Author: Press Room
Southern lines companies believe their new electricity connections charges are competitive compared with those of the rest of the country as a national review gets under way. The Electricity Authority has indicated it wants feedback on a proposal to rein in excessively high connection costs which were a known problem in some parts of the country. Electricity Authority networks and system change general manager Tim Sparks said high costs to connect to networks could have an impact on new housing and commercial developments, EV charging stations and other critical infrastructure. “Reducing very high up-front charges would help enable and encourage…
Almost 20% of Auckland homeowners have been selling their properties for a loss.Cotality has released its latest Pain and Gain report, which shows the number of properties being sold for a gain or loss around the country.It revealed that in the third quarter of this year, 87.8% of properties nationwide were sold for more than the sellers had previously paid for them.That was down from 89.4% the previous quarter and was the largest percentage making a loss since 2013.In Auckland, 18.2% of owner-occupier sellers were making a loss, and 22.8% of investors.It was the highest percentage of losses among the…
French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that China is offering European children a simple, entertainment-based version of TikTok, while its domestic version is far more educational and beneficial for youngsters. Speaking to readers of the regional daily newspaper La Voix du Nord in the north of France on 19 November, Macron took aim at the disparities between the app’s Chinese and global offerings. “Their version of TikTok, because it is a Chinese company, is limited to a set number of hours per day, and the content shown to children is entirely educational,” the president said. He went on to argue…
A pair of Dunedin bottle stores have had their liquor licences renewed despite concerns about the potential influence of a problem-plagued shareholder. The off-licences for the Bottle-O stores in Andersons Bay and Kaikorai Valley have been renewed for a further three years, despite both applications being opposed by the city’s chief licensing inspector and the medical officer of health delegate, who cast doubt on the suitability of the applicant. Police also opposed the Kaikorai Valley application. The applications were made by McCarthy Enterprises Ltd and Jethro Holdings Ltd respectively, which are wholly owned by shareholders Kenneth and Patricia McCarthy. Mrs…
After months of wrangling about where Wairarapa Hospital’s litigation settlement from Masterton District Council has gone, Health NZ has revealed none of the money was ring-fenced for the hospital.Now local MPs are blaming each other’s party policies for the outcome. Last year, it was revealed the district council and Health NZ settled out of court following a legal dispute over alleged defects in the construction and consenting process for Wairarapa Hospital.Health NZ last week responded to a request by the Ombudsman for further information on the settlement.”Health NZ has not ring-fenced a percentage of the settlement funds for Wairarapa Hospital,”…
The European Parliament has de facto approved a change to EU legislation that will allow investment in “controversial weapons” to be included in the bloc’s sustainability framework – a move that mean companies producing incendiary weapons, depleted-uranium ammunition, and even nuclear weapons could now be eligible for the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) label. Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed to reduce the number of companies in the weapons industry that are excluded from the EU’s sustainability benchmarks in order to avoid confusion and uncertainty for the companies’ investors. In practice, this means that companies involved in the production…
Dunedin pharmacists say prescription fees and competition with chain stores are putting community retailers under pressure, which could lead to more closures. Green Island Boutique Pharmacy announced in a post on social media it would be permanently closing at noon tomorrow after nine years of business. “This decision has not been easy, but with the current funding challenges facing small independent pharmacies, it has become increasingly difficult to remain sustainable while providing the level of care we have always strived for,” it said. Its two pharmacists were both locally trained at the University of Otago and had more than a…
When Kiwis tune in for the twice-a-week Lotto draw, they simply see the bright balls bouncing in the tumbler – ever hopeful that their lucky numbers will be read out on screen. But for a process that may look straightforward on screen, there is a surprising amount of precision and organisation that goes on behind closed doors. Seven Sharp’s Hilary Barry went behind the scenes at the Lotto studio and found that the magic of the nation’s favourite prize draw is a tightly run operation described as a “well-oiled machine”. Hilary Barry learns the secrets of the life-changing live draw…
Marine researchers in Auckland have discovered what is making up the majority of microplastics in New Zealand’s ocean.They found tiny pieces of vehicle tyres were polluting coastal waters and almost half of the rubber that shed on our roads ended up on the environment.The tyres contributing most to the problem were found on both EVs and utes.Dr Samantha Ladewig, a marine microsplastics researcher at the University of Auckland, told Checkpoint, the size of the particles could get down to nano size and could not be seen with a microscope, while larger fragments could be as big as one to two…
By Euronews Published on 26/11/2025 – 19:35 GMT+1 In this edition, brought to you from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, we are joined by centre-right EPP’s MEP Hildegard Bentele and European Parliament’s Vice President Javi López, from the Socialists & Democrats. At a time when Europe’s fight against climate change is at a turning point, the 27 are trying to find a balance between economic growth and climate responsibility. But can the EU still speak with one voice on climate action? The Ring is anchored by Maria Tadeo, produced by Luis Albertos Altarejos, Nikos Michos and Amaia Echevarria. Edited by Zacharia…