Author: Press Room

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Tuesday that an EU directive aiming to establish an “adequate” minimum wage in all 27 member states is valid, after Denmark tried to block it on the basis that the EU overreached its powers by legislating on pay. Denmark had brought the EU institutions to court over the directive adopted in October 2022, claiming it exceeds the EU’s authority and calling for it to be entirely overturned. Copenhagen, aided by Sweden, maintained that member states should decide how wages are set, primarily through collective agreements between trade unions and employers, and that…

A coroner has warned that five years after the death of a “sociable” and “straight-talking” former publican at Taranaki Base Hospital’s Emergency Department, the risk of catastrophic events happening there remains high.Hāwera man Leonard Collett died following a fall at the ED in July 2020, aged 78, after being admitted with shortness of breath.An inquest was held into his death in September.Coroner Ian Telford found the primary cause of death was bleeding from injuries caused by the fall, which ultimately led to terminal cardiac arrest.He said Collett’s fall was both “foreseeable and preventable” and shortcomings in the nursing care provided…

A former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori has expressed his sadness and disappointment at the expulsion of two of its MPs.Te Pāti Māori’s National Council has decided to expel Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, a decision both MPs said was “unconstitutional”.The MPs have vowed to challenge the decision, which one electoral law expert said would hinge on whether the party appropriately followed its constitution, particularly its dispute resolution processes.Representatives from Kapa-Kingi’s electorate Te Tai Tokerau were excluded from voting, following a resolution to ‘reset’ the electorate executive last month.The electorate executive in Te Tai Tonga, Ferris’ electorate, abstained. Ferris’ social…

Fire and Emergency New Zealand ground crews are continuing work to extinguish the blaze which burned more 3000ha at Tongariro National Park after wet weather significantly helped efforts yesterday. An observation flight yesterday afternoon over the conservation land found no visible signs of fire after rainfall aided efforts to fight the gigantic blaze which began on Saturday and triggered evacuations of trampers and residents, including in Whakapapa Village.Incident controller Nigel Dravitzki told Breakfast that crews would gather again this morning to head back out into the field. “Obviously the weather has worked in our favour here a little bit at…

The creation of a special tribunal set up to try crimes of aggression against Ukraine is encountering budgetary difficulties, multiple sources familiar with the matter told Euronews, highlighting the challenges for European nations to keep up their financial engagements without the backing of the United States. The special tribunal was bilaterally agreed by the Council of Europe and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June and will require funding from multiple partners to effectively go ahead. European donors now worry that the US will continue its policy of disengagement from multilateral institutions, complicating their fundraising efforts. Although the Council…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including Trump threatens to sue the BBC, drones used to find hotspots in Tongariro National Park, and a surprise show after a cancelled concert. Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC over a documentary which was selectively edited. Drones have been used to find hot spots in the Tongariro National Park. Biosecurity NZ is ramping up its search for hornets in Auckland. Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has erupted, shooting lava hundreds of metres into the air. American singer Drew Baldridge has performed a pop up show in Auckland after the cancellation of a concert…

European lawmakers in the European Parliament’s environment committee backed the revision of the bloc’s climate law on Monday which sets the EU27 to cut 90% greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Parliament’s position aligns with the text agreed by EU member states on 5 November, following lengthy political talks that secured policy flexibilities to help EU nations reach the 90% reduction target without jeopardising the competitiveness of their industries. The ballot, with 55 votes in favour and 32 against, paves the way for the full house to adopt the revision of the controversial 2040 climate law, after several delays and infighting…

A woman was found with what appeared to be a severe gunshot wound in Christchurch last night, with police now hunting for the suspect who fled the scene. Emergency services were called to a property on Shortland Street in Wainoni at around 8.45pm. On arrival, they found a woman in critical condition, having suffered “what appears to be a serious gunshot wound”. St John said she was taken to Christchurch Hospital. The scene of a shooting in Wainoni, Christchurch (Source: 1News)Police said it was investigating and was working to find the person responsible, who “fled the scene in a vehicle”.…

Despite tireless efforts and countless hours of searching, 77-year-old Kapiti man Graham Russell Smith remains missing a year on from his disappearance. Smith was reported missing while walking in the area of Rangituhi/Colonial Knob near Porirua at about 6.30pm on November 10, 2024. At the time, officers made many appeals to the public for information on his whereabouts and used thermal imaging equipment in their attempt to locate him. Acting Detective Sergeant Nicholas Mead said police investigating his disappearance still hold hope he could be returned to his loved ones.”Despite hundreds of hours searching, including search and rescue field teams,…

The new owner of the country’s oldest tattoo studio is working to honour the legacy of the shop’s founder, the late Roger Ingerton.Roger Ingerton opened Roger’s Tatooart in Wellington’s Cuba Street in 1977 – and worked from the premises until he retired in 2009.The studio had received a dramatic facelift, but its legendary founder’s designs, photographs and paintings still fill nearly every spare inch of wallspace.Cuba Street studio a ‘mecca’ for tattoo fansAndre Röck – known in the tattoo industry as Dre – said Ingerton’s shop was “a tattoo mecca” and had drawn people dedicated to skin art from all…