Author: Press Room

The man accused of murdering Nelson policewoman Lyn Fleming has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder.He did admit some driving charges. The 32-year-old appeared in the Blenheim High Court today, where his interim name suppression was continued. The man pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm charges and driving causing injury. However, he admitted drunk driving and driving while disqualified. Members of Fleming’s family were in court, while others watched via video link. The hearing today took place in Blenheim as the Nelson courthouse was closed on Sunday for earthquake strengthening. The man’s lawyer, John…

Sarah Fitt. Photo: RNZ / Luke McPake Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt has resigned from her role, RNZ understands. Fitt has been in the position since 2018. It comes after a submission built off a 100,000 signature petition calling for her to be sacked was presented to Parliament’s health select committee in December 2024. In recent weeks a number of top health officials have announced their resignations including the Director-General of Health, Diana Sarfati and Health New Zealand chief executive Fepulea’i Margie Apa. Director of Public Health Dr Nicholas Jones also announced he would be stepping down and returning to his regular…

The man charged with the murder of teenager Ariki Rigby and the arson of a burnt-out car her body was found in has pleaded guilty.Jimmy Heremaia, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson in the High Court at Napier today.Three weeks before Rigby’s death, Heremaia met the 18-year-old during a visit by her to the Hawke’s Bay region, with the pair forming a close connection and communicating with each other regularly.Rigby came into possession of a Mongrel Mob T-shirt belonging to Heremaia, who was a patched member of the Mongrel Mob’s Flaxmere chapter, and wore it out in…

The owners of Whakaari/White Island have had their company’s conviction over the volcano’s deadly 2019 eruption, which killed 22 and seriously injured 25, quashed.Brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle appealed the company’s conviction, in which they were fined $1.045 million and ordered to pay $4.88m in reparation to the victims.In a High Court judgment released on Friday, Justice Simon Moore said the brothers did not manage or control the island off the coast of Whakatāne.Justice Moore said through the brothers’ company Whakaari Management Limited (WML), they simply owned the land where licensed walking tours took place.He concluded those walking tour…

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its three-year mark this week, Europeans are expressing mixed views about the EU’s continued support for Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s moves to end the conflict, our correspondents report. ADVERTISEMENTThree years after the start of the war in Ukraine, 66% of French people believe that the EU should continue supporting Ukraine financially and militarily, even without US backing, according to an IPSOS poll. However, 78% of French people said they do not want the French troops to be sent to the battlefield, unless it’s a question of enforcing a possible peace treaty, in which case…

Orana Wildlife Park has appointed a new chief executive.The former Christchurch zoo boss Lyn Anderson resigned in November last year.1News has reported on the park’s culture and treatment of animals. The stories – first aired in July 2024 – included comments from 20 current and former zoo workers, some of whom said they were overworked and exhausted with too many animals in their care.MPI proceeded to investigate, and made a number of recommendations which were all accepted by the park. In a statement today, the park named respected zoo and aquarium professional Rachel Haydon as its new chief executive. Haydon…

TVNZ has reported earnings of $11.8m for the six-month period to the end of 2024, substantially up on where it was a year ago.The company also announced a total net profit after tax of $53.1m for the half-year period in its interim results, an increase of $69.8m compared to the first half of the previous financial year. This included a non-cash adjustment of $41.3m to remove costs already accounted for in the previous year’s impairment, the company said. The results come after a horror year for the network in 2024 when it went through two rounds of restructuring, losing scores…

The latest tsunami risk mapping shows the Kaikōura coast will possibly have very little warning, possibly just a few minutes, if there’s a large offshore quake.New GNS mapping, commissioned by Environment Canterbury, has revealed a worst case scenario based on a one in 2500-year earthquake event.On Tuesday night, Environment Canterbury’s natural hazard’s scientist, Helen Jack, met with the Kaikōura community to explain the new information to them, and show them the movement of a computer generated wave, triggered by a large earthquake at the southern end of the Hikurangi subduction zone.Jack, who has studied earthquakes for the past 20 years,…

A proposal to supply 200MW of power to Tiwai Point – above and beyond what it usually uses – closes today and interest is said to be strong. New Zealand Aluminum Smelter chief executive Chris Blenkiron said, in a Southland Express column this week, NZAS had gone to the market last year seeking a supply of additional power to restart the fourth potline, which shut in 2020 during the pandemic. The restarting of the potline would require 50MW of power and was not part of the deal reached last year, which locked in power supply for the next 20 years. Meridian Energy,…

A southern council has reported an increase in health and safety events, including abuse and “challenging behaviour”.Invercargill City Council released the information for a recent committee meeting, showing there had been an increase in events for 2024.The total number of incidents reported that year was 391, almost double the 203 reported in 2023.Psychosocial harm was deemed the highest risk category.A large portion of incidents were detected through phone monitoring system Genesys, which was used by customer service.In addition, regulatory roles such as animal control and parking have also experienced an increase in verbal abuse and threatening behaviour.Council group manager community…