Author: Press Room

An Auckland school principal has expressed concern at the suitability of the new school lunches programme for Muslim students after being told they were halal-friendly but not halal-certified. Papatoetoe Intermediate principal Pauline Cornwell told 1News she had been asking for certification for the halal meals from the new provider since the beginning of the term. She received a note two days ago, saying the meals were “halal-friendly” rather than halal-certified.”I’ve had to notify our Muslim community and give them the option to opt out of the programme; or to take vegetarian meals; or continue with meals that aren’t certified,” she…

Most job-seekers are open to the use of AI, but are concerned it won’t judge their skills fairly. ADVERTISEMENTMost workers think AI can help them in the job hunt, but seem much more sceptical when artificial intelligence is supposed to assess their skills in the selection process.In 19 industries out of 22 surveyed, job seekers value human judgement more than AI when it comes to assessing non-traditional skills and experience, particularly in the manufacturing (+18%), healthcare (+17%), and legal (+17%) sectors.Furthermore, the Adecco survey on 30,000 workers in 23 countries – including US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy – shows…

Some speed-safety cameras around the country — particularly in the Wellington and Otago — are temporarily out of action, as police hand them over to the NZ Transport Agency.NZTA is taking over camera management, after a 2019 Cabinet decision.As part of that rollout, most fixed speed cameras in Wellington, and all of them in Otago and Southland have stopped issuing infringements — for now. Fines were still being given out from two fixed speed cameras in Wellington.”Before cameras go live on our network, they go through a rigorous testing process,” NZTA said. “Other organisations complete the tests and issue certificates.”Cameras…

The EU Commission will propose to activate the escape clause for defence investments, Ursula von der Leyen announced in Munich. “This will allow Member states to substantially increase their defence expenditure,” she said. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that she will propose to activate the escape clause in the bloc’s fiscal rules in a bid to “substantially” boost member states’ defence investment. The measure, von der Leyen told the Munich Security Conference, would be done in “a controlled and conditional way” and will be followed by “a wider package of tailor-made tools to address the specific…

Doors slammed as representatives of a post-settlement entity stormed out of a Hawke’s Bay Regional Council meeting over a claim its opposition to a flood spillway of the Wairoa River through Māori land could be a breach of tikanga.The meeting in Wairoa confirmed Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s support for the spillway, which is in the path of 16 homes, six hectares of Māori whenua and 18ha of general title land.The decision advances the $70 million Central Government-funded infrastructure project to the next stage, which will construct comprehensive flood mitigation measures including a spillway and strategic stop bank placements.Three organisations –…

A drug supplier based in Wellington has had nearly $340,000 in assets seized – and could stand to lose more than $2.5 million more.Included in the seized items is a 42-foot yacht, high-end art, bank accounts totalling nearly $168,000, three motor vehicles, a lithograph by New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere and jewellery – including a Hubolt watch estimated to be worth $50,000.Police said the seizure was the result of a “long-running” investigation by the asset recovery unit into the activities of Kenny Leslie McMillan – which were brought to halt in 2019.“The forfeiture orders were issued by the High Court…

A massive project upgrading Auckland’s water quality is a step closer to being finished.The central interceptor is a supersized tunnel running from Mangere Pump Station, through Mount Roskill, Western Springs, on to Point Erin in Herne Bay.When completed next year, it would be more than 16km long.With a capacity for 250,000 cubic metres of wastewater, its seven-year construction has come at a cost of $1.6 billion.It is expected to improve clean waterways and open spaces, reduce stormwater overflows, and ensure capacity for homes and people.The southern half of the tunnel was now completed, and a new pump station opened. The…

Defending a rules-based trading system based on low tariffs, the EU executive said reciprocal tariffs were unjustified and that it will react swiftly. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission will react “firmly and immediately” to reciprocal tariffs announced on Thursday by US president Donald Trump, saying it was “a step in the wrong direction”, and an open global system “benefits all partners”, in a statement issued by the executive on Friday.“The EU maintains some of the lowest tariffs in the world and sees no justification for increased US tariffs on its exports. Tariffs are taxes,” a Commission statement read, adding: “The EU will react…

Two years on, Cyclone Gabrielle’s fury is just as raw for Bill Chrystal who lost his partner Shona Wilson when a landslide tore through their property where Shona was sleeping.”I think of it every day,” said Chrystal.”The pain is very real, I don’t get sleep anymore.”“If I’m working and I hear a song, and if it’s a sad love a song or something like that, I’ll start crying.””I’m lucky to get three hours sleeping on it. It’s just something in me that just wakes me up now constantly.”Today marked two years since cyclone Gabrielle wreaked widespread destruction along the east…

A man has been arrested over the alleged armed robbery of an cash-in-transit van on Auckland’s North Shore on Tuesday afternoon.Security staff were delivering cash to the ATM machine on Birkenhead Ave in Birkenhead when they were approached just before 2.30pm.Police said a firearm was allegedly pulled during the robbery, and a person made off with money in a case.Following the search of an address in Northcote overnight, a 43-year-old man was taken into custody and charged over the robbery.The man will appear in the North Shore District Court today, charged with aggravated robbery and commission of a crime with…