Author: Press Room

And one in twelve beers in Dutch supermarkets is now alcohol-free, according to figures from market researcher Circana. ADVERTISEMENTTrying to catch the no or low alcohol wave, some brewers are making it their main source of income, such as Van de Streek Bier in Utrecht.Ronald van de Streek and his brother Sander have been brewing beer since 2017 and they now produce around 900 litres of it every hour. They started more than ten years ago as a hobby, at home in their kitchen. Back then they were still making beer with alcohol, now more than 60% of their production…

If you’ve heard the bagpipes ringing out across Wellington recently, you’re not mistaken.The capital has just hosted the biggest piping and drumming summer school in the Southern Hemisphere.About 130 pipers and drummers from around the country as well as Australia and Canada have been in Wellington for an intense week of learning.Liam Kernaghan, the president of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association, said it’s for all ages and stages.“It’s basically an opportunity to come and hone your skills, make some new mates and have a lot of fun along the way.”Teenagers Hope and Grace Barnes have come from Canada…

Police have confirmed that young people were involved in a fatal fall at a cliff on the Coromandel Peninsula last night where one person died and a second was rescued.Emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred at what 1News understands to be the northwest end of Hahei Beach, at around 8.15pm. “One person was located at the bottom of the cliff face in a critical condition, however they later died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. The second person was located trapped on the cliff uninjured with a Lines Rescue Team from Fire and Emergency NZ deployed to…

One person has died following a serious crash near Palmerston North this afternoon.Emergency services were alerted to the two-vehicle crash on Colyton Rd, Bunnythorpe at around 2.55pm.St John said it responded with one ambulance and one rapid response unit.”Our crews assessed and treated two patients in a moderate condition who were transported to Palmerston North Hospital and one patient in a minor condition was treated at the scene.”Police said the road remained closed while the serious crash unit examines the scene.”Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays,” a spokesperson said.

Concert-goers have seen a spate of concerts and festivals being cancelled or changed around the country in the last few months.Late last year it was confirmed Bay Dreams, once the country’s biggest music festival, will not go ahead in 2025.Last year summer music festival Nest Fest was also cancelled after four artists pulled out.So what are your rights if a concert or festival is cancelled?Consumer NZ said if an event you had purchased tickets to was cancelled you were entitled to a refund.Senior investigative writer Chris Schulz said the Fair Trading Act also covered date or headliner changes.Last year furious…

Fire and Emergency New Zealand says a vegetation fire which broke out in Kūaotunu on the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday afternoon is now under control, but not yet contained. Firefighters were called to the scene on Black Jack Rd shortly before 4pm Saturday. Earlier, FENZ Incident Controller Shane Bromley said three helicopters and four ground crews would continue work on the blaze today. “There have been no evacuations due to the fire and it’s estimated the fire is approximately 600m x 600m,” he said. This afternoon Bromley said while the fire is under control, it is not yet contained. “It is…

One person has died and four others have been injured after a crash on State Highway 2 near Wairoa this morning.Police said the single-vehicle crash occurred west of the town at around 11.15am.”Four other people in the car were injured and transported to hospital,” a police spokesperson said. St John said it sent three helicopters, three ambulances and one rapid response unit.Fire and Emergency New Zealand said two trucks responded from Wairoa.New Zealand Transport Agency said it received reports of a serious crash south of Ohinepaka on State Highway 2.”Follow the directions of emergency services on-site. Please delay your journey…

Big swells in the Cook Strait whipped up by a southerly front have cancelled two ferry sailings today.Interislander have cancelled the Aratere crossing from Wellington at 4pm today and the return trip from Picton at 8.50pm.Both sailings coincided with the “worst of the weather”, the website said.All passengers affected had been moved to other sailing times.Bluebridge said there were no disruptions to its schedule at this stage but warned that sailings could be “uncomfortable and longer than normal”.”We are monitoring the forecast closely and will update this alert, and advise customers directly via text and email, if sailings are impacted…

Big swells have cancelled some ferry services across the Cook Strait.  Sea conditions were expected to deteriorate as a southerly front causes waves, sparking cancellations during the worst of the weather. The Interislander Aratere sailing from Wellington at 4pm has been cancelled, along with the 8.50pm service from Picton. In an alert on the Interislander website, it said all passengers had been moved to alternative sailings. While there were no disruptions to Bluebridge, it said sailings between today and Tuesday could be uncomfortable and longer than normal – and possibly cause delays. MetService has not issued any heavy swell watches…

Police divers have recovered the body of a man who failed to surface while swimming in the Waikato River on Friday.Emergency services were called to reports a swimmer had failed to surface at Jones Landing on Lake Arapuni around 6.45pm. “Later that night the man was located under the water around 30 metres off shore by a boat’s sonar equipment,” police said in a statement.”The Police National Dive squad was engaged and attended on Saturday, and divers recovered his body on Saturday afternoon.”The death will be referred to the Coroner.The South Waikato District Council said on Saturday that no one…