Author: Press Room

There are practical, science-backed steps councils can take to help cool our cities as summers get hotter. University of Auckland Senior Lecturer Timothy Welch explains. Stand on any car park on a sunny day in February and the heat will radiate through your shoes. At 30C air temperature, that asphalt hits 50–55C – hot enough to cause second-degree burns to skin in seconds.Right now, in the northern hemisphere summer, 100 million Americans are dealing with 38C temperatures. Britain is preparing for hundreds of heat deaths. In New Zealand, of course, we’re still lighting fires and complaining about the cold.But that…

The Government wants to electronically monitor some asylum seekers and migrants, and is preparing for mass arrivals of asylum seekers by plane.It is also hoping to bring in new rules on dawn raids and on making it an offence to charge migrants for jobs, even if that happens overseas.Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said that electronic monitoring offered an alternative to detention for migrants and asylum seekers who pose a security risk, or might run away, particularly before deportation.The legislation was introduced in April, and Stanford told RNZ electronic monitoring reflected recommendations from a review by Victoria Casey KC three years…

Tōtara Energy LP — which has a strong Māori investment base — has taken a 30% stake in Central Otago-based Pioneer Energy Group Ltd Partnership. Pioneer Energy, which is 100% owned by the Central Lakes Trust, would remain the majority shareholder in the subsidiary company. The announcement followed an international equity raise process. Pioneer said in a statement the successful bid came from a New Zealand-based organisation which aligned closely with Pioneer Energy and Central Lakes Trust’s values and community-focused approach. While the amount of the investment has not been disclosed, last month outgoing chief executive Fraser Jonker said seeing…

A former financial adviser has pleaded guilty after misappropriating $1.7 million from two sets of “elderly clients” and issuing false statements to cover up the fraud.Murray McClune pleaded guilty to two charges of theft by a person in a special relationship under the Crimes Act 1961 following an investigation by the Financial Markets Authority.He had worked in the insurance industry since the late 1960s and had an established book of clients, including some who had used his services for decades and considered him a friend. Between 2016 and 2022, McClune procured around $1.7 million from two sets of elderly clients…

A teenager reported missing from Auckland’s New Lynn last week has been located “safe and well”, police said.Whetu, 17, was last seen at Lynn Mall at around midday on Tuesday and subsequently reported missing.Police and her whānau were concerned for her safety, with relatives saying her disappearance was out of character.In a statement today, police said: “The 17-year-old previously reported missing from the New Lynn area has been located safe and well.”

ADVERTISEMENTHuman rights groups lost their legal challenge to the British government’s decision to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment, in a ruling handed by London’s High Court on Monday.The court, which looked into the allegation that the UK selling arms to Israel through a global pool was against the law, stated that it was not up to the courts to tell the government to withdraw from the group.The case was brought by the UK-based Global Legal Action Network and a Ramallah-based human rights group Al-Haq, in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam.They…

New regional dog rules have been adopted by Auckland Council, which includes how many dogs one person can walk at a time, and where.The changes, approved at last Thursday’s Governing Body meeting, included updates on leash, off leash and dog free areas at nine regional parks, and a limit on the number of dogs that can be walked at once.Councillor Josephine Bartley said the review of Auckland’s Dog Policy and Bylaw was needed so everyone could enjoy Auckland’s shared spaces safely.”We know how much Aucklanders love getting out with their dogs, particularly in our beautiful regional parks,” Bartley said.”Our dog…

Explainer: It’s July 1 tomorrow and believe it or not we’re halfway through 2025, which means the Government will roll out several new changes to policies and regulations.Here are some of the highlights you need to know:Healthy Homes standards come into effectOne big change is mandatory Healthy Homes standards which all rental properties must now comply with.The rules set basic standards for heating, insulation and ventilation.Among them:Landlords need to provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat a home’s main living room. These need to meet the minimum heating capacityProperties need to be insulated in the ceiling and…

ADVERTISEMENTViral claims that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has “just classified the pill as a group one carcinogen” are flooding TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media platform.“The pill is now classified as a level-one carcinogen. Like tobacco. Like alcohol. Like drugs,” one TikToker claims, prompting alarm among users of the platform. Others urge their followers to stop taking the pill altogether.Euroverify has investigated these claims and found that, while the WHO’s specialised cancer agency does consider some types of contraception pills to be carcinogenic to humans, the reality is much more nuanced.Certain contraceptive pills listed as carcinogens since 2005It’s not true…

Specific criminal offences for “coward punches” are to be introduced by the Government.Announced by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, the new law will introduce an assault offence for one punch attacks which cause grievous bodily harm.The maximum penalty when the offender intended to cause injury or acted with a disregard for safety would be eight years imprisonment.If an offender was found to have intended to cause grievous bodily harm, the maximum penalty would be fifteen years imprisonment.The new law would also introduce a culpable homicide offence for a one punch attack which resulted in death with a maximum penalty of life…