Author: Press Room
An early morning magnitude 4.5 earthquake has jolted the Hawke’s Bay region near Napier and Hastings. GeoNet reported the tremor struck at 1.08am around 5km south of Napier, at a depth of 24km. Nearly 2000 people reported feeling the “moderate” shaking, according to GeoNet’s website. One person wrote on social media that their house was “jolted horrifically” during the quake. Another commenter said the shaking felt “a bit more than moderate” near Bluff Hill, Napier. GeoNet encouraged people to remember to “Drop, Cover and Hold” during the event of an earthquake. “In the event of a big shake and when…
The former operator of a Balclutha health store has been put into liquidation owing $220,000. The director of Ibbotson 2020 Ltd, which formerly operated Health 2000 Balclutha, attributed the insolvency to competition with online sales and the effects of Covid-19. The liquidators’ first report said the company had operated the franchise natural health store for nearly five years, retailing health products and supplements from a leased premises in Balclutha. The company’s sole director, listed as Stacey Hill, cited several factors as contributing to the insolvency, “including the ongoing effects of Covid on retail operations, competition from discount outlets/online sales, as…
Police are seeking help from the public following a burglary in the early hours of Saturday morning in Palmerston North. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Deegan said the residential burglary in the Stoney Creek Rd area was reported to police on Sunday evening, and likely occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.”A Polaris Ranger 1000 all-terrain vehicle was stolen, along with the trailer it was on,” he said. Deegan said police wanted to hear from anyone who may have been in the Stoney Creek Rd area at the time who may have seen the vehicle and the trailer, or had…
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has arrived in Malaysia along with other world leaders for the start of the East Asia Summit amid tight security. Thousands of police officers have been brought into Kuala Lumpar and a lockdown is in force in the central city with only official vehicles allowed to travel in the area. On arriving Luxon’s motorcade passed one of the numerous pro-Palestine protests that were being held in the city. US President Donald Trump was attending the ASEAN meeting this year, primarily to observe the signing of a further peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia after cross-border military…
Dunedin businesses are gathering for a showcase to share practical advice on how to reduce energy bills amid a “real shakeup” in the electrical industry. The free one-day showcase of solutions to rising energy costs and climate change, “Electrify Dunedin”, will be held at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum tomorrow. It would include two workshops aimed at local businesses looking to cut costs and future-proof their operations, and households wanting to save money on energy bills. It is part of the nationwide Rewiring Aotearoa tour, organised locally by a volunteer-run community group. Organiser Louis Brown said prices were forecast to be…
Work is about to begin on a new organic facility being built by Ecogas in Christchurch to turn food and garden waste into biogas and fertiliser. The waste-to-organics processing company, owned 85% by Alexandra-based Pioneer Energy Group and 15% by Ecostock managing director Andrew Fisher, is building the factory on a 3ha site in Hornby. The facility is due to begin operating in early 2027, and up to 100,000 tonnes of organic waste is expected to be turned into renewable energy, biofertiliser and biomass fuel each year to support local farms and industry. Ecogas chief executive Peter McClean said in…
ANALYSIS: Recent measles cases are a stark reminder of the pending danger of a measles outbreak. Focusing on the immunity of children and closing the “immunity gap” is essential, say medical experts Anna Howe, Emma Best and Rachel Webb.The recent confirmation of new measles cases unconnected to international travel suggests the highly contagious disease has likely started spreading through communities, according to Health New Zealand.This is a stark reminder of the pending danger of a larger measles outbreak. To prevent transmission once the measles virus has been introduced, a population immunity of around 95%, evenly distributed throughout communities, is necessary.New…
The former operator of a Balclutha health store has been put into liquidation owing $220,000. The director of Ibbotson 2020 Ltd, which formerly operated Health 2000 Balclutha, attributed the insolvency to competition with online sales and the effects of Covid-19. The liquidators’ first report said the company had operated the franchise natural health store for nearly five years, retailing health products and supplements from a leased premises in Balclutha. The company’s sole director, listed as Stacey Hill, cited several factors as contributing to the insolvency, “including the ongoing effects of Covid on retail operations, competition from discount outlets/online sales, as…
By Euronews with AP Published on 26/10/2025 – 9:57 GMT+1 •Updated 9:58 Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly will become the 10th president of Ireland after winning elections by a landslide victory. Official results showed strong voter support for Connolly as president, a largely ceremonial role in Ireland. She won 63% of first-preference votes once spoiled votes were excluded, compared to 29% of her rival Heather Humphreys, of the centre-right party Fine Gael. Connolly, 68, said Saturday evening at Dublin Castle that she would champion diversity and be a voice for peace and one that “builds on our policy of neutrality.” “I would be…
Survivors of abuse in state care who have been sent to prison as adults are devastated by a proposed redress law change which could exclude some from getting abuse compensation.The Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill, which passed its first reading this week, would introduce a presumption against financial redress for survivors if they have been sentenced to more than five years in jail for serious violent or sexual offending, and filed their redress claim on May 9 2025, onward.It’s estimated 5% of survivors have become serious offenders later in life, with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse…