Author: Press Room

Auckland’s first dog adoption centre in south Auckland is offering a new leash on life to abandoned and forgotten canines in the region.The Pukekohe Adoption and Education Centre opened in March to ease the pressure on Auckland Council’s other shelters in Manukau, Henderson and Silverdale that were almost always at capacity.Less than half of roaming dogs in the region were reclaimed by their owners last year – the lowest level in a decade.The Pukekohe centre takes in unclaimed dogs from council’s three animal shelters, to train and prepare them for forever homes.Senior shelter operations Kayleigh Hatcher said since they opened…

In 12 EU countries, women’s satisfaction with the quality of care has decreased, with Greece reporting the lowest score at 32%. ADVERTISEMENTAustria was the top country in Europe for women’s health, ranking third on a global index, according to a new study. Finland, Germany, and Denmark also took places in the top 10 of the world’s best countries for women’s health. This is the fourth year that the company Hologic has published the Women’s Health Index, a survey conducted among 146,000 participants from 142 countries and territories. The data was gathered in 2023 and analysed in 2024.The research takes into consideration criteria such…

A councillor says Ruapehu District Council should apologise for plans to dump a small town’s recycling station.Councillor Fiona Kahukura Hadley-Chase says the council should keep Raetihi’s recycling station open and work with the community to find a sustainable solution that meets the town’s needs.“We haven’t done enough to support them. We owe the Raetihi community an apology,” Hadley-Chase told fellow councillors at yesterday’s council meeting in Taumarunui.Her comments followed a community consultation session in Raetihi on Tuesday night seeking residents’ views on recycling issues.“They do so well in their waste management. They love their community,” Hadley-Chase said.“We need to re-think,…

The two ministers had planned to speak with the interior and foreign ministers of Syria’s interim government and with representatives of UN agencies. ADVERTISEMENTThe German and Austrian interior ministers have cancelled a planned trip to Syria because of a possible threat to their delegation, German authorities said.Germany’s Nancy Faeser had planned to visit Damascus with her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner on Thursday, with a German military plane set to fly Faeser’s delegation into Syria from Jordan.But her ministry said that the two ministers decided to break off the trip before the flight could depart from Amman “because of concrete warnings by…

The critically acclaimed New Zealand TV show After The Party, co-created by actor Robyn Malcolm, has been nominated for a British Bafta TV award. The show, written by Dianne Taylor and filmed on location in Wellington, has been nominated for the best international series award. The show follows Malcolm’s character, Penny, who accuses her husband, Phil, of a sex crime against her daughter’s teenage friend. Nobody believes her, and five years later, Phil returns from Scotland and moves in with Penny’s daughter and grandchild.The show found success in the UK after it was released by Channel 4. You can watch…

A person has been poisoned by bacteria after swimming in an infested Canterbury lake.Te Whatu Ora last week issued a warning about toxic blue-green algae in Lake Hood near Ashburton.National Public Health Service specialist Dr Claire Salter said the person was exposed to the bacteria before the warning was issued.Symptoms might not appear for quite some time until after contact with the water, she said.”Toxins released by cyanobacteria can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms, skin rashes, stomach upsets, and neurological effects such as tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.”The lake was tested weekly by Canterbury…

As the US rolls out new tariffs, the European Commission is preparing its response. The latest measures will factor in the car tariffs announced on Wednesday night, along with the reciprocal tariffs expected next week, as trade tensions between Brussels and Washington escalate. ADVERTISEMENTThe day after the announcement of new US tariffs on car imports, the European Commission stated on Thursday that it is awaiting the US’s reciprocal tariffs, set to take effect next week, before deciding on any countermeasures.“If necessary, we will deliver firm, proportionate robust, and well calibrated and timely response to unfair and counterproductive measures from the…

A local historian is among those advocating for the long-term future of a remote village situated precariously within an Invercargill reserve.Homeowners may eventually need to abandon their cribs in Coopers Creek — a small, quirky settlement surrounded by bush within Sandy Point Domain.On Tuesday, councillors heard from a range of people who supported the unconventional settlement and the residents’ unique traditions.Cribs have been sited in the area since around 1950 and were allowed to stay on under an annual licence arrangement after the domain gained reserve status in 1992.In September, councillors voted to replace those licences with a single 21-year…

The pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries have gone to the EU’s court to challenge a directive that requires them to finance at least 80% of urban wastewater treatment. ADVERTISEMENTPlayers in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries have brought a case against the Directive on the Treatment of Urban Wastewater to the Court of Justice of the European UnionThe European Directive, which came into force on 1 January 2025, requires producers of medicines and cosmetics to finance at least 80% of treatment to eliminate micropollutants from urban wastewater, in accordance with the polluter pays principle.More than 90% of the “micropollutants that leave the…

Māpua residents are pushing back on development plans amid concerns that the “village feel” of their hometown is at risk.Yesterday, Tasman District Council held its hearing on the draft masterplan for the seaside town and submitters said they were concerned about the extent of the envisaged development.The draft Māpua Masterplan proposes zoning changes to accommodate the council’s estimate of an additional 1000 residents in Māpua over the next 30 years, with much of the growth occurring in the rural Seaton Valley area.Local developers have welcomed the draft plan.Gary Clark owned land in Seaton Valley which he told the council was…