More complaints arise about Woolworths’ use of AI personality analysis in job interviews
Steve Holt, 51, has tried to get a job at Woolworths for years but said he keeps getting seemingly rejected by the AI interview system. Despite that, he said he had been rejected in six Woolworths job applications, submitting his latest application in October. Holt said he was an “affable” person who “was not an a***hole” and would have been capable of stacking shelves in a supermarket if it was not for the AI interview. Suzanne said the AI interview feedback she received called her introverted, which she said was “laughable” because she was known to talk a lot. When asked what human involvement there was in the hiring process, Woolworths confirmed there was a “human in the loop” after the initial AI assessment.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 28, 2026 08:18 UTC
Weekend briefing: Bonds and equities slump in tandem
Their 1-5 curve is steeper at +29 bps (+3 bps) and the 3 mth-10yr curve is now at +74 bps (+2 bps). The Australian 10 year bond yield starts today at 5.13%, up +6 bps from yesterday and a fifteen year high. And the NZ Government 10 year bond rate starts today at 4.80%, up +4 bps and its highest in nearly two years. That all means our TWI-5 starts today down -20 bps at just on 61.4, down -70 bps for the week. The bitcoin price starts today at US$66,207 and down -3.9% from this time yesterday, down -4.9% for the week.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 28, 2026 05:06 UTC
Four people arrested after police find $1.1m worth of cannabis plants at Christchurch property
A drug bust in Christchurch uncovered $1.1m worth of cannabis plants and four people were arrested and charged. Photo/ New Zealand Herald composite photoFour people arrested after police find $1.1m worth of cannabis plants at Christchurch propertyA drug bust in Christchurch uncovered $1.1m worth of cannabis plants and four people were arrested and charged. Photo/ New Zealand Herald composite photoMore than 1000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $1.1 million have been seized at a property in Christchurch. A search warrant targeting cannabis operations uncovered the plants at an address in Waltham earlier in the week. They appeared in court on charges of possessing cannabis for supply, cultivating cannabis, and participating in an organised criminal group.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 28, 2026 03:47 UTC
Formula 1: Front wing damage costs Lawson in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, Kiwi to start 14th at Suzuka
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen joined Lawson in being eliminated in Q2, as Lindblad sealed the final place in the top 10. If there’s any consolation, Lawson started outside the top 10 in both China’s sprint and grand prix, and finished seventh in both. Arvid Lindblad - Racing Bulls11. Max Verstappen - Red Bull12. Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls15.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 28, 2026 03:35 UTC
Epstein scandal: US bank agrees big settlement with women
Bank of America is the second biggest bank in the United States. Photo: Getty ImagesThe Bank of America has agreed to pay to settle a civil lawsuit brought by women who accused it of facilitating their sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein, court records show. The plaintiffs' lawyers may seek up to 30% of the settlement, or about $US21.8 million, for legal fees, according to court records. The lawyers are also appealing Rakoff's dismissal in January of a similar lawsuit they brought against Bank of New York Mellon. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 28, 2026 03:18 UTC
New fuel security powers in Australia to address supply crisis
Photo: Getty ImagesNew fuel security powers allowing the Australian Government to underwrite private sector purchases have been announced to ensure supply flows. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says parliament will on Monday consider measures that will support private companies purchasing shiploads of fuel as prices continue to increase due to shortages caused by the Iran war. This would involve using public funds to underwrite private companies in order to buy additional petrol or diesel for Australia. Six out of 81 fuel cargo ships scheduled to arrive in Australia in April cancelled their arrivals but these have been replaced by others. The trend was even more pronounced in regional Australia, where diesel prices averaged A307.6 cents per litre, a A28.6 cent weekly jump.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 28, 2026 02:38 UTC
Twins say raised to shoplift so they could eat
Carmen was involved in some of those, racking up a total of 13 shoplifting charges, while Courtney had 18. Taken out to steal from the age of 10Carmen's lawyer Kevin Lamb told the court about the twins' upbringing. Courtney's lawyer Elizabeth Gresson said shoplifting was a learned behaviour for the twins and it was their family's "modus operandi". An organised family operationThe judge said the twins' crimes caused "significant loss" to Woolworths and had a trickle-down effect impacting the wider community. The judge thanked the twins' whānau for filling the court's public gallery in support.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 28, 2026 01:18 UTC
Supermarket shoplifting twins Courtney and Carmen Habib say they were raised to steal in order to eat
Carmen was involved in some of those, racking up a total of 13 shoplifting charges, while Courtney had 18. On March 24, 2024, Courtney, her brother Brett Habib and another relative were in Woolworths Highland Park. Judge Frances Eivers sentenced the Habib twins in Manukau District Court this week. Carmen was, however, no stranger to the courts and had 15 previous convictions, Judge Eivers said. “Which is still a lot,” Judge Eivers said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 28, 2026 00:47 UTC
Faults, delays dog Cook Strait ferries
The Connemara has been out of service since last week. Sailings on Connemara have been canned for the eighth day in a row due to a technical fault, which is causing issues for its remaining ship Livia. Connemara, which usually sails up to four times daily between Wellington and Picton, has not run since the fault was identified almost a week ago. Yesterday Bluebridge issued an alert on its website informing passengers Livia was running four hours behind schedule due to re-accommodating Connemara passengers. In their opinion, ‘‘technical issues’’ was an insufficient explanation for the delays and cancellations.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 28, 2026 00:43 UTC
Peter Gray Engineering sentenced after worker fatally crushed at Ōtorohanga site
The court heard that on the day of victim’s death, he and other workers tried to move a 1.84-tonne press brake into the workshop. Workers lowered the press brake onto the stacker and skates and tried to pull it into the workshop. The press brake that fatally crushed a young worker at Peter Gray Engineering. The victim got a farm jack and tried to lift the press brake to reposition the dislodged skate. When he tried another full stroke of the jack’s ratchet mechanism, the press brake rocked backwards and then forwards.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 28, 2026 00:43 UTC
Mayor questions need to close factories
Photo: SuppliedThe mayor of Central Hawke's Bay says the region has been hit hard by back-to-back announcements of factory closures. The decision came in the same week that McCain Foods announced it would close its Hastings vegetable processing plant. Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Will Foley says it is a huge blow. I think we need much stronger and more deliberate backing of New Zealand made goods and services both by government and consumers. Canterbury vegetable grower Alastair Clemens, who grew processed peas and carrots for Heinz Wattie's in Barrhill, said the closures were devastating for growers.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 27, 2026 23:19 UTC
Obituary: A life building Clutha community
Two thumbs up for the Clutha community from then mayor Juno Hayes. The car savings became business capital, and Mr Hayes ploughed every hour he had into making the business a success. It was hard physical work but Mr Hayes never complained as he believed in what they were doing. In 1986, when council amalgamation led to the creation of the Bruce District Council, Mr Hayes successfully ran for the mayoralty. For the final eight years of his life, Mr Hayes was afflicted by Alzheimer’s.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 27, 2026 23:02 UTC
Chips off the old block build log firm
Stewart family members Dan (left), Shane, Matt and Grant Stewart and Alyse Mansell (nee Stewart) and dog Lulu. Not that Grant and Loryn Stewart ever pushed their offspring into joining Stewart Logging, but as their three children reached the appropriate age, they headed for the forest. At 64, Grant Stewart is still the boss, working with his wife Loryn, their three children Matt (34), Dan (31) and Alyse (30), and nephew Shane Stewart. He was with him for two years before Loryn’s step-brother Peter Saunders asked if he wanted a job logging and sent him to Frank Carran for training. Stewart Logging has a mechanised hauler crew of about 10, meaning everyone is in a machine; it is Wenita’s only pole hauler crew.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 27, 2026 22:36 UTC
Mt Albert violence: Vehicle driven at group of partygoers, six injured in mass disorder
Police received multiple calls about a large disorder event involving young people on Phyllis St about 9.50pm, Senior Sergeant John Nicol said this morning. “Early information suggests that a vehicle was driven towards a group of partygoers, injuring two people – one with moderate injuries and one with minor injuries. Police are continuing to investigate and work to establish exactly what occurred.”Police and ambulance crews dealt with multiple injured youths after a party in Mt Albert last night got out of control. The party was taking place at a Phyllis St house but disorder spread to neighbouring Springleigh Ave, they said. It was believed a teen injured at the Mt Albert incident had been dropped off there.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 27, 2026 20:43 UTC
Golf superstar Tiger Woods arrested, charged with DUI after Florida car crash
The vehicle Tiger Woods was driving clipped a truck and flipped over while trying to overtake on a residential street near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida. Photo / WPTVHowever, under Florida law, Budensiek said, Woods was entitled to refuse a urine test. “We will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash,” Budensiek told reporters. Photo / Getty ImagesAsked to estimate how fast Woods had been driving in the moments before the crash, Budensiek said: “The answer is I can’t. Friday’s incident comes five years after he was involved in a serious car crash in California that left him with severe right leg injuries.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 27, 2026 20:35 UTC