logo
Watch: Albanese wins big as Australia shuns Trump politics

Watch: Albanese wins big as Australia shuns Trump politics

RNZ News04-05-2025

Watch Corin Dann's full video report
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon believes Labor's victory in the Australian election shows voters want governments to focus on the right issues.
Despite struggling in the polls just a few months ago,
Labor has been returned to power
with an increased majority under leader
Anthony Albanese
.
Australian commentators believe the opposition's Donald Trump-style politics counted against him on Saturday night, as it did for the
Conservatives in Canada
.
Anthony Albanese s[peaks to the Labor Party faithful after his election win.
Photo:
RNZ / Nick Monro
Luxon said both elections show voters want governments to tackle the right things and for New Zealand that is economic growth.
The NZ Labour Party's campaign chair Kieren McAnulty stressed not everything in Australian politics can be translated to New Zealand as the political system was different.
He said a big factor in the win was that Albanese ran a clear campaign focusing on a
small number of key issues
.
Photo:
RNZ / Nick Monro
https://radionz.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=211a938dcf3e634ba2427dde9&id=b3d362e693 Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero,]
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Organic vege grower in liquidation
Organic vege grower in liquidation

Otago Daily Times

time2 hours ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Organic vege grower in liquidation

A North Otago organic vegetable growing business, recently approached to appear on Country Calendar, has gone into voluntary liquidation owing more than $1 million, while a subsidiary company owes more than $300,000. Organic Solutions, which traded as Oamaru Organics, is 53.45% owned by James Porteous — who is also the sole director — and Australian-based Lanson International Holdings Pty Ltd (46.55%). Touted as the largest organic market garden in the South Island, it sold vegetables both at a roadside stall at Totara and through the Otago Farmers Market. In a statement, Mr Porteous said the farm had ''long struggled with chronic overstaffing'', which significantly increased its financial burden and led to an accumulation of debt with the IRD. He said he stepped in to directly manage farm operations in August, reducing staff numbers from nine to one and introducing mechanisation. He said the farm became compliant with all ongoing tax obligations and began rapidly repaying historic tax arrears. Per-hectare revenue increased 39% and he proposed a ''realistic'' repayment plan, which was declined by the IRD. The company would continue to operate and supply customers to the best of its ability throughout the farm sale process, he said. Incorporated in 2014, it originally owned Thai restaurants around the South Island and bought the 23ha farm — one of its main suppliers — for $1.7m in 2019 to maintain supply. The deal was later found to have breached the Overseas Investment Act because Lanson International Holdings — whose majority shareholder was Mr Porteous' friend Marc Lanson — owned more than 46%. The rules stated Australians could not have more than a 25% share of any purchase of New Zealand land bigger than 5ha without gaining consent first. Organic Solutions was fined $20,000 and retrospective consent had to be sought. In his first report, liquidator Brenton Hunt, of Insolvency Matters, said the majority of the restaurants were closed due to the outcome of the Covid-19 restrictions. According to Mr Porteous, the business had struggled to be economic for some time. Inland Revenue payments had fallen behind and the IRD had begun recovery action. The last annual accounts completed for the company were in March 2022. Plant and equipment and motor vehicles were to be collected and sold and there was finance owing on vehicles, Mr Hunt said. The land and buildings were also to be listed and sold (first mortgage owing). Under preferential creditors, staff holiday pay was estimated at $10,000 and GST and PAYE were estimated at $900,000. Unsecured creditors were estimated to be owed $1m and the total estimated shortfall to all creditors was estimated at $1,279,500. An associated company, Southern Organics, which is wholly owned by Organic Solutions, of which Mr Porteous was also sole director, was placed in voluntary liquidation the same day. That company, which was incorporated in November 2020 and ceased trading in November last year, produced organic soup products, and bought vegetables from the shareholding company. According to Mr Porteous, the soup products originally sold well but sales were not enough to make it economic and it was very seasonal. At the end of winter last year, the lease of a kitchen in Christchurch was surrendered and trading stopped. Under preferential creditors, staff holiday pay was estimated at $20,000, while Inland Revenue GST and PAYE was estimated at $40,000. Unsecured creditors were estimated to be owed $300,000.

Call For CNMI Leaders To Fight Back On High Airfares
Call For CNMI Leaders To Fight Back On High Airfares

Scoop

time7 hours ago

  • Scoop

Call For CNMI Leaders To Fight Back On High Airfares

Article – RNZ The former representative shared his frustration after attempting to book a four-day roundtrip ticket from Guam to Saipan. Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent Former Northern Mariana Islands lawmaker Edwin K. Propst taken to social media to urge leaders to 'go to war' with United Airlines over what he claims are exorbitant airfares between Saipan and Guam. The call to action comes amid renewed efforts to reinstate the Essential Air Service program in the CNMI and push for a cabotage exemption. 'Attention all leaders of the Marianas in the public and private sector, it is time to go to war with this airline,' Propst wrote. The former representative, who now works at the CNMI broadband policy and development office, shared his frustration after attempting to book a four-day roundtrip ticket from Guam to Saipan in June – to find the lowest available fare was US$767. 'For a 25-minute flight?! 'They have just made record-breaking profits and instead of rewarding their customers, they increase their prices.' Propst called the airfares 'devastating' to the local economy and tourism. The CNMI is currently seeking exemption from federal cabotage restrictions, which bar foreign airlines from operating domestic routes between US territories such as Guam and the CNMI. Governor Arnold Palacios mentioned this effort during his State of the Commonwealth Address, saying he had 'actively advocated for potential cabotage waiver [and] essential air services' in recent talks with federal agencies and congressional leaders. Palacios emphasized the importance of improved regional connectivity to support the CNMI's tourism-dependent economy. Senate public utilities, transportation and communications committee chair, Senator Jude Hofschneider called Propst's complaints a 'sad reality of economic times,' adding that United's pricing is 'likely a business decision by the air carrier'. Still, Hofschneider said the moment calls for greater support of Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds' bill introduced in April to requalify CNMI airports for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. If passed, the measure would allow federal subsidies to fund daily round-trip flights even if commercial carriers withdraw service. A quote from CWM Travel International showed a Saipan-Guam roundtrip departing 8 June 8 and returning 12 June costing $420 – significantly cheaper than Propst's booking but still high for an inter-island flight. The EAS program, created in 1978 and stripped from CNMI eligibility in 2012, was intended to preserve air access for small US communities. King-Hinds' bill seeks to restore eligibility to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota by placing CNMI alongside Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico in exemption status.

3G Shutdown: What Devices Are Affected, And How To Upgrade
3G Shutdown: What Devices Are Affected, And How To Upgrade

Scoop

time9 hours ago

  • Scoop

3G Shutdown: What Devices Are Affected, And How To Upgrade

Article – RNZ Consumers are being urged to get ready ahead of the shutdown of 3G mobile networks from the end of the are being urged to get ready ahead of the shutdown of 3G mobile networks from the end of the year. Telecommunications Forum chief executive Paul Brislen said most New Zealanders were already using 4G or 5G-compatible devices and would not need to take any action. However anyone with a 3G-reliant phone or device may be affected, including tablets, medical alarms, security alarms, business equipment, vehicle trackers and other devices connected to the internet. 'The 3G shutdown is a positive step for our digital future, but it's important that anyone with 3G-reliant phones or devices checks now so they can stay connected,' Brislen said. Consumers can text '3G' to 550, free of charge, to check if their device will work after the 3G network was switched off. Spark announced it would close off its 3G network on 31 March, 2026 and was upgrading 3G-only cell towers to 4G and 5G technology. While affected customers would be receiving direct communication from Spark, it issued a list of common devices likely to be affected. iPhone 6 Huawei Y5 HMD Global Nokia 3310 Mobiwire SAS Pocket 2 Oppo A5 (AX5) Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro iPhone 5S Alcatel 1B Brislen said consumers who need to upgrade to a 4G or 5G compatible device should recycle their old handsets through recycling service RE:MOBILE at 'Mobile phones contain valuable materials that can be reused, as well as components that are harmful to the environment if sent to landfill.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store