Latest news with #BrookevanVelden
Scoop
2 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Over $6,000 Raised For Breast Cancer Foundation NZ At Pink Ribbon Breakfast
Press Release – ACT New Zealand The event was co-hosted by Tmaki MP Brooke van Velden and Epsom MP David Seymour with proceeds supporting research, education, and patient care across New Zealand. More than 100 people gathered this morning to support breast cancer awareness at a Pink Ribbon Breakfast at Ōrākei Bay this morning, raising over $6,000 for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. The event was co-hosted by Tāmaki MP Brooke van Velden and Epsom MP David Seymour with proceeds supporting research, education, and patient care across New Zealand. 'This is a cause that touches thousands of Kiwi families every year,' said van Velden. 'It's great to see so many people from our community come together to support such an important cause.' 'Every dollar raised helps fund better outcomes for people facing breast cancer. We're grateful to everyone who came along and contributed,' said Seymour. 'A huge thank you to our guest speaker Jude Dobson, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ ambassador, for joining us and sharing her perspective. We're also incredibly grateful to the Foundation's experts who gave up their time to answer questions and engage with attendees. Their presence made the event truly meaningful.' The breakfast was made possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses. Collective Hospitality provided the stunning Ōrākei Bay venue free of charge, ensuring that all proceeds could go directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Function Staff, Insphire, and The Revelry also generously donated their services.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Over $6,000 Raised For Breast Cancer Foundation NZ At Pink Ribbon Breakfast
More than 100 people gathered this morning to support breast cancer awareness at a Pink Ribbon Breakfast at Ōrākei Bay this morning, raising over $6,000 for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. The event was co-hosted by Tāmaki MP Brooke van Velden and Epsom MP David Seymour with proceeds supporting research, education, and patient care across New Zealand. 'This is a cause that touches thousands of Kiwi families every year,' said van Velden. 'It's great to see so many people from our community come together to support such an important cause.' 'Every dollar raised helps fund better outcomes for people facing breast cancer. We're grateful to everyone who came along and contributed,' said Seymour. 'A huge thank you to our guest speaker Jude Dobson, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ ambassador, for joining us and sharing her perspective. We're also incredibly grateful to the Foundation's experts who gave up their time to answer questions and engage with attendees. Their presence made the event truly meaningful.' The breakfast was made possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses. Collective Hospitality provided the stunning Ōrākei Bay venue free of charge, ensuring that all proceeds could go directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Function Staff, Insphire, and The Revelry also generously donated their services. Breast Cancer Foundation NZ relies on the support of community events like this one to fund life-saving initiatives. Donations can still be made at
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Budget 2025 Saves To Invest In What Matters
"ACT has ensured Budget 2025 saves money to invest in essential services and support economic growth," says ACT Leader David Seymour. "ACT would support leaner spending still, but our influence has ensured this Budget grows government at less than half the rate of inflation. When the government's share of spending reduces, there is more left for everyone else, and future generations aren't irresponsibly saddled with debt. "Above all, this is a Budget that understands wage growth doesn't come from the bureaucracy or court cases – it comes from economic growth. "The Regulatory Standards Bill is part of the Budget package. It will make government justify regulating the use and exchange of your property, or be called out. It means Kiwis spend less time on paperwork and are freed up to innovate, hire, and generate real wealth. "A 20 percent capital expensing policy will let businesses immediately deduct 20 percent of the cost of new equipment, machinery, or tech in the year of purchase. This puts more cash back in the hands of firms and farms right away – to invest in growth, upgrade tech, and boost productivity. Whatever you're trying to do, this policy will reduce the tax drag on investing to increase productivity and wages. Treasury forecasts that, by the time the youngest Kiwis today enter the workforce, wages will be 1.5 per cent higher thanks to this policy alone. "Meanwhile, billions in savings have come from Brooke van Velden's reforms to ensure pay equity claims are fair and evidence-based. There are not only fiscal savings from the pay equity changes, there is a proud declaration that we don't get wealthier arguing with ourselves, we get wealthier from investment, innovation, and genuine hard work. "Brooke van Velden's work, along with smaller savings throughout the Budget, has made investment in basic services possible. A significant uplift in Defence capability, better attendance services, after-hours healthcare, faster courts, stronger youth justice facilities, and a shift from three-month to twelve-month prescriptions, have all been made possible. "Of course there are many other savings. The reduction in RNZ funding should focus the organisation on high-quality news, the way its competitors are forced to do in challenging times for the industry. "In cutting waste and prioritising spending to enable growth, Budget 2025 does not go as far as ACT would like – but it does go further than it would without ACT."
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
A tale of two stories — the new Equal Pay Amendment Act
Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden. PHOTO: RNZ It is difficult, if not impossible to see how the recently passed Equal Pay Amendment Act could be all about empowering women as allegedly claimed by the minister in charge. The explanation note to the Bill claims its purpose "is to achieve a better regulatory framework for parties to a pay equity claim to assess whether there is sex-based undervaluation". One may ask: better for who? The changed-for-the-better framework includes such things as a robust process for raising claims, clarity on the appropriateness of comparators to assess sex-based under-remuneration, sustainability for employers to meet their obligations and the right incentives to encourage parties to resolve pay equity claims. Possibly all fair enough at face value, although the tilt at sustainability for employers is a bit of a giveaway. The same explanatory note goes on to include such things as increasing the threshold for raising a pay equity claim, greater evidentiary burden on claimants, increased opportunity for employers to opt out and an obligatory assessment of market factors. Clearly a strong shift in sentiment towards the employer. This factor is emphasised by an expressed intention of the legislation to ensure a robust process to ensure appropriate scoping of claims and comparators so that employers can meet their obligations "in a manner that is sustainable". Coupled with the fact that the legislation strikes out numerous pay equity claims in the pipeline and, according to the soon-to-be deputy prime minister, has created savings on a scale to "save" the upcoming Budget. It is not difficult to argue that the story line of support for the legislation is a far cry from reality and dresses the Act as something it is not. As Sir Ian Taylor so eloquently points out (ODT 12.5.25), if women are empowered by the legislation, it is certainly not those in the lower-paid but essential services he describes. That the government is empowered to pass the legislation under urgency is not at issue. What is at issue is the increasing use of urgency by successive governments to push through legislation in furtherance of their agendas, walking over, not around, due process. It is of concern that the current government, approaching the halfway mark of its three years in office, has now utilised urgency 23 times. This approaches the last government's record 28 times during its term in office. One could argue that resorting to urgency on this scale is both unwarranted and a direct assault on necessary due process under our rules-based system of government. This is a constitutional matter, among a number which we face in the country at this time, and requires serious, thoughtful and non-partisan consideration. Something that should be driven by the public at large to encompass our growing maturity and diversity. The Westminster system of democracy so often lauded by segments of the body politic embodies not one but two deliberating bodies, as does our next-door neighbour's. Restoration of this element would fetter such ready resort to the adoption of urgency by successive governments simply to undo the legislative programme of its predecessors. • Noel O'Malley is a Balclutha lawyer and is a past president of the Otago District Law Society.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
MPs Face Suspension, Trump Claims Ceasefire Progress, AI in Exams
America's Cup-winning helmsman Peter Burling discusses his success with and exit from Team New Zealand, and what's next. Video / Alyse Wright Social Investment Agency boss Andy Coster has responsibility for a new $190 million fund to tackle social problems. Video / NZ Herald How To Get Rid Of Acne For Good, According To An Expert Police were called to Settlement Road outside Papakura Intermediate School, where a man was found with serious injuries. Video / Dean Purcell A kiwi musician claims he was discriminated against after being refused entry to a downtown Auckland bar for breaking a tattoo policy that the bar will not provide to him. Christchurch local captures moment masked raiders take over a Christchurch Metro-Mart. Video / Supplied It's been six months since I interviewed Rocket Lab chief executive Sir Peter Beck. We have a lot to discuss following the space company's Q1 earnings! Video / Cameron Pitney US calls for leader-level peace talks, apprentice numbers drop, and Wellington fights public bullying in new campaign. Naples, Italy, has been confirmed as the host of the 38th America's Cup. Raised in the shadows – Canterbury artist Sheelagh McHaffie draws the light she's fought to find. Video / Frank Film Made with funding from NZ on Air. MetService National Weather Update: May 15 - May 18 Brooke van Velden thinks it is odd Winston Peters would criticise her for using the c-word. NZ Herald Business Editor-at-large, Liam Dann breaks down all you need to know about the upcoming budget. Video / NZ Herald Willis emphasises it should not be weaponised against women. Video / Jason Dorday Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff, economist Craig Renney and secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges speak after meeting with Minister Brooke van Velden
