Author: Press Room

Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson has announced she intends to serve as Wayne Brown’s deputy again if they are both re-elected.In a midday media conference at the Auckland Town Hall on Thursday, Simpson said she would not be challenging Brown for the mayoralty.”After a lot of deliberation, I’m pleased to advised that I’m standing again for the fine ward of Ōrākei. I really enjoy being the councillor for that board, and that’s why I am going to ask for their support for another term.”Simpson said she had gotten to know Brown “really well” in the past three years and found…

A woman who forged a medical degree from a top New Zealand university and worked as a doctor in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years has been ordered to pay close to NZ$1 million in compensation or face further jail time.Zholia Alemi, 63, posed as a psychiatrist while she worked for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and was paid around NZ$2 million over the course of her employment.She never had the medical qualifications necessary.She denied 20 offences, including forgery, but was jailed for seven years after being convicted at the Manchester Crown Court in 2023.She had previously…

The country’s natural gas supply is running out faster than previously thought. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said previous forecasts showed annual gas production falling below 100 petajoules (PJ) by 2029, but revised forecasts indicated that level would be reached by next year. A petajoule or PJ is a unit measurement of energy use commonly used for large-scale energy use, with one petajoule equal to one million billion joules. MBIE also said as of January this year, natural gas reserves were down 27% compared to last year – also falling faster than previously estimated. “In 2024, natural gas…

Ownership of a public reserve in Ngongotahā will be gifted back to the whānau who donated it decades ago.Backers of the move included former Te Pāti Māori co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, who said it was once part of the family farm.Rotorua Lakes Council agreed to dispose of the “surplus” 810sq m section in April after a majority of public submissions supported this.Last week, councillors voted to gift the land back to descendants of the original owners, without charge.That was rather than asking the descendants to pay up to $38,000 in costs for the return, or the council selling the property…

“What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen on social media?”That’s the question Re: News asked teenagers, and the answers were extreme. Content warning: This story discusses graphic violence and death. “Oh, I’ve seen someone get their neck slit open in a mall.” “Lots of 9/11 stuff and people getting murdered.” “I’ve seen someone get smashed with some knuckledusters straight to the head, and he is bleeding out of his brain.” Watch the full video here on TVNZ+New research from the New Zealand Classification Office found the most common type of harmful content young New Zealanders are seeing is real-world graphic violence.…

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it was an “absolute shock” to learn a press secretary working in his office was reported to police for allegedly recording audio of sex workers without their consent before joining his staff.Luxon’s acting deputy chief press secretary, Michael Forbes, resigned yesterday morning after allegations emerged that he had recorded audio without the consent of Wellington sex workers, Stuff reported.It was also alleged that the press secretary had images on his phone of women exercising at a gym, shopping, and taken through a window while getting dressed.Speaking to media on the resignation, the PM said Forbes’…

A man has been found dead at a property in Te Puke this morning following a crash last night.Police were called to an address in Te Puke this morning after a man was located deceased. It was later discovered that he was involved in a crash on Maniatutu Rd last night.”Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash and the death are ongoing,” a police spokesperson said.

A local politician says he is pleased a new raised pedestrian crossing project in south Auckland has been put on hold while alternatives are explored.Auckland Transport (AT) had proposed a multi-street safety improvement project in Waiuku, which included Queen St, George St, Mellsop Ave and Kent St.The project included installing a new raised zebra crossing on top of a flat, wide speed bump with side islands, outside 120 Queen St — costing $65,000.Other elements of the project — including the removal of an existing zebra crossing, a new footpath next to a skatepark and playground, new traffic islands and grass…

Change is on the cards for the supermarket sector, as the Commerce Commission looks at ways to improve competition. It has released a draft report into the review of the Grocery Supply Code and a preliminary view into its wholesale market inquiry. The commission identified two commercial behaviours which it said reinforced the power of the major supermarkets – Foodstuffs and Woolworths – and the country’s biggest grocery suppliers. Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden said a key problem was the power imbalance between major retailers and small suppliers, meaning those suppliers were reluctant to push back and insist on better prices. He said small…

With Lotto’s Powerball jackpot hitting $12 million in tonight’s draw, what happens if you win and forget to check your ticket?Every year 1% of prizes – or about $10 million – goes unclaimed. And Lotto says it first gives the winner time to come forward – usually around two weeks. This is to allow them time to experience their “winning ticket” moment. However, if after two weeks no winner comes forward Lotto begins to track them down, says Will Hine, Lotto’s head of corporate communication.When tracking down a winner, a Lotto spokesperson says they “are very careful in the way…