Author: Press Room

Twelve Year 10 students from Christchurch’s Hornby High School have just finished a two-week wilderness adventure as part of Project K.The Graeme Dingle Foundation runs the 14-month programme which is designed to help young people deal with the challenges of life.1News were there as the group returned on mountain bikes, in torrential rain, from the final leg of their journey. They were given a rousing guard of honour by fellow students, and showered in love and hugs by their families. The tears flowed freely.Tania Mulholland greeted her son Toby McLeish with a tight hug.”It’s been a really long two weeks…

Tonight’s Good Sort is Dr Warren Nicholls, a retired GP from Feilding who never quite stopped being a doctor.Rather than retiring quietly, Dr Nicholls took his skills on the road as part of a mobile medical service aimed at increasing access to healthcare, especially in rural areas.The caravan, known as the GLOB (Get Lots Of Benefits), parks up in places like Feilding.There are no appointments needed – people just show up, provide their details, are seen by nurses, and then by Nicholls himself.Together, the team checks basic information like weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels.”There’s a huge need…

The public service boss says his sector is “not as politicised as some would have you believe”, even amid significant change in its senior ranks and politicians’ commentary. Sir Brian Roche, who was appointed as Public Service Commissioner in November last year, told Q+A public servants are “very neutral”. “[Politicisation of the public service] is something we have to remain alert to. But I don’t see any particular examples of it at all,” he said.”I think the public deserves to know that they have an independent group of people who serve the government of the day.”Sir Brian had criticised a…

Defence Minister Judith Collins has clarified a new $957 million boost to the Defence Force is in addition to the previously announced $12 billion Defence Capability Plan.More than $2 billion was set aside in this year’s Budget to replace the Defence Force’s ageing fleet of maritime helicopters in a pre-Budget announcement at Auckland’s Whenuapai Air Base today.A new $957 million investment over four years in Defence Force missions, people, estate maintenance and international engagement was also signalled.Both investments were initially touted to be part of the wider $12 billion Defence Capability Plan which indicated the country’s defence spending would hit…

Lady Gaga gave a free concert in front of at least a million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career.“Tonight, we’re making history. (…) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd.The Mother Monster, as she is known, kicked off the show at around 22.10pm Saturday local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary. Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand.Lady Gaga performed her classic hits, including Poker Face and Alejandro, switching between an array of dresses…

Parents will now have easier access to what their children are learning at school with the Government’s launch of a new online resource aimed to support learning at home.Launching today, the Ministry of Education’s new Parent Portal website will offer year-by-year summaries of what students will be taught in English and maths under the refreshed curriculum, alongside activities, videos, and resources for learning at home. More subjects will be added as the curriculum rollout continues. Education Minister Erica Stanford said the tool is about putting parents back at the centre of their child’s learning journey. “This is about giving parents…

The state of emergency put in place in response to flooding has been lifted for Christchurch but remains in place for Banks Peninsula.Mayor Phil Mauger said things in Christchurch had settled down but that there were still a couple of issues in Banks Peninsula the council “need to keep an eye on”.”It’s good to have access to powers under the State of Emergency if they’re required. There are some road closures over there, and some land instability that needs to be monitored,” he said.”Although we are transitioning into a recovery period, we are still keeping a close eye on the…

New Zealand will this week join Allied nations in marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a victory celebrated with impromptu street parties across the country in May 1945.While Winston Churchill formally announced peace on May 9, news had already reached New Zealand a day earlier, sparking celebrations despite acting prime minister Walter Nash’s reluctance to pre-empt Churchill’s official announcement.“Everyone here knew the war was over on the morning of the 8th,” explains historian Stephen Clarke, “they wanted to celebrate, but acting prime minister Walter Nash didn’t want to go before Winston Churchill in London.”Public servants…

Four people have been arrested after two people were injured – one seriously – when shots were allegedly fired at a vehicle in Gisborne overnight.Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk said police were called to Taruheru Cres in Mangapapa at around 11.45pm to reports of several shots fired towards a house from a car.”The occupants of the same car then fired one or two shots at an occupied vehicle in Valley Rd, Mangapapa.”Two people in the occupied vehicle were injured – one seriously. Police spotted the car on Lytton Rd and signalled the driver to stop, but they failed to…

The owners of Tipene Funerals have spoken out for the first time after a former long-time employee was jailed for misconduct in relation to burials.Francis and Kaiora Tipene told TVNZ’s Marae they should have noticed something sooner, but said they knew nothing of former employee Fiona Bakulich’s offending.For the full story, watch Marae on TVNZ+Fiona Bakulich, 48, a former employee, was jailed for two years and three months and ordered to pay more than $16,900 in reparations over her misconduct.She pleaded guilty to two charges of interfering with human remains and 12 charges of obtaining by deception in February. Her…