Author: Press Room

The police believe gangs are now making twice as much money from dealing methamphetamine as they were a year ago amid what they’re calling a “bizarre” increase in use of the illicit drug.Recently released data from Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR)’s wastewater testing programme revealed New Zealand’s meth consumption rose from 732kg in 2023 to 1434kg in 2024.ESR’s senior scientist Andrew Chappell told 1News there was a large spike in the amount of meth being consumed in July and August last year – and the level has remained high ever since.New Zealand went from consuming between 15 and…

A team of conservators set up an archaeological dig on a remote Southland peninsula 57 years ago. They had to work fast but still managed to extract 11 tonnes of material. Now, finally, that is being analysed and catalogued, and proving to be a treasure trove.More than 600 years before there was an aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point in Southland there was an ancient Māori manufacturing workshop, but artefacts from the workshop weren’t discovered until building on the smelter had started.In 1961, plans for an aluminium smelter become public knowledge and surveys undertaken at the time by archaeologists for sites…

A young child under the age of four has died and an adult has been injured following a dog attack in Bay of Plenty yesterday afternoon.Police were called around 2.50pm after two people suffered “dog bite injuries” in Katikati.A child was taken to the Katikati Medical Centre in a critical condition, where they died of their injuries a short time later, police said.An adult was taken to hospital with moderate injuries, where they remain.A Tuapiro Marae spokesperson confirmed to 1News a child under the age of four had died of their injuries following an incident on Tuapiro Marae.”We’re primarily focused…

Belgrade begins war crimes trial of four Croatian Air Force pilots accused of firing rockets at Serbian refugee columns in August 1995. ADVERTISEMENTThe first main hearing of the trial of four Croatian Air Force pilots who are accused of firing rockets at Serb refugee columns on a road near Bosanski Petrovac and Bosnia and Herzegovina began on Friday in the War Crimes Department of the High Court of Belgrade.The accused pilots will be tried in absentia, given that they have been unavailable to Serbian judicial authorities since the beginning of the investigation in 2021.Zdenko Radulj, 70, Željko Jelenić, 69, Vladimir…

After a redundancy and months of dispiriting job searching in Auckland, Natalia Sutherland moved to London in her 30s in search of employment. But is the job scene any better over there? Most people moving from New Zealand to London hold conflicting imagined outcomes. There’s fairy tale narrative: I land a high-paying job at a corporate giant, take regular luxurious weekend trips to southern France, sipping wine in the sun. Just another cheap weekend on the continent. (Source: istock.com)The other scenario sees me failing to find work at all and writhing on London’s grey streets, dodging knife-wielding phone snatchers before…

A new report highlighting nutrition concerns joins the range of issues faced by David Seymour since he launched his revised school lunches programme eight weeks ago. Watch this story on our home for all news, in-depth and consumer stories, TVNZ+.The list of concerns about David Seymour’s beleaguered school lunch problem grew longer this week with the release of research showing the lunches provide students with just half the energy they require from a midday meal.A group of researchers from the University of Auckland based their findings on the nutritional data featured on the website of the School Lunch Collective, the…

A 29-year-old plasterer from Darfield, charged with murder after the death of Tyrone Munns, has made a first appearance in the Christchurch District Court.Terry Thane Daily, who appeared in court via video link, didn’t enter a plea this morning. The murder accused was remanded in custody to appear in the High Court next month.He was arrested by police and the Armed Offenders Squad at 2pm yesterday at a Christchurch address. In a statement yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Wells said: “I wish to acknowledge Tyrone’s family in this difficult time and hope that this arrest provides them with some degree…

Public toilets and rubbish bins are just some of the casualties of Tasman District Council’s latest attempt to cut costs.The council is facing a $2.9 million overspend this financial year for the maintenance of community infrastructure.On Thursday, elected members narrowly voted to limit that overspend by $150,000 by cutting back on some of its services for the remainder of the financial year.The decision received immediate backlash from residents on social media when it was announced by the council on Friday.Council’s waters and waste activities make up 80% of the overspend, but there was little opportunity to cut those costs which…

With cemeteries in West Auckland now full, a local couple fears they will be separated from the community they have always called home.The concern echoes warnings from local board members who believe the lack of burial space has become a critical issue.Die-hard Westies will need to find a new resting place as Waikumete Cemetery, New Zealand’s largest, has reached capacity.With no new burial plots available until 2027, Oscar Kightley, Henderson-Massey Local Board member, says it’s disappointing that families can no longer say farewell to their loved ones in their own community. “It sucks.”Having moved from Sāmoa and grown up in…

The Government will call on the Commerce Commission to keep an eye on Wellington Water as it brings forward plans to implement its water reforms for the capital ahead of other cities. This morning, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said he had “serious concerns” about Wellington’s water services. Two reports into Wellington Water were released earlier this month, and found the entity suffered from poor financial oversight and contractor management, as well as paying contractors more than in other parts of the country. The investigation found ratepayers were paying nearly three times more for water repairs than elsewhere. “I am…