Five Big Things That Happened Today: Wednesday, July 31
1 FBI opens standalone office in Wellington
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has set up a base in New Zealand to "strengthen and enhance" its cooperation with a "key Five Eyes partner in the southwestern Pacific region".
The director of the US domestic intelligence and security service, Kash Patel, travelled to Wellington yesterday. He met with key officials — including Defence Minister Judith Collins, Police Minster Mark Mitchell and Foreign Minister Winston Peters — this morning.
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2 What's going on with the emergency mobile phone alerts?
Many New Zealanders were woken up by an emergency mobile alert sent out today at 6.30am but, for some, the alerts have either come repeatedly or not at all.
Officials say the risk of strong currents and unpredictable surges is still very high following Wednesday's big earthquake in Russia.
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3 Major warrant of fitness, CoF change for some vehicles from September
From the start of September, vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes will only need to get a new Warrant of Fitness (WoF) or Certificate of Fitness (CoF) once a year, instead of every six months.
The updated rules were proposed by the Government in February.
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4 Young person assaulted and robbed in Christchurch
The owner of a vehicle is being sought by police after a young person was assaulted and robbed in Christchurch earlier this month.
The incident took place near the corner of Kendal Ave and Whitby St around 3pm on Friday, July 18.
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5 Concern Howard Temple will remain Gloriavale leader, despite guilty pleas
There's concern that Howard Temple will stay on as Gloriavale's leader, despite admitting to abuse against girls and young women.
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On Wednesday, the 85-year-old grandfather pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, five of doing an indecent act, and two of common assault.
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Watch: Alleged drunk driver swerves across Waikato road, narrowly avoids head-on smashes
Police were alerted to the driver by a member of the public and swooped in to pull them over.
Watch Here
ONE FIBRE WARNING
Upping your daily fibre intake can boost your health, but the online push to consume eye-watering amounts in the name of "wellness" is misguided and could lead to bloating, cramping, constipation and gas.
UK lecturer Lewis Mattin explores the topic.
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NZ Herald
16 hours ago
- NZ Herald
China hits back at FBI director's ‘groundless assertions' in Wellington
FBI director Kash Patel at the opening ceremony for a dedicated law enforcement attaché office in Wellington. Photo / Supplied, Ola Thorsen 'Transnational crime is a common challenge encountered by all countries requiring co-operation to tackle,' a spokesperson said. 'On the opening of a new FBI office in Wellington with a permanent Legat [legal attaché] position, we have taken note of the assertions by the American side, as well as the remarks by relevant New Zealand ministers in response to the media. 'We believe that relevant co-operation should not target any third party. And we strongly oppose any attempt to make groundless assertions or vilification against China out of the Cold War mentality. Such acts are against people's will and are doomed to fail.' The Government has pushed back on suggestions that the FBI's new office in Wellington aimed to counter China. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said China was not raised in his meeting with Patel, and the minister responsible for the spy agencies GCSB and NZSIS, Judith Collins, said it was up to Patel what he wanted to say. The Chinese Embassy building in Wellington. Photo / Reece Baker, RNZ 'When we were talking, we never had raised that issue,' Peters said. 'We talked about the Pacific, what we could do to improve the law and order situation and the great concern that Pacific countries had and that they needed help, and that we need to be part of the solution.' Collins said the US was 'very focused on fentanyl' and knew New Zealand was focused on disrupting the methamphetamine trade. 'We know that we do have international criminals ... let's just understand that our security agency is also involved in this. We're not going to single out any particular country.' University of Otago lecturer Dr Peter Grace said drug and human trafficking was 'spiralling out of control' in the region, and New Zealand had limited resources to fight it. 'New Zealand is a small state, and we just don't have the kind of resources that are going to help solve these problems… So the fact that you've got somebody with much deeper pockets coming down and cooperating can be a particularly good thing.' Opposition parties expressed surprise at the announcement, Labour saying it had come without explanation and Greens saying the office should not exist and New Zealand should exit the Five Eyes arrangement altogether. - RNZ
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
FBI open office in Wellington
crime security 19 minutes ago FBI director Kash Patel opened the office in Wellington on Thursday, meeting with ministers, the police commissioner, and the Directors-General of the NZSIS and GCSB. University of Otago lecturer Dr Peter Grace spoke to Corin Dann.
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- RNZ News
China hits back at FBI director's 'groundless assertions' in Wellington
The Chinese Embassy building in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER China says it strongly opposes any "groundless assertions" after comments made by the head of the FBI at its new office in Wellington. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is opening a dedicated attaché office in the capital to investigate threats, including terrorism, cyber crime, money laundering and child exploitation. Director Kash Patel also said it would counter China's influence in the Pacific. Kash Patel during his visit to Parliament. Photo: Supplied/OLA THORSEN The Chinese Embassy hit back, saying it took note of the comments and described them as part of a "Cold War mentality". "Transnational crime is a common challenge encountered by all countries requiring cooperation to tackle," a spokesperson said. "On the opening of a new FBI office in Wellington with a permanent Legat (legal attaché) position, we have taken note of the assertions by the American side, as well as the remarks by relevant New Zealand ministers in response to the media. "We believe that relevant cooperation should not target any third party. And we strongly oppose any attempt to make groundless assertions or vilification against China out of the Cold War mentality. Such acts are against people's will and are doomed to fail." The government has pushed back on suggestions that the FBI's new office in Wellington aimed to counter China. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said China was not raised in his meeting with Patel, and the minister responsible for the spy agencies GCSB and NZSIS, Judith Collins, said it was up to Patel what he wanted to say. "When we were talking, we never had raised that issue," Peters said. "We talked about the Pacific, what we could do to improve the law and order situation and the great concern that Pacific countries had and that they needed help, and that we need to be part of the solution." Collins said the US was "very focused on fentanyl" and knew New Zealand was focused on disrupting the methamphetamine trade . "We know that we do have international criminals ... let's just understand that our security agency is also involved in this. We're not going to single out any particular country." University of Otago lecturer Dr Peter Grace said drug and human trafficking was "spiralling out of control" in the region, and New Zealand had limited resources to fight it. "New Zealand is a small state, and we just don't have the kind of resources that are going to help solve these problems… So the fact that you've got somebody with much deeper pockets coming down and cooperating can be a particularly good thing." Opposition parties expressed surprise at the announcement, Labour saying it had come without explanation and Greens saying the office should not exist and New Zealand should exit the Five Eyes arrangement altogether. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
