Author: Press Room
Housing Minister Chris Bishop might be encouraging tenants to negotiate a cheaper rent deal as prices drop — but how exactly do you do that?RNZ reported that rents were at their lowest level in two years in September.Bishop said after a select committee hearing on Wednesday that tenants should take the opportunity to ask for lower rent if they could.We talked to two tenancy experts about how you might do that.Arm yourself with dataBoth David Faulkner, a property management expert and general manager of property management at Property Brokers, and Sarina Gibbon of Tenancy Advisory, said it would be important…
Published on 05/12/2025 – 11:22 GMT+1 Europe will never go back to Russian energy after Moscow’s all-out war in Ukraine, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen told Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today, adding that a new law to ban Russian oil is in the works and will be presented soon. Jørgensen described the EU27’s ban on Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a point of no return moment for the bloc during an exclusive interview with Euronews. “Even when there’s peace, we won’t buy Russian gas again. Our agreement will stand even after a peace agreement between Russia…
Rotorua Lakes Council’s trial of moving the city’s Night Market from the central city to Kuirau Park has sparked concern among stallholders and retailers, with some reporting sharp drops in trade and reduced foot traffic in the CBD.The council began the trial in October to save $200,000 in costs, enable earlier summer trading, and address health and safety concerns.Councillor Robert Lee told Local Democracy Reporting that he intended to file a notice of motion at next week’s council meeting asking for consideration to end the trial after hearing “concerning feedback” from stallholders and retailers.“The purpose of the market was to…
The person killed when a car crashed into a river in Bay of Plenty has been named, as police urge drivers of vehicles in the area before the incident to come forward with information. Whakatāne woman Ngahina Takarangi, 44, was killed in the crash on White Pine Bush Rd near Tāneatua just after 6pm on Tuesday. A second person was seriously injured. In an update this afternoon, police urged the drivers of two vehicles seen near the scene of the crash to speak to them as investigations continued. Inspector Paul Wilson, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander confirmed that prior…
Published on 05/12/2025 – 9:21 GMT+1 Living with your parents has its perks. Free laundry, zero rent, and dinner is always on the table. It’s fun when you are 15. But is it still fun when you are 35? For a record number of Europeans, the “Mum and Dad’s Hotel” is not a luxury— it is an economic necessity. The latest data shows the average European now leaves home at 26.2 years old. But statistics lie. If you live in Finland, you are likely independent by 21. But in Croatia, you are stuck in your childhood bedroom until you are…
MetService is forecasting a lovely weekend for most of the country following a week that “had it all” including a tornado, heavy rain and lots of lightning. MetService meteorologist Heather Keats told Breakfast there had been more than 35,000 lightning strikes recorded across the country since Monday. “A very active week, the North Island had more than 17,000 of those strikes.She said Waikato had around 4000 strikes on Wednesday as a ” big low system moved across”, while Bay of Plenty hit 3800 and Auckland recorded 787. “This will surprise you if you were in Auckland, because it felt like…
The highly anticipated opening of Swedish furniture company IKEA in New Zealand comes as a rural community worries about the fire risk from pine plantations.Since 2020 IKEA has converted six Central Hawke’s Bay farms into pine forestry, which they believe makes them the largest forestry owner in the district.This move, combined with the sale of at least four other Hawke’s Bay farms to overseas forestry companies this year, is sparking concerns from locals about the loss of productive farmland and the risks associated with converting large areas into pines.’Dumbest thing NZ has done in agriculture’To better understand the scale of…
A person has been injured after a vehicle hit a house in a central Auckland suburb this morning. Police were alerted to the single-vehicle crash on Seafield View Road in Grafton shortly after 7.30am. “It appears a car has crashed into a house,” a police spokesperson said. Fire and Emergency Services responded with two units and isolated power from the front of the house. Hato Hone St John said it responded with one ambulance and one rapid response unit. One person was transported to hospital in a moderate condition.Police said inquiries into the incident would continue.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to the media at Waikato University this morning as ground was broken for the school’s new medical building. The Government gave the green light for the new school earlier this year, providing $83 million, with $150 million funded by the university. It’s hoped the new school will add 120 doctor training places annually from 2028. A special ceremony was held to mark the occasion this morning.
A 35-year-old Auckland man has been jailed for four years and 10 months for his involvement in a global child sexual abuse network, after a Customs uncovered thousands of graphic files on his phone during an airport search. The man was sentenced Friday in the Manukau District Court and has been placed on the child sex offender register. Customs intercepted the man in August 2024 when he arrived at Auckland International Airport from overseas. A routine phone check revealed images and videos depicting extreme sexual abuse of children, leading to his immediate arrest for importing objectionable publications.A forensic examination later…