QV says building costs are flattening out
Cost pressures in the building industry are continuing to ease, according to the latest figures from QV's CostBuilder database. CostBuilder follows pricing trends for more than 60,000 separate building industry costs. The figures suggest price increases are likely slowing even further with costs increasing by just 0.3% over the three months to the end of May. "The rate of building cost inflation is certainly on the wane," QV CostBuilder spokesman and quantity surveyor Martin Bisset said. "This will be welcome news to all those who are currently contemplating or pricing up new building projects."
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 10, 2024 03:36 UTC
Breakfast briefing: Growth needs productivity gains, IMF says
The bond and FX markets reacted, but the equity market went quiet at unchanged levels (although they may argue this gain was already priced in). But in the event, April consumer debt levels only rose +US$6.4 bln again, up just +1.5% from a year ago. Their jobless rate rose to 6.2%. In India, their central bank held its policy rate unchanged at 6.5% and said inflation's pressure at 4.85% is not changing much. The IMF is pointing out that growth without sufficient productivity improvement is a problem for the world's financial stability, especially when the largest economies drag the chain on productivity.
Source:Stuff
June 10, 2024 01:48 UTC
ACT Conference, the rise of the hard right in NZ and dreams of 15%
From January 2013 to February 2014, he worked for The Manning Foundation (now called the Canada Strong and Free Network). (They possibly still are: the Atlas Network no longer discloses member organisations on its website.) During this time, Houlbrooke attended multiple Atlas Network events, as documented by the Atlas Network. He must know that he worked for Atlas Network think tanks for years, and that he was a guest at Atlas Network events. He must also know ACT party staff members worked for Atlas Network think tanks for years and attended Atlas Network events.
Source:Stuff
June 10, 2024 00:25 UTC
Open mike 10/06/2024
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give
Source:Stuff
June 10, 2024 00:03 UTC
Help agency says cost of living crisis ‘exacerbating’ level and severity of family violence
A leading family violence crisis agency says the current cost of living crisis is exacerbating domestic abuse and harm in New Zealand, with a marked increase in people reporting more severe assaults - often involving weapons and strangulation. Shine senior adviser Rachel Kain said the rate of family violence being reported to the organisation was “at an all-time high”. On average, police attend a family violence episode every four minutes. Kain said family violence cases had become much more complex due to poverty-related issues. Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7)Ministry of Justice: For information on family violenceTe Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence ServicesWhite Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men’s violence towards women.
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 09, 2024 23:21 UTC
Behind the rise of Motion Sickness
The upshot of that, Motion Sickness, took root in their quintessential scarfie Dunedin flat. Ten years down the line, Motion Sickness has branched out even further, social media now becoming a small part of their channel agnostic approach, with a focus on large scale integrated brand campaigns. The agency also recently launched ‘The Motion Sickness Design Office’, a new arm to the agency offering branding and identity services. Audiences seem to immediately connect with a Motion Sickness campaign because it brings a fresh perspective to a brand, ensuring it stands out from the crowd and avoids being bland. Despite the near-constant plaudits Motion Sickness has received since their inception, Stuchbury says it’s not easy being an independent business.
Source:Stuff
June 09, 2024 21:01 UTC
Sky the limit as Collins retains national title
Paul Collins and Sky on the longhead course at the New Zealand sheepdog trial championships in Taranaki late last month. It was a southern trifecta as Brian Dickison and Jake, from the Greenvale club, were third in the New Zealand championship. Mr Collins and Sky were named non-travelling reserves. Back home on the farm last week and busy with shearing, Mr Collins joked it was a little hard to get motivated. Mr Collins had tried to get some pups out of Sky but had not yet been successful.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 09, 2024 16:32 UTC
Menopause treatment patch supply issue at ‘crisis point’
By Hannah Martin ofPhoto: SuppliedWomen are facing the "unpleasant and very frightening" prospect of missing out on menopause treatment as hormone replacement therapy supply issues have reached "crisis point". Cheer was frustrated and "absolutely devastated" by ongoing HRT supply issues, saying millions worldwide would suffer as a result. Fenton said there have been HRT supply issues for about four years. She said of the 75 percent of women who experience menopause symptoms, about a third of that group have significant symptoms. "There's a global supply issue with these patches, and we acknowledge that this supply issue may be causing stress for some people.
Source:Stuff
June 09, 2024 13:04 UTC
Adam Pearse: Luxon managed significant progress in the Pacific
Prime Minister Luxon has returned from his Pacific tour, after spending the last few days in Niue and Fiji. Luxon has claimed his first trip to the region has been successful, as he managed to build rapport with Fijian Prime Minister Rabuka and Niue Premier, Tagelagi. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says Luxon managed to hold his own with his international counterparts, given the circumstances. LISTEN ABOVE
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 09, 2024 11:29 UTC
Iggy Azalea slams Eminem for `rape lyrics` via Twitter
The TelegraphLisa, aged 40, is waiting to hear if she will be allowed to die. She is married and has two young children who don’t know she plans to end her life. There is just one more medication she has been told to try to treat her chronic depression, and then, she says, her request for euthanasia will be approved. The hardest part will be leaving her children, but she feels she has no choice. She plans to tell them, with the help of a grief counsellor, when she has set a date for her death.
Source:Stuff
June 09, 2024 07:05 UTC
Herald morning quiz: June 9
What is the square root of 36? Photo / 123RFWhat is the square root of 36? Test your brains with the Herald’s morning quiz. Share your score with friends, family, & colleagues, and find out who has the sharpest mind. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for today’s afternoon quiz.
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 08, 2024 23:34 UTC
Departure bittersweet
Then I came back to New Zealand and was asked to come back to journalism, this time in my home patch. I can’t walk down the street without meeting people I have dealt with. My departure is especially bittersweet considering I was named best junior news journalist at the New Zealand Community Newspaper Awards two weeks ago, but it does add some dramatic flair to my departure. It’s not just journalists who can submit official information requests. You can find templates for an Official Information Act or Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request online if you want.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 08, 2024 22:02 UTC
Police fear for safety at gang funerals as 501 deportees increase aggression
Photo: ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFFPolice officers deployed to monitor gang funerals are fearing for their safety as 501 deportees bring a new level of aggression, the Police Association says. This weekend, extra police are heading to Bay of Plenty for a gang memorial in Ōpōtiki. "Gangs have become more sophisticated since the deportation of the 501s from Australia, and with that has come an escalation of the violence that they're using now, and that includes violence they're using against our officers," he said. That extra resource had to come from somewhere, he added. "There are a number of areas of policing we deal with, from prevention, road policing, gang activity and organised crime.
Source:Stuff
June 08, 2024 21:16 UTC
Deep fakes and the new frontier in scams
Deep fakes are the new frontier in scamming and every New Zealander needs to be vigilant, writes Diana Clement. Deep fakes are the new frontier in scamming and every New Zealander needs to be vigilant. In the case of scams, the Crimes Act, Fair Trading Act and Consumer Guarantees Act provide some protection, but weren’t written with deep fakes, or even overseas-based scammers in mind. Deep fakes are not illegal under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 [HDC], says Hunt. Deep fakes don’t.
Source:New Zealand Herald
June 08, 2024 20:26 UTC
Auckland assistant principal told police he got ‘thrill’ from messaging student
Stuff can now reveal what former James Cook High School assistant principal Seelan Ramiah told police during a criminal investigation into his actions in February 2023. At some point during that first school term, Ramiah asked the student to contact him on Signal, an encrypted messaging application, and told her not to tell anyone. "He told her that the school principal had an apartment in the city, which he was allowed to use, and he invited her to join him there." The student's friend told her mum who in turn contacted the school and arranged a meeting with the then principal, Grant McMillan. The student told McMillan nobody else in the school knew of the messages as Ramiah had told her to keep it a secret.
Source:Stuff
June 08, 2024 10:17 UTC