Latest news with #Auckland
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Death of prisoner at Mt Eden Corrections Facility treated as homicide
Mt Eden Corrections Facility. Photo: RNZ Multiple investigations have been launched after a man died at Mt Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland. Police said they were made aware of the death at about 4pm on Friday after an 'incident' at the prison. Detective Inspector Greg Brand told RNZ the death of the man was being treated as a homicide. Do you know more? Email "Police were made aware at about 4pm yesterday of a man who had died at the prison following an incident," he said. "Officers continue to follow positive lines of inquiry." Mt Eden Corrections Facility is the main prison for newly remanded prisoners in the Auckland region. The Department of Corrections said the man's next of kin has been notified and all evidence will be given to the police. "Corrections will also carry out a full investigation," Mt Eden Corrections Facility general manager Dion Paki said. "As the prisoner was in a double-bunked cell, the second prisoner who was residing in the cell has been moved to a single-cell." Paki said Corrections was expressing "sincere condolences" to everyone affected. "We acknowledge this will be distressing for staff and other prisoners in the unit and we are providing people with support," he said. Paki said this included access to chaplains and any cultural support. The Inspectorate Office for the department, which operates independently, would also be investigating the death. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Mixtape: Matthew Crawley
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. The inimitable Matt Crawley joins Tony Stamp for The RNZ Mixtape. Matthew Crawley at alternative 95bFM, where he does the Monday Drive show. Photo: Aneeka Moheed A promoter, DJ and musician, Crawley cut his teeth on the Aotearoa music scene when he started volunteering at Auckland alternative radio station 95bFM as a teenager. Crawley began Strange News Touring in 2005 with Rueben Bonner. The company has hosted names such as Lucy Dacus, Wednesday, MJ Lenderman, Jessica Pratt and Ichiko Aoba, among many others. He was the manager of Auckland's Flying Out Records until 2022, when he left to immerse himself in the promotion side of things. Before that, he was the entertainment manager of legendary bar Golden Dawn. Crawley is also the brains behind comedy punk quartet Thee Golden Geese. The Smashing Pumpkins – Whir PJ Harvey – C'mon Billy
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Pasifika Medical Association rejects claims public funds used inappropriately
Pasifika Medical Association group chair Kiki Maoate. Photo: Pasifika Medical Association Group The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) is rejecting claims that public funds have been used in an inappropriate manner. Te Puni Kōkiri is launching an independent review into allegations that money was used inappropriately for Whānau Ora commissioning services. It relates to allegations of funds misused by two agencies, including Pasifika Futures Limited, where it is alleged that [ Moana Pasifika received $770,000 a year] from a Whānau Ora contract with the Pasifika Medical Association. However, Pasifika Medical Association group chair Kiki Maoate said no public funding has been used to support the professional rugby team. "We strongly reject any claim that public funds have been used in an inappropriate manner," Maoate said. Moana Pasifika became part of the Pasifika Medical Association Group (PMA) on 1 July 2024. At that time, the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust was formally established to hold both the professional rugby team and the Moana Pasifika Community Sports Programme, Maoate said. "Moana Pasifika has always been more than a rugby team. From the outset, it was established as a platform for social good and long-term transformation for Pacific people. That founding purpose made it a natural strategic fit for PMA, which recognised the opportunity to strengthen and expand Moana Pasifika's reach. With that alignment of values and mission, PMA invested to optimise the organisations positive impact, capability and connection to Pacific communities. "In 2021, a small amount of funding was provided to the Pacific Business Trust to support the development of a business case for the establishment of the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust. This was consistent with broader support for Pacific-owned and delivered initiatives under the economic domain of Pasifika Futures. "Since that time, any public or Whānau Ora funding has been directed solely to the Moana Pasifika Community Sports Programme. No public funding has been used to support the professional rugby team." the statement from PMA said. RNZ has approached the PMA for further comment. Te Pou Matakana, otherwise known as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency Limited, is also being investigated after Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka seeked urgent advice on "electioneering concerns". The concerns related to an advertisement encouraging Māori to sign-up to the Māori electoral roll paid for by Te Pou Matakana, which was released this week. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
How to get into housing market with $80
HomeShare has worked with the Financial Market Authority to finetune its offering. Photo: Supplied/Susan Edmunds If you want to get into the property market, but don't have the money to do so, you may be about to get your chance - again. New fintech start-up HomeShare plans to launch later this year, offering investors the opportunity to buy a share in residential property. If that sounds familiar, that's because it's not the first attempt to offer this sort of investment scheme - The Property Crowd and The Ownery have both tried it within the past decade. In 2022, the Financial Markets Authority suspended the crowdfunding licence of The Property Crowd, after it contravened licensee obligations. No investors were using the platform at that point. The Ownery launched in 2016, offering shares in an Ellerslie house, but there was reportedly underwhelming investor interest and less than a quarter of shares were sold. It has not responded to a request for comment. Homeshare founder Martin van Blerk said the key difference between those previous attempts and his latest was that he had worked with the Financial Markets Authority in its fintech sandbox. The 'sandbox' is designed to encourage innovation, and allow participants to test their new products and services in a controlled environment, getting a better understanding of what the regulator will expect of them and adjusting as required. Van Blerk said HomeShare would offer 10,000 shares in a property based on an independent valuation. Its first property would be in Hamilton. People could buy single shares or many. On an $800,000 property, a share would be $80. Martin van Blerk is aiming for an October launch for HomeShare. Photo: Supplied/Susan Edmunds "The goal is making housing more affordable, more transparent and just easier to access for a lot of people, who'd otherwise be locked out, either because they don't have enough for a deposit or a mortgage, or they just don't know how to go about it." He said he aimed for an October launch and hoped to eventually have properties all over New Zealand. "Instead of buying one property in Auckland, you could buy shares in 100 throughout New Zealand, so it's a great way to diversify risk for property owners." Owners would receive a proportionate amount of rental income from the property and pay a proportional amount of the cost of ownership, including maintenance. People who wanted to exit their investment could sell their shares on HomeShare's secondary marketplace, as long as the price was set within what the company said was a reasonable range. Fees would be charged when shares were bought and sold. For first-home buyers, the fee is 0.95 percent "or slightly higher if you're a traditional investor". Van Blerk said the model had proved popular in other countries. "New Zealand is sort of lagging behind. I think this is a chance to put us at the front of a shift that's happening." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Prisoner dies at Mt Eden Corrections Facility
Mt Eden Corrections Facility. Photo: RNZ Multiple investigations have been launched after a man died at Mt Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland. Police said they were made aware of the death at about 4pm on Friday after an 'incident' at the prison. Detective Inspector Greg Brand told RNZ that police were looking into the circumstances of the death, and there are positive lines of enquiry. Do you know more? Email Mt Eden Corrections Facility is main prison for newly remanded prisoners in the Auckland region. The Department of Corrections said the man's next of kin has been notified and all evidence will be given to the police. "Corrections will also carry out a full investigation," Mt Eden Corrections Facility general manager Dion Paki said. "As the prisoner was in a double-bunked cell, the second prisoner who was residing in the cell has been moved to a single-cell." Paki said Corrections was expressing "sincere condolences" to everyone affected. "We acknowledge this will be distressing for staff and other prisoners in the unit and we are providing people with support," he said. Paki said this included access to chaplains and any cultural support. The Inspectorate Office for the department, which operates independently, would also be investigating the death. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
