Daily Archives: October 6, 2022

An Antarctic blast across New Zealand (NZ) has brought snow flurries across large areas of the country in spring, including in Christchurch and Wellington.

The south of the country woke up to temperatures at near zero degrees Celsius, the coldest place being Te Anau at negative six degrees celsius.

Christchurch experienced its first snowfall in October in 53 years, according to NZ Herald.

Wanaka Airport also saw its temperature drop to negative three degrees at night, the coldest October minimum since records began recording in 1992.

As a result, several roads across the country have been closed, with the NZ Transport Agency issuing warnings for many others.

The Queenstown Lake District Council warned drivers of black ice on the roads and to reconsider the need to travel unless necessary.

If you do need to travel, slow down. The roads are like skating rinks, the council said in a post on Facebook.

The freezing spring temperatures come after New Zealand recorded its warmest winter on record, at a national average of 9.8 degrees, which was 1.2 degrees above average, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

Met Service, the national weather authority, said Friday morning was looking like another frosty start for many, but the temperature would slowly climb back over the weekend.

Transpower had been expecting a spike in electricity demand across the country as people turn on their heaters to keep warm.

Stephen Jays, the general manager of operations at Transpower, said the arrival of a cold front during the school holidays, when demand is usually lower, created uncertainty.

Additional uncertainty came from the wind forecasts, which would affect the output from wind turbines.

But longer daylight hours were expected to help mute demand.

Jays said they would closely monitor the weather and the supply and demand of power.

The unique situation provides an ideal opportunity for us to meet with industry to discuss the challenges and remind participants of our processes for dealing with low residual situations, he told Stuff news.

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Rebecca Zhu is based in Sydney. She focuses on Australian and New Zealand national affairs. Got a tip? Contact her at rebecca.zhu@epochtimes.com.au.

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Antarctic Blast Hits New Zealand, Brings Spring Snow Across the Country - The Epoch Times

McLeod also recently taught his first class at Homeland, a cooking school and restaurant owned by one of New Zealand's most internationally recognised chefs, Peter Gordon, where he delighted participants with dishes such as fish wrapped in rangiora leaves and steamed in bracken fern (seafood has always been a huge part of the traditional Mori diet).

Karena and Kasey Bird, two well-known culinary personalities, also with a huge interest in showcasing indigenous food, believe what McLeod is doing is crucial for their culture's preservation. "His knowledge around Mori kai is second to none. His PhD is going to be so invaluable for future generations and also links us back to the importance of our whakapapa (ancestry) and history on this land," said Kasey.

McLeod certainly hopes so. "Colonialism brought a detachment from our culture and heritage that was brutal, and generations of Mori were severed from their reality," he said. "The Crown tried to 'civilise' Mori, and in doing this, separated us from our cultural habitat and heritage, but we can bring it back."

"Maori cuisine is so totally unique, and completely organic. My dream is [for] Mori to be proud of who they are, and what they cook once more and share that with all of New Zealand, as well as anyone who visits our beautiful country."

Maybe one day people will visit New Zealand and be able to easily find dishes creatively using ingredients like kina, paua (abalone) eel and muttonbird just as easily as fish and chips, pizza and noodles. If McLeod and the other Mori chefs working towards this renaissance of indigenous cuisine have anything to do with it, that's entirely possible.

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New Zealand's overlooked indigenous cuisine - BBC

New Zealand has been named one of the friendliest countries in the world and best countries overall in the long-running Cond Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards, but our hotels put in a pretty poor showing.

Aotearoa claimed the third spot on the New York-based publications 2022 list of the 10 friendliest countries, based on the input of thousands of readers around the globe.

Famed the world over for their laidback, positive attitude towards life, the native inhabitants of New Zealand (known as Mori) have only called the island home for 800 years, the publication says.

And it is perhaps the Mori people who first started the friendly outlook towards visitors with the idea of manaakitanga (Mori for hospitality) a sign of mutual respect for others helping to boost the value of friendly generosity among the people here.

READ MORE:* Delamore Lodge, Waiheke Island: New Zealand's most Instagrammable swimming pool* Two New Zealand destinations make TripAdvisor's most popular list * The Farm at Cape Kidnappers: Hawke's Bay luxury resort named one of Conde Nast Traveler's all-time favourites

French Polynesia was named the worlds friendliest country, with the publication saying locals are only too happy to accommodate the honeymooners, divers, hikers and other holidaymakers who visit its famous overwater bungalows, coral-fringed lagoons and waterfall-studded mountains.

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New Zealand emerged the 10th-best country to travel to overall.

Described as colourful and bold with an open-hearted culture, Colombia came in third place, with the publication saying its impossible not to become wrapped up in the music, the joyful atmosphere and the zest for life here.

New Zealand emerged the 10th-best country to travel to overall with a score of 89.01 out of 100, just a couple of points below Portugal, which came in at number 1 with a score of 91.22.

Thailand placed third and was followed by Singapore, India, Greece, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Italy.

Europe dominated the list overall, with the publication saying this matched what its team had heard anecdotally (and seen on Instagram) about where travellers have been choosing to go in 2022, which it described as the year we really embraced travel again after pretty much two years of enforced abstinence.

No New Zealand hotels made the best hotels in the world list, but Aucklands Cordis Hotel placed 10th on the list of the best hotels in Australasia, and Glenorchys Aro H Wellness Retreat claimed the 19th spot on the best destination spas in the world list.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand ranked 14th on the list of the best overall airlines in the world, which was topped by Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

Go here to read the rest:

New Zealand named among friendliest - and best - countries in the world - Stuff

It isa long way from the Land of the Long White Cloud to the long white salt lake in South Australia's far north where Team New Zealand is ready to set a new wind-powered world speed record.

Lake Gairdner is the venue and it has taken about 18 months for the team to get to the start line.

"It's going to be interesting understanding the conditions that we're working in now," Team New Zealand operations manager Sean Regan saidas he oversaw preparations.

"For everyone here it's like thumbs-up. We're happy. First step of many."

The carefully planned operation will try to steer the land yacht Horonuku across the salt bed at well over 200 kilometres per hour.

They will need 30 to 35 knots to surpass the world record of 202.9 kph and Horonuku will need to travel about 7 kilometres on the salt lake to get to full speed.

"It is such a boutique, cutting-edge technology project," said the craft's pilot, America's Cup winning yachtsman Glenn Ashby.

"We're pushing boundaries to limits they haven't been pushed to before with a wind-powered craft.

"The craft is very much engineered to do 250 kph.

"It really depends on Mother Nature for how much wind we get and also what the surface is of the salt."

Mother Nature has not been exactly kind to the project, with rain in January leaving about a metre of water across the normally dry lake.

"It's been slowly disappearing and over the last few days we've been able to get a dry surface," Ashby said.

It has allowed Team New Zealand to go forward with its plans and Horonuku has been transported from Adelaide to Lake Gairdner a trip of about 500 kilometres.

The team had initially hopedto have been at the lake and be readying for a serious run about five or sixweeks ago.

Nevertheless, the record-chasers are more than satisfied with what Lake Gairdner presents for them.

"The fact that we've got about 17 kilometreslong and about 8 kimwide will hopefully give us enough runway," Ashby said.

"We need about 67km from a standing start to get to our terminal velocity of hopefully around 250 kph."

The project has been funded and run by Team New Zealand, the current holder of the America'sCup, and based in Auckland, where construction and the initial testing of the yacht was undertaken.

"We're using tyres and wheels and suspension, which is pretty foreign to us, so we've had to get out of our comfort zone a little bit," Ashby said.

Horonuku was packed away and sent to Adelaide in June ready for the record attempt, only for the weather to intervene.

Team New Zealand is hopeful it will be smooth sailing from here on.

The team will pressure test the yacht's tyres, trim and traction in the next few weeks as it waits for the perfect conditions to sail no rain on the lake and plenty of wind.

Read the original:

Lake Gairdner drying out ahead of Team New Zealand wind-powered world speed record attempt - ABC News

New Zealand T20I Tri-Series Live Telecast Channel: The SportsRush presents before you the timing and live streaming details of NZ Tri-Nation Series.

Triangular series are no longer a phenomenon which they used to be at one point in time in international cricket. T20I triangular series, on the other hand, have been played so scarcely that it would be safe to say that they are yet to receive a regular opportunity among ICC (International Cricket Council) Full Member Nations.

It is only as a preparatory measure for ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this month that New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be playing a rare one-off triangular series in New Zealand.

An eight-day tournament involving three teams will comprise of a total of seven matches. All the teams will face each other twice before the Top Two locking horns in the final match. Barring a one-day break between the two league rounds, there will be no off day between tomorrow and next Friday.

ALSO READ: Bangladesh vs Pakistan pitch report at Hagley Oval

Visitors Bangladesh and Pakistan will face each other in Christchurch on Friday. Scheduled to host an international match after seven months, Hagley Oval will be a lone venue throughout this series.

Ardent fans of the sport who follow international cricket across the globe should be aware of the fact that international cricket in New Zealand isnt televised for Indian audiences until and unless India are participating.

An unwanted practice which has been followed in the recent years will make its presence felt in this series as well leaving bountiful Indians fans with no option than to live stream all the matches.

Global streaming platform Amazon Prime Video will come to the rescue of Indian fans as Prime Video India will be streaming this triangular series in India with a paid subscription.

As far as a neighboring country in Pakistan is concerned, Ten Sports Pakistan will be televising New Zealand T20I Tri-Nation Series 2022 for Pakistani fans. Local fans in New Zealand will be able to watch this series on the ever-reliable Spark Sport.

Date 07/10/2022 (Friday) 14/10/2022 (Friday).

Match start Time 07:00 AM and 11:00 AM (Pakistan), 07:30 AM and 11:30 AM (India), and 03:00 PM and 07:00 PM (local).

TV Channel Not available (India), Ten Sports (Pakistan) and Spark Sport (New Zealand).

Online platform Prime Video (India).

See original here:

New Zealand T20I Tri-Series Live Telecast Channel in India and Pakistan: When and where to watch NZ, PAK and BAN triangular series? - The Sportsrush

A bitterly cold front is sweeping through New Zealand, bringing snow to large parts of the country and causing thunder strikes throughout the motu.

Further snow is expected across much of the South Island on Thursday, while Wairarapa is under a heavy snow watch.

Heres what you need to know.

READ MORE:* Thundersnow adds to weather woes * Spring snow is down to huge gulf between temperature of ocean and the air almost a mile above it* Christchurch and Wellington expected to feel like -7C on Thursday morning

The Desert Road in the central North Island has reopened after a six-hour closure from heavy snowfall.

Waka Kotahi spokesperson Cara Lauder said people should also prepare for other state highways in the Central Plateau to be affected.

With additional traffic on the roads due to the school holidays, motorists are asked to take extra care on slippery roads, she said.

Most major highways across Otago and Southland have been reopened after numerous closures on Thursday morning.

State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch has reopened after being closed for several hours due to ice and heavy snowfall.

Waka Kotahi NZTA/Supplied

The Desert Road was closed between Rangipo and Waiouru due to heavy snowfall.

Dunedin City Council has warned its residents to drive carefully on the "treacherous" roads.

Mayor Aaron Hawkins said it was safest for Dunedin residents to stay home, especially in the hill suburbs.

Crews are ... out clearing roads, but the volume, low level and widespread nature of the snow means they won't get to all areas immediately, particularly the hill suburbs and outlying areas, he said in a tweet.

The Banks Peninsula route on state highway 75 reopened after 10am. The alpine passes along SH73 and SH7 are both open, but chains are needed to combat snow and ice. Those roads are closed to towing vehicles.

State Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Timaru has also reopened, though ice and snow continue to affect safety in Southland and Otago, journey manager for Otago and Southland Nicole Felts said.

Even when roads have reopened, motorists are being warned of black ice, which is hard to spot under trees and on bridges, she said.

The following roads are open, but hazardous. Motorists should watch for snow and black ice.

Orbus Dunedin said most services in the city were suspended due to weather and road conditions.

Bus routes 3, 8, 19, 44 and 55 would be in service, but would not be travelling on certain roads and would potentially be delayed due to conditions.

In the North Island, Metlink was also advising of cancellations affecting Wairarapa train services due to weather.

The 8.21am and 12.45pm services from Wellington to Masterton had been cancelled, as had the 10.30am and 3.38pm from Masterton to Wellington.

MATT GREENE/Supplied

Snow covers the beach, in Dunedin.

Upper mountain lifts at Whakapapa ski field are on hold due to high winds and avalanche control work.

Happy Valley will open for beginner ski and sledding from 9.30am.

Meanwhile, Mt Hutts operations manager James Urquhart said the snowfalls timing was absolutely epic and skiers were in for a magic few days up the mountain.

On Wednesday, 13cm of snow fell on Mt Hutt, with a little more on Thursday morning.

There was also a large dumping of snow on Taranaki Maunga overnight.

So far this year the ski areas rope tows and t-bar have not operated due to a lack of snow, but its not unheard of for the field to open as late as November.

Liam Galbreath/Supplied

Snow blankets the ground in Mosgiel, Dunedin.

A further 10 to 15cm of snow is forecast in Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha, Dunedin, Central Otago south of Alexandra, the Southern Lakes District south of Queenstown, and Fiordland from Te Anau southwards.

A MetService meteorologist said there were plenty more snow showers on the way for places like Southland.

Christchurch could expect up to 20 centimetres of snow to 200m above sea level, MetService said.

A warning on State Highway 1 north of Dunedin remained in place until 6pm on Thursday, with a further 4-6cm of snow expected.

Read more:

Polar blast: What you need to know about New Zealand's severe weather - Stuff

Tax has been in the news in recent weeks whether its the UK Government removing its top tax rate of 45% and then changing its mind, or National and Act renewing their call for tax cuts after it was revealed that the Government books were in better shape than predicted.

But how much tax do we really pay? And how does that compare to other countries around the world?

When it comes to personal income tax, New Zealand has a marginal tax system.

It works like this: The first $14,000 is taxed at a rate of 10%. Money you earn between $14,000 and $48,000 a year is taxed at a rate of 17.5%. Between $48,000 and $70,000 you pay 30%. Between $70,000 and $180,000 you are taxed 33% and every dollar you earn over $180,000 in a year is taxed at 39%. (If you earn $72,000 a year, you dont pay 33% on the whole lot just the bit over $70,000.)

READ MORE:* Here's how your tax bill could change post-election* NZ taxpayers getting off lightly, OECD data suggests* Taxing wealth: a necessary step, or unachievable pipe dream?

We also pay GST on pretty much everything. We pay tax on capital gains only in some circumstances such as when a residential investment property is sold within the timeframe set out by the bright-line test rules or when someone is buying things with the intent of selling them for a profit. We dont pay inheritance tax or stamp duties.

In income tax terms, New Zealand is taxed relatively lightly, according to OECD data.

If you combined all the tax a worker paid and any social security contributions they made, then subtracted government assistance like Working for Families, a single worker in New Zealand on an average income had a tax wedge of 19.4% in 2021. That was second-to-lowest in the OECD, ahead of only Colombia and Chile.

If it were a person who had a partner and children, they would have a tax wedge of just 6.5% on an average income. That was still second-lowest.

Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker said the absence of social security contributions from income made New Zealand look lightly taxed.

If you look at the wedge graphs the actual proportion of tax that is going on the individual is probably slightly on the higher end.

I take all those tax wedges with a grain of salt, but it is indicative in terms of New Zealand being fairly lightly taxed when it comes to individuals.

She said it would always come down to a combination of the tax thresholds and tax rates applied. Other countries had higher top tax rates such as Australias 47%, Frances 55% and the UKs 45% but they usually only applied on high levels of income.

Tax expert Terry Baucher said, on a percentage of GDP basis, the countrys income tax take was below average. Including local authority rates, New Zealand was at 32% or maybe 33% but the OECD average is about 34%, he said.

Where we have an issue is at the lower end. The non-indexation of thresholds has really frankly come back and bit both parties.

He said, if income tax thresholds had moved with inflation and incomes as ACC levies had since 2010, they would need to be 24% higher.

Working for Families thresholds had also not been adjusted, so now someone who was working a 40-hour week on the minimum wage would have some of their credits clawed back.

Kathryn George/Stuff

In income tax terms, New Zealand is taxed relatively lightly, according to OECD data.

Someone earning $50,000 a year would have a marginal tax rate of 57% when the effect of the 30% tax rate and 27% Working for Families clawback were combined. Thats where all the pain is happening, I think.

Baucher said more attention should have been paid to how the thresholds worked when they were last adjusted in 2010. This will become a political headache for both parties in different ways.

Walker said the way that tax credits were structured through Working for Families was designed to help people with children. One of the risks we have is when we put up taxes and use the social system to give stuff back to those people we think should get credits back if youre a single individual in New Zealand and you dont have children youre more likely to start feeling a little bit hard done by.

Inland Revenue data shows that in the 2020/2021 tax year, there are just over 1.076 million taxpayers earning up to $10,000 a year. They paid tax of $156.1 million, or 0.34% of the total take.

The 1.024 million earning between $40,000 and $70,000 a year paid $9.567 billion or 20.6%. The 14,460 taxpayers earning over $500,000 a year paid $5.4b in tax.

Then there is GST.

New Zealands GST bill is higher than comparable taxes in most other countries. GST is applied to almost everything that is paid for in New Zealand, whereas other countries have exemptions for things such as food.

As a percentage of total revenue, we had the second-highest GST (or equivalent) bill in the world in 2018.

Of the Governments total tax take of $93.8b in the 2021 tax year, $26b was GST compared to $44.8b in income tax. Walker said this was also a tax on consumption by individuals in New Zealand and needed to be overlaid on the personal tax picture.

When you start doing international comparisons, you get into a bit of dangerous territory because its not always clear what is being taxed and what public services are provided in return, Walker said. If we look at the OECD reports on personal taxation, its clear that New Zealand is one of the lighter taxed countries when it comes to direct taxation on individuals. However, that is only part of the picture, as when you overlay indirect taxes and in particular GST, its possible that New Zealanders are paying a higher total amount of tax.

The corporate tax rate of 28% is just under Australias but ahead of the UK and US.

Walker said that was high in OECD terms, but corporate tax was largely a withholding tax on shareholder income. In theory, ultimately everything should in due course go out to taxpayers as a dividend and then be taxed at their marginal tax rate.

Walker said it seemed likely that tax would become an election issue in 2023.

Overall tax is complicated as there are a number of moving parts to the tax system. There seems to be a growing discontent about how taxes are being levied in New Zealand and whether there is unfairness in the system.

It would seem timely for there to be a review of personal taxation however, this wont be straightforward as our tax system is entangled with our social system due to Working For Families and other subsidies and a review of tax cant be done in isolation.

Read the original here:

How does New Zealand's tax bill compare to other countries? - Stuff

Many Kiwis wake up to a whiteout, economy proves resilient post-Covid and why more are taking 'extreme measures' to avoid socialising in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald

Health researchers are shining crucial new light on Long Covid's growing toll in New Zealand, where thousands of Kiwis are already struggling with lingering problems.

Long Covid, a constellation of persisting symptoms thought to accompany 10 to 20 per cent of infections, can affect nearly every organ system in our bodies yet there remains no established treatment or cure.

Experts have warned it could cast a decades-long shadow beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, with one likening the country's potential healthcare needs to a "flood of Noah-like proportions".

The Ministry of Health, which last month released new clinical guidelines, has just funded several new studies gauging its impacts across Aotearoa.

One, led by the University of Auckland's Professor Paula Lorgelly, aims to build a national registry of people suffering ongoing symptoms to help inform the health system's response.

While there was ongoing research in the US and the UK, our own pandemic experience had been different.

"Understanding the impact of Long Covid in the New Zealand context is important," said Lorgelly, who has developed the project with long-hauler and high-profile advocate Jenene Crossan.

A Victoria University-led study has already shown some concerning trends among Kiwi adults infected before Omicron washed over the population.

Early findings, shared at a May symposium, showed fatigue, pain and depression and anxiety were common symptoms.

Nearly half of all respondents reported either moderate, severe or extreme impacts on usual activity like work, socialising and family responsibilities and about one in 10 reported impacts on their mobility.

Around three-quarters felt they didn't know when their symptoms would end, and, concerningly, around half said they didn't feel understood, listened to, or have wrap-around support provided or recommended to them.

"Internationally, we know from cohort studies that symptoms are variable for sufferers ranging from fatigue and brain fog to muscle and joint pain," Lorgelly said.

"These can flare up and, for some, they are long-lasting," she said, adding that some symptoms could persist for more than a year.

Earlier this year, the University of Otago's Dr Rob Griffiths said if the acute phase of Covid-19 can be compared to a tsunami of healthcare need, then "Long Covid will be a subsequent flood of Noah-like proportions".

As well as being a major health burden, Long Covid posed an economic one: US research suggested lost wages from millions of people left out of work from long Covid may annually amount to some $170b.

Importantly, the effort would have a specific focus on Mori and Pacific people - who've been disproportionately affected by Covid-19, but also under-represented in a vaccine rollout widely criticised as inequitable as well as those with disabilities.

"It's well evidenced that Covid-19 and the economic response exacerbated the inequalities of disadvantaged populations."

The registry would be based on questionnaires, in which people would detail their initial infection, symptoms, what care they'd sought or received, and personal impacts on work, education or family.

The evidence Lorgelly's team gathered might be used by commissioners to assess different care pathways, or give service providers a clearer picture of clinical needs especially when it came to health inequities.

Beyond the health sector, she said, it could inform new workplace policies, or even targeted social support through benefit providers.

Meanwhile, a separate study is examining Long Covid's toll on our children something researchers also have many big unanswered questions about.

"Globally, there's very limited robust evidence about the prevalence of long-term conditions in children, particularly those associated with Omicron infection," said the study's leader, Dr Julie Bennett of Otago University.

Long Covid prevalence estimates among children and young people vary from one to more than 50 per cent while one major UK study indicated up to 14 per cent suffer ongoing symptoms.

"Accurate measurement of the risk of Long Covid is crucial in the debate about the risks and benefits of vaccination in children, as one of the key benefits of vaccination might be protection from long Covid."

Bennett's team aim to survey 5000 children, gathering detailed data on vaccination status, reported infections, and any enduring problems.

After dividing the cohort between children who've had Covid-19 and those who haven't, the team will draw on vaccination data to look for any differences.

She pointed out vaccination coverage among children remained low: only about a quarter of Kiwi 5- to 11-year-olds have so far received their primary courses.

"A recent review reported that people with Covid-19 who were fully vaccinated were about half as likely as people who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated to develop Long Covid symptoms," she said.

"If Long Covid occurs at even low-levels in [the studied] population then that knowledge should help to change risk communication and perception."

Over time, there was potential to track the young cohort to gain more important insights.

Right now, University of Auckland immunologist Dr Anna Brooks said it wasn't clear just how many Kiwis were already suffering Long Covid but nor did we fully understand the biological mechanisms at play.

"It's encouraging to see that there's been some investment in trying to understand long Covid in the New Zealand environment," she said.

"However, given the urgency for developing a diagnostic test, it's disappointing that there's been no investment into the domain of understanding the biomedical causes of this illness."

While many of us might like to think life is back to normal in New Zealand, Tania Roxborogh gets a sharp reminder each day that Covid-19 hasn't gone anywhere.

Months after a nasty bout with the virus, the award-winning author still suffers insomnia and sudden spells of intense fatigue.

"I get sudden onsets of utter exhaustion," said Roxborogh, a Canterbury-based teacher and author of more than 30 books, who last year received New Zealand's top award for fiction.

"I've got so much to do, but this just takes hours and days out of my life."

She burned through all of her sick leave long ago, and, to add to troubles, she wasn't the only person in her household with ongoing symptoms.

"It's meant that I'm not able to plan things, and on really bad days, it affects my mental health, and leaves me frustrated and thinking, have I brought this on myself?"

Roxborogh who last month personally appealed to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern not to scrap health measures has been closely tracking global research on Long Covid, and welcomed the new studies.

"Knowledge is power, and hopefully this information can inform policy, especially around sick leave."

With warnings that another Covid-19 wave could begin here before the year is out, she urged Kiwis against complacency.

"We all want it to be over, don't we. But people are still dying, and people are still getting sick."

Read the original post:

'Flood of Noah-like proportions': The studies revealing Long Covid's hidden toll in NZ - New Zealand Herald

Olivia OMalley is a former press secretary to New Zealands Leader of the Opposition and longtime Conservative staffer. She currently works in public affairs.

It is probably true that New Zealand has too many politicians. Five million people, 78 councils one for every 65,000 people and a local election every three years. Add to that 120 MPs for a country one-thirteenth of the size of the UK and it would be easy for voters to feel they were awash with representatives. Yet New Zealanders seem unfazed by this.

So unfazed, that two weeks into the voting period for the latest local elections, turnout in Auckland has not yet passed 20 per cent.

Auckland is New Zealands largest city, with just over a third of New Zealanders calling it home. The choice of Mayor of Auckland is hugely consequential, in the same way Sadiq Khans political decisions have a real impact on the lives of Londoners.

Its a story that is repeated up and down New Zealand. Rates the equivalent of council tax are high and rising, roads are potholed and controversial government reforms to the management of water are in the works. None of which sounds entirely dissimilar to the issues facing local government in the UK.

But as the voting period draws to a close this Saturday, politicians at all levels have started talking about low voter turnout.

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has said she has concerns that people arent exercising their right to vote, saying a conversation is needed around the way people vote in local elections, while Auckland mayoral candidates Wayne Brown and Efeso Collins have called for online voting. Chris Luxon, the Opposition leader, has been less vocal most likely because the National Party does not put forward candidates in local elections. Instead, centre-right candidates tend to join groupings of like-minded councillors or stand as independents.

It is important to underline just how easy it is to vote in New Zealand. Unlike the UK, where voting takes place near universally on a Thursday, both local and general elections offer voters the chance to cast their vote up to three weeks in advance. Local elections are conducted by postal vote, so a trip to a polling booth isnt even required. Elections are always held on a Saturday.

Short of introducing online voting, there are few things to make the process more convenient.

But does it even matter?

Politicians love to talk about voter turnout because higher turnout, coupled with a higher share of the vote, lends itself to greater public legitimacy. Such arguments were proffered in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, with some ardent Remainers rushing to point out that just 37 per cent of those eligible voted to leave the EU (conveniently ignoring that even fewer voted to remain).

Declining voter turnouts have been a feature of Western democracies for decades, and few countries have consistently arrested the decline. Only Australia, where voting is compulsory, has maintained turnout rates above 90 per cent.

Low voter turnout is not, in itself, a bad thing.

For pundits in Westminster and in Wellington, politics is what makes the world go round. Its hard for those in the bubble to imagine life without it.

But for most people, that simply isnt the case. Though its natural to assume that if people arent voting, its an indicator something is wrong, the primary reason people choose not to vote is that it is simply not a priority.

This ability to put politics aside and deprioritise it is fundamentally good. Not caring about politics is a luxury usually reserved for people in well-run democracies.

If the National Party were to stand candidates in local elections, it is possible there would be higher engagement. Local races could serve as a proxy for national politics, in the same way that races between the Conservatives and Labour in the UK are often seen as signs of the way the wind is blowing. Unless and until that happens, however, it is likely that local politics will remain as it currently is: working well enough that few are exercised enough to vote.

None of this is to say local government is not important. But for voters in New Zealand, between local and general elections going to the polls two years out of every three, the fact that the vast majority of people do not feel they need to vote their local politicians out is probably a positive.

Read the original:

Olivia OMalley: Voter turnout in New Zealands local elections is low. Which may be a good thing. Here's why. - ConservativeHome

Having just about every role under her New Zealand Police belt over 35 years - most recently spending eight years as an Area Commander - she is excited to be the Director of the International Women in Policing Conference 2023.

With COVID-19 restrictions being relaxed and people able to gather in large numbers again, the theme will be Refresh, Renew and Refocus.

Wendy is delighted to have been recommended for the event management job by her District Commander, Superintendent Jill Rogers.

For me personally, this is an amazingly positive role where were able to showcase new Zealands Police and women on an international scale.

For a population of just five million people, we punch well above our weight in many areas, including diversity, sport, and innovation. We were the first country to give women the vote.

Wendy will be drawing upon her wide knowledge of policing. In 2000, she was part of the special operations planning team when New Zealand hosted both an APEC summit and the Americas Cup.

Wendy says New Zealand is unique and has lots to offer.

We cant compete by offering massive venues, but we can compete by using our culture, hospitality, ethos, and authenticity. Thats what makes us different.

Planning is under way to put on quite a show for visitors.

Working with our established partner Ngti Whtua, we will be having a spectacular pwhiri," says Wendy. We have also co-designed an event logo (right), which has a koru.

Instead of translating into Mori the English words assigned to the conference themes, Ngti Whtua has gifted Te Huinga Mreikura which means gathering of great women.

We at New Zealand Police feel very privileged that Ngti Whtua have provided us with such a gift."

Executive members of New Zealand Police are being lined up to attend the event, which promises to provide attendees with a good feed.

We cant invite people from around the world and serve them sausage rolls," says Wendy. "Well be catering properly.

The International Association of Women Police was established in the United States in 1915 to promote women going into Police, and supporting them in that space.

New Zealand was chosen to host the event following a successful bid led by Detective Inspector Annie Ryan and retired Detective Sergeant Dorothy McPhail.

This is a golden opportunity to celebrate women from diverse backgrounds, countries and life experiences, says Wendy.

Its a time to promote women and law enforcement and Police, in terms of providing training, support and learnings.

Its not just about police stories, its about wellness and opportunities for people, and they can take those stories back to their countries, workgroups and families.

As part of the conference, everyday Aucklanders will experience the visual splendour of flag bearers and officers in their finest uniforms in a Parade of Nations, with more than 60 jurisdictions being represented.

As well as workshops and inspirational speakers, therell be opportunities for networking in a safe and supportive environment where ideas can be shared.

The conference will include a New Zealand night and a special lunch to mark 130 years since suffragettes won the vote in New Zealand.

And stay tuned for information about a Chicago night, which signals the location of the next IWPC.

Originally posted here:

'A gathering of great women' | New Zealand Police - New Zealand Police