Author: Press Room

The hostages were taken into Gaza following Hamas’ attack on 7 October last year, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage overall. ADVERTISEMENTHamas is set to free three more Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Israel has said. The Israeli hostages set for release include civilian Arbel Yehud, 29, and military observer Agam Berger, 20, along with an 80-year-old man, Gadi Moses.A further five Thai hostages would also be released as part of a unilateral move by Hamas, separate from the ceasefire agreement. In exchange for the Israeli hostages,…

A senior Northland doctor was so worried about a lack of medical staff in Dargaville overnight she was convinced it was too risky to keep the town’s hospital open, documents released under the Official Information Act reveal.A staff roster, also released under the OIA, shows that from October 10 to December 1 last year, an after-hours doctor was rostered on at the 12-bed hospital on just five of those 55 nights.Two nights were marked as “tentative” so the total could have been as low as three nights out of 55.Health NZ says, however, doctors stepped up at the last minute…

BNZ has cut some of its home loan and term deposit interest rates.The bank dropped its 1-year fixed rate from 5.59% to 5.55%, a 0.04% change. Its standard 3-year fixed rate dropped from 5.69% to 5.59%, its 4-year fixed rate dropped from 5.79% to 5.69% and its 5-year fixed rate lowered from 5.89% to 5.79%. Its standard 6-month fixed rate (5.99%), 18-month fixed rate (5.39%), and 2-year fixed rate (5.29%) did not change.BNZ yesterday also updated some of its term deposit rates for some terms between 150 days and 18 months. Earlier this week, Kiwibank cut its six-month fixed special…

Three men aged 22 to 26 have been arrested following three separate violent incidents in Palmerston North this month.In a statement, a police spokesperson said over the last few weeks there had been two serious assaults at different bars, and a violent incident outside a petrol station in the city.The first incident occurred in the early hours of New Years Day, when police responded to a bar on Rangitikei St, following reports of an assault where one person received serious injuries.The victim has since been discharged from hospital.”A 24-year-old man has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear…

Commercial builds in Tauranga remain strong despite the economic downturn — with nearly $444 million in building consents issued in 2024.Tauranga City Council building services manager Steve Pearce said there had been “significant development” in the suburb of Tauriko and the CBD.”The city centre is seeing a massive revitalisation both for private and public projects.”The council had several large commercial projects in the CBD, including a new library and museum.While residential consents had nearly halved from the peak in 2021, Pearce said it appeared the city had “passed the dip”.Reviving the cityLast year, 274 commercial consents valued at $443.8m and…

New Zealand First Ministers are refusing to back down from comments they made towards immigrant MPs in the House this week.MPs were debating the Prime Minister’s statement on Tuesday when Shane Jones yelled “send the Mexicans home” across the floor.Winston Peters then told Green MPs Lawrence Xu-Nan and Francisco Hernandez to “show some gratitude” for being in New Zealand.The Green Party has now written to the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House asking they take action, saying the comments were “outwardly racist and xenophobic”.Mexico-born Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March told Morning Report the comments had impacts outside the…

A 27-year-old man has been charged after a cyclist died in an alleged hit-and-run in the Far North town of Ōkaihau on Tuesday night.An investigation was launched after the teenage cyclist was struck by a vehicle on Settlers Way.Northland CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry said police had now located and arrested a 27-year-old Kaikohe man following the “tragic incident”.He said police has been in Ōkaihau conducting inquiries, including checkpoints to try and identify a vehicle involved.”We have had a number of locals make contact with us and provide information and I acknowledge them for that,” he said.Verry said the…

Masterton and Rotorua mayors are backing higher speed limits on local roads.On Wednesday, the government announced that 38 sections of the network will be reversed to their previous speed limits over the coming months. Another 49 sections of the network would be put out for public consultation.Some community leaders described the changes as “reckless” but the two mayors say it makes sense.In Nelson, the speed limit on State Highway 6 at Marybank, north-east of the city, will revert from 60 km/h to 80 km/h – and to 100 km/h in parts.Nelson City councillor Rachel Sanson said it was a reckless…

A community leader is frustrated over the lack of progress made on a promised after-hours medical centre in Rangiora.Rangiora-Ashley Community Board chairperson Jim Gerard said there’s been no progress on a new after-hours facility for North Canterbury, despite the strong need for one.The proposed Rangiora Medical facility was originally meant to open at the Rangiora Health Hub on Ashley St in 2022, but the project has been beset by delays, partly due to Covid.”There is no sign of anything and it is really disappointing because it is a service North Canterbury really needs,” Gerard said. “I just want to express…

Around 60 firefighters have been battling a large vegetation fire on Department of Conservation land at Tiwai Point, near Bluff, which broke out shortly after midnight last night. Fire and Emergency NZ community engagement coordinator Sally Chesterfield told 1News there were at least six fire trucks and three tankers in attendance, with around 60 firefighters on the ground. Five helicopters were in attendance, working to fight the blaze, She said the blaze was uncontained and around 250ha in size, with an 8km perimeter.Tiwai Point blaze burning overnight. (Source: Rita Baker)Chesterfield said FENZ was working to get more crews on the…