Author: Press Room

This year, Dunedin jeweller Tony Williams notches up 50 years of being in business in the city. He talks to business editor Sally Rae about his successful career. Back in 1975, Tony Williams was told the life expectancy of a small business in New Zealand was five years. Notching up a 50 year career as an artist craftsman, which has included manufacturing jewellery, employing, training, exporting, retailing and wholesaling, he has blown that timeframe out the window of his Dunedin workshop. While semi-retired, Mr Williams (76) continues to make fabulous pieces from a bench he refers to as his “world” and he…

Auckland Council is intensifying its response to the city’s roaming dog problem with a new campaign focussed on urging careless owners to act and encouraging the public to remain vigilant.Local politicians warned that roaming dogs presented serious risks, not only to people and communities, but also to the dogs themselves.The campaign, “Who let the dogs out?”, included three impactful television commercials that demonstrated the potential harm to dogs left to roam freely, the danger they might pose to others, and the unfortunate reality that some may face euthanasia when owners failed to take responsibility.The goal was to shake owners out…

Published on 04/07/2025 – 19:21 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTThe heatwave sweeping across Europe has claimed its first victims at work. Spain and France have each reported a heatwave-related death. Similar tragedies have occurred in previous summers in both countries, as well as in Italy and Greece.The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is sounding the alarm. According to figures from the International Labour Organisation, the EU has seen a 42% increase in heat-related deaths in the workplace since the turn of the century.The ETUC points out that, according to studies, when temperatures exceed 30°C, the risk of work-related accidents increases by 5 to 7%.…

Several roads in Taranaki remain closed after the region was hit by “high-intensity” rainfall yesterday. The region experienced multiple severe thunderstorm warnings yesterday, with a deluge of rainfall causing surface flooding. According to MetService, some parts of the region experienced 280mm of rain near Taranaki Maunga. The forecaster expected rain to continue, with morning showers becoming widespread and severe, likely accompanied by hail, from this afternoon. A few thunderstorms were possible about and north of Taranaki.The southbound lane on SH3 at Mt Messenger, SH3 Awakino Gorge between Oha St and Papakauri Rd, SH43 Forgotten World Highway between Whangamomona and Taumarunui,…

Published on 04/07/2025 – 18:04 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Friday with US President Donald Trump, in what the Ukrainian leader said was a “very important and fruitful” phone call.”Today we discussed the current situation, including Russian airstrikes and the broader frontline developments,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.”President Trump is very well informed, and I thank him for his attention to Ukraine. We spoke about opportunities in air defence and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies. We have also agreed to a meeting between our teams.”He added that they also discussed…

“Women Who Lead With Love” was the title of a retreat held in Invercargill yesterday for women in business and leadership. Among the speakers was Natalie Jarvis, who talks to business editor Sally Rae about leaving the bright lights of Melbourne to return to the South. She’s an artist, illustrator and designer who speaks fluent neon. Natalie Jarvis is back in her hometown of Invercargill after more than a decade literally in the bright lights of Melbourne, where she designed and delivered big impact installations for events, brands and public spaces. Electric Confetti, the business she founded, is continuing from the Otatara home she…

A popular local walking track in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park has reopened — with three more to follow in the coming months. The first to reopen, the Zig Zag track linked Titirangi Beach Rd to the beach below, was closed following extreme weather events in 2023. Auckland Council said the path had undergone “significant upgrades to improve drainage, stabilise the path, and protect the surrounding ngahere [bush].” Councillor Ken Turner of the parks committee said the reopening was “a welcome milestone” for the community.”Our communities have been patient, and it’s great to be able to share the news that…

ADVERTISEMENTThe family of a French sports journalist who has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria is calling for help from the sporting world and football superstar Zinédine Zidane, who is of Algerian descent. Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old freelance journalist, was sentenced last week over an interview with an Algerian football coach accused of ties to a banned separatist movement, in a case rights groups say criminalises routine reporting.Although Gleizes’ family had been reportedly advised to keep quiet about their son’s detention by French diplomats, following his sentencing, they decided to break their silence. In an interview with French broadcaster…

The head of the Telecommunications Forum wants the Government to look at prioritising upgrades to the 111 emergency phone-line.Along with mobile and internet coverage, the service was lost in Golden Bay for most of the day on Thursday, after a slip cut a fibreoptic cable.Eight-hundred fibre connections and 350 copper phone-line connections were brought down in the morning, and repairs to the cable weren’t completed until mid-afternoon. All but 20 copper connections had been restored by 4.45pm and were confirmed restored less than an hour later.The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said extreme weather could impact communications networks.”Telecommunications providers…

Published on 04/07/2025 – 15:01 GMT+2•Updated 15:52ADVERTISEMENTThe threats facing NATO are becoming more complex and intertwined but they remain “no match” for the alliance, the new US General at the head of NATO’s military operations said on Friday as he took up his functions. “These are consequential times,” US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich said following a change of command ceremony in Mons, Belgium, that saw him assume the functions of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).”The challenges facing the alliance and our partners are growing more complex. The threats we face are only becoming more intertwined. But they are…