Author: Press Room

Invercargill’s oldest carved meeting house is being returned to its former glory.Invercargill City Council said the decorative wooden carvings at the 100-year-old Te Wharepuni o Anehana in Anderson Park would be removed and restored.Council parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain said the project would also repair structural damage to the building.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a big bank’s prediction for interest rates coming down, Trump’s warning over a Gaza peace plan, and the Wallabies get reinforcements for the weekend’s All Blacks clash. (Source: 1News)”With the carvings safely removed, we can get stuck into re-piling the building and repairing…

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s attempts to get bipartisan support for offshore exploration for natural gas has been written off an an “ham-fisted political stunt” by Labour leader Chris Hipkins.  Luxon on Monday wrote to Hipkins, asking him to commit to supporting offshore exploration for natural gas for at least the next 10 years. Speaking to media this afternoon, Hipkins said if the letter was a serious attempt to get bipartisan agreement on energy policy, “it really hasn’t come out that way”. Labour was “certainly open to having conversations with the government”, but he said his party had been clear about…

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he doesn’t believe a letter from Christopher Luxon asking him to commit to supporting offshore exploration for natural gas for at least 10 years is a genuine attempt at building bipartisan consensus.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wrote to Labour leader Chris Hipkins asking him to commit to supporting offshore exploration for natural gas for at least the next 10 years.Hipkins told Morning Report it was a “desperate attempt” by Luxon to preemptively blame the previous government if oil and gas companies don’t see the prospect of finding more gas in New Zealand attractive.However, he is waiting…

The Rakaia Salmon sculpture is in need of an estimated $300,000 refurbishment.On Wednesday, Ashburton District councillors will be asked to sign off on the expense, with funding being pulled from the Reserve Contributions pot to cover the unbudgeted project.The work was first signalled to the council in June last year when a structural and maintenance assessment revealed that the 12-metre-high statue required extensive repairs.The project was put out for tender, and only one proposal was received: Phil Price Sculptures Ltd, the original creator of the famous fish.The submitted price of $215,000 was based on completing the refurbishment on site; however,…

Actress Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban have reportedly separated after nearly 20 years of marriage. According to TMZ, “multiple sources” had told the outlet the couple had been living separately for several months. Sources also told Page Six that Kidman “did not want the separation and was trying to save things”.“[Kidman is] holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone,” another source said.TMZ said it was told Kidman had been looking after their two children, while Urban, who was born in Whangārei, was in his own residence in Nashville after leaving the family…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including Christopher Luxon defending the decision not to recognise Palestine, a Silver Ferns star has spoken out about the team’s coaching drama, and 2025’s Bird of the Year is named. The Prime Minister is defending New Zealand’s stance on Palestine, after our government did not follow the lead of international partners in recognising it as a state. Russia haslaunched one of its biggest attacks on Ukraine, with hundreds of drones and missiles. A shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan has killed at least two people. Star Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke has addressed…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ BNZ says it will drop its one-year fixed home loan rate to a market-leading 4.49 percent. Karna Luke, the bank’s executive for customer products and services, said it was competing hard for new home loan customers by offering attractive rates. “We’re seeing strong customer demand for our 1-year fixed term as borrowers look for the right balance between securing a competitive rate and maintaining flexibility in an evolving rate environment,” he said. The lowest one-year rate currently offered by ASB, ANZ, Westpac and Kiwibank is 4.75%. Luke said for someone moving 5.19 percent with a…

The kārearea New Zealand falcon has taken out the top spot in the 20th anniversary Bird of the Year competition.The kārearea is a high-speed hunter which is at risk from habitat loss and predation.”It’s been a privilege to champion such a remarkable manu, and we’ve loved seeing the public get behind it,” said Caitlin Pieta from Auto Mossa, who managed the kārearea’s campaign.Forest and Bird said after an early lead the falcon kept its talons firmly on the top spot.The 2025 win puts the kārearea among a group of winners that have secured multiple titles over the past two decades.…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Employees of Kitchen Things and SolarZero have received their full preferential entitlement, the liquidator and receiver for both organisations says. But he said customers of Kitchen Things in particular are likely to lose out. SolarZero was put into liquidation by its directors late last year, while Kitchen Things was put into receivership last month. Receiver and liquidator Stephen Keen from Grant Thornton New Zealand said the Kitchen Things staff received their maximum entitlement on Thursday and SolarZero employees followed on Friday. The maximum is $31,820 per employee before tax and other deductions. Employees rank ahead…

Dolly Parton has postponed her first Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing “health challenges,” the American country legend shared on social media.She did not provide specific details, writing, “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures. “As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”Parton added that she is postponing the shows because she is “not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show…