Author: Press Room

It’s being proposed that North Canterbury’s Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass (B2P) would see drivers of light vehicles tolled $2.50 and truck drivers $5 for travelling its entire length.Under the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024, New Zealand Transport Agency must consider tolling for all new Roads of National Significance.The north of Christchurch project will see a 10km four-lane motorway extension and bypass, designed to reduce the heavy traffic burden on State Highway 1 through the town of Woodend.NZTA said this proposal would add toll points at two different parts of the highway, which would each charge…

An inquiry into Canterbury’s Mental Health Services found “significant” problems in the service’s governance, care model and resourcing.The findings included “critical staff shortages”, staffing vacancies affecting admissions and discharge processes, a “siloed culture and care model”, concerns about the service’s governance and delayed resourcing decisions at the regional governance level.The final report, released three years after it began, has 18 recommendations aimed at addressing the key issues.Health New Zealand (HNZ) has acknowledged the “significant failings” and is committed to implementing the recommendations.The daughter of a woman murdered by a mental health patient last year says the report “confirms a very…

Two Dunedin secondary school students are taking the fight to summer sunburn. As part of the Young Enterprise Scheme, Fleur de Clifford and Lily Falcous wanted to create a business idea that their peers would use and that served a purpose. The year 12 Otago Girls’ High School students settled on creating their own sunscreen and did not want to see a single sunburn this summer. Lily said the idea came about because, as they grew up, many of their friends started giving up on sunscreen in an effort to get a “bronze tan”. However, over the past couple of…

Eight out of 11 South Waikato stores targeted by an underage drinking sting have been caught selling alcohol to minors. A second operation in Tauranga found eight out of 46 businesses selling alcohol to teens. The Waikato operation, run by police, the South Waikato District Council, and the National Public Health Service, used an underage volunteer who tried to buy alcohol from a range of on- and off-licensed premises across the area. Sergeant Greg Weston said eight out of 11 businesses failed to check the volunteer’s ID. “I’m extremely disappointed with the level of non-compliance, and genuinely shocked,” he said.…

A Christchurch courier company has buckled under financial pressure, owing creditors more than $1.2 million and leaving staff out of pocket. NJ & MS Holdings Ltd owes about $586,000 to Inland Revenue (IRD) and just over $632,000 to unsecured creditors, while staff claims are nearly $35,000. The company, trading as Point to Point, was placed in liquidation on the application of IRD in the High Court at Greymouth on June 30. An official assignee from Insolvency & Trustee Service was appointed liquidator and released an initial report last week. Previously registered under an office in Greymouth, the company’s sole shareholder…

Equal stakes for each team, a cost cap, more regular racing, and more women and influencers on board a battery-powered AC75 are all part of the protocol for the 38th America’s Cup which will be held in Naples in mid-2027.The defender of the America’s Cup, The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, represented by Team New Zealand, and the Challenger of Record, The Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd, represented by Athena Racing, have signed the protocol for the next America’s Cup after what has been described as “a complex endeavour that has required a huge amount of collaboration and goodwill from all…

Site closures and asset sales are possible if farmer shareholders do not support Dawn Meats Group taking a 65% stake in Alliance Group for $250 million, the co-operative says. Yesterday, Alliance — the wholly farmer-owned co-operative — confirmed the rumour the Irish company was planning to take a majority stake. The deal is subject to shareholder approval and will require a minimum of 75% shareholder acceptance of those who vote, and greater than 50% of all shareholders voting yes at a special general meeting in Invercargill on October 20. If shareholders did not support the investment, the Alliance board would…

East Coast iwi Te Whānau a Apanui is willing to play the long game to finalise its treaty settlement after the Government’s “unprecedented” U-turn on a major settlement at the final hurdle. The tribe negotiated a unique, agree-to-disagree “sovereignty clause” with the previous government and initialled the deal before the last election, but Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith is now refusing to take the final step.Te Pāti Māori co-leader and Te Whānau a Apanui spokesperson Rawiri Waititi said the issue has been over two decades in the making, but they remain committed.“We are patient. Goldsmith is only the minister for…

A young Christchurch couple are coming to terms with a life-changing moment after winning a staggering $20.25 million in Saturday’s Powerball draw – Lotto NZ’s thirteenth multi-millionaires of the year.The life-changing prize, which included $20 million from Powerball and $250,000 from Lotto First Division, was won with a ticket purchased on MyLotto for the August 9 draw.The couple, who wanted to remain anonymous, were regular players who tended to pick up a ticket when the jackpot was over $10 million.They discovered their win on Sunday morning when the man received an email from MyLotto — a notification sent for prizes…

A Christchurch courier company has buckled under financial pressure, owing creditors more than $1.2 million and leaving staff out of pocket. NJ & MS Holdings Ltd owes about $586,000 to Inland Revenue (IRD) and just over $632,000 to unsecured creditors, while staff claims are nearly $35,000. The company, trading as Point to Point, was placed in liquidation on the application of IRD in the High Court at Greymouth on June 30. An official assignee from Insolvency & Trustee Service was appointed liquidator and released an initial report last week. Previously registered under an office in Greymouth, the company’s sole shareholder…