Latest news with #KristianJames
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Leading By A Strong Margin: Generate Wins Its Fourth Consecutive Consumer NZ People's Choice Award For KiwiSaver
Press Release – Generate The Consumer NZs Peoples Choice award recognises products and services whose customers are highly satisfied. This is the fourth consecutive year Generate has been honoured with an award from Consumer NZ in the KiwSaver category. We're thrilled to share that Generate has won the prestigious Consumer NZ People's Choice Award for KiwiSaver, coming in significantly ahead of the competition. 'Generate Investment Management was the top-ranked KiwiSaver provider in our 2025 survey, with 80 percent of its customers reporting high levels of overall satisfaction,' said Consumer chief executive Jon Duffy. The Consumer NZ's People's Choice award recognises products and services whose customers are highly satisfied. This is the fourth consecutive year Generate has been honoured with an award from Consumer NZ in the KiwSaver category. Our members gave Generate high praise for outstanding customer service, clear communication, ease of access on its digital platform and impressive long-term investment performance. 'Winning the Consumer NZ People's Choice Award is a testament to our focus on excellent service and friendly, helpful advice, as well as strong long-term returns,' said Kristian James, Generate Head of Distribution. 'It's especially important through times of market volatility that we look after our members and make a real difference to them – offering reassurance, clarity, and a genuine human connection.' Based on its independent nationwide customer satisfaction surveys, the Consumer NZ People's Choice Awards are highly regarded in the industry and serve as a valuable resource for consumers seeking trustworthy and reliable brands. In addition to this prestigious award, Generate is also pleased to have once again achieved strong long-term performance for our members in the year ending 31 March 2025, with our three original KiwiSaver funds all placing in the top three of their respective categories for 10-year performance: The Generate KiwiSaver Moderate Fund ranked 1st for 10-year returns in the NZ multisector moderate category* The Generate KiwiSaver Growth Fund ranked 3rd for 10-year returns in the NZ multisector growth category* The Generate KiwiSaver Focused Growth Fund ranked 3rd for 10-year returns in the NZ multisector aggressive category* While markets are currently volatile, it's significant to note that all three of these funds have remained steadfastly in the top three in their category for 10-year performance, for every quarter since they first became eligible in June 2023.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Leading By A Strong Margin: Generate Wins Its Fourth Consecutive Consumer NZ People's Choice Award For KiwiSaver
We're thrilled to share that Generate has won the prestigious Consumer NZ People's Choice Award for KiwiSaver, coming in significantly ahead of the competition. 'Generate Investment Management was the top-ranked KiwiSaver provider in our 2025 survey, with 80 percent of its customers reporting high levels of overall satisfaction,' said Consumer chief executive Jon Duffy. The Consumer NZ's People's Choice award recognises products and services whose customers are highly satisfied. This is the fourth consecutive year Generate has been honoured with an award from Consumer NZ in the KiwSaver category. Our members gave Generate high praise for outstanding customer service, clear communication, ease of access on its digital platform and impressive long-term investment performance. 'Winning the Consumer NZ People's Choice Award is a testament to our focus on excellent service and friendly, helpful advice, as well as strong long-term returns,' said Kristian James, Generate Head of Distribution. 'It's especially important through times of market volatility that we look after our members and make a real difference to them – offering reassurance, clarity, and a genuine human connection.' Based on its independent nationwide customer satisfaction surveys, the Consumer NZ People's Choice Awards are highly regarded in the industry and serve as a valuable resource for consumers seeking trustworthy and reliable brands. In addition to this prestigious award, Generate is also pleased to have once again achieved strong long-term performance for our members in the year ending 31 March 2025, with our three original KiwiSaver funds all placing in the top three of their respective categories for 10-year performance: The Generate KiwiSaver Moderate Fund ranked 1st for 10-year returns in the NZ multisector moderate category* The Generate KiwiSaver Growth Fund ranked 3rd for 10-year returns in the NZ multisector growth category* The Generate KiwiSaver Focused Growth Fund ranked 3rd for 10-year returns in the NZ multisector aggressive category* While markets are currently volatile, it's significant to note that all three of these funds have remained steadfastly in the top three in their category for 10-year performance, for every quarter since they first became eligible in June 2023.
North Wales Live
29-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'Nobody has been willing' to defend communities hit by landfill stench
Swift action needs to be taken to reduce the odour around Hafod landfill site or the site should be shut according to Wrexham councillors. The first report on the extent of the odour problem at Hafod landfill site – which has seen complaints drawn from Johnstown, Ruabon, Ponciau and Rhostyllen since October – was welcomed by Wrexham councillors on Tuesday. But members of Wrexham's Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee remained concerned about the lack of a clear timeline from Hafod landfill operator Enovert to resolve the stench, which has been an issue for residents for 18 years. 'The people have suffered enough,' said Ponciau councillor Paul Pemberton. "We have everyone around the table now and we are improving, I'm not denying that – but it worries me that we will be sitting here in two, three, four, five or 10 years time still talking about the same thing. Everybody needs to pull their fingers out quicker than they already have to hopefully make the situation better. Either get it right or shut it.' Committee members received a report by Wrexham Council's Public Protection department, Natural Resources Wales and Enovert. It presented the first month of data from the new monitoring process put in place following a spike in complaints last October. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Following pressure from the public and local members to get rid of the smell, Wrexham Council launched a strategy to gather data from around the landfill site to identify the source and tackle the problem once and for all. Sensors have been placed around the landfill site and in the communities where most complaints have been received. They showed that while there are fluctuating levels of hydrogen sulphide – the gas responsible for the smell – they are not enough to cause significant harm. Kristian James, Principal Environmental Public Health Specialist at Public Health Wales did tell councillors that levels of hydrogen sulphide detected in communities near Hafod landfill site may be enough to cause what is classed as nuisance irritation – with some people experiencing runny eyes and a sore throat. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox According to Enovert's Regional Manager (North) Ian Craven, the first full month of enhanced monitoring has shown intermittent spikes in the smell level – and he added that the company was keen to trap all the gas it could. Selling gas given off by waste into the power grid as a fuel source is the primary revenue source for the site. 'The data in this report is a snapshot and we need to look at a longer period of time because we need to factor in weather and background sources of hydrogen sulphide,' he said. 'We accept non-hazardous waste for disposal and use the landfill gas to generate renewable energy. "As with all landfill sites of this type, the management of odours is an active process which requires us to respond to developing site and weather conditions. The open nature of site operations means there can be occasions where odour is a risk. We have always rapidly responded to any opportunity to make improvements.' As monitoring began Enovert was already making changes to the site, installing new pipework to draw in gases and funnel them into gas engines which convert the gas into electricity. These have not resolved the issue however and more needs to be done to understand why the smell is so strong, the meeting heard. Working in partnership with Wrexham Council and NRW to look into the smell issue and potential solutions meets the requirements of Enovert's operating permit – but some councillors felt a harder approach was needed. 'I'd like to propose that if the data continues to show breaches in the levels of hydrogen sulphide, that we as a council look at taking enforcement action,' said Queensway councillor and deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru group Cllr Carrie Harper. 'The council has the power to issue an abatement notice for odour as a statutory nuisance and based on the evidence here that notice would be legally enforceable. What's so frustrating for residents is the fact they have been putting up with issues at this site for the last 18 years. They feel there's a lot of buck-passing in terms of enforcement. 'Wrexham Council has the power to act, NRW has the power to act, Welsh Ministers have the power to act but we saw at the Senedd Petitions Committee this week that Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies refused to do anything. No-one has been willing to step up and defend these communities. I don't think it's any surprise frustration is building.' Enhanced monitoring will continue and expand across other affected communities in the coming months. As more data is gathered, all agencies involved hope to build a picture of what increases the smell and how best to minimise it.
