Author: Press Room

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including the activist who doxxed Winston Peters says she has regrets, a man is charged over LA’s Palisades fire, and Dolly Parton denies she’s dying. Acacia O’Connor denied sharing the Foreign Affairs Minister’s address but did tell Breakfast she had regrets. An Auckland fire truck broke down en route to a fire.A man is charged over the huge Palisades fire in LA in January. Rental numbers are up year on year in many parts of the country. ADVERTISEMENTDolly Parton has released a video denying she’s dying, amid concerns over her health.

ADVERTISEMENT Europe has welcomed the announcement overnight on Thursday that Israel and Hamas have signed off on the first phase of a peace plan championed by US President Donald Trump. However, many leaders stressed that this must be the premise for a two-state solution, which Israel’s leadership believes is a red line. “This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X on Thursday morning. “France stands ready to contribute to this goal. We will discuss it this afternoon in Paris with…

A suspected drug lab in Auckland’s Massey was set on fire today as authorities approached, police say. Police arrived at the address on Colwill Road at about 5.30am to execute two search warrants, at two properties believed to be involved in manufacturing drugs.Police were conducting inquiries on Colwill Rd, Massey when a fire broke out at a “property of interest” shortly before 5.30am. (Source: 1News)It was supported by the armed offenders squad, a clan lab response team, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.Upon their arrival, police said one of the properties erupted in fire.Four people, aged between 39 and 54,…

A former immigration minister has been stripped of his licence to practise as an immigration consultant, after losing a court battle and being declared bankrupt.Tuariki Delamere, who became a high-profile immigration adviser after leaving politics, told RNZ he “made a dumb decision many years ago”.In 2012, he made a deal with Chinese businessman Yingheng Liu, who sought residency through a business visa.Liu put $500,000 into a venture that referred clients to Delamere, but his visa was rejected.Delamere unsuccessfully appealed a 2021 judgment on the money as far as the Supreme Court. Liu returned to the High Court last month, asking…

The Government has updated some of its purchasing rules in an effort to give Kiwi businesses a boost. The changes to Government procurement rules were announced by Economic Growth Nicola Willis this morning, and would come into effect on December 1. Among the changes was a new economic benefit test for when Government agencies decided who they buy from. The new rule said that at least 10% of the decision must be based on how much a business’s proposal benefits the economy. Government signals a Kiwi-first approach when tendering for contacts (Source: 1News)There would be extra weight given to factors…

By Gyles Beckford of RNZ The government’s finances ended the year in better than expected shape, but still deeply in deficit. Treasury figures showed a deficit of $9.3 billion in year ended June, which was $533 million more than 2024, but $869m less than forecast in the May budget. The deficit was based on the government’s new formula, which excluded the cost of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the books showed the progress achieved in getting the government’s books back in order. “This progress reflects the government’s ongoing work to restore fiscal discipline with cumulative savings…

The parents of fugitive father Tom Phillips, who was fatally shot by police last month, have penned a letter to the community expressing their “sincere apology” for their son’s actions. Phillips had been evading police since December 2021 with his three children, and died following a shootout after police were called to reports of a burglary in the early hours of September 8. The first attending officer was injured after being “confronted by gunfire at close range”. He has since been discharged from hospital. Today, King Country News carried a letter to the editor written by Neville and Julia Phillips,…

The Ministry of Education is considering cancelling Gloriavale School’s registration as a private school over concerns that it was not meeting its obligation to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for students. Andrea Williams, Acting Hautū (leader) of Te Tai Runga (South), said Acting Secretary of Education Ellen MacGregor-Reid had sent a letter to the school, which is based at the religious group’s West Coast commune. “This is based on the serious concerns raised about whether the school is meeting its obligation to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for students.”The school’s leadership was given five weeks to…

Many residents in the South Island are in for a wet and windy night as heavy rain and severe gales blow in from the north, says MetService. The strong winds and rain are also predicted to hit lower parts of the North Island.This afternoon the forecaster issued some orange heavy rain warnings for parts of the South Island as an “unsettled northwest flow” was expected from later this evening into Friday. Tararua Range, Buller District, Grey District, Westland District and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers from Mt Cook to Arthur’s Pass were all expected to receive at…

Police have named the man who died in an incident in Auckland’s New Lynn earlier this week.He was 32-year-old Joseph David Walsh, of Auckland.On Monday, emergency services were called to the scene on Kaponga Cres just before noon to a report of a person injured.Despite efforts of first responders, Walsh died at the scene, and a person was taken into custody.Police at the scene on Kaponga Crescent in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn, (Source: 1News)Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said a 28-year-old has been remanded in custody and is set to appear in the Auckland High Court on October…