Author: Press Room

Dunedin’s Meridian Mall has lost another major retail chain. Smiths City has confirmed it will be moving to new premises between Crawford and Vogel Sts after its lease at the mall expires. Consumer general manager James Matthews said the retail chain had been looking for a new site for “quite some time” and an exact departure date was yet to be confirmed, but would be later in the year. He confirmed the store would relocate to a new site in Crawford St, opposite Big Save Furniture, and no staff would be affected by the shift. “Staff are excited and looking…

The Postal Workers Union is calling on the Human Rights Commission to intervene as Wellington posties refuse to deliver a flyer, which they say contains misinformation.Better Wellington created the flyer to attack what it calls wasteful spending in the city.Among its claims, the flyer states the Wellington City Council wants to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer across the city. But the council said staff were only asked to clarify noise rules for calls to prayer on the anniversary of the March 15 terror attack.”To use us as a political football, to get a message across – that’s shameful. That’s…

Tax cuts and energy bill relief are expected to support household budgets and keep a floor under the tough conditions facing the nation’s retailers.A sluggish economy and financially constrained consumers have kept pressure on the sector, with real retail spending in decline for six of the past seven quarters.Deloitte Access Economics partner David Rumbens said Australia’s retail sector had effectively been in recession for the past 18 months, with real spending contracting 0.6 per cent over the year to June.”This sits against a backdrop of poor conditions across the economy more generally, with the labour market weakening and business insolvencies…

Police have released the name of the hunter fatally shot in Tolaga Bay on Saturday, after a 39-year-old man appeared in court facing a charge relating to a firearm. The person shot was John James Stuart Atkins, 44, from Tolaga Bay. The hunter was injured on Tauwhaeparae Road at about 10.30pm on August 24 and later died in hospital, several hours later, according to police.Detective Inspector Dave de Lange said: “This is a tragic incident; our thoughts are with Mr Atkin’s family at this difficult time, and we are providing support to those involved.”He added inquiries into the events that…

Fonterra is spending about $75 million on an expansion of its Studholme site, near Waimate, to create a hub for high-value proteins. In a statement yesterday, the co-operative said site works would begin next month and the first product was due to come off the line in 2026. About six new roles at the site would be created and a large number of contractors involved in the build would come from Canterbury. Fonterra bought the milk-processing plant in 2012 following the receivership of Russian-owned New Zealand Dairies Ltd, which commissioned the plant in 2007 at a cost of $108m. It…

The bosses of some of Australia’s biggest banks are set for a parliamentary grilling, as mortgage holders grapple with stubborn interest rates.Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn and Westpac head Peter King will appear to give evidence before a House of Representatives committee reviewing Australia’s big four banks on Thursday.The big four control about 80 per cent of the Australian banking sector.The committee chair, Labor MP Daniel Mulino, said interest rate decisions would be a key focus of the inquiry.”The Reserve Bank governor told us it is premature for commentators to be thinking about rate cuts yet the major banks…

A person is missing after a boat “encountered difficulties” in Auckland’s Manukau Harbour this evening. Two people were onboard when the vessel got into difficulty in the water near Puketutu Island, a Coastguard spokesperson said . One person swam to shore and alerted police, while the second person “remains unaccounted for”.Volunteers from the Titirangi Volunteer Coastguard and Papakura Coastguard, along with Auckland Airport’s hovercraft, is taking part in the search.”Search conditions are challenging due to swell and darkness but our volunteers that are out on the water on rescue vessels ‘Lenses Online Titirangi Rescue’, ‘Pakakura Rescue 1’ and ‘Papakura Rescue…

Dual-listed eftpos terminals provider Smartpay has acquired the business assets of Dunedin-based Technology Holdings Ltd (THL), which is in receivership owing more than $13 million. In a statement this week, Smartpay — which is listed on the NZX and ASX — said it had paid $3.91m for the assets of THL and its various subsidiaries. These consisted of the eftpos rental book and associated eftpos terminals, goodwill and other assets including vehicles and equipment. Smartpay had offered employment to the majority of the employees of THL. Most had accepted and the offer included Smartpay recognising existing employee entitlements. The acquisition…

Opinion: Oasis is getting back together after 15 years – so Glenn Fosbraey looks at why the band’s first album is still praised as one of the greatest debuts of all time.Liam and Noel Gallagher have finally announced an Oasis reunion tour, 15 years after they disbanded due to their constant feuds. Definitely Maybe, the album that launched the band, celebrates its 30th birthday on August 29. Branded one of the greatest debut albums of all time by many music critics, what is it that makes it so good? I think it comes down to five core components – relatability,…

For years, the George Manson block at Nelson Hospital has been known as the hospital building in the worst condition in the country.The unenviable title came from an audit of health facilities around the country which highlighted earthquake-strengthening issues in the seven-storey building.Plans to rebuild or redevelop Nelson Hospital have been talked about since the late 1990s, with some staff and locals frustrated by what they see as delays.But in recent months glimmers of progress have begun shining through.Earlier this month, 1News was given a tour of parts of Nelson Hospital as officials ramp up planning for a billion-dollar hospital…