Author: Press Room

ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely following comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing.The network’s decision came after Nexstar announced its ABC affiliates would pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely over his comments.“Mr Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.During his monologue, Kimmel said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the…

The Chinese Embassy in Wellington has accused New Zealand’s spies of harassing Chinese citizens at its airports, claiming one traveller was recently interrogated without cause and had devices seized by security agencies.In a statement published late on Tuesday, the embassy said it had lodged a “serious representation” with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and reserved the right to take further action.It said a Chinese citizen was “subjected to harassment and interrogation without cause by NZ security and intelligence agency personnel” during transit.”His personal digital devices were confiscated, and some of them have not been returned to date.”The…

Pop superstar Chappell Roan has been announced as the headline act for next year’s Laneway festival in Auckland. This year’s festival will take place on Thursday, February 5 at Western Springs.Chappell Roan’s music has exploded over the last couple of years, having won best new artist at this year’s Grammys. Laneway’s lineup of artists for 2026. (Source: Laneway)The announcement is the second major headline in a row for the festival, which hosted Charlie XCX last year.Other international artists featured on the lineup included Pinkpantheress, Alex G, Cavetown, Geese, The Dare, Gigi Perez, Jensen McRae, Lucy Dacus, Malcolm Todd, Wet Leg…

Canterbury Regional Council, known as Environment Canterbury (ECan), has carried a motion to declare a nitrate emergency at its final meeting today.The vote was nine for, seven against.Some councillors and government ministers said the council calling the motion in the last meeting before local elections was grandstanding and a political stunt.Dozens of protesters had gathered outside the building demanding action.The motion from Councillor Vicky Southworth recognises that, as the regional council for Canterbury, ECan “should take a leadership role to urgently address the issue of groundwater pollution impacting drinking water sources and supplies”.It comes after the ECan’s recent annual groundwater…

Strong winds across Canterbury have fanned eight vegetation fires this afternoon.The largest, covering 30 hectares in size near Southbridge, has claimed a shed, and is still not contained. Eleven ground crews and two helicopters are battling the blaze, which is still not contained.Fire and Emergency New Zealand services said they were called to the scene around 3.06pm.Another large blaze is covering 10 hectares in a valley near Springfield. Nine fire trucks and two helicopters “supported by heavy machinery” have responded, Fire and Emergency said. “Crews are working to contain the fire and bring it under control.”Fear of burn-offs reigniting Fire…

Kāinga Ora’s chief executive Matt Crockett says that he wants to dispel the myth that the Crown agency is being gutted.Housing Minister Chris Bishop revealed in written Parliamentary questions that Kāinga Ora’s housing stock is forecast to decrease over the coming year.In the 2024-25 financial year the agency had 78,204 houses in its managed stock, but that number is set to decline to 78,027 for this coming year – a net loss of 177 homes.That’s despite Bishop setting Kāinga Ora a goal of delivering 420 net social housing places within the same time frame in his letter of expectations to…

An Auckland man has been jailed for three years and seven months after admitting to possessing nearly 9000 images and videos involving child sexual exploitation.Content warning: This story discusses child sex abuseThe case involved material of adults sexually abusing babies and children.Todd Keith Laurance Dale Williams of Remuera has been sentenced after pleading guilty to four charges related to knowingly possessing child sexual exploitation material, according to a Department of Internal Affairs spokesperson. The 30-year-old became a “person of interest” in authorities’ investigations in early 2023.”The investigation surrounded the sale of child sexual exploitation material through an online social media…

North Canterbury’s regional councillors are concerned about unsafe rural drinking water, but disagree on whether it constitutes a nitrate emergency.Environment Canterbury (ECan) voted by 9-7 to declare a nitrate emergency following a motion from retiring councillor Vicky Southworth at a council meeting today.Cr Grant Edge backed the motion, citing concerns over high nitrate levels in private wells in the Selwyn, Ashburton and Waimate districts, and at Oxford.”I have been advocating for improvements [in nitrate levels] since 2009 when I joined the Waimakariri Zone Committee and the latest annual groundwater survey revealed 62% of those wells [tested] showed increased trends and…

A plan by the government to grow the country’s aviation sector contains “nothing to crow about” and is unlikely to quell rising costs, a Dunedin airline boss says. Associate Transport Minister James Meager this week launched the “Aviation Action Plan” — a 25-point strategic programme by the Interim Aviation Council in partnership with the government to grow and future-proof New Zealand’s aviation sector. The plan outlined the series of steps needed to ensure the sector continued to support trade, tourism, regional connectivity and economic growth across the country, Mr Meager said. “This action plan is a first for New Zealand…

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has accused Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour of “talking out of his field” in regards to Palestine, but Seymour rejects that.Cabinet has made an in-principle decision on recognition, though it won’t be revealed until Peters delivers a speech in the general debate at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.Seymour – who’s the leader of ACT – took questions on the issue on Tuesday and initially said “the right minister at the right time” would make an announcement on the Government’s position.He went on to answer questions on his party’s position before being…