Author: Press Room

Kaipara motorists are demanding compensation after their car tyres were ripped up by razor sharp road metal, which they said was wrongly laid, and left them with big bills.Since fresh metal was laid on Arapaoa, Hamlin and Neems roads, south of Dargaville last month a number of residents have had punctures.Some have suffered multiple flat tyres and wheel damage, and as rural residents, they rely heavily on their vehicles.Motorists believe the wrong grade and size was used for resurfacing and that has caused the problems.Local resident Rachael Gedye told RNZ her car had extensive damage from the road, first getting…

North Canterbury mayors are disappointed about a proposed toll for the Woodend Bypass, saying local commuters will be hit hard by the cost.Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency announced today it is proposing a toll for the planned Belfast to Pegasus Motorway, which includes the Woodend Bypass.Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said his council was notified last week but Hurunui Mayor Marie Black only found out when contacted by Local Democracy Reporting today.NZTA was proposing two tolling points, with each charging $1.25 per passing light vehicle, and $2.50 for heavy vehicles.More than 21,000 vehicles used this section of SH1 every day, with…

The Government’s claim it is creating thousands of jobs by spending billions on infrastructure does not appear to be hitting home with most voters, poll results show.The latest 1News Verian poll finds 60% of New Zealanders say the Government isn’t doing enough to stimulate job growth.The result comes following the announcement last week that unemployment has risen to 5.2% — the highest it has been since 2020.The poll of 1002 eligible voters found 29% say the Government’s efforts to stimulate job growth are about right. Just 4% say they are doing too much, while 8% don’t know or refuse to…

Neil McAndrew, 80, is Dunedin born and bred. He spent his working years as a sales rep, travelling around the South Island from Geraldine to Bluff.Now living on a pension, McAndrew is well placed to dish his money-saving tips – many inspired by the era he grew up in. He was born just after the end of the World War II.“Mum would say, ‘look I can’t buy this for groceries this week, but we’ll get it next week’ because they were rationed,” he told RNZ’s Thrift podcast.These days, he said, it’s like going back in time, still rationing, but in…

After sitting dormant for nearly 15 years, one of Christchurch’s most well-known hotels is being reborn as a Sheraton Hotel, part of the Marriot hotel group.The former Noah’s Hotel on Oxford Terrace, more recently operated as the Rydges, is currently undergoing a $150 million transformation, with plans for 240 rooms, an array of dining options, and the city’s highest rooftop bar.It’s set to open mid 2027. The hotel will be the first Marriot hotel in the South Island.(Source: 1News)Built just over 50 years ago, the hotel played host to royalty and global celebrities during its hey-day, including Princess Diana, Prince…

ADVERTISEMENT Looking at the many heatwaves crippling large parts of Europe during the first summer weeks, the findings of July’s climate bulletin published by the European Union’s climate service Copernicus will not come as a surprise. Last month was the fourth-warmest July on record in Europe, with average temperatures reaching 21.12°C, 1.30°C above the 1991-2020 average for July. “There were some regional contrasts, as is often the case in Europe,” Julien Nicolas, Senior Scientist at Copernicus, told Euronews. The month started extremely hot in most of Europe, particularly the western part. “As the month progressed, temperatures cooled and conditions became…

Thirty-year-old Latin dancer Shenaragh Nemani can’t walk or talk but she has an undeniable energy that has seen her charm audiences and perform in dance competitions around the world. Marae’s Leigh-Marama McLachlan caught up with her as they prepared for her next performance in Puerto Rico.Watch the full story on TVNZ+.Shenaragh lives with a list of limitations. The wheelchair-bound woman suffers from cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, scoliosis, and relies on a computer to communicate. But none of it stops her from dancing.“What do I love about dancing? Feeling, moving, being included, the friends I make, the hot guys I get to…

Analysis: National on 34, Labour on 33, a total of 67. Two-thirds of us. And that’s two-thirds of the people prepared to express a preference. Twelve per cent of us don’t know or wouldn’t say. Yes, one of the striking features of the latest 1News Verian Poll is that the combined total of support for National and Labour remains near (or not far above) historically low levels. Sure, it was 63% in the previous poll, and 67% is a slight improvement on that, but it was 68% the poll before, and then, heading backwards through successive polls, 67%, 66%, 66%,…

Published on 12/08/2025 – 8:08 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT The leaders of the European Union issued a joint statement ahead of the US-Russia summit this Friday to highlight their unwavering support for Ukraine. All EU leaders signed up for the text, except for Hungary, which had reservations with the idea. The statement by the EU 26 welcomed the efforts of President Trump towards “ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine.” Leaders highlighted a lasting peace is needed with respect of international law, highlighting the territorial integrity of Ukraine. “International borders must…

Robotic surgery is on the rise in New Zealand, with surgeries performed without a human hand laid on the patient thanks to a four-armed robot.  One robot in Wellington was on track to perform 300 procedures this yea, including prostate removals, hysterectomies, and knee replacements. Wakefield Hospital surgeon Rodd Studd said it had changed the game with “more precision” and “smaller cuts” in open surgery.  “That leads to a faster recovery for patients, less pain, less bleeding.”  The machine in Wellington’s Wakefield Hospital has tripled its procedures in two years.   The robot could rotate tools 360 degrees — something a human…