Daily Archives: March 13, 2022

Hill stressed it should be remembered that COVID-19 was continuing to kill New Zealanders, and just like earlier variants Omicron was a life-threatening disease.

But he said that with Covid-19 so widespread some of the deaths in the death tally so far include people whose death occurred because of other causes, while they also had the virus.

"The classification of these deaths has not been complete for many of them, which basically means that there are significant numbers of people who are dying of something else and that coincidentally have COVID-19. That can be quite tricky to tease out."

Epidemiologist Rod Jackson urged older people to take the risk of COVID-19 seriously as the number of deaths from the virus continued to rise.

Six of the 14 deaths in the past two days were people in their seventies.

Jackson said it was inevitable that the older population would feel the effects of the virus as it passed from kids to their parents and onwards.

But he said it was not just the oldest people in the community who were at high risk.

"These are clearly seriously premature deaths, this is not just old sick people who are going to die in the next few days, these are people who are losing years of a potential healthy life."

Jackson said the death toll in Hong Kong was a stark wake-up call for those writing it off as a mild illness.

"You just have to look at Hong Kong today, it's a population of 7.5 million, so it's only New Zealand plus a half, and they're having well over 200 deaths a day, their health services are overwhelmed. They're in big trouble at the moment."

Jackson urged people to keep acting with caution to prevent the spread, and to seek medical advice if they were concerned about their health.

On Thursday the Ministry of Health changedhow COVID-19-related deaths are reported.

The death of anyone who dies within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 is now reported.

This group is divided into three categories:

By Thursday this week, 34 people had died where Covid-19 was clearly the cause, two people had died of another clear cause after testing positive for Covid-19, and the deaths of 48 people with the virus did not yet have a clear cause, the ministry said.

As Covid-19 cases mount, increasing numbers of deaths will also follow as people progress through the disease, the ministry said.

"It important to remember that each of these deaths represents significant loss for family and loved ones."

RNZ

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Coronavirus: New Zealand COVID death toll spikes to 105 as 'people losing years of a potential healthy life' - Newshub

Work on the 28-metre-long barns is well underway. They were meant to be converted into a school, but now they will be home to Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war-torn country.

"My mum phoned me up the other day and said, 'Why aren't they insulated and why aren't you looking after the people coming from Ukraine,' and we didn't really have an answer, did we," says Shelter for Ukraine co-founder Tristram Shackerley-Bennett.

"So we are going over and will insulate the houses as soon as we possibly can, insulate the school and then get as many refugees there as we can."

Shackerley-Bennett and his Kiwi partner Tamara Jones live in New Zealand and are behind the refugee initiative.

It's especially personal for Jones because she has family in Ukraine. Some of them have fled and one may have been killed - they just don't know for sure yet.

"Hearing stories from them and from family who are still stuck there, it's been pretty heartbreaking," she says.

The couple's barns, bought on a whim during a holiday there eight years ago, are located about four hours from the Ukrainian border - a geopolitically safe distance from the military risk.

They should have been fully restored by now, but when COVID hit, all work and plans were halted. So Shackerley-Bennett and Jones will head back there next week to get the property refugee ready.

But that work costs money - about $132,000 for phase one - and they're asking for public help.

"We have never asked for money before, we have never asked for help before. We have done this completely off our own back for the last eight years and I think it feels really good to finally turn round and go actually this is something that other people can help us with and we are okay about doing it," Shackerley-Bennett says.

Auckland lawyer Sam Moore has been supporting and advising them and a Givealittle page has been set up.

"There's a lot of drive and momentum but wanting to do things in the right order," Moore says.

Shackerley-Bennett and Jones say they have plenty of support on the ground in Slovakia - a team of tradespeople is ready to go and the local mechanic has a minibus organised to pick up the refugees from the border and take them to the shelter.

Even the staunch local mayor has given them his full backing.

"We are thinking of doing this and he was like, 'You have my permission to bring people into the village,' and it's like when he says yes, everything is cool," Shackerley-Bennett says.

"Especially since the village, there's only 1000 people, so to bring more people in, it's really, really good I think," Jones adds.

Shackerley-Bennett and Jones are performers who normally travel the world with their company The Inflatable Church. It's a wedding and festival experience that specialises in unholy matrimony. So it's apt that their latest venture is also all about love - this time for Ukrainians, especially the kids.

"Because it's a school and it's fundamentally designed as a school, it also means we can take families," Shackerley-Bennett says.

"One of the major issues is when kids are displaced, they don't continue with their education. We have everything we need there to be able to teach kids as well."

Their barns have a long and at times dark history - they once housed Nazis during the occupation of Slovakia.

But now with a little bit of Kiwi can-do attitude, they will provide sanctuary for welcomed and wanted guests.

See the article here:

New Zealand-founded initiative Shelter for Ukraine raising money to house refugees fleeing war - Newshub

Australian-born New Zealander Ueta Tufuga is the baby of the family.

Im actually the youngest. It does make me the smallest but it also makes me the fastest he said with a laugh. Ill take that.

The sport has taken Tufuga, whose first name is pronounced Wet-ah, to North America where the hard-running centre has found a home with the Toronto Arrows.

I love it here, said Tufuga, who came to Canada with his girlfriend Eunice. The only thing Im not loving is the weather. I cant wait for it to warm up a bit. Its a bit different from back home but I think its starting to get better now.

Its the first time seeing [snow] coming here, added Tufuga, who makes him home in Palmerston North on New Zealands North Island. And we kind of enjoyed it at first. And then when you have to drive, its the worst.

Tufuga, 24, has had no problem negotiating Major League Rugby so far.

I wake up every day wanting to go to remaining and just loving what Im doing at the moment, he said.

Toronto (2-2-0) plays at the New England Free Jacks (3-1-0) on Saturday as the Arrows continue their extended road trip to start the season. Six of their first seven games are away with a Feb. 11 contest staged in Langford, B.C.

After New England, Toronto will play at the Utah Warriors and Rugby New York before returning home to play host to Rugby ATL on April 2 at York Lions Stadium.

Arrows fly-half Sam Malcolm, another Kiwi, knew Tufuga and passed his name on to general manager Mark Winokur.

Having traded Canadian international centre Ben LeSage to the defending champion Los Angeles Giltinis in November, the Arrows were happy to find a replacement. Tufuga arrived in late December.

Born in Australia to parents of Samoan descent, Tufuga moved to New Zealand when he was seven.

Tufuga played club rugby for a time alongside brothers Sam, Max and Kirk with Wairarapa Bush in the New Zealand Heartland Championship, which is the tier below the National Provincial Championship. Their father Faleono also played for the team back in the day.

Sam and Max, both props, currently play in Portugal and New Zealand, respectively. Kirk, the oldest of the brothers who plays No. 8, is with a team in Spain. The four brothers also have a sister.

Ueta represented Samoa at the under-20 level in 2017 but missed out on the World Rugby Under-20 Championship after injuring his ankle two days before the opening game in Georgia. The next year he was invited to an All Blacks U-20 training camp.

In 2020, he was part of the training group for the Southland Stags NPC team in 2020. He previously played for Massey University in Palmerston North.

The chance to see North America was a big attraction of playing in MLR.

I never thought Id be in the places that I have been. I get to say now Ive been there. A few times I have to pinch myself. You see a couple of these places in movies that you watch and you go What am I doing here? Its just awesome.

Victoria was a particular favourite.

It definitely had a New Zealand feel to it It was really beautiful there. New Orleans was good as well.

And while Tufuga is a long way from home, he sees similarities between Canada and New Zealand despite the difference in weather.

The people here are real nice and real welcoming. Its sort of the same in New Zealand as well, he said. I find a lot of people here are real kind, especially the boys on the team.

He and his girlfriend share an apartment with Arrows prop Lolani Faleiva, a fellow Kiwi. And two more teammates from New Zealand prop Isaac Salmon and winger/centre Dennon Robinson-Bartlett live in the same building.

As for North American rugby, Tufuga says the standard is high with former international stars such as New Zealands Maa Nonu and Englands Chris Robshaw, both with the San Diego Legion, adding to the star quality.

The rest is here:

New Zealand's Ueta Tufuga enjoying seeing North America with the Toronto Arrows - The Globe and Mail

Based on New Zealand law, limited partnerships have certain characteristics. The main difference between a limited partnership and a general partnership is that they are both partners with responsibilities toward one another, and also liable for a substantial portion of a partnerships profits and liabilities.

New Zealand limited partnerships can conduct all kinds of activities, including taking business decisions, acting in any way, or completing transactions from both within New Zealand and abroad.

When two or more partners start a business together, they create a limited partnership (LP). However, the limited partners are only responsible for investment amounts up to the value of the business. Legal limitations prevent a corporation from owning a general partnership, which is considered unlimited liability by law.

By investing money into the partnership, a limited partner becomes a limited partner and keeps limited voting power but does not have complete control over the business day-to-day. Limited partners are only liable for what is proved from their active role in the business when it comes to a personal liability.

A general partner is not limited in their personal responsibility for the business debts. A limited partnership, as well as its general partner, has both limited and general members. There is no responsibility in the partnership to have a limited partner solely responsible for its debts.

A limited partnership agreement governs all partnership agreements. As opposed to what is commonly discussed here, a contract between partners is more practical. As part of this agreement, there will be provisions setting up how authority will be shared between a general partner and a limited partner. Each partners role will be outlined in the agreement.

Partners who form a limited liability partnership are in a position to make significant investments. limited partnership is an entity form of partnership which offers both the flexibility and protections of a sole proprietorship while allowing for the advantages of a general corporation.

Limited partnerships are characterized by two types of partners: one or more general partners who manage the business, and one or more limited partners who cannot participate in its management.

An example of a limited partnership. A limited liability company can be used for a wide variety of high-risk, time-sensitive activities. Films are commonly edited, written, and directed by creative teams. There are two types of limited partners: companies and individual companies.

An LP is a limited partnership. Consider a limited partnership, for instance, for investors in real estate. a family corporation, commonly referred to as a family limited partnership. You can pool money, appoint a general partner, and watch your investments grow as part of an organized family.

Partners who form limited partnerships use these structures as a simple way to protect themselves from liabilities. As an example, in a limited partnership involving Anna, Bob and Cheshire Land Development Limited, only Cheshire Land Development Limited is entitled to participate in the partnership. As limited partners, both individuals have limited rights.

Partnered partnerships are generally limited since some of the partners can contribute just financially and only at the amount they have put down. Limited partners are shielded when it comes to their investments in a limited partnership structure.

A Limited Partnership Presents The Following Features.

versus a general partner, since limited partners are less likely to be responsible in the event of a default on their loans, while limited partners are not able to give general partners direction in matters of management.

A general partner and a limited partner are typically different forms of partners; both of them are entitled to personal financial benefits while the limited partner bears limited risks.

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What Is A Limited Partnership In New Zealand? ictsd.org - ICTSD Bridges News

Sunday, 13 March 2022, 6:42 pmPress Release: Gisborne District Council

Valid from Tuesday 15 Mar 2022 to Friday 18 Mar2022

A subtropical low to the northeast of theNorth Island moves slowly away to the east late Tuesday andduring Wednesday. This low is expected to direct a moistsouth to southeast flow over central and northern parts ofNew Zealand and bring periods of rain to eastern districtsof the North Island.

From Tuesday to early Thursday,there is low confidence of rainfall amounts reaching warningcriteria in Gisborne south of Tokomaru Bay and Hawke's Baynorth of Napier, but especially about the WairoaDistrict.

A front moves over southern and easternparts of the South Island on Tuesday and Wednesday thenweakens. A ridge then spreads over much of southern andcentral New Zealand from late Wednesday through into Friday,directing and easterly flow over northern NewZealand.

Lowconfidence: a 20% likelihood (or 1 chance in 5)that the event will actuallyhappen.Moderate confidence: a40% likelihood (or 2 chances in 5) that the event willactually happen.High confidence:a 60% likelihood (or 3 chances in 5) that the event willactuallyhappen

Scoop Media

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Severe Weather Outlook For New Zealand - Scoop

When a guest who was scheduled to read to second-year students over Zoom earlier this month didn't show up, the assistant principal at a Mississippi elementary school, improvised.

Toby Price's boss at Gary Road Elementary School suggested Price read to the students, so he reached for one of his favorite children's books: I Need a New Butt! written by New Zealander Dawn McMillan and illustrated by Ross Kinnaird. (In New Zealand, the book is titled I Need a New Bum!) McMillan is a prolific author of childrens books. Stuff has approached her for comment.

"It's a funny, silly book," Price, 46, said in an interview with The Washington Post. "I'm a firm believer that... if kids see that books can be funny and silly, they'll hang around long enough to see all the other cool things that books can be."

The students "thought it was hilarious," Price recalled. But the superintendent for the Hinds County School District near Jackson, Mississippi, did not, and about an hour after the event, Price was placed on administrative leave. Two days later, on March 4, he was fired.

READ MORE:* History is written as it happens by Wikipedia editors * Readers browse and issue books in 'closed' unstaffed library

The superintendent, Delesicia Martin, who did not respond to The Post's request for comment, wrote in Price's termination letter that he "showed a lack of professionalism and impaired judgment" because "the topics described in this book were inappropriate.

Now, Price is fighting to overturn the district's decision. His efforts have garnered overwhelming support, he said, with parents, current and former students, and strangers speaking out and donating to a GoFundMe so he can pay for a lawyer and continue to support his family.

Price's firing is the latest flashpoint over books in schools, though most of the conflicts have been over those that reference race and sexual orientation. In November, the American Library Association called the rate at which books are being challenged unprecedented. In several states where new laws are dictating how teachers discuss race in schools, many educators are scared they could lose their jobs over one misstep.

Price said he fears his situation could set a "scary precedent" for teachers in his district. He worries educators will wonder if they have to get approval for every book they read to their students.

TOBY PRICE

Toby Price with his wife, Leah.

"Teachers already have so much else to worry about when they come into a building: One, getting fired over test scores; two, is someone going to come in and shoot up the building? Or am I going to catch Covid?" Price said.

The events leading to Price's firing began March 2, when he organised a Zoom event for second-year students at the Byram, Mississippi, elementary school. The gathering was to celebrate Read Across America Day, which is Dr Seuss's birthday and a day dedicated to encouraging children to read. The plan was to have a special guest read a book to them.

When the guest did not arrive, Price's boss asked him to read to the students. Price said the students loved the book, which is about a boy who thinks he needs a new butt after noticing his has a large crack.

Ricky Wilson/Stuff

Author Dawn McMillan, left, and Pat Brown in 2019 at the launch of Home Child about Brown's experience as a child migrant who set sail from England in the 1950s with her siblings.

Fifteen minutes after the event, Price said the principal at his school called him into her office. According to Price, she told him that he shouldn't have chosen that book and that parents might complain. Soon after the meeting, he said he was told the superintendent wanted to see him at the district office immediately.

"They kind of just let me have it," Price said. "She said, 'Is this the kind of thing you find funny and silly? Fart and butt and bulletproof butts?' And I said, 'Yeah, I did until I walked in.'"

On March 4, Price was called back to the district office and fired, he said.

Price said he was blindsided by the sudden decision, noting that he has never had any disciplinary issues. Not only does he love working with children, but he also has a family to support, he said. Two of his three children are autistic.

Since the firing, Price said he has not been allowed back into his office to collect his personal items. And though he wants the district's decision overturned, he's unsure about returning to the job, since he fears he'll be scrutinised by senior administrators. He is more concerned with ridding the termination from his record.

SUPPLIED/TVNZ

Jeremy Wells reads I Need a New Bum! by Kiwi author Dawn McMillan for Goodnight Kiwi.

Price said he hasn't heard of any complaints about the book from parents and noted that members of the parent-teacher organization wrote to him offering their support. Former students have also spoken out, including one who wrote a thread on Twitter about how "amazing" Price was at his job.

"[T]he man absolutely loved reading and actively encouraged it," the former student wrote. "Even lending books from his own office for kids to read."

Tom Angleberger, the children's author best known for the Origami Yoda and Rocket and Groot series, told The Post that he has known Price for years. Angleberger said he admires that Price "never gives up" and dedicated a book to him and his family in recognition of his perseverance.

"Mr Price is dedicated to making connections with kids, to making sure they have a caring adult in their lives and to proving to them that learning and reading don't have to be boring," Angleberger said.

Price said he doesn't regret his decision to read I Need a New Butt!.

"Kids need silly books," Price said. "The world is too harsh a place."

As of early Friday, the book was No 6 on Amazon's children's book bestsellers list.

The Washington Post's Michael Cavna contributed to this report.

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An assistant principal in the US read a New Zealand children's book to young students - he was fired - Stuff

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Minister of immigration Kris Faafoi said the re-opening of working holiday visas would benefit tourism and business in New Zealand.

The return of more skilled workers coming into New Zealand from Monday will accelerate New Zealand's economic recovery, the Immigration Minister says.

From 11.59pm on Sunday, applications for some working holiday schemes open for the first time since the pandemic began.

Working holiday visas allow people, usually aged 18 to 30, to travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if they are from the UK or Canada.

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said it would help fill workforce shortages and support tourism.

STUFF

The New Zealand hospitality industry is battling a labour shortage which has been exacerbated by the border closure and the departure of many migrant workers. (Video first published in July 2021)

READ MORE:* Working holiday and seasonal work visas extended for another six months* Worker visa extensions 'not a moment too soon', says Business NZ* Skifield echoes call for Immigration NZ to let skilled workers through

Before Covid-19 we welcomed around 50,000 working holidaymakers to New Zealand each year, so its a key milestone in our economic recovery that were opening our doors to this group of tourists and workers again, he said.

From Monday, the critical worker border exception for roles lasting longer than six months will also be widened, reducing the salary criteria to 1.5 times the median wage and removing the requirement to have skills not readily obtainable in New Zealand, he said.

The expanded settings are expected to benefit a variety of sectors seeking to attract skilled workers, including early to mid-career professionals for roles in the tech sector, business and accounting services, education, construction and the primary industries.

Getting more working holidaymakers and skilled migrants into the country in the coming weeks and months is a priority for the Government in order to accelerate our recovery, which is why we have reopened this category early in our reconnection plan.

The Government had granted a new 12-month visa to about 19,500 people offshore who previously held a working holiday visa but were unable to use it because of our border restrictions.

They will need to use this new visa within the next six months, Faafoi said.

The return of working holidaymakers would also provide a much-needed boost for the tourism sector ahead of the reopening of the borders more generally to tourists.

Working holidaymakers tend to travel to multiple regions during their time in New Zealand, which is beneficial for the tourism sector and local economies right across the country," he said.

The Working Holiday Schemes will reopen in stages, with all uncapped schemes, which account for around three quarters of all working holidaymakers, opening for applications at 10am on Monday, March 14. Capped schemes are being staggered after that. All schemes will be reopened by September 13.

See the article here:

New Zealand 'opens its doors' to working holiday visa applicants for the first time since the pandemic began - Stuff

Business

12 Mar, 2022 11:00 PM3 minutes to read

NZ Government bond yields are at multi-year highs. Photo / File

New Zealand Government bond yields have pushed through to multi-year highs as inflation pressures continue to mount at home and abroad.

The 10-year bond hit 3 per cent on Friday for the first time since June 2018, while five-year bonds traded at 2.865 per cent - their highest point since June 2016.

At the short end, two-year bonds were at 2.605 per cent - a level not seen since December 2015.

Bond yields here and around the world have been on a march higher, with the war in Ukraine seen as adding substantially more fuel to an already heady inflationary mix.

US inflation hit 7.9 per cent in February - its highest point in 40 years - and US Treasury yields spiked higher to nearly 2 per cent.

Data out on Friday showed New Zealand food prices rose 6.8 per cent in February - the largest annual increase since July 2011.

In the bond market, yields rise when prices fall.

Adding to last week's bearish theme was the European Central Bank, which said it would stop pumping money into financial markets, thereby leaving the message that soaring inflation outweighed concerns about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Harbour Asset Management fixed income and currency strategist Hamish Pepper said higher fuel prices arising from the Russian invasion had served to push already firming bond yields higher still.

"There is a supply shock and it has come at a time when inflation was already very high, and expectations of inflation were above central bank forecasts," Pepper said.

Markets were pricing in a higher inflation component into bond yields.

Pepper said there was also a growing realisation that central banks cannot "look through" the energy supply shock in ways that they have been able to in the past.

"People are assuming that central banks are going to have to work harder to eventually bring inflation lower," he said.

Pepper said New Zealand bonds were feeling the pressure more acutely than their foreign equivalents because of the capacity constraints they already faced before the conflict in Europe.

A day before Russia's invasion, the Reserve Bank raised its official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 1.0 per cent.

At the time, the bank surprised the market with a statement from its monetary policy committee to the effect that the decision was a close-run thing.

"When deciding whether to move the OCR up by 25 or 50 basis points, many members saw this as a finely balanced decision," the committee said.

"When considering the case for a 50 basis point increase, the committee noted the high starting point for inflation and the drift upwards in measures of inflation expectations," it said.

The upshot of that was the realisation that the Reserve Bank was a lot more hawkish on the inflation front than many had anticipated, even though it hiked by just 25 basis points.

To that end, ANZ economists are now forecasting back-to-back 50 basis point hikes for the official cash rate in April and May.

ANZ now sees the official cash rate reaching a peak of 3.5 per cent in April 2023 from a previous forecast of 3 per cent.

"ANZ has been getting the attention (with its forecast)," Pepper said.

"Whether you believe that or not, it speaks to the current market narrative."

Read the original here:

NZ 10-year bond hits 3 per cent as inflation fears mount - New Zealand Herald

Politics

12 Mar, 2022 04:00 PM3 minutes to read

Act leader David Seymour will declare nearly $1m in donations from wealthy New Zealanders. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Act will declare $850,000 of donations on Monday from some of the wealthiest New Zealanders, including a $100,000 donation from billionaire Graeme Hart, who tops the rich list.

Act leader David Seymour says the donations are part of a drive by the Act party which has raised almost $1 million. The remaining roughly $150,000 has come from smaller donations, which do not have to have their donors declared.

Alongside Hart, the big donors are Rod Drury, Craig Turner, Graham Edwards, Dame Jenny Gibbs, Murray Chandler, and John Harman, who donated $100,000 each.

Stephen Jennings, Grant Baker, and Mike Thorburn donated $50,000 each.

Seymour said the donations were from people who were not "particularly political", and he did not know conclusively whether any of the names on the list were Act party members.

He said the donors were "worried about two things: the state of democracy, the rushed legislation and the uncertainty it creates; and the policy direction which they see as being anti-aspirational and I think the reason they have connected that with Act is they want to see meaningful change in New Zealand".

Seymour said current polling showed that the Government could change at the next election, which made it increasingly likely Act would have a role in the next Government.

"I think the Government will change and recent polls have shown that's more and more likely - the question is change to what? That's where Act comes in," Seymour said.

Seymour said he'd been bringing the donations together for a couple of months.

"A lot of these people - and I've been talking to them a lot in the last month or two while we've been bringing this together - their view is usually a long-term view.

"They say, 'we're very concerned about the current Government, but we're also concerned about New Zealand's long-term direction, and after 90 years of Labour and National, maybe it's time to ask how do we make sure we get the values that make New Zealand a prosperous country cemented in a more serious way'," Seymour said.

Seymour has recently booked large donations from Troy Bowker and Mark Wyborn.

Political parties must declare the names of donors when they donate more than $15,000 to a party in a year. The donation must be declared within 10 working days if it is more than $30,000.

Under those rules, Act will need to declare the names of its 10 large donors on Monday.

Seymour said the large donations were not the end of the party's donations drive.

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Act party donations drive nets almost $1 million from rich listers - New Zealand Herald

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Erin Routliffe will be part of the New Zealand Billie Jean King team to play in Turkey next month.

New Zealands top doubles player Erin Routliffe is having a sensation last 12 months on the WTA Tour, with the 26-year-old Auckland born, Canadian raised player ranked 33rd in the world.

We asked her to take the hot seat for Back Chat while in Indian Wells and she was happy to oblige.

Why do you think the last year has been so great for you?

Ive been working hard for a couple of years now, so its just an accumulation of everything. Trying to focus on things I can control, work on my mental game. In tennis you lose a lot no matter who you are, so youve got to take the losses and figure out what happened and then move on.

It is frowned upon in singles to try to hit your opponent, but is it acceptable in doubles?

I think its OK. If you have the entire court open, then going at a person blatantly isnt super cool. But in doubles its different. Going at them hard is a good play and you win the point a lot. I dont think players get upset if they get hit in doubles. I dont, I just move on.

Have you ever got frustrated at your partner if they have a bad miss?

For sure, but I get a lot more frustrated with myself. Everyone Im playing with is out there trying 100 per cent. Its a business now, its a job. We all have bad days and I know I do, so I try to be as positive as I can to them. If someones giving 100 per cent, then I dont mind if they double fault every game 15 times!

You grew up in Canada, so are you a big ice hockey fan?

I used to go to Toronto Maple Leafs games with my dad when I was a kid. Now I dont watch it as much. Im not a diehard fan, but I keep up with it and Im a Maple Leafs fan.

Whats your top tip for avoiding jet lag?

Emily, my fitness trainer, told me that if you stay outside as much as you can when youre jet-lagged then that helps a lot. Ever since she told me that I do it all the time and its amazing. I try to go for walks and get as much sunlight as I can.

You went the college route before going on the Tour, did you think that was the best way to go for you?

I dont think I was ready for the Tour when I was 18. I wanted to go pro, but education was important to me and my parents. We didnt have the funds either for me to go pro. I also wanted to go to college, I thought it would be a good experience.

Whats Marina Erakovic like as the Billie Jean King Cup captain?

Shes great, I really like her. She has a ton of experience on the Tour and I like picking her brain about it and how she handled things. She deals with the team environment well and is easy to be around. Ive learned a lot from her and hope I can continue to, because she was an amazing player and is a great person.

If you could change one rule in tennis, what would it be?

I would say get rid of 10-point tiebreakers and no-advantage deuces in doubles. Im a doubles player now and think that it makes it quite tough sometimes. I feel like it can be a coin toss for who wins the match, rather than whos the best on that day. Id prefer it all to be like the grand slams, where we get to play out deuces and third sets.

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Back Chat with New Zealand tennis star Erin Routliffe - Stuff