Author: Press Room

The Government is exploring the potential sale of its stake in telecommunications lines company Chorus in a bid to free up money for other projects next year.National Infrastructure Funding and Financing or NIFFCo, provided debt and equity funding and will investigate the feasibility of selling the debt and equity securities it holds in Chorus.If it went ahead with the decision, the money would be redirected to other capital projects.Govt seeks to fund schools and hospitals but Opposition says it’s a broken election promise. (Source: 1News)Finance Minister Nicola Willis said with the completion of the ultra-fast broadband fibre initiative, there was…

It’s been a year of grim economic news – unemployment has been up, GDP down and consumer confidence weak.But nothing lasts forever and economists say there are a number of reasons to feel positive about the economic outlook right now.1. The official cash rate has dropped Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr said the fact that the official cash rate had fallen to the level where it was stimulatory for the economy would be a gamechanger.”People often say to me ‘there’s been 250 basis points of cuts, it’s not working’… it’s like yeah because it only took it back to a…

It’s a common sight in New Zealand backyards – but too often inexpensive, medium sized, unfenced pools play a part in avoidable deaths.Two years ago, a 20-month-old child drowned in one of them in Hawke’s Bay.Swim school instructor and Dolphin Academy manager Vicky Rope said it shouldn’t happen in New Zealand, but it continues to, so they are doing everything they can to ensure water safety is at the forefront of every parent’s mind.She said it is never too early to learn to swim.“You can put your children into swimming lessons from three-months-old. They go in the water with a…

Carolyn Robinson joined the grieving then angry crowds outside the court in New Plymouth this week, at the sentencing of Daytona Thompson for the death of Daniel Nganeko. She reports on a devastated community, determined to fight for change. When something big happens in a relatively small place, everyone knows about it. That was evident in New Plymouth last week, when a large crowd gathered outside the courthouse, as the man who killed Daniel Nganeko was sentenced. His life was ended by Daytona Thompson, who delivered a “coward punch” outside a local rugby club in July. Daytona Thompson appears for…

A Kiwi father has spoken of his son’s “courage and resilience” in the months following an accident at his school in the UK which resulted in amputation of both legs below the knee. Chase Allan, 15, suffered severe electrical burns when he and two friends came into contact with overhead powerlines on a playing field at Millfield School in Street, Somerset on May 3. His father Travis Allan told 1News the three boys were attempting to retrieve some rugby boots from the powerlines using a rugby goal post just over 5m high when they were electrocuted. “They’re white plastic on…

One of Auckland’s busiest fire stations has been closed after dust samples tested positive for asbestos.Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said the result was a consequence of testing at the Pitt St station, which took place in July. “This is a result we were not expecting,” Stiffler said, saying the organisation was “disappointed”. “The safety and well-being of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us, and the station has been closed.”We have arranged precautionary air monitoring and swab testing around the station.” Stiffler said this testing would take place today.A Fire and Emergency…

A 150-year-old train has been recovered from a beach near Whanganui Port after sitting in the sand for about 75 years.At the coastal city’s port, work has been underway in recent months to improve flood protection and safe navigation of the area through infrastructure upgrades.Last month, during work on the beachfront at the harbour’s south mole, contractors hit something hard in the sand.It was identified as a train called Skunk, one of the first locomotives to run a scheduled service between Palmerston North and Foxton from 1876.It was lifted out of the sand on Thursday and taken to Steam Rail…

Credit agencies will be told about companies with problem tax debt, which one expert says could help other creditors identify “zombie companies” before they collapse.Inland Revenue will remove internal restrictions that prevented it from providing information to credit-reporting agencies about company tax debts.It has also announced a wider project aimed at chasing overdue GST and PAYE that is less than a year old.”The continued growth in the tax debt has been a growing problem, and the evidence of many zombie companies – with large tax debts when they are liquidated – has been growing from numerous mentions of the large…

More heavy rain is set to fall on the West Coast of the South Island after flooding and slips shut key routes in Grey District and Buller.However, Grey District’s mayor Tania Gibson says they’ve come out of the downpour quite lightly.The rain drenched the Grey District and Buller on Friday, causing flooding and slips.Emergency operations centres were activated in the Grey and Buller districts, with the Grey District Council advising people in flood-prone areas that they might need to evacuate if they feel uncertain.An orange heavy rain warning remains in place in Buller until Sunday morning.MetService says Buller can expect…

Published on 11/10/2025 – 8:50 GMT+2 •Updated 8:51 ADVERTISEMENT Geert Wilders, the Dutch leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) said he is suspending campaigning activities for the upcoming national election, following reports that he was a possible target of a suspected plot in Belgium to kill politicians. Three young men were arrested in Belgium on Thursday after investigators discovered a homemade explosive which the suspects were reportedly planning to attach to a drone to carry out the attack. Prosecutors said the police raids were part of an investigation into “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of…