Author: Press Room

The front-runner to be Germany’s next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has faced criticism for accepting support from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. ADVERTISEMENTFormer German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday issued a rare public rebuke of Germany’s main opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, for accepting help from the far-right to push tough new migration plans through parliament. Merz — the front-runner in Germany’s election next month — broke a long-standing pledge to not cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Wednesday, when he accepted its votes in order to pass his migration proposal.The non-binding motion calling for stricter border…

The Coalition Government’s new school lunch programme has begun with some schools paying to help feed their students when deliveries were late.Associate Education Minister David Seymour, who spearheaded the transformation of the school lunches program, and the supplier acknowledged there had been some early issues. The six-year-old free lunch programme introduced by the Labour Government was remodelled by the coalition Government last year.The number of intermediate and secondary school students receiving lunches did not change but $130 million in funding annually was saved by using bigger suppliers.British multinational Compass Group now runs the program, tasked with creating nutritious, tasty meals…

Taranaki uri travelled to Wellington to witness the second and third reading of a bill formally granting Taranaki Maunga and its companion peaks legal personhood.Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passed into law following remarks made by members of Parliament in the house, unanimously commending the bill.As agreed under Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo (Taranaki Maunga) Collective Redress deed, Taranaki and the peaks – Panitahi, Patuhā, Kaitake and Pouākai – are now a legal person called Te Kāhui Tupua.It brings to a close nine years of negotiations between iwi and the Crown. Iwi negotiator Liana Poutu said…

The new tech “oligarchy” now operates beyond the control of most governments. Alexandra Andhov asks how a nation as small as New Zealand can regulate the power of massive forces such as Meta, Google and X Corp.The images of President Donald Trump at his inauguration surrounded by the titans of the global tech industry is a warning of what could come: a global digital oligarchy dominated by a tiny tech elite.Companies like Meta, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, X Corp, and OpenAI (all based in the United States) now operate beyond the control of most governments. Countries like New Zealand are increasingly…

It’s the last week of active service for the Defence Force’s old C-130 Hercules fleet after 60 years of missions across the globe.The C-130H Hercules arrived in New Zealand in 1965 and was almost immediately deployed to the Vietnam War – transporting army detachments to the country.The five old aircraft have collectively spent more than 17 years in the air locally and internationally.A C-130H Hercules on assignment in Antartica in 2022. (Source: Supplied)During their service, the aircraft have been used for search and rescue missions, delivering aid, and assisting disaster relief among other applications.”It’s almost second to none of any…

The hostages were taken into Gaza following Hamas’ attack on 7 October last year, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage overall. ADVERTISEMENTHamas is set to free three more Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Israel has said. The Israeli hostages set for release include civilian Arbel Yehud, 29, and military observer Agam Berger, 20, along with an 80-year-old man, Gadi Moses.A further five Thai hostages would also be released as part of a unilateral move by Hamas, separate from the ceasefire agreement. In exchange for the Israeli hostages,…

A senior Northland doctor was so worried about a lack of medical staff in Dargaville overnight she was convinced it was too risky to keep the town’s hospital open, documents released under the Official Information Act reveal.A staff roster, also released under the OIA, shows that from October 10 to December 1 last year, an after-hours doctor was rostered on at the 12-bed hospital on just five of those 55 nights.Two nights were marked as “tentative” so the total could have been as low as three nights out of 55.Health NZ says, however, doctors stepped up at the last minute…

BNZ has cut some of its home loan and term deposit interest rates.The bank dropped its 1-year fixed rate from 5.59% to 5.55%, a 0.04% change. Its standard 3-year fixed rate dropped from 5.69% to 5.59%, its 4-year fixed rate dropped from 5.79% to 5.69% and its 5-year fixed rate lowered from 5.89% to 5.79%. Its standard 6-month fixed rate (5.99%), 18-month fixed rate (5.39%), and 2-year fixed rate (5.29%) did not change.BNZ yesterday also updated some of its term deposit rates for some terms between 150 days and 18 months. Earlier this week, Kiwibank cut its six-month fixed special…

Three men aged 22 to 26 have been arrested following three separate violent incidents in Palmerston North this month.In a statement, a police spokesperson said over the last few weeks there had been two serious assaults at different bars, and a violent incident outside a petrol station in the city.The first incident occurred in the early hours of New Years Day, when police responded to a bar on Rangitikei St, following reports of an assault where one person received serious injuries.The victim has since been discharged from hospital.”A 24-year-old man has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear…

Commercial builds in Tauranga remain strong despite the economic downturn — with nearly $444 million in building consents issued in 2024.Tauranga City Council building services manager Steve Pearce said there had been “significant development” in the suburb of Tauriko and the CBD.”The city centre is seeing a massive revitalisation both for private and public projects.”The council had several large commercial projects in the CBD, including a new library and museum.While residential consents had nearly halved from the peak in 2021, Pearce said it appeared the city had “passed the dip”.Reviving the cityLast year, 274 commercial consents valued at $443.8m and…