Author: Press Room

The Government is proposing changing the deed of understanding it has with NZ Post to only require post to be delivered a minimum two days a week in urban areas and three days a week in rural areas.The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment said the deed was last reviewed in 2013. It had been scheduled for review in 2018 but that was extended to 2024.The ministry said, since the last review, New Zealand’s digital connectivity had significantly improved. In 2002, about a billion mail items went through NZ Post in a year. In the last financial year, that was…

A lawyer for the owners of Whakaari/White Island has told a court that the tour operators were responsible for safety — not the company granting access to the volcanic island.Whakaari Management, and four other companies, were fined and ordered to pay more than $10 million in reparations for health and safety failings in the lead up to the 2019 volcanic eruption that killed 22 people.The owners of the island, James, Andrew and Peter Buttle, are challenging the criminal conviction of their company, at an appeal hearing in the High Court at Auckland.Their lawyer Rachael Reed KC said the appeal does…

Two park benches at a south Auckland park will be removed as planned — despite mixed reactions from residents and criticism over the lack of consultation.Earlier this month, the Manurewa Local Board, on advice from Auckland Transport (AT), decided to remove two benches at Randwick Park after nearby residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour by some users.A resident told Local Democracy Reporting she had complained to council after witnessing indecent acts at the benches.However, the decision to remove the benches faced criticism from the community, who complained about the lack of consultation.Local board chairman Matt Winiata said there was a…

Māori leaders are discussing self-governance and institutional structures with Indigenous tribal leaders from North America at a symposium in Wellington today.The inaugural Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Symposium at Parliament is focused on sovereignty, kotahitanga, and strategic political action with chiefs from Native American Nations taking the podium to share their experiences and challenges from over 250 years of history.Helmut Modlik, a symposium organiser and chief executive of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, told Breakfast it was a chance for Māori to learn some valuable insights.”The experience of Indigenous communities in North America have a lot of parallels for us and in…

Police have released the name of a man whose body was recovered from the water in Wellington’s Eastbourne yesterday, saying the death remains “unexplained”.Authorities have determined the body was of missing man Terrence Jameson following the completion of a formal identification process.Public appeals for information on the 74-year-old’s disappearance were made on Sunday, with police saying at the time they had fears for his safety.”The circumstances of Terrence’s death remain unexplained, and as part of our ongoing enquiries, police are still seeking information from the public,” police said.”Terrence was last seen on a track behind Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt…

The Bend has done it again. The McAtamney family, from The Bend, near Patearoa, achieved a record $155 per kg greasy for ultrafine 12.5micron wool at last week’s South Island wool auction in Christchurch. In a statement, PGG Wrightson said John and Sam McAtamney had dedicated years to producing some of the finest wool in New Zealand, if not globally, and their latest achievement was testament to that hard work. “John and Sam have every reason to be proud of this result,” South Island wool sales manager Dave Burridge said. “The wool is exceptionally well-grown and well-prepared, qualities that truly…

Police are appealing for eyewitnesses and anyone else with information after a girl was allegedly “indecently assaulted” in a South Auckland park last week.A child was playing in Aronia Park in Goodwood Heights, Manukau, around 8pm on Friday when she was approached by an unknown man who offered to take her home, police said.She was then “indecently assaulted” by the man in nearby bushes.The girl screamed for help and the man fled the scene. A neighbour responded to the cries and called police but officers were unable to find the man.The victim was receiving support from her family and police.Police…

The Government is moving to streamline the building consent regime by swapping out some council inspections for a self-certification scheme.Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the proposal was for building professionals with indemnity insurance working on low-risk projects.It would allow qualified trade professionals – including plumbers, drainlayers and builders – to sign off on their work without needing council inspection.The changes were also expected to cover large homebuilding businesses that construct hundreds of near-identical homes a year.”The building consent system is intended to protect homeowners from defective building work by requiring work to be inspected and consented by a…

Part of a state highway is blocked following a collision between a ute and a portaloo in Hawke’s Bay this afternoon.Police say they were called to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 2 in Te Hauke around 3.40pm.SH2 near Burma Rd was closed while the road was being cleared. SH2 was closed due to a collision between a ute and a portaloo. (Source: NZTA)No one was injured in the crash.Motorists were advised to expect delays and take an alternate route.

The names of two men charged over the death of Ariki Rigby have been released after applications for name suppression were denied. Thirty-two-year-old Jimmy Heremaia was arrested in Auckland last month, charged with murder and arson in relation to the car that Ariki’s remains were found in. The orchard worker was living in Hawke’s Bay at the time of Rigby’s death. Heremaia faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if he’s found guilty of murder and is being held in custody without a plea. Meanwhile, 29-year-old Ropine Paul was arrested this month and is charged with being a party to…