Under lockdown level four, many businesses have had to lose. Closures have affected the hospitality sector hardest. For people employed in this sector, it is important to understand your rights around getting paid. Should I still be getting paid during lockdown? Yes, your employer has to continue honouring your employment agreement, even if level four […]

Waikato businesses are optimistic the consequences of the Covid lockdown will not be as severe as expected. A coalition of the northern Chambers of Commerce recently put out a joint survey to 100 different member organisations in each region. The Waikato businesses had the most positive outlook compared to counterparts in Auckland, Tauranga and Taupō. […]

Plans have been revealed for possible urban intensification in parts of Chartwell, Five Cross Roads, Claudelands and Hamilton East. The proposed changes to Hamilton’s district plan – which could see medium and high-density housing be prioritised in parts of the city – are a response to new government guidelines which aim to increase housing stocks […]

A new government project is investigating how to locate empty ‘ghost homes’, find their owners, and encourage them to bring them back to being occupied. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 5.2% of houses in New Zealand are classed as ghost homes. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has set aside […]

New Zealand’s parliament will return under lockdown, but against the wishes of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Ardern suspended the parliament last week, amid fears of spreading Covid19. However, after calls from the opposition party, parliament will resume this week. National party leader Judith Collins, who has travelled from Auckland – the epicentre of the outbreak […]

The Government’s proposed restructuring of water services for the country would see responsibility for drinking water, wastewater and storm water shifted from local councils to several regional water agencies. The reasoning behind the “Three Waters” The rationale behind restructuring includes both safety and affordability. On the safety side, much of our water infrastructure is ageing […]

According to an Afghan interpreter who worked for the New Zealand Defence Force more than 500 people in Afghanistan eligible to come to New Zealand have been left to their own fate after a bombing at Kabul Airport put an end to further New Zealand Defence Force evacuation flights. Today marks the last day of […]

Emergency benefits for migrants are being axed from today – and advocates say the timing could not be worse. The Ministry of Social Development has been providing benefits to migrants since it took over from a Red Cross support scheme last year. Advice on the Ministry of Social Development website says those still needing support […]

New Zealanders overwhelmingly back the Government’s approach to the recent lockdown. Recent polling found the lockdown had support from 84% of the population. Unlike in many countries, New Zealand has not seen large scale demonstrations against lockdowns. In New Zealand, a political consensus has endured so far, with cross-party support for the country’s elimination strategy. […]

There are 49 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, bringing the total number of cases to 612. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said all of the new cases are in Auckland. “It does provide further reassurance that our public health efforts are slowing the spread of the virus,” Bloomfield said. Of the new […]