Today the Government will reveal where it plans to spend $12 billion of new infrastructure funding, with a number of roads of national significance likely to get the green light after two years on hiatus; and New Zealanders are approaching retirement in poorer shape than their parents’ generation did and that means we cannot afford to raise the pension age, the Retirement Commissioner says.
* The New Zealand Herald
In the New Zealand Herald, the University of Auckland has spent $5 million on a swanky Parnell mansion with manicured gardens and a lap pool for its new boss to live in. Students have called the “frivolous” purchase a “slap in the face”, while the Government says it’s up to the university to defend its actions.
In other news, the Government is considering enlisting the help of the Defence Force to get Kiwis living in the Chinese city of Wuhan ground zero for the deadly novel coronavirus back home. But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it won’t be plain sailing, because there are still a number of logistical issues the Government needs to address before an evacuation is attempted.
In business news, today the Government will reveal where it plans to spend $12 billion of new infrastructure funding, with a number of roads of national significance likely to get the green light after two years on hiatus. Business groups are optimistic that the new funding announced last December will mean work begins on roads that were planned under the previous National government.
* The Dominion Post
In the Dominion Post, Ruth Toyoshima was so terrified of returning to Hutt Hospital following the death of her baby Ellie that she went to another hospital to have her second child. Ellie died in July 2016, six days after she was born with brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation at birth. Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall yesterday released two reports highlighting ‘‘systemic failures’’ and a ‘‘pattern of poor care’’ at Hutt Valley District Health Board following complaints about its maternity services.
In other news, calling the election early was ‘‘best practice’’, while Labour wants to unshackle Kiwis from election time nastiness because ‘‘New Zealanders deserve freedom from misinformation’’. This, the prime minister said, would allow her to run a campaign ‘‘befitting of the New Zealand style of campaign’’.
In business news, New Zealanders are approaching retirement in poorer shape than their parents’ generation did and that means we cannot afford to raise the pension age, the Retirement Commissioner says. The commission has long argued that an increase in the age of eligibility for superannuation is needed because of the cost of providing it to an increasing number of older people.
* The Press
In The Press, time is running out for diners who may have been exposed to hepatitis A at Christchurch’s Madam Woo restaurant to get vaccinated. Health authorities are searching for about 40 walk-in guests who ate at the St Asaph St restaurant on Wednesday, January 15, and Friday, January 17.
In other news, a Christchurch startup is exploring ways to include robots in fruit picking to end seasonal labour shortages. YieldTec is a young startup operating out of the Ministry of Awesome’s Te Ōhaka, a startup incubator at Ara Institute of Canterbury.
In business news, Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has permission to triple the size of its container terminal despite concerns from residents. Up to eight new ship-to-shore cranes can now be built on reclaimed land to the east of the existing container terminal following a recently-granted resource consent. Shipping containers can now also be stacked up to nine high on the land.
