Author: Press Room

Almost three in four young Australian workers, particularly those employed in the finance sector, worry artificial intelligence technology will shrink their job prospects, a study has revealed. But most working members of Generation Z (people born from 1997 to 2010) are not allowing AI concerns to stop them using the technology, with most given access to the tools by their employers and almost all using them weekly.  Microsoft Australia released the findings today in a survey designed to gauge opinions of generative AI technology from the “first AI-fluent generation”. The findings come as debate over AI regulations continues in Australia,…

Customs has announced that eligible ePassport holders from eleven additional countries and territories can now use New Zealand’s automated eGates for both arrivals and departures.Travellers aged 10 and over from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, the Seychelles, and San Marino are now eligible to use the eGates at airports across New Zealand.This update brings the total number of eligible countries and territories to 59. Work was continuing to enable further additions later this year.A series of trials were conducted by Customs and Immigration NZ to ensure ePassports from these countries met strict border security…

A man has died after hitting his head on the ground during an altercation in Hastings.Acting Detective Inspector James Keene said police were called to a Mahora property after 9.45am on Saturday to reports of an altercation between two males.During the altercation, one of the males suffered a head injury after his head hit the ground.”He was taken to Wellington Hospital where he died from his injuries late on Sunday,” Keene said.Keene added police were speaking with those involved and interested in hearing from anyone with information.Those with information were urged to contact police by phoning 105 or anonymously via…

Almost three in four young Australian workers, particularly those employed in the finance sector, worry artificial intelligence technology will shrink their job prospects, a study has revealed. But most working members of Generation Z (people born from 1997 to 2010) are not allowing AI concerns to stop them using the technology, with most given access to the tools by their employers and almost all using them weekly.  Microsoft Australia released the findings today in a survey designed to gauge opinions of generative AI technology from the “first AI-fluent generation”. The findings come as debate over AI regulations continues in Australia,…

Some mayoral hopefuls could be waiting a while yet to pop the bubbly, with single-digit margins in some areas and special votes still to be counted in local elections across the country.Voting closed at midday on Saturday with more than 1500 roles to be filled across 78 city, district, and regional councils nationwide. While progress results were released on Saturday and preliminary results were available from Sunday, final results would be available on Thursday and Friday.Local Government NZ interim chief executive Scott Necklen said early figures showed voter turnout was down from 2022, sitting at just 32.65%.Westland: Just four votes…

Northland centenarian and documentary star Isey Cross of Kawakawa has died, aged 106.In 2021, a documentary followed the life of Isey Cross and her youngest son and caregiver James Cross as they prepared for her 100th birthday.When the mother and son attended the world premiere of James and Isey at Auckland’s Civic Theatre in 2021, it was the first time Isey had been to the Civic, or to any movie, since World War II.The film is the seventh highest grossing New Zealand documentary of all time.The New Zealand Film Commission has paid tribute to her passing on their social media…

Auckland ratepayers can now have their say on a proposal to trial a fortnightly rubbish collection, with consultation open.The proposed six-month trial set to begin next February, if approved, would affect three areas in the region – parts of Te Atatū Peninsula, Panmure/Tāmaki, and Clendon Park/Weymouth.Participating households would receive a temporary rates reduction to reflect the change from weekly to fortnightly collections.Auckland Council’s waste solutions general manager Justine Haves said feedback from residents would be important in helping elected members decide whether the trial went ahead.”We understand that changes to rubbish services matter and they need to work for Aucklanders,”…

Poor decision-making contributed to the deaths of two teenage women in an off-road crash near Nelson last year, a coroner says.The pair, whose names are suppressed, were returning from a hut in Mt Richmond Forest Park late on April 8 when their ute rolled 98 metres down a steep bank.The 18-year-old women had intended to stay at Beebys Hut but told a friend in a video call they were cold and were driving back down the mountain.Police were notified of the crash at 11.01pm by an automated emergency alert from one of the women’s phones.Coroner Peter Ryan said the women…

Moriori people, tchakat henu (tangata whenua) of Rēkohu, the Chatham Islands, have much to celebrate with the first-ever Moriori language week kicking off this November.Hokotehi Moriori Trust secretary Hana-Maraea Solomon encouraged everyone to champion the language all over the world.”We just want everybody to be able to share and enjoy our language with us.””Every time we speak the language, it’s almost like a connection to our karāpuna [ancestors].”Once a declining population with little-to-no knowledge of the language and traditions, Moriori people have sworn to reclaim their identity.”Obviously it’s taken a long enough time, decades in fact, to be able to…

Just three new faces were slated to appear in the Nelson City Council chamber next term after all the incumbents retained their seats in the local elections, including mayor Nick Smith.According to the preliminary results, Lisa Austin was elected in the Central Ward, Sarah Kerby in the Stoke-Tāhunanui Ward, and Nigel Skeggs at large.They replace deputy mayor Rohan O’Neill-Stevens and councillors Matthew Benge and Rachel Sanson who chose not to stand again for election.Smith has decisively retained his position as mayor after receiving 10,707 votes – around 4100 ahead of his main competitor, Aaron Stallard, who would be returning to…