Baltej Singh revealed as Auckland businessman behind deadly Honey Bear meth beer import
Multiple overseas publications, including the Times of India – the world’s highest-circulation English-language daily in the world, with millions of readers – reported Baltej Singh’s name in relation to the drug arrest in 2023. Baltej Singh appears in Auckland District Court via audio-video feed charged with methamphetamine importation after a man died from accidentally drinking meth-laced beer. That was among the arguments made by the Herald, Stuff and Crown prosecutors in December 2024, when Baltej Singh made an application for permanent name suppression after his guilty pleas. Because of the restrictions placed on the media, the Herald has until now referred to Baltej Singh only as “a well-known businessman” who had garnered respect from some aspects of society “for an unusual reason”. However, none of the social media threats from people who already knew Baltej Singh’s identity had resulted in real-world violence, the Court of Appeal noted.
Source:Stuff
March 31, 2026 09:02 UTC
QV House Price Index shows housing values flat overall in the first three months of 2026
Residential property values remained flat overall in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, according to valuation company QV's House Price Index for March. The average New Zealand dwelling value was $909,572, almost unchanged (-0.1%) compared to Q4 last year. On an annual basis, the average dwelling value was -0.4% lower compared to Q1 last year. The biggest declines in value in Q1 were in Taupo -3.8% and Greymouth -3.4% for the quarter, while the biggest increases in average values were in Gisborne and Dunedin, both up 3.7%. Wellington City is also the only centre where average values are still below where they were in Q1 2020,when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 31, 2026 08:43 UTC
Epileptic jailed after killing man while driving
Faalili Kauri was sentenced at Manukau District Court for reckless driving causing the death of 59-year-old Morlais Davies (inset). An earlier crash, seizure and diagnosisBefore the fatal crash in 2021, Kauri hit a tree while driving in August 2020. He was charged with careless driving and told police he had fallen asleep at the wheel. While driving along the Highbrook Dr exit on Auckland's southern motorway, in East Tāmaki, Kauri began having a seizure. For reckless driving causing death, making a false declaration and driving while his licence was revoked, Kauri was jailed for two-and-a-half years and disqualified from driving for four years.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 08:02 UTC
Man charged after footage allegedly shows puppies being thrown into Whakatāne River
Police are investigating after puppies were allegedly thrown into the Whakatāne River. Man charged after footage allegedly shows puppies being thrown into Whakatāne RiverPolice are investigating after puppies were allegedly thrown into the Whakatāne River. Photo / SuppliedA 19-year-old man has been charged after footage allegedly showing puppies being thrown into the Whakatāne River sparked a police investigation. The footage, shared to social media last night, appeared to show two people removing the puppies from a pillowcase and throwing them into the water. “Tragically, the puppies drowned in the river,” police said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 31, 2026 07:46 UTC
Knife attack on teacher leaves Waikato parents hesitant to send kids back to school
A letter from the school board was sent to parents in the afternoon. The Ministry of Education traumatic incident team would be working with the school, the letter said, and the guidance team would be available for students. Deidre Alderson, director of education Tāmaki Makaurau, said, “The ministry’s traumatic incident team is actively supporting the school and will remain available for as long as they are needed.”The traumatic incident team can help schools understand the emotional and psychological impacts of a traumatic incident. “I know three mum friends that I’ve spoken to ... and they’re like, ‘oh no, our kids are not going to school today’. Another mother said the teacher who was injured was “a good teacher too, so a lot of students and parents don’t understand how this even happened”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 31, 2026 07:19 UTC
Dog found a week after owner's 55m fall in West Coast bush
Photo: Supplied / Precision HelicoptersPilot Matt Newton said he had flown three missions to the area to see if he could spot Molly and was unsuccessful. It was incredible that (Johnston) survived and she was picked up by a rescue helicopter a few weeks ago. Photo: Supplied / Precision HelicoptersNewton said Johnston was seriously injured and was only recently discharged from hospital. It was incredible that (Johnston) survived and she was picked up by a rescue helicopter a few weeks ago. Photo: Supplied / Precision HelicoptersIn a Facebook post, Johnston said she was "blown away" by the support.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 06:59 UTC
Influencer escapes TikTok ban for livestreaming claim midwife killed babies
Photo: TikTokA Dunedin "influencer” who livestreamed accusations that her midwife was killing babies left the victim in disbelief, a court has heard. The court heard Robins’ baby died in a late stage of pregnancy and she blamed her midwife for the stillbirth, claims that were being investigated by regulatory bodies. The court heard the victim was “distressed, scared, and in disbelief”, when she heard about the video. “Once something’s on the internet, it tends to be out there forever,” Judge Robinson told Robins. The defendant had written an apology letter to the victim and Judge Robinson believed her remorse was genuine.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 06:43 UTC
Broadcaster Duncan Garner charged with driving while suspended
Duncan Garner. File photo: NZ HeraldBroadcaster Duncan Garner has been charged with driving a car while his licence was suspended. Garner, who hosts the Editor in Chief podcast, was due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday. A registrar told RNZ the 52-year-old's appearance had been adjourned to 14 April for disclosure and plea. Court documents seen by RNZ allege Garner drove a car in Auckland on 10 March while his licence was suspended.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 06:31 UTC
Loaded oil tanker hit in Dubai port
The Kuwaiti crude oil tanker Al Salmi. Photo: Maritime Optima (file)Iran has attacked a fully-loaded crude oil tanker at Dubai Port's anchorage, setting it ablaze and damaging its hull, Kuwait's state news agency has reported, citing Kuwait Petroleum Corp, which warned of a possible oil spill. Authorities in Dubai confirmed they were responding to a drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters and that maritime firefighting teams were working to bring the fire under control. The tanker was loaded with two million barrels of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, according to data from Lloyd's and TankerTrackers. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike on the oil tanker or the projectiles.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 06:31 UTC
US Army reviews why helicopters flew near Kid Rock’s home, No Kings rallies
“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations,” said Major Montrell Russell, an Army spokesman. The crews were flying a training mission, and a flyby at Ritchie’s home was not part of that mission or an Army-sanctioned outreach event, nor did he request it, Bless said. The Army confirmed the flyby was not part of the official training mission nor requested by Kid Rock. Photo / Getty ImagesThe Army is also probing the helicopters’ proximity to gatherings that were part of the nationwide No Kings protests Saturday. He described the event as a patriotic performance for those who “love football, love America, love good music, love Jesus”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 31, 2026 06:17 UTC
'Not good at maths': Burger bar's booze bungle
Vogel St burger restaurant Good Good’s liquor licence was suspended for 72 hours earlier this month after alcohol was sold to a minor. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSHA worker at a Dunedin burger store who sold alcohol to a minor admitted they were ‘‘not very good at maths’’ when inspecting the teenager’s ID. That led to Vogel St burger restaurant Good Good having its liquor licence suspended for 72 hours, from March 11 to 14, and a duty manager having their manager’s certificate suspended for 28 days. Judge Robert Spear said one of the volunteers approached the bar at Good Good about 5.40pm and ordered a pint of alcoholic ginger beer. The allegations were admitted by both a duty manager and Good Good owner Rose Gleeson, Judge Spear said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 06:00 UTC
War has put 'bazooka' through govt's LNG plan - gentailer CEO
Energy bosses express mixed viewsAppearing at the energy sector conference Downstream in Wellington on Tuesday morning, gentailer chief executives were asked what the crisis meant for the LNG terminal. I think LNG stands for 'likely no gas' to be honest," Genesis chief executive Malcolm Johns said. Fifty percent of our overall footprint is imported, so we have a highly exposed energy system to the rest of the world. Watts said the government was proceeding with the procurement process "as planned", but like any procurement process the government wanted to get "a good deal". "First and foremost, we're doing a procurement process to build a strategic LNG importation terminal.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 05:58 UTC
Rising diesel prices hitting construction costs
Rising diesel prices are starting to have an impact on construction costs. Photo: RNZRising fuel prices are starting to push construction costs higher, according to property valuer Quotable Value (QV). But QV says rapidly rising diesel prices have begun flowing through into fuel-intensive parts of the sector. Excavation costs jumped 7.8 percent, piling rose 1.4 percent, and demolition increased 1.3 percent - largely due to the surge in diesel prices. Site preparation and substructure costs also rose by 2 percent and 1.8 percent respectively as fuel costs pushed higher.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 05:46 UTC
Police staffer claimed nearly $30K overtime they didn't work
File photo: Getty ImagesA police staffer claimed nearly $30,000 for overtime hours they did not work, the police watchdog has revealed. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a summary of the investigation into the staffer on Tuesday. "Police investigated and found sufficient evidence that the authorised officer had not worked the hours claimed in approximately 40 submitted timesheets." "Police also investigated the process for approving timesheets and identified general process issues with how timesheets were reviewed and approved. "The investigation found sufficient evidence that the authorised officer had not worked the hours claimed in approximately 40 submitted timesheets.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 05:38 UTC
Councillors reject findings on deputy mayor's alleged 'd...khead' slur
Dermody maintained he had said "that's ridiculous" to someone he did not know at another table, albeit in an aggressive manner. Councillor Steve Broad said he had been sitting no more than 2.5 - 3 metres away from Dermody on the day and had also heard "that's ridiculous" in a frustrated tone. Bond's evidence included that Dermody had said "bull…t" and "that's ridiculous" during the presentation and later aimed "you're a d…head" at the staffer. When Garbett asked Dermody if he had called the staffer a "d…head", the deputy mayor responded: "I never said d…head". Dermody maintained he had said "that's ridiculous" in an aggressive tone, but not loudly, when someone at a nearby indicated Franklin was in Southland.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 31, 2026 05:24 UTC