General Debate 05 February 2026
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Source:Stuff
February 05, 2026 02:44 UTC
More serious charges possible from fatal Port Chalmers crash
Flowers were laid next to a newly replaced power pole after a fatal car crash in Wickcliffe Tce in Port Chalmers on Friday night. Photo: Stephen JaquieryA Dunedin man who allegedly caused a fatal crash in Port Chalmers may yet face more serious charges, a court has heard. The lawyer said he had been told further charges would be laid which could "necessitate jurisdictional changes". On January 30, at 9pm, the defendant was allegedly driving in Wickliffe Tce, Port Chalmers, when he hit a power pole. A police spokesman said as well as Mr Taylor, one person was seriously injured in the crash and another suffered minor injuries.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 01:24 UTC
British passport deadline approaches
British citizens are set to need British passports to enter the UK. Photo: Getty ImagesFamilies waiting for news on British passports fear planned holidays to the United Kingdom will be upended by processing times and delivery delays. And so consequently I've never thought about being a British citizen because I already had my New Zealand citizenship and passport. Those plans all depended on getting her first British passport in time. "Once in the DHL system it was quickly in the UK," she said, reporting it was delivered to the UK passport office by Monday.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 01:20 UTC
Missing Pāpāmoa woman found safe after search in Kaimai Range
Morning Headlines | Wellington mayor issues warning over beaches and Christopher Luxon positive ahead of pōwhiri | Thursday, February 5, 2026Already a subscriber? Missing Pāpāmoa woman found safe after search in Kaimai RangeA Pāpāmoa woman missing in the Kaimai Range has been found safe and well, police say. Nicola O’Connor’s house bus was found on Rapurapu Track in the Lower Kaimai area on Tuesday. Search and rescue team spent yesterday searching the area without success, police said in a statement. A police spokeswoman confirmed today O’Connor had “proactively made contact with police late this morning” and that she was “safe and well”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 05, 2026 01:15 UTC
Bulgaria investigates beauty salon images found on porn sites
Bulgarian prosecutors conducted searches after beauty salon customers complained that photos of them had appeared on pornographic websites. Photo / 123rfBulgarian prosecutors conducted searches after beauty salon customers complained that photos of them had appeared on pornographic websites. Photo / 123rfBulgarian prosecutors said today that they have opened an investigation and conducted searches after beauty salon customers complained that photos of them had appeared on pornographic websites. City prosecutor Shtelyan Dimitrov said searches and seizures were carried out at several addresses, where “technical devices linked to the criminal activity have been identified”. Images of naked women were shared on the messaging platform Telegram, as well as on more than 10 subscription-based pornographic websites, the lawyer added.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 05, 2026 01:14 UTC
Halle Berry reveals why she has not accepted Van Hunt’s marriage proposal
Photo / Getty ImagesLast summer, Hunt insisted his proposal to Berry – who has Nahla, 18, with former boyfriend Gabriel Aubry and Maceo, 12, with Olivier – was “still on hold”. Speaking to Today.com, Hunt said: “I put out the proposal, and it’s still on hold as you can see. You know, maybe you can encourage her.”Berry added: “Well, I’ve been married three times. Van has been married once, and so no, we don’t feel like we have to get married to validate our love in any way. “And I feel like I should, we should get married, but it’s not because we feel like we have to.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 05, 2026 01:13 UTC
Cancer patient says too hard to access KiwiSaver
In general, people can apply to withdraw their KiwiSaver money under significant hardship or serious illness criteria. He said while he could not speak about a specific case, in general people could apply to withdraw money under significant hardship or serious illness criteria. "Under a serious illness application, people may meet criteria for 'imminent risk of death' as stated by law, allowing a full withdrawal of their KiwiSaver investment. "As part of the withdrawal application, the person will need a doctor or nurse practitioner to complete a declaration form confirming their illness. "Under a serious illness withdrawal application, a person may meet criteria to withdraw if they are totally and permanently unable to work due to their illness.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 04, 2026 21:43 UTC
Murder charge laid at bedside hearing
Photo: Stephen JaquieryThe man who allegedly killed Clutha vet Jillian Clark faced a charge of murder from his hospital bed yesterday. He was in an intensive care unit bed yesterday, where Judge David Robinson conducted a bedside hearing. Jillian Clark. He had been taken to hospital in critical condition after Dr Clark was found dead in her home last month. The Otago Daily Times understands Dr Clark was stabbed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 04, 2026 21:37 UTC
Customer calls out Domino’s over racist joke accompanying pizza
A Domino’s pizza box with a racist joke handwritten on the lid has upset a Dunedin customer. Photo: suppliedA Dunedin man was left with a bad taste when his Domino’s pizza box included "an excessively racist joke". Jokes and funny pictures drawn on pizza boxes are a common Domino’s request, not only in New Zealand, but across the world. Slice, slice baby" or "I was gonna tell a pizza joke, but they’re all too cheesy." "What we received was disturbing — a box containing an excessively racist joke," Mr Colvin said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 04, 2026 21:37 UTC
'Hero' saved family from drowning
Photo: Local Democracy/Susan BottingA family of four have been saved from drowning by a fast-thinking local man being described by police as a "hero". A Hato Hone St John ambulance crew treated family members at the scene. "He's a hero - there's no two ways about it," Senior Sergeant Dave Wilkinson said. Water Safety NZ Interventions lead Esther Hone said while Stott undoubtedly saved lives, not every rescue attempt was successful. Hato Hone St John encouraged people to call 111 immediately in water-related emergencies, and urged people to learn first aid and CPR.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 04, 2026 21:23 UTC
Trump cuts 700 immigration officers from Minnesota after fatal shootings
Before the launch of sweeping immigration operations, there were only 150 federal immigration officers in the state of Minnesota. Photo / Charly Triballeau, AFPBefore the launch of sweeping immigration operations, there were only 150 federal immigration officers in the state of Minnesota. Photo / Charly Triballeau, AFPUS President Donald Trump has suggested that a “softer touch” may be needed on immigration, as his administration said 700 federal officers would be pulled from Minnesota after weeks of aggressive and even deadly operations. But you still have to be tough,” Trump said in an interview with NBC’s Nightly News when asked what he had learned from Minneapolis. Trump’s border chief Tom Homan had earlier announced that 700 federal officers would be withdrawn from Minnesota, but said the contentious deployment would continue, with about 2000 agents remaining after the drawdown.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 04, 2026 18:46 UTC
‘Alien’ becomes citizen after 71 years
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYAt 91, Gerardus Oskam decided it was finally time to become a New Zealand citizen, and to stop his wife from sleeping next to an "alien". After 71 years living in "paradise", the Dunedin man decided that when the time came, he wanted to be buried a New Zealand citizen. Yesterday at the Dunedin Town Hall, his wish came true. "I’ve had my wife sleeping with an alien for many years — I finally found the time." Mr Oskam met his wife, Mavis (nee Dick), at the Dunedin Town Hall more than 60 years ago.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 04, 2026 18:24 UTC
‘Uninhabitable’ Gateway Motel in Manurewa overrun by gangs, prostitutes, took taxpayer-funded rent
Auckland Council officials shut down the Gateway Motel in Manurewa after complaints. Photo / Annaleise ShortlandOfficials say the Gateway Motel in Manurewa is insanitary. Maranga Fanau director and local board member Phylis Latu said the owners of Manurewa's Gateway Motel should be ashamed. Pointing to the Gateway Motel sign, she spoke to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), saying, “Don’t pay these guys”. Tenants were reportedly changed $400-plus per week at the Gateway Motel in Manurewa.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 04, 2026 17:45 UTC
Whangārei murder: Schizophrenic offender Richard Adams will be held indefinitely
Richard Adams had an established history of treatment-resistant schizophrenia he had been living with for 30 years. Sometime during the day on March 15, 2025, Richard Adams became annoyed at his cousin and went into his bedroom. When a support worker arrived to administer their daily medication, Richard Adams told her his cousin was in bed asleep. When spoken to by police, Richard Adams said he had assaulted his cousin because he “wanted some peace and quiet”. He had been in and out of mental health wards and prescribed a range of treatment for his mental health.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 04, 2026 17:35 UTC
Paekākāriki chopper crash: Pilot Joseph Keeley’s heroic actions in previous crash remembered
Joseph Keeley died after the helicopter he was flying crashed in the Paekākāriki Hill area on January 28, 2026. In May 1998, the pair were working together in venison recovery - Keeley as the pilot and Lucas as the shooter. In the thick bush, neither the rescue helicopter nor Air Force services could get to them. They dropped a stretcher out and the paramedic stabilised Lucas, before the rescue helicopter from Taupō flew over and got him to Palmerston North Hospital. Thanks to Keeley’s actions, the helicopter with the paramedic got to Lucas within an hour and a half of the crash.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 04, 2026 17:32 UTC