Author: Press Room

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is investigating after new video footage has emerged of sheep being punched, kicked, and thrown by workers on farms across the country.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has spent two years going undercover collecting evidence of abuse at 34 farms in New Zealand.PETA spokesperson Abigail Forsyth said the footage reveals rampant abuse at every stage of farm operations, “from terrified lambs enduring agonising mutilations without any pain relief to shearers punching struggling sheep in the face, and slamming them to the floor”.She said she was shocked to see shearers beating, kicking, and…

November 2024 recorded 22,000 fewer excess deaths in the EU than in November 2023. Malta, Romania, and Slovakia recorded negative excess mortality rates. ADVERTISEMENTExcess mortality in the EU decreased to 5.0% in November 2024 according to the latest Eurostat figures, even as health systems across the region continue to face challenges. This decrease represents 22,000 fewer excess deaths compared to November 2023.Eurostat’s excess mortality is the number of deaths that occur above and beyond what would be expected in a given time. It is measured by comparing the number of deaths during a certain period to the average number of…

A frustrated Auckland resident is urging illegal dumpers to not be a “d***”, as he’s sick of seeing rubbish strewn outside the Salvation Army store in New Lynn.Michael Poh said it’s been a daily problem as long as he’s lived in the area for the past three or four years.“Please, don’t be a d***,” he urged the people responsible for the piles of rubbish.A local board representative said she understands the community’s frustration with the dumping, but the council can’t act as it is a private carpark.Poh said the dumped rubbish has an impact on charitable efforts, and it doesn’t…

In 2024, member states collectively spent an average of 1.9% of GDP on defence, while Russia was spending 9%, Kaja Kallas told the audience of the European Defence Agency annual conference on Monday. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union must boost its defence spending to “prepare for the worst” and be able to defend itself “alone if needed” against a belligerent Russia, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday. “Many of our national intelligence agencies are giving us the information that Russia could test the EU’s readiness to defend itself in three to five years,” Kallas told the audience at the European…

Scientists at Antarctica’s Scott Base swapped labcoats for ski gear this weekend, completing a 24-hour skiathon on some of the Earth’s most remote slopes.The event, held at Scott Base Ski Club near New Zealand’s Antarctic research station, brought together scientists and staff from multiple nations.Scenes captured by Antarctica New Zealand showcased skiers taking turns on the remote slope, where summer’s perpetual daylight enabled round-the-clock skiing.Antarctica New Zealand field support officer Stephen Trimble said the unique location provided perfect conditions for night skiing – with some unusual concerns.”It’s going to look like this at 3am. It’s going to look like this…

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced last month along with 50 other men for the repeated drugging and rape of Gisèle Pelicot in case that stunned France. ADVERTISEMENTFrance must change its rape law to include consent, a cross-party panel of lawmakers has said in the wake of the Gisèle Pelicot mass rape trial that shocked the country.A consent-based rape definition should urgently be added to the existing law, which defines rape as an act committed on someone using “violence, coercion, threat or surprise” — with no clear mention of consent — the MPs said in a report presented to parliament on Tuesday.”Nearly…

Former prime minister Jacinda Ardern is set to release a “deeply personal” memoir in June, in which she details her decision to step down during her second term.In A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir, Ardern describes her journey from a girl in Morrinsville to becoming the world’s youngest female head of government at age 37.According to publisher Penguin Random House, Ardern shares the moments that defined her leadership and created a model for leaders to tackle challenges with empathy and strength.The cover of A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir, set to be released on June 3, 2025. (Source:…

A south Auckland man’s dream of building his beach community their first pump track for kids may yet come true.Byron Scott has tried for years to build a pump track in the Maraetai and Beachlands area.He had the expertise and the funds but lacked the space to bring his dreams of a 360 square metre asphalt pump track to life.”Originally, we tried to get one in Ōmana Regional Park, which we weren’t able to do,” Scott said.”We then tried the local schools, but they don’t really have space.”His company, Trailpro, built asphalt pump tracks and bike tracks in schools and…

Official figures out today show inflation has stayed at 2.2%, latest figures from Stats NZ show.The previous figures in October also had inflation at 2.2%, bringing it into the Reserve Bank’s target range for the first time in more than three years.“This is the second consecutive quarter that the annual inflation rate has been within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s target band of 1 to 3%,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.“Prices are still rising, but not as much as previously recorded. The most recent peak was in the June 2022 quarter when the annual inflation rate reached…

Bernd Lange, the president of the European Parliament’s trade committee, told Euronews how Europe could negotiate with US president Donald Trump if tariffs hit on European goods. ADVERTISEMENTToday Radio Schuman speaks with Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s Trade Committee, who noted that Europe still has room to respond to Trump’s policies.In his inauguration speech, Donald Trump provided little detail regarding his earlier threats to impose tariffs on the European Union. His previously stated demand that Europe face tariffs unless it increased purchases of US oil and gas was already well-known, with many European politicians asserting they are prepared…