Applications open for 2025 general practice and rural hospital medicine training

SummaryThe Waitangi Tribunal is conducting an urgent hearing regarding the contentious Regulatory Standards Bill, which critics, including Māori leaders, claim lacks a Treaty clause and may threaten Māori rights. David Seymour defends the bill, asserting it reduces red tape and enhances lawmaking transparency, yet 88% of submissions against it have been received. The coalition Government is forming an advisory committee to redefine the tribunal's role, addressing concerns rooted in the original legislative instructions to Parliament....

SummaryANZ, New Zealand's largest bank, has received the lowest satisfaction rating in Consumer NZ's latest survey, scoring only 57%. The survey included responses from 1,920 banking customers across 17 service areas, with The Co-Operative Bank achieving the highest score of 77%. This stark contrast highlights significant customer dissatisfaction with ANZ's services compared to its competitors. Full Article

Watercare has incurred nearly $11 million in consulting fees for the Huia water treatment plant, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns. Initially estimated at $420 million in 2018, the project's cost has ballooned to $1.12 billion, with construction now slated to begin in 2028 and completion pushed to 2033. Originally expected to be finished by 2023, this plant is crucial as it provides approximately 20% of Auckland's water from the Waitākere Ranges dams....

ANZ economist Miles Workman criticized the previous Labour Government for engaging in a "debt-funded spending spree," which he described as an "inflation-fuelling fiscal expansion" that the current Government is still addressing. He indicated that while future Budgets may involve repurposing existing spending, significant portions of Labour's additional spending remain unwound, resulting in a fiscal challenge. Workman cautioned that the government could face high debt levels during future fiscal shocks, such as a pandemic or earthquake,...

SummaryPolice Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming resigned following the discovery of alleged pornography on his work computer, which is being evaluated as potentially objectionable material. He had been suspended with full pay since December during a separate criminal investigation by the police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). Police Commissioner Richard Chambers acknowledged that McSkimming's resignation raises important questions about trust and accountability within the police force. Full Article

The Schick family is fundraising for emergency services following the tragic death of their 10-year-old son, Jimmy, in an off-road accident on a Waikato property on May 11. A Givealittle page has been set up to support the Cambridge Fire Brigade, Hato Hone St John Ambulance, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust, who assisted during the incident. Jimmy's father, Rodney, is in intensive care due to serious injuries, while his 12-year-old brother, Oli, is hospitalized,...