Author: Press Room

The start of the trading year has given Christchurch retailers and hospitality owners a spring in their step. Tourism traffic throughout the city and region is picking up as summer finally arrives and follows a solid start to retail spending over Christmas. Businesses are waiting to cash in at the prospect of more visitors coming into the city for the concert by Canadian rock musician Bryan Adams later in the week. Another expected crowd puller is the Black Caps’ T20 match versus Pakistan at Hagley Oval on March 16, while the White Ferns meet Sri Lanka in two games over…

A bill granting Taranaki Maunga and its associated peaks legal personhood is expected to pass into law tomorrow.Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress bill will have its second and third readings in Parliament to officially recognise the peaks – Taranaki, Panitahi, Patuhā, Kaitake and Pouākai – as ancestral mountains who will jointly become a legal person under the name of Te Kāhui Tupua.Wait…a mountain will become a person?Legally, yes.This isn’t the first time a natural feature has been conferred personhood and rights. Ecuador and Bolivia were among the first countries to recognise rights of nature, and…

A section of State Highway 15 near Whangārei will be closed overnight while police investigate the “unexplained” death of a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was found dead in a creek adjacent to Otaika Valley Road, SH15, just before 5.30am today and his motorcycle was found on the side of the road. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said police inquiries were in the “early stages” and the death was being treated as “unexplained”. As part of its scene examination, police closed a section of SH15. This afternoon, NZTA Waka Kotahi said SH15 between Maungatapere and Otaika would remain closed overnight as…

People are being warned to take extra care before meeting up with strangers to exchange money or items after a spate of violent assaults and thefts.Canterbury Police say more than a dozen people have been threatened, attacked or robbed while collecting goods listed on social media or online marketplaces.In some cases, buyers thought they were picking up cannabis purchases — only to be threatened and fleeced.And police fear that is just the tip of the iceberg with some people reluctant to report what has happened out of fear or embarrassment.Canterbury District Prevention Manager Inspector Ash Tabb said in the last…

Pharmac is reconsidering its decision to fund only one brand of HRT oestrogen patches after receiving “considerable feedback”.The patches are used by menopausal people as a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some trans women and non-binary people as a gender-affirming hormone therapy.In November, the agency decided only the Mylan-brand patch would be funded, as part of an effort to address ongoing shortages.There was a huge public backlash to the decision, with many people claiming the Mylan-brand patch was less effective in controlling menopausal symptoms.More than 1300 people signed a petition calling on the government to keep the Estradot brand available.Pharmac…

A man has been arrested following an alleged “unprovoked” stabbing at a park in Palmerston North park this afternoon.Police were called to a park on Dogwood Way at around 1pm after receiving reports that a person had received injuries consistent with stab wounds in an unprovoked assault.”One person was transported to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious condition where they are receiving medical treatment,” Detective Sergeant Shelley Ross said.A 25-year-old man was arrested and was due to appear in the Palmerston North District Court tomorrow, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”This was a callous and unprovoked…

Mzia Amaglobeli has been charged with assaulting a police officer, but her family and supporters say she is being punished for her journalism. ADVERTISEMENTSupporters of detained Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli — who has been on a hunger strike for more than two weeks — say that her life is at risk as her health worsens.Amaglobeli, the founder of Georgian news outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested on 12 January for slapping Irakli Dgebuadze, the police chief of Batumi, the country’s second largest city located on the Black Sea coast. The veteran journalist has been charged with assaulting a police officer…

Steps to improve the fortunes of an embattled Fiordland airport have been lambasted during a heated council debate.Today, Southland district councillors met to discuss the next move in the Te Anau Airport Manapouri review, which began in 2023.The review looks to address issues at a facility which has run at a loss since its inception and recorded shortfalls of $217,000 to almost $320,000 across the last five years alone.At a December meeting of the Fiordland Community Board, a decision was made to activate phase two of the review — a business case from Great South to the tune of $324,180…

A 69-year-old Dutch national has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after he attempted to smuggle $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine through Auckland Airport last year.He was sentenced at the Manukau District Court yesterday after being convicted of the importation of the Class A controlled drug.The 4.4kg of methamphetamine was seized by Customs in September last year after it was found in the lining of the man’s hand luggage.The estimated street value of the seized drugs was up to $1.6 million, and $4.9 million worth of social harm.“Anyone committing such a serious crime will have to face the consequences,” Customs Auckland…

A water leak at Auckland City Hospital has struck the main adult building — requiring a shutdown of supply as attempts are made to rectify the problem.Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai group director of operations, Mike Shepherd told 1News: “Work is underway to repair a water leak in one of the wards that is affecting water supply across parts of the main adult hospital building — Building 32.”There will be a full shutdown of the water system in Building 32 from 6pm [Wednesday]. This is expected to last for up to 10 hours and will…