Author: Press Room
A private members bill which would criminalise non-consensual deepfake porn has been drawn from the ballot in Parliament. The bill’s author, Act’s Laura McClure, has welcomed the news that her proposed legislation will go before MPs. She said: “Parliament now has the opportunity to empower victims of deepfake abuse with a clear pathway toward the removal of the images and the prosecution of their abusers.” 1News reported last week on a victim of AI deepfake porn, who suffered widespread humiliation caused by a man she once rejected in high school, and was able to see him charged and prosecuted. This…
A busy main road in Invercargill has been closed after a large tree toppled onto the street. Dramatic video shot by What’s On Invers showed the moment the tree collapsed onto Elles Rd, seemingly avoiding hitting any traffic. Invercargill was under a red wind warning, with severe north-westerly gales gusting up to 120km/h in exposed areas. Multiple roads, including the southbound lane of State Highway 6 between Don and Tay St, and SH1 East Rd between Mill Rd North and Racecourse Rd, were closed due to the weather. Follow 1News’ live updates of today’s weather events hereIn an update this…
Passengers have been safely evacuated from a Waiheke Island ferry after a mayday call of a fire on board.Ferry operator Island Direct said it has since been determined there was only smoke and no fire from one of the boat’s engines, which had an exhaust issue.Coastguard’s Maritime Operations Centre was alerted through VHF radio at 3.40pm of the incident aboard the vessel, which was just off the island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.Eighteen passengers and crew onboard were evacuated without injury, according to Island Direct. Passengers could be seen donning lifejackets during the transfer. A spokesperson for the Coastguard said three…
A fledgling Otago AI company named one of the best places to work in the country says there will always be human elements that computers “can’t replace”. Visir AI was named the winner in the micro-workplace category (five to 20 employees) at the “2025 Best Places to Work” awards, announced at an event in Auckland on Wednesday. Executive director Josh Hobbs said it was humbling to be considered one of the best places to work in New Zealand. They were “beyond words”. “I never thought we would actually win. “Just being included in the finalists was great recognition for us.”…
Some households in Greymouth have run out of water and others are about to after wild weather damaged the electrical system at the town’s treatment plant this morning. The town’s main reservoir at Omoto is critically low, and the Grey District Council is urging people to keep the taps turned off while engineers try frantically to fix the fault and restart the computerised system.Mayor Tania Gibson says a 12,000L water tanker is on the way from Hokitika and was due at the Civic Centre carpark by 5pm.People are asked to bring their own containers and they’ll be limited to 4L…
About 100,000 employees across the public sector are expected to walk off the job today.The industrial action – labelled as a “mega strike” – includes teachers, nurses, and other public sector workers who are demanding better pay, safer staffing levels, and improved working conditions.Public services workers across health, education and other sectors protest over pay and conditions. (Source: 1News)It is expected that public services will be disrupted as the strike unfolds.Who is striking, and where?The primary unions taking part in the strike are the Primary Teachers Association, the Public Service Association, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, the Post Primary Teachers…
A renowned international travel publisher has singled out two New Zealand locations in its global recommendations of where to visit in 2026.In Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2026, the North Island has earned a place among the top places hot list, while Wairarapa’s stargazing, food and wine experiences have been included in the top experiences hot list.The annual best in travel listings highlight places to go and things to experience in the year ahead. The 2026 edition, launching today, has placed Wairarapa on its list of 50 essential picks worldwide.Castlepoint lighthouse and Castle Rock at sunset, Castlepoint, Wairarapa region, North…
A van driver was wrongly blamed by police investigators after four young forestry workers were killed in a 2019 crash with a logging trailer without side lighting that was “invisible” in pre-dawn darkness, a coroner has ruled.Storm Lacy, 22, Steven Pari, 35, Te Tahi Brass, 25, and Johnston Ahuriri, 37, died when their work van collided with a truck and trailer transporting logs blocking their lane on Bonisch Rd in the Kaingaroa Forest, Bay of Plenty. A fifth worker survived with serious injuries.In his report, coroner Michael Robb has urged that mandatory side lighting be legislated for oversize off-highway vehicles…
Auckland’s Tāmaki Dr was expected to remain closed this evening after last night’s horror collision between an electric bus and a car, which killed a bus driver. The head-on crash at 9.20pm caused both vehicles to catch fire near Mechanics Bay. Auckland Transport (AT) public transport director Stacey van der Putten said it had been a “tragic incident that has resulted in the loss of life of a valued bus driver who was providing a service for Aucklanders.”Deputy mayor Desley Simpson also gave her condolences.”Our deepest sympathies go out to them, and their family. Everyone goes to work expecting to…
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including serious weather warnings for rain and life-threatening winds, more than 100,000 public sector workers on strike, and the tourism hotspots in the global travel spotlight. Red weather warnings are in force for large parts of the South Island and lower North Island, as firefighters continue to battle wildfires. The bad weather has forced some events during today’s ‘mega strike’ to be cancelled or moved online. An electric bus in Auckland has burst into flames after a crash with a car.It’s been revealed the Louvre gallery which was robbed earlier this week didn’t have…