Road Knights MC removed from the Gangs Act list; a Christchurch carpet salesman dodging trial in Australia; and a tropical low which may get "uncomfortable".
'Once-dominant' gang taken off list on minister's recommendation
The Road Knights MC have been removed from the Gangs Act list after police deemed the once‑dominant South Island gang inactive for at least five years.
Police say the group has effectively collapsed due to dwindling membership, while another gang, the Immortal Souls MC, has now been added to the list.
Gang expert Dr Jarrod Gilbert says the Road Knights' demise reflects a wider shift in New Zealand’s gang scene, with several long‑standing outlaw clubs disappearing.
New Zealander deemed too ill to stand trial on sex charges living on the Sunshine Coast
Former Christchurch carpet salesman Ronald Thompson has been filmed living freely on the Sunshine Coast, after he dodged trial for allegations of sexual abuse in 2023 due to ill-health.
"I haven't made any recovery," the 69-year-old told Australian media outside of his house.
Thompson was charged with 18 counts of sexual offending against six alleged victims between 1981 and 2002.
Final Covid verdict: 'Scars' remain despite NZ responding 'well' to pandemic
The second and final phase of a Covid inquiry has found New Zealand's response to be strong, however some restrictions exceeded advice and fuelled economic fallout.
Among the report findings were Auckland's 2021 lockdown ran for an extra six days, and mandated vaccination concerns for under-18s were not followed.
It added that some people "lost all faith in government and other institutions" during this time, and remained disengaged to this day.
Watch: Tropical low could bring severe gales as it moves over NZ
MetService's Heather Keats has warned night time temperatures might get "a little uncomfortable" as a humid air-mass arrives.
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