Iconic Hastings ice cream company Rush Munro’s is moving into the centre of Hastings, after 90 years at its current site on the outskirts of the city. The company will leave its current premises on Herataunaga St West and shift to Albert Square by November, not far from the recently redeveloped Municipal Building and Opera […]

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. The UK’s longest-serving monarch died, aged 96, after a 70-year reign. Ardern said that the Queen’s commitment to her role has been without question and unwavering. “The last days of the Queen’s life captures who she was in so many ways, working to the […]

Cabinet papers have revealed that ministers approved plans a year ago to reunite families split by the border closures, but later said that it was not necessary. The documents, published last month, show that about 14,000 separated partners and children, who were not covered by other border exemptions, were waiting to enter the country last […]

A South Island beach has been ranked number four in a list of the world’s best “hidden” beaches. The list, compiled by The Sun Bingo, was created by comparing top-listed beaches from travel publications with social media posts. Those with high reviews on social media, but low coverage in other publications, were deemed to be […]

The government is doubling the number of places available on the Working Holiday Scheme and extending working holiday makers’ visas in a bid to address staff shortages across the country. It is also allowing employers in some sectors to pay skilled migrants less than the new median wage requirements. Announcing the changes last week, Immigration […]

Loans with below-market interest rates are being made available to boost the growth of South Waikato businesses. The five-year discounted loans are being offered by the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT). Speaking to Stuff, Chief Executive of SWIFT Amanda Hema said that the loans can be “transformational” for businesses. “Our interest rates are usually […]

A fur seal has been returned to the sea after breaking into a Mt Maunganui home. The Ross family were very surprised to find the seal in their house, which is about 150 m from the shore, early on a Wednesday morning in August. The seal entered through the cat flap and spent a couple […]

Twelve new social houses will be built on church land in Flaxmere as part of a housing project that will support the Pasifika community. The homes, which will be prefabricated in Hutt Valley and assembled on site, will be made available to people on the public housing waiting list, with a focus on Pasifika families. […]

A $36-million Government-funded regeneration project is underway in Whakatāne. Work has begun on a new commercial boat harbour, the old Whakatāne army hall is being redeveloped into a visitor centre and the revitalised Whakatāne wharf was officially opened last month. “The Whakatāne Regeneration Programme aims to reinvigorate the Central Business District, re-establish connections to the […]

Auckland Council has approved a plan aimed at reducing transport emissions. The Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway sets out what is required to achieve a 64 per cent reduction in the city’s transport emissions by 2030. The key actions of the plan include: • Converting 30 per cent of the city’s vehicles to electric (especially commercial […]