More public service job cuts may be coming – here’s how many have gone already

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ The government is set to announce proposals which RNZ understands will seek to reduce the number of government agencies, with amalgamation, more work on digitisation and using AI, and setting a target to reduce the public service headcount to 1 percent of the total population by 2029. There are 42…

‘Bigger isn’t always better’: Labour’s Chris Hipkins on coalition’s plan to merge government departments

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Source: Radio New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins says bigger government departments aren’t always more efficient than smaller departments. RNZ / Marika Khabazi Labour leader Chris Hipkins says public servant caps can be “arbitrary” and bigger government departments aren’t always better at doing the job, as the finance minister looks to downsize the public service.…

Southland farmers to benefit under improved farm plan system

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government is extending the timeframe for Southland farmers to submit freshwater farm plans to ensure they can benefit from the updated national system to be adopted later this year, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Nicola Grigg, and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say. The regulation currently requires farmers to…

Second master’s degree brings valedictorian honour for EIT Auckland graduate

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Source: Eastern Institute of Technology 14 hours ago Komal Saddi will add a valedictorian honour to her second master’s degree when she graduates from EIT Auckland this week. The 35-year-old will graduate with a Master of Health Science and deliver a valedictory address as one of two valedictorians at EIT Auckland’s graduation ceremonies at Aotea…

How Kiwis are Coping: Pensioners forgoing coffee, meat to keep budgets low

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Source: Radio New Zealand The pension only covers the basics. (File photo) 123rf As the cost of living climbs and Trump’s war on Iran drives fuel costs sky-high, how are Kiwis coping? What are they doing without? How are they saving money? An RNZ series examines the ways it’s impacting different groups. The increasing cost…

Cost of living pressures: Pensioners forgoing coffee, meat to keep budgets low

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Source: Radio New Zealand The pension only covers the basics. (File photo) 123rf The increasing cost of living is hurting most, but those on fixed incomes have even less room to move with some forced to forego coffee and meat. Petrol and oil prices have crept exponentially higher after the war in Iran, while statistics…

‘Our best resource’: Teachers a better investment than workbooks, school leaders say

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Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford reveal a $131 million education package. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone School leaders say the government is better to spend up on teacher development rather than workbooks if it wants to improve kids’ reading, writing and maths. Education Minister Erica Stanford on Monday…

Tech bros say AI can be your best friend. Experts explain why it can’t

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Source: Radio New Zealand Say everyone had a best friend who was always available, never judgmental, totally on the same page about everything and needed nothing in return. Wouldn’t that solve the loneliness so many people are facing? No, experts say. In fact, having a best friend like that might make things much worse. This…

Motorbike doco inspired by a quarter-life crisis wins international award

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Source: Radio New Zealand As a child, filmmaker Brooke Darrow remembers going to a funeral for somebody who’d died on a motorbike, then finding it “incredibly confusing” when her dad and brothers continued to ride their bikes around the paddocks like nothing had happened. To better understand the “allure” of motorbike riding, she made the…

Selling second-hand: Where do you go and what’s the appetite?

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Source: Radio New Zealand Recent reports about second-hand sales booming are probably met with gleaming eyes from potential sellers looking for an extra buck in a cost-of-living crisis. TradeMe’s circular economy report earlier this year estimated, on average, each person has 19 items to sell, with an estimated value of $1300 per person. It highlighted…

Why Australians are calling New Zealand a tax haven

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Source: Radio New Zealand Australia’s latest government Budget has prompted some strong reactions. 123rf A recent headline in The Australian newspaper declared: Budget increases New Zealand’s appeal as a tax haven. It said, with no capital gains tax, no stamp duty or land tax, and the opportunity to negatively gear, business owners and property investors…

New English, maths primary curriculums had little effect on achievement, first results show

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Source: Radio New Zealand In some cases average scores in the subjects edged up, but in others they dropped lower by statistically insignificant amounts. RNZ / Marika Khabazi The first national results show new English and maths curriculums have had little effect on children’s achievement so far. In some cases average scores edged up, but…

Paediatrician calls for sleeping pod ban after five-month old’s death

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Source: Radio New Zealand Manufacturer Taylorson denied that its sleeping pods represented an “inherent or widespread danger” and said they were safe to use. Supplied An expert is calling for a ban on padded sleeping pods for infants as a coroner finds a baby’s death was partly due to one. A five-month-old boy died in…

Our Changing World: How can Aotearoa eliminate cervical cancer?

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Source: Radio New Zealand Professor Bev Lawton holding an HVP swab Charlie Dreaver Health experts in New Zealand say that cervical cancer is not only preventable, we have the ability to eliminate it once and for all. On average, about 175 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and about 55 people die…

One in five specialist referrals declined last year in seven districts, national figures unknown

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Source: Radio New Zealand The senior doctors’ union says increasing numbers of patients cannot see a specialist despite being referred by their GP. Gorodenkoff Productions OU / 123RF The senior doctors’ union says increasing numbers of patients cannot see a specialist despite being referred by their GP. A report by the Association of Salaried Medical…

Eleven Fijian police officers investigated for ties to Auckland drug trade links

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A multinational police investigation implicating 11 Fijian police officers in collusion with drug traffickers has been handed over to prosecutors. The Fiji Police Force announced that the investigation, lasting nearly six months, now awaits advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on how to proceed. On…

Government seeks to clarify Disability Support Services functions

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Source: Radio New Zealand Disability issues minister Louise Upston. RNZ / Mark Papalii The government has introduced legislation that would clarify the purpose of Disability Support Services (DSS), including making it clear the Crown is not the employer of family carers. The legislation would reduce the Crown’s exposure to fiscal and litigation risks, following a…

Health Provision – One in five GP referrals declined as wait times for care increase

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Twenty per cent of GP referrals to specialists are being declined across several districts, but the extent of the problem nationally is unknown as Health NZ doesn’t collate this information. A new report by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists compared data from seven districts and found declined referrals increased … Read more