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An inquest into Shaun Gray’s death will be held in September and October, more than seven years after he died in a suspected suicide. “Finally Erica gets to have her say. “Our thoughts are it’s good a date’s finally been set and we are optimistic there won’t be any delays, and it will go ahead in the set timeframe, which is brilliant.” The Hume family will represent themselves at the inquest, meaning they will spend considerable time preparing. They looked into getting legal representation, but thought the cost of at least $10,000, and possibly up to $30,000, was prohibitive.
Maxine Jacobs14:16, May 12 2021
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This van has been removed from the area after it crashed into a tree on Church St.
One person has been hospitalised after a van crashed into a tree in Palmerston North. Emergency services rushed to the scene on Church St just after 1pm on Wednesday. The person was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with serious injuries, a police media spokeswoman said. A police officer at the scene said the van had veered off the road, crashing into the tree and a person had broken their leg. Police would be investigating the circumstances of the crash, the officer said.
The spokeswoman said officers were armed as a precaution, and inquiries were ongoing. Numbered evidence markers were scattered around the front and rear of the property, and pot plants were sat on a sheet of plastic at the front of the house.
WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
The property has been cordoned off since Tuesday. A blue gazebo was erected at the front of house which was cordoned off by emergency tape. The house is owned by Kāinga Ora. The government agency would not comment on an active police investigation. Police were also investigating reports of a single gunshot fired at an Upham Terrace house at 6.25am on Tuesday.
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Palmerston North’s Te Papaioea Birthing Centre is temporarily reducing its services due to a critical staffing shortage.
Palmerston North mums-to-be are scrabbling to adjust their birthing plans as Te Papaioea Birthing Centre reduces its services due to an ongoing shortage of midwives. On Friday, the MidCentral DHB announced that staffing levels at Te Papaioea Birthing Centre had temporarily fallen to a level where it could only be adequately staffed between 8am and 4pm on weekdays. The centre would remain open to lead maternity carers and their clients outside those hours if the appropriate support was available but the changes, which took effect on Monday, also meant new mothers could not stay at the centre after giving birth.