Author: Press Room

The official cash rate might have been cut – but how much further can we expect home loan rates to fall?The Reserve Bank cut the OCR on Wednesday by 25 basis points (bps), taking it to 2.25%.That was widely expected, but what was a little more surprising was how little room the bank left itself for further cuts to come. It said it would cut again if it needed to, but only if the economy was likely to really underperform its latest forecasts.It forecast a bottom for the OCR of 2.2%, indicating little room for downward movement, and for increases…

Two Lotto players from Auckland and Blenheim each won $500,000 in last night’s Lotto draw as Powerball rolled over. Powerball was not struck in last night’s draw, meaning the jackpot for Saturday night will now be $8 million. Two players would be celebrating, however, each winning $500,000 in first division. The winning tickets were sold at Woolworths Three Kings in Auckland and New World Blenheim in Blenheim.”Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App,” a Lotto spokesperson said. Strike Four was also…

The Chase host Bradley Walsh was left floored and exclaiming “this is extraordinary” as a contestant pulled off what he called a first in the programme’s 15-year history. In a recent episode of the UK quiz show, contestants Eileen, Andreas, Amanda and Merrick tried to bank up as much money as possible in the cash builder before taking on Chaser Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha. But it was contestant Amanda’s round that tipped the episode into unexpected territory. Ahead of her cash builder, Amanda revealed she’d made a promise to her son – if she won him enough money, she’d buy…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a terrifying apartment complex fire in Hong Kong, mortgage rates head down, and NZ’s content creator of the year.A fire in an apartment building in Hong Kong has killed dozens of people.Big banks have trimmed home loan rates in the wake of yesterday’s OCR cut. Auckland researchers have found that tyres are the biggest contributor to microplastics in our environment. Start up rugby league R360 looks dead in the water, writes commentator Scotty Stevenson. New Zealand’s content creator of the year has been named a glitzy awards ceremony in Sydney.

Consent has been granted for the sale of three adjoining South Otago dairy farms to an entity ultimately majority beneficially owned by pension funds administered by the Washington State Investment Board. Overseas investment decisions released by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand yesterday showed the Minister for Land Information and the Associate Minister of Finance had approved the transaction. NZ Dairy Holdings Trusco Pty Ltd as a trustee for NZ Dairy Holdings Trust is an investment vehicle for Australian agricultural investment firm Laguna Bay. It has been given approval to acquire a freehold interest in about 845ha in Clydevale…

A public inquiry will be held to look into the disappearance of Marokopa’s Phillips children, Attorney-General Judith Collins announced. “The inquiry will look into whether government agencies took all practicable steps to protect the safety and welfare of the Phillips children,” Collins said. “The decision to establish a Public Inquiry reflects the significant public interest and concern for the children’s welfare over the almost four years they were missing.What’s set to be investigated as Marokopa public inquiry launched – Watch on TVNZ+Terms of reference developed with the privacy and welfare of the three “vulnerable” children in mind. (Source: 1News)“It is…

Port Otago and its property arm “being stolen away” from the Otago Regional Council may be used to pay off other councils’ debt, its chairwoman says, but she is comfortable with the proposed local body changes.Sweeping changes to local government structure were announced this week, with the regional council set to be replaced by combined territories boards. The boards would empower mayors from the same region to work together to govern their regions through genuine regional collaboration. But doubts remain about what will happen to the port, which is owned by the Otago Regional Council, brought about by changes in…

Two boaties have been safely evacuated after their launch caught fire on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf this morning.Emergency service received multiple calls at around 8.15am to report a 11m launch on fire between Motukorea/Browns Island and Musick Point.Police maritime unit Sergeant Jesse Jenden said Deodar III transported firefighters from Parnell to the burning boat.”Unfortunately, the vessel was well engulfed in fire.”A launch engulfed in flames on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. (Source: Supplied / SeaLink) (Source: Supplied)Auckland ferry service SeaLink confirmed its vehicle ferry Island Navigator responded to the incident a maritime incident involving “a burning pleasure craft” around 8.30am.”Our vessel master notified…

Italy’s Senate will not vote on legislation introducing the concept of consent into sexual violence law before February 2026, derailing a bill that had received unanimous approval in the Chamber of Deputies just one week ago. Giulia Bongiorno, president of the Senate Justice Commission, told Corriere della Sera newspaper on Wednesday that the bill would be ready in committee by January, but the Senate vote has been postponed after the League requested new hearings and a re-examination of the text. The Lega party raised concerns about a paragraph regulating cases of “minor gravity”, requesting clarification on the concept. Forza Italia…

More than 5000 lightning strikes were recorded over the country since midnight as an active front moves up the South Island. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told 1News the number of lightning strikes over New Zealand and the nearby sea area was 5107, with 3194 of those reaching the ground. “Over the South Island specifically, the numbers were 1137, with 473 of them reaching the ground,” she said. Yesterday, a series of fronts preceded by humid northerlies were forecast moving across the country, expected to bring periods of heavy rain and wind. The forecaster said some rain warnings and watches persist,…