Author: Press Room
Inflation may be back within the Reserve Bank’s target range, but the past few years have left prices much higher than they were before the pandemic.Increases have not been evenly spread and some things are much more expensive now than others, compared to 2019.Here are some of the things that are most expensive now compared to pre-Covid, based on consumer price index data comparing September 2019 to September 2024.FoodFood has had some of the sharpest price increases in recent years.Food price inflation picked up pace from the end of 2022 and peaked mid last year, with increases running into double-digit…
The US elections will greatly impact Europe: but how? Two MEPs take sides and offer pitches for the two candidates. ADVERTISEMENTEurope awaits the outcome and impact of next week’s US election, and Euronews spoke to two MEPs advocating for the competiting candidates for the White House, asking why they think Donald Trump’s or Kamala Harris’ election would be a better choice for Europe.The European Parliament’s leftist political groups – Socialists and democrats, Greens/EFA, The Left – plus Renew Europe clearly endorse Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. But there are also supporters of Donald Trump in Brussels, such as the members of the…
One person has died in a motorcycle crash in north Auckland last night.Ahead of the Dairy Flat crash, police saw a motorcycle “travelling at excess speed” in the area.A police spokesperson said: “A police unit noticed a motorbike travelling at excess speed along Wilks Road at around 9.30pm.”The police unit turned around to conduct a traffic stop but was unable to locate the motorcyclist.”A short time later police were notified of a motorbike crash on Wilks Road.”The rider died at the scene, the spokesperson said.
Auckland renters say they are struggling with costly, damp and mouldy homes that are taking up more than half of their weekly income.According to data released this week from TradeMe, rents have fallen by $5 a week in the region from August, but remain higher than a year ago.Renters in the city said they had not felt any relief, despite the Government’s claims in March that landlords being allowed to write off their mortgage interest would lead to lower prices for renters.Alexandra Andrews, 27, has rented since she was 18, and said each property she had lived at left a…
Social media posts have been claiming that the fast food restaurant shuttered its branches in Iceland due to a public boycott linked to the Israel-Hamas war. ADVERTISEMENTPosts have been going around on social media alleging that McDonald’s exodus has just left Iceland as a result of a concerted public campaign — but this isn’t true.The posts include an AI-generated image showing a run-down McDonald’s building and a caption asking whether boycotts work.Other posts link the supposed boycott to pages in support of Palestine, echoing recent calls to boycott McDonald’s around the world due to its perceived support of Israel.However, the…
A person has been seriously injured and a man is due to appear in court following a serious crash in Napier this morning.Police were called to the intersection of Taradale Rd and Riverbend Rd after reports of a vehicle rolling multiple times and colliding with another vehicle at around 8.05am.The crash also toppled a lamp post, blocking a northbound lane.Senior Sergeant Craig Vining said police were making inquiries into the circumstances of the crash.A 31-year-old man was due to appear in Napier District Court on November 1 to face multiple charges, including unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and reckless…
EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EV) came into force on Wednesday, October 30, and will remain in place for the next five years. But what’s next in the ongoing trade tussle? ADVERTISEMENTThe EU will slap its new tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China for the next five years, but Beijing has been slammed the duties, filing an action with the WTO and launching anti-dumping investigations into European exports of brandy, pork and dairy products. Is this tug of war going to evolve into a full-fledge trade war? Could these tariffs slow down the energy transition and lead to…
A former IT contractor has pleaded guilty to receiving $4.1m in kickbacks in a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) bribery and corruption case.In April 2023, the SFO filed charges against two former IT contractors – both Australian citizens.One pleaded guilty last month to paying kickbacks of around $4.1m in exchange for receiving work.The other has now pleaded guilty to receiving these kickbacks in return for favouring the awarding of work of the first contractor. This contractor had the authority to employ other IT contractors as part of their role.Between November 2013 and June 2017, the contractor who paid the kickbacks received…
The head of the Greens’ delegation to COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan next month has redoubled criticism of the host country over its human rights record and status as a major fossil fuel producer. ADVERTISEMENTMEPs travelling to the Azeri capital Baku for upcoming UN climate talks will be issued with disposable phones amid fears of hacking by foreign agents, the Green MEP Michael Bloss has revealed, while expressing concern about slow progress towards ending the fossil fuel era.“Security advisors have warned us that our devices are likely to be infiltrated—a precaution based on first-hand experiences with surveillance and reprisals in…
A $70,000 business award has taken the “hugest weight” off the shoulders of the owners of a Dunedin restaurant known for their $4 meals. The Bowling Club, in Caversham, was named yesterday as one of four New Zealand small businesses and non-profits who were the recipients of Xero’s 2024 Beautiful Business Fund — a collective global prize pool worth $750,000. Entries were submitted by Xero customers from countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom. The restaurant was named as both the New Zealand and global winner of the “strengthening community connection”…