Author: Press Room

Auckland’s maunga authority is considering closing mountains to the public on holidays due to “unlawful” fires.It comes after two weekend blazes on Māngere mountain, with one scorching three hectares.The fires were being investigated by police and Fire and Emergency, but Tupuna Maunga Authority chairperson Paul Majurey believed the fires were intentional.Speaking to Morning Report, Majurey said there had been some “very sick behaviours” on Auckland’s mountains and it was hard to fathom why people would do it.”It’s a few individuals who are being reckless on these sacred spaces.”Fires on the mountains was very distressing for local iwi, he said.The authority…

Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has denied the new-look Waitangi Tribunal is a “whitewash” as suggested by Te Pāti Māori.The minister appointed eight new members to the tribunal, removing some well-known Māori academics.Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer criticised the removal as a “whitewash”.Potaka told Morning Report, Te Pāti Māori’s comments were “unhelpful” and undermined the knowledge and experience of the new appointees.The new appointees included Philip Crump, who is a board member of NZ On Air, author Rex Edward Hale, councillor Grant Hadfield, former minister of defence Ron Mark and the first Pasifika dean of law Professor Tafaoimalo Tologata…

There were 72 drowning deaths recorded last year — one of the lowest totals on record — but a new report says there are some key areas that could reduce that total even further.The year’s drownings were a significant decline on the 90 recorded in 2023, and fell well below the 10-year average of 82.7, according to Water Safety New Zealand’s 2024 Drowning Prevention Report.It was the fifth-lowest annual total since records began in 1980 and the lowest since 2018.Water Safety chief executive Daniel Gerrard said the report was encouraging but it also identified areas to focus on.”This year’s deeper…

Wi-Fi on domestic Air New Zealand flights is one step closer after successful test flights using Starlink on an ATR aircraft.In a statement, aircraft manufacturer ATR said the tests were carried out on a 72-600 test aircraft in the past months, and the solution has been approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency.Air New Zealand has previously said it hoped to launch Wi-Fi on domestic flights in 2025, after first announcing the change in 2023.New Zealand’s national carrier is poised to be the launch customer of the technology. Soon after, ATR operators worldwide would be able to provide passengers with…

The number of people leaving New Zealand last year to live overseas reached its highest on record, according to new figures.According to Stats NZ, there were 127,800 migrant departures (up 28%) in the year to November 2024 — “provisionally, the highest on record for an annual period”. A total of 72,900 New Zealand citizens left the country to live overseas during that period, with 56% going to Australia. At the same time, the number of people moving to New Zealand dropped to 158,400, down 32% on the same period in 2023. That equated to an annual net migration gain of…

Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault at popular music festival Soundsplash over the weekend. Police were called to an event on Ngarunui Beach Rd in Raglan at around 3am on Sunday, January 19 and put a scene guard in place. “Enquiries are in their early stages and the victim is being provided with support,” a police spokesperson told 1News.”While the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to provide further information at this time.”A Soundsplash spokesperson said in a statement that “any reports of criminal behaviour on site at Soundsplash are handed over to police”.”The event team makes all efforts…

A person has died and another has been critically injured following a two-vehicle crash in Canterbury this afternoon.Police said they were called to the crash on Milford Clandeboye Rd near Temuka around 12.40pm.One person was taken to hospital with critical injuries.The road is currently closed while the serious crash unit carry out a scene examination.Diversions are in place and motorists have been advised to avoid the area.

Noel Leeming’s new Westwood store will open on February 5, after it has moved out of Blenheim’s central business district.The store’s current site, on the corner of Charles and Queen streets, was leased from the Marlborough District Council. The lease was due to end in October but had been extended to the end of March, a council spokesperson confirmed.Noel Leeming chief operating officer Jason Bell confirmed the central Blenheim store would be open until February 3, and the new location at Westwood Business Park set to open on February 5.The new site would feature a bigger range of technology, appliances…

A Rotorua man had no chance of surviving after accidentally losing his balance and falling into an extremely hot thermal pool, a coroner has ruled.The findings of the coroner’s inquiry into the disappearance of Matthew Tuimaualuga were released on Wednesday.The 26-year-old father was “loved and respected”, Coroner Ian Telford said, adding Tuimaualuga’s young son meant everything to him.”He was ‘always happy’ particularly when he was around his family”, had a good attitude and was a hard worker who remained positive even when out of work.Tuimaualuga’s family were in court “in force” for the hearing, and his mother appeared via AVL…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ The Reserve Bank’s battle with inflation is over. So why doesn’t it feel like things have improved? Data released on Wednesday showed the consumer price index lifted 2.2% in the last quarter of 2024. That’s close to the middle of the Reserve Bank’s 1% to 3% target range. “The good news is, the cost-of-living crisis is definitely over,” said Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr. “With a headline rate of 2.2% and wages in the 3 [percent range].” But he said there were good reasons why that might not feel true for lots of households. “You’ve…