Author: Press Room

Emergency services are working to find a man reported missing in Lake Roto Kohatu in Christchurch since last night. Police were notified of a man needing assistance in the lake near Johns Rd just before 7pm yesterday. This morning, Search and Rescue teams were in the area with assistance from the Dive Squad.”Members of the public can expect to see an increased police presence around the area today,” a police spokesperson said.

National’s announcement that it would push up contribution rates for KiwiSaver to a total 12% is a good step — but there is a major flaw that needs fixing first, one KiwiSaver provider says.Prime Minister and National leader Christopher Luxon said on Sunday that if it was re-elected next year, the party would gradually increase KiwiSaver contributions to match the Australian 12% rate by 2032, with 6% contributions from both employers and employees.It has already started a process to increase the default rate to 4% plus 4% by April 1, 2028.”Smaller retirement balances present a challenge for New Zealand as…

A Nelson mother whose Kāinga Ora home was declared “uninhabitable” after extensive mould was found in the roof space says she is considering moving into a tent after being shifted to another property she says is also riddled with mould.Alyssa Lennon has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This week, she contacted Fair Go in frustration.She said the issues began as soon as the family of four moved into their first Kāinga Ora home after years on the waiting list.An asthmatic, Lennon was admitted to hospital in February with breathing problems.”From needing my asthma inhaler maybe four times…

Two people have been rescued after falling off a cliff at a beach in Auckland’s St Heliers last night. Fire and Emergency assistant commander Barry Thomas told 1News emergency services were called to reports of the fall from the cliff in Gentleman’s Bay shortly after 9pm. Gentleman’s Bay is located at the coastal edge of the suburb of St Heliers, halfway between Achilles Point and West Tamaki Point. Warnings issued after pair fall off Auckland cliff prompting rescue – watch on TVNZ+He said there was a “multi-agency response” including police Eagle helicopter, St John teams, a FENZ lines team from…

A Queenstown home made with materials evoking a shearing shed has taken a trifecta of national accolades at this year’s House of the Year Awards. Velvin Building was named the winner of the national supreme house of the year over $1 million award at the 2025 Master Builders House of the Year Awards for its work on the “Covered Yards” property in Kelvin Heights. The 450sqm, three-storey, five-bedroom home also won the national kitchen excellence award and topped the national new home $2m-$4m category, as well as winning five regional awards. Velvin Building owner and director Joe Velvin-Turner said the…

As many as 30% of people who are making withdrawals from their KiwiSaver funds for hardship reasons are taking all of their available money.Hardship withdrawals have increased substantially in recent years as cost-of-living pressure has gone on households.It was raised as a concern by Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson in her latest three-yearly review of retirement income policy.In the year to June, 45,000 people accessed their KiwiSaver funds early because of financial hardship, compared to about 18,000 five years ago.The average withdrawal was about $10,000.Wrightson said it could have a lasting effect on a person’s retirement outcomes. “In some cases, the…

“It’s about being heard.” And that is why Anja Klinkert is such a fan of collaborative law to resolve disputes, rather than the more traditional path of litigation. First introduced in 1990, collaborative law is increasingly being used to manage the emotional, legal and financial aspects of separation, along with resolving estate, family business and employment disputes. There are now more than 50 trained collaborative professionals in New Zealand, including Ms Klinkert, a collaborative lawyer and mediator, and financial planner and divorce coach Dominique Bergel-Grant. The pair wanted to educate people that there was an alternative to resolve conflict “rather…

National will lift default KiwiSaver contribution rates further if re-elected, party leader Christopher Luxon announced today as he revealed his first election pledge.He said National wanted to gradually lift default KiwiSaver contributions to 6% for both employers and employees by 2032. The current default rate is 3%.”If we’re serious about building the future, and I am, it’s time to aim higher,” Luxon told party faithful in Lower Hutt.Announcing the policy, the PM referenced the default contribution rate in Australia where employers must contribute 12% of wages to super accounts.Under National’s proposal, default contribution rates would rise by 0.5% every year…

The top boss at Environment Southland has given a blunt assessment on a wilding pine issue which is plaguing parts of the country.Southland has previously been described as reaching a “tipping point” with trees spreading aggressively through high country, farmland and conservation areas.Environment Southland acting chief executive Rob Phillips said on Thursday that about $25 million extra was required to tackle the issue of wilding pines on top of the “ballpark” $20 million currently being spent by Government and councils.”We’re hardly treading water, but we are going backwards,” he said.Douglas fir has previously been highlighted as a species of concern…

The trucking industry is urging the Government to grant stronger powers to impound unsafe vehicles after an Auckland operator was jailed for manslaughter.Ashik Ali kept his truck on the road despite it being banned, and its failed brakes caused it to roll away and fatally hit a roadworker last year.National Road Carriers Association chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers said the system needed more teeth.He said the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) needed the ability to impound dangerous trucks.”They used all available levers, but there wasn’t a significant lever to get this truck off the road – therefore, it’s a system failure.Ashik…