Author: Press Room

Published on 28/10/2025 – 7:30 GMT+1 While EU enlargement is gaining new political momentum, a new poll indicates that more than half of Europeans support the process. To be precise, 56% of citizens approve of opening up the European project to other countries. According to a Eurobarometer poll, the most supportive Member States are Sweden (79%), Denmark (75%) and Lithuania (74%). Conversely, Austria (45%), the Czech Republic (43%) and France (43%) are the least receptive. Young Europeans in particular support enlargement. 67% of 15-24 year olds are in favour, ahead of 25-39 year olds at 63%. Overall the survey indicates…

Closures or lower speed limits could hit the Auckland Harbour Bridge today, with gusts of just over 90km/h possible.In a bulletin released by the NZTA, motorists were advised to “drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic message boards”.Gusts of 75-85km/h are possible until midday, and from midday until 2pm they could top out at just over 90km/h.”When wind gusts reach 90km/h, we close all lanes because it’s unsafe for any vehicle to be on the bridge and the bridge structure is vulnerable to vehicle impacts,” the agency said. Trees downed by wind at Albert ParkA downed tree covers…

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he will discuss new US sanctions on Russian oil with President Trump in Washington next week. The US slapped sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, last week, with the former also being blacklisted by the EU. “We are discussing how to build a sustainable system for my country’s economy, because Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas. Without them, energy prices will skyrocket, causing shortages in our supplies,” Orbán told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica during a visit to Rome. When asked if Trump had made a mistake…

New Zealand is short of around 100 pilots this year and flight schools say the shortage is putting pressure on regional routes, airlines and training providers already struggling to keep up with demand.Aviation leaders warn outdated rules and high costs are slowing down new pilots from getting airborne, even as the Government confirms long-awaited reforms are finally underway.At Auckland’s Ardmore Flying School, about 250 people turned up to an open day, including 13-year-old Alastair, who had his first chance to take flight.“It was really fun experiencing the plane. We did a lot of turns, and the G-force was also really…

Auckland Council is warning arborists to know the rules before picking up their chainsaws after a local tree company was fined nearly $30,000 for illegally trimming a protected tōtara tree in Mt Eden.DS Trees Limited was sentenced in the Auckland District Court last week after pleading guilty to breaching the Resource Management Act by carrying out unconsented work on a notable tree. The tōtara, protected as part of Auckland’s urban ngahere and natural heritage, was left misshapen after three large branches were cut without approval.Judge Sheena Tepania described the company’s actions as having “high culpability”, saying DS Trees “should have…

Analysis: Leadership clashes, claims and counter-claims – Re: News’ Māori Specialist Te Ahipourewa Forbes looks at the turbulence engulfing Te Pāti Māori. Te Pāti Māori has pitched itself as unapologetically Māori, fiercely independent, and politically disruptive. But in recent months, the party’s inner turmoil has splintered what many Māori hoped was a unifying political movement. In 2023, the party’s growth from two MPs to six after the election was historic. It signalled a surge in support and a renewed appetite for kaupapa Māori politics. But with growth came growing pains. And then, in June this year, there was the sudden…

The phones are running hot as farmers dial in insurance claims climbing to over $10 million already for weather damage, in which southern farms were hit hard. Last week’s wild winds peaking on Thursday left a path of destruction on farming properties. Power, water and communications were knocked out, trees, machinery and centre pivot irrigators bowled over and in some cases farm buildings were toppled. Major rural insurer FMG has received an initial tally of more than 900 weather-related claims, over 450 of which were for the Otago and Southland regions. The insurer is expecting further claims as power is…

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is set to front media this morning following the party’s announcement of a capital gains tax policy aimed at funding free GP visits.Hipkins will be joined by the party’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall at 10.30am, where they’re expected to take questions and expand on the details of the proposal.If they win next year’s election, Labour has committed to introducing a set 28% capital gains tax on property, excluding key assets such as the family home, farms, KiwiSaver, shares, business assets, inheritances, and personal items.Labour said nine out of ten New Zealanders…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including Labour’s new tax policy, heavy snow closes roads, and the King gets heckled. Labour’s pitched a targeted capital gains tax as part of its plan ahead of next year’s election. Heavy snow has closed roads and passes across the South Island. Te Pāti Māori has moved to suspend Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. King Charles has been heckled about the ongoing saga surrounding his brother Prince Andrew.ADVERTISEMENTLiam Lawson’s F1 future will stay up in the air until December.

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Beneficiaries and people on NZ Super are experiencing faster increases in the cost of living, while the biggest spenders are getting some relief, new data shows. Stats NZ has released data for the September quarter, which shows the average New Zealand household experienced a cost-of-living increase of 2.4% over the previous 12 months. That is less than the 3% rate of inflation, because it includes a 15.4% drop in mortgage interest payments. Mortgage interest payments were the main contributor to highest-spending households recording the lowest annual inflation, Stats NZ said. Their annual inflation rate was…