Rise in dangerous dirt bike rider behaviour in Hamilton

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attribute to Senior Sergeant Scott McKenzie, Hamilton Area Manager; Youth and Community Police are noticing a rise in incidents involving people riding dirt bikes in an unsafe and dangerous manner around Hamilton City. Riding motorcycles or dirt bikes in dangerous and anti-social ways is unacceptable. It puts not only … Read more

Energy Sector – Extended support on the way during the Low Fixed Charge Tariff phase-out

Source: Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand (ERANZ)   The Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand (ERANZ) and Electricity Networks Aotearoa (ENA) are pleased to announce that members from both organisations will extend the industry-funded Power Credit Scheme from 2027 to 2032.    The Power Credits Scheme is a $5 million fund that began in June … Read more

Government Cuts – Cuts to fraud & audit jobs mean millions of health dollars overpaid or stolen will be lost – PSA

Source: PSA Underfunded frontline health services will be further impacted The ability of Health NZ to claw back millions of scarce health dollars lost to fraud and overpayment each year will be undermined by proposed cuts to the jobs of audit and fraud experts. The Audit Assurance and Risk team is a critical Health NZ Te … Read more

Supporting Kiwis with the costs of power

Source: New Zealand Government Energy Minister Simon Watts is welcoming an extension to the industry funded Power Credit Scheme which is supporting lower income Kiwis with the costs of power. The Scheme supports those who are struggling to pay their energy bills and are affected by the phase-out of a low fixed electricity charge by offering … Read more

Going For Growth: backing NZ wool producers

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is backing New Zealand sheep farmers and the wool industry with a change to government procurement rules, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson announced today. “From 1 July, government agencies will be directed to use woollen fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of … Read more

Three gang members charged following Gang Conflict Warrant in Tairāwhiti

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Attribute to Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk: Three gang members have been charged following a significant operation in Tairāwhiti. On Monday 24 March, Police were issued a Gang Conflict Warrant under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act 2023, giving Police special search powers to address recent gang conflict … Read more

Reserve Bank Announcements – Recruitment of new External Member to the Monetary Policy Committee

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 9 April 2025 – A public appointment process has started for a new external member of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to replace Professor Bob Buckle when his term expires on 30 September 2025. Under its remit, the MPC is responsible for maintaining a … Read more

Education – Principals Support NZEI’s Call for Learning Support Boost

Source: NZ Principals Federation The New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) supports the New Zealand Education Institute’s (NZEI) call for a $2.5billion investment in learning support services by 2030. “For years, Learning Support has been the neglected link in all conversations about learning progress and achievement,” said NZPF President, Leanne Otene.  “The current Minister and former Ministers … Read more

Economy Commentary – Tariff uncertainty keeps OCR ‘downward bias’ in place – CoreLogic’s Kelvin Davidson

Source: CoreLogic – Commentary from Kelvin Davidson, Chief Property Economist at CoreLogic, soon to rebrand to Cotality As widely expected, the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cut the official cash rate today by 0.25%, taking it to 3.5%. The decision reflected the fact that inflation remains well within the target band and that the … Read more

Economy – OCR: 3.5% – Further reduction in OCR appropriate – Reserve Bank

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 9 April 2025 – The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to reduce the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3.5 percent. Annual consumer price inflation remains near the mid-point of the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band. Firms’ inflation expectations and core inflation are consistent … Read more

FHA-Food & Beverage 2025 Welcomes 65,000 Visitors to Celebrate Asia’s Premier International F&B Tradeshow

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2025 – The highly anticipated Food & Hotel Asia – Food & Beverage (FHA-F&B) event officially opens today, reaffirming its position as Asia’s premier international food and beverage platform. With an expected 65,000 attendees from both local and international markets, FHA-F&B is set to … Read more

Kearney’s 2025 FDI Confidence Index® highlights APAC’s innovation-driven growth amid mounting global headwinds

Source: Media Outreach Japan and South Korea leap in ranking due to technological innovation capabilities and improving economic performance. Rising commodity prices, regulatory challenges, and geopolitical tensions temper optimism. Southeast Asia’s emerging markets showcase strong talent and investment appeal. New U.S. tariffs add urgency to scenario planning and highlight sector vulnerabilities, particularly in manufacturing and … Read more

Man charged over Auckland burglaries

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police have caught up with a burglar who broke into three homes, including one in which he was disturbed by the victim. Members of the Tactical Crime Unit arrested the Papatoetoe man following a search warrant this morning. Counties Manukau West Area Commander, Inspector Dave Christoffersen says a Papatoetoe … Read more

Police catch up with alleged identity thief

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) A prolific fraudster faces dozens of charges after racking up over $100,000 in trade debt allegedly under someone else’s identity. The Auckland man has been remanded in custody after being arrested by fraud detectives on Tuesday at an apartment in Auckland’s CBD. Auckland City’s Financial Crime Unit has been … Read more

Update: Further appeal in relation to missing man Thomas Basire

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Todd, Hutt Valley Area Investigations Manager: Hutt Valley Police are continuing to appeal for the public’s help to locate missing 28-year-old Thomas Basire, who has not been seen since November 2024. Thomas was last seen walking towards Petone on the stop bank near … Read more

Government restraint offers hope to firms, farms, and families

Source: ACT Party Responding to the Reserve Bank cutting the Official Cash Rate by 0.25 points, ACT Leader David Seymour says: “Spending restraint is paying off. The Reserve Bank has just delivered its fifth interest rate cut running, and households will start to see mortgage rates beginning with a four. “Firms, farms, and families will … Read more

Release: Property Law Amendment Bill pulled from ballot

Source: New Zealand Labour Party A Bill to protect first home buyers and others from bad faith property vendors has been drawn from the Member’s Ballot. “This simple Bill aims to protect people buying a new home from the small number of property vendors who would choose to rip up a contract in bad faith, … Read more

Fatal crash, Horsham Downs + appeal for information

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police can confirm one person died in hospital yesterday from injuries sustained in a crash at Horsham Downs last month. The single vehicle crash on Bankier Road was reported just before 7:20pm on Friday 28 March. Police investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, and we would … Read more

Inditex supports Asian University for Women by funding the university education of 50 female textile industry workers in Bangladesh for five years

Source: Media Outreach The beneficiaries of this new Inditex scholarship program, aimed at promoting professional development at the Asian University for Women, will be selected from the workers of Inditex’s partner suppliers in the country ARTEIXO, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2025 – Inditex and the Asian University for Women have launched … Read more

Finance and Banking – ASB lowers variable rates for personal, business and rural customers

Source: ASB ASB is dropping variable interest rates across home lending, business and rural lending by 0.25%, following today’s decision by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to reduce the Official Cash Rate (OCR). ASB’s Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says, “We expect our reduced variable rates will appeal to customers choosing to … Read more

OCR reduction affirms spending discipline

Source: New Zealand Government The reduction in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) affirms the work done by the  Government to bring public spending back under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Reserve Bank today reduced the OCR by 25 basis points, meaning the rate has come down 200 basis points since August last year. … Read more

Federated Farmers Says: Shear Brilliance: Government Backs Kiwi Wool!

Source: Federated Farmers Federated Farmers is welcoming the announcement that from 1 July all government agencies will be directed to use woollen products when building or refurbishing. “This is a clear vote of confidence in the future of New Zealand wool as a natural and sustainable product,” Federated Farmers meat & wool chair Toby Williams says. … Read more

Universities – Global EV adoption fails to cut CO₂ – study – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) There’s little point in buying an electric vehicle if you’re charging it with electricity generated by fossil fuels. In fact, when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions, your EV may be doing more harm than good. This is according to a study by researchers from the University of Auckland and … Read more

AutoCount POS Achieves BIR Accreditation, Simplifying Tax for Philippine SMEs and Driving Growth

Source: Media Outreach MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2025 – Philippine small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), particularly those in the retail and food & beverage (F&B) sectors, can now enjoy greater peace of mind when it comes to tax compliance. AutoCount, a leading provider of accounting and business software solutions, has … Read more

ShopUp and Sary Merge to Create SILQ, Gulf-Emerging Asia’s Largest B2B Commerce Platform, Secures USD$110M Funding

Source: Media Outreach DHAKA, BANGLADESH – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2025 – ShopUp, Bangladesh‘s largest B2B commerce platform, and Sary, the leading B2B marketplace and services platform in the Gulf, have merged to form SILQ Group. This merger brings together Gulf & Emerging Asia, creating the largest B2B commerce platform to serve the … Read more

Change forecast for Govt’s weather agencies

Source: New Zealand Government Merging the Government’s weather forecasting agencies will make for a more efficient, connected weather forecasting system, supporting a resilient economy and delivering benefits for everyday Kiwis State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown and Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti say. Legislation will be introduced this year to enable NIWA’s … Read more

NZCTU announce transformative policy vision for Aotearoa

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has launched a new policy platform, Aotearoa Reimagined, which has been developed by engaging workers, community leaders and policy experts over the past year. “Today we are announcing a transformative policy vision that reimagines our society and economy … Read more