
Travel Alerts: NZ tops list, Aman Rosa Alpina opens and writer's festival return
Plan your next trip with these travel highlights. Photo / 123rf
Each week in Travel, we check out some of the latest happenings from Aotearoa and beyond to inspire your next adventure.
NZ tops life-work balance list
New Zealand has been named the top country for work-life balance, according to a 2025 study by Remote, a global HR platform. In an article by Conde Nast Traveller, Remote analysed 60 of the world's highest GDP nations, looking at factors such as paid leave, minimum wage, healthcare, average working hours and inclusivity.
New Zealand ranks highest thanks to the number of annual leave days, minimum wage and 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. This recognition shows why Kiwis enjoy a lifestyle where work and personal time blend seamlessly. This solidifies New Zealand as not just a beautiful destination but also an ideal place to live, work and recharge, offering the perfect backdrop for adventure and wellbeing. cntraveller.com/gallery/top-countries-world-for-life-work-balance

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Otago Daily Times
29 minutes ago
- Otago Daily Times
Noel Leeming 'perplexed' over misleading advertising charges
Photo: ODT Files The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against retailer Noel Leeming over what it says is a misleading price matching promotion. Noel Leeming is a subsidiary of The Warehouse Group. "For over a decade Noel Leeming has prominently promoted their 'Price Promise,' which is their commitment to match any competitors' price. We believe their price promise claim was misleading and in breach of the Fair Trading Act," Commerce Commission deputy chair Anne Callinan said. "We believe Noel Leeming's price promise had many limitations and conditions which weren't made obvious to customers and made any price matches difficult to obtain. "Fine print should not contradict advertising claims or be used to conceal important information which could be critical to a person's decision to buy goods or services." Noel Leeming chief operating officer Jason Bell said the company "firmly" maintained it had not committed an offence and would vigourously defend itself against multiple charges of misleading customers under the Fair Trading Act. "We're perplexed by the Commission's claim that price matches were difficult to obtain, when over 250,000 Kiwis saved money with our Price Promise between 2019-2021," he said. "Our terms and conditions are fair and presented just like other retailers, and when we can't price match, we often don't get the sale." Callinan said Noel Leeming had previously been one of the regulators most complained about traders involving a range of issues raised by consumers. The commission had also filed charges against Noel Leeming regarding promotions where the advertised product or price was different to what could be purchased. Other charges against Noel Leeming involved incorrect or misleading information about consumers' rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act, when customers complained about faulty products. "We expect big businesses to be clear and honest in their advertising," she said. "Consumers should be able to trust the information they receive when they are buying goods and services." The maximum penalty for a single breach of the Fair Trading Act was $600,000 for businesses.


Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Response From Noel Leeming On Commerce Commission Charges
This morning the Commerce Commission has announced charges against Noel Leeming, below is our response which can be attributed to Jason Bell, Chief Operating Officer, Noel Leeming: "We're baffled by the Commerce Commission's decision to press charges. We firmly maintain that we have committed no offence and will vigorously defend this. We're perplexed by the Commission's claim that price matches were difficult to obtain, when over 250,000 Kiwis saved money with our Price Promise between 2019-2021. Our terms and conditions are fair and presented just like other retailers, and when we can't price match, we often don't get the sale. Price matching is widely used by the industry, and it helps drive competition, and without it, Kiwis will end up paying more. Our business is built on getting our customers the products they want, when they want them, and at the best possible prices. If we don't get something right, we work hard to ensure fair resolutions for our customers. Some of the additional matters raised by the Commission occurred during the Covid-19-pandemic, when all businesses experienced unprecedented pressure, and our team went to extraordinary lengths to help Kiwis access the products they needed, handling over ten million transactions. It is concerning that significant public resources and time have been spent on this matter for over three years, while overlooking more pressing potential harm to consumers from overseas online retailers operating outside of the rules. The system needs to evolve and hold all retailers selling to New Zealanders to the same standards of care.'


Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
ACT Announces Tom Spooner As ACT Local Candidate For Hurunui
ACT Local has announced Tom Spooner as its candidate for the South Ward of the Hurunui District Council in this year's local body elections. Born on the West Coast and raised in Kaikōura, Tom has spent his working life solving problems and building practical solutions. His career has taken him across New Zealand and overseas to Japan and the USA, giving him a broad perspective and handson experience in hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, diagnostics, and management. A qualified industrial mechanic with a Trade Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics, Tom runs Spooner Brothers Ltd, a handson business that keeps things working and solves problems for people every day. Tom is known as a fixit man – the guy you call when something's broken and you need it sorted. He's used to rolling up his sleeves, finding the fault, and getting it done properly. That's exactly the attitude he wants to bring to council. Less talk, more action. Instead of endless meetings and red tape, Tom wants to see problems identified and fixed, money spent where it matters, and real results delivered for local people. 'Council needs to focus solely on the basics,' Tom says. 'We should deliver the essentials well, keep costs down, and respect the people who pay the rates. "Every ratepayer is a customer, and council should be asking what it can do for you, not telling you what you can and can't do on your own property.' Tom says Hurunui's growth needs practical leadership and decisions that make life better for families, farmers, and local businesses alike. 'We need to stay ahead of the issues, cut bureaucracy, save money, and focus on what really matters – safe roads, reliable services, and a council that actually listens to its community.' – Tom Spooner Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Lower Rates Cutting the waste Ending race-based politics Restoring accountability Stopping the war on cars ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: ' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture." – Cameron Luxton