Kāinga Ora has purchased the five two-bedroom homes in Richmond, near Nelson, from developer NZ Housing Group now that construction has been completed. They are among 27 new homes Kāinga Ora has delivered in Richmond in the past year.
Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says people on the Ministry of Social Development housing register who have specifically requested to move to Richmond will soon move into these homes.
“Now that we’ve purchased the homes, we’ve begun the process of placing people into them. We’re expecting all the homes to be tenanted in the next couple of weeks.”
Ms Campbell says the homes are in a sought-after location, with shops, schools and other services all nearby. “We’re looking forward to welcoming customers into their new homes, and to supporting them and their whānau as they settle into the area,” she says.
Construction of the new homes began in April this year. Construction is also continuing on six new two-bedroom homes in Oxford Street in Richmond, which Kāinga Ora has agreed to purchase when they are completed at the end of this year.
Families and friends were at Te Rauparaha Arena to watch seventy new police officers graduate from their initial police training in Porirua today. Twenty three out of the seventy graduates joined police because they had whānau already in police as constables, sergeants, senior sergeants, detectives and even members of the police executive.
In attendance at the 378 Wing graduation was Hon Hekia Parata, the Wing Patron, The Hon Mark Mitchell – Minister for Police, The Hon Casey Costello – Associate Minister for Police with Acting Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and members of the police executive.
Constable Steven Karehana was the recipient of the Commissioner’s Leadership Award.
“This is the beginning of our journey in the New Zealand Police, but for all of us graduating, there are many people who have sacrificed and worked hard to allow us to be here, and we are very grateful. We could not have done it without you. The call to service is one few answer, but it is a selfless sacrifice to put community above self and by graduating today we have all joined a proud and selfless organisation.”
Top award winner in the wing, Constable Jesse McIntyre was presented with the korowai to wear on parade by Ministers Mitchell and Costello.
He says, “College is where I became part of the Police family. Both recruits and staff were welcoming and respectful. From day one you could see the passion and drive that everyone had to serve their communities and help people.
My advice to anyone thinking of joining is keep true to yourself, remember why you joined and what you are striving to achieve. Look after your mates and don’t be afraid to ask for support, we all need a bit of help sometimes. All staff here want you to succeed and achieve your potential, therefore have an open mind, and take on advice. Stay humble and take it one day at a time.”
Awards: Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Jesse McIntyre, posted to Canterbury District. Constable McIntyre also wins the Firearms Award. Patron’s Award for second in wing, recognising second top student: Constable Daniel Coonan, posted to Auckland City District. Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Stephen Karehana posted to Central district. Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Ethan Comer posted to Bay of Plenty District. Physical Training and Defensive Tactics: Constable Marthinus Venter, posted to Tasman District.
Deployment: The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on Monday, 21 October 2024 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables. Northland 4, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 22 and broken down as follows: Auckland – 7, Waitematā – 3, Counties Manukau – 12, Waikato – 5, Bay of Plenty – 8, Eastern – 3, Central – 7, Wellington – 10, Tasman – 2, Canterbury – 6, Southern – 3.
Demographics:
20.0 percent are female, 80.0 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 57.2 percent of the wing, with Māori 11.5 percent, Pasifika 10.0 percent, Asian 12.9. percent and Other 4.3 percent.
Wing Patron: The Honourable Hekia Parata – Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Porou.
After a career as a senior public servant, Parata was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, representing the National Party, from 2008 until 2017. She served as the Minister of Education in the Fifth National Government. Some of her parliamentary roles included Minister for Women’s Affairs, Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Minister of Education and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs. She retired from politics in 2017, and since then has had several appointments to ministerial inquiries, such as leading the 2023 inquiry into forestry land use after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Please look out for a Ten One Magazine story that will be published on the Police website with more stories and photos about our recruits tackling work in their first week.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will chair negotiations on carbon markets at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) alongside Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and Environment, Grace Fu.
“Climate change is a global challenge, and it’s important for countries to be enabled to work together and support each other in the transition to a low emission, net zero future,” Mr Watts says.
“To support cooperation and unlock financial investment, Minister Fu and I have been asked to co-chair negotiations that will finalise details for how countries can cooperate on carbon markets under the Paris Agreement. Having credible, high integrity, and transparent carbon markets are good for countries, consumers, and the climate as they encourage direct investment towards reducing emissions.
“It is an honour to be selected as one of the eight Ministerial representatives from among 195 countries to chair these negotiations. It recognises New Zealand and Singapore’s expertise in carbon markets and emissions pricing mechanisms, and the Government’s work to restore credibility in our domestic carbon market, the Emissions Trading Scheme.”
The UN Climate Change system drives global action to reduce the impacts of climate change through the implementation of the Paris Agreement. These meetings also allow businesses and civil society to engage on climate solutions and navigating the economic transition.
COP29 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11-22 November 2024. Ministers Watts and Fu will engage with their counterparts in preparation for the meeting to ensure smooth negotiations.
• 81% of New Zealand workers say they feel burnt out, with heavy workloads (59%) and an insufficient number of staff (31%) being the top two contributors
• 24% of workers who say they feel burnout have not expressed their feelings to their manager
• 76% state their managers are aware of their feelings of burnout and are handling it by encouraging time off (24%), delegating some responsibilities to other team members (19%), and helping to prioritise projects (18%)
• 10% say their managers are not taking steps to alleviate their feelings of burnout.
Auckland, 10 October 2024 – On World Mental Health Day, new independent research by specialised recruiter Robert Half finds that the overwhelming majority (81%) of New Zealand workers say they feel burnt out at work, but 24% are not upfront with their manager about it.
When asked whether they feel burnt out, defined in the research as a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive workplace stress, four in five workers (81%) say they feel “a little burnt out” (60%), “very burnt out” (16%) or “completely burnt out” (5%).
With 89%, Gen X feels the most burnt out, compared with 86% of Gen Z, 79% of Millennials and 69% of Baby Boomers.
“Burnout is reaching alarming levels in the Kiwi workforce,” says Ronil Singh, Director at Robert Half.
“Despite New Zealand being known for boasting healthy work-life balance, the past year has seen a surge in stress, exhaustion and disengagement among employees. A combination of factors, including companies operating with minimal staff, the pandemic’s lingering effects, economic instability and pervasive job insecurity have all contributed to this uptick.”
The reasons why workers are burnt out
When asked about what is contributing the most to their feelings of burnout, workers identified their work conditions are playing a larger role than the workplace’s culture or challenges that come with the return to the office:
• Heavy workloads 59%
• An insufficient number of staff 31%
• The commute to the office 29%
• A lack of communication and support from my manager 22%
• A toxic organisational culture 21%.
“The constant pressure to perform, the erosion of work-life balance and fears about job security are leaving many employees feeling overwhelmed and stressed,” Singh says. “Burnout is not a sign of weakness. It’s a signal that something needs to change in the workplace. A healthier and more sustainable workplace can be achieved through a joint effort between employers and employees, built on open communication and mutual support.”
How managers are addressing staff burnout
The majority (76%) of affected workers say they have approached their manager to reveal they feel burnt out and have received support to alleviate their symptoms.
The most common steps managers have taken are:
• Providing encouragement for staff to take time off 24%
• Delegating some responsibilities to other team members 19%
• Helping to prioritise projects 18%
• Providing greater scheduling and workplace flexibility 17%.
For 10% of workers, however, their manager has not taken any steps to address burnout despite being made aware. Meanwhile, almost a quarter (24%) of workers have not made their manager aware of their feelings.
“Employees must recognise the signs and communicate their struggles to their managers for burnout to be properly addressed,” Singh says. “Ignoring it can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and even long-term health problems. Speaking up allows employees to advocate for themselves and work with their managers to find solutions that address their specific needs and challenges.
“At the same time, it is on managers to create a supportive and empathetic work environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their concerns. Regular check-ins and open communication channels can help reduce stress and promote work-life balance,” concluded Singh.
Notes
About the research
The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in June 2024 by an independent research company, surveying 501 full-time office workers across New Zealand. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management and trends in the workplace.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the global, specialised talent solutions provider that helps employers find their next great hire and jobseekers uncover their next opportunity. Robert Half offers both contract and permanent placement services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Robert Half New Zealand has an office in Auckland. More information on roberthalf.com/nz.
A man critically injured in an assault at his Western Heights, Rotorua home in September has died.
The man and his wife were seriously assaulted on 23 September.
The woman passed away on the evening of 5 October and sadly her husband has now also died, passing away in hospital yesterday.
A 52-year-old man who was arrested and charged with murder in relation to a linked incident at an Utuhina property will now be facing murder charges in relation to all three deaths.
The man is remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in Rotorua High Court on 18 October.
Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the three deaths.
Labour welcomes the release of the Government’s response to the report into the North Island weather events but urges it to push forward with legislative change this term.
“Labour commissioned the review into the severe weather events in Government, so New Zealand can be better prepared,” Labour emergency management spokesperson Camilla Belich said.
“Labour is willing to work with and assist the Government in ensuring the recommendations of this report are actioned, including implementing legalisation this term.
“This needs to be a priority and Mark Mitchell must provide a clear timeline for implementing these changes. We don’t know when the next disaster will strike and must be prepared.
“The Emergency Management system in New Zealand requires urgent reform and investment to make sure New Zealand is best placed to respond to a major natural disaster.
“New Zealand needs to invest in resilient infrastructure and support for local councils. The Government scrapped Labour’s $6 billion National Resilience Plan, which was ringfenced to support local communities and councils after Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods. The plan also set aside funds to build resilience in at risk locations.
“One in 100-year events are becoming more and more common, it’s critical we invest properly to protect our communities and our economy,” Camilla Belich said.
The University of South Australia has appointed Ryan McClenaghan as its new Director of Defence and Space, responsible for steering research and education across the sector at a pivotal time in the nation’s defence history.
McClenaghan has made a substantial impact in his most recent role as Director, Defence and National Security at Fleet Space Technologies, one of Australia’s leading satellite companies with a global presence. During his three-year tenure at Fleet, McClenaghan secured millions of dollars in defence contracts.
At UniSA, he will draw on his extensive international experience with defence companies, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, including working across the AUKUS partnership with government and industry.
Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, McClenaghan moved to Australia in 2006, co-founding two start-up companies and working in various roles in the intervening years, including with the Australian Industry Group and Micro-X, an award-winning ASX-listed x-ray technology company.
Announcing the appointment, UniSA Director: Enterprise Partnerships, Peter Stevens, says McClenaghan will strengthen the University’s defence and space footprint with industry and governments in Australia and worldwide.
“South Australia is at the forefront of Australia’s space and defence sector, responsible for delivering a $368 billion nuclear submarine construction project for the AUKUS alliance, hosting the Australian Space Agency, and supporting more than 100 space-related companies,” Stevens says.
“Academia, industry and government need to work hand-in-hand to ensure the sector thrives, highlighting the importance of this appointment. Ryan and his experienced team will work closely to bridge the gap between innovation and operational efficiency as well as collaborating to develop the skills required to deliver on our commitments.”
“All these underpin our strengths in research and collaboration in areas such as the SmartSat CRC and iLAuNCH Trailblazer program, which will be amplified by the creation of Adelaide University in 2026, bringing together the State’s two biggest universities,” Stevens says.
Excited by the challenge, McClenaghan says he is looking forward to leading UniSA’s defence and space strategy at such a critical time.
“As Australia seeks to grow its sovereign defence and capabilities, and Adelaide University is created, it is more important than ever that we align research with industry engagement and technology transfer and support the skills required for the future,” McClenaghan says.
He will commence his new role on Monday 14 October.
Are you a community leader? Someone with the vision, community focus and commitment to help Auckland achieve its goals?
There’s now one year to go until Aucklanders decide on the leaders who will take on the big opportunities heading our way.
Those elected to Auckland Council’s Governing Body and its local boards will be taking on a critical leadership role for our large, diverse and growing region. They will govern our organisation; guide and make decisions on how best to allocate resources and drive value for money for ratepayers and Aucklanders alike.
With major infrastructure projects set for completion from 2025, notably the City Rail Link and Central Interceptor, this is the time Auckland can level up on its ambitions. That includes how its businesses thrive, how communities grow and meet their housing needs, how people get around efficiently and easily, how it takes on its environmental challenges and how its centres become great places to be.
Tāmaki Makaurau’s leadership is a big team, with a range of roles and responsibilities: from the mayor and ward councillors, who make regional decisions as members of the council’s governing body, to local board members who represent 21 areas of Auckland and make local decisions.
“It’s time to consider who will be next to take on that responsibility and lead Auckland towards becoming a world-class city,” says Auckland Council’s chief executive, Phil Wilson.
“Elected members have roles that need to show a combination of great leadership skills, advocacy and quality decision-making abilities on behalf of the people they represent.
“Regardless of your background, if you think you can make a difference and be the voice of your community, definitely consider standing as a candidate.
“With our region being so rich in culture and ethnic diversity, it’s important that people from all walks of life are represented,” he says.
“Auckland’s growth and uniqueness has shown how our size and scale has a range of different needs to address, requiring varied thinking and approaches from across the region to weigh in on plans and projects, and to prioritise and what’s best for our communities.
“Elected representatives play a part in almost everything the council does – from decisions on arts, events, sporting and park facilities, libraries, community centres, to infrastructure, environment, emergency preparedness and much more,” says Mr Wilson.
“I genuinely hope people take advantage of this opportunity to stand up for their communities.”
Standing for your community
Ever thought about what you could do to change things or considered taking on something more meaningful that would benefit your neighbourhood?
If you’ve got what it takes or know someone else who could be part of the team to represent Auckland’s 1.7 million people – now’s the time – with less than a year to go, start considering the possibilities.
To make a run for it, nominations open on 4 July 2025 – you’ll find key election dates here. Everything there is to know about how to be nominated is here.
And whether you intend to stand or not, the team is counting on everyone to be enrolled before voting season starts. Make sure you’re in enrolled here.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s recent decision to join TikTok marks a big shift in his approach to political campaigning. He previously criticised the platform over security concerns, but now he is embracing it.
Dutton’s reversal reflects a broader trend of Australian politicians using the platform. This is especially the case in 2024, a year marked by pivotal elections worldwide.
TikTok offers a unique form of engagement and allows politicians to reach a wide range of voters in ways traditional platforms don’t.
Dutton’s conservative first post does contrast with TikTok’s casual and engaging style, but signals a willingness to adapt to modern political communication. While his initial concerns about TikTok’s data privacy remain valid, his shift to actively using the platform emphasises its importance in political campaigns today.
TikTok’s rise as a political tool
The political landscape is changing. Politicians worldwide who once criticised TikTok are now joining it.
This shift not only marks evolving campaign strategies but also raises broader questions about the role of social media in democracy.
Major political figures, such as US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, continue to use TikTok despite proposed bans in the United States. These bans are currently being contested in court, but are due to commence in January 2025.
The continued use of TikTok by both candidates underlines the platform’s undeniable significance in shaping political communication.
TikTok’s popularity stems from its ability to deliver accessible and engaging content. Voters are drawn to TikTok as a source of political news and information because of its easy-to-consume format.
TikTok allows politicians to bypass the formalities of traditional political communication and present their messages in a relatable way.
For instance, Senator Fatima Payman’s viral “skibidi” speech is a clear example of how effectively TikTok can amplify political content. She delivered this speech in the Australian Senate, using only TikTok slang.
It resonated with a younger demographic, and so far has more than eight million views.
As a result, her account now has more than 100,000 followers and continues to receive significant views on all posts.
However, when leaning into slang, trends and other visibility strategies, politician walk a fine line where content could be considered “cringe”. This cringe factor can arise if the trend being used is losing relevance or when the content seems out of place or forced (Dutton himself copped some flack for belatedly jumping on the “demure” trend).
The role of authenticity
One of the key factors behind successful political engagement on TikTok is authenticity. The platform thrives on genuine, relatable content. Politicians who can showcase a more human side tend to resonate with voters.
Payman’s use of TikTok slang in her speech connected her with younger audiences, demonstrating the power of speaking the language of the platform’s primary users. Authenticity plays a significant role in TikTok’s algorithm, making it essential for politicians to come across as sincere.
Because TikTok’s advertising policy bans political ads, politicians must rely on organic content to engage users. Authenticity is therefore an entry requirement.
Dutton’s presence on TikTok will be closely scrutinised to see how he balances the platform’s demand for authenticity with his public persona. Voters are more likely to engage with politicians they find relatable, so Dutton’s ability to reveal his “ordinary” side without making people cringe may determine how well he is received on TikTok.
Electioneering on TikTok
TikTok’s impact on elections has already been demonstrated in several countries.
In the 2022 Australian federal election, the Labor Party’s use of the app was linked to its success. UK Labour’s similar strategy in 2024 mirrored this result.
Elections are won and lost for many reasons. There is also no direct data linking TikTok content to voter decisions. But there is a clear correlation between effective use of the platform and electoral victories.
As Australia approaches its next federal election, TikTok will play a central role in how parties reach voters. For politicians like Dutton, mastering the balance between authenticity and policy will be key to successfully engaging and informing voters on this rapidly evolving platform.
Challenges ahead
TikTok’s short video format poses a challenge for conveying complex policy ideas, often leading to oversimplification. Politicians like Dutton must find ways to deepen engagement outside the platform to ensure voters understand their positions.
Another challenge is the legal issues TikTok faces, particularly in the US. If the platform is banned or restricted in what is a major market, it could affect its use globally, including in Australia. This could disrupt political outreach and engagement strategies, particularly for those who have cultivated a strong presence.
Dutton’s engagement with TikTok may also spark debate about balancing the benefits of reaching voters through a platform with concerns about data security and misinformation.
Susan Grantham does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Court users may use integrated Court Case Management System for bulk claims in Small Claims Tribunal Court users may use integrated Court Case Management System for bulk claims in Small Claims Tribunal ******************************************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary: The Judiciary today (October 10) announced that starting from October 31, the application of the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to cover bulk claims in the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) such that court users can handle filing and payments electronically. Bulk claims refer to claims filed by claimants who have been approved by the Principal Adjudicator to file claims in bulk for hearing at the same time in the SCT. The iCMS is an integral part of the Judiciary’s Information Technology Strategy Plan. It aims to facilitate the handling of court-related documents and payments through an electronic mode across the various levels of court. Since 2022, the iCMS has been implemented in phases. It currently covers personal injury actions, tax claim proceedings, civil action proceedings and employees’ compensation cases in the District Court, as well as summons cases in the Magistrates’ Courts. It will incrementally be extended to other levels of court. It is also the Judiciary’s target to mandate the use of the iCMS for all legally represented litigants in respect of case types where the electronic mode have been made available, starting in 2026. The major electronic services under the iCMS include sending case-specific court documents to the courts and receiving such documents from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services. Eligible users need to register for a user account for using the full range of services under the iCMS. Eligible users include parties of an ongoing or new e-proceeding and their legal representatives (if any), the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies. Registration is free of charge. Unregistered members of the public may also use certain types of iCMS services, mainly related to searching of electronic documents that are open to public inspection. To encourage migration to e-filing and e-payment through the iCMS, a 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for three years on fee items of the SCT, which are primarily or directly related to electronic handling of court documents. As for technical requirements, the iCMS can be accessed using personal computers or mobile devices with an Internet connection, commonly used operating systems and browsers. Relevant technical requirements are available at http://www.judiciary.hk/doc/en/e_courts/AI_TechReq_iCMS_e.pdf. Generally speaking, the iCMS operates around the clock except during system maintenance. The system maintenance schedules of the iCMS, as specified by the Judiciary, are published on the dedicated webpage of the Judiciary’s website (www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html). Any e-filing and e-payment received under the iCMS after the registry and the accounts office are normally closed to the public (i.e. after 5.30pm on a working day) will be deemed to be received upon the starting time of the normal opening hours of the registry and the accounts office on the following working day. For enquiries, please call the general enquiry hotline at 2477 1002 or the technical helpline at 2886 6474, e-mail to enquiry@judiciary.hk or visit the Help Centre at 5/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government gazetted the Rural By-election today (October 10). Fifty-eight Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from October 22 to November 4. The by-election will return one Resident Representative (ReR) for each of the 35 Existing Villages, one Indigenous Inhabitant Representative (IIR) for each of the 22 Indigenous Villages, and one Kaifong Representative (KFR) for one Market Town (Cheung Chau). The 35 Existing Villages are Po Toi, Ngau Kwu Long, Pui O Lo Wai, Sha Lo Wan, Luk Keng Wong Uk, Nam Chung, San Tsuen, Wu Shek Kok, Shek Chung Au, Kam Tsin, Nga Yiu Ha, Lung Mei, Ma Nam Wat, Nam Wai, Pak Kong Au, Pak Tam Chung, Ping Tun, Sai Wan, Hoi Pong Street, Mui Tsz Lam, Ha Yeung, Pak Sha O, Ping Chau Sha Tau, Uk Tau, Fung Yuen, Kam Shan Village, Kau Lung Hang, Ma Wo Tsuen, Lin Au Cheng Uk, San Tsuen (Lam Tsuen), Tin Liu Ha, Ham Tin, Sai Lau Kok, Sheung Kwai Chung and Tseng Tau Tsuen (Upper); whereas the 22 Indigenous Villages are Po Toi, Sok Kwu Wan, Pui O Lo Wai, Wu Shek Kok, Mang Kung Uk, Pan Long Wan, Long Ke, Mau Ping New Village, Pak Tam Chung, Wong Keng Tsai, Ko Tong, Kei Ling Ha San Wai, Lai Chi Chong, Pak Tam Au, Tung Sam Kei, Uk Tau, Cheung Uk Tei, To Yuen Tung, Tong Sheung Tsuen, Yin Ngam, Sam Tung Uk and Sham Tseng. For the IIR By-election, a candidate must be an indigenous inhabitant of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village as well as an elector of the relevant Village and ordinarily resides in Hong Kong. For the ReR and KFR By-elections, a candidate must be a resident of the relevant Existing Village/Market Town and have resided there for six years immediately preceding the nomination. The candidate must also be an elector of the relevant Village/Market Town. All candidates must be Hong Kong permanent residents aged 21 or above and must be nominated by at least five registered electors from that Village/Market Town. No person is allowed to stand as a candidate in more than one type of election (i.e. IIR, ReR or KFR By-elections). Nomination forms are available at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the New Territories District Offices (NTDOs) and the Rural Representative Election (RRE) website (www.had.gov.hk/rre). Completed nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer concerned between 9am and 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, except general holidays. A gazette notice on all valid nominations will be published within 14 days after the nomination period. Each validly nominated candidate will be informed separately. A spokesman for the HAD said that if there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same Indigenous Village, Existing Village or Market Town, a poll would be held for that Village/Market Town on December 1 (Sunday). Eligible electors will receive a polling notice which specifies the date, time and place of the poll. For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or contact the respective NTDO. Members of the public can also visit the RRE website for more information.
“The Government accounts released today show that spending and debt continues to grow under the current Government, but there is no plan to deliver a better economy,” said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.
“Net Core Crown Debt increased by $20bn last year, with revenue from taxation also rising by $8bn. The OBEGAL deficit increased $3.4bn last year alone, to $12.9bn.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis admitted, “The accounts show the corrosive impact of low growth and low productivity…and we are cutting back on the investments needed to lift both.” Yet there is no plan to solve this problem, Renney said.
“The Government accounts showed our overreliance on income tax and GST taxes to balance the books. Source deductions from wages increased 10.1% during the last year. The GST take increased by 4.1%. But other sources of taxation have not increased at the same rate, or have fallen in the form of corporate taxation (-5.9%). We need a better conversation about how taxes are being levied and why.” Renney said.
“Spending on welfare has increased by 8%, with Jobseeker Support expenses rising by 17%. Welfare payments would be higher if the one-off $600m cost-of-living support is removed. Unemployment is expected to rise significantly in the future, meaning that welfare expenses will be higher in the future.”
Renney said “The Government has provisioned $500m for the Cook Straight Ferry (iREX) Costs, which is only the cost of the works abandoned to date. This doesn’t include the cost of cancelling the ferry contract, nor the cost of purchasing the replacement ferries necessary. The Government is likely facing a $bn bill for that decision alone.”
“The Minister signalled new cuts in her speech at the event, while requiring new economic growth to deliver on their financial aspirations. Yet decisions like iREX show that the Government has no means of delivering sustainable growth. Health New Zealand is looking for $2bn in savings right now, yet the Government is looking for further savings in spending on top.”
“The Government’s fiscal strategy needs to change. Government debt is low by international standards, and there is no shortage of projects to invest in. These would improve employment and economic outcomes – both of which will benefit working people. Yet the Government is wedded to plan that will see unemployment rise, and investment fall. It’s time for a better plan.” Renney said.
Headline: FEMA’s Temporary Housing for Wildfire Survivors Extended to February 2026, Supporting their Continued Recovery
FEMA’s Temporary Housing for Wildfire Survivors Extended to February 2026, Supporting their Continued Recovery
HONOLULU – At the request of the state of Hawaiʻi, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a one-year extension of the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), including Financial Assistance and Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for survivors of the Maui wildfires.
The 18-month initial period of assistance for FEMA IHP was set to end Feb.10, 2025 but has now been extended to Feb. 10, 2026.
Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, FEMA may extend the period of assistance due to extraordinary circumstances. Last year’s wildfires caused unprecedented damage to Lahaina and impacted numerous households, businesses, communities and the infrastructure on Maui.
FEMA is working closely with the state of Hawai‘i, local officials and volunteers to help survivors in temporary housing find permanent solutions. Disaster case managers are also providing personalized assistance.
FEMA approved the Direct Lease as a form of Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in September 2023 and currently has 1,194 households occupying FEMA-provided units.
During the extended period, survivors who continue to live in a FEMA-provided temporary housing unit are generally expected to work on their permanent housing plan and start paying rent, depending on their financial ability. The rent amount would be based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rent.
FEMA will send occupants an advance notice of the rent requirement.
Occupants who provide documentation of their post-disaster income that meets or is below HUD’s very low-income limit will qualify for fully reduced rent of $50 per month without having to appeal and submit documentation of pre- or post-disaster housing costs.
Occupants with household incomes above the HUD very low-income limit will only have to provide documentation of post-disaster housing costs for FEMA to evaluate the amount of rent to be charged based on their financial ability.
FEMA will conduct outreach to assist occupants of temporary housing units with the documentation necessary to evaluate their ability to pay. This effort is designed to reduce the need for occupants to appeal the rent amount determined by FEMA.
For more information on temporary housing, call the Individual Assistance Housing Hotline at 808-784-1600. Or contact 2-1-1 to reach the disaster case management program.
You may also call FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Helpline operators can assist you in many languages. If you use a relay service such as Video Relay Service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.
You may get help in person at: Lahaina Gateway (next to Ace Hardware) Maui County Office of Recovery – West Maui 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CNHA Office (next to Maui Mall) Kākoʻo Relief & Aid Services Center 153 E. Kamehameha Ave. Suite 101
Kahului, HI 96732 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, fema.gov/disaster/4724 and Hawaii Wildfires – YouTube. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema. You may also get disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has announced details of its Court of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa.
The dive and hydrographic ship struck a reef south of Upolu on Saturday 5 October. All 75 people aboard were successfully rescued.
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding has directed the assembly of a COI into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui and has appointed Commodore Melissa Ross as the president. The COI will assemble on Friday.
She will be joined by three senior military members – Captain Andrew Mahoney, Group Captain John McWilliam, from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Captain Dean Battilana, who has been seconded from the Royal Australian Navy.
Counsel assisting the COI will be Commander Jonathan Rowe, who is a barrister and solicitor of the High Court.
COIs are set up to establish the facts of an incident and any circumstances leading to it to allow the NZDF to identify possible improvements or changes for the future.
The terms of reference direct the COI to collect and record evidence and report on the sequence of events leading up to the loss of the ship, the cause of the grounding and subsequent sinking, and details on notification procedures, injuries sustained and any environmental damage.
The COI has also been directed to consider any organisational aspects relevant to the loss, and the material state of Manawanui prior to the grounding.
Courts of Inquiry into significant matters may be subject to an external legal review to provide independent assurance of their procedure and conclusions. External legal reviews are conducted by independent King’s Counsel or other senior barristers. For the COI into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, it has been determined that an external legal review will be conducted by a King’s Counsel.
Rear Admiral Golding said he was very aware of the high interest in the COI.
“Given the high level of public interest in this and with transparency at front of mind, I will make the report publicly available to the maximum extent possible consistent with the Privacy Act and my obligations to uphold national security,” Rear Admiral Golding said.
“I have directed the Court to provide me with an interim report on specific areas by mid-November, and then to provide regular updates on the progress of their inquiry from there.”
MORE DETAILS ABOUT COURTS OF INQUIRY:
Courts of Inquiry are established by an officer in charge of part of the Armed Forces to inquire into any matter.
The court must have no less than two officers and the officer assembling the court must appoint one of those members as the president. The officer assembling the court must issue its terms of reference and the court is required to collect evidence and provide a report against those terms of reference.
The court may sit wherever it considers necessary to do so and may direct or summons any witness to attend before it. Witnesses are sworn and their evidence is transcribed. Any person who may have their character and reputation affected is afforded natural justice rights by the president.
Courts of Inquiry are not designed to determine guilt of any individual and the evidence gathered is not admissible in other proceedings.
Courts of Inquiry are established under statute and are provided numerous powers and protections so that the fact-finding procedure is as expeditious as possible. Courts of Inquiry are statutorily required to be held in private to ensure that there is no inhibition on witnesses giving full and frank evidence.
The provisions governing courts of inquiry can be found at sections 200 to 201 of the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971.
BIOGRAPHIES
Commodore Melissa Ross, RNZNR Commodore Melissa Ross (Ngāpuhi) joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in 1993 as a Marine Engineering Officer. She was one of the first women in the RNZN to go to sea on an operational warship. Commodore Ross has previously held the position of Deputy Chief of Navy and Commander Logistics. She is appointed to the COI as the President.
Group Captain John McWilliam, AFC Group Captain John McWilliam joined the RNZAF in 1975 as a pilot. Throughout his career he has flown helicopters and been a flying instructor. He departed the RNZAF in 1995 to pursue a civilian career and was a test pilot during this period. He returned to the RNZAF in 2010 and established the role of the NZDF Operating Airworthiness Operator. GPCAPT McWilliam is a deep expert in the airworthiness arena and will bring that expertise to the Court.
Captain Andy Mahoney, RNZN Captain Andy Mahoney joined the Royal Navy (RN) in 1996. He transferred to the RNZN in 2016. He is a Principal Warfare Officer who has served on ships in both the RN and the RNZN. He was the commissioning Captain of the HMNZS Manawanui. Captain Mahoney has operated across a wide range of navies and agencies globally. He will bring decades of ship operations knowledge to the Court.
Captain Dean Battilana, RAN Captain Dean Battilana joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1996 and specialised as a Hydrographic Officer. Captain Battilana has commanded multiple ships with deep expertise in operations, ship driving and hydrography. He brings a wealth of experience in the hydrographic trade to the investigation as well as his experience from his work as part of the recovery efforts in response to the 2017 USMC OSPREY crash in Australia.
Commander Jonathan Rowe, RNZN Commander Jonathan Rowe joined the RNZN in 2014 and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court. He has held roles at the tactical, operational and strategic level within the NZDF and has deployed operationally to the Middle East and Asia in roles both ashore and at sea. He has been involved in numerous NZDF Courts of Inquiry as well as external inquiries. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Court.
Discover the fascinating science lurking beneath the surface of history’s most enduring legends at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum in a new exhibition, Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches, open from Monday 9 December 2024 until Sunday 27 April 2025.
Blood is a vital source of life for humans, and an abundant food source for an astounding 30,000 species across the globe, including birds, mammals, fish, insects, leeches, and flatworms. Bloodsuckers draws visitors into this world, starting on a microscopic level with the biology behind blood. Immersive experiences, larger-than-life installations, and interactive displays delve into these diverse organisms and their feeding mechanisms in detail, showing visitors just how clever blood-feeders are, and the intricate ways they have evolved to take blood and thrive on it.
Bloodsucking animals have captured the human imagination for centuries, providing fodder for fear and fantasy. Stories of vampiric creatures persist across cultures and time, borne out of fear of the unknown, from the first publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1897 and his immortal incarnations on stage and screen, to the more recent urban legend of the coyote-like Chupacabra. In the exhibition, immersive experiences bring myths and beliefs in the undead and bloodthirsty beasts to life, highlighting the history of vampire hunting and pop culture’s most famous monsters.
Auckland Museum’s Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive David Reeves says, “Bloodsuckers blends of science, history, and pop culture, to explore the natural environment and the cultural impact of blood feeding creatures in both our real and imaginary worlds. Drawing from science and culture, Bloodsuckers transforms a subject that might seem gory into something truly fascinating.”
“This award-winning international exhibition lets you get close to bloodsuckers – without the risk of being bitten,” says Reeves.
Bloodsuckers is full of juicy facts on the role that bloodfeeders have played in medicine for over 3,000 years, and how they spark scientific discoveries today. The exhibition explores the evolution of bloodletting, from hungry leeches feeding on patients in the name of health, to barbers and physicians tapping veins for vitality in Medieval and Victorian times. Current research on bloodborne diseases around the world and how leech anticoagulants—the strongest in the world—enable advancements in medical care highlight the impact bloodfeeders continue to have on human health. The exhibition will also arm visitors with knowledge on how to identify, avoid, and heal bites from bloodfeeding organisms, and ultimately live in harmony with them.
Reeves says, “In Aotearoa, bloodsuckers like mosquitoes, sandflies, and ticks are an inevitable part of the summer experience. While they may be a nuisance, these creatures have evolved fascinating adaptations to survive and thrive. Bloodsuckers gives visitors the opportunity to understand species like these in a new light, from their role in nature to their influence on our daily lives.”
The exhibition showcases over 200 unique objects, including wet, mounted, and taxidermy specimens, 17th–19th century bloodletting instruments, and 20th-century pop culture artefacts, all telling the story of blood feeding creatures through time. The interactive exhibits allow visitors to explore these creatures up close, with highlights including a giant glowing column of red blood cells, an old-world bloodletting shop, an audio experience of a mosquito swarm and a retro movie theatre playing clips from classic bloodsucker-inspired films.
Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches is coming exclusively to Auckland Museum and opens Monday 9 December. Tickets are on sale from Tuesday 26 November at aucklandmuseum.com.
Auckland Museum Membership provides unlimited free entry to Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events. Find out more at aucklandmuseum.com/membership.
Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches is produced and circulated by ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 gazetted Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 gazetted **********************************************************
The Government gazetted today (October 10) the Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (Amendment Regulation) to update the food safety standards in relation to preservatives and antioxidants in food. The objective of the Amendment Regulation is to keep local food safety standards on par with international standards, thereby enhancing consumer protection and facilitating the food trade. The Amendment Regulation has kept the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) as the backbone, supplemented with those adopted by the Mainland and by Hong Kong’s other major food-trading partners. A Government spokesman said, “A four-month public consultation was conducted from May 29 to September 30 last year, to collect views on the proposed amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Respondents and stakeholders generally welcomed and supported the proposed amendments. Taking into account the comments received during the public consultation, we have formulated the updated proposals, as reflected in the Amendment Regulation.” The Amendment Regulation updates the definitions of “preservative” and “antioxidant” with reference to the corresponding definitions adopted by Codex. The list of permitted preservatives/antioxidants has also been updated, which comprises 58 preservatives/antioxidants after the legislative amendments. The number of “additive-food” pairs with specified maximum permitted levels has increased from around 900 to around 2 000. “We consider that the Amendment Regulation should be implemented as soon as possible. However, we acknowledge the importance of providing sufficient time for the stakeholders to adjust to the new food safety standards, and for the local testing laboratories to establish the capability for performing relevant tests. We have also taken into consideration the longer shelf life of processed and pre-packaged foods that may contain preservatives or antioxidants. On balance, we propose a transitional period of 24 months, during which it would be legal for any single food item to comply wholly with the requirements of either the existing or the amended Cap. 132BD,” the spokesman added. The Amendment Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 16 for negative vetting.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 10:00
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held phone talks with Japan’s newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya.
Iwaya said the new Japanese cabinet is willing to comprehensively promote the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between Japan and China and is committed to building a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.
There is huge potential for Japan-China cooperation in various fields, and Japan is willing to strengthen communication with China at all levels to resolve pending issues through consultation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, said Iwaya.
Japan and China bear significant responsibilities for the peace and stability of Asia and the world, said Iwaya, noting that in the face of a turbulent international situation, the new Japanese cabinet is committed to advancing diplomacy through dialogue and coordination, and is willing to jointly work with China to strengthen cooperation and make greater contributions to promoting regional peace and stability and addressing global challenges.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China appreciates the positive signals sent by the new Japanese cabinet and Iwaya since taking office, which reflect a desire to stabilize and develop bilateral relations.
Wang noted that China and Japan are close neighbors, and that mutual cooperation and shared development are in the fundamental interests of both peoples, expressing his hope that the new Japanese cabinet would bring new momentum and foster fresh developments in China-Japan relations.
Wang called on both sides to learn from history, stay true to their original aspirations, expand cooperation, eliminate disruptions, and comprehensively advance their strategic relationship of mutual benefit, so as to build a constructive and stable bilateral relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
Wang emphasized that China’s policy toward Japan has always maintained consistency and stability. He expressed hope that Japan would honor its political commitments on the Taiwan question, adhere unwaveringly to the one-China principle, and establish an objective, rational, positive, and friendly perception of China.
He urged Japan to translate the important consensus including “being partners, not threats” into concrete actions, promoting the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations along the right path.
In light of the complex and turbulent international situation, Wang stressed that the overall peace and stability in the region is hard-won and should be cherished, particularly by preventing external forces from stirring up regional division and confrontation.
A worker is pictured at the production line of a textile company in Jimo district of Qingdao city, East China’s Shandong province, Oct 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China will likely hit this year’s annual growth target of around 5 percent with a projected pickup in fourth-quarter GDP growth, given the recently unveiled, bolder than expected stimulus policy measures and forthcoming incremental policies, economists said.
They also said that the weaker than expected economic indicators in recent months point to persistent challenges stemming from sluggish domestic demand, prompting calls for intensified policy support to sustain growth. The key focus should be expanding effective investment, boosting consumption and stabilizing the real estate sector, they added.
The economists’ comments came after Premier Li Qiang emphasized on Tuesday the need for faster and more effective implementation of economic policies to achieve China’s growth targets for the year, as authorities ramped up measures in recent days to further bolster the world’s second-largest economy.
Speaking at a symposium with business leaders and economists, Li called for swift actions to put in place the newly rolled out policies, which are designed to stabilize growth and enhance support for businesses.
Citing a package of incremental policies announced recently, Guo Liyan, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research’s Economic Research Institute, said the move aims to address pressing challenges and pressures faced by the economy, which will significantly boost confidence among investors and consumers.
“In fact, some economic indicators have shown fluctuations since the third quarter, and the economic contribution in the fourth quarter is significant for the entire year,” she said. “Implementing a package of incremental policies at this juncture is conducive to strengthening confidence for meeting the annual growth target.”
To promote closer monetary and fiscal policy coordination, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, and the Ministry of Finance held their first joint working group meeting on the treasury bond trade, vowing to provide a conducive market environment for treasury bond trade operations, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
In addition, as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to meet the annual growth target, the National Development and Reform Commission announced on Tuesday that the country will move ahead to this year part of the investment plans set for 2025.
Raymond Ma, Invesco’s chief investment officer for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, said: “We believe that the NDRC’s further confirmation, together with the recently announced supportive monetary and fiscal policies, will bolster the economy. This reinforces our long-term positive outlook on Chinese equities.”
After a strong rally following stimulus announcements by Chinese authorities, Chinese stocks dropped on Wednesday as the market eagerly awaited bolder moves to revive the economy, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slumping 6.62 percent to close at 3,258.86 points.
“While achieving the around 5 percent annual growth target may be challenging, the government’s newly announced policies are expected to provide substantial stimulation for the economy in 2024 and beyond,” Zhu Baoliang, former chief economist of the State Information Center, said, adding that the nation can meet its annual growth target this year.
Du Yue, an associate researcher at the investment research institute of the NDRC, said that to coordinate macro policies for this year and next to ensure steady growth, it is important to optimize and implement policies aimed at spurring investment as soon as possible, including enlarging the support provided by local government special bonds.
Du said that the policy of moving to this year the allocation of 200 billion yuan ($28.3 billion) in investment plans and projects that were set for 2025 will help the country’s fixed-asset investment maintain reasonable growth while lifting market expectations.
Zhang Ming, deputy director of the Institute of Finance and Banking, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested at a recent forum establishing a national institution to manage the acquisition of existing commercial housing in lower-tier cities, which will help avoid the creation of new local government debt.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
EMSD announces test results of LPG quality in September 2024 EMSD announces test results of LPG quality in September 2024 ************************************************************
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (October 10) announced that the department collected eight liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in September 2024 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications. The detailed test results are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/gas_safety/lpg_vehicle_scheme/publications/general/results_of_lpg_sample_analysis/index.html). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD’s hotline on 2333 3762. In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 10:45
In 2023, almost a year’s worth of rain fell over ten days in parts of northwestern Australia, leading to catastrophic flooding in the town of Fitzroy Crossing and surrounds. The rainfall was linked to a tropical cyclone, but there were also lesser-known forces at work: huge, planet-scale oscillations called atmospheric waves which bring heavy rain to northern Australia.
While climate drivers such as El Niño and La Niña are becoming more familiar to many Australians, fewer understand the significant role played by atmospheric waves, which are like vast musical notes resonating around the globe. These waves can greatly influence rainfall and extreme weather events in Australia – and we don’t know yet whether they could grow more intense as the world warms.
In our latest research, we discovered how these waves affect Australia’s rainfall, and how they can help us make better weather forecasts. The research is published in the Journal of Climate.
What are atmospheric waves?
You can think of atmospheric waves as huge musical notes that travel through the atmosphere around the equator. Just like a musical note, an atmospheric wave has a frequency (a pitch, or how often it oscillates) and an amplitude (a volume or intensity).
Atmospheric waves can interact with each other to create complex melodies and harmonies in the atmosphere. They affect many aspects of the atmosphere, such as wind, humidity and pressure.
In the same way musical harmony can evoke emotions, certain combinations of atmospheric waves can lead to complex clusters of clouds that evoke extreme rain events.
Equatorial atmospheric waves were first discovered mathematically in 1966 by Japanese researcher Taroh Matsuno. By solving equations that describe the behaviour of the atmosphere near the equator, he found waves that could be categorised by frequency, structure, speed and direction of movement.
Later research found these waves exist in the real world – and they have been studied ever since.
Some of the most important waves are called Kelvin waves and equatorial Rossby waves. Kelvin waves are centred around the equator, propagate to the east, and take between 2.5 and 17 days to complete one oscillation.
On the other hand, equatorial Rossby waves are structured as a pair of swirls, one north of the equator and one to the south, which propagate to the west. They are also slower than Kelvin waves, taking between 9 and 72 days to complete an oscillation.
There are also two other kinds of equatorial fluctuations, discovered after Matsuno’s original work. These are the Madden–Julian Oscillation, which propagates eastward, and tropical depression-type waves, which propagate to the west. Both of these have their own frequencies and influences on the Australian atmosphere.
Impacts on Australian weather
We studied the relationship between these waves and rainfall in northern Australia from 1981 to 2018. We found the waves had a significant impact on rainfall during the southern summer (December–February) and autumn (March–May).
Equatorial Rossby waves that cross Australia may make heavy rainfall around 1.5 times as likely as normal, while tropical depression-type waves make it 1.3 times more likely.
When waves combine in certain ways, heavy rain events become even more likely.
Atmospheric waves travelling around the equator can increase the chances of heavy rain – and combinations of waves can have an even greater impact. Fadhlil Rizki Muhammad
For example, a combination of an equatorial Rossby wave and the Madden–Julian Oscillation can make heavy rain in northern Australia two to three times more likely. Similarly, if a tropical depression-type wave and an equatorial Rossby wave cross Australia at the same time, heavy rainfall could be twice as likely as usual.
Due to Australia’s vast landmass and local geography, the impacts of these waves are quite different across the continent. Regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York and the Top End experience the largest impact from these waves, increasing the chance of heavy rain by up to 3.3 times.
Meanwhile, the impacts of these waves on the eastern coast of Queensland and inland Queensland are not as great as in the other regions. However, the change in likelihood is still quite high: the waves can make heavy rain 1.4–2.2 times more likely than it would otherwise be.
What does the future look like?
We have shown that the activity of these “atmospheric melodies” is important and potentially provides room for improvement in weather models.
Currently, a good representation of these waves in weather models can improve forecasts up to two weeks ahead.
A better representation of these waves may improve future weather prediction in the tropics.
Fadhlil Rizki Muhammad receives funding from The University of Melbourne and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes.
Andrew King receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the National Environmental Science Program.
Claire Vincent receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century
Sandro W. Lubis receives funding from U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research as part of Global and Regional Model Analysis program area. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RLO1830.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The contest between truth and post-truth matters when trying to solve big public policy questions. One of these questions is how to sustainably manage water in Australia for the benefit of all.
Truths can be confirmed or, at the very least, can be proved false. Post-truths, however, are opinions that masquerade as facts and are not supported by verifiable evidence.
Post-truths muddy political and policy debates. They leave everyday people simply not knowing what to believe anymore. This prevents good policy being enacted.
As I outline in a speech to the National Press Club today, several post-truths, espoused by a wide range of people and organisations, are getting in the way of Australian water reforms. These reforms are essential to secure a better water future for the driest inhabitable continent.
Water policy in Australia is now at a crucial juncture. This year is the 20th anniversary of the National Water Initiative that was meant to lay the foundations for sustainable water management. The completion date of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, accompanied by billions of dollars in funding, is just two years away.
Yet the so-called “water wars” are raging again. Here are five post-truth claims to watch out for.
Australia’s water wars are raging again. Shutterstock
1. Water buybacks to sustain rivers harm communities
The Australian government buys water rights from willing sellers to return water to the environment. These buybacks have been controversial and blamed, with little evidence, for causing many farmers to become distressed and bankrupt, and to leave farming.
It’s true some irrigators are opposed to buybacks and prefer subsidies to build more efficient irrigation infrastructure on their properties.
But converting state water licences to a system of tradeable water rights gifted irrigators rights now worth tens of billions of dollars. In return, the government was supposed to buy back enough water from willing sellers to return rivers to health.
But insufficient water has been bought back from irrigators, for a couple of reasons.
First, the federal budget for buybacks was much less than needed to reduce irrigators’ water use to sustainable levels.
The truth is, buybacks from willing sellers are much more cost-effective than taxpayer-subsidised irrigation infrastructure. Research shows infrastructure subsidies give irrigators an incentive to use even more water.
And there is robust evidence that, overall, the net social and economic impacts of water buybacks are positive. They give sellers the flexibility to adjust their farming practices in ways that are best for them.
2. Efficient irrigation ‘saves’ water and increases stream flows
Australia’s irrigation industry, in general, uses water efficiently. It’s a result of many practices, ranging from drip irrigation to covered water channels to digital monitoring technology, among other things.
Landholders have been paid billions of dollars for efficiency improvements. These same taxpayer dollars, paradoxically, may have reduced stream flows in some of our largest rivers. That’s because more efficient irrigation can decrease the amount of water flowing from farmers’ fields to rivers and aquifers.
For a start, the water markets are unjust. First Peoples, who were dispossessed of their land and water from 1788 onwards, still have only a tiny share of Australia’s water rights.
In key areas, Australian water management is also far from best practice. For example, building weirs and dams has partly or completely disconnected groundwater from surface water and prevented or restricted the water flows to floodplains and wetlands that keep them healthy.
Fish, bird and invertebrate habitats have been destroyed as a result. This must change if we are to avoid further degradation of river ecosystems.
There is no more obvious sign of the ongoing destruction of Australia’s waterways than the fish kills along the Baaka (Lower Darling River) at Menindee. This happened in 2018–19, during a drought, and again in early 2023, when there was no drought.
The New South Wales Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer investigated the 2023 fish kill. Its report found:
Mass fish deaths are symptomatic of degradation of the broader river ecosystem over many years […] failure in policy implementation is the root cause of the decline in the river ecosystem and the consequent fish deaths.
4. All Australians have reliable access to good-quality water
It’s true that residents of Australia’s biggest cities and towns enjoy reliable, good-quality water supplies 24/7. But it’s also true that hundreds of thousands of Australians in rural and remote areas regularly face multiple drinking water threats.
These threats result in temporary public advice notices to boil water to remove microbiological pollution and health warnings about contaminants that boiling cannot remove, such as nitrates. A few dozen communities have elevated levels of the “forever chemicals”, PFAS, in their tap water.
5. Dams can ‘drought-proof’ Australia
It’s true that dams have helped Australia cope with variable rainfall from year to year. It’s also true, however, that despite building very large water storages in the 20th century, too much water is being diverted in multiple places. They include the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia’s “food bowl”.
Australia is over-extracting the available water in its dams. It’s happening in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, where there is little control over how much overflow from rivers onto floodplains can be taken.
Over-extraction is a big problem, especially during long droughts when there may be very little water to spare. It means the livelihoods of downstream irrigators with perennial plantings, such as grapes or fruit trees, are at stake. If their trees die, so do their businesses.
A sustainable future must be built on facts
Responding to Australia’s water crises is a huge challenge. It’s made even more difficult if we accept the post-truth claims, rather than verifiable facts about how we manage our waters.
Real reform is needed to secure a sustainable Australian water future. To achieve this, we must tell the truth, acknowledge what’s wrong and be clear about what works and what doesn’t.
Quentin Grafton receives funding from the Australian Research Council in relation to his water research. He is a former Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2010-2011).
John Williams is affiliated as founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a former Chief CSIRO Land and Water and former NSW Comissioner of Natural Resources.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (10 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published a comprehensive report detailing its sovereign default and loss rates over a 34-year period. This report is made in keeping with ADB’s commitment to data transparency and shows the remarkable credit performance of loans to its developing member countries (DMCs).
The report reveals that ADB has not lost principal, interest, or fees on the more than $250 billion of loans it has extended in its sovereign operations since 1990.
The report indicates that the average default rate on the ordinary capital resources sovereign portfolio is 0.54%. It further demonstrates that ADB experienced zero new defaults from 2010 to 2021. The low default rate confirms the strength of ADB’s relationship with its DMCs and the preferred creditor treatment accorded to ADB.
“The average default rate of the sovereign operation is comparable to that of an investment grade portfolio. Compiling and making these data points available to the public will help build a better understanding of emerging market debt originated by multilateral development banks (MDBs),” ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management Roberta Casali said. “It will also allow external parties to make more accurate assessments of the risks involved in investing through or with us.”
ADB regularly contributes credit data to the Global Emerging Markets Risk Database Consortium (GEMs). The consortium, which includes data from 25 MDBs and development finance institutions, provides insights into the risks associated with investing in emerging markets. The transparency efforts of ADB and GEMs are in line with the recommendations from the Independent Expert Panel commissioned by the G20. These recommendations aim to enhance data transparency as part of an overall effort to optimize balance sheets and increase the lending capacity of MDBs.
ADB continuously explores ways to effectively manage its capital to help the region address simultaneous crises. In 2023, it unlocked $100 billion in additional lending capacity over the next decade by updating its Capital Adequacy Framework. ADB is working with its development finance partners to mobilize investments in emerging markets through innovative solutions, including risk sharing and structured approaches.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
World Mental Health Day is a timely reminder that integrating mental health care into schools, workplaces, and communities is critical for improving health outcomes and reducing costs. Expanding digital interventions and peer-support systems are also crucial, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Mental health is crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of individuals and populations. Integrating mental health care into homes, schools, workplaces, health care services, and elderly care facilities will improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Good mental health may lead to improved academic performance and work productivity, and stronger interpersonal relationships and social connections.
We need to ensure that developing countries in Asia and the Pacific are addressing the increasing global burden of mental health issues and treatment gaps.
It is important to integrate mental health support with other services and activities relevant to people’s life stage. In schools, this means school-based mental health programs. In workplaces, it includes incorporating mental health support in employment support programs.
In communities, mental health services need to be part of primary care services, particularly those addressing the needs of pregnant women, new mothers, and older people.
Mental health must be integrated into universal health coverage strategies to build resilient health systems and ensure equitable care for all.
Mental health is complex and complicated but this should not mean that those suffering from poor mental health must accept limited lives. With effective treatment, they can live full and productive lives.
Improved access to mental health care services, engaging people with lived experiences of mental health disorders, and support from families and friends all make a difference. Governments need to embed peer-support insights in addressing barriers to access to care and evaluating the effectiveness of mental health services.
Governments also need to expand digital interventions for mental health as there is growing evidence that digital health interventions have the potential to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health service delivery and help deliver better health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Digital interventions for mental health can be used to increase mental health literacy. This can include using social media for public health communication aimed at supporting good mental health and destigmatizing discussions about mental health, for example through events like World Mental Health Day and R U OK? Day.
It can also facilitate engaging people with lived experiences through online communities to discuss various aspects of their lives, providing access to evidence-based information through trusted websites, and utilizing social media platforms to promote mental health and social connectedness in later years.
Digital tools can also support training with online self-training tools, and access to specialist training via webinars and other online training platforms.
Promoting and protecting mental wellness throughout the lifespan should be part of universal health coverage strategies of developing member countries. Health promotion at primary health and community care levels should help educate about mental health.
Clinical care pathways and treatment guidelines must be strengthened to ensure referral to specialist care. National health insurance systems should include mental health treatment as part of their benefits or covered health services.
Indeed, addressing mental health serves as an important step towards building resilient health systems which will help people and communities adapt and mitigate climate change. We must step up efforts to protect mental health for all, placing it at the heart of universal health coverage, and leaving no one behind.
A Police investigation has shut down a criminal syndicate’s operation, allegedly importing and distributing a concoction of illegal substances across parts of the upper North Island.
Today, six arrests have been made at addresses across the Auckland and Waikato regions.
Police also arrested a man alleged to be a key player in the operation, after he got off a domestic flight at Auckland Airport.
Today’s execution is a result of Operation Banner, an investigation run by the Auckland Money Laundering Team since the beginning of the year.
Overall, Police have recovered nearly $1 million in cash, 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine as well as LSD, cocaine, and ketamine.
Numerous electronic devices have been seized as part of the ongoing Police investigation.
The officer in charge of the team, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Dunhill, says the operation was allegedly distributing across the Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty areas.
“We will allege this organised criminal group used a range of delivery methods to try and outwit law enforcement agencies in New Zealand and abroad,” he says.
“This included allegedly using vacant rental properties or storage units to facilitate importations and deliveries.
“Our investigation is also examining where the profit of this misery is ending up.”
Today’s arrests are a result of months of painstaking and detailed investigation work.
“Police staff have been executing search warrants across Auckland and the Waikato today, with support from the Armed Offenders Squad in Hamilton,” Detective Senior Sergeant Dunhill says.
“We have been working closely with our partners at Customs, as well as international agencies throughout the course of this year over the investigation.”
All six men, aged between 26 and 41, are expected in the Auckland District Court this afternoon.
Most charged face serious drugs offences including importing controlled drugs, possession for supply of methamphetamine and conspiring to import a class B controlled drug.
Further arrests are likely.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dunhill says: “We have seized numerous devices for forensic investigation, and this will form part of the ongoing investigation into money laundering offences.
“The connection between money and drugs in the criminal environment remains of strong interest to Police, as these organised criminal groups continue to profit off the misery that they are selling into communities.
“Their operations are far from innocent given the far-reaching impacts drugs have on the wider community, from health through to further criminal offences being carried out.”
People visit the China Homelife USA expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, the United States, on Sept. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Stable China-United States business ties would contribute to the security and stability of global industrial supply chains, fostering a favorable policy environment for collaboration between companies from both sides, said market watchers and business executives on Wednesday.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday that China has called on the US to promptly lift sanctions on Chinese companies and enhance the business environment for its firms operating in the US.
During a phone call with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on the same day, China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao expressed serious concerns over US policies on semiconductors, targeting China, and restrictions on Chinese intelligent connected vehicles.
It is necessary to clarify national security boundaries in the economic and trade fields, as it is conducive to maintaining the security and stability of global industrial supply chains and creating a favorable policy environment for cooperation between the business communities from the two countries, Wang stressed.
This conversation was part of the institutional communication arrangement between the commerce authorities of both countries, said the Ministry of Commerce.
As many global industries, such as electronics, automotive and pharmaceuticals, rely on components and materials sourced from both China and the US, a stable relationship can minimize disruptions and prevent production delays and supply shortages in many business areas, said Wang Zhongmei, a researcher at the Institute of World Economy of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Zhang Yongjun, a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, warned that given various factors such as the upcoming US election in early November, it is critical to view Sino-US economic and trade relations with caution.
In the short term, there will be challenges, but in the long run, the trend of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US remains unchangeable, said Zhang.
“For US companies, China is an indispensable market,” he added. “If trade tensions escalate, these companies may once again urge the US government to adopt a more proactive and balanced economic and trade policy. Business needs can, to a certain extent, influence government actions.”
According to the 2024 Kearney FDI (foreign direct investment) Confidence Index, reflecting investors’ expectations for FDI over the next three years, China’s global ranking has risen from seventh to third place.
“Multinational companies initially looked at China as a supplier and then as a huge market. But now, increasingly, we are looking at China as an innovation center,” said Andrew Wu, general manager of the China branch of US-based commercial data and analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet.
Also viewing China as crucial to its global business strategy, Willie Tan, CEO of Skechers China, South Korea and Southeast Asia, said that despite external challenges, China remains a crucial market for global brands. Its vast consumer base, strategic importance in global supply chains and ongoing commitment to reform and innovation create significant opportunities.
With over 3,500 stores in China, the US footwear brand plans to continue market expansion in the coming years.
Mark Jaffe, CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, said that no one wants to halt cooperation and exchange between the two countries. China and the US have already established long-term partnerships in fields such as artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals.
In the face of increasingly intense global competition, Jaffe said it will be necessary for the two sides to further expand and deepen trade relations in the future.
In the first eight months of 2024, the US remained China’s third-largest trading partner, with the total trade value between the two countries reaching 3.15 trillion yuan ($446.21 billion), up 4.4 percent year-on-year and accounting for 11 percent of China’s total foreign trade value, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Japan from Oct. 7-8 to meet with senior Japanese officials and officiate the U.S. Forces Japan change of command.
Paparo met with Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen; Minister of Foreign Affairs Iwaya Takeshi; National Security Advisor Akiba Takeo; Japan Joint Staff Chief of Staff Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide; and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
In their discussions, Paparo reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthen regional collaboration and address current security challenges. He emphasized appreciation for the continued progress of the trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other regional partners, including Australia and Philippines. Paparo emphasized the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence with Japan and the modernization of Alliance command and control (C2) frameworks, including the reconstitution of U.S. Forces Japan into an operational joint force headquarters.
During the visit, Paparo oversaw the U.S. Forces Japan change of command ceremony, in which Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp relinquished command to Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost. U.S. Pacific Air Forces Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Laura Lenderman subsequently presided over the 5th Air Force change of command. In his speech, Paparo highlighted Rupp’s contributions to enhancing the Alliance over his tenure and welcomed Jost, highlighting the critical role he will play amidst a challenging security environment.
Originally established at Fuchu Air Station on July 1, 1957, USFJ, with its U.S. Army, U.S Marine Corps, U.S Navy, and U.S Air Force elements, consists of approximately 66,000 military and Department of Defense civilian and contractor personnel 45,000 dependents, and 25,000 Japanese workers. U.S. forces are stationed in Japan pursuant to the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security of 1960.
The U.S.-Japan Alliance continues to be the cornerstone of regional peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. USINDOPACOM remains committed to the unwavering defense of Japan under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and will continue to enrich the bilateral relationship through cooperation, commitment to regional security, and a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
It has been 50 years since the cinema release of Peter Weir’s iconic, offbeat, cult classic The Cars That Ate Paris. The film seared the image of a silver Volkswagen Beetle weaponised with deadly spikes into the national imagination. It also helped shape the tropes of Ozploitation filmmaking within the history of Australian cinema.
Main character Arthur Waldo (Terry Camilleri) and his older brother drive through idyllic countryside, filmed like a tourism commercial. But when a sign diverts them off the highway towards the fictitious town of Paris, it soon becomes clear the place survives on a “crash economy”.
Older men in the community orchestrate car crashes on the road into Paris and survivors are taken to a hospital where a psychopathic doctor experiments on them. The townsfolk trade luggage from the cars for food and clothing and wrecks are salvaged by youths who terrorise the community.
The mayor of Paris (John Meillon) pities Arthur and adopts him into his family. Arthur is eventually forced to work as the town’s sole parking inspector, gripped by a phobia of driving, having caused more than one death from behind the wheel.
A uniquely Australian genre
Cars was Australia’s first “car crash” film. These were Ozploitation films, which privileged “low” culture and sensationalist sex, violence, nudity or gore to shock viewers after the R rating was introduced in 1971.
The Mad Max franchise later popularised the car-crash trope to create what has been regarded as a uniquely Australian film genre in the 1970s and 1980s. Movies in this canon included Chain Reaction (1980), Dead End Drive-In (1986) and Road Games (1981).
Both The Cars That Ate Paris and Weir’s next feature – Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), which would catapult him onto the global stage – marked a critical turning point for Australian cinema. They generated increased interest from distributors and film buyers in international markets and established the Australian Gothic style.
Cars is one of our most iconic Australian horror movies, but it is paradoxically a movie most Australians have never seen.
‘No one leaves Paris … no one.’
The slow burn of success
Cars was Weir’s second feature film and a far more polished effort than his first experimental horror. Homesdale (1971) is about the owners of a guesthouse performing hideous social experiments on characters already suffering trauma.
Cars was the first Australian movie to screen at France’s prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It marked a significant achievement for a local movie during the rebirth of the local movie industry, after the production of fiction movies had collapsed during the 1950s.
To market the film, Car’s producers drove the spiked Volkswagen around Cannes’ streets in an ingenious attempt to hype its screening during a packed festival schedule. The film was well received, but as critic David Stratton observed, it proved just too different from anything Australian filmmakers had made before, and indeed to anything being made anywhere.
The film failed to secure a distributor or reach large audiences at home or abroad – though it was released several years later in North America as The Cars That Eat People.
A cult following
A key reason for the movie’s slow reception was also why it became a cult classic: it defies filmic categories. It was originally promoted as a horror movie before being marketed as an art film. This was partly because the movie’s tone shifts jarringly from parody and black comedy to social commentary, before settling on all-out horror.
The film was later released with a different title. IMDB
The story is mostly a dark comment on authority, normality and car culture, which descends into schlock violence in the final act. After the older patriarchy punishes youths for terrorising the streets, a gang of monstrous cars – including the iconic porcupine VW beetle – idle on a darkened hill to the sound of animal noises. The killer cars attack the town, leading to murder, mayhem and a violent battle.
Authur, drawn into the fight, kills one of the youths by repeatedly reversing over him. But rather than express shock or regret, he delights at being cured of his phobia. Arthur drives out of town joyously as survivors of the carnage flee the burning town.
Some things don’t change
The movie’s longevity comes from how it tackles social issues at the heart of the national character. Onscreen we see a dark critique of our obsession with cars and the “hoon culture” that results in tragic speeding or drink-driving-related deaths every year.
The movie also examines tensions between generations. The older, conservative generation arranges car crashes before hypocritically attending church services and preaching justice. The younger hoons bristle at being controlled in a town where they see no future.
One of the movie’s lasting thematic contributions to Ozploitation film is Weir’s depiction of the economic fragility and inopportunity of rural economies that lead to absurdly immoral activities.
More recently, the 2010 film The Clinic adapted this premise by portraying the small town of Montgomery as reliant on an illegal international adoption ring. Townsfolk steal babies and force their mothers to fight to the death in an abandoned abattoir while affluent foreign couples watch on monitors to determine which baby they will adopt.
The Clinic is a bleak, absurd example. But it shows how The Cars That Ate Paris continues to influence Australian cinema in profound and surprising ways.
Mark David Ryan has received funding from the Australian Film Institute Research Collection (AFIRC) fellowship and is a co-founding member of the Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN).
