Author: Press Room

Police said they had recovered the body of a missing swimmer in Auckland who failed to resurface after falling into a hole while in waist-deep water. Emergency services were called to Lake Wainamu in Bethells Beach at around 6.10pm on Monday. The Police National Dive Squad was called in to assist the search and police announced just after 5pm on Tuesday that a body had been recovered.Senior Sergeant Jon Winthrop earlier said a 23-year-old man was in waist-deep water with three friends at the time of the incident. “He has taken a few more steps before falling into a hole…

Whakatāne District Council has thrown its support behind residents of a country lane distressed about Genesis Energy’s plans to axe their trees.However, Genesis says removing the trees is the only viable option to make room for 33kV power lines to tie its planned solar farm to the national grid connection point in Edgecumbe.Putiki Rd resident Peter Askey sought the council’s support last week, in asking Genesis to run the lines along the eastern side of the road where there was only open farmland, one house and a drain.“The west side has a lot of trees; that’s where the houses are…

Published on 09/12/2025 – 10:05 GMT+1 •Updated 10:57 The European Union gives smaller states strength in an increasingly hostile world, European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told Euronews in an interview after a controversial US government document suggested the EU is crushing freedom. “The EU provides strength for its members, especially for the smaller states, because in the current more conflictual, power-driven world, there is certainly strength in unity,” he told Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today. Dombrovskis, who is one of the longest-serving Commissioners currently in his third term, hails from Latvia, one of the Baltic countries under threat from Russia.…

A recall has been issued for two cold-smoked salmon products sold in the South Island due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.The affected products included Ahi Mokopuna Limited Partnership’s Akaroa King Salmon brand Mānuka Cold Smoked Slices (100g) with a use-by date of 29 Dec 25 (Batch No. 46780); and Mānuka Cold Smoked Trim (500g) with a use-by date of 29 Dec 25 (Batch No. 46780).“The concern with these products is that they may contain Listeria, a foodborne bacterium that can make you sick,” New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said.“These products should not be eaten. You…

Insurance company Tower has become the latest financial services company to suffer a multi-million dollar penalty for misleading tens of thousands of customers and financially costing them. The High Court has penalised the company $7 million for more than a decade of overcharging customers because it did not properly apply multi-policy discounts. The civil case was brought by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) as it continued mopping up historic breaches by insurance, finance, and insurance companies of misleading fair trading laws. FMA head of enforcement Margot Gatland said Tower’s systems were deficient, despite an agreement with the Commerce Commission as…

Just over a third of voters believe Christopher Luxon is the best person to lead National, while almost the same number want someone else from the party’s frontbench in the top job, a new 1News Verian poll reveals.The poll, conducted between November 29 and December 3, found 35% of those surveyed backed Luxon as best to lead National, but 31% felt another MP would be better suited for the role, while 35% didn’t know or preferred not to say.In contrast, former prime minister Chris Hipkins received stronger backing, with 45% of voters saying he was best for the job of…

An Auckland man has been fined $9800 and had restrictions placed on how many cows and horses he can own after pleading guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act.Kevin Maurice Dell, aged 70, pleaded guilty to the charges after being prosecuted by the Ministry for Primary Industries.He has been disqualified from being the owner or person in charge of more than two horses and 10 cows for two years.After a complaint to MPI, an animal welfare inspector visited Dell’s two lifestyle properties. The inspector found a dehydrated young heifer recumbent, laying on its side against a fence, unable…

Customs officers at the Port of Tauranga have intercepted an estimated 45kg of cocaine – with an estimated street value of $15.75 million – during routine inspections.The container originated in Houston, US, and travelled via Balboa, Panama before arriving in Tauranga on December 4. It had been risk-assessed prior to arrival as part of Customs’ standard screening procedures for all incoming sea cargo.During X-Ray screening, officers detected anomalies and carried out a physical search of the container. Hidden among legitimate goods, they found two plastic-wrapped bags holding 45 one-kilogram cocaine bricks. The bricks featured various brandings, including Volvo, Porsche, and…

Wellingtonians can expect to tap onto buses and trains with their phone or debit card by April 2026 as regional councillors push forward with a $5.5m ticketing upgrade.Across buses and trains, the contactless system would work much the same as it does in Auckland for adults and wouldn’t include concession fares such as for kids or students.Regional councillors pushed to improve the existing system in a decision last year, with the move a sign of tensions over the delayed $1.4bn national ticketing solution (NTS).Greater Wellington Regional Council chairperson Daran Ponter told 1News, “we have all run out of patience” waiting…

Te Pāti Māori’s support has dropped to 1% in the latest 1News Verian poll following weeks of negative publicity over disputes within the party.Today’s result marks a major fall off for Te Pāti Māori, which recorded 7% in the poll just a year ago following the hīkoi that saw tens of thousands make their way to Parliament.If an election were to be held today, the poll indicates it would be good news for the right bloc of National, ACT and New Zealand First, which forms the current government coalition. They would have 67 seats, easily enough to form the next…