Driver's licence pass rates differ wildly (+infographic)
Whether it has better drivers or kinder testers - Dargaville looks like the place to sit your driver's licence.Of the 428 people who sat restricted and full licence tests in the Northland town last...
View ArticleGovt warned refugees see NZ as 'soft touch'
New Zealand has a reputation as a "soft touch" for refugees and has previously been the target of boatloads of asylum seekers, Cabinet papers say."New Zealand is at risk of experiencing a mass...
View ArticleJapanese touch team's gear stolen hours after arrival
A group of Japanese touch rugby players had nearly all their possessions stolen while they ate at a restaurant in South Auckland only hours after arriving in the country.Brazen thieves used...
View ArticleTamihere: Try me for murder again
Convicted double murderer David Tamihere has asked to go on trial again for the murder of two Swedish backpackers after having served 20 years in prison.Tamihere, 58, was released in late 2010 after...
View ArticleStrike-hit port claims mess hall vandalised
Ports of Auckland claims barbecues were urinated in and mess-room facilities vandalised as 300 dockers prepared to walk out on Friday for a three-week strike.Although unionists say they know nothing...
View Article200km/h speeders in 50km zone
Two drivers were clocked at more than 200km/h on 50km/h suburban roads last year but most of us appear to be finally easing off the pedal.The speeds are revealed in a list of New Zealand's 10 busiest...
View ArticleAll shook up in Botanical Gardens
Elvis may have left the building but that hasn't stopped his fans' legs twitching.The king of rock 'n' roll was revived yesterday at Elvis in the Gardens, held at the Auckland Botanical Gardens in...
View ArticleFirst details of welfare reforms due today
The Government will announce details of the first stage of its welfare reforms today - including when changes to the domestic purposes, widows and youth benefits will take place. The announcement will...
View ArticleSmoke reported in plane's cargo hold
A team of firefighters has responded to a report an aircraft landing at Auckland Airport had smoke in its cargo hold.Fire officers were alerted by airport staff at one this morning, and five trucks...
View ArticleChildren airlifted to hospital after Waikato crash
Three children and another person were seriously injured in a Waikato crash this morning.Two SUVs, one of them towing a trailer, collided on State Highway 27 at Patetonga, north of Morrinsville,...
View ArticleOtago's mystery naked tramper - exposed again?
Police have received a report of a naked man tramping at Colquhouns beach, West Wanaka, between 11.30am and noon yesterday, sparking a fresh bout of calls for public assistance in identifying the...
View Article'Christie's Law': Bail rules protest at lunchtime
Emotions are expected to run high at a protest against bail laws being held at the High Court at Auckland this lunchtime.It's been sparked by the death of teenager Christie Marceau, allegedly killed by...
View ArticleSex offender worked at up to eight schools
A ministerial inquiry is set to reveal "weaknesses" in a vetting system which allowed a sex offender to gain teaching positions at up to eight New Zealand schools.Education Minister Hekia Parata this...
View ArticleWelfare reform 'beneficiary bashing'
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has accused the Government of "beneficiary bashing'' for its sweeping changes to the welfare system.Under the reforms, teenagers who have dropped out of school, work or...
View ArticleLack of car seats for kids 'beyond belief'
A trailer being towed by an SUV carrying a family fish-tailed along the road before the vehicle crashed head-on with another SUV yesterday, seriously injuring two young brothers.The boys, aged 4 and 6,...
View ArticleMen charged with murdering dairy worker
A pair of Sri Lankan men have been charged with murdering a dairy worker before burning down his Oxford home.Sameera Chandrasena, 28, a Sri Lankan national, was found dead in the burnt-out shell of his...
View ArticleERA: Man fired for threatening boss
A man on a warning for telling his supervisor to "f**k off" was fired after saying to the same man "I know where you live" after a run-in only a few months later.Tangianau Here had worked for Auckland...
View ArticleDotcom forced to wait on bail decision
German internet millionaire Kim Dotcom will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to find out whether he will keep his freedom ahead of an extradition hearing in August.At the High Court at Auckland...
View ArticleStudent pilot to blame for death crash: CAA
A fatal helicopter crash in Bluff Harbour was probably caused by student pilot error, an investigation has found.Sixty-seven-year-old student pilot Allan Munro and his 29-year-old instructor Jason...
View ArticleBob Parker scared to be in Wellington
Christchurch's Mayor has told the Emergency Management Conference he's scared to be in Wellington.Bob Parker spoke at the opening of the conference this morning.He gave graphic descriptions of the...
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