Author: Press Room

These evacuations happened as the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders for communities in southern Lebanon, signalling that it may widen the ground operation launched earlier this week against the Hezbollah militant group. ADVERTISEMENTEU countries have continued to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalate and fears of a wider regional war in the Middle East grow.Germany flew another 130 of its citizens out of the country on board a military plane that landed in Frankfurt late on Wednesday evening.The foreign and defence ministries said the Airbus A330 belonging to the Multinational Multi Role Tanker…

Inquiries are underway after a person was seriously injured in an incident in West Auckland this afternoon.Emergency services were called to the scene on Portage Rd in New Lynn around 4.33pm.”At this stage inquiries are ongoing to understand the full circumstances of the incident,” a police spokesperson told 1News.Hato Hone St John said one operations manager, one rapid response unit, and two ambulances are at the scene.A Department of Corrections spokesperson told 1News the New Lynn Community Corrections facility went into lockdown “for a short period of time” as a precaution after the incident occurred nearby.”This did not occur at…

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appear to be at odds over whether tobacco giant Philip Morris stands to benefit financially from a tax break for a heated tobacco product the company has a monopoly on.It comes as Costello today released five documents her office said she gleaned independent advice on the topic from.Yesterday, it was revealed Costello’s plan to move people from smoking cigarettes to Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) was stymied after the only device available in the New Zealand market became non-compliant due to regulations to vaping devices.The regulations meant vaping devices must have…

A culinary catfight has erupted in Christchurch – over a possible expansion of food trucks in the central city.The local arts centre wants to give more access to street vendors, but other businesses – who have invested in buildings in the CBD – think it’s unfair.The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora is known for its beautiful heritage buildings. But recently, the council has reduced its funding – prompting it to consider new tenants.Director Philip Aldridge told 1News allowing new tenants is “one way they can try and pay the bills”.The centre is applying for consent to expand its current…

A group of 20 flood-affected Auckland homeowners are demanding urgent action to fix storm damage on council land around their homes. Titirangi homeowner Tony Proffit told 1News he was unable to use his driveway for several months due to a slip caused by the floods last January. “I think it’s hard not to be angry at this point,” he said.Proffit is worried more of the slip will fall away every time it rains. However, he is ineligible for funding as the damage is not on his land. “EQC and private insurance only cover private property, and categorisation also only covers…

Leesa Ross bought Maggie May clothing store from previous owner Margie Riley who, exhausted by chemotherapy, was too unwell to run it – but more than a year later Ross owes Riley more than $20,000 and Riley says her mental health is “in shreds”. Mava Moayyed reports.Last week, Fair Go uncovered a trail of debt and frustration left by Te Awamutu clothing store owner Leesa Ross. Multiple locals reported missed payments, lost clothes, and threatening messages after giving their clothes to her to sell at a consignment store.Ross owns Maggie May Boutique on the main strip of town where locals…

The Government has been working on big changes to the way New Zealand manages its resources ever since it was sworn into power late last year. It’s now working through the third phase of that plan – replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA). The RMA was passed in 1991 and sets out how to sustainably manage New Zealand’s land, air and water. Its decision-making framework requires groups to consider the environmental impacts of their activities. Over time, the Act has become a bone of contention for developers, businesses and councils frustrated with what they say are complex regulations and lengthy…

In an unannounced trip to Ukraine’s capital Thursday, the new NATO secretary general reiterated the alliance’s pledge to continue bolstering military and financial support for Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTNew NATO chief Mark Rutte decided to visit Kyiv Thursday in his first trip since taking office, where he promised continued support for Ukraine in fighting against Russia’s invasion.Once in the Ukrainian capital, Rutte met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as air raid sirens went off twice.He was quick to point out that the unannounced trip was his fifth since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, adding that he wanted to come straight to Ukraine at…

Big things happen when art imitates life, albeit on a much smaller scale. Seven Sharp’s Lucas de Jong meets the Waikato artists handcrafting miniature versions of iconic backcountry huts found in Aotearoa’s bush and national parks.It all started with a big tin that brought tomatoes from the other side of the world to a café on Cuba St, Wellington.That’s where artists Kemi Whitwell and Niko Leyden first noticed the slightest of details — small grooves.”The cans are miniature corrugated iron. Let’s take some home and see what we can do with them,” said Whitwell.A tin being cut to make miniature…

In 2022, 6.5% of primary school students in the EU were learning two or more foreign languages, according to Eurostat. ADVERTISEMENTThere are plenty of advantages to learning foreign languages at an early age: it improves your understanding of the world, allows you to converse with your neighbours, lets you discover new series in their original language and helps you be better understood (for the most part) while on holiday abroad. Later on in life, multilingualism broadens professional opportunities, improves access to services and favours social cohesion by strengthening intercultural dialogue. Scientific studies also show that speaking more than one language…