Kaipara’s outgoing mayor Craig Jepson – dubbed the “Trump of the North” – is living up to the name, councillor Ihapera Paniora says, by calling an unprecedented emergency council meeting tonight which she believes is likely to suggest the local election has been rigged. Paniora took to social media last night to alert the public and media to an 11th-hour email Jepson sent to councillors and electoral officer Dale Ofsoske just after 5pm, requisitioning the meeting. She said the email was sent just within the final 24-hour window allowed for such processes – “a last-ditch attempt for them to challenge the elections and the fact we had so many special votes. So much for ‘democracy’, right?” Jepson said the emergency meeting seeks approval for a formal complaint into the conduct of the 2025 Kaipara District Council local government election and 2025 Northland Regional Council Māori constituency referendum. The meeting will also ask the Department of Internal Affairs to investigate. Jepson said he would not comment further until the matter has been investigated and a decision made. He did not explain what the NRC’s Māori constituency referendum had to do with Kaipara. The meeting will be held at 5.30pm, at Mangawhai 1C and online. He requested the public be excluded, citing the need to protect the privacy of natural persons and maintain the effective conduct of public affairs. Kaipara District Council chief executive Jason Marris confirmed the requisition was legally compliant, so the meeting would proceed. However, Marris said he had no information about the complaint that prompted it and could not comment on its validity. He noted the meeting would begin as open to the public and only move behind closed doors if councillors agreed the grounds for exclusion were met. Paniora said she was not surprised by Jepson’s move or the likely nature of the complaint. “It appears to me that Democracy Northland & Hobson’s Pledge in Kaipara and Northland Regional Council are not going down without a fight.” Outgoing Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson. Photo / Susan Botting She believes the complaint is likely one already lodged with the Electoral Commission, possibly relating to claims that election officials were biased and that signage in Whangārei encouraged voting for Māori wards. “It sounds to me like in true Trump fashion, he’s accusing the elections of being rigged, essentially,” she said. Paniora said the complaint appears to stem from outreach voting clinics in rural, predominantly Māori communities, and accusations that staff were “targeting a specific demographic”. She said right-leaning groups had made Official Information Act requests during the election about council staffing, time, and funding for the outreach initiatives. “They’ve been horrible,” she said. “They claim to be for promoting democracy – but it seems only when it suits them.” She believes the special votes, which tend to lean left, have tipped the balance in favour of Dargaville mayoral candidate Snow Tāne and the retention of Māori wards at NRC. “Something’s rattled them,” she said. A handmade sign near a voting venue at Whangarei's NorthTec. Paniora questioned why NRC’s Māori ward referendum was even relevant to Jepson, given Kaipara District Council voted last year to remove its own Māori ward. She said the meeting risks overshadowing the success of newly elected candidates and undermining the democratic process. “We should be celebrating our staff, commending them on an amazing effort. “Instead, we’re sending them to probably a judicial inquiry where every bit of their conduct will be scrutinised.” Paniora also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, saying most councillors – including herself – should not be voting on the matter due to pecuniary interests. “The only two that don’t have a conflict of interest would be Eryn Wilson-Collins and Mike Howard, because they’re not re-standing,” she said. Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske from Independent Electio...

• Newstalk ZB
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 6 dakika

Alliance chair Mark Wynne reiterates that Irish company ticks crucial boxes for meat co-op. The post Alliance doubles down on its position as Dawn Meats D-Day looms appeared first on Farmers Weekly .

• Farmers Weekly NZ
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 8 dakika

Food companies, and their farmer-suppliers, increasingly obliged to prove their green credentials. The post Sustainability reporting the new normal appeared first on Farmers Weekly .

• Farmers Weekly NZ
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 8 dakika

State farmer expands its offering to eight of its 44 farms. The post Pāmu opens the gate to more dairy contracts appeared first on Farmers Weekly .

• Farmers Weekly NZ
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 8 dakika

Alliance chair Mark Wynne reiterates that Irish company ticks crucial boxes for meat co-op. The post Alliance double down on its position as Dawn Meats D-Day looms appeared first on Farmers Weekly .

• Farmers Weekly NZ
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 8 dakika

• Otago Daily Times
• 1 gün, 21 saat, 21 dakika

E-commerce deal website GrabOne has ceased trading after its owner went into liquidation today. Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed liquidators of Global Marketplace New Zealand Limited, which operates the GrabOne business in New Zealand. GrabOne’s website has disappeared, replaced by a message from the liquidators. “Due to funding constraints, the business has ceased trading and the liquidators are immediately commencing a sales process for the company’s business and assets,” the liquidators said. “As a result, the company will not be promoting any existing or future deals whilst in liquidation.” The liquidators said the company was unable to provide refunds to customers who hold onto unredeemed vouchers. “Consumers will need to take steps themselves - including contacting individual merchants - to assess how unredeemed vouchers will be treated.” New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), publishers of the New Zealand Herald, sold GrabOne in 2021 to Global Marketplace New Zealand for $17.5 million. GrabOne was founded in 2010 as a 50/50 venture between IdeaHQ - controlled by entrepreneur Shane Bradley - and then Herald publisher APN. APN progressively bought out Bradley’s stake, taking full control in 2013 in a deal worth up to $12.2m. Cameron Smith is an Auckland-based business reporter. He joined the Herald in 2015 and has covered business and sports. He reports on topics such as retail, small business, the workplace and macroeconomics.

• Newstalk ZB
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 25 dakika

The United States passport has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports globally for the first time in 20 years in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index. It ranks nations based on the number of destinations a traveller can visit without needing a visa. The US ranking is on a steep downward trend, with the US passport now in 12th spot, tied with Malaysia, having already fallen from seventh place last year to 10th place in July. A decade ago, the US passport topped the index. Christian Kaelin, chairman of Henley and Partners and creator of the index, said in a news release yesterday that the declining strength of the US passport signalled a “fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics”. “Nations that embrace openness and co-operation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind,” Kaelin added. The London-based firm, which offers consulting on residence and citizenship by investment, has compiled the rankings for about two decades, relying on data from the International Air Transport Association. Singapore - with visa-free access to 193 of 227 destinations worldwide - tops the list, followed by South Korea, and Japan. The US passport downgrade comes as the Trump Administration has overseen a drastic crackdown on immigration, initially focused on illegal migration but more recently expanding to include reviews of people who travel to the country for tourism, work or on student visas. A number of countries have recently removed visa-free travel for US nationals, including Brazil in April due to the lack of reciprocity for Brazilians entering the US, Henley and Partners said. Other countries, such as China and Vietnam, have left US travellers out of an expanding list of nationalities they allow to enter for tourism visa-free. Reciprocity plays a role in a country’s rankings, Henley and Partners said, noting that the US allows only 46 nationalities some degree of visa-free entry but that its passport allows visa-free entry to 180 destinations. Countries with a large disparity between the travel freedom they enjoy relative to their willingness to let other nationalities enter without a visa - which includes the US, but also countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand - have stagnated or declined in passport power in recent years, it said. “Even before a second Trump presidency, US policy had turned inward. That isolationist mindset is now being reflected in America’s loss of passport power,” Annie Pforzheimer, a senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said in the news release. Here is a condensed list of the most powerful passports, indicating the number of destinations passport holders can enter visa-free. The full list is available at henleyglobal.com/passport-index. The most powerful passports 1. Singapore: 193 destinations 2. South Korea: 190 destinations 3. Japan: 189 destinations 4. Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland: 188 destinations 5. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands: 187 destinations 6. Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden: 186 destinations 7. Australia, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland: 185 destinations 8. Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom: 184 destinations 9. Canada: 183 destinations 10. Latvia, Liechtenstein: 182 destinations 11. Iceland, Lithuania: 181 destinations 12. Malaysia, United States: 180 destinations

• Newstalk ZB
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 27 dakika

Australian Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush and American actor John Lithgow, a six-time Emmy Award winner, are both nominated for one of the top acting gongs at the 2025 New Zealand Screen Awards. The awards, which celebrate the best in New Zealand’s film and television industry, will see a record 57 trophies presented across acting, directing and technical excellence in both free-to-air, subscription and streaming content in Aotearoa. Rush and Lithgow are both nominated for Best Actor in a Feature Film for their roles in the psychological horror The Rule of Jenny Pen. The film was produced and filmed in New Zealand. Aussie star Rush won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1996 for his role in Shine. He has also starred in The King’s Speech, the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and Minions. Geoffrey Rush in The Rule of Jenny Pen. Photo / Stan Alley Lithgow is best know for his role in TV comedy 3rd Rock From the Sun, for which he won three Emmy Awards. He also won Emmys for his roles in Dexter and The Crown and has been nominated for two Oscars. Based on a short story by Owen Marshall, The Rule of Jenny Pen follows a judge (Rush) recovering from a stroke in an assisted living faciality, who encounters a psychopathic patient who uses a hand puppet to abuse fellow residents (played by Lithgow). Director James Ashcroft is nominated for Best Director: Drama Feature and Best Script: Feature, alongside Eli Kent. Rush and Lithgow will go up against Kiwi actors Julian Dennison in Uproar and Ed Oxenbould for South Head. And The Rule of Jenny Pen leads the nominations, with nine, alongside Tinā and Ka Whawhai Tonu. Also among the nominees are Herald NOW’s Ryan Bridge, who is nominated for Best Presenter News and Current Affairs, alongside Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame, Moana Maniapoto and John Campbell. The Herald’s Michael Morrah has been celebrated for his reporting with a nomination for Reporter of the Year, a category that highlights journalistic excellence, alongside Indira Stewart, Paula Penfold and Barbara Dreaver. The Herald's Michael Morrah. Photo / NZ Herald The reality TV categories will see The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes, Match Fit: Union vs League, and The Traitors New Zealand – which is due to start filming their third season with new host Madeline Sami – go head-to-head for the Best Reality Series gong. Kelly Martin, NZSA committee member and CEO of South Pacific Pictures, says the NZSA panel were thrilled with the level of talent and achievement among the 700 entries. “The response to the awards has surpassed expectations – especially with the exciting inclusion of film, which has brought a wonderful new energy to this year’s awards. Each of our finalists stand as a testament to the talent and innovation that make our screen community so extraordinary.” For a full list of nominees, see the list below: New Zealand On Air Best Drama Series The Brokenwood Mysteries Dead Ahead The Gone Season 2 A Remarkable Place to Die New Zealand Film Commission Best Feature Film Tinā Ka Whawhai Tonu We Were Dangerous New Zealand Film Commission Best Short Film First Horse Lea Tupu’anga | Mother Tongue Rochelle Best Comedy Programme Vince Madam Happiness Best Factual Series Hyundai Country Calendar Moving Houses Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club New Zealand On Air Best Documentary - Series Motuhaketanga Live and Let Dai Patrick Gower: On Ice New Zealand Film Commission Best Documentary - Feature Never Look Away Stylebender Maurice and I The Lie Best Reality Series The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes The Traitors New Zealand Match Fit: Union vs League Best Current Affairs Programme Te Ao with Moana The Hui Mata with Mihingarangi Forbes New Zealand On Air Best Children’s Programme First Place Secrets at Red Rocks Kea Kids News Te Māngai Pāho Best Māori Programme Māori All Blacks: Bound by Blood Homesteads Season 2 Dead Ahead Mata Reports Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme Ruamata: It’s More Than Hockey 2 Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga End of the V...

• Newstalk ZB
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 33 dakika

A technical fault at Woolworths left 60 people without groceries or refunds, after the supermarket failed to deliver their prepaid orders. One of those affected was a Wainui family of four, who lost their $400 fortnightly shop and were left without food for their children’s lunches. A Woolworths New Zealand spokesperson said the family’s order was among those affected by a system failure between 3.15pm and 4pm on October 14 at the Greville Rd store. “We did our best to contact those customers impacted, but unfortunately, some customers did not receive the text or email notification advising of the issue (due to the technical fault). “We sincerely apologise for the frustration caused and will contact the customer directly to explain the non-delivery and sort out a solution,” the spokesperson said. Dan Louden told the Herald his wife placed the online order at lunchtime on Tuesday because they couldn’t collect it between other commitments. The delivery was due to arrive between 3.15pm and 5.45pm. They didn’t receive the groceries until late yesterday. At 7pm, with dinner half-prepared, Louden’s wife called Woolworths to find out what was happening. The family’s dinner was half made, and they needed ingredients from the order. Louden wasn’t set to finish work until after 9pm and couldn’t stop at the supermarket on the way home. “I’m at work with the car, and she’s sitting at home waiting for the food to turn up.” He said they were eventually told the order would arrive the next day due to “system errors” and “technical issues”. “To have known way earlier would have been great; the problem is they’ve already taken the payment,” Louden said. Lourden said he was concerned about how the issue might have affected elderly customers or vulnerable people who relied on the delivery service. ‘Left us high and dry’ “They got all of our grocery money, and we hadn’t received any food for the kids,” he said. ”What are we supposed to do in the meantime? I can’t just pull magical money.” Louden said one of his children had ADHD and was particular about what they ate, making the situation harder. “There was no option. It’s not like we could just go on to Uber and order something from there because they’ve got our money,” he said. “They just left us high and dry.”

• Newstalk ZB
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 35 dakika

A technical fault at Woolworths has impacted 60 people, leaving one customer without groceries or a refund, after the supermarket failed to deliver their prepaid orders. A Wainui family of four lost their $400 fortnightly shop and were left without food for their children’s lunches due to the glitch. A Woolworths New Zealand spokesperson said the family’s order was among those affected by a system failure between 3.15pm and 4pm on October 14 at the Greville Rd store. “We did our best to contact those customers impacted, but unfortunately, some customers did not receive the text or email notification advising of the issue [due to the technical fault]. “We sincerely apologise for the frustration caused and will contact the customer directly to explain the non-delivery and sort out a solution.” Dan Louden told the Herald his wife placed the online order at lunchtime on Tuesday because they couldn’t collect it between other commitments. The delivery was due to arrive between 3.15pm and 5.45pm. They didn’t receive the groceries until late yesterday. At 7pm, with dinner half-prepared, Louden’s wife called Woolworths to find out what was happening. The family’s dinner was half made, and they needed ingredients from the order. Louden wasn’t set to finish work until after 9pm and couldn’t stop at the supermarket on the way home. “I’m at work with the car, and she’s sitting at home waiting for the food to turn up.” He said they were eventually told the order would arrive the next day due to “system errors” and “technical issues”. “To have known way earlier would have been great; the problem is they’ve already taken the payment,” Louden said. Louden said he was concerned about how the issue might have affected elderly customers or vulnerable people who relied on the delivery service. A Woolworths New Zealand spokesperson said the family’s order was among those affected by a system failure between 3.15pm and 4pm on October 14 at the Greville Rd store. ‘Left us high and dry’ “They got all of our grocery money, and we hadn’t received any food for the kids. ”What are we supposed to do in the meantime? I can’t just pull magical money.” Louden said one of his children had ADHD and was particular about what they ate, making the situation harder. “There was no option. It’s not like we could just go on to Uber and order something from there because they’ve got our money,” he said. “They just left us high and dry.”

• Newstalk ZB
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 35 dakika

ODT Class Act Awards Ceremony 2025 Live Stream - 11am Thursday 16 October 2025.

• Otago Daily Times
• 1 gün, 21 saat, 39 dakika

Sergeant Richard Bracey and Constable Friederike Faber were honoured at the annual Police Association conference.

• RNZ
• 1 gün, 21 saat, 46 dakika

Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin Police say the circumstances of a six-vehicle crash on State Highway 1 in Canterbury last week remain under investigation.

• Otago Daily Times
• 1 gün, 21 saat, 48 dakika

The pet-food company largely sold its venison products into the United States.

• NZ Herald Business
• 2 gün, 10 saat, 53 dakika

The new angle iron aims to prevent accidents. PHOTO: SUSAN SANDYS A popular water feature in Ashburton's Baring Square East has had a $7000 health and safety upgrade after two accidents.

• Otago Daily Times
• 1 gün, 21 saat, 54 dakika