Author: Press Room

When Elsie Polosovai moved to New Zealand 11 years ago she says no one knew where she was from.”No one knew where the Solomon Islands were, and they didn’t really care to be honest.”Since 2006, the Pasifika population in Aotearoa has grown about twice as fast as the total New Zealand population. According to the 2023 New Zealand census, 442,632 people identify as Pacific peoples. The representation of Pasifika women and Māori women is the focus of new documentary Myths and Maidens.Myths and Maidens is about unpacking and reclaiming beauty standards and representation of Pasifika women. It is about sharing…

Actress and singer Selena Gomez is engaged to music producer Benny Blanco.The 32-year-old Emilia Pérez star made the announcement in an Instagram post showing off her stunning engagement ring.”Forever begins now..,” the hitmaker captioned the post. Her new fiancé, 36, commented: “Hey wait… that’s my wife”.Selena Gomez shows off her stunning engagement ring. (Source: Instagram)Gomez worked with Blanco on several songs before they began dating in June 2023.Celebrities were quick to congratulate the pair.”Congratulations to you both it must be the cooking,” chef Gordon Ramsay wrote. “Waiiiitttt hold on,” rapper Cardi B wrote.

New water testing results from across New Zealand shows a significant increase in methamphetamine and cocaine use over the last quarter, compared to the previous year.National Drugs in Wastewater Testing Programme results released by the police, showed methamphetamine consumption in the third quarter of 2024 doubled to 32.4 kilograms per week, compared to the average weekly quantity over the previous year of 16.8kg.The consumption of cocaine in the third quarter also nearly doubled to 5.5kg per week, compared to the average weekly quantity over the previous year of 3kg.The weekly social harm of methamphetamine use in this quarter was estimated…

By Jo Moir of RNZ Winston Peters says rail-enabled ferries are a “no-brainer” and insists they will be the cheaper option for the Interislander replacements. Speaking to RNZ from his Beehive office on Thursday, the new Minister for Rail confirmed the coalition government would not be able to get out of a break-fee for the previous iRex contract with Korea’s HMD, but that any penalty cost won’t come out of his funding envelope. “My best knowledge of it is that they don’t build boats of the size we’re talking about, we’re talking about 200-metre ferries, something around that length, and…

Police investigating the death of a woman in Otago’s Lake Hāwea say a “significant assault” took place at her property in March, as a number of further examinations are carried out.A homicide investigation was launched last month after Invercargill woman Karen White’s was killed at her Lake Hāwea property in March.Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher said the 60-year-old victim died as a result of injuries sustained “in a significant assault”.He said police were speaking to a number of people assisting with inquiries.Boucher said yesterday police were back at the homicide scene in Lake Hāwea with scientists from the ESR, completing…

An Auckland apartment that changed hands in October for $50,000 was the cheapest sale of the year, Corelogic says.It has released a report reviewing property sales in 2024.While the priciest sales were a Paritai Drive house for $21.84 million in Orakei and a property on Victoria Avenue in Remuera once owned by Grant Dalton that sold for $20 million, both sold in March, the cheapest was a freehold Morning Star Place property in Auckland’s Mt Albert.With two bedrooms, one bathroom and one car park, it might have looked like a steal at $50,000.But the new owners were also handed a…

The Minister for ACC has announced an independent review into the agency, saying he had concerns with its performance. The Accident Compensation Corporation scheme provides financial help and support to citizens, residents and temporary visitors who have suffered personal injuries. Matt Doocey said today that rehabilitation rates were down and weekly compensation costs and average costs per claim were up. “This review will have a particular focus on claims management. It will look at whether ACC has the right interventions and settings in place to support accident claimants to return to independence as quickly as possible.” He would also work…

Tens of thousands of people across the country and worldwide reported not being able to access social media accounts this morning. According to reports lodged with Downdetector it appeared that Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger were all experiencing problems. There were more than 4000 reports within New Zealand as of 7.22am, and more 100,000 reports of issues globally. Those trying to access Facebook accounts received the message: “Sorry, something went wrong. We’re working on getting this fixed as soon as we can.”In a post to social media platform X, Meta said it was, “aware that a technical issue is impacting…

Today marks three years since Tom Phillips went missing from Marokopa for a second time with his three children Jayda, Maverick and Ember.Phillips had disappeared with the three children once earlier, in September 2021. Police launched an extensive search before the four family members returned, and Phillips was charged with wasting police resources. Then, the group disappeared for a second time on December 12, 2021.Ever since, efforts to locate the fugitive family have been frustrated. Phillips lost custody of the children and faces more charges in connection with an alleged bank robbery. The group have only been seen together once…

British and European respondents believe that a stronger relationship would help them weather geopolitical headwinds, a major new poll has found. ADVERTISEMENTGlobal uncertainty fuelled by Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine and Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House is boosting support among Britons and Europeans for a closer relationship, even if it means crossing so-called red lines, a new poll has found.Half of Britons now believe that the UK government should prioritise relations with the European Union over the US, with only 17% favouring the opposite, according to a new multi-country opinion poll commissioned by the European Council on…