Author: Press Room

A supervising pharmacist who did not realise a man had accidentally been given someone else’s Parkinson’s medication prescription three times failed to “provide services of an appropriate standard”, the Health and Disability Commissioner says.The incidents began in December 2021, when a man went to pick up a prescription faxed by his GP to his pharmacist which was printed on four double-sided pages.The final page contained a prescription for a Parkinson’s Disease medication called Sinemet, which was intended for another patient at the same practice.A Health and Disability Commission report released today said the prescription was processed by an “experienced” intern…

The Supreme Court has ruled the majority of the Court of Appeal “erred” in its interpretation of a law that allows Māori to be granted customary marine title over the foreshore and seabed. It has unanimously allowed an appeal by the Attorney-General, following the Court of Appeal’s decision last October. Customary marine title is a right that allows Māori to give or refuse permission for certain activities that require a resource consent. Under section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Area Act 2011, it can be granted if Māori can show they have held a specified area of the foreshore…

This article was originally published in Hungarian Budapest has maintained close political and economic ties with Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drawing ire from the EU. ADVERTISEMENTHungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Monday to discuss the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine and energy supplies, marking the Hungarian minister’s twelfth visit to Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.Hungary is one of the only NATO and EU countries that has maintained strong ties with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and has refused to join other Western nations…

Air New Zealand is making further cuts to its domestic network, blaming the move on weak economic conditions. It said the changes would result in 2 percent fewer seats on the domestic network between February and June next year. Air New Zealand said it did not have an exhaustive list of affected routes, but said services between Wellington and regional routes like Rotorua, Gisborne and Blenheim would see cuts. The airline said it was responding to the domestic economy and adapting to the changing market while meeting community needs. “Like other airlines in Aotearoa, our domestic business continues to be…

A commercial egg farm in rural Otago is under strict movement controls after testing confirmed a high pathogenic strain of avian influenza in chickens at the premises. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said tests from the Mainland Poultry-managed farm have identified a high pathogenic subtype of avian influenza called H7N6, which has likely developed from interactions with local waterfowl and wild birds.”While it is not the H5N1 type circulating among wildlife around the world that has caused concern we are taking the find seriously,” he said. Anderson said low pathogenic viruses are already present in wild birds here,…

Georgia sees its fifth night of consecutive protests against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. ADVERTISEMENTAt a press conference with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Jolie expressed Canada’s solidarity with the Georgian people, and said they “are very concerned about what Russia is trying to do in Georgia.”On Sunday, the three Baltic states announced they would impose national sanctions against those “who participate in the suppression of legitimate protests in Georgia.”Jolie said Canada would follow suit and “will sanction key individuals and also businesses, entities that are involved in either human rights…

A do not drink notice has been issued for consumers of the Lower Waihao rural water supply, including Waikakahi East, after nitrate levels breached the maximum acceptable value for drinking water. In a statement this afternoon, the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai said it had been advised by the Waimate District Council that nitrate levels in the source water for its Lower Waihao rural water supply had breached the maximum acceptable value for drinking water of 50mg/L. As a result, a do not drink notice was issued. “An exceedance of the MAV for nitrates poses an immediate risk to…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ  Bird flu will be a tough blow to affected farmers and potentially their region, but so far does not look to be a significant threat to the wider New Zealand economy. As many as 80,000 chickens will be killed after an avian influenza outbreak of the highly pathogenic H7N6 strain was detected at a Hillgrove egg farm near Moeraki in North Otago,  the first such case to be reported in the country.  Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen said the number of chickens to be culled and the halting of exports was challenging, but the sector was not a…

Two whales have died following a mass stranding involving nearly 40 long-finned pilot whales in Golden Bay this afternoon.Thirty-seven whales stranded on Farewell Spit at around 1pm, the Department of Conservation (DOC)’s operations manager Ross Trotter said in a statement. Two of the whales have since died.”DOC is working with Project Jonah and volunteers on site to keep the whales wet and as comfortable as possible until a refloating can be attempted,” Trotter said. “The plan is to try to refloat the whales either on the incoming tide tonight before it gets dark or at high tide tomorrow at about…

The Government’s target to get tens of thousands of people off the Jobseeker benefit and into work by 2030 is not on track as the number of people receiving the support is on the rise.The Prime Minister today admitted the situation was challenging but announced several measures to support people into work.They include a more comprehensive needs assessment and a personalised job plan to help beneficiaries into work.One of those receiving a Jobseeker benefit is Napier woman Suzzy Fairbairn.A former truck driver, she’s spent the last nine months looking for work but has had no success.The Government’s target to get…