Author: Press Room
One person has died from a serious New Year’s Eve crash, near Bunnythorpe just north of Palmerston North, police said this morning.The death brought the preliminary summer holiday road toll to 10.Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on Ashhurst Rd at around 2.15pm. Four other people had injuries — ranging from critical to serious — and were taken to hospital by helicopter or ambulance.Hato Hone St John yesterday said it responded to the crash with five ambulances, one rapid response unit, one operations manager and two helicopters.”Two patients, both in critical conditions, were airlifted to Wellington Hospital,” a…
House prices are expected to increase over the next 12 months, but by how much, and how fast, are still up for debate.The housing market had a flat 2024, as the impact of falling interest rates was offset by uncertainty about the labour market, and large numbers of houses for sale.But economists expect lower interest rates to become more of a force in 2025.Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said he expected house prices to lift 8% over the coming year.It would be a relatively sharp change from 2024. “A lot of the indicators of the housing market have shown a…
Two police officers were critically injured and one member of the public was seriously hurt after an incident in Nelson in the early hours of this morning.Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said in a statement that a vehicle driven by a member of the public struck a police vehicle at a gathering in the Buxton Square Carpark in Nelson at approximately 2.10am.”Two police officers were critically injured and one member of the public was seriously injured as a result.”They have been transported to Nelson Hospital.”Chambers said the Buxton Square area was cordoned off while a scene examination was being conducted.A person…
Voting in Europe during 2025 promises major political shifts – Germany’s snap Bundestag vote, Romania’s presidential race, Poland’s referendum on Tusk’s government and the rise of populist forces in Czechia, Norway and beyond. These contests could reshape the future of the European Union. ADVERTISEMENTIf 2024 was a year marked by elections around the world – featuring Donald Trump’s return to power in the US, the consolidation of right-wing parties in the EU elections, a political shift in the UK from the Conservatives to Labour, and the re-election of Narendra Modi in India – 2025 promises to bring its own set…
A man attacked several people in the western district of Charlottenburg in the German capital before onlookers intervened, according to reports. ADVERTISEMENTBerlin police said they detained a man Tuesday after he attacked and injured several people in the district of Charlottenburg. Police said two people were taken to hospital for their injuries in what was a suspected knife attack. They could not confirm if any other people were injured.“Shortly before 12 noon, emergency services were called to … Charlottenburg because a man had allegedly injured several people — presumably with a knife,” police posted on X.Bild newspaper reported several onlookers…
New Zealand’s largest city welcomed 2025 with a dazzling fireworks display at Auckland’s Sky Tower.As the clock struck midnight, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland was the first major city in the world to welcome in the New Year. The five-minute Sky Tower fireworks display, which was the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, began with a 10-second countdown projected on the base of the tower. More than 500kg of pyrotechnics were launched from three firing sites on levels 55, 61, and 64 of the Sky Tower, positioned between 200m and 240m above ground. As the clock struck midnight, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland was the…
Despite an 8% decrease in sparkling wine production and exports in the EU in 2023, Italy’s Prosecco topped EU bubbly wine exports, surpassing French Champagne. ADVERTISEMENTWith New Year’s approaching, many look forward to a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate. However, there are fewer bottles to go around this year as bad weather hit vineyards hard. In 2023, the EU produced 1.496 billion litres of sparkling wine from fresh grapes, an 8% decline compared to 2022, according to the latest Eurostat data.Italy led production with 638 million litres, followed by France with 312 million litres and Germany with 263 million litres.In the…
All eight youths who climbed onto the roof of an Auckland youth justice facility have come down, Oranga Tamariki said in a statement this afternoon.Police were notified at 5.50pm last night that eight youths had gained access to the roof of Korowai Manaaki in Wiri.”Overnight and today all of the young people have come down,” said Oranga Tamariki acting deputy chief executive youth justice services and residential care Iain Chapman.A group of 13 youths climbed onto the roof of the same youth justice residence in October. (Source: 1News)”It’s disappointing the young people have caused some damage to the Youth Justice…
Porirua-based iwi Ngāti Toa Rangatira has retaken ownership of Kāpiti and Mana Islands, 10 years after its Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown.The islands lie off the southwest coast of the lower North Island and were acquired by the Crown last century.December 31, 2024 marks the return of both islands to Ngāti Toa, in what the iwi described as an historic day.It said the redress for Kāpiti and Mana Islands is reflective of the critical role the islands, Kāpiti in particular, played in establishing Ngāti Toa’s mana on both sides of Te Moana o Raukawa (Cook Strait).”The vesting simply…
Police are appealing for information after a serious assault in Lower Hutt on Saturday morning.In a statement, a police spokesperson said anyone who was in the vicinity of the public toilets next to the Avalon Park Pavilion at around 11am on Saturday, December 28 should contact police if they heard or saw anything suspicious.”In particular, we would like to speak with anyone who noticed a Caucasian male with blonde hair, aged between 14-17 years old, wearing a light-blue coloured sweatshirt and black pants behaving suspiciously in the area – including whether they saw him enter or leave the toilet block…