This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 8 media release snippets and 4 links for the day of Thursday 9th July.
Top stories in the current news cycle include today’s announcement of proposals to strengthen tenancy laws and regulations to include insulation and smoke alarm requirements, concern being voiced at the decision to disestablish Cancer Control New Zealand – an independent Ministerial advisory committee – from 8 August, and revelations from 2015 Budget papers released this week that the Treasury suggested closing down the country’s rail network because it costs too much.
SNIPPETS OF THE DAY
* Politics
Chinese stock waves:The National Government can no longer afford to be complacent on a possible economic slowdown in China given our economy’s high exposure to China and Australia, the Green Party said today. The Chinese Government intervened today with new measures to try and halt the decline of the Chinese stock market, down around 30 percent from its peak last month. The correction has had flow-on effects for commodity prices, with oil and iron ore both falling in value. Iron ore has fallen to a six-year low at US$45 a tonne. Iron ore makes up 17 percent of Australia’s export economy by value.
NZ First Looks For Millions Lost From Education: New Zealand First’s Education Spokesperson Tracey Martin wants to know the details of the government’s under spending on education.“The government has explained that the underspend includes $27 million on salaries, but fails to point to anything else. We understand time variances, but $205 million is a huge figure.”
* Business
June spend up: Retail spending using electronic cards was $4.3 billion in June 2015, up $206 million (5.0 percent) from June 2014, Statistics New Zealand said today.
Food tax arguments: NZ Food and Grocery Council Chief Executive Katherine Rich has joined the NZ Taxpayer’s Union in throwing cold water on a call by Auckland University academics to tax certain food types.
* Primary Industries
Government Invests $7.3m For Agricultural Research:The Government will invest $7.3 million over five years in an agricultural research partnership to improve pasture grasses and lift the performance of livestock farming.Funding is provided through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s research partnerships programme and will be matched by industry funding.
Fonterra goes Dutch: Fonterra’s new site at Heerenveen in the Netherlands officially opened overnight, with His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in attendance alongside Fonterra Chairman John Wilson and CEO Theo Spierings for the proceedings.
Horticulture NZ To Host GLOBALG.A.P : Horticulture New Zealand is proud to host global food assurance organisation GLOBALG.A.P. at its conference this year, along with an impressive line-up of speakers. HortNZ’s communications manager Leigh Catley says. “They bring a global view of the produce industry to us, something that’s hard for Kiwis to get without travelling extensively overseas themselves.
Apiculture unity: Federated Farmers has applauded the steps taken to unify the fragmented New Zealand Apiculture Industry, at the New Zealand Apiculture Conference last month, and is calling for industry people with governance skills to apply for positions on the Interim Apiculture Industry Governance Board (IGB).
LINKS OF THE DAY
BUDGET 2015 DOCS: The Treasury has released documents relating to Budget 2015 in response to and in anticipation of requests for Budget-related information. You can source this release of information here:http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/informationreleases/budget/2015
FAMILIES AND WHANAU: Today the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (Superu) released the 2015 Families and Whānau Status Report measuring how New Zealand families and whānau are faring across a range of well-being indicators. See the full report here: http://www.superu.govt.nz/publication/families-and-wh-nau-status-report-2015
LVV CERTIFICATION: Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming a review of the certification process for vehicles built from scratch or modified for a specialised purpose.The review of low volume vehicle (LVV) certification, initiated by the New Zealand Transport Agency, will be undertaken by Standards New Zealand.More information on the LVV certification process: http://ww.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/warrants-and-certificates/modifying-your-vehicle
ANZ TRUCKOMETER: The ANZ Heavy Traffic Index rose 1.6% in the month of June (seasonally adjusted), more than unwinding its May fall. The rebound is welcome after a series of declines.To source the latest ANZ Truckometer in full, go to: http://www.anz.co.nz/about-us/economic-markets-research/truckometer/
And that’s our sampling of the day that was on Thursday 9th July 2015.
Brought to EveningReport by Newsroom Digest. –]]>
