Author: Press Room

A one-off $50,000 grant has been given to the Student Volunteer Army (SVA) by the Government to support youth volunteers in Nelson Tasman after two consecutive floods hammered the region in two weeks.Youth Minister James Meager said the grant would help mobilise and coordinate young people to assist with the cleanup.”The Student Volunteer Army has a strong track record of rallying the troops at speed to respond to urgent need and has vast experience in crisis response and disaster recovery. I know the work its volunteers will undertake will be of enormous community benefit.”Youth Minister James Meager has announced a…

By Amy Williams of RNZ Global furniture giant Ikea is due to open its first New Zealand store in Auckland some time this year, but has not yet told Auckland Council when. Ikea said it was still on track to open at Sylvia Park and had so far employed 85 of the 500 staff it needed. Within at least two months of opening, Ikea has to provide the council with an opening date and managment plan, but a council spokesperson confirmed it was still waiting to receive this information. The consent conditions for the big box retailer required it to…

Hundreds of anti-social car users were pursued across Auckland by law enforcement last night, with police issuing numerous fines and ordering multiple vehicles off the road on Saturday night.Dubbed the “Auckland invasion” by boy racers, the event attracted drivers from Northland and Hamilton to the supercity.1News spent several hours following the group to locations across Auckland, including Manukau, Onehunga, Westgate, Penrose, and Drury.Police staff, including the Eagle helicopter, were deployed to each spot and at Westgate, attendees were seen letting off fireworks at an intersection.Police said more than 2500 breath tests were taken at checkpoints set up, with more than…

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka has acknowledged reports of rising homelessness but says it’s “not just down to one thing” as he defends the Government’s tougher rules for emergency housing.Potaka was grilled on the issue on Q+A, where he conceded the changes to increase scrutiny for emergency housing support applicants have been “reported by many” as contributing to making more people homeless.When asked directly whether the policy changes had contributed to leaving more people homeless, the minister said: “That’s a very strong view that many people have.”But Potaka refused to make that connection himself, instead attributing claims of a link…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ An organisation representing financial mentors around the country is worried that proposed changes to the Working for Families scheme could leave some families worse off. As part of the Budget, the government said it would look at options to help avoid the issue of Working for Families debt. In the 2022 year, only 24 percent of households receiving weekly or fortnightly Working for Families payments and who were squared up by IRD at the end of the tax year had received the right amount of money. People who earned more than expected can end up…

The police commissioner has emailed staff saying he is aware there are many who are “angry and feel let down” following revelations that child exploitation and bestiality material were allegedly found on the former deputy commissioner’s work devices.”I feel the same,” Richard Chambers told staff in an email.Jevon McSkimming resigned as the country’s second most powerful cop in May amid separate investigations by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and police.His resignation came a week after RNZ approached him, via his lawyer, with allegations about material found on his work devices.RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming’s work devices was…

A homicide investigation has been launched after one person was killed and three others were injured following a fight between two groups in central Hamilton overnight.Police were called to an altercation reportedly involving two groups on Alexandra St at about 12.10am.Detective Sergeant Reece Durston said four people were injured at the scene.”Sadly, a 20-year-old man died in hospital a short time later.”Durston said a homicide investigation had been launched and that some of those involved, including an alleged offender, left the scene immediately.”The investigation team is moving at speed to locate them and the implements involved.”A 20-year-old man has died…

The Government has released an infrastructure update showing $6 billion of state-funded construction is due to start between now and Christmas.The ministers who were visiting a construction site in Drury spoke to media this morning. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also took part in the briefing.Minister for Economic Growth Nicola Willis and Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop said in a media release that the projects would drive economic activity and create thousands of jobs across the country.”The projects getting underway include new roads, hospitals, schools, high-tech laboratories and other government buildings,” Willis said.”That means spades in the ground, jobs throughout the…

Relatives of distressed patients at Christchurch Hospital have been asked to come in to help because of a shortage of healthcare assistants.Information provided by a Christchurch Hospital staff member, who asked not to be named, shows the hospital had so few healthcare assistants on June 22 that managers were asked to see if patients’ family members could come in to sit with them.New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegate Al Dietschin said the request related to patient watches, which were usually done by the assistants to monitor people for confusion, delirium, or dementia symptoms.”Essentially, being with the patient to keep them safe,…

Stephen Colbert received messages of support and affection from his fellow late-night hosts after announcing that CBS was cancelling his show, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, next May. Jimmy Fallon said he was “just as shocked as everyone,” and Seth Meyers called him a great host and comedian but an even better person. John Oliver said he was excited to see what Colbert and his team would do during the final 10 months of the program. Jimmy Kimmel directed an expletive at CBS, and Andy Cohen said it was a sad day for the network. As for US President…