Author: Press Room
Ruapehu District Council has condemned the abuse and harassment of candidates standing in the local elections.One contender said intimidation had forced them to abandon campaigning.“It’s really brutal.”Chief executive Clive Manley said some candidates had been threatened, confronted in public and had campaign billboards damaged or removed.”That behaviour has no place in a functioning democracy,” he said.“No one should face abuse, intimidation or discrimination simply for doing their job or for the decisions they have supported during their term in office.“This behaviour is completely unacceptable and must stop. It undermines the democratic process and discourages good people from standing for office.”One…
A Tauranga business owner has reduced her team’s hours because sales have dropped since paid parking started on her street.Excelso Coffee Roasters owner Carrie Evans said she had about 55 fewer people in and was down $1000 a week since the start of August at her Third Ave business.Tauranga City Council introduced paid on-street parking in the city centre fringe between the eastern end of Fourth Ave and Park St, north of the CBD, on August 18.From August 4, new two-hour parking limits were applied to some CBD-fringe streets, as far south as Eighth Ave.Evans said she had reduced some…
By Euronews Georgia Published on 03/10/2025 – 14:28 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Georgia heads to the polls for local elections on Saturday, but some opposition parties are boycotting, casting doubt over the vote’s legitimacy. Eight opposition parties have refused to participate, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of undermining democracy and steering the country closer to Russia. The boycott comes a year after a key parliamentary election, won by Georgian Dream. Six of the eight parties boycotting Saturday’s vote had previously crossed the 5% threshold in the 2024 election, running in opposition coalitions. Several pro-EU parties and civic platforms have announced that they…
Two companies have issued recalls for batches of chopped peanuts for potentially containing small pieces of metal. Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd have recalled two batches of its 3kg Gilmours brand Chopped Peanuts. The batches recalled were marked as best before 24/04/2025 and 05/06/2026. The affected product is sold at Gilmours and Trents Wholesale stores throughout New Zealand.Scalzo Food Industries have recalled a specific batch of FreshLife brand Chopped Peanuts. The batch recalled has a best before date of 21/05/2026. The affected product is sold at Woolworths, FreshChoice and Supervalue stores throughout New Zealand.Both companies imported their chopped peanuts from Brazil.…
Police and whānau are concerned for the welfare of a man missing from an Auckland care facility for nearly two weeks.Walter Brown went home to see family in Papatoetoe on the weekend of September 20 but failed to return to the facility in Papakura.The 56-year-old was reported missing on September 22. “Both police and Walter’s family are concerned for his wellbeing, and we ask anyone who sees him to contact 111,” police said.Brown is known to frequent train stations, particularly in Papakura and central Auckland.He’s also known to go to Karangahape Rd in central Auckland in the past.Anyone who may…
Police have named the victim of a homicide in Gisborne earlier this week and confirmed a firearm was involved in the incident.Officers were called to an arrest on Ormond Rd in the suburb of Riverdale shortly after 4am on Monday.Bill Pine Maangi, 36, was found critically injured on the front lawn of a property between Lytton Rd and Riperata St.He died in Gisborne Hospital a short time later despite efforts to save him.Detective Inspector Martin James said police continued to support Maangi’s family and keep them updated on the investigation.”Twenty-five staff continue to work on the investigation, following leads and…
By Julian GOMEZ & Damaso Jaivenois Published on 03/10/2025 – 11:34 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Almost 66 million Europeans are currently affected by diabetes, according to a recent report from the International Diabetes Federation. This figure could jump to 72 million people in 25 years, according to the umbrella organisation that studies data from over 250 national diabetes associations in 158 countries and territories. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterised by high levels of blood sugar, which over time can lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg, as one-third…
A church community worker is heartbroken a group of homeless people living on the church’s grounds are being forced to leave.About 10 people had been camping in a car park at Holy Trinity Avonside in Christchurch.The group had to leave on Friday after the Christchurch City Council issued an abatement notice in August.This was following several complaints to the council last December.The notice required the “property to cease being used, or allowed to be used, as a campground”.Community worker Iain MacInnes said most, if not all, of the group had left the church grounds by Friday afternoon.”We’re just keeping in…
The coronial inquiry into the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption has heard that although the island is the most active in New Zealand, the country did not seem ready for the disaster.Twenty-two people died and 25 were injured, most of them seriously, after they were caught on the island when it erupted on December 9, sending ash 3.6km into the air.The inquest on Friday afternoon heard an opening statement from the counsel assisting families of deceased and the survivors, Anna Adams.Adams said many, including those who died, were in hospital for months afterwards and endured more surgeries than most…
A chemical spill has forced the closure of a key on-ramp in Pōkeno this afternoon following a crash involving a track.Emergency services responded to the two-vehicle crash on the Great South Rd northbound on-ramp at around 5.20pm.While police said no injuries were reported, the spill would require a full cleanup before the road could reopen.Fire and Emergency responded with five trucks from Pōkeno, Tuakau, Papatoetoe, Ōtara, Papakura.Motorists were advised to expect delays.