This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 6 media release snippets and 2 links of the day from Friday 18th June.
Top stories in the current news cycle – aside from the winter storm – include a measured response from regional Mayors to Jetstar’s opportunistic move to enter the regional airline space, rumblings of Environment Minister Nick Smith upsetting industry groups on the matter of a scheme for recycling old tyres (a change from housing for the Minister) and stories that have prevailed through the week such as questions about the export of swamp kauri and indications of some possible movement on raising the refugee quota.
SNIPPETS OF THE DAY
* Politics
Government Excuses Sink In The Mud: The Government’s excuses for allowing the export of swamp kauri as finished products are being bogged down by mounting evidence that rough sawn slabs of kauri timber are being exported illegally, the Green Party said today.
* Business
TPP Comes Off Life Support: The fate of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade and investment pact may be known as early as next Wednesday, US time, after a vote in the US Congress last night endorsed the elusive ‘fast-track authority’ that President Barack Obama needs if the 12 nation negotiation is to be concluded successfully.
Kiwi Dollar Rises: The New Zealand dollar edged up as investors reduced their holdings of US dollars amid uncertainty about the pace of future interest rate rises in the world’s largest economy.
* Primary Industries
Young Wellington Wins Competition:New Zealand’s top young amenity horticulturist has been found after two days of intense competition at the Young Amenity Horticulturist of the Year event, held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens from 17-18 June. The annual New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) event aims to find the top young horticulturist from the country’s public parks and gardens, with the champion going on to represent the amenity sector at the Young Horticulturist of the Year Grand Final in Auckland in November.
* General
NZ’s Urged To Welcome Refugees: The Human Rights Commission says New Zealand can help its own citizens and also provide refuge to people escaping violence and war.
Fresh Water Quality Still Needs Checking: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, today released two reports on water quality, calling for further steps to safeguard the quality of New Zealand’s fresh water. Download the report: http://www.pce.parliament.nz/assets/Uploads/Managing-water-quality-web.pdf
LINKS OF THE DAY YOUTH GROUP SUPPORTS POPE’S PUSH FOR CLIMATE ACTION: Youth climate change movement Generation Zero has welcomed Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change, released last night New Zealand time, which calls for urgent action to cut carbon pollution in order to protect young and future generations and the world’s poor. Read Pope Francis’s letter on climate action here :http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
UPDATED STATISTICS ON MĀORI AUTHORITIES: Today Statistics New Zealand releases Tatauranga Umanga Māori 2015 – Updated statistics on Māori authorities. This is our third official release of Māori authority statistics. For more information about these statistics:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/maori/tatauranga-umanga-maori-2015.aspx
And that’s our sampling of the day that was on Friday 18th June 2015.
Brought to EveningReport by Newsroom Digest. –]]>
