Author: Press Room

Recent data suggests a weak heating trend is underway at Mt Ruapehu’s crater lake after it reached its lowest temperature in 54 years earlier this month.The risk of eruption at the 2797m stratovolcano remains “low” as the temperature of the lake, known as Te Wai ā-moe, increased from 8C to a daily average of 10-11C — still considered a low temperature.GNS Science said the Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remains Green.Duty volcanologist Mike Rosenburg said the amount of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and volcanic tremor also declined during this cooling period. This was consistent with…

A driver died in Rotorua this morning after fleeing police and crashing into another vehicle. At around 11.30am, a vehicle of interest was identified by officers on Haupapa Street. Police signalled for the vehicle to stop, but the driver failed to do so and drove off. Police initiated a pursuit but a short time later, the vehicle collided with another.”Despite efforts of emergency services, the driver of the fleeing vehicle died at the scene,” police said. “The passenger of the vehicle received minor injuries and was transported to Rotorua Hospital.” Two occupants of the other vehicle sustained moderate injuries and…

A High Court judge has ruled the descendants of customary Māori landowners in Nelson are entitled to Crown land and compensation in the country’s oldest property dispute case. The case, known as the Nelson Tenths, dates back to 1845 when Nelson was established. The New Zealand Company purchased around 151,000 acres of land but agreed that 10% be set aside for the Māori landowners, plus areas of cultural significance wouldn’t be touched. But that didn’t happen and the landowners ended up with significantly less than what was promised. While the extensive judgement from Justice Rebecca Edwards found largely in favour…

Yan Petrovsky, also known as Voislav Toden, is charged with fighting against Ukrainian forces as part of the neo-Nazi Russian unit, Rusich. ADVERTISEMENTA Russian combatant who fought in Ukraine in 2014 has been charged with alleged war crimes by prosecutors in Finland. Yan Petrovsky, who is also known as Voislav Toden, will stand trial in Helsinki for five suspected war crimes, said Finland’s National Prosecution Authority. The suspect — who has been in custody in Finland since entering the Nordic country in July 2023 — denies involvement in the crimes. Petrovsky has been under EU and US sanctions since 2022…

Halloween is here — but the scariest monster in Napier has been lurking underground all this time.The “rag monster” was found by Napier City Council in its wastewater network this month, while updates to the system were being carried out.Rag monsters are made up of wet wipes, sanitary items, clothing, floss, hair, paper towels, wood, and fats or oils and are usually found when wastewater pumps clog and pipes block or overflow.The costly clogs can block pipes and damage pumps. They are especially common after heavy rain and, on average, Napier council staff expect to find 30 blockages a month,…

Hundreds of people were involved in the drug-related violence in the western French city of Poitiers, with teenagers among those injured. ADVERTISEMENTFive people, including three teenagers, have been seriously injured following a shootout linked to drug trafficking in western France, in the latest such violence to involve children.The violence erupted in front of a restaurant overnight in the western city of Poitiers and turned into a brawl involving up to 600 people, France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on Friday.”It started with a shootout at a restaurant and ended with a brawl between rival gangs that involved several hundred people,”…

The families of the men who lost their lives in last year’s severe Auckland weather want the response to the events investigated.A scope hearing was held at Auckland District Court earlier today to decide what issues will be considered by the coroner looking into the deaths from Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle.A second hearing will be held next month at the Hastings District Court to address nine deaths linked to Cyclone Gabrielle in the region. Four men died during the Auckland floods — Daniel Miller, Dave Young, Daniel Newth and Dave Lennard. Two volunteer Muriwai firefighters, Craig Stevens…

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council has not approved a new version of the controversial Ruataniwha Dam — but its councillors were told their decision to endorse a trust deed that could help revive it, could in future be seen as their definitive stake in the ground.Amid backlash from speakers at the Waipawa meeting, the council voted on Thursday to endorse the Hawke’s Bay Community Water Trust Deed.The purpose of the Hawke’s Bay Water Trust and its draft deed, is to explore water security in Central Hawke’s Bay, and initiatives that could help it, including a new version of the failed…

Keto, paleo, vegan: Our diets have a wide variety of climate impacts, with one almost four times more polluting than veganism. ADVERTISEMENTLast year, a first-of-its-kind study compared the carbon footprints of six of the most common diets.It’s well-known that around a third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the food system, and that beef production is one of the biggest culprits – emitting around 10 times more gases than chicken.But while the environmental burden of different foodstuffs is much discussed, less research has gone into how different diets – composed of a wide variety of foods – compare.“Climate change is…

A man who died in hospital after he sustained injuries at a Gisborne address earlier this week has been named by police.He was Wayne Tamahori Dewes, 67.Police were called at 4.20am on Monday after a man was taken to Gisborne Hospital with severe injuries.”Tragically, the man passed away a short time later,” a police spokesperson said.Initial inquiries indicate the man’s injuries were sustained at a residence on Tolerton Ave, Elgin.Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Moorhouse said a scene guard remained at the address and police hoped to release the scene later today.”Police are supporting the family of the deceased at this…