Author: Press Room

The leader of the Catholic Church, who has chronic lung disease and is prone to respiratory illness in winter, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on 14 February after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. ADVERTISEMENTPope Francis is conscious and still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions as he remains in critical condition with a complex lung infection, the Vatican has said.”The night passed quietly, the pope rested,” the Holy See spokesperson Matteo Bruni said in a statement.Further clinical tests were being performed on the 88-year-old pontiff who had part of one lung removed…

The Ukrainian president said that he is focused on Ukraine’s security today and called for further guarantees from Europe and the US. ADVERTISEMENTUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday he would be willing to step down if it meant peace and NATO membership for his country. “If to achieve peace you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready,” Zelenskyy said. “I can trade it for NATO, if there are such conditions,” he said at a forum of government officials in Kyiv. The comment seemed to be aimed at US President Donald Trump, who called the Ukrainian president…

Trampers and hunters are being urged to not to activate personal locator beacons for their dogs.Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre confirmed a few dogs were rescued each year after their owner activated a beacon.Its operations manager Mike Clulow said whenever a beacon was used, specialist rescuers – including helicopters and expert volunteers – were sent by the centre.”These are a valuable and limited resource, and while we understand dogs are important to their owners, it is equally important that rescue resources are available to respond to people whose lives may be at risk,” he said.”Rescue operations in remote locations…

The Russian president also used his video message on Sunday to pledge greater support for military personnel and new weapons and equipment for the army. ADVERTISEMENTRussian President Vladimir Putin has praised soldiers fighting in Moscow’s war in Ukraine on the eve of its third anniversary.In a special message released on Sunday, Putin said Russian troops were “the main heroes of Defender of the Fatherland Day,” a reference to the Russian public holiday that honours the achievements of the country’s military forces.”Special words of congratulations to our soldiers and officers, participants of the special military operation. Today, risking their lives and…

In July last year I wrote about the government’s plans to reform the Holidays Act and legislative amendments to clarify the employment status of contractors. Targeted consultation has since taken place about proposed changes to the Holidays Act. Workplace Relations Minister Brook van Velden then directed her officials to change the proposed direction of the Act reform. She has directed work begin on an hours-based accrual model for annual leave and to consider whether greater simplicity can be achieved for the core system, if other models can be used for more complex work arrangements. More recently, the minister announced other…

Dunedin makeup and beauty buffs will be able to enjoy the full Mecca experience in less than a month. The Australian and New Zealand cosmetics giant first announced its plans to debut a new store in the city in April last year. A Mecca spokeswoman confirmed the official Dunedin store, at the former Noel Leeming premises at 248 George St, would be opening on March 14 — after its previously slated opening in November last year was delayed. Mecca NZ market manager Nicky Shore previously said they wanted to ensure the new store was a space the Dunedin community would…

Destiny Church has responded to calls and petitions for it to be stripped of its charitable status by saying it is of “no consequence” and “quite entertaining to watch”.Controversy has swirled around the church after its Man Up and Legacy groups stormed Auckland’s Te Atatū Community Centre and library on Saturday last week to protest a children’s science show hosted by a drag king.Around 30 young children and adults were barricaded inside during the incident, RNZ reported and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown described the protest behaviour as “thuggery”. Police “strongly condemned” the protest and confirmed it was investigating allegations of…

An anti-poverty group wants the Government to spend what’s needed — possibly billions — to meet its child poverty targets, saying it’s simply not enough to grow the overall economy. Child Poverty Action Group CEO Sarita Divis said New Zealand “can’t afford not to” invest in reaching its targets under the Child Poverty Reduction Act. Last year, Treasury officials warned the government its policies were “likely to fall well short of the reductions required to meet the current ten-year [child poverty reduction] targets”. At the last election, National campaigned to halve child poverty by 2028. Treasury’s modelling estimated meeting one…

Armed police have cordoned off a rural road north of Masterton as the investigation into multiple suspicious fires at churches in the area continues.Four Masterton churches suffered damage ranging from “moderate to significant” on Saturday in a group of suspicious fires.The churches affected were the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Masterton Baptist Church, and Equippers Church Masterton.Police said it sighted a vehicle of interest at around 9.15am this morning.”After area enquiries the vehicle has then been located abandoned a short distance away at about 11am. Cordons are in place while police work to locate the occupant,”…

This week’s Good Sort is a Wairarapa woman with a simple wish for everyone to be able to enjoy the beauty of her local beach.Helen Welch came up with a solution to help those who struggle on the sand – a specially-designed all-terrain wheelchair.”It’s a really, really amazing little chair that can go on the water,” Welch explained.She said the youngest person to use the wheelchair was three years old, while the oldest was 89.Welch was motivated to design the wheelchair in honour of her late father John, who had multiple sclerosis.”When I was really young, I struggled with it…