Author: Press Room
Published on 25/06/2025 – 11:33 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTIn an unprecedented move, US conservative organisations closely aligned with the MAGA movement have been lobbying MEPs, according to a new report by the anti-corruption group Transparency International EU.MEPs, mainly non-aligned or members of the far-right parliamentary group Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), reportedly met with conservative organisations such as Republicans from Chile’s National Renewal party and the US conservative Heritage Foundation think tank.”Usually, these organisations take a very sceptical view of the climate. And they lobby for fossil fuels,” Raphaël Kergueno, Policy Officer at Transparency International EU, told Euronews.According to him, these interest groups…
New Plymouth District Council has drawn a line in the sand and voted to oppose seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight, and in particular the Trans-Tasman Resources’ proposal currently going through the Fast Track consenting process.Councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes tabled a motion calling for the move and after three hours of deputations and debate her colleagues backed it overwhelmingly — with just three councillors voting against.Trans-Tasman Resources managing chairman Allan Eggers said the vote was disappointing, but would not deter the company which would maintain its focus on the Fast Track process.Clinton-Gohdes, meanwhile, was proud of the council’s stand which…
A coroner is recommending motorcyclists avoid tinted visors at night after a teenage motorcyclist died in a late-night crash in North Auckland last year.Phoenix Boltar, 17, died on the evening of October 30, 2024, in Dairy Flat, when his motorcycle collided with a grass embankment on a tight corner and launched him into a concrete power pole.Minutes before the crash, Boltar was recorded speeding.”A police officer travelling northbound recorded Phoenix’s speed at 96kmph in an area with a posted speed limit of 80kmph,” Coroner Ian Telford wrote in his report.”The officer activated her lights and began a U-turn to follow…
A New Zealand-led international naval task force in the Middle East aimed at disrupting drug smuggling has concluded with a final haul of 7 tonnes of illicit substances worth NZ$1.8 billion.Fifty-five boardings took place in the six months that Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150) was under the command of Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward.Seven tonnes of narcotics, including methamphetamine, hashish and heroin, were seized and destroyed as a result, with a combined street value of more than NZ$1.8 billion.These busts included 2357kg of hashish; 1000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine tablets; 50kg…
By Euronews Published on 25/06/2025 – 7:44 GMT+2•Updated 8:30ADVERTISEMENTJoin Euronews live for our special morning show highlighting the NATO Summit in the Hague today.The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas will be joining us to give key reactions to the momentous events in the Middle East over recent days, in addition to looking ahead to this key summit at which Europe’s future security is on the table.As EU member states which are part of the defence alliance wrestle with the need to ramp up their defence budgets our reporters speak to key players on all sides of the debate.Our…
Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour says he is being “playful” and having “fun” with his “Victim of the Day” social media posts, targeting opponents of his Regulatory Standards Bill. Massey University lecturer Kevin Veale takes a look at when a joke isn’t a joke. But the posts – which have singled out academics and MPs who have criticised or made select committee submissions against the bill, accusing them of suffering from “Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome” – have now led to at least two official complaints to Cabinet.Wellington City mayor Tory Whanau has alleged they amounted to…
A draft National Infrastructure Plan has challenged the Government to “lift its game” on project planning — saying it has often been “short-term and reactive”.The strategy has been developed by the new infrastructure commission, Te Waihanga, laying out the key areas in need of attention over the next three decades.Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop acknowledged the invocation and said the recommendations aligned with the Government’s priorities.Bishop cited the proposed shift towards user-pays, spatial planning, and better asset management and maintenance.”The Government is determined to improve New Zealand’s infrastructure system and to work alongside the industry and other political parties to establish…
The Government is allowing greater housing and development around some Auckland train stations, preparing for an increase in demand with the new City Rail Link.Previously, the Government said Auckland Council must enable a minimum of no less than six storeys in a walkable distance around the Maungawhau (Mount Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside stations.The change was intended to reflect “higher demand for housing and business” in these areas.Now, it said the changes, outlined in the Resource Management (Consenting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, “didn’t go far enough” – and would require upzoning allowing buildings of at least 15 storeys high around…
A Tairāwhiti hapū unveiled a pou whenua over Matariki weekend, marking the beginning of its journey to relocate and rebuild its marae after it was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle over two years ago.The waters reached 3m up the wharenui wall of Rangatira Marae when the cyclone struck Te Karaka on February 14, 2023.The water line marks are still visible on the wharenui mahau (entrance).”There wasn’t any other option but to relocate,” the secretary of the Rangatira Marae Trust, Whitiaua Ropitini, said at the event on Saturday.Image of Cyclone Gabrielle’s damage to Rangatira Marae. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)Ropitini said the destruction…
Glyn Harrison and his 12-year-old daughter Micah aren’t your typical armchair critics.They prefer to get out and about and enjoy the world.As they launched their packed canoe from the Riverslea Rd bridge in Hastings last Friday into the Irongate stream, they were off to enjoy some time with Mother Nature, and collect some rubbish in the process.But about 1km down from the Cherry Grove Dairy in Havelock North, they came across something in the Karamu Stream that wasn’t going to fit in any bag – a couch.”It must have been thrown over the bridge or down the riverbank,” Harrison said.”Most…