Daily New Zealand News

Daily New Zealand News returns?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 19:23:00 +1200

Daily New Zealand News may return. Watch this space!

Thank you for reading Daily New Zealand News

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Oct 2013 11:13:00 +1300

Daily New Zealand News has been published since October 2004
Every day of the year except Christmas Day and Good Friday
That is a long time.
It is time to take a break so there will be no more news updates for the time being

The sidebar links and archive search will continue to work
I hope you have enjoyed reading Daily New Zealand News

Thank you readers, best wishes and goodbye.

Warm weather to continue for next three months

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 22:40:00 +1300

Climate scientists expect the warm weather to continue for the next three months, with a good chance of average or above average temperatures from October to December. But the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says despite the warmer weather, frosts may still occur in some areas. NIWA says there's a 50% chance temperatures will be above average in the east of the North Island and the north of the South Island over the period. The institute says rainfall is most likely to be at, or near, normal levels around the country, although there could be more rain in the north of the North Island.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

International education a big earner

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:30:00 +1300

International education brought in $2.6 billion and generated 28,000 jobs during the last financial year. Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said that was a $100 million increase on 2008. "This is despite a fall in international student enrolments in New Zealand over that period due to the impacts of the global financial crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes," he said today. Auckland was the most popular destination for international students and the city's economy reaped $1.65b. That was followed by $195M for Canterbury, $177M for Wellington, $165M for Otago and $152M for Waikato.
Source: NZN

Seeing static means you missed the switch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:04:00 +1300

TESSA JOHNSTONE
If all you have got is static when you switch on your TV today, that's because the change to digital has finally arrived. Going Digital national manager Greg Harford said technicians essentially "pushed the button" about 3am yesterday, meaning analogue televisions in the lower North Island would no longer pick up a signal. Viewers now need a Freeview box or an in-built UHF aerial set-up to get free-to-air channels, but Mr Harford said many people had already made the change. "The proportion of unconverted actually don't watch much TV and they'll lose access to it, but in our experience those people will get themselves digital at some point." The South Island and Hawke's Bay have already gone digital, while the upper North Island will change on December 1.
© Fairfax NZ News

Wellington schools to go solar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:58:00 +1300

Sixteen Wellington schools will get solar panels installed over the next three years in a bid to build young people's understanding of energy efficiency and climate change. Wellington City Council and Genesis Energy are splitting the cost of the $288,000 project, which will see 16 primary and intermediate schools kitted out with solar photovoltaic panels over the next three years and supported with an education programme called Schoolgen. Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said the project would help reduce schools' costs and encourage more people to take up solar power.
- © Fairfax NZ News

Female astronaut in Chch next week

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:11:00 +1300

NICOLE MATHEWSON
A female astronaut who has been on five space shuttle missions will be talking in Christchurch next week. Marsha Ivins, who has recently retired after travelling almost 27 million miles in space over more than 55 days, will be the star speaker at Tekapo's inaugural starlight festival on from October 11 to 13. Ahead of this she will be in Christchurch to give a public talk at Canterbury University on October 9. The Starlight Festival is being held to celebrate the creation of the International Dark Sky Reserve in the Aoraki-Mackenzie area. The area was approved as a dark sky reserve by the International Dark Sky Association last year, recognising its pristine skies and freedom from light pollution. It is the biggest dark-sky reserve in the world and the first to be "gold-rated", meaning the darkness of its night skies is almost unbeatable.
© Fairfax NZ News

Bird of the Year voting begins

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:07:00 +1300

Competition could be fierce for the title of 2013's Bird of the Year. Voting opens on Monday in the poll to find New Zealand's favourite native bird. The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand says celebrity power may decide the winner.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

Greens alarmed over tenders for platinum search

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:33:00 +1300

The Green Party is alarmed about new tenders for platinum exploration involving nearly 400,000 hectares in the South Island. The tenders include more than 1100 square km on the West Coast as well as another 2600 square km in the Tasman area and 300 square km in Southland. But Greens mining spokesperson Catherine Delahunty says the tenders involve areas with high conservation and recreational values. In the tender document, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment says companies submitting tenders must operate in an environmentally responsible way. But Ms Delahunty says platinum extraction is extremely toxic and would involve new roads and dumping sites, in areas previously protected from logging. Forest and Bird says it believes the public will oppose any bid to explore for platinum and gold in conservation areas in Westland and the Tasman region.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

Calls for stricter food labelling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:15:00 +1300

Renewed calls are being made for stricter food labelling and regulation. Concerns have been raised around New Zealand's food safety and labelling systems this year following controversies involving meat, milk powder and most recently apples. Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei told Q&A New Zealand simply couldn't afford to be slack about food issues. "In New Zealand we know after the last few scares how important food safety is, both to our own community and overseas, how important our clean, green image is in food safety," she said. "We can't afford to take any risks." Ms Turei said it was important New Zealand took a stand on tougher labelling requirements.
RadioLIVE

So it's come to this has it !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 23:34:00 +1300

Daily New Zealand News has been published since October 2004
Every day of the year except Christmas Day and Good Friday
That is a long time.
Daily New Zealand News will close on the anniversary of its founding in October 2004.
There will be no more news updates after 1st October 2013.
I hope you have enjoyed reading Daily New Zealand News

Rugby - Hard work but All Blacks get past the Pumas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:08:00 +1300

LIAM NAPIER IN LA PLATA
It was never going to be easy - that's the nature of Los Pumas. But after slugging it out for 50 minutes the All Blacks showed their class to claim a 33-15 win and a crucial bonus point to keep the defence of their Rugby Championship crown on track in La Plata today. There are concerning issues for Steve Hansen's men, particularly at scrum time, but they will be satisfied to fly out to Johannesburg tomorrow having banked five points in their ninth consecutive win of the year. Three second-half tries saw the All Blacks put away the gutsy yet limited Pumas, who never gave up. It seemed a long wait but the final 30 minutes featured the now customary black wave enveloping everything in sight. With the Springboks having pummelled the Wallabies 28-8 hours early in Cape Town, but failing to score four tries, the All Blacks went five points clear of their closest rivals. The tournament will be decided in a mouth-watering clash at Ellis Park next week. The Boks need to win with a bonus point and ensure the All Blacks don't finish within seven points to have any chance a claiming the title.
© Fairfax NZ News

Cook Islands PM in Auckland hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 10:52:00 +1300

The Cook Islands' Prime Minister has been flown to New Zealand for treatment following concerns about his health. Henry Puna, 64, arrived in Auckland on Friday afternoon and was admitted to Middlemore Hospital straight away. He has since been transferred to Auckland Hospital where he will undergo cardiac tests. The Prime Minister's advisor, Trevor Pitt, says Mr Puna could be in New Zealand for a further two weeks while he receives treatment for angina. During the his absence, his portfolios will be handled by finance minister, Mark Brown.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

Economic recovery beating Australia: economist

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 10:46:00 +1300

New Zealand is on the road to economic recovery and is outstripping Australia, according to ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie. He told delegates at the NZ Property Investors Federation conference in Wellington yesterday that it's not just the Christchurch rebuild and the Auckland property market. A lot of little things are going right. The economy was in a phase of expansion that began about nine months ago, Mr Bagrie said. Businesses particularly had cleaned up their act. New Zealand had traditionally been seen as the junior partner trying to keep up with Australia, but that is changing, Mr Bagrie said. The next three to four years looks more healthy for New Zealand than Australia, he said.
Source: NZN

NZ to open High Commission in Barbados

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 20:00:00 +1200

New Zealand is opening a new high commission in Bridgetown, Barbados to increase its diplomatic presence in the Caribbean. Prime Minister John Key announced the move after a meeting with foreign ministers of the Caribbean community at the UN General Assembly in New York. New Zealand's honorary consul network in the Caribbean region is also being extended.
3News

Christchurch trams back on track

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 11:20:00 +1200

Christchurch's famous trams will soon be back on their tracks, after suffering damage in the 2011 earthquake. One of the historic tram cars was hit by falling debris in the quake, while others suffered exposure damage while they were stuck in the cordoned-off CBD. Repairs have been underway at a Ferrymead workshop and in a few weeks three trams will be operating again.
Source: ONE News

Prostate cancer research: human trials next

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 11:11:00 +1200

By WILMA MCCORKINDALE
A breakthrough in research into No 1 cancer killer of New Zealand men has buoyed this year's Blue September for the University of Otago's Dr Elspeth Gold. The anatomy department lecturer and prostate cancer researcher and her team are about to begin human trials to test breakthrough treatment for men with aggressive prostate cancer. The findings, which are being collated for publication, are the byproduct of three years of research out of Gold's medical sciences department lab. "If we can get really good quality end-stage therapies then there is absolutely no reason that a man need die of it, Gold said. One in 10 New Zealand men develop prostate cancer and more than 550 die every year.
© Fairfax NZ News

Local winner takes top WOW honour

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 11:08:00 +1200

Two Christchurch sisters have taken out the supreme World of Wearable Art award. Tatyanna and Natasha Meharry's entry "The Exchange" won the overall award at the 25th World of Wearable Arts show in Wellington. It is the first time in four years a New Zealand entry has won the supreme award. The sisters describe their entry as a portrait of an historical exchange of gifts, adorned with ceramic feathers and coins. Natasha Meharry says it was amazing to win and they did not go into the competition expecting to do so. "You don't really ever think you're going to win I don't think, you just hope that it looks great and everybody likes it," she says. "There's so many amazing garments, so many talented people." The women say the design took them about six months to make and they worked on it every day.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

Asylum seekers drown in sinking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 11:03:00 +1200

At least 22 people are dead and dozens are missing after an asylum seeker boat sank south of Indonesia. The boat sank in big waves off Argabinta on the south coast of West Java on Friday but Indonesian rescue authorities do not have the capability to search at night or in big seas. Rescuers have since found 25 people alive but 22 bodies have been recovered from the water, the ABC reports. The survivors have been taken to a local school for shelter but it is expected they will be moved to an immigration detention centre on Saturday. The sinking comes amid a continuing diplomatic row over Australia's plans to turn back asylum boats, with Indonesia saying the policy is in breach of international law. Meanwhile, Australia is trying to return a second group of asylum seekers to Indonesia after rescuing them at sea.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

Scientists discover link between bats and motor neurone disease

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 20:28:00 +1200

Australian scientists have discovered what could be one of the few known causes of motor neurone disease. The researchers have found that a toxin in blue-green algae can cause problems in the central nervous system leading to difficulty walking, breathing and swallowing. Lead researcher Dr Rachel Dunlop from the University of Technology Sydney says the discovery comes from observing Guam's indigenous people, who are diagnosed with motor neurone disease at a rate 50 to 100 times more than the general population. Dr Dunlop says those people were ingesting a large dose of the algal toxin through eating fruit bats. She says the toxin can also be found in seafood. Dr Dunlop hopes the discovery could lead to better treatment of the disease.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

Daylight Saving begins this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:59:00 +1200

By Patrice Dougan
It's time to start enjoying long summer evenings as Daylight Saving begins this weekend. Clocks will go forward one hour from 2am on Sunday.
- APNZ

Justice Minister says some judges taking too long

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 19:56:00 +1200

The Justice Minister says proposed court reforms will stop judges from taking too long when they decide to reserve their judgement on a case until a later date. Judith Collins says she is concerned by the length of time some judgements take and wants to pass a law requiring chief judges to set protocols for their courts about reserved decisions. Ms Collins says the courts shake-up will be its biggest overhaul in more than 100 years. She says as part of the Government's proposed changes to the Judicature Act 1908, the country's seven courts will have to publish their own rules about what is a reasonable time to deliver judgements. The proposals also aim to give the public more information about judges' decisions. All written judgements would be published online and audio-visual links would be used more for court procedures so that prisoners do not leave prison grounds. Ms Collins says New Zealand's court system is one of the last areas of the public sector still operating a paper-based model and needs to be more efficient. She says the country is experiencing its lowest crime rate in 30 years and now is the time to do things differently.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand

New apprenticeship scheme on the way

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 13:52:00 +1200

A new apprenticeship scheme will be in place by January next year and the government has brought a bill to parliament that puts a framework around it. Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says it will be called New Zealand Apprenticeships, replacing Modern Apprentices and other apprenticeship-type training. He says that during the 10 years to 2010, government funding for industry training organisations (ITOs) almost trebled but wasn't matched with sufficient accountability. "Under the previous government, up to 100,000 people a year listed as being in industry training were in fact `phantom trainees' who achieved no credits and in some cases were no longer alive," he said. "The government has overseen a move to a results focus in industry training because it is results that determine the skill levels of the workforce, not intentions."
Source: NZN

Paper snipes at 'colonial clot'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 09:27:00 +1200

By Claire Trevett
The Prime Minister's royal weekend at Balmoral keeps on giving. Britain's Daily Mail has put its own spin on Claire Trevett's picture of Mr Key with the Queen in the castle sitting room. The Herald's deputy political editor got a snap that British photographers would gladly swap for their long lenses - which might explain the criticism that has followed. Yesterday, the Mail sniped about Mr Key: "He is totally chuffed to bits, glowing nuclear pink with pleasure, at being snapped with the Queen in her private sitting room. "She, on the other hand, has her head bowed, deep in thought. Perhaps she is having second thoughts about letting this galloping colonial clot through the front door?" The Mail couldn't resist a dig at the sitting room decor, saying the image showed how dated the Queen's residence seemed, with special mention to "the wild profusion of china knicky-knackies and a general air of mothballs and pet hair. Readers - who lives in a house like this?"

NZ activists face two months in jail

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 09:16:00 +1200

Thirteen Greenpeace activists, including two New Zealanders, have been jailed in Russia for two months while authorities investigate whether their protest action amounted to piracy. The activists' ship Arctic Sunrise was seized and towed to shore late last week after two people tried to scale an oil platform belonging to state-owned energy company Gazprom to protest against Russian plans to drill for oil in the Arctic. A district court in the city of Murmansk has ruled that 12 of the 30 detainees must remain in custody until 24 November. Those jailed include New Zealanders Jon Beauchamp and David John Haussmann, as well as activists from the United States, France, Canada, Britain, Denmark and Poland. Three Russian citizens have also been jailed. The group includes the ship's captain Peter Willcox who was the captain of the Rainbow Warrior when it was bombed by the French secret service in Auckland Habour in 1985. Greenpeace New Zealand executive director Bunny McDiarmid told Morning Report the New Zealanders are crewmen and were not in the group which scaled the drilling platform.
Copyright © 2013 Radio New Zealand