Author: Press Room

A growing demand for crate beers in recent years appears to defy the trend of declining alcohol consumption rates in Aotearoa.The Swappa Crate has been around in New Zealand for more than 100 years, and is commonly found in student flats, sports clubs, and farm sheds.The wooden box, holding 12 745ml bottles of beer, requires a deposit on your first purchase; when it is returned with the empty bottles, subsequent crates come at the cost of the beer only. Meanwhile, the bottles are washed, refilled and sent back to the stores.The Swappa Crate scheme is run by the Associated Bottlers…

Romania was plunged into turmoil after Călin Georgescu, a far-right populist, won, only for allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference to emerge. ADVERTISEMENTTens of thousands protested in Bucharest on Sunday against the decision by Romania’s Constitutional Court last month to annul the presidential election.Many brandished placards bearing slogans such as “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections.” Many also demanded the resumption of the presidential race from the second round.The protest comes after the unprecedented move to annul the election just two days before the 8 December runoff. The far-right populist Călin Georgescu shocked many when he…

The attacks came in the aftermath of a large-scale attack on Donetsk a day earlier. ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian forces shot down 60 Russian attack drones overnight from Saturday to Sunday, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Sunday morning.The drones were shot down over Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Donetsk, it said.A total of 94 drones were launched from bases in the Russian territories of Millerovo, Oryol, Bryansk, and Kursk. While falling debris caused damage to several residential houses in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Poltava, the Air Force reported no casualties.The attacks came in the aftermath of large-scale…

And one in twelve beers in Dutch supermarkets is now alcohol-free, according to figures from market researcher Circana. ADVERTISEMENTTrying to catch the no or low alcohol wave, some brewers are making it their main source of income, such as Van de Streek Bier in Utrecht.Ronald van de Streek and his brother Sander have been brewing beer since 2017 and they now produce around 900 litres of it every hour. They started more than ten years ago as a hobby, at home in their kitchen. Back then they were still making beer with alcohol, now more than 60% of their production…

If you’ve heard the bagpipes ringing out across Wellington recently, you’re not mistaken.The capital has just hosted the biggest piping and drumming summer school in the Southern Hemisphere.About 130 pipers and drummers from around the country as well as Australia and Canada have been in Wellington for an intense week of learning.Liam Kernaghan, the president of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association, said it’s for all ages and stages.“It’s basically an opportunity to come and hone your skills, make some new mates and have a lot of fun along the way.”Teenagers Hope and Grace Barnes have come from Canada…

Police have confirmed that young people were involved in a fatal fall at a cliff on the Coromandel Peninsula last night where one person died and a second was rescued.Emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred at what 1News understands to be the northwest end of Hahei Beach, at around 8.15pm. “One person was located at the bottom of the cliff face in a critical condition, however they later died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. The second person was located trapped on the cliff uninjured with a Lines Rescue Team from Fire and Emergency NZ deployed to…

One person has died following a serious crash near Palmerston North this afternoon.Emergency services were alerted to the two-vehicle crash on Colyton Rd, Bunnythorpe at around 2.55pm.St John said it responded with one ambulance and one rapid response unit.”Our crews assessed and treated two patients in a moderate condition who were transported to Palmerston North Hospital and one patient in a minor condition was treated at the scene.”Police said the road remained closed while the serious crash unit examines the scene.”Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays,” a spokesperson said.

Concert-goers have seen a spate of concerts and festivals being cancelled or changed around the country in the last few months.Late last year it was confirmed Bay Dreams, once the country’s biggest music festival, will not go ahead in 2025.Last year summer music festival Nest Fest was also cancelled after four artists pulled out.So what are your rights if a concert or festival is cancelled?Consumer NZ said if an event you had purchased tickets to was cancelled you were entitled to a refund.Senior investigative writer Chris Schulz said the Fair Trading Act also covered date or headliner changes.Last year furious…

Fire and Emergency New Zealand says a vegetation fire which broke out in Kūaotunu on the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday afternoon is now under control, but not yet contained. Firefighters were called to the scene on Black Jack Rd shortly before 4pm Saturday. Earlier, FENZ Incident Controller Shane Bromley said three helicopters and four ground crews would continue work on the blaze today. “There have been no evacuations due to the fire and it’s estimated the fire is approximately 600m x 600m,” he said. This afternoon Bromley said while the fire is under control, it is not yet contained. “It is…

One person has died and four others have been injured after a crash on State Highway 2 near Wairoa this morning.Police said the single-vehicle crash occurred west of the town at around 11.15am.”Four other people in the car were injured and transported to hospital,” a police spokesperson said. St John said it sent three helicopters, three ambulances and one rapid response unit.Fire and Emergency New Zealand said two trucks responded from Wairoa.New Zealand Transport Agency said it received reports of a serious crash south of Ohinepaka on State Highway 2.”Follow the directions of emergency services on-site. Please delay your journey…