Author: Press Room

A man found critically injured on a roadside in Wellington’s Miramar in the early hours of Monday morning has died in hospital.Police are still investigating whether the now-fatal incident was linked to an earlier home invasion nearby.An unexplained death investigation has now been launched by police.The man was found on a footpath a short distance from his vehicle at the intersection of Camperdown Rd and Totara Rd around 2.20am yesterday.It was the second serious incident in the area on Monday morning after a home invasion on a neighbouring street just 20 minutes earlier.Residents at a Darlington Rd address called police…

Whangārei District Council’s only hope of stalling the start-up of fluoridating its drinking water supply tomorrow has been dashed.The council took its fight against a fluoridation directive to the High Court in Wellington today.Justice Karen Grau reserved her decision on granting interim relief to Whangārei District Council.The Whangārei District Council needs to start the process to fluoridate its water by 9am tomorrow in order to set up the specialised infrastructure in time to meet the Government’s March 28 deadline.Justice Grau told the court she had more reading to do on the matter but that she would release her decision before…

Female representation is making progress in European parliaments as well as governments. ADVERTISEMENTThe share of women with seats in national governments and parliaments is growing across the European continent.In 2024, women held around 35% of national government posts, a 7.4% increase over the past decade, according to the latest Eurostat data.Finland and Lichtenstein take the lead with a 60% share each, followed by Belgium and the UK with 51%.Hungary is at the bottom, with no women in government positions.In 2022, however, the country elected its first female president – Katalin Novák. She held the post until her resignation, in 2024,…

Dozens of jobs are on the line at the Department of Internal Affairs, as it continues cost-cutting measures that began last year.The department on Tuesday proposed getting rid of 180 positions and creating 116 new ones, reducing its headcount by 64.Separately, 69 fixed term contracts which were due to end in September would not be renewed. A DIA spokesperson said that was always going to happen, and it was not because of the restructure.Internal affairs secretary Paul James said the department had been in the process of change for some time in an effort to improve efficiency and cut costs…

European Union government ministers are discussing ways to keep the pro-democracy media outlet afloat after the Trump administration stopped its grants over the weekend. ADVERTISEMENTNow that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has fallen victim to sweeping funding cuts by US President Donald Trump’s administration, the future of the pro-democracy media outlet is unclear.RFE/RL started broadcasting during the Cold War, and has played an important role reporting across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East eve since. Its programmes are aired in 27 languages in 23 countries.The outlet has also provided critical coverage in Ukraine, especially after Russia labelled Voice…

A proposed plan to compulsorily take 172 hectares of land under the Public Works Act for a new cemetery in Auckland faces rising opposition from the landowner and local hapū.Waikūmete Cemetery in Glen Eden is at full capacity and Auckland Council is urgently working to find a new location for burials.The sizeable land block in Waimauku — a small township 30km from the city’s CBD — has been identified as the most suitable site for land acquisition under the Public Works Act 1981. The landowner told 1News the council wanted to take the best part of his farm where all…

A wave of relief has swept across Auckland’s 21 local boards after being offered temporary reprieve as they struggle with cost pressures.The local boards united in a letter to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown strongly objecting to the expectation that they absorb a $17.6 million budget shortfall.Auckland Council’s proposed cost-cutting measures are tied to the Fairer Funding initiative – a scheme intended to ensure more equitable funding across Auckland’s local boards.The Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board was the hardest hit, facing a deficit of $1.3 million.Chairman Apulu Reece Autagavaia said he was “super happy” with the news that local boards wouldn’t need to…

The chronic issue of fly-tipping on Tasman’s riversides continues to rear its head across the district.Since June 2024, the district council has spent almost $14,000 to clean up rubbish by the river, with recent finds including a discarded engine and trailer, and even a hut built out of pallets.”That’s not the most impressive structure we’ve had down there,” Rob Smith, council’s group manager for environmental science, told councillors last week.”We’ve actually had one with a flat screen TV and lights.”Other common items dumped on roadsides and riverbeds included animal carcasses, mattresses, whiteware, and furniture.Some residents might enjoy their temporary riverside…

By Lauren Crimp and Giles Dexter of RNZ A major provider of the government’s troubled free school lunch programme owes more than $14 million to hundreds of creditors after going into liquidation last week. Libelle Group was contracted by Compass to deliver 125,000 meals a day as part of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme, but after its liquidation, Compass agreed to buy the business. The report by liquidators Robert Campbell and David Webb of Deloitte released on Tuesday evening revealed Libelle owed:  – $2.38m to preferential creditors (which include staff and Inland Revenue)  – $8.37m to secured creditors (who have the…

Police are investigating after shots were fired at a tavern north of Wairoa over the weekend. Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Moorhouse said officers were called to the Frasertown Tavern to reports shots had been fired towards the building shortly after 11pm on Saturday, March 15. “At least two, possibly three, shots were fired, hitting the tavern and a vehicle in the carpark.”The tavern was open with several patrons inside at the time, and it is very fortunate no one was injured,” he said. As part of their investigations police were looking at whether there were any gang links.Moorhouse wanted to…