Author: Press Room

NZ First leader Winston Peters has apologised after calling Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris a “dickhead” in Parliament today.The exchange occurred during questioning by Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson on fishing practices. Peters could be heard saying “not like you, dickhead”, apparently directed at Ferris across the chamber. It remained unclear what Ferris said to prompt the remark.Ferris stood up minutes later and called a point of order.”I’ve witnessed many times in this House disparaging comments being made between sides, and I’m quite sure that being called a dickhead would fall in line with that tikanga of the House,…

A Napier family and school community are grieving a “much-loved” student, who died after a “routine flu” escalated to a fight for his life. Mateo Deveraturda, 11, was admitted to Starship Hospital two weeks ago after a “routine flu” became much more serious. In a post on a Givealittle page, Mateo’s family said the “once vibrant, energetic child” was placed into an induced coma, and was fighting multiple organ failure. They said he had been in the PICU, under 24-hour care. In a post to Givealittle on June 24, Deveraturda’s family said his condition had “significantly declined”. “He is no…

ADVERTISEMENTUrsula von der Leyen has called on Hungary to lift the ban on the Budapest Pride and allow the march, scheduled to take place this weekend, to “go ahead without fear of any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organisers or participants”.The appeal represents her most direct intervention in the new showdown between the European Commission and Viktor Orbán’s government. “To the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary and beyond: I will always be your ally. You have every reason to be proud,” the president of the Commission said in a video message posted on social media on Wednesday evening.”Europe is stronger…

A man has been charged in relation to a hit-and-run which fatally injured a sight- and hearing-impaired man in Rotorua earlier this month. Around 2.15pm on June 15, a motorcyclist allegedly overtook a stationary vehicle and struck Paige Johnson as he was crossing Edmund Rd and Mangakakahi.The 24-year-old was airlifted to Waikato Hospital, where he died of his injuries on June 19.Police today arrested a 31-year-old Hamilton man following searches in Hamilton and Rotorua. He was arrested at a property in Hamilton.“We are glad to get this result and hope it provides some relief to the family,” Detective Senior Sergeant…

A number of Aucklanders have received Watercare bills that say they’ve used zero water, while others claim they’re being overcharged.The zero fee bills claim customers have not used a single drop in the past month or in some cases for months.The issue stems from Watercare’s smart meters, which it told Checkpoint more than 13,000 of are not working.The water supplier also said they’ve known about problems with one type of smart meter since October last year, and the fault has so far affected around one-third of the 40,000 meters installed since 2022.Greg is one customer who has been receiving zero…

A former accounts manager has been sentenced to more than two years prison in the Auckland District Court today for stealing more than $200,000 from a charitable health trust.Sarah-Lee Turnbull, 48, appeared before a packed public gallery of supporters and family on two charges of obtaining over $1000 by deception.She wiped away tears as she sat in the dock.Court documents reveal Turnbull, who also goes by Sarah-Lee Edmonds, was employed at the Waiheke Health Trust from 2019 to 2022.During that time, she made transactions under the guise of paying other organisations like Fullers and the Red Cross, instead sending the…

A New Zealand startup has reached “unicorn” status with agri-tech company Halter worth US$1 billion at the end of its latest fundraising round.The company raised NZ$165 million from global investors on the basis of a US$1 billion (NZ$1.65 billion) valuation.Its cow collar technology, connectivity towers and a mobile app lets farmers virtually fence, move and monitor cattle using sound and vibration cues.Halter chief executive and founder Craig Piggott said it meant a “more precise farm”.”You can lift the productivity of your land, but you can also monitor those animals for health and fertility.”Farmer Markus Woutrsen said it frees up time…

The Government has sent a warning signal to regional councils, suggesting they may be abolished following the replacement of the Resource Management Act later this year.Last week, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones told the Local Government Forum there was “less and less of justifiable purpose maintaining regional government”. “After the upcoming changes to the RMA, I doubt – well, certainly in the party I belong to – that there’s going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist.“There are currently 11 regional councils across the country responsible for the management of natural resources, flood control, and…

Sirens are increasingly taking a backseat to mobile alerts in warning the public of tsunami threats to New Zealand’s cities. But in rural areas with limited connectivity like Northland, the siren system still holds the megaphone.Last week, Christchurch followed Auckland in decommissioning most of its tsunami warning sirens, with other centres like Napier and Wellington shutting down or not having a tsunami siren network in the first place.Christchurch City Council explained sirens were no longer considered suitable as the primary alerting method.”They can cause confusion and delay communities responding, as warnings can be mistaken for different hazards,” a council spokesperson…

The first international flight in five years returned to Dunedin yesterday. There would now be three return Jetstar connections to the Gold Coast weekly, and the mayor said the city would build more accommodation if needed.Dunedin’s first international flights landed in 1994, but paused during Covid lockdowns.Teen Benjamin Paterson petitioned to get them back, more than 25,000 signed, and he met with the Prime Minister last year to campaign.”It’s really exciting to be on the first flight because it’s a big honour,” he told 1News, checking in.Benjamin Paterson. (Source: 1News)Now flying Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Airbus A320s will deliver 58,000…