Author: Press Room

Inside our wallets and pockets lays a piece of Rotorua and Te Arawa history. For the past 20 years, revered ancestor Pūkaki has ventured across the motu on the 20 cent coin. Local Democracy Reporting’s Laura Smith explores his story.The image of Pūkaki is etched onto the silver coin in intricate detail.In the renowned Ngāti Whakaue rangatira’s arms are his sons, Wharengaro and Rangitākuku. His wife Ngāpuia (Tūhourangi) can be glimpsed between his legs.The depiction is based on a well-loved and well-travelled carving of Pūkaki.In storage since 2016, a decision is expected this year about Pūkaki’s next home.In his temporary…

On the eve of the inauguration gala for the Polish Presidency of the EU, Polish farmers descended on the capital Warsaw to protest against European policies affecting the farming sector. ADVERTISEMENTAs Poland enters the first days of its presidency of the Council of the European Union, farmers have taken to the streets of Warsaw in protest.  Protesting on the same day as the Polish presidency’s opening gala, the demonstrators marched under the slogan “5 x STOP” in reference to what the demonstrators point to as five areas that affect Poland as a result of policies introduced by Brussels: the Mercosur…

Dunedin’s median home value rose 1% over 2024, and could be just the beginning of growth in the market, realtors in the city say. According to CoreLogic NZ’s latest hedonic Home Value Index (HVI), property values in New Zealand fell 0.2% in December — the ninth drop in the past 10 months. The national median property value now stood at $803,624, which was 3.9% lower than a year ago and equal to a drop of about $32,200. New Zealand home values were still 17.6% below the post-pandemic peak, but 16.2% higher than the pre-pandemic level from March 2020. The median…

Germany’s boisterous New Year’s Eve celebrations saw five people killed across Germany and 400 arrested in Berlin alone, with officials questioning how they can reign in the chaos. ADVERTISEMENTGerman officials have called for restrictions on illegal fireworks as well as harsher sentences for rioters attacking emergency workers after five people were killed, and dozens of civilians and police officers were injured across Germany on New Year’s Eve. Officials have pointed particularly to the use of “kugelbomben” or bullet bombs — explosives that are legally restricted to professional firework displays — for the multiple injuries from fireworks across the country, including…

A new bar blending Kiwi pub culture with sophisticated wine drinking, neighbouring an authentic artisan gelato shop, are the latest offerings coming soon to St Clair. The two new hospitality outlets, opening soon on the ground floor at 246 Forbury Rd, are part of a three-storey apartment and retail complex due to be completed within the first quarter of this year. No 7 Balmac and The Esplanade owner Katrina Toovey said she was “really excited” to develop the Esplanade precinct as a destination, with the addition of her two new businesses. Piccolo, a wine bar with a “relaxed bar feel”,…

Four members of the prison’s medical team and one guard were taken hostage by a prisoner on Friday, according to preliminary reports. ADVERTISEMENTFour medical staff members and a prison guard are held hostage at the prison in Arles, in France’s department of Bouches-du-Rhône, local media reported. The five staff members were taken hostage on Friday morning. The perpetrator is believed to be a prisoner armed with a makeshift bladed weapon. A special police unit was reportedly dispatched to the prison. France’s Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin wrote on social media platform X that all available recourses have been mobilised and…

A huge crowd has shown up for the vigil for Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming in Nelson this evening, with the local community coming together to grieve and support each other.The vigil for the slain police officer has taken place on the steps of the Christ Church Cathedral in Trafalgar Square tonight, with thousands of people crowding the streets, and a large group of police officers paying tribute to their fallen colleague.Fleming was killed after she and another officer, Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsey, were struck by a vehicle in Buxton Square in the early hours of New Year’s Day.Ramsey remains in…

Ties between Warsaw and Budapest soured further last month after Polish fugitive lawmaker Marcin Romanowski was granted asylum in Hungary. ADVERTISEMENTPoland has uninvited Hungary’s ambassador to Friday’s inauguration gala of Warsaw’s EU presidency following a diplomatic spat over political asylum, a Polish minister said.Budapest last month granted political asylum to Poland’s former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski, provoking the wrath of Warsaw — which called it a “hostile act”.Romanowski, a lawmaker with the nationalist opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, is facing 11 charges by Polish prosecutors for misuse of public funds and a Warsaw court last month issued a…

Police are appealing for sightings of a man who has been missing from Hamilton for almost two weeks. Jarrad Ormsby, 45, was reported missing in the city on December 19.He was originally from the Tauranga suburb of Welcome Bay, but has recently been staying with his partner in Hamilton. In a statement, police said officers have spoken with several of his friends and family, and no one has reported having contact with him since he went missing.”Jarrad’s family and police have serious concerns for his welfare and would like to see him return home safely,” a police spokesperson said. Anyone…

The Government is working to address a rural health workforce shortage amid a sector under strain nationwide. 1News reporter Nicole Bremner visited Hāwera Hospital to find out what healthcare delivery is like for affected staff and patients.It costs a lot of money and time to affect change in a health system that has long been under pressure.Recent reforms, increasing costs, and a global shortage of medical skills are all factors contributing to ongoing problems in the health sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.Over the past year, the provision of health services in rural communities have been in the spotlight.Rural patients in…