Tourism push: Jacinda Ardern says NZ is "open for business". Video / Jacinda ArdernPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appeared on a hugely popular UK talk show urging Brits to consider New Zealand as a holiday destination again. "I would like to think I can be objective, it [New Zealand] is just the most beautiful place," Ardern said on Lorraine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at No 10 Downing Street, London. Jacinda Ardern has said on British TV that in hindsight some Covid-19 aspects could have been handled differently, but Government steps had saved lives.
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 02, 2022 09:01 UTC
Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand. The All Blacks camp has been struck by Covid leaving coaches, including top dog Ian Foster, and players out of action. Rarely does one look at a New Zealand team sheet and find it underwhelming. He undoubtedly will have given unique insight to the New Zealand camp but it seems unlikely that will make up for a week of disruption. The Ireland camp were not immune to Covid, however, with Connacht wing Mack Hansen ruled out of the series opener.
Source:Stuff
July 02, 2022 08:42 UTC
And yet their so-called "mandate" sees them driving major constitutional change irrespective of what the people might think or say. We've also heard this week that we've spent over $1 billion on emergency housing in the past five years or so. There is no doubt in my mind that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is travelling the globe promoting herself, not New Zealand, says Bruce Cotterill. But when trust is lost, mistruths creep in and people find a less-than-ethical way to get around a problem, then corruption is where you end up. He is the author of the book, The Best Leaders Don't Shout.
Source:Stuff
July 02, 2022 06:42 UTC
The widely-watched local ISM factory PMI came in with a more modest expansion, one that was lower than expected however. All eyes will be on how far that needs to go, but at this time it looks like a shortish correction. [You should also note that it is a long weekend holiday in the US, July 4 Independence Day.] The Australian ten year bond is -10 bps lower again at 3.48%. Yesterday Tokyo ended its Friday session down -1.7%, Hong Kong was on "holiday", and Shanghai ended down -0.3% on the day.
Source:New Zealand Herald
July 02, 2022 04:42 UTC
But I live it, so here’s a few things a Kiwi living in Australia has learnt. Brook Sabin Living in Australia might sound like a dream for some Kiwis, but it has its own set of challenges. While certain parts of Australia may vary, property experts at Domain say the average property in Australia is over $1 million, peaking at upwards of $1.6 million in Sydney. According to global cost of living database Numbeo, grocery prices in Australia are 7.29% higher than in New Zealand. The truth is, New Zealand, Australia is hurting just like you.
Source:Stuff
July 02, 2022 03:54 UTC
But Bolton says after the sharp rise in mortgage rates, he believes they are starting to peak. Because the Reserve Bank has talked it up so hard that mortgage rates are already pretty much pricing in every [future] OCR increase. "The OCR's going to go up but it's already fully priced into mortgage rates, so I think mortgage rates are going to start to stabilise quite quickly. He does, however, see higher mortgage rates having a broad impact on the economy by reducing the discretionary spending of mortgage holders. The everything bubble's popping, [and] property has probably done comparatively well.
Source:Stuff
July 02, 2022 00:25 UTC
Port Otago cruise team members Carolyn Bennett (left) and Michelle Simpson outside the port’s cruise terminal when the announcement was made in May that the maritime border would reopen at the end of July. When she heard of Celebrity Eclipse’s booking, Port Otago cruise manager Carolyn Bennett celebrated the news with cruise operations lead Michelle Simpson over a cup of tea and a chocolate fish. In May, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced cruise ships would be allowed to return to New Zealand waters when the maritime border reopened at the end of July. Pre-Covid, cruise ships were worth more than $60 million to the Otago economy. "For us at Port Otago, we’re excited about the prospect of coming to work and seeing cruise ships at berth again."
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 01, 2022 22:34 UTC
The changes mean young New Zealanders will now be able to spend three years in the UK. Ardern and Johnson signed a new arrangement intended to strengthen engagement between New Zealand and the UK on research, science and innovation related policies. The arrangement means New Zealand and UK custom agencies will recognise their respective Secure Export Schemes, allowing firms to export goods with limited inspections. New Zealand and the UK also made a commitment to ratify a free trade deal as soon as possible. The legislative bill for the UK free trade agreement has been introduced to parliament but is yet to have its first reading.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 01, 2022 22:32 UTC
She was the life of the party, a dedicated mum, a woman who fiercely loved her family and friends. "I'm glad, I just feel relief," mother Trinette Wilton told Open Justice when she heard the news. "I feel as though there is one less weight in my life, knowing they won't consider an appeal for the same thing again," sister Crystal Wilton added. It was another step forward in the healing process for the family, Crystal said. Mum Trinette Wilton, sister Crystal and Azalia.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 01, 2022 13:18 UTC
Photo: SuppliedThe case of a woman charged with murdering her three young daughters in their Timaru home has been called in court today but the accused did not appear in person. She was excused from being in court after her medical team revealed it would not be in her best interests. The first appearance was in the Timaru District Court and subsequent dates have been in the High Court at Timaru, held in Christchurch. Justice Mander continued her remand in custody - in the medium secure psychiatric unit at Hillmorton - until her next court appearance on July 29. It is understood several members of the Dickason family watched today's court hearing via remote access links from overseas.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 01, 2022 07:27 UTC
Manukau Urban Māori Authority (MUMA) is welcoming the government's health reforms as an important first step to improving Māori and Pasifika health in south Auckland. The reforms also include the establishment of Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority) to improve indigenous health which will work in partnership with Health NZ. He said establishing a Māori Health Authority would give Māori greater responsibility for the delivery of their own health services. "For too long the health system hasn't addressed the wellbeing of Māori, or those at the bottom of the cliff," O'Donnell said. "The resourcing of the Māori Health Authority is going to be critical to its success," she said.
Source:Stuff
July 01, 2022 06:51 UTC
(File photo)There have been 6984 new Covid-19 community cases reported during the past 24 hours, and eight further deaths during the past seven days. The seven-day rolling average of community cases is up compared with the same time last week: as of Friday it was 6422, whereas last Saturday it was 4737. There are also 417 people in hospital with Covid-19, including seven patients in intensive care or high dependency care units. SUNGMI KIM/Stuff The health ministry says traditional winter illnesses are also circulating in the community, putting significant pressure on the health system. The ministry said traditional winter illnesses were circulating in the community along with Covid-19.
Source:Stuff
July 01, 2022 06:14 UTC
She had described the text exchange in her book published last year, I'll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw in the Trump White House. "It is an attempt to redeem herself after a poor performance as press secretary, failed personal relationships, and unprofessional behaviour in the White House. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham and President Donald Trump. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump return to the White House on May 27, 2020 in Washington. In a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump called Hutchinson a "total phony".
Source:Stuff
July 01, 2022 05:57 UTC
Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku. Good luck finding a more rugby name than that of the rookie All Black, who is set to debut against Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday night. Hannah Peters/Getty Images New All Black Leicester Fainga'anuku trains with the All Blacks this week ahead of Saturday’s test against Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland. Hannah Peters/Getty Images Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku, right, scored a competition equal best 10 tries the past Super Rugby season. Fainga’anuku’s game went to another level last year, when he started 13 of 14 games, a chunk of them at centre as his versatility was highlighted.
Source:Stuff
July 01, 2022 05:35 UTC
The two companies will exchange content, distributing important stories to mass and niche audiences across their sites and publications. …great, the woke amateur media joining the woke professional media, it’s like being a middle class virtue signalling fuckwit in stereo. This merger reeks of a new way for them to both gain taxpayer funds. Note, The Working Group gets NO money from NZ on Air, yet we continually beat their legacy funded NZ on Air podcasts. If you want to support independent media who call it the way we see it and don’t pander to your middle class bias, throw some cheese The Daily Blog’s way!
Source:Stuff
July 01, 2022 05:22 UTC