Author: Press Room

Despite trade disputes over electric vehicles and dairy products, the EU remains China’s largest trading partner, with mechanical appliances and electrical equipment being the most traded goods. ADVERTISEMENTOver the past decade, trade between the EU and China has consistently grown. The EU remains China’s top trade partner, while China ranks as the EU’s second-largest.Germany, the Netherlands and Italy are the top importers and exporters of goods to and from China. More than half of the goods the EU imports from China are mechanical appliances and electrical equipment. Vehicles and aircraft make up less than 6%, followed by organic chemicals at 4.7% and…

One Hawke’s Bay grower has lost thousands of dollars’ worth of produce with nothing left to pick at the peak of the season.Walking the strawberry patch right now is not so easy — weeks of wet conditions on the East Coast have damaged thousands of dollars’ worth of strawberries at a Havelock North farm.At the start of the season, staff at the Havelock North Strawberry Patch were picking 400kg worth of strawberries a day. But the past two weeks of miserable weather has meant crews have not been able to pick at all — or have had to throw away…

Attendees at events during Poland’s EU presidency are in for a fruity treat — local apples will take centre stage as the official symbol of this six-month term. ADVERTISEMENTPoland has picked the apple as a symbol of its presidency and will be served at their events in both Warsaw and Brussels.European countries carrying out the six-month presidency of the EU Council usually deploy some form of symbol: Estonia introduced a robot mascot, while Hungary adopted a Trumpian slogan during its recently concluded term.Food is a frequent trope, with Belgium’s presidency last year using a chocolate logo which was ceremonially cracked by Prime Minister Alexander…

Southland’s average house asking price has jumped the highest of all regions in the country over the past year, while its neighbour has taken the biggest tumble.   A New Zealand Property Report from realestate.co.nz released yesterday said in December, Southland had a 15.3% year-on-year increase in its average asking price to $549,211, its highest December asking price.   The biggest drop was in the Central Otago-Lakes District area, a fall of 17.3% to $1,324,754.   Realestate.co.nz spokeswoman Vanessa Williams said Southland bucked the trend not only on asking prices, but also  in new listings as the region had a…

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China warned that the trend could accelerate deglobalisation and reduce global economic growth. ADVERTISEMENTEuropean companies in China are under increasing pressure to separate their China-based functions from their global operations in response to stringent regulatory requirements and escalating geopolitical and trade uncertainties, according to a new report by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.  “Many companies localise certain functions – or even entire operations – in China for commercial reasons,” said Jens Eskelund, President of the European Chamber. “However, those that are compelled to silo are not following normal commercial logic and…

New property listings hit a December low, according to data from realestate.co.nz, with nine of 19 regions also reaching their lowest levels for that month. The company’s New Zealand Property Report from December 2024 revealed a number of regions hit a record low for the number of new property listings for any December since the company began tracking records 17 years ago.Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Central Otago/Lakes District, and Manawatu/Whanganui all recorded their lowest December levels. The national average asking price was also its lowest since April 2021 at $842,476.RealEstate.co.nz spokesperson Vanessa Williams said…

The German Defence Minister has pledged additional military aid to Ukraine at today’s meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Ramstein. ADVERTISEMENTAt today’s Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that Germany will continue its support for Ukraine even after the federal elections in February.”Ukraine can count on Germany, regardless of the outcome of the election on February 23″, Pistorius said.Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Pistorius highlighted Germany’s contribution to protecting the largest logistics hub supporting Ukraine. “In the coming weeks, we will deploy two Patriot missile units and…

This summer looks set to continue to be wetter and windier than usual.A change in air flow patterns means there will be mixed weather through to March.In NIWA’s seasonal climate outlook from January through to March, a La Niña watch will also remain in place.La Niña refers to a cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean and the subsequent shift in global weather patterns, including a strengthening of moist easterly winds blowing towards New Zealand and a subsequent increase in cloud development and rain over the longitudes.It is only the second time in 75 years that a La Niña onset has…

The South Caucasus country has previously floated the idea of joining the bloc as part of a general shift toward the West. ADVERTISEMENTArmenia’s government officially endorsed a draft bill on Thursday, initiating its process to joining the European Union, according to domestic media. The bill will now be presented to the country’s parliament. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned on Thursday that the public should not expect rapid accession into the EU, underlining that it would first need approval via a referendum. The day before the cabinet backed the bill, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced the country could sign…

Declining student rolls in Wellington is causing concern for some, with 78% of schools in the capital having fewer students than they did in 2019.Rolleston College near Christchurch has nearly tripled student numbers since 2019, with the school in urgent need of more space.In 2019, the school had 695 students. This year, the school will have enough staff to teach 1966 students.”I think the biggest contributing factor is the fact that Rolleston is a fantastic place to live – as is all of Selwyn – and with more green space being developed into housing that’s affordable with great facilities, it…