Author: Press Room
Water in a central Auckland fountain was dyed red early this morning in what appeared to be a protest coinciding with Anzac Day.The city’s deputy mayor Desley Simpson posted photos of the well-known fountain in Mission Bay on Facebook.She said the fountain was only cleaned yesterday and would be cleaned today again.”I respect the right for peaceful protest. What I don’t respect or condone is wilful damage of public property,” Simpson wrote in her post.Posters on the fountain protested the violence in Gaza, saying “18 months of genocide / blood on their hands” and called for a ceasefire, with an…
Timber barriers are appearing along Marine Parade, Napier, to keep vehicles off the beach.Napier City Council says the barriers, which will be installed from the National Aquarium of NZ to the Pump Track, were to prevent vehicles from tearing up the grass and destroying trees.But local fishermen say once again the “idiots are spoiling it for everyone else”.Dean Everitt has been fishing along Marine Parade since he was 6-years-old.”I’m in my 40s now and still love fishing. It’s not the fishermen who are wrecking things, but we are the ones being penalised,” Everitt said.He was so concerned about the barriers…
One person has died after a two-vehicle crash in Rotorua’s Ōwhata overnight, police have confirmed.The incident occurred on the corner of Te Ngae Road and Tennyson Drive, and was reported at about 9.10pmOne person died at the scene, and a second person received serious injuries.Police said it would like to speak with anybody who witnessed the crash, or has dashcam or CCTV footage in the area.People with information are asked to contact police via 105 or online.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Britain’s Princess Anne and Australia’s Governor-General gathered near the World War I battlefields on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at a dawn ceremony to remember the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives in a tragic campaign 110 years ago.The gathering took place near a beach where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or Anzacs, first landed at Gallipoli at dawn on April 25, 1915.As the sun began to rise, the ceremony in northwest Türkiye kicked off with a mournful Māori lament, setting the tone for a solemn observance that included prayers and the laying…
A range of imported frozen anchovies has been recalled due to the presence of a marine biotoxin.The affected US products were branded SeaWave anchovies and sold in 10kg packs at a small number of supermarkets and specialty stores.Food Safety’s Acting Deputy Director-General Claire McDonald said: “Testing of the product has found the presence of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by certain algae that can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans.“These products should not be eaten. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw it out.”Frozen anchovies. (Source: Supplied)Food Safety advised that…
Dunedin robotics company Scott Technology Ltd is prioritising support and protection for the family of an employee who was killed in a “tragic” accident at the facility on Thursday. A Scott Technology spokeswoman confirmed a serious accident had occurred, and one person died. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the individual’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. “Our priority is supporting and protecting the family. “We are working with police and other authorities to establish the circumstances of this tragic accident. “Out of respect for the family and friends, we ask…
Thousands of Aucklanders with Northland holiday home properties are able to vote in Te Tai Tokerau’s October local elections.This is allowed under legislation underpinning New Zealand local government voting.A person who lives in one council area but owns a property in another can vote in that extra property’s local elections too, as long as they’re first on the national electoral roll.Holiday properties at Northland’s Mangawhai and areas such as the Bay of Islands, Tutukākā and Doubtless Bay are popular with Aucklanders.A person who owns an Auckland property and has a holiday home at Mangawhai can effectively vote for a mayor…
Auckland Airport has made the top 50 in a global ranking of airports based on customer satisfaction.The country’s biggest airport has ranked 46th in the UK-based airline and airport review website Skytrax’s 2025 awards.Its annual survey evaluates passenger experience from check-in and security to shopping and boarding.Topping the rankings for the 13th year in a row was Singapore’s Changi Airport.Auckland Airport was the third highest ranked airport in the Australasia-Pacific region behind Melbourne and Brisbane.The airport also came in fourth among airports handling 10-20 million passengers annually.Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker said the airport had made several changes…
The All Blacks’ test against France in July could feature a bumper beer tent in the Octagon, the city council hopes. The match is expected to sell out, drawing a crowd of about 29,000, including about 18,000 visitors from outside the city. In order to cope with the influx of visitors, the council is proposing an “entertainment hub” for the Octagon, which would run from noon to 7pm on Saturday, July 5, the day of the test. “Major events regularly attract over 15,000 out-of-town visitors, creating a vibrant city atmosphere. “However, by noon, cafes, bars and restaurants often reach full…
Just hours after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics ended, elite Kiwi cyclist Olivia Podmore was found dead in a suspected suicide at her Cambridge home. Six months of harrowing coronial hearings have revealed the disturbing truth about her treatment within New Zealand’s national cycling organisation. RNZ sports correspondent Dana Johannsen followed every day of the inquest.As she wheeled her way out of the pits of Rio’s Barra Velodrome moments before her Olympic debut, Olivia Podmore’s coach leaned in and delivered one last unsettling barb: “Don’t crash, don’t f***ing crash.”The coach had refused to roll the young sprint cyclist up to the…