Porirua pāua poacher took 373 times the legal limit; Buses struggle with Auckland roundabout built to make turns safer; Spring-like weather to bring heavy rain, gales.
'Greedy' Porirua pāua poacher took 373 times the legal limit
A fisher who illegally used scuba gear to poach 1869 pāua near Porirua — 373 times the legal limit — and intended to sell the haul has been sentenced to 10 months' home detention and 300 hours' community work.
Jorden Cedric Paul, 43, was sentenced last Friday on three charges under the Fisheries Act following a guilty plea, after a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
"The pāua was shucked and our investigation found 222 of the shellfish were undersize," Fisheries NZ regional manager central Phil Tasker said.
'A taster of spring': Fronts bring heavy rain, gales
Weather forecasters are warning of a burst of wild, spring-like weather this weekend, with heavy rain set to lash the West Coast and severe gales likely to batter much of the country.
A couple of fronts, embedded in a strong and moist northwest flow, will move over New Zealand across the weekend, followed by a change to strong, colder southwesterlies on Sunday.
MetService has issued a string of orange-level warnings and watches spanning much of the South Island and the lower North Island, covering heavy rain and strong wind from Saturday into Sunday.
Crowds welcome Northland Taniwha home after Ranfurly Shield win
Crowds of supporters packed into Whangārei Airport this afternoon to welcome the Northland Taniwha home after their famous Ranfurly Shield victory over Canterbury last night.
The team returned to Northland today carrying the Log o' Wood after ending a 48-year wait for the shield with a commanding 36-12 win in Christchurch.
Fans decked out in Taniwha colours filled the airport on Friday, greeting players with cheers, applause and a haka as they arrived home.
Watch: Buses struggle with Auckland roundabout built to make turns safer
Footage obtained by 1News shows several buses unable to complete the roundabout in one movement.
ONE UN-BAA-LIEVABLE BIRTH
A Tasman farmer got the shock of her life when a labouring ewe surprised her with a fifth lamb on a freezing night last week.
SHARE ME