The Government is continuing its attack on women, this time targeting the pay of early childhood education (ECE) teachers.
David Seymour’s changes will mean new ECE teachers being at the whim of their employers who will choose what they’re paid, regardless of any higher qualifications.
“It wasn’t enough that the Government cut women’s pay to save its budget, but now it’s doubling down and further undermining the pay of ECE teachers,” Labour’s early childhood education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said.
“Under these changes, ECE centres will have a harder time attracting recent graduates – a devastating blow for a sector already struggling with teacher numbers.
“We introduced pay parity to ensure we could build the ECE workforce back up and reduce turnover. We did this so those doing the most important teaching of our tamariki would be paid what they deserved and wouldn’t just see it as a temporary job, but a career.
“Budget 2025 offered a measly 0.5% cost adjustment in ECE subsidies. To make up for this cost, women are again, being under-valued,” Jan Tinetti said.
“This also comes as it’s reported that the Ministry of Education’s pay equity claims team is at risk of cuts,” Labour’s education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.
“This is after Erica Stanford stood in the House and claimed she didn’t know anything about the proposed cuts.
“Women across the country are still trying to stitch the holes National has cut into their pockets and it’s disheartening that at every turn, National chooses to continuing cutting,” Willow-Jean Prime said.
The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement predicts a sluggish economy with higher inflation and more job losses.
“Just days after Nicola Willis slashed women’s pay in order to deliver her so-called ‘Growth Budget’, growth is now predicted to slow,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.
“The Reserve Bank cited low growth, higher inflation in the short term, and higher unemployment as key reasons why they cut rates today. Rate cuts are good for mortgage-holders, but there are some real alarm bells in the RBNZ’s statement.
“Specifically, it projected sluggish economic growth of less than 1% in 2025, and said that inflation will continue to rise in the short term.
“Most concerning, the Reserve Bank warned about a weakening labour market, with unemployment remaining above 5% and expected to climb further this year. That contradicts National’s promises of thousands of new jobs in their Budget. Thanks to their choices, more than 15,000 construction jobs have been lost.
“The Government claims to have delivered a ‘Growth Budget’ but the only growth we can see is growing unemployment, growing prices, and a growing pay gap between men and women.
“Instead of helping people through tough times, the Government has chosen to cut jobs and take money from women’s future pay, all so they can give it to tobacco, fossil fuel, and big tech companies.
“Labour would make different choices, investing in jobs, health, and homes to grow the economy and lift living standards for everyone,” Barbara Edmonds said.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) supported the inaugural edition of the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival), which has presented six screenings of martial arts movies across the Greater Toronto Area from May 31 to June 1 (Toronto time) to celebrate the 50 years of Hong Kong’s kung fu cinema heritage and its influence on global film culture.
To mark the festival’s debut, Toronto ETO hosted an opening ceremony in Markham on May 31 with the presence of Canada Hong Kong Intercultural Association President and the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu, Secretary Manager of Southern Film Culture Foundation and the Festival Curator, Ms Catherine Lam, along with the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong, Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau, Member of Parliament of Canada Mr Michael Ma and about 50 guests from the local film, cultural and business communities. Some of them also graced the closing ceremony before the screening of the Hong Kong production “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” directed by Soi Cheang and starring Louis Koo, Raymond Lam and Philip Ng in Toronto on June 1.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Acting Director of the Toronto ETO, Mr Gavin Yeung, highlighted Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for the arts, cultural and creative industries.
“Each film featured in this festival is a gem of Hong Kong’s film industry,” Mr Yeung shared. “Over the decades, Hong Kong movies and film talents have won numerous international awards. Many Hong Kong actors, directors, cinematographers and producers have become household names at global level.”
Mr Yeung also reaffirmed the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to supporting the cultural and creative industries, noting that significant funding has been approved through the Film Development Fund for film projects. He added that the Toronto ETO would continue to bring more Hong Kong films to participate in various international film festivals across Canada.
The two-day festival curated a selection of six Hong Kong martial arts films produced between 1974 and 2024, including “The Shaolin Temple” (including a special AI anime version), “Martial Club”, “Ip Man 3”, “Kids from Shaolin”, “Hapkido”, and “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, offering Canadian audience a dynamic view into the evolution of Hong Kong-produced kung fu cinema.
In addition, a student seminar with Q&A session was held during the festival at Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough on June 1. The audience actively engaged in the discussion and shared their views on Hong Kong’s martial arts movies.
A prolific Tauranga shoplifter has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of 37 shoplifting charges dating back to 2024.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it was the result of outstanding investigative work by an officer in the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit.
The officer began his investigation based on a single shoplifting report that came through Auror, with no offender identified and no real lines of enquiry.
From that single report, the officer was able to build a picture of a serial shoplifter, who was offending on an almost daily basis.
A 45-year-old woman was arrested in February 2025, and charged with offending dating back to September 2024. She appeared in Tauranga District Court on 21 May and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
“This was the result of meticulous and painstaking work by the officer in the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit,” Commissioner Chambers said.
“The exceptional work of the officer has meant a serial shoplifter has been held to account for her actions. It highlights the importance of monitoring and following up on what might initially seem like low-level offending.
“We know how devastating this type of offending is for our retail community, and holding people to account for shoplifting and retail theft remains a priority for NZ Police.
“The convictions in this case were a result of not only outstanding investigative work, but also of the great rapport that the officer has built with local retailers.
“Each region is different and policing Districts much continue to have the leeway to decide how their resources are best used, and what their priorities need to be.
“However, the case does highlight just how effective the dedicated retail crime unit in Tauranga can be.
“It provides a good model for other Districts to consider when deciding how to tackle retail crime.”
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University
The drone attacks by Ukrainian Operation Spider’s Web forces on Russian airfields have called into question Russia’s supposed military strength.
Russian authorities have acknowledged damage from the June 1 attacks — an unusual admission that suggests the strikes were probably effective, given Russia’s usual pattern of downplaying or denying the success of Ukrainian operations.
The operation’s most significant target was the Belaya air base, north of Mongolia. Belaya, like the other bases targeted, is a critical component in the Russian Air Force’s strategic strike capabilities because it houses planes capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes.
It’s also in Irkutsk, approximately 4,500 kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s ability to successfully strike Belaya — an attempted strike at the even more distant Ukrainka air base failed — probably won’t have much of a military impact on the war. But along with successful attacks on other Russian airfields and the strike at the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Operation Spider Web’s successes could play a strategic role in the conflict.
These attacks could shift what has become increasingly negative media coverage and public perception about Ukraine’s chances in the war over the last year. In a war of attrition, which the conflict in Ukraine has become, establishing a belief in victory is a pre-condition for success.
Explosions hit the Kerch Bridge in Russia on June 3, 2025. (The Independent)
Increased pessimism
Policymakers and pundits, instead of recognizing their expectations of a Ukrainian victory in 2023 were unrealistic, have often declared that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine.
This perspective was even more prevalent following United States President Donald Trump’s resumption of power in January 2025. In the Oval Office spat Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February, he declared Ukraine did not “have the cards” to defeat Russia.
This turned out to be false. Ukraine’s army may possess significantly less military hardware and fewer soldiers than Russia’s, but war is often a continuation of politics. Politically, Russia faces several issues that could derail its war efforts.
Russian vulnerabilities
Russia’s military capabilities are important to Russian nationalists, who make up Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s core constituency. Russian military forces have advanced along nearly all fronts in Ukraine over the last year.
These advances, however, have largely been insignificant. Furthermore, they have emphasized Russia’s military weakness, which is an ongoing affront to Russian nationalists.
Not only have Russian military advances over the last year not changed the war in a strictly military sense, but the pace of advance has been incredibly slow. Over the last year, Russian forces have captured 5,107 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This territory represents less than one per cent of Ukraine’s pre-war territory.
In exchange for what amounts to negligible gains, Russian armed forces have suffered significant casualties.
Both Russia and Ukraine carefully guard the number of casualties their forces have suffered in the war. The British Ministry of Defence, however, estimates that Russia will have suffered more than a million casualties in the war by the end of this month. The Russian casualty rate is also accelerating, with an estimated 160,000 casualties in the first four months of 2025.
Russia attempts to compensate for this battlefield devastation in two ways.
First, it’s isolated Ukraine by manipulating Trump’s desire for political wins and business deals. Russia, in appearing to seek an end to the conflict while offering no concessions, has stoked tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, where there was little love lost between the two to begin with.
Second, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Large-scale bombing does little to help Russia on the battlefield. The attacks, in fact, put its forces at a disadvantage by redirecting munitions from military targets.
Attacks on civilians
The attacks on civilian infrastructure, however, are more about instilling fear in the Ukrainian population and demonstrating American impotence to a Russian audience.
Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities also highlight Russia’s trump card: nuclear weapons. Russia, and specifically former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, has repeatedlythreatened nuclear war in an attempt to dissuade Ukraine’s supporters.
By bombing Ukrainian cities, albeit with conventional munitions, Russia seeks to demonstrate its ability to deploy even more destructive weapons should the situation call for it.
These Russian military missteps, combined with a Russian economy that is structurally unsound, means that Russia’s war effort is increasingly fragile.
Weakening Asian alliances
Ukraine’s attack on Belaya also signals Russian weakness to its nominal allies in Asia.
Since the start of hostilities, Russia has relied on the tacit consent of China. This support has taken the form of China purchasing Russian crude oil to maintain the Russian economy and Chinese citizens unofficially fighting for Russia.
Belaya has been a vital element of Russia’s deterrence strategy in Asia, which has come to rely more heavily on the Russian strategic nuclear threat. The inability of Russia to protect one of its key strategic assets from a Ukrainian drone attack, combined with the weakness of Russian conventional forces in Ukraine, erodes its ability to position itself as a key ally to China.
In fact, some Russian authorities continue to view China as a major threat.
At the same time, Operation Spider’s Web gives hope to the Ukrainian people. It may also cause Trump — who prefers to back winners — to ponder whether it’s Putin, not Zelenskyy, who lacks the cards to win the war.
James Horncastle 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.
The NZ Transport Agency’s Board has endorsed the detailed business case for a new four-lane road in Hamilton which will deliver economic growth for the region, and approved $4.1 million for the next stage of design work, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
The project, which is cost-shared between Hamilton City Council (HCC) and NZTA, will enable the completion of the Ruakura Inland Port while also unlocking residential and commercial land for the Ruakura Superhub.
“It’s welcome news that the NZTA Board has endorsed the detailed business case for the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor, which means the project now has $4.1 million funding approved to complete consenting and detailed design,” says Mr Bishop.
“The Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor project will complete a strategic four-lane corridor for freight and regional traffic with some walking and cycling elements to connect into the existing network. It also includes a grade separated link over the East Coast Main Line railway line, connecting housing with employment. The Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor currently has a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 6.7.
“A 2024 Future Proof study found that parts of the Hamilton roading network will soon be unable to accommodate the expected increases in traffic. This will cause extended periods of peak hour congestion, resulting in disruptions to 42 per cent of national freight volumes and jeopardising the generation of over 50 per cent of New Zealand’s GDP.
“The study concluded that the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor will enable ‘the golden triangle’ – Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton – to continue to provide freight corridors for the most economically significant part of New Zealand, putting the right traffic on the right roads to reduce congestion and improve freight reliability.
“On land owned by Tainui Group Holdings, the Ruakura Superhub is a nationally significant development which services around 45 per cent of New Zealand’s population, 42 per cent of the nation’s freight and 55 per cent of the country’s GDP with a 30ha inland port connected via rail to Auckland’s port and the Port of Tauranga.
“Recently the Prime Minister, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and I attended a ceremony at Ruakura where Tainui Group Holdings announced a long-term joint venture with global investment firm Brookfield. This exciting joint venture will see the development of a further 70 hectares of facilities for storing goods and moving them through different modes of transport including road and rail freight, making the transport corridor project even more important.”
Hamilton East MP Ryan Hamilton welcomes the news as this not only supports commercial activity at Ruakura but unlocks housing and development to support New Zealand’s fastest growing city.
Implementation of the Eastern Transport Corridor project is currently timed for 2027-30 National Land Transport Programme and is subject to further funding being approved.
Notes to Editor:
Total cost of the pre-implementation phase is $4.1 million
NZTA’s contribution is $2,091,000 (a FAR rate of 51%)
A Multi-Party Funding Agreement is required between the various parties prior to seeking implementation funding.
The cost to complete the full project is estimated at $300 million.
On The BCR of 6.7 has been calculated based on P50 costs.
The implementation phase is currently timed for the 2027-30 NLTP, with any decision on implementation made within overall prioritisation of the 2027-30 NLTP.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING, June 3 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), in Beijing on Tuesday.
Li said China is ready to work actively with all sectors in Japan to implement the political consensus that the two countries are cooperative partners, not threats to each other, achieve more tangible results in practical cooperation, and consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust and people-to-people friendship.
Li expressed the hope that Japan will work with China to constructively manage differences, firmly grasp the correct direction of bilateral relations, and promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.
China and Japan have many unique advantages in deepening cooperation, Li said, adding that both sides should leverage these advantages to achieve greater mutual benefits and win-win results, inject momentum into each other’s development, and make greater contributions to global economic growth.
Li said that China will firmly expand high-level opening up and welcome more foreign-funded enterprises, including those from Japan, to develop in China. It is hoped that the JAPIT will continue to play an active role in deepening economic and trade cooperation, and enhance friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, he added.
Kono said that under the current international situation, Japan and China should enhance communication and coordination to jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system.
The JAPIT has long been committed to Japan-China friendship and is willing to continue to expand exchanges with China, enhance mutual understanding, and make positive contributions to deepening ties between the two peoples and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with a delegation led by Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Campbell Hutchings nearly sped up the car when he saw something brown and vaguely possum-like on the road, but he’s glad he didn’t. He slowed down on the road near Ōtanewainuku and was rewarded with a kiwi encounter many New Zealanders dream of.
In a video sure to tug on heart strings, his first reaction is shock, followed quickly by a delighted “It’s a kiwi!” as the unconcerned bird meanders across the road.
With brown kiwi populations increasing across parts of Te Ika-a-Māui the North Island, once rare wild encounters with our national icon are becoming more likely.
Department of Conservation Tauranga Operations Manager Kristine Theiss says brown kiwi are increasing in areas with effective predator control to protect them against introduced predators like stoats.
“We’re at the point where encounters with kiwi are becoming more frequent. Kiwi live in a range of habitats so they won’t necessarily stay in a neat patch of bush, they cross the road and enter backyards, it’s amazing, but also risky for the birds. It’s essential we all play a role in protecting them.
“You can see in this video just how naïve they are—absolutely no idea about roads or cars—so we ask drivers to watch out for them at night in kiwi areas. There’s often a yellow kiwi sign indicating their presence in the area.”
Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust volunteers manage more than 180 kilometres of trap and bait stations to help kiwi thrive in the Ōtanewainuku Forest.
Trust Chair Lesley Jensen said their team of volunteers work exceedingly hard to protect kiwi and other birds from predators
“As bird numbers increase, we are calling on our community to slow down when travelling around Ōtanewainuku to protect them from vehicles.”
Community groups, iwi and hapū, Save the Kiwi Trust, and government agencies have been working hard to protect kiwi, with populations of brown kiwi booming in many areas.
Kris says population success remains dependent on continued conservation efforts and everyone doing their bit.
“Many people are working hard to protect kiwi, and we’re asking our community to keep kiwi in mind when driving at night, and if you come across an injured or dead kiwi, please call us on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).”
Brown kiwi are increasing in areas with effective predator control to protect them against introduced predators like stoats.
As populations grow kiwi are more likely to come into contact with people – this could be in urban environments, on roads, and in other places we might not expect to find them.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is welcoming the recent conviction and sentencing of an unapproved vehicle inspector for fraudulently issuing warrants of fitness (WoFs), noting the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
On 26 May, Aucklander Imroz Taki, owner of Newmarket Automotive Repairs, was sentenced to 10 months and 2 weeks’ home detention in the Auckland District Court, after earlier pleading guilty to charges relating to fraudulently issuing WoFs.
NZTA investigators found that from 9 December 2022 to 6 June 2023, Mr Taki issued 677 WoFs despite not being appointed as an authorised vehicle inspector. He used the vehicle inspector appointment belonging to a previous employee and had not completed any of the inspections.
NZTA immediately revoked (cancelled) Newmarket Automotive’s inspecting organisation authority and all WoFs issued by Mr Taki during that time. Affected vehicle owners were contacted and asked to get their vehicles rechecked. A significant percentage of those cars were found to have faults when rechecked at other inspecting organisations.
“Warrant of fitness checks ensure that cars have undergone a general safety check to help keep drivers, passengers and road users safe. It’s very disappointing when fraud happens in the vehicle inspecting system, as the customer pays the price – having to pay for another WoF and potentially being at put at risk in the interim period, if vehicle faults exist and have gone unchecked.
“Through his actions, Mr Taki has risked the safety of the vehicle owners, plus their passengers and other road users.
“People should be reassured that NZTA has the access to data and intelligence to investigate when we have concerns about fraud. We take swift action and hold vehicle inspectors to account when vehicle safety is compromised,” says Senior Manager Safer Vehicles Nicole Botherway.
From a starting point of two years and six months’ imprisonment, District Court Judge JM Jelas considered mitigating factors, such as Mr Taki’s guilty plea and prior good character to arrive at the sentencing.
As the inspecting organisation representative for Newmarket Auto Repairs, Mr Taki had the obligation to ensure that only NZTA-appointed vehicle inspectors undertook inspection activities, made decisions on vehicle and component conditions and approved the issue of a WoF certification.
Instead, Mr Taki issued WoFs without the vehicles being inspected by NZTA-appointed inspectors. Customers were charged $60 for each WOF, earning him more than $40,000 in undue revenue.
The NZTA Safer Vehicles team regularly reviews inspecting organisations and vehicle inspectors to check compliance. If serious non-compliance is found, the team ensures that the right regulatory response is applied, including enforcement action.
New Zealand’s population likely to reach 6 million before 2040 – media release
4 June 2025
The population living in Aotearoa New Zealand is likely to grow from 5.3 million currently to eclipse 6 million by 2040, according to projections released by Stats NZ today.
Two-thirds of that growth is likely to come from net international migration (migrant arrivals less migrant departures), with the remainder from natural increase (births less deaths).
“New Zealand’s net migration has fluctuated widely from year to year,” population estimates, projections, and coverage spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.
“But international migration has been the main contributor to New Zealand’s population growth this century, and this is projected to continue.”
Visit our website to read this news story and information release:
SEATTLE — Attorney General Nick Brown today led a multistate coalition in an amicus brief defending a Michigan law that prohibits licensed health professionals from practicing conversion “therapy” on minors. Conversion “therapy,” also called sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts, are harmful and ineffective practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Michigan’s law prohibits licensed health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on children and youth, and is being challenged in a lawsuit now with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The amicus brief filed by the 19 states and the District of Columbia supports Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy because it is not a safe or effective treatment for any condition, puts youth at risk of serious harms, including increased risks of suicide and depression, and falls below the standard of care for mental health practitioners.
Washington is one of over 25 states that bans or restricts conversion therapy. The practice is repudiated by all leading medical and mental professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.
The brief outlines why the court should reject the arguments against Michigan’s ban on the practice:
The First Amendment does not shield dangerous and ineffective mental health practices from regulation, nor does it allow licensed providers to operate below a certain standard of care.
Such bans are consistent with states’ long history of establishing and regulating professional standards of care.
Striking down such a ban would likely create profound unintended consequences for states’ authority to regulate professional practices within their borders as they have throughout most of the nation’s history.
In 2018, Washington passed SB 5722, which was also challenged in federal court. Washington’s conversion therapy ban was upheld in 2023 when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected arguments against the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. The Supreme Court recently agreed it would take up a challenge against a ban from a different state – Colorado – which will be heard later this fall. The Washington Attorney General’s Office will fight to ensure no young person is subject to dangerous and discredited conversion therapy practices.
Joining Washington on the brief are the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.
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Flick Electric has been rated New Zealand’s top power company in Consumer NZ’s latest energy retailer survey — coinciding with its sale to gentailer, Meridian.
Flick Electric has been named New Zealand’s top-rated power company in Consumer NZ’s latest energy retailer survey – but the win comes with an unexpected twist.
Flick achieved a standout satisfaction score of 71% (very satisfied), earning a People’s Choice award. Flick was recently sold to Meridian Energy – the parent company of Powershop, which failed to meet the People’s Choice standard in 2025.
In contrast to Flick, Powershop, a seven-time People’s Choice winner since 2015, has seen a notable drop in satisfaction – from 67% in 2024 to just 60% this year, pushing it out of the top tier for the first time in years.
“Flick has consistently rated well in our surveys, so it’s disappointing to see it absorbed by a larger player,” says Jessica Walker, Consumer NZ acting head of research and advocacy.
“Flick customers have been typically among the most satisfied. We don’t know what the future holds for Flick customers, but there is a risk it will be consumers who will bear the brunt of reduced competition.”
The poorest performers this year are Pulse Energy (41%), Contact Energy (44%) and Mercury (47%). Contact Energy and Mercury are two of the largest energy providers in the country and are known as ‘gentailers’, electricity companies that both generate and retail electricity directly to households.
Meridian Energy was the third-best performing power provider in the survey results and notably the highest-ranking of this country’s four gentailers.
Frank also earns People’s Choice, but sector-wide ambivalence is up
Frank Energy joins Flick in receiving a People’s Choice award, with 65% of its customers reporting high satisfaction. However, broader tr
Research released today by ASB, supported by Talbot Mills Research, shows Kiwi businesses see US tariffs as more impactful than Covid-19 or the Global Financial Crisis. More than 300 business leaders, including CEOs and founders, contributed to the study, giving their insights on President Trump’s recently announced trade policies.
Two-thirds (67%) of businesses are concerned about the impact of proposed US tariffs in the next 12 months, with nearly 80% of exporters concerned
Kiwi business leaders believe Trump’s tariffs will have a more severe global impact than Covid-19 and the GFC
Meat, dairy and wine are seen as the most vulnerable within Food and Fibre sector, while businesses predict wool and seafood would fare better
Nearly one-quarter (24%) of Kiwi businesses see at least some opportunity in the tariffs
More than one-third (39%) of respondents listed support of banks as critical to navigating the current environment
Tariffs: a threat and an opportunity for Kiwi businesses
ASB’s Executive General Manager Business Banking Rebecca James says: “We’re seeing sustained market volatility with the ever-changing political decisions around tariffs, which naturally creates a heightened sense of uncertainty for businesses. It’s clear businesses view any proposed US tariffs as troubling, but it’s pleasing that nearly a quarter of respondents see opportunity in tariffs too. New Zealand has a reputation on the world stage for ingenuity and a can-do attitude, and we want businesses to know there are things they can do to future-proof and manage risks in turbulent times.”
President Trump first announced tariffs in April as part of the ‘America First’ trade policy, aimed at protecting US industries and addressing the trade deficit. The tariffs are set at 10% for most countries, including New Zealand, with China a notable outlier where a larger tariff has been applied to Chinese origin goods. Additional proposed tariffs higher than the 10% baseline were paused for a 90-day period and will be reviewed in July. Businesses are split on how long potential disruption could last. A slight majority (51%) of Kiwi businesses are optimistic that the economy will recover quickly, while 38% predict a prolonged economic downturn for the country and the remainder were unsure.
Taking action key to growth
14% of those surveyed view US tariffs purely as an opportunity, while 10% see them as both a potential risk and an opportunity. Ten percent of businesses and 14% of exporters have already taken action to reduce the negative impacts of tariffs including raising prices, shifting markets or cutting costs. Just under one-third (30%) believe they can make up losses through new customers or cost savings; 25% from operational efficiencies, and 22% from other revenue streams. 22% are unsure, with uncertainty highest among small businesses.
“The current market volatility and geopolitical tension may be our ‘new normal’, but we’ve been in positions of global uncertainty before and the research shows Kiwi businesses are already thinking about actions they can take to make their business more resilient and generate returns.”
Ms James encourages businesses to stay connected to industry partners, trade advocacy groups and their banks to share knowledge and ideas when it comes to growth and scale.
“Business customers are relying on us more than ever to navigate the current environment, and we’re seeing this through an increase in trade finance and a rise in currency hedging enquiries. Our advice is to start exploring options now. We’re seeing customers adapting their business strategy in all sorts of ways, so solutions for your business might look like assessing AI to improve workflow, adjusting your supply chain, selling down stock before new inventory orders, building new trade relationships or exploring untapped markets.”
Businesses shifting their focus to closer to home
More than three-quarters of Kiwi exporters expect the cost of doing business with the US to increase by 10% or more in the next year. Concern is higher among exporters (78%) and increases with business size, with worry growing to 88% among 100+ staff businesses). The potential impacts of tariffs which were of the most concern to businesses include slowing economic growth (39%), increased operating costs (32%) and supply chain disruptions (28%). Nearly one-quarter of businesses are worried about consumer backlash due to price inflation (24%), along with 23% who see a China-US Trade war as unsettling for business. Some of the most explored markets by businesses are China (51%), Australia (37%), European Union (28%) and Southeast Asia (25%).
“The research shows a pendulum swing when it comes to trading partners, with businesses redirecting their attention to our close neighbours. Location seems to be king, with our customers prioritising relationships much closer to home,” says Ms James.
“We’re also seeing exporters maintaining high standards and doubling down on premium products to give us an edge on the global stage, even where it costs more for consumers.”
The role of banks as a critical support function
Businesses see Government lobbying as the most critical tool in helping to reduce the impact of tariffs, with banks the next most important. More than one-third (39%) of respondents listed support of banks as critical, specifically working capital support (31%), risk advice (26%) and trade finance (24%).
“ASB has provided $4.6 billion dollars to Kiwi businesses over the past five years including considerable support to companies looking to expand and navigate opportunities abroad. We have seen increased use of trade finance products, aided by trade credit insurance, enabling businesses to sustainably leverage balance sheets while derisking payment default. We encourage companies doing business overseas to speak with their banker and engage with a trade specialist to ensure your business is in the strongest position,” says Ms James.
Notes: Results in this report are based upon questions asked in a Talbot Mills Research online survey. The basis of the sample is 344 New Zealand business leaders (business owners, C-suite, senior management), with the survey in field between 24 April and 5 May 2025.
ASB has today reduced several of its fixed home lending rates by up to 20 basis points, marking the bank’s seventh fixed rate mortgage drop in 2025. ASB has also lowered some of its term deposit rates by between 5 and 20 basis points.
ASB’s Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says “Interest rates remain a hot topic of conversation, with homeowners and first home buyers watching the market closely. Whether you’re looking to fix or float, today’s drops to our fixed lending rates across short and medium terms, along with our lower variable rates announced last week, give New Zealanders a range of appealing options to consider.”
4 June 2025 – Meridian Energy has appointed Rory Blundell to the newly created role of General Manager, Strategy and Portfolio. Rory is currently Meridian’s Group Strategy Manager and starts his new position with immediate effect.
Rory brings over 20 years of New Zealand electricity sector experience to his new role, having previously held numerous senior and executive management positions in the industry.
“I am delighted to appoint Rory into this new and important role. His depth of sector experience and quality have significantly advanced the development and execution of our strategy. I am confident he will improve the way our market portfolio and customer solutions align with that strategy. Rory’s calibre will add to the Meridian Executive, and further improve the way we work collectively,” says CEO designate Mike Roan.
“Rory is a great example of the bench strength we have developed at Meridian, and I look forward to his continued contribution to the future direction of this company”.
Chris Ewers, currently acting General Manager, Strategy and Portfolio, will now take up a new position as Electricity Security Manager, reporting to General Manager, Generation Tania Palmer.
The latest figures from QV CostBuilder show construction costs overall have barely risen in the second quarter of 2025, amidst an ongoing downturn for the industry.
The average cost of building a standard one- or two-storey 150/230m² home in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin or Palmerston North has rose just 0.1% in the past three months- down again from the 0.4% increase recorded in the first quarter of this year.
Annually, the cost of building a home in one of those six centres has increased by an average of 1.3%, which is in stark contrast to the double-figure growth experienced throughout 2021, 2022, and 2023.
“This ongoing deceleration in construction cost inflation signals a broader industry slowdown,” said QV CostBuilder quantity surveyor Martin Bisset.
“With subdued demand and tighter economic conditions, we’re now seeing many building material prices either holding steady or trending downward.”
“Where we previously saw surging labour costs due to shortages, particularly in skilled trades, we’re now seeing a plateau,” Mr. Bisset noted.
“This is a positive for developers managing tighter margins in a cooling market.”
In the meantime, the cost of building non-residential buildings (excluding educational buildings) has also increased slightly by 0.1% this quarter, with an annual cost increase of less than one percent at just 0.9%. In our Q1 update, costs remained steady, up just 0.1% for the quarter and 1.2% for the year – also reflecting the downward trend in building costs in New Zealand.
“These figures tell a story of stability rather than volatility,” Mr. Bisset added.
“Construction costs are plateauing, but that doesn’t mean predictability for every project. The complexity, level of finish, and design elements will always have a major influence on overall cost.”
However, he warned that geopolitical instability had the potential to impact prices in the future. “New tariffs have exacerbated the high levels of tension and uncertainty in international relations, along with recent escalation of armed conflicts means a general sense of political volatility continues to pose risks, not only to construction costs but also to the economy as a whole,” Mr. Bisset said. “Anything that impedes the flow of goods across the world has the potential for increasing the difficulty and therefore the cost of acquiring building materials here in Aotearoa.”
Steel framing was among the biggest movers this quarter, down 5.7%; structural steel fell 2.1%; leading to a (1.4%) drop in the prices for Stairs and Balustrades; and Frames (0.7%). Site preparation costs dropped (1.0%) due to a reduction in sheet piling and diesel rates. Suspended ceilings fell 4.6%; and fire proofing costs decreased 3.2%. Bucking the trend, Formwork costs rose slightly by 0.3%; as did exterior walls and exterior finish costs.
Labour rates have remained relatively stable, to March 2025; in the past three months, rising just 0.14% and they are up 1.8% over the past year. The downturn in overall construction activity – particularly in residential housing – has eased pressure on the labour market. Fewer projects mean there’s less competition for workers, which is helping to stabilise hourly rates and control one of the biggest contributors to project budgets.
QV CostBuilder is New Zealand’s most comprehensive subscription-based building cost platform.
In this update, more than 12,400 current material prices were applied to its database of more than 60,000 rates, generating about 6,300 changes to the data across six centres.
Powered by state-owned enterprise Quotable Value, QV CostBuilder’s comprehensive database covers everything from the building costs per square metre for banks, schools, and office buildings, to the approximate cost per sheet of GIB and more than 8,000 other items. It also includes labour rates, labour constants, and much more.
French authorities have blocked Greenpeace International’s ship Arctic Sunrise from entering the port of Nice, where the “One Ocean Science Congress” and the UN Ocean Conference are being hosted. This was retaliation against Greenpeace France, highlighting the weaknesses of the French network of Marine Protected Areas last month in the Mediterranean Sea, in an expedition on board the Arctic Sunrise.
Greenpeace International will write a formal letter of complaint to the United Nations, deploring the behaviour of the hosting French government. Civil society participation is a core element of the UN Ocean Conference.
Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Ellie Hooper says, “It’s ironic that so close to the 40th anniversary of the French Government’s attempt to silence Greenpeace here in Auckland by bombing the Rainbow Warrior, the French Government is again trying to shut us down by blocking our ship from entering Nice.”
“But just like we were not silenced then, neither will we be silenced now. Climate change, ecosystem collapse, and accelerating species extinction pose an existential threat, and our work has never been more important.”
The Arctic Sunrise had been invited by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the “One Ocean Science Congress” and in the Ocean wonders parade taking place right before the UN Ocean Conference.
Greenpeace International had intended to deliver the messages of three million people calling for a moratorium on deep sea mining to the politicians attending the conference. The ship’s entry to Nice has now been blocked.
Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International’s Executive Director, says, “The French authorities’ attempt to silence fair criticism ahead of this UN Ocean Conference is clearly a political decision and is utterly unacceptable. Greenpeace and our ships have been working peacefully to protect the oceans for decades. The Arctic Sunrise highlighted the failure of the French government to properly protect its Marine Protected Areas – where bottom trawling is still permitted – and now we are being punished.
“France wants this to be a moment where they present themselves as saviours of the oceans, while they want to silence any criticism of their own failures in national waters. We will not be silenced. We believe the voices of the three million calling for a stop to deep sea mining must be heard in Nice. Greenpeace and the French government share the same objective to get a moratorium on deep sea mining, which makes the ban of the Arctic Sunrise from Nice even more absurd.”
Millions of people around the world have joined Greenpeace’s campaign to stop deep sea mining from starting. In 2023, the Arctic Sunrise crew tookaction at seato bear witness to the threat of the deep sea mining industry. They peacefully protested against The Metals Company, which had been publicly accused of “environmental piracy” by the French government a few weeks ago, given their attempt to bypass international law by requesting an exploitation permit through President Trump’s administration.
Onboard photographer Fernando Pereira died in the attack, which came soon after Operation Exodus, in which the Greenpeace flagship had evacuated victims of American nuclear tests on Rongelap Atoll and was preparing to oppose French nuclear tests on Mururoa Atoll.
Following the first-ever deep sea mining licence application by The Metals Company to the United States, Greenpeace says that now is the time to resist and stop this industry from starting.
This UN Ocean Conference will be a key moment to galvanise support ahead of the July meeting of the International Seabed Authority, the UN regulator.
The Wellington Water Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of three new directors to the Wellington Water Board.
Wellington Water Committee Chair and Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry says the new appointments strengthen the board’s overall depth of experience.
“We were looking for directors in key areas of expertise and skills that complement the strengths of existing board members and make for a well-rounded team to tackle the challenges ahead.
The newly appointed directors are:
– Gillian Peacock
– Ben Pitchforth
– David Adamson
“Gillian brings crucial expertise in organisational change management, Ben has extensive experience in IT systems and management, and David’s significant background in infrastructure will be a valuable asset at the Board.”
These appointments bring the board back up to full strength, with Board Chair Nick Leggett now supported by six independent directors.
Board members are appointed by the Wellington Water Committee, made up of the region’s mayors and iwi representatives.
Current Board members have warmly welcomed the new appointments, with Board Chair Nick Leggett sharing particular praise for the breadth and depth of relevant knowledge these new appointments bring to the board.
“After a long wait, we are delighted to have our board back to full strength. With Gillian, Ben and David’s expertise we can move full steam ahead and make the right decisions now to ready the organisation for the transition to the new entity.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Dmitry Grigorenko awarded the winners of the international IT Olympiad. With the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin and the Chairman of the Board of Sberbank German Gref.
The results of the international conference were summed up in Nizhny Novgorod IT Olympiad, in which more than 10 thousand schoolchildren from 51 countries took part. In the final stage of the competition, 17 teams from Russia, Cuba, Thailand, India, China, Vietnam, Mozambique, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka met. As part of it, the participants solved practical problems in the field of artificial intelligence and information security.
The winners were awarded at the anniversary conference “Digital Industry of Industrial Russia” (CIPR). Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko took part in the award ceremony for the finalists. He noted that the participants, despite their young age, demonstrated a high level of knowledge in the field of IT and involvement.
“It is no coincidence that the award ceremony for the finalists of the IT Olympiad is taking place today at CIPR. At the exhibition, we saw cutting-edge digital solutions. But there are people behind all these developments. For the IT industry in Russia to develop, highly qualified personnel are needed first and foremost. You, interested young specialists, will soon become such personnel. You are already part of the industry.
Over the past 5 years, we have already managed to increase the number of budget places in universities in IT specialties by 2.5 times. More than 230 thousand students have received qualifications in the IT profile. The largest companies are also actively involved in training personnel. As part of the national project “Data Economy”, we are launching new programs for training specialists in microelectronics, robotics and artificial intelligence, unmanned systems,” said Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.
Sberbank acted as the general partner of the international IT Olympiad. Sberbank Chairman of the Management Board Herman Gref addressed the finalists of the competition: “I would like to congratulate the guys – participants of the IT Olympiad with all my heart. You have already taken a huge step – created a platform and a springboard to your own future. Different situations may arise in your life when you doubt whether you can cope with certain challenges. Remember that you once made the decision to participate in this competition, passed all the tests, and even won! And this will give you strength and confidence that you can handle any task. You are the very people who will build our common future. I wish you good luck on this path, confidence and resilience! Remember that it is not those who do not fall who win. Those who find the strength to get up and move forward after each fall win.”
The winners were also congratulated by the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin:
“At the anniversary CIPR, special attention was paid to the international agenda, including the interaction of countries in IT education. The Nizhny Novgorod government, together with the Republic of Cuba, organized the international IT Olympiad. I congratulate the guys on their high results! Participation in such competitions is already a great victory, and reaching the final is confirmation that we are talented, motivated and very promising young people. For the Nizhny Novgorod government, the development of the IT sphere is of great importance, as is systematic work with young people. The fact that the award ceremony is taking place in Nizhny, at the CIPR conference site, speaks for itself.”
The IT Olympiad lasted almost 2 months and consisted of 2 stages: individual and team competitions. Schoolchildren solved problems in the following areas: cryptography, web security, reverse engineering, artificial intelligence, network traffic analysis, machine learning, open source intelligence (OSINT), information security theory, programming basics, social engineering, and others. A number of tasks imitated real websites with vulnerabilities — participants had to hack them and bypass the protection. The tasks were prepared by experts in artificial intelligence and information security.
The participants coped best with tasks in mathematical logic (75% of participants solved them correctly), information security theory (74% of participants), and the basics of algorithms and programming (73% of participants). The most difficult tasks for schoolchildren were in the field of social engineering (32% of participants solved them correctly) and reverse engineering (36% of participants).
The organizers of the international IT Olympiad were the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The technological partner was the international school of programming and mathematics “Algorithmika”. The general partner was Sberbank.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is advocating for increased protections for family pets in family violence incidents. “I want to talk about some hidden victims of domestic abuse – our pets,” says Mrs Chhour. “New Zealand unfortunately has unacceptably high rates of family violence in the developed world, and at the same time one of the highest rates of pet ownership. “Pets are part of the family. They are our companions, our comfort, often a source of unconditional love. Tragically, this means that when family violence happens, our animals are often caught in the crossfire. “Abusers know how much their victims love their pets, and they use that love as a weapon. “Many people are shocked to learn how deeply linked pet abuse is with domestic violence. According to the latest research from Women’s Refuge: • 53% of women in abusive relationships delayed leaving their violent partner out of fear for their pet’s safety. Over half of victims hesitate to escape because they cannot ensure their pet will be safe without them. • About 24% of women (nearly 1 in 4) had a pet killed by their abuser. This horrifying statistic shows that for a significant number of survivors, their worst fears were realised – their beloved companion was brutally taken from them. • Frontline agencies are reporting a rise in sadistic violence toward animals in domestic abuse cases. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a pattern of extreme cruelty designed to instil terror. “These numbers and examples are shocking and painful to hear, but sadly they reflect the reality for families across the country and in every community. “Talking about this issue is important, but taking action is even more important. “Today, I’m both asking for your help and making a commitment as Minister. “Please spread the word that if you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, remember that you can include pets on Protection Orders. “Under New Zealand’s Family Violence Act, when you apply for a Protection Order, you can ask the Family Court to add a special condition to protect your animals. This means the abuser can be legally forbidden from hurting or taking the pets. “Too few people know about this so I would encourage everyone to tell your friends, family, and colleagues. “My commitment is to strengthen these protections. “I will be advocating to colleagues that we urgently need to update the Protection Order application and affidavit forms. We need these forms to explicitly cover pets and animal safety. “I am also pushing for improved training and guidance so that lawyers, judges, and support workers routinely consider pets in every family violence case. “Our courts and our system must recognise that pets are family, and that protecting them is part of protecting victims. “This will be a team effort by all of us, we all have a role to play in stopping this cycle of abuse. “It can be as simple as checking in on a friend if you suspect they’re afraid to leave an abusive home because of a pet. “It can be educating our children that kindness to animals and people is non-negotiable. “No one should have to live in fear, and no animal should suffer as a pawn in domestic violence. “Together, we can shine a light on this issue and bring about change. Let’s make sure no family member – two-legged or four-legged – is left behind in the journey to safety,” says Mrs Chhour.
Despite growing concerns about data privacy, new research from the University of South Australia shows that most people are happy to hand over their health information if it could help improve their care.
In a new global study, UniSA researchers found that 94% of people who use wearable activity trackers – such as Fitbits, Garmins, as well as Samsung or Apple Watches – are open to sharing data with their healthcare providers.
Of these respondents, 47% of people had already discussed their data with their healthcare provider, and 43% of people had already shared it. Only 26% of people voiced concerns.
UniSA researcher, Dr Ty Ferguson says the fact that people are open to sharing their personal health data with health providers could pave the way for more personalised care.
“Every day we hear about privacy risks and data breaches, so it’s reasonable to assume that data sharing might raise issues,” Dr Ferguson says.
“But in reality, the opposite is true – people are overwhelmingly willing to share health data from their smartwatches, as long as it’s with trusted health professionals such as doctors or physiotherapists.
“This was even more prevalent among people with chronic health conditions.
“By sharing personalised health data – such as sleep patterns, physical activity, or heart rate – healthcare providers can gain deeper insights about each patient’s needs, potentially offering smarter, more responsive, and better-quality care.”
Co-researcher and post-doctoral researcher, UniSA’s Kimberley Szeto says these figures highlight the urgent need for healthcare systems to better support healthy lifestyle behaviour.
“Being inactive, not getting enough quality sleep, and poor diet, are all preventable behaviours that can contribute to a higher risk of chronic disease,” Szeto says.
“Wearable activity trackers are a popular, relatively low-cost tool, that help people monitor their daily habits and better understand how this can impact their overall wellbeing.
“If people are open to sharing this information with their health providers, they could potentially receive health support that is specifically targeted to their own condition and health behaviours.
“While the positives are clear, challenges remain, from ensuring the reliability and validity of wearable activity data, and costs for data integration, to improving data security, and training for healthcare providers.
“Personalised healthcare is the way of the future; when we have the data and the desire to share it, it’s only a matter of time before we see progression.”
An ACT MP becoming Deputy Prime Minister has seemed impossible for most of the Party’s history. Now it is real. David Seymour’s first speech since becoming Deputy PM has been described by Mike Hosking as ‘uplifting’ We agree. He thanks supporters who helped the party ‘through the wicked old days, when we went it alone’ and you can read it or watch it here. Seymour will also be debating at Oxford Union at 7:30am Friday morning NZT streamed on YouTube here. Seymour will be opposing the moot ‘nobody can be illegal on stolen land.’
Meanwhile ACT MP Laura McClure’s campaign against deepfake pornography has gone ‘global,’ with her video covered in the UK press and videos of her speech to Parliament attracting tens of millions of views. The Party’s Deputy is rolling out reforms to WorkSafe this week. After months of travelling and listening to the people affected by regulations, Brooke van Velden is reforming WorkSafe to help people be safe instead of scaring them into paying consultants an arm and a leg. Road cones are the visible example of this problem. Without clear guidance, the simple way to show your commitment to safety is to pay for another cone.
ACT is Changing the Media
ACT’s ‘David vs the Media’ series is a simple idea. When David (or other ACT MPs) interview journalists, the Party independently films the whole exchange and posts it online. This has made journalists very upset. They have even tried to have it stopped, which is odd for people who are supposed to be in the truth business.
They may be upset because it is rating better than many of their own efforts. A good David vs Media is watched 60,000 times, better than some TV and radio shows. This is most obvious when the journalists put their own content on YouTube, on a level playing field they struggle to compete.
We know they’re upset by the comments. People see inanity of them trying to catch politicians out by asking the same question ten different ways, and they pile on in the comments. The journos seem genuinely upset to receive a fraction of the abuse heaped on politicians, often because of the image media have created of them.
However we believe there’s a much deeper reason David vs Media is upsetting them, it manifests something that’s been happening for a long time, but is becoming unignorable. Moore’s Law means the fall of the media monopoly, and monopolists hate competition.
Moore’s Law says that the number of transistor gates on an integrated circuit will double every eighteen months. It’s usually expressed more simply as ‘available computer power will double every 18 months.’ Intel co-founder Gordon Moore predicted the law in the 1970s and it has been amazingly durable.
In practice it means the cost of capturing, storing, transmitting, and displaying text, photos, and video has fallen through the floor. Now anybody can do for a few hundred dollars what used to cost millions.
Once upon a time you needed to a TV studio with cameras and lights, and massive rooms filled with film or tape. You needed cables going up hills to transmission towers, projecting the one or two available channels down on to people’s roofs. Now anyone can compete with their mobile phone.
Journalists are losing the power to decide what people see. For one example, A TV journalist recently interviewed three people in Newmarket who didn’t like David Seymour. This was presented on the news as the view of the electorate. Epsom has elected Seymour four times with up to 50 per cent of the vote, so one of three things has happened. Either there’s been a major change of views, the journalist is incompetent, or the journalist is abusing their power to give viewers a false impression.
The tide is going out on such incompetence and treachery. Fewer and fewer people, and almost nobody under 40, is watching the 6 o’clock news. If rumours are to be believed, we may be back to one channel by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, journalists are forced to put up more ‘raw’ content themselves. Guyon Espiner’s show 30’ is what it sounds like, a 30-minute uncut interview. At one level it’s extraordinary to see someone who commanded an audience of half a million with monopoly power barely eke out the views of David vs the Media on his best days.
At another level, we are seeing the seeds of journalists trying to actually inform their audiences and make up their own minds. Espiner’s highest rating videos are the ones where he genuinely tries to help his audience understand what the interviewee has to say.
Another example is John Campbell, who was apoplectic when David Seymour showed up to an interview with his own microphone and camera. The full 42 minutes is gold: “You’re a real star on ACT’s YouTube channel!” “Marvellous!” “That’s not a good thing, John.”
Campbell ended up putting the whole interview on TVNZ’s website himself, not something you’d normally see. The shorter, edited version was edited surprisingly well, would this have happened if it was not for the knowledge that the whole video might get more views than his edit anyway?
Campbell has written a long, too long, meditation on whether Seymour is too combative to win people over. What he’s missed is that he’s having to change himself because of the transparency ACT is bringing.
The problems with our media won’t be solved by subsidies, taxes, or any other approach. What will change is technology, competition and innovation. Who would have thought the ACT Party would be helping save the media?
Maintaining regular savings habits and paying off credit card debt on time are two stable financial behaviours that significantly lead to improved mental health, University of South Australia finance experts have found.
New UniSA research has revealed that stable financial habits can significantly contribute to improved mental health, which in turn can lead to higher productivity and employment. This was found to be true across all socioeconomic demographics.
Researchers explored data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey database, comprising the socioeconomic status, physical and mental health, labour market dynamics, family conditions and life experiences of more than 17,000 Australians aged 15 years and over from 2001 to 2021.
Upon examining the data, researchers found that people who practised stable financial behaviours, such as regularly saving money and paying off credit card payments on time, reported increased mental health as well as vitality, social functioning and general wellbeing.
UniSA Professor of Applied Economics Rajabrata Banerjee says while the link between financial behaviours and mental health is already known, research into patterns of consistent behaviour and the impact on mental health was lacking.
“We already know that having high debt and low savings has a negative impact on mental health, but we wanted to learn more about the positive financial behaviours – such as how regularly someone saves or pay off their debt – that may reduce financial strain and cause less worry about money and better mental health,” he says.
“Considering Australians are already facing cost-of-living pressures, and the ongoing mental health crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to investigate what part positive financial behaviours can play in significantly altering mental health.
“We found that people who are saving and regularly putting money aside have the best mental health. Those who don’t save at all had the worst mental health. In terms of paying off credit card debt, the same principle applies.”
To examine the effect of cost-of-living pressures, the study also investigated whether financial burden was a factor that influenced regular savings and debt behaviours. Financial burden was measured by the cost of utilities like electricity, gas and water, adjusted based on how close someone is to retirement.
“The study found that sharp increases in utility prices placed a greater financial burden on younger people, who typically have low savings and high debt. This burden further strains their finances and negatively impacts their savings and debit behaviours and mental health,” Prof Banerjee says.
“The study also found that the positive impact of savings behaviour on mental health was stronger for men than women, indicating that, in Australia, financial management is still dominated by men, therefore resulting in a greater impact for that group.”
However, the study found that stable financial behaviours led to good mental health irrespective of whether an individual is from a higher or lower socioeconomic background, signifying that even saving a small amount when expenses are high, can lead to better mental health.
Prof Banerjee says financial hardship can be a profoundly disheartening experience that can have a detrimental effect on someone’s mental health as well as their long-term economic interests.
“When individuals are financially strained, they often can’t save as much or invest, so they miss out on growth and meeting those goals they might have set for the future. People can also become reliant on borrowing to meet their basic needs, and this can lead to high interest payments and continuous debt cycles,” he says.
“That’s why healthy financial behaviour is important to build stability and long-term security, allowing goal achievement, independence and access to opportunities, as well as reduced stress and good mental health.”
A man has died this morning, following a crash on No 3 Road, Te Puke last night.
Police were called to an address in Te Puke this morning after a man was located deceased. It was later discovered that he was involved in a crash last night.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash and the death are ongoing.
The Government is welcoming a report which shows facial recognition technology is an effective way of combatting retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“The Privacy Commission today announced it has found the live facial recognition technology model trialled by Foodstuffs North Island, is compliant with the Privacy Act.
“It found the technology is effective at reducing harmful behaviour towards retailers, especially serious violent incidents.
“This is great news for businesses that are considering using the technology as a means to protect their livelihoods.
“The report notes that privacy concerns must be carefully safeguarded.
“I expect our Ministerial Advisory Group will continue to look at this technology as an option to be used more widely and engage with the sector on it.
“I’ll be encouraging the MAG to take this report into serious consideration.”
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has welcomed an Office of the Privacy Commissioner report into the trial of facial recognition technology by a major supermarket chain, saying such technology is a valuable tool for fighting crime.
“I welcome the OPC’s comments about the potential benefits of facial recognition technology and the finding that, in the case of the Foodstuffs trial, it was effective at reducing incidences of serious repeat offending.”
“The value of technology such as facial recognition is that it is fair and accurate. It has an important role to play in policing.
Facial recognition technology is valuable for deterring, detecting and resolving crime. While there are many benefits to using technology it is crucial to have appropriate guidance in place.”
“I welcome the clear guidelines from the OPC on how retailers can use it effectively and the safeguards that are required. It offers useful guidance on whether its use is appropriate, what the privacy risks are and how those can be minimised.”
Commissioner Chambers said the use of facial recognition technology as a crime prevention tool was a decision for retailers to make for themselves and their businesses.
“Police is supportive of retailers using tools like this to enhance safety for their staff and communities, as long as it is done lawfully and ethically.
I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to better use technology to help achieve positive outcomes.
One of the biggest opportunities we have as a country is to embrace technology when it comes to fighting crime.”
Up from #8 in the Heritage Foundation’s nationwide ranking
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas now ranks #1 in the nation for election integrity according to the Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard. The State ranked #8 at the beginning of the year and rose in the ranks after a successful session in which Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders prioritized safe and secure elections for Arkansas voters.
“My goal this session was simple: make it easy to vote and hard to cheat,” said Governor Sanders. “I was proud to work with my friend, Secretary of State Cole Jester, to make Arkansas ballot boxes the safest and most secure in America and end petition fraud to protect our Constitution. Today’s announcement shows that all our hard work paid off.”
“As Secretary of State, I have said from day one we would have the most secure elections in the country. I’m proud of the work my team has completed implementing new procedures and technology. None of this would be possible without the great work of Governor Sanders and the men and women of the Arkansas legislature,” said Secretary of State Cole Jester.
“Heritage has long been the gold standard for ranking states for election integrity and security,” saidSenator Kim Hammer (District 16). “Legislators, Governor Sanders, and Secretary of State Cole Jester have worked together as a team, on behalf of Arkansans, to help achieve the number one ranking in election integrity and security in the nation! We must continue our work to protect our number one ranking from those who want to take us backwards. Arkansans can feel confident that our elections are secure. Let’s work together to maintain this ranking.”
“Arkansas should never sacrifice election integrity for convenience,” said Senator John Payton (District 22). “We must fulfill our responsibility to get it right. I believe the commonsense changes made this year are true to these principles.”
“Arkansas’ rise to #1 in the nation for election security is a significant achievement and a clear reflection of the strong conservative leadership and very intentional work done by the legislature,” said Senator Matt McKee (District 6). “The foundation of America’s constitutional republic relies on our ability to hold free and fair elections. While others work to undermine our republic, Arkansas has fought back to set a national example for how states can secure the electoral process and hold elections the people can trust.”
“There can be no doubt — we take election integrity seriously in Arkansas,” said Rep. David Ray (District 69). “It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat, and this new ranking is a testament to the hard work that we’ve done the past few years to fortify our election laws.”
“The Presidential elections of 2016 and 2020 showed both parties can challenge results,” said Rep. Carlton Wing (District 38). “The Legislature and Secretary of State’s office worked hard to pass laws to restore confidence in the electoral process. Arkansas now leads the nation in assuring our citizens that all legal votes must be counted and only legal votes should count. Today’s announcement demonstrates our efforts are setting a national standard in election integrity.”
“In recognizing the dedication of the Republican-led legislature, the Heritage Foundation has propelled Arkansas to the pinnacle of election security rankings, from #8 to #1 in the nation,” said Rep. Howard Beaty (District 95). “As Arkansas House Majority Leader, I take pride in these outstanding results, reflecting our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the democratic process.”
“Protecting the integrity of our elections starts long before ballots are cast,” said Rep. Kendon Underwood (District 16). “By strengthening safeguards in the petition process and cracking down on fraud and abuse, we’ve sent a clear message: every step in our democratic process must be uncompromised and trustworthy. Arkansas now stands as the national leader in election integrity because the security of our elections is a responsibility we take seriously every day.”
Governor Sanders’ accomplishments in this legislative session include Act 240, Act 241, and Act 218, which strengthened protections on Arkansas’ ballot amendment process so that bad actors cannot influence and change the Natural State’s Constitution. The Governor also signed Act 998 and Act 999 to protect Arkansas elections from hostile foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea and ban foreign entities from funding state and local ballot measures.
Additionally, Governor Sanders is fully in support of the Citizens Only Voting Amendment, which will appear in front of voters next election and mandate that only U.S. citizens can vote in Arkansas elections.
The Natural State received perfect scores on Voter ID Implementation, Access of Election Observers, Verification of Citizenship, Identification for Voter Assistance, Vote County Practices, Restrictions on Same-day Registration, Restrictions on Automatic Registration, Restrictions on Private Funding of Election Officials or Government Agencies, and Restrictions on Ranked Choice Voting.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
May 29, 2025
[SINGAPORE] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) are leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Singapore to this year’s International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, which is one of Asia’s premier global international security and defense summits, to reaffirm the United States’ strong bipartisan commitment to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Their arrival in Singapore comes immediately after Senator Duckworth completed a successful visit to Taiwan where she voiced her support for the Taiwanese people and our partnership with them. While in Singapore, the Delegation plans to meet with a number of defense and foreign affairs officials representing several of our partners in the Indo-Pacific region to discuss her efforts to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including strengthening our cultural, economic and military partnerships across the region.
“I’ve always believed that if America wants to remain a global leader, we have to show up and support our partners and allies—and that means our leadership in the Indo-Pacific must continue for the long term,” said Senator Duckworth. “The United States has long been a major Pacific power but, if we abandon our Indo-Pacific partners, we’d be leaving a vacuum that the PRC both can—and likely will—take advantage of, making it harder for America to compete with China and weakening our standing on the global stage all while giving our adversaries and competitors an easy path to overtaking us. So I’m proud to be back for this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, where Senator Ricketts and I will be working to strengthen our relationships with several of our Indo-Pacific partners and send a strong, bipartisan message to our allies—and our competitors—that the United States is here for the long haul.”
“Increasing aggression from Communist China continues to threaten peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. In the Senate, I am working with my colleagues to make sure all aspects of our government are ready to respond to Beijing’s malign influence and hostilities in the region,” said Senator Ricketts. “What we’re seeing from America’s friends in the Indo-Pacific is a renewed emphasis on strengthening their defense capabilities. I’m looking forward to participating in this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue with Senator Duckworth. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies and partners to deter Communist China’s aggression and counter its threats to our collective interests.”
While in Singapore, the Duckworth-Ricketts Delegation intends to meet with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Singapore Minister of Defence Chan Chun Sing, Republic of Korea Defense Minister for Policy Cho Chang-rae, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, German Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Nils Schmid, Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phuntham Wechayachai, Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, UK Ministry of Defense Minister of State Lord Coaker, Commander of United Nations Command (UNC) Xavier Brunson and more.
This trip comes after Duckworth successfully led a bipartisan delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue alongside U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) last year. Duckworth is a proven leader when it comes to strengthening our relations with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region—which she has done while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed into law, Duckworth successfully secured a modified version of her Access to Care for Overseas Military Act to improve medical readiness in the Indo-Pacific. This provision established a program to accredit foreign medical facilities to help ensure our nation’s servicemembers as well as their families have access to quality patient care throughout the Indo-Pacific region—where they often must travel long distances to receive care—both during peacetime and in the event of a conflict abroad.
In 2023, Duckworth led an official visit to Japan and Indonesia as part of her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the United States. And last summer, Duckworth led another official visit to the Indo-Pacific region again, visiting Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines to meet with government and business leaders and discuss opportunities that would increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economic investments, regional stability and national security.
In 2022, Duckworth traveled to South Korea and Taiwan where she met with business, government and trade leaders, which helped lead to a joint venture between Illinois’s ADM and South Korea’s LG Chem, as well as a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans. In 2021, Duckworth, Sullivan and Coons also travelled to Taiwan to announce that the United States’ would donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan as part of President Biden’s plan to provide vaccines to our global partners in need. Duckworth also successfully included a modified version of her Strengthen Taiwan’s Security Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help Taiwan strengthen its military defenses. In 2019, Duckworth led a bipartisan delegation to Japan and Singapore. In 2018, Duckworth visited South Korea and Japan.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.02083 per common share for the period of June 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, which is equal to $0.25 per common share on an annualized basis. The dividend will be paid on June 30, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 13, 2025.
About Diversified Royalty Corp.
DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.
DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.
DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: the amount and timing of the June 2025 dividend to be paid to DIV’s shareholders; DIV’s objective to continue to pay predictable and stable monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular there can be no assurance that: DIV will be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; or DIV will achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2025 and in its most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, copies of each of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ atwww.sedarplus.com.
In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that, among other things, DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.
All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information included in this news release is presented as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Additional Information
Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.
Contact: Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer Diversified Royalty Corp. (236) 521-8470