Author: Press Room

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…

New rules from Brussels aim to streamline biopesticide and biocontrol approvals, addressing the outdated process and helping Europe stay competitive in the global market. ADVERTISEMENTAs regulatory delays risk driving innovation away from Europe, a newly announced plan of the EU executive aims to speed up approvals for biopesticides and biocontrol technologies.The European Commission is set to overhaul the current framework for marketing the two, announcing new EU rules to fast-track approvals in the last quarter of this year, followed by the much-anticipated 2026 Biotech Act expected to fill any remaining gaps.With pesticide reduction targets shelved indefinitely, the most significant development…

The thin blue line has put its body on the line at Otago University today, with Dunedin’s campus police officer taking on first year students in a push up challenge. Some students were practicing at 3am for the big day – but they were no match for Senior Constable John Woodhouse.The police officer, who’s turning 65 this year, started the tradition during O Week in 2018 to introduce himself to the new students.”I try to do them every day, much the same way as brushing your teeth,” he told 1News.While student Marama Nicholas set the bar high at 68, Woodhouse…

Dunedin man Andrew Douglas was recently awarded a fellowship of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand in recognition of his contribution to the organisation. He talks to business editor Sally Rae about life as a carbon accountant. Andrew Douglas was working in London when a friend’s sister asked if he would look after the financials for a film she was producing on climate change. Keen for a change, Mr Douglas agreed, little realising his year-long involvement with the British docufiction film was to have a major impact on his future career trajectory. Prior to the film’s release in 2009, he acknowledged he was not…

A local politician says extra security may be needed for future Pride events at Auckland’s libraries.Protesters linked to Destiny Church stormed the Te Atatū Community Centre and Library in protest of a children’s event hosted by a drag king last weekend.Dr Will Flavell, Henderson-Massey Local Board deputy chair, said he met with community leaders and residents of Te Atatū on Monday for a karakia to “boost that space where the negative issue happened”.For future Pride events, he says security would be necessary. “I know there are Pride events happening this week, and I think that it’s really important that there…

The Hungarian government has asked the EU to refrain from any new initiatives that could undermine the Trump-led negotiations. ADVERTISEMENTHungary has emerged as the main roadblock for the European Union as member states attempt to close ranks and strengthen their unified position in reaction to Donald Trump’s disruptive push for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.Trump’s initiative, launched without coordination with Western allies, has upended transatlantic relations and stoked fears that Ukraine would be forced into a highly disadvantageous deal that would severely weaken Europe’s long-term security.The American president’s embrace of Russian-esque talking points, calling Volodomyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,”…