Author: Press Room

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts repeatedly adamantly denied any plan to remove the Climate Change Commission’s role in advising on emissions reduction plans, only for his office to two days later confirm the Government was considering exactly that.1News can reveal the Government was weighing up whether to remove the Climate Change Commission’s role in advising on emissions reduction plans — a move the Green Party says would undermine independent scrutiny of climate policy.The proposal was part of a broader review of the Climate Change Response Act, which requires the Climate Change Commission to provide independent expert advice on the Government’s…

The daughter of one of New Zealand’s most prolific photographers is honouring her mother’s contribution to the art world with a special exhibition.‘Washday at the Pa, A Survey’ is the first of what will be annual exhibitions of Ans Westra’s works in a historic old bank on Wellington’s Courtenay Pl.Directly below the bank chamber is the vault, which has been the home for Westra’s work and archive since her death in 2023.Westra’s daughter, Lisa van Hulst, told 1News she was an eccentric person, so it was nice to be able to keep part of that personality alive.”It’s really comforting to…

James McGoram is so desperate for life-saving medical treatment, he has been forced to quit New Zealand and move to Australia.The outgoing Rare Disorders New Zealand chairman told 1News that while he loves Aotearoa, “living here is quite literally killing me”.McGoram was diagnosed with Fabry disease in 2010. It’s a rare genetic disease that can affect many parts of the body, including the kidneys, heart, brain, and skin.While there’s no cure, treatments are available overseas to slow degeneration from the disease and improve patients’ quality of life.“It has been a very tough decision for my family to uproot ourselves from…

Eleven people have been arrested and a cache of firearms and drugs have been seized in a police crackdown this week on an alleged international drug-smuggling ring across Auckland and Waikato. The arrests follow Operation Mexted, a joint five-month investigation by the National Organised Crime Group and New Zealand Customs into an alleged transnational organised criminal cell involved in the smuggling of controlled drugs into the country.Three US nationals were among those arrested.The operation netted five firearms, $915,335 in cash, 791g of methamphetamine, 18g of cocaine, and 54g of cannabis.The first phase of the operation began in late June when…

Thousands of tamariki are now on a waitlist to get into kōhanga reo as the demand for full-immersion education soars. The Kōhanga Reo National Trust says it’s been severely underfunded for years and can’t grow if that doesn’t change. Te Kōhanga Reo o Upokoiri ki Ōmahu in Hawke’s Bay has reopened three years after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the region, causing widespread flooding and devastation.Located in one of the worst-hit communities, Ōmahu, 10 kilometres north-west of Hastings, their buildings were severely damaged, forcing it to close its doors. This week, they welcomed the return of tamariki to its newly refurbished premises.Esmae…

A building insurance expert says the government’s plans to shake up the building and construction sector will remove the already inadequate protections in place for homeowners and lead to more of them footing large bills for shonky building. Gill Higgins reports. More misery for homeowners? – Watch this story on TVNZ+. “More misery for homeowners.” That’s the stark warning from building insurance expert Duncan Colebrook as the government pushes ahead with its shake up of the building industry. The goals sound positive: speed up building consents, and stop councils – and ratepayers – from footing huge bills, as seen during…

A contentious proposed bylaw which would have banned access to parts of the South Wairarapa coast is off the table in its current form.Instead, South Wairarapa councillors would choose between adopting an amended bylaw, retaining status quo, or developing other solutions to combat coastal vandalism.The council’s initial proposal, which attracted 3565 submissions – 84% against – was to temporarily restrict all access to a paper road in Cape Palliser for three years to allow the land to regenerate and heal.The paper road, which gives public access to a stretch of Cape Palliser coastline, traverses both privately-owned Māori land and Crown…

A latex bodysuit “that captivates the eye and refuses to let it go” has taken top honours in the 2025 World of WeareableArt (WOW) awards.The “off-the-scale” garment won Georgia-based latex fashion designer Dawn Mostow and her partner in life and creativity Ben Gould their first Supreme WOW Award after entering the competition since 2017.Tsukumogami, which also won the Wearable Technology Award, draws on Mostow’s fascination with ancient Japanese mythology and ceramics, especially the cobalt blue-and-white Shonzui porcelain.A radically innovative work that pays “exquisite homage” to centuries-old traditions was how the WOW judges – founder Dame Suzie Moncrieff, ceramic sculptor Virginia…

Three people have been injured, one critically, in two separate incidents in Auckland overnight.The first occurred in Gulf Harbour, where police were called to Clea View around 11.40pm yesterday after reports of a disorder at a party.St John responded with one ambulance, one rapid response unit, and one manager.”Our crews assessed and treated one patient who was transported to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition,” a St John spokesperson said.Emergency services were then called to Glen Innes early this morning.Police were called to Rowena Cres at around 5.40am to reports of two people being injured.St John responded with two…

Two police officers have been injured, with one requiring surgery, after they were bitten by a dog while making an arrest in Rotorua last night.Police said the officers were at an address on Old Taupo Rd at around 9.10pm to find a person with a warrant for arrest.The offender was located and taken into custody, but during the arrest, a dog at the property attacked one of the officers.A second officer who tried to intervene was also injured.Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said welfare was being wrapped around the injured staff.”The two staff members went through to…