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NZ grocery prices higher than OECD average
NZ grocery prices higher than OECD average

09 August 2025, 8:27 PM

New Zealand's grocery prices stabilised last year, but remained higher than in many many other developed nations, according to the Commerce Commission.The Annual Grocery Report for 2024 also highlighted "geographic inequities", where areas like Auckland enjoyed more competition, compared to less populated regions."In 2024, retail grocery prices appeared to have stabilised after years of significant growth, which was reflected in a slowing of the major supermarket's gross margin growth, however, grocery prices remain higher than the OECD average," grocery commissioner Pierre van Heerden said.However, he noted recent 2025 data showed retail prices rising, highlighting the need for more work to improve competition.The Commission said the most recent data from 2023 showed New Zealand prices were three percent higher than the OECD average, although the gap has narrowed.It was nine percent higher in 2022, and 14 percent higher than the OECD average in 2021.The commission said major supermarkets maintained their national market share of 82 percent, but there had been some movement within the group."Pak'nSave has increased its market share while Woolworths has had a continued decline in market share over the past five years," van Heerden said.However, he highlighted geographical differences in supermarkets' dominance."Consumers in Auckland and other main cities have a range of options, but consumers in smaller towns and rural areas typically have minimal to no choice within their locality, with some stores in small towns functioning as a localised monopoly," van Heerden said.The report said in Auckland major supermarkets held 71 percent of the market, compared to 88 percent in the rest of the country.It also found 90 percent of New Zealanders were within a 10-minute drive from a major supermarket.The top of the South Island, West Coast, Otago, Waikato and Taranaki were where the major chains held the most dominance.

Auckland FC Signs Aussie Winger Brook
Auckland FC Signs Aussie Winger Brook

09 August 2025, 2:23 AM

Auckland FC has strengthened its line-up with the signing of Australian winger Lachlan Brook from Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake, giving local football fans another reason to get behind the team this season.Brook, 24, brings over 100 professional appearances and 18 goals to Auckland, along with experience in Australia, England, and the US. He says he’s eager to make his mark in front of a home crowd.“There’s so much hype for this team and what they’ve achieved on and off the pitch,” he says. “I’ve heard plenty about the fans and the numbers who turn out. I can’t wait to get out there and show them what I’m all about.”Brook’s career began at Adelaide United, where he was part of the 2019 FFA Cup-winning side. He then spent time with Brentford and Crewe Alexandra in England before returning to the A-League with Western Sydney Wanderers, where he netted nine goals in 23 appearances.Head Coach Steve Corica says Brook’s versatility and proven record will be a boost for the side.“He knows the league, has an eye for goal, and is a proven professional. We needed to boost our attack this season and he fits the bill.”Brook has also represented Australia at U18 and U23 levels, including scoring the winner in the 2019 AFF U18 Championship Final.Season memberships are now on sale, giving Hibiscus Coast fans the chance to catch all 13 home games and meet the players.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Students leaving school with no qualifications highest in a decade
Students leaving school with no qualifications highest in a decade

08 August 2025, 8:01 PM

Sixteen percent of last year's school-leavers had no qualifications, the highest figure in a decade.It equates to about 10,600 teenagers, and is 0.4 of a percentage point worse than the previous year and about six percentage points higher than the 10-11 percent recorded in the years prior to the start of the pandemic.The percentage of school leavers with no NCEA certificate has been rising since 2020, a trend teachers blamed on the after-effects of Covid-19 lockdowns combined with high employment prompting more young people to leave school earlier than they otherwise would.Some worried any weakening of those effects would be cancelled out by the introduction last year of a tougher literacy and numeracy requirement which applied to students who wanted to leave with NCEA level 1.The Education Ministry's figures showed 13 percent of last year's leavers had not reached the literacy and numeracy benchmark compared to about 10 percent under the previous requirement in pre-pandemic years.The figures showed 81 percent of last year's leavers had stayed at school until the age of 17 or beyond, up from 79 percent the previous year with bigger increases in retention at schools in poorer communities.Māori had the worst results - 28 percent left with no qualification last year, compared with 19 percent of Pacific leavers and 14 percent of European/Pākehā leavers.In Tai Tokerau nearly one in five leavers had no NCEA certificate.Socioeconomic barriers had a big impact - 28 percent of leavers from schools facing the most barriers had no NCEA certificate compared with 4 percent of leavers from schools facing the fewest barriers.The figures showed 76 percent of last year's leavers had level 2 NCEA or better, 0.6 of a percentage point more than in 2023.The percentage of leavers with at least NCEA level 3 rose 2.7 percentage points to 56 percent.

Aged care sector needs sweeping reform
Aged care sector needs sweeping reform

08 August 2025, 12:18 AM

A woman has moved her elderly parents out of multiple rehab and respite facilities because of serious concerns including over-crowding, mistakes with medication and unchanged soiled bedding.She said sweeping reform is needed in aged care.The woman, Sandy*, said earlier this year her father, who has dementia, was discharged from a hospital in the middle of the night in his pyjamas because there was no longer a bed for him.RNZ has revealed there is a 20 bed ward at North Shore Hospital full of patients with no medical reason to be there, but there is nowhere suitable for them to go because of their complex discharge needs, requiring specialist nursing and allied health workforces.That prompted Sandy to contact Checkpoint about her experience.She believes the system is already overstretched and it is only going to get worse with an ageing population.Sandy told Checkpoint she had moved her parents from four or five facilities in the past year, for a raft of reasons."Not enough space, the food is not nutritional... there's not enough people, you're getting a shower if you're lucky every third or fourth day."She said she had been told the lack of showers was standard."People will get a shower about twice a week... we were told at every single facility, 'no, you get shower twice a week, that's our standard of care'."Lack of separation between patients was another issue Sandy raised, with many patients, including those with dementia, sharing wards."There's no delineation often with dementia patients, so there are buzzers going all day and all night, people going in each other's room, six people to a bathroom, televisions going at 90 decibels, day and night."In busier times, she said she had seen patients sharing a room.On one occasion a lack of staffing led to her mother, a patient at the facility herself, to be caring for another patient."There was a woman in the room next door who cried all day and all night and it was my mother who was there meant to be being looked after, who ended up caring for this woman because the carers didn't know what to do with her."Sandy said her elderly father had also been treated poorly.She said her elderly father was made to leave the hospital in the middle of the night due to a lack of beds."My father, who was at end of life, [at] 3am was put in a taxi in his pyjamas with no shoes and sent back home because they didn't have a bed for him."The incident shocked her."I was just staggered, absolutely. You know, if someone had told me that story, I would have said no, that can't be right."Sandy said her father had also been given the wrong doses of medication."A double dose of medication and then a few weeks later, the wrong medication."She said while the situations had been dealt with well by the facility, she was worried for vulnerable people who did not have someone looking out for them."What about the people that don't have a Sandy? What about the people who don't have a voice? How many other mistakes? How many other things are being overlooked?"Sandy said she had experienced a raft of issues in facilities and hospitals, once being told by the hospital that soiled beds did not get changed on a Sunday."It's just such a stretched system. We could probably do with double the number of carers, double the number of doctors, double the number of beds and that wouldn't be enough."I think it's such a systemic problem and I don't know the answer, but it's sweeping reform... it is depressing."Checkpoint has sought comment on this story from Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora.*Not her real name

Spending Growth Returns After Long Lull
Spending Growth Returns After Long Lull

07 August 2025, 8:17 PM

Consumer spending in New Zealand has inched up for the first time since March 2024, according to Worldline NZ figures.Core Retail merchants in the company’s payments network recorded $3.60B in transactions this June, up 0.8% on the same month last year after adjusting for changes in the network.Worldline NZ Chief Sales Officer Bruce Proffit says this follows similar modest lifts in April and May, making the June quarter the first to show annual growth in more than a year.The 1.2% growth for the quarter might be small, he says, but it could mark a turning point for the rest of 2025.June is typically the slowest month for retailers, and this year’s calendar shift meant one fewer Saturday.Even so, Proffit says it was encouraging to see a positive result.Hospitality spending told a different story, falling 2.4% year-on-year to $0.85B.Auckland and Northland saw the sharpest drop at 4.3%, while Nelson’s slight fall of 0.5% was largely due to severe weather late in the month.Waikato bucked the trend with a 3.3% rise, helped by the annual Fieldays event in Hamilton.Within Core Retail, Whanganui saw the strongest June growth at 6.9%, followed by Taranaki at 4.1% and Nelson at 4.0%.Spending slipped in Wellington (down 1.8%) and Auckland/Northland (down 0.7%).For Hibiscus Coast shoppers and business owners, these figures reflect the broader Auckland/Northland decline, but the national lift suggests confidence might slowly be returning to tills.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Former All Blacks star Richie Mo'unga returning to NZ
Former All Blacks star Richie Mo'unga returning to NZ

07 August 2025, 3:50 AM

Former All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga is heading home.Mo'unga has signed with New Zealand Rugby, the Crusaders and Canterbury for 18 months from July 2026 to December 2027, putting him in the selection frame for the All Blacks for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.The 31-year-old, who has played 56 tests since making his All Blacks debut in 2017, will play for the Crusaders for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season and Canterbury for the 2026 and 2027 NPC seasons.He will be available for All Blacks selection from October 2026.Mo'unga could battle it out with the likes of Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks first-five jersey. Photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nzMo'unga was a key player of the side for a number of years and played a pivotal role in the All Blacks run to the 2023 World Cup final in France, which they lost by just one point to South Africa.He moved to Japan in 2024 to play for Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo."The Crusaders have always been a huge part of my life - not just as a player, but as a person," Mo'unga said."I can't wait to return in 2027 and continue to build on the legacy of the franchise. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with the fans and contributing to the environment both on and off the field."Mo'unga still has one more season in Japan before returns to Aotearoa."I've grown a lot during my time in Japan with Toshiba, both on and off the field. It's been an incredible experience with my family that I'll always be grateful for, and I'm really excited for one more season with them," he said.Mo'unga has played 109 games for the Crusaders and head coach Rob Penney said his homecoming is a massive boost for the champions."Richie's connection to this club runs deep and he is a great Crusader man. We're really blessed with the talent that we have in the Crusaders and having Richie back will not only enhance the team and have a positive influence over the group, but it will also ensure his legacy lives on long after he has departed."Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said Mo'unga will improve the team."The word care is thrown around a lot in this place, but the care Richie has for this club and this team is second to none. He has this gift of bringing out the best in those around him and we can't wait to have him back here in 2027."

BNZ Report Reveals Missed Growth Chances
BNZ Report Reveals Missed Growth Chances

06 August 2025, 10:02 PM

New Zealand businesses are strong on day-to-day operations but often miss strategic opportunities that could boost long-term growth, according to Bank of New Zealand’s latest Growth Levers Insight Report.The research, based on surveys from over 1,000 businesses and case studies of six high-growth companies, found customer focus (49%), operational efficiency (38%) and people and culture (35%) were the most common drivers of past success.But only 13% credited innovation, and even fewer pointed to professional advice (9%) or market understanding (6%).BNZ’s GM Growth Sectors Brandon Jackson says many owners are stuck “working in their business rather than on it,” limiting time for strategic thinking.He warns this may contribute to New Zealand’s sluggish productivity growth, which has averaged just 0.2% annually over the past decade.Strong foundations, untapped potential. Photo/SuppliedFor Hibiscus Coast businesses, the findings are a reminder that while solid service and efficient operations keep customers happy, growth often comes from taking calculated risks, adopting new technology, and seeking outside expertise.The report highlights examples like Spring Sheep, which created a high-yield dairy sheep breed to tap into the global dairy-intolerance market, and Auckland’s Independent Traffic Control, which improved productivity by restructuring operations and adapting to new markets.BNZ is rolling out a five-step framework and expanding its Growth Academy programme to help business owners assess their own “growth levers” and prioritise where to invest for maximum impact.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Accounting: Company-Owned Vehicles: What You Can Claim
Accounting: Company-Owned Vehicles: What You Can Claim

06 August 2025, 8:53 PM

Continuing from last month’s discussion on vehicle expense claims for sole traders and partnerships, this article focuses on companies .Understanding Company Vehicles and Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT)A company is a distinct legal entity as such, when a company provides a benefit to an employee or shareholder-employee – such as the use of a company-owned vehicle for private purposes – that benefit is typically subject to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT).What is FBT?In simple terms, FBT is a tax applied to non-cash benefits that employees (including shareholder-employees) receive as part of their employment.The FBT cost is typically the equivalent of getting the value of the benefit as extra salary or wages.Who is Responsible for Paying FBT?The obligation to pay FBT lies with the employer not the employee.Business vs. Personal Use of Company VehiclesIf a company vehicle is used exclusively for business purposes and is not available for private use, FBT does not apply.However, Inland Revenue takes a strict stance: if a vehicle is available for private use – even if not actively used for personal trips – it is deemed to be a fringe benefit.Notably, commuting between home and work is classified as personal use with some exemptions.Work-Related Vehicle ExemptionThere is an exemption for certain work-related vehicles, such as utes and vans.To qualify, the following conditions generally apply:The vehicle must be sign-written with the company’s name.It should be designed or modified primarily for business tasks (e.g. carrying tools or equipment).The vehicle use must be for more than carrying passengers and relate to the business tasks.Personal use must be restricted via a formal, written directive to the employee, stating that the vehicle is not to be used privately. Minor deviations in travel for private purposes is allowed.Opting Out of FBTCompanies that own fewer than two vehicles and do not provide any other fringe benefits may elect to opt out of FBT.In this case, vehicle use is treated similarly to sole trader arrangements, where expenses (including depreciation and interest) and GST can be claimed based on the actual business use percentage.Maintaining a logbook for three months is the normal proof of the percentage.Reimbursing Employees for Personal Vehicle UseAn alternative to providing company vehicles is to reimburse employees (including shareholder-employees) for the use of their private vehicles.This can be done via:Mileage (Km) rates, based on IRD-approved rates, which may offer better tax efficiency, due to the rates been generous.Cost-based reimbursements, calculated using actual vehicle expenses proportionate to business use.Key Considerations for Small CompaniesFor closely held companies, determining whether a vehicle should be owned by the company or retained privately is an important strategic decision.To minimise FBT exposure:Restrict vehicle use for business-only purposes (though this may not always be practical)Use personally owned vehicles and reimburse mileage.Disclaimer.This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice.While care has been taken to ensure the content is current and accurate at the time of publication, tax legislation and Inland Revenue (IRD) guidance may change over time.Readers are strongly advised to consult with a qualified tax professional or accountant before acting on the information contained herein, especially in cases involving complex or unique business circumstances.DHCA assumes no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this information.At David Hooper Chartered Accountants, we help local businesses make smart financial decisions. Get in touch today at [email protected] or call 09 421 1635.

Auckland Mayoral Debate Event Stalls
Auckland Mayoral Debate Event Stalls

06 August 2025, 7:44 PM

Opportunities for Auckland voters to see democracy in action in this year's mayoral election might be few and far between.Incumbent Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is seeking re-election against 11 other contenders.But few mayoral debates are being lined up before voting opens on 9 September.In what is already a battle to draw interest to local body elections, which notoriously struggle to attract a strong turnout, one mayoral candidate is concerned a lacklustre campaign will ensure the vote remains low.The University of Auckland Debating Society told RNZ it had hoped to hold a mayoral debate on Tuesday, 5 August.External events manager Robert Hoskins said it invited three candidates: Kerrin Leoni, Ted Johnston and current mayor Wayne Brown, but only Leoni responded.He said the team had spoken to someone from the mayor's office last month, who said they would pass their request to the mayor's campaign team.The society's lively candidate debate in 2022, hosted by broadcaster Jack Tame, attracted hundreds of students. It also held a debate in 2019."In both cases, we had all major candidates willing to attend, though we ran our 2022 debate quite early, before Wayne Brown was considered a major candidate, and as such, we did not invite him," Hoskins said.He was still hopeful Brown might agree to participate."Students appreciate getting direct engagement with candidates. These events are well attended. We sometimes get upwards of 500 students attending, and many more watch the livestream."Students do care about what's going on in Auckland and their local wards. Not having any engagement with them is a real shame."The Auckland Business Chamber, which held a mayoral debate in 2022, told RNZ it would not have one this year, but did not elaborate why.The Penrose Business Association said it planned to hold a mayoral debate, but it had not come together yet.Leoni said she received debate invitations from the Auckland University Debating Society and the Institute of Directors."It's unacceptable that they [the Debating Society] have not been able to go ahead with their event, knowing that the main person I'm up against, or he's up against me, has not even responded to the invite."I'm still waiting to hear back from the Institute of Directors if we're going to go ahead. But from what I've heard, Wayne Brown is saying no to debates."She was eager to debate Brown and called on him to front up."Organisations organising debates and events want to have the sitting mayor there, and so he should be."I actually think it's quite arrogant. He's basically saying to Aucklanders, I'm better than anyone else, so why should I turn up. That's not good enough."He should be fronting up to debate anyone else standing for mayor."It's concerning for democracy, and I'm disappointed in Wayne Brown."In the city's last local elections, just 405,149 votes were returned, 35.4 percent of enrolled voters.In 2019's election, the voter turnout was 35.3 percent.Leoni said debates were a way to bolster interest."We have a responsibility as candidates to debate our policies in public so Aucklanders can hear our opinions and know what they're actually voting for."She said she had committed to a handful of meet the candidates events.Community Hub Future Whangaparāoa said Kerrin Leoni was the only mayoral candidate registered for its meet the candidates meeting on Sunday, 14 September.When contacted by RNZ, a spokesperson for Wayne Brown's campaign was non-committal about debates or panels."Wayne has a very busy schedule as mayor across the city. He gets many requests from various groups across Auckland's many diverse communities and will be engaging with them as the election continues."He will be strongly contesting this race against the 11 other candidates."RNZ asked all mayoral candidates who provided contact details if they wanted a debate.Rob Mcneil from the Animal Justice Party said he was "very interested to debate other mayoral candidates at any point".He said he had been invited to a debate in Warkworth on 10 September, held by One Mahurangi Business Association.Johnston told RNZ he was also "quite willing to debate the other candidates".He said he had received four debate invitations.The Institute of Directors has been contacted for comment.

Thousands of NZ Credentials Leaked
Thousands of NZ Credentials Leaked

06 August 2025, 1:03 AM

Thousands of leaked email logins tied to New Zealand’s government, banks and health providers have turned up for sale on the dark web, according to a new cybersecurity study.The nWebbed NZ Cybersecurity Study found more than 150 million compromised credentials linked to New Zealand, with over 198,000 local organisations affected.That includes more than 18,000 government workers, 3,200 banking staff and 2,000 privileged healthcare accounts.Julian Wendt, founder of Kiwi tech start-up nWebbed Intelligence, says many organisations are unaware their data has already been leaked.“These are real emails and passwords, sitting in the wild. They’re searchable, for sale and vulnerable to exploitation,” says Wendt.The dark web is often used by cybercriminals to trade stolen information.Wendt says many breaches remain undetected for months or even years, with some staff credentials exposed in multiple leaks.Julian Wendt, founder of nWebbed Intelligence. Photo: supplied.The study highlights the urgent need for better visibility, not just perimeter defence.“Even businesses with good internal practices are often shocked to see what’s already out there. This is about knowing where your data lives, not blaming anyone,” says Wendt.Locally, the story hits close to home.Coasties rely on the same government services, health providers and banks now shown to have compromised credentials.If your email ends in a .govt.nz, or belongs to a large provider, it might already be circulating online.nWebbed has launched a real-time threat monitoring platform using AI to help organisations act fast and close security gaps before they’re exploited.How to Check if You’ve Been ExposedHere’s a quick checklist to help you stay safe:Check your email at haveibeenpwned.comSearch all personal and work email addressesUse a breach monitoring tool (e.g. Firefox Monitor, 1Password, or nWebbed)Change any leaked passwords immediatelyDon’t reuse passwords—make each one uniqueEnable two-factor authentication (2FA)Watch for suspicious logins or activityUse a password manager to stay on top of it allSeen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

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