Author: Press Room

Residents are challenging the district council on its lack of consultation after it removed stairs and created a barricade to a Wainui Beach accessway.Wainui locals described the move as “upsetting” and an “insult” during a tense meeting last week.One resident took it upon himself to remove the barricade, which he said was “unlawful” and had been put up in “a sneaky way”.”We just want our steps back,” another local said.Gisborne District Council agreed to replace the stairs last November. However, it reviewed the decision when cost estimates rocketed past $100,000.Council officials said scaffolding stairs at the Tuahine Crescent Beach accessway…

ADVERTISEMENTAuthorities have dismantled four major criminal networks responsible for fuelling the flow of drugs into the European Union and Turkey, the EU’s law enforcement agency Europol said in a statement.It follows a series of “coordinated raids” supported by the agency, which led to the arrest of 232 suspects, including several “high-value targets”.Europol said the investigation, codenamed Operation Bulut, took place across multiple jurisdictions and involved authorities in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.The law enforcement agency said that the groups were arrested in connection with the seizure of at least 21 tonnes of drugs in Europe and Turkey, including…

Campbell Park Estate, with its 35-room limestone baronial mansion as the centrepiece, has been sold by liquidators for $3.2 million. The Waitaki Valley property, which included a self-contained village of 35 houses, has been bought by Hamilton man Stuart Foote, who was yet to finalise his plans for the site, Stuff reported. In August last year, it was confirmed the property would be sold to pay off debts of former Mainzeal boss Richard Yan, who was adjudged bankrupt in May. That followed the appointment of the Official Assignee as liquidator of Richina Ltd, by special resolution of shareholders. Mr Yan…

When fifteen-year-old Janie Taiiringa-Roimata Bennett was diagnosed with a malignant bone cancer, her whānau turned to tikanga Māori to help guide their journey through the trauma of treatment, surgery and recovery, and the grief of losing a limb. Janie was first diagnosed a year ago with osteosarcoma, a cancer that affects the arms, legs and pelvis, and for her it meant the amputation of her right arm up to her shoulder. The surgery and subsequent treatment took place last year and she has since gone into remission. A year on, the whānau visited the hospital to take possession of the…

ADVERTISEMENT17-year-olds will be allowed behind a car wheel when accompanied by a more experienced driver under a rule change that’s just been agreed by the European Parliament and Council. They may also be licensed to drive lorries under certain conditions, for which you need to be 21 at the moment.New drivers will also face a two-year probationary period, with stricter rules and penalties for driving while intoxicated. Driving tests will check awareness of risks to pedestrians, cyclists and scooters, but will all those precautions be enough?”Yes, I agree. I think it might be a bit like the United States where they have licenses to…

Dunedin’s Regent Theatre has been granted a liquor licence after being grilled for selling “nothing more than snacks” alongside large pours of wine. The theatre’s on-licence was renewed for 18 months by Dunedin’s District Licensing Committee last month, following a hearing in February. It was opposed by Dunedin City Council licencing inspector Alison Blair, who in her report raised concerns about operations without a certified manager and the volume of wine servings. She also questioned the manner in which the theatre sold food. According to a menu, patrons at the Regent Theatre could choose from either a “regular” or “large…

ADVERTISEMENTLast year, the government met its 2% of GDP target spending on defence, as required as part of NATO membership.   However, the Trump administration is demanding allies increase spending to 5% in the coming years. This would represent more than twice the current rate, which for countries with a large GDP adds up to tens of billions of euros.   “We are (at) around 2% now, that’s what’s in our budget. And if we grow to a much larger percentage, of course agreeing on that in itself is not a difficult part, but how to fund that, how to finance that,”…

A fire at a property in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden last night led to the discovery of a cannabis grow house, police say. Emergency services were called to the Ellerton Road property at around 10.18pm yesterday following a report of a fire. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) responded with five crews.It was fully extinguished by 3am. Police said that after the fire was extinguished, “further enquiries have established evidence of the cultivation of cannabis at the address”.”A scene examination will get underway today with FENZ and enquiries remain ongoing.”

ADVERTISEMENTGlobal diplomats and aid officials have met in London to push for greater humanitarian efforts to try to help those affected by Sudan’s two-year civil war. The conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced 12.6 million according to the UN, and caused famine across large parts of the country.The African Union co-hosted the one-day conference with the UK, France, Germany and the European Union. They called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities,” but UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said peace would take time, more international effort, and “patient diplomacy.”The main goal of the conference was not to negotiate peace, but…

Someone has stolen Russel Blank’s foot and he is, to put it mildly, “a bit pissed off about it”.The Far North man has relied on a prosthetic limb to get around since losing part of his right leg in a workplace accident more than 40 years ago.He sent his foot to the Artificial Limb Centre in Auckland for some repairs, but it was stolen from his letterbox when the finished foot was couriered back.Blank said the theft made no sense. The artificial foot was essential to him but “absolutely no use” to anyone else.”I’m a bit pissed off about it,…