Latest news with #AccidentCompensationCorporation
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
ACC urges caution in snow season
When it comes to snow-sport-related injuries, Otago is king of the mountain. Accident Compensation Corporation statistics show the region had 6697 snowboarding- and skiing-related injuries in 2024 — more than three times higher than Canterbury (2159), Auckland (1259) and Manawatū-Whanganui (1020). ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said overall, the corporation accepted 7632 skiing injuries, which came at a cost of $30 million to help people recover, and 5104 snowboarding injuries, which cost $14 million. "When winter comes around, many people head up the mountain and get into skiing or snowboarding after not doing it for a year, and this leads to accidents and injuries," he said. "If you're hitting the slopes, complete a good dynamic warm-up before you do your first run — that will get you ready for the fun day ahead. "You don't want to get injured on one of your first trips to the mountain and spend months on the couch while your mates are heading away every weekend." A loss of balance or personal control was the leading cause of injury ahead of a twisting movement, for both snowboarding and skiing, he said. The knees (2165) and shoulders (943) were the most injured body parts in skiing, while shoulders (875), knees (584) and hand/wrist (569) were the most injured body parts in snowboarding. The age group with the most snowboarding injuries was the 25-29 age group (926), and the 20-24 age group (785) had the most injuries for skiing. The Snow Safety Code urged snow-sport-lovers to know their limits, stop only in places where they could be seen, give others room and to protect themselves by wearing a helmet, obeying all signs and closures and taking regular rest breaks. Mr Whitaker also encouraged people to be considerate of others, especially during busy periods like the upcoming school holidays, when there would be less space. "New Zealand has some of the world's most beautiful places to ski and snowboard, and the start of the snow season is always an exciting time, but ease into it so you can enjoy the slopes throughout the winter season." The Remarkables skifield is expected to open this weekend, while Cardrona and Coronet Peak are expected to open on June 15.
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
NZ Slashes Social Spending as Surplus Is Pushed Further Out
Government contributions to Kiwisaver—New Zealand's equivalent to Australia's private superannuation scheme—are to be halved to 25 cents for every dollar a worker contributes as part of cuts across the social sector to pay for additional spending on police and defence. The contribution will be capped at $261 (US$155) a year, while the minimum a worker and employer must contribute to the scheme will rise from 3 percent of earnings to 4 percent, to be actioned in two stages over the next three years. People earning more than $180,000 a year will receive no government contribution at all, starting in July this year. Delivering the 2025 New Zealand budget, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced that a modest surplus of $200 million will now be achieved in 2029. It's based on a new measure introduced by the government this year, which excludes Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) liabilities. Using the formula applied to every budget until last year would instead show a deficit of around $3 billion that year. Treasury forecasts this year's deficit to the end of June will be $10.2 billion using the new calculation method, about $2.7 billion lower than forecasted. It will then peak in the coming year at $12.1 billion, nearly $2 billion more than it predicted in December, with the 2027 forecast nearly double the previous estimate at $8.1 billion. Related Stories 4/15/2025 4/9/2025 Aside from workers' retirement savings, unemployed young people aged 18 and 19 will now have the amount of their Jobseeker benefits determined by their parents' incomes. Also facing cuts is the Best Start programme, a tax rebate paid during the first three years of a child's life. It's worth up to $2,200 a year, depending on the parents' income, but with every newborn eligible for at least some support. Now it will be fully means-tested, with payment cut off completely when a family earns over $97,000 a year. Most government departments have received no extra funding this year, meaning they will not only be hit by inflation but will have to absorb the cost of any increases in materials or wages. A recent Minister of Finance Nicola Willis is applauded after delivering the budget during Budget Day 2025 at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on May 22, an 'Austerity Budget' There are exceptions, however: law and order, defence and health all get extra money. The overall health budget has been raised to $31 billion in the next year, an increase of 4.77 percent. Police are to get over $500 million over four years to maintain 'front line services,' and $246 million will be invested over the same period in an attempt to clear a backlog in the courts. Further, with police putting more people in jail—inmate numbers are forecast to rise to almost 11,000 by mid-2026—corrections get an extra $400 million over four years to cope with 'population and other volume pressures.' The government previously announced Willis told Parliament it 'reduces government spending as a share of the economy, returns the government's books to balance, and bends the debt curve from going up to going down.' She accused the previous Labour government of 'living beyond its means, loading up the credit card to pay for things New Zealand couldn't afford.' She had focused on spending cuts rather than new taxes because they would 'burden New Zealand workers and businesses and scare away talent and investment.' Having announced a 'This means a much lower tax bill in the year of purchase,' Willis said. She predicted the scheme would lift New Zealand's capital stock by 1.6 percent, GDP by 1 percent, and wages by 1.5 percent. It starts immediately and applies to new assets purchased in New Zealand as well as those imported from overseas. It includes commercial buildings but excludes land, residential buildings, and assets already in use in New Zealand. Separately, the government has also set aside $65 million to encourage foreign investment in New Zealand infrastructure by increasing the amount of tax-deductible debt foreign investors can use to fund it. Despite the cuts to social spending, Willis preempted criticism of it as an 'austerity budget' in her speech. 'This is not austerity—far from it. In fact, it is what you do to avoid austerity,' she said.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
RUNIT safety spokesperson reluctant to take part himself
Photo: runitstraight24 A sports scientist has condemned the controversial collision sport Run It Straight, calling it a reckless and dangerous spectacle. And the new event's own safety spokesperson says he would be reluctant to take part, fearing the wrath of his other half. Run it Straight, or 'RUNIT', is a rugby-like competition which involves a collision between a ball runner and a defender, running full speed at each other. Two events are being held in Auckland this week, with thousands of dollars on offer. The participant who "dominates" the contact is deemed the winner. At Monday night's event in Auckland, a quarter of all who took part ended up with a concussion. Run It safety spokesperson Billy Coffey told RNZ's Midday Report the two individuals used "illegal" techniques. "We had two concussions out of our eight runners, and those two concussions, the first one was from a guy who was an American-based and he led with his head, and the second one was the same concept." Coffey said so far, Run It had a 20 percent concussion rate - but claimed that was better than in the UFC. Competitors were required to wear mouthguards, he said, but headgear was optional. "We've got an ambulance on site… We've got liability. Everything's covered. There's waivers, medicals beforehand, medicals after. There's an ambulance on site." The annual cost of treating sport-related concussion rose nearly 25 percent to $80 million last year, according to figures released by the Accident Compensation Corporation . AUT professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports biomechanics, said the sport contradicts decades of scientific evidence on head injury risk and was a "reckless and dangerous spectacle". "I know that people find it exciting to have, you know, people running at each other and smashing each other up. But in terms of the short-term effects and brain injury, and also the potential long-term effects of brain injury, I'd like people to really think, is it really worth it?" She said concussions and repeated high-force impacts to the head - even without immediate symptoms - could lead to serious brain conditions." "The deliberate design of this event to maximise impact is not only irresponsible - it's scientifically indefensible. We've spent years building evidence-based strategies to reduce head and neck injuries in rugby and contact sports. This event ignores all of that." Former league internationals Dean Lonergan and Mark Carroll have also raised concerns over its safety. Coffey said the event would "bring some fire back into people's bellies who may have had to retire from the sport and are kind of stuck with a single-income family working two jobs to make things happen for their families". "These guys, they're born warriors, they want to do this and they're stuck at home, have to retire early. "Just because of that financial crisis, they're stuck in two jobs because maybe their partner or wife or whoever's staying at home can't afford to send [their children to] a daycare or doesn't want to and wants to spend more time with the family, and this gives these people a chance to get off off the couch, find that fire again in front of their friends and family and relive it." Asked if he would take part, Coffey said he would "love to… but my wife may get a bit cranky about me. But I feel like I'm gonna pull the boots on eventually. "My wife just doesn't love me coming home sore and complaining the next day, trying to look after my kids." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Cut in ACC funding 'devastating' for mother
By Paula Hulburt A distraught mother is battling to keep her home and care for her son after the Accident Compensation Corporation slashed funding. Sasha Barras' son Ethan, 11, needs 24-hour care. The fed-up former hairdresser's lawyer has now lodged papers in the district court seeking a judicial review, challenging the legitimacy of the ACC needs assessment. Barras is focusing on ACC's obligations under The Human Rights Act 1993 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child. It guarantees dignity and equity for children with disabilities. New Zealand was a signatory. Barras believes stonewalling by ACC means Ethan's rights under this provision are not being met. The court action comes as she nears 18 months of asking for an urgent review. The last review failed to focus on Ethan's physical problems caused by a botched surgery, she said. 'The cut in funding is devastating,' she said. 'The latest review was conducted differently from the prior two in that they focused almost exclusively on Ethan's autism and behaviour and spent almost no time reviewing his physical needs.' The cut leaves them just $519 a week to live on and Barras has drained the savings she set aside for a house deposit. It is not possible to pay both the rent and the associated costs of caring for Ethan, she said. The Ilam resident has appealed for ACC to urgently review their decision which she said makes no sense and contradicts their earlier findings. Specialists, including Ethan's paediatric surgeon, as well as the outcomes of two prior ACC reviews, show Ethan's medical needs have increased. 'I just want Ethan to have a normal childhood, he deserves to be a child,' Barras said. Born on October 13, 2013 in Nelson Hospital, Ethan was four weeks premature. He has undergone countless surgeries for bowel problems. A special tube was inserted into his abdomen in 2020, but he suffered a bowel perforation when the tube was damaged while being changed. A stoma bag was fitted but has never worked properly, Barras said. Ethan is covered in faecal matter several times a day and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. 'A stoma is involuntarily activated 24hrs per day, 365 days a year, not between 10am to 2pm daily like the ACC assessor indicated,' Barras said. 'Nathan was an amazing, very placid, happy little boy that has known nothing but pain and discomfort over the last few years. 'Ethan has never had a friend or been to a birthday party. He has never been able to start school.' The initial needs assessment by ACC found Ethan needed the highest level of care. Medical supplies such as dressings were funded and a carer from Nurse Maude came in regularly to help. Barras and Ethan were getting help from a psychologist but that has been stopped too. She will not stop fighting on her son's behalf. 'I won't give up, Ethan's why I get up and fight for what's right.' ACC deputy chief executive service delivery Michael Frampton said it is happy to work with Ethan's family to consider any new information. 'I'm very sorry to hear about Ethan's situation and the impact this is having on him and his family,' he said. 'A 2023 reassessment found that while his overall needs remained high, his injury-related needs had reduced. 'They asked for this decision to be independently reviewed, and the reviewer considered that the decision was correct. The matter has been appealed to the district court. 'ACC cannot provide support for pre-existing and underlying health conditions, but we do take this into account because it can impact the type of support the client needs for their injury. 'In Ethan's case, this meant funding additional behavioural support services.'
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Mum challenges ACC review: 'I just want Ethan to have a normal childhood'
By Paula Hulburt A distraught mother is battling to keep her home and care for her son after the Accident Compensation Corporation slashed funding. Sasha Barras' son Ethan, 11, needs 24-hour care. The fed-up former hairdresser's lawyer has now lodged papers in the district court seeking a judicial review, challenging the legitimacy of the ACC needs assessment. Barras is focusing on ACC's obligations under The Human Rights Act 1993 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child. It guarantees dignity and equity for children with disabilities. New Zealand was a signatory. Barras believes stonewalling by ACC means Ethan's rights under this provision are not being met. The court action comes as she nears 18 months of asking for an urgent review. The last review failed to focus on Ethan's physical problems caused by a botched surgery, she said. 'The cut in funding is devastating,' she said. 'The latest review was conducted differently from the prior two in that they focused almost exclusively on Ethan's autism and behaviour and spent almost no time reviewing his physical needs.' The cut leaves them just $519 a week to live on and Barras has drained the savings she set aside for a house deposit. It is not possible to pay both the rent and the associated costs of caring for Ethan, she said. The Ilam resident has appealed for ACC to urgently review their decision which she said makes no sense and contradicts their earlier findings. Specialists, including Ethan's paediatric surgeon, as well as the outcomes of two prior ACC reviews, show Ethan's medical needs have increased. 'I just want Ethan to have a normal childhood, he deserves to be a child,' Barras said. Born on October 13, 2013 in Nelson Hospital, Ethan was four weeks premature. He has undergone countless surgeries for bowel problems. A special tube was inserted into his abdomen in 2020, but he suffered a bowel perforation when the tube was damaged while being changed. A stoma bag was fitted but has never worked properly, Barras said. Ethan is covered in faecal matter several times a day and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. 'A stoma is involuntarily activated 24hrs per day, 365 days a year, not between 10am to 2pm daily like the ACC assessor indicated,' Barras said. 'Nathan was an amazing, very placid, happy little boy that has known nothing but pain and discomfort over the last few years. 'Ethan has never had a friend or been to a birthday party. He has never been able to start school.' The initial needs assessment by ACC found Ethan needed the highest level of care. Medical supplies such as dressings were funded and a carer from Nurse Maude came in regularly to help. Barras and Ethan were getting help from a psychologist but that has been stopped too. She will not stop fighting on her son's behalf. 'I won't give up, Ethan's why I get up and fight for what's right.' ACC deputy chief executive service delivery Michael Frampton said it is happy to work with Ethan's family to consider any new information. 'I'm very sorry to hear about Ethan's situation and the impact this is having on him and his family,' he said. 'A 2023 reassessment found that while his overall needs remained high, his injury-related needs had reduced. 'They asked for this decision to be independently reviewed, and the reviewer considered that the decision was correct. The matter has been appealed to the district court. 'ACC cannot provide support for pre-existing and underlying health conditions, but we do take this into account because it can impact the type of support the client needs for their injury. 'In Ethan's case, this meant funding additional behavioural support services.'
