Author: Press Room

MetService is warning of thunderstorms and heavy rain on Saturday for Taranaki and coastal parts of Waikato and Waitomo.Localised downpours fell at rates nearing 20mm/hr in parts of the upper North Island overnight.The wet conditions come just days after torrential rain triggered flash flooding and landslides across Taranaki on Thursday.Civil Defence is urging Taranaki locals to be extra cautious on the roads, warning that conditions remain hazardous due to the saturated ground.There was a moderate risk of thunderstorms Saturday afternoon over Northland, eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairawhiti – with the potential for hail up to a centimetre in diameter…

Crews have assessed nearly 650 properties in Nelson Tasman after damaging floods and more heavy rain on Thursday.Homes in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough have been left uninhabitable, roads are damaged, and properties have been inundated with flood waters after last week’s wild weather, dubbed by local authorities as a “one-in-100-year event”.However, another bout of heavy rainfall came and went on Thursday without any dramatic exacerbation of the existing post-flood crisis.The region remains under a state of emergency.Nelson Tasman Civil Defence said of the properties assessed, crews have encouraged 90 of them to reach out for support, and the Rural Support…

Published on 05/07/2025 – 7:00 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTThe clock is ticking. On July 9th, Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs could go into effect, unless some last-minute miracle could avoid repercussions for European exporters from cars to pharmaceuticals. Should the EU push for a quick trade agreement or keep fighting for a better deal? At last week’s EU summit, Germany and France were at odds over how to proceed. Are there any good options at all?This is one topic for the guests of our talk show this week: Frank Furedi, executive director of the Hungarian think tank MCC Brussels, Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, member of…

Holmes represented a radical shift in short-form television current affairs in New Zealand. Holmes reporter Cameron Bennett writes about how the show came about. From its explosive opening episode in 1989, Holmes rapidly became appointment viewing nationwide and the go-to show for anyone from the Prime Minister to local heroes. It marked a significant departure from the way TVNZ had approached its flagship information shows up until then. News executives gambled on the mercurial, highly-talented radio broadcaster Paul Holmes to front a new, early-evening magazine format to follow the evening news, modelled on Channel 9’s ‘A Current Affair’: Three segments…

There are new calls to help the working homeless in Christchurch, with social agencies describing the situation as “incredibly sad”. As living costs soar and incomes stagnate, some in employment were making an active decision to skip renting to try to save money, including families with children.A 23-year-old woman has parked up in Christchurch’s red zone, an area that was abandoned after the earthquakes.The once-empty streets were now lined with campervans, cars, and even tents.She said she was disillusioned with the rental market and what’s on offer.“I love living in my car. It gives me freedom, and I feel safe…

Insurance companies say using a golf course on Auckland’s North Shore to prevent flooding may be a necessary sacrifice for golfers.Auckland Council proposes converting half the Takapuna Golf Course into a flood catchment, which golfing bodies and prominent figures in the sport oppose.Insurance Council chief executive Kris Faafoi said their members received 1000 claims from homes and businesses in the areas around the golf course, after the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.”What we’re asking, as insurers of those areas, is to make sure we can protect families and keep insurance available to those communities.”We’ve got to make…

Police are investigating a “suspicious” spate of fires in Northland in the last seven months.Most recently, detective sergeant Paul Overton said police and Fire and Emergency services responded to reports of a fire on the morning of May 20 on Pataua North Rd.”At around 7am, about 15 T8 Traffic Control cones were taken from a stretch of road under maintenance, stacked in the middle of the road, covered in diesel and set alight,” he said. “A second set of stacked cones were set alight further up the road.”In the last seven months, Overton said police had received a number of…

Julian McMahon, the Australian actor best known for roles in Marvel’s Fantastic Four movies and television series FBI: Most Wanted and Nip/Tuck, has died aged 56.The son of former prime minister Sir William McMahon passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by McMahon’s wife, Kelly, to US website Deadline.McMahon had endured a private battle with cancer.”With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer,” Kelly McMahon said.”Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved…

The famous 162-year-old Cardrona pub is set to go up for sale.Since 2013, the historic establishment has been owned by Cade Thornton and his silent partner, James Jenneson.Built in 1863, the pub has been immortalised in art, printed on merch, and the centre of advertising campaigns.Thornton and Jenneson were fresh-faced lads from the city when they decided to take a punt on the establishment. Thornton was 29 when they made the move. By the time the ink dried, he’d hit 30.Cardrona pub co-owner Cade Thornton. (Source: Seven Sharp)He recalled his mum seeing it listed on Trade Me, and they thought…

Work has restarted on Dunedin’s new $1.88 billion hospital, after a series of delays and public backlash.The downsized design will house 351 beds and is due to be completed in 2031.The hospital treats patients from across the lower South Island, which is a six-hour round trip from Cromwell for Roger Driver.“The old hospital is where I’m visiting today and it is in a very bad state of repair,” he said.“My wife has treatment monthly and we’ve been coming for five years every month.”Delays on the project have caused outrage among locals, who have been dealing with the “really, really hectic…