Author: Press Room

The government hopes opening up the ability for building companies to buy more overseas material will cut down the price of construction. On Monday it will release its building product specifications document, which will list international standards for products like plasterboard, cladding, windows and external doors. The aim of the change is to allow more overseas building materials into New Zealand’s construction sector. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the products had been given “the green light” to end “costly monopolies”. “For example, New Zealand has some of the most expensive plasterboard in the world. “Kiwis pay around 38…

New Zealand’s regions are showing signs of recovery, but there is a growing economic performance divide between the North and South Islands, a new report from Kiwibank says.The Annual Regional Note, released on Saturday, showed that the South Island was continuing to outperform the North and that while most regions recorded gains, progress remained uneven.The national average score has lifted from 3 to 4 out of 10.Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr said the economic tide was turning.”Most regions have seen at least some improvements, but the recovery is far from even.”Southland and Otago lead with scores of 5, driven by…

Julia Deluney’s diaries, presented as evidence by the Crown during her month-long trial, reveal the highs and lows of cryptocurrency trading, her plans for a Remuera home to retire in, and her grief following the death of her mother.DeLuney was found guilty of murdering Helen Gregory, 79, at the elderly woman’s home in Baroda St in Khandallah in January last year.The Crown argued it had been a financially motivated attack, and that DeLuney had been receiving money – or at worst, stealing it – from her mother for at least a year before the murder.Over the course of the trial,…

Warfare, shark-spotting, real estate photography.The drone has become a multi-use agent of the sky, and a Rotorua resident wants them used to fight illegal dirt bike activity plaguing the city.However, local authorities warn the seemingly simple solution is anything but.Rotorua Lakes Council and local police have faced increasing difficulty keeping the city’s reserves, play areas and sports fields safe from vandalism – particularly from dirt bikes.Earlier this month, police promised a crackdown on the issue.Resident Ryan Gray believed drones could be the answer. He deals with the problem daily with “loud and obnoxious” riders hooning down a nearby cycleway.”These riders…

A body was pulled from the water in northern Auckland this morning. Police were called to Arkles Bay near Whangaparāoa at around 6.50am after a member of the public found the body. “The person has been recovered from the water and work is now underway to identify them and establish the circumstances of their death,” police said. “At this stage no further information is available.”Footage captured by 1News showed several police cars and a tent on the beach with forensics teams entering. Arkles Bay is located on the southern side of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula in the Hibiscus Coast, around 25km…

The Chase’s Paul Sinha says his Parkinson’s diagnosis has been a “tough” one to come to terms with, speaking during a comedy set about where he sees his future.Speaking from the stage at Ealing Comedy Festival, the quiz master known as The Sinnerman opened up about his Parkinson’s disease, describing it as a “tough diagnosis” to come to terms with.”I’m well aware that in 15 to 20 years time, I might be completely immobile and totally expressionless,” he said, the Daily Express reports.True to form, however, he turned the dark moment around with his trademark humour.”But hey – I’m still…

An underprepared tramper rescued from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing last weekend is being held by police as a reminder of how quickly winter conditions can turn dangerous in the backcountry.Police received a call from a man who got into difficulty on the crossing at around 7.30pm last Saturday.Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said the man knew he was not going to be able to make it out alone.”He realised that he was not dressed or equipped at all for the harsh reality of the landscape in winter.”There had been recent heavy snowfall with freezing conditions. He didn’t have food with him…

Te Pāti Māori says the Government’s changes to passports are an attempt to whitewash the national identity.The Government confirmed on Friday that New Zealand’s passport is being redesigned to place the English words above the te reo Māori text. The new look won’t start being rolled out until the end of 2027.Since 2021, passports have had “Uruwhenua Aotearoa” printed in silver directly above New Zealand Passport.Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden said the positioning of text on passports will change to reflect the Government’s commitment to using English first.She said the redesign, which would be unveiled later this year, was…

Shots were fired during an armed robbery at a bar in Whangārei last night, with the offenders still on the run.Police were called to the bar on Kensington Ave at around 10pm after a man entered with a firearm and demanded money.”The man is reported to have fired a shot towards the roof of the bar and assaulted one of the patrons,” Detective Sergeant Ryan Cooper said.”The man then took cash from the bar’s tills and left in a car, which had been waiting in the car park.”St John said it responded with one ambulance and one manager.”Our crews assessed…

An artist whose 5.5 metre steel sculpture was stolen from his West Auckland studio believes the thieves mistakenly thought it was made from copper.  Chris Moore’s sculpture, worth $50,000, was stolen from his studio in Oratia yesterday morning. His neighbour initially believed it was him when they heard noises around 6am, but “when he realised it wasn’t, he turned the lights on, and I think that startled the people who were stealing it, and they took off up the road”.  His neighbour got in their car to follow the vehicle and watched as the artwork, which was not entirely on the…