Author: Press Room

Members of the public who called 111 after allegedly seeing a young man “carrying armfuls of firearms” between houses in Foxton helped lead to a fast arrest, police say. Officers discovered “stolen firearms and a large amount of ammunition” in a Foxton house after police were alerted by two callers at about 7.30am yesterday.An 18-year-old Foxton man was arrested yesterday at the Mark Perreau Place property, where police found five firearms and a “large amount” of ammunition. The two members of the public initially called 111 after witnessing a “strange” scene.Horowhenua police prevention manager acting Senior Sergeant Peter Vine said…

Swedish police say that about 10 people including the gunman were killed during a shooting at an adult education centre. ADVERTISEMENTSwedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says that the shooting at an adult education centre which killed about 10 people was the “worst mass shooting in Swedish history.”Speaking at a joint press conference with Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, Kristersson condemned the “brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people”, adding that at the moment it is unclear what motives may have been behind it.”It is difficult to take in the extent of what has happened today. Darkness is being cast over Sweden…

Unemployment has risen to 5.1 percent, the highest level since 2020. The latest figure was released this morning by Stats NZ. “Unemployment has been increasing since late 2022. The unemployment rate in the December 2024 quarter was the highest it’s been since the September 2020 quarter, when it was 5.2 percent,” labour market spokesperson Deb Brunning said. Consensus economist forecasts were for the unemployment rate to rise to 5.1 percent in the three months ended December, from 4.8 percent in the previous quarter. ANZ economist Henry Russell earlier this week said the labour market was a lagging indicator of the economy.…

Kiwibank has cut some of its fixed home loan rates, reducing rates on its 2-year and 3-year terms from today.The state-owned bank dropped its 2-year special fixed home loan lending term by 16 basis points to 5.29% from 5.45% — the lowest equal rate with ASB and BNZ.The 3-year special was cut by 10 basis points to 5.59%, down from the previous rate of 5.69%.The special rates are available to customers with minimum 20% equity.Standard rates on 2-year and 3-year fixed terms also decreased from 6.35% and 6.49% to 6.19% and 6.39% respectively.Yesterday, ASB lowered some of its fixed home…

Two people have died in separate crashes in Waikato and Upper Hutt this morning.The first crash, near Ngāhinapōuri southwest of Hamilton, was reported to police at around 2.20am.One person died and two others were moderately injured in the three-vehicle crash.State Highway 39 remains closed while the crash is investigated.One person also died following a crash in Upper Hutt.The single-vehicle crash was reported to police at around 7am.”The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene,” a spokesperson said.Inquiries into the circumstances of both crashes are underway.

The European Commission has been criticised for giving too much space to industry and business interests in discussions over a fast-track streamlining of sustainability and due diligence reporting rules. ADVERTISEMENTLiberal MEP Pascal Canfin has slammed what he calls a “fake consultation” over plans to renegotiate due diligence requirements for companies operating in Europe, in what green groups fear will be just a first phase of a bonfire of red tape.Economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis is due to convene a ‘simplification roundtable’ on Thursday (6 February) to discuss a so-called omnibus proposal to amend a raft of EU laws that were only…

In a commentary piece for Euronews the Montenegrin President outlined four potential outcomes for EU accession processes, some with hidden dangers. ADVERTISEMENTMontenegro’s President has flagged dangers lurking in EU enlargement processes while recommitting his country to successful EU accession by 2028 in a comment piece for Euronews.In the article Jakov Milatovic drew on his previous career as an economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to sketch four scenarios for EU accession by candidate countries.The first two see the candidate country either failing the accession process for lack of democratic or institutional progress, or alternately succeeding in building…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ House prices are likely to remain broadly flat for the next five years, Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen says, and New Zealanders may need to come terms with not being able to “bet the house on” strong capital gains. He told a Financial Services Council event on Tuesday that there could be “ups and downs” in price movements but overall prices were likely to go sideways or slightly lift over the coming years. “Slightly up is an important shift from previously when it was solidly up all the time. “I think we’re becoming a little…

A jetski has been found in the search for a man who went missing while attempting a crossing of Cook Strait. The man left the Tasman District in the morning bound for Plimmerton, north of Wellington, but did not arrive as expected.Police and search and rescue teams have been conducting a water search with the assistance of Coastguard and the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ.The New Zealand Defence Force had also joined the effort.”A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was involved in the search this morning and early this afternoon,” a spokesperson confirmed.”Crew on an RNZAF NH90 helicopter will…

The case could reshape Frontex’s operations if the court rules that the EU’s border agency failed to monitor fundamental rights compliance. ADVERTISEMENTA Syrian family wants to hold Frontex accountable for human rights violations and illegal pushbacks. If the European Court’s decision confirms their claims, it could change how the agency works.This landmark case against Frontex arrived on Tuesday at the Grand Chamber of the EU Court of Justice. The European Court in Luxembourg heard arguments about Frontex’s role in illegal pushbacks. Lawyers from Human Rights law firm Prakken d’Oliveira are pursuing the case, which is supported by the Dutch Council for Refugees,…