Latest news with #Tauranga
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Ōmokoroa pub confrontation ends with couple followed home, and a ‘trail of blood'
By Hannah Bartlett of File photo. Photo: SunLive Terse words outside a pub on a Saturday afternoon ended with a "trail of blood" at a Bay of Plenty property, after three men followed a couple home and beat them up. Two men have been sentenced in the Tauranga District Court over the incident. The assault began when victim Beau-Derek Toi Toi thought one of the defendants was staring at him, as Toi Toi drove past The Village Green pub on his way to the Ōmokoroa shops last July. He yelled: "What's your f***ing problem?" before getting out of his car and confronting Fletcher Shane Laurence, who was at the pub having a drink with a woman. Toi Toi believed Laurence and the woman were "staring at him". The two men exchanged words, with Laurence suggesting they "meet at the top of the hill in 20 minutes". But Toi Toi left. According to the Crown summary of facts he "did not want the verbal exchange to escalate into a fight", so he and his partner went to the laundromat and, about 20 minutes later, headed home. However, Laurence enlisted the help of two friends, and the trio followed Toi Toi and his partner Pania Pettifer home, pulling into their driveway behind them. There they began an "ongoing" attack on the couple, for which two of the three were today sentenced in the Tauranga District Court. According to the summary of facts, Samuel Sparham was wearing "black gloves with padded knuckles" as he got out of the car, driven by a man who can not be named for legal reasons, and accused Toi Toi of threatening his family. The driver and Sparham punched Toi Toi about 20 times, hitting his face and body as he was pushed up against the car. Toi Toi managed to punch Sparham once, then made his way around to the side of the house. Pettifer approached Laurence and asked him: "Are you going to f***ing hit me?" He pushed her to the ground and kept walking around the house to find Toi Toi, who was now being held by his arms by the other two men. Pettifer had followed, and Laurence again pushed her to the ground before kicking Toi Toi in the chest. As Pettifer got up and ran towards Toi Toi, Sparham pushed her over, and the three men returned to their Subaru. After getting free, Toi Toi wedged himself in a gap between the top and bottom part of the house. Laurence said to Toi Toi: "There's no problem now, eh, it's all sorted... you can't call the police because we know where you live and we're gangsters." The summary of facts stated after the attack, there was a "trail of blood" along the victims' property. An ambulance took Toi Toi to hospital where he was found to have fractures to his ribs and face, as well as swelling on his forehead. Reparation was sought by the victims for the "security cameras and dog" they'd acquired, due to feeling unsafe after the attack. The pair's victim impact statements spoke of the continued anxiety they both suffer, and are on medication for, as well as the impact it's had on their ability to sleep. They now own four dogs, and Toi Toi still has breathing difficulties because of the injuries to his nose and sinuses. They both fear bumping into the trio again, and are reluctant to go out in public. The three faced charges of injuring with intent to injure and common assault, and the driver also faced a charge of driving while disqualified. Laurence sought a sentence indication by Judge Melinda Mason, which all three accepted, in which the judge noted the aggravating factors were the multiple attackers, attacks to the head, and the extensive injuries. She did not accept the Crown's submission of victim vulnerability, or that it was an unprovoked attack. "In my view... it was not an unprovoked attack, nor was it pre-mediated, although it was ongoing," said Judge Mason. "I do not consider that to be an aggravating factor, particularly when the complainant was the initial aggressor and he was followed back." Judge Mason adopted a starting point of 26 months' imprisonment, and the defendants were allowed a 20% discount for pleading guilty. Reparation of $1152 was sought and was to be shared across the three defendants. Laurence was sentenced to 10 months' home detention, with six months' post-detention conditions. Sparham was sentenced to 17 months' imprisonment, after an uplift for offending while parole was applied, but was also given discounts for his background, prospects of rehabilitation, and remorse. He offered to pay $2500 emotional harm reparation, and the judge ordered that to be paid within 48 hours. He was currently serving another term of imprisonment, on unrelated matters, and was granted leave to apply for home detention once that sentence was complete. The third defendant's sentencing was adjourned until Friday at 11am, for reasons that can not be reported. - This story was originally published by the NZ Herald
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale's call for council review backed by LGNZ
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale said councils weren't as efficient and effective as they could be. Photo: Brydie Thompson Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has backed Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale's call for a review of councils. Drysdale's remit, supported by Tauranga City Council and aimed at increasing efficiency in local government and reducing ratepayer costs, was passed at the national local governance body's annual general meeting last week. The remit received 80 percent support from councils and was ranked the top priority out of the four successful remits. The local government minister also said he was open to exploring opportunities for efficiency . It comes after Drysdale called for "tough" amalgamation conversations between Bay of Plenty councils. He said the remit passing showed everyone was aware that change was happening in local government. "[We] want to be proactive around designing the system that will work for our people and work for us as local government." The remit called for a review of current functions and governance arrangements of councils. Councils weren't as efficient and effective as they could be, he said. The sector needed to look at what services should be delivered nationally, regionally, and locally, then design a system that would best deliver those services, Drysdale said. Having a national IT system for all councils and regional roading networks were some ideas the sector could discuss, he said. When talking about efficiency, people "jump to amalgamation", Drysdale said, but it was only one of the solutions. "It may not be the solution that comes out of it. We've got to keep a really open mind." He said he was not trying to "ram through amalgamation". "The intent of this is getting all the local authorities with LGNZ and central government working together to design a system that works for the country." New Zealand has 78 councils: 11 regional, 11 city, 50 district, and six unitary authorities (regional and city/district combined). Changes to how councils managed water through Local Water Done Well and Resource Management Act (RMA) reform meant the functions of councils were changing, so councils needed to change their form, Drysdale said. LGNZ was in the "perfect position" to co-ordinate the remit, but buy-in was needed from central government and the other councils, he said. Plenty of reviews had been done, but action was needed, Drysdale said. "Let's make sure we've done this thoroughly and we know what the best system is, but then we've actually got to implement it." Local Government Minister Simon Watts. Photo: Alex Burton Local Government Minister Simon Watts said opportunities for efficiency included working alongside the sector. The new legislation that would replace the RMA included provisions about the roles, responsibilities, and processes of local government, he said. This included proposals that differed from the status quo, Watts said. "I am keen to look at how the reorganisation process for local government can be made simpler and expect to receive advice on this." LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said local government needed to be proactive and lead the changes required. "The current sector arrangements are a legacy, and do not always reflect how communities have expanded and how modern services are delivered. "With key government legislation changes now under way, it'll require an agile and well-planned response by the sector," she said in a statement. "It's also important we retain local decision-making in the work we do and the decisions we make, particularly when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure and services for the community." Local Government New Zealand chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene. Photo: Mark Tantrum The LGNZ national council would consider next steps on the remit in the coming months. After the October election, the organisation would engage with councils in a member-driven process, an LGNZ spokesperson said. Outgoing Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said councils needed to be prepared to question their structure and functions. "The structure of local government hasn't meaningfully changed since 1989. In that time, our communities, demographics, and challenges have changed dramatically," he said in a statement. "We need to be brave enough to question how we deliver services and what functions sit best at which level - national, regional, or local." The remit had the support of metro councils before it was presented to LGNZ. The metro councils would provide support and resources to work on the programme established, the remit said. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
‘Good outcome': Trial reopening for Tauranga street closed seven years
The Hairini St bus lane will reopen to vehicles outside of morning peak hour for a three-month trial from October. Photo: LDR / SUPPLIED A trial reopening of a Tauranga street closed for seven years has been labelled a "good outcome" for nearby residents feeling stuck "in a rat trap". Transport planners, however, are concerned it will create safety issues. The citybound Hairini St slip lane to Turret Rd and the Hairini Bridge will reopen, except from 6.30am to 9.30am weekdays, for a three-month trial from October. The road was closed in July 2018 when the Maungatapu Underpass opened, to avoid having three lanes merging into one at the notorious traffic bottleneck. It became a bus-only lane. This meant to leave Hairini, motorists had to backtrack to the State Highway 29 Hairini St intersection. Photo: The slip lane's closure was met with opposition from residents upset about a lack of consultation and communication about the changes. The decision to reopen the street was made at Tauranga City Council City Delivery Committee meeting on Tuesday. The council worked with local hapū Ngāi Te Ahi to develop options for the trial. Ngāi Te Ahi representative Irene Walker told Local Democracy Reporting Hairini Marae asked the council for the street to be reopened five years ago. The opening was a "good outcome" because it allowed people the freedom to move, she said. "Residents like the idea that they don't feel as though they're in a rat trap. There is another way out." Council staff recommended traffic calming measures for Hairini St, such as speed bumps, but the committee opted to do this only if required after the trial began because of the cost. Walker said she was not worried about there being no new safety measures because she didn't think they were needed. Hairini resident Graham Hopkins first asked the council to reopen the street in 2020. Hairini resident Graham Hopkins asked the council to reopen Hairini St in 2020. Photo: John Borren / LDR The trial was a chance to see if it would work, he said. "I'm not overly excited, but I am happy that they're at least going to give it a trial." Having to backtrack to get to Turret Rd added about 1km to a trip and getting on to the roundabout could be difficult, he said. Hopkins said he did not have concerns about safety because the slip lane was residents' main accessway prior to the street's closure. A pedestrian crossing on Hairini St would be a "good idea" for children walking to school, he said. At the meeting, Mayor Mahé Drysdale asked what the cost of the traffic calming measures would be. Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale. Photo: David Hall / LDR Council transport programme manager Brent Goodhue said the cost was $20,000 for the safety measures and $10,000 in traffic management while they were installed. More traffic, potentially driving faster down Hairini St, was expected when the road opened, he said. "We would end up with negative impacts to the local community if we didn't put those [safety measures] in at the same time." The trial would allow the council to assess safety, accessibility and monitor the impact it had on the wider road network, said Goodhue. It would also determine the viability of a long-term solution after construction of the proposed Turret Rd / 15th Ave upgrades. June council data showed an average of 27,671 vehicles used the Hairini Bridge/Turret Rd corridor each day. Director of transport Mike Seabourne said the estimated cost of the trial without traffic calming, staff costs and a contingency would be about $40,000, down from about $110,000. Drysdale did not want the council to spend more than it had to when there may not be a problem. If the trial created safety issues, then the council could act, he said. Councillor Rod Taylor said: "How many chances of safety do you get? The first thing that might happen is someone gets run over." Tauranga City councillor Rod Taylor. Photo: David Hall / LDR The staff had considered potential safety issues and the "risk is too high", he said. Welcome Bay ward councillor Hautapu Baker said he grew up in the neighbourhood and children from four schools used the area. "I would hate for us to respond to an accident rather than be proactive to prevent something." Councillor Glen Crowther said the road would be closed when children were going to school. Afternoon traffic would be heading out of the city and not using the citybound slip lane much. There were other areas in the city where children were more at risk, he said. The council consulted residents in the directly affected area and found 80% of 92 responses supported a trial reopening, with the rest opposed. Some 78 percent supported traffic calming on Hairini St, with most in favour of speedhumps. Councillors approved the trial reopening with a $40,000 budget. Traffic calming measures would be installed if required once the trial began. Once the trial was complete residents would be surveyed again, and staff would report the trial's results back to the council for a decision on the slip lane's future. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Kiwi investors rescue bike maker UBCO from receivership
UBCO utility bike. Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles New Zealand investors have rescued electric utility bike maker UBCO from receivership. The Tauranga based company collapsed with debts of close to $36 million in January, despite having had significant fleet sales including to Australia Post. The new owners, Utility Fleet Vehicles, include some of its original backers, Sir Stephen Tindall's K1W1, and companies associated with well known investors Peter Goodfellow, and the Holdsworth family. Chief executive Oliver Hutaff said the company was getting back to its roots of delivering robust, durable electric vehicles. "We're focused on building electric utility vehicles for fleets like postal services, agriculture, conservation, law enforcement and military applications," Hutaff said. "We know what works, and what doesn't, and we're back with a tighter focus." The acquisition also includes UBCO's Australian subsidiary, and UBCO's local finance subsidiary, which serves fleets on subscription, neither of which were placed into receivership. The new business will have 21 staff, who cover research and customer support. Manufacturing was previously done in Taiwan. No details of the sale price were given, but one of the receivers, Stephen Keen of Grant Thornton, called the sales process "robust". "It's fantastic to see a Kiwi business continue its legacy with key team members remaining - something that's particularly challenging in today's economic environment where distressed businesses face significant loss of talent and even closure." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Down to the wire ... Poverty Bay East Coast juniors pip Tauranga at indoor bowls tournament
The Poverty Bay East Coast Under-18 team who won the Alison Cowan Trophy in Whakatāne are, back (from left): Jakeb Te Kani Brown, Kiki Casey, Sean Haskins, Sonson Casey and Malcolm Trowell (selector/manager) Front: Adam Rickard (captain), Liam Pinn, Zoe Trowell and Sophie Haskins. Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Down to the wire ... Poverty Bay East Coast juniors pip Tauranga at indoor bowls tournament The Poverty Bay East Coast Under-18 team who won the Alison Cowan Trophy in Whakatāne are, back (from left): Jakeb Te Kani Brown, Kiki Casey, Sean Haskins, Sonson Casey and Malcolm Trowell (selector/manager) Front: Adam Rickard (captain), Liam Pinn, Zoe Trowell and Sophie Haskins. The Poverty Bay East Coast Under-18 team won the Alison Cowan Trophy against Tauranga and Bay of Plenty in a hard-fought day of bowls in Whakatāne. The crew of captain Adam Rickard, Liam Pinn, Zoe Trowell, Sophie Haskins, Sean Haskins, Sonson Casey, Jakeb Te Kani Brown and Kiki Casey finished the eight rounds locked with Tauranga, but claimed the trophy due to a superior number of ends won. With four points gained for each pairs win and two for every singles success, the PBEC team started the day well. After their early-morning travel, PBEC recorded two wins and a draw in their round 1 fours games, followed by six wins out of eight singles clashes in round 2. Three wins in the round 3 pairs, followed by five wins in the next round of singles put them on 44 points going into the lunch break.
