Articles by Tracy Neal
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National
French fare leaves sour taste after bakers vanish leaving unpaid bills
Sunday, 6 July 2025, 9:09amA couple who arrived in New Zealand and set up a French patisserie business cut a swathe of deceit before leaving the country...
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Business
'A substantial breach': Builder's work under scrutiny after installing leaky gazebo
Friday, 4 July 2025, 4:21pmA builder constructed a leaky gazebo and billed a couple for a document he told them was not needed when it was. Now he’s...
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Crime
'Ride a bike properly': Driver who left injured cyclist on the road claims he was the victim
Friday, 4 July 2025, 11:23amA driver who left a cyclist injured on the roadside after the pair had a minor collision said it would not have happened...
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Crime
Man punched woman who was driving sentenced to 19 months
Wednesday, 25 June 2025, 8:52pmA man who punched a woman in the face so hard her teeth went through her cheek as she was driving later suggested she kill...
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Crime
'Disturbing and disgusting': Gang member raped teen while she was ill
Tuesday, 24 June 2025, 8:54pmWarning: This story references rape and sexual assault and may upset some readers. A teen has told a gang member who raped...
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National
Woman lay dead in flat for two days, care worker assumed she was sleeping
Monday, 23 June 2025, 2:33pmA woman in residential care lay dead in her room for two days before anyone noticed, while music was heard playing on her...
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National
'Absolutely ridiculous': Sacked blinds installer wins $12k after nine days of work
Sunday, 15 June 2025, 3:50pmA man employed to install blinds called in sick on four occasions within his first three weeks of starting work, which partly...
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Crime
Drunk man's violent attack on woman while watching Netflix
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 2:43pmWhat started as a playful tap on the cheek as they watched Netflix ended with a man punching a woman and knocking her down...
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National
'Astonishing' road rage: Campervan driver assaults elderly man on highway
Monday, 9 June 2025, 8:49pmA campervan driver head-butted a 71-year-old who stopped on the side of a highway and confronted him about his dangerous...
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National
Victims voice concerns over legal aid as Government boosts funding
Sunday, 1 June 2025, 9:11amTaxpayers helped fund legal services for those in need to the tune of $285 million in 2024, a figure that was forecast to...
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National
Whanganui pool tragedy: Coroner questions how lifeguard thought boy was just 'holding his breath'
Wednesday, 28 May 2025, 10:27am7-year-old Gerrard-Junior Raunga Williams-Bogileka drowned at Whanganui’s Splash Centre in July 2020. Coroner Robin Kay...
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National
Parents battling to keep young teen away from older boyfriend resort to legal action
Sunday, 25 May 2025, 2:11pmThe Family Court intervened to separate a teenage girl from her older boyfriend. Judge Catriona Doyle criticised police for...
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National
'Terrifying': Union urges tougher laws after stevedore's nighttime fall from ship into sea
Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 3:20pmA stevedore fell into the sea after a guard rail snapped on the Maersk Nansha. Port Nelson was fined $110,000 and ordered...
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National
'I literally had nothing': Solo mum's struggle highlights legal aid need
Saturday, 17 May 2025, 12:57pmTaxpayers helped fund legal services for those in need to the tune of $270 million last year. The figure is forecast to rise...
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National
Landlord threw up when inspecting rental ruined by three cats trapped inside
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 8:59pmCat faeces piled up and smeared throughout a rental home caused the landlord to vomit when she arrived to inspect the property. The...
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Crime
Nearly 7 times over the limit: Former NZ Idol judge Paul Ellis caught drink driving, living in his car
Monday, 12 May 2025, 9:02pmPaul Ellis has pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol, nearly seven times the legal limit. He was also convicted...
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National
'Terrible experience': Dentist ignored woman 'thrashing' in pain as tooth was pulled out
Monday, 12 May 2025, 2:08pmA woman suffered nerve damage after a painful wisdom tooth extraction where the dentist ignored her distress. The Health...
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Business
'Like having our throats cut:' Couple called into meeting, both told their jobs were gone
Sunday, 11 May 2025, 2:42pmDiederik and Elsje van Heerden were both made redundant from Longevity Construction in January 2024. They faced severe financial...
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Crime
'Thought I was going to die': Port worker fell 12m into the sea at night
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 8:47pmA worker on a container ship at Port Nelson fell 12 metres into the sea after a guard rail gave way. The port company was...
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National
'Big bang': Tourist recalls moment he escaped house bus fire that killed his wife
Friday, 2 May 2025, 3:50pmA Chinese tourist died in a house bus fire near Hokitika after inhaling smoke. Coroner Heather McKenzie recommended clear...
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Crime
'Why are you being an idiot?': Young banned driver convicted again
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 8:50pmBanned driver Isaac Alexander Ginty, 24, has added a fresh crop of convictions for driving offences to the 11 he had already. Judge...
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Crime
Migrant farm worker claims she was 'roped' into importing cocaine
Monday, 28 April 2025, 8:44pmRuth Yanid Ramirez-Alfonso has lost her fight to avoid a conviction for importing cocaine. She was part of a group accused...
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Crime
Man's 'family emergency' no excuse for driving drunk for the seventh time
Friday, 25 April 2025, 2:06pmA man tried arguing a family emergency was the reason he chose to drink-drive, but a judge was not buying it. Gregory Robinson...
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Crime
'She misses you and hates you': Teen's world shattered after sexual violation by brother
Friday, 25 April 2025, 12:28pmWarning: This story includes details of sexual offending that may upset some readers. A teenage girl was sexually violated...
