NewsRoom Digest: Top NZ News Items for September 3, 2015

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 8 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Thursday 3rd September. NEWSROOM_MONITOR Top stories in the current news cycle include the suspension of New Zealand’s funding to Nauru for its justice system due to ongoing concerns about civil rights abuses, a report that highlights a sharemarket crash is the biggest economic risk to the country and would cost Auckland alone $5.5 billion and PM John Key signalling the Government could consider lifting the current 750 annual refugee quota before the scheduled review next year. Note: As well as providing a precis of leading broadcast bulletins each day, our NewsRoom_Monitor service does a daily paper round with succinct ‘news picks’ from the main metropolitan papers emailed by 9am each morning. If you’re interested in a free trial please email monitor@newsroom.co.nz POLITICS PULSE Media releases issued from Parliament by political parties today included: Government: New research on financial capability in schools; New container terminal to boost regional growth in Whanganui; Community groups receive $918,000 in War on Weeds funding; New plan for Waimakariri residential red zones; $13.5m redevelopment for Ohope Beach School; Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library Appointments; Library and Information Advisory Commission Appointments; First certificate issued under new UAV rules; $96.5 million for new science research programmes; Feedback sought on Disability Action Plan; Crown-iwi agreement on Auckland housing programme; Crown land agreement to boost social housing; Debt remission changes get green light; Safer ePharmacy system for Midland’s patients Greens: Animal health at stake if HT swede sales continue; Yes we can! Green climate plan shows 40% target by 2030 is achievable; Key’s lack of compassion is appalling Labour: John Key – where is your conscience?; Charter application skew assists rich American; PM must stop making excuses for offensive MP; More housing humiliation for Nick Smith NZ National Party: Bishop opens Youth MP nomination process United Future Party: Dunne Speaks -The future of Environment Canterbury LINKS OF THE DAY Links of the day have been a feature of NewsRoom_Digest since we first started production in August 2014 at newsroom-nz.tumblr.com. We are currently building an archive of these at:http://newsroomplus.com/resources/resourceful-links/ $96.5 MILLION FOR NEW SCIENCE RESEARCH: Funding for 48 new science research programmes, for a total investment of $96.5 million over the next four years. The funding has been allocated through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) 2015 science investment round. For more information on the successful research programmes can be found at: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/investment-funding/current-funding/science-investment-round-2015-successful-proposals BANKS STEP UP FOR DAIRY: Banks are providing much needed support to New Zealand’s dairy industry during this period of desperately low prices, a survey from Federated Farmers has revealed. The Federated Farmers Banking Survey was completed by 1,300 farmers around New Zealand (over half of them in the dairy industry). Click here for a breakdown of results by region and farming industry: http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/files/Banking%20Survey%20-%20Sep%2015.pdf BUILDING ACTIVITY: Over $4 billion worth of building work was put in place in the June 2015 quarter, up nearly 8 percent on the June 2014 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. This was the highest quarterly value recorded in the 50 years since the series began, and represents almost $900 worth of building work per person. Click here for more:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/Construction/ValueOfBuildingWork_HOTPJun15qtr.aspx DEBT REMISSION CHANGES: Cabinet has given its approval to a set of proposals intended to address the current inequitable situation where debt remission between related parties can, under certain circumstances, result in an incorrect taxation outcome. For examples and technical details refer to : http://www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz DISABILITY ACTION PLAN: The first annual update of the Disability Action Plan 2014-2018 will help government agencies work together on actions that are important to disabled people. More information on the Disability Action Plan update process can be found at: http://www.odi.govt.nz/disability-action-plan FINANCIAL CAPABILITY: A study undertaken by the Commission for Financial Capability has shown that many teachers think students’ money management skills are low, while in contrast students are confident they know how to manage their money. The Commission for Financial Capability’s Report can be found at: http://www.cffc.org.nz/the-commission/research-and-reports/financial-capability-research/ NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST RISK: A report on the global impact of catastrophes says a share market crash is the biggest economic risk to New Zealand and would cost Auckland alone $5.5 billion. Lloyd’s City Risk Index 2015-2025 looks at the economic exposure from 18 man-made and natural threats in 301 cities. Read more here:http://cambridgeriskframework.com/wcr PLANT ANALYSIS: The results from analysis of Southland swede plants collected last season is backing up DairyNZ advice to farmers that feeding maturing swede crops increases the risk of ill-health in cows. DairyNZ’s full farmer advisory on the plant analysis is available here : http://www.dairynz.co.nz/farm/adverse-events/southland-swedes/ And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Thursday 3rd September. Brought to EveningReport by Newsroom Digest. –]]>