Ben Leahy

3 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ben Leahy

The Mount Albert Grammar School farm beside housing in the area. Photo / Dean PurcellOne of Auckland’s top public schools is building a staff car park on $150 million of gifted inner city farmland that is earmarked for agricultural education. Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) said the 660sq m car park would only occupy a “small section” of its 8.1ha ASB MAGS Farm.

4 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ben Leahy

SubscribeSign InAdvertisementAdvertise with NZME. A car left the road in Waipā, Waikato, and veered into a paddock where it rolled. A male driver has died after rolling a car in a paddock in Waikato. Emergency teams were called to the crash on Waikoha Rd, Waipā, about 7.40am today, police said. A police spokesperson said the car was travelling on Waikoha Rd but veered into the paddock where it rolled. “The male occupant of the vehicle has died,” they said.

4 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ben Leahy |Sarah Curtis

Residents and businesses in Dargaville have faced a sudden water shortage after the local reservoir's supply fell to less than 10%. Photo / Tania WhyteScores of homes in Dargaville remain without water because of supply pipe breaks and reservoir issues. Kaipara District Council is trucking water in and working to repair leaks and bleed air from pipes. Residents and businesses are frustrated, calling for better communication and urgent infrastructure upgrades.

4 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ben Leahy

This Taranaki home and granny flat was the scene of a fraught tenancy which descended into violence after a bad haircut. Photo / Tara ShaskeyLandlord Rayma Read and tenant Vernalee Broadmore engaged in a tit-for-tat feud that led to Read being found to have harassed her renter. The Tenancy Tribunal terminated the tenancy, citing assaults and an “extremely strained” relationship. Read was ordered to pay $4050 in damages, while Broadmore owed $3914 in unpaid rent.

4 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ben Leahy

Members of the EFKS Taeaoafua church in Māngere Bridge built a 200-seat church without planning approval and then held services in a dangerous building, an Auckland court has found. Photo / Sylvie WhinrayReverend Sean Palala built a 200-seat church without planning approval, leading to fines and community division. Palala and his church were fined more than $80,000 for multiple Building and Resource Management Act violations.