Author: Press Room

Resource teachers of literacy and resource teachers of Māori are “shocked and “devastated” by a proposal from the Education Minister to stop funding 174 roles from next year.”Given that this is the Government’s mandate at the current time to improve literacy within New Zealand, it just does not make sense to take out front line, very highly trained professionals,” Resource Teachers: Literacy Association President Judith Bradley said.Both the leaders from the Resource Teachers: Literacy Association and National Association of Resource Teachers Advisory Māori reject Education Minister Erica Stanford saying the quality of the service is inconsistent.”She’s saying that we want…

By Eloise Gibson and Kate Newton of RNZ As insurers move towards individual risk ratings for properties, industry leaders have warned that a growing number of homes could be left without insurance. If a growing number of homes became difficult or impossible to insure, that could cause their value to plummet – creating a problem for the whole economy, industry members were told. ANZ chief risk officer Ben Kelleher told the recent Insurance Council conference that New Zealanders had short memories when it came to major flood events. He cited a longitudinal study showing prices drop when a major flood…

The family of an Auckland father-of-two who died shortly after being taken into police custody earlier this month is calling for the mandatory use of police body cameras.Faasala Samu Matue, 45, known as Sam, died at Ōrere Point Beach in East Auckland on March 2.The vehicle he was travelling in was sought by police over an alleged aggravated robbery of a bar on Auckland’s North Shore. A three minute video has surfaced showing some of the moments prior to and during Matue’s arrest, leading his family to raise their concerns.Police Assistant Commissioner Jill Rogers said three lengthy investigations were underway,…

Foreign companies are set to dominate New Zealand’s internet gambling market as the government auctions online casino licences for the first time.Documents obtained by RNZ show local operators fear the large offshore firms will eat up their market share – and siphon money away from the community grants they distribute from gambling profits.Unlike Lotto, the TAB, casinos or the pokies, the successful bidders for the online casino licenses will not be required to pay any money to community groups.Internal Affairs minister Brooke van Velden, deputy leader of the Act Party, told RNZ she expected large, offshore gambling companies to win…

Three people were hospitalised in the Wairarapa over the weekend after ingesting an unknown substance which they believed to be cocaine but was likely an opioid.Wellington crime services manager Detective Inspector John van den Heuvel said police were notified after paramedics responded to a residential address in Tinui after the three people became ill after taking an illicit substance.Police believed the unknown substance was likely an opioid.”They received treatment and were expected to make a full recovery,” he said. He said the property was searched and cannabis and a firearm were seized.”A man has appeared in court today in relation…

The Commerce Commission is taking meal-kit provider Hello Fresh to court for allegedly misleading consumers over subscriptions.The Commission has filed criminal charges against HelloFresh New Zealand, as it believed the company breached the Fair Trading Act by misleading consumers in cold calls used to “re-activate” customers who had previously cancelled the food delivery service.Commerce Commission deputy chairperson Anne Callinan said the claim related to conduct between February 2022 and July 2023, when previous HelloFresh customers were offered a discount voucher without it being made clear that acceptance of the voucher would reactivate their subscription.Callinan said taking payment for services customers…

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against meal delivery company HelloFresh New Zealand for alleged misleading behaviour. The regulator claims the company misled customers in cold calls trying to get discontinued subscribers to sign up again. But in a statement, HelloFresh says it had co-operated with the Commission’s investigation and took remedial action as soon as it became aware of the activities. The claim related to conduct between February 2022 and July 2023, when previous HelloFresh customers were offered vouchers without being told that accepting them would reactivate their subscription, the Commission said. Commission Deputy Chair Anne Callinan said…

A clinical trial in Singapore represents a final lifeline for a Christchurch policewoman in her fight against a rare and aggressive cancer.Detective Constable Sophie Moore, 29, and her fiancée Koryn Arthur, also a police officer, have just returned from her first round of groundbreaking CAR-T treatment. The course has a total price tag of $900,000.They’ve shared every bleak moment since Sophie’s diagnosis of Peripheral T-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (PTCL), a rare blood cancer that affects less than 4% of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma sufferers. A bruised rib sent Sophie to her GP in August 2023 and the next month her doctor knelt beside…

A coroner is urging Wellington City Council to spend the millions of dollars required to install permanent balustrades along the waterfront, following the accidental drowning of Sandy Calkin in 2021.Sandy Calkin’s father Roger Calkin said the balustrades would be his son’s legacy — so no other family would have to suffer as his had.The 30-year-old’s body was found in Wellington Harbour a week after he was last seen walking on Queens Wharf, after a night drinking with friends in the city’s party district.A coronial inquest into his death was held last year.Coroner Katharine Greig’s report — released on Tuesday —…

Ukraine is to propose its own ceasefire deal in talks with the US in Saudi Arabia, aiming to sign the ‘Rare Earth Minerals’ deal with Washington to resume paused military aid after Zelenskyy-Trump tensions. ADVERTISEMENTA Ukrainian delegation set to meet with America’s top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the 3-year war with Russia.The delegation will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, two senior Ukrainian officials said on Monday.The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also told The Associated Press that the Ukrainian delegation is ready…