Author: Press Room

A sea of Southerners filled Dunedin’s Town Hall last night in support of the Save Our Southern Hospital campaign.The Government announced earlier this year the new Dunedin Hospital would either need to be cut back or done in stages, due to a budget blow-out.Around 1000 people turned up to hear why building the hospital as planned was important.The message was clear — Southerners would not be backing down until they got the hospital they say they need.Some of the people attending the Save our Hospital rally in Dunedin last night. (Source: rnz.co.nz)The Government announced in September there would have to…

After setting off from the Far North last Monday, hīkoi mō Te Tiriti is now in the capital and heading towards Parliament. Convoys travelled from Petone and Porirua early this morning to Waitangi Park, and now marchers are heading back towards Parliament. TVNZ+ will have video from the event throughout the day, while 1News will have live updates here.Many on the hīkoi, organised by Toitū te Tiriti, are opposed to the Treaty Principles Bill, which had its first reading last week. Minister for Maori Development Tama Potaka met some of those gathered at Parliament this morning. (Source: Re: News)(Source: Re:…

Two people have been taken into custody after a vehicle towing an allegedly stolen caravan “begun driving in a reckless manner” around the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday.Police said tools were thrown from the vehicle, damaging a patrol car and injuring two members of the public.The incident began when police received a report at about 2.25pm that a caravan had been stolen from a property in Matarangi.Senior Sergeant Leo Belay said the caravan was seen by police being towed by a vehicle in Te Rerenga to the south shortly after, adding that the driver failed to stop when signalled by police: “The…

One cellblock at Ngāwhā prison in the Far North was evacuated this morning after a prisoner lit a fire in his cell.Northland Region Corrections Facility general manager David Pattinson said staff responded immediately to remove the man from his cell and put out the fire.The other prisoners in the wing were escorted to a secure yard but were returned to their cells shortly afterwards without incident.Pattinson said the prisoner would face internal misconduct charges and police would be notified.He said there were no injuries and there was no threat to the wider security of the prison.”Safety is our top priority…

Foodstuffs North Island Limited and Foodstuffs South Island Limited say they will appeal the Commerce Commission’s decision to decline clearance for the two to become a single national grocery entity.In December 2023, Foodstuffs North Island (FSNI) and Foodstuffs South Island (FSSI) jointly filed an application with the Commerce Commission for clearance to merge into one New Zealand-owned co-operative.Last month the Commerce Commission announced it had declined to give clearance, citing concerns over potential harm to the competitive process.The Commission said it considered the merger likely to substantially lessen competition in many acquisition markets.In a statement, FSNI and FSSI said they…

Regulations Minister David Seymour has announced an online portal for people to lodge “red tape horror stories” with the Regulations Ministry.The ACT leader says regulations compliance removes billions of dollars from New Zealand’s economy every year, with NZIER estimating the cost to businesses at $5 billion in 2015.”We want to hear from tradies, farmers, teachers, chefs, engineers – every person doing productive work. If there’s red tape in your industry that needs cutting, we want to know about it. The Ministry might not be able to resolve every issue that’s brought to its attention straight away, but we are keen…

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has unveiled his plans to strip three council-controlled organisations of their responsibilities.Brown’s draft Mayoral Proposal for Auckland Council’s 2025-2026 annual plan released this morning would see the council take control of Auckland Transport’s back-office functions and strategic direction.This includes all communications, marketing, legal and finance functions.”As funder and shareholder, Auckland Council has the right to put conditions on our funding. I have proposed that we get advice on how we can make operational funding of AT’s back-office functions conditional on Auckland Council providing those services,” Brown said.”I have also proposed that Auckland Council take responsibility for…

Kinleith Mill plans to halt paper processing next year with 230 jobs on the line. Workers were called to a meeting at the mill in Tokoroa on Wednesday morning. The pulp and paper mill is owned by Oji Fibre Solutions, which in September announced it was closing its operation at Penrose, Auckland. Up to 75 workers were affected. Oji said that closure was partly due to high power prices. Oji chief executive Jon Ryder said in a statement the company was proposing to simplify Kinleith Mill’s operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing lossmaking paper production. “Therefore, we are consulting on…

Liam Payne will be laid to rest in a private ceremony overnight. The former One Direction star died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16 at the age of 31 and it has now been revealed that his parents have put together a “perfect service” for him which will take place this evening NZT, exactly five weeks on from the tragedy.A source told The Sun: “Liam’s funeral is taking place tomorrow afternoon in the Home Counties.”His family have gone to great lengths to put together the perfect service and give him the send-off he deserves.”Liam…

State Highway 1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru – known as the Desert Road – will close for nearly two months over the summer for maintenance works.The key North Island route will be closed from January 6 until late February 2025 as part of the SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project. The undertaking “is the largest and most ambitious maintenance and renewal projects to be undertaken in New Zealand”, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) regional manager of maintenance and operations, Roger Brady, said in a statement”The alpine environment and potential for a cold snap means we need to do this…