Author: Press Room

More than half of primary school teachers say their students are getting better at maths, an Education Review Office report shows.But it said students were not being taught enough complex things like algebra.The report assessed how curriculum changes from term one this year – as well as the ‘hour a day’ reading, writing and maths requirement – affected students’ English and maths achievement.ERO said there were “positive signs” that achievement in both subjects had improved.The Government already revealed this week that double the number of students were exceeding literacy expectations, based on phonics tests.There was no similar data available for…

Four Auckland properties valued at approximately $36 million have been frozen following a two-year investigation linked to the death of a young man who unwittingly drank meth-laced beer.This week, the Commissioner of Police initiated civil proceedings pursuant to the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act against five people and one company connected to the Honey Bear methamphetamine laced beer manslaughter and drug importation investigation, also known as Operation Lavender.The second phase of this operation, the civil asset recovery investigation, began after the death of Aiden Sagala in 2023.Aiden Sagala. (Source: Supplied)Sagala, 21, had unknowingly consumed liquid methamphetamine, disguised as a can of…

Several state highways across northern Taranaki and Waikato remain closed today as rising river levels threaten roads already damaged by yesterday’s heavy rainfall.There are no active MetService weather alerts in the central North Island. Communities were cut off in parts yesterday due to torrential rain, which caused widespread road closures. If you have images or video, please send them to [email protected] the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said slips, debris and sodden ground mean that some roads in the area remain unsafe despite the rain having stopped. Ōhura, Maitere and Tokorima townships were isolated by slips and flooding across local access…

The New Zealand passport has been ranked as one of the most powerful in the world. New Zealand’s passport sat in a joint sixth place on the latest Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.The index included 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.Alongside New Zealand in sixth were Greece, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden – all six countries had a visa-free score of 186. When it came to openness, however, New Zealand ranked 73rd, alongside Benin, Ghana, and Guyana, allowing visa-free access to 61 passports,…

Rock legends Iggy Pop and Joan Jett will play three shows across New Zealand in January as part of the 2026 Summer Concert Tour.They will be joined by Australian rock band the Hoodoo Gurus and Kiwi rock heroes Zed.The tour will kick off in Taupō over Auckland Anniversary Weekend on Saturday, January 24 at Taupō Amphitheatre.It will then move to Whitianga on Monday, January 26 at Sheriff Block Arena before finishing at the Three Parks Outdoor Arena in Wanaka on Saturday, January 31.Iggy Pop is known for dramatic, unpredictable and physically demanding stage performances. The 2020 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award…

Police are responding to the discovery of a body on the Te Atatū Peninsula inlet in west Auckland. A member of the public reported seeing a body in the water between 500m to 1km north of the bridge on SH16, near the Te Atatū Peninsula off-ramp, about 7.35am.”The tide has since receded, and police are asking residents to stay clear of the area,” a police spokesperson said. Specialist police teams were at the scene and inquiries were continuing.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including calls for driving fines to go up, how a doorbell leaked politicians’ phone numbers, and a…

A Timaru man has been fined $10,000 after selling 40 cars while being banned from doing so. Kenneth James Michael Cumming was sentenced at the Timaru District Court last week, after he pleaded guilty to charges of participating in motor vehicle trading while banned. It was the second time Cumming had been prosecuted for unlawful trading. He had previously ignored a five-year ban imposed in 2021 for selling 38 vehicles illegally. While banned, Cumming continued to trade vehicles, selling 19 in 2022, eight in 2023 and 13 in 2024 – which was more than six times the legal limit for…

A senior police officer has been investigated after allegations he had bullied several team members and made “derogatory and sexist” remarks against women.The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), who oversaw the police investigation, released a summary on Wednesday.It said most of the allegations were upheld by police and that his behaviour amounted to serious misconduct. Auckland deployment commander Superintendent Zane Hooper said police acknowledged the IPCA summary report.”An employment investigation into these allegations was carried out and determined that the member’s behaviour was in breach of the Police Code of Conduct.”The behaviour is unacceptable, and we take these matters very…

ADVERTISEMENT A growing number of NATO allies are calling for harmonising national caveats that hinder the alliance’s ability to respond quickly to threats such as airspace violations — but the task is likely to be arduous. As defence ministers from the 32 member states gathered in Brussels for a meeting on Wednesday, most allies called for a reduction in the use of national caveats in northern or eastern Europe, where an increasing number of airspace violations has been recorded in recent weeks. Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said “there’s room for improvement within the alliance” and that his country’s model…

A home loan borrower who complained that his mortgage adviser should not have charged him $2500 when he changed banks has been told the broker acted appropriately.The man applied to Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), an external disputes resolution service for the financial sector.He had taken out a loan through a mortgage adviser in January 2023. The bank that gave him the mortgage paid the adviser a commission of $2500.FSCL does not identify the people who complain or the subject of the complaints.In August the next year, the man contacted the adviser to top up the loan. The adviser was…