This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 8 media release snippets and 4 links for the day of Wednesday 1st July.
Top stories in the current news cycle and at Parliament includes the Te Hiku Claims Settlement Bill (a new law that will give control of Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North to iwi) passing it’s second reading, the postponement of a decision on the future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter and its 800 staff for a month till 3 August, and news that the average house price in Auckland has now passed $800,000 for the first time.
SNIPPETS OF THE DAY
* Politics
Free Healthcare For Under 13’s: From today all New Zealand children aged under 13 will be eligible to access free GP visits at any time of the day or night seven days a week, as well as free prescriptions.
Trains fuel debate: The National Government shouldn’t drag New Zealand backwards by replacing its climate friendly electric trains with carbon-polluting diesel trains, the Green Party said today.
Healthcare Affecting Suicide Rates : Regional New Zealand continues to suffer from a suicide rate comparatively higher than in cities and the government must take some of the blame for cutting health services, says New Zealand First. “Its investment approach and postcode healthcare system has left regional New Zealand with the barest minimum of mental health services,” said New Zealand First Health Spokesperson Barbara Stewart.
* Business
TruScreen Share Purchase Plan Exceeds Target: Kiwi cancer diagnostic company TruScreen (TRU) has surpassed its target of $1million of capital to be raised via a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) for New Zealand resident shareholders. TruScreen has developed a unique screening system for cervical cancer, closed its Share Purchase Plan on 26 June, 2015 with the company electing to accept oversubscriptions due to its popularity.
Real Estate Mobile App Gains Popularity: The highly competitive property market has sparked a surge in mobile app usage. Not only has the total number of Realestate.co.nz mobile app users grown at a much faster rate than other platforms in the last twelve months, but the average mobile app user visits the property portal significantly more often than they did the same time last year.
* Primary Industries
Sheep Unloaded In Mexico: The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed the 45,000 sheep and 3,200 cattle, exported to Mexico are now at a holding farm following their 15-day journey from Timaru. A total of 191 sheep and one cow died – 0.42% and 0.03% respectively of the sheep and cattle in the shipment. This compares favourably with the average mortality of 0.71% in 40 Australian live sheep shipments last year.
Irradiated Tomatoes Make Their Way To NZ: The first shipment of irradiated Australian tomatoes of 2015 is due to arrive in New Zealand this week, prompting a reminder to retailers and the hospitality sector to ensure their produce is clearly labelled as ‘irradiated’.
LINKS OF THE DAY
DAWN OF A NEW ERA FOR EDUCATION: Today marks a new era for teachers as the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand opens its doors, says Education Minister Hekia Parata. Read more here:http://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/specific-initiatives/education-council
NZ SIGN LANGUAGE FUND RECEIVES $900,000 GRANT: Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today announced the first 14 grants for community projects from the newly established New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund. For more information click here: www.odi.govt.nz/what-we-do/nzsl/nzsl-fund
VISITOR ARRIVALS KEEP BIOSECURITY STAFF ON TOES: Burgeoning visitor arrivals in May have seen biosecurity staff intercept a range of unusual and potentially alarming risk items at New Zealand airports and ports. Read about declaring risk items when you arrive in New Zealand: http://mpigovtnz.cwp.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/arriving-in-new-zealand/items-to-declare/
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE: Canterbury health officials are urging people to get vaccinated before the worst of the flu season arrives. For more information go to: www.fightflu.co.nz
And that’s our sampling of the day that was on Wednesday 1st July 2015.
Brought to EveningReport by Newsroom Digest. –]]>
