Author: Press Room

A new report, commissioned by Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, has estimated the city’s traffic congestion could cost the local economy around $2.6 billion annually by 2026.The report, entitled Auckland’s Cost of Congestion, comes as the mayor pushes for a time of use or congestion charge which he said could be a solution to help manage demand on motorways and major roads.The Government has introduced a time of use charging bill, which passed first reading in Parliament today.Then-Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the Government’s intention to do so in August last year.Auckland Council gave the go-ahead for a scheme to be…

Serbia’s parliamentary session in Belgrade on Tuesday briefly turned violent after opposition MPs set off flares following a short brawl, leading to injuries. Speaker of Parliament Brnabić urged MPs to resume work. ADVERTISEMENTSerbia’s first spring parliamentary session devolved into chaos in Belgrade on Tuesday after opposition MPs interrupted the increasingly heated discussion to set off flares and smoke grenades.The incident, which prompted security to prevent a broader physical confrontation after some lawmakers got involved in a brawl, caused the session to be interrupted.In the meantime, Speaker of Parliament Ana Brnabić invited the MPs to return to the benches and continue…

Two paintings and a plaque identifying a water sculpture by the late prominent artist John Middleditch have been removed from Dunedin Hospital after a woman complained he sexually abused her as a child in the 1970s.The grandmother’s complaint, revealed by RNZ, prompted another woman to come forward claiming Middleditch sexually abused her as a child in the late 1960s.Now, the original complainant, who does not want to be named, has written to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers urging police to investigate Middleditch’s crimes in case there are other victims.RNZ has obtained copies of nine convictions lodged against Middleditch in December 1976…

A father and son have made the discovery of a lifetime – an ocean-voyaging waka on Rēkohu / Chatham Islands.The significant archaeological find included 450 pieces, some with unique carvings and braided rope which suggested the waka could be very old.The specific origin and age remained a mystery, with local iwi and Moriori offering different theories on its history.Vincent Dix said he and his son Nikau knew that three bits of timber tested were all from New Zealand trees.He said they made the finding at the nearby river, accessed through their farm.”My son and I were just loading the boat…

Profits from Kawerau’s electronic gambling machines continue to rise year by year in spite of a drop in the number of machines.The Bay of Plenty town also continues to fall well short in receiving its share of community grants from these profits.Kawerau District Council recently carried out a social impact assessment in the lead up to renewing its gambling policy.It showed that the council’s sinking lid gambling policy had been effective in reducing the number of gambling machines but profits derived from gambling in the district continued to rise.The policy, which did not allow for any new gambling venues or…

USAID has become a significant target for false claims since Trump reentered the White House, and scrutiny of the US’s support of Ukraine has intensified. ADVERTISEMENTA false video is being shared widely on social media alleging that the US paid $4 million (€3.8 million) to Time Magazine to name Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy its “Person of the Year” in 2022.The video is often posted with captions saying that the previous US government under President Joe Biden used taxpayer money to “brainwash” citizens and “bribe the media.”Others say that this means you can’t trust Western media because you can supposedly buy…

New documents reveal the Government has set aside $300 million to cover broken infrastructure contracts and a break-fee with Hyundai, after the coalition ended a contract with the Korean company to build two new Interislander ferries.The Cabinet paper was released by Treasury just half an hour after Finance Minister Nicola Willis had repeatedly refused to confirm that figure to reporters.The broken contracts for associated infrastructure costs — for example, port upgrades — have been resolved, but the exact amount to be paid to Hyundai was still being negotiated, which meant the contingency fund of $300m set aside might not be…

In an interview with Euronews, senior MEP Riho Terras said it’s too early to send European troops to Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTIt’s too early to talk about sending troops to Ukraine, Riho Terras, Estonian MEP and vice-chair of the European Parliament committee on Defence, tells Euronews’ Radio Schuman today.Two days after a heated exchange between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy, UK PM Starmer announced a “coalition of the willing” with France to support Ukraine, including a commitment to send peacekeeping troops. However, Russia opposes any NATO or European peacekeeping presence, and key European countries like Germany and Poland are reluctant. Terras said the…

The Commerce Commission has filed charges today against two Pak’nSave supermarkets over alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act.The consumer watchdog been watching supermarkets closely and signalled in December that it would consider filing charges over misleading specials.1News can now confirm charges have been laid in the Auckland District Court against Pak’nSave Silverdale in Auckland and Pak’nSave Mill Street in Hamilton.General manager of competition Vanessa Horne said the charges alleged “inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act”.Commerce Commission deputy chairwoman Anne Callinan said in December that supermarkets had “long been on notice” about accuracy,…

China has swiftly retaliated against fresh US tariffs, announcing 10%-15% hikes to import levies covering a range of American agricultural and food products, and placing 25 US firms under export and investment restrictions. The extra 10% duty United States President Donald Trump threatened China with last week entered into force on Tuesday, resulting in a cumulative 20% tariff in response to what the White House considers Chinese inaction over drug flows. The tariff represents an additional hike to pre-existing levies on thousands of Chinese goods. The US has argued that China supplies chemicals used in fentanyl production. China has denied any wrongdoing.…