Queries over blanket ban on isolation exemptions
Police at the Grand Mercure Hotel in Wellington, which is being used as a managed isolation facility. Photo: RNZA legal academic says the Ministry of Health appears unsure if a "blanket ban" on compassionate exemptions from managed isolation is legal. On June 16, the government temporarily suspended all compassionate exemptions, meaning anyone in managed isolation or quarantine would not be allowed out for any "compassionate" reason, such as a relative being close to death. "As the judge describes it, the purportedly blanket suspension appears not to be effective in law. "You can't have both - it can't be the case that there's a blanket ban, that these things have been suspended... but at the same time, individual cases are getting individual consideration.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 10, 2020 23:48 UTC
Woman's life saved by four-person kidney swap thanks to live donor
On average, people typically wait 2-3 years for a deceased kidney donation. However, there is another, rarer, form of kidney donation: “non-directed” donation. Stuff cannot publish exactly when Godhania received her kidney last year, to protect the identity of those involved in the exchange. Kidney donation has been steadily ramping up in recent years, both from live and deceased donors, Cross said. Fewer than 1 per cent of New Zealanders die in circumstances that allow them to be organ donors.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 22:53 UTC
Fight for England after Windies take lead
The West Indies' Shane Dowrich celebrates reaching his half-century. Photo: ReutersWest Indies hold a commanding 99-run lead over England at the end of a fascinating third day of the first test after posting 318 in their first innings at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. In response, England openers Dom Sibley and Rory Burns saw off fiery spells from West Indies pacers Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach to guide the hosts to 15-0 in their second innings at stumps. West Indies' innings came to an end when Gabriel was bowled by seamer Mark Wood. England were bowled out for 204 on Thursday with Holder taking a career best six for 42.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 10, 2020 22:41 UTC
Migrant couple denied return to NZ
Queenstown migrants Charlie Grant and Zara Meekins have been denied a return to NZ on humanitarian grounds. Photo via Mountain SceneImmigration New Zealand doesn’t believe a desperate Queenstown migrant couple, stuck in Bali since March because of Covid-19 border restrictions, meet its humanitarian criteria to let them return. Mountain Scene last week reported Brits Charlie Grant and Zara Meekins were holidaying there when their flight home was cancelled. Immigration NZ border & visa operations boss Nicola Hogg, whose reply arrived after last week’s deadline, says “the border is NZ’s best protection in our fight against Covid-19, which is why NZ’s border remains closed to all but NZ citizens and residents”. Outgoing local MP Hamish Walker, who’s pushed the couple’s case, says “if Charlie and Zara don’t meet the humanitarian threshold for this government, I don’t know what does”.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 10, 2020 22:07 UTC
Threatened species get $15m Government Covid-19 cash boost
Conservation minister Eugenie Sage said the protection of threatened species could be at risk if wildlife facilities close. Efforts to conserve New Zealand's wildlife have received a $15 million boost after Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced a funding package for wildlife institutions affected by Covid-19. “Eco-sanctuaries, zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, and wildlife rescue, hospital and rehabilitation facilities provide crucial support for the recovery of Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous and threatened species,” said Sage. “The impacts of the Covid-19 response have severely reduced wildlife institutions’ revenue from visitor admissions and philanthropic donations. “The protection and welfare of threatened species is at risk if these facilities close.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 22:02 UTC
Noodles and bread among food most at risk of causing tooth decay in children
Thousands of children face hospital treatment every year because of tooth decay. White bread, refined breakfast cereals and noodles are among the foods most associated with tooth decay in children, according to a research study. The study, funded by the Starship Foundation is part of ongoing efforts to improve children’s dental health and prevent early childhood dental caries. However, he says ethnicity and socio-economic status were strongly associated with the number of dental caries in children. Pacific children were four times more likely to have four or more dental caries at their first community dental appointment, while Asian and Māori children were twice as likely to have four or more dental caries at their first appointment.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 21:14 UTC
America's Cup: Team NZ may leave posh base early in council deal
An aerial view of progress on the America's Cup bases, showing the extension of Hobson WharfThe America’s Cup defender Team New Zealand may lose its bargain-priced rental deal on its waterfront base a year early, as cash-strapped Auckland Council goes hunting for revenue. Supplied Team New Zealand's base for the 2021 America's Cup on Auckland's waterfront. The Viaduct Event Centre was built in 2011 by the council as a prime waterfront venue, and run as a commercial venture by council subsidiary Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA). Stuff Team New Zealand's new test boat is craned to the water at their Auckland base at the Viaduct Event Centre. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) flagged serious concerns about how public money may be being used by the team’s event arm, America’s Cup Event Limited.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 20:48 UTC
'Disgraceful' call costs Warriors in loss
The Warriors' Jazz Tevaga is caught by the Gold Coast defence. Photo: Getty ImagesThe Gold Coast Titans have won a rare home game after a gutsy 16-12 win over the Warriors. While it looked like it would be a long night for the hapless Titans, the Gold Coast dug deep and the Warriors were unable to trouble the scoreboard again. But it might have been different had the Warriors been awarded a try 10 minutes before halftime. Warriors coach Todd Payten said he was "very disappointed" after the 12-0 start, but took the Bunker decision on the chin.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 10, 2020 20:37 UTC
Fine day for most after frosty start
Most of the country will have a fine day today, with clear skies and light winds. The only blot is some cloud over the lower South Island, which could brush the west coasts of the North and South islands. "High pressures lie over the country right now, which means calm conditions, light winds but also a frosty start for a lot of places," Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said. "A lot of people in the North Island will be in bed before the rain arrives," Adams said. "The eastern and southern South Island look to remain the driest parts of NZ in the coming week."
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 10, 2020 20:03 UTC
Few Otago dairy farms found to be breaking rules
The inspection regime in Otago for dairy farm compliance with environmental regulations was disrupted by Covid-19 but — of the farms audited in the past year — few fell foul of the rules. Otago Regional Council carried out 268 audits in the 2019-20 financial year, covering more than half of the region’s dairy farms. That was a lower number than planned, because of a lack of site visits during the Covid-19 lockdown. The region has 479 known dairy farms. Inspectors noted potential problems ranging from inadequate infrastructure in low-lying areas to landowners providing sharemilkers with too little information for compliance.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 10, 2020 17:06 UTC
Queenstown's $85 million facelift to include CBD upgrade, ring road
Debbie Jamieson/Stuff Former Queenstown mayor Warren Cooper tried to get funding for the Queenstown bypass 20 years ago. Queenstown Lakes District Council infrastructure manager Peter Hansby says the bypass road will also create more space for car parking on the outskirts of the CBD and more room for commercial expansion. The creation of construction jobs will help many individuals and support the construction industry, Queenstown’s second-biggest industry, Boult says. At the opposite end of town, Queenstown is due to have $90m of NZ Transport Agency funding spent on easing congestion on SH6 and public transport. However, the infrastructure projects were a bright light, he said.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 17:02 UTC
Katrina Shanks: a financial adviser gets a taste of her own medicine
123RF I may have tinkered with my financial wellbeing, but now I was putting it in the hands of a professional. I may have tinkered with my financial wellbeing, but now I was putting it in the hands of a professional. When we completed all the forms required to understand our financial position, my adviser gave me a summary of our financial position and his recommendations, it was clear I could never have analysed my financial position so well. Stuff It was clear I could never have analysed my financial position so well on my own. How would I describe my still ongoing journey looking at my financial health, wealth and wellbeing with a financial adviser?
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 17:02 UTC
Car-buyer warns of shocking 'broker' fees on loans from dealerships
Zuzana Chovanova bought a car, but ended up paying nearly $750 in loan fees, and just over $1000 for mechanical breakdown insurance. She now realises she could have avoided the $495 broker fee entirely, if she had simply called Oxford Finance, and arranged the loan herself. She doesn’t believe anyone would knowingly pay a broker fee. Todd Hunter, chief executive of Oxford Finance, which is owned by NZX-listed Turners Automotive Group, said finance companies set maximums of as high as $1000. Car-buyers could also negotiate to reduce the broker fee directly with the dealership, he said.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 17:01 UTC
Motel accommodation the silver lining for rough sleepers
Nelson's Balmoral Motel is among those providing accommodation to the homeless through the Housing First initiative. But when alert Level Four kicked in, the Government allocated $107.6 million to provide motel accommodation to put roofs over the heads of homeless. Martin De Ruyter/Stuff The Salvation Army's Ros Vercoe and Jaap Noteboom at the Salvation Army office in Nelson. Balmoral Motel, in seaside Tahunanui, is a well-maintained holiday accommodation which, attracted corporate travellers, international tourists and sports teams. Virginia Woolf/Stuff Ghost Native was homeless is also glad he was provided with somewhere to stay at Balmoral Motel in Nelson.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 17:00 UTC
Travel agency not signed up to industry association rules about refunds
Parents who have paid for school trips through Student Horizons are out of pocket (file photo). An industry body says travel agencies bonded to its collective protections would be better able to refund parents out of pocket after school trips were canned amid the coronavirus crisis. However, travel agency Student Horizons is not bonded with an industry group, despite Ministry of Education guidelines recommending schools stick to bonded agents for trips. Student Horizons arranged at least 35 school trips for groups across Australia and New Zealand that were cancelled and 22 that have been postponed. Student Horizons has said some of the parents' money has been spent on business costs.
Source:Stuff
July 10, 2020 17:00 UTC