Author: Press Room

Personal experience of renting has driven an MP to push for a law change aiming to limit rent increases on properties to just once per year.The Residential Tenancies (Unfair Rent Increases) Amendment Bill, a member’s bill in the name of Labour MP Glen Bennett, would change the existing laws governing how often the rent can be increased.Currently, the law allows landlords to raise the rent on a tenant once per year.However, the amendment would make that apply to the property itself, so that if the tenant changed several times over the year, the rent could only go up once.See more…

Gisborne District Council is seeking legal advice on the Government’s new speed limit rule, warning that its unique approach to speed changes puts it in a “different boat” than other councils.The rule, which reverses blanket speed reductions introduced by the previous Government, requires speed limits on some local roads and highways to increase by July 1, 2025.However, Gisborne council said its speed limits were set through a bylaw process, making the new rule more complicated to implement.With potential costs reaching $320,000, the council is seeking clarification from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) on which roads must be reverted and…

The Defence Force is proposing a major restructure of its civilian workforce, which could mean a net reduction of 374 roles.The restructure comes after 144 civilian workers opted for voluntary redundancy last year. A NZDF spokesperson said in a statement the cuts were to prioritise savings required to stay within its budget while also maintaining “combat readiness and delivering on core military activities”.”This decision to release a proposal for change is not one that has been made lightly.”1News approached Defence Minister Judith Collins’ office for comment, who said it was an operational matter for the NZDF. ‘Cutting critical civilian expertise’Fleur…

MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for the Wairoa district and a heavy rain watch for the southern Gisborne region.It said while the weather remains settled for the rest of the country this week, a large amount of rainfall will occur Thursday and Friday in these two areas.The orange heavy rain warning for the Wairoa District is in place until midnight.The heavy rain watch is valid for Tairāwhiti/Gisborne from Tolaga Bay southwards for the same period.MetService Meteorologist Kgolofelo Dube said: “If you are located in these areas, you can prepare by clearing your drains and gutters, taking care near…

A strike on Odesa came shortly before a visit by President of the Czech Republic, Peter Pavel, who committed further aid to Ukraine’s war-torn regions. ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian officials reported multiple regions came under Russian attack overnight — including the Black Sea port city of Odesa. Three people were injured and a residential high-rise building and shopping centre were damaged as Russian drones pummelled the city. Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the attack caused emergency power outages.”This is another reminder to the whole world: the war continues and Ukraine continues to fight,” the head of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said in…

When her year-long Institute of Directors’ mentoring for diversity programme comes to an end in June, Leanne Illingworth admits there will be a sense of sadness. The Queenstown-based director was one of only two South Island mentees in the 20-strong 2024 cohort and it was such a diverse range of people in terms of professional backgrounds and levels of governance experience, she said. Applications were open until March 31 for the 2025 programme which offered a year of one-on-one mentoring with a senior director and Ms Illingworth urged anyone contemplating it to give it a go. Targeted at experienced directors…

A new drama, Adolescence, has prompted conversations about the growing influence on boys and young men of what’s known as the manosphere. So what exactly is the manosphere, how has it taken hold and how should we talk to boys and young men about it? Claudia Toxopeus looks into the issue.Adolescence, described as a gripping crime drama, follows a 13-year-old accused of murdering a female classmate and explores the influence of digital echo chambers.Its impact has reached into the world of politics in the UK, with Jess Phillips, the minister responsible for safeguarding women and girls against violence, describing the…

Police are on the lookout for man they believe is behind a “spree of offending” at retailers in central Auckland.Head Hunters associate Storm Bryce Hughes has “numerous” warrants out for his arrest.He is accused of aggravated robbery and other dishonesty offending.”We believe he is continuing to commit offending at retail stores to the tune of thousands of dollars,” Auckland central area commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff said.Retailers, security staff, and members of the public in the city centre and Newmarket areas have been urged to be on the lookout for the 49-year-old.Anyone who sees Hughes – who has links to the…

Former minister of defence and deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak have been charged after leaking government plans in the case of a Russian invasion. ADVERTISEMENTPoland’s former defence minister has been charged by prosecutors after publishing government contingency plans in the case of a Russian invasion. Mariusz Blaszczak, who served in the conservative Law and Justice party that held power between 2015 and 2023, revealed in 2023 a military defence plan that had been drawn up in 2011 in the case of a Russian invasion. That document laid out plans for Polish forces to retreat westward to the Vistula River in the case of an…

“People say, ‘how many birthdays have you had?’ I say, I’ve only had one … all the rest are just celebrations,” Robbie Burnside says laconically. But he does acknowledge there are probably few nonagenarians that have their private pilot’s licence and still fly, let alone own two planes. Mr Burnside, who turned 90 yesterday, was a prominent figure in governance for decades, particularly in agribusiness — most notably as a director of PPCS (now Silver Fern Farms) for 35 years, including 18 as chairman — and the health sector, along with various other organisations. At his Mosgiel home this week…