Daily review 31/07/2024
Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 31st, 2024 - 16 commentsCategories: Daily review - Tags:Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …Share this: FacebookLinkedInRedditPinterestMastodonTwitterPrintEmail
Source:Stuff
July 31, 2024 11:42 UTC
White Stuff posts increased sales and profits, driven by strong full price performance
White Stuff, the British multi-channel lifestyle brand, has today announced full year results for the period ending 27 April 2024. :We have continued to create unique, high-quality products that our loyal White Stuff shoppers love, and we have also introduced our brand to many more new customers through store openings, expanding into new markets, and growing our presence in third-party partnerships. We are as confident in our brand credentials as ever. We will continue to focus on our multi-channel approach – giving more and more customers easier access to the brand, as we grow in the UK and internationally. “Thank you to all the team across White Stuff for another great year and thank you to our customers for choosing to shop with us.”
Source:Stuff
July 31, 2024 09:56 UTC
White Stuff sales and profit rise thanks to full-price focus
White Stuff has said this financial year “is off to a good start” as it delivered an increase in sales and profits, attributed to its full-price strategy and a focus on customer favourites. For the year ending 27 April 2024, the clothing retailer saw total sales for the period rise by 2.4% to £155m, up from £151.4m the previous year. The business posted a 6.8% increase in full-price sales, which it said was driven by reduced promotional activity and a focus on popular product lines, which made up 50% of all full-price sales. EBITDA also saw a notable rise, growing by 23% to £8.6m compared to £7m in 2023. The brand extended its partnership with M&S and now operates in 20 locations, which contributed to a 19% rise in third-party sales.
Source:Stuff
July 31, 2024 09:49 UTC
Govt rules out fixing fiscal drag ‘flaw’ this term
That commitment means we're not in a position to commit to dealing with fiscal drag again this term,” she said. Willis has raised the income tax brackets and some tax credit thresholds by 11.5%, which will save the average household about $30 per week or $1,560 annually. New Zealand’s income tax brackets have only been adjusted five times since 1989, showing successive governments have knowingly relied on fiscal drag to bolster their revenues. Despite this, New Zealand’s personal income tax rate remains very low by international standards. Voters’ appetite for both relatively low taxes and high-quality public services could be one reason policymakers allow fiscal drag to continue.
Source:Stuff
July 31, 2024 02:53 UTC
Woefully misinformed or intentionally mangling the truth?
One is that they are woefully misinformed and living in a fantasy land. The other is that they are intentionally mangling the truth for political purposes. He also referred to cuts in the amounts paid to locums and how this was also affecting doctor availability. Luxon’s repeated claim there was 14 levels of management in health has shown what should probably be described as the intentional mangling of the truth. What is really weird is that the tax collected from HTPs was only $3.62 million in 2022 and $5.97 million in 2023.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 21:26 UTC
Hospitality NZ conference: One-third of industry report workplace bullying
Photo / Katie OliverDoocey said an important aspect of securing the industry’s future is “prioritising mental health and wellbeing and how to better mental health in the workforce”. He also said improving mental health and wellbeing is central to getting young people interested in the industry. Hospitality NZ chief executive Steve Armitage said they will be working closely with Doocey to improve workplace wellbeing and mental health. Technology and Artificial Intelligence were also mentioned as being critical to securing the industry’s future. Hamer urged hospitality businesses to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the technology can be used to “improve guest services”.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 14:35 UTC
Health Minister Shane Reti faces growing pressure over Health NZ finances
Health Minister Shane Reti is standing by his claims about the organisation's finances, as well as the claim there are 14 layers of management. Luxon also said it was Reti that supplied him with the information claiming the 14 layers of management. "A health minister and Health New Zealand - it's their responsibility to make sure that they're comfortable with the operations and the procedures they've got in place," he said. He had claimed the previous week that he and finance minister Nicola Willis had to be firm in pushing Health NZ for financial information and board reports. Layers of managementReti and Luxon stood by their claim there was 14 layers of management at Health NZ.
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 30, 2024 13:41 UTC
Police find remains in search for real estate agent in New Zealand
New Zealand police have found human remains in their search for alleged murder victim Yanfei Bao. Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said they were acting on new information relating to the disappearance of Bao, a Harcourts real estate agent, more than a year ago. READ MORE: Cold snap continues to send shivers across southeastern AustraliaPolice have found human remains in their search for alleged murder victim Yanfei Bao. "The area had previously been searched, and new information led us back here to search specific locations of interest. (Stuff)On the first anniversary of Bao's disappearance, Reeves said police were committed to finding the missing real estate agent's body.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 08:36 UTC
Oh look, further computer disasters have cropped up
Over the last few weeks reports have cropped up about Intel's Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors being unstable and crashing. Anyway, Secure Boot is a way to check the integrity of a fundamental part of PCs, to ensure it's not compromised by malware, using cryptographic keys. What Binarly discovered was that the Secure Boot system on motherboards (the circuit boards that for example the above mentioned Intel processors are mounted onto) could be in jeopardy. It appears an unknown vendor accidentally published a legitimate cryptographic key used by the Secure Boot system, on the Github open source code repository. Fingers crossed, PC vendors will take notice and issue updates soon.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 03:18 UTC
Govt set aside $216m to pay for heated tobacco product tax cuts
Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneThe government has agreed to set aside $216 million it may need to pay for tax cuts for heated tobacco products (HTPs). The excise tax cut is something tobacco giant Philip Morris has lobbied for in the past. But Health Ministry officials warned the minister against liberalising the regulation of HTPs, prior to the excise tax cut. The excise tax cut would be trialled for a year to see if it helped people to stop smoking. Instead, the Ministry for Regulation and the Health Ministry would do a "post implementation review" on the excise tax cut after a year.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 02:38 UTC
Person in critical condition after incident at ice-skating rink
Photo: FacebookA person is in critical condition after an incident at a Christchurch ice-skating centre on Tuesday morning. St John said they were called to the Alpine Ice Sports Centre on Brougham St, Opawa, about 11am. "Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle responded to the scene and treated and transported one patient to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition." Police directed any questions to St John but told Stuff someone appeared to have had a fall. A staff member at the ice-skating rink told Stuff the centre has been closed for the day out of respect.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 01:38 UTC
First home buyers claimed a record share of the housing market in June
The number of first home buyers purchasing a home of their own in June fell sharply, although the decline wasn't as severe as it was for the overall market. According to the Reserve Bank, 2195 mortgages were approved to first home buyers in June, down a substantial 19% compared to May. This pushed first home buyers' estimated market share of housing sales in June, mortgages approved to first home buyers as a percentage of REINZ sales, to a whopping 50.4%. It should not be a surprise that first home buyers share of the market is peaking when the overall market is doing a freeze. That tends to make the volume of purchases by first home buyers less volatile than those of investors and owner-occupiers, even in market downturns.
Source:Stuff
July 30, 2024 01:25 UTC
Maria Packe-Leonard: NZ nurse dies after developing 'flu-like symptoms', husband in ICU
A "vivacious" New Zealand nurse has died after experiencing flu-like symptoms, while her husband battles on in the ICU. (Supplied/Stuff)Maria's brother, Darrell Packe, told Stuff that he hopes Maria's death will help raise awareness about the risks posed by the flu. In what he described as her "usual stoic way", Maria hadn't told Darrell she was ill. Two days before she died, Maria went to the GP. An illness compounded by griefAfter Maria's death, the Packe-Leonard family soon realised how sick John was becoming.
Source:Stuff
July 29, 2024 23:42 UTC
'Lucky' young mum with cancer spends house deposit on private care
The 38-year-old mother-of-two was diagnosed in October, after paying $2000 for a private colonoscopy to beat the five-six month delay in the public system. But there was just no way to do that in the public system." Bowel Cancer New Zealand medical advisor Professor Frank Frizelle said those with private health insurance - or money - had an advantage, even in the public system. The colorectal surgeon said bowel cancer rates in those under 50 had been rising 26 percent a decade - 36 percent for Māori. Pharmac's decision this month to fund two more bowel cancer drugs was welcome news.
Source:Stuff
July 29, 2024 21:30 UTC
Dunedin millionaire donates $25 million to aid first-time home buyers
Fewtrell, 75, is also establishing the Dunedin Homes Charitable Trust, inviting people to apply for improvements like new roofs, double glazing, or heat pumps. In January, Fewtrell announced plans to develop about 60 affordable homes across the city, selling them $100,000 below market value. He told the Otago Daily Times his company, DRDL2023 (Dunedin Residential Developments Ltd), now aims to build four times as many homes. The homes will be sold at market value, but he decided to give away cash from his wealth to help people purchase his homes, ensuring affordability. If a homeowner sells within three years, they must sell back to Fewtrell for the purchase price and return the handout.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 29, 2024 21:26 UTC