This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 6 media release snippets and 5 links for the day of Friday 10th July.
Top stories in the current news cycle include the Government rejecting pre-Budget advice from the Treasury to close KiwiRail, a report that Mexican authorities have said they want 200,000 sheep a year to build up on their national flock from quality New Zealand blood lines and a panel of independent commissioners deciding not to seek public input during the consents process for the Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland.
SNIPPETS OF THE DAY
* Politics
Speeding Up Medical Certificates For Beneficiaries: Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say GPs can now lodge Work Capacity medical certificates electronically, replacing time-consuming paper certificates.“Work Capacity medical certificates contain information about a person’s medical condition, capacity for work, how long they are expected to be unable to work and their ability to undertake work related activities.
Budget Documents Reveal Kiwisaver Deceit: A claim by John Key that cutting the KiwiSaver kickstart “will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join KiwiSaver” has been shown to be false in Budget documents released yesterday, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson.“Since that cut to kickstart the ANZ has announced there has been a 50 per cent fall in sign-ups to their Kiwisaver scheme, one of the largest in New Zealand.
Views On SkyCity ignored Again: It is extremely disappointing that Aucklanders are being shut out of the resource consent decision-making process for the SkyCity convention centre, the Green Party said today. “The SkyCity convention centre is one of the most significant developments in Auckland this decade and a hugely politically contentious building. It’s extremely disappointing that the public won’t get a say in the non-notified consent process,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.
* Business
Fonterra Strengthens Ties With The Netherlands: Associate Minister of Trade Todd McClay says a new Fonterra ingredients factory in the Netherlands, opened on Wednesday by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, marks an exciting step forward in agribusiness collaboration between New Zealand and the Netherlands.
* Primary Industries
Farmers To Vote on Levy : As the date for this year’s sheep and beef levy referendum draws closer, farmers are being encouraged to check if they’re registered to vote. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) will be going to farmers next month and asking them to have their say on the future of the organisation.
Forecasting Positive For World Crop Prospects: Favorable worldwide conditions for cereal crops (Cereal Crops are members of the grass family grown for their edible starchy seeds used in the production of wheat, barley, oats and etc) will lead to better-than-expected production this growing season at the global level, says the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
LINKS OF THE DAY
NZCCSS VULNERABILITY REPORT: Financial Sanctions Undermine Social Investment For Better Outcomes For Vulnerable New Zealanders. The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) has released the 21st edition of the Vulnerability Report and finds financial sanctions undermine the Government’s focus on better lives for vulnerable New Zealanders. Download the full Vulnerability Report at:http://nzccss.org.nz/news/library/vulnerability-report-21-july-2015-pdf/
COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM GRANTS: Internal Affairs Minister and Presiding Member of the Lottery Grants Board, Hon Peter Dunne today announced $180 million of Lottery funding is being made available to support communities throughout New Zealand. See the breakdown of allocations here:https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/communities-set-benefit-180-million-lottery-grants-funding
OVERSEAS VISITORS INCREASE FOR MAY: National guest nights for May 2015 were 5.5 percent higher than in May 2014, Statistics New Zealand said today.”As in the previous three months, most of the rise for May was from international guest nights,” business indicators manager Neil Kelly said. “Two-thirds of the increase in international guest nights occurred in the South Island. See Accommodation Survey for May 2015 here:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/accommodation/AccommodationSurvey_HOTPMay15.aspx
NEW ZEALAND VENTURE INVESTMENT FUND RELEASES REPORT: Investing in start-ups and young technology companies can be rewarding but investors should not hold high expectations of fast turnarounds in investment gains, according to a New Zealand Venture Investment Fund report released today. Click here to view snapshot report:http://www.nzvif.co.nz/media/publications/
NZ GREETS HER SOLDIER SONS FROM GALLIPOLI: The ship Willochra arrived at Glasgow Wharf in Wellington with the first large group of wounded men from Gallipoli, during the afternoon of 15 July 1915.“The exuberance of… the welcome yesterday to sick and wounded soldiers who were passengers …. was tempered by a sadness which could not be shaken off” summarised a local paper, describing scenes of tearful gratitude the journalist witnessed. Read more here: http://ww100.govt.nz/returning-home-from-war .
And that’s our sampling of the day that was on Friday 10th July 2015.
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