Author: Press Room

The Chief Ombudsman has reprimanded Marlborough District Council’s use of public-excluded briefings and workshops, saying they should be “open by default”.It comes two years after councils were given a dressing-down for holding workshops behind closed doors too often and for invalid reasons.However, Marlborough’s council boss maintains they are well within the law and it’s important to discuss complex information without scrutiny.Chief Ombudsman John Allen made his critiques in his official opinion on the council’s compliance with the Local Government Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA), which was presented to councillors on August 4.All councillor briefings and workshops, which were held to…

The health of the Tāmaki Estuary is under scrutiny as environmental advocates raise concerns about sewage overflows, climate change and biodiversity loss in one of Auckland’s most vulnerable waterways.In a recent address to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board, Julie Chambers, co-chair of the Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum, highlighted three major threats to the estuary: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.Chambers says birds, plants, fish and sea life were being lost under the board’s watch.”We can’t blame anyone else – this is our watch,” Chambers says.Sewage spills under spotlightJulie Chambers, co-chair of the Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum. Photo/Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum Facebook…

The Government is hoping that supermarket reforms announced this week will tempt another player into the supermarket sector in New Zealand.When she unveiled plans for an “express lane” for supermarket developments and other policy changes to boost competition, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said five players, as well as Costco, had expressed interest.But who could our new supermarket player be?Experts say there are a few potential options.Night ‘n Day operator wants separation forced on major brands owned by Foodstuffs and Woolworths. (Source: 1News)An existing New Zealand businessOne option is that a business already in New Zealand might branch out into grocery,…

Whakaari/White Island erupted briefly this morning, sending dark-coloured plumes, containing ash, into the sky before winds dispersed them to the northeast. Observers watched the “minor, short-lived” eruption through cameras, which began at 10.15am with the final observed ash emission at about 12pm.Scientists said it was “unclear at this stage” whether this morning’s volcanic activity would cease or progress to more sustained ash emission in coming days.Volcanic alert levels remained unchanged at level 2, with aviation colour codes staying yellow “given the short duration and small scale of this emission of ash”.The eruption was first identified as a dark-coloured plume rising…

Four men in Wellington have appeared in court after one of New Zealand’s largest ever drug seizures at the border – almost two tonne of liquid ecstasy.The estimated 1950 litres of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) – with a street value of around $14 million – was seized as part of Operation Hermes, a six-month operation led by police and Customs.GBL – commonly known as Fantasy or liquid ecstasy – was a depressant which could make users feel nauseous, groggy, confused and cause memory lapses.Customs officers made the mammoth discovery after an inspection of a commercial shipment arriving in the country identified…

A secretive sect embroiled in allegations of abuse is offering advice to “anyone struggling with harmful sexual thoughts or behaviour”.Known as the Two By Twos or The Truth, the church has sent an email to its members with “resources created to offer possible pathways for those affected by sexual harm”.Police in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA were currently investigating the group.In an email, shown to 1News, the leadership said the three documents acted “as a one-stop resource for advice — whether you’re seeking support for someone who has been harmed, for those who have caused harm, or for anyone…

TVNZ has posted a $4.9 million annual earnings result in a “challenging” year and revealed the country’s most-watched shows.The broadcaster will pay a $3.1m dividend to the Crown, saying it has “successfully navigated” challenging economic conditions and is now in a strong position to pursue its ambitious digital strategy.TVNZ today unveiled underlying operational earnings of (EBIT) of $4.9m and an adjusted net profit after tax of $10.7m for the year to June. The final reported net profit after tax (NPAT) of $25.7m includes net positive, non-cash impairment adjustments.Weekly audience grew to 1.59 million Kiwis, an audience increase of 12.7% year-on-year.1News…

Ashburton is home to New Zealand’s most hit bridge, the Tinwald Viaduct.The short strip of road goes under the main south railway line, just south of the Hakatere/Ashburton River bridge, with a maximum clearance height of 2.39m high.KiwiRail confirmed it was the most struck bridge in the country, with 13 known strikes per year. Currently, it is closed to vehicles while it awaits repairs after being hit by an excavator being towed on a trailer in early July.The viaduct reopened following the bridge strike, but was temporarily closed on July 29.Many agreed that the cheapest solution to stop it from…

Cardi B testified that she didn’t touch a security guard who alleges the rapper cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her in an altercation outside an obstetrician’s office during the hip-hop star’s not-yet-public first pregnancy.”She couldn’t get a scratch from me because I didn’t touch her,” Cardi said on the stand in her second day of testimony in a Los Angeles County court.Ron Rosen Janfaza, lawyer for the plaintiff, Emani Ellis, asked her if she had been angry.”Yes I was angry!” Because I’m pregnant!” Cardi replied. “And this girl’s about to beat my ass!”She acknowledged that the…

A survivor of the deadly hostel fire in Wellington more than two years ago, begged emergency call takers for help over the phone, saying “I don’t want to die like this.”Toetu Tui Saili phoned 111 as his room filled with smoke, repeatedly telling them he couldn’t breathe and had no way out. Today, he gave evidence at the trial for a 50-year-old man charged with arson and murder at the High Court in Wellington. The lawyers for the accused man, who has name suppression, were pursuing the defence of insanity. Saili, a former Loafer Lodge resident, was clearly distressed in…