Author: Press Room
Top New Zealand musicians like Tiki Taane and The Bats are leaving Spotify behind. Why are they taking their music offline?One of Aotearoa’s biggest names, Taane announced on social media earlier this month that “it’s time to take my music off Spotify”.He put what he said is his final song on the platform up Tuesday night – Bye Bye Spotify.Taane joins several other acts leaving Spotify, including longtime Flying Nun Records band The Bats and other musicians who put out a statement as Boycott Spotify NZ.”We refuse to be exploited by Spotify any longer,” that statement says.”Spotify treats the majority…
A woman has been sentenced and her “emaciated” puppy euthanised after the SPCA said the five-month-old was found struggling to walk — having suffered from a hip fracture, bullet in the leg, and a stomach full of fishbones.The woman was sentenced to nine months’ supervision and 100 hours of community work, after pleading guilty to a charge of ill treatment and failing to provide proper and sufficient food to an animal, according to the SPCA.She appeared in the Tauranga District Court earlier this month.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a weather warnings in force, charges dismissed for Luigi Mangione,…
Severe weather is sweeping across parts of the South Island and lower North Island, with multiple watches upgraded to warnings as heavy rain and powerful northwesterly gales intensify today and into Thursday.MetService said a front preceded by a “humid” northwest flow would move across the country until Thursday.Watches have been upgraded to warnings in several areas, as orange-level heavy rain warnings remain in force for the South Island.Up to 180mm of rain was expected in the ranges of Westland and the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers, with peak intensities reaching 25mm/h.The Tararua Range, the ranges of…
By Ke-Xin Li of RNZ Meta’s suspension of social media accounts is taking a toll on Kiwis, as many lose contact with friends and family, and fear they may never get their social lives back. Meanwhile, experts say there is significant power imbalance between social media platforms and users, but that New Zealanders can take legal action. An Auckland mother of three, whom RNZ has named Amy to protect her children’s privacy, has lost years of memories after her Facebook and Instagram accounts were shut down by Meta. “I’ve posted everyday normal content that any normal person would see as…
Hip hop legend Snoop Dogg has cancelled his one New Zealand show three days before it was set to happen.“Due to circumstances beyond our control, Snoop Dogg will no longer be performing in Auckland this weekend,” one of the promoters, 4ward Entertainment, wrote on Instagram on Wednesday morning.”Our goal was to deliver a first-class, New Zealand first show and we are saddened this is no longer possible,” they wrote.The gig at Manukau’s Due Drop Arena on 20 September was pitched as a double-whammy Snoop Dogg vs DJ Snoopadelic.The “two-in-one experience” would have seen the West Coast rapper perform his biggest…
A man has been arrested after an attempt to smuggle drugs into New Zealand disguised as packs of macadamia nuts was busted by Customs.Customs identified the attempted import of 25 packages to addresses in Waihī, Whangārei, Lower Hutt and Auckland, containing approximately 28.3kg of methamphetamine and 2.2kg of pseudoephedrine between November 2024 and April 2025. Seizures occurred in New Zealand and overseas, with support from law enforcement partners in the US, Pakistan, Thailand, and Australia.The Waihī man was arrested after Customs intercepted a parcel declared as roasted macadamia nut samples, which contained 2.2kg of methamphetamine.The total quantity seized had an…
Pharmac is seeking public feedback on a proposal to fund another brand of ADHD medication, in response to ongoing supply issues. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently treated in New Zealand with brands of methylphenidate, which works by changing the levels of natural substances in the brain to improve attention while decreasing restlessness and impulsivity.Pharmac has now proposed to fund a new modified-release brand of methylphenidate, called Methylphenidate Sandoz XR, from December 1, 2025. Released by Sandoz, it is a generic version of the already funded brand of extended-release methylphenidate, Concerta. This would be available for people with ADHD…
By Susan Edmunds of RNZ A new report has raised the question of whether the entitlement to half a former partner’s KiwiSaver should be made automatic. New analysis by MartinJenkins for the Retirement Commission’s 2025 Review of Retirement Income Policies looks at how key events and moments in a person’s life contribute to poorer retirement outcomes for women. On average, women have KiwiSaver balances that are 25% smaller than men’s but the gap is 37% for people aged 56 to 65. The difference is not all due to the pay gap, the report said, and it suggested a number of key areas where change could help.…
A man has been arrested after a brawl erupted between players following an Auckland football game in June, leaving one with a broken jaw.Police were called to Sunnynook Park at around 1.30pm on June 28 after a “scuffle” between players from two football teams broke out. One player was allegedly punched in the face and kicked by the same person after falling to the ground. “The victim suffered serious facial injuries, including a broken jaw, which required surgery,” Acting Inspector Tim Williams said. Today, Williams said police had arrested a 23-year-old man over the incident. He was charged with wounding…
A 34-year-old man is facing serious charges following two separate incidents in the Far North where he allegedly threatened members of the public with a firearm.Police were first called to a property on Kakapo St in Ahipara on Sunday, after reports that a man had threatened several people with a firearm before fleeing the scene.While officers were investigating that incident, they were alerted to a similar situation in Kaitaia the following day.Inspector Al Symonds said police responded to a report of a person being threatened at a Lake Rd address at around 10.40am on Monday.”The armed offenders squad was deployed…