Author: Press Room

Dolly Parton “ain’t dead yet,” the country superstar said on social media following public speculation about her health.“There are just a lot of rumours flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay,” the 79-year-old singer said in a new two-minute video posted on Instagram. “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me. And I ain’t done working.”Her post, which appeared on numerous of Parton’s social media accounts and her website, was captioned, “I ain’t dead yet.”Late last month Parton postponed her first Las Vegas residency…

A public rift within Te Pāti Māori continues to deepen ahead of a promised “reset” of the party later this week. MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi spoke to 1News Political Editor Maiki Sherman earlier today, following claims of a toxic environment within the party. John Tamihere says the party is focused on a reset after the election of new MP Oriini Kaipara. (Source: 1News)The MP for Te Tai Tokerau was demoted from her role of party whip last month, a move she called “disappointing”. She later spoke of “dysfunction” in the party in an interview.Speaking today with 1News, Kapa-Kingi said she believed…

Tough economic times and rising costs have culminated in the “difficult decision” to place a Dunedin kebab restaurant into liquidation. Anatolia Turkish Kebab House has ceased trading, as its operating company, Anatolia Turkish Cafe Ltd, was placed into liquidation by shareholder resolution last week. The company operated the Turkish restaurant and takeaways business in Princes St for about 10 years, before moving to a larger premises in the ground floor of the street’s historic Excelsior Hotel building in 2023. The liquidators’ first report, released this week, said company director Murat Bay had operated similar operations successfully for many years. “However,…

A soft business confidence survey has increased the odds of a super-sized 50 basis point cut in the Official Cash Rate by the Reserve Bank on Wednesday.The closely followed survey showed slowing demand, more staff cuts, and reduced investment and profit expectations.Headline sentiment eased to a net 15% expecting better economic times from 26%, but fewer firms were optimistic about their own outlook, while it also showed strengthening inflation pressures with costs rising and businesses raising their prices in response.NZIER principal economist Christina Leung said the weak growth outlook, but stronger inflation signals, highlighted the Reserve Bank’s dilemma.”It is a…

This afternoon’s official cash rate (OCR) decision by the Reserve Bank is expected to be a cut, but economists remain divided about how deeply interest rates will fall.The central bank’s monetary policy committee will almost certainly cut interest rates when it meets later today.But economic experts are divided on whether it will be a quarter-point cut (0.25%) to 2.75% or a larger half-point (0.5%) reduction to 2.50%.Kiwibank’s chief economist Jarrod Kerr speaks to Breakfast about what he thinks the central bank will announce this afternoon. (Source: Breakfast)The Reserve Bank’s decision will likely be predicated on how badly it thinks New…

ADVERTISEMENT Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen addressed the European Parliament for the first time ever on Wednesday and announced that the territory is not seeking to join the European Union and is “definitely not seeking to be part” of the United States. Asked by Euronews if Greenland is more likely to join the EU or be annexed by the US in the future — an interest US President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed — Nielsen said: “Let me say this clear, we are not going to join another country.” “Right now (Greenland has) no plans for trying to be a member of…

Tough economic times and rising costs have culminated in the “difficult decision” to place a Dunedin kebab restaurant into liquidation. Anatolia Turkish Kebab House has ceased trading, as its operating company, Anatolia Turkish Cafe Ltd, was placed into liquidation by shareholder resolution last week. The company operated the Turkish restaurant and takeaways business in Princes St for about 10 years, before moving to a larger premises in the ground floor of the street’s historic Excelsior Hotel building in 2023. The liquidators’ first report, released this week, said company director Murat Bay had operated similar operations successfully for many years. “However,…

Police are still on the hunt for those who were assisting Tom Phillips as he evaded authorities, a month after he was fatally shot by police.It comes as the media are now able to report a Family Court judge also granted an interim injunction in relation to the case.Phillips died following a shootout with police after they were called to reports of a burglary in the early hours of September 8.After Phillips’ death police said it was clear he had received help.On Tuesday, a police spokeswoman confirmed the investigation into Phillips’ accomplices was ongoing.Police recently said they were “following strong…

ADVERTISEMENT There has long been a debate within the European Union over how to name plant-based foods. These products are becoming increasingly popular, yet uncertainty remains about how they should be labelled and promoted within the single market.  Can we call a soya-based patty a veggie burger? Should we use the term “sausage” if it doesn’t contain meat, or do such terms confuse consumers?  On Wednesday, the European Parliament decided that names such as hamburger, sausage, escalope or steak can only be used for meat products and not for plant-based foods.  “I accept that steak, cutlet or sausage are products…

A Northland mother who drank 18 premixed vodkas, then drove while still impaired the next morning with her two children in the backseat is living each day with the death of her six-year-old.It was December 22, 2017 and Marino Wikaira’s then two-year-old was in a child car seat, while her six-year-old daughter was in the middle of the back seat with just a lap belt.Wikaira was exceeding the 100km/h speed limit on a road in Kaikohe when she took her eyes off the road to check on her children in the backseat but lost control, veering into the opposite lane…