Author: Press Room
Police are investigating a brazen set of burnouts in central New Plymouth – directly outside the city’s central police station and district court on Saturday afternoon.Footage circulating online showed a vehicle revving and skidding on Powerham St around 5pm, with tyres screeching and thick smoke billowing into the air. A man recording the incident can be heard encouraging the driver, saying, “Come down here, bro,” as the skidding car approached a pedestrian crossing near the station.An orange roadwork sign reading “TEMPORARY” appeared to have been placed over the vehicle’s number plate, obscuring its registration. Several people could be seen standing…
NZ First leader Winston Peters has promised to make KiwiSaver compulsory, with contributions from employers and employees rising to 10% and tax cuts to curb the extra cost.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the policy in his keynote speech capping off his party’s annual meeting in Palmerston North.He also condemned immigration, promoted nationalism, spent a significant portion of the speech criticising the left-leaning parties and transgender ideology as part of the “woke” left.He announced an agreement from Cabinet to legislate that English would become an official language of New Zealand.In his brief opening remarks on Saturday, Peters predicted “massive…
Former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has warned New Zealand’s democracy is in a fragile position – like many countries around the world – saying more work is needed to make it stable and robust. Sir Geoffrey has had a distinguished career within and outside frontline politics, serving four terms as an MP, along with tenures as a member of the Privy Council, a judge at the International Court of Justice, and as Law Commission president. Currently an honorary fellow of law at Victoria University, he spoke with Q+A about his forthcoming book, titled How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa…
An armed robbery at a Hamilton steak house this morning has led to a police hunt for two people still on the run.Police were called to Smith & McKenzie Steak House in Lynden Court in the suburb of Chartwell at about 11.20am on Sunday.Two people, one carrying a gun, allegedly stole cash before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.”Thanks to the informants and the information provided, police knew the registration of the vehicle used,” a spokesperson said.Police located the vehicle in the Chartwell area a short time later with the police Eagle helicopter deployed to assist.Armed staff were in the…
By Euronews with AP Published on 07/09/2025 – 9:06 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT At least two people, including a baby, were killed during a Russian overnight attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, while a fire at a government building was reportedly sparked, according to the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Russia launched 823 attacks over Ukraine from Saturday into Sunday; however, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, 751 of them were destroyed. On the other hand, nine missiles and 54 strike UAVs did hit the country. The building houses Ukraine’s Cabinet, including the offices of its ministers, which police have blocked access to as fire engines and ambulances…
Since arriving emaciated in Italy from Gaza, little Shamm Qudeih has celebrated her second birthday and gained weight on a new diet that includes a special porridge – progress welcomed by doctors treating her for severe malnutrition worsened by a genetic metabolic disease.Just weeks ago, the toddler was all skin and bones as she clung to her mother in a hospital in southern Gaza. She spent being unable to get the food and treatment she needed because of an Israeli blockade aimed at pressuring the Hamas militant group to release hostages. Then she was evacuated to Italy for medical treatment,…
The Regional Development Minister is talking up a plan to burn woodchips and sawdust to power a paper mill – and talking down his coalition partners.Shane Jones, at New Zealand First’s annual meeting, said Cabinet had tasked him with looking into an on-site generator for the Kinleith paper mill, to be fuelled with by products.He told reporters at the event Cabinet had not set a specific limit on funding, but it was to come out of the Regional Infrastructure Fund.Whether it took the form of a loan – as National has typically preferred – or a grant, was yet to…
Te Pati Māori’s Oriini Kaipara says she was surprised by her decisive victory over Labour’s Peeni Henare as the “new kid on the block” in Tāmaki Makaurau.Kaipara scored a decisive win over the Labour list MP in yesterday’s by-election, with the candidate retaining around 64% of votes and a 2900-vote lead in a preliminary count.The candidate spoke to TVNZ’s Marae this morning, alongside party co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, about the party’s retention of the seat. “I went up against Labour, and not just anybody — Peeni Henare. I know I’m the new kid on the block. I’m not…
The Chase star Mark “The Beast” Labbett has been described as “the worst loser in the world” by fellow Chaser Darragh Ennis following a series of dramatic walk-offs and outbursts on the set of the UK game show.Ennis, who joined the show in 2020 and was known to fans as the Menace, made the comments during an appearance on the podcast Dempsey’s Dozen hosted by Ian Dempsey.He said the Chasers took losing seriously, recalling a recent episode where Labbett stormed off set after losing in the final seconds.”Mark is, and he would not mind me saying this, the worst loser…
Rotorua Lakes Council is pleading for residents to make “informed choices” before getting a dog, as it aims to put down fewer animals.While rehoming statistics were positive and euthanasia rates trending down, the council said it was still “deeply upsetting” for animal control staff to put down impounded puppies.In the calendar year to August 31, the council euthanised 98 dogs. This was tracking lower than in the past two full financial years – 439 in 2023-24 and 379 in 2024-25.Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston saw this decrease as “heartening”, alongside the rehoming of 135 dogs so far in…