Author: Press Room

MetService says ex-cyclone Tam has been “very gradually losing steam”, but warned heavy rain and thunderstorms were still forecast for some parts of the country throughout the day. Auckland had its second severe thunderstorm warning in as many days yesterday, with one MetService weather station reporting 18mm of rain fell in an hour. MetService has issued heavy rain alerts for large parts of the South Island – orange heavy rain warnings for parts of Tasman and North Canterbury; and yellow heavy rain watches for Buller, parts of Tasman, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.”Rainfall of this intensity can cause…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ  Share markets around the world have been shaken by the introduction of United States tariffs – but some New Zealand companies have been particularly hard-hit. Market commentators said the New Zealand-listed companies most exposed to the impact of tariffs were Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Mainfreight, Infratil and Tourism Holdings. Tourism Holdings has had the biggest share price fall, down 20.33% in a month. It told the NZX on Thursday that tariffs had weakened its operating environment and hurt consumer confidence. “As widely reported in media, there has also been a sharp drop in interest for inbound travel…

Influenza season is almost here and vaccination is recommended for everyone over six months old.In Aotearoa New Zealand, five vaccines are available.Whether you’re eligible for a free shot or having to pay for it yourself, it’s worth considering your options.Why are flu shots updated annually?Each year, experts monitor influenza patterns and try to predict how the viruses might mutate. Based on these predictions, vaccines are updated to provide protection from the dominant strains.New Zealand’s flu season typically runs from May to October, with the immunisation programme running from April 1 to December 31.In 2025, the southern hemisphere vaccines are quadrivalent…

By Mary Argue of RNZ  A Wairarapa man whose building was damaged in a ram raid with a digger says its destruction still causes grief and he worries the culprit will get away with it. Shortly before midnight on Friday, November 15 last year, bar patrons around Martinborough’s square were ushered inside, after witnessing the digger smash into Kitchener’s Cafe on Kitchener St in an attempt to break into an ATM. Five months later, no charges have been laid and police continue to appeal for information. Building owner Bruce Sullivan told RNZ he understood the digger was stolen from a local…

A man who vanished from Auckland Airport on Friday morning has been found, say his whānau.Kory-Dean Wirihana checked in for his flight to Christchurch and cleared security, but never boarded his plane.A family member posted on social media this evening that he had been sighted and was safe, and that they would “navigate the next steps as a family”.Police have confirmed that Wirihana has been located.Police and family thanked people for sharing their messages and for helping find Wirihana.rnz.co.nz

Pāua poaching has worsened in Wellington — 30% of people checked are breaking the law.The area limit is five pāua per person, but officers are catching people with hundreds of the dark-fleshed delicacy.On Good Friday, two divers were caught with 433 pāua near Red Rocks on the south coast, returning from shore about 7.30pm under the cover of darkness.There were also reports of illegal shellfish trading in organised crime.Normally one in 10 people checked nationwide are found to be over the limit with their pāua or taking undersized juveniles. Officers were disappointed that Wellington’s rates were much higher — and…

Some of the feedback on the Ministry of Education’s draft framework for how relationships and sexuality should be taught in schools includes that it’s “dangerous”.The ministry released the draft relationships and sexuality framework for consultation last week, outlining the proposed teaching to be covered in relationships and sexuality education each year, from Years 0 to 13.InsideOUT managing director Tabby Besley told 1News the LGBTQIA+ education and support organisation is “incredibly disappointed” there was no mention of gender diversity in the draft. “We think that’s incredibly harmful for trans young people who deserve to see themselves reflected in the curriculum.””It’s dangerous.”The…

She’s been described as “pretty rural” and that moniker sits just fine with Central Otago9 lawyer Alice Sanders who juggles her day job with life on the land. She talks to business and rural editor Sally Rae about the call of home. Lawyer, hunter, self-described junior farmer — Alice Sanders wears a variety of hats in any given week. The 35-year-old combines a legal career based in Wānaka with high country farming where she also introduces newcomers to hunting on her family’s property, Mount Campbell Station, near Alexandra. At first glance, it might seem an unusual combination, particularly as she…

ADVERTISEMENTPeople of all ages gathered on Liberation Square in Ruse on Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ together, a unique joint celebration, as this year’s Easter coincided for both Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox faiths. The majority of Bulgarians identify as Eastern Orthodox, while Roman Catholicism is a minority religion. The latter usually celebrate Easter a few days before Orthodox Christians, however every so often, the dates coincide. For the eigth time since 2001, Christians from both groups have come together. Hundreds of dancers and citizens took part in a folk line dance performed in circles and chains.One of…

The mystery of missing Southland boy Mike Zhao-Beckenridge, who disappeared a decade ago with his stepfather John Beckenridge, is back in the Coroner’s Court next week.A coroner’s hearing was adjourned in 2023 after two weeks of evidence and will resume on Tuesday with fresh evidence from five new witnesses.John Beckenridge broke a court order and picked up his 11-year-old stepson from his Invercargill school in March 2015.A week after the pair’s disappearance, Beckenridge’s car went off a nearly 90m cliff in Southland.There were no signs of bodies when the vehicle was recovered and the pair remain missing.The new information to…