Photo: RNZFinance Minister Nicola Willis is challenging Labour to commit to keeping her Investment Boost policy if elected on November 7. Looking ahead, 49% planning to invest in the next five years were saying Investment Boost was positively influencing their plans, with 14% expecting a large investment. "That matters because capital deepening is how productivity rises and productivity growth is the only way we will grow wages sustainably over time." She called for Labour leader Chris Hipkins and his finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds to commit to not reversing the policy. Edmonds, who is set to speak to the forum this afternoon, has previously said the Investment Boost policy is overall good for business but stopped short of committing to retain it.

“They think it's just harmless fun, which is what it's sort of been painted to be by the gambling sector, but it is obviously quite an addictive and harmful product, so we’re calling for it to be treated the same as we do with tobacco, alcohol, all these other harmful products.”

“I did not recognise her at the time but subsequently learned she was Judge Aitken.”The judge continued, “How can you be listening to this?”, Costello said. Howard claimed to the panel that when she asked Reed to leave the NZ First function: “He refused to do so and became hostile”. Michael Reed, KC, seen in a video played to a Judicial Conduct Panel investigating Judge Ema Aitken. I had Cabinet ministers [in the room] and a man who was acting unstable,” Howard claimed. Jones then asked whether Howard wanted to “increase focus” on the judge so NZ First could “leverage” the incident.

Addiction is at the heart of the civil trial, which centres on allegations that a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley G.M., suffered severe mental harm after becoming addicted to social media as a young child. She started using YouTube at 6 and joined Instagram at 11, before moving on to Snapchat and TikTok two or three years later. The attorney for YouTube insisted that the video platform was neither intentionally addictive nor technically social media, but more a viewing venue like Netflix or traditional TV. In opening remarks this week, plaintiffs’ attorney Lanier told the jury that YouTube and Meta both engineer addiction in young people’s brains to gain users and profits. Social media firms face more than a thousand lawsuits accusing them of leading young users to become addicted to content and suffer from depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation, and even suicide.

I will not answer any further questions about this.”The statement also said he regretted overshadowing his teammate’s win. Fellow Norwegian Johan-Olav Botn won gold and dedicated the win to a fellow teammate, Sivert Guttorm Bakke, who died last year. “We have been in contact, and he is aware of my feelings about this.”The viral media moment was sparked in the moments after Laegreid won bronze and was interviewed live on television. During a news conference after his declaration of love and cheating, he explained why he made the admission. “So today I made a choice to tell the world what I did, so maybe, maybe there is a chance she will see what she really means to me.

It’s a reflection of who we are now.”The brand came under fire when Māori creators called them out on social media. Bourke posted a video addressing the controversy, claiming to have never identified as a Māori brand, and saying she had been transparent about this. “We’ve always advised them that we are not a Māori brand, but we are inspired by the meaning of love.”However, as the controversy progressed, it emerged that the brand had previously claimed to be Māori-owned. We did want to use aroha cause it was different and unique.”Māori creator Holly May-Neho, who led the push for the name change on social media, was pleased to see it had happened. “What a cool thing to wake up to”, she posted to social media yesterday.

Photo: Getty ImagesA 28-year-old Christchurch man has been arrested after stealing a vehicle he hit in a crash. Police were called to Queen Elizabeth II Drive after reports the man stole a vehicle following a three-vehicle crash about 9.35pm on Wednesday. Senior Sergeant Hamish Keer-Keer said the 28-year-old man had forced a driver he crashed into from their car before leaving the area. "Following an initial search of the man's first vehicle located on Queen Elizabeth II Drive, cannabis and items indicating supply were located. "While there were no serious injuries, a number of people have been left shaken by this incident and Police are providing them with support."

Police have urged students to buy cans and not throw bottles to avoid injury and glass littering the street. Photo: ODT FilesPolice will be out in force in Dunedin’s student quarter as the tail end of Flo-Week approaches. Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said police were expecting Friday and Saturday nights to ramp up as the week of parties reaches a peak. Several people had to be transported to Dunedin Hospital's emergency department after suffering dislocations at student quarter parties. Snr Sgt Dinnissen reiterated his message urging students drinking to avoid climbing buildings and to purchase cans and not throw bottles.

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …

Sometimes it meant a small “granny flat” out the back, built without drama. Karel Boakes, president of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand, recently explained how enduring red tape could hamstring the initiative. Even if your granny flat qualifies for an exemption from the usual consent hurdles, every part of the build must still meet the Building Code. But if you give up on a granny flat, what happens to granny? Granny flats were common.

Scott Southwood. Photo: NZ PolcieA wanted man on the run from police may be in Invercargill and police are warning he should not be approached. Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Scott James Southwood, who has a warrant to arrest and is wanted by police. "It is believed he may have links in the Invercargill, Greymouth and Nelson areas," police said in a statement. "If you see Southwood please do not approach him and instead call police on 111 immediately with as much information as safely possible."

Actor James Van Der Beek and his family in Hollywood in 2019. But then another part of my brain was like, ‘You don’t know enough yet’.”He is survived by his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah Van Der Beek. Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek during their Dawson's Creek days. James Van Der Beek starred as Diplo in Viceland's What Would Diplo Do? James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek.

Competitors take part in the tractor pull during the Southern Field Days in Waimumu, Southland, yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYThis year, the two-yearly event has attracted more than 700 stallholders and will host about 40,000 visitors over three days.

Queenstown District Court. Photo: suppliedA Fijian teenager who shattered the eye socket of a Queenstown high school student with multiple punches could be deported. Seci Vakacegu, 19, was sentenced in the Queenstown District Court court this week to community detention for his assault of the 17-year-old boy on June 2 last year. The complainant suffered concussion and multiple fractures of the bones around his right eye socket. Judge Walker said the assault was aggravated by the targeting of the complainant’s head, the repeated strikes and the severe facial injuries caused.

A ceiling was set on fire and a car damaged by marine flares in incidents being investigated by Oamaru police. The two incidents in Hampden are believed to be related, Detective Kevin Kirkman said. Officers called to a house on Chelmsford Street at around 11.50pm on Tuesday found the ceiling on fire. "We also believe a second flare has been launched, landing on a vehicle parked on Chelmsford Street causing damage to the vehicle." "We would like to hear from anyone in the wider Chelmsford Street, Derby Street, Nottingham Street, Stafford Street, and Durham Street areas," he said.