Author: Press Room

The Coroner has called investigations into the death of preschooler Lachie Jones, found dead in an oxidation pond near Gore, “a shambles”.Coroner Alexander Ho has instructed police to investigate the case for a third time – recommending “an experienced officer” from outside of Southland.Three-year-old Lachie Jones was found dead, more than a kilometre from his mother’s home and floating face up, on the evening of January 29, 2019.Coroner Alexander Ho spent five weeks at the Invercargill courthouse to held an inquest into the toddler’s death, over two separate phases last year, which finished in August last year.Two police investigations found…

A man in a wheelchair has been seriously injured following a collision with a bus in Napier this afternoon.Emergency services were alerted following reports of a crash involving a GoBay bus on Lee Rd, in Taradale, around 2.30pm, a police spokesperson told 1News.Go Bus, the operator, said a manager was sent to the site as soon as it was alerted to the incident and the injured man was taken to hospital.In a statement this afternoon, the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Transport Committee, Martin Williams, called the incident deeply distressing. “The wheelchair occupant is understood to have potentially serious injuries.“Our…

New Zealand’s Indian community is gathering at Auckland’s Mahatma Gandhi Centre tonight to pay respects to victims of the Ahmedabad airplane crash yesterday.So far, there is only one reported survivor among the 242 people who were on board the London-bound Air India flight that crashed in a residential neighbourhood within a minute of taking off from Ahmedabad’s international airport, according to media reports.At least 290 people were killed once dozens of victims on the ground were included in the death toll, CNN reported.Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat…

Homeless people have been moved on and trespassed from a makeshift camp in Rotorua’s CBD in a scene a charity worker described as “heartbreaking”.The Rotorua Lakes Council said its operation, with support from police, was respectful, safe and necessary given concerns about antisocial behaviour by rough sleepers on Amohia St.People have been staying outside the Salvation Army building in recent weeks, near sources of free food, showers and laundry facilities.Businesses complained about people urinating in public and other bad behaviour deterring customers.This morning, the camp was disestablished.Rough sleeper Adrianne Renata said authorities “came in and moved everybody” about 7am.She said…

Feel guilty taking sick leave? Don’t – soldiering on is so pre-pandemic.Workplace attitudes are slowly shifting when it comes to being sick at work; where a tickle in the throat might’ve previously been a non-issue, more and more employees are now being encouraged to make use of their sick leave, to rest and recover properly.If you’re still unsure of how and when to actually call in sick, fear not; RNZ speaks with five workplace communications experts who clear it all up.Calling is your best betEvery workplace will have a policy outlining how and when to communicate that you’re taking sick…

A single tooth denture, a Crusaders jersey and a Christmas ham are just some of the “perplexing” items abandoned in Uber vehicles over the past year. According to the transport company’s annual Lost and Found index, passengers left behind a trove of belongings which provide “a reflection of daily life” for New Zealanders across the motu. Among the standouts included a single denture (tooth), a silver Walkman portable music player, a chilly bin and a hip brace. Other interesting items included golf clubs and fishing rods, a piece of paper with a contact list, a Christmas ham and a Captain…

Passengers on the beleaguered Aratere ferry were stuck on board for hours overnight after it broke down on its way to Wellington.KiwiRail said the ferry left Picton at about 8.50pm, but then “experienced an unexpected issue with its propulsion drive” while sailing.That issue was fixed at about 1am and the vessel resumed its trip to Wellington, arriving later in the early hours. Aratere breaks down mid-service while the Kaiarahi is laid up for repairs. (Source: 1News)”Unfortunately, we will have to cancel the 6.15am Thursday morning sailing from Wellington to Picton and the 11.00am Picton to Wellington return sailing while we…

It was a blizzard in Dunedin — yet still David Prior was determined to ride to work — a 10-minute commute on the bike to the University of Otago.”I had my ski goggles on and full face coverage and I do work in Antarctica so I have Antarctic gear, so I had the Antarctic gear on top,” says Prior, a geology professor at the university.”It was kind of fun. It was exhilarating. There was nothing else on the roads and it was brilliant.”David Prior, a geology professor at University of Otago. (Source: rnz.co.nz)Prior is committed to commuting to work on…

A landlord in Northland has agreed to pay his sister-in-law nearly $6000 after renting her a property described as being in a state of disrepair and unfit for human habitation. At the Tenancy Tribunal, the man admitted that the dwelling, which sat empty on his property, was not intended to be a place someone could live in. The woman lived in the dwelling between May 2021 and March 2024, and little maintenance was done over the course of her tenancy. An investigation into the property was launched by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team…

Kāinga Ora has announced it will use wool carpet in new state homes from July, following a directive that government agencies use wool in the construction and refurbishment of their buildings.The change in procurement rules, to make wool the preferred option in government buildings, was a directive to about 130 agencies in April and takes effect from July.On Wednesday, the state housing provider announced it would follow suit, with 4500 new state houses expected to be fitted out in the next three years.The return of wool carpets to state homes was welcomed by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Associate…