Author: Press Room

Residents are returning home after a large vegetation fire burned through 3.5 kilometres of shelter belt in the Western Bay of Plenty this afternoon.Fire and Emergency New Zealand were called following reports of numerous shelter belts on fire near Snodgrass Rd in Te Puna around 3.20pm.”Multiple shelter belts are on fire, but the fire is currently contained to the area,” Fire and Emergency said in an update this evening. Ten properties were evacuated. Sixteen fire crews and multiple support vehicles would be working to extinguish the fire overnight. A helicopter would provide assistance with firefighting efforts until twilight. “The fire…

The mother of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is boycotting the world premiere of Rust at a film festival in Poland on Wednesday, saying she views it as an attempt by Alec Baldwin to “unjustly profit” from her daughter’s death.The Western is premiering at the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage in the city of Torun three years after Hutchins was shot accidentally on set.Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer for Rust, was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal on the set outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021 when the revolver went off, killing…

A day after a nationwide hīkoi ended with tens of thousands marching to Parliament, it’s protest inside the debating chamber that’s prompting complaints.The pictures of yesterday’s Hīkoi mō te Tiriti are now etched in the minds of the masses as a police-estimated crowd of 42,000 converged at Parliament. The hīkoi forced politicians to take note amidst a contentious debate over the proposed Treaty Principles Bill.Now, all three Government coalition partners have written to Speaker Gerry Brownlee calling for tougher rules and penalties at Parliament after Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke ripped up a copy of the bill in the…

A senior member of Black Power Aotearoa Auckland says he is concerned about the impact the Government’s gang patch ban will have on families.The Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill comes into effect on Thursday, making it an offence to display gang insignias in public places.Police have said displaying patches will not be tolerated and officers were ready to enforce the news rules.Black Power Aotearoa senior member, Puks*, said insignias were not the problem.”What people wear is not the issue, bro,” he said. “It’s people’s behaviours, be it gang members or not, at the end of the day when it comes to…

A series of factors are expected to reduce EU cereal production to its lowest level since 2007, setting off alarm bells in the sector. ADVERTISEMENTEurope is grappling with a severe cereal production crisis, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, high production costs with stable prices, low quality of the output, and stiff competition from Ukraine.These factors combined have created a perfect storm for the agricultural sector.In a meeting with MEPs earlier this week (18 November), EU Commission official Pierre Bascou raised concerns about cereal output, which is projected to reach only 255.6 million tonnes this year—9% below the historical average.“This season…

Keanu Reeves’ iconic bullet dodging backbend in The Matrix has topped a Samsung poll for the best cinematic stunts of all time.In total, 2000 film buffs crowned Neo’s impressive technique seen in the 1999 action sci-fi blockbuster the winner — topping Tom Cruise’s death-defying performance of hanging from a plane in 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.The breathtakingly gripping car skydive sequence from Fast and Furious 7 in 2015 came in at a close third.In last place from those nominated was the Crane Chase Parkour scene from the 2006 James Bond flick Casino Royale.The survey was commissioned by Samsung to…

A sea of Southerners filled Dunedin’s Town Hall last night in support of the Save Our Southern Hospital campaign.The Government announced earlier this year the new Dunedin Hospital would either need to be cut back or done in stages, due to a budget blow-out.Around 1000 people turned up to hear why building the hospital as planned was important.The message was clear — Southerners would not be backing down until they got the hospital they say they need.Some of the people attending the Save our Hospital rally in Dunedin last night. (Source: rnz.co.nz)The Government announced in September there would have to…

After setting off from the Far North last Monday, hīkoi mō Te Tiriti is now in the capital and heading towards Parliament. Convoys travelled from Petone and Porirua early this morning to Waitangi Park, and now marchers are heading back towards Parliament. TVNZ+ will have video from the event throughout the day, while 1News will have live updates here.Many on the hīkoi, organised by Toitū te Tiriti, are opposed to the Treaty Principles Bill, which had its first reading last week. Minister for Maori Development Tama Potaka met some of those gathered at Parliament this morning. (Source: Re: News)(Source: Re:…

Two people have been taken into custody after a vehicle towing an allegedly stolen caravan “begun driving in a reckless manner” around the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday.Police said tools were thrown from the vehicle, damaging a patrol car and injuring two members of the public.The incident began when police received a report at about 2.25pm that a caravan had been stolen from a property in Matarangi.Senior Sergeant Leo Belay said the caravan was seen by police being towed by a vehicle in Te Rerenga to the south shortly after, adding that the driver failed to stop when signalled by police: “The…

One cellblock at Ngāwhā prison in the Far North was evacuated this morning after a prisoner lit a fire in his cell.Northland Region Corrections Facility general manager David Pattinson said staff responded immediately to remove the man from his cell and put out the fire.The other prisoners in the wing were escorted to a secure yard but were returned to their cells shortly afterwards without incident.Pattinson said the prisoner would face internal misconduct charges and police would be notified.He said there were no injuries and there was no threat to the wider security of the prison.”Safety is our top priority…