/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/KA5NMNDA266OAUXJRBXZVOCINI.jpg)
Thousands could miss out on $350 govt payments
File photoMore than 164,000 people could miss out on the government's $350 cost of living bonus payments because the tax department does not have their bank account details. The payments were announced in this year's budget, for those who earn $70,000 a year or less, are New Zealand tax residents aged 18 and over, and who are not entitled to the winter energy payment. But IRD needs their current bank account details to be able to make the payment. Parker said anyone who did not supply their bank account number by the time the payments were made could still claim them until the end of March next year. There's no obligation to provide a bank account number ... it's not compulsory".
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 28, 2022 00:04 UTC
Open mike 28/07/2022
Enough is enough! Ian Foster must go – and if he doesn’t do so of his own accord (as he should do), he must be pushed. That became apparent in the first minute of the match, when it became clear that neither the coach nor the team had learned any ...
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 23:59 UTC
Mike's Minute: Govt targeting high-value investors is no bad thing
If there is a downside to what they have done, it's the language test. Many years ago, a previous National government tried the same thing, it was an abysmal failure. A mistake is one thing, repeating the mistake is stupidity. The outworking of that might well be a tangible improvement in the contribution new New Zealanders can make to the rebuild. The new rules set the bar a bit higher, they ask more of a contributor, and aiming high rarely is a bad thing.
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 27, 2022 22:26 UTC
Covid-19: Bloomfield signs off, saying Omicron 'worst case scenario' now unlikely
In his final media stand-up as director-general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield said Covid-19 case rates are tending downwards across all regions of New Zealand, and the “worst case scenario” previously modelled is now unlikely to come to pass. Bloomfield gave the update on the state of the country’s Covid-19 outbreak at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. SUNGMI KIM/Stuff Dr Ashley Bloomfield steps down from his role as Director-General of Health on Friday. Ricky Wilson/Stuff Community Covid-19 case rates are trending downwards across all regions of Aotearoa, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said on Wednesday. Bloomfield said he was “wholly confident” in those who would continue to lead and deliver the Covid-19 response in his absence.
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 22:13 UTC
Call for Auckland Transport to drop park and ride charging plans
An Auckland councillor is calling for plans to introduce charging at public park and ride facilities to be dropped. They have, until now, been free as they encourage people to use public transport, but Auckland Transport is now looking to introduce charging under its controversial draft parking strategy. "I want to highlight this and I want people to put pressure on [Auckland Transport] to drop this proposal. According to Auckland Transport, there are 30 park and ride facilities across the city with more than 6000 parking spaces. Auckland Transport did not answer questions on its proposal to introduce charging at its park and ride facilities.
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 21:38 UTC
/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/MGOBOLKUGOMVSCW2T65P6JGPRA.jpg)
Paedophile teacher: How victim's sting operation helped catch his sexually abusive teacher decades later
Several days later, New Zealand police arrested Booth on an island near Picton, where he was setting up for a two-week long school camp. Then at night Booth would abuse Charlie in a similar way. At a different school camp he went to a boy's bed while he slept and started rubbing his chest, stopping when the boy told him to. Photo / SuppliedIt appears Booth also fooled most of the teachers and students at the school where he taught for decades. Now, more than a year later Booth has admitted publicly what he did by pleading guilty to 19 charges of indecency.
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 21:16 UTC
Heathrow Airport boss hits out at fake disability TikTok travel 'hack'
Photo: iStockThe boss of one of the world's busiest airports has hit out at a TikTok travel "hack" aimed at skipping queues. Heathrow Airport boss John Holland-Kaye blames a TikTok 'travel hack' for delays for those with mobility issues saying some passengers are 'using wheelchair support to get through the airport faster. '@NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/XZodA7a9Tm — LBC (@LBC) July 26, 2022"For passengers requiring wheelchair support we have more demand than we had before the pandemic. Some of this is because people are using the wheelchair support to try to get fast-track through the airport. A recent TikTok video showed a traveller at Bristol Airport pretending to have an ankle injury, so he could skip queues at security and check-in.
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 21:14 UTC
Whose job is it to enforce mask use in indoor public spaces?
Mask use seems to be slipping around the country – whose job is it to enforce it indoors? “It’s certainly not fair on the workers.”Public transport providers made it clear at the beginning of the mandates that bus drivers and transport staff were not expected to enforce mask rules for passengers on public transport. The Government recently doubled down on pleas to wear a mask, but “I don't think that’s made a big impact”, Harford said. Anybody who failed to comply with face covering rules as outlined in the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework) Order 2021 and Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 could be fined, a police spokesperson said. Chris McKeen/Stuff Auckland GP Dr Sandhya Ramanathan demonstrates how to fit an N95 mask, and three hacks to make surgical masks fit better.
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 20:29 UTC
Sunshine a welcome relief; Canterbury record wettest July on record
Christchurch residents are mopping up after rain caused what some locals called the worst flooding they've seen. A band of rain between Monday night and Tuesday night plunged Canterbury into the wettest July on record, with a third of the annual rain falling in a month. The MetService has recorded 268mm of rain in Christchurch for the month so far. But with cars frequently passing through, the risk of her house flooding is heightened - and she wants the council to recognise that. Amy Whiting said she would be back out again today, despite even more rain being forecast for the city.
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 27, 2022 16:17 UTC
Tauranga teens missing since Monday morning home 'safe and sound'
Two Tauranga teenagers that went missing on Monday have been found. Axel Jenkins-Rushton, also known as Jade, and best friend Toby Whiteman, also known as Rhiannon, both 13-years-old, were last seen on Monday morning when they left for school but never arrived. Their parents reported the pair missing to the police. "I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone so very very much for their extreme kindness, all the shares. The teenagers were believed to be travelling together in the Auckland area and turned up back at their school on Wednesday.
Source:Stuff
July 27, 2022 16:06 UTC
Do you know this man? Auckland police hunt apartment sex attacker
Police in Auckland have issued an appeal for information after a man gained access to an inner-city apartment complex before sexually assaulting a woman, leaving her "incredibly shaken". Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend from Auckland City CIB said the incident occurred on Sunday night at a residential complex on Albert St. In a statement, he said the man gained entry to the complex and sexually assaulted a female resident in a communal area. CCTV stills released by police show the man on the bus and leaving the apartment, seemingly without his trousers. "We believe the public will know who this man is and we need to hear from them."
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 27, 2022 12:23 UTC
The Daily Blog Open Mic – 27th July 2022
Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day. Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day. Moderation rules are more lenient for this section, but try and play nicely. EDITORS NOTE: – By the way, here’s a list of shit that will get your comment dumped. Sexist language, homophobic language, racist language, anti-muslim hate, transphobic language, Chemtrails, 9/11 truthers, Qanon lunacy, climate deniers, anti-fluoride fanatics, anti-vaxxer lunatics, 5G conspiracy theories, the virus is a bioweapon, some weird bullshit about the UN taking over the world and ANYONE that links to fucking infowar.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 27, 2022 08:19 UTC
Two injured after truck, car roll in Dunedin crashes
In the first, a person was taken to hospital after a truck rolled off a road near the city's Northern Motorway about 12.10pm. Photo: Stephen JaquieryA St John spokeswoman said one person was taken to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries. A little later, about 12.40pm, a person was seriously injured when a car rolled down a bank on the outskirts of Mosgiel. Fire and Emergency New Zealand and St John also attended. A St John spokeswoman said one person with serious injuries was taken to Dunedin Hospital.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 27, 2022 08:16 UTC
'Never give up': Stolen 1929 motorbike finally returned
Photo: Ten One Magazine / PoliceAfter 17 years and a trip halfway around the world, a treasured BSA 1929 Sloper motorbike has been reunited with the New Zealand family it was stolen from. Photo: Ten One Magazine / PoliceThe motorbike was stowed away until 1996, when the family had it restored by well-known Te Awamutu motorbike restorer Ron Carpenter. “Over the years I have stayed in touch with the Gluyas family and kept them updated on any leads we received. Allan says he worked with the Gluyas family and the American authorities through Interpol over many months to get the motorbike returned. “This fact alone was the catalyst for the American owner to accept that this was indeed the stolen Gluyas family motorbike.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 27, 2022 08:09 UTC
A Greater Gt North Rd Coming Soon
Some good news yesterday with Auckland Transport confirming that their plans for a greater Gt North Rd will start construction later this year. Auckland Transport (AT) is delivering 1.6km of bus, safety, walking and cycling improvements along Great North Road, between Ponsonby Road and Crummer Road which will help move more Aucklanders along one of Auckland’s most iconic roads. Around the project’s section of Great North Road, the population is expected to grow by approximately 24% by 2031. Matthew Rednall says the improvements support Great North Road’s mix of commercial, industrial, and increasingly residential use. “These changes will make accessing Great North Road safer and easier, whether by foot, bike, bus, or car,” he says.
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 27, 2022 07:26 UTC