Author: Press Room

Disability advocates say more needs to be done to help the nearly one million Kiwis who live with a disability. New data from Stats NZ showed one in six New Zealanders are disabled — close to 10% of children (around 98,000) and more than 750,000 adults. It also found that nearly half a million people with disabilities needed more care in at least one aspect of their lives. These unmet needs included support, reasonable accommodations to allow a person to participate equally, medical care, and home modifications and equipment. The biggest group with unmet needs was disabled school students, totalling…

The Prime Minister is leaving Vietnam with one thorny diplomatic issue not even put on the table.Christopher Luxon has moved his Vietnam mission from politics to business, eager to see how the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership can help boost economic growth.Police still meeting in VietnamLuxon’s political meetings in Vietnam have all been about “growth, growth, growth”.But one thing not discussed at all in his political talks was New Zealand’s attempt to extradite two Vietnamese officials, suspected of indecently assaulting two women at a Wellington restaurant last year.New Zealand police were unable to lay charges, as the suspects had already left…

A Canterbury committee representative has lost his seat after not attending a single meeting in two years.Te Ngai Tuahuriri Rūnanga representative Arapata Reuben’s seat was declared vacant at the start of the Ashburton Water Zone Committee meeting on Tuesday.Local Democracy reported on Monday that Reuben didn’t attend any of the 14 meetings across 2023 and 2024, but received the full $8000 honorarium.Community and Rūnanga representatives receive a ratepayer-funded $4000 per year to be on Canterbury water zone committee, with the deputy chair receiving $5000 and the chairperson $6000.Environment Canterbury confirmed with Local Democracy Reporting they had “discussed and clarified with…

It’s been a dream six years in the making – but today, the Southern Charity Hospital will be officially opened in Invercargill.It was the vision of Melissa Vining and her late husband Blair. The project started in 2018 following Blair’s diagnosis with aggressive bowel cancer and him speaking out about health inequity in the system.Blair was told it would take 12 weeks to see an oncologist – but he had been given even less time to live. Millions of dollars have been raised since for the hospital – which will cater for those struggling to access care through the public…

French President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day state visit to Portugal to strengthen bilateral ties and encourage European unity as the fate of Ukraine remains uncertain under an increasingly critical Trump administration. ADVERTISEMENTFrench President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day state visit to Portugal on Thursday where he was greeted by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.Macron and his wife Brigitte received a welcoming ceremony outside the Jeronimos Monastery in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Macron was later welcomed by his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa after the ceremony.The French president’s trip to Portugal looks to boost bilateral ties between Paris and Lisbon…

The man accused of murdering Nelson policewoman Lyn Fleming has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder.He did admit some driving charges. The 32-year-old appeared in the Blenheim High Court today, where his interim name suppression was continued. The man pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm charges and driving causing injury. However, he admitted drunk driving and driving while disqualified. Members of Fleming’s family were in court, while others watched via video link. The hearing today took place in Blenheim as the Nelson courthouse was closed on Sunday for earthquake strengthening. The man’s lawyer, John…

Sarah Fitt. Photo: RNZ / Luke McPake Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt has resigned from her role, RNZ understands. Fitt has been in the position since 2018. It comes after a submission built off a 100,000 signature petition calling for her to be sacked was presented to Parliament’s health select committee in December 2024. In recent weeks a number of top health officials have announced their resignations including the Director-General of Health, Diana Sarfati and Health New Zealand chief executive Fepulea’i Margie Apa. Director of Public Health Dr Nicholas Jones also announced he would be stepping down and returning to his regular…

The man charged with the murder of teenager Ariki Rigby and the arson of a burnt-out car her body was found in has pleaded guilty.Jimmy Heremaia, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson in the High Court at Napier today.Three weeks before Rigby’s death, Heremaia met the 18-year-old during a visit by her to the Hawke’s Bay region, with the pair forming a close connection and communicating with each other regularly.Rigby came into possession of a Mongrel Mob T-shirt belonging to Heremaia, who was a patched member of the Mongrel Mob’s Flaxmere chapter, and wore it out in…

The owners of Whakaari/White Island have had their company’s conviction over the volcano’s deadly 2019 eruption, which killed 22 and seriously injured 25, quashed.Brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle appealed the company’s conviction, in which they were fined $1.045 million and ordered to pay $4.88m in reparation to the victims.In a High Court judgment released on Friday, Justice Simon Moore said the brothers did not manage or control the island off the coast of Whakatāne.Justice Moore said through the brothers’ company Whakaari Management Limited (WML), they simply owned the land where licensed walking tours took place.He concluded those walking tour…

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its three-year mark this week, Europeans are expressing mixed views about the EU’s continued support for Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s moves to end the conflict, our correspondents report. ADVERTISEMENTThree years after the start of the war in Ukraine, 66% of French people believe that the EU should continue supporting Ukraine financially and militarily, even without US backing, according to an IPSOS poll. However, 78% of French people said they do not want the French troops to be sent to the battlefield, unless it’s a question of enforcing a possible peace treaty, in which case…