Author: Press Room
The community is being asked if speedway should stay at Mercury Baypark Stadium as the council decides whether to extend the club’s lease.Baypark Speedway has called the Mount Maunganui stadium home since it was built in 2001 and has a lease to operate there until 2029.Tauranga City Council is considering a proposal that would extend speedway operations until 2039.The proposal would involve Speedway Racing Ltd buying the north stand of 15,600 seats for $1 and being responsible for its maintenance, while leasing the land from the council through the facilities arm Bay Venues.The council would retain ownership of the land…
Tributes for the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson from across the music and entertainment world have flooded in following his death at 82. Wilson’s family posted news of his death on his website and social media accounts today. Further details weren’t immediately available.The influence of Wilson’s music was felt far and wide, which has been reflected in the tributes made by other musicians and entertainers. “Brian Wilson was my friend and my brother in songwriting. We shared a similar sensibility, as evidenced by his 4 over 5 chord under Aaaah! in Good Vibrations and mine under I’m Into Something Good. We…
A stolen car has hit a school bus in Lower Hutt this morning after avoiding road spikes and driving towards police officers.Police received reports at about 8.30am of a stolen vehicle being driven erratically in the Eastbourne area, heading towards Lower Hutt.A police spokesperson said spikes were set up to try and stop the vehicle.”The driver has then swerved towards police staff standing on the street, avoiding the spikes, before colliding with a school bus which continued on.”No injuries were reported and police will be following up with the bus driver.”The stolen vehicle had been located in Lower Hutt and…
The Reserve Bank has revealed more details behind the shock resignation of former governor Adrian Orr in March, which has now been attributed to a “distressing” disagreement over the central bank’s funding.Finance Minister Nicola Willis and bank officials have been tight-lipped for months over the departure of one of the Government’s most senior public sector bosses. But documents released today reveal he disagreed with Willis and the Reserve Bank’s board over how much operational funding the bank would need. Funding for the central bank is negotiated directly with the Government in five-year terms.According to an updated statement from the Reserve…
A transnational crime expert is warning of alarming methamphetamine trends emerging across the Pacific.Associate Professor Jose Sousa-Santos from Canterbury University’s Pacific Regional Security Hub said a recent 4.8kg meth bust in Fiji showed how non-traditional criminal syndicates were now able to operate in the region. Several people were arrested in the bust, including two police officers from the Counter Narcotics Bureau and the head of Fiji Revenue and Customs Services Intelligence Unit, charged with the illegal importation of drugs which came from Nigeria.”What’s actually ominous is that these new facilitators and the dealers and importers in Fiji are looking to…
Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired Good Vibrations, California Girls and other summertime anthems and made him one of the world’s most influential recording artists, has died at 82.Wilson’s family posted news of his death to his website and social media accounts Thursday. Further details weren’t immediately available. Since May 2024, Wilson had been under a court conservatorship to oversee his personal and medical affairs, with Wilson’s longtime representatives, publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, in charge.The eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers — Brian…
A foreign national has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after attempting to smuggle 2kg of cocaine through Auckland International Airport, concealed in the lining of two suitcases, last year. The 29-year-old arrived at the airport from Santiago, Chile, on July 27, 2024.Customs officers noticed inconsistencies during an x-ray of the man’s luggage, leading to the discovery of approximately 2kg of cocaine – worth approximately $900,000 – concealed within the lining of both cases, Customs New Zealand said on social media. A suitcase concealing 2kg of cocaine. (Source: NZ Customs )The passenger appeared in the Manukau…
Dunedin wedding vendors are celebrating their successes at the recent Wedding Industry Awards New Zealand. Of the 33 categories, six were won by Dunedin entrants while Superhair0 Wanaka won outstanding wedding hair stylist. Dunedin winners included Lochend Woolshed (ceremony venue), Nicholls & Co Wedding and Events (hire specialist), Lemonpiecaravan (mobile boutique bar), Precinct Food (caterer), Loren Russell Makeup Artist (makeup artist) and Mel Foster (celebrant/officiant and MC). Rachel Nicholls, of Nicholls & Co, said she was “so proud” to represent the city and thrilled with the successes of the other vendors. It was her first time entering the awards and,…
Investigators have found a 24-year-old American aviation student who was reported missing.Investigators New Zealand said William Henry Johnston, who had been missing from Palmerston North for more than a week, had been located in Palmerston North this afternoon.”Following a tip received by Mike Gillam shortly after 4pm, the private investigation team successfully located William and facilitated his reunion with his mother.”The team extended their thanks to the New Zealand Police for their cooperation, and expressed gratitude to the public for their information and support throughout the search.
By Alice Tidey & Eleonora Vasques Published on 11/06/2025 – 17:01 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTA lack of updated map data is making the fight against wildfires in Europe inefficient, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in a report on Wednesday.The report analyses how some member states use EU funds to prevent wildfires. While it acknowledges significant investments in prevention, the ECA notes that the data used are outdated and there is little monitoring of the actual impact of the spending.The report reviewed projects funded since 2014 through the European Structural and Investment Funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in Greece, Spain, Poland, and…