Author: Press Room

Police have charged 27 motorists with being over the legal alcohol limit in a four-day operation targeting drink driving across the Central District.A further 95 infringement notices were served, police said, which included 24 for restraints, speed and distractions.With the Christmas period approaching, police ran nightly checkpoints across the region from November 27 to November 30.Police Central District road policing manager Phil Ward said 27 drivers were caught over the legal limit across the four days. “One vehicle was pink stickered, and nine vehicles were green stickered.” Green stickers signified a vehicle had compliance issues such as an expired Warrant…

This article was originally published in French European institutions in Brussels are paying attention not only to the financial discussions but also to the political challenges that are unfolding in France. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union has its eyes on the French National Assembly as Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government may be nearing its end.The issue at hand is the budget, which was urgently prepared after Barnier took office in September to lead a minority coalition. Barnier, the leader of the Christian Democrat party (Les Républicains), has proposed a plan to reduce France’s public deficit, currently estimated at 6.1% for this year, to…

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora is extending its cost cutting to last three years and signalling more voluntary redundancies, while reporting a deficit of over $700 million.”Some of the significant changes made in recent months are having the desired effect, but it is clear further change is needed to live within budget,” its chief executive Margie Apa said today.It is pushing out by one year, to mid-2027, when it aims the “reset” – launched after the board was sacked midyear – to return the agency to budget.This was “a more realistic timeframe” even though cost cutting was working, Apa…

All Blacks player Sevu Reece has been discharged without conviction after crashing a car into a garage in Christchurch.Name suppression was dropped today when the 27-year-old appeared for sentencing at the Christchurch District Court. He was accompanied by his partner.The wing had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful damage.The judge said Reece would be discharged without conviction. He was ordered to pay $1600 in reparations and $500 for emotional harm.The All Blacks wing was convicted and discharged after admitting one charge following an incident in November last year. (Source: 1News)According to the police summary of facts, Reece was…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has sold another investment property – potentially making a significant tax-free capital gain. Records show the Grey St property was last purchased in 2015 for $620,500. It was sold on November 25. The sale price has not been made public yet, but the property was advertised for $930,000. Homes.co.nz gave it an estimated value of $970,000. That means Luxon may have made about $300,000 on the sale – although from that gain he would have had to have paid for the costs of sale, including real estate commission, and he may…

A fourth person has died after a two-vehicle crash involving a people-mover on SH79 near Geraldine in August.Emergency services were called to the intersection of State Highway 79 and Kennedy Rd at about 3.15pm on August 21.The vehicles — a four-wheel-drive and a people-mover — were travelling in opposite directions when the crash occurred, Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said earlier.Three people who were in the people-mover died.Reports at the time stated those killed were members of a South Korean ski team who were in New Zealand to compete at the Winter Games in Queenstown at Cardrona, Coronet Peak…

Belgian police raided several properties linked to former European Commissioner for Justice for alleged fraud, Follow the Money and Belgian newspaper Le Soir reported. ADVERTISEMENTThe Belgian federal police raided several properties linked to former European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders on suspicion of money laundering, Follow the Money and Belgian newspaper Le Soir reported. For years, Reynders allegedly bought lottery tickets through the National Lottery, an organisation which he was in charge of as a minister between 2007 and 2011. The top politician was said to have then transferred the laundered profits into his private account. The investigation has been…

Police say weather conditions continue to hamper the search for three men from the United States and Canada missing on Aoraki Mt Cook. Police say a number of climbing-related items located before the search was called off yesterday are believed to belong to the three men.The search for Kurt Blair (56) and Carlos Romero (50) from the United States, and a Canadian national was launched yesterday after they were reported overdue.They planned to summit Aoraki Mt Cook via Zurbriggen Ridge, having flown into Plateu Hut at 3.30pm on Saturday. The alarm was raised when they failed to meet their 8.30am…

Highly pathogenic bird flu has reached New Zealand’s shores. What does this mean for the country’s birds — and people? Chickens at a commercial egg farm in Otago have tested positive for the high pathogenic strain of avian influenza known as H7N6.Around 80,000 birds will be culled at Hillgrove Egg Farm over the next two to three days after further testing revealed the virus had spread to a second barn at the facility. 1News answers eight questions about the situation.Is this the same bird flu that’s had the rest of the world in a flap?No. While H7N6 is a high…

Eminem’s mother Debbie Nelson has died.The 52-year-old rap icon’s 69-year-old parent is said to have battled lung cancer and passed away on Monday (local time) in St Joseph, Missouri, according to TMZ.The Lose Yourself hitmaker and Debbie had a rocky relationship — with the rapper documenting their ups and downs in hits including, Cleanin’ Out My Closet and Headlights.Her passing comes five years after Eminem’s estranged father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr, passed away after a heart attack aged 67 in 2019.Nelson became pregnant with Eminem — whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III — when she was 18, in…