Author: Press Room

Police have caught 38 drunk drivers in Northland within the span of a week – including one an officer said “could barely speak”.Ahead of the upcoming long weekend, police said it would be out on the road at any time, with a clear intention to stop and prevent unsafe driving behaviour.Northland road policing manager Inspector John Fagan said the behaviour in Northland was “extremely disappointing”.In one incident, an off-duty officer called 111 on Saturday after witnessing a vehicle crossing the centreline and narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.When officers located the vehicle, it was observed almost crashing into another car, according…

By Nona Pelletier of RNZ Air New Zealand is expected to make a first half loss of up to $55 million amid weaker-than-expected passenger numbers and higher costs. The national carrier’s pre-tax loss was expected to land somewhere between $30m and $55m for the six months ending in December against an earlier forecast of a net profit of up to $34m. The national carrier said it had hoped for an increase in domestic and US flights, which did not materialise, while ongoing problems with engine repairs would cost another $20m in addition to other costs. The company said costs related to the…

Multiple explosions that almost sounded like “cannon fire” were heard as a fire destroyed multiple vehicles in a staff carpark at Whangārei Hospital this afternoon.Emergency services responded to reports of the blaze at around 2pm on Tuesday.A column of thick black smoke earlier billowed from the carpark and was visible from across Whangārei. Fire and Emergency NZ said the fire had since been contained and crews were dampening down hotspots. Around 28 cars were damaged in the inferno with an unknown number of them destroyed, FENZ confirmed.Speaking to 1News, fire investigator Jason Goffin said it was believed the blaze may…

A South Auckland woman has claimed a $500,000 Lotto win after finding a forgotten bonus ticket that was left in a zipped pocket in her handbag.The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was contacted by Lotto last week in relation to a First Division prize from May 31, 2025.”I got a call, asking if I had bought a ticket around that time and whether I might have any old ones lying around,” she said.”I had noticed some tickets in my bag a few days before but assumed I had already checked them and thought no more about them.”She…

All Black Jordie Barrett and girlfriend Alice Marshall have announced their engagement online. The 28-year-old midfielder shared a picture of himself and his fiancée grinning at the camera while showing off a new diamond ring on Marshall’s left hand. The caption simply tagged Marshall’s account, accompanied by a ring and heart emoji. All Blacks players including Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard and Leroy Carter were quick to congratulate the couple. Ardie Savea wrote: “Cheeehooo congrats team.”The All Blacks are on the final leg of a long season, with the first stop being a clash with Ireland in Chicago on November 2.The…

Schools and residents are being evacuated in Kaikōura this afternoon as Fire and Emergency NZ battles “multiple large fires” in the area.Police said a number of cordons were in place, and multiple roads have been closed.”Police are also assisting with the evacuations of schools and residents in the surrounding areas.”It advised members of the public to travel to Kaikoura High School or the Kaikoura Golf Course if they had been evacuated.Meanwhile, Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it had also received multiple calls to damage caused by strong winds.”Firefighters are prioritising incidents where life is at risk.”Firefighters from both Marlborough…

Outgoing Carterton mayor Ron Mark has hung up his mayoral chains – but his life in the public eye could be far from over.The former NZ First MP, who chose not to run again for the mayoralty, hasn’t ruled out a possible return to the Beehive, or even a role further afield.Mark has held a wide range of senior public roles following a lengthy career in the New Zealand military.He was the Minister of Defence between 2017 and 2020. He was the Carterton mayor between 2010 and 2014, before returning in 2022.”I rule nothing out,” he said.”There is too much…

Canterbury’s family-owned Carrfields Group is developing a multimillion-dollar research and development farm for seed and plant innovation. The farming, property and agribusiness company exports to more than 40 countries and has about 300 employees and contractors throughout New Zealand and India. Carrfields has bought Spring Farm in Winslow, previously owned by NZ Tractors, to convert it into a research and development facility for its Winseed brand. A house, office and sheds on 20ha will be remodelled into the innovation hub for research, breeding and seed technology. The farm will include a breeding centre featuring glasshouses, nurseries, grow houses and trial…

Three new cases of measles have been reported in Manawatū and Nelson today, including two children.In a statement, Health New Zealand said he was dealing with an “escalating national risk of measles” following confirmation of the new cases.These new cases – two in the Manawatū and one in Nelson – follow another case in Auckland confirmed yesterday, bringing the total number of measles cases nationally to four. Locations of interest that the Nelson case and Manawatū cases visited while infectious are being investigated, and will be published online on the Health NZ website here.National Public Health Service public health medicine specialist…

Sustainability will be the guiding principle behind the EU’s first-ever tourism strategy, European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas told the audience at the Global Tourism Forum in Brussels. “Sustainability means reducing emissions, including from travel to and within destinations. But it also means managing resources wisely, protecting cultural and natural assets, and ensuring that tourism contributes to balanced regional development across Europe,” the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism said during the two-day event on Monday and Tuesday. Europe remains the world’s top tourist destination, welcoming 758 million visitors in 2024 — a sector that generated over 20 million jobs and contributed…