Author: Press Room

He has presented at more than 100 events, welcomed more than 12,000 visitors to his all-electric orchard near Cromwell and made close to 100 media appearances — and that is just this year. Mike Casey, chief executive of the non-profit charity Rewiring Aotearoa, recently won the transformational leadership award in the Sustainable Business Awards. The awards, now in their 22nd year, moved from 10 categories to two this year — disruptive innovation and transformational leadership. Speaking for the judges, Barry Coates, founder and chief executive of Mindful Money, said Mr Casey was a powerful advocate for the transition to an…

Tradies owed thousands of dollars following the collapse of the country’s largest rooftop solar company are worried they’ll never get the money they’re owed.SolarZero was placed into surprise liquidation last week, with owner US investment giant BlackRock blaming “unsustainable losses”.Close to 200 workers are owed millions in holiday and redundancy packages.Iain McIsaac, managing director of solar panel installer Green Van Electrical, called it a “huge dent”.”I’ve got wages to pay. I’ve got rent — we’ve just bought a new building, wholesalers to pay,” he said.”It’s a huge dent in the business and mine’s less than others but more than others.”McIsaac…

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has faced criticism and pressure over arrest warrants for Israeli’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. ADVERTISEMENTThe president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday criticised the US and Russia for interfering with its investigations and threatening its judges. The court — which started its annual meeting on Monday — is facing increased scrutiny and criticism in some quarters over arrest warrants issued to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as its relatively empty docket.ICC President Tomoko Akane told representatives of the court’s 124 member states in The Hague…

From being recognised for being inspirational to inspiring the next generation, Heidi Renata went from the stage to school this week. On Saturday night, Ms Renata won the Entrepreneurial Woman award at the 2024 Inspirational Women Awards and Gala, for Women’s Refuge, in Queenstown. Yesterday, she was at Otago Girls’ High School talking to year 9 and 10 students about the world of opportunities for them. She took about 200 girls through a group activity around seizing opportunities, barriers that could prevent success, and connections. Saying that she did want to retire at some point, Ms Renata was worried about…

A search and rescue mission is underway for three climbers reported missing after attempting to summit Aoraki / Mount Cook this morning.The men were due to complete their climb at 8.30am today but failed to meet their prearranged transport, police said.A missing persons report was made to police at 12.45pm today.Police Search and Rescue and Department of Conservation Search and Rescue are working together to locate the trio.A helicopter and specialist search and rescue personnel have been searching on the mountain this afternoon.The search has been paused due to weather conditions in the area and “will resume when weather conditions…

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier used the controversial Article 49.3 of the French Consitution to force the adoption of next year’s social security budget plan. In retaliation, opposition parties from the left and far right are threatening his government with a no-confidence vote. ADVERTISEMENTFrench Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government is hanging on by a thread. On Monday, Barnier, who lacks a majority in the National Assembly — the lower house of the French parliament — activated the controversial Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass his social security plan for next year without a vote. This, in turn, allows…

Campbell Park Estate is officially on the market again. In August, it was confirmed the Waitaki Valley property — with a castle-style mansion as its centrepiece — would be sold to pay off debts of former Mainzeal boss Richard Yan, who was adjudged bankrupt in May. Undoubtedly the most impressive of North Otago’s grand homes, the 35-room limestone baronial mansion was built for landholder Robert Campbell in 1876. Campbell Park became a boys’ school in 1908, which closed in 1987, and the property has since had several owners. The property is registered with Heritage New Zealand and has featured in…

The first dissection of the world’s rarest whale will be carried out in Dunedin this week.The male spade-toothed whale washed ashore at the Taieri River mouth in July.The 5m-long whale has been carefully preserved to allow local Māori and a team of scientists to learn as much as possible about the marine mammal. “It’s quite important for us in that according to our beliefs and our traditions, this whale is a gift from Tangaroa, deity of the ocean,” Ngāi Tahu’s Tūmai Cassidy told 1News. International marine biologist Dr Joy Reidenberg is among a team of scientists — from here and…

European Commission top brass set to visit steel multinational’s Belgian plant this week in the wake of a warning that low-carbon steel projects won’t go ahead without further policy support from Brussels. ADVERTISEMENTArcelorMittal’s decision to put on ice plans for a switch to hydrogen-based ‘green’ steel production at sites across Europe has been met with alarm from climate campaigners and renewable energy producers.“This is a setback for green steel production in Europe,” the trade association RenewableH2 told Euronews. “Renewable hydrogen and renewable electricity are the duo that will deeply decarbonise steel production and strengthen its competitiveness here in Europe.”“The new…

The world’s top 100 arms producing companies recorded profits of almost 600 billion last year, benefiting from wars in Gaza and Ukraine and a generally tense geopolitical situation. ADVERTISEMENTCompanies producing arms and military services increased their profits across the world by 4.2% reaching profits of €598 billion in 2023, according to an analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI).In Europe, arms companies profits increased by 0.2%, a relatively smaller regional increase that doesn’t accurately reflect an increase in orders and demand, according to the study.The top arms companies that held their spot in the top 100 are pan-European company…