Latest from 1News
1News
34 minutes ago
- 1News
Woman allegedly assaulted on popular Porirua walking track
Police are investigating after a woman was allegedly assaulted on a popular Porirua walking track on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around halfway up the stairs of the Rangituhi/Colonial Knob walking track around 3.30pm, Detective Sergeant Ben Evans said. "This is a deeply concerning incident, and police are offering support to the victim, who is understandably shaken." Officers will be carrying out reassurance patrols in the area in the coming days. Police are following positive lines of enquiry, he said, but are seeking the public's assistance to help finding the alleged offender. ADVERTISEMENT The man was wearing a dark-coloured long sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap. Anyone who was in the area at the time or has any footage of a person matching the above description has been asked to contact police on 105 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Police are reminding people to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour.
1News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
Matariki celebrated across NZ with ceremony and reflection
New Zealanders right around the country have been celebrating Matariki, with many of them up well before dawn to watch the rising of the star cluster which heralds the start of the Māori New Year. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. A public holiday is held for Matariki on June 20, 2025. (Source: Ngāti Rangi hosted this year's national Matariki ceremony at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Mount Ruapehu. ADVERTISEMENT Iwi spokesperson Che Wilson told 1News it was a "huge honour" to be the first marae to host the national holiday ceremony. "It's truly a privilege to welcome everyone here," he said. "It means a great deal to us." Wilson explained that the Matariki celebrations would include offering karakia to specific stars in alignment with their Puanga traditions. "In our Puanga narrative, we'll offer them to four atua – Tāne, Rongo, Tangaroa, and Maru [the gods of forest, cultivated food, the sea, and war]." The Māori Queen, politicians, and dignitaries attended the national ceremony. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said having events across the country was a "real kotahitanga moment". "To bring it to national presence and international presence is something that connects us to the universe, and that's really important for us, that we see our tikanga as a way of life, as a daily platform for kotahitanga. And for me, it also connects to many, many other people from throughout the world." ADVERTISEMENT It was also a poignant moment for European Union ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith, who lost his father when he was young. "This whole transition for the ancestors is a really powerful message, the idea that ancestors become stars," he said. Hautapu ceremony at Auckland's Bastion Point this morning. (Source: 1News) Hundreds gathered at Auckland's Bastion Point to ring in the Māori New Year this morning with a hautapu ceremony. Food and steam were offered to the stars of Matariki as an offering of thanks from the umu or hāngī. The kai that is prepared for the hautapu connects to four different whetū (stars) in the Matariki cluster: Seafood with the star Waitā; freshwater kai with the star Waitī; kai from above the ground with the star Tupuārangi; and kai from the earth with the star Tupuānuku. Many were up well before dawn to watch the rising of the star cluster. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Kingi Makoare (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) said it was awesome to see the eagerness from people to learn about Māori culture. "It's heartwarming to see people really interested in us." Fiona Smith (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) added that it was a "great reflection of what New Zealand really should be". "Together, collaborative right from the beginning, standing shoulder to shoulder, doing things together, holding hands together." A maumaharatanga ceremony on Mauao/Mount Maunganui. (Source: 1News) In Tauranga, people of all ages summitted Mauao / Mount Maunganui before dawn for a remembrance of loved ones who had died in the past year. Te Puna I Rangiriri trust chairman Jack Thatcher led the maumaharatanga ceremony and said it was a "very emotional" morning. ADVERTISEMENT Maumaharatanga translates to memorial, memory or recollection. Grieving families and friends were invited to place their hands on the monument Te Tapuātea o Mauao and call out the names of their loved ones. "We have people bringing a lot of hurt. To call out the names of the loved ones that they're missing gives them a chance to heal and carry on," Thatcher said.
1News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
King Charles' Matariki message to New Zealand
King Charles has addressed a Matariki message to New Zealand ahead of the public holiday. "E mihi ana ki a Matariki mā Puanga," the King said. "My wife and I send our warmest greetings to all those in Aotearoa New Zealand celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year. "This year, I particularly acknowledge those iwi and regions that look to the star Puanga, or Rigel, to signal the New Year." King Charles said the rising of Matariki and Puanga on the Eastern horizon heralded a time to reflect on the past, to remember absent loved ones and to prepare for a prosperous future. ADVERTISEMENT "It also marks a time where many different peoples and communities come together in celebration, united under the same night sky," he said. "Regardless of how, or whether, one marks the lunar calendar, this moment offers an opportunity to learn and share knowledge, and to embrace the diverse traditions that shape Aotearoa New Zealand's unique identity. "I wish you all a bright year ahead. Mānawatia a Matariki."
1News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- 1News
Lydia Ko battles at Women's PGA Championship in Texas
Ko opened her round with an impressive birdie putt but that was the only one she'd manage, four bogeys leaving her with a three-over 75 start to the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda shot an even-par 72 for her opening round of the third major of the year , three days after the world's top-ranked player reaggravated a neck injury during a practice round. While Korda said she doesn't feel pain hitting shots, the two-time major champion said she has pain "just with rotation" of her neck and that it is hard to get comfortable to sleep at night. "It's better, yeah. Getting better every day, which is nice," she said. "Just because I injured it last year, whenever I do injure my neck it takes a little bit longer than normal. I kind of tweaked it before my round with Ariya (Jutanugarn) in Vegas this year, during the night I couldn't move then, so thankfully it wasn't as bad as that day... Just takes me like a week to kind of recover when I tweak my neck now." Korda late last year skipped two tournaments during the LPGA's Asia swing because of a minor neck injury, and that loss to Jutanugarn in match play was in April. Korda said earlier this week that her neck "went into a full spasm," after hitting a shot out of the rough during a practice round at the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco on Monday, before skipping the champions dinner that night. ADVERTISEMENT Nelly Korda hits to the third green during the first round of the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament. (Source: Associated Press) In the first round of the season's third major, Korda had two birdies and two bogeys. She was four shots behind Jeeno Thitikul, the world's No. 2-ranked player who was in the same group and the early leader at 4-under 68. "Overall I mean, even par to start the major... it was windier in the morning than I thought it would be. So played a little tougher. Yeah, I'm pretty happy with my first round in the conditions," Korda said. "It was pretty windy. It was hot. It definitely takes a toll on you, the Texas heat. So happy with my position. I haven't even really looked at the leader board, to be honest." Korda opened with seven consecutive pars, including at the 289m, par-4 seventh hole, where she hit a 268m drive into a valley just short of the green. Her initial pitch from there ricocheted off the edge of the green and rolled back down the slope to where she was. Korda hit her next shot to 2 feet and saved par. On the par-3 eighth, Korda's tee shot went over the green to set up her first bogey. She got free relief after her approach at the par-5 ninth went right and settled next to a temporary structure, and she pitched to 1m and made the birdie putt. "It's great to rebound with a birdie. Wasn't sure where to drop. The grass was like pavement. It was so firm, it's been walked on a lot," Korda said. "Whenever you get to bounce back with a birdie and you get to kind of have in a sense a fresh start for the next nine holes, that's always good." - Additional reporting by 1News
1News
5 hours ago
- General
- 1News
Smoke from cargo plane at Chch airport, fuel leak suspected
Firefighters have been called to Christchurch Airport after a cargo plane on the tarmac began billowing smoke from its undercarriage. Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Lyn Crosson said crews responded shortly before 9am today. She said there was no fire on board the Boeing 737, and it was thought a fluid leak onto the plane's brakes was responsible. A spokesperson at Christchurch Airport confirmed there were no passengers on board at the time.
