Author: Press Room

The attack took place two days before snap parliamentary elections in Germany in which migration has become a top issue, pushed to the forefront by five deadly attacks involving immigrants over the past nine months. ADVERTISEMENTThe suspect in a stabbing attack at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial that seriously injured a Spanish tourist is a Syrian refugee who apparently wanted to kill Jews, investigators have said.The 19-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday evening, almost three hours after the attack, when he approached officers with blood on his hands and clothes.Police and prosecutors said in a statement that the victim sustained life-threatening injuries…

The sister of Aiden Sagala, who died after unknowingly drinking a beer can containing liquid methamphetamine, says a new arrival to the family has helped her heal.The men convicted of the import of the disguised drinks and her brother’s manslaughter were sentenced today.Aiden died from multiple organ failure with an “off the charts” level of methamphetamine in his system on March 7, five days after he consumed the Honey Bear beer can given to him by Himatjit Singh Kahlon who was found guilty of manslaughter at trial in October last year.That methamphetamine came from a Manukau warehouse where police found…

New Zealand’s biggest median property price increase since 2000 was more than 1000%, new data from Corelogic shows.The property research firm has delved into the capital gains experienced by property markets around the country since 2000.Top of the list was Mackenzie District, which had a 1074% increase, from a median value of $64,723 in 2000 to $690,578.Invercargill and Central Otago both had increases of 775%.Waitaki was next, with 745%, to a median of $490,223 and Queenstown Lakes 699% to $1.63m.Of the main centres, Dunedin had the most growth, up 500% from a median of $101,872 in 2000 to $611,180.Auckland values…

In the run-up to the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises comprise about 10,000 military personnel from nine nations as part of NATO’s new Allied Reaction Force. ADVERTISEMENTNATO members are continuing their biggest combat exercises of 2025, testing their ability to rapidly deploy large-scale forces on the 32-nation alliance’s eastern border as worries grow over its most powerful member, the United States.The drills in Romania, which borders Ukraine, come as a shaken Europe grapples with a new US course under President Donald Trump.In the run-up to the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion…

The Transport Minister has laid out a vision for boosting Auckland’s urban density in a speech to a business group.Speaking to the Committee for Auckland today, the newly-minted Transport Minister Chris Bishop started his speech by stating he made “no apologies for being what is sometimes called an urbanist”.His ideas for the city included reigning in congestion — with a Time of Use charging bill expected to get to select committee by the end of March — removing level crossings, encouraging transit-orientated development, and taking a “fresh look” at the city’s viewshafts.Bishop said Auckland’s 73 viewshafts — which limited building…

The Carterton District Council hopes it can pull its speed review out of limbo with a request to the Transport Minister.The council, which consulted on reducing speeds across the district in 2023, has been unable to implement the proposed changes because of a new transport rule brought in by the Coalition Government.The rule required six weeks of consultation and a business case for each speed reduction, which was not previously a requirement at the time the council consulted on its speed review.Changes in limbo for Carterton included a blanket speed reduction to 80km/h on gravel roads, and speed reductions on…

An unprecedented 55 haka groups will perform at Te Matatini Festival from Tuesday in New Plymouth, Taranaki.The groups are split over four pools – Te Ihu, Te Haumi, Te Kei, Te Awa – each pool has been allocated a performance day.Tuesday – Te Ihu (Source: Supplied)Fourteen groups will perform on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and thirteen on Friday in the preliminary round.At the end of Friday, the top twelve teams – three selected from each pool – will be named to perform in Te Mātangirua, the finals day, on Saturday.Wednesday – Te Haumi (Source: Supplied)Organisers are expecting 70,000 to attend the…

A death-bed promise to solve a family mystery took Laura Ancell and her mother on a remarkable, “deeply personal” journey from the south coast of England to Aotearoa’s shores and all the way to Parliament, reports Emma Hildesley. Sitting next to their beloved father and husband on his death-bed, Laura Ancell and her mother Jayne clasped Billy’s hand and made him a promise that would change the course of their lives. Growing up in Brighton on England’s south coast, Billy had “always felt like a big part of him was missing” since being told in his 30s that the man…

When their recently purchased horse went lame, Pip Gordon felt they were owed a refund. The Disputes Tribunal agreed. But that was just the start of a long struggle to get her money back. It turned out the seller has a history of not paying, and is a repeat offender on Fair Go. In August 2022, Pip Gordon’s 20-year-old daughter Jorja was over the moon. She’d found a horse she believed was her ticket to becoming a competitive show jumper. Sally, or Sal, had good lineage, and photos showed her looking great in action. Even her mum was happy.“The fact…

At least three flights over the Tasman Sea have reportedly been forced to change routes after fears Chinese naval vessels were carrying out live-fire drills in the region. Australia has warned airlines flying to and from New Zealand to beware of warships conducting live-fire exercises, the country’s foreign minister Penny Wong said.Wong confirmed media reports that regulator Airservices Australia had warned commercial pilots of a potential hazard in the airspace between New Zealand and Australia as three Chinese warships conducted exercises off the Australian east coast.Defence Minister Judith Collins said, as on Friday night, the New Zealand Government had no…