Author: Press Room

A new tranche of data released from last year’s Census paints a fresh snapshot of life in New Zealand and how the way Kiwis live has changed in the past six years.The Census takes place every five years with New Zealanders last questioned in March 2023. Stats NZ released more information from last year’s survey this morning, which includes anonymised information on housing, transport, and demographic information — such as ethnicity, sexuality and religion. A new tranche of data paints a fresh snapshot of life in New Zealand. (Source: 1News)Number of reo speakers grows 15%More than 200,000 New Zealanders now…

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s financial position has “continued to deteriorate” in the last quarter, reporting a likely near $1 billion deficit for the last financial year.The organisation’s Quarterly Performance Report was released today, alongside a statement from Health Minister Shane Reti focused on Health NZ demonstrating “encouraging progress” against the Government’s non-financial health targets.It follows an appearance from Health Commissioner Lester Levy at Parliament’s health select committee last month where he was criticised by Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall for not having financial documents for the committee to scrutinise. Those documents are due to be presented to the…

A red heavy rain warning has been issued for North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha, with MetService warning the duration and amounts of rain expected “are very unusual and major impacts are likely”.The warning spans 34 hours as it is in place from 11am today until 9pm tomorrow.”Expect 120 to 150mm of rain with the heaviest falls about the eastern hills. Peak rates of 8 to 15mm/h. Note that the amount and duration of rain is highly unusual for this area and it may cause major impacts,” MetService said.Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell was en route to Dunedin in response…

This article was originally published in Italian Audi’s Brussels plant is assembling an 80,000 euro electric SUV, which turns out to be too expensive for Europeans. After 2025, production will probably relocate to Mexico. Workers and unions are not happy. ADVERTISEMENTThe case of this car factory in Belgium that has cutting-edge and low-emission technologies, and has been active since 1949 in the production of Volkswagen models, now seems to be an accurate indicator of a trend that is already underway: European plants that produce electric cars are too expensive compared to EU market demand.A factory in decommissioningFor this reason, Audi will…

Rotorua Lakes Council is reigniting legal action, weeks after protests prompted it to pause construction on stage one of its $29 million Tarawera Sewerage Scheme.A protest leader says the protests could have been avoided if the council had listened to mana whenua’s concerns about a tapu (sacred) lake beside the pipeline route. The council — which says it has listened — on Tuesday confirmed that elected members had directed staff to restart District Court injunction proceedings previously adjourned by a judge.A council spokesman said this action was to ensure “conditions on site are safe for everyone so work can resume…

More than 60,000 people are coming to the Wellington waterfront this year to watch the World of Wearable Arts festival (WOW). Behind the glamorous show are 400 people who work for months to put it on. Re: News spoke to award-winning fashion designer Ian Bernhard and performer Tabitha Dombroski about how much work they’ve put into this year’s show. Designer Ian Bernhard (right) and performer Tabitha Dombroski (left). (Source: Supplied)Designing for WOW since age 17Bernhard is a 30-year-old fashion designer who won the 2024 Fisher Funds New Zealand Design Award for his garment called The Red Thread.The Red Thread by…

NIWA has revealed the highest and lowest temperatures from last month in its September climate summary. In its latest monthly climate summary, it said: “September temperatures were above average for all main centres, except Hamilton where temperatures were near average.”Of the main centres in September, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga was the driest, Christchurch was the coolest and sunniest, Wellington was the wettest, and Dunedin was the least sunny, NIWA said.The highest recorded temperature was 25.6C, observed at Christchurch and Winchmore on September 7. Lake Tekapo took the lowest temperature title for the month with a chilly -7.8C on September…

Christine Larsen says she is not a freedom camper or homeless person, she is a Kawerau resident whose home just happens to be on wheels.Larsen bought her motorhome a year ago, when the house she was renting was put on the market and she had been unable to find a rental.”I had enough money to buy a motorhome. It’s an older one and I live in it permanently.”While she considered herself fortunate to have friends who let her park on their section in a pinch, and stayed at caravan parks occasionally “as a treat”, she mostly stayed in freedom camping…

Rutte vowed when he took office on Tuesday to help shore up Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022. ADVERTISEMENTNew NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has visited Ukraine in his first official trip since taking office and pledged the alliance’s continued support for Kyiv in its war with Russia.Rutte met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv as air raid sirens twice went off in the Ukrainian capital.The NATO chief vowed when he took office on Tuesday to help shore up Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion since…

Mining giant Fortescue has landed a major court win as it pursues ex-employees – including a former chief scientist – for alleged intellectual property theft.The Federal Court ruled on Friday to dismiss an application by the ex-employees to return evidence located during searches of their homes and computers following the alleged corporate espionage.Justice Brigitte Markovic also ordered the former employees pay Fortescue’s legal costs for contesting the application.Fortescue says its ex-chief scientist Bartlomiej Kolodziejczyk and technology development lead Bjorn Winther-Jensen applied green-iron technology they helped develop while working for the miner to form rival startup Element Zero.The Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest-controlled…