Author: Press Room

ADVERTISEMENT NATO defence ministers are meeting on Wednesday for the first time since a significant series of drones and Russian jets violated European airspace in recent weeks. High on the agenda is the lack of cohesion amongst allies about a plan on how to best respond to the incursions, parts of which NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said were being developed in cooperation with the European Union. Rutte told the press on Wednesday morning before the meeting kicked off that the two were joining forces in an effort to create a “drone wall” – an idea promoted by European Commission…

Police have released the details of a father and son killed in a “deliberately lit” house fire in Auckland’s Bucklands Beach earlier this month as a double homicide investigation continues.Detective Inspector Tofilau Va’aelua confirmed the victims were 36-year-old Jung Sup Lee and his 11-year-old son Ha-il Lee.”Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family at this difficult time,” he said.The fire broke out at a Murvale Drive property around 2.30am on October 2, prompting a major emergency response. Five people were inside the two-storey home at the time. Three survived, including the mother and another child, who were hospitalised but…

A Central Otago councillor-elect accused of financial misconduct has quit saying “destructive misinformation and hatred” have become too much for his family.Mayor Tamah Alley said she received an email from Dave McKenzie on Wednesday afternoon advising of his decision to withdraw from the election process.McKenzie, who held a lead of fewer than 40 votes in the Vincent ward seat, was investigated by the council when he was a contractor.Council documents show he admitted to at least one instance of charging the council an extra $1000 on an invoice.In a statement, McKenzie said he was disappointed but destructive misinformation and hatred…

Conflict between two Auckland teenagers spanning eight months last year resulted in a fatal shooting and a young man now facing prison time.Eighteen-year-old Maxwel-Dee Repia was killed on Tuarangi Rd in Grey Lynn on September 5, 2024, and three of his associates David Lucas, Sione Salt and Daniel Kalekale also suffered gun wounds.Kayden Stanaway, who was 19 at the time of shooting, pleaded guilty to murder and three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, at the High Court at Auckland earlier today.He’s due to be sentenced in February.An agreed summary of facts outlined months of tensions…

A police officer helped an ambulance carrying a critically ill newborn baby navigate slips and flooding in Awakino Gorge during wild weather on Monday.Constable Donna Potroz was on call in Mōkau and responded to reports of a major slip blocking the road at around 1.40am.On arrival, she found multiple vehicles stranded, including a patient transfer service ambulance with a critically ill newborn onboard.The ambulance was attempting to get from New Plymouth to Waikato Hospital via road because poor weather had grounded air ambulance services. “Constable Potroz chose to travel alongside our patient transfer services officer and medical team from Health…

Leading credit agency S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed New Zealand’s AA+ rating with a stable outlook, but noted budget deficits and debt need to be tackled. The second-to-top mark, reinstituted in early 2021 after the pandemic, is based on expectations the deficits will be narrowed, and the economy will pick up growth as lower interest rates take effect. “The stable outlook … reflects our assessment that the country’s excellent institutions, wealthy economy, and moderate public indebtedness will balance risks associated with high levels of external and private-sector debt over the next two years,” S&P said in a commentary. It said…

Police have made a fresh appeal for a man who went missing with his vehicle more than eight weeks ago.Aydan, aged 39, was last seen in Chartwell in Hamilton before he went missing on Sunday, August 17.He was believed to be driving his 2016 grey Mazda ute, with the registration QYA209.Detective Sergeant Jonathan Carter said Aydan’s family and police were hoping for someone to come forward with information about the Mazda ute.”Have you seen a grey ute anywhere? Perhaps you’ve noticed it hasn’t moved?”If you’ve noticed a grey Mazda ute somewhere across the region, we would like to hear from…

A pilot who claimed Air New Zealand discriminated against him because of his age has succeeded in a personal grievance claim against the airline.Captain Garth McGearty took the claim against Air New Zealand to the Employment Court, after he was turned down by the Employment Relations Authority, alleging unjustified disadvantage and unlawful discrimination because of age.The NZ Airline Pilots Association (NZALPA) was also involved because the issues for determination involved interpretation of the union’s collective agreement.McGearty had reached the most senior rank, as captain of the Boeing 777.He turned 65 in July 2017.Air New Zealand Boeing 777 (file image). (Source:…

Retail NZ says the Government’s proposed ban on merchant surcharges will increase costs for consumers and disproportionately harm small businesses.It has called on the Government to pause the proposed ban under the planned Retail Payment System (Ban on Surcharges) Amendment Bill, which was announced in July and passed its first reading last month.Retail NZ said the Government should allow allow greater time for consultation on the Bill’s changes.Chief executive Carolyn Young said the Bill was poorly targeted, rushed and risks significant unintended consequences.Annually, Kiwis paid an estimated $150 million in surcharges, including $45-$65 million in excessive surcharges.At the time of…

A world-first project has revealed New Zealand’s government agencies are falling behind when it comes to showing compassion to dying people.Hospice NZ has released the first 500 results from its Dying Reviews initiative – a platform where terminally ill New Zealanders and their families rate how they’re treated by hospitals, banks, workplaces and public agencies.The results show an average score of just 3.28 stars out of five, with restaurants and events ranking highest at 4.55 stars, and government services and membership or subscriptions tied for lowest at 2.5 stars.Many respondents said the most distressing part was having to repeatedly prove…