Author: Press Room

The country’s biggest lenders will begin answering questions at a select committee inquiry from today. 1News looks at the reasons for the parliamentary grilling.New Zealand’s banking sector has been under scrutiny for some time.A Commerce Commission study into personal banking services earlier this year found there was little competition within a sector dominated by the big four Australian-owned banks.It made 14 recommendations, including bringing in open banking and strengthening Kiwibank so it can offer “real competitive pressure” in the market. The Government said it would act on all of those recommendations.At the same time, the Government said it was opening…

Local residents fear the closure of a link road between Wellington’s Transmission Gully and Porirua will only add to their commute.Porirua City Council, Wellington Electricity, Wellington Water and Kāinga Ora would begin carrying out “critical infrastructure” service upgrades on the Waitangirua Link Road and the adjoining Whitby link road, Te Ara Kāpehu from 4 November.The link roads connected the suburbs of Waitangirua and Whitby with State Highway 1.The council said the road would be closed for up to five months, while work was done to improve electricity network resilience and increase drinking water services for the fast-growing eastern suburbs.Transmission Gully…

Member states are dragging their feet implementing EU laws intended to ensure workers get a decent salary, as a key deadline looms, the European Trade Union Confederation said. ADVERTISEMENTWith weeks to go until a key legislative deadline, seven EU countries have not even started legislating for new EU minimum wage protections, new research from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has found. New EU laws, agreed in June 2022 in the wake of a significant cost of living crisis, must be embedded in national legislation to take effect – but France, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania and Malta haven’t even started…

Investigators said the euro, dollar and lev-printing scheme represents a severe attack on Bulgaria’s and the European Union’s financial systems. ADVERTISEMENTAuthorities in Bulgaria say they have seized a large quantity of counterfeit banknotes after dismantling an operation for their production in the northern town of Shumen.Law enforcement agents on Tuesday said the fake bills, made in 50 Bulgarian lev, $50, and €500 denominations, had been released into circulation, passing through several banks and ATMs.Boyan Raev, deputy head of the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, said the authorities found a significant batch of the Bulgarian 50-lev banknotes.”The $50 bills were…

“There’s nothing for our kids and teenagers in this town.”This claim is regularly bandied about the Canterbury town of Ashburton, but local councillors are firing back at the accusations of boredom.District councillor Phill Hooper asked: “What more do they want?”He said there was plenty of activities for local youth and the onus is on them to “get off the couch and get amongst it”.”I’ve heard people suggesting that (the) council should provide a bowling alley, gaming arcade, and even Chipmunks.”This is not our role.”The first-term councillor said the past suggestions are all private enterprise options.”And I suggest there’s a good…

Police are determined to get justice for Baby Ru, one year to the day after the toddler died of his injuries in Wellington.Ruthless-Empire died in Hutt Hospital in Lower Hutt from severe head injuries just days before his second birthday.Police described the boy’s death as “violent”, and said his injuries could have come from a weapon, or through physical force such as slamming his head on a hard floor or table.Toddler Ruthless-Empire, known as Baby Ru, died in October. (Source: Ngatanahira Reremoana)While no arrests have been made, there are three persons of interest, and the detective in charge of the…

This article was originally published in German FPÖ’s controversial leader Hebert Kickl has “no coalition partners” according to reports from Vienna, with incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer asked to form the new government instead. ADVERTISEMENTIncumbent Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has been asked by the country’s president to form a new government, after the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) found itself with no coalition partners despite coming first in last month’s election. Typically, the president asks the leader of the strongest party to form a government, in this case FPÖ which won with 29% of the vote. The conservative People’s Party, led by Nehammer,…

Multiple crews were called to a fire at a property in Wellington’s Newtown last night. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) was alerted to the fire on Daniell St at around 8.22pm. Four fire trucks, one ladder truck, a command unit and a truck with a breathing apparatus were sent to the scene. FENZ described the fire as “well involved” when crews arrived at the scene. Footage from the property this morning showed parts of the exterior were charred and melted guttering could be seen hanging from part of the roof. A FENZ spokesperson said all people who were at…

Spain’s Canary and Balearic islands top the list of EU regions with 83.2 and 61.7 million nights spent in 2023 by foreign tourists, while the Greek island of Zakyinthos and Croatia’s Istrian peninsula are those suffering the highest pressure compared to the number of residents. ADVERTISEMENTMallorca was the favourite destination by foreign tourists in 2023, according to new data released by Eurostat that considers the number of nights tourists spend in the location. Spain’s Balearic island tops the list of EU destinations with over 47 million nights.Second and third place can also be found in the southern European country —…

Police have charged a third person with the murder of a man who died in hospital after he was found injured on the side of a Waikato road following an alleged assault. Police also named the man as Darshak Narran, 43, from South Auckland. Narran was found critically injured early on Monday morning last week on Hampton Downs Rd in the vicinity of the racetrack near Whangamarino.He never regained consciousness and died at Auckland City Hospital on Thursday. A 23-year-old Papakura man will appear in the Manukau District Court tomorrow.Two men, aged 32 and 42, were earlier arrested and charged…