This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 4 media release snippets and 5 links of the day from Friday 12th June.
Top stories in the current news cycle include coverage of the falling New Zealand dollar which is expected to ease the pressure on manufacturers and farmers but could mean a rise in the cost of living including higher fuel prices, further reverberations from and commentary about the drop in the Official Cash Rate, comments from Minister of Social Housing Paula Bennett acknowledging that some state houses are not up to standard, and items about a string of ‘health scares’: Scarlet fever, Legionnaires Disease and (in Korea) Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
SNIPPETS OF THE DAY
Dairy Industry Reviewed Through Consultation: The Commerce Commission today released a consultation paper outlining its proposed approach, timeframes and scope for its review of the state of competition in the New Zealand dairy industry. The consultation paper and terms of reference are available on the Commission’s website. See:http://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/dairy-industry/report-on-the-state-of-competition-in-the-new-zealand-dairy-industry/
NZ Dollar Drops Below 70 US cents: The New Zealand dollar fell below 70 US cents for the first time in almost five years after the Reserve Bank began cutting interest rates earlier than some had expected yesterday.
Legal Highs Policy Adopted: After an intense and at times emotional two hour debate the Kāpiti District Council has adopted a policy to restrict the sale of psychoactive substances (legal highs) in Kāpiti. The policy will ensure that 99.9% of the district will be protected from any future retail sales of legal highs.
Wool Price Ease Up: New Zealand wool prices eased from recent highs at auction this week as shorter wool failed to attract the same premium as longer wool on offer the previous week.
LINKS OF THE DAY
PRIVACY COMMISSIONER LAUNCHES $75,000 RESEARCH FUND : The Privacy Commissioner is calling for applicants for a new privacy-related research funding programme worth up to $75,000 in total. For more information visit: https://privacy.org.nz/further-resources/privacy-research/
FOOD PRICES INCREASE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY : In May 2015, food prices rose 0.4 percent, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows a 0.3 percent fall in April and a 0.1 percent rise in March. Click here for statistics:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/prices_indexes/FoodPriceIndex_HOTPMay15.aspx
AXING OF TEACHERS GRANTS : The scrapping of grants aimed at solving teacher shortages will only add to the looming teacher crisis the Government refuses to address, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. Read more here: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/Notices/Notice.aspx?NoticeId=616690
LOGISTICS GUIDELINE PUBLISHED : The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management today published Logistics in CDEM: Director’s Guidelines for Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups. This will complete another recommendation from the Review of the CDEM Response to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake. The guidelines ave available to download from the Ministry’s website at www.civildefence.govt.nz/cdem-sector/cdem-framework/guidelines
VERBAL ABUSE CONSIDERED BIGGEST BULLY IN SCHOOLS : School students think verbal mistreatment is the biggest bullying issue in schools – higher than cyberbullying, social or relational bullying such as social exclusion and spreading gossip, or physical bullying. For more information visit http://www.censusatschool.org.nz.
And that’s our sampling of the day that was on Friday 12th June 2015.
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