Author: Press Room

After a redundancy and months of dispiriting job searching in Auckland, Natalia Sutherland moved to London in her 30s in search of employment. But is the job scene any better over there? Most people moving from New Zealand to London hold conflicting imagined outcomes. There’s fairy tale narrative: I land a high-paying job at a corporate giant, take regular luxurious weekend trips to southern France, sipping wine in the sun. Just another cheap weekend on the continent. (Source: istock.com)The other scenario sees me failing to find work at all and writhing on London’s grey streets, dodging knife-wielding phone snatchers before…

A new report highlighting nutrition concerns joins the range of issues faced by David Seymour since he launched his revised school lunches programme eight weeks ago. Watch this story on our home for all news, in-depth and consumer stories, TVNZ+.The list of concerns about David Seymour’s beleaguered school lunch problem grew longer this week with the release of research showing the lunches provide students with just half the energy they require from a midday meal.A group of researchers from the University of Auckland based their findings on the nutritional data featured on the website of the School Lunch Collective, the…

A 29-year-old plasterer from Darfield, charged with murder after the death of Tyrone Munns, has made a first appearance in the Christchurch District Court.Terry Thane Daily, who appeared in court via video link, didn’t enter a plea this morning. The murder accused was remanded in custody to appear in the High Court next month.He was arrested by police and the Armed Offenders Squad at 2pm yesterday at a Christchurch address. In a statement yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Wells said: “I wish to acknowledge Tyrone’s family in this difficult time and hope that this arrest provides them with some degree…

Public toilets and rubbish bins are just some of the casualties of Tasman District Council’s latest attempt to cut costs.The council is facing a $2.9 million overspend this financial year for the maintenance of community infrastructure.On Thursday, elected members narrowly voted to limit that overspend by $150,000 by cutting back on some of its services for the remainder of the financial year.The decision received immediate backlash from residents on social media when it was announced by the council on Friday.Council’s waters and waste activities make up 80% of the overspend, but there was little opportunity to cut those costs which…

With cemeteries in West Auckland now full, a local couple fears they will be separated from the community they have always called home.The concern echoes warnings from local board members who believe the lack of burial space has become a critical issue.Die-hard Westies will need to find a new resting place as Waikumete Cemetery, New Zealand’s largest, has reached capacity.With no new burial plots available until 2027, Oscar Kightley, Henderson-Massey Local Board member, says it’s disappointing that families can no longer say farewell to their loved ones in their own community. “It sucks.”Having moved from Sāmoa and grown up in…

The Government will call on the Commerce Commission to keep an eye on Wellington Water as it brings forward plans to implement its water reforms for the capital ahead of other cities. This morning, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said he had “serious concerns” about Wellington’s water services. Two reports into Wellington Water were released earlier this month, and found the entity suffered from poor financial oversight and contractor management, as well as paying contractors more than in other parts of the country. The investigation found ratepayers were paying nearly three times more for water repairs than elsewhere. “I am…

With some clear exceptions, there appears to be broad support among European governments to open negotiations on a 2040 emissions reduction target as soon as possible – but enthusiasm for the 90% cut favoured by the European Commission was less in evidence at an EU Council summit on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENTSeveral EU governments have demanded the European Commission table an overdue proposal for a 2040 emissions reduction target, the missing milestone on the bloc’s pathway to climate-neutrality by mid-century, though a few remain sceptical.Under a law adopted in 2021, the EU is committed to net-zero by 2050, after bringing its carbon…

Cabinet has agreed to its next steps in its war on the country’s supermarket duopoly, set to be announced by the Finance Minister on Sunday.Nicola Willis took over responsibility for the supermarket delegation earlier this month, after newly appointed Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson proactively identified a conflict of interest, understood to have a close family member owning a supermarket.Andrew Bayly had been doing the job but quit his ministerial warrants last month after an incident with a staffer in his office.RNZ understands Willis, who is also Economic Growth Minister, will this weekend announce decisions taken by Cabinet…

The daylight saving time has proven difficult to scrap. Meanwhile, time zones do not match solar time in many EU countries. ADVERTISEMENTPutting a stop to the seasonal time change isn’t easy, largely for political reasons. This Sunday Europeans will once again lose an hour as the clocks wind forward.It’s something few people enjoy, as shown by a 2018 survey, according to which 84% of EU citizens are against the phenomenon.According to scientific studies, the hour change can upset our body’s alignment with sunlight, which may result in sleep deprivation and affect several diseases.Switching the clock seasonally is also at odds…

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake has jolted the lower North Island this afternoon. The quake hit at 12.59pm, and was centred 20 km south-west of Levin at a depth of 35km.At time of writing, more than 8000 people had reported feeling the “light” earthquake on GeoNet’s website. Many took to social media to report feeling it. “Heard it coming, then a decent jolt! Freaked the cat,” one user wrote on social media. Another said: “Sitting in Wendy’s Paraparaumu and [I] felt it. The glass windows shook.” Over the weekend, three earthquakes were recorded within seven minutes of one another in the…