Author: Press Room

The Dunedin City Council’s handling of an impromptu marketing opportunity on national radio has been lamented as ‘‘a woeful let down’’ for the city. The council admits it was a missed opportunity but says the role of its customer services staff does not include ‘‘giving impromptu interviews to media’’ which could be daunting. On Tuesday afternoon, Dunedin isite Visitor Information Centre was the target of a cold call by RNZ’s Jesse Mulligan. It was part of a weekly segment where the host randomly calls an information centre around New Zealand, with the goal of learning more about the town or…

Pay equity claims are probably only part of the reason why public sector pay has pulled ahead of that of the private sector in recent years, commentators say.The Government announced on Tuesday it was raising the threshold pay equity claims had to meet to prove that work had been historically undervalued. It meant 33 claims would be stopped.Business NZ chief executive Katherine Rich said she agreed changes were needed and, as it stood, the claims process was creating large anomalies between the public and private sectors.”Increases in public health sector remuneration have created difficulties in the private sector where they…

A jet skiing hoon has been filmed speeding past kayakers in the Napier Inner Harbour last night.Hawke’s Bay Regional Council said it received a report of a jet ski travelling well over the 5-knot limit.“This kind of behaviour isn’t just against the rules — it’s unacceptable, especially with kayakers nearby enjoying a calm evening on the water,” HBRC said.“Speeding in the harbour puts everyone at risk, including the person on the jet ski. If you’re looking to go full throttle, wait until you’re out in open water and not in a busy, shared space like the Inner Harbour.”The council said…

A small energy retailer says power consumers will continue to suffer as a merger between two of the country’s biggest generators is given the green light. The Commerce Commission announced yesterday it had approved Contact Energy acquiring Manawa Energy after a year of deliberation, with a $1.9billion sale. Contact, one of the ‘‘big four’’ gentailers (generator/retailers), will swallow up the fifth largest Manawa, leaving the new company with ownership of 24% of the electricity generation in New Zealand. Commerce Commission chairman Dr John Small said in a statement the commission was satisfied this move will not lessen competition in the…

Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Derby has condemned “hateful and brazen” graffiti which was found in Wellington this morning.The vandalism, allegedly found near the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, read: “I hated **** before it was cool!”Derby described the act as “shocking, confronting, and an alarming normalisation of anti-Semitism that everyone in New Zealand must stand against”.”We must not allow anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of hateful bigotry to flourish in our country.”Reacting to the graffiti, the Human Rights Commission said “everyone has the right to be free from discrimination”.”Treating others with respect is at the heart of our…

Businesses have blasted the Dunedin City Council, saying the city risks floundering under the weight of rising rates, red-tape and a lack of leadership. The dissatisfaction with the city’s leadership was laid bare in a submission by Business South on the council’s draft 2025-34 long-term plan. The organisation said it had engaged with 600 businesses across the city. A total of 39% believed the council was ‘‘poor’’ at understanding businesses and the impact of their decisions. Inefficiencies within the council were a ‘‘major concern’’ for the businesses they had engaged with, Business South chief executive Mike Collins said in its…

Daily commutes will take a skyward turn for users of three Auckland train stations, with “modern” pedestrian overbridges planned to replace existing level crossings.Auckland Transport has opened consultation on the designs for new overbridges at Glen Innes, Takanini and Te Mahia stations. The change would mean that passengers could no longer cross the tracks at ground level and would have to either use stairs or elevators to access the stations. Construction would begin on the three bridges in October and continue through the summer rail shutdown in December, according to Auckland Transport.In February, the Government committed up to $200 million…

ADVERTISEMENTAs Romania prepares for the second round of its re-run presidential election, Bucharest Mayor and independent candidate Nicușor Dan is mounting a bold challenge to beat his nationalist opponent George Simion, who won the election’s first round last Sunday.In a joint interview with Euronews and Euronews Romania, Dan, who came in second after leapfrogging the ruling big tent candidate Crin Antonescu in a dramatic finish to Sunday’s vote count, maintained his strongly pro-European positions, including with Ukraine, one of his key differences from his self-proclaimed “Euro-realist” rival.”I would like Ukraine to enter the European Union,” he said, “just as I…

The Dunedin City Council’s handling of an impromptu marketing opportunity on national radio has been lamented as ‘‘a woeful let down’’ for the city. The council admits it was a missed opportunity but says the role of its staff does not include ‘‘giving impromptu interviews to media’’ which could be daunting. On Tuesday afternoon, Dunedin isite Visitor Information Centre was the target of a cold call by RNZ’s Jesse Mulligan. It was part of a weekly segment where the host randomly calls an information centre around New Zealand, with the goal of learning more about the town or city in…

Five people have been arrested following a memorial ride between west and east Auckland today.Police today monitored the movements of a group of at least 100 gang members as they travelled to west Auckland before returning to Flat Bush, in east Auckland, from this morning into this afternoon.Inspector Adam Pyne said police were “incredibly disappointed” at the behaviour displayed by some of the gang members involved.”While most were well behaved, police did observe some poor driving behaviour on parts of the route and intervened on several occasions,” Pyne said. Two people were arrested for driving offences and two motorbikes were…