Author: Press Room

An analysis of Southland’s most recent emergencies has identified a range of issues with how they were managed.On Friday, a review of Emergency Management Southland’s response to Gore flooding in September 2023 and Bluecliffs erosion in February 2024 was discussed by key stakeholders.While no lives were lost in either event, both resulted in evacuations, and Bluecliffs residents were outspoken at the time about how the situation was handled.The review gave a tough assessment of communication, staffing levels and a lack of process when it came to declaring emergencies.It said that at the time of the Gore event, the team was…

Analysis: There has rightly been much debate and analysis over New Zealand’s decision to review the aid it gives to Kiribati.It’s a big deal. So much is at stake, especially for the I-Kiribati people who live with many challenges and depend on the $100 million aid projects New Zealand delivers. It would be clearly unwise for New Zealand to threaten or cut aid to Kiribati — but it has every right to expect better engagement than it has been getting over the past year.What has been disturbing is the airtime and validation given to a Kiribati politician, newly appointed Minister…

A 15-minute window to meet your child’s teacher may seem brief, but get it right and you’ll get the school year off to a good start. Here’s how to make the most of it.What’s the point of meeting my child’s teacher or Wānanga?”It’s about strengthening the home-school partnership,” explains education consultant and former high school teacher Mark Osborne.”We talk about the golden triangle or the magic triangle between the child, the teacher, and the family … research shows that when parents are actively involved in their child’s education those kids are likely to have better outcomes from education.”By breaking ice…

Large enterprises are adopting Artificial Intelligence more than small and medium-sized ones, with significant differences in the way each of them uses the technology. ADVERTISEMENTOver 13% of EU businesses with at least 10 employees have embraced Artificial Intelligence, says Eurostat, a 5.5% increase from 2023, with all member states reporting growth in the use of AI technology.Large companies – meaning those with at least 250 employees – reported much higher AI use: 42% on average.There are also significant differences in the most used types of AI technology, with text mining, deep learning and workflow automation features being the most prevalent.In…

The president and founder of Mango, Isak Andic, during the award ceremony for the 8th Kingdom of Spain Business Career Achievement Award (Iese), at the IESE Business School Barcelona North Campus, on 18 March, 2024 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Photo: Getty Images

A groundbreaking plan to raise a Hawke’s Bay state highway to allow people to move their Cyclone Gabrielle-hit homes out of Category 2C is in jeopardy.It’s news that has frustrated a Whirinaki homeowner, who has been waiting for two years to return to Category 1.The Whirinaki flood resilience project, announced in November 2023, included raising and strengthening stopbanks and raising a section of State Highway 2, and upgrading its culverts. It was expected to be funded through Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC).But that funding has dried up and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is now asking Central Government to cover costs,…

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has revealed New Zealand’s second emissions reduction target of between 51% and 55% compared to 2005 levels.Required under the Paris Agreement, it must be achieved by the end of 2035 and builds on the initial target of a 50% reduction by 2030.Watts confirmed the target at 8pm Wednesday after markets closed, saying it was “both ambitious and achievable”.”Meeting this target will mean we are doing our fair share towards reducing the impact of climate change, while enabling New Zealand to be stronger and thrive in the face of a changing climate,” he said.”We are already…

Disney+ films will only have to wait nine months to appear on the platform, instead of the previous 17-month wait after theatrical release. ADVERTISEMENTAfter years of lobbying by Disney to change France’s inflexible rules on streaming distribution, the megacorporation has struck a new deal allowing them to broadcast their productions just nine months after their theatrical release. “L’exception culturelle” is the country’s policy when it comes to culture and making sure it stands apart from standard commercial products. As a result, cinema is protected from the free market and any films released in theatres must be given a window of…

A large vegetation fire in mixed scrub and wetland which grew to 1200 hectares yesterday at Southland’s Tiwai Peninsula is contained and has “not grown further” overnight.The fire grew fivefold in size in hot, windy conditions on Thursday afternoon, but was contained by the end of the day, Fire and Emergency NZ said in an update this morning.At its height, 60 firefighters, eight fire trucks and 10 helicopters were battling the blaze.Incident controller Hamish Angus said 35 firefighters would be on site today with support from five helicopters, the Department of Conservation (DOC) and local forestry companies.”Our focus today is…

Students march from Belgrade to Novi Sad are demanding accountability for a deadly awning collapse in a train station in November which killed 15 people. ADVERTISEMENTStudent-led protesters continued on Friday their two-day march from the Serbian capital Belgrade to the northern city of Novi Sad after pausing in Inđija, where they spent the night in a football stadium.The demonstrators started their 80-kilometre march on Thursday with plans to participate in the 24-hour blockade of bridges in the regional capital of Novi Sad on Saturday. It is the latest endeavour in the ongoing series of protests over a deadly train station…