Author: Press Room

Mayor Tory Whanau and a group of councillors have called for Wellington Water chairperson Nick Leggett to be removed after a scathing report into the organisation. The council has written to the Wellington Water Committee following Monday’s release of reports showing unplanned water maintenance spending had risen dramatically compared to other councils across the country among issues at Wellington Water.The letter to the committee, signed by Whanau and 13 councillors and pouiwi, called for Leggett’s removal and requested refunds for ratepayers from contractors who allegedly overcharged for maintenance work.”The public response to the reports is one of anger and frustration.…

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denounced US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement that the US is “prepared” to go to war with China following Beijing’s warning over escalating trade tensions. ADVERTISEMENTChina sharply criticised higher tariffs imposed by the US under the Trump administration, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denouncing the move as a war that “should not be fought and cannot be won.”Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao echoed the sentiment: “Coercion and threats will not work on China, nor will they scare China. China’s determination to defend its own interests is unswerving,” Wang said, adding that “there…

A Tongan family whose eldest son is seriously ill say they have been left broken as they fight an order for deportation.Tina and Tafuna Vea’ila were served a deportation order at the end of last month but, whilst her husband has already been sent home, Tina remains in New Zealand with her two sons, one who is too sick to travel.The Auckland family’s lawyer said he had asked the Associate Immigration Minister to intervene.He said the children were born in New Zealand, the couple has paid taxes and had no criminal convictions. The family had lived in New Zealand for…

Protesters rallied outside the US embassy in Kyiv reiterating that one of the points of peace is the exchange of prisoners of war. ADVERTISEMENTA protest was held in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday, demanding help in liberating Ukrainian prisoners of war held captive in Russia.People holding posters outside the embassy were joined by veterans of the war in Ukraine.Since the early days of the war, Russia and Ukraine have conducted prisoner of war exchanges, with the most recent one taking place in February. Ukraine has not disclosed the exact number of its POWs held by Russia,…

Police are seeking a man with a warrant for his arrest in Auckland.Rawiri Cave, 25, was wanted in relation to several incidents in Counties Manukau, including aggravated robbery and escaping custody.Cave had long hair, usually worn in a top-knot style, and tā moko on the back of his right calf and his right forearm.Police said he was known to frequent the Counties Manukau, Point Chevalier and Waterview areas.Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.

Manukau Ward councillor Alf Filipaina has announced he will not seek re-election for council, but hopes to run for a local board seat in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu in South Auckland.”I thought it might be time to bring in someone younger, so I put a succession plan in place before the 2022 election,” Filipaina, who has been involved in local government since 2003, said.The veteran Pasifika politician had already ruled out a bid for the Auckland mayoralty.”It’s a rich man’s [game], you need money,” he said.He estimated it would cost $300,000-$500,000 to campaign for mayor and he’d need to get a loan to…

Labour is set to announce changes to its shadow cabinet tomorrow, 1News understands.While the leadership of Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni as deputy would stay, there was expected to be movement down the order, including some new portfolios.A source says Ginny Andersen would be tasked with a new role around getting people into work, with the portfolio called Jobs and Incomes.Andersen was currently Labour’s spokesperson for Police, Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Social Investment and Associate Social Development.Ginny Andersen. (Source: 1News)There would also be a new spokesperson for public investment.The source added that the public would see more of…

This article was originally published in Italian Pope Francis continues active respiratory and motor physiotherapy and his prognosis, according to Vatican sources, remains reserved. He has been hospitalised since 14 February. ADVERTISEMENTAfter three weeks of hospitalisation for bilateral bronchitis, Pope Francis remains stable. In a brief update on Thursday morning, the Vatican press room reported that he had has ‘a quiet night’ and was still resting.In Wednesday evening’s bulletin, Vatican sources reported that he had no episodes of respiratory failure. The Pope underwent high-flow oxygen therapy and non-invasive mechanical ventilation during the night. His prognosis reportedly remains reserved as he continues…

A New Zealand court has heard social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is not complying with an order to take down two posts which contain suppressed information.1News has chosen not to identify the case but was in court when the matter was discussed.The Crown lawyer told the judge: “Your takedown minute has not been complied with by X … or you could use the expression ‘defied’.”The defence lawyer saying: “I seek continued name suppression until the takedown orders have all been complied with. They largely have and as you’ve seen there’s two to go.”The two posts on X…

EU leaders are meeting on Thursday for a special summit in Brussels, where they will discuss further support to Ukraine and the Commission’s plan to rearm the continent. ADVERTISEMENTThe extraordinary summit, convened in response to the US-Russia talks, will seek to show that the bloc is now ready to step up its efforts to support Ukraine in the short term and ensure its strategic autonomy to defend itself in the long term.     “The future of a free and sovereign Ukraine – of a safe and prosperous Europe- is on the line,” EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in…