The Cancer Society is calling for Māori and Pacific New Zealanders to get free bowel cancer screening from the age of 50 – a step it says will save lives; and New Zealand house prices rose 3.3 per cent in the last year but Auckland’s median shot up $46,000 in just a month.
* The New Zealand Herald
In the New Zealand Herald,the Cancer Society is calling for Māori and Pacific New Zealanders to get free bowel cancer screening from the age of 50 – a step it says will save lives.The society’s position will put more pressure on the Government to make a change that advocates say is badly needed, because bowel cancer generally strikes those groups earlier in life.
In other news, the Government has announced it will ban any foreign donations to political parties and candidates over $50 in a bid to “protect New Zealand from foreign interference”.Legislation will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon and passed under urgency.Justice Minister Andrew Little said there was no need for anyone other than New Zealanders to donate to our political parties or seek to influence our elections.
In business news, New Zealand house prices rose 3.3 per cent in the last year but Auckland’s median shot up $46,000 in just a month.The CoreLogic QV House Price Index out today showed values rose 1 per cent from October to November and senior property economist Kelvin Davidson said the annual growth rate was now 3.3 per cent.
* The Dominion Post
In the Dominion Post,disproportionate rates of bullying, poor classroom environments and truancy could be reasons student achievements are in a ‘‘worrying’’ decline.A global education report has showed an overall decline in New Zealand’s level of reading, mathematics and science since 2009 – equating to a loss of about 3⁄4 of a year’s worth of a student’s schooling against 2009 results.
In other news, major government decisions will be required to go through a climate change assessment, thanks to new rule.A Cabinet circular instituted by the Greens means any legislation or government decision aimed at reducing emissions, or likely to greatly increase emissions, will have a mandatory “climate impact assessment” attached.
In business news, Kiwibank’s Johnsonville branch will close its doors next month, the latest in a spate of local closures. Johnsonville is a growing Wellington suburb just minutes from the CBD, and MP for Ōhāriu Greg O’Connor said the loss would hit the most vulnerable the hardest.
*The Press
In The Press, looming changes to insurance laws should give consumers more certainty about whether their claims will be paid, Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi says.The Government has been running a review of New Zealand’s insurance contract law.But he said the current rules were outdated and many insurance policies were complex and difficult to follow.
In other news, major government decisions will be required to go through a climate change assessment, thanks to new rule.A Cabinet circular instituted by the Greens means any legislation or government decision aimed at reducing emissions, or likely to greatly increase emissions, will have a mandatory “climate impact assessment” attached.
In business news,taxi app Ola says it will launch in another 11 cities before the end of the month including Hamilton, Tauranga and Dunedin.The Indian-owned competitor of American ride hailing giant Uber, launched in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this year, offering its riders and drivers numerous promotions and discounts.
