Author: Press Room

It’s just before lunchtime, and the dairy next to the Maketū Pies factory is bustling.Some clutch paper packets containing flaky, golden pastry wrapped around a piping-hot filling.Maketū Pies has been a fixture of the tiny coastal Bay of Plenty town since 1982 and is considered a major employer, but its future is in jeopardy again.The business that owns the brand, Maketū Foods Ltd, was placed into voluntary solvent liquidation last week.Residents of Maketū — population 1311 in the 2023 Census — worry the brand will be lost and dozens of pie-makers will be out of a job.It’s not the first…

Among the hardest-hit areas were parts of Wales, where authorities issued over 40 flood warnings after floods were reported in several towns over the weekend. ADVERTISEMENTHomes and businesses have been flooded as Storm Bert continues to batter communities across the UK after passing over Ireland. Hundreds of homeowners and businesses in England and Wales continued to battle the floodwaters on Monday morning after the second major storm of the winter brought widespread disruption.Several rail operators cancelled services as more than 180 flood warnings remained in place following Storm Bert, which lashed the country with heavy rains and wind gusts of…

According to his website, Calin Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held different positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. ADVERTISEMENTRomania’s political landscape is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face off against reformist Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks. With around 22.95% of the vote after nearly all ballots were counted, Georgescu was ahead. Most local surveys predicted he would win less than 10% of the vote. Lasconi, of…

A sonographer and radiologist failed to provide their services “with reasonable care and skill” on two occasions involving unborn babies, the Health and Disability Commissioner said — with “missed opportunities” leading to “profound and lasting impact” on the families involved.The incidents occurred in 2021 and 2022, the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) said in a statement today.In the first incident, the pair missed signs of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) in a fetus. It was identified by another radiologist later — but the baby’s lung had to be completely removed after it was born. More of the child’s lung tissue…

Police have charged a man with murder following a fatal Whangārei house fire in late April. The charge follows a months-long homicide investigation into the blaze that occurred on Thomas St in Tikipunga just after 3am on April 29. The property’s sole occupant, 61-year-old Hoani Reuben, also known as John, died at the scene. Detective Inspector Al Symonds said: “A 48-year-old man already before the court charged with arson has now also been charged with the murder of Mr Reuben. “He was already remanded in custody and will reappear in Whangārei District Court tomorrow.”Police are not seeking anyone else in…

Only last month, the French government survived a no-confidence vote brought by the left as the far-right abstained from voting. ADVERTISEMENTFrench far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that she could bring down France’s minority government by the end of the year unless changes are made to the country’s budget bill. Le Pen made her comments following a meeting with France’s conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier where the two discussed next year’s budget and other political issues. Barnier was to meet with other political leaders from the left and centre later in the day. Lawmakers from Le Pen’s National Rally party…

For the first time since its inception more than 40 years ago, NHNZ Worldwide — formerly Natural History New Zealand — will no longer have a physical presence in Dunedin. Yesterday, owner and chief executive Dame Julie Christie confirmed post-production was moving to Auckland, affecting about four jobs, in a move she described as indicative of the state of the industry. Most NHNZ Worldwide staff were based in Auckland, although some would continue to work for the film and documentary maker remotely from Dunedin, Dame Julie said. “Not a lot will change. We’re just giving up the lease on the…

As New Zealand debates the Treaty Principles bill, Re: News journalist Baz Macdonald takes a close look at a controversial grassroots organisation, Stop Co-Governance, which has campaigned for Treaty reform for years. Watch the full story on our home for news, in-depth and consumer stories TVNZ+.While the Treaty Principles Bill has brought the discussion of Treaty reform to Parliament and wider Aotearoa, there are many groups who have been advocating for this for several years. One of the most controversial of them has been the Stop Co-Governance campaign.Throughout 2023 Julian Batchelor – a former teacher, real estate agent and Christian…

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said over the weekend that the US expects thousands of North Korean troops to enter the combat against Ukraine “soon”. But Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Pyongyang’s soldiers have already participated in combat against Ukraine’s defence forces. ADVERTISEMENTThe US expects thousands of North Korean troops to enter the combat against Ukraine “soon,” the Pentagon head said over the weekend. Lloyd Austin stated that about 10,000 of Pyongyang’s soldiers are believed to be stationed in Russia’s border region of Kursk, where they are currently being “integrated into the Russian formations.””Based upon what they’ve been trained on, the way…

The Reserve Bank is expected to cut the official cash rate (OCR) by 50 basis points this week, but there’s a warning to borrowers not to get their hopes up about big retail rate falls when it happens.It is the last update to the OCR for the year, and a “frontloaded” cut of 50 basis points is expected by most economists.Most then think the bank will shift to 25 basis points cuts from February next year. Most forecasts have the OCR eventually dropping to around 3%, with retail rates in the 5% to 5.5% range. But forecasters are urging borrowers…