Author: Press Room

A vehicle has been impounded in Levin after it was allegedly driven at a patrol car overnight, and then failed to stop, police say.The vehicle was later impounded, however inquiries were underway to identify the driver at the time of the incident.At the same time, police said they were also investigating an incident in the early hours of Saturday, August 23, when shots were allegedly fired towards a house in Vincent Street.The latest incidents followed several acts of violence police have previously blamed on an internal gang feud which had escalated into multiple shootings.A Gang Conflict Warrant was put in…

A pet food manufacturer says the business will need to make some tough decisions if access to the Chinese market is not restored soon. Pet food exporters have been shut out of China since bird flu was found in New Zealand late last year. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) officials were meeting their Chinese counterparts on Tuesday to discuss how pet food and other poultry products might be allowed back into China. When the bird flu – H7N6 – was detected on an egg farm in rural Otago, movement controls were placed on the site and all chickens were culled. Tests…

A man had to be rescued in Tauranga on Monday afternoon after he crashed down a bank into water on his mobility scooter.Police said emergency services were advised about 2.30pm that a mobility scooter had entered the water off Chapel St. “The person riding, an older man, was taken to hospital by ambulance for medical attention for cuts to his hand, foot, and head,” a police statement said. A spokesperson for Fire and Emergency NZ said a call was received at 2.29pm and one crew from Tauranga attended and rescued the man from down the bank.A Hato Hone St John…

A new surfer statue could soon be riding into town at Colac Bay/Ōraka — but it won’t be cheap.The small Southland township is staring down the barrel of a potential $140,000 bill to replace its existing structure, which towers over the entrance in decaying glory.Built in 1999, the surfer has not weathered the storm well and has been the subject of funding requests for years.The district council gave money for maintenance between 2001 and 2004 but declined requests in 2008 and 2019. It then approved a loan of $35,000 as part of its 2022/23 annual plan.Assessments and community feedback had…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ New Zealand ticketing and event listing business Eventfinda has sold to Ticketek. Eventfinda chief executive James McGlinn said the deal would bring Ticketek and Eventfinda together and allow the Ticketek group to service a “really important segment of the live event ecosystem with Eventfinda’s agile self-service ticketing platform”. He said Eventfinda had been providing that to venues and organisers for the better part of 20 years. “With ticketing flexibility and white label functionality that has really resonated with that part of the market. “Ticketek has a world-class system that operates at the part of the…

Kiwi Rabbitohs forward Brandon Smith has reportedly been charged with supplying drugs and betting offences in Australia.Smith was initially questioned at Gold Coast Airport by police on August 9 as he arrived to play against the Titans. At the time, he was released without charge.But a Queensland Police spokesperson today confirmed to the Daily Mail that a 29-year-old had since been issued with a summons for both charges of supplying dangerous drugs and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.”The man is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on September 18.”Investigations by detectives from the Organised Crime Gangs…

TVNZ has scored exclusive rights to broadcast the world’s largest sporting event – next year’s Fifa World Cup.All 104 football matches will be screened, including the New Zealand All Whites’ first appearance at the tournament since 2010.Viewers will be able to watch some matches free-to-air on TVNZ 1, or fans can purchase a one-off event pass on TVNZ+ for “comprehensive and uninterrupted coverage of all matches, replays and highlights”.The event pass is the first time TVNZ has charged viewers for content and has been described as a “gamechanger”, enabling the broadcaster to competitively bid for and acquire more sports rights.The…

NZ Post services to the United States should resume within weeks, as it figures its way through the Trump administration’s tariffs. The postal service had temporarily suspended parcel services to the US because of confusion caused by the tariff regime. This also included American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Jared Hancock,  NZ Post’s general manager of Export and International Solutions, told RNZ’s Morning Report programme today the process was complex because the tariffs rate would depend on the origin of the goods. “So this falls to the sender to actually determine where the goods are manufactured.” NZ Post…

A search has resumed this morning after a mayday call from a vessel in Cook Strait last night.Police said the call was made around 10pm, with a report several people were on board a boat that was in trouble around three nautical miles from Karori Rock.”Boats from police, Coastguard Wellington, CentrePort, Wellington Airport Fire and Rescue, and the Interislander searched the area until 2.30am, but no debris was found,” police said in a statement.A Kiwirail spokesperson told 1News the Kaiārahi ferry responded to a mayday call at around 10.20pm last night that a vessel was taking on water. “Kaiārahi was…

Legendary New Zealand film and television producer John Barnett has died.The Screen Production and Development Association confirmed Barnett died on Sunday night.He began his career in 1973 and ran the country’s largest production company, South Pacific Pictures, from 1992 to 2015.Barnett’s current company, Endeavour Ventures, develops feature films and international TV series.He was a producer or executive producer on four of the country’s 10 top-grossing films: Footrot Flats, Whale Rider, Sione’s Wedding, and Once Were Warriors sequel What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?Barnett was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to film and television…