Author: Press Room

Dick Van Dyke tried “crawling to the car” in a bid to escape a wildfire and was rescued by neighbours who carried him to safety.The Mary Poppins star, 99, and his wife Arlene fled their home in Malibu, California, earlier this week following the outbreak of the blaze – dubbed the Franklin Fire by authorities – and he’s revealed he was too “exhausted” to walk to his vehicle and was picked up by fellow residents who got him help.During an appearance on the Today show, Dick explained: “It was coming from the hill, you could see it. And oh my…

There are no designated freedom camping spots at Waimarama Beach – but a local iwi leader says that doesn’t stop campers “doing their business wherever”.Ngāti Kahungunu chairman and local resident Bayden Barber said such campers are a big problem in summer.“They leave lots of mess where they camp. There are no toilets, so they are just doing their business wherever,” he said.“Council signage is not adequate and needs to be larger. There is no policing of these areas, which is why locals like me have to do it.“I often have to remind them that there is no camping in these…

The vandalism of the star compass atop Tauranga’s iconic landmark Mauao is “gutless racism”, an iwi leader says.The pounamu touchstone on top of the Atea-ā-Rangi, star compass was vandalised overnight. Photos show deep scars in the greenstone.The cultural compass and plinth area around it have been closed to the public.Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley told Local Democracy Reporting the vandalism was the “usual gutless racism by illiterate and inarticulate reprobates”.”It’s something we sadly come to expect.”Those rocks are really sacred, and they think they can destroy it. It will never be destroyed.”The Atea-ā-Rangi was unveiled in June 2022…

Conan O’Brien’s mother has passed away just three days after his father died.The 61-year-old TV host was left devastated after his father, Thomas O’Brien, passed away on Monday (local time) at the age of 95. He was dealt a double blow on Thursday when his mother, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, died at her home in Brookline, Massachusetts, aged 92.The sad news was confirmed in an obituary for Ruth, which read: “O’Brien, Ruth Reardon of Brookline passed away peacefully on December 12th, 2024, at age 92. Beloved wife of sixty-six years to Thomas Francis O’Brien, MD, who passed away on December 9th,…

More than two-thirds of New Zealand voters support restricting social media access for under-16s, a 1News Verian poll has found.The results come just weeks after Australia passed world-first legislation preventing young teens from creating accounts on platforms like Facebook and Snapchat.In the latest 1News poll, people were asked: “The Australian government has introduced a minimum age for access to social media.”The laws will require technology companies to restrict individuals under the age of 16 years from accessing their social media platforms. Should New Zealand introduce legislation that restricts access to social media for young people under the age of 16?”The…

A South African chef fears immigration authorities’ decision to decline her residency application may equate to a death sentence if she’s forced to leave.Boipelo Sebate, 39, has called New Zealand home for a decade, and has the resources to pay for her medical bills, but she’s been told she’s too big a burden on the health system and is therefore ineligible for residency.”I’m just begging that I’m still given the opportunity to continue to live here, to continue to work here, to continue to pay my taxes as I have before … and not just be thrown out because I’m…

Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are reuniting for a new four-episode run of Malcolm in the Middle for Disney+ — 25 years after the beloved sitcom first launched.The show ran for seven seasons starting in 2000 and was hailed for looking at ordinary life through the eyes of an extraordinary youngster, now fully grown: Malcolm, played by Muniz, who has a genius IQ.“I have been waiting for this moment for 18 years. Let’s find out where Malcolm and his family are now,” Muniz said in a video message accompanying the announcement.The new four episodes will be crafted by…

Councils say legal action by insurers could discourage them from building more flood banks.Earlier this week, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council put aside $5 million to fight a lawsuit by insurance companies and residents over a 2017 flood.The umbrella group for regional and unitary councils, Te Uru Kahika, is concerned and calling for central government intervention.The chairperson of Greater Wellington Regional Council Daran Ponter said it raised the question of why councils bother building more flood management infrastructure.”It could well have that chilling effect for local authorities,” he said.”From time to time there will be failures and if we…

Napier residents have been warned to expect heavy traffic tomorrow as police monitor the funeral of a prominent gang member with “significant community links” which is set to take place tomorrow.A large number of mourners have travelled into Hawke’s Bay for the funeral on Saturday afternoon, police said.Hawke’s Bay Area Commander Inspector Lincoln Sycamore said police have continued engagement with the community, gang leaders and members, as well as the deceased’s whānau over the past few days.”Our role remains to give mourners the respect and space to grieve, while also enhancing public trust and confidence and upholding the law.”The deceased…

French opposition to the Mercosur agreement concluded by the European Commission on 6 December has been trenchant, but its domestic political situation is feeding the stance. ADVERTISEMENTFrench President Emmanuel Macron was recovering breath from a defiant late evening address to the nation following the early collapse of Michel Barnier’s government last Friday when Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the Mercosur deal, but the Elysee nevertheless reacted immediately declaring that the deal “remains unacceptable as it stands”.Despite demanding environmental standards being enshrined in the text and commitments by the Mercosur countries on deforestation – two key demands from France…