Author: Press Room

Trains in Auckland and Wellington will shut down over the Labour long weekend as crews work around the clock to upgrade the country’s two busiest rail networks.The works were timed to coincide with lower passenger numbers over the long weekend.Auckland’s trains will not run from Friday until Monday amid 24/7 work to prepare the network for the City Rail Link. The $5.5b project, expected to open next year, will add two new stations in midtown Auckland and Karangahape Rd, effectively doubling the network’s capacity and redrawing the supercity’s rail lines.The four-day closure would maximise the amount of work KiwiRail, Auckland…

Doctors and nurses, together with teachers, are among tens of thousands expected to take part in a multi-sector “mega-strike” on Thursday. But Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that this week’s industrial action by doctors “crosses an ethical line” misunderstands doctors’ ethical responsibilities, writes Elizabeth Fenton.Doctors and nurses, together with teachers, are among tens of thousands expected to take part in a multi-sector “mega-strike” on Thursday.Striking is an option of last resort. In healthcare, it causes disruption and inconvenience for patients, whānau and the health system – but it is ethically justified.Arguably, it is ethically required when poor working conditions associated…

Air New Zealand is expected to make a first-half loss of up to $55 million amid weaker-than-expected passenger numbers and higher costs.The national carrier’s pre-tax loss was expected to land somewhere between $30m and $55m for the six months ending in December against an earlier forecast of a net profit of up to $34m.The airline said it had hoped for an increase in domestic and US flights, which did not materialise, while ongoing problems with engine repairs would cost another $20m in addition to other costs.The company said costs related to the mandatory Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International…

Fire and Emergency is giving an update on the situation in Kaikōura.Yesterday, five homes were destroyed as high winds fanned the flames.Winds have died down today, but are expected to pick up this afternoon.Incident Controller Dave Key will be speaking.Follow our live updates here.

By Kirsty Johnston of RNZ  The coalition government has gutted New Zealand’s once world-leading climate disclosure law, just months after officials showcased it to the United Nations as evidence of “significant progress” on climate action. The climate-related disclosures (CRD) regime was introduced by the Labour-Green government in 2021, making New Zealand the first country to require major banks, insurers and listed companies to publicly report how climate change could affect their bottom lines. The law aimed to make climate risk a normal part of business, investment and lending decisions – shifting it out of sustainability reports and into mainstream accounting. When it…

A Christchurch man who claimed he was the victim of a dramatic carjacking is now facing a raft of charges after police allegedly uncovered a stash of weapons and drugs inside his vehicle that he had reported stolen.The 36-year-old from Burwood rang police at around 5.30am on Tuesday, alleging he had been threatened by an armed man who had forced him to drive to multiple locations before stealing his Volkswagen.Officers found the man on Chichester St where he relayed a convoluted series of events.He claimed he had been ordered to drive to several locations at gunpoint, swap keys for a…

The Speaker of the House is “taking advice” after two Te Pati Māori MPs burnt a copy of a government bill outside Parliament yesterday, calling the act “the dumbest thing you could possibly do”.Te Pati Māori shared a video of co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and MP Tākuta Ferris on social media last night, in which they set fire to a copy of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) (Customary Marine Title) Amendment Bill.In the video, Ferris said they were supporting the “burn the bill” movement, where protesters gathered on beaches and burnt copies of the legislation.”Hurry up before we get…

Police have caught 38 drunk drivers in Northland within the span of a week – including one an officer said “could barely speak”.Ahead of the upcoming long weekend, police said it would be out on the road at any time, with a clear intention to stop and prevent unsafe driving behaviour.Northland road policing manager Inspector John Fagan said the behaviour in Northland was “extremely disappointing”.In one incident, an off-duty officer called 111 on Saturday after witnessing a vehicle crossing the centreline and narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.When officers located the vehicle, it was observed almost crashing into another car, according…

By Nona Pelletier of RNZ Air New Zealand is expected to make a first half loss of up to $55 million amid weaker-than-expected passenger numbers and higher costs. The national carrier’s pre-tax loss was expected to land somewhere between $30m and $55m for the six months ending in December against an earlier forecast of a net profit of up to $34m. The national carrier said it had hoped for an increase in domestic and US flights, which did not materialise, while ongoing problems with engine repairs would cost another $20m in addition to other costs. The company said costs related to the…

Multiple explosions that almost sounded like “cannon fire” were heard as a fire destroyed multiple vehicles in a staff carpark at Whangārei Hospital this afternoon.Emergency services responded to reports of the blaze at around 2pm on Tuesday.A column of thick black smoke earlier billowed from the carpark and was visible from across Whangārei. Fire and Emergency NZ said the fire had since been contained and crews were dampening down hotspots. Around 28 cars were damaged in the inferno with an unknown number of them destroyed, FENZ confirmed.Speaking to 1News, fire investigator Jason Goffin said it was believed the blaze may…