Author: Press Room
The government is set to repeal the oil and gas ban this week, after a significant 11th-hour change handing discretionary powers to two ministers.A 25-page amendment was published at 5pm on Monday, leaving opposition MPs less than 23 hours to prepare for the debate.The change largely deals with the rules for decommissioning oil and gas fields, and who is responsible for paying for the cleanup.Taranaki’s Tui oil field was abandoned in 2019 after its Malaysian owner Tamarind Taranaki went bust, costing taxpayers a total $293 million to clean up, with work concluding just last month. The government initially set aside…
Close to 36,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare workers have begun a nationwide 24-hour strike today. From 9am, members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation walked off the job. Those in the public health sector were overworked, under-resourced, and understaffed, the union said. Health New Zealand said that despite today’s strike, hospitals and emergency departments would remain open. The latest mediation talks between the union and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora broke down, leading to the strike. NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter told Breakfast mediation fell through because “the gaps were just big”. “It seems that the staffing claims we…
A severe thunderstorm watch issued for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne has expired as crews begin to clear some slips and debris from roads across the network. Yesterday, MetService issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula which expired at midnight, as a heavy rain band lashed the North Island. This morning, the forecaster warned of more rain with heavy falls expected in the Bay of Plenty and the far north of Gisborne, issuing a watch that expired at 10am.Thames Coromandel District Council said some roads remain blocked today due to slips, downed…
One person has died and another was seriously injured following a three-vehicle crash near Auckland Airport this morning. Police said the crash on George Bolt Memorial Drive, near the intersection with Tom Pearce Drive, was reported about 4am. Shortly after 8am, police confirmed one person has died in the crash. “A second occupant of the same vehicle has sustained serious injuries and has been transported to hospital,” a police spokesperson said. “A lane has been opened up for southbound traffic on George Bolt Memorial Drive to use.”Police on scene said traffic was flowing in the area, but urged travellers to…
A potato top pie has been crowned the winner at NZ’s Supreme Pie Awards in Auckland last night. The swirled potato top creation with a centre core of fondant-style cooked potatoes finished in au gratin layers was created by Samraksmey (Sam) So, owner of Rosedale Bakery & Café on Auckland’s North Shore. So said he developed the recipe after seeing a dish of French-style layered potatoes in a magazine.Speaking to Breakfast, So said the win was “unexpected” and “amazing”. The fancy French inspired pie was crafted by Samraksmey (Sam) So, owner of Rosedale Bakery & Café in Albany on Auckland’s…
Air New Zealand has appointed its new chief executive from within its own ranks. It’s promoted the current chief digital officer, Nikhil Ravishankar, to replace Greg Foran who steps down in October after almost six years in the top job. The airline’s chair, Dame Therese Walsh, said the appointment reflected the airline’s strong momentum and the emergence of a new generation of leadership. “We have always been bold and not afraid to adapt and lead. Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future.” She said Ravishankar had beaten…
All Blacks star Will Jordan and partner Mackenzie Webb have announced their engagement. The pair shared a photo on Instagram, captioned “the perfect week away” with a white heart emoji as Webb showed off the new ring on her finger. Some of Jordan’s All Blacks teammates were quick to comment, with Ardie Savea, Richie Mo’Unga and Tupou Vaa’i all expressing congratulations to the happy pair. The Crusaders also offered the pair congratulations. The couple, who have been together since their teens, had been on holiday in Fiji “off the grid” when they got engaged. The All Blacks recently won their…
Nikhil Ravishankar has been announced as Air New Zealand’s next chief executive officer. In March, the company announced Greg Foran would step down after five years in the top job. He is due to leave the airline in October. Today Air New Zealand announced the appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar, the airline’s current chief digital officer, as Foran’s successor. “In the nearly five years that Nikhil has been at Air New Zealand he has gained a deep understanding of the aviation sector, and the airline. He has also led major advances in the airline’s technology backbone, loyalty programme and customer proposition,”…
By Stefan Grobe & Pilar Montero López Published on 29/07/2025 – 17:35 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Negotiations over the long-term budget — in Brussels speak, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) — are now underway following the European Commission’s presentation of its initial proposal. This has fired the starting gun on a protracted negotiation that is typically among the most heated in Brussels. The new budget, which covers the period from 2028 to 2034, would represent a 67% increase compared to the previous budget from 2020 to 2027, reaching a total of €2 trillion. This would raise EU spending from 1.13% to 1.26% of the bloc’s…
Police have released a photo of a group of individuals they say may be able to assist with an investigation into an assault on an autistic person in Hamilton nearly five months ago.A member of the public was assaulted by a group of unknown people on Sandwich Rd in St Andrews at around 6pm on March 2.”The victim, who is autistic and has the mental age of a 6-year-old, sustained moderate injuries and is understandably very shaken by this incident,” a police spokesperson said.Police said they would like to speak to the people pictured as they may have information that…