Fewer than 50 families are likely to receive National’s full $252 fortnightly tax break, based on the FamilyBoost scheme’s lower than expected uptake. A rare ‘mayday’ call was issued by the two firefighters who were stranded above a huge blaze at a recycling plant last week, because their lives were in “immediate” danger. Staff safety at Southland Hospital is being described as “a tragedy waiting to happen” by NZNO President Anne Daniels. Palmerston North hospital staff have noticed that the promised boost in security after a gun-wielding man got into a nurse’s car and threatened her after her shift two weeks ago.
Union coverage
- CTU: Fewer than 50 families to get National’s full tax package, says CTU
- NZPFU: Recycling plant firefighters’ lives were at ‘immediate risk’
- NZNO: Health staff safety ‘a tragedy waiting to happen’
- NZNO: Palmerston North Hospital staff haven’t noticed promised boost in security, union says
- MUNZ: Injured port worker recovers after surgery, incident investigated
Employment
- Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick on firefighters mayday call
- Ministry of Regulation salaries continue to top average $150K one year on
- Millions paid out for Defence redundancies amid multibillion-dollar boost
Politics
- Nicola Willis confirms FamilyBoost eligibility to be expanded
- Cross-party hope for anti-trafficking legislation
- Ministers rejected advice to review climate grants
- Officials warned citizen arrests plan won’t reduce retail crime
- Government replaces EV charger grants with new loan scheme
- Part of MSD programme to prevent people ending up in emergency housing scrapped
- No virginity testing and amending alcohol licensing rules on Indian origin MPs agenda
- NZ First gender bill a ‘distraction’ – National minister
Te Ao Māori
Economics
- Plumbers get the power to sign off their own work
- Banks to lose veto power on Banking Ombudsman scheme
- Bank scam protections lacking in detail claims consumer advocate Janine Starks
- Rocket Lab secures chunk of another Pentagon programme
- Consumer confidence rises despite concerns over higher inflation