Author: Press Room

Published on 10/10/2025 – 15:45 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Pressure mounts on the Hungarian European Commissioner for Health Olivér Várhelyi, after an investigation by several media outlets claimed that an alleged spy ring was operated from Hungary’s permanent representation in Brussels at the time when he was ambassador there. According to the outlets, the alleged spy ring was actively recruiting Hungarian nationals as informants to gain access to sensitive Hungarian files. It is not clear whether Várhelyi was aware of covert intelligence operations against EU institutions from his embassy. But now European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to discuss the…

The man accused of smashing a window at Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ house this week has appeared in court, but cannot be named.The 29-year-old appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning on a charge of burglary. He entered a not guilty plea and elected to have a trial by jury. Judge Claire Ryan granted the man interim name suppression, which will be reviewed at his next appearance in February next year. 1News is unable to publish details about the submission for name suppression. Police were called to the house in St Mary’s Bay at about 5.40pm on Monday. The…

KiwiRail has agreed to sell its retired Interislander ferry Aratere to a buyer who will deliver the vessel to a specialist recycling shipyard in India.The ferry, which made its final Cook Strait crossing in August, served as part of the Interislander fleet for 26 years.It was retired to allow for Picton port redevelopment in preparation for two brand-new Cook Strait ferries due to arrive in 2029.Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said Aratere was not suitable for most ferry operators due to its age and the fact it would require “significant” modification or specialist port infrastructure.”Therefore, we have pursued a…

A 19-year-old has been arrested and charged over a series of death threats made online against a Member of Parliament earlier this year.Police said the threats were allegedly sent via a social media platform in March 2025 and were serious enough to prompt a formal investigation.Further arrests were likely as the investigation continued, police added.The man was arrested on October 8 and has been charged with causing harm by posting digital communication and threatening to kill. He was due to appear in the Gisborne District Court on October 15.Detective Inspector Warren OIsson said the nature and volume of the threats…

A central Nelson shopping complex, which has been empty for nearly a year after cladding issues left it earmarked for demolition, is set to get a new lease on life as a retail and hospitality precinct.More than 20 retailers and commercial tenants were forced to vacate the Morrison Square shopping complex last year after engineering assessments revealed issues with the building’s cladding system.Originally named Fashion Island, the site at 244 Hardy Street was purchased by ACC for $22.7 million in 2008.It was announced in May that Scott Construction had bought the site and had plans to redevelop it.The project is…

A man has been arrested and several 3D-printed and homemade guns seized after a police raid in Auckland’s Henderson yesterday. A search of the property on Kingsdale Rd was carried out with the Armed Offenders Squad after police received information about potential firearms. Detective Senior Sergeant Josh Lautogo said police made “quick work” in the raid, taking a person into custody. Some of the 3D-printed and homemade guns seized by police in Henderson. (Source: Supplied)Police found several 3D-printed and homemade guns, as well as ammunition, at the address. A 20-year-old man was arrested and was due to appear in Waitākere…

Emergency services were called to two separate aviation incidents in quick succession on Friday morning – one involving a small plane in Whangārei and the other an Air Force helicopter making an emergency landing at a Manawatū air base.Indications of an engine fire were reported aboard an RNZAF A109 helicopter at 10.26am, a New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said.”The crew declared an emergency and a full response was activated by Base Ohakea and local Fire and Emergency NZ.”The aircraft landed at 10.28am and the crew was evacuated.The spokesperson said there was no external evidence of fire and that the aircraft…

An emergency operations centre has been activated by the Grey District Council this afternoon as heavy rain lashes parts of the South Island. Watches and warnings are in place for Tararua, Wellington, Buller, Tasman and Canterbury. Several areas were still under heavy rain or strong wind alerts until Saturday or Sunday.In a post to social media this afternoon, Grey District Council said it had activated an emergency operations centre and urged people to “stay out of floodwaters, and avoid non-essential travel”. Flooding has closed some roads, as pictured by Grey District Council. (Source: Supplied)”Floodwaters are rising quickly so plan for…

A leading senior police officer has become the first Māori member of the Victoria Police to wear a moko kauae.Senior Constable Marlene Drummond, who is of Ngāpuhi descent, received her moko kaue after years of consideration and reflection.”I feel anchored to my heritage and ancestry, like I’m carrying my Nanny with me,” she said.The moko kauae is a sacred taonga (treasure) for wāhine Māori, representing their whakapapa (genealogy), whānau (family), tūpuna (ancestors), and cultural heritage.Leading Senior Constable Marlene Drummond honours her Ngāpuhi heritage with the traditional Māori tattoo. (Source: Victoria Police.)Drummond said it was a visual representation of her cultural…

The leader of a secretive religious group has announced he’s stepping back from his role, citing a “tough year” and “constant pressure”.Wayne Dean, who oversees a church commonly referred to as the Two By Twos or The Truth – though it has no official name – has been leading its New Zealand branch for the past three years. Originally from Western Australia, Dean is now returning home for what he describes as “an extended break”.The church is currently under investigation by New Zealand police for alleged sexual offending.In a letter emailed to the group’s roughly 2500 members, Dean wrote: “Constant…