Author: Press Room

A New Zealand court has rejected the latest bid by internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom to halt his deportation to the United States on charges related to his file-sharing website Megaupload.Dotcom had asked the High Court to review the legality of an official’s August 2024 decision that he should be surrendered to the US to face trial on charges of copyright infringement, money laundering and racketeering. It was the latest chapter in a protracted 13-year battle by the US government to extradite the Finnish-German millionaire from New Zealand.The Megaupload founder had applied for a judicial review, in which a judge is…

ADVERTISEMENT Over the course of the summer, Céline Berthon, the first woman to lead France’s domestic intelligence agency (the General Directorate for Internal Security) was targeted by a disinformation campaign, which alleged she had resigned. In July, two screenshots of an article that appeared to have been published by French newspaper Le Monde emerged on social media sharing these allegations, however, Berthon, who started this position in January 2024, is still in office. Two mysterious screenshots emerge online A first screenshot shared online includes an article headline that states: “It’s out of control: intelligence chief resigns after soaring online revenues,…

Published on 11/09/2025 – 14:51 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT MEPs voted this week to exempt more than 90% of small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) from the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) — a tax imposed on imports — amid European Parliament plans to simplify existing sustainability laws. The CBAM is an import duty based on the estimated carbon footprint of certain goods like steel and cement, which has been in force in a transitional phase since October 2023. As of 2026, importers will be liable to report on the carbon footprint of their goods, and where applicable pay duty.  With the simplification, small business will be…

About 13,000 patients in Wellington and Taranaki have been contacted by Awanui Labs after receiving inaccurate lab results for a diabetes test.The Terrace Medical Centre in Wellington said the processing issue has meant some of its patients might have been misdiagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes and had their medication unnecessarily adjusted.Awanui Labs, New Zealand’s largest private medical testing company, said the unexpectedly high results were spotted by GPs after it changed its testing method at the end of March. Chief operating officer Nick Champness said between March 31 and July 11, “some HbA1c (blood sugar) test results in Wellington and Taranaki may…

It was the investigation that gripped the nation. A father and his three children evading authorities for four years. RNZ’s National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood takes a look inside Operation Curly.It was about 4.30pm on Monday when Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders received the text message.He was with Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers at a police cordon, awaiting updates as his colleagues searched through dense bush for Tom Phillips’ remaining children.Police had been told there were guns at the campsite and Saunders admits the wait was “nerve-wracking”.”You still don’t know how it’s going to end,” he says.”Our biggest concern was we…

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including controversy over a Marokopa documentary grows, Donald Trump’s ominous post about Russian drones, and has science found life on Mars? Controversy over a documentary about the search for the Marokopa family is continuing to grow. Netball New Zealand is denying rumours a player boycott is the reason for Dame Noeline Taurua’s stand down. Donald Trump’s posted an ominous statement on social media after Russian drones were allegedly shot down over Poland. Scientists say they have found the greatest sign yet that Mars once supported life. ADVERTISEMENT

One of Tom Phillips’ children was holding a gun when police approached the remote campsite, it has been reported.According to the New Zealand Herald, Phillips’ son was holding a rifle when the police special tactics group arrived at the site on Monday afternoon.He was persuaded to put it down and the children were taken into care without incident.Police are now hunting for the fugitive father’s accomplices. (Source: 1News)It was confirmed yesterday that Phillips’ oldest daughter Jayda was with him during Monday morning’s dramatic confrontation, which saw the father fatally shot by police. He had opened fire on a police officer…

Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced an updated set of secondary school subjects to be phased in from 2028.Last month, the Government announced its proposal to axe NCEA. Stanford said implementation for all changed subjects would be aligned with any changes to the qualifications, which are currently being consulted on.The updated subjects would be developed for years 11 to 13. While some subjects had already been announced or named, Stanford said there would be some “exciting brand-new” ones.The subjects would be designed to create a curriculum which “recognises the growing importance of STEM in a future focused world, alongside other…

Former Labour MP Stuart Nash has resigned from his job at recruitment agency Robert Walters, after a formal review was initiated by the company.It comes after Nash apologised for telling The Platform a woman is a “person with a p***y and a pair of t**s,” on Tuesday.Robert Walters confirmed a review was taking place after the company was made aware of his comments that were made in a “personal capacity”, a spokesperson said.”The remarks are deeply inappropriate and do not reflect our values or the standards of our business. We have initiated a formal review, and we will not be…

As a growing number of Central Hawke’s Bay residents desperately search for work, local man Bevan Thompson is helping them with everything from attaining a drivers licence, to boosting their confidence through korero and cuppas.Alexa Cook gained an insight into the mahi going on behind the scenes to get people off the benefit, as part of Pinch Point – an ongoing RNZ series about living with the cost of living.”I’ve had a couple of clients that stand there and say ‘Ohh man, I can’t get nothing’ and shed a couple of tears.”So we just sit there, have a cup of…