Latest news with #NewZealands
Scoop
a day ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Back-To-Back Bronzes For New Zealand At Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games
Press Release – Team NZ – World University Games Team NZs first medal of the Games came on the water in Duisburg, where Frances Casey and Isobel Watson delivered a composed and commanding race in the Womens Rowing Pair final. Middle-distance runner Kimberley May followed up with New Zealands … New Zealand is celebrating a double bronze medal moment at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, with two podium finishes delivered just minutes apart and in two different cities – ending the team's campaign in an unforgettable fashion. Team NZ's first medal of the Games came on the water in Duisburg, where Frances Casey and Isobel Watson delivered a composed and commanding race in the Women's Rowing Pair final. The duo made a strong start off the line and held their position throughout the course, maintaining their rhythm under pressure from a world-class field. Their consistency and control paid off as they crossed the line in third to secure New Zealand's first medal of the Games. Moments later, in nearby Bochum, middle-distance runner Kimberley May followed up with New Zealand's second bronze medal in the Women's 1500m final. May was the sixth qualifier for the final after winning her heat in 4:17.06. These back-to-back bronze medals brought an electric buzz to the New Zealand team camp, giving the entire delegation a shared moment to celebrate as the Games came to a close. University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand Executive Director and Deputy Head of Delegation for the Games Sarah Anderson reflected on the emotional final day: 'To have two medals come in almost simultaneously, in two different cities, was incredibly special. It lifted the whole team and reminded us all of what's possible. Kimberley, Frances, and Isobel have done themselves and New Zealand proud.' While the medals were a standout moment, New Zealand's broader performance at the Games reflected the strength and resilience of its emerging student-athletes on the world stage. Across sports including athletics, rowing, 3×3 basketball, fencing, archery, taekwondo, water polo, gymnastics, and beach volleyball, Kiwi athletes produced numerous personal bests, notable fourth place finishes, and consistent top-10 results. Competing against some of the world's best including Olympians, world champions, and athletes from powerhouse sporting nations, Team NZ showed it could hold its own, earning respect and recognition for their skill, sportsmanship, and team spirit. Held across five cities – Bochum, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr – the Rhine Ruhr 2025 Games brought together more than 8,500 student-athletes from over 170 countries. With friendships made, standards lifted, and the fern flying high, the team now turns its eyes toward the future with the 2027 Summer World University Games in Chungcheong, South Korea already on the horizon.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Cuisine Reveals Highly Anticipated Annual List Of The Nation's Top Dining Destinations
Press Release – Cuisine The Cuisine Good Food Awards are a celebration of the incredible talent, dedication and creativity that makes up New Zealands dining and hospitality scene.' The nation's top restaurants and must-visit dining destinations were named today by Cuisine and will feature in this year's Cuisine Good Food Guide. Around the country more than 300 venues made the list, showcasing the top hospitality establishments, from fine dining and regional destinations to metropolitan and neighbourhood favourites. Following the release of this year's Cuisine Good Food Guide list, 20 category winners and over 95 hatted restaurants, including American Express Restaurant of the Year and Cuisine Chef of the Year will be announced at the esteemed Cuisine Good Food Awards event, presented by American Express on 18 August. Curated by a national panel of 30 judges comprising food and drink writers, critics, chefs and hospitality professionals and led by food & drink writer/hospitality expert Kerry Tyack, the Cuisine Good Food Awards and Guide is designed to showcase the country's outstanding talent and hottest venues with the aim of encouraging patronage and showcasing New Zealand cuisine to local and international audiences. Despite the continued challenges of staffing shortages and increased costs, the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2025, contains some new entries alongside many of the country's long-term players. According to Cuisine owner and editor Kelli Brett, this is a testament to the quality and passion of Aotearoa's restaurant scene. 'As always we are thrilled to release our list of the New Zealand restaurants that will be featured in our Cuisine Good Food Guide for 2025,' she says. 'Despite the challenges across the hospitality industry we are seeing new openings and it's exciting to see that many are embracing an elevated casual approach that showcases the flavours and hospitable culture of Aotearoa so well.' 'The Cuisine Good Food Awards are a celebration of the incredible talent, dedication and creativity that makes up New Zealand's dining and hospitality scene. The Awards highlight not only the joy of dining out but also play a valuable role in championing the industry,' says Rob Bourne, Country Manager NZ, American Express. 'American Express is proud to continue our strong partnership with Cuisine for the fourth consecutive year, and to show our support for the people who are shaping world-class culinary experiences in Aotearoa.' The Cuisine Good Food Awards will be held on 18 August at the Aotea Centre Hunua Room. Access the full list of restaurants here. The categories for the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards and their sponsors are as follows: GREENSTONE CREEK METROPOLITAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 YELLOW BRICK ROAD REGIONAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 SPECIALIST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 SAWMILL BREWERY CASUAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 HOTEL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 RESTAURANT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2025 THE GOOD OIL INNOVATION AWARD 2025 WINERY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 VILLA MARIA SOMMELIER & WINE EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR 2025 THE REID DRINKS LIST OF THE YEAR 2025 PANASONIC LONG-TERM PLAYER 2025 PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR 2025 STURGEON VALLEY LUXURY LODGE CHEF OF THE YEAR 2025 NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 CLYTH MACLEOD RISING TALENT 2025 NIWA HAKU KINGFISH CHAMPION FOR CHANGE 2025 ŌRA KING NEW ZEALAND GLOBAL CHAMPION 2025 PEAD LEGEND AWARD 2025 CUISINE CHEF OF THE YEAR 2025 AMERICAN EXPRESS RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025 SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Leading Employment Platform Urges New Zealand Businesses To Prepare For ‘Wage Secrecy' Changes
Press Release – Employment Hero With New Zealands pay transparency bill gaining momentum, Employment Hero urges businesses to get ahead by doing three things – reviewing pay structures, updating employment contracts, and preparing clear explanations of how pay is determined. Wellington Global employment authority Employment Hero, a leading people, payroll and benefits software provider, has encouraged New Zealand employers to prepare for The Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill before it comes into effect. The bill aims to prevent employers from enforcing pay secrecy clauses in employment contracts, making it legal for employees to openly discuss their salaries without fear of reprisal. The National Party backed the bill at its first reading and signalled during the second reading debate that it would maintain its support, increasing the likelihood that the bill will become law. 'The legislation is designed to promote greater pay transparency and equality, helping to identify and address unjustified pay disparities. While it's a welcome change that will bring New Zealand in line with countries that have implemented similar measures, such as Australia and the UK, employers should take proactive steps now to prepare for if the Bill passes,' said Sanam Ahmadzadeh Salmani, Employment Counsel at Employment Hero and workplace law commentator. 'This is an opportunity for employers to drive better pay transparency and better outcomes for both businesses and employees. Aligning with the legislation will not only ensure compliance if and when required but can also improve employee satisfaction and retention. Employees want to know they're being treated fairly and businesses that embrace this change will likely see stronger engagement and loyalty. 'By preparing and making any changes before the Bill passes, employers will be on the front foot and can avoid being caught out later down the track,' added Ahmadzadeh Salmani. Ahmadzadeh Salmani highlights three key actions employers should take to prepare: Conduct a pay review 'Start by reviewing your current pay structures – look for any discrepancies and understand the reasons behind them – whether it's due to role differences, experience or something else. Being proactive here will help you not only stay compliant, but to spot payroll red flags early,' advises Ahmadzadeh Salmani. Review employment contracts 'Employers should also review employment agreements for any clauses that restrict pay discussions. These might not be labelled as 'pay secrecy' and they could be buried under general confidentiality or remuneration clauses. Having a clear plan of what needs updating now puts you in a better legal position once the Bill is passed,' adds Ahmadzadeh Salmani. Prepare clear explanations 'Transparency doesn't stop at removing secrecy clauses. Employers need to be ready to explain how pay is determined and what data or criteria is used, how performance factors in and how employees can progress. This builds trust and reduces confusion or resentment,' she adds. Employment Hero provides free resources to New Zealand businesses on employment law updates and compliance via its website. The latest resource, including Employee Remuneration Disclosure can be found here. About Employment Hero Employment Hero is revolutionising the world of work with the introduction of the world's first Employment Operating System (eOS), a solution designed to address the $20 billion problem of inefficient employment processes globally. eOS is the next generation of employment technology, a revolutionary system that simplifies and automates complex employment processes, allowing businesses to streamline workflows, reduce administrative burden, and focus on growth Employment Hero services over 300,000 businesses globally and its core platform reduces admin time by up to 80%. By launching employers toward their goals, powering more productive teams and taking employment to rewarding new heights, Employment Hero is revolutionising the employment marketplace.
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Five Years Of Keep It Real Online
Press Release – New Zealand Government As much of the internet sits outside of New Zealands jurisdiction, its important that we equip New Zealanders with the skills and knowledge to navigate the digital world and take steps to protect their own wellbeing. Minister of Internal Affairs Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is celebrating the fifth anniversary of Keep It Real Online, a website that helps New Zealand families navigate the digital world safely. 'I know many parents are worried about the type of content their children might come across online and are looking for practical ways to protect them. The Keep It Real Online website offers helpful guidance on how to start those important conversations with your kids, along with information on practical tools like parental controls and safety filters available through search engines and social media platforms,' says Ms van Velden. The website launched in 2020, with a campaign that went viral and attracted international attention for a campaign episode that featured fake porn stars visiting a suburban mother to inform her that her teenage son was watching porn online, and encouraging her to talk to him about how consent and relationships work in the real world. Since the launch five years ago, the website has been viewed over 1.1 million times. The most visited pages for youth focus on misinformation, pornography, and sending and receiving nude images, which highlights the real issues that young people are facing in today's digital environment. It has sections for parents, young people, and teachers, and has information available Chinese, Hindi, and Samoan as well as English and Māori. 'It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to manage any potential online harms. As much of the internet sits outside of New Zealand's jurisdiction, it's important that we equip New Zealanders with the skills and knowledge to navigate the digital world and take steps to protect their own wellbeing.' 'I'm really proud of the digital safety work that the Department has delivered in recent years and just as proud that we're continuing to update the content to stay fresh, relevant, and in tune with the challenges people are facing online today.'
Scoop
08-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Skills Group To Transition To A Charitable Trust
Press Release – Skills Group Skills transition to a Charitable Trust reflects its ongoing commitment to providing effective, relevant training that supports the development of New Zealands workforce. The Skills Organisation is entering a new chapter to deepen its impact on vocational education across New Zealand, with its Members voting to transition the organisation from an incorporated society to a charitable trust. The decision follows a comprehensive review by the Skills Group Board, which aimed to align the organisation's legal structure with its long-term goals as a Private Training Establishment, while maintaining its commitment to its core charitable purpose of providing high-quality vocational education and training. Skills Organisation Chairman Tim Gibson says he was pleased with the strong support from Members for this important change. 'The decision follows careful consideration and an independent review by the Hon. Murray McCully,' Tim says. 'The review confirmed that the incorporated society model worked well for Skills in the past, but it no longer suits the needs of a large, modern vocational training business that requires significant investment and the ability to respond quickly to industry changes. 'Transitioning to a Charitable Trust will help us better serve the vocational education sector and strengthen Skills' ability to partner with industry and all stakeholders to meet the evolving needs of the workforce. We're excited about what this next chapter enables. It ensures Skills is fit-for-purpose for the future of work in New Zealand.' While the legal structure will change the day-to-day operations at Skills will continue as normal. 'The change will not affect the delivery of current training programmes or services.' Skills' transition to a Charitable Trust reflects its ongoing commitment to providing effective, relevant training that supports the development of New Zealand's workforce.
