Author: Press Room

Increasingly popular in New Zealand, especially with Pacific people, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is battling some hefty allegations. Indira Stewart investigates. Watch this investigation on our home for all news, indepth and consumer stories TVNZ+. Over the past two years I’ve received multiple invitations to join Shincheonji’s Bible course and evangelism events. I’ve grown up Christian so I didn’t find the invitations odd. But I repeatedly declined them. However I was curious about the number of Pacific people joining this Korean church. Why were they so devoted to the teachings of 93-year-old Korean man Lee Man-Hee, who doesn’t speak…

One in four people who responded to an annual nationwide drug survey had used pharmaceuticals for recreational or non-medical reasons.The 2024 New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey (NZDTS) surveyed 10,781 people — and 27% of them reported non-medical use of pharmaceuticals in the previous six months.That’s according to a statement from Massey University, which conducted the research.Dr Robin van der Sanden of the New Zealand Drugs Research Team said: “Non-medical use of pharmaceuticals is a complex issue as it can describe people using pharmaceuticals for recreational reasons, or those using them in ways they weren’t directed to by a health professional.”It…

The amount of money sent outside the EU by people who live within it keeps growing every year and is significantly higher than the money inflow. ADVERTISEMENTThe amount of money people are sending outside the European Union is growing rapidly.Since 2018, it jumped by €20bn, reaching a record figure of €50bn in 2023, says Eurostat. This differs significantly from money received by residents in the EU – which totalled “only” €14bn last year, and remained stable since 2018.All countries with a positive balance – meaning they received more money than they sent – were in eastern Europe, with nearly half…

Workers get ready for the great move of Smiths City from the Meridian Mall yesterday. The store will relocate to a new site in Crawford St, opposite Big Save Furniture. No jobs will be lost by the move. The new store is scheduled to open in February.   

The annual average increase in the cost of goods which suppliers charged supermarkets has picked up slightly in November.Compared to November 2023, there was a 2.1% increase between what suppliers charged Foodstuffs supermarkets in November 2024.Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen said the increase was a “slight change” in the trend after a 2.0% rise was recorded in October.”This slight shift shouldn’t be overblown, with current trend growth in the GSCI still at more moderate levels than a year ago.”The Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index (GSCI) measures the change in the list cost of grocery goods charged by suppliers…

Finnish commitment to defending their sovereignty from an imperialistic Russia has long been part of the Finnish psyche, and intrinsic to how the state is run. Since Putin’s revanchist mindset materialised in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Helsinki has moved to accelerate plans for defense. ADVERTISEMENTFinland has accelerated its preparedness for all types of war – nuclear, full scale invasion, and is constantly responding to the numerous hybrid war attacks that Russia has stepped up since the full scale invasion of Ukraine.Since 2022, Helsinki has been dealing with the tampering of undersea communication cables, disinformation and the presence of so-called…

Dunedin Woolworths workers earned a 6.8% pay increase over two years after they stood up for themselves at work “and really, really ran with it”, a union representative says. The supermarket giant announced yesterday it had ratified a new collective agreement for union members across the country which included a minimum wage increase of 6.8% over the next two years and the introduction of a multi-skilled hourly rate. A minimum pay rise of 3.3% in the first year would increase the minimum hourly rate to $25.85, followed by a 3.5% rise in the second year. One-off payments of $175 to…

With a lack of sports teams and few activities for children, the Southland town of Garston has become hooked on a fishing club for kids and families alike.Garston School is one of the country’s most isolated in terms of services, and there’s not enough children for a full team of any sport.Local woman Shona Taylor said there “wasn’t really anything” for kids to do, and so she rang Heron Futter from the Regional Sports Trust for help. She said answering Taylor’s call was “the best thing I’ve ever done”.Futter encouraged Taylor to think about what Garston did have rather than…

The European Commission has longstanding concerns that the extended families of Europeans living in the UK aren’t getting what they were promised – and time is running out to address legal concerns under the Brexit deal. ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission on Monday took the UK to court, for failing to grant EU citizens the full rights it says were promised under the 2019 Brexit deal.  Some three million EU citizens were living in the UK at the time it left the bloc – and the Commission says London isn’t sticking to its promise that they can continue living there on the same…

Free Christmas trees are on offer in Christchurch this festive season – and it’s helping the environment.A Lyttelton community group is helping families cut down wilding pines littering the Port Hills to take home and decorate.And there’s another benefit to spreading the Christmas cheer – clearing the pest pines to make way for native trees. Once the trees are cut, poison is placed on the trunks to stop them from regrowing.”What we’ve noticed is that the pine trees, the juveniles, they grow in clusters and so there must be some light getting to that area,” the Lyttelton Reserves Committee’s Kirsty…