Author: Press Room

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka has lauded a Government directive to crack down on abusive Kāinga Ora tenants as a success, citing improved tenant behaviour.Potaka said in a release that in Kāinga Ora’s Sustaining Tenancies Framework, which was ended in March last year, had effectively allowed tenants to stay in a Kāinga Ora home regardless of abusive or disruptive activity.”Living in a taxpayer-funded social house is a privilege. The vast majority of social housing tenants are respectful of their home and courteous to their neighbours, but unfortunately they are let down by a small minority who threaten and abuse their…

Kea Aerospace CEO Mark Rocket has made history as the first Kiwi to travel to space.The NS-32 mission aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifted off from its launch pad in Texas at 1.39am (NZ time), soaring past the Kármán line – the internationally recognised boundary of space – 100 kilometres above Earth, before landing safely around 1.50am.The Christchurch aerospace engineer, who changed his last name due to his love for space, said in a post-flight statement that the experience far surpassed his admittedly “high expectations”.’I backflipped out of my seat’: NZ’s first space tourist describes ‘intense’ experience – watch on…

A woman reported missing after leaving a cruise ship in Auckland on Friday has been found “safe and well”.She had last been seen leaving a cruise ship at Auckland City Wharf on Friday, May 30. “The woman reported missing earlier after leaving a cruise ship in Auckland has been found,” Auckland City District Police said on their Facebook page.”She is safe and well.”Thank you to everyone who shared our original post.”

A bull roaming the streets of southern Invercargill, surprising one family on their front lawn, has been safely secured by police and animal control officers this morning.Police were alerted to the animal’s presence at around 8.10am today near the intersection of Elles Rd and Dunbeath Cres. The bull was located and contained at a nearby residential address on Dunbeath Cres by police in coordination with Animal Control.It remained at the property until arrangements were made for its owner to collect it. No injuries or property damage were reported.Dani Kingi told 1News her family woke to the sound of a loud…

An aurora has dazzled South Islanders tonight and is expected to be visible across large parts of New Zealand in the coming hours.South Islanders have already reportedly witnessed the light show, while some North Islanders were also said to be experiencing the spectacle.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Centre predicted the phenomenon was expected to be seen in New Zealand overnight.Predicting the exact timing and intensity was difficult, NOAA said, but it had the potential to become a “significant geomagnetic storm”, though not on par with the May 2024 event.The sun is currently at the peak…

A person has died of their injuries following a crash in Tarawera earlier this week.The crash – involving a car and truck – occurred on State Highway 5 around 8.50am on Wednesday.SH5 between Napier and Taupō was closed for most of the day following the collision.One person was airlifted to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in a critical condition, where they died of their injuries on May 31.”Police extend our sympathies to their family and loved ones,” police said.A second person sustained serious injuries in the crash.Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

Book lovers lined up for hours before sprinting to get in first as one of the country’s largest used book fairs got underway in Nelson this weekend. Christchurch bookshop owner Paul Edwards has been coming to the Founders Book Fair in Nelson for more than 10 years. He and others arrived well before the 10am opening time on Saturday. “I arrived about quarter past eight but some people have been here since quarter past seven,” Edwards said. Christchurch bookshop owner Paul Edwards is searching for hidden treasures on behalf of others. (Source: 1News)He said he was searching for hidden treasures…

New Zealand’s largest iwi Ngāpuhi has doubled its asset base to $104 million over the last decade despite not having received a Treaty settlement – but many of the tribe’s leaders admit it’s still heavily reliant on the Crown.Over 100 settlements have been signed to date, with a combined value of over $2.7 billion. Waikato was the first iwi to settle in 1995, followed by Ngāi Tahu three years later. Their settlements were valued at $170 million at the time, giving them the capital to invest and grow their assets over the last 30 years. However, there are still 50…

A motorcyclist has died following a crash on the West Coast this afternoon, raising the preliminary road toll for the King’s Birthday holiday weekend to five — the highest since 2019.Emergency services responded to a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 6, near the Waitaha River Bridge, involving a motorcycle at around 5.15pm today.”The road is expected to remain closed for some time and motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible, or consider delaying travel,” police said.Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are underway.Footage from the scene showed an upturned red car. (Source: 1News)The death brings the preliminary…

Fifty years to the day after 18-year-old hitchhiker Mona Blades went missing while travelling from Hamilton to Hastings, police say they are still receiving a “steady stream” of tips and information from the public. On the morning of May 31, 1975, Blades hopped into the back of an orange Datsun station wagon and was never heard from again. The cold case into the suspected murder, one of New Zealand’s most notorious, remains open. Not one piece of physical evidence has ever been found, and her body was never located. But Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Yardley says, five decades later, police…