Are New Zealanders getting lonelier?

The New Zealand Government is planning a significant overhaul of its pay equity regime, which may complicate the process for people to file pay equity claims. This reform is expected to save the Government billions, potentially resulting in lower pay rates for workers in predominantly female sectors. The pay equity regime was established following a pivotal legal case by caregiver Kristine Bartlett, who highlighted gender discrimination in her pay under the Equal Pay Act, and...

A person has died in a single-vehicle crash on Auckland’s Southwestern Motorway, reported just before 5 am near Onehunga. The vehicle's sole occupant was pronounced dead at the scene, leading to significant disruptions for commuters as both SH20 and another motorway were closed for three hours. The Southwestern Motorway has since reopened, allowing traffic to resume between Neilson St in Onehunga and Hillsborough Rd, Hillsborough. Full Article

A 26-year-old woman, whose identity is protected, has received legal approval to "let nature take its course," potentially leading to her starvation in a hospital where she is refusing food and medical intervention. Despite her family's belief that she suffers from gastroparesis, there is no medical evidence supporting this claim; instead, she has been diagnosed with a factitious disorder, a mental health issue characterized by self-induced or feigned symptoms to obtain medical care, which cannot...

Destiny Church DepartureDestiny Church, led by Brian Tamaki, is set to vacate its three-hectare property in Wiri, South Auckland, by the end of 2025 as its lease expires in December. The church initially moved into the Druces Rd location in 2014, utilizing funds from the sale of their original church and a $1,000 tithe from its members. Now, the church is actively seeking new sites for its future operations. Full Article

Former National Party Cabinet minister Steven Joyce is set to become the new chair of media company NZME as part of a compromise deal involving businessman Jim Grenon and other major shareholders. Following a tumultuous period in which Grenon, who owns 9.97% of NZME, expressed dissatisfaction with the company's performance, he has agreed to forgo the chair position in favor of a board seat. Current NZME chair Barbara Chapman is reportedly preparing to step down...

A jailed gang member, Elijah Daveron, managed to import $15 million worth of drugs into New Zealand using smuggled cellphones while incarcerated. The drugs, totaling 50kg, were concealed in various items like meth-soaked book pages, hockey balls, and car seats, and were intended for distribution across the country. Daveron, a patched member of the Bloods with ties to other gangs, was already imprisoned for previous drug offenses when he orchestrated this operation. Full Article