Author: Press Room

“Dunedin has a past; Queenstown has a future.” They were the words of Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers during an economic update yesterday focused on the case for a regional deal for Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago, in partnership with the Otago Regional Council. His comment was prompted by Arrowtown-based regional economist Benje Patterson, who told Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce members if present trends continued, the combined population of the Central Lakes — Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and Alexandra — would be higher than Dunedin by 2039. Mr Patterson said that presented “an extraordinary growth opportunity for New Zealand…

Boy racers churning up rural roads are costing Carterton ratepayers thousands of dollars each month.Mayor Ron Mark said, eventually, “these idiot racers, these clowns, are going to get it wrong and someone is going to get killed”.At a council meeting on Wednesday, infrastructure manager Johannes Ferreira said incidents of unauthorised street racing were increasing “significantly” throughout Carterton’s roading network.”It is a frustration when we have just resealed or remarked an area to turn up to go out every Monday and clean up tyres, tyre marks, and damaged signs,” Ferreira said.”It’s taking a lot of attention away from areas we should…

Dunedin’s median property price has increased 500% since 2000, the biggest increase of any of New Zealand’s main centres, new data from CoreLogic New Zealand shows. The property research firm has delved into the capital gains experienced by property markets around the country since 2000. Top of the list was Mackenzie district, which had a 1074% increase, from a median value of $64,723 in 2000 to $690,578. Invercargill and Central Otago both had increases of 775%. Waitaki was next, with 745% to a median of $490,223, and Queenstown Lakes 699% to $1.63m. Of the main centres, Dunedin had the most…

Legal restrictions are in place after another Oriental fruit fly was discovered in a suburban Auckland backyard.The single male fly was found in a surveillance trap in Birkdale, on the North Shore.Another single male Oriental fruit fly was discovered in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe last month.”This is the same species of fruit fly that we responded to in Papatoetoe recently, but it is too early to say whether the two finds are linked. Our lab will do further DNA analysis of the fly over the coming days,” Biosecurity NZ regional commissioner Mike Inglis said.”We will be ramping up trapping…

This article was originally published in French During a visit to Brussels, Vitali Klitschko stressed the need to stand united behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid criticism from the United States. ADVERTISEMENTAs we approach the grim third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which began on 24 February 2022, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko visited Brussels to receive an award from the European Committee of the Regions for leadership in protecting human rights.Beyond this award, the visit was also an opportunity for the former boxing champion to call for national unity.Previously a fierce critic of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Klitschko’s call for…

Paul Carter, of Tauranga, cleans a window at a display during the inaugural Otago Home and Garden Show yesterday. Attendees browsed stalls from about 120 different companies that were promoting their products and services. Show director Josh Shanley, of Jade Promotions and Events, said it was a “one-stop shop” for anyone wanting to engage with building, renovating, roofing or landscaping. “It’s a bit of a unique opportunity to get to talk to the people behind some of the products.” Based on other shows the company had held around the country, he expected between 7000 and 9000 visitors in total over…

A new monitoring programme will help ensure that New Zealand’s largest freshwater spring is protected.”They look absolutely stunning,” Murray Close said about Te Waikoropupū Springs.However, the Golden Bay springs and their exceptionally clear water are at risk from human pollution.”The nitrate levels are very low, but there is concern over increasing levels of the past 20 years, which has led to the application for the Water Conservation Order.”The order was granted in 2023 and required Tasman District Council to ensure the water quality is protected.Close, a senior science lead at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, was commissioned by…

Southland’s regional council has failed to meet its legal duties to monitor and protect wetlands, the High Court has ruled, in a landmark case.The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) sought a judicial review on the basis Environment Southland was not meeting its obligations to monitor and protect wetlands and had failed to comply with the Resource Management Act.Environment Southland said the decision was helpful clarification, and that protecting and restoring wetlands was a priority.”This ruling is a major victory for environmental accountability,” ELI senior researcher Anna Sintenie said.Less than 10% of original wetlands in Aotearoa remain.Half the total wetlands lost in…

Germans are about to head to the polls on Sunday after a high-stakes campaign centred on the economy and immigration. Euronews spoke to residents of Cologne about their expectations. ADVERTISEMENTResidents of the German city of Cologne are all raring to go out and vote — yet some are anxious about the future of their country as they head to the polls this coming Sunday. Germany’s unexpectedly short election campaign, which began after Chancellor Olaf Scholz called an early election last December, has been marked by a consistently poor economic outlook and several attacks carried out by migrants, thrusting immigration and…

A senior official at the Ministry of Health was one of four complainants who have taken Wellington City Council to court over its rainbow crossing on Cuba Street.Director of Pacific Health Dr Avataeao Junior Ulu took part in the court action “in a private capacity”, the ministry said this afternoon.A judicial review was held earlier this week in the High Court over whether the crossing complied with the law, with the applicants’ lawyer saying the case was about safety.However, after 1News contacted the Ministry today about Ulu’s involvement, a statement swiftly followed to say he had withdrawn from the case.Deputy…