Author: Press Room

The New Zealand property market is showing renewed signs of confidence with fresh data revealing a nationwide lift in listings and record-breaking regional prices.According to realestate.co.nz, Central Otago/Lakes District has become the country’s first region to record an average asking price exceeding $1.6 million, reaching $1.65 million in October – an 18.9% increase year-on-year. The average high cemented the region’s status as New Zealand’s most expensive housing market.New listings last month were up 5.5% nationally compared to October last year, with the 12,209 houses put on the market the highest for October since 2018.Average national asking prices, while stable at…

Melissa Stokes has been revealed as the new 1News at Six presenter, with Simon Dallow confirming plans to step down at the end of the month.Dallow has spent nearly two decades as TVNZ’s news anchor, presenting significant events including the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, the city’s mosque attacks, the Covid pandemic and Cyclone Gabrielle.TVNZ Chief Executive Jodi O’Donnell said Dallow had been an “exceptional journalist and presenter”, known for bringing professionalism, integrity and dedication to the role.’End of an era’ – looking back Simon Dallow’s career as Melissa Stokes takes over – watch on TVNZ+“He’s part of why 1News at Six…

A coroner ruling on the death of a Far North man under a ride-on mower says it is a warning about the risks of DIY if proper methods are not used.Ian McLarnon, who lived at Pukenui, north of Kaitāia, was a skilled handyman who loved working on machines and his collection of muscle cars.But tragically the 75-year-old died in 2022 when the half-tonne mower he was fixing slipped off a forklift, pinning him underneath.More than three years later Coroner Rachael Schimdt-McCleave has released her findings – that McLarnon died of asphyxia caused by the weight of the mower.She also found…

Incredible staff and customers will be missed but the 5.30am alarm will not be, one of the Roxburgh supermarket owners said as he prepared to leave the business he has run for 13 years. Roxburgh Fresh Choice supermarket changes hands today after business partners and brothers-in-law Ian Cahill and Chris Toms move on. Mr Cahill is married to Mr Toms’ sister Ange, who pursued her own career in early childhood education. Mr Toms’ late wife Cath, who died unexpectedly a year ago, was also part of the supermarket business. Formerly a butcher in the town, Mr Cahill mentioned to the…

Explainer – It’s the time of year some people love – and some people dread.Between Guy Fawkes Night and Diwali celebrations, suburbs around Aotearoa have been echoing with the sound of fireworks late into the night. For many it’s a celebration, but for others it’s an infuriating time of year.Every November, social media reliably fills up with chatter about banning fireworks sales to the public, and yet nothing has changed.What exactly is happening with proposed fireworks bans, and how would they affect people? Here’s a rundown of an explosive ongoing debate.What are the current rules around fireworks sales?Fireworks can only…

Christchurch deep-tech company Fabrum is a step closer to helping make Australasia’s first hydrogen flight with joint venture partners after filling aviation tanks with liquid hydrogen at the airport. The fuelling was in preparation for initial tethered flight tests and then the objective of a first free flight late next year. Fabrum has worked with Australia’s AMSL Aero and Stralis Aircraft to design, develop and test liquid hydrogen storage tanks and a fuel system for the hydrogen-electric aircraft. The company specialises in zero-emission transition technologies machined, assembled and built at its Hornby headquarters of 110 staff or its foundry. Composite…

The first episode of The Chase New Zealand airs tonight, as two of the biggest brains in the quiz world prepare to take on Kiwi contestants. After months of build-up, the four-part special will see sixteen New Zealanders go head-to-head with the same world-class trivia masters who have become household names in the UK and Australia. Here’s what you need to know ahead of tonight’s episode.What to expectThe first episode of Chase New Zealand will hit screens at 7.30pm tonight, on TVNZ1 and TVNZ+.The Kiwi edition of the popular UK show will follow the same format – four contestants will…

Another measles case has been detected, taking the total number of currently known cases nationally to 17.Health NZ said the latest case was in Auckland and was linked to a previous overseas-acquired case.Cases are currently known in Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, and Nelson.Health Minister Simeon Brown said more Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines would arrive next month. About 117,000 MMR vaccines in storage, with another 28,000 on the way, Brown said.He encouraged everyone to ensure they were fully immunised to stamp out the outbreak.Pharmac pharmaceutical funding manager Claire Pouwels said earlier that the drug-funding agency maintained “a significant safety…

University of Otago medical student Josiah Bugden has won the Momentum student entrepreneur category in the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards. The acknowledgement came for CourseSpy which began as a side-project for Mr Bugden and evolved into a platform with more than 250,000 visits, helping students make better and more informed decisions about their tertiary study. Frustrated by a lack of clarity when trying to choose his university courses and understand degree requirements, he decided to build the all-in-one tool he wished he had. CourseSpy now hosts more than 15,000 course reviews across all eight New Zealand universities and has helped…

The Government has announced it will deliver 140 new hospital beds to five of the country’s busiest hospitals next year. The five new rapid build wards – at Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington Regional, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay hospitals – are expected to be completed and operational by the second half of 2026. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the investment was about “delivering practical solutions to meet demand”. “As part of Budget 2025, we expected to deliver at least three wards. A competitive procurement process has now allowed four wards to be delivered within the same funding, alongside the fifth ward at…