Author: Press Room

Rotorua election candidate Jared Adams says causing a great-grandmother’s death in a crash 12 years ago will always weigh on him.Local Democracy Reporting asked Adams about the case after he confirmed he was seeking election to the Rotorua Lakes Council. The crash happened about 6.30am on April 16, 2013, at the intersection of Ranolf and Amohau Sts.Anna Rose Lea, 72, was riding her moped home in the rain after working a night shift at the Sealed Air packaging factory on Te Ngae Rd.Adams made an illegal right turn on a red arrow when the main lights turned green and hit…

Terence Stamp, the British actor who often played the role of a complex villain, including that of General Zod in the early Superman films, has died. He was 87.His death on Sunday was disclosed in a death notice published online.The London-born Stamp started his film career with 1962’s seafaring Billy Budd, for which he earned an Oscar nomination.Stamp’s six decades in the business were peppered with highlights, including his touching portrayal of the transsexual Bernadette in 1994’s The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Stamp also was widely praised for his lead in director Steven Soderbergh’s 1999 crime drama…

Playing white noise to beer has been shown to speed up fermentation by up to 20%, according to new research.In a basement at Otago University, food scientist Dr Parise Adadi has completed his PhD playing sounds through a submersible speaker into brewing beer.“The vibration keeps more yeast in suspension… and by consuming more sugar, that’s speeding the fermentation,” he told 1News.He has studied fermentation for over a decade at universities in Ghana, Russia and now Otago.It normally takes up to a week to brew beer, but Adadi’s trials in the lab and at a 50L scale have cut the wait…

A burst pipe has washed away a Dunedin bookshop owner’s childhood dream and forced her business to close for good. Stacks of books and boxes of puzzles could be seen lining the street outside the Downtown Book Exchange in Princes St last week. It was believed a burst pipe spewed water throughout the store and damaged stock. Owner Sharon Sculpher said she had since decided, with the support of family, to close the store permanently after almost 42 years in business. Months away from retirement, she did not think she could cope if something similar were to happen again. “I…

The court martial for the first person charged with espionage in New Zealand’s history begins today.The Linton-based soldier was taken into military custody more than five years ago and has remained on open arrest at home since.In 2020, 17 charges were laid against the soldier including four counts of espionage and possessing objectionable material.Espionage is communicating information or delivering an object to a country or organisation with the intention to undermine New Zealand’s interests. It carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in a military prison.The court said the case was “of national significance” when closed-door hearings recommenced earlier this…

As a business owner or leader, you’re no stranger to conflict, whether it’s hearing something uncomfortable or delivering a message others may not want to receive. In these situations, you might brace for the classic “fight or flight” reaction and feel relieved if things stay calm. But just because someone agrees, stays silent, or makes a joke doesn’t mean they’ve truly accepted what was said. The “fight or flight” stress response evolved to help mammals survive life-threatening danger. It triggers an instant surge of hormones and physiological changes that prepare us to confront a threat or run from it. While…

A rescue mission is underway this evening for three people and two dogs trapped in a cable car suspended above the Whanganui River. Fire and Emergency New Zealand services and police are at the scene along Whanganui River Rd.”Three people and two dogs are trapped in a private cable car that suspends above the river,” a Fire and Emergency spokesperson told 1News.Police said they were alerted to the incident around 5pm.

New Zealanders are continuing to prioritise international travel, with Kiwi holidaymakers breaking records – despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis affecting households across the country.Statistics NZ figures show May was the busiest on record for New Zealanders returning from an international trip – exceeding numbers from before the Covid-19 pandemic.Paula Rhodes, owner of Hornby House of Travel, said the appetite for travel remains strong across all age groups.“A lot of it is about making up for lost time,” she said. “That older generation especially; there’s a sense that you need to make the most of those years. You’ve got to get…

A man has been arrested and charged following a house fire in Palmerston North this afternoon.Emergency services responded to a house on fire on Main St just before 4pm.Police said a man at the scene who allegedly had a weapon was arrested and treated for potential smoke inhalation.The 26-year-old was expected in Palmerston North District Court tomorrow on two charges of wilfully setting fire to a property and one of possession of an offensive weapon.Fire and Emergency NZ said the house was “well involved” in flames when crews arrived following multiple calls.

A shuttle bus driver says he and his passengers were “centimetres” from a potentially fatal collision on the road to Whakapapa ski field, after two cars attempted risky overtakes on a blind stretch yesterday morning.Dashcam footage of the incident provided to 1News shows two vehicles overtaking the bus on Bruce Rd at around 9.20am on Saturday.A Volkswagen Golf can be seen narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with an oncoming Mercedes, cutting back in front of the bus at the last second.”I thought, this is it – we’re gonna hit something or we’re gonna be hit,” Ruapehu Scenic Shuttles owner operator…