In the book, Earl Spencer reveals how the alleged abuse took place when he was moved into a new dormitory when he was aged around 11. He claims he meted out brutal corporal punishment with a slipper or a cane that sometimes left the boys bloodied and bruised. “It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time. “By bravely speaking out, Earl Spencer has reassured others in a similar position that they are not alone. No matter how long ago sexual abuse may have taken place, it is never too late to share your experience with people who are ready to listen and help.”

By Chris Trotter*The Coalition Government has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. The explanation, presumably, for the powerful sensation of déjà vu in which this government is now wreathed. By the time the government changed, the state was pouring in excess of a million dollars a day into the pockets of New Zealand’s motel owners. The electoral heft of that generation was sufficient to limit the plans of those who had been encouraged to “rip-in, rip-out and rip-off” in the name of national development. The truth of this proposition has been clear since the 1870s, when Sir Julius Vogel launched New Zealand’s first “national development” plan.

Radio Hauraki co-founder David Gapes has died, his family confirmed on Friday. Starting out his career as a journalist, Gapes was part of a group who famously launched the “pirate” radio station from the sea in 1966 to get around New Zealand’s restrictive radio licencing regime. As chairman and chief executive of Radio Hauraki, he led the station through the process of getting its radio licence, which it achieved in 1970, more than 1000 days after it launched. Gapes was also the manager of famous Kiwi rock band Hello Sailor, and has been editor of AdMedia and Onfilm magazines founder and editor of the daily online newsletter M+AD. NZME Chief Audio Officer Jason Winstanley paid tribute to Gapes in a statement issued to the New Zealand Herald: “David Gapes was one of Radio Hauraki’s four founders, broadcasting for the first time from the famous ship The Tiri back in 21 November 1966.

The latest Nielsen CMI Readership results show Stuff holds the number one audience position across New Zealand’s digital and print products. Combined, the masthead digital network now has an audience which puts it in the top five news platforms in the country. The Post’s print readership of 403,000* grows to an unduplicated 808,000** when combined with its digital masthead. While the Sunday Star-Times was -3.9 percent from the previous quarter, together with Sunday News it has a combined readership of 297,000. Stuff’s stable of magazines including NZ House & Garden and TV Guide posted readership increases – TV Guide’s large readership of 353,000 Kiwis was 4 percent up on the previous quarter and NZ House & Garden’s readership of 372,000 was 2.6 percent up.

The Coalition Government has decided to phase in interest deductibility for landlords more slowly than promised in the National–Act coalition agreement. Act Party leader David Seymour and Revenue Minister Simon Watts announced interest deductibility for rental properties would be phased in from the start of April 2024. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” it said. “Landlords have been hit with a double whammy of rising mortgage interest rates and increasing interest deductibility limitations during a cost-of-living crisis. The Act Party leader said bringing in the 60% mortgage interest deductibility for the current tax year was not worth the work required.

The “Barbenheimer” Oscars should quiet recent criticisms that the nominees were too obscure, at least this year. “There are two big blockbusters that are nominated for Oscars and Hollywood loves that,” said Ortiz. California would account for 28 per cent of the displaced creative industry jobs, followed by New York, the report said. Ortiz last year sued AI generators Stability AI, Midjourney and DeviantArt for allegedly teaching the tools from her artwork. “When I looked at Sora, two things went through my mind: what is this trained on?

Does the sharp rise in non-performing mortgage loans now being witnessed tell us that the full extent of stress from the high interest rates is emerging and becoming fully visible? Mortgage interest rates had been, in a historic sense, virtually non-existent. At that time the average one-year fixed mortgage rate was just 2.2%. But as I say, most of the eye-watering jumps in interest rate sizes seem to be behind us. But, okay, even if mortgage rates do start to decline in the second half of the year - how much will they decline by?

Rhys Darby is back in New Zealand. Why is Kiwi comedy star Rhys Darby back in New Zealand? Popular island spot Wild Estate Vineyard in Onetangi has secured Darby for an exclusive one-off New Zealand show with an intimate audience of only 200 tickets. “The show is called ‘25 Years’ - it is a celebration of my stand-up career,” say Darby. The production company for his road trip show, Stripe Studios, made headlines last month with the New Zealand Herald’s Media Insider column, penned by Shayne Currie, reporting Stripe for unpaid bills.

Photo: SuppliedKiwiRail says it is putting more time into maintaining its Cook Strait ferry fleet after assessments by international experts. The fate of the three ageing ferries hangs in the balance after KiwiRail was forced to cancel an order for two new ships and put ferry terminal redevelopment on hold. Norwegian maritime experts Det Norske Veritas visited New Zealand last month as part of their checks. As a result, KiwiRail had added more weekly and monthly maintenance checks, and longer time in dry docks for serious maintenance work. It had to write down the value of its assets by almost $450m, forcing it into a big deficit, after the terminal and ferry upgrade project was scrapped.

Omaha beach. Photo / Doug SherringOne person has died following a water-related incident at Omaha, Auckland, this afternoon. Police received a report of a person needing assistance in the water off the north end of Omaha Beach at 3 pm. Emergency services responded to Ida Way, Omaha where the person had been brought into the shore by Surf Life Saving New Zealand. “Attempts were made to resuscitate the person but sadly they could not be resuscitated,” police said in a statement.

As a new digital-first era of New Zealand’s longest-running kids’ show hits our screens, we ask some of our most discerning viewers what they think of it. Last weekend, viewers finally got the chance to check out the new-look, pre-recorded What Now on the telly. The only thing I enjoyed was Grandpa playing Minecraft.” / Antoine (12)“I liked that there was lots of Taylor Swift in it. One time they made different things with stuff on the hydraulic press, like pineapple lump sausage rolls. It’s a show with lots of different things in it, a lot of crazy stuff.

Photo: NZ PoliceTwo men have been arrested in Hokitika and Dobson this week as part of an operation into the sale and supply of illicit drugs in the area. Four search warrants were executed on Friday, March 8 by the West Coast’s Tactical Crime Unit and Criminal Investigation Branch as part of Operation Barber, police said in a statement. A considerable amount of packaged MDMA that was ready for distribution, with an approximate street value of $5000, was located and seized, along with $9000 in cash, cannabis, and stolen property. Police would like to thank the West Coast communities for their ongoing support with providing information to keep the community safe. "Police are committed to investigating both individuals and organised criminal groups who cause harm to the community through distribution of controlled drugs" said Detective Sergeant Ian McKinnon.

Photo: Supplied / Emergency Management SouthlandA Southland township preparing to evacuate under a state of emergency will not be completely vacated when the last car rolls out on Friday. Uli Sirch lives at Bluecliffs, a coastal hamlet of just under 20 houses which has been plagued by erosion issues. On Wednesday, Emergency Management Southland announced it would be turning its attention to a dumpsite which is also at risk to erosion, and could contain explosives. Photo: Supplied / ODTPermanent residents at Bluecliffs have been told they can return home between 6.30pm and 8pm every evening while the job is completed. But cover would be provided by both Fulton Hogan and Emergency Management Southland should anything unexpected happen while clearing the dump site, Hicks said.

Christine Brown Honors Kody & Janelle’s Late Son Garrison With Tribute, sharing a poignant memory that highlights the deep bonds within their family. The “Sister Wives” community is mourning the loss of Garrison Brown, who passed away at the age of 25. Key takeawaysChristine Brown pays tribute to Garrison Brown on social media. Christine Brown’s heartfelt tribute to Garrison Brown underscores the love and gratitude she holds for the late son of Kody and Janelle Brown, emphasizing the void left by his passing. Individual Relation Tribute Christine Brown Stepmother Shared cherished memory on Instagram Kody Brown Father Expressed deep sadness over the loss Janelle Brown Mother Posted tribute to her beautiful boy Truely Brown Sister Received a flowerbed from GarrisonChristine Brown Honors Kody & Janelle’s Late Son Garrison With Tribute, encapsulating the love and legacy he leaves behind.

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:52 pm, March 8th, 2024 - 31 commentsCategories: act, Christopher Luxon, greens, labour, national, political parties, Politics, polls - Tags:The Atlas aligned Taxpayer’s Union has released its latest Curia poll results. I always have a certain sense of incredulity when reading Curia’s poll results. And so the latest Curia Poll result has dropped and it makes you wonder if Judith Collins had a finger on the scale. The Taxpayers Union release about the poll tends to downplay Act’s support, I wonder why, but as a proportion its support tanked way worse than any other party. Of course it could be that the drop was a correction of a previous rogue poll result which was against the results in the other two more reputable polls.