Author: Press Room

Reports that the small eastern European country is being considered a potential site for migrant camps have triggered a wave of misinformation. ADVERTISEMENTCalls by some EU leaders to consider establishing migration processing centres outside the bloc’s territory have triggered the spread of misinformation designed to undermine support for the 27-country bloc in EU candidate countries.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first floated the idea of “return hubs” in a letter to EU heads of state and government last Tuesday, and it was discussed during a leaders’ summit on Thursday.Whilst currently scant on details, the proposal is believed to be…

The PM says Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly “understands he got it totally, utterly completely wrong” over an interaction where he allegedly called a worker a “loser” and told them to “take some wine and f*** off”.Bayly apologised publicly over his conduct on Friday. The senior minister said he thought he was having a “light-hearted exchange” during the business visit in early October.Speaking to media today, Christopher Luxon said the incident “caused insult” and that Bayly’s behaviour “didn’t meet the standards” he set for ministers.The Prime Minister said he told Bayly on Friday, “you’ve clearly got this horribly wrong”.Commerce Minister Andrew…

Nearly half of Māori, Pacific and Asian psychologists and interns surveyed in a new report experienced racism at work in the past 12 months.New research from the University of Waikato and Working to End Racism and Oppression (WERO) “highlights psychology’s failings to provide a culturally safe environment” for psychologists, academic staff, and students.The Kia Whakapapa Pounamu Survey – which had 293 participants and was conducted from March 25 to June 30, 2023 – surveyed psychologists, academic staff, and students about how racism manifests in different areas of psychology.Researcher Dr Kyle Tan (Malaysian Chinese) said the study doesn’t reveal something “new”,…

Over the past twelve months youngsters across the block have struggled with rising costs, particularly in France, the Netherlands and Greece. ADVERTISEMENTThousands of EU citizens have been unable to cover rent costs over the past 12 months, an average of 6.3% across EU nations*.The number doesn’t even include people at risk of poverty or social exclusion.Greece has the highest rate of people who are struggling, 17.7%, followed by France (16.7%), Slovenia (10.5%) and the Netherlands (10.4%).The 16 to 29 age range is the most troubled, accounting for nearly 15% of all people in the EU who haven’t been able to…

The Christchurch terror attack was foreseeable and successive governments failed to close the loophole that allowed the gunman access to military-style firearms, the inquest into the 51 worshippers murdered at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre has heard.The inquest is examining gun laws at the time of the March 2019 shootings.University of Waikato terrorism and firearms expert Professor Alexander Gillespie told the inquest the “system for both the licensing of firearms and the regulation of particularly dangerous firearms platforms before 15 March, 2019 was critically flawed”.”What occurred was foreseeable in terms of both the lax controls around both the…

A King’s College staff member has resigned after admitting to what the board is calling “inappropriate online behaviour”.In a statement, the board said the staff member – who was involved in football and in boarding – had acknowledged being involved in inappropriate online activity, where he was under the impression that he was engaging with a minor.”The staff member has resigned today with immediate effect,” the statement said.The school notified police, and contacted parents and guardians on Monday night, asking them to talk with their child if they had any concerns.Boarding students were also notified, and pastoral care services were…

Dunedin police are appealing for information from the public following the sudden death of a cyclist on the Otago Peninsula yesterday.Police were notified of a cyclist found dead on Portobello Rd at around 3.30pm on Sunday.”The cyclist was wearing black and grey bike shorts, a blue t-shirt with a bright yellow ‘EUROBIKE’ logo on the back with a black long sleeve polypropylene underneath,” a spokesperson said, adding they were using an orange helmet and a silver road bike with blue front forks.”Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the cyclist in the Portobello and Taiaroa Head…

Te Arikinui Kuini Ngawai hono i te po is about to make her first major appearance since her father’s death as thousands make their way south to attend tomorrow’s final hui ā-motu.”It comes, of course, with a tinge of sadness in the reality that her father’s not here, but she’s committed to fulfilling his vision,” Kiingitanga spokesperson Ngira Simmonds said.The gathering at Tuahiwi Marae, located north of Christchurch, is part of a national movement the late King Tuheitia spearheaded earlier this year to unite Māori amidst a wave of controversial Government policies.As per tikanga, she is not expected to speak…

A fire crew will be monitoring a 35-hectare scrub fire burning in swampland in North Waikato overnight.A Fire and Emergency New Zealand services were alerted to the blaze off Island Block Rd near Meremere around 1.15pm this afternoon.Four fire trucks, five tankers and three helicopters were called to the scene, but have since been stood down, incident commander Shane Bromley said.The fire is not contained but is burning slowly through swampland.Bromley said three houses were earlier being protected by fire trucks as a precaution but “are no longer threatened”.”A crew will monitor the situation overnight, and we will resume our…

Outsourcing the management of migration is not the direction to go, according to the liberal MEP from Sweden. ADVERTISEMENTThe current migration debate is largely dominated by EU countries seeking to delegate migration management outside European territory, making borders increasingly impenetrable for asylum seekers and intensifying the return of migrants to their countries of origin. However, some countries, such as Spain or Belgium, have also opposed the idea of outsourcing irregular migration and building migrant centres in non-EU countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a news conference after the European Council summit last week that he rejected Italy’s model of processing asylum claims…