Queenstown’s St Joseph’s School’s massive annual book fair’s on again this Sunday, but students were already warming up for it with their Book Character Dress Up Day last week. From left are Emilia Shaw, 10, Gabriel Armstrong, 7, Lottie Reid, 6, and Jerusha Kulasiri, 11. As the name suggests, there’ll be piles of second-hand books for sale at the fair, which runs at the school’s Beetham St campus from 10am till 2pm. The last three days of this school week involve a ‘book sort’ in which books are placed in their category, principal Alan Grant says. Beyond reading matter there’ll be food, baking and plant stalls, games, raffles, a chocolate wheel and a silent auction.
Source:Stuff
May 17, 2024 19:27 UTC
In the US, housing starts rose in April from March but are still lower than year-ago levels, and that year-ago standard is not high. Overnight European markets fell -0.7% except London which fell -0.1%. The Kiwi dollar starts today with a slight easing from yesterday at just on 61.2 USc. That all means our TWI-5 starts today just on 70.2 and little-changed from yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today at US$64,946 down a very minor -0.2% from this time yesterday.
Source:Stuff
May 17, 2024 01:53 UTC
Aotearoa’s dynamic indie agencies got together with media and industry partners at the Maritime Room in Auckland last night to promote collabs between media partners and Independent Media Agencies New Zealand members. At the event, IMANZ also announced indie agency legend and co-founder of MBM Sean McCready had been appointed as Executive Mentor to the newly formed IMANZ Leadership Team. McCready will mentor five senior leaders from IMANZ, with an eye to fostering a community of collaboration in areas such as training, compliance, technology, research, and networking. Energy and potentialKath Mitchell, IMANZ General Manager, says the event was testament to the energy and potential of the indie sector. “The talent, creativity and ambition in this slice of the industry is huge and our partners clearly recognise that.
Source:Stuff
May 16, 2024 23:52 UTC
Photo: UnsplashIn March, RNZ warned of a global shortage of olive oil and in turn, higher prices at the checkout. According to Foodstuffs, olive oil represents roughly 40 to 50 percent of New Zealand's total oil sales, making it a hugely popular grocery item. Locally produced olive oil only makes up about 10 percent of what is consumed in New Zealand, and while the price of New Zealand olive oil has not increased at nearly the same rate as what is produced overseas, it still does not come cheap. In addition, increasing labour and material costs across the horticulture industry means local olive oil production "is not a hugely profitable industry", Glover said. What you need to know about olive oilMany people do not know this, but olive oil does not have an infinite shelf life - it expires quite quickly.
Source:Stuff
May 16, 2024 10:03 UTC
First, the April US inflation rate brought no surprises, coming in as expected at 3.4%, a dip albeit a small one, from March's 3.5%. Their 'core' rate fell to 3.6%, also as expected. Yields on US benchmark bonds are falling in secondary markets, equity prices are rising in anticipation (and to record highs), and the US dollar is weakening as a risk-on mood envelopes markets today. Benchmark mortgage interest rates fell -bps to 7.08%, mortgage brokers report. The monthly inflation rate slowed for the fourth straight month to 8.8% in April from 11% in the previous month and below market forecasts of a 9% gain.
Source:New Zealand Herald
May 16, 2024 05:01 UTC
Prison art created by notorious double murderer Scott Watson will be exhibited at a Christchurch gallery this month - around the same time as he appears before the Parole Board for his next bid for freedom. While in prison, Watson has taken up painting and carving to occupy his time. On May 24 an exhibition will open at the Rei Gallery in Lyttleon featuring work Watson has completed. “As part of the WCCT kaupapa, a community collective has emerged, Te Whare o Rei (Rei Gallery). Art experts compared Watson’s art to work by Picasso and Colin McCahon, though not always favourably.
Source:New Zealand Herald
May 16, 2024 04:06 UTC
Then there was the inevitable announcement, the return of Charter Schools, at a cost of $153 million over four years. Charter schools will be the only schools that contract that and say ‘if you don’t do it, your funding is at risk and you may ultimately be closed down’.”The proposal is straight out of the Atlas Network playbook as exeplified by this editorial description of what educational choice involves. Strangely Charter schools will not have to abide by the cellphone ban or the requirement to teach an hour’s reading and writing and maths. The Ministry of Education concluded that the monitoring was inadequate and apart from two schools there was no independent evidence they were doing a better job than comparable state schools. This has not stopped Seynour from claiming that charter schools are the best thing since sliced bread.
Source:New Zealand Herald
May 16, 2024 03:57 UTC
oOh!media New Zealand is expanding its team, with the appointment of Sarah Donald as Senior Business Manager and Sian Emery as Client Solutions Executive. National Sales Director, Mark Banbrook shares, “Sarah brings exceptional media experience to the table, and we are excited to welcome her through the doors of oOh!media NZ. Emery’s background is in OOH and digital content management, with previous roles at i-media (London) and MediaWorks. David Owen, Research & Insights Director says, “It’s great to see our team expanding, now with two Client Solutions Executives. This growth not only strengthens oOh!’s capabilities but also underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional solutions in the ever-evolving media landscape here in NZ.
Source:New Zealand Herald
May 16, 2024 01:50 UTC
However, experts warn that very few travel insurance policies cover such insolvencies. (Today)"Whilst insolvency of a travel provider can certainly disrupt travel plans, most insurers see it as a business financial risk, rather than a risk of travel itself. "Pricing for other businesses going bust is extremely difficult, so most travel insurers opt to limit their exposure and keep their premiums more affordable for consumers. Unattended itemsCover for lost and stolen items is one of the major benefits of travel insurance, but most travellers don't realise their belongings aren't covered when unattended, Ball said. If you're planning an adventurous holiday, it may be worth looking to insurers who specialise in certain activities, Ball said.
Source:Stuff
May 16, 2024 00:56 UTC
H ad you been trying to market a suburb inIn some ways, I couldn’t have been closer to the tragedy. In others, I was a whole universe away. This essay was first published on 3 March, 2024. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand....
Source:Stuff
May 16, 2024 00:22 UTC
Dog food company Pedigree has launched a new campaign, Adoptable, with Colenso BBDO and Nexus Studios as part of its mission to end dog homelessness. The campaign, Adoptable, is using AI to put adoptable shelter dogs at the centre of Pedigree’s advertising. The initiative combines proprietary technology with Pedigree’s global ad reach to turn the brand’s digital ads into ads for shelter dogs, too. Launched first in Pedigree’s global test market, New Zealand, the Adoptable technology is being refined and rolled out globally. Soon, our advertising won’t just take our products to the world, it’ll take adoptable dogs, too,” says Fabio Alings, Global Brand Director, Pedigree.
Source:Stuff
May 15, 2024 21:35 UTC
We are living with Right Wing myths and culture war revenge fantasies as social policy. Science doesn’t matter because ‘Right Wing Feelings’ now dominate all legislation. Charter Schools DON’T work. Military Boot Camps don’t work, but voters frightened by TV Media Crime Porn coverage don’t give a fuck if they don’t work. We are implementing draconian kneejerk bullshit right wing myths that will make things worse, not better and the right wing spite electorate are so drunk on power they refuse to acknowledge any of that.
Source:New Zealand Herald
May 15, 2024 20:06 UTC
A New Zealand beekeeper said he is $2 million out of pocket after being ordered to destroy thousands of hives, by authorities that found traces of American foulbrood disease. A New Zealand beekeeper said he is $2 million out of pocket after being ordered to destroy thousands of hives, by authorities that found traces of American foulbrood disease (AFB). North Canterbury company Springbank Honey was forced to burn thousands of bee boxes by the National American Foulbrood Management Agency. National American Foulbrood Management Agency compliance manager Niharika Long said she could not share the spore count as it was “commercially sensitive”. Long said she “could not stress enough the importance of destroying any equipment” with traces of American Foulbrood.
Source:New Zealand Herald
May 15, 2024 19:41 UTC
The country’s largest digital and print news media business, Stuff Group, has bought the Wairarapa Times-Age from National Media Limited, with current owner Andrew Denholm joining Stuff in a new role. The sale includes the daily Wairarapa Times-Age [WTA], the weekly Wairarapa Midweek, and Wairarapa Property, the digital news site, and social media properties. WTA joins Stuff’s portfolio of regional and local news products, which together form New Zealand’s largest regional news network. Stuff managing director masthead publishing Joanna Norris says WTA is a natural fit in Stuff’s strong regional network. “Selling WTA wasn’t an easy decision,” says Denholm, “but I know I’ve found the right partner in Stuff.
Source:Stuff
May 15, 2024 17:05 UTC