Author: Press Room

Staff at Woolworths supermarkets in Dunedin say they receive daily abuse from customers and understaffing has made them feel unsafe. Union members across Woolworths Dunedin Central, South Dunedin, Mailer St and Andersons Bay stores participated in a two-hour strike yesterday to protest pay, staffing and safety issues. The strike marked the supermarket brand’s first ever national withdrawal of labour with thousands of workers across the country taking part. Despite bargaining attempts with Woolworths, First Union representative Angus Wilson said the company had not come to the table with an offer that gave their members — who had been essential staff…

The boy from Boy is now a 27-year-old man and he’s competing on the newest season of Celebrity Treasure Island to try to raise money for a charity that holds a personal connection. Actor James Rolleston (Te Whakatōhea, Te Arawa) is best known for starring in Taika Waititi’s 2010 film Boy, a comedy-drama which became one of New Zealand’s highest grossing local films of all time. He’s now one of 18 contestants competing in the newest season of Celebrity Treasure Island (CTI) where he is trying to win the grand prize money of $100,000 for Brake, a charity that works…

A year after a troubled, half-finished Auckland apartment block found a new owner, neighbouring businesses are still waiting for the building to be finished — or knocked down.The Epsom Central Apartments Project halted five years ago, after Auckland Council found it had not complied with building consent.The original partnership, Epsom Central Apartments LP, was put into receivership in 2022, and purchased by Xiao Liu, the director of a company named Reeheng Limited, in September 2023.Since then, community members and business owners have said there has been an air of mystery around what will happen to the building, which at one…

This winter could perhaps be the hardest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in early 2022, the Ukrainian prime minister told reporters. ADVERTISEMENTUkrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the country’s defence capabilities are the new government’s top priority during a press conference on Tuesday.”In this area, the key tasks are weapons production, financing and construction of our fortifications,” he said.As Kyiv prepares for a tough winter of fighting with Moscow troops amid potential pushes further into Ukraine from the east, the construction of an additional line of defences in parts of Ukraine closest to the frontlines has been…

West Coast Regional Councillor Allan Birchfield has been given the cold shoulder in a restructure of council committees.The Greymouth gold-miner was deposed as council chairman in April last year, after allegedly leaking confidential employment information to news media after a stand-off with then chief executive, Heather Mabin.He was replaced as council chair by his deputy, Peter Haddock, and formally censured by the council.The council today approved a revamp of its committees and updated their terms of reference – but left their former chair off most of them.He objected strongly.”Three thousand people voted for me. I’m an elected member, and you’ve…

The bloc says it has ‘credible’ information Tehran is procuring Moscow with ballistic missiles. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union has joined the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany in accusing Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles for Russia to wage its war in Ukraine.The 27-country bloc has received “credible” evidence of the deliveries, according to a statement seen by Euronews, which adds that the weapons are likely assisting Moscow in its “escalatory bombing campaign against Ukrainian civilians, cities and civilian infrastructure, further increasing civilian casualties and destruction.””Such support to Russia’s terrorising campaign against Ukraine’s population will be met with a…

The trig beacon at the summit of Maungawhau/Mount Eden will be removed next week due to health and safety concerns.Astride the trig station used to draw up Auckland’s suburbs in the late 19th century, the structure was more than 40 years old and had reached the end of its usable life, said Land Information New Zealand acting surveyor general Jeff Needham.”Modern survey methods mean there is less of a reliance on traditional trig beacons in surveying, so we won’t be rebuilding any structure in its place. “The raised platform and survey mark underneath the beacon will stay, and visitors will…

Rafael Nadal’s uncle offers a unique insight into the state of world tennis. ADVERTISEMENTToni Nadal is arguably the most successful coach in tennis history. His nephew, Rafael Nadal, has won 16 Grand Slam titles under his direction.During the summer, the Spanish coach regularly visits the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre at the Sani Resort in Halkidiki, Northern Greece. There, he oversees the high-level tennis training offered by the Greek branch of the Rafa Nadal Academy, which is headquartered in Mallorca. In an interview with Euronews, he said the overall level of tennis globally is lower now than it was 10 or…

Key points:A woman died in the waiting room at Rotorua’s emergency department last month after waiting three hours to be seen.Health Minister Shane Reti says it is one of the high performing emergency departments, but he sought assurances over safety.Reti and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall expressed their condolences to the woman’s family.Health Minister Shane Reti sought assurances over safety following the death of a woman who was waiting for care at Rotorua Hospital’s emergency department. It was revealed today the woman died in the waiting room of the emergency department last month, after waiting three hours to be seen.RNZ…

Party expulsion proceedings have been launched against the councillor, and her employment at a consultancy has also been terminated. ADVERTISEMENTA Zurich city councillor has apologised and reportedly sought police protection against threats after she fired a sports pistol at an auction poster of a 14th-century Madonna and child painting and posted images of their bullet-ridden faces on social media.Green-Liberal party official Sanija Ameti, 32, put the images on Instagram over the weekend before quickly pulling them down. She later explained on social media that she had been practising shots from about 10 metres and only found the poster “big enough”…