Author: Press Room

ADVERTISEMENT The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus are meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday to discuss the future of the island and build upon talks in March, which marked the first step toward renewed dialogue after years of deadlock. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the latest meeting “will provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue and exchange views on the progress made since March. At that last meeting in Geneva, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar agreed to trust-building measures on issues like energy, environment, youth affairs and demining, as…

The Marlborough District Council is considering temporary ultraviolet (UV) treatment systems for Havelock’s troubled water supply. A boil water advisory was issued for the town last week, following a directive from the Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai that the town’s water supply couldn’t inactivate protozoa, a type of parasite which could make people sick.If the temporary solution proved viable, the notice could be lifted within weeks or months — well ahead of the town’s permanent water treatment plant, which wasn’t due to be completed until 2028. “We are working through a number of options and council engineers want to determine…

One person has been found dead and another in serious condition after a boat failed to return from a fishing trip on Lake Manapouri last night.Southland area commander inspector Mike Bowman said police were called at about 7.20pm on Sunday to the lake.The pair were said to be experienced fishers, but had failed to check in over radio after failing to return.”Marine radios were utilised and area enquiries were made, and a local helicopter was utilised to search for the boat.”The helicopter located the boat around 12.30am in Safe Cove, and the two men were on board,” said Bowman.One was…

The West Coast’s Reefton Distilling Company has announced a $2 million capital raise to scale its Moonlight Creek whisky production. The share offer was first released to existing shareholders who had pre-emptive rights to participate in the investment round. With $738,000 already raised, the offer went live to the public yesterday via Snowball, an investment platform for private companies and funds. In a statement, founder and chief executive Patsy Bass said whisky was inherently a long-horizon product and the business was ensuring appropriate investment levels until it had sufficient volumes of matured whisky ready for market. “We see growing our…

A group of skiers are “extremely lucky” to have evaded injury after an avalanche on Mt Ruapehu, the NZ Mountain Safety Council says.The party of six was ski touring near the Summit Plateau on Friday when they triggered an avalanche while skinning — using skis with a special removable “skin” to grip the snow when travelling up a slope.Four members of the party were partially buried in the avalanche, with one buried with only their face and arm exposed.Another was buried except for their hand, but had an airway excavated within two minutes.RNZ understood all members of the party were…

A group trying to stop Auckland rich-listers Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams from flying a private helicopter from their multi-million-dollar Westmere property are taking legal action.Independent hearing commissioners appointed by Auckland Council approved the couple’s controversial resource consent application for a private helipad in June.In a statement, Quiet Sky Waitematā, who opposed private helicopters in residential Auckland, said they filed an appeal against the decision to the Environment Court on Monday.Spokesperson Elena Keith said what they considered to be a “radical ruling” went against overwhelming opposition from the public.”We’re not just doing this for Westmere. We’re doing this for Auckland.…

A vape product has been recalled after a warning was issued from the Ministry of Health.The product, Suntree – Vanilla Cream vape liquid, comes in 30ml bottles and has a nicotine content of 18mg.It contained too much of the chemical diacetyl, which was associated with a lung injury known as popcorn lung, the ministry said.The ministry said Hoopers Vapour Ltd, who had sold the product, was undertaking a consumer level recall to remove the product from its stalls.It was understood around 300 of the product have been sold in the last 17 months.The ministry said risk of developing lung disease…

A woman has been arrested at Auckland Airport after Customs discovered 4kg of cocaine hidden in her luggage.The 25-year-old had arrived from Santiago, Chile, and had been referred for a baggage search.Customs said officers found the drugs concealed in the suitcase panelling.“She faces charges for importing and possessing a class A controlled drug with intent to supply.”Customs chief officer Ben Wells said: “Organised crime uses various methods to smuggle drugs. This concealment was intricate, and our officers’ training and persistence led to its discovery.”If sold in retail amounts, Customs said the cocaine would have been worth approximately $1.55 million, and…

The rediscovery of one of New Zealand’s oldest European artefacts has reopened scars from an early encounter between Māori and a European explorer.An anchor that once belonged to the French ship Saint Jean Baptiste, captained by Jean-Francois Marie de Surville, has been located in the waters of Doubtless Bay in the Far North.During a storm in 1769 they lost an anchor and had to cut two more loose. Two of them have already been found, and the third was discovered by Kelly Tarlton in 1982 – however the co-ordinates were misplaced until now.Chair of Ngāti Kahu and Professor of Māori…

Most people will recognise former All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu for his sporting success, but a decade after retiring, he’s now dabbling in the world of art as a board member of Crown entity Creative New Zealand.Born and raised in Tokoroa before moving to Auckland for high school, the Samoan rugby player says art has always been a part of his life, growing up with an artist mother and uncles, helping out at school plays and picking art as one of his favourite subjects.But he never imagined this field would be part of his future.“I always thought I’d be illustrating…