Author: Press Room

The Chief Human Rights Commissioner has taken a jab at the coalition Government, calling its voting reforms a “backward step” for democracy.Legislation banning prisoner and same-day voter enrolment passed its first reading yesterday with support from National, ACT and New Zealand First.Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the changes would overhaul outdated laws and give the country a faster final vote count after election night.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including UK set to recognise Palestine, fire closes another Auckland supermarket, and Australia’s plan to clamp down on YouTube access. (Source: 1News)Opposition parties have been quick to criticise the proposals as…

It is the dawn of a new era for Allied Press — now officially Allied Media. The parent company of the Otago Daily Times and more than 20 other publications across the South Island has announced it is rebranding. Allied Media chief executive Grant McKenzie said the company’s publications had been part of the South for more than 160 years, but the business today had evolved “well beyond newspapers”. “The rebrand from Allied Press to Allied Media reflects the broader scope of what we do, including strong online news websites and events, as well as print. “This is not about changing who…

Kiwibank has been given the green light to raise up to $500 million in new capital, a move the Government says will help the New Zealand-owned bank better compete with the big four Australian-owned banks.Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced on Wednesday that, following a market-testing process, Cabinet had approved Kiwibank’s parent company to raise up to $500 million of capital to fund the bank’s growth.Finance Minister said the boost aims to strengthen Kiwibank’s ability to compete with dominant Australian-owned banks. (Source: 1News)”Allowing Kiwibank to raise up to an additional $500 million is the first step towards giving Kiwibank access to…

Published on 30/07/2025 – 19:02 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Flights are beginning to restart from UK airports after a technical issue grounded and diverted planes earlier on Wednesday before engineers were able to restore the system, the air traffic control operator said. Airports said it would take time for disruption to clear, with many planes and crew out of position. The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) said the glitch happened at its control centre at Swanwick, southwest of London, and required the service to limit the number of aircraft flying to ensure safety. London’s Gatwick Airport said the issue affected outbound flights…

Otago’s small businesses are finding a way to increase sales while North Island centres go backwards. Across the nation, sales weakness is uppermost in the north, with Northland down 3.5% in the June quarter compared with the corresponding period a year ago. A small business report by accounting software company Xero shows Wellington is back 3.1%, but Auckland declining 1.3%. In contrast, South Island centres are outgunning the national average, with Otago leading the charge, up 3.9% year-on-year for the quarter and Canterbury tracking 1.8% growth. This coincides with the agriculture sector making strong sales. The Xero Small Business Insights…

Gloriavale’s leader Howard Temple is now a convicted sexual offender, after accepting he abused six girls and women at the West Coast commune.The 85-year-old Overseeing Shepherd changed his plea to 12 charges on day three of his trial at the Greymouth District Court.They included five charges of indecent assault, five charges for indecents act and two common assault charges.A further 12 charges were dropped. The 85-year-old changed his plea to 12 charges on day three of his trial that was scheduled to last three weeks. (Source: 1News)Temple was remanded on bail to reappear in court in August. A date for…

ADVERTISEMENT At least three soldiers were killed and 18 others wounded after Russian missiles hit a Ukrainian army training ground, authorities said on Wednesday, in strikes targeting Kyiv’s efforts to make up for a severe manpower shortage in more than three years of war. The Russian Defence Ministry said the strike killed or wounded about 200 Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian ground forces acknowledged the Russian strike on the military training ground, but its casualty report differed widely from Moscow’s. The ministry said Ukraine’s 169th training centre near Honcharivske in the Chernihiv region was hit with two Iskander missiles, one armed with multiple…

Police are hunting for the driver of a stolen vehicle that struck and injured a police officer before fleeing in Auckland last night.The stolen vehicle was spotted parked near Southmall in Manurewa at around 11.30pm on Tuesday.Detective Inspector Karen Bright said two police units arrived on scene and signalled for the vehicle to remain stopped.”As police approached the vehicle on foot , the vehicle fled, hitting a police constable and collided with a patrol vehicle.”St John said one ambulance responded to the incident.”One person was assessed at the scene and transported to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.”Bright said the…

ADVERTISEMENT The impact of a tentative trade deal struck by the European Union and United States on European consumers will be limited, experts have said. On Sunday, the US and the EU agreed to a deal in order to avoid a trade war between the world’s two largest economies, warding off US President Donald Trump’s threat of 30% tariffs on most European goods if no deal was reached by 1 August. Under the preliminary agreement, around 70% of EU exports bound for the US will now be subject to a 15% tariff. The remaining 30% of goods are open to…

Every time it rains, residents of a Western Bay of Plenty neighbourhood watch and wait for the flood waters to rise. They say it’s only in the last few years that the nearby stream has become a real threat, and they want action from their council.An official says the area has always had flood risks, and the council carries out regular work in the area.Homes at the bottom of Muir Place in Te Puke are a few hundred metres from the Ōhineangaanga Stream, which rises rapidly during downpours.Peter Willis’ land borders the stream. He said there had been six large…