Author: Press Room

A vaccinologist at the University of Auckland says the provisional approval of mpox vaccine Jynneos came at a crucial time, as the virus in Africa was starting to “change its behaviour”.Health Minister Shane Reti said the overall risk to the country remained “low” yesterday as Medsafe gave provisional approval to vaccine Jynneos.It followed two confirmed cases of mpox found to have “likely links” to Queenstown’s Winter Pride Festival, according to the Government.Mpox vaccines (Source: 1News)University of Auckland associate professor and vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris told Breakfast that while mpox was still a low risk threat in New Zealand, the country was…

Labour MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene is taking medical leave from Parliament after being diagnosed with breast cancer.The news was revealed in a statement from Labour leader Chris Hipkins this morning.He said the MP for Māngere will take medical leave on September 17 to undergoing surgery and will remain on leave during her recovery.“I wish Lemauga all the very best for her surgery and recovery,” Hipkins said.“Receiving a diagnosis like this is never easy and is particularly hard on whānau. “Lemauga and I discussed what she would like me to say on her behalf, and it is to encourage women of…

A second person has died after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 54 near Feilding yesterday.Emergency services were alerted to the serious crash on Cheltenham Hunterville Rd, Beaconsfield at about 4.45pm.One death was confirmed yesterday.”A second person has now died,” police said this morning.A third person remains in hospital in a serious condition.”Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing,” police said.

Police have released photos of two “vehicles of interest” after a body was found in a burnt-out vehicle on a beach near Dargaville in Northland earlier this week.Police were notified of a vehicle on fire at Ripiro Beach near Glink’s Gully just after 10.30am on Monday.Detective Inspector Al Symonds said a body was found inside the vehicle.A homicide investigation was launched – and today, police appealed for the public’s help with “any information or sightings of two vehicles of interest”.”The first is a 2012 grey Ford Ranger with the registration GJC586,” Detective Inspector Al Symonds said.Police are appealing to the…

Jay Blades, host of popular series The Repair Shop, has been charged with engaging in “controlling and coercive” behaviour against his estranged wife.The presenter faced one charge and appeared in Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court near Birmingham on Saturday.West Mercia Police said it launched an investigation after being called on May 3, a day after Blades’ wife Lisa Zbozen announced their separation on Instagram.In a statement to the BBC, police said: “Fifty-four-year-old Jason Blades of Claverley in Wolverhampton has been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour.”He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court this morning (Friday 13th September) and has been bailed to appear…

Ahead of the tenth anniversary Kōanga Festival – showcasing Māori storytelling – and just days before Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori language week) begins, two young opera singers have transformed the historic art form from its Italian roots. Kawiti Waetford, Te Ohorere Williams and pianist Juan Kim joined Breakfast this morning for a special performance — a te reo Māori version of Giacomo Puccini’s O mio babbino caro (Oh my dear Papa).”Our vowels in te reo are pretty much the same in Italian,” Waetford said. “We’ve taken those big, operatic bangers, if you’d like, and translated them into…

Noel Gallagher’s guitar has sold for a whopping £132,000 (NZ$281,500) – almost double its estimate.The 57-year-old Oasis star’s Epiphone Les Paul electric, which is featured in the music video and artwork of the Britpop legends’ debut single Supersonic, only had an estimate of £60,000 to £80,000 (NZ$128,000 to NZ$170,000).The guitar was one of three of Noel’s sold as part of Sotheby’s annual Popular Culture Auction.His Epiphone EA-250 Guitar also went for £48,000 (NZ$102,000), and his 1980 Gibson Flying V Guitar, which his pal Johnny Marr gave to him and was used for Oasis’ 1994 classic Cigarettes and Alcohol, fetched £36,000…

Three recent suspicious car fires in Northland may be linked, according to police.The trio of fires have all occurred in the Whangārei area since September 2 when the first fire was reported to police.Officers were called to the address on Thompson Place in the Whangārei suburb Tikipunga just after 6am.A second fire took place on a driveway in Heretaunga Street just after 4am on September 11.The latest car fire took place yesterday at Thomas Street just before 6.30am.Whangārei CIB’s Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein said police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the fires and why the vehicles would be targeted.”Our…

What started in Sweden as a mail-order company nearly 80 years ago is now the world’s largest furniture retailer.IKEA, famous for its flat-pack furniture, plans to open its first New Zealand store in late 2025. The retailer’s Australasian CEO, Mirja Viinanen, visited Auckland this week to check on construction progress at Sylvia Park, and Seven Sharp reporter Nina Burton went along.The Auckland store will be around 34,000m2 and have three floors — a ground-level car park and the store on two levels. It will have standalone entry and exit points and be connected to the rest of the Sylvia Park…

An Auckland man has been jailed after importing dozens of litres of GBL and an acid used to make methamphetamine. Kitson Henderson, 42, was sentenced to two years and five months in prison at Auckland District Court after he was convicted of importing 24 litres of a class B controlled drug, gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), as well as 24 litres of hypophosphorous acid. He was also convicted of firearms offences — unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of explosives and unlawful carrying of an imitation firearm.Customs said Henderson attempted to import the chemicals in a courier shipment from China in December…