Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Police

Following a gruelling 14 month investigation, Police have today charged a fourth person in relation to the death of a woman whose body was found in a bag in Gulf Harbour last year.

The body of 70-year-old Chinese woman Shulai Wang was found in a black rubbish bag in the water in Gulf Harbour on 12 March 2024.

Acting Inspector Tim Williams, Waitematā CIB, says officers attended an Orewa property this morning where one person was taken into custody.

“A 64-year-old man was arrested and has been charged with manslaughter and kidnapping and will appear in court tomorrow.”

This is the fourth arrest in relation to this matter.

A 37-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and a 61-year-old woman are each facing charges of kidnapping and manslaughter

The 64-year-old man will appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow.

As the matter is before the court Police are limited in providing further comment.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

New funding will ensure New Zealanders have access to independent local journalism that keeps them informed about what’s happening in their communities, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“Regional journalism helps keep communities informed and holds decision-makers to account. 
“Budget 2025 will invest $6.4 million over four years in council, community and court reporting across New Zealand. The funding will be distributed through NZ on Air.
“Open Justice and Local Democracy Reporting have been successful programmes with an emphasis on reporting, rather than opinion. This funding expands them. 
“It will get funding into regional newsrooms so that more local frontline journalists can report on the things that matter to their audiences. 
“Budget 2025 also adjusts Radio New Zealand’s funding. 
“RNZ has had funding increases in recent years, most notably a boost of $26 million a year in 2023, on top of a previous increase of $7.3 million per year in 2020.
Budget 2025 reduces RNZ funding by approximately $18 million over four years, or $4.6 million a year, equivalent to approximately 7 per cent of its annual Crown operating Budget of $67 million. 
“This savings initiative recognises that government-funded media must deliver the same efficiency and value-for-money as the rest of the public sector. 
“I expect RNZ to improve audience reach, trust and transparency. I am confident the organisation can do so while operating in a period of tightened fiscal constraint.
“This comes as the Government considers how it can modernise media legislation through its Media Reform package. 
“New Zealand media, like media around the world, continue to face significant challenges. We need modern legislation, so the media sector is financially sustainable in the years to come. 
“I am considering submissions from the recent consultation on media reform. I will have more information on next steps for media modernisation in the coming months,” Minister Goldsmith says. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Court case backlogs will be further reduced through extra funding to improve court timeliness and access to justice, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Courts Minister Nicole McKee say.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. Waiting months or years for a case to be resolved only adds to the frustration and trauma for victims and, indeed, all court participants,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“While there has been progress, it’s really important that we keep things moving. This funding will to do exactly that.”

Budget 2025 will provide New Zealand’s courts with $246 million of additional funding over the next four years.

“This funding will support the ongoing operation of specialist courts, tribunals, the District Court, senior courts, the Coroners Court, and the legal aid system.”

“This Government is supporting the courts to be more efficient and minimise delays, to ensure everyone can navigate the process smoothly and have trust and confidence in the system,” Mrs McKee says.

“An efficient court system that delivers timely justice is an important part of the Government’s plan to restore law and order. Through Budget 2025 we are making sure we keep our foot on the pedal.”

In the year ending 31 March 2025, cases disposed of within expected timeframes has stabilised at 81 per cent, after almost a decade of declining timeliness.  

Backlog cases have decreased by 9 per cent to 7,067, while active cases decreased by 3 per cent to 37,920, with a reduction of 1,074 cases on hand.

Disposals of district court jury trials are at historically high levels, reflecting the approach of applying additional resources to reduce the post-Covid backlog of trials in Auckland courts. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Budget 2025 will help up to 66,000 more SuperGold Cardholders with their rates payments, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Seniors Minister Casey Costello announced today.

“It’s a really tough time for many Kiwis right now and this Government is working at pace to grow the economy so we can take some of the financial pressure off households and ease the cost of living,” Mr Watts says.

“We are seeing good progress in our economy with inflation and interest rates coming down, but we want to do more to relieve the financial burden for households, including for older New Zealanders.

“That’s why we’re making changes to the rates rebate scheme for SuperGold cardholders.”

The Government will introduce a new income abatement threshold to assist SuperGold Cardholders from July 1. The income abatement threshold to be eligible for the maximum rebate for SuperGold Cardholders and their households will be lifted from $31,510 to $45,000 – about the rate for a couple receiving superannuation. The maximum rebate for the scheme will also increase from $790 to $805.

“This is the first time we are introducing a separate income abatement threshold to the Rates Rebate Scheme, Seniors Minister Casey Costello says.

“It will mean that every SuperGold Cardholder earning only NZ Superannuation, with rates higher than $2000, will be eligible for the full rebate. SuperGold Cardholders earning more than $45,000 may also be entitled to a smaller rebate.”

“These changes, worth $154 million over four years, will come as a relief to those seniors who are on fixed incomes and are dealing with rates increases.”

The National Party and New Zealand First coalition agreement had a commitment to explore options to build on the Local Government Rates Rebate Scheme for SuperGold cardholders and to maximise the benefits of the SuperGold Card.

“The Rates Rebate Scheme is administered by local councils and provides financial relief for low-income New Zealanders owning their own home,” Mr Watts says.

Ratepayers can apply for the new maximum rebate under the new abatement thresholds after 1 July 2025.  Application forms will be available from councils and will also be able to be downloaded from the New Zealand Government website (www.govt.nz) and then submitted to local councils after 1 July 2025.

“If over-65s have questions about eligibility they can contact their council or retirement village operator,” Ms Costello says.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

“Budget 2025 improves KiwiSaver to encourage Kiwis to save more for their first home and retirement, while making the scheme more fiscally sustainable, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
“To lift savings and provide greater security for Kiwis, we’re raising the default rate of employee and matching employer KiwiSaver contributions from 3 to 4 per cent of salary and wages, phased in over three years. People will have the choice of remaining on the 3 per cent rate if they choose.
“To encourage first-time employees to adopt the savings habit, we’re extending the government contribution, and employer matching, to 16 and 17-year-olds in the workforce.
“We’re also making some changes to the government contribution to ensure the scheme’s costs to the taxpayer remain sustainable.
“The annual government contribution will be halved to 25 cents for each dollar a member contributes each year, up to a maximum of $260.72. Members with an income of more than $180,000 will no longer receive the government contribution.
“Putting these changes together, the KiwiSaver balances of employees contributing at the new 4 per cent default rate will grow faster than they do at the current 3 per cent default rate, providing a larger balance at age 65 and a larger deposit when people use KiwiSaver to buy their first home.
“The new 4 per cent default rate will be introduced in two steps. From 1 April 2026 it will go to 3.5 per cent and, from 1 April 2028 it will go to 4 per cent. Phasing in the increases will help workers and employers plan ahead.
“The Government recognises there will be times when some people do not feel able to contribute a higher proportion of their wages and salaries to KiwiSaver. Therefore, employees will be able to opt to contribute at a lower 3 per cent rate and have that that lower rate matched by their employer. Their contributions will be reset to the default rate after 12 months, but they can opt down again if they wish. Employees may wish to opt down if, for example, they feel they are unable at that time to afford a higher contribution.
Changes to the government contribution will take effect from 1 July 2025. The changes will not affect the government contribution for the current year, which will be paid out in July and August this year.
“An increase in KiwiSaver balances will grow the pool of funds available for investment in New Zealand.
“The Reserve Bank estimates that about 40 per cent of KiwiSaver funds under management are invested in New Zealand assets. The Government is working to reduce barriers that may stand in the way of KiwiSaver funds investing in a wider range of New Zealand businesses, assets and infrastructure.
“Most New Zealanders have already embraced KiwiSaver as a simple way of accumulating savings to supplement their income in retirement. The Budget’s KiwiSaver package is designed to encourage them to save more so they can look forward to greater levels of financial security.”
As at 31 March 2024, KiwiSaver membership had reached 3,334,654 with a total of $111.8 billion in funds under management and an average balance of $33,514 per member.

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“Budget 2025 launches Investment Boost, a major new tax incentive to encourage businesses to invest, grow the economy, and lift wages,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

“Economic growth is how we raise living standards, create higher-paying jobs and fund the growing cost of the public services Kiwis depend on.

“To achieve that growth, New Zealand needs businesses to invest in productive assets – like machinery, tools, equipment, vehicles and technology. Investment drives productivity improvements, makes firms more competitive and supports employers to improve workers’ wages. 

“Investment Boost allows a business to immediately deduct 20 per cent of the cost of a new asset, on top of depreciation, meaning a much lower tax bill in the year of purchase.

“Cashflows are better, making more potential investments stack up financially.

“The Treasury and Inland Revenue estimate Investment Boost will improve economic growth, lifting New Zealand’s GDP by 1 per cent, wages by 1.5 per cent and our capital stock by 1.6 per cent over the next 20 years, with around half these gains expected in the first five years.

“Investment Boost starts today and applies to new assets purchased in New Zealand as well as new and used assets imported from overseas. It includes commercial buildings but excludes land, residential buildings, and assets already in use in New Zealand.

“There’s no cap on the value of eligible investments. All businesses, regardless of size, can benefit.

“Investment Boost delivers more bang for buck than a company tax cut because it only applies to new investments, not those made in the past.

“It is designed to encourage firms to make more growth-enhancing investments now and into the future. 

“In practice, the policy will reward businesses who make new investments by reducing their tax bills in the year they purchase new assets. For example, with Investment Boost, an advanced manufacturing firm that purchases a $200,000 environmental test chamber would reduce its tax bill by more than $10,000 in the year of purchase. 

“The policy is expected to cost an average of $1.7 billion per year in reduced revenue across the forecast period. 

“After many difficult years, New Zealand is once again on a steady economic growth path, thanks to lower inflation, lower interest rates, better-controlled government spending, and more business-friendly policies.

“Our Government knows businesses have been knocked around by challenging local and international economic conditions. This tax incentive shows that we are backing them to succeed. 

“Now is the right time to support New Zealand’s economic recovery by making it easier for businesses to invest, hire more workers, pay them better, and contribute more to our long-term prosperity. Investment Boost delivers the confidence injection business needs,” Ms Willis says.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Budget 2025 secures New Zealand’s economic and fiscal recovery and advances reforms to make New Zealanders better off in future. 
“In recent years New Zealanders have battled a protracted period of high inflation, high interest rates and economic downturn. The cost of living has soared, and the government’s books have taken a hammering, with unsustainable spending increases fuelling high levels of debt. Global events have added uncertainty to the mix. 
“The coalition Government’s strong fiscal and economic management has ensured recovery is now underway. In this Budget, the Treasury is forecasting growth will accelerate over the next four years, bringing 240,000 additional jobs, rising incomes, stable inflation, lower interest rates, a return to balanced government books, and an end to rising debt. 
“New Zealanders are depending on this recovery, but we cannot take it for granted. Nor can we shirk responsibility for addressing the underlying issues our country faces. 
“Budget 2025 responds to New Zealand’s long-term challenges with initiatives to boost growth, investment and savings; targeted investments in the essential services and infrastructure New Zealanders rely on; and reforms to fix financial holes in the government’s books.” 
Budget 2025 achieves this by: 

Establishing the Investment Boost tax incentive to encourage businesses to invest, grow and lift wages. The policy allows for 20 per cent of the cost of new assets to be deducted immediately from taxable income (on top of normal depreciation). It is expected to lift levels of business investment, with longer-run benefits including increasing the level of GDP by 1 per cent, capital stock by 1.6 per cent and wages by 1.5 per cent over the next 20 years, with at least half those benefits occurring over the next five years.
Increasing the KiwiSaver balances of New Zealanders by phasing in an increase in default employer and employee contribution rates to 4 per cent; extending the scheme to 16- and 17- year-olds; and making the scheme more fiscally sustainable by halving and better targeting the government contribution.
Providing Cost of Living Relief by better targeting Working for Families support to deliver an average of $14 extra a fortnight to 142,000 low to middle income families; delivering rates rebates for up to 66,000 SuperGold cardholders; extending prescription periods to deliver savings to patients on long-term medications and new funding for community-based food banks.
Strengthening Health services through a $7 billion operating funding uplift over the forecast period, including for services provided by Health NZ, targeted funding to support better GP and after-hours care and funding for additional cancer treatments and other medicines. In addition, $1 billion in capital funding is provided for replacing and upgrading public health facilities including Nelson Hospital and the Wellington Emergency Department.
Strengthening Education provision with $1.5 billion over the forecast period to improve student achievement, including an historic investment in learning support with $646 million of initiatives to ensure earlier identification of and better help for children with additional physical, learning and behavioural needs and over $700 million to deliver new schools and classrooms.
Improving Law and Order through $1.1 billion additional investment over the forecast period to support frontline policing, initiatives to respond to child and youth offending, tackle organised crime, improve court timeliness and support stronger sentencing with funding for increased prison capacity, including the expansion of Christchurch Men’s Prison through a Public Private Partnership.
Building Defence Force and Foreign Affairs capability, with $1.9 billion total operating and $1.1 billion total capital investment that recognises the fast-changing geostrategic context and the critical role New Zealand plays in supporting peace and prosperity in the Pacific. A further $1.6 billion total capital is pre-committed against Budget 2026 for further strengthening our Defence Force.
A range of new Social Investments, including $760 million total operating funding uplift for Disability support services, $774 million to improve the redress system and strengthen the care system for abuse in state care, a new Social Investment Fund, measures to improve the integrity and fairness of the welfare system and the creation of a new flexible housing fund to deliver additional social and affordable housing places.
$6.8 billion of capital Infrastructure  projects, including funding for rail, roads, health and education infrastructure. 

“These high-impact investments have been made possible through the Government’s ongoing savings programme. The Budget redirects existing spending towards New Zealanders’ highest priorities, with $21.4 billion operating savings made across the forecast period from 116 initiatives. These savings make the new investments in this year’s Budget possible. Without these savings, our new initiatives would have required funding from extra taxes, or yet more borrowing, both of which would put New Zealand’s economic recovery at risk. 
“Significant Budget savings have resulted from fixing Labour’s flawed pay-equity regime and removing an assumption that the Government would fully-fund potential settlements involving non-Government employers. 
“Taken together, these changes have increased the funding available for Budget 2025 by $11 billion operating over the forecast period and an additional $1.8 billion allocated for capital investment. This funding has been redirected to support investments in frontline health, education and other government services. 
“The Government has kept funding in contingency to settle future pay equity claims that we anticipate will be raised by government employees. Other potential pay equity costs will be considered as part of the normal Budget process. 
“Future pay-equity settlements will only be awarded where pay discrepancies are proven to be the result of sex-based discrimination. 
“In addition to pay equity settlements, the Government will fund future pay rises for women-dominated public-sector workforces through the normal collective bargaining process. 
“Budget 2025 strikes a careful balance – making the investments our country needs now while driving long-term reforms to safeguard the economic recovery and growth New Zealanders depend on. It is a responsible Budget that secures New Zealand’s future.” 
 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

New Zealanders will soon be able to receive 12-month prescriptions for their medicines, delivering savings to patients on long-term medications, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister David Seymour say.
“Currently, doctors and other prescribers can only prescribe most medicines for a maximum of three months at a time. Patients must then pay their GP for a follow-up appointment or to issue a repeat prescription every three months,” Mr Brown says.
“This creates unnecessary barriers for patients on stable, long-term medications like asthma inhalers, insulin for diabetes, and blood pressure tablets. It means added costs for patients and more paperwork for health professionals, taking time away from patients with more urgent or complex needs.
“From the first quarter of 2026, prescribers will be able to issue prescriptions for up to 12 months if it is clinically appropriate and safe to do so. While patients will still collect their medication from a pharmacy every three months, they will no longer need to return to their doctor for a new prescription each time.
“This change could save up to $105 a year in GP fees for patients who need to renew their prescriptions four times annually. It’s a win-win for patients and the health system – fewer avoidable hospitalisations, better health outcomes, and reduced long term costs.” 
Budget 2025 allocates $91 million over four years to support this change. The funding will cover the cost of additional medicines, as more are expected to be dispensed.
“This change will remove red tape to make it easier for New Zealanders to get timely access to medicines so that they can live longer, happier, healthier lives,” Mr Seymour says.  
“Requiring patients on stable, long-term medications to visit GPs four times a year to renew a prescription for 12 months only costs them money and reduces accessibility. A 12-month prescription in these cases is just common sense.  
“I’m pleased to see the Government’s responsiveness to the voices of patients and their families by expanding access to more medicines for more groups. This decision reflects our commitment to a more adaptable and patient-centered approach.”  
Mr Brown says this change will also help GPs and other health professionals better manage patients with long-term conditions.
“Instead of spending time on routine repeat prescriptions, they can focus more on supporting those with complex or deteriorating health needs,” Mr Brown says.
“It is a practical, patient-focused change that will make access to healthcare simpler, more affordable, and more efficient for New Zealanders.”

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government will back community-based food banks for a further year as New Zealand recovers from a cost-of-living crisis, Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says.
“The $15 million in support announced today will be managed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), the New Zealand Food Network and partner agencies – meaning help for people who continue to need it.
“This will support the work of the Food Network, regional food hubs and community food providers, as they jointly distribute more than 4.5 million meals a month.
“Existing funding for the Food Secure Communities Programme was a Covid response measure and never intended to be permanent. It would have expired at the end of June 2024, but we know demand remains high, mainly driven by the cost of living.
“That’s why continuing support for food security remains important, with the Treasury expecting the pace of economic recovery to be slower than previously forecast.
“Our $15 million investment in the community food sector for 2025/26 will support and maintain: 

national and regional food distribution infrastructure to distribute purchased and rescued bulk food to community providers at low or no cost and during emergencies and disruptive events ($7.9 million)
food security initiatives which increase community food resilience and self-sufficiency ($1 million)
food providers and hubs to purchase and/or distribute food through foodbanks and community centres to meet the increased demand for food support ($6 million)

“This investment in food security also complements other Government initiatives supporting families and children, such as FamilyBoost. It also aligns with Government targets to increase student attendance and achievement. Addressing food insecurity also contributes to wider priorities on health, employment, and tackling violence and crime.
“Because it’s also important for the Government to know whether social investment and community initiatives are working, this funding includes $100,000 for MSD to better understand the programme’s impact while wider decisions are made about the future of food security programmes,” Louise Upston says.