Latest news with #AirNewZealand
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Air New Zealand's Captain David Morgan Appointed Officer Of New Zealand Order Of Merit
Air New Zealand is proud to acknowledge that Captain David Morgan has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List. This prestigious honour recognises his extraordinary contributions to aviation safety, leadership, and mentoring over more than four decades of service in both in New Zealand and on the global aviation stage. Captain Morgan began his journey with Air New Zealand in 1985, becoming the Chief Pilot in 2003. In 2005, he joined the Executive where he remained until earlier this year when he stepped down from his Executive role. David is now about to start flying the airline's Airbus 320 fleet. Internationally, David's tenure as Chair of the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Operations Advisory Council, along with contributions to ICAO, have elevated Air New Zealand's standing on the world stage. Air New Zealand Chief Executive, Greg Foran, says David's influence is deeply embedded into the airline's DNA. 'When people think of Air New Zealand, many will think of Captain David Morgan. His leadership has helped define who we are today - an airline built on safety, professionalism, and a strong purpose. David has played an extraordinary role shaping a culture of safety, integrity, and professionalism at Air New Zealand that has seen us repeatedly recognised as the world's safest airline. We're incredibly proud of David and thrilled to see his remarkable contribution honoured in this way'. Dame Therese Walsh, Chair of Air New Zealand's Board of Directors, says David's service has been nothing short of exceptional. 'His influence spans every corner of aviation—from safety and sustainability to mentoring the next generation of leaders. He has represented the airline and New Zealand on the global stage countless times and has also worked tirelessly in New Zealand to support young people coming into the industry. This honour not only reflects not just his deep expertise, but also the generosity with which he gives his time to others. On behalf of the Board, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to David for his ongoing service to the airline.'
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Compulsory KiwiSaver: It's time NZ had a serious debate about it – Fran O'Sullivan
That council was set up by former Labour Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern and chaired in 2019 by current PM Luxon, who was at that stage chief executive of Air New Zealand, before he passed the baton to Whineray on leaving the airline. Whineray says that after presenting KiwiSaver reform ideas to Ardern in late 2019 'she quipped that I was 'in danger of becoming a socialist'.' 'I replied that 'I was more of a caring capitalist' – and that the time had come to evolve KiwiSaver.' Call it KiwiSaver 2.0.' The council had lofty goals. It produced papers on the 'infrastructure crisis', the world of work, immigration and education and more. However, the Covid pandemic resulted in the Ardern Government losing its focus on reform, at least as far as business was concerned. The council's expertise was not harnessed in the way chief executives had expected when they took up Ardern's invitation to join the council. With Luxon now PM, Whineray is having another shot. As he puts it, the 2.5-page proposal was designed to evolve KiwiSaver into something fit for purpose by 2030: a 'serious economic engine and a foundation for personal dignity, resilience, and independence'. In essence, the then council believed there was an opportunity to enhance the KiwiSaver framework to achieve more equitable outcomes via a transition over 10 years to a compulsory savings scheme, with the objective of achieving minimum annual contributions of 10% of personal income by 2030. Six years on and Nicola Willis' second Budget has moved to increase KiwiSaver contributions to 4% of wages or salaries by 2028 by employers and employees – essentially 8% of personal income. It remains an 'opt-in' scheme – it is not compulsory. In Australia, employer contributions, known as the Super Guarantee, are currently 11.5% of an employee's ordinary time earnings. From July 1 this year, that rate will increase to 12%. A massive pool of savings has been built up in Australia since its compulsory superannuation scheme was introduced. Whineray's intervention is timely. Both Luxon and Willis have reopened the discussion on superannuation – particularly on extending the age of eligibility for universal New Zealand Superannuation from 65 to 67 years beginning in 2044. But their coalition partner New Zealand First baulks at that. Whineray contends gaining political support for making KiwiSaver compulsory and increasing the contribution rate should not be too difficult. He points to the fact that NZ First leader Winston Peters pushed for compulsory savings in the 1990s. Former Labour Finance Minister Sir Michael Cullen launched KiwiSaver in 2007 and the New Zealand Super Fund in 2001. Both Luxon and Willis reopened debate in Budget 2025. There is the ability to begin a cross-party dialogue to build wide support for compulsory super. As a parting shot on LinkedIn, Whineray contended that universal NZ Super at 65 won't survive demographic gravity. If people don't save, taxpayers still carry the cost. The freedom to opt out likely becomes a redistribution from those who opt in – 'even if total savings rates don't shift on average, they do shift for the people who don't currently save'. Whineray's is a welcome contribution to the superannuation debate. It's become commonplace to blame the Boomers for the NZ Super iceberg coming taxpayers' way. Superannuation is the largest and fastest-growing welfare expense, increasing from $13 billion in 2017 to a projected $29b in 2029. That is a 25% increase from the projected $23.2b for 2025 in just five years. In reality the first of the Generation X cohort will themselves be coming on to NZ Super in 2030. It is not simply a 'blame the Boomers' issue. It is also reality that Boomers' expectations to have super at what was then the retirement age of 60 were shattered by the Bolger Government, which sensibly raised the age of eligibility to 65 within a decade. Generation X is in a position to lead the debate now to ensure the age of eligibility for NZ Super is lifted again – this time to 67 or beyond. It's getting tiresome to hear and read repeated arguments by media personalities that range from blaming Boomers for not having enough babies (ie future taxpayers to support the scheme), to 'Luxon won't be able to build support to raise the age' and finally and more irksome 'I've paid taxes all by life and hence I want my national super at 65″. There is a role for the media in leading this debate, not simply fostering the thinking that leads to full-on fiscal crisis.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
"Emerging geopolitical giant": New Zealand Dy PM highlights defence, security, and trade ties with India
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, on Friday emphasised the strengthening partnership between New Zealand and India in various areas. He noted India's emergence as a geopolitical giant and vital security actor in the region. 'In an increasingly multi-polar world, India is emerging as a geopolitical giant and a vital security actor both regionally and globally...', said New Zealand Dy PM Peters. Speaking at Ananta Aspen Centre in New Delhi, Peters highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, which aims to explore codeshare agreements across 16 routes. This move is expected to boost tourism, educational exchanges, and business links between the two nations. 'A significant step forward came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, aiming to explore a codeshare agreement across 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand,' he said. 'This move will ease travel between our nations, strengthening tourism, educational exchanges, and business links... But our partnership with India extends far beyond economics. It reaches into defence and security -- a growing priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific,' he added. He further noted that both nations have taken deliberate steps to 'build closer defence ties' with India, with a recently signed defence cooperation arrangement 'paving the way for greater collaboration' between India and New Zealand's armed forces. 'The New Zealand Navy currently leads Combined Task Force 150, tasked with securing vital trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. India's role as deputy commander in this mission is a strong signal of our growing strategic alignment... The impact is real -- the taskforce has already disrupted over USD 600 million worth of illegal drug trade,' he said. Highlighting the vast untapped potential of the India-New Zealand partnership. Peters stated, 'For New Zealand, India represents immense untapped potential.' Peters noted that despite India's significant economic scale, it remains New Zealand's 12th largest trade partner, accounting for only 1.5 per cent of New Zealand's exports. 'Despite India's economic scale, it remains our 12th largest partner in trade, accounting for just 1.5 per cent of our exports. We are determined that we're going to work to change that. Our strengths, from food and beverage products to agriculture, forestry, horticulture, education and tourism, are world-class. And our innovation in areas like outer space and renewable energy will find a welcome partner in India,' he said. Winston Peters has highlighted the potential for his country to support India in meeting its growing food demands. During a fireside chat with G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Peters stated, 'We know that there are going to be certain areas of barrier of concern... For example, India will need 35 per cent more food in the next 35 years, and our country, rather than being an opponent, can be a serious help.' New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston, also commended the stability and continuity in the Indian government, stating that it has facilitated more effective communication and cooperation. During a fireside chat, Peters said, 'Until recent times, it was really hard to talk to the Indian government getting a breakthrough... The stability and continuity are a big help.' Peters, who has known his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar since 2019, appreciated the consistency in the Indian government's leadership, stating, 'I've known your foreign minister since 2019. And he's still there, and this is good because you can walk into the room and take up from what happened yesterday. I don't have to start all over again, if I can say that's been a blessing.' Meanwhile, Peter also met with Union Minister JP Nadda during his two-day official visit to India. (ANI)
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
New Zealand Dy PM highlights defence, security, and trade ties with India
New Delhi: New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, on Friday emphasised the strengthening partnership between New Zealand and India in various areas. He noted India's emergence as a geopolitical giant and vital security actor in the region. "In an increasingly multi-polar world, India is emerging as a geopolitical giant and a vital security actor both regionally and globally...", said New Zealand Dy PM Peters. Speaking at Ananta Aspen Centre in New Delhi, Peters highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, which aims to explore codeshare agreements across 16 routes. This move is expected to boost tourism, educational exchanges, and business links between the two nations. "A significant step forward came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, aiming to explore a codeshare agreement across 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand," he said. "This move will ease travel between our nations, strengthening tourism, educational exchanges, and business links... But our partnership with India extends far beyond economics. It reaches into defence and security -- a growing priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific," he added. He further noted that both nations have taken deliberate steps to "build closer defence ties" with India, with a recently signed defence cooperation arrangement "paving the way for greater collaboration" between India and New Zealand's armed forces. "The New Zealand Navy currently leads Combined Task Force 150, tasked with securing vital trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. India's role as deputy commander in this mission is a strong signal of our growing strategic alignment... The impact is real -- the taskforce has already disrupted over USD 600 million worth of illegal drug trade," he said. Highlighting the vast untapped potential of the India-New Zealand partnership. Peters stated, "For New Zealand, India represents immense untapped potential." Peters noted that despite India's significant economic scale, it remains New Zealand's 12th largest trade partner, accounting for only 1.5 per cent of New Zealand's exports. "Despite India's economic scale, it remains our 12th largest partner in trade, accounting for just 1.5 per cent of our exports. We are determined that we're going to work to change that. Our strengths, from food and beverage products to agriculture, forestry, horticulture, education and tourism, are world-class. And our innovation in areas like outer space and renewable energy will find a welcome partner in India," he said. Winston Peters has highlighted the potential for his country to support India in meeting its growing food demands. During a fireside chat with G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Peters stated, "We know that there are going to be certain areas of barrier of concern... For example, India will need 35 per cent more food in the next 35 years, and our country, rather than being an opponent, can be a serious help." New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston, also commended the stability and continuity in the Indian government, stating that it has facilitated more effective communication and cooperation. During a fireside chat, Peters said, "Until recent times, it was really hard to talk to the Indian government getting a breakthrough... The stability and continuity are a big help." Peters, who has known his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar since 2019, appreciated the consistency in the Indian government's leadership, stating, "I've known your foreign minister since 2019. And he's still there, and this is good because you can walk into the room and take up from what happened yesterday. I don't have to start all over again, if I can say that's been a blessing."
1News
4 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Are credit card rewards schemes worth it?
Credit card reward schemes are likely to be scaled back further as pressure goes on interchange fees, Consumer NZ says, but most aren't delivering value for many New Zealanders, anyway. On Tuesday, Kiwibank and Air New Zealand announced they were cutting ties and Kiwibank would no longer offer an Airpoints credit card. Kiwibank pointed to increasing regulation of interchange fees, which are the fees paid by the bank that processes a transaction to the card issuer. The Commerce Commission has already introduced new standards to reduce these fees, which led to a reduction in some credit card rewards in 2022. More reductions are expected to be announced soon, to come into force at the end of the year. ADVERTISEMENT Consumer NZ said its analysis showed that credit card reward schemes were only benefiting big spenders who used their cards frequently and paid off the balance in full every month. People would generally need to spend $25,000 on their cards over two years, and not pay interest on it, to make a rewards scheme worth the fees that the cards charged. "Low spenders, and those with interest-bearing debt, don't benefit from rewards and are effectively subsidising high spenders. We don't think this is fair so we have supported the regulation of interchange knowing this would likely result in card issuers scaling back rewards programmes, increasing card fees or cancelling schemes altogether," a spokesperson said. "Interchange regulation will also reduce the cost for merchants of accepting card payments. This should, in theory at least, result in lower card payment surcharges for consumers. Unfortunately there's no guarantee these savings will be passed on to consumers though so we have been calling for surcharge regulation for a number of years. The commission is expected to consult on this later in the year." Banking expert Claire Matthews, of Massey University, said it was to be expected that rewards schemes would be pared back as interchange fees reduced. "Although it does depend on the level at which they are capped and how that is split between the parties. However, those fees have been a key source of the revenue to fund the rewards so any reduction can be expected to be passed on."
