Author: Press Room

Better signage wouldn’t have prevented a woman dying following a water incident at the Rakaia River mouth in Canterbury, a local councillor says.The woman died after a group of people became stuck in the river on Saturday afternoon, police said.Ashburton District councillor Russell Ellis has been a bach owner at the South Rakaia Huts for over 20 years and is the president of the bach owner’s association.Ellis did not want to criticise or lay blame on anyone involved in the incident, but said the tragedy was an opportunity to remind people about their safety in the area.“It’s not the river,…

National has fallen sharply in the latest 1News Verian poll while Labour has climbed, giving the left bloc the numbers to form a government.National was down 3% and Labour up 4% in the poll, which surveyed 1000 eligible voters and ran from February 3 to 7.It found that if an election were held today, the left bloc of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would have 61 seats — enough to govern.The right bloc of National, ACT and New Zealand First would have 60 seats, one short as a result of an overhang.(Source: 1News)National has fallen to 34% compared…

A soldier was beaten so badly by a sergeant and a bombardier when they were in Hawaii on an international exercise that the soldier twice lost consciousness, a military court has heard.It is alleged the attack happened after the soldier called the sergeant a dick, as the soldier protested about the way he and his mates were treated during the exercise in late 2023.The sergeant and the bombardier are before a court martial at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, which began on Monday.Sergeant Leaongo Tanginoa pleaded not guilty to five charges of strangling, punching and kicking the soldier, who…

The European Commission will today publish its much anticipated working program, outlining EU policy priorities for 2025. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission will present its policy priorities today in its much anticipated working program, with a preference for simplification and intent to integrate security “by design” in EU legislation.The agenda includes simplification measures for agricultural legislation, a Clean Industrial Deal to support the Green Deal’s implementation, increased support for the private sector, greater defence funding, and the introduction of key legislations such as the Critical Medicines Act and new migration laws on returns.Today Radio Schuman dives into the document together with Euronews’…

A consumer watchdog is concerned shops selling Instant Kiwi tickets after the top prizes have been won could be misleading.In December 2024, Lotto changed its policy to require players to scan a QR code at the counter, check the Lotto app, or ask shop staff to find out whether big prize money was still available for in-store Instant Kiwi games.Previously, Instant Kiwi tickets were withdrawn from sale in-store after the top prizes in a game were gone.Online Instant Kiwi games would remain unchanged.Lotto head of corporate communications Will Hine told RNZ Instant Kiwi tickets would generally be on sale until…

Thousands of people have gathered at Auckland’s Civic Theatre for the New Zealand premiere of the much awaited film, Tinā.Directed by Miki Magasiva, the film was set in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch Earthquake in 2011, and focused on grief, love, acceptance and the importance of community.It featured music, hope, Samoan humour – and a cast of both well-known and up and coming stars.The story follows mother and teacher Mareta, who while struggling after the death of her daughter in the earthquake, takes on a job as a teacher at a wealthy private school.At the school, Mareta finds kids…

An Auckland woman says her life has been “changed forever” after being hit by an e-scooter on her walk to work.Michelle Mann was hit by a scooter in 2018 and was left with a severe brain injury.The average number of concussion-related ACC e-scooter claims since 2019 was 93 per year — and they could be life-changing.Mann wanted the introduction of an insurance tariff to hold e-scooter companies responsible for the cost of e-scooter related ACC claims.Seven years ago, she was walking to work from the ferry terminal on downtown Auckland’s Quay St when she was struck by an e-scooter.”This moment…

Wairarapa-based MP Kieran McAnulty has renewed a call for the whereabouts of potentially millions of dollars from a court settlement over Wairarapa’s defective hospital.In answering the call, Health Minister Simeon Brown said taxpayers had “already invested in remediating the buildings” at the heart of the legal battle.But McAnulty said that still didn’t answer the main question: “Where has our money gone?”The former Wairarapa District Health Board sued Masterton District Council for $90 million in damages, plus interest and costs, to remedy the defective hospital.The claim related to alleged defects in the construction and consenting process for Wairarapa Hospital between 2004…

While the flat housing market which dominated last year has rolled into 2025, QV operations manager James Wilson said there was the potential for more “substantial growth” later in the year.In the latest numbers from the QV House Price Index, residential property values have increased slightly, up 1.3% on average nationally in the January quarter.The average house is now worth $913,567 – 1.3% less than at the same time last year and 14.1% below the market peak in 2021.Wilson said the slow start has been expected, due to the economic factors at play such as high interest rates, credit constraints,…

Moutere Valley residents are proving bigger isn’t always better when it comes to wetlands thanks to a Tasman District Council rule that means landowners wanting to create smaller wetlands don’t need expensive consents.David Watts has created small ponds on his property, turning it into a new wetland.”We’re dry in summer, so I wanted a green oasis.”With a $600 grant for fuel and a full d’ays labour, Watts was able to create the wetland without bureaucratic hurdles.”I would have loved to do a larger wetland. Not possible. Too many hoops to jump over, and so this was a piece of cake.”Yachal…