Author: Press Room

A flight between Auckland and Blenheim has had to divert to New Plymouth this afternoon after a system alert forced a landing.Air New Zealand chief safety officer Nathan McGraw said pilots on flight NZ5509 noticed an “aircraft system indication” during the flight.The plane landed safely at about 12.38pm with emergency services on standby as a precaution.”Our maintenance team will now inspect the aircraft, before it can return to service, and we are working to get customers on to their final destinations as quickly as possible.”

Rotorua Lakes Council’s local election candidates have mixed views on the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in campaigning and whether it risks undermining the qualities voters expect from them.It comes as one expert compares the nature of such content with junk food as it becomes increasingly prolific.This will be Rotorua’s first local elections since ChatGPT launched.Dr Bronwyn Isaacs, a University of Waikato anthropology lecturer specialising in the cultural politics of AI, said she had observed a rise in generative-AI use in political content.Its affordability, ease of access and the ability to manage the pressure for a high volume of…

A polytech project has grown into a full-fledged commercial venture with potato-based ice cream now being churned out in Dunedin.The starchy sweet treat was soon to be scooped out at popular ice cream parlour Patti’s and Cream.Agria potatoes soaked in water was the start of culinary arts student Emily Gilbert’s ice cream, complete with dairy-free dark chocolate and sugar.“The name of the brand is Mud, which is milk plus spud,” she told 1News.New Zealand produces around half-a-million tonnes of potatoes per year and potato milk is a big deal overseas, sold in supermarkets for people needing low FODMAP foods for…

After close to seven months at sea, Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha returned to Devonport Naval Base this morning to a hero’s welcome, greeted by hundreds of emotional friends and whānau.The ship’s 193-day deployment included operations with Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), a multinational coalition focused on maritime security in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean. Led by New Zealand for part of the year, the task force disrupted transnational criminal and terrorist networks operating in key shipping lanes.One of the most significant achievements of Te Kaha’s deployment was its support in the…

Fishpond may offer supermarket-beating grocery prices, but it’s unlikely to make a dent in the sector’s competition, Consumer NZ says.Fishpond has been promoting its “online pantry” offers, which sell Milo snack bars for $4.49 for six, a pack of Tim Tams for $2.99 a litre of Boring oat milk for $3.79 and a tin of Watties pears for $2.59, among other grocery items.By comparison, Woolworths has the Milo bars for $4.99, Tim Tams for $5.49, Boring oat milk for $4.40 and Watties pears for $3.50.Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said Fishpond had been making a play for the grocery…

Al Brown has pledged to review every item made by Hikurangi Home Cookery, a small-town, family-owned bakery 20 minutes’ drive north of Whangārei.The highest score so far, nine and a half out of 10, went to a raspberry tea bun Brown nicknamed “the razza” and described as an “absolute piece of brilliance”.A cream-filled puff pastry topped with pink icing called a Napoleon – which Brown dubbed a “down and dirty” Kiwi version of the French mille-feuille – scored eight and a half, as did a classic mince pie.The bacon and egg slice scored a more modest six and a half…

Three Greenpeace protesters have been arrested after boarding a fishing boat at Nelson’s port, stopping it from leaving.Police were called to the port about 8am on Saturday after two protesters boarded Talley’s Amaltal Columbia vessel and refused to leave.One of the demonstrators holding a banner attached themselves to the vessel.In a post on social media, Greenpeace said it was “preventing [the vessel] from carrying out destructive bottom trawling”.”When trawl nets are dragged over seamounts and other vulnerable areas, they turn precious coral into rubble and kill ocean life from sharks to fur seals, dolphins and seabirds – it must stop.”All…

A small Wellington business is fearing for its future after NZ Post suspended shipping to the United States due to tariffs.South Pacific Berets describes itself as the most specialised beret shop in the world, serving Basque beret enthusiasts globally.”Most of my customers, about 90%, live in the US,” owner Daan Kolthoff said.”I import berets from a number of countries: France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Argentina, they come to New Zealand and from here they go to customers all over the world. There are very little [customers] in New Zealand, by far the most are US customers.”Kolthoff said the suspension came…

Seven people have been injured, including two in critical condition, following a two-vehicle crash near Taupō this afternoon. Emergency services were called to a serious crash near the intersection of Broadlands Road and Off Road Highway, Rotokawa at around 3.15pm. In a statement this afternoon, Hato Hone St Jon said it responded with three helicopters, five ambulances, one manager, and one clinical support vehicle.”Our crews assessed and treated two patients in a critical condition who were airlifted to Waikato hospital, one patient in a serious condition who was airlifted to Rotorua hospital, three patients in a moderate condition who were…

Four firearms and a knife have been seized by police investigating gang-related offending in Levin.It comes after a Gang Conflict Warrant was put in place on Thursday, following four firearms incidents in as many days. Manawatū area commander inspector Ross Grantham said the warrant is already helping to keep the Horowhenua town safe.”On Thursday, we stopped and searched a vehicle, locating a firearm, we then found another firearm in the home associated to the vehicle.”Yesterday morning, we stopped another vehicle and found two firearms. “Some time later another vehicle was stopped where Police found a large knife.”Police said they are…