"Lasting impact" after issues in unborn babies missed, new police base for Auckland CBD, and Wallace Sititi named breakthrough rugby player of the year.
1 'Lasting impact' after sonographer, radiologist miss issues in unborn babies
The incidents occurred in 2021 and 2022, the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) said in a statement today.
In the first incident, the pair missed signs of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) in a fetus. It was identified by another radiologist later — but the baby's lung had to be completely removed after it was born. More of the child's lung tissue could have been saved if the issue was flagged earlier, the HDC said.
In the second incident, the pair missed signs of renal agenesis "through multiple ultrasounds of a twin pregnancy". One of the twins died shortly after its birth.
2 New police base announced for Auckland CBD
Police said it had signed a lease agreement for 210 Federal Street and would gradually take full occupancy from January 2025. Police already occupy two of the building's four floors.
The base will be located near Aotea Square and Te Waihorotiu railway station, and means officers will easily be able to deploy across the central city. Once the new base is ready in mid-2025, a public counter will open to allow people access to police 24/7.
3 Dog killed, family assaulted in alleged 'violent' Northland home invasion
Three men have been arrested after an alleged home invasion in Northland late last week during which the occupants were "subject to a violent assault" and the family's pet dog was killed.
Police said the trio allegedly forced their way into the Oruawharo property on Friday morning. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Williams said the offenders allegedly ransacked the property, with one of the victims requiring hospitalisation.
"It's had a profound impact on the victims, one of which has only recently been discharged from hospital after surgery."
4 Kiwi caught up in suspected Laos methanol poisoning returns home
In a statement, an MFAT spokesperson said the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok has been providing assistance to one New Zealander "who we believe to have been poisoned with methanol in Laos".
Two Australian teenagers and a British woman died last week from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. An American man and two Danes also died, though their exact causes of death have not been released.
Over the weekend, the Laotian government officially acknowledged the mass poisoning that has killed at least six tourists, promising it would bring perpetrators to justice.
5 Detectives head to Australia as part of Arthur Easton reinvestigation
Easton, 52 at the time of his death, was murdered 39 years ago on October 13, 1985 at his home in Auckland's Papakura.
Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin said police had received around 20 calls and emails with information relating to the case since the announcement of the $100,000 reward last month.
"Our team is determined to find the person responsible for killing Arthur and as part of this investigation, information led us to travel to Australia to speak to a number of individuals."
EXPLORING STOP CO-GOVERNANCE
While the Treaty Principles Bill has brought the discussion of Treaty reform to Parliament and wider Aotearoa, there are many groups who have been advocating for this for several years. One of the most controversial of them has been the Stop Co-Governance campaign.
As New Zealand debates the Treaty Principles bill, Re: News journalist Baz Macdonald takes a close look at a controversial grassroots organisation, Stop Co-Governance, which has campaigned for Treaty reform for years.
ONE BREAKTHROUGH STAR
All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi has been acknowledged as World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in a ceremony in Monaco this morning.
Sititi was outstanding for the All Blacks this year despite his relative inexperience; he hadn't played Super Rugby until making his debut for the Chiefs in 2024 and took every opportunity for the national team in playing 10 Tests.
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