Bin collection to continue but recycling going to landfill in Selwyn
Recycling bins will be collected as normal in Selwyn but processed as general rubbish from Monday. Photo: Selwyn District CouncilPaper, plastic and glass from Selwyn households will go to landfill instead of being recycled from Monday. The Selwyn District Council's kerbside recycling processing partner, EcoCentral Ltd, has paused operations because of the high risk of Covid-19 contamination for staff at the sorting facility in Christchurch. In spite of the change to the way recycling is handled, the collection process will not change, so people should keep sorting recycling and putting out their bins as normal. "So it’s important to be ready and help us limit the amount of recycling going to landfill when we are able to start recycling again.”What you can do:
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 22:41 UTC
No one injured in Waimate house fire
No one was injured in a house fire in Waimate on Thursday. No one was injured in a Waimate house fire on Thursday. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesperson said they received the call to the house fire, on Mill Rd, about 5.20pm on Thursday and sent crews from Waimate and Glenavy. They arrived to find a kitchen fire and quickly contained it to the kitchen, he said. He said the crews left the scene by 6.20pm.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 22:30 UTC
Covid-19 a major threat to third-world nations - Chch nurse
The volunteer nurse has been in self-isolation since she returned to Christchurch on March 15 - just after the Government announced all international travellers arriving in NZ must self-isolate for 14 days. "Even in Italy and China and places where the health system is established they have struggled," Miss Smit said. "It is no wonder all the kids get sick because it just spreads around," Miss Smit said. "I have spent a lot of time around contagious diseases over there (in Uganda)...not too much fazes me anymore," Miss Smit said. "I still walk the dog, talk to my friends, FaceTime is getting a hammering...getting a bit of life admin done which is quite good," Miss Smit said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 22:18 UTC
Auckland hotel developments helped sink FE Investments
FE Investments, which went bust owing investors $54.3 million, was brought down by a failed Australian loan to a data management company, and two stalled Auckland hotel projects. If the hotel projects were not completed, FEI would face a substantial loss, FEI Group directors said late last year. Four days after the suspension, FEI directors posted half year results showing a loss, following a loss in the previous half year. The letter to the Reserve Bank led Trustees Executors, which was trustee for the company, to call in receivers. "Since late 2019 Trustees Executors has been liaising with the FMA and RBNZ whilst also engaging with FEI.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 22:18 UTC
Contact tracing speed critical: Gluckman
Photo: ODTFormer chief science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman says the speed of contact tracing is critical to the success of fighting Covid-19. Gluckman said there are examples of apps being used to trace contacts in a way that maintained privacy. In South Korea the apps are used to message people to say they are contacts and should self-quarantine. Not everyone would download an app but even partial use could make a major difference to the contact-tracing load and the likely spread of the virus, he said. "We have a burden of disease which our health system can cope with and that's what we've got to sustain.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 22:18 UTC
Coronavirus: Awkward questions from National's Bill English and Steven Joyce
Steven Joyce and Bill English have seen their fair share of financial crises and natural disasters as the last National Government's finance ministers and economic firefighters. The Government's stance on certain non-essential businesses being unable to trade is being called into question by Joyce. "The Government has broader responsibilities beyond public health. Joyce's call follows similar remarks by former Prime Minister Sir Bill English in a private briefing to Jarden investors last week. In a transcript of his remarks that has been widely circulated, English said the Government must start looking beyond the lockdown.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 22:07 UTC
Quiz: Stuff's video challenge April 3, 2020
We know you love our quizzes, so we've decided to make them just that bit more lively. From today we'll be chatting to a Stuff quizzer via video link and recording them taking our famed trivia challenge. Grant Rewi completes Stuff's quiz from his bubble in Wellington. QUIZ MORE:* Quiz: Carol Hirschfeld takes Stuff's video challenge* Quiz: How well do you know New Zealand? If you love our quiz, you can receive daily notifications of Stuff trivia tests on our app.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 21:56 UTC
Tourism Holdings to exit international RV rental platform Togo
Campervan and tourism company Tourism Holdings has reached a deal to quit its international technology joint venture, Togo Group, so it can focus on business in New Zealand and Australia. THL has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with the tourism industry drying up due to lockdowns and border closures. Togo Group is the company's global technology and RV fleet management operation, which it co-owned with Thor Industries, the largest RV manufacturer in North America. Togo Group also leased its services to tourism businesses to enable them to better manage their RV fleets. "We believe that there remains substantial opportunity with Togo Group and our relationship with our joint venture partner Thor remains very strong," said THL chief executive Grant Webster.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 21:54 UTC
Don't be a DIY dolt - ACC urges extra caution during lockdown
Dunedin man Paul le Comte is tacking some DIY during the lockdown. Photo: Paul le Comte - five15designWhile Dunedin photographer and designer Paul le Comte has lost much of his regular work due to Covid-19 cancellations, he was hoping to use the time to gain a new bedroom for one of his teenage sons in the family's upstairs study. "I must have been maybe only one of about maybe two or 10 people in the hardware store. Le Comte described himself as an experienced DIYer, who was always careful. Dunedin man Paul le Comte is tacking some DIY during the lockdown.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 21:33 UTC
European football looking at restart dates
European football is focusing restarting in July and August. UEFA, the European Club Association and the European Leagues umbrella group sent a joint letter to their members today saying it was of "paramount importance" that competitions, including domestic leagues, were decided on the field. The letter said the working groups were "focusing on scenarios encompassing the months of July and August, including the possibility that the UEFA competitions restart after the completion of domestic leagues." "Only an extraordinary coordinated effort of all competition organisers can help European football out of the crisis, recovering in full its core asset, the competitions," it said. "We are confident that football can restart in the months to come – with conditions that will be dictated by public authorities - and believe that any decision of abandoning domestic competitions is, at this stage, premature and not justified."
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 21:22 UTC
Mitre 10 launches website to offer the essentials during lockdown
Big box hardware store Mitre 10 is the latest company to launch a website dedicated to its range of essential goods. The essentials range included heaters, small appliances and plumbing items as well as some tools. The move followed similar offerings from The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Smiths City and Briscoes after the Government changed it's stance on the sale of essential items online on March 30. BEJON HASWELL/STUFF Mitre 10 has launched an "essentials" range that can be delivered during the lockdown. During the first week of the lockdown, Mitre 10 had been allowed to sell some items to tradespeople.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 21:22 UTC
Coronavirus: OECD expects big impact for NZ economy
New Zealand's economy is likely to suffer a bigger coronavirus blow than most in the OECD, new research says. The OECD has put out a new report evaluating the impact of Covid-19 on economic activity. The more successful the suppression strategy is, the more likely the economy will bounce back once the lockdown is over. Economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the report showed the economic impact was going to be significant but did not take into account the efforts being made to mitigate it, such as the Government's wage subsidy. He said New Zealand fared worse in the OECD comparison because of how the report estimated the impact on various sectors.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 21:00 UTC
Bonus children's quiz: April 3, 2020
Today's quiz was written by Santiago Hernandez who goes to Opoho School in Dunedin. Thanks Santiago! QUIZ MORE:* Quiz: How well do you know New Zealand? * Quiz: How well do you know your veggies? * Quiz: How much of an Ed Sheeran fan are you?
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 21:00 UTC
Self-driving cars could lead to increase in binge drinking
A study conducted in Perth, Australia, has found that autonomous cars could trigger a jump in heavy drinking. Additionally, younger people had more of a positive attitude towards autonomous cars and were more likely to use such a vehicle while drunk. 123RF A study from Perth has found that the eventual rise in autonomous cars could lead to a jump in binge drinking. As self-driving cars gradually become more commonplace, it makes sense that the rate of people drinking and driving would lower. "A particular challenge will be the need to encourage the use of autonomous vehicles after drinking without encouraging drinking per se.
Source:Stuff
April 02, 2020 20:37 UTC
'Unprecedented impact': SkyCity axes 200 jobs in NZ
SkyCity is slashing about 200 jobs in New Zealand. Photo: NZ Herald. SkyCity is slashing about 200 jobs in New Zealand with immediate effect, as it attempts to slash costs. The casino giant has also stood down about 90% of its Australian workforce. SkyCity says the Covid 19 crisis has caused "an unprecedented impact on people, businesses and the global economy".
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2020 20:15 UTC