Author: Press Room

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says “some dickhead” has vandalised his office in Lower Hutt.In a post to social media, Bishop said the office in the suburb of Wainuiomata had been “smashed up”.”Office is closed for today. My apologies to those who need to come in for appointments today.”Chris Bishop shared photos of the damage on social media. (Source: Facebook)Bishop also shared photos of the vandalism, which showed the front door glass smashed and scattered throughout the inside of the office.Police told 1News, in a statement: “Police received a report just before 9am of damage to a window, overnight, at a…

Two further people have been arrested in an ongoing homicide investigation after a motorcyclist was allegedly run down and stabbed in Mt Wellington last Friday.The investigation, named Operation Hawkin, has been underway since December 5 after a man with critical injuries presented to an Auckland medical centre. He later died in hospital.Police said at the time the man arrived at the medical centre on Lunn Ave with critical injuries around 12.15pm. Police were contacted and units responded to the area, including the police Eagle helicopter.Detective Inspector Scott Beard previously said it was understood the victim got into an altercation with…

A major bank has increased its longer-term fixed home loan rates while cutting its six-month rate, citing a sharp rise in wholesale interest rates.Westpac is lifting rates on two- to five-year terms by 30 basis points (0.30%), while cutting its six-month special rate by 20 basis points (0.20%) to 4.69% per annum.The bank said wholesale rates had risen by more than 40 basis points (0.40%) since the day before the Reserve Bank’s November official cash rate (OCR) announcement. A Westpac spokesperson said the six-month term was now the lowest of the five biggest banks. Managing director of product, sustainability and…

Former finance minister Ruth Richardson has agreed to a challenge from the current Finance Minister to debate her.On Tuesday morning, Nicola Willis challenged Richardson, who was finance minister from 1990 to 1993, to a debate.The challenge, Willis said, was because the Taxpayers’ Union was preparing to launch a pressure campaign against her.Richardson is chair of the organisation.”My message for Ruth Richardson is a very clear one, come and debate me face to face. Come out of the shadows. I will argue toe-for-toe on the prescription that our government is following,” Willis said.”I reject your approach and instead of lurking in…

Published on 09/12/2025 – 13:01 GMT+1 Got a painkiller? Because Brussels has a new migraine. First it was Viktor Orbán in Hungary. Then Robert Fico in Slovakia. Today, Andrej Babiš returns as the prime minister of the Czech Republic. Following Babiš’ electoral victory, President Petr Pavel blocked his appointment until he agreed to transfer his massive chemical and food empire, Agrofert, to independent administrators. To rule, Babiš invited the Motorists, a fierce climate sceptic party, and the SPD, which openly opposes the EU and NATO. Hungarian prime minister’s critics have been wondering, is Babiš Orbán 2.0? Not quite. Orbán is…

Police said they had recovered the body of a missing swimmer in Auckland who failed to resurface after falling into a hole while in waist-deep water. Emergency services were called to Lake Wainamu in Bethells Beach at around 6.10pm on Monday. The Police National Dive Squad was called in to assist the search and police announced just after 5pm on Tuesday that a body had been recovered.Senior Sergeant Jon Winthrop earlier said a 23-year-old man was in waist-deep water with three friends at the time of the incident. “He has taken a few more steps before falling into a hole…

Whakatāne District Council has thrown its support behind residents of a country lane distressed about Genesis Energy’s plans to axe their trees.However, Genesis says removing the trees is the only viable option to make room for 33kV power lines to tie its planned solar farm to the national grid connection point in Edgecumbe.Putiki Rd resident Peter Askey sought the council’s support last week, in asking Genesis to run the lines along the eastern side of the road where there was only open farmland, one house and a drain.“The west side has a lot of trees; that’s where the houses are…

Published on 09/12/2025 – 10:05 GMT+1 •Updated 10:57 The European Union gives smaller states strength in an increasingly hostile world, European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told Euronews in an interview after a controversial US government document suggested the EU is crushing freedom. “The EU provides strength for its members, especially for the smaller states, because in the current more conflictual, power-driven world, there is certainly strength in unity,” he told Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today. Dombrovskis, who is one of the longest-serving Commissioners currently in his third term, hails from Latvia, one of the Baltic countries under threat from Russia.…

A recall has been issued for two cold-smoked salmon products sold in the South Island due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.The affected products included Ahi Mokopuna Limited Partnership’s Akaroa King Salmon brand Mānuka Cold Smoked Slices (100g) with a use-by date of 29 Dec 25 (Batch No. 46780); and Mānuka Cold Smoked Trim (500g) with a use-by date of 29 Dec 25 (Batch No. 46780).“The concern with these products is that they may contain Listeria, a foodborne bacterium that can make you sick,” New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said.“These products should not be eaten. You…

Insurance company Tower has become the latest financial services company to suffer a multi-million dollar penalty for misleading tens of thousands of customers and financially costing them. The High Court has penalised the company $7 million for more than a decade of overcharging customers because it did not properly apply multi-policy discounts. The civil case was brought by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) as it continued mopping up historic breaches by insurance, finance, and insurance companies of misleading fair trading laws. FMA head of enforcement Margot Gatland said Tower’s systems were deficient, despite an agreement with the Commerce Commission as…