Author: Press Room

A record four million people visited the remains of the ancient Roman city this past summer, prompting a decision to restrict tourist numbers to 20,000 per day and introduce personalised tickets. ADVERTISEMENTThe park is enforcing the changes in a bid to prevent overtourism and protect the world-famous remains of the Roman city which was buried under ash and rock following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.The park’s director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said visitors to the main archaeological site exceed an average of 15,000 to 20,000 every day, and the new daily cap will prevent the numbers from surging further.”We are…

While thousands of public service jobs have been slashed in the past year, there are big cuts to come – and those who have kept their jobs say they are exhausted dealing with the workload.At the beginning of the year, Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined a plan to reduce annual public service spending by $1.5 billion, asking all government departments to identify savings.It came amid tough economic times, and followed a 34% rise in the number of public servants under the former Labour government, between 2017 and 2023.Nearly 40 organisations were given a specific target.But the impact of the Government’s…

Heavy rain that lashed parts of the South Island yesterday has moved on, but new orange heavy rain warnings have been issued for parts of the North Island. Orange heavy rain warnings for the South Island into this morning have all been lifted. In the North Island, MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for Mount Taranaki/Taranaki Mounga and the Tararua ranges until 3pm this afternoon. Up to 100mm of rain was expected to accumulate in the Mount Taranaki region, with peak rates of 20 to 30mm/h expected this morning. An orange heavy rain warning was also in place for…

Labour MP Willie Jackson has refused to apologise after he was ejected from Parliament yesterday for calling David Seymour a “liar” in a speech about the proposed Treaty Principles Bill. The House saw dramatic scenes as MPs voted on the controversial legislation that would see Act’s proposed principles for the Treaty put into law, requiring them to be used when interpreting legislation. The Bill passed its first reading and will head to a select committee before it is voted on again in six months. The legislation, which was part of the Coalition Government deal, is not expected to go any…

Lucky winners who split a $10.5 million Lotto jackpot over the weekend are looking to get on the property ladder.An Auckland family and a Tauranga couple claimed their prizes within hours of each other on Sunday, each taking home $5.25 million.The prize was made up of $5 million from Powerball and $250,000 from Lotto First Division.The Tauranga couple, who were not regular players, said they were still in “shock” and “can’t believe their luck”.After Saturday night’s draw, the woman checked their ticket on the MyLotto app, initially thinking they had won Lotto First Division.”We got all six and I was…

The Transport Agency has been asked to keep at least three of its Bailey bridges permanently on the West Coast.A Bailey bridge is a portable, pre-fabricated bridge, first developed by the British for military use.Waka Kotahi normally keeps its South Island stock of the bridge kits in Christchurch and hires them out to councils around the motu as needed, for up to five years.But it trucked several South Island units to the North Island earlier this year after Cyclone Gabrielle took out eight bridges on the East Coast.West Coast Transport Committee chairperson Peter Ewen raised the topic at a council…

Three women who appeared in court this week on shoplifting charges allegedly then stole number plates from a vehicle directly outside the building. Counties Manukau South Senior Sergeant Mary Jane Riddle said the three women were in Pukekohe appearing in court on other shoplifting charges on Tuesday.”After leaving the court, the trio are alleged to have stolen the number plates off a vehicle that was parked directly outside,” she said. “They then travelled to several shops in Pukekohe, where they are alleged to have stolen hundreds of dollars’ worth of items.”Officers were actively searching for the alleged offenders when a…

Name suppression has been given to the lawyers representing the mosque terrorist in a highly unusual court decision.The shooter filed a notice of appeal against his conviction and sentence in November 2022 and his counsel were appointed the following year.Their bid to have their names suppressed was opposed by the Crown and media.But the Court of Appeal granted the application, deciding the publication of their names is likely to cause undue hardship.The court acknowledged the uniqueness of its ruling and considered the “precedential effect the decision may have”.It said it was “unaware of any case in any jurisdiction in which…

A multi-tonne truck that rolled off a narrow, winding road and down a bank in Wellington’s Aro Valley has been successfully rescued.The multi-tonne truck crashed down a bank on Thursday morning and landed only metres from occupied homes.Two huge cranes were brought in to salvage the wreck on Friday.Residents parked up to watch the retrieval throughout the morning.The truck was being held in place by a cable before it could be raised up the bank.Mortimer Terrace was closed overnight, with cordons in place, and 10 residents were evacuated because of the risk the truck might fall on them.A multi-tonne truck…

Hugh Grant hated his character in Notting Hill.In the 1999 rom-com, the actor played bumbling bookstore owner William Thacker who falls in love with a movie star played by Julia Roberts but Grant has labelled him “despicable” for the way he treated the actress throughout the movie.Speaking as part of Vanity Fair’s Scene Selection, Grant explained: “Whenever I’m flicking the channels at home after a few drinks and this comes up, I just think, ‘Why doesn’t my character have any balls?'”There’s a scene in this film where she’s in my house and the paps come to the front door and…