Author: Press Room

A body has been found in the search for a Hamilton fisherman, who went missing in the Raglan area last week.Police say a member of the public saw a body in the water from a nearby footbridge earlier this afternoon. Police were called to the scene around 2.30pm.”While formal identification is yet to take place, police believe the deceased is a 31-year-old Hamilton man reported missing last week.”Police would like to extend our condolences to the man’s whānau and loved ones.”Police will continue to make enquiries into the circumstances of the death on behalf of the coroner.”It follows renewed calls…

Advertised salaries are growing at a slower pace due to strong competition for a limited number of jobs, new data shows.Employment website SEEK has found average advertised salaries grew 3.7% in the year ended August, down from 4.4% in the previous quarter.SEEK country manager Rob Clark said with more people applying for fewer jobs, the rule of supply and demand was holding back salary increases.”If you’re an employer you’ve got more choice and therefore that allows you to have more flexibility on salary rates. And if you’re an employee and you’re looking for work, it’s more competitive out there, so…

The high-stakes trial opens in Paris on Monday and will last for two months. ADVERTISEMENTFrance’s far-right faces a major trial in Paris on Monday with members of the National Rally (RN) charged with embezzling millions of euros of European funds to pay people working for the national political party.Twenty-seven members and former members of the RN, formerly called the National Front, are on trial, including former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and her father and the party’s co-founder Jean-Marie Le Pen.Those charged risk a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines of up to €1 million, as well as…

A group that represents the owners of New Zealand’s commercial plantation forests disputes that forestry is one the reasons behind the proposed closure of the Smithfield meatworks. Alliance Group told staff on Friday it planned to fully close its meat processing plant in Timaru. Federated Farmers said land use change was to blame, saying farms were being converted into carbon forests at alarming rates. The New Zealand Forest Owners Association said the area of production forestry across the country had decreased in the last 20 years, but Beef + Lamb New Zealand said focusing on total forestry area overlooked the impact…

The mainly fine weather that kicked off the school holidays is on its way out, with MetService forecasting heavy rain and strong winds from midweek to put an end to the sunny spree.High pressure that moved in during the weekend is the cause of settled weather over much of the country today, but tomorrow is set to bring cloud, northeasterly winds and rain to the southwest of the nation.MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said Wednesday and Thursday were the “main risk period” for severe weather.“Heavy Rain Watches are already in force for western and northern parts of the South Island.“It’s likely…

European Commission’s culture of secrecy as seen by the EU Ombudsman who has pushed for new standards of openness and transparency in EU institutions. ADVERTISEMENTAs EU Ombudsman since 2013, Emily O’Reilly oversees an independent body tasked with holding EU institutions accountable. She investigates cases of maladministration, either on her own initiative or in response to complaints from EU citizens. O’Reilly has also urged the Commission to combat secrecy, which she argues undermines public trust. In 2022, her office criticised Ursula von der Leyen’s undisclosed text messages with Pfizer’s CEO during the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, she called for the publication…

Fonterra has released its new strategy to pay more in dividends to shareholders and get a higher return on capital.The company’s revised business strategy aims to focus on its high-performing ingredients and food service businesses to grow value.It has increased its target average return on capital to 10%-12%, up from 9%-10%, and a new dividend policy of 60%-80% of earnings, up from 40%-60%.Chief executive Miles Hurrell said building trading capability for the company’s dairy ingredients will help grow the Farmgate Milk Price and earnings.He said expanding the food service business in China will also help boost value.Chairperson Peter McBride said…

Thousands of people could be without power for up to 36 hours after a boom on a crop-dusting helicopter cut transmission lines in rural south Canterbury this morning.The incident took place on transmission lines about halfway between Timaru and Tekapo around 10.25am.Transpower said in a statement that crews are on site and will need to repair the lines before power can be restored.”At this stage we estimate this will take 24-36 hours, but we will have a better view of when we can get power restored as work progresses,” a spokesperson said.The lines fell on private rural land and Transpower…

Frances Bean Cobain and her husband, Riley Hawk, welcomed a son into the world earlier this month.The 32-year-old artist — who is the daughter of Courtney Love and the late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain — and her husband, professional skateboarder Riley Hawk, welcomed baby Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk into the world earlier this month and couldn’t be happier.Frances shared a series of photos of her and her husband with their son on Instagram and wrote: “9.17.2024.”Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk [blue heart emoji].”Welcome to the world most beautiful son.”Riley’s dad, skateboarder Tony Hawk, was among the first to comment on the…

Police have arrested and charged three 23-year-old men after three large vegetation fires in the Hawke’s Bay region earlier this month.Fireworks were seen being shot out of a vehicle’s window as it drove along Hautope Rd at about 11.30pm on September 7, a police spokesperson said.”Three significant fires were sparked as a result, and flames were fanned by strong winds.“The fires had the potential to cause injury and widespread damage and police want to thank the quick-thinking member of the public who raised the alarm and prevented the situation from getting any worse,” the spokesperson added.The men were arrested on…