Otago Central Lakes Strategic Health Report Available To Public
The Strategic Report identifies opportunities to increase public health services in Otago Central Lakes by partnering with the private sector to invest in services and infrastructure to benefit our region. More >>
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Scott McTominay is soaring towards Maradona status at Napoli as star pal goes on the record with mighty claim
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Montreal actor focused on directing but has ideas for ‘White Lotus' after breakout performance
Since her breakout role in Season 3 of HBO's hit dramedy White Lotus, acting offers have been pouring in for Charlotte Le Bon. But for now, the Montreal native is just not interested. 'Making films is my main focus more than acting, to be honest,' Le Bon said during a sit-down interview in Toronto Thursday. Le Bon recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where she held meetings in search of a financing partner for her sophomore feature — a still-untitled Montreal-shot drama exploring themes of loss. 'It's autobiographique,' says the bilingual actor, reluctant to reveal too much. 'It's a very, very personal movie and I think the goal is to try to make a very light-hearted movie on grief. It's a challenge, but that's what I'm aiming for.' Story continues below advertisement The Montreal-based Le Bon was in town for Bell Media's 2025-26 programming showcase, where Etalk hosts interviewed her during a splashy event for media buyers about the last season of The White Lotus, which streams on Crave. In Mike White's eat-the-rich anthology series she plays Chloe, a socially savvy French-Canadian expat living in Thailand with her much older boyfriend, and the series' main antagonist, Greg, who now goes by 'Gary.' She's seemingly unaware of Greg's history: in Season 2, he pulled off a plot to murder his wife Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge, in order to inherit her wealth. Le Bon says she was ready to take a hiatus from acting when she was offered the White Lotus role. Though she'd built a successful career — with roles opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the 2015 biographical drama The Walk and Christian Bale in the 2016 war epic The Promise — her passion had shifted to working behind the camera. Her 2023 horror-romance Falcon Lake, which she directed and co-wrote, premiered at Cannes to strong critical acclaim. 4:29 Eric reviews The Promise 'I was thinking about taking a break from acting because I was like, 'Oh, I don't know if I still like it.' I was just asking myself some questions about it… I sometimes played characters that were not really inspiring for me for some reason,' she says. Story continues below advertisement 'And then White Lotus arrived and I was like, 'There's no way I can not do this. It's just an amazing opportunity'… Between the moment where I sent the self-tape and the moment I was in the plane flying to Thailand, there were probably like 10 days.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Le Bon says the experience of being part of such a pop-culture juggernaut was hard to wrap her head around. 'It's kind of overwhelming when you're taking part in such an important thing in culture. Even when it started to come out, when I started to see memes on it on social media, it was really exciting,' she says. While acting isn't her current focus, Le Bon says she would be down to return for Season 4 — and has some ideas about how it could play out. 'If their relationship is based on true love, which I think it is, then maybe she'll come back with Greg, because Greg has to come back, for sure,' she says. Le Bon muses that Chloe could be Greg's accomplice or even the one who serves him his inevitable comeuppance. 'She could either become Greg's ally and they can be like a duo of villains, or she can maybe be the one who will create the karma for Greg. Maybe she'll give it to him,' she says. Story continues below advertisement 'He has to get it at some point, so we'll see what happens.' 2:07 The Canadian composer behind 'The White Lotus' soundtrack While Chloe's relationship with Greg may seem transactional on the surface, Le Bon argues the two share a deeper 'understanding' of one another. 'I think what she likes in this relationship is she thinks she's found a way to be free… just by spending a lot of money and partying and having sex with whoever she wants,' Le Bon says. 'I think they find an agreement by the end of the season where it's clear that's her intention and maybe he can take part in this and have fun with it as well.' If that setup sounds peculiar, Le Bon says that's just the kind of thing that interests her. Story continues below advertisement 'There needs to be a singular aspect to a part that really inspires me in order for me to move my butt and be an actress again,' she says. 'It needs to be weird.'
The Advertiser
5 minutes ago
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A barely noticeable improvement may signal the worst is behind us
ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business operating environment. It recorded a microscopic improvement of 0.1 per cent this quarter. This is the first quarterly increase since August 2022 after a significant deterioration that occurred in the post-COVID period. Over the past 12 months small business conditions deteriorated by 0.9 per cent, but the small increase we are now seeing, is showing some modest signs that conditions seem to be stabilising. It shows that small and family business owners are digging deep to finds ways forward. The Pulse also reveals specific areas where targeted policy and approaches, more attuned to the real-life challenges being faced and opportunities being pursued, would make a real positive difference. It may be a barely noticeable improvement in the small business trading environment, but it does hopefully signal that the worst is behind us and a first step toward a positive shift in economic conditions for small and family businesses. With some input-cost inflation starting to settle, the pressures on margins and profitability remain very real. We are seeing a shift toward re-pricing to restore profitability and small business owners thinking about containing costs and what growth opportunities may be available. The May Pulse highlights that cash flow is still a major concern for small businesses. And while many feel the worst may be over, my office is seeing increasing numbers of requests for assistance with payment disputes. This type of dispute, that often leaves a small business unpaid, can push the business to the economic edge, creating stress and heartache for the owner. Being able to get behind the businesses doing the right thing by making employment, tax and supplier payments in a timely way, would be helped by a "good business pays" recognition. This accreditation would honour those businesses meeting their reporting and payment obligations. It is just one of the practical and positive "14 steps" ASBFEO has been championing to "energise enterprise". The Pulse data also suggests that while there are still some areas of unease in the small business environment, small business owners are looking at many factors when thinking about their operating margins. This includes reviewing input costs, pricing for their products or services, their range, what are customers saying and what opportunities are available to increase sales. We are seeing an increase in small businesses researching importing and exporting opportunities in the May Pulse, with most of these enquires about engaging in trade across the Asia-Pacific region. This is exciting because small and family businesses are now starting to think about what the future looks like for them and their business. They are potentially making plans to grow their businesses and how best to tap into new markets. Are we seeing the start of a gentle wind in the sails of resilient small business owners who have valiantly held on during an extended period of difficult headwinds? Or is it simply more remarkable relentlessness of enterprising women and men? In the May Pulse, we have seen a modest increase in small businesses considering hiring extra staff. A persistently tight labour market and difficulty finding suitable staff have been hampering recruitment efforts, but signs point to a shift in concern from availablity to affordability. And let's not be swayed by the nonsense that above-inflation increases in payroll costs without productivity improvement is somehow helpful, at a time too many small business owners are battling to keep the lights on. Small business owners have continued to report in this quarter how difficult it is to navigate the complex workplace laws, with most anxious about getting it wrong. This is a real worry, and an example of why we need to make sure that we take a more proactive approach to "right-sizing" regulation. Regulators and governments need to move away from the one-size-fits-all regulatory models. Regulations that are "right-sized" and fit-for-purpose will help small businesses meet their compliance obligations without fear. Interestingly, small businesses are also looking to maximise their business opportunities by deploying digital capabilities and using artificial intelligence to source new and exciting opportunities to entice and delight their customers, and to grow their business. Small business owners are also looking at how these technology tools can help them find more value and customers, and to navigate the complex compliance landscape. Better digital know-how and practical enterprise-specific tech support that is focused on business systems, digital solutions and data management is another of the 14 Steps we have been advocating that will help support small and family business to grow and be competitive. Many small and family businesses have been impacted by flood, cyclones and drought during the past 12 months. The Pulse highlights that temporary closure, lost income, and property damage remain issues for those businesses caught in natural disasters. But we need to be mindful that these issues and any ongoing insurance difficulties are likely to affect these and many other businesses in the years to come. So, our focus needs to be not only the immediate support and help needed, but on what those small and family businesses need in the months and years to come for a sustainable and durable recovery. The ASBFEO Pulse combines traditional and non-traditional data to provide a powerful indicator of small business health right here, right now. Harvesting alternative data such as internet searches to compliment official statistics gives a more nuanced understanding of the small business ecosystem. It provides an earlier insight into changes in the trading environment, especially when conditions are shifting quickly. The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse helps us to see into the corners of the small business community, while reflecting the reality of small business owners' everyday experience. It highlights the "what" and "where" help, support and the removal of headwinds would be most relevant and useful. ASBFEO's 14 steps to energise enterprise sets out the "how". What the May Pulse tells me, and should tell us all, is - we must continue to energise enterprise. We need to create conditions that encourage enthusiastic entrepreneurs with the spark of an idea to transform it into a business, to help a new business flourish and grow, to encourage investment and to employ that extra person. Small and family businesses make a vital contribution to our national prosperity, economy, wellbeing and community. We need them to be growing, employing, thriving and innovating to benefit us all. ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business operating environment. It recorded a microscopic improvement of 0.1 per cent this quarter. This is the first quarterly increase since August 2022 after a significant deterioration that occurred in the post-COVID period. Over the past 12 months small business conditions deteriorated by 0.9 per cent, but the small increase we are now seeing, is showing some modest signs that conditions seem to be stabilising. It shows that small and family business owners are digging deep to finds ways forward. The Pulse also reveals specific areas where targeted policy and approaches, more attuned to the real-life challenges being faced and opportunities being pursued, would make a real positive difference. It may be a barely noticeable improvement in the small business trading environment, but it does hopefully signal that the worst is behind us and a first step toward a positive shift in economic conditions for small and family businesses. With some input-cost inflation starting to settle, the pressures on margins and profitability remain very real. We are seeing a shift toward re-pricing to restore profitability and small business owners thinking about containing costs and what growth opportunities may be available. The May Pulse highlights that cash flow is still a major concern for small businesses. And while many feel the worst may be over, my office is seeing increasing numbers of requests for assistance with payment disputes. This type of dispute, that often leaves a small business unpaid, can push the business to the economic edge, creating stress and heartache for the owner. Being able to get behind the businesses doing the right thing by making employment, tax and supplier payments in a timely way, would be helped by a "good business pays" recognition. This accreditation would honour those businesses meeting their reporting and payment obligations. It is just one of the practical and positive "14 steps" ASBFEO has been championing to "energise enterprise". The Pulse data also suggests that while there are still some areas of unease in the small business environment, small business owners are looking at many factors when thinking about their operating margins. This includes reviewing input costs, pricing for their products or services, their range, what are customers saying and what opportunities are available to increase sales. We are seeing an increase in small businesses researching importing and exporting opportunities in the May Pulse, with most of these enquires about engaging in trade across the Asia-Pacific region. This is exciting because small and family businesses are now starting to think about what the future looks like for them and their business. They are potentially making plans to grow their businesses and how best to tap into new markets. Are we seeing the start of a gentle wind in the sails of resilient small business owners who have valiantly held on during an extended period of difficult headwinds? Or is it simply more remarkable relentlessness of enterprising women and men? In the May Pulse, we have seen a modest increase in small businesses considering hiring extra staff. A persistently tight labour market and difficulty finding suitable staff have been hampering recruitment efforts, but signs point to a shift in concern from availablity to affordability. And let's not be swayed by the nonsense that above-inflation increases in payroll costs without productivity improvement is somehow helpful, at a time too many small business owners are battling to keep the lights on. Small business owners have continued to report in this quarter how difficult it is to navigate the complex workplace laws, with most anxious about getting it wrong. This is a real worry, and an example of why we need to make sure that we take a more proactive approach to "right-sizing" regulation. Regulators and governments need to move away from the one-size-fits-all regulatory models. Regulations that are "right-sized" and fit-for-purpose will help small businesses meet their compliance obligations without fear. Interestingly, small businesses are also looking to maximise their business opportunities by deploying digital capabilities and using artificial intelligence to source new and exciting opportunities to entice and delight their customers, and to grow their business. Small business owners are also looking at how these technology tools can help them find more value and customers, and to navigate the complex compliance landscape. Better digital know-how and practical enterprise-specific tech support that is focused on business systems, digital solutions and data management is another of the 14 Steps we have been advocating that will help support small and family business to grow and be competitive. Many small and family businesses have been impacted by flood, cyclones and drought during the past 12 months. The Pulse highlights that temporary closure, lost income, and property damage remain issues for those businesses caught in natural disasters. But we need to be mindful that these issues and any ongoing insurance difficulties are likely to affect these and many other businesses in the years to come. So, our focus needs to be not only the immediate support and help needed, but on what those small and family businesses need in the months and years to come for a sustainable and durable recovery. The ASBFEO Pulse combines traditional and non-traditional data to provide a powerful indicator of small business health right here, right now. Harvesting alternative data such as internet searches to compliment official statistics gives a more nuanced understanding of the small business ecosystem. It provides an earlier insight into changes in the trading environment, especially when conditions are shifting quickly. The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse helps us to see into the corners of the small business community, while reflecting the reality of small business owners' everyday experience. It highlights the "what" and "where" help, support and the removal of headwinds would be most relevant and useful. ASBFEO's 14 steps to energise enterprise sets out the "how". What the May Pulse tells me, and should tell us all, is - we must continue to energise enterprise. We need to create conditions that encourage enthusiastic entrepreneurs with the spark of an idea to transform it into a business, to help a new business flourish and grow, to encourage investment and to employ that extra person. Small and family businesses make a vital contribution to our national prosperity, economy, wellbeing and community. We need them to be growing, employing, thriving and innovating to benefit us all. ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business operating environment. It recorded a microscopic improvement of 0.1 per cent this quarter. This is the first quarterly increase since August 2022 after a significant deterioration that occurred in the post-COVID period. Over the past 12 months small business conditions deteriorated by 0.9 per cent, but the small increase we are now seeing, is showing some modest signs that conditions seem to be stabilising. It shows that small and family business owners are digging deep to finds ways forward. The Pulse also reveals specific areas where targeted policy and approaches, more attuned to the real-life challenges being faced and opportunities being pursued, would make a real positive difference. It may be a barely noticeable improvement in the small business trading environment, but it does hopefully signal that the worst is behind us and a first step toward a positive shift in economic conditions for small and family businesses. With some input-cost inflation starting to settle, the pressures on margins and profitability remain very real. We are seeing a shift toward re-pricing to restore profitability and small business owners thinking about containing costs and what growth opportunities may be available. The May Pulse highlights that cash flow is still a major concern for small businesses. And while many feel the worst may be over, my office is seeing increasing numbers of requests for assistance with payment disputes. This type of dispute, that often leaves a small business unpaid, can push the business to the economic edge, creating stress and heartache for the owner. Being able to get behind the businesses doing the right thing by making employment, tax and supplier payments in a timely way, would be helped by a "good business pays" recognition. This accreditation would honour those businesses meeting their reporting and payment obligations. It is just one of the practical and positive "14 steps" ASBFEO has been championing to "energise enterprise". The Pulse data also suggests that while there are still some areas of unease in the small business environment, small business owners are looking at many factors when thinking about their operating margins. This includes reviewing input costs, pricing for their products or services, their range, what are customers saying and what opportunities are available to increase sales. We are seeing an increase in small businesses researching importing and exporting opportunities in the May Pulse, with most of these enquires about engaging in trade across the Asia-Pacific region. This is exciting because small and family businesses are now starting to think about what the future looks like for them and their business. They are potentially making plans to grow their businesses and how best to tap into new markets. Are we seeing the start of a gentle wind in the sails of resilient small business owners who have valiantly held on during an extended period of difficult headwinds? Or is it simply more remarkable relentlessness of enterprising women and men? In the May Pulse, we have seen a modest increase in small businesses considering hiring extra staff. A persistently tight labour market and difficulty finding suitable staff have been hampering recruitment efforts, but signs point to a shift in concern from availablity to affordability. And let's not be swayed by the nonsense that above-inflation increases in payroll costs without productivity improvement is somehow helpful, at a time too many small business owners are battling to keep the lights on. Small business owners have continued to report in this quarter how difficult it is to navigate the complex workplace laws, with most anxious about getting it wrong. This is a real worry, and an example of why we need to make sure that we take a more proactive approach to "right-sizing" regulation. Regulators and governments need to move away from the one-size-fits-all regulatory models. Regulations that are "right-sized" and fit-for-purpose will help small businesses meet their compliance obligations without fear. Interestingly, small businesses are also looking to maximise their business opportunities by deploying digital capabilities and using artificial intelligence to source new and exciting opportunities to entice and delight their customers, and to grow their business. Small business owners are also looking at how these technology tools can help them find more value and customers, and to navigate the complex compliance landscape. Better digital know-how and practical enterprise-specific tech support that is focused on business systems, digital solutions and data management is another of the 14 Steps we have been advocating that will help support small and family business to grow and be competitive. Many small and family businesses have been impacted by flood, cyclones and drought during the past 12 months. The Pulse highlights that temporary closure, lost income, and property damage remain issues for those businesses caught in natural disasters. But we need to be mindful that these issues and any ongoing insurance difficulties are likely to affect these and many other businesses in the years to come. So, our focus needs to be not only the immediate support and help needed, but on what those small and family businesses need in the months and years to come for a sustainable and durable recovery. The ASBFEO Pulse combines traditional and non-traditional data to provide a powerful indicator of small business health right here, right now. Harvesting alternative data such as internet searches to compliment official statistics gives a more nuanced understanding of the small business ecosystem. It provides an earlier insight into changes in the trading environment, especially when conditions are shifting quickly. The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse helps us to see into the corners of the small business community, while reflecting the reality of small business owners' everyday experience. It highlights the "what" and "where" help, support and the removal of headwinds would be most relevant and useful. ASBFEO's 14 steps to energise enterprise sets out the "how". What the May Pulse tells me, and should tell us all, is - we must continue to energise enterprise. We need to create conditions that encourage enthusiastic entrepreneurs with the spark of an idea to transform it into a business, to help a new business flourish and grow, to encourage investment and to employ that extra person. Small and family businesses make a vital contribution to our national prosperity, economy, wellbeing and community. We need them to be growing, employing, thriving and innovating to benefit us all. ASBFEO recently released our fourth Small Business Pulse - a health-check on the small business operating environment. It recorded a microscopic improvement of 0.1 per cent this quarter. This is the first quarterly increase since August 2022 after a significant deterioration that occurred in the post-COVID period. Over the past 12 months small business conditions deteriorated by 0.9 per cent, but the small increase we are now seeing, is showing some modest signs that conditions seem to be stabilising. It shows that small and family business owners are digging deep to finds ways forward. The Pulse also reveals specific areas where targeted policy and approaches, more attuned to the real-life challenges being faced and opportunities being pursued, would make a real positive difference. It may be a barely noticeable improvement in the small business trading environment, but it does hopefully signal that the worst is behind us and a first step toward a positive shift in economic conditions for small and family businesses. With some input-cost inflation starting to settle, the pressures on margins and profitability remain very real. We are seeing a shift toward re-pricing to restore profitability and small business owners thinking about containing costs and what growth opportunities may be available. The May Pulse highlights that cash flow is still a major concern for small businesses. And while many feel the worst may be over, my office is seeing increasing numbers of requests for assistance with payment disputes. This type of dispute, that often leaves a small business unpaid, can push the business to the economic edge, creating stress and heartache for the owner. Being able to get behind the businesses doing the right thing by making employment, tax and supplier payments in a timely way, would be helped by a "good business pays" recognition. This accreditation would honour those businesses meeting their reporting and payment obligations. It is just one of the practical and positive "14 steps" ASBFEO has been championing to "energise enterprise". The Pulse data also suggests that while there are still some areas of unease in the small business environment, small business owners are looking at many factors when thinking about their operating margins. This includes reviewing input costs, pricing for their products or services, their range, what are customers saying and what opportunities are available to increase sales. We are seeing an increase in small businesses researching importing and exporting opportunities in the May Pulse, with most of these enquires about engaging in trade across the Asia-Pacific region. This is exciting because small and family businesses are now starting to think about what the future looks like for them and their business. They are potentially making plans to grow their businesses and how best to tap into new markets. Are we seeing the start of a gentle wind in the sails of resilient small business owners who have valiantly held on during an extended period of difficult headwinds? Or is it simply more remarkable relentlessness of enterprising women and men? In the May Pulse, we have seen a modest increase in small businesses considering hiring extra staff. A persistently tight labour market and difficulty finding suitable staff have been hampering recruitment efforts, but signs point to a shift in concern from availablity to affordability. And let's not be swayed by the nonsense that above-inflation increases in payroll costs without productivity improvement is somehow helpful, at a time too many small business owners are battling to keep the lights on. Small business owners have continued to report in this quarter how difficult it is to navigate the complex workplace laws, with most anxious about getting it wrong. This is a real worry, and an example of why we need to make sure that we take a more proactive approach to "right-sizing" regulation. Regulators and governments need to move away from the one-size-fits-all regulatory models. Regulations that are "right-sized" and fit-for-purpose will help small businesses meet their compliance obligations without fear. Interestingly, small businesses are also looking to maximise their business opportunities by deploying digital capabilities and using artificial intelligence to source new and exciting opportunities to entice and delight their customers, and to grow their business. Small business owners are also looking at how these technology tools can help them find more value and customers, and to navigate the complex compliance landscape. Better digital know-how and practical enterprise-specific tech support that is focused on business systems, digital solutions and data management is another of the 14 Steps we have been advocating that will help support small and family business to grow and be competitive. Many small and family businesses have been impacted by flood, cyclones and drought during the past 12 months. The Pulse highlights that temporary closure, lost income, and property damage remain issues for those businesses caught in natural disasters. But we need to be mindful that these issues and any ongoing insurance difficulties are likely to affect these and many other businesses in the years to come. So, our focus needs to be not only the immediate support and help needed, but on what those small and family businesses need in the months and years to come for a sustainable and durable recovery. The ASBFEO Pulse combines traditional and non-traditional data to provide a powerful indicator of small business health right here, right now. Harvesting alternative data such as internet searches to compliment official statistics gives a more nuanced understanding of the small business ecosystem. It provides an earlier insight into changes in the trading environment, especially when conditions are shifting quickly. The ASBFEO Small Business Pulse helps us to see into the corners of the small business community, while reflecting the reality of small business owners' everyday experience. It highlights the "what" and "where" help, support and the removal of headwinds would be most relevant and useful. ASBFEO's 14 steps to energise enterprise sets out the "how". What the May Pulse tells me, and should tell us all, is - we must continue to energise enterprise. We need to create conditions that encourage enthusiastic entrepreneurs with the spark of an idea to transform it into a business, to help a new business flourish and grow, to encourage investment and to employ that extra person. Small and family businesses make a vital contribution to our national prosperity, economy, wellbeing and community. We need them to be growing, employing, thriving and innovating to benefit us all.
