Author: Press Room

The number of young people being abused in state care has increased, says a report by the Independent Children’s Monitor.It also shows young people are still not receiving the minimum standards of care required by legislation.Chief executive of the Independent Children’s Monitor Arran Jones said it’s “disappointing” and Oranga Tamariki “need to do better” — but he’s not expecting to see improvement in the next report.The annual Experiences in Care report looks at agency compliance with the National Care Standards Regulations, which have been in place since 2019.The independent children’s monitor says close to one in 10 young people in state care…

Police are appealing for information about a bizarre incident involving a house falling off a truck, a blocked road, and a vanishing truckie.Speculation in the Far North as to what happened ranges from an amateur house-moving attempt gone horribly wrong to an extraordinarily brazen theft attempt.What is known for certain – as confirmed by the police and the Far North District Council – is that a house fell off the back of a truck on Orakau Rd, in the Punakitere Valley south of Kaikohe.A police spokesman said the incident came to light at 7.40am yesterday when a motorist reported coming…

It has sea views, room for a pony and even its own World War 2 observation bunker. The former Smithfield meat processing site is on the market following the 139-year-old Timaru plant’s closure last year, affecting about 600 jobs. The 32.4ha site, which is next to the new bulk-retail showgrounds development, is being marketed by Colliers by a deadline private treaty. Timaru District Council records last year showed the site had a capital value of more than $36million and a land value of $3.2m. The marketing blurb said the site presented a “multitude of options” for developers and occupiers alike.…

International tourist spending has returned to pre-Covid levels, while domestic tourism has dipped, according to the latest figures.StatsNZ has released its annual tourism satellite figures, showing international tourism expenditure was up 60% to $16.9 billion, returning to levels similar to 2019 ($17.2b).The largest increase on 2023 came from Asian visitors, a 168% increase year on year, followed by visitors from the Americas, up 59.1%, visitors from Europe up 25.9%, and visitors from Oceania, an increase of 18.4%.International student expenditure (studying less than 12 months, which meets StatsNZ’s definition of a tourist) also leapt up on 2023 — by 76.2% or…

Dodik, who serves as the president of the Western Balkan country’s Serb-majority entity of the RS, has the right to appeal Wednesday’s verdict. ADVERTISEMENTBosnia’s state-level court reached a first-degree verdict Wednesday against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, sentencing him to one year in prison and barring him from politics for six years in a high-profile case that has sparked renewed tensions in the Western Balkan country and EU membership hopeful.The Sarajevo-based Court of BiH judges found Dodik, who serves as the president of the Serb-majority entity of the Republika Srpska (RS), guilty of criminal conduct over his defiance of the…

While Otago was the only region to dodge overall job losses in the past year, the reality is many people are still doing it tough, an economist says. According to the latest Infometrics quarterly economic monitor, for the three months to December, Otago was the only region in the country not to experience an overall decline in employment in the past year — recording a 0.1% rise in the number of estimated filled jobs. Southland and Canterbury fell 2.3% and 0.5% respectively, while the hardest hit were Nelson with a drop of 3.1% and Gisborne with a 3% decrease. Both…

Evacuations are underway as a large fire continues to burn through vegetation in Northland this afternoon.The blaze at the Waipoua River in Kaipara – about 6km south of giant kauri Tāne Mahuta – has spread to 70 hectares with a 4km perimeter and “is expected to grow”, Fire and Emergency New Zealand said this evening in a statement.Seven helicopters and “multiple” ground crews were helping tackle the fire. An additional three helicopters would be arriving in the region tomorrow from as far away as Taupō.”Police are assisting with evacuating dwellings in the Waipoua River Rd area. Structures are at risk…

Necessary for some, discriminatory for others, Hungary’s so-called “child protection law” has been the subject of a hearing at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Whatever its nature, the ruling could further determine the already tense relationship between Hungary and its EU partners. ADVERTISEMENTThe legal text restricts minors’ access to books, films and cultural products that “promote or portray the deviation of identity with respect to the sex at birth, gender reassignment or homosexuality.” It also limits sex education in schools, and only government-approved instructors can teach the subject. The Hungarian executive states that it seeks to protect…

The Hamilton City Council is wrestling with what to do about people showering in a central city fountain.Councillor Geoff Taylor told Morning Report people had been spotted showering in the Garden Place fountains.He said the fountain’s water is recirculates so it doesn’t drain off. He added that children then play in that water.However, it’s not just showering that is causing problems for Hamilton’s town square.Taylor said there are people defecating, hanging clothes lines, taking drugs, begging and displaying threatening behaviour in the square.”There’s obviously mental illness and addiction issues going on but Garden Place is an area where people like…

Suppose you own a café, restaurant, or eatery in New Zealand’s ever-changing weather. In that case, you already know that creating an inviting outdoor space can be the difference between a packed house and empty tables. That’s where outdoor cafe umbrellas come in—not just as functional shade providers but as branding powerhouses that make your business stand out. Whether in Auckland’s Viaduct, Wellington’s Cuba Street, or Queenstown’s lakefront, properly branded cafe umbrellas can enhance your customers’ experience, reinforce your brand, and even increase your revenue. The Power of Outdoor Cafe Umbrellas: Real Business Wins Many café and restaurant owners across…