Crime

The jury in the trial of a former political figure accused of sexually abusing two teenage boys in the 1990s has now heard the defendant's side of the story.

A pre-trial hearing has been set for Michael Jai Smith who denies abducting the child in May.

A second man believed to be involved in the shooting is still being looked for, police say.

Police wanted to hear from anyone who may know about the theft.

It took nearly 35 years for Ellen Craig to be arrested and another three years in custody before she was finally sentenced.

He was grilled on the "rampant" sexual offending against Dilworth students, his involvement, and a cover-up.

Two male complainants say the man sexually abused them between 1995 and 1999.

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson will face trial in regional Victoria early next year.

August Lemon was arrested this week and appeared in Whangārei District Court, charged with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property.

An investigation was launched after a pipe was found in a room commonly used by the murder-accused at work, a trial has heard.

Police are on the hunt for Auckland man Vini Steven Mahoni, who is charged with murder in relation to the killing of Charles Pongi last year.

The Tongan grandfather is being remembered by his community as a kind and lovely man.

A McDonald's restaurant in Mount Roskill has had most of its glass windows smashed in a robbery overnight by seven teenagers.

A total of 28 search warrants were executed during a week - dubbed the 'Week of Action' by Australian and New Zealand police - earlier this month.

The former CEO of Auckland Eye has spoken about the discovery of a methamphetamine pipe at their workplace.

'Who could he have offended?' ask locals, who are terrified the shooter is still on the run. Audio

The national total has been increasing, from 1315 in 2020 to almost 6400 cases last year.