Author: Press Room
Twelve of the southern region’s top apprentice tradies put it all on the line in Queenstown on Saturday. Apprentices from Otago, Southland, Central Lakes and Gore tested their skills in a practical challenge at Carters in front of more than 80 friends and family. They were among nearly 100 apprentices taking part in the challenge at the same time in centres throughout the country. Southern Master Builders regional branch and events manager Jennifer Marriott said three of the entrants had come back for a second shot at the challenge, which this year required them to build a planter box in…
One person has received “moderate” injuries in a house fire in Whangārei this afternoon.Emergency services received multiple calls about the blaze on Paramount Pde in the suburb of Tikipunga shortly before 2pm on Sunday.Fire and Emergency NZ responded with five crews from Whangārei, Te Kamo, and Onerahi at the peak of the fire.”The building was a single-level dwelling and the fire was well involved,” a FENZ spokesperson said.”We are working to extinguish the fire now.”St John said it sent one ambulance to the scene.”Our crew assessed and treated one patient who was transported to Northland Base Hospital in a moderate…
ADVERTISEMENTThousands of people took to the streets of several cities across southern Europe on Sunday in the latest protest against overtourism.In the Spanish city of Barcelona, where the main demonstrations took place, some fired water pistols at shops windows and set off smoke.Organised by the alliance “Southern Europe against Overtourism” – demonstrators joined forces with groups in Portugal and Italy.They argue that uncontrolled tourism is sending housing prices soaring and forcing people out of their neighbourhoods.The Guardia Urbana says only 600 people attended the demonstration in Barcelona.The Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) says that housing is the number one national…
Children and young teens across the country will need to wear life jackets while they’re on small boats, if a National MP’s member’s bill is passed.Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer’s Life Jackets for Children and Young Persons Bill would make life jacket-wearing mandatory for those under the age of 15 on recreational craft less than six metres long. “We know that when you put a life jacket on a child, it increases their chances of survival tenfold,” he told Q+A. “So this is about protecting our kids in the water and doing the right thing.”Water Safety New Zealand’s 2024 report…
Medsalv Founder Oliver Hunt remains baffled it has taken so long for its remanufactured medical products to be added to Pharmac’s hospital medical devices list. The Christchurch company has just learned it will be added to the list by the government agency. Pharmac said an expanded list was expected to be released this week, which would include contracted and non-contracted items, after a supplier review. Medsalv sells hundreds of thousands of recycled single-use medical devices — otherwise destined for the dump — to about 120 hospitals and facilities in New Zealand and Australia. Mr Hunt, 31, founded the business in…
Two people have died after a boat capsized on the bar at the mouth of the Pātea River in south Taranaki this morning.Early indications were that the boaties had notified authorities of intending to cross the bar and operators were watching via cameras as the tragedy unfolded.Detective Sergeant Chris Allemann said police had been notified that a boat with three people on board had overturned about 200m offshore at around 10.15am on Sunday.”Sadly, two people died in the incident and their bodies were recovered by 11.30am.”One person was located in the water after the boat capsized, was treated by ambulance…
Educators are calling for answers from Education Minister Erica Stanford after the decision to disestablish the Resource Teachers of Literacy (RTLit) service despite overwhelming sector opposition.The specialist support programme was until earlier this year funded by the Ministry of Education and provided expertise in literacy teaching and learning to both students and teachers.In March, more than 100 of these roles were proposed to have funding halted from next year.Despite hundreds of feedback submissions hoping to save the service, Stanford has pulled the funding.New Zealand Principals’ Federation vice president Jason Miles said all principals were concerned about the funding cut.”Not only…
By Euronews with AP Published on 15/06/2025 – 15:40 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTFrance’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy has been stripped of his Legion of Honour medal following his conviction last year of corruption and influence peddling while in office, it was announced on Sunday. The decision was made public via a decree released in the Journal Officiel that publishes the government’s major legal information. It aligns with the rules of the Legion of Honour. The conservative politician, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has been at the heart of a series of legal cases since leaving office. He was found guilty of corruption and influence…
A pedestrian has been critically injured in Rotorua this afternoon after being hit by a motorcyclist who then fled the scene.Emergency services were called to Edmund Rd in Mangakakahi at around 2.15pm after a report of a crash involving a motorbike and a male pedestrian.Senior Sergeant Roger Schreuder said the motorbike rider left the scene without stopping, travelling north towards Clayton Rd.St John said two ambulances, one rapid response unit, and one helicopter responded to the incident.”Our crews assessed and treated one patient who was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition. The road remained closed while emergency services attended…
Green Party agriculture spokesperson Steve Abel has labelled the coalition “the most radically anti-environmental government” in his lifetime while reiterating his party’s calls to bring agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.Speaking to Q+A, Abel criticised Labour’s decision to “review” its policy on agriculture’s inclusion in the Emissions Trading Scheme, saying it should “just do it”.”It’s been constantly delayed. This is credit to the dairy lobby. They’ve done a good job of convincing subsequent governments to just not do anything about it,” he said.Abel also criticised the Government’s recent legislation to restrict large-scale pine conversions on productive farmland, saying it had…