Author: Press Room

A man has been arrested more than five hours after he allegedly forced entry to the Murupara police station this morning.The man allegedly smashed a glass door at the unmanned station at around 6.45am.Police, with some staff armed as a precaution, cordoned off Pine Dr between Oregon Dr and Main Rd.Acting Bay of Plenty District Commander Lincoln Sycamore said an axe and a machete were located during a search of the man’s vehicle along with a chainsaw that had been thrown over the fence.The police negotiation team were called to assist and engaged with the man for several hours before…

A student has been excluded and is now facing several criminal charges after he allegedly used a pair of scissors to assault two teachers at a Christchurch school.Emergency services were called to the school last Wednesday.The assault involving a year 9 student happened in the primary section of the school, and was witnessed by a number of staff and students.One teacher was cut on the palm of their hand and another received head injuries.The teachers received medical treatment but did not require hospitalisation.The student was suspended the next day with an investigation launched.He is also facing a total seven charges…

The emergency kit should include food, water, and copies of important identity documents, among other items. ADVERTISEMENTThe EU wants every member state to develop a 72-hour survival kit for citizens to face any new crisis that might emerge as part of its Preparedness Union Strategy which also calls for more stockpiling of essential supplies and for improved civilian-military cooperation. The strategy unveiled on Wednesday by the European Commission includes a list of 30 concrete actions it says EU member states need to take to boost their preparedness against potential future crises ranging from natural disasters and industrial accidents to attacks…

A “disruptive” rebuild of a cracked section of State Highway 2 in Carterton is scheduled for this May.It means residents who live on the highway between Hilton Rd and Portland Rd will go about five days without vehicle access to their properties.Parking along SH2 would also not be an option in the area, while southbound traffic would need to take a five minute detour during the rebuild work.Carterton councillors were briefed on the upcoming road rebuild at a workshop on Wednesday.NZTA director of regional relationships Emma Speight said the works couldn’t be done without causing disruptions.“Unfortunately, one of the absolutes…

The Trump administration has downplayed the security breach, dismissing it as the ‘only glitch in two months.’ ADVERTISEMENTSignal, a publicly available messaging app, has come under the spotlight after a journalist was added to a group chat among US national security officials as they coordinated plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen.President Donald Trump has downplayed the leak as a “glitch,” while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says no classified intelligence information was shared.The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist inadvertently invited into the chat, has since published further messages that reveal the sensitivity of the information leaked.In those…

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has narrowly succeeded in increasing its directors’ fees by 4%. Last year, cash-strapped farmers voted down an increase but, at yesterday’s annual meeting in Rotorua, a resolution to increase fees was narrowly supported with 50.62% voting in favour. That meant the director fees pool would increase from $401,500 to $417,500 a year which represents a fee increase for the chairperson to $83,320 from $76,220 and for each director to $39,250 from $38,110. Director fees were last increased at the 2022 annual meeting by 3%. The voter turnout represented 7.43% of registered sheep, beef and dairy…

There are numerous “distressing”, unanswered questions around the 2024 death of Faʻanānā Efeso Collins that require a full probe, according to his widow.A coronial inquiry is underway into the events surrounding the death of the former Green MP and Auckland Councillor. He died aged 49 after taking part in a ChildFund charity event on February 21, 2024 at Te Komititanga, outside Auckland’s Britomart train station. In a case management conference at the Coroner’s Court in Auckland on Wednesday — meant to allow the Collins family to raise outstanding issues about how the inquiry would proceed and whether an inquest would…

Europe has become convinced that its American ally will no longer guarantee its security, and has decided to rearm massively. How does it plan to do this? Can it afford it? And what impact will this new scenario have on its geostrategic position, but also on its economic and industrial sectors? ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union  has committed to bolstering European defence capabilities. The European Commission’s proposal, originally labelled “Rearm Europe” and now known as “Readiness 2030”, prioritises the supply of strategic equipment, like air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles, ammunition and drone and anti-drone systems.  Military expenses would be excluded from…

The liquidation of Kester Black Ltd — the New Zealand business of the cosmetic and skincare brand — has been completed. In July last year, the Australian-registered arm of the business, Kester Black Pty, entered voluntary administration while the New Zealand business was put into liquidation the following month, with Kester Black Pty the sole shareholder. It caused outrage from investors, upset about how financial problems had been handled, and Kester Black founder Anna Ross received abuse and death threats, her partner Fergus Sully said last year. The stock, intellectual property (IP), and goodwill of Kester Black Pty were sold…

Rotorua’s council has voted to comply with a directive to fluoridate two of its water supplies by Friday.The council will also make two temporary sources of unfluoridated water available to residents, and write to the Prime Minister requesting a public inquiry into fluoridation.It comes days after Whangārei District Council failed in a last-gasp legal bid to stop fluoridation of the area’s drinking water.The decisions followed hours of discussion at a Rotorua Lakes Council meeting on Wednesday.Infrastructure and asset group manager Stavros Michael said the legal context was clear.“This is a legal instruction issued to the council by the Director-General of…