Author: Press Room

Young people and men are among Europe’s most vulnerable groups to loneliness, according to the OECD’s latest Social Connections and Loneliness report. Unemployed individuals and those with a low income are also around twice as likely to report feeling lonely. In 21 European OECD countries, daily face-to-face interactions with friends and family declined consistently between 2006, 2015, and 2022, while remote contact increased following the COVID pandemic. In 2022, the share of people reporting that they felt lonely “most of the time” or “all of the time” over the past four weeks was the highest in France and Lithuania, at…

A judicial review into the Government’s decision to ban Greyhound racing next year has been withdrawn by Greyhound Racing New Zealand.Greyhound Racing NZ chief executive officer Edward Rennell said the matter had proceeded to a point in Parliament where there was no point in pursuing a review through the courts.The case was set to be heard next month.Rennell said the body would instead challenge the decision at its “last avenue” in the select committee process.He said more support was required for those in the industry deal with the ban, after many had upgraded their facilities at “considerable cost”.Last year, the…

Advocates for women and domestic abuse victims are calling for men to take responsibility for “their whanaunga” (relatives) and for tamariki to be put at the centre of decision-making in disputes. The call came as singer Ria Hall told her story of physical abuse on TVNZ’s Marae programme. Her ex-partner Eruera Keepa was convicted of assault and then shortly afterwards took a prominent speaking role for his iwi at Koroneihana.Watch the full report and panel discussion on TVNZ +.The programme highlighted the impact of men with a background of domestic violence and abuse being afforded the cultural right to speak…

A cul-de-sac in Auckland’s Māngere has become a “persistent target” for illegal dumping, with contractors called out 55 times between February and October to clear waste.Now, Auckland Council has convicted and fined the owner of a vehicle whose occupants were seen dumping rubbish at the site. Officials said the legal action was taken as part of a zero-tolerance crackdown.In June last year, cameras captured waste being unloaded from a vehicle on the kerbside. The registered owner of the vehicle was tracked down but refused to identify those responsible and the matter was taken to court under the Litter Act 1979.The…

Key diary dates COP30 kicks off in Belém, Brazil ENVI committee in the European Parliament votes the 2040 climate law Commission presents European Democracy Shield European Parliament mini- plenary in Brussels Eurogroup meeting in Brussels European Parliament mini-plenary in Brussels Economic and Financial Affairs Council in Brussels Economic and Financial Affairs Council In Spotlight The European Commission will announce this Wednesday a landmark plan to counter foreign interference and misinformation in elections and democratic processes in Europe. The “European Democracy Shield” – as the plan is known – comes after multiple ballots held in the EU over the past year…

Two people raided a Queenstown liquor store with a stolen car in the early hours of this morning, stealing $900 worth of alcohol before abandoning the vehicle in Lake Whakatipu.The incident happened at Super Liquor Remarkables Park, on the intersection of Tex Smith Ln and Hawthorne Dr. Police were alerted to the burglary at around 2.15am this morning.Store general manager Glen Christiansen told 1News the pair attacked the front window with weapons before using the car to break the glass.”It’s toughened glass, so it’s a bit of a chore,” he said, adding it was the first break-in at one of…

Published on 10/11/2025 – 12:41 GMT+1 •Updated 12:44 The European Union and Brazil launched an appeal calling on other nations to recognise carbon pricing as a pragmatic way to cut emissions and fund the green transition, as world leaders gather at the COP30 United Nations climate summit. The global bid aims to form a coalition of countries willing to raise funds from carbon pollution and invest them in clean technologies to help cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The revenue would help countries to implement their national climate plans and continue working to deliver on the Paris Agreement adopted 10 years…

The fourth T20 international between the Black Caps and West Indies has been wiped out by rain in Nelson.There were just 6.3 overs played before rain took hold at Saxton Oval and didn’t abate enough for a return to the field.The Black Caps lead the series 2-1, with the final match due to be played in Dunedin on Thursday afternoon.Play was first halted after five overs, with the West Indies 30 for none after Mitch Santner won the toss for the Black Caps and decided to bowl.Drizzly weather turned to steady rain and the players retreated to the pavilion.There was…

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has discovered and revoked 440 fraudulently obtained commercial driver licences.False or altered documentation provided by individuals converting overseas licences to a New Zealand licence was picked up during an NZTA audit of the conversation process in July this year.In a statement, deputy director of land transport Mike Hargreaves said the licences were revoked after a thorough investigation of issues identified in the audit.”We have systems in place to identify, investigate and respond to suspected fraudulent activity and we will act swiftly when we find it by holding people to account.”NZTA was in the process…

Local landowners say a temporary bypass road built for East Coast’s State Highway 35 is “rundown” because of the lack of maintenance by the district council.They say it is also causing dust issues for whānau, workers and livestock.However, Gisborne District Council says regular maintenance is carried out on the bypass, and the funding it receives from New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is “not enough to fix all roads across the network”.The 2.2km bypass is the only SH35 access for heavy vehicles since Cyclone Gabrielle wiped out the Hikuwai Bridge No 1 north of the East Coast town of Tolaga Bay…