Author: Press Room

An “unprecedented” spate of violent crimes and a significant police shortage in Northland has meant more than 90 police staff being called in to bolster the region’s thin blue line.The special staff operation has been running for three months, with about 30 police from as far as Southland re-deployed to Northland for five weeks at a time to plug the gaps, with no end date in sight.Northland police have been stretched this year by nine alleged homicides in a four-month period – more than all the homicides recorded across the region in 2024.Superintendent Matt Srhoj, the head of Northland police,…

ANZ has dropped some of its fixed and special home loan interest rates.Effective on Tuesday, the bank has cut its one-year fixed rate special to 4.79%, the lowest the rate has been since June 2022. It also cut the six-month fixed rate special to 5.14% and its two-year fixed rate special dropped to 4.89%The 18-month fixed rate special was also cut to 4.79%, and the three year special fixed rate was left unchanged.Special rates at ANZ are available to customers with a minimum of 20% equity and an ANZ transaction account with salary direct credited.Standard rates were also adjusted at…

Labour has shot up in the latest 1News Verian poll, while National’s Christopher Luxon has fallen to his worst preferred PM result in two years.New Zealand First is also continuing its rise, now moving ahead of ACT to become the fourth biggest party, just behind the Greens.If an election were to be held today the poll indicates the right bloc of National, ACT and New Zealand First would have 63 seats — enough to form a coalition. The left bloc of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would have 58 seats, short of the numbers required to form a…

New Zealand remains behind its international counterparts when it comes to financial advisers offering exposure to digital assets, Swyftx chief executive Jason Titman says. Mr Titman, who is also executive chairman of the crypto exchange which serves more than 1.5 million users, said diversification into digital assets, even at a small allocation, could dramatically shift long-term outcomes for many Kiwis. He is the keynote speaker at CryptoWinter25 — the inaugural summit for New Zealand’s emerging crypto and digital asset leadership — in Queenstown this week. Mr Titman said a lack of diversification and a narrow focus on traditional asset classes…

Party leaders have had mixed reactions to the latest 1News Verian poll released this evening.In the poll, Labour shot up to 33%, while National’s Christopher Luxon has fallen to his worst preferred prime minister result in two years at 20%.National’s party support remained steady at 34%.Ahead of the poll’s release to the public, 1News asked party leaders for their thoughts on the results.(Source: 1News)National PartyPrime Minister Christopher Luxon declined to directly address questions about his declining popularity.”It’s not about me or the polls. It’s really about the New Zealand people and I’m working incredibly hard to make sure that we…

Retail grocery store owners in Auckland are feeling the squeeze after stiff competition has tightened margins following the arrival of several large Asian supermarkets over the past 12 months.Described by the Commerce Commission as New Zealand’s “largest one-stop Asian supermarket”, Foodie opened in Westgate on August 29, 2024.The store spanned 3800 square metres and offered a wide selection of products from China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia, catering to the city’s growing Asian communities.Around the same time, Asian supermarket chain Tai Ping opened a new branch in Henderson on August 24.Asian supermarket…

For more than seven years the Tuiras purported to operate an investment business out of Christchurch, raising more than $4m from investors hoping for high returns. However, none of the money was being invested and instead went to fund the couple’s lifestyle and repay other investors. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood reports.Inside Thomas and Aroha Tuira’s home potential investors would be treated to tales of high-net-worth investors that were in his “proximity”.Not one to shy away from a name drop, he’d say he was personally connected to the likes of NBA legend Michael Jordan and speaker and philanthropist Tony Robbins.The…

A group of men pretending to be Uber Eats delivery drivers allegedly broke into a home in Auckland’s Flat Bush last night and assaulted two people.Police said they were investigating a forced entry into the home on Birchlands Rd at around 9.10pm on Sunday.”Occupants at the address allege a group of males tried to gain entry by posing as Uber Eats delivery drivers,’ a police spokesperson said.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including dire state of our heart health system, where unspent charter school money might go, and thieves make off with a pricey haul of Labubu dolls. (Source: 1News)”Two…

A South Auckland councillor says she doesn’t buy into the racist rhetoric that “brown people are lazy”, after mayor Wayne Brown accused her of playing a ‘Pacific victim’ card.Two Manukau ward councillors have clashed with Brown after he claimed they were not showing up to do the work.Councillors Lotu Fuli and Alf Filipaina pointed to official data that showed they outperformed Brown in attendance.“It’s a bit rich for him to talk about attendance when his is quite low,” Filipaina said.In response, the mayor said the councillors were “doing what they always do, being Pacific victims”.The comments followed a public grilling…

ADVERTISEMENT In a series of online posts, internet users have claimed that Sweden is “seeking to deport immigrants who have acquired Swedish citizenship” for having allegedly failed to “integrate into Western society.” These posts have been doing the rounds on social media for months, with one shared in December amassing more than 4 million views. However, the claim is misleading and does not fully align with the Swedish government’s position. What is Swedish government’s stance on migration? The Swedish government — composed of a centre-right coalition, propped up by the far-right Swedish Democrats (ECR) — has made cracking down on…