The events aim to get locals involved in arts, heritage and culture in Whangārei.
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Massey assault: Reported Auckland shooting lands man in court on wounding with intent charge
Armed police on the scene in Massey surrounded a truck after a reported shooting.
Winston Peters condemns ‘hysterical’ language – citing words used by PM Luxon in US tariff talks
It’s the latest example of the pair being at odds over how to respond to Trump’s tariffs.
Search under way after woman disappears into water on NSW coast
A major search is under way for a woman who disappeared while swimming on the NSW north coast.
Emergency services were called to Shortland Esplanade at Newcastle Beach in Newcastle around 4.35am today following reports of a missing swimmer.
Police were told an unknown woman had entered the water about 10 minutes earlier and had not returned to the shore.
READ MORE: 'Unimaginable grief': One year ago, six were killed in a 'senseless' attack
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Police officers, Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue and a Westpac Rescue helicopter have been engaged in a multi-agency search for the missing woman.
She was last seen wearing a pink top, black pants and no shoes.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Courtney Greenslade said a rescue vessel with volunteer crew was deployed before sunrise to search for the missing woman.
"Marine Rescue Newcastle volunteers will continue to assist NSW Police Marine Area Command until instructed otherwise," Greenslade said.
"Conditions are favourable offshore this morning, with seas under a metre and a 10-knot east to north-easterly wind."
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Police investigate unexplained death after man found dead in Kawakawa carpark
Police say they were alerted around 7.45am this morning.
Auckland man Peter Prescott fails to overturn bankruptcy after $34k fines defending $80 speeding ticket
Peter Prescott will now have more added to his debt after another failed attempt at court.
‘Unimaginable grief’: One year ago, six were killed in a ‘senseless’ attack
Survivors, first responders and those who lost their lives in the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack last year have been honoured as Australia marks a sombre anniversary.
Today marks one year since six people were fatally stabbed and ten were injured on April 13, 2024 when Joel Cauchi went on a stabbing rampage in the busy Sydney shopping centre.
In a statement, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb paid tribute to the "heroes" who helped and those tragically killed during the horrific killing spree.
READ MORE: PM Anthony Albanese remembers victims of Bondi Junction attack
"Our hearts are with their families who continue to endure unimaginable grief and do their best to carry on," Webb said today.
"Hundreds of people, including police, paramedics, and civilians, were all first responders on this horrific day.
"They are heroes, risking their own lives in an effort to save victims and nurse the wounded during what can only be described as a senseless tragedy."
Webb added: "The memory and the trauma of this day will never be forgotten."
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NSW Premier Chris Minns, the Waverly Council and the Scentre Group, which owns Westfield, will observe the first anniversary at Bondi Junction today.
Speaking on Today, the NSW Premier said today is a "harrowing day" for Sydney and the families of victims.
"I can only imagine what those families are going through," Minns said.
"One year on, they'd be thinking about their loved ones, what they would have achieved over the last 12 months and what lay ahead of them if they were still with us.
"The thing that strikes me about all six of the people that were killed is how bright and optimistic they were, how they were focused on the future.
"And I think that's what makes today so harrowing and difficult for the people involved."
Officials and emergency services representatives will lay floral bouquets at the commemorative display boards that have been installed at Oxford Street Mall.
The display, which will remain in place until April 16, will share photos and messages and will be a space for people to reflect on the tragedy.
Cauchi's victims were: 25-year-old Dawn Singleton, 27-year-old Yixuan Cheng, 30-year-old Faraz Tahir, 38-year-old Ashlee Good, 47-year-old Jade Young and 55-year-old Pikria Darchia.
READ MORE: Bondi Junction stabbing survivor living with 'mental trauma' one year on
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Yesterday, on the eve of the first anniversary, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation in a video message to "pause to remember those whose lives were stolen on what should have been just another Saturday".
"Hold on to all they were and all they had ahead of them. This should not be an anniversary," he said.
"They should still be here – with their families, their friends and in their communities, with all their hopes and dreams and joys that are the very essence of life."
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Woman rushed to hospital after stabbing near Sydney CBD
A manhunt is under way after a 41-year-old woman was stabbed inside a unit in Sydney's CBD.
The incident unfolded at a complex on Bowman Street in Pyrmont about 4.50 am today.
Police were told a man had allegedly forced entry into the unit and stabbed the woman in the head before fleeing.
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Paramedics treated her at the scene and she was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The man and woman are believed to be known to each other, according to police.
Another woman and two children were also in the home at the time, but suffered no injuries.
Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident.
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Intellectually disabled teen shot by police in US dies in hospital
An autistic, non-verbal teenage boy who was shot repeatedly by US police from the other side of a chain link fence while he was holding died on Saturday (local time) after being removed from life support, his family said.
Victor Perez, 17, who also had cerebral palsy, had been in a coma since the April 5 shooting, and tests on Friday showed that he had no brain activity, his aunt, Ana Vazquez, told The Associated Press.
He had undergone several surgeries, with doctors removing nine bullets and amputating his leg.
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Police in the south-west Idaho city of Pocatello responded to a 911 call reporting that an apparently intoxicated man with a knife was chasing someone in a yard.
It turned out to be Perez, who was not intoxicated but walked with a staggered gait due to his disabilities, Vazquez said.
His family members had been trying to get the large kitchen knife away from him.
Video taken by a neighbour showed that Perez was lying in the yard after falling over when four officers arrived and rushed to the fence at the edge of the yard.
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They immediately ordered Perez to drop the knife, but instead he stood and began stumbling toward them.
Officers opened fire within about 12 seconds of getting out of their patrol cars and made no apparent effort to de-escalate the situation.
The shooting outraged Perez’s family and Pocatello residents, and a vigil had been planned for Saturday morning outside the Pocatello hospital where he was treated.
“Everybody was trying to tell the police, no, no,” Vazquez said. “Those four officers didn’t care. They didn’t ask what was happening, what was the situation.”
“How’s he going to jump the fence when he can barely walk?” she said.
The officers, whose names have not been released, were placed on administrative leave.
Decisions about whether charges should be filed against them will be made after an independent investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Team, Bannock County Prosecutor Ian Johnson told the AP via email.
“When that investigation is complete a report will be submitted for review,” he said. “In a continued effort to ensure independent and objective consideration, said report will be reviewed by an agency outside of Bannock County.”
Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said in a statement on Friday, after the family announced that Perez had no brain activity, that officials’ thoughts and prayers were with them.
“We recognise the pain and grief this incident has caused in our community,” Blad said.
Blad said on Thursday that the city was “addressing this matter with the seriousness and thoroughness it deserves and with the appropriate respect for the gravity of the situation.”
“The criminal, external, and internal investigations regarding the officer-involved shooting are underway, which is why we cannot answer questions out of concern of interfering with or compromising the investigation,” he said.
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Dominican nightclub collapse death toll rises to 226
A woman hospitalised after being rescued from the rubble of a roof collapse at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic died on Saturday, raising the death toll to 226, health officials said.
The latest victim was a 41-year-old Costa Rican national, according to the National Health Service.
Earlier in the day, health officials said four other people hospitalised after the disaster had died overnight.
READ MORE: Bondi Junction stabbing survivor living with 'mental trauma' one year on
Officials said 189 people were rescued alive from the rubble of the popular venue in the capital Santo Domingo.
More than 200 were injured, with 14 still hospitalised, including four in critical condition.
The roof at the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a merengue concert in the early hours of Tuesday. Politicians, athletes and a fashion designer were among those enjoying live music when disaster struck.
As of Saturday, friends and relatives remained at a forensics institute waiting for the return of their loved ones' bodies. Later in the day, health authorities said 225 bodies had been returned to their families.
Health minister Victor Attalah told journalists there had been a delay in identifying victims because the majority of them had to be matched using biometric data.
Victims identified so far include former Major League Baseball players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera. Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi, whose brother is seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, also died.
Officials have said it is too soon to determine why the roof fell, although prosecutors visited the scene on Thursday after rescue crews began packing up and removed heavy equipment.
On Thursday, President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje attended the burial of singer Rubby Pérez in Santo Domingo’s National Theater.
Pérez had been performing on stage at the packed club when dust began falling from the ceiling and, seconds later, the roof caved. Mourners clad in black and white streamed into the theater and some doubled over in tears as a recording of Pérez singing the national anthem played.
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