Cyclone & flood damaged homes exempt from bright-line test in voluntary buyout
The Government will pass a law to exempt flood and cyclone-damaged homes from the bright-line test, which imposes a capital gains tax on investment properties. The bright-line rule was intended to act as a capital gains tax on property investors and it excludes the family home. Stealth-y taxesNicola Willis, the National Party’s finance spokesperson, said the extended bright-line test was a “capital gains tax by stealth”. “I absolutely refute the mischaracterization by that member who says that there is a capital gains tax by stealth. “When John Key’s Government introduced the bright-line test in 2015, this was the start of a slippery slope,” he said.
Source:Stuff
August 23, 2023 10:33 UTC
Attn Christchurch City Council - don't sell us short
But guess what he’s saying now about things like the airport and port company? Now, the Christchurch City Council has to "sell something, or do less.”Now, I might be wrong here. There’s Christchurch International Airport, Lyttelton Port Company, Orion Energy, Citycare, Enable Broadband and Eco-Central Recycling. But when our reporters asked him yesterday whether he could still rule out selling assets like the port company, he said he couldn’t. The last thing the council should be doing is selling assets just to sort out the balance sheet.
Source:New Zealand Herald
August 23, 2023 09:33 UTC
Fifteen Green MPs, or more
If that holds on election day, it’s close to 15 Green MPs in parliament. It would also be the most MPs the Greens have ever had in parliament. The other great thing about 15 or more Green MPs is that if we get a Labour-led government, we will get more Green Ministers. If the left get to form government, and the Greens have 15 MPs, there is a strong chance of getting major change to dental services in New Zealand. Voters, the more Green MPs we have, the more progressive policy like this will get through.
Source:New Zealand Herald
August 23, 2023 07:57 UTC
Breakfast briefing: Drought to affect ship freight rates
The American housing market remains in the doldrums, with an annualised sales rate of 4.07 million units in July 2023, the lowest level since January and below market expectations of 4.15 million. But more measures 'improved' including for new orders, even if the 'improvement' is just a lesser decline in this region. Many depositors have "shifted their funds into higher-interest-bearing accounts, increasing banks’ funding costs," S&P wrote in a note summarising the moves. South in Panama, they have a persistent drought, and it is one that in affecting ships in the Panama Canal. That will have a significant impact on trade and freight rates you would assume.
Source:New Zealand Herald
August 23, 2023 07:23 UTC
Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato Part Ways with Manager Scooter Braun Amid Speculations of Justin Bieber Following Suit
As per the analysis by Stuff.co.nz, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande have both decided to part ways with controversial music manager Scooter Braun. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande as they navigate their careers without Scooter Braun. The decisions of Lovato, Grande, and Bieber to part ways with Braun reflect a growing trend of artists asserting their independence and taking control of their careers. In light of this information, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande have made the decision to leave music manager Scooter Braun’s management company. The departures highlight the controversy surrounding Braun and signify a shift in the careers of Lovato and Grande.
Source:Stuff
August 23, 2023 05:56 UTC
Government accused of manipulating news with paid content on TVNZ and STUFF — Chris Lynch Newsroom
The Government is facing accusations of manipulating news narratives, after paying TVNZ and Stuff advertising to feature content with hand-picked experts in their news segments and platforms. Woods said Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) entered discussions with TVNZ on a One special partnership on 23 May 2022. This included an hour-long prime-time climate special on TV1, online content hosted at 1news.co.nz and TVNZ.co.nz with a dedicated web page, digital banners, logo placement, and pre-roll commercials. It needs to be clear to the viewer what is paid for content and what is editorial content. “There also appears to be a lack of transparency with TVNZ claiming one paid promotion to be a "documentary".
Source:Stuff
August 23, 2023 05:39 UTC
Light Rail’s Latest Plans for Onehunga and Mangere Town Centre
They’ve now confirmed this is their preferred route and that they won’t share a corridor with heavy rail. A shared light rail and heavy rail route is no longer being considered between Onehunga and Southdown, on the KiwiRail corridor set aside for rail in the area. Mangere Town CentreAt Mangere, ALR discussed either keeping light rail beside SH20 or having it closer to the town centre. “There is a strong desire – almost 80 percent – for light rail to connect into the Māngere town centre. Up to four light rail stations are proposed for the wider Māngere area – two between Onehunga and Māngere Town Centre, and one near the airport.
Source:Stuff
August 23, 2023 02:07 UTC
FIFA Women's World Cup: Video emerges of Spain coach touching female assistant
Jorge Vilda, coach of the Women's World Cup winners, appeared to inappropriately touch a female staff member during celebrations. Footage has surfaced of Spain coach Jorge Vilda appearing to inappropriately touch a female member of his coaching staff amid the celebrations of their FIFA Women’s World Cup final victory. But as he turned away, his left hand dropped to the female staff member’s chest and kept it there briefly before letting go. Screenshot/Twitter Spain coach Jorge Vilda appeared to inappropriately touch a female staff member during their win over England. Rubiales backed Vilda and only three of the group known as “Las 15” were included in Spain’s World Cup squad.
Source:Stuff
August 23, 2023 01:23 UTC
Open mike 23/08/2023
Addressing climate change is the right thing to do to safeguard our environment for future generations, but it’s also the smart thing to do – taking action now is in our economic interests and will reduce cost pressures on Kiwi households. The Chris Hipkins Government is continuing to take action
Source:Stuff
August 22, 2023 22:19 UTC
Should New Zealand and Australia become one country?
So departing Labour MP Jamie Strange was the exception last week when he made a case for New Zealand and Australia becoming one country. Australia and New Zealand hold regular ministerial meetings, share various regulatory standards, and there is military and intelligence cooperation. From nation to stateCurrent constitutional arrangements would mean New Zealand simply became a state of the existing Commonwealth of Australia. As Wiradjuri scholar Stan Grant observed about the country he grew up in: “we lived in Australia, and Australia was for other people”. Australia and New Zealand may well be similar enough for political union to be an idea worth considering, but rejecting – if only to help us each to understand ourselves better.
Source:Stuff
August 22, 2023 08:30 UTC
This press release was brought to you on behalf of National’s sponsors
A reminder that Nats took $51,994.70 from the owner of Winton before putting out this press release. It starts with Developer Winton Land Ltd’s desire to develop some land in South Auckland. Winton requested the Government to allowing the application being dealt with under the Urban Development Act 2020 to speed up development. The excuse that Kāinga Ora is ‘too busy’ isn’t good enough. The excuse that Kāinga Ora is ‘too busy’ isn’t good enough.
Source:Stuff
August 22, 2023 08:29 UTC
Can we get better than GST off fruit and vegetables from Labour? Only by voting Māori Party and Greens (but mostly Māori Party)
Can we get better than GST off fruit and vegetables from Labour? Back when she was in Alliance, she had to force Labour to agree to maternity leave. Having to force Labour to give maternity leave? Only by voting Māori Party and Greens (but mostly Māori Party)Savage is lauded as the creator of the welfare state in the wake of the Great Depression. Only by voting Māori Party and Greens (but mostly Māori Party) and forcing them to.
Source:Stuff
August 22, 2023 05:00 UTC
The Daily Blog Open Mic – 22nd August 2023
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. The Editor doesn’t moderate this blog, 3 volunteers do, they are very lenient to provide you a free speech space but if it’s just deranged abuse or putting words in bloggers mouths to have a pointless argument, we don’t bother publishing.
Source:New Zealand Herald
August 22, 2023 04:49 UTC
Open mike 22/08/2023
Addressing climate change is the right thing to do to safeguard our environment for future generations, but it’s also the smart thing to do – taking action now is in our economic interests and will reduce cost pressures on Kiwi households. The Chris Hipkins Government is continuing to take action
Source:Stuff
August 21, 2023 22:50 UTC
The South Today Bulletin: Monday, August 21, 2023
Nightly news bulletin from Monday, 21 August, 2023. Top stories: A new St John mobility shuttle is ready for action in Queenstown, thanks to a donation by Inspire-100 women; Wedding bells are ringing in the Beverly-Begg Observatory, with a happy couple tying the knot in the name of science; and there's some colourful female energy in Invercargill, as the feminist exhibition 'Configure Home' opens. The South Today features stories from Dunedin, Christchurch, Otago, Southland, and other regions across the South Island. The team covers local people, local issues and puts a local spin on national news.
Source:Otago Daily Times
August 21, 2023 18:30 UTC