Author: Press Room

Published on 16/09/2025 – 10:24 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT A video has gone viral on social media alleging that a Muslim terrorist group has threatened to burn the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, unless French authorities release Brahim Aouissaoui. He is a Tunisian citizen who killed three people in a terrorist attack in Nice in 2020. The video shows three masked men issuing their ultimatum before setting a model of Notre Dame on fire. They each bear a logo on their sleeves that resembles that of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly led by Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa. “Your churches…

Once again higher prices for milk, cheese, and butter were the main drivers behind an increase in food prices, which rose 5% in the 12 months to August.The data, released by Stats NZ, showed the second consecutive 5% increase in annual prices, following the same figure in the 12 months to July. The biggest contributor to the most recent increase was items in the grocery food group, which rose 4.7%, “The price increase for the grocery food group was due to higher prices for milk, cheese, and butter,” Stats NZ said. The price of two litres of milk rose 16.3%…

More than 100 jobs are on the line in Tokoroa as Carter Holt Harvey plans to shut down its local plywood manufacturing site.E tū delegate Andrew Dobbs, who had worked at CHH in Tokoroa for 24 years, said members were devastated.”It’s just really sad. We knew things were tough, but I didn’t expect them to stop manufacturing altogether. You’d say people are feeling sad and depressed – it’s not quite a closure, but there will be so few people left there, making nothing, just reprocessing imports to send to market.”Basically, imported product is just too cheap for us to compete…

Trailers equipped with speed cameras are set to be rolled out on New Zealand’s roadsides from tomorrow. The first trailer would begin operating in Auckland, the New Zealand Transport Agency said. Nine more trailers were set to join the fleet over the coming months. They would join the 34 mobile cameras already operating out of SUVs. NZTA said that with the trailers, mobile cameras would be operating for a total of 6500 hours a month. “The camera technology in trailers is the same as we’re using in our SUVs, but having both vehicle types gives us more flexibility to move…

A mayor’s petition calling on the Government to back the restoration of the Chateau Tongariro will be formally handed to Parliament today.Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton will present the petition – signed by 15,469 people – to Rangitīkei MP Suze Redmayne on the steps of Parliament at midday, before it is lodged with the House.The derelict Chateau has been closed for two years after it was deemed unsafe due to its earthquake risk.Before its closure two years ago, the 96-year-old hotel employed between 70 and 100 people. (Source: Q and A)Kirton said the strong response showed the depth of public feeling…

ADVERTISEMENT Donald Trump has thrown down his gauntlet: he wants European nations to impose 50% to 100% tariffs on China as part of a joint strategy to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The demand, which had already leaked to the press, became official US policy when the president made it public on a social media post over the weekend. In his “letter”, as he called it, Trump argued the punishing tariffs on China, coupled with an immediate end to all purchases of Russian oil, would be of “great help” to end “this deadly but ridiculous war”. “China has a strong…

Organisers of one of the world’s biggest secondary school cultural festivals have decided to split the event across two venues, to accommodate its growth.The annual ASB Polyfest, held in south Auckland to celebrate Pacific culture, will be hosted at the Manukau Sports Bowl and the Due Drop Events Centre next year.Organisers announced the first part of the 2026 festival will be held on March 18-21 for the Niue, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Diversity performances, and on March 30-April 2 for the Māori stage.Traditionally, Polyfest is held over four days at the sports bowl, featuring five cultural stages.Polyfest Trust chair…

The Government is putting a temporary halt to some international adoptions being recognised in New Zealand, after revelations people with previous convictions for violence or sexual abuse were adopting children overseas.The Adoption Amendment Bill will stop unsafe overseas adoptions being recognised under New Zealand’s citizenship and immigration processes, and is being introduced under urgency.In the most recent publicised case, an adopted girl was given a visa to live with her new family in New Zealand, despite them being investigated by police for people-trafficking.Social workers and other officials have uncovered cases of children being held in domestic servitude, adoptive families taking…

A man who allegedly stole more than $14,000 worth of gear, including tools, from various Auckland trade stores has been charged with shoplifting, police say.The man was taken into custody after a shoplifting incident at Bunnings Manukau earlier this month.Counties Manukau East communities manager Senior Sergeant Simon Cornish said, “upon further investigation, it was established the man was allegedly involved in several other incidents at different stores, involving leaving without paying for the items in his trolley.”“Last week officers executed a search warrant at a rural property in Karaka,” he said.”Police took a man into custody who we believe is…

Food company Talley’s has begun its High Court defamation case against TVNZ and reporter Thomas Mead. The company claimed it had lost income and its reputation had unfairly suffered after a series of reports alleging health and safety concerns. TVNZ said in response that it reported truthfully and responsibly in the 2021 and 2022 stories. Talley’s said there were six reports which unfairly did damage to its business.Brian Dickey, who represented the company at the High Court in Auckland, said the stories “crossed the line from factual reporting into exaggeration, misinterpretation and outright falsities”.“In colloquial terms, they put the boot…