Author: Press Room

The oil and gas lobby has asked the Government to underwrite the risk of fossil fuel exploration, with the taxpayer potentially taking “some or all” of the risk if new gas supplies fail to eventuate.Resources Minister Shane Jones said he was considering options to support gas exploration, but “no decisions have been made either way”.On July 8, the body representing oil and gas producers, Energy Resources Aotearoa, wrote to Energy Minister Simeon Brown, saying the industry was unlikely to invest in exploring for new gas without “government support to help manage risk”.It said the Government should consider whether the taxpayer…

A fire at an Auckland home believed to have been caused by a phone being charged has prompted a warning from Fire and Emergency about the dangers of cheap cables.A Fire and Emergency spokesperson told the NZ Herald a cord being used to recharge a phone had been placed on soft material in a Greenhithe house when it overheated and caught fire on November 23.An internal investigation has reportedly been launched by discount online retailer Temu.Fire and Emergency New Zealand risk reduction and investigations manager Peter Gallagher told Breakfast that similar incidents were not uncommon.Fire and Emergency’s Peter Gallagher speaks…

Business insolvencies are running at more than double the rate of last year — and one economist says the failure rate exceeds that of the global financial crisis.There were 72 liquidations in October administered by the Insolvency and Trustee Service, just down from 74 in September. Of those, 37 were in Auckland.In comparison, there were 58 in the year to June 2019.Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the rate of insolvencies was double what it was at this time in 2023.”It’s consistent with what I would expect and I’d expect this to continue.”He said the coming months would be tough…

The Russian defence ministry claim comes as Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTDefence authorities in Russia say they have ‘liberated’ two towns in the Donetsk region of Ukraine just as President Vladimir Putin approved plans to raise military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine.Servicemen also hit the infrastructure of Ukrainian military airfields, drone assembly shops, and warehouses over the day, local media reported. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, some of the targets included the…

Rock legends ZZ Top will play two shows in New Zealand next year as part of The Elevation Tour. The band formed in Houston, Texas in 1969 will perform at Auckland’s Spark Arena on May 17, followed by Wellington’s TSB Arena the next day, and will be supported by George Thorogood and the Destroyers.Tickets go on sale at 1pm on Monday, December 9 via Live Nation.

White powder being sold as cocaine in the Auckland region has been found to instead contain heroin after a sample was submitted to a drug checking clinic.High Alert issued a warning today, saying people who consumed the powder thinking it was cocaine were at at “high risk” of experiencing serious harm, including death.It said the powder is present in Auckland but there is no information about its prevalence in other regions.”There is a concern this powder may continue being sold as cocaine.”It is important to never assume that what drug you have is what it has been sold as. Misrepresentation…

Greece’s civil protection service says they have issued an emergency alert, warning of torrential rains and strong winds in the northeast, the centre, and the region around Athens. ADVERTISEMENTAt least two people have died in Greece after Storm Bora swept through the country,try emergency authorities said on Sunday.Local officials in Lemnos said the victims were two men aged 57 and 70 who died due to the flash floods caused by the storm. According to local media, one of the men, a 70-year-old resident, allegedly suffered a fatal head injury after falling on slippery stairs while cleaning his home during the…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Business insolvencies are running at more than double the rate of last year, and one economist says the failure rate exceeds that of the global financial crisis. There were 72 liquidations in October administered by the Insolvency and Trustee Service, just down from 74 in September. Of those, 37 were in Auckland. In comparison, there were only 58 in the year to June 2019. Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the rate of insolvencies was double what it was at this time in 2023. “It’s consistent with what I would expect and I’d expect this…

More than 70 infringement notices were issued and three arrests were made as police targeted a gang gathering near Nelson today. Tasman District Commander Tracey Thompson said the increased police presence was there to “ensure the safety of the public and that attendees of a gang gathering comply with the law”.It came as members of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians travelled to the Lee Valley near Brightwater from other parts of the country. Police drafted in reinforcements from Canterbury and Wellington. They expected up to 150 gang members to attend. Police conducted over 1800 breath screenings. (Source: 1News)Police conducted a number…

Police are investigating the theft of several items from Hagley Oval overnight on Friday, where the New Zealand versus England cricket Test is being played.UK broadcaster TalkSport reported on X that it had two cameras stolen, which meant it would not be able to provide images of Day 3 of the cricket Test on its Youtube channels.The venue owner, Venues Ōtautahi, confirmed there was a security breach and the cameras were among several items taken from a locked area.”Some of the things we are aware of are some Venues Ōtautahi technology equipment like laptops, we’ve had a TV taken from…