Author: Press Room
A bill to plug gaps for stopping foreign interference has been introduced to Parliament.The New Zealand Special Intelligence Service (NZSIS), in its latest threat assessment, said foreign interference threatens communities, academia, the media, businesses and government.The bill, introduced by Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith on Thursday, introduces new offences to criminalise covert, deceptive, corruptive or coercive activities on behalf of a foreign power to intentionally or recklessly harm the country.Offences like blackmail, threatening behaviour, and misuse of computer systems already existed. But none of these were designed to address “foreign-state actors, and those who support them, who are undermining core…
Over the past week, groups of runners have been hitting the pavement across the North Island to support the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, rain, hail or shine.On Saturday, many of those runners were out early in the rain across Hawke’s Bay — with each runner covering part of the distance traversed by the wider hīkoi.Toitū te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi said because of the hīkoi’s week-long timeframe, the runners had to operate on their own schedule.That usually meant hitting the pavement early every day and meeting up with the rest of the convoy in the evenings, he said.”The runners or…
The Chief Children’s Commissioner says she still has concerns about a wider rollout — but her first visit to the Government’s piloted “military-style” youth offender boot camp yielded several positive first impressions.The boot camps, officially known as young offender military academies, have been piloted at an Oranga Tamariki facility in Palmerston North since the end of July. Ten teens have been involved, aged between 15 and 17 at the time of their offending. More than 500 children experienced some form of harm in care last year, Katie Bradford reports. (Source: 1News)Speaking to Q+A, Claire Achmad said she had visited the…
Auckland-based ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar claims a “blind eye” is being turned to people who refuse to pay fares on public transport — and the practice, she says, is leading to violence and antisocial behaviour. However, Auckland Transport (AT) rejects the accusation of tacitly allowing a “travel-for-free” policy for fare dodgers.Attention is on public transport today as Paywave and other methods of contactless payment are being enabled across the city’s buses, trains and ferries from this morning — a first for any city in New Zealand. From today, bus, train, and ferry users in Auckland are able to use contactless…
A man has been arrested in Taupō this morning after allegedly “interfering” with several boats, swimming away from police across the Waikato River, returning, and then climbing a tree before being rescued by a fire crew.Police said a boat owner at the Taupō marina reported his vessel being untied at around 9am.”It appears several boats were interfered with and, as police made enquiries, they were alerted to a potential suspect being located by Coastguard Lake Taupō volunteers,” a spokesperson said.The man, who police said was “uninterested” in speaking with officers, then dove into the Waikato River, crossing to the Nukuhau…
Tauranga business owners say sales have dropped because of a new road layout and one fears she’ll have to shut her store.Lisa Parker owns Liquorland on Harington St in Tauranga’s city centre. In March, the lower end of the street became one-way because of nearby construction and, the city council said, to increase safety and streamline traffic.There were also changes to other roads in the CBD as part of a two-year trial while construction of the $306 million civic precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa and other private developments were ongoing.Parker presented a petition, signed by nearly 150 people, at…
Westport leaders and residents are being urged to carefully consider the costs of either moving major parts of the town to avoid flooding, or staying put and increasing flood defences. The coastal town on the mouth of the Buller River has flooded repeatedly in recent years — with climate change causing concerns that floods are only going to get worse. Mayor Jamie Cleine told TVNZ Chief Correspondent John Campbell that Westport is currently eyeing nearby farmland, which is at a higher elevation.Campbell visited the town as part of his new Small Town Survival Guide series, focusing on the massive decisions…
An explosives dog was called out to investigate a “suspicious-looking” package left outside Napier’s MTG Hawke’s Bay museum this morning.It was later found to be harmless.Police were called out at around 9.30am after a package was left at the front entrance by a member of the public.Streets around the museum were closed while the package was investigated but have since reopened after police determined it posed no threat at around 2pm.”The individual who left the package has been spoken to and police have determined there was no malicious intent,” a spokesperson said.”We would like to thank the community for its…
A year after turning to comedian Jimmy Kimmel for the second time to host their big show, the Academy Awards will pivot to another familiar TV funnyman — Conan O’Brien.”America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” O’Brien said in a statement.It will be his first time as Oscar host, but he’s emceed other high-profile awards shows, like the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006 and the White House Correspondents’ dinner in 1995 and 2013.The Oscars will air live on ABC on March 2.O’Brien is best known for…
Members of the police dive squad have been called in amid the search for a man missing in the Manawatū River.The man fell into the river while walking his dog near Ahimate Reserve in Palmerston North yesterday afternoon. He “failed to resurface”.Police said today its dive squad is on the scene assessing conditions and “making preliminary inquiries”.”Searching began this morning and will continue until dark,” a spokesperson said.”The search will recommence tomorrow morning.”