Latest news with #PaulJohnston
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Half say risk data insufficient — insurer
File photo: Getty Images Nearly half of New Zealanders report they do not have enough information about the climate-related risks to their properties, a major insurance provider says. Tower Insurance chief executive Paul Johnston welcomed the release of the report "A proposed approach for New Zealand's adaptation framework", calling it a step towards greater certainty for communities, councils and insurers. The report by seven specialists, representing iwi, banks, economists, insurers and local authorities, has called for a 20-year transition period to a "mature adaptation framework" to balance the need to spread out costs associated with climate change adaptation with creating the right incentives to act. Mr Johnston said Tower had advocated for nationally consistent hazard modelling and greater data transparency, for all New Zealanders, for some time. "Tower's research shows that 48% of New Zealanders say they lack information about their property's exposure to climate-related risks and natural disasters," he said. "The insurance sector has a vital role in New Zealand's ongoing response to the increasing impacts of climate-related weather events and insurers need long-term certainty around climate adaptation policy to remain attractive to global reinsurers and help keep insurance accessible and affordable. "Risk-based pricing plays a vital role in this by helping to send important market signals." The company urged the government to act swiftly and deliver a bipartisan adaptation framework to provide long-term certainty for all New Zealanders, he said. — APL
Irish Times
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Britain's ambassador Whatshisname takes Darragh O'Brien's gaffe like a diplomat
The British ambassador is hanging up his credentials in September. Guests at His Excellency's annual summer garden party on Thursday night were all saying the same thing: 'We will never forget Whatshisname.' That's not true. It was only the VIP guest speaker who forgot Ambassador Paul Johnston's name. READ MORE Everyone else was mortified for Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien, who sailed through most of his speech oblivious to the fact that he kept calling his host 'Jonathan'. He did it four times before his audience snapped and shouted at him to stop. Darragh set the tone early, addressing his remarks to 'Ambassador Jonathan and Nicola, two very good friends of mine ...' Oops. Never mind. But it didn't stop there. Paul had followed the Irish custom of leaving a statue of the Child of Prague outside in the garden the night before his event to ensure good weather, the Minister said. And how did Darragh know this? 'Actually, Jonathan texted me this morning.' Guests were on tenterhooks, waiting for the next clanger. Mainlining the Pimms for their nerves. 'It is magnificent to be here in Glencairn again with Jonathan on this special occasion to celebrate the official birthday of King Charles III,' Darragh chirruped to the large gathering on the lawn of the Ambassador's South Dublin residence. In an address highlighting the close relationship and many ties between Ireland and the UK, he said King Charles had been 'a real friend to Ireland, through difficult times as well'. Then he name-dropped about having had the pleasure of meeting the king's late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who, in turn, had the pleasure of Darragh talking to her about horse racing 'for a good 20-minute conversation'. Apparently, people couldn't get over it. Darragh O'Brien had guests listening to every word, but not for the right reason. Photograph: Alan Betson As nice, friendly speeches go, this one was a white knuckle ride for all concerned – except Darragh, who wasn't to know his audience was tensely awaiting his next misnaming of the man from His Majesty's Foreign Office. 'I think the outlook is extremely bright for our nations,' he burbled, mercifully nearing the end of his address. '[But] I am really sad that Jonathan and Nicola will be leaving us soon – that I have to say.' That is when the crowd intervened. 'Paul! It's Paul! It's Paul!' they cried. 'Wha? Wha? I actually know him very well,' Darragh laughed, covered in embarrassment. 'My apologies.' He asked the guests to join him in raising a glass 'to partnership, to happiness and health and to King Charles III'. Glasses clinked. 'And Jonathan.' The ambassador, as one would expect of a career diplomat, took it very well. There were cheers when JP (Jonathan/Paul) began his remarks by thanking 'Brian' for his kind words. Turning to his wife, he declared: 'It's a great pleasure for Nicola and me – it is Nicola, isn't it? – to welcome all of you to Glencairn for the king's birthday party.' The attendance included Ministers, TDs, senators, the Attorney General, European Commissioner Michael McGrath, members of the Diplomatic Corps and an eclectic selection of guests from business, the arts and the media. 'While I'm sad to be leaving this job in September, I am happy that the relationship between the two governments – which matters a lot to me personally and matters to our country – and the relationship between Britain and the EU are in a much healthier state than when I arrived here in 2022,' said the outgoing ambassador, who spoke very fondly of his time here. The Johnstons are so fond of the place they have decided to stay . This was Paul's bombshell 'little bit of news' at the end of his speech. The crowd seemed quite moved, his words sparking a rush of national pride and a rush for the English sparkling wine when he finished. Naturally, the South Co Dublin crowd was very blase about it all. Apparently there have been regular sightings of Paul and Nicola in the furniture shops of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in recent months and everyone in Dalkey knows about it. 'My wife and I decided sometime back that when it came to our eventual retirement, we would like to retire to Dublin because we've so fallen in love with the city and the country and the people,' Paul told us after he had toasted the President of Ireland. So when the opportunity for early retirement came up, he decided to leave the Foreign Office for a new job here. 'We are very excited by it and very happy to be staying here. We were really sort of dreading to have to leave Ireland.' When he first got here from a posting in Brussels, he assumed he would do his four years and then move back to London or a new posting further afield. 'But we fell in love with Ireland, I suppose. We fell in love with life here and the idea of working here. It was a combination of things, but it seriously had not entered our head until we came here.' The soon-to-be-former ambassador can't disclose details of his new job yet. But our spies tell us he may be heading for the third-level sector and a role with the Irish Universities Association, which is headed up by the experienced Jim Miley, a former Fine Gael secretary and chief executive of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and one of the co-founders of Better class of sewage on southside During Leaders' Questions on Wednesday, Barry Heneghan, the Independent Government-supporting TD for Dublin Bay North, had an important question about the quality of water in the bay. Jim O'Callaghan, the Minister for Justice, was on stand-in duty for his party leader. Jim represents the other side of Dublin Bay. Barry said there had been 'a huge issue with recently which 'needs to be looked at by the Government'. That sounds like a lovely job for somebody. 'It is not happening on the south side of Dublin,' Barry said. 'It is northside swimmers who are being affected by Jim immediately rushed to the defence of his tribe. 'I think the Deputy said it is northside swimmers who are being affected. Southside swimmers are affected as well by We are not immune to on the south side of Dublin.' It's just a better class of turd. Big Jim also did a good job of buttering up gardaí during his stint in the hot seat. But even the most partisan member of the force would have been a bit taken aback by Jim's effusive vote of confidence. He was speaking after Fine Gael's Emer Currie asked about garda numbers outside Dublin city centre. While there is a welcome increased visibility in the city, in areas such as her Dublin West constituency and in other parts of the country people are crying out for more gardaí to tackle low-level offending, antisocial behaviour and more serious crime. Emer Currie was told more gardaí are on their way. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill The Minister for Justice replied that the Garda Commissioner has decided that a significant number of recruits will be put in Dublin in the first instance, but others will be transferred to other parts of the country as well. This all depends on recruiting more people into the force. A recent recruitment campaign saw 6,700 people express an interest in joining up, but that needs to be translated into membership. 'The biggest problem gardaí have is their popularity and their success. People want to see them everywhere.' That's a line you don't hear every day. Poor Brendan gets cancelled The Oireachtas occasionally runs information and education sessions for TDs and senators to help them in their work – a kind of in-service training sessions for the politicians. After the last general election, for example, new TDs were invited to attend a briefing on life in Leinster House from two experienced old hands: former Social Democrat leader Catherine Murphy and former Fine Gael minister Richard Bruton. Recently, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission – which in effect manages the place – asked former Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin to deliver a talk to its members on his experience as a member of the first commission which placed control for the running of Leinster House directly into the hands of the members. After 42 years in national politics – four of them in the Seanad and the rest in Dáil Éireann, he was well placed to give an overview of how the commission has worked over the years and how it has changed since the legislation was first passed. Former Labour leader Brendan Howlin is well versed in the ways of the Oireachtas. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins As a former minister for public expenditure, he was also well placed to talk about how Leinster House is funded. The meeting was supposed to happen on May 28th. But two days beforehand he was told it was postponed. Nobody seems to know why. The all-powerful chair of the Oireachtas Commission is Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, the Independent TD for Wexford, Brendan Howlin's former constituency. She runs the show. Some members are wondering if there might be a connection here with Brendan's sudden cancellation. Because TDs can be remarkably territorial when it comes to their home patch. Surely not. Timmy takes to top Tom It's taken a while, but the junior minister for agriculture has appointed a new special adviser. Timmy Dooley is thinking big with his new hire. He has drafted in a major player in the agriculture and marine sector to run the show – Tom Tynan has worked at the highest levels across a range of business and policy areas for a number of decades. In the 1990s he was special adviser to Ivan Yates, then minister for agriculture, while more recently he was a key member of former European commissioner Phil Hogan's cabinet in Brussels for almost seven years. A former senior Irish Farmers' Association official and member of the board of Teagasc, Tom is non-executive director of the Marine Institute, Shannon Foynes Port Company and the Agri-Food Bioscience Institute in Northern Ireland. Timmy is delighted with his new team member. 'He's a great man – very professional with highly technical skills. Tom brings great experience, particularly as most of the work from a fisheries perspective is in Brussels. He also has great knowledge of the negotiating process there and of the internal workings of the commission. And being political as well is always a help.' The Minister of State from Clare must be hoping that Kilkenny man Tom might just be the fellah to elevate him from the ranks of the junior ministers to senior hurling status. While looking after a Fianna Fáil politician will make a nice change for Tom.
BreakingNews.ie
27-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
British ambassador to leave diplomatic service but remain in Dublin after ‘falling in love with the city'
British ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston has announced he and his wife will continue to live in Dublin after he leaves his role in September. Mr Johnston said at a garden party at the ambassador's residence to mark King Charles's birthday that they had 'so fallen in love with the city' that they had decided to stay in Dublin permanently. Advertisement In his speech, he said: "That's very much what it's felt like for Nicola [his wife] and me in Ireland – that the people we've met have been the highlight of our time here. "And it's primarily because of the people that we've met that we've taken quite a big decision." He has served in a number of diplomatic roles prior to his appointment as envoy in Dublin in 2020, including as the UK ambassador to Sweden from 2011 to 2016 and as the deputy permanent representative to Nato from 2016 to 2017. Mr Johnston says he will be taking up a new, non-diplomatic job in Dublin later this year. He came to Ireland five years ago during the height of the Covid pandemic and he was at the centre of often very difficult British-Irish relations over the UK's departure from the European Union. He said he cannot yet disclose what role he will take up later this year as it is 'subject to a UK government approval process'.
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
British ambassador to leave diplomatic service but remain in Dublin after ‘falling in love with the city'
British ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston, who is finishing his posting in September, has announced that he and his wife will stay in Ireland and leave the British diplomatic service. Speaking at a garden party at the ambassador's residence to mark King Charles 's birthday, Mr Johnston says he will be taking up a new, non-diplomatic job in Dublin later this year. Saying he wanted to break 'a little bit of news' to 700 guests gathered at the Glencairn home, Mr Johnston quoted Russian author's Leo Tolstoy's remark that 'people are the lights of every city'. 'That's very much what it's felt like for Nicola [his wife] and me in Ireland – that the people we've met have been the highlight of our time here. And it's primarily because of the people that we've met that we've taken quite a big decision,' he told the attendance. They had 'so fallen in love with the city' that they had decided to stay in Dublin permanently. READ MORE 'After 35 years with the UK public service, and some wonderful postings and some wonderful experiences, we've decided that we want to open a new chapter in our life and to do it here in Dublin,' he said to cheers. Mr Johnston (57), who was born in Scotland, started his civil service career at the UK ministry of defence in 1990 before he moved to the foreign and commonwealth office in 1993. He has served in a number of diplomatic roles prior to his appointment as envoy in Dublin in 2020, including as the UK ambassador to Sweden from 2011 to 2016 and as the deputy permanent representative to Nato from 2016 to 2017. The ambassador came to Ireland five years ago during the height of the Covid pandemic and he was at the centre of often very difficult British-Irish relations over the UK's departure from the European Union. He said he cannot yet disclose what role he will take up later this year as it is 'subject to a UK government approval process'. 'I can say that we couldn't be more happy or more excited,' he added. Representing the Government, the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien , said: 'We really want to thank you for the hard work that you've done here, for your friendship and wish you all the very, very best in your next posting. And we are looking forward to working, obviously, with your successor here,' the Minister said.
National Business Review
22-05-2025
- Business
- National Business Review
Quick Takes of the Week to May 23
Monday May 19 Gentrack's HY profit up 34.7% on continued expansion Gentrack has seen its half-year profit rise 34.7% to $7.2 million on a 9.8% increase in revenue. The NZX-listed utilities software provider said recurring revenues grew by 17%, but nonrecurring revenue was 12% lower than in the first half of FY24. It said it expected strong levels of non-recurring revenues going forward. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (ebitda) was 5.1% higher the prior corresponding period. It had cash of $70.7m as of 31 March – a $4m increase over the start of the year and up from $39.3m at the end of March 2024. The company expected revenue at or above $230m in FY25 and earnings margin to be above 12%. It remained "confident" of its mid-term guidance of growing revenue at a more than 15% compound annual growth rate and an ebitda margin of 15-20%, after expensing all development costs. Tuesday May 20 First half profit gain at Tower Insurance Listed insurance company Tower has recorded a first-half net profit rise after further improvements in business-as-usual claims and gross written premium growth. Its profit in the six months ended March 31 was $49.7m, up from $36m last year. That included provisions for ongoing customer remediation-related costs and an increase in Canterbury earthquake costs. Tower's 'large events' costs were $3m over the period after Dunedin flooding in October last year. April's Cyclone Tam will be recorded as a large event in the second half, with an estimated cost of $4m. Elsewhere, customer numbers grew to 312,000, up from 309,000 last year. Interim chief executive Paul Johnston said the results were positive as the company focused on 'robust' risk-based selection and pricing. 'This year we will expand risk-based pricing to include sea surge and landslide risks, helping our customers better understand their risks and how these factors impact their insurance pricing." Serko's product. Serko meets bottom end of annual income guidance Serko has reported a 27% increase in annual income to $90.5m, including $4.8m of income from the acquisition of GetThere, which settled in January. Excluding GetThere's revenue, Serko turned over $85.7m – only reaching the bottom end of its forecast income for the year, of between $85m and $92m. The NZX and ASX-listed travel booking software provider's net loss after tax was $22m, increased from $15.9m in FY24. Its FY25 result was driven by continued demand in its for Business (B4B) product, with completed room nights and active customers both increasing 29%. B4B saw completed room nights jump from 2.5 million to 3.3 million in the year, and active customers rise from 172,000 to 222,000. In its managed travel segment, Serko said that, in Australasia, online bookings were up 6% and average revenue per booking was up 12%. It said it expects total income of between $115m and $123m in FY26, and total spend in the range of $127m to $133m. Wednesday May 21 Napier Port pays out special dividend, ups forecast Napier Port will add a special dividend of 2.5 cents to its half-year payment of 4c to shareholders, up from the 3c paid last year. The NZX-listed port upped net profit after tax by 40.8% to $20.2 million for the six months to March, from $14.3m for the comparable period, after banking the final insurance settlement of $7.5m for damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. Container volumes also improved by 13.9% on Pan Pac's return to full pulp and paper operations, as well as an earlier apple picking season and increased transhipment activity, the port said. Chief executive Todd Dawson said the port expected to sustain healthy volumes and earnings on the back of continued strong food and fibre export demand, with the underlying result from operations now forecast to be in a range between $59m and $63m, assuming a "continuation of current operating conditions". The payment of the interim and special dividends will be on June 26, to those shareholders registered on June 13. PaySauce stays in profit as customer numbers rise NZX-listed payroll software provider PaySauce has reported its second consecutive annual profit before tax, up $270,000 on last year, to $460,000. The company's after-tax profit dipped $550,000 to $680,000, due in part to $320,000 recognised as a deferred tax asset for prior losses carried forward. Earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebtda) grew $290,000 to $1.35 million, as total operating revenue rose 17% to $9m, from $7.7m in the prior year. Total customer numbers were up 11% at year-end compared with March 2024. Processing fee income was up 18% due to the increase in customers and average fee per user. Interest income grew just 6% due to easing wholesale interest rates over the year, particularly in the fourth quarter ending in March. Average revenue per user fell 5% to $86 at the end of the period, with the increase in processing fee income diluted by the fall in interest rate income. Smith & Caughey's to close The iconic Smith & Caughey's building. Auckland retailer Smith & Caughey's will shut entirely, causing 98 job losses. Smith & Caughey's acting chief executive, Matt Harray, said, "Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated; no stone left unturned. However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open." The department store with roots back to 1880 downsized its Queen St operations earlier this year, and closed its Newmarket store in September 2024. Harray said it was hoped the changes would result in an improved financial position for the company. "Unfortunately, this has not been the case." All operations will close by the end of July, with the online store closed from the end of May. Thursday May 22 Zespri revenue passes $5 billion Zespri revenue has surpassed $5 billion in the 2024/2025 season. Global operating revenue for the kiwifruit marketer tallied $5.14b, up 22% from $4.21b during the previous corresponding season. Net profit after tax fell 10.4% to $155.2 million from $173.3m. Zespri sold a record 220.9 million trays of kiwifruit in 2024/25, up from 164.2 million trays in 2023/24. Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake said, '2024/25 was a really positive year for the industry and we're excited to build on this momentum as we progress further into our 2025/26 season." Blis Technologies optimistic after positive result NZX-listed Blis Technologies, a maker of probiotic dietary supplements, has reported net profit up 30% to $838,000 for the year to March. Revenue rose 9% to $13.2 million. In a statement to the NZX, the company said it was optimistic about the coming year. 'While macroeconomic conditions remain mixed, demand for science-backed probiotics continues to grow,' it said. The company said a European customer had filed patent applications in September 2024 that it believed contained confidential Blis information and it was in talks to resolve the dispute. The annual report also noted supplies of fermented probiotic ingredients from Fonterra were becoming restricted and increasing in price, so Blis was seeking another supplier. FMA warns about managed investment scheme The Financial Markets Authority has issued a warning about a managed investment scheme operated by Jesse Joseph Vaughan and former NZ company Crypto Partners Limited (CPL). FMA response and enforcement executive director Louise Unger said, 'We understand that Mr Vaughan, the sole director and shareholder of formerly registered company CPL, has offered investments in a managed investment scheme (MIS) operated by CPL. He did so without holding an MIS manager licence, and without providing the required disclosure, which are both contraventions of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.' Vaughan also told his investors in a newsletter that he had applied for an MIS manager's licence, and that it was being reviewed by the FMA. Unger confirmed neither Vaughan nor CPL had ever applied to the FMA for any form of market services licence. The FMA is concerned "investors are likely to have experienced significant detriment" due to Vaughan's conduct, and urged those affected to contact them. Savor Group's Bivacco restaurant. Savor Group reports reduced revenue Savor Group revenue fell 8% to $56.6 million from $62m, for the year ending in March. The Auckland hospitality group reported $7.3m in operating earnings, down from an ebitda of $8.8m, and a net loss after tax of $1.2m, down from an after-tax net profit of $700,000 in the year prior. The net loss was largely attributed to a one-time accounting write-off from its discontinued Seafarers venue. Operating cash flow rose to $7.1m for the year, up from $6.4m last year. Savor chief executive Lucien Law said, "With the market stabilising and our new bar and entertainment venue in Britomart under construction, we're looking forward to growth again.' The trading environment remained uncertain with persistent economic pressures, the company said. However, it hoped gradual relief in cost-of-living pressures would benefit the business. "Our strengthened balance sheet, with improved cash reserves and declining leverage, provides flexibility to navigate challenges or pursue growth." WasteCo lands $40m contract, resumes trading NZX-listed WasteCo says it has landed a nine-year, $40 million contract with the Ashburton District Council to deliver waste management services to more than 12,000 households. The contract, which includes kerbside rubbish and recycling for both the council and 21 mid-Canterbury schools, has the option of a nine-year extension. The company placed itself in a trading halt this morning ahead of the announcement and resumed trading after 4pm. The contract, which will support 23 full-time employees, will start on September 1. WasteCo shares remained at 2 cents per share in late afternoon trading. Paul Silk appointed interim chief for new ferry company Paul Silk has been appointed interim chief executive of the company that will procure two new ferries for the Government. Silk was most recently acting chief executive at Christchurch City Holdings, the wholly owned investment arm of Christchurch City Council. Ferry Holdings chair Chris Mackenzie said Silk's experience managing public-owned infrastructure, as well as capital and risk management in financial markets, made him the 'ideal candidate' to lead the company during its establishment phase. The appointment is effective from May 26. Silk will be responsible for overseeing the commercial negotiations to procure the two ferries, as well as port infrastructure agreements with CentrePort in Wellington and Port Marlborough. The agreements are due to be completed by the end of this year, by which time the company hopes to have a permanent chief executive.
