Author: Press Room
Dunedin’s Smiths City store has been “temporarily closed” for business this morning as the beleaguered retailer enters voluntary administration. The Dunedin store, which moved to Crawford St last year, is one of nine Smiths City shops across New Zealand to close their doors today. The big box retailer last month announced a downsizing which included the closure of its Wānaka store. Founded in Christchurch in 1918, the company had disclosed it was facing increasing financial pressures. “Despite closures of some stores and further downsizing measures, declining sales meant that the director of the company took the decision that trading could no…
A woman died when a breathing tube was inserted into her food pipe instead of her wind pipe for 17 minutes during an operation surgery at an Auckland hospital.She suffered an unsurvivable brain injury.The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) has criticised the lead anaesthetist and Health NZ, Auckland, for the 2021 incident.The 73-year-old was getting a mastectomy and a lymph node removed after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.The report, by deputy Commissioner Carolyn Cooper, noted it was a known complication for breathing tubes to go into the wrong pipe, but it was normally able to be resolved very quickly.In…
Overseas-based investors who hold a investor residence visa will now be allowed to buy a house in New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced.The visa offered residency to those who: Invested a minimum of $5 million into New Zealand; passed a good character test; and had acceptable health.Luxon said the minimum value of a house that could be bought by the visa holders was $5 million, a price tag on less than 1% of New Zealand’s housing supply.Watch: Christopher Luxon speaking to media in AucklandThe Prime Minister said a ban of foreign buyers would remain.The ban, introduced in 2018…
The opening date for an estimated $200m equine stud and equestrian training centre at Lake Hood, Canterbury, has been pushed out to late 2027.Southern Parallel Equine Centre (SPEC) chief executive Catherine Stuart has also announced plans for stage 2, the Southern Parallel Life Skills Academy, to open at the same time.Stuart said she is working with Ashburton District Council on building consents for SPEC and aims to commence construction in the second quarter of 2026.“We are aiming to open the event and competition aspects of SPEC in the fourth quarter of 2027 and in readiness for major Ashburton equestrian events…
Tesla’s popular Model Y electric SUV has been recalled in New Zealand and Australia due to a software fault that could cause injury to drivers.The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) issued the recall on August 26 for certain 2025 Model Y vehicles running software versions earlier than 2025.26.6.The issue stems from a firmware feature that was not enabled. As a result, the window may not detect obstructions properly, raising the risk of injury.The fault would be resolved via an over-the-air software update and affected owners did not need to schedule a service appointment.While NZTA did not disclose how many vehicles…
A high profile sportsman accused of serious family violence – crushing the ribs of an infant in July 2023 – has given evidence at his trial in the Dunedin District Court, on occasion, breaking down in tears.The Crown has argued the injuries were not intentional, but were reckless, and a squeezing movement around the torso of the victim was an unreasonable risk, requiring “significant force”.X-rays from when the victim was taken to Dunedin Hospital showed at least a dozen rib fractures and a broken clavicle.When asked this afternoon about the date he was accused of hurting the child, the accused…
A family-owned used car dealership has made the “huge” move from Dunedin to Mosgiel after spending more than 40 years in the city. Yesterday was the first day Midway Motors, formerly based in Kaikorai Valley Rd, operated from its new premises in Gladstone Rd South. Managing director Chris Henderson said relocating the business had not been easy and was “emotional”. He had worked at the old site for 35 years, since he was a child. “This is pretty huge. “Forty-five-odd-plus years the building was there, and now it’s going to be something different. “But that’s change, right?” His family had…
Two high-profile Reserve Bank appointees have resigned this year, well ahead of their terms ending and amid ongoing concerns with the cost of living – but the Prime Minister says it’s “not unusual”.Christopher Luxon’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis released a statement on Friday announcing chairman Neil Quigley’s resignation, saying it was “the appropriate time for him to hand over” but, soon after, told RNZ she would have demanded his resignation had it not been offered.Quigley’s resignation stems partly from his mischaracterisation of the resignation of the central bank’s governor Adrian Orr in March.And, despite the Reserve Bank’s statutory independence, top…
By Gregoire Lory & Yolaine de Kerchove Published on 01/09/2025 – 18:21 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT The issue of abortion is making its way onto the European Commission’s agenda. As part of a European citizens’ initiative, the “My Voice, My Choice: For Safe And Accessible Abortion” movement submitted a petition with over 1 million signatures to the Commission on Monday. The petition calls on the Commission to present a proposal to set up a funding mechanism to guarantee safe and affordable access to voluntary termination of pregnancy. The coordinator of this initiative, Nika Kovač, recalls the situation of many women in Europe. “In Europe, 20…
A 40-year-old “serial spitter” who has been causing trouble in Auckland’s North Shore has been arrested.Police said inquiries into several incidents across Devonport and Bayswater began in June this year as allegations “spiralled” on social media.Waitemata east area prevention manage acting inspector Tim Williams said: “Today, we located a person of interest walking on Wairoa Rd in Narrow Neck, and he was promptly arrested.”While being arrested, police said the man allegedly attempted to spit at police staff.The man, from Belmont, would appear in the North Shore District Court tomorrow. He faced three common assault charges, and one count of resisting…