Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Members of the public yelled abuse at a Lower Hutt man as he appeared in the dock on charges of intentionally hurting a baby.

The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared in Hutt Valley District Court on Monday.

Police responded to a callout for disorder in the suburb of Avalon on Thursday morning.

The 30-year-old was arrested and charged after unexplained injuries were found on the child, who was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

It is at least the fourth serious child abuse case in the Hutt Valley in recent months.

Today, two women were removed from court by security after yelling insults and threats at the accused at the beginning of proceedings.

The man has been remanded in custody until his next appearance on 22 December.

Police earlier said they would like to speak with anyone who may have more information.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Young people are sleeping on the streets and in cars as a youth homelessness support service says the problem is getting worse.

Auckland-based Kick Back has released its first State of the Street report, which it says is an SOS to the government and community at large.

“And what we’ve observed is children couch-surfing, sleeping in and out of transitional housing or hostels, moving around constantly,” general manager Aaron Hendry said.

The report comes up with hard figures, the first Kick Back has been able to show in a report like this.

It revealed 22 percent of young people were sleeping rough when they first sought support.

Couch-surfers made up 22 percent, 12 percent were sleeping in cars while 27 percent were living in housing classed as unstable, overcrowded or insecure.

The report said 62 percent of young people turning to the organisation for help were under 19 years old.

Sixteen and 17 year olds made up 20 percent, and 17 percent were aged 15 or under.

The latter figure had shocked Hendry.

“It is not something that we expected to see as large as we did,” he said.

“We knew that there would be a significant portion there but it was much larger than we’d first anticipated.”

He said there were no resources to help children who were sleeping on couches, in cars or in the likes of transitional housing or lodges and hostels.

“And I guess this has also been an outcome, in our view, of the cuts that have happened within the public sector and the community sector is that our feeling is that there has been less capacity within the community to respond at the pace that these children require to ensure their safety and to ensure that they get the support that they need,” Hendry said.

“Kick Back is extremely concerned about the growing number of tamariki and rangatahi coming through our front doors ever week,” he said.

He said it is a crisis, and one that is growing.

What Kick Back’s report says needs to happen:

• Roll back emergency housing reforms and invest in immediate housing solutions
• Implement Duty to Assist Legislation to clarify the states obligation to provide essential support to people at-risk of homelessness
• Implement legislation to prevent young people being transitioned from state care into homelessness
• Review the Youth Services contract and ensure providers are equipped to provide intensive supports to rangatahi on the Youth Payment
• Build more public housing

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

• Widespread rain and possible thunderstorms for the North Island Tuesday and Wednesday
• Strong winds possible for upper North Island mid-week
• Humid air ahead of a low, followed by a cooler southerly change
• Improving weather for most areas on Thursday

The start of December might mark the beginning of summer but the upcoming week is not all sunshine and clear, blue skies.

MetService reports a broad range of weather including heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and sunny spells to finish the week off.

The North Island is in for a warm and humid start, while the south will see cooler temperatures throughout.

The week is set to start with comparatively settled conditions, some cloud and showers for western areas, with sunny spells elsewhere.

Gisborne and Hastings are making the most of their sunny start to the summer season, with temperatures expected to top out at 29 and 31 degrees respectively on Monday.

On Tuesday a low is expected to develop in the Tasman Sea and move toward the country through Tuesday evening.

MetService forecast for Wednesday December 3.

This will bring a period of unsettled weather for many regions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and into early Thursday, with heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms likely across the North Island.

“That low deepens rapidly and pulls a warm moist sub-tropical airmass across the county during Tuesday afternoon and evening,” MetService Meteorologist Devlin Lynden said.

“It’ll bring widespread rain, strong southwesterly winds and the risk of thunderstorms for many parts of the North Island, including Northland, Auckland and Coromandel.”

While the North Island may be in for the brunt of it, the South Island gets its share of rainy weather too.

A trough is expected to bring rain through Monday night and Tuesday, followed by cool southwesterlies.

The upper parts of the South Island may also see a period of heavier rain on Wednesday associated with the low to the north.

The low gradually moves off to the southeast on Wednesday night, and conditions will ease behind it, before starting to clear through Thursday morning, with many places seeing drier weather and some sunshine return.

However, strong to gale southwesterly winds will persist, particularly for Wellington, Wairarapa, Northland and Auckland; they will keep the temperatures capped towards the end of the week.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man charged with four counts of intentionally injuring a baby in Lower Hutt is pleading not guilty to all charges.

It is at least the fourth serious child abuse case in the Hutt Valley in recent months.

Police responded to a callout for disorder in the suburb of Avalon on Thursday morning.

The 30-year-old was arrested and charged after unexplained injuries were found on the child, who was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Police said at the time they would like to speak with anyone who may have more information.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are working to free the driver of a logging truck who is trapped after a crash north of Balclutha.

Police said the crash occurred on Coe Road just after 11am on Monday.

The driver is reported to be seriously injured.

Fire and Emergency said firefighters are working with specialist equipment to rescue the driver.

An ambulance and helicopter are also at the scene.

Coe Road is currently closed between Paterson Road and Hillend Road.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have formally identified the body of 25-year-old Te Anihana Pomana.

Pomana went missing on August 21 after leaving SkyCity Hotel in the early hours of the morning.

Last week, police announced a body they believed to be Pomana was found in dense bush in the Pukekohe area.

Police are now able to confirm the body was Pomana and her death has been referred to the coroner.

“As always, our thoughts and sympathies are with Te Anihana’s whanau and friends at this difficult time,” Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend said.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A motorcyclist has been hospitalised after crashing while fleeing Police on Taita Drive, in Lower Hutt last night.

Hutt Valley Area Commander, Inspector Wade Jennings, says local Police saw the motorcyclist driving in a dangerous manner around 10:30pm.

“Before Police signalled for the rider to stop, they allegedly accelerated, overtook another vehicle and failed to take a bend, crashing into a fence.”

He says the motorcyclist sustained serious leg injuries and was transported to hospital.

“The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene, and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Swiss national wiped away tears as he pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge following a fatal crash in Canterbury.

A woman died following a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 73 near Sheffield on 19 November.

Patrick Keusch was arrested and charged with careless driving causing death, police confirmed the following day.

On Monday, the 32-year-old appeared in the Christchurch District Court in front of community magistrate Sarah Steele.

Defence lawyer Grant Fletcher entered a guilty plea on behalf of his client, who appeared teary-eyed on the stand.

“Clearly this case is a terrible tragedy,” he said.

Keusch’s bail conditions meant he was unable to leave the country to return home after he surrendered his passport.

He is also disqualified from driving.

The court heard he was willing to offer restorative justice, including emotional harm reparation payments to the woman’s West Coast-based family.

Fletcher argued for getting restorative justice and a sentencing date finalised as quickly possible so Keusch could return home to resume his employment.

“I’m very concerned for the defendant’s wellbeing,” he said.

Keusch was due to be sentenced on 16 January.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand