Author: Press Room

Large parts of the country are under severe thunderstorm warnings. MetService has issued red warnings for South Waikato, Matamata Piako, Waipa, Taupō, Ōtorohanga and Rotorua this afternoon. The thunderstorms were expected to move southeast. A warning for Horowhenua, Carterton, Tararua, Kāpiti Coast, Masterton and South Wairarapa went out at 5pm, with serve thunderstorms near Levin, Foxton, and Shannon. Weather warnings for the South Island. (Source: MetService)There was also a red warning for Timaru, Mackenzie and Ashburton with a red severe thunderstorm warning for the Four Peaks Range. Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago and Central Otago all had a…

Queenstown’s now home to a different type of ride-sharing. RYD, a new mobility service, officially launched in the resort in May. The brainchild of Queenstowner Jason Roberts and James Ma, the fleet of Hyundai Kona EVs can be hired by the hour — casual rates are $19 per hour, or $9 an hour between 8pm and 6am, with daily, weekly and monthly capped rates also available — giving users the freedom to only pay for what they use. At present, there’s a car each at Sherwood, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Hilton Queenstown, Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park, and the…

A person has died at a Southbridge property in Canterbury this morning in a work-related incident. Emergency services were called to Glasseys Rd in Selwyn around 10.30am. Worksafe said in a statement that it was notified of an “agricultural-related death in Southbridge earlier today and is making initial enquiries”. “Agriculture is one of the four most dangerous industries in Aotearoa, and is a priority sector under our new strategy,” the agency said.”Agriculture accounts for around 25% of acute work-related fatalities and serious injuries.”Police added that, “enquiries into the circumstances of the death are ongoing”.

Tourists have been meandering around a commercial wharf in Fiordland, moving cones and putting themselves into dangerous situations which could lead to serious injury or even death, a fishing company says. Fiordland Lobster Company is applying to permanently fence off the Deepwater Basin Wharf to public access. It has applied to the Department of Conversation to allow the fencing off, as the area is in a national park. Company director Mark Peychers said in the application to Doc that tourists were meandering around the commercial wharf, oblivious to the site’s dangers. He said “the inquisitive nature of people and especially…

A person has died and another has critical injuries after a single-vehicle crash which closed State Highway 1 near Horeke in Northland. Police were called to the scene, near Rangiahua Rd, at around 9.20am on Saturday.”Sadly, one person died at the scene,” police said in a statement. “One other person was transported to hospital in a critical condition.”The Serious Crash Unit completed a scene examination, and the road was now clear.One helicopter and three ambulances were called to the scene, St John said. The injured person was airlifted to Whangārei Hospital in a serious condition, confirmed the ambulance service.

The owners of an Auckland restaurant once ranked one of the best fine dining establishments in the world have announced it will be closing soon.The Grove, which “serves modern New Zealand food with a French twist” on Wyndham Street, will open its doors for the last time on March 1.”After two unforgettable decades, it’s with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of The Grove Restaurant,” owners Michael and Annette Dearth said on Facebook.”This decision was not made lightly, but as we reflect on the past 20 years, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve shared…

Queenstown’s now home to a different type of ride-sharing. RYD, a new mobility service, officially launched in the resort in May. The brainchild of Queenstowner Jason Roberts and James Ma, the fleet of Hyundai Kona EVs can be hired by the hour — casual rates are $19 per hour, or $9 an hour between 8pm and 6am, with daily, weekly and monthly capped rates also available — giving users the freedom to only pay for what they use. At present, there’s a car each at Sherwood, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Hilton Queenstown, Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park, and the…

One Lotto ticketholder is a million dollars better off after picking all six numbers to take the first division prize.The winning Division 1 Lotto ticket was sold at New World Pukekohe in Auckland.A lucky Strike player from Auckland after won $1.5 million in tonight’s Strike Must Be Won draw.The winning ticket Strike Four ticket was sold at Ora St Lukes in Auckland.The ultimate Powerball prize has rolled over to the next draw however after going unpicked.Thirteen ticketholders each received $22,652 from Division 2, with five Lotto numbers and the Bonus Ball.Winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following outlets:Shopping…

Leading right-wing figures in Europe have also weighed in, criticising the German authorities for failing to take stronger preventative action. ADVERTISEMENTGerman far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is calling for a major rally following the attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg which left several people dead and hundreds injured.At a memorial site for the victims, AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla called on Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to take stronger action to ensure the safety of the German public.”I am now demanding answers from the interior minister: What is actually going on here in this country? What is actually happening…

Blake Lively has accused her “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to “destroy” her reputation in a legal complaint.The complaint obtained by The Associated Press, which The New York Times reported was filed Friday (local time) with the California Civil Rights Department, precedes a lawsuit. It names Baldoni, the studio behind “It Ends With Us” and Baldoni’s publicists among the defendants.In the complaint, Lively accuses Baldoni and the studio of embarking on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation following a meeting in which…