Author: Press Room
The Invercargill City Council has given its first look at how much last month’s devastating storm cost the organisation, and it is not cheap.On October 23, severe weather hit the region, toppling trees, damaging properties and leaving thousands without power.The council revealed in a report for a coming meeting the estimated cost to date to the council was more than $2.39 million — a figure which was expected to change in the coming weeks.Parks and reserves topped the spending at $930,538, followed by $623,304 for elderly housing and $298,308 for roading.On the other end of the spectrum was a bill…
By Kirsty Johnston of RNZ Fossil fuel companies were given privileged, insider access to confidential drafts of legislation during a two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban, RNZ has found. Internal documents show how the sector repeatedly lobbied Resources Minister Shane Jones to dilute New Zealand’s clean-up rules for ageing oil fields – rules brought in to protect taxpayers after the 2019 Tui Oil Field collapse left the state burdened with a $300m bill. Some of the oil executives meeting with Jones had been closely involved in the Tui disaster, but were invited to confidential briefings…
An Auckland-based detective with decades of experience in police is facing a criminal investigation for allegedly possessing objectionable material.Criminal investigations had begun into three police staff in relation to “misuse and inappropriate content”.RNZ understands one of the staffers is an award-winning detective based in the Auckland region.The detective, and police, have been approached for comment.It’s understood he has been stood down.A police car (file). (Source: 1News)It follows an audit of staff internet usage sparked by the resignation of former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who recently pleaded guilty to possessing objectionable publications, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality, over a…
Electronic speed signs are being switched on outside six schools along state highways in Northland and north Auckland as part of a nationwide push to make roads safer for children during busy drop-off and pick-up times.The signs, installed under NZTA’s school speed limit programme, will display a variable speed limit during peak school traffic times to slow traffic as it passes the school.”Setting safe speed limits around schools improves safety for all tamariki and whānau as they come in and out of school,” NZTA regional manager of maintenance and operations Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.Under new rules that came into force last…
Descriptions have been released of two people sought by police after a man was knocked unconscious in a “vicious and unprovoked” assault in Edendale.A man in his 50s was left with serious injuries – including a broken nose and fractured eye socket – after being lured from his home by a woman claiming to need help with a flat tyre on the night of November 15.Detective Sergeant Brian McKinney said police had reviewed surveillance video relating to the assault, which took place near the corner of Melvin and Turner St.”The woman is described as being in her late teens or…
By Euronews Published on 24/11/2025 – 18:26 GMT+1 The father of three children from a British-Australian family living in the woods in Italy’s central Chieti province who have been transferred to an educational facility by court order denounced the decision as an “injustice”. Authorities intervened after the entire family was hospitalised for mushroom poisoning, with the juvenile court in the central city of L’Aquila deciding last week that the couple’s alternative lifestyle put the lives of the children at jeopardy. The family of five, including an eight-year-old girl and two five-year-old twin boys, had been living in a caravan in the…
Jimmy Cliff, the charismatic reggae pioneer and actor who preached joy, defiance and resilience in such classics as Many Rivers to Cross, You Can Get it If You Really Want and Vietnam and starred in the landmark movie The Harder They Come, has died at 81.His family posted a message on his social media sites that he died from a seizure followed by pneumonia. Additional information was not immediately available.”To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career,” the announcement reads in part. “He really appreciated each and every fan…
A body has been found in Christchurch’s Lake Rua this afternoon, believed to be the man who went missing in the water yesterday. Emergency services were notified of a man needing assistance in the lake near Johns Rd just before 7pm yesterday. This morning, Search and Rescue teams were in the area with assistance from the Dive Squad.Police said the surrounding area remained closed to the public. “A formal identification process will take place, and the death will be referred to the coroner,” a police spokesperson said. The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a dramatic late night rescue in…
Published on 24/11/2025 – 18:51 GMT+1 The pot is massive: An estimated €300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets are frozen across the G7 countries. The vast majority — to the tune of €185 billion — is locked here in Belgium by Euroclear, a securities depository. Brussels planned to use the Russian frozen assets to issue an unprecedented reparations loan for Ukraine. But the US plan flips the script with a controversial proposal: unblock the funds and split them into two investment vehicles. The first fund would be intended for Ukraine’s reconstruction. $100 billion of the frozen assets would be…
A man permanently lost vision in his right eye after waiting hours for treatment at two public hospitals during a nationwide nurses’ strike.The Health and Disability Commissioner ruled Health New Zealand had breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, saying the delays were “unacceptable” and avoidable.On June 9, 2021, the man experienced sudden vision loss, dizziness and nausea. He was taken by ambulance to the first public hospital’s emergency department at 11.24am and triaged as Triage Code 2 – meaning he should have been seen within 10 minutes.Instead, he waited for more than four hours to be…