Latest news with #New Zealand
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Govt puts a stop to open plan classrooms
The government has put a stop to open plan classrooms - after more than a year of signalling it wasn't interested in this style of build. Remuera Intermediate Principal Kyle Brewerton spoke to Charlotte Cook. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Trades apprentice numbers down, workforce shortage warnings
Only half the normal number of people are enrolled in plumbing, gas-fitting and drainlaying apprenticeships, according to Master Plumbers. Photo: 123RF Enrollments in plumbing and electrical apprenticeships have fallen significantly according to sector leaders, who warn of a workforce shortage when the economy begins to recover. Master Plumbers says there are half the number of apprentice plumbers this year than in previous years, while Master Electricians say apprenticeship rates are at their lowest levels since 2011. The warning comes as a survey of builder sentiment out this morning finds 50 per cent of builders are operating at less than half capacity. A trade apprentice learns on the job with an employer. Master Plumbers Chief Executive Greg Wallace, says the prolonged contraction in the construction sector is to blame, and jobs in Queensland ahead of the 2032 Olympics are luring qualified plumbers. He speaks with Kathryn, along with Master Electricians Chief Executive Alex Vranyac-Wheeler.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Could getting a plumber be tougher in future?
Only half the normal number of people are enrolled in plumbing, gas-fitting and drainlaying apprenticeships, according to Master Plumbers. Photo: 123RF Enrollments in plumbing and electrical apprenticeships have fallen significantly according to sector leaders, who warn of a workforce shortage when the economy begins to recover. Master Plumbers says there are half the number of apprentice plumbers this year than in previous years, while Master Electricians say apprenticeship rates are at their lowest levels since 2011. The warning comes as a survey of builder sentiment out this morning finds 50 per cent of builders are operating at less than half capacity. A trade apprentice learns on the job with an employer. Master Plumbers Chief Executive Greg Wallace, says the prolonged contraction in the construction sector is to blame, and jobs in Queensland ahead of the 2032 Olympics are luring qualified plumbers. He speaks with Kathryn, along with Master Electricians Chief Executive Alex Vranyac-Wheeler.
RNZ News
20 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Whanganui backs new water services body with Ruapehu
Whanganui District Council is the last among neighbouring councils to choose a new delivery model for water services. Photo: Tuakana Te Tana Whanganui councillors have voted 8-5 to form a new entity with Ruapehu to manage the delivery of water services. Whanganui and Ruapehu district councils will be the shareholders of the new council-controlled organisation (CCO) that will own the water assets. "This is a big moment in this council's history," Mayor Andrew Tripe said. The entity will include drinking water, wastewater and possibly stormwater assets and services, and operate on non-harmonised or 'local pricing'. This means residents will be charged only for the cost-of-service delivery in their own district, while still benefiting from a share of the savings gained through scale. Whanganui was the last among neighbouring authorities to choose a delivery model. At a meeting on Tuesday, councillors debated balancing cost efficiencies gained in a larger grouping with the opportunity for local voice and the council's obligations to Te Awa Tupua legislation. Following the decisions of other councils, Whanganui weighed up four options: Council staff recommended a joint entity with Ruapehu. The council's Local Water Done Well transition manager Kathryn Stewart said the joint models were projected to outperform an in-house business unit. The two-council model would save water users an estimated $620 a year or $18,000 over a 30-year period. A five-council model would deliver customer savings of $870 a year. Chief executive David Langford told councillors that cost efficiency modelling did not set precise savings but was a mechanism for comparing options. "The numbers are there to help you compare options, they're not predictions for the future. Hanging your hopes on exactly $620 per year for 30 years is an erroneous use of the model." Langford said joining a bigger grouping of councils would likely provide greater savings for households but "bigger is better" was a misnomer. He cautioned councillors against making a decision on cost savings alone. "It's not cost efficiency at any cost. As you get bigger, your ability to influence and the size of your voice gets smaller. [It is] a trade-off between how much you make in savings and how much voice you retain." Much consideration had been given to Te Awa Tupua legislation, Langford said. The two-council model with Ruapehu would create a water service delivery entity that was exclusively focused on the Whanganui catchment. It would ensure governance remained close to the community and was not consumed by a larger entity. Stewart said all joint options would bring opportunity, including increased collaboration, resilience, and staff and technical capacity. But the two-council model would also preserve local voice and influence and put Te Awa Tupua and the wellbeing "of all our connected communities" at the centre of decision-making. The CCO would manage the delivery of water services for about 24,000 connections. The councils would appoint a board of independent, professional directors who would be responsible for making decisions. The board would be informed by expectations set out and agreed upon by the two councils. Advantages included improved ability to fund infrastructure investment, maintenance and compliance costs and improve environmental outcomes, and greater ability to respond to emergencies, manage risks and adapt to future challenges like climate change. In favour of the two-council partnership were: Tripe, Glenda Brown, Josh Chandulal-Mackay, Jenny Duncan, Ross Fallen, Kate Joblin, Charlotte Melser, Peter Oskam. Against were: Deputy mayor Helen Craig, Charlie Anderson, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Michael Law and Rob Vinsen. The Ruapehu council voted 6-4 in favour of the two-council model last week. Chief executive Clive Manley welcomed Whanganui's decision and said it was an important milestone that enabled both councils to begin work on detailed planning and implementation. While Whanganui voted to include stormwater in the new CCO, Ruapehu was still considering whether to transfer its stormwater services or retain them in-house. This decision would not affect setting up the new CCO, Manley said. "We'll make a decision on stormwater in due course, but it doesn't prevent us from moving forward with the rest," Manley said. "Both councils are committed to continuing to explore opportunities that improve efficiency and reduce costs for our communities." Whanganui council officers will now finalise a Water Services Delivery Plan for adoption at the next council meeting in August. The council will then submit its final Water Services Delivery Plan to central government by the early-September deadline. If approved, implementation will begin later this year. The new water services CCO could be established by mid-2026 and fully operational by mid-2027. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
RNZ News
21 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Banking and investment behaviour faces considerable change as the population ages
An RBNZ report said the ageing population will likely force changes in the financial system. (File photo) Photo: Unsplash/ Towfiqu Barbhuiya The country's banking and investment behaviour faces considerable change as the population ages, according to a new report from the Reserve Bank. The central bank said the financial industry needs to understand and get prepared for what may be complex, long term changes, that may also increase risks to the financial system. Report co-author Enzo Cassino said over the next 25 years or so it foresaw higher savings, different investment patterns, affecting interest rates, bank lending, as well as the insurance sector. "Overall we think there'll be lower demand for housing loans and also higher deposits as older people want to hold more in lower risk investments such as term deposits, so this will affect business models that banks are using." He said similar changes would likely affect the insurance sector with increased demand health insurance and lower demand for life insurance. Increased saving would also would put pressure on interest rates and lift the value of assets such as housing and shares. Such a shift might then steer banks to increase lending to other sectors, and with more domestic savings and sources of capital, would reduce borrowing overseas. Cassino said it wanted to alert banks and other financial businesses to potential changes and how it might affect them. "We want to encourage banks and other financial institutions how an older population will impact their business model over the coming decades. "The greatest risk may be that these institutions may not be preparing or necessarily thinking about these changes will affect them." Cassino said the RBNZ was not raising the alarm or concerns for financial stability. The report has been published in advance of its inclusion of the next RBNZ financial stability report due in November. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
