Author: Press Room
The veteran TV journalist Bob McNeil has died.McNeil began his career in newspapers and radio but was best known for his 20-year stint as a reporter on TV3 – a role that took him to countless countries and made him a household name in New Zealand.Colleagues paying tribute on social media this morning recalled his kindness, humour and empathy for the people he interviewed.Veteran 1News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver described him as “a damn fine journo and a gentleman”, while former TV3 investigative reporter Karen Rutherford said he was “one of the kindest, most genuine journos with such great wit”.Journalist…
It has been a tough year for job hunters.As the labour market softened and unemployment increased, many people searching for work reported being up against hundreds of other applicants.Although the economy is set to improve next year, there is a warning things are likely to remain difficult for applicants for some time yet — and more people may choose to move offshore in their search for work.Shay Peters, chief executive of recruitment firm Robert Walters, said there had been significant numbers of New Zealanders looking for job opportunities in other countries in recent times — and that was likely to…
Kaipara Mayor and self-described “Trump of the North” Craig Jepson loves nothing better than fishing over summer.Across the Northland border, in Auckland waters — in the first instance at least.Northland’s Mangawhai-based mayor likes to head out across the bar from his upper Mangawhai Harbour home to catch snapper, trevally and more.His favourite fishing spot is in Auckland waters, off Te Arai on the Pakiri coast, about 500 metres south of the border between the two regions.Jepson loves it because it’s the quickest best place to get to.He fishes in Auckland waters’ Mokohinau Islands as well.But Jepson mixes this up with…
Two people have been critically injured and another has moderate injuries in a crash early this morning near Te Anau.Police, in a statement, said officers were called to the scene on Manapouri Te Anau Highway at around 12am.”Two people were taken to hospital in a critical condition,” police said.St John said a third person had serious injuries.”The road was closed for a period of time while emergency services attended the scene,” police said, and enquiries were underway into the circumstances of the crash.Hato Hone St John said it sent six ambulances, two helicopters, one rapid response unit, one first response…
Summer for the country’s northernmost mayor means the haven of whānau at the end of the road in one of New Zealand’s most remote communities.Far North Mayor Moko Tepania (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa) returns to his family whenua in the North Hokianga coastal community of Mitimiti.The tiny settlement clings to the narrow strip of low hills sandwiched between beach and mountains, at the end of a single narrow dusty road that winds west towards the sunset over the folds of Papatuanuku towards the crashing Tasman Sea.There, it is time to fill his cup, reconnect with whānau and recharge…
A poll by Ipsos shows Milanović leading with over 50% of the vote, with his main challenger Dragan Primorac, trailing far behind with 22%. ADVERTISEMENTCroatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanović has a sweeping lead in Sunday’s election and could win the five-year presidency in the first round, according to an exit poll released immediately after the voting.The poll by Ipsos and released by state television HRT showed Milanović winning over 50% of the votes, while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, the candidate for the conservative HDZ ruling party trailed far behind at 22%.Milanović thanked voters in a post on social networks.The…
MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the Wairoa District, with stormy weather expected to hit the region on Monday.Heavy rain and thunderstorms were most likely in the afternoon and evening, the forecaster said.The watch could be upgraded to a warning later.It was in place for the area east of Lake Waikaremoana and Gisborne south of the city from 4pm Monday until 6pm Tuesday.About 17,000 campers are currently in Gisborne for the Rhythm and Vines festival, which ends on New Year’s Day.The area has just been hit by a month’s worth of rain and high winds on Boxing Day.rnz.co.nz
With the new century entering its 25th year, Summer Times looks back at some of the events of 2000 and sees how we’ve fared since. John Lewis talks the price of petrol. “When’s it going to end,” was a common complaint heard around Dunedin petrol stations in the first week of March 2000. On March 7 that year, the cost of 91-octane petrol passed the $1 mark for the first time and reached $1.03 per litre. At the same time, 96-octane was selling for $1.08 per litre. There was so much concern about the skyrocketing price, it made front-page headlines in the Otago Daily Times. Just over…
Whangārei man Chris Geerkens has reflected on his life as a fierce conservation advocate — 15 years since he was the country’s first official Good Sort. Geerkens fostered a keen interest in cleaning up at age 7, and even penned a number of letters to paper editors about pollution issues in his community.At the time, it saw him lead a march protesting against raw sewage being dumped in the Whangārei harbour. Geerkens went back to the council many times about the issue after that, resulting in the Council investing in a better system. “Now seeing what the results are 10…
One of the most gripping conspiracies of 2024 has almost superseded crazy-land and gone into modern folklore. Laine Priestley explains the series of events that conspiracists believe has turned Beyonce from a singing superstar to a god-like supernova scaring the celebrity world into submission. Part global piss-take, part perceived truth by some, the latest Beyonce conspiracy has gripped the internet and turned into a meme in the process. While rumours of illuminati dealings, child sacrifice and a secret world government have swirled around Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z for years, the latest theory to slither on to the internet was akin to…