Author: Press Room
A Gang Conflict Warrant already in place for Levin has been extended to cover Manawatū as well after police were fired on twice in two days in Palmerston North.On both occasions, shots were fired at patrol cars as officers tried to stop suspicious vehicles.Central Districts police commander Superintendent Dion Bennett said the extended warrant gave police more powers to search gang members.It now covered an area spanning Dannevirke, Feilding, Eketāhuna and Horowhenua.”Despite the fact it has a wide zone, we are thoughtful and professional around how we apply this legislation,” he said.Recent troubles in Levin, and now Palmerston North, came…
By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Houses in Queenstown, Lake Hayes and Auckland suburbs Devonport and Remuera, as well as large plots of Central Otago land are among the properties foreign buyers might be able to buy under new rules. The government has confirmed that holders of so-called “golden visas” will be able to buy or build one home worth at least $5 million. Since 2018, buyers have generally needed to be residents or citizens to be allowed to buy any residential property. But there are only about 7000 homes in New Zealand in that price range. Cotality chief property economist Kelvin…
Auckland music institution Marbecks has announced the closure of its physical store more than 90 years after it opened on Queen St.In a post to Facebook, the record shop, which opened in 1934, said it would be closing the doors at its Queens Arcade location and moving to an online-only store.”Marbecks will continue to operate online, offering our exceptional range of new releases and the extensive collections,” the statement read.”The move to an online store marks the beginning of a new chapter for us, ensuring that you will continue to access the best in music, delivered straight to your door.…
Company liquidations have increased significantly, despite positive lending trends and eased interest rates. The latest Centrix Credit Indicator for August shows company liquidations are up 26 percent year-on-year, partly due to increased enforcement activity by Inland Revenue. But chief operating officer Monika Lacey said the jump was nothing to be concerned about. “I think the important context to provide here is that in New Zealand, we have over 700,000 registered businesses, of which 600,000 or nearly 600,000 are active. “So, as an actual number of businesses that are going into liquidation, when you’re talking in the hundreds, it is a very…
The Grey District Council has called in the police after online threats to councillors – including references to assassination and torture.Angry comments on community forums and noticeboards have grown more heated over the past fortnight as locals compare soaring rate bills, and potential water charges.The council’s chief executive Joanne Soderlund said the personal attacks, hate speech and violent threats aimed at councillors were unacceptable and unlawful.“References to assassination, waterboarding elected members, and burning down the council building are beyond disgraceful. I must call out this behaviour on behalf of councillors and our staff.”The council has filed an official complaint and…
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Amazon Web Services is spending $7.5 billion on storage and data centres – a move announced by the company four years ago. Luxon told Newstalk ZB the move was expected to boost GDP by $11 billion, creating 1000 jobs, and was the largest ever publicly announced tech investment in New Zealand. Amazon unveiled the plans in 2021, saying the data centres would open in 2024 – but construction was halted in 2023. As of last December, the plan was to open the data centres this year. The company is expected to make an…
When Jenna Ellen began her first round of IVF, she was filled with excitement at the thought of finally starting a family with the love of her life. But, instead of the journey of her dreams, the then 31-year-old Auckland hairdresser was told she had stage 3 cancer.Jenna, now 32, told the Daily Mail: “I was looking forward to conceiving and hopefully being a mum. This was not on my 2025 bingo card.” She and partner Josh, her teenage sweetheart of 16 years, took their first steps to starting a family in mid-July. Jenna and her partner Josh (Source: Supplied)While…
Dunedin’s Smiths City store has been “temporarily closed” for business this morning as the beleaguered retailer enters voluntary administration. The Dunedin store, which moved to Crawford St last year, is one of nine Smiths City shops across New Zealand to close their doors today. The big box retailer last month announced a downsizing which included the closure of its Wānaka store. Founded in Christchurch in 1918, the company had disclosed it was facing increasing financial pressures. “Despite closures of some stores and further downsizing measures, declining sales meant that the director of the company took the decision that trading could no…
A woman died when a breathing tube was inserted into her food pipe instead of her wind pipe for 17 minutes during an operation surgery at an Auckland hospital.She suffered an unsurvivable brain injury.The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) has criticised the lead anaesthetist and Health NZ, Auckland, for the 2021 incident.The 73-year-old was getting a mastectomy and a lymph node removed after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.The report, by deputy Commissioner Carolyn Cooper, noted it was a known complication for breathing tubes to go into the wrong pipe, but it was normally able to be resolved very quickly.In…
Overseas-based investors who hold a investor residence visa will now be allowed to buy a house in New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced.The visa offered residency to those who: Invested a minimum of $5 million into New Zealand; passed a good character test; and had acceptable health.Luxon said the minimum value of a house that could be bought by the visa holders was $5 million, a price tag on less than 1% of New Zealand’s housing supply.Watch: Christopher Luxon speaking to media in AucklandThe Prime Minister said a ban of foreign buyers would remain.The ban, introduced in 2018…