High winds hit transport in Auckland
Lanes have been closed on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo: NZ HeraldSevere winds have halted ferry services and closed lanes on the Auckland Harbour Bridge this afternoon. An NZTA spokesperson said that owing to to severe wind gusts, lane closures and reduced speed limits were in place over the bridge. “High-vehicles and motorcycles should consider using the Western Ring Route (SH18/SH16).”An Auckland Transport spokesperson said that due to high winds, the Northcote Point Wharf stop of the 14:10 Inner Harbour Loop ferry service would be missed. MetService described the wind as “strong”, with gusts of up to 83kmh across the bridge.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 03, 2024 01:40 UTC
Barfoot & Thompson's average price down nearly $100,000 in January
Barfoot and Thompson's January sales figures contain mixed messages with sales numbers and new listings both rising, but selling prices falling sharply. The real estate agency, which is the biggest in the Auckland market, sold 504 residential properties in January, a considerable improvement (+17%) on January last year. That means Barfoot is starting 2024 with the second highest number of properties available for sale in more than 10 years. The average price of the residential properties the agency sold in January was $1,083,487, down by $97,812 (-8.3%) compared to December last year, and down by $195,160 (-15.3%) from its December 2021 peak. It is not unusual for median and average selling prices to dip at the start of the year but the size of this year's drop was a surprise.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 02, 2024 10:00 UTC
Todd Muller: My friend James Shaw embodies the best of NZ politics
On September 23 2014 I found myself walking alongside a certain James Shaw at the welcome pōwhiri for new MPs in parliament. Green Party co-leader James Shaw. The credit for the enduring political support for the Zero Carbon Act in no small way sits with James. James Shaw speaks to media after the third reading and passing of the the Zero Carbon Bill, November 07, 2019. Why stop at the Zero Carbon Act and the traditional bipartisan approach to national security?
Source:Stuff
February 02, 2024 09:12 UTC
Alleged offender due in court after death threats to referee
On Wednesday World rugby confirmed that “successful charges and law enforcement cases were pending in multiple jurisdictions” following on from a monitoring service during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. In this regard, police are said to beinvestigating a complaint from World Rugby that a New Zealander made an online threat to kill a Rugby World Cup referee. Match officials and their families also received abuse over private direct message, which led to law enforcement intervention. Evidence of a clear correlation between comments (online and offline) from players and coaches triggering online and in-ground abuse of match officials. Players were targeted with a wider variety of abuse types compared to match officials who received a much higher proportion of targeted abuse around gambling-related abuse.
Source:Stuff
February 02, 2024 08:32 UTC
Persons of interest identified in Gurjit Singh homicide
Dunedin police have identified persons of interest in the homicide investigation into the death of Dunedin man Gurijt Singh in Dunedin. Mr Singh, 27, was found lying amid shards of glass outside his Hillary St home on Monday morning. Inquiries with friends of Mr Singh had revealed he had been concerned about items stolen from his garage. Det Snr Sgt Kroudis said based on his injuries police believed he was killed on Sunday. Otago Punjabi Association Trust member Narindervir Singh said Mr Singh’s father was expected to fly in from India in the coming days.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 02, 2024 01:03 UTC
Breakfast briefing: Fears rise over a commercial property meltdown
But the global commercial property market looks like it is just starting a serious downward spiral. The Australian 10 year bond yield is now at 3.93% and down -6 bps from yesterday in a extended move. The Kiwi dollar starts today at just on 61.3 USc and -10 bps softer than yesterday. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at 70.3 and unchanged from yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today softer.
Source:Stuff
February 02, 2024 00:23 UTC
Why has Bunnings suddenly changed its name to Hammerbarn?
By Caroline Williams ofPhoto: Stuff / Chris ReederA sudden rebrand by Bunnings Warehouse has left DIYers scratching their heads. The rebrand of Bunnings in Auckland's Glenfield may result in young children begging their parents to take them to the hardware store. Photo: Ludo StudiosBunnings has temporarily rebranded its Glenfield store for February with free Bluey-themed workshops in stores across New Zealand each weekend. Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines said Bluey had captivated the hearts of both Kiwi kids and adults. Kate O'Connor of BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand said going to Bunnings was a "quintessential" experience of growing up Down Under.
Source:Stuff
February 02, 2024 00:22 UTC
Open mike 02/02/2024
The independent panel in charge of Wellington’s District Plan has released its first list of recommendations. It’s full of bizarre and regressive decisions that allow a lot less housing in Wellington. Joel MacManus breaks down the worst parts. The trumpet has blownto mark the first battle of the
Source:Stuff
February 01, 2024 18:00 UTC
Liam Dann: The cycle had to be broken with minimum wage
The minimum wage is set to go up by 45 cents to $23.15, starting April 1. This two percent increase will affect between 80,000 and 140,000 Kiwi workers. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says a reduced increase is the best circuit-breaker for the economy, as the fight to bring down inflation drags on. LISTEN ABOVE
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 01, 2024 12:49 UTC
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello digs in over excise tax claims
The Associate Health Minister has defended in Parliament claims she specifically sought out advice on freezing the tobacco excise tax. Documents show Casey Costello asked her ministry for advice on freezing the excise, despite denying in an interview with RNZ she had specifically sought the advice out. Speaking during Question Time today, Costello maintained she had not specifically asked for the advice, and she had not written the documents she sent to officials. "The documentation is a range of historical policy positions and notes that were held in New Zealand First policy positions. Labour's health spokesperson Dr Ayesha Verrall said the minister was still responsible for the documents she presented, and the prime minister should relieve Costello of her duties.
Source:Stuff
February 01, 2024 11:53 UTC
Daily review 01/02/2024
Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:30 pm, February 1st, 2024 - 45 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
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 01, 2024 10:46 UTC
Christopher Luxon is no John Key
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:13 am, February 1st, 2024 - 46 commentsCategories: chris hipkins, Christopher Luxon, israel, james shaw, national, Palestine - Tags:Yesterday in Parliament Christopher Luxon showed that he is struggling on the job. Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I’m not sure the point of the question that the member is trying to ask or get to. Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Personally not aware, but if he’d like to direct a specific question to the relevant Minister, I’m sure we could help. Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: The court did not make any findings that Israel has actually engaged in genocidal conduct. Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Yes.
Source:Stuff
February 01, 2024 09:15 UTC
Government increases minimum wage 2%, or half the rate of inflation
National’s coalition agreement with New Zealand First committed to “moderate increases to the minimum wage every year” while the Act Party campaigned on freezing the minimum wage. Cabinet's decision to increase the minimum wage less than inflation effectively lowers the base rate in inflation adjusted terms. “I believe such a rate is appropriate given the current economic conditions and the historically large increases to the minimum wage (relative to inflation) that have distorted relativities”. In a 2023 review of the minimum wage, which informed the Cabinet decision, MBIE said the wage “would likely” need to be at $23.60 or higher to “approximately maintain the current real-value of the minimum wage”. Van Velden said a new minimum wage would be set every year but “not necessarily at the rate of inflation”.
Source:Stuff
February 01, 2024 06:45 UTC
Walls joins New Romans to head NZ operations
Content, PR and entertainment company New Romans has announced experienced PR professional Frederika Walls as the Head of its New Zealand business. Walls joins from Latitude Financial Services where she has worked for the last seven years as Head of Communications. Managing Partner New Romans Anthony Spargo said Walls is the perfect person to be leading the businesses NZ operations. “Freddie is an outstanding PR and comms practitioner with global experience and vast knowledge and understanding of the NZ market. “I am thrilled to be on this journey with the New Romans’ team.
Source:Stuff
February 01, 2024 01:00 UTC
Non-performing housing loans top the $1.5 billion mark
Non-performing housing loans topped the $1.5 billion mark at the end of 2023 and rose by some 78.5% ($667 million) during the year. That's the 'headline' news if you like, but to give it some perspective, the latest non-performing loan figure represents 0.43% of total housing loans ($349.687 billion). To fill in some detail, the total 'system' non-performing loans as at December 2023 were $3.552 billion, which makes up 0.64% of the total loans of $556.605 billion. As at December 2022 the system wide non-performing loans had stood at $2.143 billion. The percent of non-performing commercial property loans has risen from 0.2% to 09% in that period, with total commercial property loans standing at $42.751 billion.
Source:Stuff
February 01, 2024 00:41 UTC