Author: Press Room

The takeover of fast food operator Restaurant Brands is all but assured as the bid gained the important 90 percent ownership level to allow the compulsorily buy out of minority shareholders.The Mexican majority shareholder, Finaccess Restauración, made the bid of $5.05 a share in late September as it secured the near 5% stake of the Accident Compensation Corporation on top of its own 75% shareholding.Finaccess has been adamant the offer was its best and final price, valuing the company at $630 million, which would not be increased.”Finaccess will exercise its rights under the Takeovers Code to compulsorily acquire any shares…

When Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever put his foot down at last month’s EU summit and blocked a bold plan to issue a €140 billion reparations loan to Ukraine using the immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank, he complained of being singled out. After all, the audacious project is solely based on the funds held at Euroclear, a central securities depository based in Brussels, despite G7 allies repeatedly saying they have about €300 billion in paralysed sovereign assets spread across their jurisdictions. “The fattest chicken is in Belgium, but there are other chickens around,” De Wever said. “Nobody…

A couple who successfully had a baby after years of IVF “disappointment” have now been told their miracle baby has a genetic disorder requiring a liver transplant. In 2020, a year into their relationship, Danielle and Jeremy White began two rounds of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) through the public system. “The first rounds that we did, we got five embryos, and then none of those worked. And then the second round, we got four embryos, so our chances were even slimmer,” said Jeremy. Embryo grading is a procedure that aids in selecting and evaluating the quality of embryos, based on…

The victim of a “targeted attack” at a Wellington apartment complex on Sunday had to jump from a balcony to escape a balaclava-wearing offender who was armed with a shotgun, police say. Armed police were called to the Pukehinau Flats in Brooklyn at 3.35pm on Sunday afternoon after a person “fell” from an apartment balcony amid reports of gunfire. On Monday, police said the offender, who was armed with a shotgun, was targeting a “specific person”. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said today police were still figuring out what exactly happened prior to the shotgun being fired, but shared some…

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…