Author: Press Room

The Government has announced it will deliver 140 new hospital beds to five of the country’s busiest hospitals next year. The five new rapid build wards – at Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington Regional, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay hospitals – are expected to be completed and operational by the second half of 2026. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the investment was about “delivering practical solutions to meet demand”. “As part of Budget 2025, we expected to deliver at least three wards. A competitive procurement process has now allowed four wards to be delivered within the same funding, alongside the fifth ward at…

More than 17,000 runners and walkers hit the streets for the Auckland Marathon today with nearly 3500 tackling the full 42.2km distance, the highest number of marathon entrants in more than a decade.The event, now in its 34th year, brought athletes and everyday runners onto the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau under clear skies and in mild conditions.Auckland’s Brigid Dennehy was a highlight in the women’s marathon, smashing a longstanding course record by more than three minutes. Her winning time of 2:38:10 eclipsed the previous record, set in 2012, by 3 minutes and 19 seconds.”It means a lot to win again,…

A bus which caught fire after striking an overpass at a major transport hub in Auckland this afternoon has been extinguished. A witness told 1News of passing through the station on a bus as Fire and Emergency NZ crews arrived.”The bus had flames,” she said. “I saw the water over the road from the fire hydrants and the police car on the busway and thought something was strange and then we came into the station and saw the smoke and the bus with the fire engines spraying it.”A nearby resident told 1News she had to leave her house because of…

New Zealanders lost significantly more money from online credit card scams in October, compared to previous months.Losses reported to Netsafe in October totalled $6264, compared to $1865 in September – a 220% jump.In September, losses per incident averaged about $50, whereas the average loss last month was about $220.However, the number of reports to Netsafe fell from 37 in September to 28 in October.Netsafe chief online safety officer Sean Lyons said the sharp rise in financial losses suggested scammers were getting more sophisticated with their tactics.”The quality of what people are being presented with is, on the whole, increasingly improving.Netsafe…

Armed police were at the scene of a serious incident in Wellington this afternoon after a person fell from an apartment balcony amid reports of gunfire.Police said one person sustained moderate injuries after falling from a balcony at an apartment complex in Brooklyn Rd, Wellington this afternoon.”Emergency services were called to the complex at 3.35pm,” police told 1News in a statement.”Initial information provided by witnesses suggested that a gunshot had possibly been heard prior to the person falling.”This is as yet unsubstantiated but armed officers were in attendance as a precaution.”

Sixty-two haka groups are set to perform in Tauranga next week at the 25th anniversary of Te Mana Kuratahi, the National Primary Schools Kapa Haka competition.From small beginnings with just over 20 rōpū, Te Mana Kuratahi has grown into a nationwide celebration of Māori excellence and identity, with the competition running all week – from Monday to Friday – to accommodate all the groups.Among those taking the stage are the defending champions Te Kapa Puāwai of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae from Auckland, who have competed in every Te Mana Kuratahi since it began 25 years ago,…

Households living on JobSeeker Support or NZ Super alone have to spend more each week than they have coming in to cover the basics, on average, a new report says.Ka Mākona, the Zero Hunger Collective, has issued its latest annual report, which notes that 27% of children are living in food-insecure householdsThis year, older people have been added to the household scenarios, modelling weekly income and basic housing, food, transport and utilities expenses for an older person living alone and an older couple.Single adults, sole parents with two children and two-parent households with two children were also considered.Housing costs are…

Are you paying for more broadband than you really need?Research from comparison site NZ Compare has found that many older New Zealanders, in particular, are paying too much, because they are not shopping around – and because they have been “speedwashed” into thinking they need a faster connection than might actually be the case.NZ Compare chief executive Gavin Male said the research looked at people aged over 50 and found widespread confusion, particularly about broadband speeds.He said people were being sold faster, more expensive plans than they needed.Speed was cited as an important factor in choosing a plan, but almost…

Some victims of crimes say they’re being constantly retraumatised – feeling forced to go to court for months on end as their accused criminals wait for mental health assessments.A 1News investigation has found several cases where there have been lengthy delays, with cases unable to progress. In some instances, charges have had to be thrown out.One man in Rimutaka Prison was hauled in front of a judge eight times to be told no forensic psychiatrist could be found to write his mental health report.His lawyer, Marty Robinson, said psychiatrists were becoming harder to find.”So the reports are taking longer and…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Research from comparison site NZ Compare has found that many older New Zealanders, in particular, are paying too much for broadband because they are not shopping around – and because they have been “speedwashed” into thinking they need a faster connection than might actually be the case. NZ Compare chief executive Gavin Male said the research looked at people aged over 50 and found widespread confusion, particularly about broadband speeds. He said people were being sold faster, more expensive plans than they needed. Speed was cited as an important factor in choosing a plan, but…