Mayor not happy with 'ridiculous' cost of investigation into deputy
Photo: Invercargill City Council/Supplied / LDRInvercargill mayor Tom Campbell is calling for change to his council's code of conduct policy following an investigation into his deputy using foul language which stung the organisation $33,000. On Tuesday, councillors rejected the findings of Anderson Lloyd lawyer Michael Garbett who concluded deputy mayor Grant Dermody had said "you f…ing d..," or "you're a d…head" to a council staffer. The mayor has since taken to social media to say the "ridiculous" cost of the investigation should have been avoided. The incident relates to a February event at Invercargill's Rugby Park where it was alleged Dermody used inappropriate language towards a staff member. Garbett's six-page report included evidence from councillors Dermody, Darren Ludlow, Ria Bond, and the staff member.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2026 14:42 UTC
Name suppression granted for Wellington man with ‘significant public presence’ over harmful post allegations
A Wellington man has received interim name suppression for allegedly making a harmful digital communication, despite the judge finding him "undeserving" of suppression. Photo / Ethan ManeraName suppression granted for Wellington man with ‘significant public presence’ over harmful post allegationsA Wellington man has received interim name suppression for allegedly making a harmful digital communication, despite the judge finding him "undeserving" of suppression. Photo / Ethan ManeraA Wellington man has been granted interim name suppression for an alleged harmful online post, despite the judge finding he was “undeserving” of having his identity protected. The charge relates to a social media post the man allegedly made accusing another man of a serious crime. Judge Davidson’s decision on suppression, released this week, said the defendant was “undeserving of suppression”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 14:40 UTC
Formula 1: Liam Lawson won’t have Supercars stint despite Australian reports
Liam Lawson will not take part in the New Zealand-based rounds of Supercars while Formula One is on an enforced break, the Herald understands. Formula One is now on a break until the first week of May, after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix were cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East. However, while the timings would line up with Formula One not returning until the start of May, the Herald understands that there have been no formal discussions with Lawson or his management over the move. In response to the Herald’s inquiries about Supercars’ interest in Lawson, a spokesperson said “it was an idea that came up to have a crack at making something happen. Definitely an idea, but it hadn’t gone much further than that”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 14:03 UTC
Former Highlander Shane Christie died with brain disease linked to repeated head knocks
Shane Christie. Photo: Gerard O'BrienBy Samantha Gee of RNZMāori All Black and Highlander Shane Christie has been diagnosed with a brain disease likely to be connected with repeated head knocks by a pathologist at the University of Auckland's brain bank. Player welfare a priority - New Zealand RugbyNew Zealand Rugby interim chief executive Steve Lancaster said support for players with post-concussive symptoms was a priority. "New Zealand Rugby acknowledges the CTE pathology results for Shane Christie confirmed by The Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank. "We share the concerns about the potential long-term effects of repeated head knocks in rugby and support the need for ongoing research into this.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2026 11:13 UTC
Trump makes history with rare Supreme Court visit on birthright citizenship case
Trump floated the idea last year before the Supreme Court heard arguments on his tariff policy but changed his mind. Though he was a silent observer inside the courtroom, Trump’s mere presence in the public gallery signalled the primacy of his executive order on birthright citizenship to his second-term agenda. “The executive order plus his presence was clear messaging about the primacy of it and his world view,” she said. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by the summer. “We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!” Trump posted on Truth Social at 12.20pm, after returning to the White House.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 10:18 UTC
Air New Zealand takes Western Sydney lead
Western Sydney’s new airport is emerging as a fresh battleground for carriers looking to tap into population growth and demand outside the traditional Sydney gateway, and Air New Zealand is moving quickly after another major airline first revealed plans to sell tickets from the hub. The move highlights how airlines are treating the airport as a strategic play, not just an overflow option as they look to lock in customer loyalty early. To start with, Air New Zealand plans to run three return services a week using its international narrowbody jets, alternating between A321 and A320 aircraft depending on demand and scheduling. These planes are set up in an all-economy layout with either 214 or 165 seats, which keeps things simple operationally while maximising capacity, and flights are scheduled to leave Auckland around 6.05am local time and reach Western Sydney just before 8.00am AEST, making the timing practical for business and same-day connections. This early move looks likely to accelerate competition for international services at Western Sydney, giving local travellers more options while nudging rivals to firm up their own plans sooner than expected.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 08:55 UTC
New Zealand, Cook Islands put pen to paper on agreement after relationship breakdown sparked by China deal
A declaration has been formally signed in Rarotonga today, by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Photo / Azaria HowellPeters has been on Brown’s home turf for relationship-mending discussions, as memories of the Cook Islands’ deal with China loom in the shadows and scars start to heal. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is met by Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. The relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands suffered significantly after the country, which is in free association with New Zealand, signed a deal with China without significant consultation. Further details on the formal agreements between China and the Cook Islands were released by the Office of the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands on February 21, 2025.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 07:37 UTC
Police investigate after body found on Wainuiomata street
Police are investigating an unexplained death in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, after a person was found dead on Wainuiomata Road this morning. Cordons are in place on the road between Reading St and The Strand, with emergency services still at the scene. Police are working to determine the circumstances around what occurred and are urging the public to avoid the area.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2026 06:46 UTC
Judge rejects sex abuser’s claim of own abuse in Wellington sentencing
The court heard the man gave conflicting evidence to the report writers, unable to say if the alleged abuse occurred in New Zealand or overseas. If they agreed to his demands, he’d reward them with time on a cellphone, urging them not to tell anyone. As a result of the offending, he’d lost his family support, and his sisters were no longer returning his calls, she said. “I am reluctant to make any discount for you being a victim of prior sexual abuse, the evidence in this case is not sufficient to warrant a reduction, she said. Taking the aggravating and mitigating factors into account, the judge imposed a final sentence of 10-and-a-half years’ jail.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 06:38 UTC
Wānanga moves some classes online amid fuel price concerns from students
Photo: Supplied/Te Whare Wānanga o AwanuiārangiTe Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is moving some of their noho and on-campus classes online in response to concerns from tauira (students) that rising fuel prices would impact their ability to attend classes. The majority of students are located out in the regions and will come together for noho wānanga anywhere from every four weeks to every eight weeks, he said. "We've made a decision to shift two noho scheduled to occur last week and this week to online, and it was largely at the request of students. Auckland university students have launched a petition calling for free public transport and financial support, saying fuel prices are impacting university students disproportionately. Photo: Supplied/Te Whare Wānanga o AwanuiārangiLessons from CovidDoherty said the Wānanga learned a few lessons from the Covid pandemic about delivering courses online, one of them being that "the world wasn't going to end if you deliver things online."
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 06:31 UTC
Fire crews and hazmat unit respond to petrol smell at Ponsonby Woolworths supermarket carpark
Fire crews responded to a strong smell of petrol at the Woolworths Ponsonby supermarket in Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn. Photo / Oliver RusdenFire crews responded to a strong smell of petrol at the Woolworths Ponsonby supermarket in Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn. Photo / Oliver RusdenA central Auckland carpark has been cleared as a fire and emergency hazmat unit has responded to a strong smell of petrol at a supermarket. One witness said Woolworths Ponsonby “reeked of petrol”, similar to a petrol station but stronger. A queue had formed at the base of the escalator down to the carpark at the store, but “everyone seemed quite relaxed”, the witness said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 05:08 UTC
Missing Dunedin primary school boys found
Two Dunedin primary school boys who went missing today have been found, the school says. Wakari Primary School put up a Facebook post this afternoon which said "We have 2 young boys missing". The school asked anyone who had seen the boys, who are aged 7 and 8, to contact police. A separate post described the boys' hair colour and what they were wearing. in an update just before 5pm the school posted that the boys had been found, and gave "thanks to all that have searched.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2026 05:03 UTC
Holiday alcohol restrictions lifted
Photo: Getty ImagesThe relaxing of alcohol restrictions on public holidays has cleared the last legislative hurdle and will come into force in time for Easter weekend. The member's bill that allows premises that are already open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning, and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions received Royal Assent today. Bottle shops will still have to stay closed and supermarket alcohol restrictions remain. "This is a practical fix that removes confusion and inconsistency between alcohol laws and shop trading restrictions. "It also removes outdated requirements at restaurants and cafes for customers to order a 'substantial meal', and restrictions preventing alcohol from being served more than an hour before or after eating."
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2026 03:49 UTC
Youths point plastic firearm at East Auckland night market shoppers, bus driver
Police later located the gun, confirmed to be a plastic imitation gel blaster. A second blaster was found in a backpack belonging to one of the youths, along with a small amount of cannabis. It was revealed the group had pointed the imitation firearms at two other members of the public, as well as the bus driver. A 38-year-old man responsible was located and taken into custody, later arrested for breaching his release conditions. The group was taken to Ormiston Police Station where they were spoken to before being released.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 03:02 UTC