Author: Press Room

A further 80,000 chickens will be culled at a commercial egg farm in rural Otago impacted by bird flu.It will bring the total number of chickens culled at a Mainland Poultry farm in Hillgrove, Otago, to 160,000.The Ministry for Primary Industries’ chief veterinary officer Dr Mary van Andel said today testing and monitoring shows the high pathogenic subtype of avian influenza, H7N6, remains confined to the farm but has spread within it.”As expected, a third shed on the Hillgrove property has tested positive for HPAI and its 40,000 chickens will be depopulated in the coming days,” van Andel said.”A fourth…

Firefighters have shifted focus to control rather than contain the fire at Bridge Hill as authorities warned people to stay away from the exclusion zone.Members of the public this afternoon were removed from the fringes of the exclusion zone around the fire at Cave Stream with the police’s help, incident commander Colin Russell said.All recreation areas between Castle Hill and Lake Pearson are closed.”This is for the safety of everyone, both the public and our people,” Russell said.”We don’t want to be having to rescue anyone if they find themselves in a dangerous situation.”If everyone can please just avoid this…

Knives, machetes and balaclavas have been recovered by police after four youths allegedly fled from police in Hamilton this afternoon.Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley said the alleged incident unfolded at about midday when an officer spotted a vehicle driving on Cobbham Dr with a smashed quarterlight window.Its four occupants were allegedly wearing masks and gloves.Police soon established the Toyota Corolla had been reported stolen and a plan was put in place to stop the car once it was found again.The vehicle was seen at about 1.20pm turning into Pukete Rd but Pitkethley said the driver allegedly fled after being signalled to…

A Warkworth transport group working to improve an intersection described as the worst in New Zealand says it’s “appalled and insulted” by the reasons given for shelving the long-promised upgrade.Warkworth’s notoriously complicated Hill St intersection was to have been replaced with two roundabouts in a project starting this year and jointly funded by Auckland Transport and NZTA.However, it was revealed this week that NZTA had removed the project from its 2024-27 road funding plan, because it did not meet the priorities set by the new Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.Transport Minister Simeon Brown said that was because the Northern…

The Green Party caucus room is full of reminders of its history.Rod Donald’s trademark braces and briefcase are framed and hanging on the wall, as are the 2017 confidence and supply agreement and 2020 cooperation agreement that marked the Greens’ six years in government.Surrounded by history, at the end of her first year as co-leader, Chlöe Swarbrick talks up the party’s evolution, her lofty goal of turning the Greens into the largest political force on the left, and reflects on a 2024 that has brought a laundry list of challenges.”I feel incredibly proud of our team and how I think…

An explosion occured on the morning of Saturday 7 December in the Dutch city of The Hague, damaging several apartments and injuring multiple people. ADVERTISEMENTAn explosion has destroyed several apartments and injured multiple people in a neighbourhood in the Dutch city of the Hague on Saturday morning.Residents of the city’s northeastern neighbourhood of Mariahoeve say they heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. One woman told local media that she thought an earthquake had happened.The cause of the explosion is currently unclear, but police have said they are looking for a car that left the scene.Four people have thus…

Heavy rain and severe northwest gales are set to impact much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island from tomorrow.A raft of weather warnings and watches have been issued by MetService.”An intense front embedded in a strong and moist northwesterly flow moves north over the South Island on Sunday and onto the North Island on Monday bringing heavy rain, mainly to the west of the South Island,” the forecaster said.”Severe northwest gales are likely to affect many South Island areas and the lower North island.”An orange heavy rain warning is in place for the Westland District,…

France’s Notre Dame Cathedral will open its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed it in 2019. More than a thousand world leaders, dignitaries and worshippers are set to attend the reopening celebration on Saturday evening. ADVERTISEMENTThe iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, is set to reopen its doors on Saturday for the first time since a fire in 2019 nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark.The relatively swift restoration of the cathedral – which took nearly two centuries to build – is seen as a win for French President Emmanuel Macron who had championed an ambitious,…

Lotto’s Powerball jackpot has grown to $20 million after no tickets won it this evening.Tonight’s winning numbers were 27, 16, 3, 24, 7, 29, bonus ball 13 and Powerball 9.However, three lucky players from Auckland, Napier and Upper Hutt will share $1 million, winning $333,333 each with Lotto First Division.The winning tickets were sold at Andrew Spence Pharmacy in Napier, Pak’nSave Upper Hutt in Upper Hutt, and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland.Strike’s major prize was also not won this evening and will be $500,000 on Wednesday night.

Analysis: New research shows how vaping addiction is affecting New Zealand’s youth, writes Anna DeMello.Vaping rates among young people continue to be a major public health concern, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere.New vape legislation currently before the health select committee proposes a ban on disposable vapes and restrictions on retailers (except specialist vape shops) which would no longer be able to display vaping products.Currently, vaping products are widely available and aggressive marketing of youth-oriented designs and flavours has encouraged experimentation among young people.These products contain nicotine and have powerful addictive potential. They also carry other risks, such as…