Author: Press Room

The Government may be considering changes to the corporate tax rate but significant numbers of companies aren’t paying any tax at all, data released in an Official Information Act request shows.Consultant John Cantin requested information from Inland Revenue showing the number of corporate taxpayers in various industries.While it shows the biggest corporate taxpayers are in financial and insurance services – and potentially stand to benefit the most from a corporate tax rate cut – it also shows the number of corporate taxpayers filing a tax return each year, and the number reporting positive taxable income within that.In some cases, there…

Next week, the EU Commission will present the White Paper on the Future of European Defence, with guidelines on how to boost production and defence readiness in the face of possible Russian military aggression. ADVERTISEMENTMember states must spend more, better and European, EU Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius and the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas urge in a draft of the upcoming White Paper on the Future of European Defence, seen by Euronews. “Rebuilding European defence requires a massive investment over a sustained period,” the Commissioners argue, adding that only through joint initiatives and coordination will EU countries be able to…

The Government hopes to make decisions on whether a bridge or tunnel across Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour is the preferred option by around the middle of next year.It also wants to look at options from overseas to help finance and deliver the project. In a statement, Minister for Transport Chris Bishop said advancing an additional harbour crossing was identified as a priority over the next year.”So over the next 12 months, starting in the coming days, we’ll undertake geotechnical, environmental, and utilities investigations to gain a comprehensive understanding of ground and seabed conditions and, in time, to determine whether a bridge…

The clock for renewal was ticking fast as sanctions on Russian individuals and companies were set to expire by midnight on Saturday. ADVERTISEMENTHungary has agreed to drop its veto and allow the renewal of the sanctions that the European Union has imposed on more than 2,400 individuals and entities, mainly from Russia, in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.The resolution happened on Friday, less than 48 hours before the measures were set to expire, a risky deadlock that had put the bloc in a situation of extraordinary suspense.Sanctions have to be renewed every six months by unanimity, meaning one…

Three more people have been arrested and charged as part of an ongoing investigation into a Destiny Church-linked protest at the Te Atatū Community Centre last month.It follows four arrests on Wednesday into complaints made with police about Man Up and Legacy protester’s actions on February 15.Protesters stormed the Te Atatū Community Centre and library venue to protest a children’s science show hosted by a drag artist.In an update today, a police spokesperson said the further three men have been charged and bailed to appear in the Waitākere District Court on March 18.A 44-year-old man was charged with injures with…

The Parole Board is abandoning parole proceedings for convicted double murderer Scott Watson – with a new date to be set for a two-day hearing.Watson appeared before the parole board on Wednesday, his fifth attempt at parole, in a hearing that lasted for more than six hours but ran out of time for everyone present to be heard.His lawyer Kerry Cook said the hearing was unfairly truncated given the time pressures and he did not have adequate opportunity, particularly to lead further evidence from the psychologist called by Watson.Counsel for Corrections took the position that the board should continue with…

The EU has retaliated after being hit hard by the US tariffs. But with US president Donald Trump’s threats to slap more tariffs, the bloc could step up the fight with its anti-coercion instrument, a tool that was put in place in 2023. ADVERTISEMENTEarlier this week, the EU launched import duties on €26 billion worth of American goods to respond to the US’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump responded to the EU countermeasures by threatening to impose a 200 percent tariffs on all wines, champagne and alcoholic products from France and other EU countries.So what to expect from a trade war that appears to have already…

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has told The Spinoff she does not think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a “nice person” in the wake of his comments about Wellington’s councils.Earlier this week, Luxon called the fact the Wellington region had not put forward a city or regional deal “lame”.”Well it’s pretty lame-o is my view of it,” he said.”Here we have a government doing everything it can to make sure that we attract capital to this country which has been a problem for a long period of time and you can’t even get Wellington councils to submit a regional or a…

By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Woolworths staff are feeling anxious and scared about a proposed restructure for the supermarket chain’s workforce, the union representing them says. Woolworths says it is consulting with staff on proposed changes to its store operating model. “Our customers are looking to us to improve their shopping experience, and we believe that our proposed model would put the right expertise in the right place at the right time to do exactly that. It would mean more team on the store floor helping customers, ensuring the products they need are on the shelves, and improving our overall…

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will join a phone call with other world leaders tomorrow night to discuss the potential deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of the “coalition of the willing”.The call, which is being arranged by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would also include the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Canada.Australia’s Anthony Albanese will also join.An initial meeting of leaders in London was held this month and a meeting of defence officials in Paris took place earlier this week.New Zealand defence attaché Brigadier Lisa Ferris was present at the latter meeting.Defence ministers from some European…