Author: Press Room

Energy researchers fear the country will face an electricity shortage next winter if demand does not ease.Transpower says high demand during the summer period could leave lakes depleted by the middle of next year, when demand increases further as temperatures drop.Kimberley O’Sullivan, an energy hardship expert at the University of Otago’s Department of Public Health, said a survey of 219 people during the summer of 2021 to 2022 showed air conditioning was a key driver of increased demand during summer.”Of the 65% that had a heat pump at home, 75% of them were already using this for cooling,” she told…

By Sally Murphy of RNZ  A herbicide deemed OK to use in New Zealand has been pulled off shelves in Australia, with immediate effect. In August this year, the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States announced the immediate suspension of all registrations for Dacthal or DCPA herbicides, citing possible irreversible damage they could cause to unborn children. That prompted the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority to issue an urgent alert for people to stop using products with the chemical chlorthal dimethyl, which is used to control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in vegetable growing. After reviewing its use, the EPA issued…

Twenty-five severe weather-hit Far North residential properties are in the spotlight for potential buyout and relocation.The shortlisted properties have been identified as the most damaged by the severe weather that hit the North Island during January and February 2023 storms that included cyclones Gabrielle and Hale.Detailed council-funded analysis to confirm their North Island weather events impact and Future of Severely Affected Land (FOSAL) programme participation is now underway.Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell said agreement to relocate was a condition of any financial buyout support.The worst-hit properties have been earmarked as potentially severely affected and now unsafe for…

The customs broker industry is crying out for Aussies to apply. (Source: SEEK)One job sector is crying out for Aussies to apply amid a dwindling supply of workers despite an incredibly attractive starting salary. Everything that flows into this country has to first go past a customs broker and it appears the industry is in desperate need of fresh blood.There are a little more than 1,600 brokers already employed across Australia, however, more than half are over 50 and it won’t be long before that cohort retires. Even though you can earn up to $120,000 per year when you first…

Benediktsson said fresh parliamentary elections are expected to take place on 30 November, if President Halla Tómasdóttir accepts his motion to dissolve parliament. ADVERTISEMENTThe Prime Minister of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson, has announced the dissolution of the country’s governing coalition at a surprise press conference in the capital Reykjavik.Benediktsson cited growing disagreements between the three political parties that make up the ruling coalition as his reason for ending it.”There are disagreements about policy regarding asylum seekers that have been public. The government has disagreed for quite a while on a vision for the future of energy efficiency. Motions from the Minister…

An investigation into the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui will “get to the nub” of what happened when the ship sank, Defence Minister Judith Collins says, as she warns against a “rush to judgment” about last week’s incident. Collins recounted details about the incident in an interview with Q+A earlier today, where she also spoke on New Zealand’s “very significant” credibility gap in defence capability. The HMNZS Manawnui sank on a coral reef after it ran aground and caught on fire last Sunday. All of its 75 crew and passengers safely evacuated. It remains unclear why the vessel ran aground…

Two people, a woman and a teenager, were hospitalised after a serious incident in Auckland’s Ōtara overnight, police say.Emergency responders were called to a house on Wymondley Rd just before 11pm, “following a report that two people had been injured.””A woman and teenager were taken to hospital with serious-to-critical injuries,” police said.Officers “are carrying out a scene examination this morning but are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident,” according to a spokesperson.One patient was taken to Middlemore Hospital, while the other was taken to Starship Hospital in Grafton, according to St John. A spokesperson for the…

Larnach Castle’s new general manager says he could not be more excited to be a part of the rich history that comes with the role. Adrian Clifton started as the general manager of Dunedin’s only castle last month and said it was a “fantastic opportunity”. “I’m very excited to be part of the next chapter of Larnach Castle’s history. “It holds a very special place in people’s hearts and minds.” Before taking on the new role he was the general manager at Scenic Hotel, in Dunedin, a job he held for eight years. Before that he lived in Marlborough, working…

Game of Thrones fans came out in droves to bid on hundreds of costumes, props and other items from the series in an auction that raked in over US$21 million (NZ$34.4 million).The Heritage Auctions event in Dallas featured over 900 lots including suits of armour, swords and weapons, jewellery and several other items of significance from the HBO series.The top-dollar item was the very thing the characters in the series vied for throughout its eight-season run: The Iron Throne. After a six-minute bidding war, the throne sold for US$1.49 million (NZ$2.44 million).The replica was made of plastic and molded from…

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger campaigned to keep rates low. Two years in the job, as the city’s residents face near double-digit rate rises, he says it’s worth it to keep council services going. Ratepayers in the city have seen their rates rise 9.9%, on average, this year.Speaking with Q+A, Mauger said higher-than-expected insurance bills and interest rates were part of the reason. “Also, with our rates, we said we wouldn’t change any levels of service to people because we voted on council and said, right, we don’t want to do that,” Mauger said. “We could mow our grass less. We…