Author: Press Room

The West Coast’s three district councils have been put on notice to lift their game and fix dodgy sewerage plants.Householders relying on old septic tanks might also come under scrutiny in the coming months.The West Coast Regional Council was taking what it called “an enhanced approach” to wastewater compliance and monitoring, councillors heard this week.In other words, a crackdown – and one that has been a long time coming, according to a staff report.Regulatory manager Jocelyne Allen said investigations revealed all three districts had histories of non-compliance, including unconsented discharges from their sewage treatment plants.At least two were operating on…

A three-vehicle crash which previously blocked both southbound lanes on State Highway 1 in north Auckland has been cleared.In an update to X, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said motorists should “expect residual southbound lanes delays to ease”.Earlier, police said one person was transported to hospital.The crash was reported at 11.55am.

Local media reported that the bomb was found “in middle of the tracks” during overnight works nearby France’s Gare du Nord station. ADVERTISEMENTThe Eurostar and local trains were disrupted at Paris’ central Gare du Nord station following the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb nearby. France’s national train operator SNCF said in a statement that traffic would be stopped at the Gare du Nord until mid-morning at the request of police.“We invite travellers to postpone their trip,” it said.French Transport Minister Phillipe Tabarot warned traffic would “strongly disrupted” throughout the day and that limited service would resume in…

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has extended drought declarations to more regions in the North Island and the top of the South Island, classifying conditions as a “medium-scale adverse event”.The Northland, Waikato, Manawatū-Whanganui (Horizons), Marlborough and Tasman regions were all experiencing “hot, dry conditions”,” he said.”Below average rainfall continues to make it difficult for farmers as soil moisture levels dry out and stock feed and water become tight in some areas.”The Taranaki region had been declared as being in drought and classified as a “medium-scale adverse event” late last month.McClay said the Government was making a total of $100,000 available to…

This article was originally published in German The CDU/CSU and SPD are proposing to create a special fund of 500 billion euros for infrastructure and defence by reforming the country’s “debt brake” provision. In order to benefit from the majority of the old Bundestag, things will now move quickly. ADVERTISEMENTShortly after the elections and during the transitional period of forming a new government, Germany is forced to clarify its own position on defence.The likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, proposed a reform of the debt brake this week in order to create 500 billion euros in special funds for infrastructure and defence.”In…

The police have stopped referring people to Destiny Church’s Man Up and Legacy programmes after members disrupted a number of events at the Auckland Pride Festival last month.Witnesses had reported about 30 people were barricaded into a room in Te Atatū’s library after men wearing ‘Man Up’ t-shirts had interrupted an event hosted by a drag king, who read a book to children about how rainbows are made, with costumes inspired by the sun, clouds and rain.Both the Man Up and Legacy programmes were part of the police’s AWHI programme: a tikanga-based voluntary referral system used as a prevention tool…

Police have admitted to a “genuine mistake” after a spike strip left on the roof of a patrol car during an arrest fell off while driving on Auckland’s Southern Motorway this morning, deflating the tyres of seven vehicles.Officers arrested a man at a Greenlane business before 3.30am this morning.Inspector Jim Wilson said staff moved some equipment while putting the arrested man into the car but, unfortunately, left the road spike strip, also known as a Tactical Deflation Device, on the roof.”After getting the man ready for transport, the staff neglected to put the Tactical Deflation Devices back into the vehicle.…

The festival promoter behind Juicy Fest has entered liquidation with ticketholders to the postponed Timeless Summer Tour being told the event has been cancelled.Juicy Festival Limited, Timeless Events New Zealand and Timeless Events Australia Limited were placed into liquidation at 5pm today.Blacklock Rose’s Ben Francis and Garry Whimp have been appointed as liquidators.1News has previously reported on complaints from ticketholders of the cancelled Juicy Fest NZ as many demanded refunds and answers from organisers. The Commerce Commission is investigating after receiving hundreds of complaints about the festival.Hundreds of fresh complaints about cancelled Juicy Fest NZ music festival as questions swirl…

An Auckland man who had his leg amputated after being pinned against a power pole by a car while walking says he has seen the best of humankind while recovering.Pawanjit Singh Ghatora has undergone five surgeries and has been in hospital since February 1, after he was hit by a car while walking with his father along a street in Te Atatū.Despite his right leg being amputated above the knee, he said he was “thankful” for the care he received from his community and hospital staff.”I’m still healing, but I’m doing good – the pain comes and goes and I’ve…

Police have named the man who died in an incident at Ōrere Point, rural east Auckland, following a confrontation with police on Sunday. He was 45-year-old Faasala Samu Matue.His death came after a fleeing driver incident, and then a subsequent confrontation where police said he threatened officers with a metal pole. Police used a Taser and pepper spray, as well as a dog in a bid to subdue him. He was taken into custody and “quickly became unresponsive,” police previously said.On Thursday morning, a blessing was conducted at the scene with family and iwi present.Matue’s cause of death has not…