Author: Press Room

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including calls for driving fines to go up, how a doorbell leaked politicians’ phone numbers, and a scary moment at a gorilla enclosure. The AA says driving fines should be going up. Several major roads remain closed in the central North Island after flooding and slips. Israel is refusing to reopen the Rafah crossing, while some bodies of Israeli hostages remain in Gaza. ADVERTISEMENTR’n’B singer D’Angelo has died after a long battle with cancer. Australian politicians have had their private phone numbers leaked, after a computer was connected to a digital doorbell. American zoo…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ GrabOne has gone into liquidation. Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners said on Thursday they had been appointed liquidators of Global Marketplace New Zealand, which operates GrabOne in this country. “Due to funding constraints, the business has ceased trading and the liquidators are immediately commencing a sales process for the company’s business and assets. “As a result, the company will not be promoting any existing or future deals whilst in liquidation,” they said in a notice on the website. “For consumers who hold unredeemed vouchers, the company is unable to provide refunds. Consumers…

Early risers across parts of New Zealand were treated to a “space jellyfish” this morning – the aftermath of a Rocket Lab launch streaking across the sky. A Rocket Lab spokesperson told 1News the ‘Owl New World’ Electron successfully completed a launch at 5.33am from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A on the Māhia Peninsula. “Funnily enough, what residents are likely seeing is commonly known as a space jellyfish which is a phenomenon that can happen when sunlight reflects off the exhaust plume from the rocket’s engines,” the spokesperson said. It was pictured streaking across the early morning sky and shared…

More than half of primary school teachers say their students are getting better at maths, an Education Review Office report shows.But it said students were not being taught enough complex things like algebra.The report assessed how curriculum changes from term one this year – as well as the ‘hour a day’ reading, writing and maths requirement – affected students’ English and maths achievement.ERO said there were “positive signs” that achievement in both subjects had improved.The Government already revealed this week that double the number of students were exceeding literacy expectations, based on phonics tests.There was no similar data available for…

Four Auckland properties valued at approximately $36 million have been frozen following a two-year investigation linked to the death of a young man who unwittingly drank meth-laced beer.This week, the Commissioner of Police initiated civil proceedings pursuant to the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act against five people and one company connected to the Honey Bear methamphetamine laced beer manslaughter and drug importation investigation, also known as Operation Lavender.The second phase of this operation, the civil asset recovery investigation, began after the death of Aiden Sagala in 2023.Aiden Sagala. (Source: Supplied)Sagala, 21, had unknowingly consumed liquid methamphetamine, disguised as a can of…

Several state highways across northern Taranaki and Waikato remain closed today as rising river levels threaten roads already damaged by yesterday’s heavy rainfall.There are no active MetService weather alerts in the central North Island. Communities were cut off in parts yesterday due to torrential rain, which caused widespread road closures. If you have images or video, please send them to [email protected] the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said slips, debris and sodden ground mean that some roads in the area remain unsafe despite the rain having stopped. Ōhura, Maitere and Tokorima townships were isolated by slips and flooding across local access…

The New Zealand passport has been ranked as one of the most powerful in the world. New Zealand’s passport sat in a joint sixth place on the latest Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.The index included 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.Alongside New Zealand in sixth were Greece, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden – all six countries had a visa-free score of 186. When it came to openness, however, New Zealand ranked 73rd, alongside Benin, Ghana, and Guyana, allowing visa-free access to 61 passports,…

Rock legends Iggy Pop and Joan Jett will play three shows across New Zealand in January as part of the 2026 Summer Concert Tour.They will be joined by Australian rock band the Hoodoo Gurus and Kiwi rock heroes Zed.The tour will kick off in Taupō over Auckland Anniversary Weekend on Saturday, January 24 at Taupō Amphitheatre.It will then move to Whitianga on Monday, January 26 at Sheriff Block Arena before finishing at the Three Parks Outdoor Arena in Wanaka on Saturday, January 31.Iggy Pop is known for dramatic, unpredictable and physically demanding stage performances. The 2020 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award…

Police are responding to the discovery of a body on the Te Atatū Peninsula inlet in west Auckland. A member of the public reported seeing a body in the water between 500m to 1km north of the bridge on SH16, near the Te Atatū Peninsula off-ramp, about 7.35am.”The tide has since receded, and police are asking residents to stay clear of the area,” a police spokesperson said. Specialist police teams were at the scene and inquiries were continuing.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including calls for driving fines to go up, how a doorbell leaked politicians’ phone numbers, and a…

A Timaru man has been fined $10,000 after selling 40 cars while being banned from doing so. Kenneth James Michael Cumming was sentenced at the Timaru District Court last week, after he pleaded guilty to charges of participating in motor vehicle trading while banned. It was the second time Cumming had been prosecuted for unlawful trading. He had previously ignored a five-year ban imposed in 2021 for selling 38 vehicles illegally. While banned, Cumming continued to trade vehicles, selling 19 in 2022, eight in 2023 and 13 in 2024 – which was more than six times the legal limit for…