Author: Press Room

Three people have been injured – two seriously – in a single-vehicle crash in Auckland’s Panmure this evening.Emergency services received a report of the crash on Dunkirk Rd around 6.20pm.St John said it responded with three ambulances, two rapid response units, and an operations manager.”Two patients in a serious condition and another in a moderate condition were transported to Auckland City Hospital,” a spokesperson said.Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it responded with one truck to assist ambulance staff.Police said there were no reports of road blocking.

The mental health and addictions workforce is in crisis, with hundreds of unfilled vacancies leading to stressed and over-worked staff and patients unable to receive the help they need, medical professionals say.Figures obtained by Checkpoint show there were about 650 mental health and addictions vacancies at Health New Zealand.Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said the high number was frustrating.”It’s not good enough and it really reflects decades of neglect and lack of planning around mental health, across multiple governments, and particularly around workforce.”It makes me sad. It makes me angry.”The figures show that at March 31 there were…

Spending time in hospital can be scary and overwhelming; the last thing patients need is to feel lost. Hospitals are often tricky to navigate, but Christchurch has found a heartfelt solution to help ease the way. Seven Sharp’s Rachel Parkin went to see this lovely initiative firsthand.His eyes were sparkling, and his smile was bright.
Murray Hayward’s greeting, although contact-free, felt like a warm hug.
”Hello! Lovely to meet you,” the pensioner said, welcoming us into his home at Archer Maryville Courts.Murray Hayward helps patients at Christchurch Hospital find their way. (Source: Seven Sharp)A sign on the door proudly read, “M & M…

NCEA and scholarship exams begin today with assessments in dance, maths and Tongan.The Qualifications Authority said 121 exams would be offered over the four-week exam season, with about 144,500 students participating.A group of Rotorua teenagers told RNZ they would be sitting their first ever NCEA exams this week, but they were not feeling terribly confident.They admitted to being “a little bit nervous”, “bad”, and needing to study a bit more.Most agreed that study groups were a good way to revise for exams, although they also recommended online tutorial videos.Year 11 student Manatsu said sitting with her friends kept her on…

Power prices offered to customers through comparison website Powerswitch have increased significantly this year, one retailer says, and there is a warning more bill pain may be to come.Octopus Energy has looked at data from Powerswitch and compared January pricing with that available at the end of September.It shows Contact had an average increase of 10% in Auckland, and Mercury 5%. Mercury’s short term discounted offers lifted more than 30% in Auckland, Octopus said,In Christchurch, Contact’s prices were up almost 15%, Mercury’s almost 10% Meridian’s almost 15% and Mercury’s short-term discount offered more than 40%.In Wellington, Contact’s prices were up…

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale has hit back at keyboard warriors who are making “unsupported allegations” against council staff on social media.Drysdale said he was concerned by the posts as it created an unreasonable situation for individual staff and the organisation.Comments were made on social media in response to posts on Tauranga’s marine precinct.The precinct was sold to Christchurch developer Sam Rofe for $13.9m — at least $4m below its valuation.The sale conditions meant most of the working boat operators would need to relocate from their berths, but the council also agreed to fund up to $29.2m to develop an alongside…

Timaru’s Mayor and the region’s economic development agency are hoping a jobs fair being held today will be “instrumental” to connect potential employers directly with workers following the Smithfield meatworks closure.Last month, Alliance Group confirmed the closure of Smithfield meatworks following a two-week consultation period with staff and unions. A “vast majority” of the 600 staff were expected to be made redundant — with some redeployment opportunities.The closure prompted some experienced workers to look at overseas employment opportunities, with some Australian companies offering generous relocation and recruitment packages.The Ministry of Social Development — in conjunction with the South Canterbury Chamber…

Tributes have poured in for musical powerhouse Quincy Jones following news of his death aged 91 yesterday.Jones — whose legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic Thriller album to writing award-winning film and television scores — helped shape the sound of jazz and pop over the course of his six-decade career.The estate of Michael Jackson said in a statement the world mourns the loss and celebrates the life of “legendary talent” Quincy Jones.”What Michael and he achieved over a decade-long partnership is unmatched, producing Off the Wall, Bad, and, of course, Thriller that remains the biggest selling album of all…

Police are launching a fresh appeal for public help to solve a cold case from more than 40 years ago.Simon Buis, 54, died in Auckland in 1980. His body was found at Gribblehirst Park outside the rugby club, in the early hours of April 4 that year.”He suffered horrific injuries to his face and head after being violently assaulted,” police said today.”Later that morning, two 15-year-olds were arrested for being in a stolen car, and indicated they were involved in a fight at a park.”The pair were charged with Simon’s murder. However, due to further review of evidence, they were…

Thousands of Georgian opposition supporters rallied in Tbilisi once again, demanding new parliamentary elections under international supervision and an investigation of alleged election fraud. ADVERTISEMENTThousands of opposition supporters rallied outside Georgia’s parliament for the second straight Monday to denounce the 26 October election as illegitimate. Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, was declared the winner amid allegations of vote-rigging helped by Russia.The protesters, who waved Georgian and European Union flags, demanded a new parliamentary election under international supervision and an investigation of the alleged ballot irregularities.Opposition leaders vowed to boycott sessions of parliament and hold regular protests until their demands are…