For Budget Day we have a one-stop page for releases at http://newsroom.co.nz/categories/budget

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 2 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Thursday 26th of May. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR 

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the Finance Minister Bill English delivering his seventh Budget at Parliament; dairy giant Fonterra announcing an increased milk solid price of $4.25 per kg, slightly below the $4.50 – $4.80 analysts predicted for the upcoming season; and the country’s power grid operator, Transpower predicting a massive shake-up in the electricity sector, including the failure of some line companies. 

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Housing momentum to be maintained; Criminals hit by billion-dollar hole in pocket; Bowel screening programme roll-out; $36m for warmer, healthier homes;Health investment increases to a record $16.1b;$2.1b investment in public infrastructure; $652.1m Social Investment for vulnerable NZers;Govt books show rising surpluses, falling debt;Govt books show rising surpluses, falling debt;Budget 2016: Overview;Investing in a growing economy;Budget supports growing economy;ETS one-for-two subsidy to be phased out$882.5m investment in school property; $96m for legal aid and community law centres;Government invests in New Zealand’s security;$258m to boost social housing; $208m investment boost for Justice;$357.9m invested in key transport projects;Annual education investment to exceed $11b; Budget 2016: $32m extra for Bay of Plenty DHB; $100m boost to develop Auckland housing;Extra support for most at-risk students;New $100m fund to improve water quality; Financial help boosted for low-income earners; $111.5m to support NZers into employment; $347.8m for care and protection of young people; $299.2m in additional funding for Police; $16m new funding to tackle wilding conifers; Extra $19.7m for Crown prosecutions;Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration;$69.8m towards eliminating bovine TB;Defence Force receives $300.9m new funding;$761.4m for an Innovative New Zealand; Additional Budget support for Pacific peoples; Tobacco excise to rise 10 per cent per annum; $857m to deliver a modern tax system; $11.6m new funding for the arts; $49m to strengthen Whānau-centred services;Extra $6.2m to increase Civil Defence capability; Low-risk travellers streamlined at the border; SPEECH: Hekia Parata – Shifting the Levers of Education

ACT Party: The biggest thing that’s not in the Budget;Budget 2016 splashes out on fat corporate welfare cheques; Budget increases taxes on those in need

Greens: Will National’s eighth budget finally show some vision today?; Green Party Co-leader James Shaw’s 2016 Budget Speech: Time to change the Government; Budget cuts continue National’s miserly underfunding of DOC; Shock school funding freeze means parents pay more

Labour:Fall in Police investigations funding must be fixed; Minister won’t fess up on wrong figures; Labour Bill Would Back Kiwi Jobs;John Key fails middle New Zealand with no fix for housing crisis, more underfunding of health;Sticking Plaster Budget fails the test

Māori Party: $40m boost for Whānau Ora;$4m for extending micro-financing;$17.9m to support Māori landowners;$5m to promote Māori voter participation; Māori Party Continues To Support Housing Solutions; $34.6m to support te reo Māori revival; $4m to commemorate New Zealand Wars

New Zealand First:Bennett Resettles Homeless In Jobless Towns;Address in Reply: Budget 2016;National tells many NZers to ‘get stuffed’; Budget 2016: Bowel Screening Programme Far Too Little, Far Too Late

NZ National Party:Budget 2016 a big boost for Technology Valley

United Future Party:Dunne calls for 52 weeks of parental leave; More Funding For Intelligence Services Must Come At A Price; A Boring Budget That Identifies The Right Targets

LINKS OF THE DAY

BUDGET 2016: Budget for the Government of New Zealand was announced today.More details at:http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/2016

RBNZ LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT: The Reserve Bank today published a Bulletin article that explains how the Bank manages liquidity in the banking system. Effective management of liquidity plays a crucial role in New Zealand’s banking system. Read more: http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/research-and-publications/reserve-bank-bulletin/2016/rbb2016-79-09

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Thursday 26th of May.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 4 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Friday 6th of May. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment wanting to ban people from retrofitting residential buildings with metal foil insulation; SkyTV telling investors the company is losing thousands of customers from its Pay TV service; and the Ministry of Social Development cutting nearly $400,000 in funding to community providers – in a newsletter sent out this week, the Ministry says 14 service providers won’t have their contracts renewed when they expire at the end of June. 

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Corrections to acknowledge Mother’s Day on Sunday; More books for visually impaired a step closer; ECan to transition to fully elected council; Trade Minister Welcomes Tribunal TPP Report;Low-alcohol sales Bill passes first reading;McCully to New York for UN meetings;Nominations open for school boards; Junior High school opened in Hamilton; New Palmerston North cycleway will enhance city connections

Greens: Govt should support farmers into high-value organics

New Zealand First: Compass Group Hospital Food To Be Served At Taranaki DHB?;Govt’s Inaction Continues To Oblige Foreign Corporates; Warning To Foreign Buyers – Lie And You Lose;Where Are The Bridges Mr Bridges?;Yet Another Failure, More Staff Put At Risk!

LINKS OF THE DAY

ASSAULTS AND ROBBERIES: Statistics NZ released today an analysis of reported victimisations of assault, sexual assault, and robbery offences, in public places, for the 2015 calendar year. The tables show victimisation counts by area unit and meshblock, and victimisation rates per 10,000 estimated resident population by area unit. Download the tables: Analysis of public place assaults, sexual assaults, and robberies in 2015:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/crime_and_justice/assault-sexual-robberies-2015.aspx

DELOITTE SOUTH ISLAND INDEX: Deloitte South Island Index kicks off the 2016 calendar year with 6.8% gain in the quarter to 31 March 2016 Companies on the Deloitte South Island Index overcame an anxious start to 2016. Fears of a global equity market turndown impacted local markets in the initial weeks of the year, however, these fears waned over the quarter as South Island listed firms built on the strong growth of the 31 December 2015 quarter. To see the full Deloitte South Island Index quarterly report, go to www.deloitte.com/nz/southislandindex. 

ENDS

FOIL INSULATION BAN: The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has announced it is beginning consultation on a proposal to issue a ban that will prevent people retrofitting residential buildings with foil insulation. Click here for the MBIE consultation document on the proposed ban on the use of foil in existing residential buildings:http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/building-construction/consultations/consultation-foil-insulation

WOMEN IN LABOUR FORCE: Many more women are heading to work, and fewer parents are staying out of the labour force to look after children compared with 30 years ago, according to Statistics New Zealand. Read more:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/income-and-work/employment_and_unemployment/30-years-hlfs-mr.aspx

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Friday 6th of May.

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Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 2 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Thursday 28th of April. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the Reserve Bank holding its Official Cash Rate (OCR) steady at a record low 2.25 %, but leaving the door open for further cuts; DairyNZ saying it is confident the industry is heading in the right direction, with the number of dairy farmers flouting waterway pollution rules dropping to its lowest recorded level, at 5.8%; and a ‘milestone’ legal settlement meaning the Earthquake Commission must now repair quake-damaged houses to a ‘when new’ condition.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: English to Germany, London this week; Govt Acknowledges Genesis Commitment To Removing Coal-Fired Generation; Speech: Todd McClay – Trade address to Auckland Chamber of Commerce; Business leaders join international line-up for Cyber Security Summit; KiwiSaver home buyer support tweaked; Minister pays return visit to Camp Taji

Greens: Govt’s housing failure hurting the rest of economy;New stats show Govt’s created a property speculators’ paradise;Ruataniwha Dam should be dumped; Climate change a threat to prosperity

Labour: Workplace death toll still too high; Govt complacency leaves RB no room to cut;Mossack Fonseca links to OIO approvals must be investigated;Minister must come clean on implications of landmark settlement;Dam not out of doldrums yet;New study shows Smith’s insulation fails Kiwi kids; Government out of touch on foreign trusts; Andrew Little visits NZ troops in Iraq and refugees in Jordan

New Zealand First: Private Insurance Needed To Ease Public Health Burden;Time For Straight Talk

LINKS OF THE DAY

CYBER SECURITY SUMMIT: More than 200 top business people will join Communications Minister Amy Adams for New Zealand’s first Cyber Security Summit in Auckland next Thursday (May 5). The theme of the inaugural Summit is “Keeping New Zealand’s Economy Cyber Secure”. More details at: https://www.connectsmart.govt.nz/summit-2016/

HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP: A $3000 education scholarship is available for health professionals with an interest in the rural sector.The Rural Women New Zealand and Access Scholarship is aimed at applicants who are working in the health field with rural connections, and wish to further their studies in health or disability studies. Preference will be given to applicants who are studying at post-graduate level. Applications close on 1 July 2016. Full information and application forms can be found at http://www.ruralwomen.org.nz orwww.access.org.nz

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Thursday 28th April.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Tuesday 19th of April. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: online voting at this year’s local government elections being put on the backburner because of security concerns; Finance Minister Bill English saying the Government is aiming to set up a data supermarket for agencies and social groups to improve outcomes for the people with whom they work; and Prime Minister John Key saying the government is considering setting up a formal extradition treaty with China.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Minister joins kids to honour wartime heroes; New halal and agricultural agreements with China signed; Minister opens Ashburton Community Corrections site; New measures to make travel to NZ easier; New border initiatives make trade with China easier; Kiwis encouraged to serve New Zealand this Anzac Day; Thirty-fourth refurbished house leaves Rolleston Prison Construction Yard; Bennett travels to United States; PM meets China Premier Li Keqiang; $4m upgrade for Bayswater School, Auckland;Further work before online voting proceeds; Licensing review opens for consultation; New insulation and smoke alarm requirements finalised.

Greens: Climate change reality check for National Government; English refuses to allow Treasury to cost Greens policy

Labour: New Zealand must act now;NZ’s film reputation at risk after visa decision; Kris Faafoi promoted to Shadow Cabinet

New Zealand First: Silver Fern Farms Sales Sees New Zealand First Lodge Complaint; Housing NZ Breaches Tenancy And Health Laws

LINKS OF THE DAY

LICENSING REVIEW: The Driver Licensing Review discussion document, released by the Ministry of Transport today, proposes moving the driver licence renewal process online and streamlining heavy vehicle and specialist driving endorsements. Submissions close 2 June 2016. The discussion document and submission form are available at:http://www.transport.govt.nz/dlr

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Tuesday 19th April.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 2 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Monday 18th of April. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the Labour Party calling for the Auditor-General to investigate the awarding of a resort management contract to one of the National Party’s biggest funders; official figures showing the Consumer’s Price Index rising to 0.2% in the three months to March, taking the annual rate to 0.4%; and the Government launching the revised New Zealand Health Strategy – one promising a health system that is more prevention-focussed and responsive to the needs of the public.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Foss to honour veterans in South Korea; Low inflation helping households get ahead; Pacific business leader remembered; New Zealand Health Strategy launched; Speech – Launch of NZ Health Strategy; NZDF response to Cyclone Winston draws down; Kiwi released on Motutapu Island; SPEECH – Hon Te Ururoa Flavell – Next steps for Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill; Joyce leads GPA Mission to the US

Greens: Low inflation hides cost of housing crisis; Govt must stop using “fraudulent” emission units; Greens Support Ashburton Locals’ Call For End To Water Bottling Plans; Govt cheated on international climate commitments; Urgent nationwide inquiry into mental health services needed

Labour: National ignores past mistakes; Auditor-General must investigate Niue deal for donor; Overseas carbon credits scam caused by National;National should back local councils with e-vote

LINKS OF THE DAY

CPI UP: The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.2 percent in the March 2016 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows a fall of 0.5 percent in the December 2015 quarter. Read more: http://bit.ly/1U10Gm4

NZ HEALTH STRATEGY: New Zealand’s new Health Strategy was launched at a Health Symposium in Wellington. The strategy can be downloaded at: http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/new-zealand-health-strategy-future-direction-apr16.pdf

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Monday 18th April.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 5 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from 15th of April. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: Helen Clark telling the United Nations that her leadership and political experience in New Zealand make her the best candidate to be the next UN Secretary General; the animal rights group SAFE saying the proposed new animal welfare regulations are a farce and; the Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee dismissing claims that the real reason for the sale of two naval vessels is lack of staff to crew them.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Marking 100 years since the first Anzac Day; Regenerate Christchurch board confirmed; $9m upgrade for Halswell Residential College, Christchurch; Canterbury University QuakeCoRE welcomed; New UHT milk plant for Canterbury; Dunne to attend UN Special Session on Drug Policy; Minister welcomes Waikato mental health report; $6.9m for new Sustainable Farming Fund projects;Views sought on proposed Racing Act changes; New Climate Change Ambassador appointed; $16.8m West Rolleston school officially opens; $16.8m West Rolleston school officially opens;Minister opens new health centre in Kaikoura; Crown and Tauranga Moana Iwi advance reconciliation journey; McCully to New York and Europe; New chapter for Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa

Greens: Catherine Delahunty to speak at Ashburton bottled water rally; Catherine Delahunty to speak at Ashburton bottled water rally

Labour: Dismissal of plea for fairness is disgraceful; Mossack Fonseca link raises stakes for full inquiry and law changes; Labour Mourns Loss Of Hingangaroa Smith

New Zealand First: Sick Tenants Trapped In P Contaminated State Houses; Forced Adoption Of Business Number Unfair; Another Link To Famous Maori Battalion Lost

LINKS OF THE DAY

1080 RULES: Recommendations on the management of 1080. Click here for the 2011 report:http://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/1294/evaluating-the-use-of-1080.pdf

FARMING PROJECTS: $6.9m for new Sustainable Farming Fund projects. A full list of successful projects is available at: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/sff

QUAKECORE: The opening of Canterbury University’s QuakeCore -Centre for Earthquake Resilience. More information about CoREs can be found here: http://www.tec.govt.nz/Funding/Fund-finder/CoREs/

WAIKATO HEALTH REPORT: An investigation of Waikato Mental Sealth Services has found staff there are struggling to cope with the big increase in demand. Although there is no local breakdown, the national demand for mental health care has risen 21% in five years. Click here for more: http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/section-99-inspection-waikato-district-health-board-mental-health-and-addiction-services

RACING ACT: Feedback is being seeked on proposed changes to the Racing Act designed to ensure returns from betting continue to support New Zealand racing and sport organisations. The deadline for submissions is 27 May 2016 and the discussion document is available at: https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.NSF/wpg_URL/Resource-material-Our-Policy-Advice-Areas-Racing-Policy?OpenDocument . 

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Friday 15th April.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from 6th of April. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: New Zealand Post is proposing to sell part of Kiwibank to the Accident Compensation Corporation and Super Fund for $495 million; Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce saying the manufacturing industry is growing, despite big job cuts at Fisher and Paykel; and Fiji is preparing for Cyclone Zena, with the storm intensifying from a category 1 to a category 3 storm today.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Minister attends launch of vegetable garden initiative for prisoners;Guy attending OECD Agricultural conference;R&D growing in Kiwi firms; New Zealand’s links to Philippines strengthened; Appointments to Lottery Distribution Committees; TPP good for environment and trade;ACC to sponsor TVNZ coverage of 2016 Paralympic Games; Kiwibank to remain 100 per cent Govt owned;New Zealand Sign Language celebrates 10th anniversary

ACT Party: National Party needs to get some guts on Kiwibank

Greens: Key wrong to claim “full disclosure” of NZ foreign trusts; Govt forced Kiwibank move

Labour: What is going on at Pacific Business Trust?;Supported living payments; Key shrugs shoulders at tax haven status; Labour Committed To Kiwibank In Public Ownership;Government cannot stand on side line as job losses grow;Ministers sought no advice on level of multinational tax avoidance

New Zealand First: Rail Line A Promise From NZ First;It Always Pays To Check The Facts;Government Plotting To Kill Off Supergold Card

LINKS OF THE DAY

INNOVATIVE FIRMS: More firms are creating better goods and services through greater spending on research and development in 2015, Statistics New Zealand said today. Read more:http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/businesses/business_growth_and_innovation/BusinessOperationsSurvey_HOTP2015.aspx

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Wednesday 6th April.

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Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 4 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from 4th of April. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: Corrections Department ordering private prison manager Serco to pay $8 million for its mismanagement of the Mt Eden remand prison; PricewaterhouseCoopers financial adviser Geoff Nightingale saying alarm bells should be ringing at Inland Revenue over claims that the world’s wealthy and political elite are using New Zealand registered trusts to hide their wealth and avoid tax; and Inland Revenue saying the first ever arrest over student loan repayments last month has spurred overseas borrowers into paying their back loans.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: $55k to support youth development initiatives;New health and safety journey starts; Boost in overseas student loan repayments;Appointment of Chief Parliamentary Counsel;: Community development fund opens; NZ contributes to nuclear security programmes;McCully to Middle East;Online tools to benefit thousands of students;New suicide prevention guidelines for EDs; Serco to pay $8m to Corrections; Medical cannabis product approved for use;NZ tax rules strong

Greens: Greens Will Repurpose Kiwibank And Save Kiwis Hundreds Of Millions; Govt failing to address long-term public health disaster; PM knew truth about kiwi brides for six months; Govt should stop foreign trusts operating secretly in NZ; John Key wrong about Greens’ Kiwibank policy; Key’s evasiveness on ‘jihadi brides’ shows duplicity

Labour: Burglaries on rise; Minister must stop prison privatisation failure;Unison move sends wrong signal;John Key must come clean on offshore trust loopholes

Māori Party: Māori broadcaster Whairiri Ngata dies; Māori Party Commemorate 100 Years Since The Invasion Of Maungapōhatu;Poroporoaki – Whai Ngata

New Zealand First: Govt should put up cash for rabbit research, not public;Key Does ‘Big Sell’ For More Indian Students;Key Fosters Banana Republic Approach; Key Sells NZ Short With ‘British Colony’ Comment; $55,000 For Youth Development Pitiful

LINKS OF THE DAY

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND: The Community Development Scheme helps fund projects where communities are working to become more self-reliant, resilient, and generate their own solutions to local issues. The Community Development Scheme funding round opens on 6 April and closes on 18 May 2016. Application information is available at http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS: The March Monthly Economic Indicators (MEI) was published today on the Treasury Website. The report provides a summary of recent economic events. Read more at:http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/mei/mar16

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK: The journey towards better health and safety practices in the workplace starts today with the new Health and Safety at Work Act coming into force. For more information visithttp://www.worksafe.govt.nz/hswa

MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCT: Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has today approved the use of a non-pharmaceutical grade cannabis-based product, following an application from the patient’s treating consultant. Read more: http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicines-control/medicinal-cannabis

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Monday 4th April.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 2 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Wednesday 30th of March. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: new research revealing that New Zealand has overtaken Australia with the highest rates of the skin cancer melanoma in the world; Housing NZ saying people who contaminate state houses by using methamphetamine will be caught by a new testing regime and held liable for the cost of damages; and New Zealand giving Fiji a further $NZ10 million to help repair public infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Winston last month.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Strong growth in building spreads; Income premiums for study options revealed; Record number of entries for education awards;Increasing one-on-one care for patients; $10 million for Fiji cyclone rebuild;PM to meet economic and trade leaders in Washington;Goldsmith to attend Trans-Tasman Consumer Forum; Bill to strengthen DOC powers passes first reading; Canadian New Zealand Defence Ministers’ meet

ACT Party: Earthquake-prone buildings rules will hurt more than they will help

Greens: Govt must stop eroding family payments; Minister must intervene in river silt disaster; Drug law reform a health issue; Govt has no idea how much tax multinationals are avoiding

Labour: Govt must fund early access scheme; Nick Smith tries to muddy the waters – fails; Amendment to protect Hagley Park wins support; Dairy slump sees regional business confidence plummeting; Government fails to tackle corporate tax dodgers despite OECD breach

New Zealand First: NZ Leading Melanoma Rates, Still No Medicine Funded; Low-Skilled Migrants Used To Keep Lid On Wages; Army Job Training Gives At Risk Youth A Chance

LINKS OF THE DAY

DWELLING CONSENTS: The number of new dwellings consented rose strongly in February after falling in the previous month, Statistics New Zealand said today. Read more: http://bit.ly/1RGJVtF

EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS: New information has been released today which shows what graduates go on to earn once they have studied in different disciplines at universities and other tertiary providers. Four factsheets on the national employment outcomes for young domestic graduates, released by the Ministry of Education, follow the earnings and employability of students for the first nine years following graduation.The four factsheets are available at:http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/tertiary_education/education-outcomes/the-post-study-earnings-and-destinations-of-young-domestic-graduates 

The information is also available through the online Compare Study Options tool:http://www.careers.govt.nz/tools/compare-study-options/ 

Students can also download the Occupation Outlook app here:https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=820638027&mt=8

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Wednesday 30th March.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 4 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Tuesday 22nd of March. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the number of New Zealand soldiers who served in the Gallipoli campaign in World War I doubling what was previously estimated; a steel certification body saying New Zealand is at risk of becoming a dumping ground for inferior steel; and that New Zealand’s next Governor-General will be businesswoman Dame Patsy Reddy, succeeding Sir Jerry Mateparae.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Counties Manukau Children’s Team largest yet; PM welcomes Dame Patsy Reddy as the next Governor-General;100% Camera coverage achieved on Snapper 1 fleet; Minister to visit NZDF aid operation in Fiji; Smarter land purchasing for future school needs;New Chief of Air Force announced; $895,000 in funding for Marlborough irrigation scheme; NZ Pacific Research Institute launched; Court appearances continue to fall; S&P rating confirms economic programme working

Greens: DOC needs more money, or we’ll lose more tracks; Time to change Governor General appointment process; Rules show PM not allowed to use public money for settlements

Labour: Andrew Little congratulates new Governor-General;Traffic jams caused by scattergun transport approach; Taxpayers paying for more spin; Imported steel must be tested to meet NZ standards; Minister out of his depth on marine sanctuary

New Zealand First: Serious Constitutional Appointment – Sullied By PM’s Media Manipulation;Key Won’t Slow Immigration, He’s Addicted

LINKS OF THE DAY

EDUCATION REPORT: The Education Review Office released a report linking early mathematics skills to later academic achievement. The report “Early mathematics: a guide for improving teaching and learning” can be found at:http://www.ero.govt.nz/National-Reports/Early-mathematics-a-guide-for-improving-teaching-and-learning-March-2016

REFUGEE QUOTA: The Our Voices – Summary Report 2016 Refugee Resettlement Quota Review, by Amnesty International highlights the support for a refugee quota increase. Click here for report:https://www.amnesty.org.nz/sites/default/files/Our%20Voices%20Summary%20Report%202016%20Refugee%20Resettlement%20Quota%20Review.pdf

RETAIL TRADE: Christchurch city’s retail and hospitality spending continues to outpace that at the national level, according to Statistics New Zealand.Click here for more: http://bit.ly/1RbT0f3

TRAFFIC REPORT: TomTom (TOM2) today released the results of the TomTom Traffic Index 2016, the annual report detailing the cities around the world with the most traffic congestion. People can find out more about the TomTom Traffic Index, and discover where their home city ranks at: http://www.tomtom.com/trafficindex

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Tuesday 22nd March.

Today’s edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 4 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Tuesday 22nd of March. It is best viewed on a desktop screen.

NEWSROOM_MONITOR

Noteworthy stories in the current news cycle include: the number of New Zealand soldiers who served in the Gallipoli campaign in World War I doubling what was previously estimated; a steel certification body saying New Zealand is at risk of becoming a dumping ground for inferior steel; and that New Zealand’s next Governor-General will be businesswoman Dame Patsy Reddy, succeeding Sir Jerry Mateparae.

POLITICS PULSE

Government: Counties Manukau Children’s Team largest yet; PM welcomes Dame Patsy Reddy as the next Governor-General;100% Camera coverage achieved on Snapper 1 fleet; Minister to visit NZDF aid operation in Fiji; Smarter land purchasing for future school needs;New Chief of Air Force announced; $895,000 in funding for Marlborough irrigation scheme; NZ Pacific Research Institute launched; Court appearances continue to fall; S&P rating confirms economic programme working

Greens: DOC needs more money, or we’ll lose more tracks; Time to change Governor General appointment process; Rules show PM not allowed to use public money for settlements

Labour: Andrew Little congratulates new Governor-General;Traffic jams caused by scattergun transport approach; Taxpayers paying for more spin; Imported steel must be tested to meet NZ standards; Minister out of his depth on marine sanctuary

New Zealand First: Serious Constitutional Appointment – Sullied By PM’s Media Manipulation;Key Won’t Slow Immigration, He’s Addicted

LINKS OF THE DAY

EDUCATION REPORT: The Education Review Office released a report linking early mathematics skills to later academic achievement. The report “Early mathematics: a guide for improving teaching and learning” can be found at:http://www.ero.govt.nz/National-Reports/Early-mathematics-a-guide-for-improving-teaching-and-learning-March-2016

REFUGEE QUOTA: The Our Voices – Summary Report 2016 Refugee Resettlement Quota Review, by Amnesty International highlights the support for a refugee quota increase. Click here for report:https://www.amnesty.org.nz/sites/default/files/Our%20Voices%20Summary%20Report%202016%20Refugee%20Resettlement%20Quota%20Review.pdf

RETAIL TRADE: Christchurch city’s retail and hospitality spending continues to outpace that at the national level, according to Statistics New Zealand.Click here for more: http://bit.ly/1RbT0f3

TRAFFIC REPORT: TomTom (TOM2) today released the results of the TomTom Traffic Index 2016, the annual report detailing the cities around the world with the most traffic congestion. People can find out more about the TomTom Traffic Index, and discover where their home city ranks at: http://www.tomtom.com/trafficindex

And that’s our sampling of “news you can use” for Tuesday 22nd March.