‘Payments can be substantial': Millie Elder-Holmes pays $5000 fine for online gambling promotion
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
New med school to save $50m a year, govt claims
Nearly $2billion could be saved by 2042 if a new medical school to train rural doctors is created in Hamilton, the detailed business case for the project says. Made public at 6.45pm yesterday, a document dump including the business case reveals the cost of producing GPs at a new medical school at the University of Waikato would be $50million a year cheaper than doing it through existing medical schools. It was announced on Monday the government had decided to approve the country's third medical school, to be built in Hamilton. Over 16 years from 2026 to 2042 the total cost of medical education at Waikato, including capital costs that include building a new school, would be $9.1b, it says. It would cost $10.9b over the same period to increase the intake of students at existing medical schools and $10.2b if a new medical training programme focused on rural health, jointly run by the universities of Otago and Auckland was established. The Waikato option would also be the cheapest for the Crown in terms of its ongoing contribution to operating costs at $37.2m a year, compared with $45.5m a year for increasing intake at existing medical schools. But there are concerns the actual costs are still unknown. Green MP Francisco Hernandez said the government's decision to "dump" the business case after work hours on a Friday was "deeply insulting to the public". "This is not the actions of a government that is confident in the business case — and judging from what I've read so far they're right to not be," he said. Rather than engaging in good faith with Otago and Auckland universities and running an open process for a new graduate programme, the government had "deliberately stacked the deck to produce the outcome they want". "The cost benefit analysis also assumes no further cost escalations — and with the Minister [of Health] refusing to rule out further funding — we just don't know how deep the government's blank cheque will extend to back this flawed proposal," Mr Hernandez said. "Finally, the cost benefit analysis fails to even consider the issue of [the] benefits of training more Māori or Pasifika doctors — perhaps because [Waikato University] vice-chancellor [Neil] Quigley has reportedly ruled out a programme like [Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme] to boost Māori and Pasifika doctors and the government has failed to make that a condition of this handout." Dunedin MP Rachel Brooking said the Waikato medical school was pitched to the National Party as a "present" to them when in office. "Decisions about the future of New Zealand's medical workforce should be made on more robust grounds," she said. "It's important we take the time to analyse the business case before commenting, which we will do in due course." Taieri MP Ingrid Leary said she was not surprised information was redacted from the business case. "I've got numerous official information documents that are heavily redacted and I'm concerned but not surprised that this remains the pattern [of the government]." She said she felt it had been shown the new medical school was "effectively a done deal" well before the public announcement, due to the government's coalition agreements. "The timing of the release of critical documents on a significant issue is deeply cynical and, along with the heavy redactions, makes me wonder what the National government is trying to hide?"
Newsroom
2 days ago
- Newsroom
NZ's multi-billion-dollar hidden epidemic
Every four minutes, New Zealand Police are called to a family harm incident. That's up to 400 call-outs every single day. It's a staggering and disturbing figure in a country that prides itself on kindness, community, and whānau. Yet, behind too many closed doors, the silent war rages, leaving victims bruised, broken, and often voiceless. Today The Detail looks at the alarming rate of domestic violence in New Zealand, and potential solutions, speaking to Auckland University professor of law Mark Henaghan, who was on the Family Violence Death Review committee for nearly decade, and Emma Powell, CEO of Te Puna Aonui, which has launched the Government's action plan to eliminate domestic and sexual violence. 'I would probably use the words hidden epidemic, basically,' says Henaghan. 'Nearly 50 percent of our murder cases involve family violence. 'We only really detect … about 20 percent [of domestic violence incidents], so there's a whole lot … that doesn't get to the surface.' He says something needs to be done, and immediately. New Zealand's rates of domestic and family violence are among the highest in the OECD. On average, 13 females and 10 males are killed every year. Māori women are particularly at risk – more likely to be killed by a partner and less likely to seek help. The financial cost to the country, Henaghan says, is huge. 'They reckon it's worth, like to the country … between $8 to $10 billion, probably more … in terms of time off work, and how people suffer from it so they can't be productive, how children get into difficulty because all the costs of it, the medical costs, and all the rest of it, are massive. 'But they're never talked about much in any political campaign, I think it's because … we don't want to know about it. 'We do need to hear about it; we need to have our eyes wide open to the realities of it.' Powell, who is also a key member of the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, tells The Detail, 'if you look at the numbers, the rates are stubbornly high', but she says the Government is taking action to address the crisis. Late last year, it launched part two of Te Aorerekura – the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence – a 25-year strategy designed to achieve intergenerational change. Part one was introduced in 2021. Powell says over the next few years they're keying in on good investment and commissioning, how effective funding is, freeing up frontline workers to get them into the community and more productive places, getting into the regions, intervening earlier, focusing more on children, confronting perpetrators, and building an information sharing platform. 'I really believe that the only way forward is doing things as collectives, and that's tough, it is hard, hard stuff to do, but it's really important,' says Powell. 'I think taken together and executed really well in a community, we should start to see a real shift.' Last week, the Government announced that, as part of the action plan, more training to help staff support in family and sexual violence responses would be rolled out across frontline services, with the goal of reaching 10,000 workers in the next two years. Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says, 'this will ensure victim-survivors receive best practice support, and will empower staff to safely recognise, refer, and respond to family and sexual violence. 'This training is an important part of our response to family and sexual violence. I am proud of our progress against the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan, it shows the benefits of a multi-agency response and the dedication of government departments to best supporting victim-survivors.' Powell says while change can be slow, a recent experience in Rotorua provides proof that it is starting to happen. 'I was spending time on the ground with a multi-agency collaboration … and I was talking to one of the leads there and she was telling me about just a story – stories that they are starting to see more and more – where 'she has left him', and we don't count that, we don't count that in government as an indicator of success. 'But they are seeing more and more that women are feeling empowered, supported, and safe to actually leave very violent and difficult situations. And so, there are lives being changed by the work that we are doing.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Whāriki And PledgeMe Launch Pūtea For Pakihi 2025: Crowdfunding To Uplift Māori Business
Whāriki Māori Business Network has proudly launched Pūtea for Pakihi 2025, a crowdfunding campaign in partnership with crowdfunding platform PledgeMe to support the growth of five innovative pakihi Māori. Unveiled during a special online showcase on 23 July, Pūtea for Pakihi empowers Māori entrepreneurs to raise pūtea from their friends, whānau, customers and fans, helping turn bold ideas into reality through the power of collective support. This kaupapa builds on the success of last year's inaugural showcase, where two pakihi Māori reached their crowdfunding goals: Te Whare Hangahanga raised over $100,000 to support their digital building system that enables communities to create sustainable, affordable, healthy whare. Moka Eco Fibre successfully raised over $6,000 to launch Moka Lash Glue, a natural, homegrown alternative made with ingredients like organic pia harakeke and NZ-sourced keratin. 'With PledgeMe, we're turning belief into backing - helping our Māori businesses to grow in a way that's grounded in community, kaupapa and connection,' says Renee Smith, GM of Whāriki. 'Crowdfunding enables us to move from cheering on the sidelines to actively building the future with our Whāriki whānau.' This year's campaign features five kaupapa-driven businesses: Little People, Big Emotions – Helping to raise emotionally intelligent tamariki, founder Renee is crowdfunding to print in bulk and launch new packaging to reach more whānau nationwide. RIESIN – A stylish, Māori-owned athleisure brand by sisters Mattesin and Marie, made for wāhine by wāhine. Pledges will help grow their collections and kaupapa of uplifting curves, culture and hauora. Te Ao ō Tamaaki Nui – Empowering South Auckland rangatahi through free creative workshops, this kaupapa seeks to fund a permanent creative hub for youth to learn, grow and thrive. Te Hokinga Tuna – Restoring tuna populations and mātauranga Māori through hatcheries and education, Te Hokinga Tuna is fostering kaitiakitanga and intergenerational pride. Tū Māori – Creating safe spaces to reconnect with te ao Māori through art, kai, waiata and tikanga, this kaupapa supports identity, healing and cultural connection. Each pakihi now has just four weeks to reach their crowdfunding goals, and they need our collective support to get there. Whether it's $5, $50 or $500, every pledge makes a difference. 'No amount is too small when we move together,' says Smith. 'This is about investing in our future, backing our people, and helping Māori businesses thrive.'
