Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he’s proud of the Government’s commitment to increasing medicines access for New Zealanders, resulting in a big uptick in the number of medicines being funded.
“The Government is putting patients first. In the first half of the current financial year there were more new medicines funded than the entire financial year prior.
“Increasing availability of...
Pairing wine with Chinese food can be challenging, particularly when it comes to bold red wines, as their tannins can clash with the vibrant flavours of Chinese cuisine.
With Chinese New Year approaching, Taylors Wines says it’s removed the guesswork out of pairing by recommending the perfect wine matches for Chinese dishes, to ensure a tasty Chinese New Year celebration.
Dumplings...
By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
Auckland Council will seek public feedback on cemetery bylaws and whether they strike the right balance between cultural practices and environmental concerns.
At the council’s Governing Body meeting in December, councillors approved public consultation on proposed changes to cemetery bylaws.
Councillor Josephine Bartley, chair of the regulatory and safety...
The latest quarterly survey of business opinion by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research shows the highest level of general business confidence since 2021.
And Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that’s a sign the economy is moving in the right direction.
“When businesses have the confidence to invest and grow, it means more jobs and higher incomes for Kiwis,” Willis says.
“The survey shows business is...
East Auckland resident PIERRE TROLLIP knows his way around a fishing rod and line. Here’s his latest column for the Times.
Hi there from this very fortunate ‘Fishing Pensioner’.
Recently, the Admiral and I had the pleasure to wander down Picton Street during the annual Howick Village Hop.
The restored old vehicles as well as the hot rods were quite impressive.
Live rock...
A large number of emergency services have responded to a fatal incident in east Auckland this afternoon.
A reader alerted the Times that police cars and St John Ambulances were travelling at speed toward Musick Point in Bucklands Beach just after 3.30pm.
A police car, an ambulance and a fire truck were seen leaving the area at about 4.30pm.
However, Musick Point...
By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
The Auckland Council is showing its support for a four-year electoral term as part of reform discussions led by Local Government New Zealand.
At the council’s Governing Body meeting on December 12, councillors agreed to submit on a Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) issues paper exploring electoral reform.
Key...
Retail New Zealand says new retail spending data shows the sector continues to be under pressure as 2024 drew to a close.
New figures from Worldline NZ show despite strong Boxing Day sales, December continued the downward trend of 2024 with a decline in card spending of -0.7 per cent, dominated by major centres Auckland and Wellington being down two...
The Auckland Council’s free-to-attend Movies in Parks programme kicks off next month.
There are eight Movies in Parks events across the Auckland region from February 21 to March 15, though there is no film screening in the Howick and Franklin wards.
“We’re putting on a free movie under the stars for the whole neighbourhood,” says the Movies in Parks crew.
“Pack a...
By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
The debate over the future of Auckland Council’s facility maintenance contracts has resurfaced, with local versus big contractors once again at the forefront of discussions.
At a recent meeting of the council’s revenue, expenditure and value committee, councillor members reviewed options for the future of the maintenance contracts,...
East Auckland residents taking to the road this summer and planning to use the Desert Road as part of their travels need to think again.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says the Desert Road between Tūrangi and Waiouru will close from 5am on January 13 for about eight weeks for maintenance.
As well as reconstructing 16 lane km (three sites)...
Kiwis have a chance to share their views about the coalition Government’s rewriting of the Arms Act 1983.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says: “As flagged prior to Christmas, the consultation period for the Arms Act rewrite has opened today (January 13) and will run through until February 28.
“The submissions received on the Ministry of Justice discussion document will feed into the...
By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
Councillors are backing major reforms to council-controlled organisations (CCOs), disbanding Eke Panuku and shifting responsibilities to Auckland Council by mid-2025.
At the Auckland Council’s Governing Body meeting on December 12, councillors voted in favour of structural changes for the CCOs.
Under the changes, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s economic development functions...
On January 15, 72 children, teens and 30 young adult volunteers will be arriving at Camp Adair in Hunua for a six-day camp, but it’s no ordinary school camp.
The children and volunteers all have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a term used to designate two chronic, incurable diseases: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The annual camp was started in 2015 by...
ACT Party List MP Todd Stephenson wants terminally ill Kiwis to have greater autonomy around when, and with whom, they spend their final moments.
He’s the sponsor of the End of Life Choice (Extended Eligibility) Amendment Bill, which would eliminate the need for a terminally ill person seeking assisted dying services to prove they have only six months left to...
