Supermarket owner faces legal action over alleged cartel conduct
The owner of New World and Pak'nSave supermarkets in the North Island is facing legal action over alleged cartel conduct regarding the supply of products to a hospitality customer. Consumer New Zealand chief executive Jon Duffy spoke to Charlotte Cook.
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RNZ News
7 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Takapuna finds formula for higher retail, hospitality spending
Part of Takapuna's shopping district. (File pic) Photo: Takapuna Business Association Businesses in Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore believe they have cracked a way to get people spending more amid the tough economic headwinds. Its businesses are reporting a 10.1 percent surge in spending at hospitality sites in June alone, and a 3 percent rise in overall spending in the first half of this year. Those hikes come at the same time as a raft of downward economic indicators. Last month Stats NZ reported food prices were up 4.6 percent and household savings dropped $392 million. Inflation is on the up , and Infometrics says electronic card spending was down in the year to March and that consumer spending remained weak. On Wednesday it was announced the unemployment rate has risen to 5.2 percent , the highest level since 2020. The Takapuna Business Association acknowledged times were hard for consumers, retailers and hospitality venues alike. "Things are definitely tight - high cost of living, inflation is still ramping up a little bit - so people are just being more considerate and careful about where they're spending their hard-earned money," chief executive Terence Harpur told RNZ. The business association said it was years of investment in infrastructure, events and urban planning in Takapuna that had led to people spending there. "We've seen some strong transport and accessibility improvements, we're also changing the centre to be more pedestrian friendly," Harpur said. "We've got a wonderful new town square, an upgraded high street, new parking buildings, a new beachfront playground area and all of those things increase the dwell time when people come. They enjoy the environment and they stay around for a bit longer and they tend to spend more when they spend more time there," he said. Harpur said Takapuna was having success when "that's simply not the case" in many parts of Auckland. "Retail spending across Auckland has actually been really tough, especially around the central city area has been tough. "My heart goes out to those small business in those areas," he said. "It is tough out there though and a lot of retailers are doing it tough but I'm hoping this is a little bit of a beacon of light for retailers and hospitality out there that there are some greenshoots and people are still spending money, and if you provide the right product and the right service that you can still be attracting customers and getting that money coming through your business," Harpur said.
RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Pilots lose Employment Relations Authority battle with Jetstar
Jetstar argued there was no entitlement to an alternative holiday. Photo: 123RF Jetstar is entitled not to offer its pilots an alternative day off if they are on call on a public holiday but do not have to work, the Employment Relations Authority says. The New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association went to the authority alleging breaches of the Holidays Act and collective agreement for pilots. It argued that pilots were entitled to an alternative holiday when they were on standby during a public holiday, even if they were not called to work. The association - and two pilot members, Richard Greenslade and Greig Johnston - argued the restrictions on the pilots on standby were such that they could not enjoy a holiday as they normally would. They: The association said the limitations were made more onerous when pilots had to ensure they were contactable at all times while on standby. Pilots were restricted from observing occasions of national, religious or cultural significance and celebrating with friends and family. Jetstar argued there was no entitlement to an alternative holiday. It said that some of the restrictions were inherent for any employee on standby, and requirements such as abstaining from alcohol were not unique to standby pilots. Authority member Alex Leulu said there was no dispute that an employee on call would face some degree of restriction, including not being able to fully observe occasions of national, religious or cultural significance with some family and friends. "Given the nature of the pilot's role in this case, issues such as health and safety meant the Jetstar restrictions on the consumption of alcohol and medication were reasonable. The other restrictions such as limitation on activities and the requirement to attend work were not significantly onerous and were not outside the usual bounds of planning one might be expected to undertake knowing they are rostered to be on standby. "Johnston's evidence also focused on him residing in Bombay and the logistical difficulties and restrictions he faced trying to attend work within two hours after being called to duty while on standby. "It is difficult to understand how Jetstar could account for any restriction on a pilot based upon where they decide to reside. Where a pilot resides is ultimately a decision by the pilot knowing their employment obligations. Little weight can be given to Johnston's evidence in this regard." Leulu said the restrictions were not enough to conclude that pilots did not have a whole public holiday while on standby. "I accept the Jetstar pilots who are on standby during a public holiday are not entitled to an alternative holiday unless they are called to duty." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Chinese blessing scams becoming more prominent in Australia
By Echo Hui of ABC Investigations and Emily Jane Smith The blessing scam has existed in Chinese communities for decades. Photo: ABC News / Shaun Kingma/Nicolas Maksaev It all starts with a simple plea for help, a friendly conversation and a promise of healing. But behind the emotional theatre lies one of the world's most enduring street cons - the Chinese blessing scam, and it's operating in broad daylight in Australian suburbs. For decades, this scam has targeted vulnerable Chinese people across the world, preying on spiritual beliefs, cultural kinship and concern for their family. Grace, not her real name, fell for it when she was told her son was at great risk of losing his life. In tears and frightened she succumbed to the scam. Since the 1980s millions of dollars have been stolen worldwide through the practice. In Sydney alone, police allege AU$3 million has been fleeced in over 80 reported cases since mid-2023. Victoria Police claim AU$200,000 was stolen using this scam in 2024. Grace lost more than AU$10,000 from the blessing scam. Photo: ABC News / Shaun Kingma Current affairs programme 7.30 can reveal NSW Police are working with interstate police and authorities in New Zealand as part of ongoing investigations into Chinese blessing scams. Strike Force Sentinel, established earlier this year, has so far arrested and charged two people. Police say one member of the group is in custody, in NZ. Police have released images of seven individuals wanted on warrants in connection with the alleged scams and have obtained further warrants against two individuals allegedly involved in an incident at Eastwood, in Sydney's north-west, in 2024. NSW Police told 7.30 that all nine suspects are believed to be overseas. Warrants were issued for seven people in connection to blessing scams in early July. Photo: Supplied / NSW Police The scam follows a script: First the victim is approached by strangers who warn of an imminent threat to their family and offer a ritual blessing to dispel the curse. They're then persuaded to hand over valuables in a bag - which are then swapped for junk during a ceremony - and told not to open the bag or risk undoing the ritual. Victims only realise they have been scammed after the offenders disappear. Dr Sharon Kwok is a lecturer in criminology at the University of Western Sydney and told 7.30 the scam was common in China's southern regions of Guangdong and Fujian, which are typically more religious. Dr Sharon Kwok says the blessing scam exploits traditional Chinese beliefs. Photo: ABC News / Shaun Kingma "It's not something new because during the 1980s, back in China, there were reported cases of this kind of religious scam," she said. The scam exploits traditional beliefs where misfortune is blamed on ghosts and curses, and spiritual rituals are performed to dispel bad luck. Valuable items, such as money and jewellery, are commonly offered during traditional worship ceremonies to ensure good fortune and protection for one's family. "Normally older generations tend to have that kind of traditional, cultural belief," Dr Kwok explained. The seemingly random encounters are all highly orchestrated by the scammers. Photo: ABC News / Shaun Kingma Compared to younger generations who possess the skills to work and engage with mainstream society, senior migrants who left their countries later in their lives can be profoundly isolated once they migrate to the new country. "[Older migrants] come to Australia to reunite with their sons or daughters, often the family's only child, yet their life after migration offers them few choices," Dr Kwok said. "Their social circles are often small, and their social lives limited, constrained by age and language barriers." This isolation creates a fertile ground for exploitation. As Chinese migration accelerated during the 80s and 90s, scammers also moved their operations abroad with cases reported in Hong Kong, San Francisco, Canada, the UK and Australia The con has re-emerged across Sydney and Melbourne since 2023, with both Victorian and NSW police issuing arrest warrants against alleged blessing scammers. Cases have been reported all around the world in communities with high Chinese populations. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Schwarz "They're best described as FIFO criminals. They're organised criminals that fly in for short periods of time, on up to 20 occasions over two years, and fly out," Detective Superintendent Guy Magee told a press conference in early July, after two arrests were made. Dr Kwok says policing the scammers is difficult because the scam deals with untraceable valuables, mostly cash and jewellery. With large sums of money involved, these syndicates could also rely on underground banking networks within Australia to launder the illicit funds, she says. According to Dr Kwok, the fraudsters begin the con with online research, seeking out neighbourhoods with dense Chinese populations. Older women are targeted due to their social isolation and language barriers. Photo: ABC News They then conduct "field work" to identify places where elderly Chinese congregate, such as Chinese grocery stores, clinics and herbal medicine shops, where they can collect intelligence from potential victims. "That person's coming out from the clinic, then from the herbalist. That's very likely that the elder is not very healthy or maybe suffering some sort of health problem. That helps them to plan the plot," Dr Kwok said. "They (scammers) will say your son will be dying in three days, so it has to be something very threatening, because that will project fear. "Fearful people are very easily manipulated." Grace became a target for this scam in part due to her health concerns. "I was seeking medical treatment at the time. I thought I'd get the doctor's card, so I followed along," she recalled. "You have high blood pressure and heart issues, but you can't seem to find out why through regular medical examinations, right?" one of the scammers asked Grace. Grace nodded. She was baffled at how they knew her medical history. The scammer told her the healer had a magical mirror that "could see everything". Then, the swindler announced that a ghost was hunting her son: "He will have a car accident within three days. You must find a way to save him." Grace was targeted by scammers earlier in the year. Photo: ABC News / Shaun Kingma Grace's son was due to drive from Queensland the very next day. Convinced and desperate, she gathered all her cash and jewellery into a bag and handed it over for the so-called blessing ritual. During the ceremony, the scammer commanded her to look into their eyes. Amid the ritualised gestures, her bag of valuables was swapped. When her son returned home safe, she opened the bag, only to find a bottle of water and some rice. She reported the crime to the police with the help of a translator. "Many people feel ashamed after being scammed. They never tell anyone about it ... most don't want to report to police," Grace told 7.30. "But I want to speak out, because these people are evil and their tactics are professional. I want to warn others." NSW Police believe the number of victims impacted is double what has been reported. "I really do call on those victims that feel embarrassed or shamed ... please don't be, come forward, let us stand alongside you," Detective Magee said in July. The Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS) is one of the few settlement services in Sydney supporting senior migrants, and often times the first point of contact for many victims. CASS Senior Executive Officer Jane Lu says the organisation has seen an increase in senior members being targeted since late last year. Jane Lu, senior executive officer of the Chinese Australian Services Society Photo: ABC News / Berge Breiland "I do think the cases are under-reported," she said, adding that the reasons could be a combination of the well-designed nature of the crime and traditional culture. "Because of the shame in our own culture, we don't want to let people know if we have any bad experiences. They think being a victim of this scam is very shameful," she said. CASS' case workers have been a lifeline for many victims, helping them take the difficult step of reporting their cases to the police. Yet their capacity is stretched thin, with just two and a half government-funded staff members assisting every police referral, all while providing essential settlement services. Lu believes that one way to address these challenges is by empowering volunteers within the same community to support and assist each other. Chinese Australian Services Society has more than 400 volunteers working with migrants. Photo: ABC News / Berge Breiland Over the years, CASS has trained more than 400 volunteers and over 30 activity groups were developed to help connect senior migrants with physical and social activities, such as English learning, calligraphy writing, games, fitness and dancing. UNSW research in 2022 found that older Chinese migrants are motivated to become self-reliant, and that the volunteer model developed by CASS over 40 years is a supporting structure for volunteers when they struggle. "It creates a safe space for them to meet new people, to tell friends they can trust, and to confide their troubles," Lu said. She encourages local governments to reach out and provide resources for senior members of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. "Councils have a big role to play, for example, to provide some space for our volunteers to run their activities," Lu said. New South Wales Police have issued warnings relating to the blessing scam. Photo: ABC News / Berge Breiland While NSW police have issued warning leaflets in Chinese and English, Lu wants more in-language education to be distributed in hot spots and letter boxes. "We heard about this scam a couple of years ago, even 10 years ago," she said. "We really want it not to happen again in our community."
