Pie thief
A woman was arrested after trying to steal a pie from Ōpaki Mini Mart. Owner Kishor Maisuria said the woman tried to walk out of his store after taking a pie from the pie warmer during a busy period at 1:30pm on Saturday. Unfortunately for her, an off-duty police officer was standing behind her in the line. The police officer followed her outside and told her to go back and pay. She refused, and the officer offered to pay for her, but she continued to argue. Maisuria called the police, who duly arrived and arrested the woman five minutes later. He said he asked the police to trespass the woman from his store, noting that she regularly came there drunk with her two dogs, which were often unrestrained.
Lotto winner
A lucky Masterton player won $200,000 with Strike Four on Saturday night. The winning ticket was sold at Kuripuni Lotto and Post Shop. The same store and Pak’n’Save Masterton, just 150 metres away, both sold winning second-division tickets two weeks ago, paying out $21,753 each. The Kuripuni Post Shop is no stranger to selling big winning tickets. In 2018 it sold a $12 million Powerball ticket; in 2009, it sold a $5.1 million Powerball ticket and a $36.8 million Big Wednesday winner.
Fake signatures
Buildings in all three Wairarapa districts are potentially compromised after a Taupō man allegedly signed documents using the forged signatures of various chartered professional engineers without their permission. The documents in question include producer statements, which assure councils that new designs will be constructed to meet the Building Code and consent requirements. Engineering technologist Jonathan Beau Hall, director of Kodiak Consulting, is being investigated by police, but no charges have been laid. At least 40 councils across New Zealand could be affected.
Rain subdues
The weekend’s heavy rain is forecast to subdue today. Metservice issued a heavy rain watch for Wairarapa and Tararua District yesterday, saying rainfall could approach warning criteria. Occasional isolated showers are forecast for the beginning of the week, with heavier rain returning on Thursday.
