Author: Press Room

By Anan Zaki of RNZ Mercury Energy is warning residential customers are set for a near 10 percent rise in electricity bills this year, blaming it on a host of factors including higher lines charges and energy costs. It comes after the company revealed $418 million in half-year underlying profit, down four percent from a year ago, which Mercury put down to lower renewable generation and higher costs. It also slumped to a bottom line loss due to changes in the value of unhedged contracts. Mercury said from April, its residential customers faced an average 9.7 percent increase in their…

Award-winning The Gone returns with more murder and mystery for Kiwi Acushla Tara-Kupe and international stars Richard Flood and Michelle Fairley.The multi award-winning local drama series The Gone makes a return tonight with its highly anticipated second season. Starring Kiwi actor Acushla-Tara Kupe (Under the Vines, Shortland Street) and Grey’s Anatomy’s Richard Flood alongside an impressive ensemble cast including Game of Thrones’ Michelle Fairley, the New Zealand/Irish co-production promises to deliver another mysterious case to solve.The show also features Kiwi veterans Wayne Hapi (The Dark Horse), Vanessa Rare (Shortland Street), Matt Whelan (Go Girls) and Miriama Smith (Shortland Street).The cast…

Fire crews extinguished a large blaze near a Northland coastal settlement last night that had threatened properties.At the height of the four hectare scrub fire in Ngunguru more than 40 firefighters were responding, along with four helicopters. Crews received multiple calls reporting the fire at around 3.30pm.One resident told 1News yesterday afternoon that several locals left their homes as a precaution.A fire burning near Ngunguru this afternoon. (Source: Supplied)The fire was extinguished around 8.30am. One crew monitored hot spots overnight, and two crews will return this morning.

The United Nations General Assembly has rejected a US resolution that urges an end to the war in Ukraine due to its failure to note Russian aggression. ADVERTISEMENTIn a win for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) refused to approve a US-backed resolution on Monday that urges an end to the war.Members of the assembly refused to adopt Washington’s resolution as it failed to make mention of the Kremlin’s aggression.Instead they approved a European-backed resolution which demands Russia immediately withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territories, which US President Donald Trump’s administration opposes.Washington…

The great Kiwi overseas experience (OE) has long been a rite of passage for young New Zealanders, but new research suggests it’s evolving.Auckland Airport has released a new report, shedding light on changing travel trends in the great Kiwi OE.Where are New Zealanders going? Traditionally, the UK and Europe have been top destinations, with four out of ten travellers heading there. While London remains popular, its appeal is waning. In the past, 39% of people visited London on their OE, but now only 30% of future travellers plan to do so. People arriving at a UK airport (Source: istock.com)Scott Tasker,…

Mortgage rates continue to fall in the wake of the Reserve Bank’s cut to the official cash rate, with the BNZ the third bank to move this week.BNZ said this morning it was lowering many of its fixed term mortgage rates, effective today.Its six-month rate has been cut by 10 basis points to 5.79%, its one-year rate is down 26 basis points to 5.29% and its 18-month term is down 20 basis points to 5.19%.The bank also lowered its two and three-year terms by 30 basis points. The two-year rate is now 4.99% and three-year rate 5.29%.The two-year rate cut…

It’s unclear why Putin has had this apparent change of mind about international peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. Just three days ago, Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom said Moscow outright rejected the idea of British forces posted to a post-war Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTUS President Donald Trump has said Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end the war.Trump made the comments to reporters at the start of a meeting at the White House with French President Emmanuel Macron on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”Yeah, he will accept…

Tauranga City Council has pulled the plug on plans for a $28 million waterfront walkway as it projects a 12.5% rates increase this year.Mayor Mahe Drysdale told a meeting on Monday the council’s budget is a “ceiling … not a target”.A majority of the council voted to stop all work on Te Hononga ki Te Awanui Memorial Park to Elizabeth Recreation Connection, with applause heard from a handful of people in the public gallery.The meeting heard there was no budget to complete it in the long-term plan.The walkway – previously known as Memorial Park to The Strand – had been…

European Council President Antonio Costa says EU accession is key for Ukraine’s future, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says it could happen earlier than 2030. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Council President Antonio Costa has said that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would be the most important security guarantee for the future of the country.Costa was speaking at a joint press conference with EU leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv.Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy said that he hopes the US will continue to support his country. “We shouldn’t lose unity between Europe and the US,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s…

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recordings artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died today. She was 88.She died at home surrounded by her family, publicist Elaine Schock said in a statement. Flack announced in 2022 she had ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and could no longer sing,Little known before her early 30s, Flack became an overnight star after Clint Eastwood used The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face as the soundtrack for one of cinema’s more memorable and explicit…