New Zealand: Firm found guilty over volcanic eruption that killed 22 people
In This Story: White IslandThe volcanic island Whakaari / White Island in New Zealand’s northeastern Bay of Plenty region explosively erupted on 9 December 2019 at 14:11 NZDT (01:11 UTC). Twenty-two people were killed, including two who are missing and declared dead, and a further 25 people suffered injuries, many of whom suffered severe burns. The ongoing seismic and volcanic activity in the area as well as heavy rainfall, low visibility and toxic gases hampered recovery efforts over the week following the incident. On 30 November, it was reported that WorkSafe New Zealand had filed charges against 13 parties over the Whakaari eruption including GNS Science, the National Emergency Management Agency, and tour operators Volcanic Air and the Ngāti Awa–owned White Island Tours. 3 Recent Items: White Island
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 31, 2023 10:56 UTC
Company guilty over New Zealand volcano disaster
WELLINGTON: The New Zealand firm that managed a volcanic island which erupted killing 22 people in 2019, was on Tuesday found guilty of failing to adequately protect visitors. A court in Auckland found Whakaari Management failed to “assess risk” to visitors sufficiently or provide them with protective equipment. The management company was the last of 13 individuals and organisations originally charged over the disaster. Whakaari Management — which granted permits to visit the island — will be sentenced next February with six other parties who pleaded guilty. The guilty parties face fines of up to NZ$1.5 million (US$876,652).
Source:Stuff
October 31, 2023 08:14 UTC
Open mike 31/10/2023
A couple of days ago, K Gurunathan – described as a former mayor of Kapiti – had an article in Stuff under the heading “ACT’s Treaty referendum: a bad idea, and even worse timing”. In the article, he noted that former Prime Minister John Key had ruled out the idea
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 31, 2023 05:08 UTC
Pure Trans Joy and woke dogma: The political price of the Culture War
They left bitter and hateful towards the Left and their dark treasonous treacle oozed into the dark spaces with demented energy. After handing so much culture war ammunition to the Right, our woke middle class identity activists literally drove male voters into the arms of the political right. We have not calculated the full political price yet of this culture war. The problem with Cancel Culture for the Left is that after the woke have cancelled everyone, who votes for us? This political marriage of convenience between ACT, National and NZ First is a union of grievance and malice aided by culture war ammunition the Left couldn’t win.
Source:Stuff
October 31, 2023 03:53 UTC
Breakfast briefing: 'We're OK if we can avoid the shocks'
It sees oil prices falling away - assuming we avoid a sudden supply-constrained geopolitical shock. In the current circumstances, they have a very sanguine outlook - with the usual caveats about unexpected shocks. In Germany, and with the help of easing food inflation, their October CPI inflation rate fell to 3.8%, sharply lower than the September 4.5% rate. The Australian 10 year bond yield is now at 4.97% and up a sharp +15 bps from yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today at US$34,473 and up just +0.2% from this time yesterday.
Source:Stuff
October 31, 2023 03:46 UTC
Apple Looks to Unveil new iMacs and MacBook Pros, at their “Scary Event”
Bloomberg Television published this video item, entitled “Apple Looks to Unveil new iMacs and MacBook Pros, at their “Scary Event”” – below is their description. Bloomberg Mark Gurman joined Bloomberg Radio to go over what to expect at today’s evening Apple Event. As well as what is happening to the Tech Company in the Chinese Markets ——– Get more on The Tape Podcast On Apple: bit.ly/3YrBfOi On Spotify: bit.ly/42xmHPz Anywhere: bit.ly/43hOc0r Bloomberg Television YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 31, 2023 00:28 UTC
Stuff Quiz: Afternoon trivia challenge: October 30, 2023
Got a good quiz question? Send your questions to quiz@stuff.co.nzAnd if you’re looking for other quiz challenges, you can find the rest of our quizzes here! CORRECTION: An earlier version of this quiz said that GPs undergo speciality training to become ophthalmologists. This has been amended to medical doctors. (Amended October 30, 2023, 7.55pm.)
Source:Stuff
October 31, 2023 00:10 UTC
57 dead children at Oranga Tamariki is a perfectly acceptable death rate for most Kiwis
57 kids in seven years: Our shocking child death tollAt least 50 children have been killed since Oranga Tamariki was created – and half of them had a record with the agency before they died. The reality is that the 57 dead children killed by whanau since Oranga Tamariki took over is a perfectly acceptable price to pay for most NZers to underfund our social services! Our underfunded social services that prefer to contract out wrap around services to NGOs are a weeping wound that burns our society but we point blank refuse to fund them properly by taxing the rich! Oranga Tamariki is a Frankenstein monster, a neoliberal welfare experiment conjured up by Bill English and big data. TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com Oranga Tamariki has always been about saving the State money and the welfare of the child is secondary to that!
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 30, 2023 22:31 UTC
Burglar with 459 convictions jailed again
"I have already said, it is one of the worst criminal histories I have ever seen," Judge Lummis said. "You are a recidivist burglar, beyond doubt – and also a spree burglar," he told Lewis. Photo: NZ HeraldLewis told Judge Glubb he felt his life in prison would be "safer and easier" as he was deeply institutionalised. Lewis told Judge Lummis the sentence was a "relief" because he needed "a light at the end of the tunnel". Judge Lummis allowed the Herald to publish her sentencing notes on the basis of open justice.
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 30, 2023 19:38 UTC
NZ Herald Editor at Large on his two-week EV road trip
NZ Herald Editor at Large Shayne Currie's Great Kiwi Road Trip is underway. He'll be travelling up the country in his Volkswagen EV to gauge the mood of the nation and meet everyday and notable Kiwis making a difference in their communities and wider world. Currie started in Dunedin, and joined Jamie Mackay to discuss more about the journey. LISTEN ABOVE
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 30, 2023 19:03 UTC
Live: ‘Not out of the woods yet’: Ex-cyclone Lola sweeps North Island, flooding highways
STORY CONTINUES AFTER LIVEBLOGSTORY CONTINUESThe wild weather caused many issues across the North Island, flooding roads and smashing boats at sea. More than 2000 properties in Northland were without power yesterday when the wind toppled powerlines. On Wednesday there is a general clearance for the North Island but with the risk of afternoon showers. pic.twitter.com/nCXzZkWMfS — MetService (@MetService) October 30, 2023Elsewhere, there is a low danger of thunderstorms embedded within showery weather throughout much of the North Island. Photo / Alex CairnsThe widespread rainfall from the low will have subsided by Wednesday, but the North Island and upper South Island, particularly inland areas, can still anticipate showers, some of which could be thunderous and heavy.
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 30, 2023 18:42 UTC
Ford Faces Significant Losses on Electric Vehicles in Q3 2023
Ford has reported substantial losses on every electric vehicle (EV) it produced in the third quarter of 2023, surpassing its previous forecasts. During Q3 2023, Ford’s electric car division recorded a pre-interest and tax loss of $1.3 billion, accumulating a total year-to-date deficit of $3.1 billion. As a response to these losses, Ford has decided to withdraw its investment from the electric car division. Moving forward, Ford aims to offer customers a diverse range of products while expanding its portfolio of electric models. Overall, Ford’s significant losses on EVs in Q3 2023 have prompted the company to reevaluate its investment strategy in the electric car division.
Source:Stuff
October 30, 2023 16:40 UTC
'Damaging gusts' expected, 2000 without power, MetService warnings extended
MetService issued additional weather warnings today for Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, that are due to expire tomorrow morning. Coromandel can expect 100 to 120mm of rain, in addition to rain which has already accumulated while between 90 and 120mm is expected for Bay of Plenty. The poor weather conditions led to high tide flooding on Auckland’s Northern Motorway, road closures across Northland and Coromandel and left thousands without power. Winds may not have peaked for everyone today with isolated damaging gusts still expected in the #UpperNorthIsland. Ferris said the worst of the weather was expected to hit Auckland, Northland, Coromandel and Gisborne today before starting to ease from tomorrow.
Source:New Zealand Herald
October 30, 2023 16:07 UTC
First home buyers paying an average of $674,000 for a home of their own
First home buyers were slightly less active in September, with fewer of them buying a property, although on average those who did buy paid slightly more for them and took out a slightly bigger mortgage. The average size of the mortgages approved for first home buyers in September was $561,129, with 31% of those low equity mortgages where the buyers had less than a 20% deposit. The average size of the low equity mortgages approved to first home buyers in September was $630,277. Between January 2017 and September 2023 first home buyers' share of housing sales has increased from 21% to 37%. However that growth in first home buyers' market share is mainly the result of less activity by other types of property buyers, such as investors and existing home owners selling one house to buy another property.
Source:Stuff
October 30, 2023 14:18 UTC