Author: Press Room
The Government has announced that it will invest more funding in natural pharmaceuticals and bio-based products, aiming to boost exports for what it describes as a “fast-growing” sector. Science, Innovation, and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti announced that the Government would be investing over $42.8 million over seven years to establish a “Biodiscovery Platform”. The platform would be designed to “accelerate the development of high-growth industries producing natural pharmaceuticals and other bio-based products”.The newly formed Bioeconomy Science Institute would lead it.“This is an economic growth initiative,” Reti said. “By harnessing New Zealand’s rich biodiversity, we can develop world-class, export-ready products…
An episode of The Chase featuring a Manchester teacher who died shortly after his triumphant appearance, will air on TVNZ1 and TVNZ+ tonight.64-year-old Tim McCarthy fulfilled a lifelong ambition of competing on the quiz show just weeks before passing away after battling a long illness. The nail-biting £50,000 (NZ$115,000) win was kept a secret by Tim’s widow, Rachel, and their three children until it was broadcast. He beat The Chaser by just one second alongside a fellow contestant.During the episode, Tim told The Chase host Bradley Walsh that he had been “blessed in his career” as a teacher. “I’m just…
A teenager has been arrested and charged with the murder of 67-year-old Donald Baikie, who was found dead by police on Tuesday. Police were called to a property on Chapel St in Greymouth at around 12.15pm on Tuesday, where they found Baikie dead on arrival. Inspector Jacqui Corner said a 16-year-old boy was arrested last night and would appear in Greymouth Youth Court this morning.”Police have completed a scene examination at the address where Mr Baikie was located deceased, however, there will be a continued police presence in the area as we continue with our investigation,” Corner said. “We would…
A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead at a Dunedin property yesterday afternoon. Police were called to Great King Street at about 2pm after reports of a “sudden death”. A 36-year-old man was found dead at the scene. “The circumstances of the man’s death remain under investigation, but initial indications suggest he died from non-accidental injuries,” Detective Inspector Shona Low.A scene guard remained in place today as a forensic examination was carried out. “There will be an increased Police presence in North Dunedin as we work to establish how the man died, and when,” Low said.…
The Department of Conservation expects to make $1 million from a paid car parking trial at two South Island tourist hotspots this summer, in a bid to get visitors to pay towards conservation.The trial begins in December at Dolomite Point in Punakaiki and Franz Josef/Waiau.The first 20 minutes will be free with a rate of $5 per hour after, up to $20 a day.DOC also plans to introduce paid parking at White Horse Hill, Aoraki Mt Cook in December, with submissions on that proposal open until October 22.Department of Conservation director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson said the locations…
The age for free bowel screening will drop for people in Auckland, Northland, and the South Island from Monday.The Government announced the age would drop from 60 to 58 earlier this year.It also ended a pilot programme that allowed Māori and Pacific people to access bowel cancer screening starting at age 50.Patients urge Govt to hurry up on pledge to further widen eligibility. Watch on TVNZ+.Health Minister Simeon Brown said the age for free screening will drop for the rest of the North Island in March next year.He said this was the first step in the goal of lowering the…
A prominent Māori activist believes that tangata whenua have no viable option for the upcoming general election but has ruled out forming a political party himself.Toitū Te Tiriti has cut ties with Te Pāti Māori after kaikōrero Eru Kapa-Kingi accused the party leadership of being “dictatorial”, and criticised the party for failing to hold its annual general meeting and national council hui, despite constitutional requirements.Te Pāti Māori has disputed the claims, saying no formal complaints have been lodged and it promised a “reset” next week.Kapa-Kingi told RNZ’s Saturday Morning issues within Te Pāti Māori in recent weeks had shown “the…
The owners of a popular Wellington café are “devastated” after their landlords, Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh, ended their lease on Tuesday. The Chocolate Fish Café has operated for 15 years at Shelly Bay under owners John and Penny Pennington. Sir Peter Jackson and his partner Dame Fran Walsh bought the waterfront property in 2023 after a $500 million housing development was scrapped. This week, the Penningtons were informed by a representative for Jackson and Walsh that their lease would end on January 31. “This week, we were given the devastating blow, without warning… that they have decided…
A young child has died after a vehicle incident this afternoon in Auckland’s Papatoetoe.The incident was reported to emergency services at about 4pm on MacDonald Road. Police said it arrived shortly aftewards.The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation. Police said it is providing support to the family.The criminal investigation branch staff and the serious crash unit are in attendance and making inquiries, police added
About 1000 people have marched from Wellington’s Pukeahu War Memorial Park in the pouring rain, calling for the government to sanction Israel and recognise Palestinian statehood.Last Saturday, Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the United Nations that New Zealand would not yet do so.”We are coming together as a community to re-affirm our commitment to the kaupapa, to re-affirm our steadfastness that we will see this through, until Palestine is free, until justice is served,” Justice for Palestine co-convenor Samira Zaiton told RNZ.The rain did not deter the protestors and a sea of umbrellas could be seen walking the 1km route…