Author: Press Room

New Zealand travellers are experiencing major disruptions this morning after a global software issue forced airlines worldwide to halt flights operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.The country’s two major airlines, Air New Zealand and Jetstar, have grounded some planes while they work to resolve the issue.In a statement, Airbus said analysis of a recent event involving the A320 family had revealed that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls”.The issue contributed to a sudden drop in altitude of a JetBlue plane last month. “Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently…

Both the doctors and dentists’ union and Health New Zealand say their focus is to get back to the bargaining table to hash out a pay deal.In September, the health agency alleged the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) had breached the obligations of good faith.It asked the Employment Relations Authority [ERA] to step in to settle a collective agreement, which it has decided not to.The authority’s report on the matter, which was released on Friday afternoon, said the bar for it to step in was high.”There are no findings of breaches of good faith which were sufficiently serious and…

Labour Party faithful are upbeat as they rally in Auckland’s viaduct, roughly one year out from the next election.The mood has been energetic off the back of recent polling that has Labour tracking ahead of National on almost all issues, including the cost of living.Already in campaign mode, Labour leader Chris Hipkins took a swipe at Te Pāti Māori in his opening remarks to the membership on Friday.”I recently saw a whakataukī quoted in the media with reference to a different political party in New Zealand.”He tōtara wāhi rua he kai nā te ahi – a tōtara that is split…

A person has died following a “water-related incident” in Auckland’s south this morning. Emergency services were called to an area near Falston Rd in Glenbrook around 8.40am. Police said a person had been pulled from the water unresponsive. “CPR was undertaken, however sadly they died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. The death would be referred to the coroner.

Wellington Zoo has opened its doors to the Deaf and hard of hearing community with a first-of-its-kind guided tour. A sign interpreter was on site as guests young and old alike learned about their favourite animals.Carter Ferguson told 1News he learned “so much” during his visit – including giraffes’ eating habits. “I didn’t realise that they eat all day. They just do this all day so I’ve been learning that. I think it was, how many hours? I think 20 hours that they were eating for all day,” he said. Carter said he hoped more public attractions would have similar…

Social service providers working with Southland’s most vulnerable have said there’s been a concerning uptick in people doing it tough.Food distributions jumping at local schools, severe weather displacing rough sleepers, and a stretched middle class were just some of the issues at play.Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong said it was “shocking” to see the number of new families coming through their doors, which included a bump in the middle-income demographic.Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong and major Murray Sanson at the organisation’s food bank. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)Over a one-week period earlier this month, more…

The Waitangi Tribunal has found the Crown’s decision to exclude the Treaty from a draft geothermal development strategy would be a Treaty breach.The strategy was developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment with the aim of doubling New Zealand’s geothermal energy by 2040.Minister for Māori Development and Minister for Māori Crown Relations Tama Potaka, Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Minister for Resources Shane Jones were involved in the draft.On November 7, the Waitangi Tribunal held a discrete hearing on the Crown’s draft geothermal development strategy ‘From the Ground Up – A draft strategy to unlock New…

A person has sustained burns following a building fire in Upper Hutt this afternoon.A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson told 1News it received multiple 111 calls to the blaze on Alexander Rd in Trentham around 4.05pm.Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the building, measuring 30mx20m, well alight.Five fire trucks and three support vehicles from Trentham, Remutaka, Silverstream, Avalon, Wellington City and Thorndon confirmed this evening the blaze had since been contained.Crews are now working on fully extinguishing the fire and dampening hot spots.A police spokesperson told 1News officers were called to assist at the scene.”Motorists are advised to avoid…

European Union leaders are coming to terms with the idea that an emergency funding solution to keep the Ukrainian economy afloat will have to be deployed after Belgium raised the bar higher to unlock a reparations loan that would bolster Kyiv’s finances. The solution could see the EU raise money on the markets to deliver a non-repayable grant to Kyiv that would cover its most immediate financial and military needs in 2026. This, in turn, would give leaders more time to break the deadlock over the proposed loan, a bold attempt to channel the immobilised assets of the Russian Central…

Long-distance passenger rail is set to return to the South Island, with a train connecting Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.The Mainlander was expected to run monthly from January 20 to coincide with the school holidays, with hopes for more frequent services in the future.The first train would take four days to complete, with overnight stops in Dunedin and Invercargill before returning to the Garden City.Tickets for the new service was already available. A one-way trip from Christchurch to Dunedin would cost $229 per person, while the full return journey was $449.The service initially operated from 1970 until 2002.The new initiative would…