Author: Press Room

A frayed opposition has banded together in a bloc that is projected to win some 60% of the vote in the October elections. Georgian President Salomé Zhurabishvili told Euronews she hopes this will prompt Brussels to restart its membership talks with Tbilisi. ADVERTISEMENTGeorgian President Salome Zourabichvili’s trip to Brussels came with many headaches.A former French diplomat, she is a staunch pro-European and opposes the pro-Russian drift of the current majority.Yet, after Georgia became a candidate country for EU membership late last year, together with Ukraine and Moldova, Brussels has frozen the talks with Tbilisi due to a controversial bill brought…

A terminal at Invercargill Airport has been named after former mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt in recognition of his “significant contribution” to the city. The Sir Tim Shadbolt Terminal was officially unveiled today at a private event. Alongside the name change, the terminal will feature storytelling signage covering Shadbolt’s contributions to the city. This will be installed later this year. Councillors requested the naming of the terminal in late 2023 to pay tribute to Shadbolt’s eight-term tenure as mayor. Shadbolt served as mayor of Invercargill twice, from 1993 to 1995 and then 1998 to 2022. He was one of New Zealand’s…

The national body for kura kaupapa Māori, Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa (Te Rūnanga Nui), say Education Minister Erica Stanford’s decision to cut $30 million from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, a reo Māori initiative that aims to improve te reo Māori proficiency, acquisition and use across the education sector, is disappointing but not surprising.Rawiri Wright, co-chair of Te Rūnanga Nui, said as one of the providers of the programme it was a painful decision, but they will persevere. They were not surprised. “Kei te ora tonu mātou, ka ātete tonu, ka whawhai tonu,…

All convictions against Gail Maney, Stephen Stone and two others related to two historical murder cases have been quashed.Maney has been acquitted, while a retrial has been ordered for Stone. Maney and co-defendant Stone were convicted for the murder of 21-year-old Auckland man Deane Fuller-Sandys in 1999 and during a retrial in 2000. Stone was also convicted of raping and murdering Leah Stephens, who the Crown said witnessed the Fuller-Sandys killing.Gail’s brother Colin Maney, and Mark Henriksen were convicted as accessories to Fuller-Sandys’ murder.The Court of Appeal in Wellington today issued its decision after a hearing in August this year…

Is Christchurch becoming New Zealand’s new capital of cool? More than a decade after earthquakes destroyed the Garden City, creatives and community leaders believe Christchurch is enjoying a cultural renaissance.Musicians, DJs, artists and authors abound, the city’s nightlife has again found its rhythm, and a new $683 million 30,000-seat stadium is reshaping the skyline.Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger has hailed the city’s potential as a “mini Melbourne”, as big-name bands and DJs give the clubs a spin, and university students flood the Canterbury plains.’We just wanted to give a home to cool sh*t’Richard and Meg Barnacle, two of the co-owners of…

Whanganui District Council is moving ahead on a business case for a council-led social housing provider to take on a $300 million social housing proposal.The council is investigating options for a provider to build 1000 affordable homes over the next decade.Capital works manager Rosemary Fletcher said population growth means the district will need at least 2000 new homes by 2034. The council’s pensioner housing stock was also ageing and insufficient to keep up with growth.A feasibility report in 2022 said the council pensioner housing portfolio would grow from 275 units to about 470 units by 2050.“We’re predicting our population will…

The start of October has brought the end of free Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs), a move that has caused some concern among GPs.RATs have been available for free since early 2022, but the Government has ended their funding. Originally, the free tests were set to end on June 30, but Health Minister Dr Shane Reti extended them until September 30.College of General Practitioners medical director Dr Luke Bradford told Morning Report not providing free RAT tests could lead to more hospitalisations and deaths.”The thing that triggers us a little bit is that there is a treatment for Covid for…

Now-banned heated tobacco products appear to remain readily available in shops, despite the threat of a $400,000 fine, 1News can reveal.It comes as the Associate Health Minister Casey Costello was today under pressure again over the Government’s approach to meeting its smokefree targets.Changes aimed at stopping youth vaping meant heated tobacco products – which heat mini tobacco ‘cigarettes’ instead of lighting them with a flame – are no longer legally sold in New Zealand unless they have replaceable batteries and a child-proof lock.The changes also apply to vaping devices, which differ from heated tobacco products (HTPs). They came into force…

Ukrainian President met with several entities on Wednesday to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s defence, as well as securing aid in preparation for the winter. ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking foreign military investment as well as humanitarian aid ahead of the winter.Zelenskyy met up with CEOs and top managers of the world’s leading defence companies at the second International Defence Industries Forum. This large-scale event brought together more than 30 countries, nearly 300 companies and hundreds of participants. They discussed expanding cooperation to strengthen the Ukrainian defence sector. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s defence production has increased significantly,…

One of NZ’s favourite foodies has a brand-new cookbook.Chelsea Winter has just released her seventh book, which is crammed full of deliciousness.“I’m so excited. So the book’s called Tasty, my seventh book. And everything in there is unbelievably tasty.”But there’s one glaring omission.“There is no refined sugar,” she said.“Since having children, it’s something that’s not part of my life anymore. So, it was a natural progression for this book to find a way to make things sweet without being loaded with cane sugar.“I feel like we should be able to have the same deliciousness that we’re used to with all…