Latest news with #Aucklander
1News
5 days ago
- 1News
Men smuggled card skimming gear into NZ in air fryers, laptops
An Auckland man who smuggled card skimming equipment into New Zealand and withdrew more than $60,000 has been sentenced. The 21-year-old and another man hid the equipment in low-value electronics like air fryers. He was sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision at the Auckland District Court yesterday after being convicted of knowingly importing goods for dishonest purposes and possessing goods designed with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes involving dishonesty. Cold coming, PM's press secretary scandal, science of sleep (Source: 1News) The other man, also a 21-year-old Aucklander, was sentenced to 10 months' home detention on the same charges in November. ADVERTISEMENT Between March and July 2023, the two men smuggled 12 packages containing card-skimming equipment into New Zealand. The equipment was hidden in low-value electronic goods like air-fryers, used laptops, and TV antennas. The card-skimming equipment smuggled into New Zealand. (Source: Supplied) The packages were sent to fake names at parcel collection lockers across Auckland. The duo then targeted ATMs and parking machines, including at a hospital carpark. In total, the two men successfully withdrew $60,477.61 with a further NZ$21,500 of attempted or declined withdrawals. In April 2023, customs officers intercepted an air freight package which hid a card skimming device sent from the United States. ADVERTISEMENT At a raid on the man sentenced yesterday's house, customs found retail rewards cards with skimmed bank data, and a cash counting machine. Further searches identified card-reading software on the man's laptop. 'Card-skimming is a financial crime that directly targets unsuspecting New Zealanders going about their daily business, and which causes a lot of stress for victims when they discover their card has been used to withdraw large sums without their knowledge," chief customs officer - fraud and prohibition, Nigel Barnes, said 'Customs will do our part in stopping these devices getting into New Zealand, and prosecuting those involved in bringing them in,' he said.
1News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- 1News
'If I can't beat him, I should retire' - Nyika's next opponent named
David Nyika will make his comeback from his devastating knockout loss against Jai Opetaia six months ago against Nik Charalampous — an Aucklander who today described the Kiwi Olympian as "overrated". The man known within New Zealand boxing circles as "Nik the Greek" said that for effect in a press conference today but will almost certainly believe the opposite. The 32-year-old Charalampous, a fulltime boxing coach who has a 23-6-2 record as a professional and went the full 10 rounds against the now cruiserweight world champion Opetaia six years ago, is too experienced to truly think that. "I've known David for a long time," Charalampous told 1News. "We've done heaps of sparring over the years. We know each other very well. It would have been nice to have been given 10 weeks' notice for the fight, but I have been consistently training so my body is ready to go into that next gear." ADVERTISEMENT Charalampous, a father of a 12-year-old daughter and 17-month-old son, last week signed off on the fight, to be on the undercard of the Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen main event grudge match in Sydney on July 16. His last fight in a high-profile event was on the undercard of the Nyika v Tommy Karpency main event in Auckland in September last year. Charalampous's opponent was former All Black Liam Messam and the result was a draw, but he arrived out of shape at 107kg and there is no doubt he will take this assignment against a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist far more seriously, albeit at catchweight. (He is likely to tip the scales at around 95kg, with Nyika likely to make the cruiserweight limit of 90.72kg.) Nik Charalampous knows the odds are against him. (Source: Photosport) His defeat by decision in Sydney to Australian-Samoan Opetaia — widely considered the best cruiserweight in the world — remains one of his best achievements in the ring. "I just remember before the fight watching the highlights of him knocking everyone out," Charalampous said. "I was pretty nervous… I'm happy I lasted the 10 rounds with him. I'm not going to be a world champion or anything but when I talk to my grandkids or people I train with, I can say I fought some of the best of my generation." ADVERTISEMENT For his part, Nyika, who was viciously knocked out in the fourth round by Opetaia on the Gold Coast in January after taking the world title fight on short notice, left no doubt about his goal. "If I can't get past Nik I should probably retire," Nyika, now 10-1 as a professional, said. "It won't be an easy fight. I know what Nik is capable of and how much trouble he's given the top guys. For me, it's very much an opportunity to prove what I can do. If I can't stop Nik, it won't be a success for me but, if I lose the fight, it makes it a very hard comeback. "My eyes are still set on the world title and that re-match with Jai… the setback is just another ingredient to the stew. We have so much further to go. "It's not easy to come back from a loss and this was a big loss. This is my livelihood and a big part of my identity today… it's a big step towards the ultimate goal of becoming a world champion." Charalampous, who recently took several of his boxers to Golden Gloves success, is a classic journeyman comeback opponent for a world-class fighter who has suffered a setback. His relatively late signing is also an indication that few potential opponents were willing to sign on for the money on offer, but promoter David Higgins today said he thought Charalampous would do his job well. ADVERTISEMENT The initial plan was for Nyika, who revealed recently to 1News that he couldn't remember being knocked out by Opetaia in the IBF world title fight, to make his comeback on the Gold Coast this month. "Nik is tough," Higgins said. "He's very durable – he's never been put down by a punch. He's very experienced and is used to being on the big stage." Nyika's trainer Noel Thornberry thought the same. "David needs rounds – he's never been past five rounds and Nik could be the one to provide them," he said. "There's no time like ring time."
1News
29-05-2025
- 1News
Auckland teen charged over shoplifting spree valued at over $10,000
A 17-year-old Aucklander has been charged after a spate of shoplifting, which police say added up to $10,000 worth of items. He was tracked down after allegedly bagging $800 worth of groceries in one haul. Initially, police said there was a report of a male shoplifting from a Manukau supermarket at 9am on Saturday, May 24. Counties Manukau central area prevention manager inspector Warrick Adkin said the youth allegedly took a large amount of meat products and fled the scene in a vehicle. Attending officers made inquiries about the vehicle, and discovered it was likely that the same person had been involved in shoplifting at a Three Kings supermarket only an hour earlier. ADVERTISEMENT 'Police officers immediately responded in an attempt to locate this male and the vehicle,' said Adkin. 'Not long after, the vehicle was located a short distance away, as it was about to enter State Highway 20.' Police said they took a youth into custody while about $800 worth of groceries were located and returned to the store. 'Further enquiries revealed this male has allegedly been involved in numerous shoplifting or theft incidents this year, totalling several thousand dollars. 'We are pleased to have brought this spree to an end and for this male to be held accountable for his actions. We will not tolerate such brazen criminal offending." Police said the 17-year-old appeared in the Manukau Youth Court on May 24, charged with multiple shoplifting offences.
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Artist inspired by natural environments
Chrissy Wickes has a love for New Zealand's most natural environments. The former Aucklander and city girl started with Waiheke Island, moved to Haast on the West Coast, Te Anau, and had lived as far as Campbell Island researching the southern royal albatross. After years of following her love for natives and nature, Wickes landed in Wānaka 12 years ago and has not left. She says she has found a home because inspiration is in abundance. "We used to come and play here, this was the play place. When my partner's job came up and we were going to be in Wānaka I was like, 'are you for real?'. We felt like we had won Lotto." A trained field researcher, Wickes is passionate about keeping our environment, and those who live in it, safe. Research she carried out in separate stints on Campbell Island, 16 years apart, shows that the southern royal albatross' population is decreasing. "The numbers are going down. That is conclusive from the last two years." Numbers show the albatross population has decreased by 28% since the early 2000s, the most obvious reason being fisheries both in the Pacific and around the world, as the albatross is a travelling bird. "These birds travel the world, so unfortunately they are going outside New Zealand waters, but ... we are all involved in this." Albatrosses get caught in nets and killed on fishing hooks. Because they are scavengers and surface feeders, they are often around boats and fish nets. Wickes has brought her passion back to the mainland, where she has hosted several talks about the endangered bird, and has also used it as inspiration for her other great love — art. "When I go to these places, I feel compelled to share these stories. Unless people know about these places, it is hard for them to care." "I did a whole lot of art out of that. I did sketches and when I came back I just pumped out art." Her artwork is always influenced by her environment. While living on Waiheke Island, she was involved with the local marae and took up flax work. "I love that slow process of working with flax. It is very time-consuming but quite therapeutic. "I like slow art. It is why I walk rather than drive ... A place like Wānaka is quite busy, there is a lovely energy here, but it is very much go go, go, go. "So I like to slow things down, which is very much what art is for me." Wānaka has improved her drive to create, as well as her desire to build a community with others also tuning their skills. "My art started flourishing when I moved here, as this is such an open place and very accepting. I was taken by the landscape. I just love those bare brown hills, the colours of the hills contrasting with the sky, which contrast with the lakes. It really mesmerised me." Since moving here 12 years ago, she has made an impression on the town too, with her brush. Wānaka Primary School and Dinosaur Park are covered in Wickes' landscapes. She has been hosting workshops and has two exhibitions coming up, which include the locally inspired artwork of painted skis. "My belief is that we are all artists and as kids we drew — it is what we did, it is how we saw the world and how we expressed ourselves. "I really love seeing these people before and after their art because to me they are a lot lighter and a lot more relaxed. It brings them into the present moment and art explores the side of them that doesn't get a lot of airtime." You can catch a glimpse of Wickes' world and hear more about her experience on Campbell Island at her solo "Home and Away" exhibition in spring at The Old Garage Gallery, Wānaka.
1News
24-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Demand for cheap butter sends Costco queues out the door
It's 9.30 on a Friday morning at Costco and already the line is spilling out the door. Most of those in the queue are here for another delivery of Costco's butter, which has risen to fame due to its price, at $9.99 a kilo. It's become so popular that on Thursday Costco put a limit on it – a maximum of 30 each of the salted and unsalted Kirkland's butter, which comes pre-packed into slabs of 10 individual kilos. Waiting at the door is Aucklander Lisa Blake, who owns a dessert business. She said the cheaper butter helps keep her costs down. "I've saved $600 this morning," Blake said. "So it cost me $600, but I've saved $600 'cause it's twice the price at the supermarket – and it's New Zealand butter made in Hokitika." She had to make an hour-long drive from Papakura to buy it, she said, but it was still worth it as the butter at her local supermarket costed up to $26 per kilo. "I don't really want to put my prices up." Another customer, Mathew Watson, travelled up from Taranaki just to visit Costco. He is relocating to the South Island soon and will freeze his butter stash to take with him. "I'm bulk buying – moving to the South Island soon, so I'll take it with me." Butter prices across the motu have risen significantly in the past year. Stats NZ data showed butter prices were up 65.3% in the last 12 months to April 2025. Another shopper told RNZ she buys from Costco once a week for herself and elderly members of her community in Waiuku. She had previously even waited overnight in the car park so she could be first in line. "I took a whole pile down to my family down the line, last week. They're elderly – they can't afford butter – and our kaumātua shouldn't be going without butter," she said. "They've retired, they shouldn't be struggling to get butter." Courtney Manica had driven from Torbay on the North Shore to see how many blocks of butter she could buy before it sold out. "For the 400 grams it's like $8.99 [elsewhere], and I can't justify spending that. But $10 for a kg is good." She was buying for friends and family who were working and could not make it today. "A friend who runs a bakery, she is saving up to $800 a month on butter because she's coming to Costco," Manica said. A man who helped run a cafe in West Auckland said he was at Costco to save on butter and eggs. He had bought the maximum amount of butter allowed, 30 blocks of each. The cafe had to put its prices up recently to match grocery costs, he said. "This is a massive saving. Butter is in everything – same as eggs – so a very precious commodity." Gavin Senior, another local from Auckland said he was now shopping at Costco for his butter because the prices at his local supermarket had skyrocketed. Over the last couple of years his family has had to be careful with spending. His adult children had also moved home as it was too expensive for them to live elsewhere. "We've just gone back to being more budget, eating more budget. Buying from this place helps 'cause they sell in bulk, so I'm breaking stuff down and separating it in the freezer." At the nearby Westgate Pak'nSave, 500g of butter blocks ranged from $8.99 to $10.99. Woolworths in Westgate had similar prices, from $8.50 to $10.89 for 500g. Checkpoint approached Costco asking why they had introduced a limit to their blocks of butter. They declined to comment. Butter supplier Westland Milk Products also did not respond to Checkpoint's repeated requests for comment. By Bella Craig of
