Review: Sky TV’s new Sky Box still doesn’t seem ready for release
‘Entertainment reimagined’ promises Sky TV’s new Sky Box. Sky Box is one of two new products being released by Sky TV. It will now end on March 31, a date by which Sky TV will be hoping its Sky Box and Sky Pod devices are fully operational and in as many homes as possible. After two weeks with my Sky Box, it still doesn’t feel ready for release. * Sky Box, $200; Sky Pod, $100.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 22:55 UTC
Reserve Bank drives house prices deeper underwater
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has led the developed world’s monetary tightening, lifting the nation’s official cash rate 4.50% since October 2021:The RBNZ has also forecast further rate hikes alongside a 23% peak-to-trough decline in house prices and a recession. QV on Thursday released its House Price Index for February, with average values falling 2.7% over the quarter to be down 12.6% year-on-year:Commenting on the result, QV national spokesperson Simon Petersen said: “Rising interest rates and credit constraints continue to have a tight strangle-hold on the market currently, as they have had for more than a year now”. “Many prospective home buyers are either unable or unwilling to purchase property right now while the cost of servicing a home loan is so high. Others are waiting to see when the market will bottom out, which obviously hasn’t happened yet”. The sharp decline in home values follows the crash in new mortgage commitments, which have fallen by more than two-thirds from their peak to the lowest level on record:House price expectations have also cratered to their lowest level since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008:With the RBNZ set to hike rates further in coming months, New Zealand house prices have further to fall.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 21:50 UTC
How can prices vary between same brand supermarkets in the same region?
New Zealander Tony Silke has been concerned about rising food prices. He had been using food price comparison app The Grocer to compare prices between his local Pak ‘n Save in Paraparaumu and one in Porirua. He found that a kilogram of loose potatoes was $3 at his local, but $1.99 in Porirua. A kilogram of loose kumara was $9.99 at Pak ‘n Save Porirua, but $1 cheaper in Kilbirnie. In Kilbirnie a kilogram of carrots was $3.29, but $2.99 in both Porirua and Paraparaumu.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 19:52 UTC
Plans for government-bank Business Growth Fund for SMEs still bubbling away
Establishing a BGF was a recommendation from the Small Business Council's New Zealand Small Business Strategy in 2019. The Small Business Council was established by Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash, also then Small Business Minister, to provide strategic advice on the small business sector. We continue to discuss a potential Business Growth Fund with government officials, but we’re not in a position to make further comment about this yet," an ANZ spokeswoman says. Against that backdrop the Government launched the Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme, overseen by Inland Revenue, to help businesses struggling because of Covid-19. "The BGF model is a particular type of private equity fund that pools bank capital to create a fund of scale.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 19:07 UTC
The Daily Blog Open Mic – 9th March 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. 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:Stuff
March 09, 2023 16:56 UTC
Daily review 09/03/2023
Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:30 pm, March 9th, 2023 - 11 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 …
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 09, 2023 14:42 UTC
‘Hand crafted’ chocolate company accused of repurposing mass-produced lollies
An independent confectionery company that proudly proclaims to “believe in the importance of handcrafted quality” has been accused of using mass-produced products. But videos and photos shared by customers online suggest that there may be more than just similarities between Potter Brothers products and what has inspired them. A Reddit user this week said they purchased the Potter Brothers pineapple chews in Queenstown recently and were left convinced they were just “re-dipped pineapple lumps”. Similarly, on Google, a handful of one star reviews dating back two years make identical claims about the quality of the Potter Brothers products. “The pineapple pieces are just another brand’s pineapple lumps that this company has covered in their own chocolate.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 09:36 UTC
New Zealand public servant accused of spying for China
Wellington: A senior analyst for the New Zealand government has been accused of providing privileged information to the Chinese government by the country’s Security Intelligence Service. Yuan Zhao, who also goes by the name Jason, says he and his family were “detained” at Wellington Airport in October by New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (SIS) as they were returning from a holiday in Australia. His phone was seized, and his son’s laptop was searched. Yuan Zhao works as a senior analyst at New Zealand’s Public Service Commission and has been accused of passing information to the Chinese government – an allegation he denies. He said he felt threatened by the SIS, compelled to participate in a voluntary interview in another room while his wife and three children were “hostage”, and told not to talk about the matter as the SIS could find him anywhere.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 04:53 UTC
NZ students claim to be served raw chicken multiple times
An incident where Kaitaia College students in New Zealand were served raw chicken for lunch was not the first of its kind, a student has told local outlet Stuff. READ MORE: Fresh blow for Aussies as power bill surge on the horizonRaw chicken was served at Kaitaia College on Wednesday. "There had been improvement this term, until the raw chicken [on Wednesday]," he said. READ MORE: How young NSW gambler hit rock bottom but bounced backIt wasn’t the first time students were served raw chicken. Kaiatia College was asked for additional comment on the situation, but only provided the same statement as on Wednesday, when the raw chicken was served.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 03:56 UTC
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US China tensions: Chinese foreign minister warns of conflict unless US changes course
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. It followed an accusation by Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the United States were trying to encircle and suppress China. China’s relations with Washington and Japan, India and other Asian neighbours have soured as Xi’s government has pursued assertive policies abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US of “politicising the issue” in an attempt to discredit China. “Why does the US ask China not to provide weapons to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan?” Qin asked.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 09, 2023 03:51 UTC
Labour takes lead in Taxpayer Union poll
The Labour Party has taken the lead in the Taxpayers' Union political poll for the first time since March last year as Chris Hipkins' favorability ratings soar. The survey, conducted by Curia Market Research, has Labour up 1.1 points on last month at 35.5%, while the National Party increased just 0.4 points to 34.8%. These results would give Labour the most seats in parliament but would likely see the right-learning coalition forming a government. Jacinda Ardern’s replacement appears to be winning some support back to LabourNewly minted Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' appears to be winning back some support for the Labour Party. A Roy Morgan survey released Monday showed support for the governing party up 2.5 points in January at 30%.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 03:50 UTC
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Weather: Soggy start to weekend as rain moves north
There is a heavy rain warning in place between Westland to the Otago Lakes, which will last from Thursday morning through until Thursday afternoon. Heavy Rain Watch issued for Bay of Plenty, Buller, Kapiti-Horowhenua, Nelson, Northland, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wellington https://t.co/443fE5sWn3 — MetService Severe Weather Info (@MetServiceWARN) March 8, 2023It could bring heavy rain which may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. On top of this, there is a heavy rain watch for swathes of Northland on Friday. The front, preceded by a strong moist northerly flow, will move north today and across the North Island tomorrow bringing periods of heavy rain and thunder with it. However, for the South Island the rain will settle back in on Sunday – and before either Island gets that respite, Hines said there was “a fair amount of rain to get through first”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 09, 2023 03:45 UTC
How a rogue survey over public transport funding reveals a stark generational divide
A contested Ministry of Transport survey shows a major division between young renters and older homeowners on public transport – and how we should pay for it. This is a sharp change from the current system, which funds public transport only through fuel taxes. However National party finance spokeswoman Nicola Willis suggested Labour was still eyeing up some sort of wealth tax. Conducted by the university’s Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures using pol.is, it found a range of ideas on how to develop public transport and how to pay for it. The survey was of ‘stakeholder groups’ who understood the issues, which may have been skewed towards public transport users and advocates, the survey report writers said.
Source:Stuff
March 09, 2023 02:49 UTC
Aussie homebuilders brace for “significant pain”
Macquarie analyst Peter Steyn says factors such as rising interest rates are impacting on front-end housing demand. The forward-looking perspective paints a worrying picture of weak front-end demand”, Steyn wrote on Wednesday. “Front end housing demand is very soft as interest rates, and associated uncertainty, play havoc. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) record interest rate hikes have now crashed all forward-looking indicators. Australia’s rental vacancy rate is already the lowest on record with rents soaring at a double-digit pace.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 09, 2023 02:49 UTC
Co-governance with Māori is preferable to Co-governance with Corporations (but 3 Waters is still a problem)
The backbone of the economic success story that is NZ, is in stealing Māori land and NEVER paying the full price back alongside a low wage economy that exploits migrant workers. Forget the Māori’s, what about NZs co-governance with the Greedy Banks, Greedy property speculators and Greedy low wage exploiters? TDB Recommends NewzEngine.comMāori Co-Governance is a symbolic gesture where as NZs co-governance with the Greedy Banks, Greedy property speculators and Greedy low wage exploiters is literal! Why is it that Māori co-governance is supposedly so much more dangerous than the current co-governance with Greedy Banks, Greedy property speculators and Greedy low wage exploiters? Why is it that the co-governance of NZ by the Greedy Banks, Greedy property speculators and Greedy low wage exploiters is somehow invisible and never debated while it’s attack Māori co-governance every single day of the week?
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 09, 2023 02:48 UTC