Sam Smith

2 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Sanda Arambepola |Sam Smith |Matthew Knott |Charlotte Grieve

Anita Singh is Arts and Entertainment Editor at The Telegraph. OPINION: Sure, you’ve had bad holidays. The one where it rained every day. That time the airline lost your luggage and you had to spend 48 hours wearing the same pants. But have you ever been forced to spend four days defecating into a plastic bag on a cruise ship that just caught fire and is now adrift in the Gulf of Mexico?

2 weeks ago | stuff.co.nz | Karanama Ruru |Sam Smith

A fourth person has been charged with manslaughter more than two years on from a fatal fire at Loafers Lodge hostel. Early in the morning of May 16, 2023, a blaze ripped through the 92-room short-term accommodation in central Wellington. Five residents died in the blaze: Michael Wahrlich​, 67, known around the city as Mike the Juggler, Melvin Parun​, 68, Kenneth Barnard​, 67, Peter O’Sullivan​, 64, and Liam Hockings, 50.

3 weeks ago | stuff.co.nz | Ava Whitworth |Steve Kilgallon |Sanda Arambepola |Sam Smith

A man who went on an 18-month crime spree targeting commercial and retail premises is in no position to repay the debt they incurred as result of his relentless offending, a court has heard. Tan Ropitini, 36, committed the first offence in December 2023 when he stole a pair of shoes from Rebel Sports in Hastings, and continued his offending until January 2025 when he was arrested in Foxton while in possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

3 weeks ago | stuff.co.nz | Marty Sharpe |Lois Williams |Linda Hall |Sam Smith

After nine years of debate and legal challenges, the Proposed Marlborough Environment Plan has finally made it over the line ‒ well, most of it. The Marlborough District Council’s major planning document, which was finished in 2020, had been operative but not officially enacted during an appeals process. On Thursday morning, the council’s Environment and Planning Committee approved all provisions not currently under appeal in the Environment Court to come into effect on July 9.

3 weeks ago | stuff.co.nz | Michael Daly |Sam Smith |Hamish McNeilly

A number of people have appeared in court facing charges in relation to large street racing meetings which caused disruption in Levin and Manawatū. Levin was inundated with cars on Friday night as about 1000 people attended a street racer invasion, with people doing burnouts, and police in riot gear responded. The gathering later moved to Palmerston North. Seven people were injured and 10 people were arrested.