Author: Press Room

One of the most influential albums in Aotearoa’s history has been re-released – years after hard copies went out of production.The revolutionary Māori hip-hop album Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted has been so popular, people have been paying more than $320 for old CDs.The album has never before been released on vinyl until now – and it’s also now on streaming platforms for the first time.The fusion of tikanga Māori, te reo Māori and hip-hop lyricism changed the direction of New Zealand music, cementing Maori hip-hop as a highly acclaimed genre.The music’s themes focussed on being Māori, with the rapping incorporated…

One person has died following a “well-involved” house fire in Auckland’s Māngere this afternoon.Fire and Emergency NZ received multiple calls alerting it to the fire on Tidal Rd around 1.23pm, a spokesperson said.”It was a 15m by 10m dwelling that was well-involved in fire upon our arrival.””We can confirm now that sadly, a person was located deceased inside the house,” a police spokesperson said.Four fire trucks responded and were able to put the blaze out, Fire and Emergency said.”A fire investigator is on the scene determining the cause of the fire.”St John said it was notified of the incident at…

Police are “disappointed” after four drivers were arrested for exceeding the breath alcohol limit in six hours at a checkpoint in central Christchurch earlier this week.The checkpoint run by the Canterbury Impairment Prevention Team was stationed in the city centre on Thursday.Four drivers were found to be above the legal limit over a six-hour period between 8.30am and 2.30pm. One driver was recorded as being three times over the limit.Sergeant Ben Rutherford said members of the public often ask why police conduct checkpoints during the day.”These four drivers are a reminder that no matter the time of day, drink driving…

Demi Lovato has blamed punching a dancer and overdosing on heroin on the “negative impact” of fame.The 32-year-old singer was arrested in 2010 after punching dancer Alex Welch and Lovato had a near-fatal overdose in 2018 which led to three strokes and a heart attack but the star blames fame for the incidents.Lovato told Grazia US: “I didn’t know that it would have such a negative impact on my mental health. And unfortunately, sometimes that looks explosive, like an incident where you punch your backup dancer on an airplane or you overdose from heroin.”Lovato has co-directed the new documentary Child…

New Zealand singer Eddie Low has died at the age of 81 after battling cancer.Low was born blind in Rotorua on May 14, 1943 after his mother contracted German measles and tuberculosis during her pregnancy.Educated at the Foundation for the Blind in Auckland from the age of 5, Low started his first band as a 13-year-old with two friends, called the Three Blind Mice.In 2006, Low was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to music.In a statement released by family, his eldest daughter Maria Low said the musician “never thought of his blindness…

Works on a controversial sewerage scheme will continue following delays the local council says have added $400,000 to the project’s cost.There is 10% remaining on stage one of the $29 million Tarawera Sewerage Scheme, a project that will see 446 homes connected to a wastewater reticulation system.The scheme is designed to protect the environmental health of Lake Tarawera and keep untreated sewerage from entering it.The most recent pause, for more than two weeks, was for Rotorua Lakes Council to engage with mana whenua, who held concerns the pipeline risked environmental damage to the water and an area where tūpuna (ancestors)…

Proposed hazard maps for Nelson are allegedly preventing properties across the city from being insured.The claim has been put to the commissioners overseeing the hearing for the city council’s controversial overhaul of its planning rules.The original maps the council put out for consultation included several areas shaded with flooding, inundation, fault hazard, and slope risk overlays.One Rocks Rd resident, whose home falls within the slope risk overlay, said that her property has never failed to be insured until the council put out its map for consultation.”It has essentially rendered our property uninsurable. This has been incredibly distressing for us as…

If the Tall Ferns are basketball players and the Black Ferns are rugby players, then who are the Frozen Ferns? Seven Sharp reporter Jendy Harper dives into the icy world frequented by the cool customers.As Sophie Winter dipped her toes into the water at the Central Otago Swimming Pool in Alexandra, a few curious onlookers watched from behind glass windows, enjoying the warmth of the indoor pool complex, where the water was a balmy 28 degrees.The teenage swimmer was about to enter the cold waters of the facility’s outdoor pool — sitting at around 7 degrees — wearing only her…

A 31-year-old man has been charged with murder following an incident in Levin last night.Emergency services were called to an address at about 10.10pm.A 57-year-old man had been assaulted and died at the scene shortly after, despite the efforts of paramedics, police said.Detective Inspector Craig Sheridan said the police investigation is ongoing.”However, police are not currently seeking anyone else in relation to this matter.”The alleged offender will appear in Levin District Court today.

A Kiwi on a Slovakian train heard a familiar accent come over the loudspeakers to announce the next station earlier this month.But how did a New Zealander get the job?Gavin Shoebridge was working as a broadcaster for the English version of Slovak Radio when his colleague put him up for the job.He told Breakfast he read the names of “thousands” of train stations and bus stops across the central European country’s public transport network.”I did the main trunk lines, the buses in the capital and all that.”Now I’m tormenting passengers going across the country constantly.”He said pronouncing some of the…