Author: Press Room

The New Zealand economy grew in the first quarter of 2025, with GDP increasing by 0.8% in figures released today by Stats NZ.It followed a revised 0.5% increase in the December 2024 quarter.Activity increased in the March 2025 quarter across all three high-level industry groups: primary industries, goods-producing industries, and services industries.”At a more detailed industry level, nine of the 16 industries increased, with the largest rises in business services and manufacturing,” economic growth spokesperson Katrina Dewbery said.Activity picked up in the March 2025 quarter across all three high-level industry groups.  (Source: 1News)An increase in the production of machinery and…

State housing provider Kāinga Ora is halting hundreds of housing developments which would have delivered nearly 3500 homes, and selling a fifth of its vacant land.The agency’s chief executive Matt Crockett said on Thursday the “critical step” in its reset plan would see it write down up to $220 million.Housing Minister Chris Bishop ordered Kāinga Ora to deliver a turnaround plan that would ensure financial sustainability.The agency’s plan will see it refocus as a landlord, rather than a developer, and the number of houses it owned would stabilise from 2026.Crockett said Kāinga Ora reviewed more than 460 social housing projects…

What do the All Blacks, the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions have in common — aside from all being rugby teams? The answer is Dunedin tech business Axon Perform, which is providing literally game-changing insights to give global sports teams the edge. The company has seen a rapid uptake of its integrated intelligence platform and, as the international rugby season approaches, there has been a flurry of new signings. Chief executive and founder Jon Foote started specialist data and analytics consultancy Flock Consulting more than six years ago. He always had a vision of building something that helped…

Four people appeared in the High Court in Wellington today on charges of manslaughter relating to the fatal Loafers Lodge fire.Name suppression was lifted for Gregory Mein, but remains in place for the three other accused. An argument for their case for continued name suppression will be heard next Friday. All four have been remanded on bail.Mein entered a plea of not guilty on all charges, and one other, a 58-year-old man also entered a not guilty plea. No trial date has been set. The other two – a 75-year-old and 70-year-old woman – are yet to enter pleas.The morning’s…

Failed Mosgiel businessman Malcolm Burns has finally been declared bankrupt despite a last-ditch effort to delay the decision a fourth time. Associate Judge Dale Lester declared Mr Burns bankrupt in the High Court at Dunedin on June 12 after the previous week giving him “a last chance” to pay what his company Otago Excavation owes vehicle leasing business FleetPartners Group. The bankruptcy of Mr Burns, who has several businesses in liquidation owing millions to multiple creditors, was sought by NZGT (FP) Trustee Ltd, on behalf of FleetPartners Group. Private investigator Thomas James, who acted on behalf of FleetPartners, confirmed the…

The decision to call a non-emergency line to notify police about a mental health patient’s admission that he had attacked a woman with an axe is forming part of a review into the double-killer’s care.It comes as the daughter of Faye Phelps backs calls for an independent inquiry into the mental health system.The 83-year-old was murdered by mental health patient Elliot Cameron in October last year.A suppression order was lifted on Monday, allowing RNZ to report Cameron killed his brother Jeffrey Cameron in 1975. A jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and detained as a…

Published on 19/06/2025 – 16:33 GMT+2•Updated 16:37ADVERTISEMENTThe foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – collectively known as the E3 – will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva to discuss Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva on Friday.While the EU has historically played a key role in negotiations with Iran, it seems unlikely to participate in the formal talks.When asked by Euronews whether EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas would participate in the talks, a European Commission spokesperson gave no clear confirmation.“We have always expressed our openness to dialogue and negotiation. When such dialogue occurs, we…

A sight- and hearing-impaired man who was hit by a motorcyclist on a pedestrian crossing in Rotorua over the weekend, with the rider fleeing the scene, has died in hospital.The motorcyclist allegedly overtook a stationary vehicle and struck the 24-year-old pedestrian as he was crossing Edmund Rd in Mangakakahi at around 2.15pm on Sunday.Police said the rider then performed a U-turn, rode back towards the crossing, and fled the scene without stopping or checking on the victim.The pedestrian was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition. Edmund Rd was closed while emergency services attended.Detective Sergeant Phil Wilkinson today said…

Published on 19/06/2025 – 17:15 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTUS tech giants Apple and Meta will not face sanctions immediately for failure to meet obligations under the EU’s digital rulebook, an EU spokesperson told Euronews.In April, the Commission fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and gave both companies 60 days to bring their practices in line with EU rules. That grace period ends on 26 June, after which they risk periodic penalty payments.According to the spokesperson, financial penalties will not be applied automatically but only after the Commission conducts a preliminary analysis and shares…

The Government has announced a fresh wave of sanctions against individuals and entities helping Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine, including Russia’s “shadow fleet”. The latest round of sanctions, announced by Foreign Minister Winston Peters today, targeted actors involved in Russia’s military-industrial complex and its supporters from North Korea, Iran, and Belarus. The new sanctions targeted a further 18 individuals and entities. “New Zealand must continue to hold Russia and its enablers accountable. Military support from actors in North Korea, Iran, and Belarus has helped Russia sustain its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Peters said.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds…