Author: Press Room

A Dunedin business owner says a ban on in-store surcharges could result in higher prices for all her customers — regardless of how they pay. “I can’t really see any other way around it — our choices are to increase prices or to take away the ability for people to PayWave or use credit card,” Bin Inn Dunedin co-owner Monique Beaumont said. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson announced late last month the government planned to ban some surcharges for in-store payments by May next year. The ban would cover most in-store payments made using Visa and Mastercard, including…

Chlöe Swarbrick was kicked out of Parliament this afternoon during a debate on Palestine — and initially suspended for a week before the Speaker of the House rethought his decision.Yesterday, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Government was weighing up its position on the recognition of Palestine as a state.Recently, the UK, Canada, France and Australia have shared their plans to recognise Palestine as a state.A urgent debate was called in Parliament this afternoon over the matter.During the debate, Swarbrick called on the Government to pick up the Green Party’s bill to “sanction Israel for its war crimes”.Swarbrick speaking to…

ADVERTISEMENT With her young daughter in her lap, Monique is enjoying a trip to the North Sea in a beach wheelchair. In Belgium, eight beaches are accessible to people with reduced mobility, such as here in Ostend. “I’ve always wanted to experience the waves and the sea, but I couldn’t,” Monique Braeken told Euronews. The Flemish agency Inter launched the “Sun, Sea… Carefree” programme in 2006 to make the Belgian coast accessible to everyone. The programme provides users with free beach wheelchairs, some of which are electric and tiralos, floating amphibian models to make swimming easier. “I loved it. I…

Two more men have been arrested and charged with murder in relation to the death of 20-year-old Tyreece Te Pairi in Hamilton last month.Te Pairi was fatally injured during an altercation between two groups on July 20 shortly after midnight. Three others were treated for moderate and serious injuries. On the evening, Te Pairi was celebrating his upcoming 21st birthday.Earlier this month, two 19-year-old men appeared in Hamilton District Court on murder charges.His family also released a statement calling for those with information to come forward.Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said a 23-year-old and 25-year-old were arrested in South Auckland this…

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…