Author: Press Room

Paul Mescal is “massively down” for a third Gladiator movie.The 28-year-old actor stars in director Sir Ridley Scott’s new historical epic – a sequel to the 2000 original, which starred Russell Crowe. He has admitted he would be up for another film, which he joked wouldn’t take another 24 years to make.When Variety asked Mescal if he would want a third instalment in the Gladiator franchise, he said: “Oh yeah, [I’m] massively down. “I don’t think it will be [24] years — but I have no idea when it will be.”Gladiator II had its Global Premiere in London which was…

More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against “probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen”. “They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.”She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri…

An electrician previously sentenced to home detention has had his licence suspended for two years after his “grossly negligent” work led to a handyman’s electrocution and death. Stephen Burton was found to have failed to adequately test a rangehood installation in 2020, leading to the death of a handyman who was later working on the same unit, according to the Electrical Workers Registration Board.The board’s decision comes after the electrician was sentenced to eight months of home detention and ordered to pay $150,000 towards emotional harm and consequential loss factors in the Nelson District Court on February 20. Electrical Workers…

Media company NZME has revealed plans to close 14 of its community newspapers in a proposal that would see around 30 jobs affected. In a statement to 1News this morning, NZME chief executive Michael Boggs revealed the company had met with its communities’ team about proposed changes to its local newspaper network.Boggs said that while the company’s local papers play a “hugely important role” in the communities they serve, the changing media landscape and a “substantial increase in costs” meant they were no longer profitable. If implemented, the proposal would see 14 of NZME’s community papers shut down – likely…

The Ukrainian President said “Ukraine is grateful to all our partners who help us with anti-missile and air-defence systems.” ADVERTISEMENTOn Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about Ukraine’s air-defence systems. Germany is one of the leading European suppliers of military aid to Ukraine. “We have now discussed the delivery of another IRIS-T system as well as future work on the development of our air shield,” Zelenskyy said. “We have also discussed the Ramstein format, a collaboration that has greatly benefited Ukraine and all our partners. It is our collective strength.”The Ramstein format, also called the…

Police have released a CCTV image of a 77-year-old Porirua man who has been missing since Sunday, hoping it will help lead to his whereabouts. Graham Russell Smith was reported missing at about 6.30pm on Sunday after he went for a walk on Doctor Track on the Colonial Knob walkway in Porirua, police said.Today, police released a CCTV image of Smith captured earlier on Sunday afternoon. The image shows him wearing the same clothing he was in when he went missing. Police said he was also wearing a dark blue puffer jacket.”Police are hoping a new CCTV image may help…

A Beach Haven resident says she has been “overwhelmed” after the community rallied to help pay for treatment for her 10-month-old kitten who was maimed over the weekend.Danella Paterson told 1News she first knew something was wrong with her “sweet” kitten Rocky when he came home on Saturday “growling in intense pain”. “His whole body was like, paralysed. I touched him and he growled more, the pain was intense,” she said. “I could see his whole backside was completely, almost flattened.” Paterson said he was “howling, growling and groaning in agony” as she rushed him to the vet where X-rays…

An open-cast gold mine owner hoping for a fast-tracked expansion in Otago has poor compliance with environmental requirements and no plan to reduce its overall carbon emissions. The revelations about OceanaGold have sparked dismay from environmental organisations. A campaigner for 350 Aotearoa, Adam Currie, said the fast-track consent process was “not needed nor helpful” and OceanaGold should shut down. “They should pack up and pay the real cost of toxic waste they leave behind. They are affecting the climate globally and locally and we need to be doing everything we can to reduce emissions.” OceanaGold’s poor environmental compliance at its…

Aucklanders will be able to tap onto buses, trains and ferries using their phone or credit and debit cards from this Sunday.Auckland Transport said on its website that commuters will be able to pay for public transport “your way” from November 17.Accepted payment methods would include contactless debit and credit cards, as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay in the digital wallet of one’s smart device.Contactless payments will be “another big step forward” for Auckland’s public transport network, AT director of public transport and active modes Stacey van der Putten told 1News last month.”Contactless payments is about…

Management of Audi Brussels called in the police after workers protested the rejection of their counter-proposal, demanding “fair compensation” as the plant’s closure puts thousands of jobs at risk. ADVERTISEMENTNegotiations between union representatives and Audi Brussels management were interrupted on Wednesday when police were called in after workers entered the meeting room in protest.Employees say they put forward a counter-proposal for the company’s social plan, but after it was turned down, they entered the meeting room to “peacefully express their frustration.” Management then called the police to remove them from the premises. Belgian police arrived equipped with batons, helmets, and…