Latest news with #GarethHughes
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Tim Hurdle
Gareth Hughes is the Director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa is a former Green MP and is no longer a member of any political party. Tim Hurdle was an adviser in previous National governments. He works in strategic communication and advisory, and is currently campaign director for Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
'More needs to be done' to reverse dire well-being ranking
Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says the government is committed to doing the work needed to improve the lives of rangatahi. Photo: 123RF Warning: This story discusses suicide. Newly released ranking from UNICEF revealed New Zealand is one of the worst for rangatahi mental health and wellbeing, timely with Budget day 2025. The latest UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 19: Fragile Gains - Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World ranked New Zealand 32nd out of 36 countries for overall child wellbeing. It ranked Aotearoa last place for child and youth mental health. The report card - published a week before Budget day - is a reflection of "systems are valuing the wrong things", Wellbeing Economy Alliance director Gareth Hughes noted. "This ranking should be a wake-up call for all of our elected representatives, but we also need to remember these aren't just rankings, these are real people. "They're reflective of the values that we're expressing collectively. These aren't automatic outcomes, these are the result of policy choices and we can make better policy choices." Hughes hoped the budget would place an emphasis on child wellbeing. "We all hear in our day-to-day lives that young people are struggling. "They struggle when they compare themselves to their parents' generations and some of the opportunities they might've had, but also they're struggling with bullying." Wellbeing Economy Alliance director Gareth Hughes. Photo: ©VNP / Phil Smith Report card 19 revealed that before Covid, Aotearoa youth suicide rate was the second highest in the world, now, after Covid it is the highest. "We've known for many years about our dire youth suicide statistics, and this report is just another reminder for too many young people - we're seeing them take a terrible action as a result of the despair they're seeing in their lives." Alongside the ranking, the number of children living in poverty grew from 144,100 in 2023 to 156,600, according to StatsNZ. Hughes said those statistics were worsening in Aotearoa. "It's even higher rates for Māori, Pasifika, and disabled Kiwis. We need to make sure that we're living our values, which is, I believe, we're a country that wants to see every young person with great opportunities and a chance at success. "We need to look at the wider systemic causes - why young people are struggling in modern Aotearoa?" Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad said the rankings showed investment in children and young people was urgently needed to support child and youth mental health, including suicide prevention measures, and to better support the prevention of bullying in schools and communities. "This is necessary to deliver on the government's own Child and Youth Strategy to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child," she said. "It's devastating that among other high-income countries, we reported the highest youth suicide rate. We also know that attempted suicide rates for rangatahi Māori, Rainbow children and young people and disabled children are higher." Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston recognised more work needed to be done to improve the lives of rangatahi, which she said, the government was committed to doing. "The Child and Youth Strategy sets out our plan to improve the lives of young Kiwis by creating social and economic prosperity - something that will benefit New Zealand's current and future generations. "Our strategy aligns with many of the recommendations made by Innocenti such as those focused on improving child mental and physical health, and ensuring young New Zealanders are well supported to achieve core proficiencies in reading, writing and maths." It was pointed out to RNZ by the ministers office that New Zealand ranked 35th in September 2020, which is the next most recent Innocenti report. "We are committed to giving New Zealanders more opportunities to get ahead, including investing in children and young people to ensure they experience a good life." If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London diners' orders being taken by AI 'video waiters' for first time
The world's first AI 'video waiter' is being introduced into London restaurants. The technology from Paddington-based tech start-up LoveBite combines the chat of a human waiter with videos of dishes and cocktails so diners can view the food and drink on offer. Diners scan a QR code at the table to access videos of each dish and speak to the AI assistant for more information. They can also use tablets supplied by the menu. The virtual waiter' 'personality' and the look and feel of the visuals are customised to complement the restaurant's vibe and brand. They can talk in any language and made recommendations. LoveBite claim diners who view the dish videos typically spend 5% to 10% more. The development comes as restaurants are increasingly looking to trim their numbers of front of house staff because of the rising costs of employing them. This week they have been hit by a double whammy of higher National Insurance bills and above inflation increases in the National Living Wage. LoveBite founder and CEO Gareth Hughes said: 'Diners should never have to order blind again, nor should anyone be left hanging when waving to attract the attention of an overly busy waiter. 'Our Video Waiter is a world-first - an AI invention to transform the dining experience everywhere. It allows diners to view authentic videos of each dish while getting recommendations and ordering from a highly knowledgeable, multi-lingual waiter that is always available. For restaurants, this means happy customers, higher spend per customer and lower costs' LoveBite Video Waiter is available in several London restaurants, including Gura Gura in Covent Garden, La Doc in Balham, and Masalchi by Atul Kochhar in Wembley Park. Umesh Uthaman, manager of Masalchi, owned by Michelin star chef Atul Kochhar, said 'Guests are visibly excited when they see videos of the dishes.' LoveBite has also launched in the US with trials due to start this month.
