Author: Press Room

A whip wielded by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade that once belonged to Princess Diana has sold at auction for US$525,000 (NZ$881,475).The sale came a day after the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane went for a staggering US$14.75 million (NZ$24.7 million), making it one of the priciest props in movie history.The items were part of the Summer Entertainment Auction being held all week by Heritage Auctions.Heritage says the overall take has made it the second-highest grossing entertainment auction, and there’s still a day to go.Yet to be up for bids are Macaulay Culkin’s knitted snow cap…

The Government says more than $120 million from Budget 2025 will be used to help build 137 more classrooms in Auckland, to keep up with “the city’s rapid growth”. Education Minister Erica Stanford made the announcement alongside Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown at Northcross Intermediate School on Auckland’s North Shore today. “Through Budget 25 funding, 137 new classrooms will be rolled out, creating space for an additional 3014 student places in the network, supporting schools with growing rolls,” she said. The schools getting classrooms are: Bucklands Beach Intermediate – 2 classroomsHelensville School – 1 classroomKauri Flats School – 4 classroomsLincoln…

Customs have seized more than 60kg of methamphetamine from unaccompanied bags at Auckland International Airport overnight.The two duffel bags, which arrived on a flight from Malaysia, were identified by Customs during routine screening of incoming passengers and baggage.Vacuum-sealed packages were discovered inside and the contents tested positive for methamphetamine.The bags contained 30kg and 30.3kg respectively, with an estimated street value of $22.6 million. Officials estimated the quantity of meth could have caused around $63.26 million in social harm.The methamphetamine seized had an estimated street value of $22.6 million. (Source: NZ Customs)Customs Auckland Airport manager Paul Williams said the intercept was…

A man is being sought in relation to a fire at a church building in the Auckland suburb of Avondale.Emergency services were called to the building at Saint Mary’s Catholic School on Great North Rd shortly before 4.30am on July 14. At its peak, there were seven crews at the scene. Police were now seeking the public’s help to identify the man pictured, who they believe “may be able to assist us with our inquiries”. Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the man pictured in these images. (Source: NZ Police )”If this is you, or you know who…

A key road corridor in the Bay of Plenty is down to one lane through the Waimana Gorge after wet weather caused an underslip to deteriorate.The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said it appreciated State Highway 2 was a key freight route between Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki and was working on a solution as quickly as possible.”The lane closure is required due to pavement cracking, which is extending around 200mm from the edge line currently, but likely to worsen when there’s more wet weather,” said NZTA Bay of Plenty system manager Sandra King.State Highway 2 is a key freight route…

Defence Minister Judith Collins was taken to hospital after a “nasty bout of vertigo”.In a social media post this evening, Collins said she “found out the hard way” that taking several flights after the flu can lead to vertigo.”So don’t be alarmed if you see me with a little support,” Collins said.The minister described her symptoms as “like seasickness multiplied”.NZ Herald reported an ambulance was called to Parliament on Tuesday night, and she was released yesterday.Symptoms of vertigo, a type of dizziness, include feeling sick (nausea) and throwing up (vomiting), tinnitus or ringing in the ears, loss in hearing, and…

Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and ’60s whose hits included Pretty Little Baby and Who’s Sorry Now? — the latter would serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy — has died at age 87.Her death was announced Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who did not immediately provide additional details. Earlier this month, Francis posted that she had been hospitalised with “extreme pain”. Francis had gained renewed attention in recent months after Pretty Little Baby became a sensation on TikTok, with Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner among…

An Auckland teenager is paralysed in a Vietnamese hospital after developing a rare and serious neurological condition while travelling with family to celebrate her 18th birthday.Auri Law travelled to the Southeast Asian country to mark a milestone birthday and meet her older sister Caea and uncle and aunt.After a day of biking in hot conditions on July 7, she began to experience symptoms. She was initially treated for dehydration at a local hospital and discharged, but was rushed back hours later when she became unable to move her legs.Doctors soon became concerned about her respiratory system failing and potentially requiring…

Fat Freddy’s Drop founding member and beatmaker Chris Faiumu has died. Chris Faiumu was known by his stage name DJ Fitchie or DJ Mu and helped develop the band’s widely regarded sound. Growing from Faimu’s already established career, Fat Freddy’s formed in 1999, following his experimentation with live instrumentation and vocals in his DJ sets. In 2005 the collective of Wellington musicians burst onto the national scene with the release of their first studio album Based On A True Story.Chris Faiumu pictured in 2004. (Source: 1News)The album sold over 100,000 copies in New Zealand and spent 108 weeks consecutively in…

Retirement is beginning to look very different for Kiwis, with growing numbers still renting, paying a mortage, or owning a home of decreasing value. Claire Dale reports.Changes to KiwiSaver, global economic uncertainty and predictions house prices could drop by as much as 20% by 2030 all mean retirement is looking very different to how it once did.A retirement strategy based on the equity held in a house is no longer as reliable as it has been in the past. Home ownership in Aotearoa New Zealand fell from 75% in 1991 to 60% in 2023 and is projected to fall to…