Author: Press Room

Tūrangawaewae Marae has opened its gates to the public and iwi from around the country today, marking the third day of mourning after the death of Kīngi Tuheitia.The Māori King died in the early hours of Friday morning. He had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery.The marae is now welcoming iwi, hapu and roopu from across the motu for Tuheitia’s tangihanga, including Ngāti Hine from the north and Rātana from the south.Thousands of people arrived at the grounds of the Waikato marae today, including Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro. The Kīngitanga’s chief of staff Ngira Simmonds spoke to the importance…

Hundreds of Wellington residents have piled on to social media to call for tea and toast to be put back on the menu of the city’s maternity wards.An email seen by RNZ to Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley staff on Thursday explains its patient food service provider, Spotless, will no longer provide bread and certain other foods on wards. Hospital services general manager Shane King told staff the patient food services budget had a $1.5 million overspend last financial year.He said much of the food was being eaten by staff and patient visitors: “In our current fiscal environment, it is…

Police have identified the woman’s body found in a wharf in Eastbourne this morning.In a statement, police said the death is “not being treated as suspicious”, and will be referred to the Coroner.Police were called to the incident at about 10.10am this morning after a member of the public located the body on the waterline.

Two people have been injured, one seriously, after a large group fight in Waipukurau in Hawke’s Bay last night.Police said an investigation has been launched after the incident at an event.Officers were called to a commercial premises at about 8.30pm after reports of a large group fighting.”On arrival, one person was found with moderate injuries, and was transported to hospital to be assessed,” a spokesperson said.”Further fighting has then broken out, resulting in another person being seriously injured.”The attendees have been dispersed and an investigation has commenced.”Although police said investigators were following positive lines of inquiry, they would like to…

The dead freshwater fish filled both Volos bay and nearby rivers on Tuesday after they were displaced from their normal habitats by flooding last year. ADVERTISEMENTGreek authorities have announced a series of measures to support local businesses after more than 100 tonnes of dead fish were carried by floodwater into the central port of Volos. According to a joint statement by the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Health, Environment and Energy, Labour and Social Security, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the raft of measures include subsidies for businesses who have experienced a loss of turnover. Tax and insurance payments will also be…

Some Oasis fans celebrated like a champagne supernova, while others looked back in anger this morning as online ticket sites strained under demand for the band’s first shows for 15 years.The Britpop-era behemoth led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher is scheduled to play 17 gigs in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin starting July 4.More than one million tickets went on sale Saturday morning (London time), with prices starting at about 74 pounds (NZ$155) and rising to a 506-pound (NZ$1060) package that includes a pre-show party and merchandise.The band’s representatives said later in the day that all the tickets…

Police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted and left injured in Central Wellington last weekend.Emergency services were called to the intersection of Tory St and Courtenay Pl at about 1.45am on Sunday, August 25, after a man was found unconscious after being assaulted.He was transported to hospital with serious injuries.”Police are now working to establish the full picture of what has occurred,” a spokesperson said.”Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information about those involved is urged to come forward.”

Former minister Andrew Little says he has confidence in the new commissioner of Health NZ, who was appointed after the Government sacked the agency’s board.The former senior government minister said he only misses politics on “some days” as he spoke to Q+A about the Government’s plans to strip costs from Te Whatu Ora, ongoing developments related to AUKUS Pillar Two and Crown-iwi relations.Little also expressed surprise at the speed and extent of policy reversals undertaken by the coalition government, describing some of the changes as “vindictive”.’I have faith in Lester Levy’ – former health ministerIn July, the Government appointed Lester…

Vučić acknowledged that Serbia had resisted falling in line with the rest of Europe in putting sanctions on Russia but did say Belgrade had repeatedly condemned the invasion of Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTSerbian President Aleksandar Vučić has denied having close links to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and dismissed the suggestion that his country is a ‘Trojan horse’ for Moscow.Speaking at the GLOBESEC security conference in Prague, Vučić said he he hadn’t met or spoken to Putin in the more than two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.”Yes, we have traditionally very good ties and we are not hiding it. And I’m not…

Two men have been arrested following a disorder incident at a large community gathering at a Sikh Temple in Tauranga last weekend.Police said they were notified of a physical dispute involving a number of people on Cheyne Rd in Pyes Pa at around 5.30pm on August 24.The NZ Herald reported the brawl between two rival Sikh groups erupted due to tensions over the management of the temple and involved baseball balls and other weapons.Police said more arrests were expected as the investigation into the incident continued.”We would like to thank those people who have been in touch with information, but…