Author: Press Room

Known for a decades-long political career dedicated to social justice, Prescott died at a care home after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. ADVERTISEMENTJohn Prescott, the former British deputy Prime Minister for a decade under Tony Blair and a key figure of the New Labour movement, has died aged 86. Prescott died on Wednesday in a care home “surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery,” his family said. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Known for his dedication to social justice, Prescott was an important figure in British politics, serving as deputy prime minister from…

Video has emerged showing the moment a person grabbed a rifle from a driver, who had allegedly pointed it in the direction of police after earlier being seen driving at “excessive speed”. A 31-year-old Head Hunters gang associate now faces several charges over the “extremely dangerous” incident which ended in Glen Innes, according to police. Footage on social media showed a black car driving erratically in a grass reserve, before a person approached the vehicle, appearing to reach into the driver-side window. A rifle could then be seen being pulled out of the car and thrown into nearby bushes. Shortly…

Thousands of NATO troops are training with artillery in Finland, just 100 kilometres from the Russian border. ADVERTISEMENTSeveral thousand NATO troops took part in large-scale artillery drills in Finland for the first time since the country joined the military transatlantic alliance.More than 3,600 soldiers and around 1,000 military vehicles took part in NATO’s largest Dynamic Front artillery exercise in Finland’s Arctic, less than 100 kilometres away from the Russian border.”We’re here to reassure our partners and allies that we can deploy to tough and demanding environments, train in any conditions, organise ourselves as allies and partners in multiple configurations,” said…

A judge has granted Rotorua Lakes Council’s second bid for an injunction to stop “interference” with sewerage pipeline construction – a decision with implications for ongoing protests against the project.Local Democracy Reporting can reveal the council based its renewed application on two alleged August incidents, including one where a contractor said he overheard a protester saying he “felt like grabbing his shotgun and blasting them”.The council first applied in May to the Rotorua District Court for the injunction to allow it to progress construction of its $29 million Tarawera Wastewater Reticulation Scheme.Iwi-owned tapu (sacred) Lake Rotokākahi sits near Tarawera Rd,…

The French far-right leader says her embezzlement trial is “politicised” and denounces prosecutors for seeking to ban her from public office. ADVERTISEMENTFrench far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she is facing a “political death sentence” in her embezzlement trial with prosecutors seeking an immediate five-year ban from public office, a punishment that would bar her from running in the 2027 presidential election.Le Pen, her National Rally (RN) party, and 24 others—party officials, employees, ex-lawmakers, and parliamentary assistants—are accused of using EU funds to pay staff who worked for the party from 2004 to 2016, in violation of the bloc’s regulations.…

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said police have made their first arrests under new gang patch legislation with gang members arrested in Auckland and Hawke’s Bay this morning.”Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement action.”At around the same time, a patched Mongrel Mob member was observed by Police standing in the street in Papakura. He was also arrested and will also face enforcement action.”Mitchell said police stood ready to enforce the law despite compliance with the legislation being high.”There is…

An inquest into the suspected suicide of Olivia Podmore has heard she was burned out by exhaustion and presenting as having severe anxiety and depression three months before her death.This story discusses mental health and suicide. A list of helplines is available at the bottom of the page.There was also no mental health support put in place for the elite sprint cyclist while her usual practitioners were at the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021.At the same time Podmore, who had been severely bullied within the Cycling New Zealand programme after inadvertently exposing an affair between a coach and athlete five…

One of the young men taking part in the government’s boot camp pilot has been accused of reoffending, just five weeks after he re-entered the community.The three-stage pilot — which involved “military style activities” and a special curriculum — launched in July, and was run by Oranga Tamariki. The first cohort had 10 young people aged 15 to 17.The pilot concluded its three-month residential phase on October 16. The nine-month community phase would finish in July next year.Minister of Children Karen Chhour said in a statement the news of the reoffending was disappointing but it would be naïve to think…

Search efforts have been called off for a boat believed to be carrying 700kg of methamphetamine off Northland’s east coast, police say.Earlier this week, 10 people were charged with conspiracy to import a class A drug and participating in a criminal organised group.The search and charges were part of what police have dubbed “Operation Fantail”, an investigation targeting a transnational organised crime group believed to be facilitating the importation of 700kg of methamphetamine by sea.After appearing in court, nine were remanded in custody, while one person was on bail ahead of further appearances “in the coming months”.Yesterday, police confirmed a…

A man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a security guard in the neck in Auckland’s Newmarket this afternoon.Police said the incident occurred on Broadway at around 2.35pm. There were cordons in place in front of luxury store Moncler.Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend said security guards approached a man when he produced a knife.”One of the guards has sustained a serious stab injury to the neck as a result.Scene of an alleged stabbing in Auckland’s Newmarket (Source: 1News)”At this point, we have established they were trying to engage with the man in relation to an earlier incident.””The victim has sustained…