Author: Press Room

Thousands of New Zealanders in the years just before retirement still have less than $10,000 in their KiwiSaver accounts, new data shows.The Retirement Commission has released new data from actuaries MJW which shows a breakdown of KiwiSaver balance by age and gender, as at the end of last year.It showed that overall, New Zealanders had an average balance of $37,079 in KiwiSaver, an increase of $5256 from the previous year. Men had $42,664 on average and women $34,185.That data, which covers 97% of the KiwiSaver industry, shows the gender gap has remained at about 25% in the past two years…

The Vatican released the first photograph of Pope Francis in a month since his hospitalisation, as he celebrates Mass in hospital chapel. ADVERTISEMENTThe Vatican released on Sunday the first photograph of Pope Francis in a month, showing the pontiff in a view from behind wearing a purple stole – typical of Lenten liturgical vestments – and sitting in a wheelchair before the altar of his personal hospital chapel.The Vatican said he was participating in the celebration of the Mass with other priests in the 10th floor papal apartment at the Gemelli hospital in Rome.This is the first mention the Vatican…

It’s an almost-unheard of situation in today’s world of media-managed sports organisations.A reporter granted exclusive access to the All Whites in the build up to their “One Shot for Glory” FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Wellington in 2009.At the time, then-Sunday reporter Simon Mercep’s All White on the Night story covered the build-up and night of the big occasion.”The access was amazing. To get alongside the players and the management in their hotel rooms, their lunch rooms, meeting their partners and getting a sense of what it was like as sportspeople building up to this massive game,” Mercep…

Heavy rain warnings are in place for Westland and Fiordland, while Central Otago and Canterbury are in for a hot day.Westland residents could expect up to 200mm of rain around the ranges and 100mm near the coast between 10am Monday and 6am Tuesday, MetService said.Peak rates will reach up to 40mm about the ranges. There was a minimal chance this ‘orange’ warning could be upgraded to ‘red’, meaning a “most extreme weather event”.”Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible,” MetService said on its website. “Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy…

Negotiations have been launched to get a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement across the line between New Zealand and India.The announcement was made by both governments on the eve of a bilateral meeting between prime ministers Christopher Luxon and Narendra Modi.”As you would have heard, we’ve had an economic breakthrough in the relationship,” he said.The Indian government press statement acknowledged the deal would be “comprehensive and mutually beneficial”. “It’s a really good win, it’s a great win for New Zealand,” Luxon said.Trade Minister Todd McClay confirmed the launch of negotiations in a meeting with his counterpart Shri Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister…

In 2018, Canoe Racing NZ opened the doors to a $2.3 million purpose-built high performance centre on the shore of Lake Karāpiro. Seven years on, it sits empty.High above the silty shore of Lake Karāpiro, Canoe Racing NZ’s high performance centre looms desolate and lifeless.The carpark, but for a lone, empty boat trailer, is deserted. The grounds are still.The building itself, a sprawling 550 square-metre monument to unadorned functionality, is locked up.Through bird-poo streaked windows there are chairs stacked high in the corner of the lounge, and an empty gym where motivational posters shout into a void.”It’s pretty farcical, but…

This article was originally published in Spanish Addressing his party’s congress, Pedro Sánchez said Spain must show solidarity with nations close to Russia who are most likely to be threatened. ADVERTISEMENTIn his speech to the PSOE party Sánchez said the multilateral order was being threatened by Russia.”What is at stake is not simply a war or an invasion. There is something much more besides this, which would be important in itself, and that is that the multilateral order is at stake,” he said, stressing that it is a system based on principles established in the United Nations Charter.The Spanish leader indicated…

Yesterday’s Good Sort is a woman who’s retired after four decades as the office lady at Canterbury’s Hororata Primary School.From typewriters to computers, Penny Oliver witnessed the evolution of the school while managing everything from student records to school emergencies. Principal Marty Gameson said he couldn’t recall Oliver having a day off in his 25 years at the school.”We’ve both kind of encouraged each other and supported each other through some major dramas.”The school’s put on a special assembly, which included a special certificate of recognition for Oliver’s exceptional service. “You’ve made this such an awesome place to teach and…

Not only does Fiona Brabant have her finger on the pulse of all things health and safety but she also makes a mean chocolate cake. She was awarded the Future Safety Leader Award at the recent Site Safe Awards in Auckland, which recognised an individual who had been in the industry less than five years but who had shown promise and initiative, contributed significantly and demonstrated the ability to inspire positive health and safety change in construction. She joined Cook Brothers Construction as health, safety, sustainability and quality co-ordinator for Queenstown and Wanaka nearly two years ago. Previously, she was…

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says critics of the Government’s revamped school lunch programme were “nitpicking” over the late delivery of meals.Speaking to Q+A with Jack Tame, Seymour said problems with delivery at the beginning of the programme had been addressed and that 99% to 100% of meals were being delivered on time on most days.However, data from the Ministry of Education showed that 97.3% of lunches were delivered on time this week, meaning that lunches for more than 13,500 students were late.Seymour said the reason for the decrease was a day of interruptions on Wednesday, on which 90% of…