Author: Press Room

Air New Zealand’s new chief executive says the airline’s fortunes are inextricably linked to the nation’s economic recovery as he takes the helm during a period of significant pressure.Nikhil Ravishankar, who officially started as CEO in October, told Q+A the carrier had a central role in kickstarting the recovery while navigating a volatile global market.The airline signalled a financial loss of up to $55 million for the six months ending December, with as many as 11 jets grounded due to engine problems — about a fifth of its fleet.”Air New Zealand does well when New Zealand does well,” Ravishankar said.…

Maritime operations to disrupt Pacific drug networks, further funding for addictions services, and tougher police powers are among the key measures in the Government’s action plan to tackle increasing methamphetamine harm.Earlier this year, the Prime Minister tasked ministers with finding ways to address the growing issue after meth consumption doubled from 732kg in 2023 to 1434kg in 2024, according to police wastewater testing.Speaking at a media conference to unveil the action plan on Sunday, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said methamphetamine was a “scourge on our society” that fuelled organised crime and “destroys lives”.”This Government’s primary justice target is to reduce…

The discovery of yellow-legged hornet nests in Auckland is frightening. Victoria University ecology professor Phil Lester explains how we can all help stop its spread.There have been five confirmed detections to date. Two of these were small nests, more than a kilometre apart, which suggests there are likely more in the region.Why should we worry? This hornet is a serious concern for all New Zealanders. Yellow-legged hornets are aggressive predators and can become highly abundant. They threaten people’s health, biodiversity and especially honey bees.The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) was accidentally introduced into France in 2004. It then spread rapidly, at…

ACT Minister Brooke van Velden’s says her proposed Employment Relations Amendment Bill will increase flexibility for both contract workers and business owners. But could it see more and more Kiwi workers toil for low pay and zero holiday and sick leave, as is already the case with many Uber drivers? By John Campbell Sometimes, the crumbs only lead to other crumbs. Marie Aldcroft, an organiser with Workers First Union, is sent weekly earnings figures by some of the roughly 1000 Uber drivers she and the union represent. ‘Nobody’s forcing people to work for Uber’ – Watch this story on TVNZ+.One…

A person has been arrested in Palmerston North, connected with an apartment complex shooting where the victim of a “targeted attack” jumped from a balcony to escape a balaclava-wearing offender who was armed with a shotgun.Armed police were called to the Pukehinau Flats in Brooklyn at 3.35pm on Sunday after reports of gunfire. On Wednesday, police said a person wearing a balaclava and armed with a shotgun entered the apartments – firing in the hallway after an “altercation” with the victim broke out. The victim was injured after jumping from the balcony to escape. Yesterday evening, police said a 34-year-old…

Fog restrictions have been lifted after dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed at Auckland Airport this morning. Auckland Airport said a total of 23 domestic flights were cancelled, and nine were delayed due to the fog.Air New Zealand flight 001 from New York was delayed due to the fog, but has now landed. Passengers were asked to check the airport’s website to keep up with the latest flight arrival and departure information.  

A photographer says a bioluminescent display he captured on Friday night at a North Auckland beach was “the best show” of the spectacular natural light show that he’d ever seen.Matthew Davison captured the display at Stanmore Bay after noticing conditions were right for bioluminescence using a tool he built that uses satellite imagery to spot algal blooms. “That gave me the heads up during the day that the entire shore around Stanmore Bay was a brilliant red/pink, which is a sure sign something is on the way.”Spectacular bioluminescence display stuns onlookers – watch on TVNZ+Davison caught the phenomenon between 9…

Thunderstorms capable of producing marble-sized hail and flooding are shadowing Auckland and Northland.A severe thunderstorm watch is in place in the upper North Island as temperatures ramp up across the country.MetService said there was a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms and downpours. The rain could cause flash flooding or slips, particularly near streams, rivers or narrow valleys.Fiordland and Westland in the South also have potential for heavy rainfall. From Sunday night Fiordland will be under a heavy rain watch, with Westland’s heavy rain watch beginning in the early hours of Monday morning.MetService said thunderstorms were also possible.There was a moderate…

A woman was left “shaken” after a prowler tried to enter her Rotorua pensioner flat amid reports of homeless people sleeping around empty council-owned units.The incident happened early last Saturday on Kahikatea St and has sparked security fears.Another resident, whose car has been stolen twice, told Local Democracy Reporting she felt “scared” and “isolated” as the only occupant of a block of four units.More than a quarter of Rotorua’s pensioner housing was vacant.Rotorua Lakes Council provided 152 pensioner housing units across six blocks in Ngongotahā, Fenton Park, Glenholme and Westbrook.Forty-six of these were vacant, with the number doubling since November…

One of the most familiar faces in local television has made a return as the host of The Chase New Zealand. When you take a show as popular as The Chase with a host as beloved as Bradley Walsh and create a Kiwi version, you have a challenge. Who could step up as local host and not be summarily dismissed as a pale shadow of the cheeky UK original?Enter Paul Henry, a bona fide household name in Aotearoa who may reside at the spicier end of the hosting rack, but who’s nonetheless most at home there, with his quick wit…