Author: Press Room

European leaders are gathering in Paris as Donald Trump is pushing for an accelerated timetable to strike a deal between Ukraine and Russia. ADVERTISEMENTA group of eleven European leaders is gathering in Paris to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and strengthen their common position amid the accelerated peace process being promoted by US President Donald Trump, who last week shocked Western allies when he called Vladimir Putin to “immediately” start negotiations.Trump later said he could meet with Putin “very soon.”The phone conversation broke a three-year-long effort to isolate the Kremlin diplomatically and stoked fears that Kyiv would be pressured to…

The country’s first fully electric fire truck was unveiled this morning at Christchurch Airport, as well as plans to expand the electric response vehicle fleet in 2026.The Rosenbauer RT (Revolutionary Technology) model was 100% electric, and has a small back up range extender generator that can top up batteries if required in prolonged emergency situations.The vehicle would become the airport’s primary first-response vehicle, replacing the existing diesel truck that handled most emergency call outs across the airport campus.Christchurch Airport fire chief Peter Moore told Breakfast the new vehicle would enhance emergency response capability, and there were many features the firefighters…

Germany is the EU country which welcomes the most non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. Nearly half of Ukrainian citizens who escaped are adult women. ADVERTISEMENTIn December 2024, nearly 4.3 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine after the invasion by Russia had temporary protection status in the EU, under an exceptional arrangement for displaced non-EU nationals who cannot return to their home country.   Russia (12,381), Nigeria (4,988), and Azerbaijan (4,235) are also among other non-EU countries with citizens under temporary protection, according to the latest Eurostat figures.The EU countries receiving the most people with temporary protection from Ukraine are…

A homicide investigation has been launched after a man died following an assault in Hastings overnight.Police said they were called to a “group of people fighting” on Kiwi Ln at around 10.30pm on Sunday.Detective Inspector Martin James said a man was then dropped at the Hastings Hospital emergency department in a critical condition after being assaulted.”The man has sadly died a short time later in hospital. Police are now working to establish exactly what has occurred and the events leading up to this man’s death.”He said the community could expect to see an increased police presence in the area as…

A New Zealand company is using technology similar to Google’s street view to map trees, and scan them for vulnerabilities more accurately, in Southland’s Gore. New Zealand company Treetech has teamed up with Singaporean business Greehill to roll out the technology, which creates a 360-degree view of the rural district’s tallest residents.While the car travels at precisely 39km/h, four million lasers and six cameras scan and snap pictures of trees along each side of the street.It then used that data to identify vulnerabilities in the trees to prevent accidents, and find where more canopy coverage was needed.Treetech spokesperson Jak Harris…

Hāwera GP Keith Blayney earns less than his receptionist these days – but claims it is better than relying on the government’s “flawed” capitation funding system.Under capitation, practices are paid an annual fee by the government for every enrolled patient – no matter how many times they visit the doctor – and patient fees are capped.When the system was introduced back in 2001, he and his wife Shirley – the practice manager – decided against joining. He said this was because they could see it was “doomed to failure”, due to the ageing population with ever-growing health needs.”The determinants of…

No final decisions have been made in the case of a New Zealand-born 18-year-old facing deportation to a country he’s never visited, the Associate Immigration Minister says.Daman Kumar, 18, was earlier told to leave the country or face a deportation order. His parents have lived in New Zealand for about 24 years as overstayers. Kumar would face being deported to India — a country he’s never been to.The teen’s case has been extensively covered in the media over the past several days. A spokesperson for Chris Penk, the minister responsible for the final case decision, said in an update today…

An Auckland man has been sentenced to community detention for tax fraud after he applied for Covid-19 relief money under the names of two people who had left the country in 2013 and 2017.Vaibhav Kaushik was charged with using a document to claim a pecuniary advantage — more than $23,000 —and was sentenced in the Auckland District Court on February 13.The Government announced a new small business cash flow loan scheme to support businesses adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.There were several criteria, including that the business be viable and ongoing and the loan must be used for the business…

Mandating Whangārei District Council fluoridation is being slammed as a “despotic Soviet-era disgrace” by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.Director-General of Health Dr Diana Sarfati is requiring Whangārei District Council (WDC) fluoridates its drinking water for 80,000 people by March 28.WDC this week reaffirmed its November 28 refusal to fluoridate — in spite of Sarfati’s sternly written email to the council on January 30 indicating “potentially heavy penalties upon any conviction by a court” for refusing the order.In her letter, Sarfati said it was an offence under the Health Act 1956 for a local authority to contravene a direction.Sarfati on…

MetService says heavy rain is forecast for areas in both the North and South Islands. The forecaster said a low to the north of the country is directing a humid subtropical flow over New Zealand, bringing heavy rain to parts of the North Island during Monday. A front moving east towards southern NZ is also expected to bring heavy rain to parts of the South Island late Monday and during Tuesday.Orange heavy rain warnings were in place for Coromandel Peninsula and the Kaimai Range, and Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Tolaga Bay from 9am today into this evening. Up to 90mm of…