The New Zealand economy likely contracted in the June quarter as demand weakened and businesses laid off staff, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) says. Christina Leung, the research firm’s deputy chief executive, said the survey data suggested there would be another quarter of economic contraction this year -- likely in the June quarter. During 2021 and 2022, a majority of firms reported the labour shortage was the biggest constraint on their trading activity. “The easing in these indicators suggests higher interest rates are continue to gain traction in reining in inflation in the New Zealand economy”. Across the entire survey, a net 23% of firms reported increasing prices during the quarter but that number has fallen dramatically from a net 70% a year ago.

July 02, 2024 02:12 UTC

The daughter of a former New Zealand All Black has been charged in relation to an alleged hit and run that left a 65-year-old man dead on the side of an Auckland road. Jason Collins was remembered as a devoted father, husband and friend to many. (NZ Police)She faces a charge of operating a vehicle carelessly, causing a death while under the influence of drunk or a drug. Earlier this year, Detective Sergeant Ben Bergin said the vehicle and driver allegedly involved had been identified shortly after Collins' death. READ MORE: Trump ally Bannon surrenders to prison to serve contempt sentenceHelena Cribb is set to reappear in September.

July 02, 2024 01:30 UTC

How was popcorn discovered? We know maize was probably first farmed by Native Americans in what is now Mexico. Over time, the wild plant developed into something like what we call maize today. How was popcorn discovered? An archaeologist on its likely appeal for people in the Americas millennia ago – https://theconversation.com/how-was-popcorn-discovered-an-archaeologist-on-its-likely-appeal-for-people-in-the-americas-millennia-ago-226802MIL OSI – Global Reports –

July 01, 2024 13:14 UTC

Photo: RNZ / Leonard PowellIn a world of Afterpay, tap and go and online shopping, cash is - surprisingly - still king. "I've been surprised how much cash people still have, actually, because I don't use it anymore." Photo: AFPDespite that, Susan Guthrie from the Reserve Bank said New Zealand currently had $9 billion in cash. "Having a sign that says 'we don't have cash on the premises' is sort of a deterrent in itself." About one in every 50 customers would come in with cash and no alternative way to pay, he said.

July 01, 2024 12:33 UTC

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 1st, 2024 - 12 commentsCategories: Daily review - Tags:Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …Share this: FacebookLinkedInRedditPinterestMastodonTwitterPrintEmail

July 01, 2024 11:47 UTC





(Reuters) - Persistent rain washed out an entire day's play at the Auckland Classic on Thursday with more showers predicted to affect Friday's packed schedule. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki meets American wild card entry Sofia Kenin While fourth seed Agnieszka Radwasnka faces American Sachia Vickery in the other quarter-final matches. The semi-final matches have been scheduled for the evening but if rain affects Friday's schedule, the organisers could schedule the semi-finals and final on Saturday. "We've done it before," tournament director Karl Budge was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald (www.nzherald.co.nz). "There's been times where three matches have been played on a day as well.

July 01, 2024 10:04 UTC

A 16-year-old school boy lost three teeth and sustained damage to two others after being attacked by a woman with a steel rod on an Auckland bus. The victim, who preferred to remain anonymous, was on his way to Panmure when the incident took place just past Pakuranga Plaza. The woman began hurling racial slurs at the Chinese-New Zealand boy before launching the unprovoked attack. Police are investigating the incident, which took place on a bus traveling from Howick to Auckland City. A spokesperson confirmed that the victim suffered serious injuries and that the attacker fled before police arrived.

July 01, 2024 09:39 UTC

Locke belonged to a generation that still believed in a world that could be, through struggle, relieved of its chains. That struggle constituted the core of a life lived with purpose, courage and determination. would, no doubt, have been surprised to discover that Keith Locke was ...

July 01, 2024 07:09 UTC

Dean’s arrogant lack of concern epitomises the deep-seated dysfunction at the summit of the Democratic Party. The President of the United States should be directly elected by the American people. Teleprompter firmly in place, supplying the President with the words, facts and ideas that had been so evidently AWOL 48 hours earlier. Democratic Party muckety-mucks? Confronted with the choice of recommitting themselves to the myth of Joe Biden, or believing the evidence of their own eyes, those Americans not already committed to Donald Trump will reach out instinctively for the President they wish they had – blind to the President they have got.

July 01, 2024 01:00 UTC

That spells the end for this website, the Newshub app and Newshub's TV news programmes. After 7:30pm this Friday, there will be no new news updates on Newshub.co.nz, the Newshub app and our social media accounts. The Newshub app will no longer be updated with new news stories after 7:30pm on Friday July 5. The Newshub website and app will no longer be updated, so livestreams will not be available after July 5. After Newshub’s closure, the database of email addresses collected for newsletter distribution will be deleted by Newshub's owner WBD.

June 30, 2024 22:10 UTC

Are you really sure I can’t recycle lids? The obvious stuff: food, garden waste, plastic that isn’t 1, 2 and 5, chemicals, batteries, building materials, nappies and sanitary waste. A simple guide to recycling, via Auckland’s EcoMattersWhy are there so many kinds of plastic that can’t be recycled? Often recycled plastic is mixed with new plastic to create recycled plastic items – although there are always enthusiastically heralded new technologies coming through that promise to change this. New Zealand is part of a global plastics treaty intended to reduce plastic waste and pollution, which is expected to be negotiated by the end of this year.

June 30, 2024 21:51 UTC

Photo: Getty ImagesThe parents of a 4-year-old boy have been left livid and dispirited by "the absolute embarrassments of society", who screamed homophobic abuse at their son because he was waving a rainbow flag in the Dunedin CBD. "My son saw the rainbow flag and jumped up and down with excitement because he loves rainbows. While the parents support the LGBTQ+ community, the flag was simply purchased because it was the one he wanted. "My son said, ‘that person is very angry’, but thankfully he didn’t realise the abuse was being directed at him. They were met with smiles from secondary school pupils, and a busker told the boy that he liked his flag.

June 30, 2024 21:15 UTC

Between 6cm to 12cm of snow was expected above 800 metres, with lesser amounts down to about 600 metres from 5am to 2pm. A heavy snow watch is in place for Central Otago northwest of Alexandra including the Queenstown Lakes, also the MacKenzie Basin, with periods of heavy snow above 800 metres, MetService said. In Southland, up to 5cm of snow was expected to accumulate on Milford Road (SH94) about 800 metres from 4am to 9am today. Heavy rainHeavy rain warnings were in place for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers today. There were heavy rain warnings in place about Fiordland and north of Doubtful Sound overnight as well, where up to 150mm of rain was forecast.

June 30, 2024 19:14 UTC

Former Married at First Sight NZ contestant Andrew Jury has died at the age of 33. Andrew Jury was cast for the 1st MAFS NZ season (Channel 4)Daniels told Stuff NZ: “Everyone from our series is in shock." AdvertBlackwell also posted his shared statement along with the Renall’s, writing: “It's with the heaviest hearts we've come together to acknowledge the passing of Andrew Jury. Discovery spokesperson said: “All MAFS NZ contributors have access to mental health professionals throughout the process, including pre-screening, during production and after broadcast. Discovery expresses our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Andrew Jury.”

June 30, 2024 15:55 UTC

This chart is a little tougher, but I’m trying to point out majority of income tax. If you actually take every dime in income tax, and you add it up, this year, 36.9% of all income tax will go to just cover Medicare. Think about that: [in] this year, almost all the income tax is consumed by interest and Medicare. In nine budget years, all income tax will go to Medicare. Border policy.

June 30, 2024 15:09 UTC