Latest news with #LowerHutt
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
The New Zealander redefining what luxury means
business life and society 42 minutes ago Every day, millions experience a bit of Kiwi creativity thanks to Christopher Yu. He left New Zealand for London 25 years ago as a tax attorney, but after being made redundant, he followed his nose to a new role, leading companies that transform perfume and candles into experiences of storytelling and design. Now, after decades at the center of Europe's luxury fragrance world, and with some encouragement from his mum in Lower Hutt, Christopher Yu is coming home to help redefine Kiwi luxury.
RNZ News
19-07-2025
- RNZ News
Man missing after leaving Lower Hutt, heading for Napier
Traiten, 32, went missing after leaving an address in Lower Hutt and was believed to be headed for Napier. Photo: Supplied/ NZ Police Police are searching for a missing man who was travelling to Napier from Lower Hutt. Traiten, 32, was reported missing late on Friday night, and was last seen wearing a green hunting jacket, grey trackpants and black shoes. He was seen leaving an address on Lower Hutt's George Street three days ago, but Traiten never made it to his destination in Napier. Anyone with information about where Traiten is should call 111, police say. Photo: Supplied/ NZ Police "Police and Traiten's family have concerns for his welfare, and would like to find him as soon as possible," police said. Anyone with information that could help police find him was asked to call 111 immediately, and to quote file number 250719/1657. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- RNZ News
Police investigate death on railway line, Hutt Valley services still disrupted
Emergency tape blocked the entrances to Lower Hutt's Waterloo Station on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: RNZ / Nick James Hutt Valley train services are still disrupted after a person died on the railway tracks at Waterloo Station . Police are investigating and said officers were providing support to the family. Train services were suspended between Petone and Upper Hutt on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, the Hutt Valley line was running with reduced capacity affecting several stops. Buses also replaced trains for some Wairarapa line services, or were operating with reduced capacity.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Pedestrian and driver hurt in car crash in Petone carpark
Two people are reported to have been injured after a crash outside the Countdown in Petone. Photo: Google Maps Two people are injured after reports of a crash between a pedestrian and a vehicle outside the Countdown in the Lower Hutt suburb of Petone. Emergency services were called to the scene at 12pm which RNZ understands was the carpark just outside the supermarket. Police said both a driver and a pedestrian have reportedly sustained moderate injuries. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Drag racing-loving teen Katie Iti dies from flu complications
Katie Iti's passion was drag racing. Photo: Supplied The father of a Lower Hutt teenager who died in hospital with flu symptoms says she had only been unwell for a few days. Shayne Iti said his 15-year-old daughter Katie Margaret Iti died on Saturday in Hutt Hospital from complications of influenza B. "She fell ill probably Tuesday last week and just was getting slightly worse over the few days - we were just monitoring her at home," he said. "And then I woke up early Saturday morning to hear her moaning and groaning and I was like 'I can't see my baby like this anymore, let's go to the hospital'." Iti said Katie was seen by a cardiologist and a surgeon, and tests found fluid around her heart. He thought she appeared to improve over the day and another scan confirmed the fluid had not increased. But 13 hours after her arrival, Katie suddenly deteriorated and her heart stopped, Iti said. "She was gone. I was with her right up until the end." Iti said Katie's passion was drag racing and she had completed her first season of racing her own car. She became interested in the motorsport after she and Iti began helping his boss build a drag racing car. After that Katie was hooked, going to 'the drags' as often as she could, an enthusiasm also supported by mum Jamie Halse. "She started getting quite friendly with all the junior drag racers because it's quite big - the scene," Iti said. "She always wanted her own car and started jumping into people's cars and sitting in them and dreaming about having one, one day." When it became known that Katie wanted to 'go down the strip', 2022 New Zealand Super Street Champion Cindy Mendoza took her for the ride. "It spiralled on from there because she wanted to do it herself," Iti said. "I used to say to her 'No, you can't have one, we can't really afford it' but then she'd go round the pits talking to all the other adults telling them to 'Go tell my Dad to get me a drag car' and, of course, everyone was always in my ear about getting her a car so we made it happen." Iti taught Katie to drive the manuel racing car when she was 14, starting off on grass and then in a carpark. Once she mastered it, the then-Year 10 Naenae College student competed in her first race in October, racing the entire season. Katie's car. Photo: Supplied Though Katie had no siblings, Iti described her as "a sister to everyone" and said the drag racing community had been hard hit by her death. "They're all struggling. Everyone's trying to lean against each other just 'cos they're all struggling," he said. "Everyone's in complete disbelief. I'm still in disbelief. I'm still expecting her to jump out and give me a fright. "We can't even stay in our own house at the moment because it just feels so empty." Iti said the drag racing community would take cars to Katie's funeral in Wainuiomata on Thursday and there would be a tribute to the teen's love of the sport. Online tributes had been flowing with descriptions of Katie as a "beautiful soul" who was always happy, smiling, respectful, fun and entertaining. A girl with a passion for drag racing and life, one person wrote. "In life and in our sport you meet lots of different people , some leave a lasting memory when they are gone and Katie Iti was one of those," another person wrote on the Wild Bunch New Zealand Facebook page. "Her raw passion and enthusiasm was genuine and unwavering and her love of our sport and those in it knew no bounds. "Personally thank you Katie for all the messages and gifts and for just being yourself in amongst a sea of testosterone and competitiveness you proved the sport is so much more than that..." Online tributes had been flowing with descriptions of Katie as a "beautiful soul" who was always happy, smiling, respectful, fun and entertaining. Photo: Supplied Iti said some online reports that Katie had died in a drag racing event were incorrect. "The season's over. It has been for quite some time." He said Katie had the best safety equipment possible and they had never had any incidents while racing. Iti said Katie's driving partner Azaliya would continue her legacy, and keep racing the number 109 car. Health New Zealand said without a privacy waiver it could not confirm if Katie's death was referred to the Coroner or if Hutt Hospital was conducting a review. Iti said Katie's initial symptoms appeared to be routine - an achy body, runny nose, and cough - and his message to other families was to get vaccinated. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
