Author: Press Room

Three people have been arrested after $12,000 worth of tobacco was stolen from a Porirua store, police say. An alleged burglary took place on Main Rd, Tītahi Bay about 10.40pm on Thursday, when offenders took off with a suitcase of cigarettes in a waiting vehicle.Police tracked down three people of interest thanks to help from community members, said Kāpiti Mana Area Commander Inspector Renée Perkins.”Thanks to the people who reported that suspicious behaviour, we were able to prevent a significant loss to a local business,” A 19-year-old Porirua man and two teenage boys have been charged and are due to…

A committee of MPs is pushing for a law change which stops some children of parents born outside marriage getting New Zealand citizenship.Earlier this year, BBC journalist Laura Ancell told 1News about her journey to uncover her family’s history, and her subsequent fight for her New Zealand lineage to be recognised with official citizenship by descent.Ancell had struggled to obtain this for herself because of her father’s “illegitimacy”, and was told that because her father had been born to unmarried parents, he would not have been granted citizenship.The rule applies to people born overseas before 1977.As an individual, unrelated to…

The body of a person has been recovered from the sea near Raglan after police say they reportedly fell into the water near Te Akau Split Rock.Officers were alerted to the incident at about 10.40am yesterday.”A rescue helicopter located the person about 11.30am, but sadly they were deceased,” a police spokesperson said.”The body has been recovered and inquiries are ongoing,”

Te Pāti Māori’s Oriini Kaipara will become the next MP for Tāmaki Makaurau after handily winning yesterday’s by-election against Labour’s Peeni Henare. The Electoral Commission confirmed that 9377 ordinary votes were counted on election night, according to a preliminary count. There are still an estimated 2621 special votes to be counted, expected to account for around 21.8% of total votes. Early results from the by-election had former broadcaster Kaipara in a commanding lead.Te Pāti Māori’s candidate held 64% of the vote with around a 2900 vote lead over her Labour rival, who is already a party list MP in Parliament.…

Former National Party MP Harete Hipango has joined New Zealand First.Hipango was MP for Whanganui from 2017 to 2020, and returned to Parliament on the list in May 2021 after the resignation of Nick Smith.She put her name forward to contest the Te Tai Hauāuru seat in the 2023 election – the first National MP to contest a Māori seat since the 2002 election – but was unsuccessful, coming third behind Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Labour’s Adrian Rurawhe.Hipango told RNZ whether she was considered for a role will be a matter for the New Zealand First leadership to…

The family of a missing woman last seen more than two weeks ago in Auckland’s CBD have released a new photo with a fresh appeal for information. Te Anihana Beau Pomana, 25, was last seen leaving Sky City Hotel at 5.06am on August 21, having left all her belongings behind. Pomana checked into the hotel on August 18 and was last seen heading out onto Victoria St West. She was described as having a thin build, around 1.54m tall, with curly black hair and tattoos.On August 29, police released CCTV footage of the woman leaving the hotel and said there…

As Central Hawke’s Bay District Council heads into the 2025 local body election, the shadow of a long-mooted dam follows it.The controversial Ruataniwha Dam was first proposed around 13 years ago.Now two of the main agitators for and against the original proposal are making a bid to return to council – one to help get a dam across the line and the other to prevent it.Former Central Hawke’s Bay mayor and dam advocate Tim Gilbertson said the dam is one of the main reasons he wants a seat back at the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council table.While former Hawke’s Bay…

More than 1600 alcohol sellers – including bottle stores, pubs, restaurants and supermarkets – haven’t been counted in national figures, a health advocacy group warns.Public Health Communication Centre fears the inaccurate reporting of suppliers impacts the country’s response to alcohol harm.New information released by the centre has found national data is 13% short on the actual number of on-licences that exist, which includes restaurants, bars and pubs.It is also 15% short on off-licences, which includes bottle stores and supermarkets.Alcohol Healthwatch senior health promotion advisor Sarah Sneyd said it was important to get the data right considering alcohol harm was estimated…

A Southland town icon which underwent major refurbishment requires further repairs for small cracks and peeling, just one year on.The giant pāua shell at Riverton/Aparima has been a feature of the town since its creation by Fiordland Souvenirs in the 1990s, but now faces an unexpected $15,000 bill.In 2024, the shell was moved to Kohikohi Park following purchase by the Ōraka Aparima Community Board which oversaw major repairs.The change did not bode well, with a recent report saying water found its way behind the paint layers to create bubbles and peeling.It was believed the problem likely arose due to “micro…

Kitchen and furniture retailers Smiths City and Kitchen Things are to open for a “significant” liquidation sale, liquidators say.On August 20, Kitchen Things went into receivership amid mounting losses. Earlier this week, furniture and home appliance retailer Smiths City also went into voluntary administration. Eight of the nine Smiths City stores across the country will be opening for a liquidation sale, as administrators called for “urgent” expressions of interest for potential buyers of the business.Liquidators from BDO New Zealand announced liquidation sales for Smiths City began today in Auckland and Christchurch.Tomorrow, a further five stores will open from 9am in…