The fatal crash happened on Puketutu Rd, Matamata, on February 1. Police release name of 49-year-old man killed in Matamata crashThe fatal crash happened on Puketutu Rd, Matamata, on February 1. Photo / NZMEA Mount Maunganui man has been named as the person who died after a crash in Matamata. Fairfax-Brown died after a two-car crash on Puketutu Rd at about 12.15pm on February 1. “Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing,” police said today.
The Black Foils would miss five SailGP events if they were to return at the UK event, missing the regattas in Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Bermuda, New York and Halifax. “Safety is the number one priority for SailGP – as such, we are constantly reviewing safety measures. “SailGP Technologies has got much higher priorities than putting the Kiwi boat back together.”Orams praised French helmsman Quentin Delapierre for his quick thinking and preventing a worse incident. “They’re going at speeds we drive down the motorway and we know what happens when there’s an accident on the motorway at nearly 100ks an hour. “So that while Louis Sinclair was badly injured, if it had been a direct hit, it could have been a lot, lot worse.”This was the Black Foils’ second smash of their SailGP campaign, after they crashed with Switzerland in the opening regatta in Perth.
Law & Order and Mortal Kombat star Mehcad Brooks defended the online fundraiser, which has received more than $4.1m in donations, to support Van Der Beek’s widow, Kimberly, and their six children. “I am one of the Van Der Beeks closest friends and the headlines are fake AF, you have no idea wtf you’re talking about,” Brooks wrote on Threads. “James secured a down payment for the Texas ranch for the family with the help of friends through a trust so they could shift from rent to mortgage,” they told People. The fundraiser, which was started by friends, said the costs of medical care and the fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. Others were more sympathetic, saying the United States’ healthcare system is expensive and even the wealthy can struggle to pay the costs.
Radio NZ reports:Rurawhe, who served as the Te Tai Hauāura MP for three terms, also offered a candid reflection on Labour’s time in government, saying the party should’ve done more to bring the public along on key Māori policies. He said that while he had advocated for a Māori Health Authority, Rurawhe said in hindsight that Labour had not convinced the broader electorate of the need for it. “Unless people see themselves in the policy, they’re not going to support it,” he said. If Labour were to pursue similar policies again, Rurawhe said the party would need to take a different approach, focusing on outcomes rather than structures. “I think it is to concentrate less on the Māori Health Authority and focus more on achieving the outcomes that we want for Māori health,” he said.
Photo / SuppliedPlimmer said after the alleged murder, Rodger was “evil” and “demonic” and told her he had “always hated” Leman. Police allege he shot Leman, a father of three, then “decapitated and dismembered” him after smoking methamphetamine. The women claim they were with Leman at Grant’s home when Rodger arrived with a .22-calibre gun and shot him twice. .. this little f***** shot him for no reason, no reason at all. Plimmer told police she had no idea where the missing body parts were.
Despite some localised reports of of surcharging in high-risk areas of South Dunedin, including Surrey Street, the steps taken to free up network capacity appeared to be working. The move comes as the city's heavy rain watch is upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning. The council has deployed the barriers in parts of South Dunedin where there are wastewater overflows. Photo: DCCSandbag stations remained open at the Dunedin Ice Stadium carpark in Victoria Rd, South Dunedin, and at Mosgiel Memorial carpark. Because South Dunedin was quite low-lying and flooded relatively easily, she said it was wise for residents to be prepared.
A leading professor and scientist says the increased intensity of summer storms will lead to more destruction. “I actually can’t imagine what an even more pumped-up Cyclone Gabrielle would look like. Why climate change will make Kiwi summer – and not winter – storms more destructiveRenwick says the so-called ‘Great Kiwi Summer’ uninterrupted by severe weather is something of a myth. He stressed the remnants of a tropical cyclone aren’t crucial to another soaking towards the end of summer. Esk Valley was home to many families living an idyllic semi-rural life prior to the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Photo: RNZA local State of Emergency has been declared in Banks Peninsula as heavy rain causes flooding, slips, fallen trees and communication outages in the area. Earlier, a driver had to be rescued after their car got stuck in floodwaters in Banks Peninsula as heavy rain lashes parts of Canterbury. Walklin said fire crews responded to 16 weather-related incidents in Banks Peninsula last night, including the rescue, mostly in Little River. Boil water notice issuedChristchurch City Council has issued a boil water notice for Wainui on Banks Peninsula due to damage caused by floods. Diamond Harbour School on Banks Peninsula is closed.
Matt Utai during his spell with Wests Tigers in 2012. Photo: Getty ImagesFormer Kiwis and NRL star Matt Utai has been shot multiple times on his front lawn in an ambush attack with no clear motive. "It's a brazen ambush," Superintendent Rodney Hart told reporters. Utai starred in the 2004 NRL grand final, scoring two tries as his Bulldogs knocked off the Sydney Roosters 16-13. The New Zealand and Samoa international played 167 NRL games, joining the Wests Tigers in 2011 and spending three seasons there.
It recommended more user-pays mechanisms to make better use of the transport infrastructure that already exists and better prioritising of spending plans. What’s an Infrastructure Plan? The plan, a campaign commitment from National, was drawn up by the Infrastructure Commission and will be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. The plan complained at the cost of consenting, estimating that the cost of consenting infrastructure cost about $1.3b a year. The plan recommended that 60c of every dollar of infrastructure spending should be allocated to renewals and maintenance.
Higher prices for the grocery food subgroup contributed the most to the annual increase, up 4% annually and 2.3% on a monthly basis. Prices for the non-alcoholic beverages subcategory increased by 4% annually and 2.7% monthly, while prices for the restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food subcategory increased by 2.6% annually and 0.2% monthly. Electricity prices continued their upward trend, with prices up 11.5% on an annual basis and monthly prices lifting by 0.3% in January. Petrol and diesel prices fallPetrol and diesel prices decreased by 2.4% and 3.2% from December 2025 to January 2026, respectively. As for accommodation, domestic prices were up 1.5% on an annual basis but fell 0.5% on a monthly basis, while international accommodation prices were up 1.4% annually, but fell 10.1% on a monthly basis.
Robbie Taylor, Reserve Bank Manager of Money and Cash Policy, says currency in circulation is influenced by public demand for cash. This is impacted by several factors including population growth and inflation, changing payment and shopping preferences, and reduced access to bank branches for cash services making it harder for individuals and retailers to bank cash. Prohibit cash payments for professional services: Ban cash payments to lawyers, accountants, immigration advisers, and real estate agents to reduce laundering risks. Small businesses 'adversely affected if cash was unavailable' & the RBNZ's seigniorageTaylor notes the Reserve Bank regularly surveys New Zealanders’ cash use. "Our own survey tells us while over 80% of adults use cash sometimes, over half (56%) store cash and 8% rely on cash," says Taylor.
Photo: RNZThe Infrastructure Commission has released the country's first National Infrastructure PlanInfrastructure Minister Chris Bishop requested the plan and is pushing for cross-party buy-inThe plan sets out 16 recommendations, and 10 priorities for the next decadeNew Zealand's first National Infrastructure Plan has been revealed, laying out an 'affordable' plan to tackle the country's infrastructure woes. The National Infrastructure Plan charts the course, but progress depends on how decision-makers, delivery agencies, industry, and communities use the plan to do things differently." "As part of our response to the National Infrastructure Plan I intend to engage with other political parties in Parliament. The National Infrastructure Plan is a great contribution to this shared agenda for everyone in New Zealand. Project information coordination: Require all infrastructure providers to maintain up-to-date data in the National Infrastructure Pipeline and strengthen arrangements for improving data quality over time.
Many people from the street were watching the aftermath of the accident, including residents from far down the road who heard the crash. Multiple neighbours told the Herald they heard the bang and screeching noises. Earlier, Senior Sergeant Michael Wickman told a photographer at the scene there had been a “head-on crash” between two vehicles, with one person seriously injured. “The Serious Crash Unit has arrived and will carry out normal investigations as per procedure,” Wickman said. Markings seen on the road at the crash scene the day after the accident.
