Was Bill Sutch a spy?
It has taken nearly 50 years but a new book on Bill Sutch is sure to spark debate in to an old controversy.
In September 1974, Bill Sutch was arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act 1951, after a series of clandestine meetings with KGB agent Dimitri Rasgovorov, an official at the Soviet Union's embassy, in Wellington.
He was subsequently acquitted but documents later found in the KGB archive suggested he was a Soviet agent.
His son-in-law, Keith Ovenden, has now written a book, Bill & Shirley: A Memoir, looking at the life of Sutch and his wife Shirley Smith. Smith was a prominent lawyer and the first woman in New Zealand to be a full member of a university law faculty.
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
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20.1% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.5% Nah - not for me
🎉The Riddler wants to hear from you 🫵
🧩 Got a riddle that can stump your Neighbourly community? Share your brain teasers with us and watch your neighbours scratch their heads 😕🤔❓
Send us your tricky puzzles!
Builders
Summer is here — perfect time to build outdoors
Thinking about a new deck, fence, or landscaping work?
Now’s the time to get it done while we’re enjoying the best of Kapiti’s summer weather.
We’re a small, reliable building team offering high-quality workmanship at affordable hourly rates and sharp material prices. I’m a qualified builder and a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), we take pride in delivering solid, long-lasting results for our clients.
Granny Flats & Small Homes — New Rules commencing in January,
New legislation means you can now build up to 70sqm without a building consent, provided the work is carried out by an LBP.
We’ve got exciting projects starting next year that take full advantage of this change — and we’d love to help you explore what’s possible on your site.
Our Services
• Decks & fences
• Landscaping & digger services
• Bathroom & kitchen renovations
• Renovations & alterations
• New builds & small homes
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• General building & maintenance
• Full council consent management (if required)
Let’s talk
Whether it’s a small upgrade or a full build, we’d love to help bring your project to life.
www.jmurphybuilding.co.nz...
Joe – 021 0811 2603
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