Author: Press Room

Maritime New Zealand’s oil response personnel are among those working with local authorities to prepare for the re-floating of the Manahau barge that ran aground in Westport at the weekend. Maritime New Zealand said the near 100m Manahau, a Westland Mineral Sands barge, ran aground at Carters Beach about midnight Saturday during a storm.Multiple authorities working toward re-floating the vessel said it could take days to achieve and hoped it could be completed by the end of this week with help from a specialist tug boat from the North Island. A Westland Mineral Sands spokesperson told 1News the towing vessel…

A senior engineer has told the Philip Pokinghorne trial it was possible for the accused murderer’s wife to die the way he says she did.Warning: This article contains content that could be disturbing to some people.Andrew McGregor has been giving evidence at the High Court in Auckland. His company, ProSolve, specialised in forensic engineering.Polkinghorne, 71, denies Crown allegations he fatally strangled his wife Pauline Hanna and made it look like a suicide at Easter 2021.The Crown has said from the trial’s outset that the death of Hanna, 63, doesn’t “add up” as a suicide. It says Polkinghorne was caught in…

Hours worked by directors have jumped from 132 to 178 annually as boards respond to fast-moving economic pressures, the latest “Directors’ Fees Report” shows. The report, produced by the Institute of Directors in associate with EY, brought together data for 4077 directorships held by 1148 directors across 1752 organisations. The median fee for non-executive directors fell from $52,000 in 2023 ($51,529 in 2022) to $50,000 in 2024, influenced by an increase in the number of survey respondents in low-remuneration or pro-bono positions. In a statement, IoD general manager of learning and engagement Dr Michael Fraser said both pressure on fees…

Landlords are being warned to check who’s renting their properties after police shut a cannabis operation that caused some homes to burn down.A Vietnamese organised crime ring operating in East Auckland had been targeting rental properties for a “illegal activity” including growing cannabis, said Senior Sergeant Al Grant, of Counties Manukau East Police.”These syndicates are operating across Auckland, significantly modifying rental properties to cultivate cannabis with extremely dangerous electrical installations,” he said.”In some instances, this dodgy wiring has caused homes to burn to the ground, and it’s extremely fortunate there has been no loss of life.”Grant said 20 properties were…

The New Zealand Merino Company says “significant challenges” in the 2024 financial year led to it posting a $3.29 million full-year net loss after tax. That was compared with a $1.7m profit the previous year, while earnings before interest and tax were a loss of $2.63m compared with a profit of $4.3m last year. No dividend was declared for the year ended June 30. In an announcement to USX market this week, the company said demand remained flat due to excess wool throughout the supply chain coupled with subdued consumer spend. It said its EpicFibre strategy, launched late in FY24,…

Firefighters made “good progress” containing the Waipara Fire in North Canterbury today, after high winds overnight caused “some growth” amongst the fire ground.The North Canterbury forestry fire was first reported on Thursday.Fire and Emergency incident commander Brian Keown said rain and reduced wind speeds helped firefighters “make good progress” on containing the fire on Tuesday. He said multiple firefighting crews supported by heavy machinery, water tankers and five helicopters worked on the fire ground. “The weather conditions enabled crews to fight the fire strategically, rather than having to react to fire driven by the wind.” Crews and a drone team…

A two-hour wait at the checkout didn’t stop Aucklanders from shopping at what’s been dubbed as Aotearoa’s largest Asian supermarket on Saturday.Foodie Asian Supermarket managing director Tao Shi was at the entrance, greeting almost every customer who walked in to warn them about the long queues at checkout, but most customers didn’t seem to mind.A series of activities and discounts lined up for the weekend enticed hundreds through the doors. (Source: Re: News)The grand opening was last Thursday, but a series of activities and discounts were lined up for the weekend which enticed hundreds through the doors.The lion dance, a…

New research from an international team of palaeontologists has found some species thought to be New Zealand natives – including kiwi and takahē – actually only arrived a few million years ago from Australia.The new research published in scientific journal GeoBios summarised the extraordinary creatures discovered among more than 9000 specimens collected across 23 years excavating the large St Bathans fossil site in Central Otago.The team, including Canterbury Museum senior curator of natural history Paul Scofield, had been excavating the site since 2001 and their findings suggested New Zealand’s true ancient species were animals such as kākāpō, small wrens, bats…

Medical teams have rushed to the scene after the boat, carrying more than 50 migrants, got into trouble in the English Channel. ADVERTISEMENTFrench maritime authorities have launched a rescue operation in the English Channel after a boat that was carrying more than 50 migrants capsized off France’s northern coast, leaving at least 13 dead.Maritime authorities say that medical teams have rushed to the scene, as many others are in a critical condition.”Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first-aid post was set up to…

An advisory council of Māori leaders were to meet tonight to discuss succession of the Kiingitanga, in the wake of Kīngi Tuheitia’s death on Friday.The subject had been taboo up until this point, while time was allowed to properly grieve the late King. He will be laid to rest on Thursday.Tekau Mā Rua chairperson Che Wilson told 1News his organisation was akin to a privy council to the Kiingitanga — a council of representatives from around the country, including iwi and other national groups.It gave advice to the King on local issues, as well as national issues and challenges, he…