Author: Press Room

Leading credit agency S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed New Zealand’s AA+ rating with a stable outlook, but noted budget deficits and debt need to be tackled. The second-to-top mark, reinstituted in early 2021 after the pandemic, is based on expectations the deficits will be narrowed, and the economy will pick up growth as lower interest rates take effect. “The stable outlook … reflects our assessment that the country’s excellent institutions, wealthy economy, and moderate public indebtedness will balance risks associated with high levels of external and private-sector debt over the next two years,” S&P said in a commentary. It said…

Police have made a fresh appeal for a man who went missing with his vehicle more than eight weeks ago.Aydan, aged 39, was last seen in Chartwell in Hamilton before he went missing on Sunday, August 17.He was believed to be driving his 2016 grey Mazda ute, with the registration QYA209.Detective Sergeant Jonathan Carter said Aydan’s family and police were hoping for someone to come forward with information about the Mazda ute.”Have you seen a grey ute anywhere? Perhaps you’ve noticed it hasn’t moved?”If you’ve noticed a grey Mazda ute somewhere across the region, we would like to hear from…

A pilot who claimed Air New Zealand discriminated against him because of his age has succeeded in a personal grievance claim against the airline.Captain Garth McGearty took the claim against Air New Zealand to the Employment Court, after he was turned down by the Employment Relations Authority, alleging unjustified disadvantage and unlawful discrimination because of age.The NZ Airline Pilots Association (NZALPA) was also involved because the issues for determination involved interpretation of the union’s collective agreement.McGearty had reached the most senior rank, as captain of the Boeing 777.He turned 65 in July 2017.Air New Zealand Boeing 777 (file image). (Source:…

Retail NZ says the Government’s proposed ban on merchant surcharges will increase costs for consumers and disproportionately harm small businesses.It has called on the Government to pause the proposed ban under the planned Retail Payment System (Ban on Surcharges) Amendment Bill, which was announced in July and passed its first reading last month.Retail NZ said the Government should allow allow greater time for consultation on the Bill’s changes.Chief executive Carolyn Young said the Bill was poorly targeted, rushed and risks significant unintended consequences.Annually, Kiwis paid an estimated $150 million in surcharges, including $45-$65 million in excessive surcharges.At the time of…

A world-first project has revealed New Zealand’s government agencies are falling behind when it comes to showing compassion to dying people.Hospice NZ has released the first 500 results from its Dying Reviews initiative – a platform where terminally ill New Zealanders and their families rate how they’re treated by hospitals, banks, workplaces and public agencies.The results show an average score of just 3.28 stars out of five, with restaurants and events ranking highest at 4.55 stars, and government services and membership or subscriptions tied for lowest at 2.5 stars.Many respondents said the most distressing part was having to repeatedly prove…

American rock band Counting Crows is set to stop by for one show in New Zealand in 2026.They will play the 2100-seat Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre on March 23 as part of their wider The Complete Sweets Tour of Australia and New Zealand.The Grammy and Academy Award-nominated band broke onto the music scene in 1993 with their debut album, August and Everything After.The band has since released seven studio albums and sold more than 20 million records worldwide, with hits such as Mr Jones, Round Here, and Accidentally in Love, featured on the Shrek movie soundtrack.Tickets will be available on…

Inland Revenue (IR) says even people with relatively small tax debt could expect to receive a phone call chasing them up for it as part of a new effort to stop them spiralling out of control.The department started phoning some taxpayers on October 9, targeting people with more than $1000 in overdue GST or employer tax dating back between six months and five years.It said in a statement that most customers stayed on top of their tax.”But for those who don’t Inland Revenue wants to be clear – ignoring debt will only make things worse.”Customers would be advised of the…

Police have released the name of man who died in a motorcycle crash in Otago over the weekend and thanked members of the public who came to his aid.Emergency services responded to the crash north of Palmerston at the intersection of Horse Range Rd and Trotters Gorge Rd at 2.50pm on Saturday.Trevor John Harris, 57, of Timaru was killed in the crash.Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said police would also like to acknowledge a father and son who came to Harris’ aid.”[They] stopped and helped by administering CPR before emergency services arrived,” he said.”Your efforts did not go unnoticed.”Victim support services had…

By Russell Palmer of RNZ The Regulations Ministry’s next review will tackle the hospitality sector. Minister David Seymour announced the move with Hospitality Minister Louise Upston this morning.  It would cover regulations for restaurants, cafes, bars, food stalls at markets, food trucks, caterers and hotels, but exclude gambling regulations. Seymour said the industry was hit hard by Covid-19, and red tape had made it hard to bounce back. “Every Kiwi has a cafe or bar they wish was still open. Inconsistent requirements cost owners valuable time and money. “For example, some business owners might be required to get resource consents on…

Alec Baldwin and his younger brother Stephen have escaped injury after their vehicle struck a tree in New York.In a video posted to Instagram late Monday (New York time), Alec Baldwin said he was driving his wife’s Range Rover in East Hampton when he was cut off by a garbage truck “the size of a whale”. The 67-year-old actor and his 59-year-old brother and fellow actor were in the vehicle on their way back from attending the Hamptons International Film Festival, where Alec Baldwin serves as co-chair of the executive committee.Alec Baldwin said that neither he nor his brother was…