Author: Press Room

New Zealand premier kapa haka festival Te Matatini will not go ahead at the top of the South Island in 2027 with expressions of interest to host the event opening today.In a statement on Monday, Te Matatini Society Incorporated chairperson Tā Herewini Parata said the board made the decision on Friday.He said it was not a reflection on Te Taiuihu o te Waka-a-Māui (the top of the South Island) but a result of the festival’s rapid growth and concern that smaller regions cannot accommodate burgeoning numbers of kaihaka and supporters.”As the festival continues to grow in size and significance, the…

ADVERTISEMENTMultiple lines on the London Underground network were suspended or disrupted on Monday afternoon because of a power outage, the British capital’s transport authority said.The Transport for London website showed that at least three subway lines were suspended due to a power failure and there were severe delays and partial suspensions on at least six other lines during the afternoon rush hour.The transport authority said it was working with the National Grid to determine the cause of the outage.”Due to a brief interruption of the power supply to our network, several lines lost power for a short period earlier this…

Police have released the name of the teenager killed in the Napier suburb of Onekawa in the early hours of Sunday morning.Kaea Karauria, 15, was found critically injured at an Alexander Ave address following reports of a disorder event at 3.10am and died at the scene despite efforts by ambulance staff.A second injured teenager was located at a nearby address on Cottrel Cres and was taken to hospital in a serious condition but had since been discharged.Detective Inspector Martin James said a homicide investigation was launched yesterday with a team of 20 investigators continuing to make inquiries.”No one has been…

For over half a century, Gérard Depardieu stood as a towering figure in French cinema, a titan known for his commanding physical presence, instinct, sensibility and remarkable versatility.A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of France’s most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures.In recent years, however, Depardieu’s illustrious career has been overshadowed by multiple allegations of misconduct. He has been accused publicly or in formal complaints by more than 20 women, but so far…

A community’s fight against a multi-millionaire couple’s plans to build a helicopter pad at their Westmere property has reached a public hearing.A five-day hearing on Anna Mowbray of Zuru Toys and the job platform Zeil, and former All Black Ali Williams’ controversial resource consent application began on Monday at Auckland Town Hall.During the hearing, a panel of independent commissioners will hear expert evidence and submissions from those opposing and supporting the application.The applicant, represented by their legal counsel, would be making their case on Monday. The property was on Rawene Ave.According to Auckland Council, out of 1397 written submissions made…

ADVERTISEMENTPope Leo XIV met with more than 6,000 journalists and media workers on Monday, just days after his election, continuing a tradition upheld by his predecessors, Pope Francis in 2013 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. As he entered the Vatican auditorium, he received a warm welcome and a standing ovation. “Thank you for this wonderful reception,” he told the crowd.In a 15-minute address, Pope Leo XIV mainly reflected on the role of communication as a tool to achieve peace. “The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we…

Act leader David Seymour is backing a Hawke’s Bay watercress street seller told to stop until he paid more than $600 in registration fees after a Hastings District Council officer “observed the activity”.Seymour, who is the Minister for Regulation, has written to the Minister for Food Andrew Hoggard, saying the Hastings man has been the subject of “a bureaucratic exercise that risks shutting down a valued community tradition”.It follows the Local Democracy Reporting story of Jake* – who declined to reveal his real name out of fears of even more of a crackdown against him – who had been picking…

ADVERTISEMENTPrime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” unless stricter immigration rules are enacted, as his government unveiled a slate of sweeping policies aimed at reducing the number of people coming to Britain.The government intervention follows the success of the hard-right Reform party at this month’s local elections, where it gained control of 10 of the 23 councils contested and won 677 of the 1,600 council seats up for grabs.  Speaking at a Downing Street press conference ahead of the publication of the government’s policy paper, Starmer vowed to “take back control of our…

Inland Revenue is still chasing more than $850 million from small to medium businesses — five years on from the start of the Small Business Cashflow scheme.More than 129,000 businesses were issued loans totalling $2.4 billion five years ago when the loan was made available on May 12, 2020, to small to medium businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.The average loan amount approved was $17,000.Most loans were taken out in the first few months of the scheme with a five-year repayment period, meaning many were now reaching their cut off point.As of April 30, 2025, however, just 64,000 people had…

Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevon McSkimming has resigned, Police Minister Mark Mitchell has confirmed.McSkimming had been on suspension since last December, pending a criminal investigation.However, Mitchell said “allegations of a very serious nature recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended”.He said McSkimming resigned today, with immediate effect, before he could be dismissed.Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the allegations “recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended”.  (Source: 1News)”When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign.  Mr McSkimming’s resignation has confirmed my…