The number of first home buyers purchasing a home of their own in June fell sharply, although the decline wasn't as severe as it was for the overall market. According to the Reserve Bank, 2195 mortgages were approved to first home buyers in June, down a substantial 19% compared to May. This pushed first home buyers' estimated market share of housing sales in June, mortgages approved to first home buyers as a percentage of REINZ sales, to a whopping 50.4%. It should not be a surprise that first home buyers share of the market is peaking when the overall market is doing a freeze. That tends to make the volume of purchases by first home buyers less volatile than those of investors and owner-occupiers, even in market downturns.

A "vivacious" New Zealand nurse has died after experiencing flu-like symptoms, while her husband battles on in the ICU. (Supplied/Stuff)Maria's brother, Darrell Packe, told Stuff that he hopes Maria's death will help raise awareness about the risks posed by the flu. In what he described as her "usual stoic way", Maria hadn't told Darrell she was ill. Two days before she died, Maria went to the GP. An illness compounded by griefAfter Maria's death, the Packe-Leonard family soon realised how sick John was becoming.

The 38-year-old mother-of-two was diagnosed in October, after paying $2000 for a private colonoscopy to beat the five-six month delay in the public system. But there was just no way to do that in the public system." Bowel Cancer New Zealand medical advisor Professor Frank Frizelle said those with private health insurance - or money - had an advantage, even in the public system. The colorectal surgeon said bowel cancer rates in those under 50 had been rising 26 percent a decade - 36 percent for Māori. Pharmac's decision this month to fund two more bowel cancer drugs was welcome news.

Fewtrell, 75, is also establishing the Dunedin Homes Charitable Trust, inviting people to apply for improvements like new roofs, double glazing, or heat pumps. In January, Fewtrell announced plans to develop about 60 affordable homes across the city, selling them $100,000 below market value. He told the Otago Daily Times his company, DRDL2023 (Dunedin Residential Developments Ltd), now aims to build four times as many homes. The homes will be sold at market value, but he decided to give away cash from his wealth to help people purchase his homes, ensuring affordability. If a homeowner sells within three years, they must sell back to Fewtrell for the purchase price and return the handout.

Photo: ODT FilesFour youths have found themselves in hot water after being involved in a car chase through Dunedin yesterday. Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said Dunedin police spotted a stolen vehicle travelling at 68kmh in Kaikorai Valley Rd, about 1.45am. The vehicle was next seen again at Balclutha Police Station yesterday afternoon when it was dropped off by four youths — two males and two females, aged 14 and 15. It appeared the vehicle had run out of petrol. Snr Sgt Bond said they would be followed up by Youth Aid, regarding unlawfully taking the motor vehicle.

A teenage boy with a knife attacked a children's dance and yoga class in northwest England overnight, killing two children and wounding 11 other people in a "ferocious" rampage that sent bloodied children running into a street to escape the horror, police and witnesses said. Nine children were wounded, six of them in critical condition. "We believe the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked," Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said. A witness described seeing bloodied children running from the class that was held for children aged about 6 to 11 on the first day of summer school vacation. An advertisement for the event promised "a morning of Taylor Swift-themed yoga, dance and bracelet making".

Last week, Governor Shapiro signed House Bill (HB) 1993 into law, providing stronger protections for commercially insured patients in the Commonwealth and increasing regulatory oversight of PBMs. “For too long, we’ve had PBMs – these unseen middlemen – manipulating and profiting off of the pharmaceutical system at the expense of consumers and our community pharmacies,” said Governor Shapiro. “They’ve been failing to significantly reduce prices, unilaterally changing the terms of contracts with pharmacies, and picking and choosing who wins and who loses. These predatory practices have been screwing over the good people of Pennsylvania, forcing dozens of local independent pharmacies to close in the process. But my Administration and lawmakers from both parties came together to do something about it and put a stop to PBMs’ unsavory practices.

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 29th, 2024 - 4 commentsCategories: Daily review - Tags:Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …Share this: FacebookLinkedInRedditPinterestMastodonTwitterPrintEmail

Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...

Here’s some rare good news: The average household will save $30 per week starting Wednesday, thanks to the first income tax cut in almost 14 years. The change to brackets will reduce the tax bill by 1.5% for minimum wage earners, 6.9% for median wage earners, 5.3% for average wage earners, and 4.4% for high wage earners. A worker earning $70,000 in 2010, when tax brackets were last changed, paid an effective tax rate of 20%. Willis has legislated an 11.5% increase in the brackets, reducing our hypothetical worker’s effective tax rate to 22.5%, the rate they paid at the start of 2022. The question for the Coalition is whether the tax cuts feel worth it?

In the US, their annual PCE inflation rate released over the weekend eased to 2.5% in June from 2.6% in May, in line with market forecasts. The Australian 10 year bond yield starts today at just under4.31%. The Kiwi dollar starts today marginally softer at just under 58.9 USc. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at 67.9 and unchanged from Saturday and near a two year low. The bitcoin price starts today at US$67,772 and up a +0.4% from this time Saturday.

First published onPhoto: MARCO BELLO / AFPUS tech billionaire Peter Thiel appears to have abandoned his plans to build a 330m-long luxury lodge overlooking Lake Wānaka. The build would have accommodated up to 30 guests, and supported between 15 and 30 staff. A co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, and an early investor in Facebook, Thiel became a New Zealand citizen in 2011. Thiel began his official affiliation with the party when he served on Trump's transition team. According to CBS, Thiel poured US$15 million ($24.7m) into Vance's 2022 campaign as well as nurturing his political rise.

It also shed light on the issues surrounding data privacy. Grindr sold Burrill’s data from between 2017 and 2021 to companies and data vendors, the lawsuit said. “We want answers so we can use that as a warning to other Grindr users,” Helmer said. When Grindr didn’t agree, Carr said, Burrill filed a lawsuit on July 18, requesting damages and an order that would prevent the app from releasing users’ data without prior notice. Burrill isn’t the first person to accuse Grindr of not protecting users’ privacy.

Sandra Bullock has made a gut-wrenching statement that sheds light on the emotional struggles of John Wick star Keanu Reeves. Just like Wick deals with loss on-screen, Keanu Reeves who brought the character to life, feels it in real life too. AdvertisementDespite being a Hollywood A-lister, Keanu Reeves is a master at keeping things under wraps. A nomadic childhood, marked by an absent father, shaped the man Keanu Reeves had become. AdvertisementThe John Wick star got everyone misty-eyed at San Diego Comic-Con with a sweet tribute to his mom (via Hollywood Reporter).

Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...