Author: Press Room

Home loan interest rates continue to drop as the Reserve Bank pursues its path to a lower official cash rate, and wholesale markets fall.But with almost half of New Zealand’s home loans floating or due to refix within the next six months, many borrowers may be wondering just how much further rates could go.Is it possible that we could see them drop below 4%?Here are the arguments for and against.YesOn one hand, David Cunningham, chief executive of Squirrel, says yes.He said, if the official cash rate (OCR) dropped to 2.25% next month, as many expect it will, one-year home loan…

Police have shared new images of what is believed to be more of Tom Phillips’ campsites that he used to hide from police while on the run with his three children. Phillips was killed in a shootout with police in the early hours of September 8 after a near four-year manhunt for the father, who disappeared with his children in late 2021. The images shared today, believed to be the family’s primary campsites, showed two large “established” and “heavily concealed” structures.New images released as Tom Phillips’ primary campsites discovered – watch on TVNZ+Campsite east of Marokopa. (Source: Supplied)The two sites…

A 13-year-old boy has undergone major surgery after eating 80-100 small magnets purchased on Temu.Neodymium magnets have been banned since 2014 but are still available through online marketplaces.Surgeons at Tauranga Hospital had to remove part of the boy’s bowel after he ate up to 100 of the small magnets, according to a case study in the New Zealand Medical Journal.They said it was “alarming” how difficult it was to enforce the long-standing ban when easily-accessible online marketplaces existed.Surgeons at Tauranga Hospital had to remove part of the boy’s bowel after he ate up to 100 of the small magnets, according…

Police say “arrests are likely” after fires were lit in Canterbury this week, despite a total fire ban. A total fire ban on outdoor fires and fireworks was put in place for Marlborough, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay Districts as high winds battered the country yesterday. The bans are in place until Monday, October 27. Firefighters were still dealing with several vegetation fires, which caused “extensive damage and property losses”, destroying five homes in Kaikōura.Police in Canterbury were “disappointed” that fires were still being lit during the ban. Follow 1News’ live updates of the weather events here”Police will…

Auckland’s Tāmaki Drive was reopened this morning after Wednesday night’s horror collision between a bus and a car which saw the bus driver lose their life.Auckland Transport said the destroyed bus had been removed and that all emergency services were stood down. “All modes of transport are now able to use Tāmaki Drive between Ngapipi Road and The Strand, which was the section of road formerly closed to traffic yesterday.” All bus services are back to operating as normal. Police said enquiries into the Parnell collision, near Mechanics Bay, were “ongoing”. “Police would like to thank all road users for…

A man has been sentenced to three years and 11 months imprisonment for distributing and possessing more than 2000 objectionable images depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of babies and children.George Stanley Fuimaono, 27, was sentenced at the Auckland District Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to seven representative charges in August.He was also required to register as a child sex offender.In October 2022, Fuimaono began communicating with a covert online investigator from an overseas law enforcement agency.He shared a link to an online cloud storage location which contained 287 files of child exploitation and abuse. The international law…

Cleanup efforts have begun in the South Island and lower North Island, which were battered by heavy winds yesterday. The powerful gusts toppled trees onto roads, damaged property, and left tens of thousands without power. Power teams at work in Greymouth. (Source: 1News)Local states of emergency remain in place for Canterbury and Southland. Follow 1News’ live updates of the weather events hereThis morning, crews hit the street to remove fallen trees and fix damaged energy infrastructure. Damage to a farmhouse in Culverden (Source: 1News)A man works to clear fallen trees at Tweed Reserve, Invercargill (Source: 1News)Roads closed from yesterday’s weather…

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of arson attacks that struck cellphone towers across Otago – including one completely destroyed mobile site in central Wānaka.In July, a rural cellular tower in the Lindis Pass was “significantly damaged”. Earlier this month, “suspicious” fires hit cell tower sites in Wānaka.Two cell towers operated by One NZ were attacked, with one mobile site in downtown Wānaka “completely destroyed”. The telco provider said the tower would take at least four weeks to be fixed.A Spark NZ tower was also subjected to an “unsuccessful” arson attempt.Detective Senior Sergeant Regan…

Police have warned motorists to be ready for the consequences if they put lives at risk this Labour Weekend.Authorities hoped a stern warning might lead to a repeat of last year’s Labour Weekend, when no one was killed on the roads.“It’s a result that police would hope to replicate again this year,” said road policing director Superintendent Steve Greally.However, Greally noted recent weather had caused disruption around the country, citing it as a reminder to factor in the conditions – whether travelling short or long distances.Police officers would be visible throughout the country – focused on preventing poor driving behaviour…

A man has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder after a house fire killed a father and son in east Auckland earlier this month.The blaze – under investigation as a double homicide – broke out at a two-storey home on Murvale Dr in Bucklands Beach around 2.30am on October 2.Five people were inside the house at the time. Three survived, including the mother and another child, who were admitted to hospital but have been since discharged. A boarder living downstairs also escaped unharmed.The victims were 36-year-old Jung Sup Lee and his 11-year-old son Ha-il Lee.Emergency services were…