Author: Press Room

A Flaxmere man tortured as a child at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital is taking the Crown to court, arguing its redress framework is unlawful.Malcolm Richards will file a claim in the High Court at Wellington later this morning, seeking a judicial review of Cabinet’s redress decision.Those tortured at the Manawatū psychiatric facility had until last week to choose a rapid payment of $150,000 or head to arbitration.The redress scheme only applies to survivors who are still alive that had been subjected to electric shocks and/or paraldehyde injections.Some have already welcomed the money, but Richards has refused the redress on…

Rotorua has hit its highest number of new build homes in 14 years, bucking the national trend.It comes as a new assessment finds the city has more than enough future housing capacity, a turnaround from shortage projections.More than 500 homes were built in the city last year, about half of them social housing or affordable rentals.Rotorua Lakes Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston told an April meeting many of the 522 houses were built in the central and western areas.Net new homes reached 483 after accounting for homes removed to make way for developments.It was the third year in…

Wellington’s famous eagles will take flight from the airport this week after 12 years in the terminal.  They will be replaced by a new display that is currently being kept under wraps. Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said that the departure of the birds (and their passenger Gandalf) will be emotional for staff. “They have been a huge success and travellers from around the world have loved admiring them. After 12 years it’s the right time for them to fly the nest.“We’re working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique, locally themed replacement to take their place.”The eagles…

Search and rescue teams are heading to Milford Sound this morning to look for a hiker who failed to return.Police were told late yesterday that the man not returned home after he had gone out hiking in the Mitre Peak area of Milford Sound.A helicopter will also be used in the search today, a police spokesperson said.

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Kiwibank is lowering the interest rate it charges on its three-, four- and five-year home loan rate fixes. The special rate, available to those who have more than 80 percent equity, drops to 5.35 percent for three years, from 5.58 percent. For four years, the special drops to 5.59 percent from 5.79 percent and for five years, the special drops from 5.89 percent to 5.79 percent. The standard rate will be 6.15 percent, 6.39 percent and 6.59 percent, respectively. The changes are effective from Monday. Last week, ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown warned that longer-term fixes might…

Organisations trying to help people get off meth in Northland towns such as Kaikohe say they are overwhelmed by “a tsunami of need”.More funding — and residential care for addicts trying to quit — is desperately needed to tackle the problem, they say.Wastewater testing has shown methamphetamine use tripled in Northland last year, which now has the unenviable title of meth capital of New Zealand.Tia Ashby heads Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, a Kaikohe-based iwi organisation that provides housing, health services and programmes like Paiheretia, which helps men caught up in the Corrections system.She said the meth crisis was “real,…

The country’s most valuable state house sits on a large plot of land that cannot be subdivided because it is in one of Auckland’s sought-after heritage areas.The state house is a 1900s villa on a leafy street in the inner city suburb of Ponsonby and is worth close to $4 million.It is a neighbourhood associated with celebrities from sailors to pop stars — last year, Lorde sold her luxury villa next door for $4.3m.Auckland Council records show the state house is on 619sq metres of land and is subject to hefty development restrictions because it is in both a special…

A popular Dunedin attraction is advocating for tourism funding to get a big boost. A submission from Larnach Castle on the Dunedin City Council’s 2025-34 draft long-term plan said a significant increase was needed. “As the tourism sector continues to be a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economy, it is imperative that Dunedin capitalises on this opportunity to bolster its local economy, enhance community vibrancy and position itself as a premier destination for both domestic and international visitors,” castle general manager Adrian Clifton said. “The city’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene and proximity to unique wildlife and natural attractions make…

Police in Brazil said overnight that two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro.The Rio event on Sunday was the biggest show of the pop star’s career that attracted more than 2 million fans to Copacabana Beach and had crowds screaming and dancing along.Even as Brazilian authorities said they arrested suspects in the hours before Lady Gaga’s show, the event went ahead without disruption — leading some to question the seriousness of the threat. Serious security concerns typically lead organisers to cancel such massive…

There are calls for New Zealand to follow England’s footsteps and make uniforms cheaper in a bid to remove a barrier preventing some children from attending school. The British government is planning to reduce the number of compulsory branded items its four million students must own and wear to three branded pieces, and a tie for secondary students. The change will save families an estimated 50 pounds (NZ$112.80) per student.Now, there are calls for similar policies to be adopted here. Variety Children’s Charity’s Susan Glasgow said limiting branded clothes students much wear “would alleviate so much pressure on families who…