Author: Press Room

Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby says anti-migrant rhetoric is “unhelpful” as tensions around the issue grow in other parts of the world.In her first Q+A interview since being appointed, Derby said public leaders had a duty to think about how they speak and the impact on social cohesion.She said global tensions, seen in the UK and Europe, were of “great concern” to communities and ethnic groups in New Zealand. “A lot of communities are fearful. They’re worried. They’re scared about what this means,” she said. “We have others saying, ‘Look, what is the changing face of New Zealand, ‘we’re one…

Building owners may have spent millions meeting earthquake standards now deemed by the Government to be unnecessary, but the minister in charge has ruled out compensation for any existing work done. Chris Penk, who is also Small Business and Manufacturing Minister, also responded to questions over perceived government inaction on spiking energy prices, which have been blamed for the shutdown of four pulp and paper mills over the past year.Jack Tame, Chris Penk spar over Govt’s ‘underwhelming’ moves on power prices – Watch on TVNZ+Speaking to Q+A this morning, the Building and Construction Minister was relaxed about the increased risks…

The Financial Markets Authority wants consumers to complain more, and for companies to listen.The FMA has found that fewer than than one-third of people were confident that they knew how to complain about their financial service provider.Those who said they would have liked to have complained, said they did not, because they either doubted the outcome, did not know how to complain, or thought it was probably too difficult to complain anyway.FMA executive director, licensing and conduct supervision Clare Bolingford said the authority wanted financial service providers to ensure consumers knew how to complain and how their complaints would be…

The bodies of the two people killed in a house fire in east Auckland have been removed from the property as an investigation continues into what caused the fatal blaze on Thursday morning.Emergency services were called to the Murvale Dr property in the suburb of Bucklands Beach at around 2.30am.Dramatic footage captured by 1News at the scene showed the two-storey building completely engulfed in flames.Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua said the police investigation remained in the early stages.”The cause of the fire has not been determined and we are working with fire investigators as part of those inquiries.”Va’aelua said the…

Don’t banish cars from central Blenheim, David Seymour has warned on a visit to Marlborough, weighing in on plans to revitalise the CBD.The deputy prime minister and ACT leader was in town on Thursday to visit businesses, including Murphy’s New Zealand in Grovetown, and give speeches, first at a Marlborough Chamber of Commerce lunch and in the evening at a public meeting, with Local Democracy Reporting invited to attend.When asked about his thoughts on work to revitalise central Blenheim, with Market St’s makeover currently in the design phase, Seymour said Blenheim should avoid the mistakes of Auckland and Queenstown in…

Foodstuffs has recalled a specific batch of its Pams brand mini hash browns due to the possible presence of hard plastic in the product.New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) advised people who had purchased the product to not consume it and return it to the store for a full refund.”There have been no reports of injury, however if you have consumed this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.”The affected batch had a best before date of 1/09/2027.It was sold in Four Square, New World, and Pak’nSave supermarkets nationwide.”Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd wishes to apologise to our…

Police and the Department of Conservation (DOC) are appealing for information after a kororā/little penguin was found dead in Oamaru last weekend.Officers received a report of anti-social vehicle activity around the Esplanade in Oamuru at around 9.15pm on September 28.Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said police were appealing to anyone who was part of that group of vehicles to do the right thing.”Come forward to speak to us. We’re also calling on the public to provide any information that could assist our investigation. We’d like to speak to anybody who was on or around the Esplanade between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on Sunday.”Anyone…

An Auckland family says they were shocked to receive a quote of nearly $37,000 to connect their Bucklands Beach property to Vector’s gas network, despite doing part of the installation work themselves to lower the cost.The homeowner, who asked to be identified as Chloe, had planned to install the gas connection for cooking and hot water to support an elderly parent and her young children.Based on previous experience connecting gas at four different properties, she expected the cost to be in the range of $7000.So when the initial quote from Vector arrived in June at $24,877.64, Chloe said she was…

Some “incredibly reckless, dangerous” behaviour on the roads is inevitable says AA spokesperson, and requires consequences with the goal of encouraging “better choices”.The AA says a car clocked speeding at 204km/h highlights the need for speed cameras to stop “dangerous behaviour”. Last week, 1News revealed some of the fastest speeds captured by speed cameras in the first two months since the NZ Transport Agency took over their operation. The fastest speeds recorded across July and August were 204km/h, 193km/h, 175km/h, 171km/h, and 167km/h. NZTA elected to file charges in court for each speed under the Criminal Procedure Act.AA road safety…

You know about saving. But have you heard about “revenge saving”?As the world continues to recover from the altered spending habits of the post-pandemic period, “revenge saving” is the latest trend that commentators say is taking hold.Instead of revenge spending – where people spend on things they don’t really need after a period of restriction, revenge saving is where people try to make up for their poor financial habits by being extremely frugal.This could be anything from a light-hearted “no spend challenge” to a permanent move to cut right back. It could be driven by wider concerns about the economy…