New Zealand
‘Cover-up’: Family demand answers after child sex offender’s prison death
Kingi Hemi died in Ngawha Prison in November. His cause of death remains unknown.
Latest from coronerscourt
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Man died in armchair four days after crash injuries not detected
Lance Hohaia Houpapa was found dead in his armchair four days after a crash.
‘Avoidable’: Coroner finds patient had the means and opportunity to end his life
Shaun Gray died in Palmerston North Hospital's Ward 21 which is 'not fit for purpose'.
Gloriavale death: Coroner says Sincere Standtrue died suddenly from ‘blacking out game’
Sincere Standtrue's sister reveals the way he was treated at Gloriavale before he died.
‘Suspected self-inflicted’: Pauline Hanna inquest - Polkinghorne listed as interested party
Her husband Philip Polkinghorne has been listed as an interested party.
Teen forced to take wheel in fatal crash after epileptic woman ignored warning not to drive
Raeann Cook knew she should not be driving after suffering a seizure.
‘Devastating’: Council ignored known risks at waterfront where man died – coroner
'You lose a son, you don’t come back from that,' the bereaved father of Sandy Calkin says.
Electrocuted orchard worker warned of power lines moments before his death
'Yes, I know,' he responded when told to 'watch out for the wires'.
Man killed by police ‘planned mass shooting’
The 42-year-old's former wife claims he'd been planning the incident for months.
'Meticulous' teen farm hand fatally electrocuted while installing fence
Jayden Disher was setting up a fence when the wire touched low-hanging powerlines.
Cyclone Gabrielle tragedy: The questions the probe into 14 deaths wants to answer
Two years ago Cyclone Gabrielle brought death and destruction.
Motocross rider, 10, would have died instantly, inquest hears
A pathologist says there was nothing any of the first responders could have done.
Coroner rules out foul play in death of man whose body was found at a playground
VJ Tutai was likely in a low mood from drug withdrawal at the time of his death.
'Holding on to a rocket': Dad describes motocross crash that claimed 10yo son's life
The 'confident' and 'competent' young rider was killed in an accident in 2023.
Fatal fire: Elderly artist’s remains found beside favourite chair
The fire started with embers falling from the fireplace, but there were no smoke alarms.
‘Highly preventable:’ Man killed on highway warned not to hitchhike two hours earlier
Christopher Connell's last words to police before he died were that he 'loved life'.
‘She was gone instantly’: Birthday balloon tragedy prompts warning from family
'Just don’t do it' - family's helium warning after mum of two's death at daughter's party.
‘Unexpected, tragic’: Warning as young mum dies at daughter’s first birthday from inhaling balloon helium
Coroner says there is a 'mistaken belief' about the dangers of helium inhalation.
'High public interest': Coroner prioritises hearings on 18 flood, cyclone deaths
The inquiry is likely to examine warnings, weather forecasts, landslide and flood risks.
‘No chance of him surviving’: How a hot pool visit ended in death
With no body found, his disappearance was a mystery. Now a coroner has ruled.
Auckland murder-suicide ‘tragic example’ of family violence epidemic, says coroner
Coroner reveals details of violent relationship that ended in murder-suicide.
'Selfless and heroic act': Jetskier died saving his brother's life
Police divers recovered the body of Vincent 'Vinnie' Cornell from Lake Taupō on Monday.
‘Driver error’ the cause of a car crash that killed three people
A couple from Hamilton and a man from Auckland died in the 2022 crash.
Killer doctor Venod Skantha’s final hours before prison death
Dunedin doctor was last seen praying in his cell before killing himself - coroner.
Skull found on Paraparaumu Beach with gunshot wound – experts reveal likely victim
Member of public found the skull in the sand, sparking an exhaustive forensic analysis.
‘I gave birth to her and I lost her’: Ambulance delays haunt grieving mother
Calls for 100% Government funding of ambulance services amid rising complaints and delays.
Whakaari White Island tour company owes $8.5m, liquidators say
Just $53,000 in assets as liquidators work to sell what they can.
'Snitches get stitches': Family want answers after child sex offender's 'unexplained' prison death
The family say they found unusual marks on the inmate's body.
Pilot died after propeller fell off home-built plane during flight
He had installed a new propeller two hours before the accident.
Ex-Gloriavale man found dead in suspected suicide at West Coast hotel
Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.