Author: Press Room

OPINION: Blaming the state of the economy on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ leadership ignores the bigger picture and the period of ‘stagflation’ New Zealand entered under Labour-led governements, writes economist Dennis WesselbaumFinance Minister Nicola Willis has called them the “merchants of misery”, but critics of her government’s economic performance doubled down when the June quarter GDP figures showed a contraction in many sectors.No government or finance minister can be expected to make flawless decisions, of course. But blaming the current state of the economy on Willis’ leadership ignores aspects of the bigger picture.Since the National-led coalition took office nearly two…

Graham Bell, the straight-talking veteran police officer who became a household name as the host of Police Ten 7, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 78.His family confirmed the news in a statement, who said he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones yesterday. Bell served 33 years in the New Zealand Police, rising to the rank of Detective Inspector and leading some of the country’s most high-profile criminal investigations. His work earned him the Queen’s Service Medal in 2001 for his contribution to policing and criminal investigations.But it was his second career as the face of Police…

A 29-year-old man has been charged after a window was smashed with a crowbar at Winston Peters’ Auckland home late yesterday afternoon.Police were called to a residential address in St Mary’s Bay after a report was received of an unknown person smashing a window at the property shortly before 6pm yesterday.Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters condemned the attack on X, saying that he wasn’t home at the time but his partner and a guest were present.Foreign Minister Winston Peters told Breakfast a note was put on his door that read “welcome to the real world”. (Source: Breakfast)Glass shattered “all over”…

BNZ has lowered some of its fixed mortgage rates ahead of tomorrow’s expected cut to the OCR.Standard 6-month rate, two-year and three-year rates all dropped by 10 basis points, to 4.89%, 4.65% and 4.85% respectively. Its 18-month rate fell 26 basis points to 4.49%. The one-year rate, which was earlier cut to 4.49% in line with other banks, did not change. Nor did the four-year (5.09%) or five-year standard (5.39%) rates. The new rates were effective from today. Those with less than 20% equity in their property will pay a low equity interest rate premium.The bank also lowered its term…

Police now believe multiple people were involved in an incident that led to the death of a 63-year-old in Wellington’s Miramar.Abdul Nabizadah, originally from Afghanistan, was found bleeding and unconsious with “unsurvivable” injuries to his head at 12.30pm on Monday, March 17 on Camperdown Road. Investigators believed Nabizadah was assaulted and robbed after being lured to the area in a “premeditated attack”. The only thing taken in the attack was his keys. Nabizadah died of his injuries in Wellington Hospital, despite a battle to save his life. No charges have been laid over his death. As the probe into the…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a man’s arrest over an attack on Winston Peters’ house, why hundreds of people might need to resit their driving test, and will the ‘Mushroom Murder’ case see duelling appeals?A man has been arrested after a window was broken at the house of Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters. Police are investigating after allegations hundreds of people passed practical driving tests by paying off testing officers. France has its fourth Prime Minister in just over a year as political instability worsens. Israel and Hamas have begun indirect talks in Egypt. Prosecutors are appealing Erin…

WorkSafe inspectors will visit 1000 farms before the end of the year, focusing on the safety of quadbikes and other risks to prevent agriculture becoming the deadliest sector in New Zealand again. Rather than making cold calls, visits over the next three months are being booked in advance as the workplace health and safety regulator wants to work with farmers on their responsibilities to make farms and farming teams safer. Last year, 16 work-related deaths were recorded in agriculture — making it the deadliest sector in the country — four higher than in 2023. In the year to October 2024,…

MetService says thunderstorms are sparking along an active frontal band of rain as it quickly pushes northwards across the North Island this morning. The forecaster observed 482 lightning strikes in the vicinity of the front during a three-hour window from 4am to 7am.”These thunderstorms may produce brief heavy rain and strong wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h. A low risk associated with the front extends over Coromandel Peninsula and the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty,” MetService said on its website. In a post online, it said Auckland and Northland had been upgraded to a moderate risk of experiencing…

Construction teams will swell to 150 contractors on Fonterra’s new $150 million ultra-high temperature cream plant at Southland’s Edendale site in coming months. The first UHT products are expected to roll off the line next August, with the co-operative cashing in on demand from Asia for foodservice products such as Anchor whipping cream. Lower South Island operations general manager Andrew Johns said the Edendale investment was about meeting demand from growing markets and building for the future. The plant will initially process more than 50million litres of UHT cream a year, with the ability to go beyond 100million litres by…

The 47-year-old man allegedly at the centre of a more than three hour standoff with police yesterday in Auckland’s Flat Bush has been formally charged. Yesterday, the man allegedly shot a firearm at police just after 9.30am while officers were conducting inquiries at a property on Chapel Road.One officer was injured and taken to hospital with minor injuries, and was discharged a few hours later.Superintendent Shanan Gray said the man refused to exit the property at a Salvation Army housing complex despite multiple attempts to engage with him.Nearby residents were then evacuated, schools were sent into lockdown, and some flights…