A rapid escalation in homelessness has seen Auckland Council’s Community Committee send a ‘please help’ letter to the government.The committee has recorded a 53% rise in people sleeping rough in the city over four months – coinciding with a sharp decrease in emergency housing numbers.Data from Auckland Council’s Community Impact…

It started with a paddock. Four years ago, Phil Bay and his peers at the Oxford Lions Club were worried about food supply during Covid.The answer, growing potatoes – and providing it to Satisfy, a food rescue charity which hands the spuds to over 50 foodbanks..Fast forward to today, Bay…

A homicide investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Mairehau, Christchurch last night.Detective Senior Sergeant Tania Jellyman said emergency services were called to an address on Innes Rd around 9.15pm.”Upon arrival, a man was located with critical injuries,” she said.”Despite urgent treatment, he died at the…

A leading New Zealand cement manufacturer is set to build a new concrete plant in Dunedin. Holcim New Zealand Ltd has been granted resource consent by the Dunedin City Council to construct and operate a concrete batching plant in Kaikorai Valley Rd, on industrial land near the Southern Motorway. A…

When Kate French was younger, she was constantly asked if working in a cafe was her holiday job. “It wasn’t conceivable in Southland that a young female could forge a successful career in hospo [hospitality industry],” she said. After more than 15 years in the industry and as one of…

Tourism operators in Auckland are expressing concern about a slower-than-expected winter season and urging the government to consider a bed tax to help fund major events.International tourism is back to pre-pandemic numbers, but domestic tourism is lagging, with a 2.8% drop in domestic spending in December compared to the year…

Some Hawke’s Bay growers have seen record-breaking profits two years on from widespread devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle.New Zealand’s apple and pear industry recorded its largest-ever orchard-gate profits, surpassing $1 billion in revenue. The Hawke’s Bay region is home to 65% of the nation’s crops.Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said she…

Japan and South Korea have now been recognised as having health systems that are comparable to New Zealand — giving recruiters and the health sector hope of a new potential pool of doctors to pull from. The Medical Council added the two countries to its list of comparable health systems…

There’s concern ahead of winter that kiwis are set to see big hikes in their power bill and supply could be constrained if current dry conditions continue. From April 1 lines charges will rise, meaning an extra $10 a month for the average household’s power bill. For some regions, it…

Whangārei District Council is holding a sudden closed-door meeting on Tuesday morning about fluoridating its drinking water.The closed meeting comes just 19 days ahead of the Government’s March 28 deadline for the council to fluoridate its drinking water.The short-notice 9.30am emergency meeting comes after an unusual last-minute Friday change where…