Author: Press Room

Conservationists are calling for dog restrictions to go further in Tasman following the death of another kororā/ little blue penguin in June.The penguin is the latest killed by a dog following a spate of attacks across a number of years in the region, prompting the Tasman District Council to review its Dog Control Policy and Bylaw for the first time since 2014. Linda Jenkins from Tasman Bay Blue Penguin Trust told Breakfast the council had made a “good start” with their draft bylaw but wanted to see the council “step up to the plate” with better controls and compliance for…

A Hamilton dairy company has been fined $420,000 for using false claims on its packaging. Milkio Foods Limited had descriptions like ‘100 per cent Pure New Zealand’ and ‘from the clean green pasture based dairy farms in New Zealand’ on its ghee products – despite using butter imported from India. It also used false and incomplete information to retain approval to use the FernMark logo – a trusted symbol to identify products made in New Zealand. The Commerce Commission was referred the case by the Ministry for Primary Industries and charged Milkio with 15 breaches of the Fair Trading Act.…

A Hamilton-based dairy company has been fined $420,000 for making claims about some of its products being “100% Pure New Zealand” despite the core ingredients being imported from India.The Commerce Commission said Milkio Foods Limited used false and incomplete information to retain approval to use the FernMark logo and licence number, which is used internationally to identify products made in New Zealand.At the Hamilton District Court it admitted 15 breaches of the Fair Trading Act for making false representations about the country-of-origin of the butter used in their ghee products, and using the FernMark logo and licence number without proper…

A slip on State Highway 6 between Hira and Rai Valley has closed the main route between Nelson and Blenheim this morning.New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said a slip and rockfalls was reported shortly before 5am, forcing the closure of State Highway 6 north of Nelson, between Hira and Whangamoa. “The only available detour is via State Highway 63 St Arnaud and the Wairau Valley. “This adds around 40 minutes to travel time between Blenheim and Nelson and about an extra hour if travelling to or from the Rai Valley,” it said.In an update shortly before 9.30am, NZTA said material…

A person has died following a crash on at Pahoia in the Western Bay of Plenty.Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle collision on Pahoia Rd about 6.50pm on Friday. The sole occupant of one of the vehicles died at the scene. Three occupants of the second vehicle were treated for minor-to-moderate injuries.Police said they were providing support to those involved and enquiries were underway to determine the cause of the crash.Pahoia Rd reopened about midnight.

St John is asking the public to save ambulances for emergencies today during another strike by ambulance workers and call-centre staff.Ambulance workers and call-centre staff began 24 hours of rolling strikes from 4am, in a repeat of Tuesday’s action.Unions are warning that more strike action is likely, unless the government comes up with more cash for ambulance services.St John spokesperson Dan Ohs said Saturdays were one of the busiest days of the week, with more people travelling, drinking alcohol, playing sport or doing DIY around the house and it was anticipated that St John’s capacity would be 70% of usual.”That…

The head of a prestigious private school has gone on sudden extended leave, citing “family circumstances”.St Peter’s School Cambridge head of school Marcus Blackburn emailed parents on Monday stating that “due to family circumstances, I am having to take an immediate and extended period of leave for the remainder of term 3, beginning today through to Monday 14 October”.Blackburn, from the United Kingdom, joined the co-educational Anglican day and boarding school, with a roll of 1200, in January 2023 from St Peter’s College in Adelaide where he was a deputy headmaster.His appointment followed a period of uncertainty after principal Dale…

Illegal wood chopping along Marlborough’s Wairau River increased as winter temperatures dipped this year — with firewood believed to be the main motivator.Rangers for the Marlborough District Council have found at least 50 instances of illegal wood chopping between April 1 and July 31. All but one of these were along the Wairau River, usually on the south side.At an assets and services meeting on Tuesday, Wairau-Awatere ward councillor Scott Adams said it was concerning that it was happening at a similar rate as seen in previous years.Last year, the rangers reported 61 instances of wood chopping from May 1…

The man was arrested after he said he was responsible for the knife attack that left three dead and eight wounded at a festival in Solingen on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENTA failed Syrian asylum seeker has been arrested after he said he was responsible for the knife attack that left three dead and eight wounded at a festival in the city of Solingen on Sunday.A judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe where the man had been flown by helicopter from Solingen, named him – without identifying his family name – as 26-year-old Issa al H. The dpa news agency…

Thousands of New Zealanders are failing to get proper screening for bowel cancer.New research found over a 10-year period more than 7000 eligible people tried but failed, due to an error with the test or it not being done properly.It found deprivation was a huge factor in people failing to do the test again.Study author Chey Dearing from the Eastern Institute of Technology said people of Māori and Asian and Pacific ethnicity were more likely to miss out – and they were not the only ones.”We found that males, compared with females, were more likely to attempt but fail,” Dearing…