Author: Press Room

A controversial plan to enable housing to be built in Nelson’s Kākā Valley is one step closer — but the developer isn’t celebrating yet.Last week, the Environment Court issued its decision to approve Private Plan Change 28 which would rezone about 287 hectares of land from rural to urban.The rezoning would enable about 750 homes to be built in Kākā Valley and along the Botanical and Malvern hills.The plan change was jointly lodged by a syndicate of two developers. Bayview Nelson was responsible for about 400 homes while the remaining 350 were projected by CCKV Development for the Maitahi Village…

Prosecutors in Norway say the far-right extremist’s parole request should be denied because there is a ‘real risk’ that he will commit another violent crime. ADVERTISEMENTNorwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in a 2011 bombing and shooting spree, appeared in court on Tuesday seeking parole for a second time.Breivik, 45, has so far served 13 years of a maximum sentence of 21 years in jail, but is eligible for a parole hearing under Norwegian law after 10 years imprisonment. Authorities have said the far-right extremist’s parole request should be denied because there is still a “qualified…

An Auckland man and woman face nearly 30 charges after what police call a “string of violent shopliftings” in recent months — including a toy store and a supermarket.Senior sergeant MJ Riddle, of Counties Manukau South police, said the pair were arrested at their Papakura home last week.”Some of the violent behaviour we will allege was directed towards people who were just doing their jobs was totally unacceptable and cause for concern.”The 22-year-old man faced 17 charges in total, which included serious charges over a violent shoplifting at a toy store in Sylvia Park on September 29.”He has been charged…

In this episode we talk about new ways of manufacturing mankind’s primary source of protein: meat. The Netherlands, Spain and Germany lead the way in development of cell-based meat, but it has already been banned in Italy. So how urgently does the EU need to address common rules on the product? ADVERTISEMENTFor meat to be grown in laboratories, cells are collected from living animals and multiplied in bioreactors. The resulting matter is then enhanced with fibre and other elements to add texture and nutrition. Since artificial meat is boneless and skinless, its use is mainly foreseen for burgers, nuggets, and…

A diver has died in hospital after being attacked by a shark off the coast of the Chatham Islands today.Emergency services said were called around midday, after reports the man, who was diving off a boat, had been critically injured.Stuff reported the diver was taken to Waitangi Wharf, where he was met by emergency services.He was rushed to Chatham Islands Health Centre, but had since died, according to police.Police said their thoughts were with the man’s family.”The death will be referred to the Coroner.”

The Moldovan government is boosting its efforts to improve EU support among its divided public — partly by emphasising its strategic importance during the Ukraine war. ADVERTISEMENTMoldova is a deeply polarised country, its electorate pulled between pro-EU and pro-Russian positions. While a referendum on the country’s EU accession established that a majority of the Moldovan people wants to join the bloc, the margin of victory was tiny.Given the intensity of polarisation and the seriousness of what’s at stake, the European-leaning government is working hard to shore up pro-EU sentiment in the face of Russian propaganda to the contrary.Moldovan Foreign Minister…

Tens of thousands of people have marched through Wellington as Hīkoi mō te Tiriti packed out Parliament’s grounds today. Police estimated about 42,000 people were participating in the march, organised by Toitū te Tiriti, many of who oppose the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading last week during a fiery vote in Parliament. Crowds engulfed the Parliament grounds which quickly reached capacity, with thousands spilling out onto surrounding streets in the CBD. 1News political editor Maiki Sherman reports from Parliament as tens of thousands of people converged for Hīkoi mō te Tiriti.  (Source: 1News)Several of those participating…

Alliance Group has posted a full-year after-tax loss of $95.8million but is forecasting a return to profitability in the current financial year. Announcing its result for the year ending September 30, the company said the figure included one-off costs of $48.2m including those associated with the closure of its Smithfield plant. That meant the underlying result was a $47.6m loss which was on turnover of $1.8billion — down from $2b last year. The result was described by chairman Mark Wynne as “disappointing”, who said it reflected the tough global trading conditions, especially for lamb which accounted for a high proportion…

A man has been charged after allegedly aiming a high-powered laser at the Otago Rescue Helicopter last night.Police said they were alerted to a laser being pointed at the aircraft for four minutes in north Oamaru around 10pm.Following the laser strike, the helicopter flew to a house and followed a man as he got into a car and drove out onto Thames Highway, heading north.The man then went into a covered petrol station in an attempt to evade the aircraft. However, police officers attending on the ground stopped the driver, who allegedly admitted to shining the laser.Police said a laser…

Rural supplies co-operative Farmlands has announced a $14.3million full-year net loss on the back of a $68.2m drop in revenue for the year ended June 30. The company said the result was exacerbated by a one-off accounting adjustment to previously recognised tax losses of $12.3m. The result compared to a $679,000 loss last year. Chief executive Tanya Houghton said the company’s efforts to improve pricing on rural supplies had put an additional $6.9m back in the hands of farmers and growers. That had been made possible through efficiencies gained from its supply chain transformation, careful inventory management, supplier negotiations and…