Author: Press Room

A truck driver whose dodgy and unregistered truck fatally ploughed into an Auckland roadworker has been jailed for three years.Ashik Ali was sentenced for manslaughter at the High Court in Auckland over the killing of Jonathon Walters in Remuera in May 2024.Walters was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died two days later.Ali’s truck, laden with 20 tonnes of roading material, rolled backwards towards the roadworkers when the brakes failed, hitting Walters and running over his legs and pelvic area.Its last Certificate of Fitness was in 2019, and it had a non-operation order issued in 2021.Walters’ death was…

Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has broken her silence over the party’s tumultuous breakdown, saying those involved on both sides have been in the wrong.“The division of Te Pāti Māori, I’ve heard both sides. Trust me, I’ve heard it all,” she said.“Sometimes I’ve wanted to give them all a hug and a hiding at the same time,” the MP joked.Te Pāti Māori turmoil: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke breaks her silence – Watch on TVNZ+MP speaks to media about the party’s tumultuous breakdown, saying those involved on both sides have been in the wrong.  (Source: 1News)Infighting among the party has led to…

An Auckland college has paid tribute to a “much-loved” teacher, who died in a tragic diving incident. Takapuna Grammar School confirmed the death of maths teacher Kevin Hu on its social media page. The post said he passed away following a “diving accident”. According to NZ Herald, the accident occurred in Fiji. On Facebook, the school said: “Kevin was loved by his students and colleagues, and he made a significant impact on our school during the three years he was here.”Students enjoyed being in Mr Hu’s Maths class because he made the subject accessible and fun.” It said that this…

Auckland police are investigating 16 complaints relating to alleged electoral fraud in this year’s council elections for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board.Police confirmed two separate investigations are underway into the allegations. “We are investigating 16 complaints forwarded to us from Election Services,” said Counties Manukau Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers. A person votes at the ballot box (file image). (Source: 1News)Election Services ran local elections in the Auckland region in October.Vickers said the police “investigation remains in the early stages”.Separately from the police investigation, a petition of inquiry filed by unsuccessful candidate Vi Hausia is set to be heard at the Manukau…

A further recall has been issued for coloured sand products sold at more than 100 stores nationwide after asbestos was detected during laboratory testing. Superdeal NZ on Thursday issued a voluntary recall for 15 of its craft sand products after “some samples have tested positive for asbestos”, Product Safety said today on its website.”The product may cause a risk to health as asbestos has been detected in some samples after laboratory testing.”Additional testing is currently being undertaken to determine the risk of the product in New Zealand.”The affected products – which come in 380g tubs in black, white, red, orange,…

Breakfast presenter Jenny-May Clarkson has been farewelled from TVNZ’s screens with memories, laughter and emotion after nearly 20 years with the broadcaster. Earlier this month, it was announced Clarkson would depart. She spoke of feeling “excited, anxious, scared, but ready” for the next move. At 6am on Friday morning, as the lights came up, an already-emotional Jenny-May and co-host Chris Chang welcomed viewers to her Breakfast swansong. “It’s my last show Chris Chang, just in case you didn’t know,” she joked. Clarkson said she had done “a lot of growing over the last six years”, and thanked viewers for sticking…

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has vowed to repeal the Regulatory Standards Bill if re-elected next year.That prompted the bill’s key proponent, ACT leader David Seymour, to warn Peters could be jumping ship to Labour.Peters told Radio Waatea’s Dale Husband he wanted the Bill gone earlier on Thursday, having voted it through its third reading this time last week.”It was their deal, the ACT Party’s deal with the National Party. We were opposed to this from the word go, but you’ve only got so many cards you can play.ACT leader claims Winston Peters ‘getting ready to go with Labour…

Foodstuffs South Island has been fined $39,000 after selling hummus products that had been recalled over possible salmonella contamination in March 2023.A swathe of tahini and hummus products was recalled two years ago due to possible contamination with tahini from a Turkish manufacturer.Foodstuffs South Island was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on one charge under the Food Act, following a successful prosecution.The company — which supplied Pak N Save, New World and Four Square stores — sold 39 units of the affected hummus, despite the recall involving nearly 83,000 units of product.New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle…

On the frozen edge of the world, staying in practice as a professional musician takes ingenuity, grit and a plastic instrument for schoolchildren that’s guaranteed not to freeze to your fingers or face.Natalie Paine is a French horn player in New Zealand’s navy who, since October, has been among 21 military members stationed in Antarctica. There, her melodies drift across the frozen Ross Sea from perhaps the most remote practice room on Earth.“It’s beautiful and very inspiring,” Paine told the Associated Press. “I’ll sit there by the window and I will do my routine and play music in my time…

Montenegro will tighten visa rules for Russian citizens to be in line with EU policy, which the Western Balkan country hopes to join by 2028. His country intends to implement appropriate measures “very soon”, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said on Euronews’ The Europe Conversation following the Commission’s first Enlargement Forum in Brussels. Earlier this month, the EU announced stricter visa rules for Russian citizens to enhance security following hybrid drone attacks attributed to Russia. From now on, Russian nationals will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry visas to the EU. Instead, they can only receive single-entry visas, requiring them to…