Author: Press Room

Opinion: The building consent process currently fills most people with dread. But a better way is within the country’s reach, writes architectural technology expert Sarosh Mulla. The New Zealand building consent process can be a frustrating experience for architects, developers, and homeowners alike. It’s slow, inconsistent, and costly. Depending on where you’re building, the time, effort, and fees involved can vary significantly. We have the same set of building standards nationwide, yet 78 local authorities – including 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities – are all interpreting and applying them in different ways. This lack of consistency doesn’t just…

A man has been arrested and a homicide investigation launched after a woman died after being stabbed in Glen Eden last night.Emergency services were called to a family harm incident at a Brandon Rd address shortly after 11pm, police said.Waitemata CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby said a woman was found in a critical condition with multiple stab wounds and was transported to hospital where she died a short time later.”A 33-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has been charged with her murder.”A woman was found in critical condition last night on Brandon Rd and later died in…

Police are monitoring a tangi in Rotorua as gang members gather to pay their respects.Inspector Herby Ngawhika, Rotorua area commander, said it was the tangi of “a young person” who died after a crash in Ōwhata on Thursday.”Police are maintaining a visible presence as Ngongotahā sees an increased presence of gang members paying their respects,” he said.The Rotorua Daily Post reported yesterday that a video from Friday from when the body was being taken to a family member’s home showed cars doing burnouts and “drivers displaying unruly behaviour”.”Police are aware of the activity depicted in the video several days ago,…

Police allege the driver of a stolen car attempted to attack a police dog with a garden trowel in Auckland early this morningIn a statement, police said officers spotted a vehicle travelling on Motatau Rd in Papatoetoe bearing a false rear licence plate and no front plate shortly after 3.30am.Counties Manukau West Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey said the vehicle was confirmed as stolen and was stopped shortly after.”Three occupants were taken into custody quickly, however a fourth occupant has fled on foot. He said the police dog unit tracked the person to a residential property where he allegedly attempted to…

The coalition Government was warned that work-for-the-dole programmes do not increase the chances of people coming off welfare and into work, documents have revealed.Cabinet has agreed to introduce a suite of new obligations and sanctions, including community work experience (CWE), for job seekers next year.Official advice, obtained by the Greens under the Official Information Act, shows the Ministry of Social Development warned against CWE in May.”As described, CWE is essentially a work-for-the-dole programme if it was to be made mandatory,” the departmental report said.Beneficiaries remain ‘locked-in’ to support — official advice”Most evidence shows that work-for-the-dole programmes do not increase the…

Early discussions are under way to develop the South Island’s largest freight hub in Rolleston.It comes after KiwiRail signed a memorandum of understanding with the Selwyn District Council to become a logistics and tourism partner.The specific location, cost and timeframe for the hub’s completion is still to be decided.Said KiwiRail future state freight general manager Mark Heissenbuttel: “KiwiRail is in early discussions with the Selwyn District Council and other interested parties over the establishment of a freight hub in Rolleston.“The key benefit of any inter-modal hubs is the use of both road and rail transport – enabling trucks to complete…

Later this week is set to feel like the beginning of summer for many Kiwis, with warm weather on the way after a cool start this morning.”After a chilly morning, a warming trend is nigh,” NIWA Weather wrote on X today.”Soon, our air will begin to flow from Aussie, and by later this week, many areas will feel like summer.”In fact, some locations in the eastern parts of both islands will see temperatures near or above 30C.”The warmth would be widely welcomed after a late-season “frost risk” in places this morning.”A frosty start to the day for some in the…

Sánchez said a total of 10,000 additional soldiers to join rescue efforts at the request of Valencia’s president, Carlos Mazón. ADVERTISEMENTRoughly 5,000 additional soldiers arrived from Madrid and other parts of Spain to assist in the search for missing people following last week’s deadly floods, nearly doubling the 4,500 who are already there. An additional 5,000 troops are still expected to arrive.At least 214 bodies have so far been recovered, mostly in the eastern Valencia region, after Spain was hit by the deadliest natural disaster the country has seen in decades, where tsunami-like floods swept across the southeast. Military units…

James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.The Dawson’s Creek star, 47, has been “privately dealing with the diagnosis” and has reassured fans he is making the necessary “steps to resolve it” and is feeling optimistic.He told PEOPLE: “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”Colorectal cancer develops in either the rectum or the colon.Van Der Beek didn’t disclose what stage his cancer is or his course of treatment.The actor — who has…

A father and son gold prospecting duo say they have no plans to sell the gold nugget worth more than $10,000 they discovered in a remote river on the West Coast of the South Island.Dillon Thom and his dad Anthony told 1News that finding the “massive” 40g nugget was akin to winning the lottery, and were filmed screaming in euphoria on their YouTube channel The Sluicers.”We couldn’t believe that this was happening to us. It was just this moment of pure joy,” the 18-year-old told Breakfast.”[We spent] five to six years gold prospecting, and the dream of finding something like…