Author: Press Room
By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Whether it’s award-winning Napier restaurant Pacifica closing its doors, Wellington brewery Fortune Favours shutting down, or Ponsonby’s KOL hosting its last dinner service, it seems barely a week goes by where there isn’t a high-profile hospitality business closing. Data supplied by Centrix shows there have been 297 hospitality businesses liquidated in the past 12 months, compared to 199 in the prior year. In the past 12 months, 2564 hospitality businesses have shut, 19 percent more than the 2158 a year earlier. Chris Wilkinson, of First Retail Group, said some businesses were reaching a tipping point that…
A recall has been issued for Vimms Enterprises Ltd’s Deep brand of frozen vegetables due to the possible presence of Salmonella. The affected products included all batches and dates of Deep’s Sprouted Mat, Sprouted Moong beans and Surti Undhiu Mix. The products were sold at Arjun Supermarket on Rankin Ave in New Lynn; Lotus Supermarket on Cavendish Dr in Manukau; and Yogiji’s Supermarket on Lincoln Rd in Henderson. Surti Undhiu Mix (vegetable mix) was also sold in ethnic supermarkets nationwide.”Salmonellosis can be serious, so it is important that people do not eat these products,” New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general…
Air New Zealand has announced its earnings for the 2025 financial year, posting a net profit after tax of $126 million. That’s down from $146 million in the 2024 financial year. This afternoon, Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran told RNZ that passengers should expect a 5% increase for airfares soon to offset the rising operating costs.The airline said earnings before taxation were $189 million for the 2025 financial year, compared with $222 million year prior. This result was at the upper end of the guidance range provided to the market in April. Chairwoman Dame Therese Walsh said today’s…
It has all the trappings of reality show Escape to the Country — except this particular couple escaped their country. Anabel Tweedale and Matt Edwards had lived in Sydney all their lives when they decided to up sticks and move to Dunedin to open a boutique hotel. The fact neither had worked in hospitality was a minor detail; Ms Tweedale worked in magazine advertising and Mr Edwards was in office fit-outs. But both were in jobs they were not particularly enjoying and the couple — who have been together 18 months — questioned whether they wanted to continue in those roles for…
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including manhunt after Australian police fatally shot, how water could help deal with stress, and the price tag for Taylor Swift’s engagement ring.The man believed to have fatally shot two police officers in the Australia state of Victoria has been identified as a subscriber to the ‘sovereign citizen’ movement. A coroner has recommended lifejackets be compulsory for anyone fishing off rocks. The former CEO of The Wiggles has launched legal action, claiming he was fired unlawfully. A glass of water could help people manage stress, according to new research. ADVERTISEMENTTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce…
ADVERTISEMENT Many people dream of owning the house they live in, and for many Europeans, this dream has come true, as 69% of them are homeowners. A quarter of this group even owns a secondary residence, according to the latest European Housing Trend Report published by international real estate company Re/Max. Bulgaria is the European country with the largest share of homeowners who have a second home. Here, almost half (46%) of respondents own a second residence, which is significantly higher than the European average of 25%. More generally, homeownership is strong in Bulgaria, with 80% of respondents owning at…
A woman who was told by a power company that she should put on more clothes is just one of hundreds of New Zealanders who have told RNZ they are struggling with power bills this winter.Patricia, whom RNZ has agreed not to identify, said her power bill of $420, for herself and two children, made her feel as though she was drowning.”I adjust weekly payments to suit paying it off before the next bill, I’m now at $120 per week. I asked what can I do to the power company – they suggested we wear more clothes.”Another woman said her…
Published on 28/08/2025 – 17:05 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT In Europe, the 2025 wildfire season has broken records for the amount of land burnt. More than a million hectares has gone up in flames in the EU so far this year, a larger surface area than the entirety of Corsica. That’s more than four times as much as last year. In total, more than 1,800 forest fires have been declared, emitting more than 38 million tonnes of CO₂. Out of the European Union’s 27 member states, only the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta have reported no wildfires. At the top…
Insurance has had the largest price rise of any item tracked in the consumer price index since 2000, Consumer NZ says, and there’s a risk that more people may not be able to access it at all in future unless there are industry changes.Consumer has released a report into the insurance industry, investigating how climate change is affecting the cost and availability of house and contents insurance.It noted the cost of insurance had gone up 916% since 2000. That is ahead of the increase in the price of cigarettes and tobacco, which were up 608%.The price increases were prompting people…
Three kilograms of “substances and casings capable of being transformed into pipe bombs” were seized alongside methamphetamine and firearms in a Hutt Valley drug operation, police say.Two people have been arrested and charged amid the searches and seizures as part of the three-month “Operation Trunk” investigation.Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson said: “Of real concern is the discovery of three kilogrammes of substances and casings capable of being transformed into pipe bombs.”Two kilograms of methamphetamine were seized. (Source: NZ Police)He said police were highly concerned by the discovery and were continuing to investigate where the substances came from. Police also seized four…