NewsRoom_Digest for 10 March 2016

NewsroomPlus.com Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Thursday 10th of March. It is best viewed on a desktop screen. NEWSROOM_MONITOR Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the Reserve Bank lowering the Official Cash Rate to a new record low of 2.25 percent, and the New Zealand dollar falling 1 cent in response; the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) saying thousands of school support staff are being underpaid because of a calendar anomaly; and Housing New Zealand saying it will issue summonses to force Auckland Council experts to appear before hearings on the city’s 30-year-development plan. POLITICS PULSE Media releases issued from Parliament by political parties today included: Government: Minister welcomes back Pasifika Festival; Play.sport helps Kiwi kids get more active;Historic Bill One Step Closer to Law;Leaky home support extended; $37.8 million Health IT research partnership;Nominations for 2016 Youth Awards open today; New code of practice for international education providers;Child protection policies widened; Kiwi women encouraged to participate in local body elections Greens: ORC cut welcomed but overdue;Green Party Calls On Authorities To Follow Christchurch And Put Public Safety First Labour: UN slow to spend on Pacific climate change; Rate cut shows Govt needs to step up Māori Party: Māori Party Celebrates The Passing Of The Second Reading Of The Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill New Zealand First: TPPA Silver Bullet ‘A Myth’; Speech- Rt Hon Winston Peters- Optimism only when optimism is justified LINKS OF THE DAY CODE OF PRACTICE: A new code of practice for education providers that will strengthen the care of international students in New Zealand was announced today. More information can be found here:http://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/legislation/regulations-to-support-international-students/ GUESTS NIGHTS RISE: National guest nights reached a record high in January 2016, with numbers up 6.1 percent on January 2015, according to Statistics New Zealand. Read more: http://bit.ly/1P0BBQJ HEALTH IT RESEARCH: The Government will invest $14 million over seven years in a $37.8 million public-provider research partnership to promote precision-driven healthcare. The partnerships programme seeks to increase the competitiveness of New Zealand industries by supporting high-quality, relevant mission-led research. Read more here: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/research-partnerships LOCAL AUTHORITY STATISTICS: The latest data on the performance of core non-trading activities of local authorities has been released by Statistics New Zealand. More details at: http://bit.ly/1TMUvmj OFFICIAL CASH RATE REDUCED: The Reserve Bank today reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent.View the Monetary Policy Statement here:http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/ReserveBank/Files/Publications/Monetary%20policy%20statements/2016/mpsmar16.pdf PUBLIC CENTRE ACCOUNTABILITY: The Auditor-General’s report on Public sector accountability through raising concerns was presented to the House of Representatives.Click here for more:http://www.oag.govt.nz/2016/accountability?utm_source=subs&utm_medium=subs&utm_campaign=public-sector-accountability WOMEN IN LOCAL ELECTIONS: New Zealand women are urged to get more involved in this year’s local body elections.If you are interested in standing for election, more information is available at:http://www.lgnz.co.nz/assets/Publications/making-a-stand-made-easy.pdf And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Thursday 10th March.]]>