This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 5 media release snippets and 4 links of the day from Tuesday 2nd June.
Top stories in the current news cycle include a warning from Prime Minister John Key that people smugglers are now using steel hulled boats that could reach New Zealand, an assertion from Finance Minister Bill English that state houses being sold by the Government in Invercargill and Tauranga will be sold for market value, responses to the Social Bond push from the Government and some flow-on coverage of the Green party’s election of James Shaw to the party’s male co-leader role.
The wider team at NewsRoom_Plus have been busy with two new categories of featured content on topical issues. See featured content on the Climate Change Contribution Consulation (closes tomorrow!) herehttp://newsroomplus.com/tag/climate-change/ and on a demonstration outside the High Court in Wellington today here: http://newsroomplus.com/2015/06/02/womens-rights-1/
SNIPPETS OF THE DAY
Z Energy Buys Out Competition For $785m: Z Energy, the listed service station chain, has agreed to buy rival Chevron New Zealand’s Caltex-branded network for $785 million, and plans to raise $185 million in new capital to help fund the acquisition. Chevron announced last week that it was quitting its 11 percent stake in the Marsden Point oil refinery. With the sale of its retail chain, the US-based oil giant is effectively exiting the New Zealand downstream fuels market, although it took a stake for first time in an offshore oil and gas exploration permit last year.
Jump In Terms of Trade: New Zealand’s terms of trade rose in the first three months of the year, snapping two quarters of decline, as a slump in the price of imported petrol offset weaker prices for dairy exports. The terms of trade rose 1.5 percent in the first quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. That lagged behind the 1.7 percent gain projected in a Reuters survey.
Control On Spy Agencies: The intelligence and security review panel needs to look overseas and realise that unbridled power for spy agencies to undertake mass spying is no longer acceptable, and ensure that New Zealanders do not have less privacy protections than American citizens, said the Green Party today. Provisions that allowed the American National Security Agency (NSA) to undertake mass spying were shut down due to a sunset clause in the Patriot Act. The USA Freedom Act, which is expected to replace the Patriot Act, will permanently prevent mass surveillance and introduce more rules on transparency.
Auckland Bus Network Progress: Transport Minister, Simon Bridges, says the completion of a bus lane in northern Auckland marks a milestone in addressing congestion in the country’s largest city. Mr Bridges says the opening of an extension of the bus shoulder along part of the Northern highway is the final section of the NZ Transport Agency’s (NZTA) Upper Harbour Highway to Greville Road widening project.
NZ Dollar Takes A Nose Dive: The New Zealand dollar hit its lowest level in almost five years over the long weekend as traders favour the greenback amid growing expectations that the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates next week while the US Federal Reserve moves towards rate hikes.
LINKS OF THE DAY
FIX OUR FUTURE: In an impassioned response to the Government’s consultation on New Zealand’s climate change commitments, youth climate change movement Generation Zero’s online submission tool has reeled in over 2,000 submissions in two weeks. The Fix Our Future website allows people to make a personalised submission by selecting from six key points written by Generation Zero and adding their own personal comments. Go to: www.fixourfuture.nz
PM’s SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ASIA ANNOUNCED: The first Prime Minister’s Scholarships for 2015 to study at top Asian institutions have been awarded to 140 New Zealand students. For more information, including a full list of recipients, go to www.enz.govt.nz/how-we-work/scholarships/pmsa
ECONOMIC INDICATORS RELEASED: The May Monthly Economic Indicators (MEI) was published today on the Treasury Website at 2:00pm. Read more at: http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/mei/may15
STROKE PATIENT EXPERIENCES: Whanganui Hospital Acute Stroke Unit and rehabilitation staff are focusing their attention on really understanding what it is their patients experience while in hospital. For information on how to recognise the signs of, and how to prevent stroke, visit www.stroke.org.nz.
And that’s our sampling of the day that was on Tuesday 2nd June 2015.
Brought to EveningReport by Newsroom Digest. –]]>
