Author: Press Room

Labour has asked the Auditor-General to investigate a government decision to slash tax on heated tobacco products, claiming there are signs of “industry influence”.Labour’s health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall has asked Controller and Auditor General John Ryan for an urgent investigation under the Public Audit Act.Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, who is also Customs Minister, halved the excise tax on heated tobacco products (HTPs) in July and her Cabinet colleagues agreed to set aside a contingency of $216 million to cover the foregone revenue.Costello said she slashed the tax to encourage chronic smokers to switch to HTPs.But the change was made…

A group of youths have all been “brought down safely” after they climbed onto the roof of an Auckland youth justice residence last night.Oranga Tamariki alerted police to the incident in Wiri at about 6.40pm with 13 young people involved.Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Oranga Tamariki’s Iain Chapman speak after 13 young people got on the roof at Korowai Manaaki, Auckland. (Source: 1News)By about 9.40am this morning, just four youths remained on the roof at Korowai Manaaki– and at about 10.50am, the last of them came down.”Whilst it is disappointing that this occurred, we can confirm at no point…

The Government has revealed new details of its replacement school lunch programme — including a taste of what students can expect.Associate Education Minister David Seymour said businesses had worked with the Government to “transform” the existing programme, “delivering for children and saving for taxpayers”.”Every student receiving a school lunch today will continue to do so from day one of Term 1 next year,” he said.”The programme will deliver nutritious hot and cold meals, such as butter chicken curry, chicken katsu, lasagne, chicken pasta salad and wraps. These meals will cost $3 each. “All students in year 0 to 8 will…

Triple murderer Lauren Dickason is set to be deported after serving her sentence in New Zealand.The South African doctor was found guilty in August last year of murdering her three young daughters in their Timaru home.She was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in June this year. The judge did not impose a life sentence or order a minimum term of imprisonment.She will be eligible to be considered for parole from September 19, 2027, a parole board spokesperson confirmed today.Once her sentence is complete, she is set to be deported, a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment spokesperson said.”We can confirm…

The project of establishing “return hubs” for rejected asylum seekers faces a myriad of challenges, including potential conflicts with international law. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union must outsource parts of its migration policy – or at least try. That was the main message of the 27 EU leaders when they met last week in Brussels and agreed to explore “new ways” to curb irregular migration. The endorsement was deliberately vague to ensure as much room for maneuver as possible. Still, there was one particular idea that had everybody, including Ursula von der Leyen, thinking and talking: “return hubs.””It’s not trivial but this…

The Government is set to appoint a Crown Observer to Wellington City Council in weeks, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced this afternoon.Brown has written to Wellington City Council with a draft terms of reference and has given the council 10 working days to respond as required under the law. The move follows months of wrangling over the council’s long-term plan. A planned sale of the council’s ownership stake in Wellington Airport, pushed by mayor Tory Whanau, was scuttled at the last minute following a vote by councillors earlier this month.Brown announced he would implement a Crown Observer this…

Hollywood star Jason Momoa is bringing his latest action movie, The Wrecking Crew, to the South Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu.The sound of screeching tyres, vehicle crashes, and small explosions may be heard in the neighbourhood as the film crew takes over some streets from tomorrow until November 6. Manukau ward councillor Alf Filipaina said it will put the suburb on the big screen and provide a boost for local businesses.“It really is [cool] not only for Ōtāhuhu, but also I think for Tāmaki Makaurau and New Zealand, because the more movies getting shot here, the better for New Zealand.”And it’s…

The debate is growing about whether the Reserve Bank should make a jumbo-sized cut to the official cash rate next month.Financial markets are pricing in a 20% chance of a 75 basis point cut in November, and there are suggestions it may be necessary with the next meeting not taking place until February next year.BNZ’s head of research Stephen Toplis said it is not out of the realm of possibility, but a 50 basis point cut is far more likely.He said there have only been three times the central bank has moved rates by 75 points or more.”During the Global…

A link road on Wellington’s Transmission Gully is being ripped up — just two years after it was opened.Porirua City Council, Wellington Electricity, Wellington Water and Kāinga Ora are partnering up to carry out the “critical infrastructure” service upgrades on the Waitangirua Link Road and the adjoining Whitby link road, Te Ara Kāpehu.The council said the work was to improve electricity network resilience and increase drinking water services for the fast-growing eastern suburbs.Porirua City Council said the Waitangirua Link Road would be closing from November 4.The council said the road will be closed for up to five months while new…

Police did not use excessive force while detaining a 16-year-old, but his arrest and a prior traffic stop were unlawful, the police watchdog has ruled. The details of the incident, which took place in Whangamatā on New Year’s Eve in 2022, are detailed in a recently released report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The incident occurred at around 6.45pm on December 31, when the teenager was in the back seat of a silver Holden Commodore with three other occupants.  The Holden was travelling along Port Road when a police van approached it from the opposite direction. The van…