
On The Up: Wedding bells ring at Whangārei rest home
World's most famous rugby player, Ilona Maher, touches down in Tāmaki Makaurau to play the Black Ferns. Video / Sylvie Whinray
Debt Deal of the Year was one of 15 awards presented at the annual finance industry awards held in Auckland on May 13.
'He was always very polite,' says Mum of intrepid cinematographer Jacob Bryant. 'Which, I guess, is what saved his life.'
Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is in cinemas now
Young New Zealanders give their thoughts on the Government's Budget 2025 and how it will impact them. Video \ Jason Dorday
Chris Hipkins wants to reverse the changes, but won't commit to a dollar figure.
Charlie Davies-Carr is now 19 years old and studies law at university. Video / ZM
KiwiSaver cut, Best Start means-tested, $6.6b for business. Nicola Willis' Budget aims for growth but she warns of slow wages and high unemployment. Video / Mark Mitchell
Debt is projected to increase by $60 to $70 billion over the next five years. Video \ Mark Mitchell
Ryan Bridge and an expert panel break down Budget 2025
A serious crash has happened on Dansey Rd near Rotorua. Video / Ben Fraser
Finance Minister unveils NZ Budget 2025, the end of an era as Smith & Caughey closes and Trump, Ramaphosa in heated Oval Office exchange.
Donald Trump ambushes South Africa's president during a White House meeting by playing a video alleging 'genocide' of white people in South Africa. Video / The White House
The Halberg Games isn't just a fun event for kids Gemma and Jemma, it's also an exciting reunion! Reporter Zoe catches up with the besties as they compete for their 3rd year.
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RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Another Resource Management Act change passes in Parliament
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas Another Resource Management Act (RMA) change has passed in Parliament, this one focused on speeding up consenting while the government works on more a permanent replacement. The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill makes a range of changes, including: In a statement, the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop said the legislation brought in sweeping changes, removing handbrakes on New Zealanders' lives, helping drive economic growth, and laying the groundwork for job creation. "Our full replacement for the RMA will be introduced to Parliament this year, be passed into law next year, and be in effect by 2027- but in the meantime, through this Amendment Bill, we're making it quicker and simpler to consent renewable energy, boost housing supply, and reduce red tape for the primary sector," he said. Green MP Lan Pham in her speech on the bill said it was part of an "absolute onslaught when it comes to rushed, ill-thought out legislation" from the government, saying the bill was piecemeal and would make things more complicated for councils. She pointed to the changes around freshwater which were introduced in an amendment on Wednesday, saying it "completely and utterly failed to protect fresh water for all Kiwis". "This is so significant that for the first time in the Resource Management Act's (RMA) history-an Act that was set up to deliberately avoid, remedy, or mitigate environmental impacts-this bill now directly allows and permits significant adverse effects in our most degraded waterways." The bill is expected to come into force after receiving royal assent in the coming days. Bishop said the next phase of the Resource Management reform process would include the complete replacement of the RMA with two laws "that better reflect the importance of private property rights". It would be passed into law next year and come into effect by 2027.


NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Rotorua: David Seymour speaks about changing sector regulations at Early Childhood Council conference
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Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
Crimson Education Graduates Into The Workforce With New Visa Spin-Out, Concord Visa
Press Release – Crimson Education After guiding more than 3,000 student visa applications through Crimson Education, Concord Visa has been created to support another under-served, high performing group; the ambitious people and high growth startups trying to access new markets. Concord Visa, an immigration consultancy spin-out from Crimson Education, has emerged from stealth to streamline how startups and talent access new markets, with a particular early focus on the United States. After guiding more than 3,000 student visa applications through Crimson Education, Concord Visa has been created to support another under-served, high performing group; the ambitious people and high growth startups trying to access new markets. 'With Crimson Education our mission was to unlock the best academic and career possibilities for students anywhere in the world. Concord is the natural extension of this philosophy, allowing extraordinary people and businesses to work where their ambitions take them,' said Crimson Education CEO, Jamie Beaton. 'We started Concord because we saw the same pattern again and again. Our Crimson alumni were doing incredible things; founding companies, joining high-growth and impact teams, conducting high-impact research, performing, competing, creating, but constantly trying to navigate visa hurdles. The process was confusing, slow, and often disconnected from the actual value they were bringing,' said Beaton. Concord Visa is built on the premise that neither career nor company growth should be stifled by bureaucratic hurdles. Its core offering expedites and optimises visa applications, particularly for highly sought-after categories like the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities and achievements or the L-1, E-2, E-3, EB-1A, NIW, and skills shortage visas. The O-1 visa for 'extraordinary' individuals has gained in popularity in recent years, particularly amongst the growing class of startup founders and talents looking to expand their companies and careers in the United States. There is no annual cap on O-1's issued annually, meaning there is potential for more well prepared candidates to reach the US using them. 'My own journey to getting an O-1 visa was totally random. I bumped into a fellow Kiwi entrepreneur who mentioned she's secured a green card through this mystical process. After going through the application, I managed to land my visa, enabling me to build Crimson at full speed,' said Beaton. Australia and New Zealand non immigrant visas have been on the rise since COVID. Up 25% in Australia between 2022 and 2024, and 28% for New Zealanders over the same period.* 'Our approach is fundamentally different,' explains Kevin Park, CEO and co-founder of Concord Visa. 'We don't just process paperwork; we partner with our clients to understand their unique trajectory and build a compelling narrative that maximizes their chances of visa success.' As well as providing individual support for all immigration applications, the new business is also developing automation tools, and a modern, digital experience. This is contrasted with the industry writ-large, which has been bogged down by inefficiencies, high cost, and a lack of innovation. For startups, time and money are critical, and traditional immigration services often drain both. Concord offers flat-fee packages, ensuring transparency and predictability, while significantly reducing the time commitment required from founders and employees. Lifting up the next generation of ANZ unicorns Traditional visa services often operate with outdated methodologies, leading to significant delays, exorbitant costs, and a lack of tailored advice for the dynamic startup world. Before publicly launching its new immigration consultancy, Concord Visa has already guided more than 100 individuals and companies through their U.S. visa process, including brand tracking startup Tracksuit. Mikayla Hopkins, Head of Marketing at Tracksuit, used Concord to navigate visa applications during a critical period as they closed in on a mammoth $25m USD Series B raise. 'Navigating the complexities of international visas was essential to Tracksuit's growth and helped avoid setbacks during a crucial phase. Ensuring our talent moves freely keeps the business scaling globally. Their expertise was instrumental in enabling our expansion into the U.S. market,' said Hopkins. Likewise, Wayne Zhou, GM at Paraform Recruiters, relied on Concord to pave his path from Australia to the world stage as the company closed a $20 million USD Series A. Solving startups problems before they happen Concord Visa offers strategic guidance that goes beyond compliance, consulting with startups on their broader business objectives, identifying potential pitfalls related to visa compliance that traditional firms often overlook. For example, many international startups heading to the States receive advice to pursue treaty visas (E2 visas), which are initially straightforward but can become invalid when a company raises funding from diverse international investors. This can lead to a scramble to secure alternative visas under tight deadlines, or needing to leave the country within 60 days. 'We act as strategic advisors, looking far down the road to anticipate challenges,' adds Park. 'A common issue we see is companies outgrowing their initial visa strategy after successful funding rounds. Our expertise helps them plan for these eventualities, ensuring their talent remains compliant and their growth trajectory isn't disrupted by unforeseen immigration complexities.' Concord Visa is also building innovative technological solutions to further streamline the immigration process. Currently in development, these tools will proactively monitor changes in employment status, promotions, or residential addresses, automatically flagging potential visa compliance issues before they escalate. Concord Visa is 100% owned by Crimson Education, and currently helps with immigration into Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States.