In brief
Dogs slaughter 80 sheep
Animal-control staff are looking for the dogs involved in a devastating attack on sheep on a Hawke’s Bay farm. Up to 80 sheep were killed in the overnight attack, and many left injured on a property near Hastings. John Payne of Hastings District Council said patrols would try to find the dogs. He urged dog and stock owners to do everything possible to manage their animals.
Child-killer’s jail stay indefinite
Notorious child-killer Benny Haerewa has been sentenced to preventive detention. The Crown has won its appeal to make his prison sentence indefinite. In May last year, Haerewa pleaded guilty to 15 charges of serious violence and sexual offending, and was jailed for nine years. Two decades ago, Haerewa was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of his 4-year-old stepson James Whakaruru in 1999.
Ranges search for woman
Searchers plan to continuing combing the Hunua Ranges this weekend for signs of Elicia Hughes-Sutherland. The 25 year old woman from Papakura has been missing since May 19. Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said they were continuing to appeal for any information about her disappearance. He said her family was extremely worried as they had not heard from her, which was out of character. Search crews have focused on the areas around the Hunua Falls, Cosseys and Wairoa reservoirs.
More frequent subsidy data
Wage subsidy audit and repayment data will be made public on a weekly basis after it was revealed it was only being collected every three months. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid out in the subsidy since the coronavirus pandemic started. Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni’s office came under fire from the National Party after it emerged the number of complaints, audits and money paid back to the wage benefit scheme was only being reported quarterly. Sepuloni said there had been 3278 refunds so far, amounting to $83.4 million.
Firearm report keeps pupils inside Children were kept inside a school as police responded to reports of a firearm in the North Shore suburb of Beach Haven yesterday. Senior Sergeant Terry Lee, of Waitemat¯a Police, said officers responded to a report of a firearm at a house on Lancaster Rd. He said the pupils at the school were told to stay inside while police spoke to people at the house. No firearm was located, and the incident was resolved.
Girl’s kidnap false: Police
Police have confirmed the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a young girl in Auckland on Wednesday was a false complaint. Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police were satisfied no abduction occurred. He said police aimed to ascertain exactly what happened and were ensuring the complainant was provided with support. Western Springs College principal Ivan Davis said the claim caused huge concern among parents and it was a relief to learn it did not happen.
Govt throws millions at possums The Government plans to spend $15.7 million to eradicate predators around Lake Brunner/Ko¯tuku Whakaoho in the South Island. The total includes $4.4m from Predator Free 2050 Ltd, which recently received $19.5m from the Provincial Growth Fund. The Predator Free Lake Brunner project is part of the Government’s $1.1 billion nature-based jobs package. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said the project would rid Mt Te K¯ınga’s 3700ha mixed podocarp forests of possums.