Author: Press Room
A proposal to rezone the Hastings Golf Club and then develop it into a tourist destination with 170 residential dwellings alongside its fairways is out for public consultation.Golf Sport Development Limited Partnership has requested a change to the Hastings District Plan to rezone land in Bridge Pā (Hastings Golf Course) from Plains Zone to ‘Sport and Recreation Zone’ with a ‘Heretaunga Golf and Leisure Precinct’, which includes housing and accessory development.The proposed plan change for future development would incorporate new recreational facilities along with associated commercial development, about 170 residential dwellings, and short-stay visitor accommodation.GSDLP comprises golf tourism sector experts…
Bed Bath and Beyond has been fined $230,000 after selling non-compliant children’s pyjamas and hot water bottles. The Commerce Commission said it had secured the fine over the breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Hot water bottles need to include detailed instructions for their safe use, and children’s pyjamas need to have permanent warning labels in specific locations, at the top of the garment and in online descriptions, to outline the level of potential fire risk. “Businesses must ensure the products they supply comply with legal requirements and are safe for the intended user – especially requirements about fire safety…
The Government will add two new non-financial sanctions to its beneficiary traffic light scheme after feedback at the select committee stage.The sanctions were added after select committee hearings on the bill.Report Job Search – where job seekers will be required to perform a minimum of three job-search activities every week for four weeks and report back to MSD on this. This sanction will support increased accountability for beneficiaries who are meant to be looking for work.Upskilling – where job seekers will be required to attend and participate, to MSD’s satisfaction, in one or more employment-related training courses or programmes for…
By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Households are being warned to expect higher power prices this year, as pressure goes on bills in three key ways. Wholesale prices Wholesale prices were a pressure point for the sector in 2024, and there is evidence more trouble may be ahead. The electricity futures market was showing an average wholesale electricity price at Ōtāhuhu this year of 25c per kWh, a 25 percent increase from last year’s 20c, Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said. “Prior to 2019, the record high average price [from 1997 onwards] was 11.4c per kWh in 2008 – over the…
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare expects its costs to rise in the wake of Donald Trump’s new tariff regime.The New Zealand company – which makes products used in acute and chronic respiratory care, surgery and treating obstructive sleep apnea – said it didn’t expect the move to affect its net profit for 2025 financial year, but expected costs to rise in the 2026 financial year.The US announced it would impose a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on products from China starting this week.In an update to NZX this morning, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare…
A Canterbury school has apologised after a uniform pass was issued which permitted a student to wear “incorrect uniform items” such as pounamu, something it admits was “culturally inappropriate”The Ashburton Intermediate School pass, which was heavily criticised after it was posted online, detailed the “incorrect uniform item” – pounamu – the student was allowed to wear.”Student must present pass on request,” the pass read.Principal Brent Gray issued a statement to 1News today following discussion with the Board of Trustees.”We are grateful to those who have raised the issues around the pass and will rectify immediately any seeking of passes to…
ACT leader David Seymour is standing by his party’s response to a warning its former president was a sexual predator.Ex-president Tim Jago sexually abused two teenage boys he knew through a sports club in mid to late 1990s.He was convicted of eight charges of indecent assault last year and was finally named last Friday when he abandoned a years-long fight for ongoing name suppression.Jago had been the ACT Party’s president for nearly four years when he resigned from the role in late January 2023.RNZ has previously reported the survivor’s wife contacted the ACT Party on Facebook three months before Jago…
Auckland man Luca Fairgray has been found guilty of three charges of having sex with a 13-year-old in 2023.A twelve person jury had been deliberating on the verdicts for three charges in the Auckland District Court since Friday.Usually it’s for the Crown to prove guilt, but because Fairgray, who is now 22, has accepted he had sex with a 13-year-old, his starting position was guilty. It has been on him to prove his innocence, on the grounds that he had a reasonable belief at the time that the teenage complainant was 16 and that he took steps to find out…
ASB has lowered some fixed home lending rates for the second time in a fortnight, reducing rates on 1-year, 18-month and 2-year terms from today.The bank dropped its 1-year and 18-month fixed home loan lending term by 5 basis points, to 5.54% and 5.34% respectively.The 2-year term was cut by 20 basis points to 5.29%, down from the previous rate of 5.49%.Three of its term deposit rates were also reduced by between 5 and 10 basis points.ASB’s David Jackson said “we’ve reduced our fixed mortgage rates 11 times since July last year, and we’re committed to doing everything we can…
A person has been critically injured following an incident at Queensgate Shopping Centre in Lower Hutt this morning. In a statement, a police spokesperson asked people to avoid Queens Drive in Lower Hutt, which was currently closed “due to an incident early this morning”. “A person has suffered critical injuries and police cordons have been put in place,” they said. Police were not looking for anyone else in relation to this matter.The road was expected to be closed for approximately one hour, and diversions were in place. “Motorists and other commuters are asked to avoid the area,” police said.