ideal for those family get-togethers the easy outdoor flow also provides a fully fenced safe backyard for kids and pets Parking is well taken care of too with an excellent area of off-street parking and a double internal access garage This highly sought-after location within easy walking distance to ever popular Reremoana School and Wattle Downs delightful reserve playgrounds and waterfront walkways completes the picture of this must-view property See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Police gather evidence at the Wattle Downs crime scene. Video / Michael Craig Police said emergency services were called to a Mahia Rd property just before 10am after a report of a person seriously injured. Christchurch, Mairehau house fire: Firefighters battle two-storey house blaze 10 patients were assessed and treated by our crews in total. Video | George Heard Auckland commuters face a chaotic morning after two highways leading into the central city have been majorly disrupted by crashes. Video \ NZME NZ film industry faces uncertainty over US tariff, ongoing decline in livestock numbers and questions over longer sentences reducing reoffending. The moa might be extinct, but they’ve left an imprint! Reporter Sierra is at Magnificent Moa Day where experts are revealing their incredible 3.6 million year-old find. Emergency services are attending the fire at a McDonald's on Pakuranga Rd. Video / Supplied, Te Rina Triponel Christopher Luxon holds a post-Cabinet press conference A memorial tree has been planted at the entrance of St John’s bush in honour of slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall. Video \ Jason Dorday Victim of abuse is wanting a judicial review Goodman Group is upgrading Highbrook Crossing to add retail, dining and public space to New Zealand’s largest business park in East Tāmaki. Video \ Jason Dorday Reporter Angelina is in Auckland, where hip hop crews from all over the world are battling to see who’s the best. Aotearoa group En-Locked is in the house, let’s see how they do! $2b for NZ Defence helicopters, Trump’s influence on global elections, and Parliament tackles alcohol and mental health. The Coleman family has been melting down precious metals for more than 40 years. This is the first time they've shared inside their multi-million dollar gold and silver operation. The Prime Minister joins Mike Hosking in the Newstalk ZB studio to talk all the big politicial issues. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was joined by Deputy PM Winston Peters and Minister of defence Judith Collins to make a pre-budget defence announcement. Video / Alex Burton Albanese wins Australian election, Kiwis worry about wild weather, and 3D-printed limbs help child amputees in Gaza. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to be joined by Defence Minister Judith Collins and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters make a pre-Budget defence announcement. Neighbours heard explosions as a fire ripped through a Mt Roskill house. Video / supplied Mum pays tribute after Auckland bus stop killing, Australians vote early and insurance companies brace for claims. Megyn Cordner and Lucas Prince started their business from the back of a van in 2022. Video / Brodie Stone Andrew Che lost his life savings after sending it to the wrong account. Barclays Bank has refunded his money after a prolonged battle for compensation. Video \ Jason Dorday Aerial footage reveals the scale of flooding across areas of Canterbury after a destructive weather system hit the region and prompted a state of emergency. Sir Bob Jones, a prominent business figure, has died at his Wellington home aged 85. North Shore real estate agency chief responds to a Real Estate Disciplinary Tribunal decision. Video \ Supplied Mark Mitchell provides an update on the state of emergency in Christchurch and Selwyn A possible mini tornado was spotted about Auckland Harbour as the latest band of wild weather hits the city. Fire and Emergency NZ said it responded to more than 30 callouts overnight, mainly in the Wellington area. The worst of the weather is over, more Kiwis turning to methamphetamine and Drs are back at the negotiating table. NZSA chief executive Oliver Mander speaks about CEO pay in 2024. Video / Dean Purcell Waiwhetu woman Julie Paterson heard 'a loud cracking', looked up, and saw a tree branch falling towards her during Wednesday's storm. Video / Julie Paterson Heather Keats updates the powerful system battering New Zealand, bringing floods, snow, extreme wind and widespread disruption. Video / NZ Herald, MetService, Vanessa Weenink MetService Head of Weather News, Heather Keats, breaks down why Wellington is under a rare red warning with extreme winds, heavy rain and dangerous high tides. Hon Mark Mitchell, Deputy Mayor Malcolm Lyall, and Local MP Hon Nicola Grigg speak to the media on the local state of emergency in Selwyn Gisborne locals and health workers marched to Heipipi Park, where speakers highlighted what they say is a regional health crisis. NZ Herald Live: Simeon Brown talks to media A tourist in the Philippines climbed into a crocodile cage to pose for a selfie, only to be attacked by the beast. only decided to bid on it five minutes before the auction started Photo / SuppliedA buyer paid $711,000 for a four-bedroom brick-and-tile home in Weymouth The buyer was determined to come away with something after missing out on several other homes for sale at Ray White Manukau’s auction on Tuesday Ray White agent Nelson Takle told OneRoof the buyer had registered to bid on the Evans Road property just five minutes before the auction started “She came to the auction just wanting to buy something and I think had missed out on the other ones,” Takle said The buyer was one of two bidders competing for the home which had last changed hands in October 2020 for $736,000 Takle said not many people had been to the open homes but the property had still been able to sell on the day - Debt-to-income ratios now a reality: What do they mean for first-home buyers and investors? - Tony Alexander: When homeowners should expect the magic 1% cut in mortgage rates - 'For $1m you're getting the best house in town': Fed-up buyers flocking to South Island Just minutes earlier the buyer had been pipped at the auction of a four-bedroom home on Pinehurst Place The 1980s rental property had sold under the hammer for $761,000 – 30% below RV but $16,000 above what the vendors paid nearly seven years ago said the owners had decided to sell due to a “family tragedy” He said they were “stoked” that the final sale price had surpassed the reserve price by several thousand dollars they just wanted to see it done and dusted at the auction.” The buyer was an investor who lived locally “Wattle Downs is in a beautiful location surrounded by water and you’ve got the golf course,” Takle said Ray White Manukau co-owner Tom Rawson said the days on market for properties in Wattle Downs were longer than other areas in South Auckland He said while some vendors were happy to wait for a buyer there were others who were prepared to strike a quick deal with those who wanted to buy now He said having multiple bidders fighting for a property at auction was a good sign it had reached its market value “It can give some level of comfort that it’s market value maybe for that price even though it might not stack up going backwards,” he said “If you go forward to 2026 hopefully we are still exceeding our prices from 2021 but at the moment we are still a third off those prices at least.” one-bathroom home with a sleepout on Plymouth Place which was on a 855sqm section and zoned for residential mixed housing suburban was marketed as having investment or development potential but it did have an RV of $1.15m and was the most expensive property to sell at Ray White Manukau’s auction room this week The second most expensive sale was a property on Secretariat Place one-bathroom do-up on a 601sqm section on Etherton Drive also saw 22 bids placed on it and was bought by a first-home buyer for $700,000 The sale price was just shy of its RV of $710,000 The listing by Phuong Nguyen and Florence Tran described the property as “crying out for some TLC” - Click here to find more properties for sale in Auckland Luanne Sullivan at St Annes Foreshore Reserve. Photo / NZH We moved to Wattle Downs when I was about 4 years old. Our house before that had been robbed so we moved here to be safer, because it's a really nice little suburban area. Wattle Downs is a peninsula, the Pahurehure Inlet is the river and, depending on traffic, we're super, super close to the Takanini on-ramp, close to the airport and to get on the [Southern] motorway. Wattle Downs used to be really small and has only recently started to grow. Our house, which was one of the first homesteads to be built here, is right next to a big golf course, the Wattle Downs Golf Course. The trees have grown a lot while we've been here so we don't get hit by golf balls anymore. My brother's room used to have its window smashed a few times a year, and the golf course would send someone to fix it. There was one time we were bouncing on the trampoline and a golf ball came whizzing past my head, but not anymore. We used to go round with a bucket and collect the balls, then sell them back to the golfers for about five or 10 cents each; it wasn't a get rich scheme but we had fun. We used to use the golf course as a playground, and at night time we'd let off fireworks and play spotlight. When I was younger, we used to go swimming at the reserve round the corner from us - the Saint Annes Foreshore Reserve Playground on Carnoustie Drive, across the water from the Southern Motorway heading to Papakura. People go out with jet skis and boats. We tried fishing there once, but it didn't really work, but we still go for family walks on that reserve. Because Wattle Downs has grown so much, a new school has just gone up. There only used to be one, Clayton Park, and now we've got a new one. It also has a day-care centre attached. So now we have two schools, a day-care centre, two golf courses, an old folks' home and some huge parks with some great new playgrounds. Wattle Downs also does amazing Christmas lights. Tolvah Place is the tiniest cul-de-sac you'll ever see, and everyone there does Christmas lights. And there's a house on Glen Ross Drive - we call it Millionaires' Row - and this one house does a huge lighting display with a blow-up carousel that really moves and a snow globe which actually blows snow. And then the house next to them started doing it. Those houses are creating a ripple effect, and you'll see families out walking around, and the kids are on top of the world. And down our street at Christmas-time we'll have Christmas street parties too. We also have a little shopping complex, opposite the school. Off Coxhead Rd, there's a little dairy, a fish and chip shop, Chinese food and a hair and beauty salon which looks much busier now that it's been revamped. And there's a bakery, too, a really good one. And further down, at the other end, there's another dairy and more Chinese food. The dairy owner down that end, to help with crime prevention, has installed cameras right down Carnoustie Drive, so if you ever get robbed and need to know who's been in or out, he can find out. It used to be really safe here but there's been a bit more crime lately. It's completely different to when I was younger, when we knew every kid on the block, and we'd hang out and get into mischief, although it does still feel like Pleasantville. It'd be easier for me to live in town for work, but I love it here and I'm still here because it's super-family-oriented and it feels like home. • The Wattle Downs Walkway. Consists of esplanade reserve with two larger reserves at Kauri Point and adjoining Kaanapali Cres. aucklandtransport.govt.nz • Wattle Downs Golf Course. Lovely rolling course. Wattle Farm Rd, Wattle Downs. (09) 268 1929 • Clayton Bakery. Shop 4, 99 Tington Ave, Wattle Downs. (09) 267 9087 Luanne Sullivan is stage managing the new New Zealand play Defensibility at Musgrove Studio at the Maidment Theatre from April 9-13. 'The team have nailed it – it’s a strategy that everyone can understand.' Gurbinder Singh, left, and Sukhpreet Singh are two of the five men on trial in the High Court at Auckland in relation to the alleged attempted murder of radio host Harnek Singh. Photo / Jason Oxenham A controversial Auckland radio host with a global following that included over half a million YouTube subscribers didn’t yet know it as he drove home from his studio on the night of Dec 23, 2020, but some of his on-air remarks had recently resulted in a death sentence being ordered for him. Also unbeknownst to him, a half-dozen would-be executioners were tailing him while packed into three vehicles, ready to carry out the violent order that had been handed down by a New Zealand-based critic. That was the alleged scenario painted by prosecutors today as the trial began for four men accused of attempted murder and a fifth man accused of being an accessory to murder after the fact. Radio Virsa host Harnek Singh, known to friends as “Nekki”, considers himself lucky to have survived the dozens of stab wounds and nearly severed arm that resulted from the frenzied attack that night, after his ute was rammed by a van near the driveway of his Wattle Downs, South Auckland home. “You will hear about the injuries in greater detail during this trial but, put simply, they were horrific,” Crown prosecutor Luke Radich told jurors today during his opening address. “Having inflicted these injuries, his attackers quite literally left him for dead. Prosecutors have named eight alleged conspirators altogether, although three of them have pleaded guilty so are not on trial. One of those who pleaded guilty is expected to testify against his former co-defendants as the trial plays out over the next month in the High Court at Auckland. The remaining men include Jobanpreet Singh, who is accused of directly participating in the attack inside the radio host’s vehicle; Jagraj Singh and Gurbinder Singh, who allegedly followed Harnek Singh home in a Toyota Prius, offering encouragement or support to the attackers; and Sukhpreet Singh, who is charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly welcoming two of the attackers into his home after the incident. The oldest defendant, a grey-haired man alleged to have orchestrated the execution attempt, has name suppression. All of the co-defendants have denied the charges against them. The radio host and all of the accused are members of the Sikh religion, which has over 30 million devotees worldwide and roughly 45,000 followers in New Zealand. Defence lawyer Dale Dufty, representing the man with name suppression, acknowledged that his client might have been “a little bit happy about what happened to Harnek Singh”. But he was far from alone in that sentiment and he certainly didn’t organise or order the radio host’s death, Dufty said during a brief opening statement. “Harnek Singh was an agitator, professional provocateur,” Dufty said as he gave jurors an abbreviated lesson about the India-based Sikh religion and its diaspora in New Zealand. “We sometimes call that clickbait.” Dufty described the religion, started in the largely agricultural Punjab region of India, as one that emphasises equality and welfare for all. Devotees reject the caste system in India, “an awful way of segregating people”, he said, and “they’re quite progressive in the community in helping people”. In recent years, he said, Harnek Singh had courted controversy with negative comments about orthodox members of the religion. His critics grew in 2020 when the radio host commented on a series of controversial laws that had been recently passed by the Indian parliament in which subsidies were ended for Punjab farmers. “Harnek Singh condemned the actions of the Sikh farmers and those who were protesting,” Dufty explained. “Obviously, that wasn’t well-liked by Sikh people.” The resulting attack, Dufty said, was ”carried out by angry young men who had a bone to pick”. Prosecutors did not delve into the politics behind the incident today but they did point out that Harnek Singh paid a particularly high price for his right to express his views. “As is often the case with someone who speaks their views freely to a large audience, not everyone will agree with him,” Radich said. “Some will disagree - some, strongly so. Some, to the point of making verbal and online threats. “Some, fewer again, but in rare cases such as this one, to the extent of doing actual serious physical harm to the person.” Harnek Singh had been driving home from the Papatoetoe temple where he aired his broadcast in his red Toyota Hilux - its personalised number plate matching the name of his radio station - at around 10pm on the night of the attack. He was nearly home when his vehicle was rammed and three men got out of a Ford Ranger, prosecutors said. “Harnek Singh, obviously realising he was in trouble, thought about calling 111, but he needed more urgent help than that, so he started sounding the car horn, eventually holding it down for a sustained period,” Radich told jurors. “That sound certainly brought attention, but it didn’t discourage his attackers. “The men - whose faces were covered and whom Harnek Singh did not recognise - came at his vehicle with bats, smashing the windscreen and driver’s window. It took some effort for them to do so, but they managed it. And once they had, they began stabbing him with knives. And not a little bit either.” He suffered head wounds “right down to the skull” and “extensive wounds” to his neck and upper body, authorities allege. He also suffered a fractured skull, a broken arm, a cut to his ear that almost severed it and cuts to one of his arms so bad that two arteries were completely severed - likely leading to his death by blood loss had an officer not turned up quickly and applied a tourniquet, the Crown said. “You could say that he was stabbed within an inch of his life but, in a very real sense, it was probably even less than that,” Radich told jurors. “The Crown case is that this attack was at a level of viciousness that there can be no conclusion other than that the attackers intended to kill.” Radich also pointed to Telco data retrieved by police which is alleged to show defendant Jobanpreet Singh texting a woman on the morning after the attack. “He got stabbed with knives all across his neck. We never thought that he will still be safe,” Jobanpreet Singh is alleged to have written, according to a translation of one of the messages. He went on to express doubt the radio host would ultimately survive and revealed a plan to burn down his house during his funeral, prosecutors said. Defence lawyer Peter Kaye, who represents Jobanpreet Singh, said prosecutors are dead wrong in describing his client as having been “at the forefront of the attack”. “The defence entirely disagrees - no ifs, no buts, entirely disagrees,” he said, adding that his stance throughout the trial will be simple: “He was not there.” Lawyer Katie Hogan, representing Sukhpreet Singh, predicted that little of the Crown’s case will relate to her client, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. He wasn’t arrested until 16 months after the attack, after a defendant-turned-witness identified him to police. But he’s not a reliable witness, she said. Prosecutors allege Sukhpreet Singh ushered two attackers into his home, asked them how it had gone, helped them try to hide the Ford Ranger in his garage, allowed them to take showers and provided them with fresh clothes. His lawyer, meanwhile, insisted he had no knowledge of a murder attempt and did not intentionally help anyone to avoid arrest. Lawyers for the other men declined to immediately address the jurors but will have other opportunities to do so later in the trial, which continues tomorrow before Justice Mark Woolford and the jury. Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand. Nine-year-old Harper Davis saw "a flicker of fire" and raced to tell McDonald's staff. A woman who was arrested after a man was found dead inside an SUV in South Auckland two weeks ago has pleaded not guilty to murder. Defence lawyer Joanna Murdoch entered the plea on behalf of the 41-year-old, who appeared in the High Court at Auckland today for the first time on the charge. The woman, who has interim name suppression, was remanded in custody to await her next appearance. Police were called to Hobart Cres, Wattle Downs, at 10.42pm on October 9. Investigators covered a black SUV with its doors open in a blue tarpaulin. Neighbours said police also focused attention on a rental property at nearby Kendall Court. During today's brief hearing, Justice Timothy Brewer set a three-week trial date for April 2024. He allowed interim name suppression to continue for the woman for two more weeks on "compassionate grounds" so that the defendant's family can come to grips with what has happened, he said. Auckland radio host Harnek Singh was stabbed in his driveway in Wattle Downs in December 2020. An alleged religious extremist accused of participating in the near-fatal attack on a well-known radio host, during which the host was stabbed 40 times after his ute was rammed in the driveway of his South Auckland home, has been sentenced to five years and three months' prison. Business owner Jaspal Singh, 41, pleaded guilty to attempted murder - an incident that prosecutors said was sparked by "religious sectarian fervour". Harnek Singh - a DJ at Radio Virsa, which discusses religious and cultural issues in the Auckland Sikh community - was stabbed in his Wattle Downs driveway on the night of December 23, 2020, after a group of alleged attackers followed him home from temple. The defendant had wielded a combination knuckle duster and knife during the attack but dropped it after he was accidentally cut, leaving his DNA at the scene, prosecutors said today during the sentencing hearing in the High Court at Auckland. Defence counsel Ron Mansfield, QC, pointed out that it was religion that had given his client a stable life after dalliances with crime when he was younger. "It was his faith that provided for his rehabilitation," Mansfield told Justice Geoffrey Venning, adding that it also helped his client serve as a caring husband and father and helped give him the resilience to start his own business, which then led to "selfless community work". "But sadly, it was the manipulation of that same faith...that led his involvement in this very serious offending. He now accepts it wasn't right and it cannot be justified." Harnek Singh, who was 53 when he was attacked, underwent multiple surgeries as a result of his wounds and still suffers from scarring and ailments to this day, the judge noted. His family felt it necessary to move from their home after the attack and continues to fear for their lives, he noted. After Harnek Singh's ute was rammed that night, he locked the doors of his vehicle and started honking his horn in a bid for help, but the attackers broke the driver's side window, authorities have alleged. Crown prosecutor Luke Radich said the victim survived the violent attack only due to two "strokes of luck". Had the defendant not accidentally dropped his weapon and had officers not arrived on scene so soon - due in part to the honking - to apply first aid and a tourniquet, the defendant likely would be facing a murder charge, Radich said. "It is in some regards difficult to find a more serious attempted murder than this," he told the judge. "He suffered some very, very serious injuries. It's [also] a matter of good fortune there's no brain injury or spinal injury." Radich disagreed with the defence describing the victim in court documents as a "controversial religious commentator" who had been exiled from the Sikh community, instead describing him as a progressive member of the religion when compared to more orthodox groups. Justice Venning noted the victim was known throughout New Zealand and internationally for his commentary on Sikh issues and politics in India, and that the defendant attended a different temple. The impetus for the attack, Venning agreed, appeared to be religious extremism or political disagreement. "There is no place for such actions in our society," Venning said. But he also agreed with lawyers that the defendant appeared to be a "soldier" in the attack. "I accept you were not the ringleader or the mastermind behind the plan," Venning said. While the defendant had past alcohol-spurred convictions for assault, threatening to kill and possession of an offensive weapon, Justice Venning noted that he hadn't offended for about a decade prior to the attack on the radio host. Venning said a minimum non-parole period would not be necessary, in part because of the steps the defendant had taken at rehabilitation prior to the attack. Supporters for the defendant quietly filled the courtroom as the judge's decision was announced. Jaspal Singh hobbled away on crutches as guards escorted him out of the courtroom to begin serving his sentence. Charges remain pending against other men who were described today as having attended the same temple as Jaspal Singh. 20 May 2025 11:00422200m²783m²Must Be Sold!! Don't Miss Out!Our vendors are on the move giving one lucky new buyer the opportunity to secure this absolute gem you'll immediately notice the abundance of parking and the spacious layout that 11 Linicro Place has to offer leading through to a large open-plan dining and lounge area the master bedroom-with its private ensuite and charming pitched ceilings-offers a cosy Three additional bedrooms service the home along with a generous family bathroom and a separate toilet you'll find an open-plan kitchen area with a second sitting space that overlooks the sun-drenched courtyard and scenic outlook Connecting the indoor and outdoor living areas are sliding and French doors creating the perfect setup for entertaining or relaxing The expansive garden is ideal for children and pets to play thanks to the property's elevated position overlooking Clayton Park School Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity-this home must be sold or visit us at one of our scheduled open homes from 11:00 am at Ray White Manukau (unless sold prior) Manukau CityAsking price $1,080,000426629m²Exceptional Value for this Spacious Family Dream!4 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM HOME WITH TWO LIVING AREAS AND A LARGE GARAGE Having brought up their family in this beautiful home our vendors now have new plans so this property is now available for new owners to enjoy Set on a fantastic 629m2 (more or less) Freehold section this property has a generous feel that is a world away from the compact options of new subdivisions The delightful interior has been refreshed with new carpet and the floorplan is an expansive approx 236m2 - a layout that suits a range of family dynamics With waterfront walkways and the beach nearby Entertainers are sure to love the spacious open plan main living area with practical hard flooring and access to the outdoors Clever design incorporates a dining area and easy flow to the kitchen The kitchen is ultra spacious with a great view out to the garden and a large breakfast bar A huge added bonus for families is a separate second living space that could be the ideal space for a media room or relaxation space Completing the picture of the downstairs floor plan is a separate guest toilet and large laundry Upstairs you will find four generous bedrooms including a lovely master bedroom suite with a modern en-suite bathroom and handy walk-in wardrobe Three further bedrooms share a well positioned family bathroom with both a shower and bath An extra surprise is a study/office nook on the landing providing a great work from home option Kids and pets are sure to appreciate the wrap-around garden with plenty of space for play and enjoyment BBQs will be a dream with a large patio surrounded by established planting giving shade and privacy to your gatherings Completing the picture is a double lock up garage with a storage/workshop room and plenty of off-street parking with room for vehicles of all shapes and sizes Wattle Downs is a community orientated area that offers opportunities for an active lifestyle on your doorstep A short stroll across the road to the reserve and you are able to swim at high tide See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Rubbish - is what some people think of a proposal to cut Auckland's household waste collection from weekly to fortnightly The idea is part of a plan to get the supercity closer to a zero-waste vision Since November, Auckland Council has already been binning bins it says contractors often find empty in an effort to save ratepayers $1.4 million a year And some councillors fear halving household rubbish collection will lead to a dirty city ​Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Daniel Newman said he was yet to be convinced it was a good idea "I'm trying my very level best to think about how this could work and how it could be convenient and work for my constituents," Newman told Checkpoint "The idea in theory is great because [we] want to encourage people not to dump But the reality is that some people will need to have that service more regularly "A lot of the families that I represent in South Auckland I think that they will struggle if they go from a weekly to a fortnightly rubbish collection service." He was concerned about fly dumping because it was already happening around Auckland "I just don't want our community to be dirty I don't want it to be a place where people tip their rubbish out." He said some people in council believed once the food scraps bins were well established households would not need the landfill bins every week "When you factor in the additional fly-tipping costs I think it's going to probably come out about the same but with the lack of convenience for households that have gone from weekly to fortnightly." A draft of Auckland Council's Waste Management and Minimisation Plan for 2024 outlines a plan to "transition to a fortnightly kerbside rubbish collection" But that would only happen once the kerbside food scrap bins were "well established," the draft said The council's goal was to incentivise waste reduction A councillor fears the city's kerbside rubbish collection could be reduced from a weekly to an "inconvenient" fortnightly service It's been nearly six months since every Auckland home got a green food waste bin but some are putting it in the too hard basket Auckland Council is calling it a 'bin optimisation drive' but residents say the move to remove their litter receptacles is rubbish  Audio New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News Manukau CityPriced $1,040,000312Renovated Family Home with Waterfront AccessWelcome to 108 Carnoustie Drive a charming brick abode in a prime location with walkway access to the reserve and waterfront on a 629m2 (MOL) section This property offers the perfect family retreat combining timeless appeal This home offers a range of features perfect for family living The modern kitchen is designed with ample storage and dining area seamlessly flow to a sunny deck providing the perfect space for entertaining The stylish bathroom includes a freestanding bath whilst a separate W/C adds extra convenience spacious bedrooms there's plenty of room for everyone The home has been freshly painted & boasts quality carpets throughout complemented by two heat pumps for year-round comfort the roof was replaced just four years ago and is zoned for the highly sought-after Reremoana Primary School and the newly installed fencing ensures the boundary is secure A good-sized internal garage and a separate laundry are perfect for family life It's easy to imagine morning coffee on the deck and afternoons relaxing in the spa pool after a busy day Or take the kayaks down to the waterfront and have a paddle where classic charm and contemporary touches seamlessly merge Disclaimer -The website may have filtered the property into a price bracket for website functionality purposes & satisfy themselves with respect to information supplied during the marketing of this property We are looking for plenty of helping hands for a community planting day at Wattle Farm Reserve in Manurewa on 1 September Hundreds of plants need to be planted along the banks of the stormwater sediment fill area at the park part of a $3.5 million improvement project at the site “Overall we will be putting in about 6000 plants over the next few months,” says project manager Auckland Council Healthy Waters specialist "This planting day is a chance for the community to get involved in a project they’ve seen going on in their backyard for several years." The event is being led by the Wattle Downs Residents’ Association Association vice president Sue Matete was recently joined by Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman and Manurewa Local Board Chair Angela Dalton to get the planting underway “This is a really impressive project that has been a huge investment by Auckland Council and will have major benefits for locals and the environment from improved water quality to managing sediment and reducing adverse impacts on the Manukau Harbour,” says Cr Newman Manurewa Local Board Chair Angela Dalton says as well as the environmental benefits of the project the area is also a hit with recreational users “What’s really nice is that while this is a major infrastructure project it has been done in a way that means it’s still very attractive to look at and a place the community can enjoy.” What: Wattle Farm Planting DayWhen: Meet at 9am. Saturday 1 September Where: Wattle Farm, 39R Wattle Farm Road About the Wattle Farm stormwater pond improvement project © Auckland Council 2025 All rights reserved For more information on what data is contained in the cookies, please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button. To accept cookies from this site, please click the 'I Agree' button. Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news. A homicide investigation is under way after the death of a man in a vehicle incident in Wattle Downs last night. Police say a woman, 41, has been charged with murder and will appear in Manukau District Court today. Police responded to reports of a "disorder" incident in Hobart Crescent, near Mahia Rd, at 10.42pm last night. The focus of police attention in the death is a rental property in Kendall Court. The rental contains two separate units and a neighbour across the road, Netta Tuia, said detectives were focusing on the unit at the rear. Tuia, who has lived in the street for 46 years, said officers were there from 10pm until the early hours. She did not hear anything until the sirens of police as officers arrived in force. The occupants of the rental that was the focus of police attention had not been there long, but had been quite noisy since their arrival. "They're always having parties," Tuia said. Earlier today a black SUV, with doors open, was covered with a blue tarpaulin on Hobart Rd, and Hobart Rd was closed between Mahia Rd and Rainbow Place this morning. Specialist staff, including detectives and police photography section, were in attendance along with police officers. "Police are not currently seeking anyone further in relation to the death, however a number of enquiries remain ongoing," Detective Inspector Karen Bright said. "Wattle Downs residents can expect to see a continued police presence in the area today." A neighbour nearby told the Herald they heard the car revving, like someone had their foot sitting on the accelerator. They said they heard a woman screaming "hard out". "She sounded angry as, we could only hear her voice," the neighbour said. "We thought it was just another domestic till we saw the cops." The couple were apparently quite new to the area and there hadn't been issues with them before today. One shocked resident said the incident was out of character for the neighbourhood. "It makes me worried," said Uesili Sangyum, who has lived in Wattle Downs since immigrating from Samoa in 1987. He said he heard a vehicle speed off out of the dead end Kendall Court and past his house in Hobart Cres. Shortly after police rushed to the scene and swiftly established a cordon. It was not until the early hours, shortly after 3am, that the wide cordon was lifted and he was allowed to return to his home. This morning the street was again quiet and no police were in sight following the removal of the man's body. Sangyum said the only issue in the area was young people riding dirt bikes up and down and it was otherwise relatively peaceful. Radio host Harnek Singh needed multiple surgeries after the December 2020 attack. Two men have pleaded guilty to participating in the near-fatal attack on a well-known radio host who suffered multiple stab wounds after his ute was rammed in the driveway of his South Auckland home. Authorities previously described the attack as having been sparked by religious sectarian fervour. Co-defendants Hardeep Singh Sandhu, 30, and Sarvjeet Sidhu, 27, took turns standing in the dock in the High Court at Auckland this morning as Justice Mathew Downs entered their convictions. Sandhu was immediately taken into custody while Sidhu was allowed to remain on bail until 9am Monday, when a jury trial is slated to begin for five remaining co-defendants. Justice Downs set a sentencing date for both men for November, although the date may instead serve as a disputed facts hearing if an agreement isn’t reached beforehand. Another co-defendant, Jaspal Singh, 42, pleaded last year to attempted murder and was sentenced to five years and three months’ prison. Harnek Singh, who was 53 when he was attacked, underwent multiple surgeries as a result of his wounds. Manukau CityAsking Price $1,140,000422195m²559m²Best Brick On BlackwoodSolid constructed and situated in the sought after Wattle Downs directly opposite the lush greens of the golf course 39 Blackwood Drive is a must see for anyone seeking a move in ready home the property's stunning street appeal will draw you in Step inside and be welcomed by a spacious hallway leading to a generous separate lounge offering expansive windows with picturesque views of the golf course The fully renovated kitchen boasts modern stone benchtops This kitchen flows seamlessly into a second lounge area with sliding doors that create an effortless indoor-outdoor connection to the courtyard The home offers 4 generously sized bedrooms including a master with a private en-suite Both bathrooms have been beautifully updated to a modern standard ensuring comfort and convenience for the new owners Large double internal access garage and plenty of spare parking The low-maintenance courtyard and garden offer the perfect space for kids and pets to play and enjoy while providing easy upkeep for busy families Perfectly positioned in a desirable location For more information or to arrange a viewing contact Wattle Downs sales experts Sam Steel and Brett Norris today Jared Ifwersen standing next to Wattle Farm Rd where he was hit by a speeding car in 1985 Almost four decades since he was nearly killed in a hit-and-run incident on a Manurewa road Wattle Farm Rd in Manurewa begins at the top of a hill the road descends between a duck pond and an estuary before turning into the tree-lined suburban enclave that is Wattle Downs the year Jared Ifwersen was struck by a speeding car and was bordered by undeveloped farm paddocks rather than leafy bungalows Ifwersen was eight years old at the time and was running to meet a friend on his way to the local shops with doctors giving him the grim prognosis that he would never walk or talk again Ifwersen has not only defied doctors' predictions for his recovery he's been able to get his restricted drivers licence and hold down part-time jobs despite facing ongoing side-effects related to his injuries As we chat beside the site of his accident the roar of speeding traffic regularly drowns out our conversation But despite the 37 years that have passed since the incident Ifwersen's passion to make this stretch of road safer is still strong And with Auckland Transport announcing it will install a raised crossing outside the school my mum and I have fought tooth and nail for a crossing and speed bump as we want no child to go through what I've been through," he says But as Clayton Park School principal Jolene Marie sees from her office window every morning it's really only good fortune that has prevented further accidents "We have been asking for eight years now [for a speed bump] and the catalyst for us has been the number of near misses we've had," she says "In the mornings we have 10 and 11-year-olds manning the crossing and we regularly see people drive through or around the signs as kids are about to cross." She says if there's no one holding crossing signs drivers speed at over 60km/h past children waiting to cross She's even seen people try to hit the geese that make regular trips from their pond to the inlet It seems that wherever they [drivers] need to be is more important than following general road rules." Ifwersen credits Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Angela Dalton as a crucial factor in finally getting the speed bump approved people weren't listening and doors kept closing But I knew Clayton Park always wanted to get a speed bump and so I knew it was worth it to keep pushing." Ifwersen connected with Dalton when she was still the Manurewa Local Board chairwoman and was impressed how she genuinely listened to his concerns Dalton says Auckland Transport (AT) initially told the board the road was "working as intended" it was acknowledged that something needed to be done but like every other project at the moment things just kept getting delayed because of reprioritisations and because of Covid." Dalton also points out that making use of local politicians like herself is crucial for addressing issues like this "It really shows the importance of local residents having a relationship with their local board AT spokesperson Natalie Polley said Ifwersen's campaigning "didn't cause the prioritisation of this project" rather it was the school's complaint and the organisation's own investigation that prompted its decision "A request was received from Clayton Park School in 2019 for the installation of speed calming measures outside the school," she said "Following an investigation of the sections of Coxhead Road and Wattle Farm Road outside the school it was concluded that the location in need of prioritised improvements at the time was the crossing facility on Wattle Farm Road." who still lives a 200m walk from the site of his accident He's just happy the uphill battle to make his community a little safer is over "I lay awake at night listening to the cars roaring down the road so a speed bump would be the best thing ever And while my mum doesn't like talking about my head injury because it brings back so many terrible memories I know it means the world to her for this to happen." A pilot's flight path spelled 'I love you' in the sky over Auckland and Warkworth A young South Auckland man whose boozy 19th birthday celebration at home with family came to an abrupt end when he stabbed his older brother to death with a butcher’s knife has been acquitted of all charges Patuawa Mihaka Nathan, now 20, stared ahead - his lawyers showing more visible relief than him - as jurors announced the not guilty verdicts for both murder and manslaughter today in the High Court at Auckland following two weeks of testimony and three days of deliberations Justice Paul Radich ordered the immediate release of Nathan who had spent the duration of the trial on electronically monitored bail Father-son defence team Quentin and Gowan Duff spent much of the trial focused on the troubled history of 30-year-old victim Challas Nathan a recently released prisoner with a Crips tattoo on his face who his own family described as having aspired to be an “alpha” Anyone who challenged his dominance or made him “feel small” could expect a violent response while the mother of Challas Nathan’s five children described him trying to stab her on an earlier occasion The former partner said she had also seen Challas Nathan viciously attack his younger brother on multiple occasions His history [with Challas Nathan] gave him good reason,” Quentin Duff told jurors during his closing address last week sarcastically referring to the victim as “Saint Challas” “Patuawa had good reason to know he’d made a terrible mistake and he was in for the fight of his life.” But prosecutors ‘Aminiasi Kefu and Charlie Piho shared a much different characterisation of what had happened that night describing a defendant who ignored multiple opportunities to avoid what turned out to be a fatal confrontation The first signs of discord occurred around 11pm when an argument broke out between Challas Nathan and their father over who was responsible for the father’s cellphone getting wet Patuawa Nathan said he didn’t like the way his brother was disrespecting their father so he told Challas Nathan to leave - calling 111 at one point but not staying on the line and telling his brother he had called probation to have his electronically monitored bail rescinded While Challas Nathan certainly had a history he had been working to better himself and had shown maturity that night by walking away from the argument Kefu told jurors during his closing address explaining that the older brother walked to his room and closed the door “Because Challas was doing the right thing Challas was doing the responsible thing by walking away from confrontation.” but instead Patuawa Nathan followed his brother to his room grabbing a knife from the kitchen along the way and yelling he would “f***ing kill him” before pounding on his bedroom door and he wanted Challas out of that house no matter what it took,” Kefu said “He was blinded by anger and he was blinded by rage.” Prosecutors said the older brother didn’t want to come out of his room and when he did open the door he was unarmed Kefu suggested that Challas Nathan was likely trying to get past his brother when the first stab wound was inflicted “This is exactly what he walked down the hall ready to carry out,” Kefu said of the defendant reminding jurors of Patuawa Nathan’s own words in a recorded police interview after he was told his brother had died: “F***ing told you with enough force to twice fracture Challas Nathan’s ribs He described the defendant squatting over his brother after he fell to the ground following the first stab wound dominating the victim as he said: “Take that “This was not by any reasonable measure self-defence,” Kefu argued Patuawa went from celebrating his 19th birthday to fatally stabbing his older brother.. Regret does not reverse what he intended in that moment.” The defence argued that Patuawa Nathan arming himself with a knife did not show an intention to kill but instead a naive failed attempt to make sure Challas Nathan kept his distance and didn’t lash out in violence as he was kicked out of the house “It is a gross mischaracterisation of the circumstances .. for you to believe Patuawa was taking a knife to a fistfight,” Quentin Duff explained the knife would be the final straw causing his brother to be overcome with a “red mist” that night “He’s no longer looking at his little brother,” Quentin Duff said of the victim’s alleged charge Challas could no longer discern whānau from foe.” his client had a right to defend himself from what he knew could be serious harm Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand Nine-year-old Harper Davis saw "a flicker of fire" and raced to tell McDonald's staff Name suppression has lapsed for Gurinderpal Brar – referred to by his followers as “Baba Ji” meaning father – who is serving a 13-and-a-half-year prison sentence after he was convicted in the High Court at Auckland in October of attempted murder described during their lengthy trial as a devoted follower who was also in love with Brar’s daughter Prosecutors said he was following the temple leader’s orders in December 2020 when he and others ambushed Harnek Singh under the cover of night as he returned to his Wattle Downs home from a marathon four-hour broadcast at the Papatoetoe-based Sikh temple where he records for his hundreds of thousands of listeners in New Zealand Harnek Singh honked his car horn repeatedly before the attackers managed to smash a side window of his ute and stab him more than 40 times Auckland-based Sikh religious leader Gurinderpal Brar was last year found guilty of orchestrating the knife attack on radio host Harnek Singh Jurors were repeatedly reminded during the trial of Brar’s high-ranking status among New Zealand’s roughly 45,000 adherents to Sikhism especially among those “towards the more fundamentalist end of the spectrum” He was an immigrant from India whose humble beginnings as a truck driver in South Auckland a decade earlier had been all but forgotten by 2020 He had started out holding prayer groups in his living room on Friday nights Within a few years it generated enough interest to build his own temple is where witnesses said the murder plot was hatched “His influence reaches beyond these shores,” prosecutor Luke Radich told jurors during his opening address for Brar’s trial last year “You will hear him describe how he has followers around the world – and how people sometimes pay for him to travel overseas to preach to his followers “He is a man who describes himself as being like a saint higher than a priest and just below the ‘gurus’ He is a man who inspired devotion and obedience.” Those words were not previously allowed to be reported Suppression was no longer necessary after Brar pleaded guilty in December - weeks after he was sentenced to prison for the attempted murder - to the three lesser assault charges District Court documents state he beat three congregation members with tree branches in 2015 who was also attacked with a metal kitchen utensil also suffered a bloody nose and swollen eye Prosecutors never alleged that Brar was present during the near-fatal attack on the radio host But he was “the heart of the plot” who used his influence to recruit others to do the dirty work for him “Everyone else involved in these acts were people who were devotees at Mr Brar’s temple in East Tāmaki - younger men who were devoted to him and his teachings with an extreme level of commitment,” Radich told jurors “It was this level of commitment that the Crown says Mr Brar relied upon to effect his plan to put an end to Harnek Singh.” He described a man whose success - and ego - grew too quickly to the point where he expected followers to touch his feet and exerted considerable control over his followers’ everyday lives such as their relationships and employment He claimed in a police interview to have saved 300,000 people from alcoholism and 100,000 from suicide or family violence “What’s the point of him saying this?” Radich asked jurors at the end of the trial it might be to present an over-inflated view of himself or they might be significant if [he] believes he is above human beings and literally close to the gods and infused with some form of divinity The prosecutor emphasised during his closing address that he didn’t consider Brar a “monster” “He’s a human being and perhaps that’s the point,” he said “The ego that comes from having a rapidly expanding number of followers is a dangerous combination in the wrong hands.” The maximum sentence for attempted murder is 14 years’ imprisonment Justice Mark Woolford said the only reason he received a 13-and-a-half-year sentence instead of the maximum was because he deserved a modest credit for the time he had already spent on electronically monitored bail The judge also ordered a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years before Brar could apply for parole citing the need to protect the community from violent “religious fanaticism” The courtroom was filled with Brar’s followers many of whom bowed to him as he was led off to begin serving his sentence An Auckland councillor says the supercity needs to stop allowing wealthier suburbs to hang on to their low -density zonings and heritage protections and open them up to more development It comes as Auckland Council this week considers how to allow more growth across the city in line with the Government's new urban development guidelines Under the Government's National Policy Statement on Urban Development developers will be able to build properties up to six storeys high within 1200 metres of the CBD and within 800 metres of key transit corridors and 10 metropolitan town centres These include Takapuna But the biggest impact could be felt in suburbs close to the metropolitan areas such as Remuera zoned for single houses and many of these areas include heritage overlays Something which doesn't sit well with Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman "What we have seen in recent years is a default to developing in locations that are relatively cheap and easy places in the outer suburbs where land has been consented previously," Newman said He said such an approach had led to an increase in urban sprawl without the necessary public transport infrastructure to support it Newman said allowing the city's wealthiest suburbs to maintain their single house zoning had to stop "It is time to look at urban development in more equitable terms," Newman said "Those communities with the highest land values many of which have relatively good public transport connectivity too need to take a fair share of the development burden too." But Ōrākei ward councillor Desley Simpson said Newman's call for more development in areas like Remuera was simply not realistic Are we trying to build houses that are more expensive Simpson said property prices in areas like Remuera would make Newman's plans unworkable And she said it's not just about building more housing with better access to public transport Auckland University professor of urban planning Dr Elham Bahmanteymouri said protecting properties due to their heritage status was the subject of much debate among planners She said in other countries when people talk about heritage areas there are properties that are 500-1000 years old "Whereas in New Zealand it's not always clear on what the criteria is for an area to be protected," Bahmanteymouri said "I think it is a barrier [to more development] and it's an area we need to work on." Bahmanteymouri said it was important to have greenfields development in cities like Auckland but too much of it was taking place in areas on the outskirts of the city "We have a problem with the lack of affordable housing but we then use it to justify the release of land for greenfields development in areas that often don't have appropriate public transport," Bahmanteymouri said Council planning committee chairman Chris Darby said there was still a lot of work that needed to be done on the changes and it was too early to say in any detail which new areas would and would not be affected by the government's national policy statement we want to make sure that we have that information in the public domain as soon as possible." Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ the News Publishers' Association and NZ On Air Economist Shamubeel Eaqub and others agree it's time to reframe housing as a human rights crisis and say the solution demands the same political will shown after World War II New property data shows the number of houses available to purchase in the country is the lowest its been in 14 years The rate of house price growth is showing signs of slowing in some of the hottest property markets - and one urban centre recorded a tiny price fall in its most expensive houses Local Democracy Reporting RSS A man was arrested after armed police and emergency services converged on a street in Wattle Downs Police have made an arrest after armed officers were called to a property in South Auckland early this morning It is understood a man wanted in relation to a firearms incident earlier this year was arrested at a house on Blackwood Drive Police have confirmed that the 38-year-old man arrested today has been charged in connection with a shooting in Papatoetoe in May The man involved has been charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm and is due to appear in the Manukau District Court this afternoon Police said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to that shooting Blackwood Drive residents got an early wake-up call when several police officers members of the Armed Offenders Squad and fire engines swarmed the sleepy street in the early hours A police spokesman confirmed just after 7.30am that officers were on the scene and that the AOS was on site as a precaution A resident on Blackwood Drive said police had been there since about 5.30am "My whole family were in bed and it woke them all up We've seen all the flashing lights and then police with guns." said they had seen at least five armed officers several police cars and a police Eagle helicopter in the area "There's a cop car in the middle of the road and a whole lot of police down one particular driveway." He said it was usually a quiet street and it was a tight-knit community he did not know who lived at the property involved Police said they were there for a "pre-planned operation'' and would not give any other details about the circumstances of the mass call-out A NZ Fire and Emergency spokesman said they had crews at the scene as well Northern fire communications shift manager Daniel Nicholson said they were called to the job at 7.10am wrote on the primary school's Facebook page about 8.20am that they had been in touch with police "They have assured me it is safe for children to come to school - it's over now." An elevated view of the 2.472ha subdivision site at 194 Mahia Rd which offers scope for 'a new waterfront residential enclave' Two large land blocks suitable for intensive residential development have been put on the market in Wattle Downs South Auckland and in Avondale West Auckland - with the latter having provision for ground level retail outlets Both properties feature in Bayleys' latest Total Property portfolio magazine which has just been released The Wattles Downs land offers scope to create a new waterfront residential enclave with colleagues Nick Bayley and Graeme Sun is marketing the 2.472ha subdivision site at 194 Mahia Rd for sale by deadline private treaty Ben Bayley says the property has already been granted resource consent for the construction of 67 residential sections under its Mixed Housing Suburban zoning The second big land sale 'out West,' is a 7447sq m site on the edge of Avondale Racecourse - adjacent to the Avondale town centre "It's zoned for Town Centre redevelopment under the Auckland Unitary Plan," says James Chan who is marketing 1909 Great North Road and 4 - 8 Racecourse Parade for sale through a tender process closing at 4pm on October 19 "The Town Centre zoning allows for construction up to 32.5m high - permitting eight storey apartments buildings with retail or commercial premises on the street level," Chan says Dual access from both Great North Rd and Racecourse Pde would allow vehicle access and parking underneath or behind an apartment or mixed-use structure "Development of the site totally underpins Auckland Council's direction for greater intensification of residential developments around public transport hubs The location is just some 200m from Avondale Train station," Chan says "Residences in a multi-storey apartment development of say eight floors would have vista views of Avondale Racecourse in the foreground stretching out the Waitakere Ranges in the distance "The racecourse is a wonderful civic amenity used by the horse racing fraternity and a number of sporting clubs year around It also used for pure recreational use by locals and is the location for a very popular local Sunday market." Chan says Great North Rd/Racecourse Pde block is less than one block from a 3498sq m site previously occupied by the Suburbs Rugby Club overlooking Avondale Racecourse It was sold in 2015 in the fourth batch of Special Housing Areas designated by Auckland Council and has been developed into a horse-shoe shaped format of new two and three-bedroom terraced homes Chan says that property was part of the Racecourse Pde masterplan designed to create a diverse range of terraced and apartment dwellings and community facilities supporting the growth and regeneration of the Avondale Town Centre "When the neighbouring project was released Auckland Council Property said the project showcased the council's desire to make land use more efficient." Chan quotes a council spokesperson saying it was hoped the development would give other land owners in and around the town centre the confidence to develop their own land and continue the regeneration process for the benefit of the local community." Nick Bayley says the sale of the Wattle Downs site reflects a clear acceleration in the process of growing Auckland's housing inventory - particularly in an area of the city where per square metre land rates are cheaper than city-fringe locations He says the Mixed Housing Suburban zone envisages a moderate level of intensification while retaining a relatively spacious quality consistent with a suburban residential character "Development within this zone is generally two storey detached and terraced-style attached housing in a variety of design types and sizes to provide multiple housing style choices - very much like what is being seen at Hobsonville Point to the west or Stonefields in Mount Wellington," Nick Bayley says "To allow for the efficient use of these sites when assessed through the resource consent process dwellings can be built closer to site boundaries." Ben Bayley says the marketing of the two big land blocks reflects political calls for more Auckland 'greenfield' and 'brownfield' land to be released for intensive residential development "The Wattle Downs and Avondale sites could jointly sustain the potential construction of several hundred new residences in both terraced and multi-level apartment style formats," he says Bayley refers to the Housing Affordability Inquiry report - compiled by the New Zealand Productivity Commission - which highlighted that the term 'housing' encompassed both the land and house-building components in any property-value equation "The report cites the importance of new suburban landholdings being opened up for residential development at a more affordable 'component' cost "It says section prices have grown more quickly than house prices over the last 20 years - indicating that appreciating land prices have been a key driver of house price inflation in New Zealand "This suggests a shortage of residential land in places where people want to live Land price pressures have been particularly acute in Auckland where section prices now account for around 60 per cent of the cost of a new dwelling - compared with 40 per cent in the rest of New Zealand "Policy and planning practices may be constraining the supply of residential land Strong land price pressures in Auckland raise questions about the impact of policies aimed at increasing density - such as the Metropolitan Urban Limit (MUL) and other planning restrictions - on housing affordability "A major challenge ahead is to improve land release and planning approval processes so that affordability considerations are integrated fully into spatial planning." Ben Bayley says both the Wattle Downs and Avondale sites for sale meet the Housing Affordability Inquiry report's desired outcome for a cheaper land component as part of overall 'home' value packages constraints on the availability of medium-to-large scale greenfield residential development opportunities have been cited as one of the major factors contributing to Auckland's new building costs being so high The issue had been highlighted several times by most political parties in the run up to this month's general election we are now seeing sizeable residential development sites coming to the market at a time when the major political parties have been calling for solutions to Auckland's housing shortage Ben Bayley says that a quick sale of the Avondale and Wattle Downs development sites will "set the ball in motion" for what he hopes will be "an expedient construction programme" He says his views are mirrored in the New Zealand Productivity Commission's report "which said Auckland Council - as the administrative local body for the two locations - held the key to ensuring a smooth pathway through the consenting process "Councils have a major influence on all stages of house construction as they are responsible for urban planning - including the release of land for development and zoning decisions providing or arranging for the provision of infrastructure to land that is to be developed and ensuring compliance with the building code "Constraints on the release of new residential land create scarcity the Metropolitan Urban Limit is a binding constraint on the supply of land for urban growth and has increased section prices within the city." Rare plot of land is home to ancient kauri trees Parents will protest on Friday against bullying at Reremoana School pictured above when the school opened in 2006 A group of parents plans a picket on Friday outside a South Auckland school which they say is "soft on bullying" a decile-9 primary school in Wattle Downs south of Manurewa has failed to take effective action against a handful of children who have repeatedly bullied other children they have no detention policy and prefer to discuss the issues with bullies thrown to the floor and have bricks thrown at them," said protest organiser Marc Guillaume He said the parents would protest outside the school between 8am and 9am on Friday peaceful protest where we just get some signs and some parents getting there between 8 and 9am just to say Guillaume said his 10-year-old stepson had been physically bullied by two other boys for the past two and a half years The latest incident was an attack in a soccer game yesterday "Another parent said their kid had been bullied for four years They are teaching their kid to fight back just to defend themselves," he said "Another parent said their kid had a brick thrown at their leg." He said his stepson had not been badly injured yet He said the school was not taking effective action against the bullies They seem very reluctant to suspend people or expel them," he said The punishment they [bullies] are getting is to walk around with the teacher for two days." Guillaume said he advised the school of the planned protest on Monday last week and the school told him on Wednesday that it would arrange a meeting between Guillaume and his wife the parents of one of the bullies and the police School principal Julie Cowan said the school worked very hard "to address issues relating to unkind "Our highest priority is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students," she said "Senior staff work carefully through every instance of bullying or anti-social behaviour to understand all perspectives on what has occurred and why "As well as taking actions within the school we then raise concerns directly with families in the hope that the school and family can also work collaboratively to support students and/or address behaviour issues either within the school or by families or outside agencies we work through problem solving processes and put in place prevention and monitoring plans." Police have named the two men who were gunned down in Thursday's shooting incident in central Auckland Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said formal identification processes had now been completed for the two victims who died in the shooting "Police extend sincere condolences to the families who are grieving the loss of their loved ones." The gunman - who died at the scene - was earlier identified as Matu Tangi Matua Reid He walked on to the building site in lower Queen Street at about 7.20am and opened fire with a pump action shotgun Eight people were also injured in the shooting and four people remain in hospital receiving care Police continue to investigate the scene of Thursday's mass shooting in central Auckland today A scene examination has continued at the site at the bottom of Queen Street on Friday in an unusually quiet city still in shock after Thursday's terrifying events Police said the man, 30, was killed just before midnight after a family harm incident. A 19-year-old has been charged with murder. He will appear in Manukau District Court tomorrow. Police said it is not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. Anyone with information that may assist police is urged to come forward. An investigation into the circumstances of the death is underway. A 30-year-old man has died after the incident in Wattle Downs, South Auckland last night. (Source: 1News) One man is dead after a fatal stabbing overnight in Wattle Downs, Manukau. US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Crime and Justice Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Health Arrest after person assaulted A nurse leaving her shift last month was held up at gunpoint outside the grounds of the hospital More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson was one of four guests invited to Patterson's home in the regional town of Leongatha in 2023 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 Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 11 mins ago US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another 15 mins ago Erica Stanford accepted meetings through her personal email 41 mins ago NRL: Sharks centre Iro wants to be known by new name 45 mins ago Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' 48 mins ago Arrest after person assaulted, robbed at Palmerston North Hospital 7 mins ago 1Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon One man is dead after a fatal stabbing overnight in Wattle Downs was killed just before midnight after a family harm incident A 19-year-old has been charged with murder He will appear in Manukau District Court tomorrow Police said it is not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident Anyone with information that may assist police is urged to come forward An investigation into the circumstances of the death is underway Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay A person is in custody after an alleged theft which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital Police said officers were called to a Ruahine St carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later "Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious Staff have been calling for security improvements Health NZ MidCentral operations group director Sarah Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer She said these included a security escort to vehicles increasing security services on hospital grounds and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts "Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said "Interim access to well-lit parking onsite with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed." rnz.co.nz More than 25kg of cocaine has been seized and four men arrested following an joint investigation into the importation of the drug into Christchurch Police and Customs received information about a "significant importation" of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port on March 29 Search warrants were then executed across the country by specialist teams to support investigators with evidence gathering including possession of cocaine for supply and burglary and will appear in various district courts across a range of dates Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Sparks said the seizure equated to more than 250,000 doses of cocaine and $9 million of harm "That is an enormous amount of damage and misery that had been heading into our communities that has now been halted through this investigation." Sparks said the success of the investigation was partly down to the "excellent partnership" between Customs and the police "We continue to have a focus on engaging with businesses and supporting their legitimate services by keeping them safe with prevention advice to deter drug trafficking organisations’ attempts to exploit their people and premises." Customs acting investigations manager Rachael Manning said the investigation resulted from quick action and close collaboration between the agencies as well as industry partners "We know that transnational and serious organised crime groups are actively targeting New Zealand to drive up both demand and supply of illegal drugs such as cocaine for maximum profit They’re using every method possible to exploit any vulnerabilities within international supply chains in secure areas or on vessels themselves." A 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 Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." The Cronulla player formerly known as Kayal Iro has explained his decision to change his first name midway through the NRL season Iro made a tryscoring return from a hamstring injury in the Sharks' Magic Round win over Parramatta last Friday sporting a new name on Cronulla's team list The 25-year-old has now requested he be referred to as 'KL Iro' The centre is named after his father Kevin Leslie Iro who enjoyed a decorated career in England and represented New Zealand with distinction The left centre's official documents will still read "Kayal" but the Sharks flyer said he made the switch to 'KL' to avoid any doubt as to how his name should be pronounced "Mum didn't want it to be a two-letter name when I was a kid," Iro said "She's the one that changed it to 'Kayal' I think it was just foreign back then to have a two-letter name "But my dad always wanted it to be 'KL' and I like it that way too because it's easier to pronounce and there's no confusion I was too scared to step on anyone's toes "I guess I've built a bit of a relationship with these fellas now so I asked the question and got it done pretty quick." which was often mispronounced by commentators when his father and uncle Tony were playing "Even my dad and uncle when they were playing the Pommies would pronounce it 'aye-ro' rather than 'ear-ro'," Iro added he loved it but it's pretty cool to hear a commentator saying our family name." Iro was born in England while his father was playing for Leeds but spent most of his childhood growing up in the Cook Islands While he hinted he would be open to facing the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes series "I wouldn't say no but my first thing is getting the Cook Islands qualified for the World Cup next year," he said Iro and the sixth-placed Sharks (5-4) will face one of the most daunting challenges of their season to date when they travel to take on Manly (4-4) at Brookvale Oval on Sunday "They've got a strong right edge and also [Tom] Trbojevic at the back," Iro said "[Trboejvic] is a strike weapon in attack and things happen around him we've got to be aware of him." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Kiwi motorcyclist Shane Richardson is one of two riders who died in an 11-bike crash at a British Supersport Championship event was fatally injured alongside Englishman Owen Jenner on the first corner of the race at Oulton Park A statement from British Superbikes said the race was immediately stopped and trackside medical services deployed "Due to the extreme severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention the remainder of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled," a spokesperson said "This catastrophic accident has tragically resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another sustaining significant injuries." Richardson was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit's medical centre before he was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with "severe chest injuries" Jenner was also initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre where he died from a "catastrophic head injury" British rider Tom Tunstall suffered back and abdominal injuries and a further five riders including New Zealander Morgan McLaren-Wood were transferred to the circuit medical centre with minor injuries which did not require transfer to hospital Three more riders were also involved but were uninjured who was a previous New Zealand rider of the year Cemetery Circuit in Whanganui posted to its social media in tribute to Richardson a fantastic and talented racer and a genuine human" "Devastated to hear we have lost another of our racing family Our thoughts are with Hannah and the family along with our condolences to Owen’s family too." Richardson's sponsor Whites Powersports said the team was "extremely saddened" by the news of his death "Shane will be remembered by many as a great racer Our thoughts go out to Shane’s young family and friends during this tough time The New Zealand Superbike Championship said its "deepest sympathies" went out to Richardson's family and friends The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims." Van Velden told Midday Report she believes in pay equity but the current thresholds were "a bit too loose" Asked how she ensure women were not hurt by this the minister said "I'm a woman and I support women who work" "I also support removing gender based discriminations from our workforces but what I don't support are muddied laws and unclear laws," she said "So these changes are better for all women who are working where we can genuinely say hand on heart that what they are finding with their claims is genuine gender based discrimination." Van Velden told reporters at Parliament any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new threshold to show "genuine" gender discrimination and make sure the comparators were right She gave a figure of 33 current claims that would be stopped as the legislation was put through under urgency "You have librarians who've been comparing themselves to transport engineers We have admin and clerical staff at Health New Zealand comparing themselves to mechanical engineers." Social workers had compared themselves to air traffic controllers "We don't believe we have that setting right." Any comparison would now be between female employees and male employees at the same employer "But you cannot go fishing for discrimination across the New Zealand workforce." All current settled claims would continue but the government was drawing "a line in the sand" "We're not stopping claims." The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers The union said the changes would make it "impossible for people in female-dominated professions to be paid fairly" "Women across the country will pay the price for this," PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said "The government's changes today are a dark day for New Zealand women as the government says it will repeal the pay equity law and extinguish 33 existing claims in a constitutional overreach "The PSA is exploring all possible avenues to oppose these unconstitutional amendments and stop this attack on women We will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all." "This is a blatant and shameful attack on women," New Zealand Nurses organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said "Women in workforces predominantly performed by female employees have been underpaid and undervalued for generations That is what pay equity claims seek to rectify," he said "This move by the government will widen the pay gap between men and women." The union had at least 10 pay current pay claims across Aged Care These cover many nurses and support workers The E tū union also called the changes an attack on women and a green light to pay them less for work of equal value The government was pulling the rug out from under a 13-year-long fight in aged care "These changes are not about evidence — they are about saving money by keeping women underpaid," national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said in a statement A number of unions have called a snap rally at Parliament at 1pm today in light of the announcement the Council of Trade Unions and representatives of other unions say they will be "protesting the government's attack on women and the destruction of progress on pay equity..." rnz.co.nz 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.