Author: Press Room
Marlborough Sounds communities are not yet hitting the panic button in the face of Thursday’s deluge, which has raised the risk of surface flooding and slips.MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for Thursday from 6am to 7pm, for the region north of the Wairau River, including the Marlborough Sounds. Up to 80mm of rain is set to fall in the sounds over the 10-hour period.Marlborough Emergency Management said that there was an increased risk of slips, land instability, and surface flooding after last week’s heavy rain.Residents were advised to limit non-essential travel, watch out for surface flooding and…
Heavy rain and strong wind watches and warnings are in place for various parts of the country.What you need to knowA state of emergency has been extended for a further seven days in the Nelson-Tasman area in anticipation of heavy rain fall.Severe weather alerts cover much of the country, with heavy rain and strong wind forecast for the Bay of Plenty and top of the South Island.Severe thunderstorms were expected for the upper North Island and Taranaki.State Highway 45 has closed due to flooding south of Ōkato.Do you have any photos/videos of today’s weather? Email it through to [email protected]
Published on 03/07/2025 – 7:20 GMT+2•Updated 7:36ADVERTISEMENTThe majority of French, Spanish, and German citizens want stricter EU enforcement of Big Tech, according to a new YouGov survey.Almost two-thirds in France (63%), 59% in Germany, and 49% in Spain said EU enforcement of laws addressing Big Tech’s influence and power is too relaxed, when asked to choose between too relaxed, too strict, or about right.Only 7% of respondents in France, 8% in Germany, and 9% in Spain felt the enforcement was too strict.The survey, commissioned by two NGOs—People vs Big Tech and WeMove Europe—follows the EU’s 2022 adoption of the Digital Services…
A private school run by the Gloriavale Christian community has failed an audit for the second time in as many years.The Education Review Office said in a report published on Wednesday that its review visit at the end of 2024 found the school had improved since a 2023 review, but it still failed three of eight registration criteria.It said the school did not provide suitable staffing for students with complex additional needs, suitable equipment for students with complex additional needs, or a physically and emotionally safe space.”At the time of the ERO onsite review phase, the school was supporting an…
By Vincenzo Genovese & Gerardo Fortuna, Sándor Zsiros Published on 03/07/2025 – 7:30 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTA scandal involving Greek use of EU agricultural funds is set to play a role in the EU Parliament’s discharge of the Commission budget later this year, the co-chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Anti-Corruption has told Euronews.German Green MEP Daniel Freund was commenting on the “fake farmer” fraud scandal, a sprawling case that has triggered political turmoil in Greece and raised questions over the management of EU agricultural subsidies.The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced in May that it has an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised fraud…
West Coast Tasman MP Maureen Pugh has weighed into the campaign to improve waiting times for miners needing resource consents and other permits.The National MP has suggested a local “mini-version” of the Government’s fast-track system to speed up consent processing times.Resources Minister Shane Jones gave the West Coast Regional Council a strong serve last week, after it closed down a gold mine site that had waited 17-months for a consent.The council also faced criticised from councillor Brett Cummings, a gold miner himself, whose company had been left waiting six months for consent.Pugh says the Minister is justifiably frustrated at the…
The Government’s proposed citizens’ arrest changes are unlikely to have much impact on public safety, according to the Justice Ministry’s analysis.It says there are also risks that people would be more likely to use unreasonable force, particularly on children who, being physically smaller, are easier to catch and restrain.In February, the Justice Minister unveiled proposals for changing up the citizen’s arrest regime, after a Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) led by Sunny Kaushal came up with the recommendations.The changes would remove an old limitation on making citizens’ arrests at certain hours of the day, and clarify other aspects of the law,…
The Western Bay of Plenty is one step closer to a sought-after regional deal to help deliver 40,000 more homes and 35,000 new jobs.The Government signed the first memoranda of understanding to negotiate deals with Western Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Otago/Central Lakes on Wednesday.Regional and city deals enable the Government and local authorities to create long-term agreements.The programme unlocks funding and resource opportunities to support councils making improvements in their region, such as to roading, infrastructure and the supply of quality housing.The Western Bay of Plenty sub-region submitted its proposal in February.Tauranga City Council, the Western Bay of Plenty…
Published on 03/07/2025 – 5:04 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTAn arson attack on a restaurant and supermarket in Estonia last year were ordered by Russian intelligence, an Estonian court said on Wednesday.The attack was one in a series across Europe tracked linked to Russia by Western officials. The goal, they asserted, is to sow division in Western societies and undermine support for Ukraine as it continues to fend off Russia’s more than three-year long full-scale invasion.The Harju County Court in Estonia said the perpetrators were two Moldovan men who are cousins, both named Ivan Chihaial.One was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for the…
A hybrid vehicle has burst into flames after colliding with a power pole in Dunedin this afternoon.The crash on State Highway 88 between Dunedin and Port Chalmers occurred around 1.30pm on Tuesday.Fire and Emergency NZ said it sent one truck from Willowbank, one from Port Chalmers and a tanker from Dunedin.”On arrival we found one hybrid vehicle well involved in a fire. No-one was injured or trapped,” a spokesperson said.St John said it responded with one ambulance and that two people were assessed and treated at the scene.Footage shared with 1News showed the vehicle engulfed in flames, with thick smoke…