Author: Press Room

Police appealed for witnesses to come forward following a “suspicious” fire in Whangārei on Thursday morning. The Tikipunga fire was first spotted by a member of the public at around 5.30am on January 2 when they came across a vehicle on fire on the front lawn of a residential property. The member alerted the property’s occupants and helped them move another vehicle to safety. “Police would like to speak to this member of the public and any other potential witnesses who may have seen or heard something suspicious in Kiripaka Road around the time of the fire,” Acting Detective Senior…

Security concerns at Auckland Airport forced the cancellation of an Air New Zealand flight late on Friday evening, leaving a number of Dunedin-bound passengers stranded.Flight NZ677 was due to depart from Auckland before the aircraft returned to the gate due to security reasons.Passengers remained onboard for a period before they were disembarked safely, Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer David Morgan said.The airline was working with passengers to reaccommodate them, he said.Police said it was in response to a report of a phone threat in relation to the flight yesterday. “The plane was held at Auckland Airport…

The house made famous by the Breaking Bad TV series is up for sale, and the owners of the otherwise unassuming home in one of Albuquerque’s older neighbourhoods are hoping the property’s role in the long-running series will help them fetch a pretty penny.Centred on mythical methamphetamine cookers Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, the series wrapped up more than a decade ago, but its legacy continues to draw looky-loos to the home and other associated filming spots around town.New Mexico’s governor also recently tapped the Walter White character, played by Bryan Cranston, to star in a campaign against littering in…

Auckland Council has been confiscating recycling bins in an effort to stop people throwing rubbish in the wrong bin.104 bins were seized from households from Manuwera, Papakura and Wiri in the first phase of a trial to combat growing contamination of recycling, which ended in May 2024.General manager of Waste Solutions, Justine Haves, said bins were confiscated from residents who repeatedly put rubbish in their recycling bin, even after warnings.Recycling contamination from bagged waste, clothing and textiles was getting worse, Haves said, and intervention was needed.”The contamination in recycling actually costs us, it obviously slows down the recycling of good…

An opening gala was held at the National Theatre in Warsaw as Poland inaugurated its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it assumed on 1 January 2025. ADVERTISEMENTPoland has held a celebratory gala in Warsaw to mark the beginning of its second ever presidency of the Council of the European Union.The country is tasked with guiding the Council’s work and representing all member states in negotiations with other EU institutions. The spot rotates among the EU’s 27 member states every six months, with Hungary wrapping up its own controversial tenure in December.During the gala, Polish and…

Two people were taken to hospital with critical injuries after a car collided with a power pole in Auckland this morning. Police were notified about the crash on Gilbert Road in Ōtara at around 5.35am. “Two people were transported to hospital with critical injuries,” police said. Traffic is being diverted at the intersections of Gilbert Road and Lappington Road, as well as Gilbert Road and Franich Street.

Police have named the man who died after his vehicle crashed into a house in New Plymouth on Christmas Eve. He was 60-year-old Darcy Wilfred Brewer of Merrilands, New Plymouth.”Police extend our condolences to his family and loved ones at this difficult time.”Police were called to Riversdale Dr, Merrilands, at around 9.15am on December 24. “Sadly, the single occupant of the vehicle died at the scene,” a spokesperson said at the time.An occupant of the address was taken to hospital in a moderate condition following the crash. In it’s statement today, police said: “Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash…

2024 was a “massive” year for the zoo with the birth of two baby gorillas and three Asiatic lion cubs. ADVERTISEMENTFrom alpacas to zebras – and lots of birds, reptiles and invertebrates – London Zoo on Friday is taking stock of its residents.The annual census of the zoo’s 10,000-plus occupants is a requirement of its license, and the information gleaned will be shared with zoos around the world to help manage breeding programmes of endangered species.Glynn Hennessy, the zoo’s lead primate keeper, said that zoos are “really good now” at sharing information.“We can sort of see the genetic pathway of…

A new bar blending Kiwi pub culture with sophisticated wine drinking, and an authentic artisan gelato shop are the latest offerings coming soon to St Clair. The two new hospitality outlets, opening soon on the ground floor at 246 Forbury Rd, are part of a three-storey apartment and retail complex due to be completed within the first quarter of this year. No 7 Balmac and The Esplanade owner Katrina Toovey said she was “really excited” to develop the Esplanade precinct as a destination, with the addition of her two new businesses. Piccolo, a wine bar with a “relaxed bar feel”,…

Alex Gilbert is using his own experience of being adopted to help connect thousands of people worldwide.Born in Russia and placed into an orphanage, Gilbert was adopted at two years old by a family in New Zealand. He eventually found his birth parents through social media in 2013.In 2015, Gilbert founded the charity I’m Adopted, which helps adoptees connect with their birth families.Gilbert, who has over 38,000 Facebook followers and 6 million YouTube views, said he has easily helped a hundred families to reunite.”I was in the same boat all these years ago and I want to be able to…