Author: Press Room

Some tabloids have stoked fears that the EU will soon ban coffee after the European Commission allegedly labelled caffeine dangerous for human consumption. ADVERTISEMENTNews reports and viral social posts are claiming that the EU has labelled coffee as dangerous for humans.A headline from opinion-orientated news channel GB News accuses “meddling Brussels bureaucrats” of declaring coffee unsafe, while The Telegraph has led with the line that the EU has labelled coffee as dangerous because caffeine is “harmful to humans if swallowed”, stoking fears of a coffee-ban around the bloc.Yet another article from NDTV World says that the EU has banned caffeine…

A Department of Conservation (DOC) permit issued to NZTA Waka Kotahi allowing it to kill protected species – including kiwi and long-tailed bats – at the Mt Messenger bypass site in Taranaki has been ruled unlawful.The High Court found the permission granted under Section 53 of the Wildlife Act was at odds with the law because the killing would occur during the construction of a road.The Environmental Law Initiative sought the judicial review arguing the purpose Wildlife Act was to keep protected species from harm – not allow them to be killed.Director of research and legal Dr Matt Hall said…

In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Swedish migration minister Johan Forssell anticipated innovative ideas for the upcoming EU legislation for migrant returns that will be presented on Tuesday, 11 March, in Strasbourg. ADVERTISEMENTInnovative solutions are anticipated in upcoming EU legislation on migrant returns, Swedish migration minister Johan Forssell tells Radio Schuman in an exclusive interview featured for Radio Schuman today.”Something needs to be done and we are looking forward to the new return legislation, of course, but also trying to explore these new innovative solutions. We have been discussing them for many years now, but now is really the time…

The country’s biggest bank is again defending its massive profits in the face of parliamentary scrutiny, saying it reflects the size of the business. New Zealand’s major banks fronted MPs today, as the Parliamentary inquiry into banking competition continues. ANZ reported a full-year profit of almost $2.1 billion last year and chief executive Antonia Watson said she understood the perceptions around its large profit. “Our profitability is around about our cost of capital, and I think it’s a very fair profit, but I can absolutely see why people think that’s a big number.” Watson believed having large banks in the…

Two Auckland landlords have been ordered to pay a combined $25,900 in exemplary damages and compensation on behalf of two tenants who were unlawfully evicted after complaining about the state of their rentals.Investigators from MBIE’s Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team said the properties were “some of the worst they have ever seen”.An investigation was launched into the two Mangere East units after receiving complaints about sewerage running through the properties and no hot water.The exterior of one of the units. (Source: Supplied)Investigators identified multiple issues with the units, including sewerage and electrical problems, a lack of working smoke alarms, a…

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to the United States later this week to meet members of the Trump Administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discuss world affairs and continue to build New Zealand’s ties with the US.”The United States is one of New Zealand’s closest and most important partners,” Peters said.”This visit provides a chance for the New Zealand Government to engage directly with the Trump Administration in Washington on our mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.”Also on the agenda during his time in New York and Washington DC were meetings with other US political contacts and senior representatives of…

There has been a spike in a potentially deadly disease linked to dirty spa pools in New Zealand.Health New Zealand said there were 10 cases of legionnaires’ disease in the year to March, up on three for the same period last year. Eight of those new cases were strongly linked to spas.National Public Health Service medical specialist Matt Reid said ESR tested those with the disease.”The same type of legionella bacteria was detected in both the infected person and in water samples taken from their spa pools. This means that infected water was the most likely source of infection.”In one…

Military aid to Ukraine, migrant returns and reduction of bureaucracy on the table for MEPs. ADVERTISEMENTAmid growing tensions between Europe and the US, and between two crucial summits of EU leaders on defence, MEPs are heading to Strasbourg for a plenary session packed with controversial debates. Here is a selection of the most interesting topics to follow.Military aid to UkraineOn Wednesday, March 12, MEPs will vote on a resolution urging the EU to maintain its support for Ukraine, even if the United States withdraws its backing. The resolution, which is non-legislative, also focuses on European contributions to the security guarantees needed to…

Around $100,000 in cash has been seized alongside methamphetamine after a Hawke’s Bay man was arrested following a vehicle stop last week.Detective Senior Sergeant Kris Payne said police, who were armed as a precaution, executed an armed vehicle stop on State Highway 50 near Tikokino after a vehicle of interest was sighted on March 7.Utensils for drug use and cash were located upon a search of the vehicle, with a further search of the man at the police station locating further methamphetamine and utensils.Payne said a search at the man’s address located 680 grams of methamphetamine and around $100,000 in…

ASB has revised its house price forecast for this year, taking it from predicting the largest increases of any of the main banks to the bottom of the table.For this year, ANZ expects house prices to rise 6%, BNZ 6.8%, Westpac 7.2% and Infometrics 5.6%.Treasury expects 3% growth.ASB had predicted more than 9% but chief economist Nick Tuffley said that had been revised down to 3.4% for this year and 5.1% for 2026.”The pick-up in sales has been sluggish so far and there is a lot of stock on the market, so that will temper how soon prices lift. And…