Author: Press Room

A man has been arrested following an alleged “unprovoked” stabbing at a park in Palmerston North park this afternoon.Police were called to a park on Dogwood Way at around 1pm after receiving reports that a person had received injuries consistent with stab wounds in an unprovoked assault.”One person was transported to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious condition where they are receiving medical treatment,” Detective Sergeant Shelley Ross said.A 25-year-old man was arrested and was due to appear in the Palmerston North District Court tomorrow, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”This was a callous and unprovoked…

Mzia Amaglobeli has been charged with assaulting a police officer, but her family and supporters say she is being punished for her journalism. ADVERTISEMENTSupporters of detained Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli — who has been on a hunger strike for more than two weeks — say that her life is at risk as her health worsens.Amaglobeli, the founder of Georgian news outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested on 12 January for slapping Irakli Dgebuadze, the police chief of Batumi, the country’s second largest city located on the Black Sea coast. The veteran journalist has been charged with assaulting a police officer…

Steps to improve the fortunes of an embattled Fiordland airport have been lambasted during a heated council debate.Today, Southland district councillors met to discuss the next move in the Te Anau Airport Manapouri review, which began in 2023.The review looks to address issues at a facility which has run at a loss since its inception and recorded shortfalls of $217,000 to almost $320,000 across the last five years alone.At a December meeting of the Fiordland Community Board, a decision was made to activate phase two of the review — a business case from Great South to the tune of $324,180…

A 69-year-old Dutch national has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after he attempted to smuggle $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine through Auckland Airport last year.He was sentenced at the Manukau District Court yesterday after being convicted of the importation of the Class A controlled drug.The 4.4kg of methamphetamine was seized by Customs in September last year after it was found in the lining of the man’s hand luggage.The estimated street value of the seized drugs was up to $1.6 million, and $4.9 million worth of social harm.“Anyone committing such a serious crime will have to face the consequences,” Customs Auckland…

A water leak at Auckland City Hospital has struck the main adult building — requiring a shutdown of supply as attempts are made to rectify the problem.Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai group director of operations, Mike Shepherd told 1News: “Work is underway to repair a water leak in one of the wards that is affecting water supply across parts of the main adult hospital building — Building 32.”There will be a full shutdown of the water system in Building 32 from 6pm [Wednesday]. This is expected to last for up to 10 hours and will…

The Green Party is asking the Speaker of the House and Prime Minister to reprimand Government ministers over comments made about migrants.New Zealand First Minister Shane Jones yelled “Send the Mexicans home” during a debate on Christopher Luxon’s statement yesterday.New Zealand First leader Winston Peters also made comments about migrants as he was heckled by Green MPs Lawrence Xu-Nan and Francisco Hernandez.”I know they’re laughing. The Greens are laughing at that because they find that comical; they find that comical.”The very people who are here on the very refuge that we give to them have come here with their ideas,…

Home loan borrowers stand to save hundreds of dollars a month this year when their loans roll off higher fixed terms on to new, lower rates.In the next six months, about half of all fixed-rate mortgages come up for repricing.Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod said that for borrowers who last fixed a home loan up to two years ago, they could have a drop in interest rate of 100 basis points or more when they refixed.It would only be people coming off a three-year or longer fix who rolled onto a higher rate.Ranchhod said the drop in interest costs for…

Sky customers who find they regularly cannot watch TV as they expect should be able to request a refund, one consumer watchdog says.And it says the television operator should be offering discounts proactively while it deals with its service problems.Sky has been beset with problems as a dying satellite disrupted its transmission, and customers complained about technicians not turning up to their homes for scheduled visits.The network told the NZX this week that it was undertaking an “accelerated migration plan” to move from its current Optus D2 satellite to a new satellite by May.”The accelerated programme was initiated upon advice…

A search is continuing for a man who went missing from Auckland’s Piha Beach, after the group they were with became caught in a rip yesterday afternoon. The man remained missing as of 3pm, according to an update from Surf Life Saving. A spokesperson said lifeguards “understand” that the missing man cannot swim.Today’s shoreline search for the man was being carried out around the Lion Rock, South Piha and Blue Pool areas, police said. They added that the Eagle helicopter “would also conduct an aerial search where possible” around the popular west Auckland beach.An Auckland Coastguard air patrol plane had…

The Government has revealed speed limits on 38 sections of the state highway network will increase, while it will consult on potentially lifting the limits on a further 49 sections.The first increase – on part of State Highway 2 in Wairarapa – will come into force tonight.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Transport Minister Chris Bishop unveiled consultation plans for significant parts of the state highway network this morning, while other stretches of road will see speeds rise without a new round of feedback.Bishop also revealed plans for speed limits to rise tonight on part of SH2 in Wairarapa, which will…