Author: Press Room

Over a dozen crews were called to a fire at a popular tourist spot in Rotorua yesterday. Emergency services were called to the Mitai Māori Village at around 9.45pm.The fire was extinguished within the hour, and a fire investigator would be at the scene this morning to determine its cause. There were no injuries reported. According to the Rotorua Daily Post, owner Wetini Mitai-Ngatai said in a Facebook live video that the fire had destroyed the performance area. “Everyone is fine, everyone is safe. We lost the performance area, but we didn’t lose the bush, and we didn’t lose anybody, so…

Jack Tame has been revealed as the 1News weekend bulletin presenter, completing a fresh line-up in the wake of Simon Dallow’s departure from TVNZ’s flagship news programme.The award-winning broadcaster will replace Melissa Stokes, who earlier this week was confirmed as replacement for Dallow as the weekday presenter for 1News at Six.Tame will continue to host the Sunday morning current affairs programme Q+A.TVNZ Chief News & Content Officer Nadia Tolich said he is one of the country’s most accomplished broadcasters and interviewers.”He’s a two-time best presenter winner at the NZ Screen Awards and was named Political Reporter of the Year at…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including the Police Commissioner’s opinion on publishing leaked audio, two charged over a barbershop attack, and David Beckham and the King swap fashion tips. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has released an opinion piece criticising a media outlet which published police radio audio from the night Tom Phillips was shot. Te Pāti Māori leadership is willing to meet with two MPs at odds with the party, according to the National Iwi Chairs Forum. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has died. Two men will appear in court after a serious assault at an Auckland barber…

The Commerce Commission has authorised Genesis, Contact, Meridian and Mercury to set up a coal stockpile at Huntly Power Station to support security of electricity supplies. Chair Dr John Small said it was aware of the difficulties facing the electricity sector, and had thoroughly tested whether the agreement would affect competition. “We have found the public benefits of these proposed arrangements likely outweigh any potential lessening of competition.” The 10-year arrangement involves the four gentailers building a 600,000 tonne coal stockpile at Huntly Power Station, and paying Genesis a fee to run its Rankine Unit 2 as ‘dry-year cover’ when other forms…

New Zealand First is putting forward a member’s bill that proposes a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks, saying the impact on pets, “inevitable” fires, and “havoc” for emergency services were no longer worth it. As some prepare to set off fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes tonight, the yearly debate around their banning has once again been sparked. NZ First Leader Winston Peters said fireworks cause fires, create havoc for emergency services, and impacts pets, farm animals, and native wildlife. On Guy Fawkes in 2024, firefighters responded to 32 firework-related callouts. Meanwhile, multiple petitions calling for their…

The Government will fund more frontline workers and establish new services for people in need of a better mental health crisis response, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced.”When someone takes the brave step to reach out, whether it’s you, your child, a friend, or a family member we’re committed to ensuring the right support is always there to answer that call,” Doocey said.”This package goes a long way in making sure that’s possible.”The $61.6 million funding boost over four years would deliver 40 additional frontline clinical staff for crisis assessment and treatment teams, two new 10-bed peer-led acute…

At least two newly elected councillors in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be accessing newly available support to have security systems installed in their homes after facing harassment and threats during the local government elections.Whakatāne District Council’s Kāpū-te-rangi Māori ward councillor Toni Boynton, who has just been elected for her second term, said she had received threatening and sexually explicit messages during the election period.She had filed a report to the police against one member of the public for harassment, after he followed her around at a public event.“Though they couldn’t really do anything,” she said.Boynton said she received…

New drugs targeting weight loss and diabetes management, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, can help lower the number of young people impacted by type 2 diabetes, a paediatrician says.Diabetes NZ is warning this Diabetes Action Month that more young people are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the country is potentially facing a “major health crisis”.Starship Children’s Hospital paediatric endocrinologist Dr Craig Jefferies told RNZ’s Morning Report a recent trial suggested that these new weight loss and diabetes drugs were looking “very, very promising”.While the drugs were currently not government-funded, they would be “life-changing” for those with diabetes, Jefferies…

Tonight’s Lotto Powerball draw is worth an eye-watering $36 million and for one lucky New Zealander, it could prove to be a life-changer.But what does it really feel like to win big?Lotto NZ’s Winners Booklet provides a peek into the emotions that follow a major win.”I stood there crying with a bloody great smile on my face,” one winner said.Another admitted: “I didn’t let the ticket leave my sight. I slept with it!”Some winners kept their tickets in glove boxes, drawers, or even tucked inside a Bible.”It’s not every day you have thousands of dollars sitting in your glove box,”…

Published on 05/11/2025 – 22:17 GMT+1 Above is the first ever episode of Euronews’ brand new debating show “The Ring” that aspires to bring a flavour of the European Parliament chamber to your couch. As you know, 720 elected members of the European Parliament meet regularly in the Chambers of Strasbourg and Brussels and debates can often get heated. In our first episode, we are joined by centre right German MEP David McAllister and the Belgian Left MEP Marc Botenga. They touched on topics from workers rights to the geopolitics of EU enlargement and debated live in front of a…