Surcharges on PayWave etc to be banned
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Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
Desperate Aussie companies trying to lure Kiwi workers
By Bella Craig of RNZ Australian companies say they are not trying to poach NZ's workforce, but anybody who does fancy upping sticks for 'Straya's Northern Territory is being fair dinkum promised a chunk a' change that would make your Kiwi colleagues mad as a cut snake. Northern Territory industry leaders were at an Auckland job expo over the weekend to extol the virtues of the vast region of Australia. There were stalls looking to recruit police and corrections officers, hospitality workers, health professionals, tourism operators and construction and infrastructure workers. A number of Kiwis visiting the expo told Checkpoint the better pay and better work opportunities were tempting. But what will it mean for New Zealand's already declining workforce if they take up the offer? For Kiwis across the motu, it can be a dispiriting daily grind: apply for jobs, often receive no reply and when they do land an interview, queues of people are lining up for the same job. It can take hundreds of applications, and often many months, before something finally comes through. The unemployment rate in New Zealand is at a four-year high at 5.1 percent, so it is very competitive out there. But in Australia's Northern Territory, they are desperate for people to join their workforce and they have got Kiwis in their sights. On Saturday morning at Auckland's Manukau Due Drop events centre, the expo was bustling with hundreds of students, job hunters and people just looking for a change. They told Checkpoint finding a job in Aotearoa has become increasingly difficult. "I'm looking for other work at the moment and there's literally nothing out there, thousands of people applying for jobs that I wouldn't usually apply for. "A lot of people have applied for jobs - you see 150 people have applied, 200 people and you'll still be waiting for an answer." The Northern Territory's allure lies in its higher salaries, more job opportunities and the possibility of buying a home there. "I'm renting a two-bedroom house here for $550. At the same time when I see my sister she's in Alice Springs, she's renting a two-bedroom house for $350. "I feel really bad going into a job that pays so little, and I've studied so hard, where there's like a $20,000 difference if I start here or if I start there." Damien Charles from the Northern Territory Information and Communication Technology and Digital Services industry said there was a wider range of opportunities in the sector. A $30-40,000 pay bump also did not hurt. "Having listened to a number of people come through they're quite downcast about ICT and digital sector here in New Zealand, it's quite hard to get into the market even for people with existing skills and experience." Andrew Craven from the Northern Territory Police said they were looking for new recruits to join the police and experienced police who might want a change in scenery. First-year constables earn a salary of $111,000 compared to $83,000 here. After five years in the force that increases to $121,000 in Northern Territory, compared with $91,000 here. There is also a housing allowance of up to $34,000 for officers jumping the ditch. Craven said there were many similarities between the Northern Territory and New Zealand police forces. "We speak to the New Zealand Police a lot because we interview experienced police, particularly in the Northern Island, I think they have very similar problems." Dr Tanzil Rahman - Member of the Parliament of the Northern Territory for Fong Lim in Darwin's east - made the trip to New Zealand to help snag some Kiwi workers. He said the Northen Territory offered a different lifestyle, better pay, a higher-quality housing market and a warmer climate. "We know that New Zealanders are keen on Australia and do move to Australia and if you're looking for meaningful work opportunities that are well remunerated than again the north of Australia is a really good option." But for some Kiwis, the grass was not greener. "Australia's way too hot and there's too much drama there," said one. "People don't realise that in New Zealand we look after our retirees a lot better than they do in Australia." "I was offered about 1.7 times about what I would earn here in New Zealand. But what I love here about people in New Zealand is the people and the culture. We moved here when I was young from South Africa, so I call New Zealand my home and I'll stay," said another "We've got the most beautiful scenery in the world, great people and a wonderful future. I'd stay here," said a third. The Northern Territory job expos were held in Christchurch and Auckland over the past two weekends hosting jobs and information sessions for Kiwis keen to get a glimpse on life and work.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
‘Crippling' bills likely in South Wairarapa with water reform
Local Government Minister Simon Watts. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone South Wairarapa Deputy Mayor Melissa Sadler-Futter says the government needs to step up and offer more support for smaller councils to undergo water reform. Water reform will "cripple" South Wairarapa ratepayers, unless urgent financial support is delivered by central government, the council's deputy mayor says. On behalf of her council, Melissa Sadler-Futter has written to Local Government Minister Simon Watts urging him to support small and rural councils grappling with the growing scale and cost of water infrastructure reform. The letter was in support of a plea from Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker whose ratepayers could face annual costs of $7000 per household under water reform by 2034. Modelling for South Wairarapa showed that ratepayers could face annual costs of almost $5000 per household under the proposed Wairarapa-Tararua joint entity. "Like Central Hawke's Bay, we're a small rural council doing everything we can to plan ahead, invest wisely, and collaborate with our neighbours - but the scale of the challenge is now beyond what small communities can carry alone," Sadler-Futter said. "Councils are now overwhelmed by compliance, unfunded mandates and escalating financial impacts of decades of underinvestment." Both leaders had called for government-funded capital injections for small and rural councils to help address the backlog of investment, especially for wastewater compliance. South Wairarapa District Council. Photo: LDR The leaders also want a national definition of what "affordable" meant and how the Commerce Commission would intervene in small rural situations. Sadler-Futter said the Wairarapa-Tararua model offered "a sound approach to rural reform". "However, without government support, the cost of transition, compliance, and service delivery under this new model will simply cripple our community." "Whilst we are extremely grateful for the transition funding received at the end of June, the continued financial pressures that are already being felt by our ratepayers will become untenable in the future." She said many rural and provincial councils were facing similar pressures and were "doing the right things" regarding investment and planning. "But the scale of the challenge now far exceeds the capacity of small districts to carry alone." South Wairarapa District Council was responsible for operating four wastewater treatment plants, four freshwater treatment plants, and an extensive rural road network - all with just 7,500 rateable units. Two of the district's wastewater plants were currently under abatement notices, limiting new housing connections despite growing demand. The council was working with Carterton, Masterton, and Tararua district councils to develop a regional water services model, under the government's Local Water Done Well framework. Sadler-Futter said the regional model offered a "sound approach" to rural water reform, "but we need central Government to work alongside us to share the load". "Without targeted funding and a fair approach to affordability, our ratepayers will face costs that are simply unsustainable." In a response to Walker, Watts said affordability was up for councils to determine, and that the Government was working to reduce costs and regulatory burdens for wastewater plants in particular. A recent government study into proposed changes to environmental standards for water treatment plants could result in 40 percent to 60 percent cost savings, he said. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Paywave costs should be passed on to customers
The Finance Minister says when a ban on contactless card payment surcharges comes into effect, businesses should pass on the cost to customers as they would any other business cost, if they can't absorb the bill. The government plans to ban surcharges on contactless card payments no later than May 2026. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson announced the change on Monday afternoon, declaring: "That pesky note or sticker on the payment machine will become a thing of the past." "Shoppers will no longer be penalised for their choice of payment method, whether that's tapping, swiping or using their phone's digital wallet." The ban builds on the Commerce Commission's recent decision to reduce the interchange fees imposed on businesses for accepting Visa and Mastercard payments. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told RNZ that change has led to an average reduction in costs for a typical retailer - a small business - of about $500 each week. "So our concern has been, now that reduction has happened, how do we make sure that gets passed through to you, when you're at the shop. What's to stop the retailer just charging you the same fee even though their costs has dropped." Banning the paywave fee was the simplest and most transparent thing to do, Willis said. Businesses need to treat the interchange fee like any other cost in their business "and just include it in the price tag on the shelf", she said. "It'll make it easier for people to compare what they're really having to pay. Just think about how many times you've been at the counter and then suddenly you learn that it's a 2.5 or a 3.5 percent surcharge and that gets added to the price of whatever it is you're buying. That's not very transparent." The sector is warning prices may need to rise at restaurants and cafes due the ban. Asked if she thinks the ban will lead to inflationary prices, the minister said "I think that overall, people will charge the price that they think they can get away with". The change doesn't include international credit card payments or online payments. Willis said these payments were usually much more expensive to process and people using these systems have to pay a bit more because they are protected from things like online scams and fraud. Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy told RNZ with a reduction in the interchange fee, businesses would be making a profit off the surcharges if they remained in place. "Retailers still pay a small amount ot offer those services, we think that once... the decrease comes into effect it will be less than 1 percent of the total cost of the transaction," Duffy said. Many businesses would absorb this into the prices though there may be some who need to increase prices to cover the cost, he said. "But it would be just the same as if their... power bill or their rent went up." Consumer NZ was a bit disappointed online transactions were not included but it was understandable for now, he said.
