Author: Press Room

A select committee report has called for minor amendments to the Government’s legislation allowing small homes like granny flats to be built without a consent.The Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Bill would allow for standalone dwellings of up to 70 square metres to be built without a consent, so long as certain conditions are met.The conditions include a simple design compliant with the building code, that construction is done by authorised professionals, and that councils are notified before and after the work.The changes recommended by the Transport and Infrastructure Committee include that councils should be able to indicate…

By Russell Palmer of RNZ  Part-time workers will get less sick leave under sweeping changes to the Holidays Act the minister says will be fairer. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says the revamp which – as signalled last June – will see both annual and sick leave accumulate based on hours worked, is a win for workers, businesses and the country. She argues the sick-leave changes for part-time workers is more proportionate and will, in the long run, increase part-time jobs in the economy. Those receiving ACC payments will also no longer gain leave while not at work, in a change…

The founder of popular Wellington coffee brand People’s Coffee says a “brutal” 18 months in the hospitality industry informed his decision to sell the business entirely.Industry experts say still rising coffee prices are making it increasingly difficult for roasters, but new owners of the brand and its former flagship cafe say they are committed to keeping independent coffee culture alive.Matt Lamason sold the People’s Coffee brand to Wellington coffee roastery Karamu Coffee in July after 21 years heading the brand.He also sold the brand’s three cafes in the city at different times over the past six months.Lamason said despite the…

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu, the ariki and paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, has died.In a statement, Te Kapua Whakapipi the Office of the Ariki said he passed peacefully with his wife Lady Susan Te Heuheu and whānau by his side.Born at Little Waihi on the shores of Lake Taupō to Sir Hepi and Lady Pauline Te Heuheu, he leaves behind a legacy of service to his iwi and to conservation.Earlier this year, Sir Tumu called for the return of Tongariro National Park to Māori ownership, saying the Crown had not honoured the original gift of the mountains by his ancestor.…

A West Coast weather radar is expected to be out of action for an “extended period” after a massive lightning strike last week caused extensive damage to the site.The radar tower, located north of the Hokitika River, went offline around 1pm on Thursday.A bolt carrying 156,000 amps – around five times the strength of a typical lightning strike – hit the area.The force destroyed the radome, the weatherproof cover protecting the radar, and overwhelmed the site’s robust grounding systems.MetService meteorologist Katie Hillyer told 1News last week the radar stopped transmitting shortly after the strike, which occurred during “very active” weather…

Photos of a backpack and contents carried by a man found dead in Christchurch’s Heathcote Valley have been shared by police, who hope it may lead to his body being identified. Emergency services responded to reports of a sudden death on Horotane Valley Rd on Friday last week. The backpack, found with the body of an unidentified man in Christchurch. (Source: Supplied)Since then, people have come foward with information and investigators have been following leads in the hopes of identifying him. Despite their efforts, the man’s identity remains a mystery. His death was not believed to be suspicious. The gloves…

By Russell Palmer of RNZ  Two new pathways to residence for skilled migrants will kick in from the middle of next year, the government has announced. Under the Skilled Work Experience path, migrants in ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles being paid at least 1.1 times the median wage, with at least five years of relevant job history – at least two of which must be in New Zealand – can apply for a permanent residence visa. The Trades and Technician pathway is for migrants in specific ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles paying at or above median wage, with a Level 4 or…

More wild weather is expected to impact isolated parts of the country today, with MetService warning of significant rainfall as a slow-moving front continues to affect central New Zealand. The front was forecast to gradually shift eastward tomorrow, while another weather system approaches from the south, moving northwards over Fiordland and Westland.Orange heavy rain warnings were issued for some localised areas, with up to 230mm of rain expected at Taranaki Maunga, while the Tararua Ranges might get up to 170mm of rain.Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds were under a heavy rain watch from 9am today.Other regions under a heavy rain…

Beer pong playing knights and possessed jello shots are among the intoxicating enemies in a Dunedin-made video game about alcohol which has received financial backing from Microsoft. Brews & Bastards, the debut title from Dunedin-founded Mune Studio, released today on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Steam. Mune Studio co-founder Erekose Watson said the game was a fantasy tavern-themed dungeon crawler. “Sort of think Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, but with booze instead of chocolate.” Without the support of Microsoft, the game might not have gone ahead, Mr Watson said. The studio initially took the game to conferences in the United…

ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Tuesday.”We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday (local time),” said a statement from the network.ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Kirk, who was killed on September 10, in a monologue. Kimmel said “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and that “the…