Author: Press Room

Three new measles cases have been confirmed in Northland, Health NZ said, bringing the total number of cases in the region to nine.It followed a confirmed but unrelated case of measles in Queenstown earlier this week.The National Public Health Services (NPHS) was actively managing the outbreak through contact tracing and public health follow-up.One of the new Northland cases was only identified as a close contact after they became infectious, meaning they may have unknowingly exposed others.Public health teams were currently tracing locations where this may have occurred.Symptoms included an illness that begins with high fever (over 38C); cough; runny nose;…

A boarding house operator must pay more than $27,000 after authorities found its Auckland property dirty, unsafe, and non-compliant with Healthy Homes Standards.The Tenancy Tribunal found Burnley Lodge Limited breached its responsibility under the Residential Tenancies Act.It failed to provide required information on tenancy agreements, mishandled tenant bond payments, and failed to maintain the premises of its Mount Eden boarding house or to comply with Healthy Homes Standards, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said.MBIE’s Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team (TCIT) were alerted to the situation after a referral from Auckland Council.It visited the property and found multiple…

A homicide investigation has been launched two days after a man was found dead in Greymouth.Police were called to a property on Chapel St in Greymouth at around 12.15pm on Tuesday.West Coast area commander Inspector Jacqui Corner said 67-year-old Donald Baikie was found dead on arrival at the scene.”Our condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”A scene examination continues, with the post-mortem examination completed in Christchurch today.Additional officers had travelled from Nelson and Marlborough to assist in the investigation, Corner said.”There will be a visible police presence in the area as we work to establish…

While the government has made changes to encourage competition in the supermarket sector, it’s still uncertain whether a major challenger to the duopoly will emerge, writes Djavlonbek Kadirov.It’s roughly a month since the government announced new supermarkets would qualify for fast-track approval in an effort to inject real competition into the sector. Too soon to see progress, perhaps, but not too soon to question the likely success of that approach.Finance minister Nicola Willis said in August that Costco’s one West Auckland store had already markedly changed competitive dynamics in the area. (Source: 1News)While fast-tracking may address the problems of commercial…

Te Pāti Māori is seeking to reassure members following accusations the party is ego-driven and dictatorial, as a planned “reset” is set to be announced next week.The party emailed its membership addressing the allegations, and held electorate meetings online on Thursday night following queries about the recent media coverage.It came as Toitū Te Tiriti cut ties with the party, with its spokesperson citing leadership concerns, a clash of values, and the need for independence.In an interview with Te Ao Māori News, Eru Kapa-Kingi said the party’s leadership style was “problematic” and “effectively a dictatorship model”.He criticised the party for failing…

A 70-year-old man and 50-year-old woman are facing drug charges after being caught at the Picton ferry terminal allegedly carrying meth intended for distribution. The man disembarked from the ferry and was found with one ounce of methamphetamine, estimated to be worth between $5000 and $7000, on October 1. The 70-year-old was facing 13 charges related to the supply of methamphetamine and cannabis.A 50-year-old woman, described by police as an “associate”, was charged with supplying methamphetamine.”We believe these drugs were intended for distribution in the Marlborough region,” Detective Sergeant Ben Smith said. The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a…

Two Vietnamese officials accused of sexually attacking two young female servers at a restaurant in New Zealand won’t return to face criminal charges after attempts to extradite them failed, New Zealand authorities said.New Zealand police would not disclose why efforts to return the men had stalled, but the two countries don’t have an extradition treaty so Hanoi would have had to turn over the alleged attackers voluntarily.”It’s disappointing that police requests for extradition have been unsuccessful,” a spokesperson for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement. “Clearly it is not the outcome we wanted.”One of the women…

The hospitality sector fears the Government’s NCEA overhaul will worsen staff shortages and undermine its drive to grow the tourism industry.It has written to Education Minister Erica Stanford urging her to change her mind on leaving a Year 11 qualification out of her proposed new school qualification.Teachers and business owners told RNZ they needed a qualification like NCEA Level 1 that recognised the basic kitchen skills Year 11 students learned when studying hospitality.Sam MacKinnon from Hospitality New Zealand said axing the Level 1 qualification could make the subject less attractive for students and prompt schools to put less resources and…

The school holidays is forecast to end on a sodden note for many, with thunderstorms and heavy rain on the cards for parts of the North Island.MetService said the forecast for Auckland on Friday painted a picture suited to indoor activities.”Periods of rain, becoming persistent and heavier by afternoon, with thunderstorms possible from evening. Northerlies, strong for a time this afternoon,” the forecaster said. ‘Very active weather on the way’ – watch on TVNZ+It was a similar story for Northland, with the weather getting worse as the day progressed, with thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast from the afternoon.Further south, Bay…

Generations of of children — and more than a few adults — have been both frustrated and fascinated by the toys sold by the company made famous by Shunsaku Tamiya. The Shizuoka-born son of a lumber merchant, Tamiya helped transform his father’s firm into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of kit set models and radio-controlled cars. Tamiya kits were not easy to assemble — the chairman insisted on rigorous and often fiddly attention to detail so as to achieve his aim of his models being as authentic as the machines they were modelled on. Tamiya often photographed or bought…