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Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Tender awarded to Apex
Patrick Keenan. PHOTO: ODT FILES The Central Otago District Council has awarded the $14.7 million tender to design and construct Cromwell's new water treatment plant and borefield upgrades to New Zealand-owned and based Apex Water. Council capital projects programme manager Patrick Keenan said the project was a significant step forward in ensuring the growing Cromwell community would have a sustainable and secure water supply. Construction was due to begin shortly with the work concentrated near the Alpha Street playgrounds, waterfront and McNab Rd. "It is exciting to get to the next stage of this project and start delivering tangible progress," he said. This would be Apex's first major collaboration with the council. "We're looking forward to seeing their expertise benefit the Cromwell community" Apex Water is known for its work preserving and enhancing the natural environment, a value that aligned with the council's goals for sustainable water management. "The new water treatment plant and upgraded bores are part of a larger council initiative to meet the increased water demand driven by Cromwell's population growth," he said. The Cromwell water upgrade programme was a multi-stage initiative designed to enhance and water capacity and compliance. With the pipeline component completed, the focus had shifted to stage 2, which included detailed design, procurement and construction of the treatment plants and bore upgrades. Once completed, the facility would employ advanced ultraviolet treatment, significantly improving the safety and quality of Cromwell's water by addressing protozoal risks, he said. Council water services customer service and compliance leader Philippa Bain said the enhanced treatment process would provide even greater protection from waterborne illnesses, and the taste and feel of the water was expected to remain consistent. Mr Keenan said the project team would communicate the ongoing developments with the community and key stakeholders as the project moved forward. Stage 2 is expected to be completed late this year. — APL
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Scoop
James Wallace Crime Podcast ‘The Artful Dodger' Launched
Press Release – Stuff Written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley, the Stuff Group investigation The Artful Dodger features Wallaces only media interview since his convictions. A new six-part podcast investigation into crimes by well-known arts philanthropist James Wallace launches today, chronicling the long legal battle to bring him to justice. Written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley, the Stuff Group investigation The Artful Dodger features Wallace's only media interview since his convictions. Stuff Group Editor-in-Chief Keith Lynch says the gripping series chronicles the years Wallace's victims fought for justice, after being sexually assaulted at his stately Auckland home, Rannoch House, in the early 2000s, 2008 and 2016. Although the first victim came forward in 2017, Wallace was not convicted until 2021 and name suppression was only lifted two years later. He was stripped of his knighthood in 2023. 'This lengthy battle to name Wallace raised major questions about the justice system, its treatment of abuse victims and name suppression laws,' says Lynch. 'It also forced the arts sector to examine whether it had turned a blind eye to Wallace's offending, in return for millions of dollars worth of patronage.' The series features new in-depth interviews, including with Wallace and the senior officer overseeing the police investigation. It charts the philanthropist's rise and fall, crimes and punishment, and the story of his survivors. Journalists Langdon and Tolley spent about a year investigating the case, which also saw two accomplices of Wallace convicted of attempting to dissuade a victim from giving evidence. Wallace was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, and was released on parole in December 2023 after serving part of his sentence. All six episodes of The Artful Dodger are released on podcast platforms today, and are also available on Artful Dodger is written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley. Sound design, audio editing and mixing by Connor Scott. About Stuff Group Proudly independent and New Zealand-owned, Stuff connects with around 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses, delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place. Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through number one news website and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions. Find out more at
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
James Wallace Crime Podcast ‘The Artful Dodger' Launched
Press Release – Stuff A new six-part podcast investigation into crimes by well-known arts philanthropist James Wallace launches today, chronicling the long legal battle to bring him to justice. Written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley, the Stuff Group investigation The Artful Dodger features Wallace's only media interview since his convictions. Stuff Group Editor-in-Chief Keith Lynch says the gripping series chronicles the years Wallace's victims fought for justice, after being sexually assaulted at his stately Auckland home, Rannoch House, in the early 2000s, 2008 and 2016. Although the first victim came forward in 2017, Wallace was not convicted until 2021 and name suppression was only lifted two years later. He was stripped of his knighthood in 2023. 'This lengthy battle to name Wallace raised major questions about the justice system, its treatment of abuse victims and name suppression laws,' says Lynch. 'It also forced the arts sector to examine whether it had turned a blind eye to Wallace's offending, in return for millions of dollars worth of patronage.' The series features new in-depth interviews, including with Wallace and the senior officer overseeing the police investigation. It charts the philanthropist's rise and fall, crimes and punishment, and the story of his survivors. Journalists Langdon and Tolley spent about a year investigating the case, which also saw two accomplices of Wallace convicted of attempting to dissuade a victim from giving evidence. Wallace was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, and was released on parole in December 2023 after serving part of his sentence. All six episodes of The Artful Dodger are released on podcast platforms today, and are also available on Artful Dodger is written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley. Sound design, audio editing and mixing by Connor Scott. About Stuff Group Proudly independent and New Zealand-owned, Stuff connects with around 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses, delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place. Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through number one news website and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions. Find out more at
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
James Wallace Crime Podcast ‘The Artful Dodger' Launched
A new six-part podcast investigation into crimes by well-known arts philanthropist James Wallace launches today, chronicling the long legal battle to bring him to justice. Written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley, the Stuff Group investigation The Artful Dodger features Wallace's only media interview since his convictions. Stuff Group Editor-in-Chief Keith Lynch says the gripping series chronicles the years Wallace's victims fought for justice, after being sexually assaulted at his stately Auckland home, Rannoch House, in the early 2000s, 2008 and 2016. Although the first victim came forward in 2017, Wallace was not convicted until 2021 and name suppression was only lifted two years later. He was stripped of his knighthood in 2023. 'This lengthy battle to name Wallace raised major questions about the justice system, its treatment of abuse victims and name suppression laws,' says Lynch. 'It also forced the arts sector to examine whether it had turned a blind eye to Wallace's offending, in return for millions of dollars worth of patronage.' The series features new in-depth interviews, including with Wallace and the senior officer overseeing the police investigation. It charts the philanthropist's rise and fall, crimes and punishment, and the story of his survivors. Journalists Langdon and Tolley spent about a year investigating the case, which also saw two accomplices of Wallace convicted of attempting to dissuade a victim from giving evidence. Wallace was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, and was released on parole in December 2023 after serving part of his sentence. All six episodes of The Artful Dodger are released on podcast platforms today, and are also available on Artful Dodger is written, hosted and produced by Kate Langdon and Philippa Tolley. Sound design, audio editing and mixing by Connor Scott. About Stuff Group Proudly independent and New Zealand-owned, Stuff connects with around 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses, delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place. Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through number one news website and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions. Find out more at
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Report Illustrates Tax System Failures
Press Release – Tax Justice Aotearoa The report focuses on the transparency of public funding in the aged residential care sector, and shows how our tax system allows multi-national providers to avoid paying the taxes that the public would expect them to pay, demonstrating this through … Tax reform advocacy group Tax Justice Aotearoa is calling on the Government and opposition parties to remedy the failures in our taxation system illustrated by a new report from the Centre of International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, which looks at transparency and corporate tax issues in the heavily public-funded aged care sector. 'Instead of talking about the possibility of reducing our corporate tax rate of 28 per cent, the Government should be finding ways to increase financial transparency, and ensuring that multinational corporates pay their fair share of current corporate tax by reviewing the thin capitalisation rules,' says Glenn Barclay, Chairperson of Tax Justice Aotearoa. 'This is particularly urgent where public funds are paid to multi-national corporations delivering services on behalf of the government.' The report focuses on the transparency of public funding in the aged residential care sector, and shows how our tax system allows multi-national providers to avoid paying the taxes that the public would expect them to pay, demonstrating this through the example of UK-owned BUPA. BUPA had an average effective corporate tax rate over the past decade of only 4 per cent, much lower than the headline rate of 28 per cent, driven largely by tax-free capital gains. In addition, the company appears to have used inter-company interest payments on a substantial loan to an Australian-incorporated BUPA company, which may have reduced taxable income by around $151m over the decade, trimming tax revenue by as much as $27 million over that period. 'This ability of multi-nationals to set up loans between subsidiary companies in different countries and then claim tax deductibility on the interest from those loans is a major issue,' says Glenn Barclay. 'While entirely legal, this 'thin capitalisation' is an approach that most members of the public would find questionable. It also gives multi-national players an advantage over wholly New Zealand-owned companies in competitive markets.' 'New Zealand does have thin capitalisation rules that are supposed to prevent this kind of activity, but this example shows that they are simply not strong enough,' says Glenn Barclay. 'We note that Australia and the UK have introduced a 'fixed ratio' test for interest payments on related party debt which limits allowable interest deductions in any one year to 30 per cent of gross earnings and this is the kind of measure that we should also seriously consider.' 'On a related matter, we note that IRD is looking at relaxing the existing thin capitalisation rules for infrastructure projects as part of its work programme agreement with the Minister of Revenue. This could well be in the Budget and would be a big step in the wrong direction,' says Glenn Barclay. 'We urge the Government not to go down this route, but instead look at tightening this provision across the economy.' The report questions the tax exemptions in the sector for capital gains arising from revaluations of assets, which is significant given the amount of real estate that companies in the sector own. 'It seems that aged residential care providers are intentionally using the capital gains they make from selling both rights to occupy properties to new residents, and sometimes the properties themselves, as part of their income streams,' says Glenn Barclay. 'If this is true, then the current law, which says that capital gains on sales made intentionally for that purpose are taxable, should be enforced. If, for some reason, it is not enforceable, then the law should be clarified. A comprehensive tax on capital gains would resolve these issues in a much clearer way.' The report also raises questions about the level of funding for the aged care sector and the extent to which unaccountable multi-national and other private providers should be involved in service delivery. 'The report indirectly supports the need for more funding for aged care generally as the population ages and this is yet another example of a demand for services that only a more progressive tax system that properly taxes wealth can address,' says Glenn Barclay.
