Author: Press Room

Kiwibank has cut its one-year special fixed home loan rate by 26 basis points, joining other banks at 4.49%.Last week, the other major banks slashed some mortgage rates ahead of a widely anticipated cut to the official cash rate on Wednesday.It joined ASB, ANZ, BNZ, Westpac and The Co-operative Bank, who also had one-year special rates at 4.49%.Special rates at Kiwibank require minimum 20% equity, and are also available for first home loan customers.Kiwibank also lowered its six-month (4.85%), two-year (4.69%), three-year (4.99%) special rates.Standard rates for six-month (5.75%), one-year (5.39%), two-year (5.59%), and three-year (5.79%) were also lowered.Last week,…

Deer repellent smelling like rotten oranges has been trialled in Rakiura this winter to reduce 1080 by-kill.It’s hoped the pellets will divert white-tail deer prized by hunters away from the poison, as Stewart Island is one of only two places in Aotearoa where they can be hunted.It’s estimated that fewer than a handful of pellets is enough to kill the small deer.The curious smell keeping animals away from 1080 on Stewart Island – Watch on TVNZ+And the first-ever aerial 1080 drops on the island began this winter, focused on saving pukunui. There are only around 100 birds left.Rakiura White-tail Deer…

Christchurch oncologists say some patients with incurable cancer are waiting so long for treatment that by the time they’re seen there’s nothing that can be done to help them. The three senior doctors spoke to 1News about the impact growing demand and a lack of resources are having on the Christchurch oncology service, which often cares for patients from around the South Island. Christchurch oncologist Dr Tony Rahman said the service never used to have a wait list but in 2020 it became necessary after doctor burnout. “It is probably the most horrible thing that I’ve had to do is…

ADVERTISEMENT “Hamas’ rule has to come to an end”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Euronews in an exclusive interview on Sunday, discussing the US-led ceasefire plan and the future of Israel and Gaza.  Netanyahu stated that if Hamas accepts the plan, it “could be the beginning of the end of the war.” However, if it doesn’t, then “Israel will receive, as (US) President (Donald) Trump said, the full support of the United States to forcefully act against it to bring about an end to the war.”  “Let’s hope we can finish it the easy way and not the hard…

Jiho* came to New Zealand from Korea, and as a new immigrant worked hard to get himself into a stable job, good home, and build a loving environment for his wife and child.But then he lost everything to gambling.”I was carrying the stress of being an immigrant. The language barriers, cultural differences, business pressures. It became a way to escape my stress and the loneliness,” he said.He fell into a “deep despair” and attempted suicide twice.And unfortunately, his story is all too common.While a fifth of New Zealaders will experience harm in their lifetime due to their own or someone…

Welcoming back international flights was key to a defining year for Dunedin’s airport, its chairman says. The airport company also pointed to infrastructure upgrades and a significant capital works programme in its annual report. Dunedin Airport chairman Chris Hopkins said the past financial year was a turning point for the airport. Direct international flights were restored on June 24 this year after a five-year hiatus when Jetstar offered scheduled services to the Gold Coast in Australia. Mr Hopkins said it was a celebration of aviation and reconnection of people and ideas. The infrastructure programme included resurfacing of taxiways, a major…

Greyhound trainers, veterinarians and racing officials are holding out hope for a last minute reprieve from the Government as the sport enters what is likely its final season.Racing Minister Winston Peters announced earlier this year that the Government would ban the sport from July 31, 2026, saying too many dogs were being killed and injured.”As difficult as it was, you’ve got to what’s right and we do not believe in cruelty to animals,” he said.Last season, 17 greyhounds were euthanised after being injured during races, with 800 injured and 200 seriously injured.Rangiora-based trainer Gary Cleeve told 1News he had been…

Queenstown Airport’s new chief executive is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities he will encounter during his tenure here. Shane O’Hare officially got his feet under the desk almost two weeks ago, having arrived from Tasmania where he was Launceston Airport’s CEO, part of Australia Pacific Airports Corporation, which also owns Melbourne Airport. He said Launceston was one of the first airports in Australia to experience 100% domestic recovery post-Covid and now welcomes about 1.7 million passengers per annum and continues “growing very quickly”. There are similar challenges to Queenstown, including a growing community which requires the airport to…

After years of remission, eight-year-old Easton Trueman’s leukaemia returned and he found himself back in Starship needing a bone marrow transplant. That’s when his 10-year-old brother Eden stepped up. “He wants his brother to be himself again and go to school.”This is how Natalie Trueman explained her 10-year-old son’s decision to donate bone marrow to his younger brother who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia.Natalie Trueman, left, with her sons Eden and Easton. (Source: Supplied)Easton Trueman was diagnosed with B-cell Philadelphia positive chromosome leukaemia at just three years old.After two years of brutal treatment, which included painful…

An 11-year-old boy with family in New Zealand and Canada has gone missing in British Columbia, with police “working around the clock” to find him.Kai Pavlovic’s New Zealand-based family have “grave concerns for his safety”, a Givealittle page set up for the family said.Burnaby Royal Canadian Mounted Police posted an appeal for information on Thursday, saying they were seeking the public’s assistance to find the 11-year-old.An updated statement said they received a request for a wellbeing check for Kai on September 26.”As part of the investigation, police have spoken to Kai’s family members and have reason to believe Kai is…