Author: Press Room

“You’re always in the centre of attention, whether you like it or not,” says Oliver Dawson, 20, who has been ticking since he was a kid. Re: News sat down with Oliver to ask him what it’s like to live with Tourette’s. Watch the full video on TVNZ+ Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by involuntary movements and sounds, known as tics. It’s currently Tourette’s Awareness Month, which goes from May 15 to June 15. Within Tourette’s there are motor tics, which include blinking and twitching, and vocal tics which include grunting, sniffing and saying particular words or phrases.…

“I certainly had a gut feeling that I don’t like what I’m hearing here.” Watch a revealing interview with Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves on TVNZ+. With Yanfei Bao’s murderer Tingjun Cao sentenced yesterday, Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves talks about this disturbing and challenging case. Missing people are reported to the police every day and usually turn up again – but Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves knew this one was different.A Facebook plea from Yanfei Bao’s partner Paul Gooch. (Source: Supplied)It was Thursday July 20, 2023 and 44-year-old Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao hadn’t returned from work the previous day. Crucially,…

The Israeli embassy in New Zealand has shut as part of a worldwide closure of the country’s diplomatic missions.The closures comes as tensions remain high in the region – Israel launched an attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on Friday, which Iran responded to with the launch of 100 drones.The Embassy of Israel – on Brandon Street in Wellington – services Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue, as well as New Zealand. It also operates a consulate office in Auckland.A message on the embassy’s website announced the decision:”In light of recent developments, Israeli missions around the world will be…

New Zealand has slipped a spot in global rankings for gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).The WEF’s latest Global Gender Gap Report, which benchmarks performance of individual nations across various economic and social indicators, said New Zealand maintained high standards globally, but that a downward trajectory loomed.Weaker economic opportunities and political representation for women had bumped New Zealand from fourth to fifth.The WEF report measured gender parity across four key dimensions – economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Each dimension was assessed using various indicators and weighted accordingly.In terms of economic…

Pūkaha Wildlife Centre has replaced its board effective immediately, and says it’s been “heartened” by the response to recent fundraising efforts.The not-for-profit wildlife centre, which borders the Tararua and Wairarapa districts and acts as a breeding sanctuary for native birds, put out an urgent plea for financial help last week.Shane McManaway, who was brought in alongside former chairperson Bob Francis to overhaul the organisation, has been named incoming board chairperson.McManaway acknowledged the efforts of the previous board members who “worked tirelessly to build a precious taonga for Rangitāne Iwi, wildlife centre staff and the local community for the benefit of…

When was the last time you encountered someone working on the forecourt of a service station?We’re all used to sorting our own fuel now but there was a time when it wasn’t uncommon to have an attendant offer to help.Data compiled by Infometrics looked at the types of jobs that have disappeared over the past 25 years, and service station attendants are near the top of the list, with 77% of their roles, or 5557 individuals, gone.Telephone betting clerks were also significantly reduced, down 86%, although only 114 people.Footwear production machine operators were lost at a rate of 82%, postal…

With a “growing trend” of booze-fuelled incidents in Gisborne’s central city and Kaiti, a proposed alcohol ban extension is gaining public support.Gisborne District Council has proposed an extension to the existing alcohol ban area to cover more of the city centre and create a new ban in the Kaiti area.Submissions on the plan raised concerns around “congregating and drinking, urinating and littering” in public spaces covered under the proposed bans.According to the hearings report on the topic, 77% supported extending the current alcohol ban in Gisborne City to include areas east of the Taruheru River and Gisborne Cenotaph, 18% disagreed,…

Spending almost $30,000 on a staff Christmas breakfast and morning tea is being defended by the mayor and both mayoral candidates.The figures were released on the Audit and Risk Committee‘s agenda under the Chief Executive Sensitive Expenditure for the quarter December 24 to March 25.It shows a staff Christmas breakfast for 612 employees had a price tag of $29,508. On the same day, a depot morning tea cost $480 — $11 shy of $30,000.The total bill for the quarter was $32,089 and included catering for a meeting, and the Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards.However, Mayor Kirsten Wise says this type…

A council discussion on adding funds to Rotorua Museum’s exhibition project morphed into a debate over whether the city’s “true history” would be displayed.One councillor claims another told him to “f*** off” after the meeting. The accused says he did not say those words, but his message was correctly inferred.Rotorua Lakes Council decided in a meeting on Wednesday to fund a further $181,700 through debt to progress the exhibition project, to be matched by Rotorua Trust, to cover a funding shortfall.The project is preparing the exhibitions for the museum, which is set to start reopening in 2027 at the earliest,…

A new bridge and walkway protecting the historic Hauranga Pā site near Ōākura in Taranaki has opened.The project, led by New Plymouth District Council in collaboration with mana whenua and the Kaitake Community Board, focused on a walkway given the name Te Ara Tahuri Hau (pathway of wind changes), which was supported by a rock revetment protecting the wāhi tapu site and allowing access around the headland at high tide.It also included a replacement for the footbridge over the Whenu Ariki Stream destroyed during ex-tropical Cyclone Dovi in 2022.Ngāti Tairi and Ngā Mahanga hapū raised concern that people crossing the…