Author: Press Room

Two Lotto players from Napier and Wellington have each won $500,000 in First Division as Powerball rolls over.The winning numbers were: Lotto 01 10 17 25 26 28 Bonus 19 Powerball 05The winning First Division tickets were sold at New World Greenmeadows in Napier, and on MyLotto to a player from Wellington.Powerball was not struck this evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $5 million.Strike Four has also rolled over tonight and will be $1.1 million on Wednesday night.Anyone who bought their ticket from the above store or on MyLotto has been urged to…

Internationally, 2024 has been a bad year for butterflies and local enthusiasts say it is not looking much better here.Norm Twigge has been mad keen on insects since he was 11.Now retired, he was a volunteer in the butterfly garden at Tauranga’s Te Puna Quarry Park.But he was worried about what he was seeing – or rather not seeing – this year.”We used to see probably – throughout the season – five or six red admirals at this particular spot. These days we are lucky to see one,” he said.When RNZ visited the butterfly garden, there was a lone monarch…

A blind person advocacy group says guide dog handlers are being frequently discriminated against by taxi drivers and ridesharing companies.Blind Low Vision New Zealand community and inclusion general manager Dan Shepherd said it was hearing widespread reports of people with assistance dogs being refused taxis, or being ignored altogether when waiting for a ride.Under the Human Rights Act, disability assist dogs are entitled to travel on all forms of public transport, including in taxis.Shepherd told Nine to Noon assistance dog users now expected to be challenged when using taxis and rideshare companies.”As a guide dog handler myself, you come to…

Follow our live blog for updates and results as Georgians vote in an election seen as a critical point in shaping the country’s future inside, or outside, of the EU. ADVERTISEMENTToday’s vote has been described as one of the most critical for the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million people, and also one of its most divisive. The ruling Georgian Dream will see their 12-year grip on power threatened by four main opposition parties: United National Movement, Strong Georgia, Coalition for Change and For Georgia.All four have subscribed to President Salome Zourabichvili’s “Georgian Charter”, an action plan that proposes they…

Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti residents are being warned to brace for more heavy rain overnight after a day of constant downpours.An orange heavy rain warning was in force for the area until 9am Sunday. Thunderstorms and slips were possible, and streams and rivers could rise rapidly, MetService said.West Coast residents were also being asked to stay home on Saturday night and limit travel to essential trips only.Sections of State Highways 7, 6 and 73 were closed due to flooding and heavy snow.However, the heavy rain warnings that were in force for those areas had been lifted.MetService’s rain radar showed…

Opinion: Alexander Gillespie outlines four areas where New Zealand might learn from the US experience with gun laws.The current inquest into the worshippers killed in the Christchurch mosque attacks has been examining gun laws at the time of the 2019 atrocities, and how lax controls helped the terrorist acquire his weapons.Inevitably, it has also put the spotlight on the coalition Government’s proposed changes to the Arms Act, and how changes to licence vetting procedures and regulation might affect public safety.Firearms control is a complex and contentious issue – but New Zealand can learn from other countries’ experience. It may surprise…

Western and Middle Eastern leaders have been calling for restraint after Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran early on Saturday. ADVERTISEMENTBritish prime minister Keir Starmer urged “maximum restraint” in response to Israel’s airstrikes on Iran early on Saturday.The US also urged restraint. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said the US was urging “Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation.”German chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X: “My message to Iran is clear: We cannot continue with massive reactions of escalation. This must end now.”And in a statement France’s foreign ministry…

A Tauranga hapū is disappointed that public land they wanted to buy for homes has instead been sold to a private developer.The land known as Smiths Farm in Bethlehem was owned by Tauranga City Council and the $34 million sale to Venture Developments was announced on Wednesday.A minimum of 307 homes would be built on the 41ha site with 21 of these affordable housing units.Mana whenua Ngāi Tamarāwaho offered to purchase the land on commercial terms and build an affordable housing development in 2015 when the council decided to sell some of it.In 2015, the council classified the land as…

A man has appeared in court charged with murder after a woman died in a stabbing on a bus in Auckland on Wednesday.The woman who died is listed in court documents but her name has not been released by police.Police have said the two did not know each other.Bail was not sought for 37-year-old Kael Austin Leona, of Onehunga.He was remanded in custody until a High Court hearing in November.In addition to murder, Leona was charged with threatening to kill another woman on the same day.He was accused of impeding that woman’s breathing by blocking her nose and mouth.Leona was…

Strong wind continued to batter the Wellington region overnight, with more flights in and out of the capital cancelled this morning.Nearly 30 flights in and out of Wellington were cancelled as strong winds buffeted the capital yesterday evening. The weather’s effects continued to be felt overnight.A FENZ spokesperson said this morning: “Overnight, we received about half a dozen calls [in Wellington] due to roofs coming loose and building materials flapping around. “However, the calls have started dying down,” the spokesperson added.A Wellington Airport spokesperson said at about 9.05am: “12 flights in and out of Wellington have been cancelled this morning…