Author: Press Room
Households are generally managing to stay on top of their debt, but hardship cases and business liquidations continue to rise.The latest report from credit bureau Centrix showed a marginal increase in the number of customers in arrears to 485,000 in May on the month before, 12.5% of the credit active population, but down 1% on a year ago.Managing director Keith McLaughlin said the numbers suggested signs of stability, with the prospect of further improvement.”We saw many of the major banks cut interest rates again, which could have an impact on household finances over the coming months.”The number of consumers more…
Questions are being raised over Māori data sovereignty, ethics and trust after the government announced the scrapping of the traditional nationwide five-yearly census.A shift to a system using information from existing government information, smaller annual surveys and targeted data collection will take place from 2030.Two experts joined Scotty Morrison on TVNZ’s Marae to discuss the impact the change will have on Māori.Watch the full discussion on TVNZ+Ernestynne Walsh, Māori data lead at Nicholson Consulting, a Wellington-based consultancy business, said two key data points in the Census that are “highly relevant” to Māori include collecting iwi information and statistics around te…
Rosie, a 43-year-old mother of five from Nelson, has struggled with her weight since her 20s.”Every time I would go to the doctor, I would say ‘Hey, I don’t think it is normal. I’m quite overweight. Is there something that can help me?”And the answer is always ‘diet and exercise, diet and exercise’, but I’ve always eaten well. I’ve always exercised, like, I lift weights at the gym.”A diagnosis at 29 for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which could impact weight due to insulin resistance and hormone imbalances, alluded to a possible cause.Finally, in 2024, Rosie’s GP prescribed her two weight loss…
Whether it is a block of butter or cheese, a kilogram of mince, a dozen eggs or a cooked chook, food prices have gone up rapidly.The latest Stats NZ figures show in the past 12 months food prices have gone up 4.4% — the highest increase since December 2023.Over the last three years, RNZ’s Checkpoint has been tracking a weekly shop from the same suburb at a Woolworths and Pak’nSave supermarket to see just how much groceries have gone up at the checkout.Some of the results are more eye-watering than mouth-watering. For over three years, Checkpoint has tracked the cost…
The police’s new training college in Auckland opened its doors this morning. The facility on premises leased from Massey University, announced in March, was part of efforts to deliver the Government’s promise of 500 extra officers — offering senior training courses and a wing for 40 recruits. It joined the existing Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua. The new campus included multiple classrooms with the capacity to seat up to 155 people, a locker room, storage spaces, offices and carparks. The police school also had access to a gym and recreation areas, as well as a small number of…
By Gavin Blackburn with AP Published on 01/07/2025 – 18:36 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union’s commissioner for migration says Europe will take a “firm” approach with authorities in Libya following a spike in illegal migration across the Mediterranean.Commissioner Magnus Brunner plans to travel to Libya next week with government representatives from Greece, Italy and Malta, seeking tougher measures from Libyan authorities to stop boats carrying migrants from leaving for Europe.”That is actually a question which bothers us quite a lot at the moment. Libya is, of course, at the top of the agenda and we’re traveling together to Libya next week because we have to be fast,…
A man has been charged after a person died following an incident at a lodge in Auckland’s Ōtāhuhu on Sunday night. Emergency services were called to the Beatty Lodge Accommodation on the corner of Beatty St and Great South Rd at around 8.30pm after reports that a person had been seriously injured. A man was found in a critical condition and was rushed to hospital. He later died of his injuries. Police had cordoned off the scene of the homicide on Monday morning. (Source: 1News)A man was taken into custody yesterday. This morning, Detective Inspector Karen Bright said a 31-year-old…
By Gavin Blackburn with AP Published on 01/07/2025 – 19:14 GMT+2ADVERTISEMENTAuthorities in Belarus are continuing their crackdown on political dissent even as they release some prisoners, the country’s leading rights group told The Associated Press on Tuesday.Last month, the Belarusian government pardoned and released 14 prisoners, but at least 60 more people were arrested on politically motivated charges, said Pavel Sapelka, a rights advocate with the Viasna human rights centre.In May, the centre counted more than 100 politically driven arrests, Sapelka said.”The steamroller of repressions doesn’t stop and the authorities continue to stifle any dissent in Belarus, opening new high-profile cases,” Sapelka said.”No…
A Canadian company with an international reach in sustainable engineering and environmental consulting has bought Christchurch-headquartered engineering firm Cosgroves. The Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange-listed Stantec paid an undisclosed sum for its latest acquisition. Cosgroves has more than 90 staff across New Zealand and works with clients, architects, project managers and other professionals in consulting engineering on private and public building projects such as the redevelopment of the Christchurch Town Hall. Stantec said the addition of Cosgroves would expand its buildings engineering capabilities in New Zealand, particularly in fire engineering, electrical, mechanical, hydraulics, buildings sustainability, and civil…
A spokesperson for Opaea Marae says they are expecting around 1000 people for the tangi of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp.Kemp has been lying at the marae, near Taihape, since Saturday.Kemp died suddenly last week following a battle with kidney disease and was farewelled by Parliament on Thursday.Opaea Marae trustee Cyril Mako said preparing to host the masses in such a short time was tough, but many whānau pitched in to prepare today’s nēhu (burial).Mako said the marae was very small and they relied on other marae nearby for help preparing meals and housing people who could…