Chris Hipkins arrives back in New Zealand amid questions over ex-wife’s allegations
Facing questions from reporters waiting at Wellington International Airport, he said he’d hold a media stand-up to comment on the allegations. Labour leader Chris Hipkins was greeted by members of the media eager for answers as he arrived at Wellington International Airport on Tuesday. You won’t find me talking about them, beyond generic references to being a parent, anywhere in public,” said Hipkins. He said he rejected the allegations Paul made and “the characterisation of those events”. Hipkins said he had not spoken with his former partner, who is currently overseas, since she made the allegations.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 17, 2026 05:05 UTC
Four arrested after police chase across Auckland following alleged home invasion
“Given the risk posed, the Armed Offenders Squad [AOS] was deployed and pursued the vehicle on Queen St,” Gray said. The vehicle was stopped when the AOS carried out a non-compliant vehicle stop on Karangahape Rd. Police take a man into custody after a police chase across the city that ended in a crash on Karangahape Rd. Members of the Armed Offenders Squad carried out a non-compliant vehicle stop on Karangahape Rd. Police were also seen around the Auckland University of Technology and outside a car dealership on Karangahape Rd.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 17, 2026 04:54 UTC
Masseuse says clients lying about alleged groping
Annie Varghese denies two charges of indecently assaulting clients during a massage. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONA Dunedin masseuse accused of groping two clients says the women made up the allegations. Annie Varghese, 51, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday for the third day of her judge-alone trial. In December, the court heard from the two complainants, who both alleged Varghese had touched their breasts and buttocks’ during the treatment, leaving them shaken and uncomfortable. Yesterday, the defendant said the women were lying about what she did to them.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 04:33 UTC
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Teary Hipkins denies ex-wife's claims
Image: RNZLabour leader Chris Hipkins has flatly denied claims made by his former wife on social media, saying he's not going to get into a back-and-forth through the media. On Monday, Hipkins said: "I reject the allegations entirely and don't intend to make any further comment." Arriving back in New Zealand from Australia, Hipkins told media at Parliament late this afternoon that it was ultimately a personal and family matter. He again denied Paul's claims and would not comment on the details of the allegations. The 47-year-old MP for Remutaka said he had always made an effort to his private life private - and that would continue.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 03:42 UTC
How NZ's fuel escalation levels work
Under it, there is the potential for escalating fuel supply disruption to higher levels, but "minimal current impact on fuel distribution". Level 2: Moderate impact on fuel sectorIn this level, "most" customers are still serviced, but there is a risk of shortages to critical fuel customers. "Critical fuel customers will continue to source fuel from, and be supplied by, their regular fuel suppliers until it is no longer possible or practicable to do so." As well as all the actions seen in lower levels, fuel companies will be required to supply only critical fuel customers and these customers can be serviced by any supplier. Public helpAs well as the fuel escalation process, the National Fuel Plan also notes that the public can be encouraged by the government and the fuel sector to voluntarily reduce fuel consumption.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 03:38 UTC
India: 10 Killed in Odisha Hospital Fire
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A deadly fire broke out at a government-run hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha early on Monday, officials have confirmed. "A short circuit caused the fire in the trauma ICU ward where patients were being treated," said Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Electrical short circuits, usually caused by badly maintained wiring, are the leading cause of building fires in India. In 2024, a fire at a private hospital in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed six people and injured dozens. Read: Modi: India Stands with Israel 'With Full Conviction'Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Source:Stuff
March 17, 2026 03:15 UTC
Night 'n Day's NEV dairy plan hits opposition
The location of the new dairy, 27 North Rd. Nearby businesses have lodged their opposition against ‘‘unreasonable and unfair’’ parking changes for a new North Dunedin dairy. The proposal, and other parking changes, will be considered by council’s hearing committee this week. Night ’n Day representatives also backed changes outside stores in Eglinton Rd and Main South Rd, also intended to increase parking turnover. Other proposed changes include creating 30 unrestricted parks in Main South Rd, near the Sunnyvale Community Centre, following a trial last year.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 02:43 UTC
Invercargill mayor stands by comments over AI data centre cable
An early impression of Datagrid's data centre, which would become the country's second highest electricity user. Image: SuppliedInvercargill mayor Tom Campbell is standing by his view that a new cable for a large AI data centre will not impact the environment at Ōreti Beach, despite a report saying otherwise. Last week, Datagrid announced it had gained consent from the region’s councils for a giant 78,000sqm data centre in Makarewa — about 15 minutes north of Invercargill. Leersnyder highlighted a risk of disturbance to marine mammals during underwater cable placement, especially whales and dolphins because of sound and vibration. Work would be suspended if marine mammals were within 500 metres during underwater cable laying, and equipment with emission levels of 210dB would be started gradually.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 01:47 UTC
New Zealand-born US Marine veteran denied citizenship, now faces deportation
Canton had initially registered to vote by showing his official military service record and had voted eight times since 2004. After years of navigating the immigration system, Canton’s hope of continuing to reside in the place he called home was shattered last month. Paul Canton has spent three decades in the United States. When asked whether he felt he had fallen through the cracks of a larger system, Canton told Yahoo News it feels as though he had “been shoved through a crack”. “I have earned the title of United States Marine and they’re never going to take that from me,” he told Yahoo News.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 16, 2026 23:53 UTC
Govt unveils new rating system for schools
Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneThe Education Review Office is introducing a colour-coded, four-point scale for rating schools' performance. It said the new system would apply to ERO review reports for schools visited from term two and would be easier for families to understand. They would then provide an overview of the school's ratings in 14 areas including student achievement, student progress, teaching, reading and writing, maths and attendance. It also introduced brief outlines of schools' performance in reading, writing, maths and attendance. England's school reviewer, Ofsted, recently introduced a colour-coded, five-point scale for schools' performance in areas including attendance, behavour, acheivement, and personal development.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 23:12 UTC
Weapon sighting puts schools in lockdown
Photo: ODT FilesTwo Tauranga schools were put in lockdown this morning after a person was seen with a weapon. Tauranga Girls' College told RNZ there was an "incident" out the front of the school and Police were then called. "The person alleged to have a weapon was located, where Police found a knife in their possession, and taken into custody," they said. Gate Pā School said it was also put in lockdown after a man with a weapon was seen outside Tauranga Girls' College. "All students, staff and visitors followed instructions calmly and did an excellent job during the lockdown," Gate Pā principal Rochelle Jensen said on Facebook.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 22:50 UTC
Dramatic spike in copper thefts sparks reward
Photo: MainPowerA dramatic rise in copper thefts from power poles has prompted a Canterbury lines company to offer a $5000 reward for "significant" information about the tampering or theft of copper earthing wires. Earlier this month, Orion reported its had seen more than 173 copper wire thefts across its network in the Selwyn district over the past six months, costing the company $512,000. It is also working closely with a private investigator who is independently investigating incidents of copper theft. He says the value of the copper being stolen is low in the grand scheme of things. ‘‘As a community-trust owned business, copper theft is costing every power consumer in the region.’’Copper earthing wires are a safety feature.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 22:46 UTC
Teen busted for drunken Paddy's Day moped jaunt
Photo: Google MapsA Dunedin teenager has landed himself a date in court after allegedly taking a passenger for a drunken ride on a moped. The 18-year-old was observed ‘‘driving poorly on a moped with a passenger on the back’’, about 5.30am this morning, Acting Senior Sergeant Iain Notman, of Dunedin, said. The 18-year-old was summonsed to appear in the Dunedin District Court at a later date, Acting Snr Sgt Notman said. Police arrived and arrested the shirtless man for disorderly behaviour and removed him from the area, Acting Snr Sgt Notman said. The boy was expected to appear in the Dunedin Youth Court today, Acting Snr Sgt Notman said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 22:22 UTC