Author: Press Room

An investigation into the fire in Canterbury’s Port Hills earlier this year has identified a five square metre “specific origin area” of the blaze — but the cause remains “undetermined”.The fire broke out on February 14 near Worsleys Rd. It burnt through about 650 hectares over three weeks.District Commander Dave Stackhouse said today: “Investigators were unable to identify a specific ignition source. “As the cause of the fire cannot be proven to an acceptable level of certainty, it is classified as undetermined. “However, if further information becomes available, the investigation will be reopened.”While a cause couldn’t be determined, the area…

A man who allegedly took a $100,000 launch for a joyride from Auckland’s Westhaven Marina before returning it has been arrested by police.Auckland City Central Prevention Manager Inspector Mark Miller said police were informed of a man attempting to steal the 48-foot launch from the pier in Westhaven shortly after 7pm yesterday.”It appears the alleged offender has boarded the 48-foot launch on Sunday evening and stayed on it overnight, before starting it up the next morning and leaving the marina.”He said the man then attempted to return the boat to the same spot.”A group of people at the marina held…

The Green Party will consider whether to invoke waka-jumping legislation to oust ex-member Darleen Tana from Parliament next month.Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick today confirmed the party’s special general meeting had been rescheduled for October 17, after it had been postponed due to legal action by Tana.Tana, now an independent MP, had sought a judicial review and an injunction on the special general meeting proceeding, saying she was ousted from the Green Party and querying whether the Green Party’s processes in investigating and dealing with claims of her knowledge of migrant worker exploitation at her husband’s business were fair and just.But on…

Some shops selling nitrous oxide say they are still getting their heads around what a Government crackdown could mean for them, not being aware of it in the first place.Health Minister Shane Reti is considering urgent options to try and stop people selling and using the substance which is often called “NOS” or “Nangs”. These include penalties of up to two years in jail or a hefty fine.It follows a Medsafe report highlighting the risks of using it to get high – but some shops told Checkpoint the crackdown would not make a difference to them, as they do not…

Teachers are hailing artificial intelligence as a massive time-saver that could revolutionise their work.They are using AI to create lessons, mark students’ work, and individualise their teaching in ways that were not previously possible.But educators warned RNZ that sort of innovation was rare in New Zealand schools, and the country risked being left behind without more support and clearer guidance.Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said AI literacy was essential for students.At Saint Mary’s College in Wellington, Year 13 student Marianna Boless told RNZ she and her classmates often used AI to kickstart ideas for their schoolwork.”Whenever I find myself stuck on…

Despite several months of lobbying, Zelenskyy failed to make the case for using Western weapons in Russian territory, and experts are sceptical that the Kremlin is willing to negotiate on genuine terms any time soon. ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” is big on offence, and some experts doubt he’ll persuade Western partners to buy into it.His central demands include the ability to use Western weapons inside Russia and military support to maintain territory inside Russia’s Kursk region — land he plans to use as a bargaining chip for future territorial negotiations with Moscow.On top of that, experts are sceptical…

State Highway 6 between the West Coast and Otago has reopened hours after its partial closure due to rockfall. The main road between Haast and Makarora was closed around 8am today after a rockfall near Orman Falls. An alternative route between Haast and Wānaka – travelling via Arthur’s Pass, Geraldine, and Twizel – would have taken motorists 10 hours and 48 minutes, according to Google Maps.In a statement this afternoon, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said the road was reopened at 3.20pm after most of the big debris was cleared. “Good work by the excavator crew has cleared away the…

The New Zealand Defence Force’s bomb disposal team is en route after some “historic ordnance” was found in a garage in Waimate this afternoon.Police say they were called to a home on Manse St around 1.30pm after the ordnance was discovered.”The NZ Defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has been advised,” a police spokesperson said.”The ordnance has been isolated, waiting for EOD to uplift.”

Unwavering belief, commitment, love and memory are the very things an earthquake-damaged stone church near the Marlborough coastline was built on a century ago.St Oswald’s Memorial Church, situated on State Highway 1 between Kaikōura and Blenheim, was severely damaged in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. As part of an extensive restoration effort, the church is now covered in plastic sheeting, and its owners are working hard to restore the roadside monument to its former glory.Saint Oswald’s Memorial Church was built in 1927 by Charles Murray. (Source: Seven Sharp)Leicester Murray, the grandchild of Charles and Jessie Murray — who built the church…

Tattoo artist Dell Reuben believes he’s achieving his goal of providing a sanctuary for people to have their stories told in ink. The owner of Dunedin tattoo studio Redemption Ink says the shop provides a space for people to let their guard down. “It’s one of those places where all the crap is left at the front door and feel free to be yourself.” And staff are keen to break the negative stigma often associated with tattoos. “When you actually sit down a person and chat to them, you realise they’re not that much different from you,” Reuben said. “Just…