New Pope announced and India and Pakistan tensions esculate
Police said emergency services were called to a Mahia Rd property just before 10am after a report of a person seriously injured.
NZ Herald Live: Question time
Brooke Van Veldon makes major Workplace Relations and Safety policy announcement
Christchurch, Mairehau house fire: Firefighters battle two-storey house blaze 10 patients were assessed and treated by our crews in total. Video | George Heard
Auckland commuters face a chaotic morning after two highways leading into the central city have been majorly disrupted by crashes. Video \ NZME
NZ film industry faces uncertainty over US tariff, ongoing decline in livestock numbers and questions over longer sentences reducing reoffending.
The moa might be extinct, but they've left an imprint! Reporter Sierra is at Magnificent Moa Day where experts are revealing their incredible 3.6 million year-old find.
Christopher Luxon holds a post-Cabinet press conference
Air New Zealand's chief executive talks about the $490m Dreamliner retrofit and his job. Video / Michael Craig
A video of a dog abuse incident is circulating on social media, showing a dog swinging in the air and slamming into the ground on a walk in Manurewa. Video / Supplied
A memorial tree has been planted at the entrance of St John's bush in honour of slain American entomology student Kyle Whorrall. Video \ Jason Dorday
Victim of abuse is wanting a judicial review
Goodman Group is upgrading Highbrook Crossing to add retail, dining and public space to New Zealand's largest business park in East Tāmaki. Video \ Jason Dorday
Reporter Angelina is in Auckland, where hip hop crews from all over the world are battling to see who's the best. Aotearoa group En-Locked is in the house, let's see how they do!
$2b for NZ Defence helicopters, Trump's influence on global elections, and Parliament tackles alcohol and mental health.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Dangerous ‘hip-drop' tackle outlawed in New Zealand community rugby
The tackle that has ended the seasons of players in rugby league and American football has found its way to New Zealand's community rugby grounds. But it's about to be rubbed out. The 'hip-drop' tackle was banned by the NRL in July 2020 after several high-profile and ugly incidents. The
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Targeting A Major Backer Of Virtual Currency Investment Scams
Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson May 29, 2025 The United States is imposing sanctions on Funnull Technology Inc., a Philippines-based company that provides the critical computer infrastructure for virtual currency investment scams, and its administrator Liu Lizhi, a Chinese national. Fraudulent virtual currency investment scams cause serious financial harm to the American people. Today's targets are directly connected to over $200 million in losses reported by U.S. victims, with an average cost of over $150,000 per individual. The United States will go after those who misuse virtual currencies and internet services to perpetrate fraud and other crimes. We will continue to pursue cybercriminals who abuse the U.S. financial sector. The Department of the Treasury's sanctions actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 14114.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Man who killed German backpacker eligible for parole
It has been almost 20 years since a young German backpacker was murdered in a picnic area of a national park. The death of Birgit Brauer, whose body was found in Lucy's Gully, near Ōakura, southwest of New Plymouth, shocked two nations and led to an 18-day manhunt for her killer, Michael Scott Wallace. Wallace, then a 44-year-old drug-taking transient with an extensive criminal history, went on to deny the murder but was found guilty by a jury. He was sentenced in 2007 to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years. This month, he became eligible for parole and, despite the time that has passed, the 63-year-old is still refusing to admit to killing Brauer. Wallace made his first appearance before the Parole Board on May 14, at which he sought parole but was denied. The panel determined he had "a long way ahead to go" before he could be released. Wallace did not have an approved address at which he could reside if paroled, nor did he have a release proposal. The board's decision, released to NZME this week, stated Wallace has not been motivated to complete recommended treatments and was considered to still be in the rehabilitative phase of his sentence. It was also noted that he would undergo a formal assessment of psychopathy. Wallace recently refused to discuss his criminal history with a psychologist, and while the decision stated he had at some point claimed he could not remember the murder, he told the board that was no longer his stance. "He now says that he did not commit the offending," according to the decision, which was the position he took at trial. The fatal hitchhiking trip On September 20, 2005, Brauer and Wallace's paths fatally crossed in the tiny town of Waitōtara. There, she was picked up hitchhiking by Wallace as she travelled between Whanganui and New Plymouth. He drove her to Lucy's Gully in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, formerly known as Egmont National Park, and bludgeoned her with a metal bar before unbuttoning her jeans, likely with sexual intent. When Wallace was disturbed by a passing vehicle, he dragged Brauer into the bush and stabbed her in the chest. Her body was later found by a jogger. Wallace disposed of evidence and eventually made his way to the Manawatū area, where, almost three weeks later, he was arrested. He told police at the time that he did not want to hurt people, but he had, and he would be better off if police had shot him. Meanwhile, Brauer's body was returned to Germany. She was described by those who knew her as reserved yet open, honest and friendly. Brauer knew how to enjoy herself; she had a good sense of humour and was sometimes cheeky. She was drawn to New Zealand by a love of nature and geography and soon became a keen All Blacks fan. Brauer loved New Zealanders' down-to-earth attitude and believed she was safe hitchhiking. At Wallace's sentencing, Brauer's parents told the court that the events of 2005 would never leave them. "To this day, we cannot believe Birgit is not with us. A criminal like him does not deserve to live," they said in their victim impact statement. The unforgettable case A former top Taranaki detective said he wasn't surprised Wallace still denied killing the 28-year-old tourist, who had been on a working holiday in New Zealand when she was murdered. Grant Coward became a household name when he led the high-profile investigation into the murder, during which he made a "we will catch you" promise to the killer. Speaking to NZME this week, Coward, who received the Commissioner of Police's Silver Merit Award in 2008 for his role in the inquiry, recalled the murder as being callous and cold-blooded. Now retired, Coward said the case had been "a real whodunit", and it was a team effort to track Wallace and help bring him to justice. "It took longer than normal, but we got there in the end." He said it was difficult to know if, or when, Wallace should be released. But, he believed that if Wallace was not rehabilitative or admitting fault, he should have an extended period of imprisonment. Coward said he had not maintained contact with Brauer's family, but she would be in his thoughts forever. "I reflect on the cases that I've worked on, and she's right up there as someone who you remember, because of what happened." Brauer was also someone Caryl Blomkvist remembered from time to time. She and her husband, Fritz Blomkvist, hosted Brauer at their Whanganui farm in the final two weeks of her life, as part of the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. When Brauer left, the Blomkvists dropped her off at the edge of Whanganui so she could begin her hitchhiking journey, but not without a warning. "We told her she shouldn't hitchhike," Blomkvist recalled when speaking to NZME this week. "Then a cop came and banged on our door at 11pm that night. We were pretty shocked." Blomkvist said Brauer's death was a traumatic time for everyone who knew her. "We still think about her," she said, describing Brauer as pleasant and hardworking. "She was no trouble. She spent her time quietly doing what we expected of her, very well. And she enjoyed reading her books and writing. "She wasn't living a party life at all; she liked the quiet life and enjoyed being on the farm." Blomkvist remained in contact with Brauer's mother, whom she said was a strong woman. Brauer's father has since died. Blomkvist preferred not to comment on Wallace, only to say that what he did to Brauer was undeserved. She said that she and her husband do not support him ever being released on parole. The unmotivated prisoner After Wallace's conviction for murder, it was revealed he had an extensive criminal history dating back to dishonesty offending in 1976, as well as arson and violence. In particular, he twice raped a woman in 1983, after attacking her husband and locking him in a closet. He served a five-year sentence of imprisonment for the home invasion and sex attack before later committing armed robbery and being sent back to prison. According to the recent parole decision, Wallace acknowledged at the hearing that he was guilty of his other crimes. "It would be useful to understand from him why he thinks he committed that offending, even if he continues to deny the index murder offence," the board's decision stated. While Wallace, who has not had any misconducts during his current sentence, was initially reluctant to speak with a psychologist in April for a risk assessment, he did, but refused to discuss his offending. The psychologist's report detailed a long history of alcohol and drug use and referred to a formal assessment of psychopathy to be conducted. Wallace, who has reimmersed himself in Te Ao Māori while in prison, has completed sessions with a one-to-one departmental psychologist, and a special treatment unit for high-risk violent offenders has been suggested. But there were impediments to Wallace entering such treatment, including his denial of the murder and his belief that he would not work well in a group setting. In the meantime, he will continue to undergo one-to-one treatment. The board found it was important Wallace also complete a drug treatment programme, despite not being motivated to do so. "Overall, Mr Wallace is still considered to be in the rehabilitative phase of his sentence, and therefore rehabilitation must be a priority." An updated psychological risk assessment was ordered before his next parole hearing, scheduled for next year. "So that the assessment is useful, we encourage Mr Wallace to discuss his offending history with the psychologist." - Tara Shaskey, Open Justice reporter
