Author: Press Room

A water and shoreline search has been launched in Northland after an 83-year-old man, not seen since Saturday, was reported missing. The search in Onerahi, which is being carried out by police, Coastguard and Surf Life Saving, commenced after the man was reported missing yesterday. “The man goes for a daily swim in the Whangārei Harbour and wears a wet suit and pink swim cap,” a police spokesperson said.Police and search and rescue squads from Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club Whangārei Heads Volunteer Surf Life Saving Patrol, along with volunteers from Northland Coastguard Air Patrol and Coastguard Whangārei, are…

Georgia could potentially become the next Ukraine, given Russia’s past invasion and the ongoing threat of aggression, according an expert who spoke with Euronews. Its precarious geographic position makes the situation more complex, though it may not directly impact European security. ADVERTISEMENTOn Monday, Moldovans narrowly voted in favour of continuing the country’s path toward EU membership, with the “No” vote leading until the final moments. The country’s president Maia Sandu condemned Russian interference and accused “criminal groups” of attempting to undermine the vote in the former Soviet republic. Moldova will now hold the second round of presidential elections next month,…

Police are investigating after a man entered a South Auckland police station in the early hours of this morning, with injuries “consistent with stab wounds”.The man appeared at the Manukau Police Station at around 12.30am with “injuries consistent with stab wounds”, a spokesperson said.”He was transported to hospital in a critical condition.”Police are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.

Police have charged a man after the fatal shooting death of a hunter in Te Urewera Ranges last December.Michael William Bennett, 63, was “found dead by a hunting companion and a personal locator beacon was activated at around 2am” on December 1, 2023, according to police.”A 50-year-old man has been charged with careless use of a firearm causing death and recklessly discharging a firearm,” a police spokesperson said.”He is scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court on Thursday, October 24.”Police would like to take this opportunity to again extend our condolences to Mr Bennett’s family for their loss.”

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ An Australian insurer has been told to unwind a 60 percent increase to a customer’s insurance premiums after the person complained – but New Zealand policyholders do not have the same recourse. ABC reported the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) ordered the massive increase be scrapped, because it was not convinced the insurer applied “the significant increase in premium fairly or that it justified its position”. Suncorp is one of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest insurers with brands including Vero and Asteron Life. Data earlier this year showed New Zealand home insurance premiums were up more…

Ex-MP Darleen Tana says she is “relieved” she has been booted from Parliament under the so-called “waka-jumping” law, and has revealed why she refused to quit her job, despite repeated calls for her to do so.Tana spoke exclusively to 1News, following confirmation from Speaker Gerry Brownlee she would be ejected from Parliament after the Green Party invoked legislation to do so.It follows a decision by the party’s delegates to direct Green co-leaders to write to Brownlee, stating Tana’s resignation from the party affected the proportionality of the Parliament – under so-called waka-jumping or “party-hopping” legislation.The Greens have been firm in…

National MPs are refusing to answer questions about Andrew Bayly’s insulting of a worker, while Labour says the prime minister’s response is “weak”.Bayly on Friday released a written complaint against him levelled by a worker when Bayly was on a ministerial visit.The complaint said Bayly had questioned why the worker was still working and told them to “take a bottle of wine and go home … take some wine and f— off”, and later called them a “loser” in front of their boss, the minister’s assistant, marketing staff and other employees – forming an L on his forehead with his…

Major hotel operator Millennium and Copthorne Hotels is returning to Christchurch for the first time since the earthquakes with a multimillion-dollar facility. The agreement with Mayfair Luxury Hotels Limited and Stapley family interests would see the 67-room Mayfair Hotel change hands for just under $32 million, with settlement expected before the end of November. The Victoria Street hotel was completed and opened in 2022, and included a cafe and cocktail bar. MCK would use existing cash and bank facilities to complete the acquisition. Its managing director Stuart Harrison said the company had five hotels in Christchurch prior to 2011, and…

Star Trek fans will be able to boldly go and bid when more than 200 rare items from the science-fiction franchise go under the hammer next month.The pop culture phenomenon, set on board the starship USS Enterprise in the Milky Way galaxy, debuted on screens with its eponymous show in the 1960s.The long-running franchise originally starred William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock, DeForest Kelley as Lieutenant Commander Dr Leonard “Bones” McCoy, James Doohan as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, and George Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu.Auction house Julien’s…

All southbound lanes have re-opened on Auckland’s Southern Motorway after an earlier closure during rush hour due to a police incident.Emergency services were earlier responding to an incident near the Penrose Rd overbridge at about 4.35pm.”While the lanes have reopened, there is still significant traffic build-up following the earlier closure,” a police spokesperson said. “Motorists are asked to delay travel or take alternative routes where possible.”NZTA said in a statement that State Highway 1 was closed between Ellerslie Panmure Highway and the South Eastern Highway.”Consider using SH16 and SH20 as an alternative route.”Traffic was backed up around 6km to the…