Author: Press Room
A New Zealand-led international naval task force in the Middle East aimed at disrupting drug smuggling has concluded with a final haul of 7 tonnes of illicit substances worth NZ$1.8 billion.Fifty-five boardings took place in the six months that Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150) was under the command of Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward.Seven tonnes of narcotics, including methamphetamine, hashish and heroin, were seized and destroyed as a result, with a combined street value of more than NZ$1.8 billion.These busts included 2357kg of hashish; 1000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine tablets; 50kg…
By Euronews Published on 25/06/2025 – 7:44 GMT+2•Updated 8:30ADVERTISEMENTJoin Euronews live for our special morning show highlighting the NATO Summit in the Hague today.The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas will be joining us to give key reactions to the momentous events in the Middle East over recent days, in addition to looking ahead to this key summit at which Europe’s future security is on the table.As EU member states which are part of the defence alliance wrestle with the need to ramp up their defence budgets our reporters speak to key players on all sides of the debate.Our…
Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour says he is being “playful” and having “fun” with his “Victim of the Day” social media posts, targeting opponents of his Regulatory Standards Bill. Massey University lecturer Kevin Veale takes a look at when a joke isn’t a joke. But the posts – which have singled out academics and MPs who have criticised or made select committee submissions against the bill, accusing them of suffering from “Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome” – have now led to at least two official complaints to Cabinet.Wellington City mayor Tory Whanau has alleged they amounted to…
A draft National Infrastructure Plan has challenged the Government to “lift its game” on project planning — saying it has often been “short-term and reactive”.The strategy has been developed by the new infrastructure commission, Te Waihanga, laying out the key areas in need of attention over the next three decades.Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop acknowledged the invocation and said the recommendations aligned with the Government’s priorities.Bishop cited the proposed shift towards user-pays, spatial planning, and better asset management and maintenance.”The Government is determined to improve New Zealand’s infrastructure system and to work alongside the industry and other political parties to establish…
The Government is allowing greater housing and development around some Auckland train stations, preparing for an increase in demand with the new City Rail Link.Previously, the Government said Auckland Council must enable a minimum of no less than six storeys in a walkable distance around the Maungawhau (Mount Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside stations.The change was intended to reflect “higher demand for housing and business” in these areas.Now, it said the changes, outlined in the Resource Management (Consenting and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, “didn’t go far enough” – and would require upzoning allowing buildings of at least 15 storeys high around…
A Tairāwhiti hapū unveiled a pou whenua over Matariki weekend, marking the beginning of its journey to relocate and rebuild its marae after it was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle over two years ago.The waters reached 3m up the wharenui wall of Rangatira Marae when the cyclone struck Te Karaka on February 14, 2023.The water line marks are still visible on the wharenui mahau (entrance).”There wasn’t any other option but to relocate,” the secretary of the Rangatira Marae Trust, Whitiaua Ropitini, said at the event on Saturday.Image of Cyclone Gabrielle’s damage to Rangatira Marae. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)Ropitini said the destruction…
Glyn Harrison and his 12-year-old daughter Micah aren’t your typical armchair critics.They prefer to get out and about and enjoy the world.As they launched their packed canoe from the Riverslea Rd bridge in Hastings last Friday into the Irongate stream, they were off to enjoy some time with Mother Nature, and collect some rubbish in the process.But about 1km down from the Cherry Grove Dairy in Havelock North, they came across something in the Karamu Stream that wasn’t going to fit in any bag – a couch.”It must have been thrown over the bridge or down the riverbank,” Harrison said.”Most…
Artist and activist Tāme Iti’s latest project has him featuring in Aotearoa New Zealand’s longest advertisement ever made as part of a campaign to encourage more Māori on to the Māori roll.He sits on a stool in a vast, cavernous space, reading out names from a book of people on the Māori roll for nearly 30 minutes straight — “nearly” because in the middle of it he goes off for a “cuppa tea”, but the cameras keep rolling on his empty seat during his break.The roll call makes for an arresting watch, simply for the number of names he goes…
– NZ job ads fall 2 percent in May on April, according to Seek NZ’s employment report – Adverts were down 8 percent on a year ago – the slowest annual decline in more than two years – Applications per job ad rose 2 percent on April to a record high – Monthly salary growth 0.6 percent, annual rate 2.4 percent Record numbers of people are chasing a dwindling number of jobs, while wage rises are barely keeping pace with inflation, according to Seek. The online employment platform’s May monthly report showed a fall in the number of jobs advertised,…
A dozen search and rescue organisations will share in more than $76 million in government funding to equip volunteers, train specialist staff and maintain infrastructure.The money would be split among 12 organisations — including $30m for personal protective equipment for Land Search and Rescue volunteers, $17m for Maritime New Zealand and $11m for Coastguard New Zealand.Surf Life Saving New Zealand would receive $8m, while $3m was set aside for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications.Associate Transport Minister James Meager said New Zealand was one of the most challenging places for search and rescue operations in the world.”Whether it’s the… maritime space that…