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Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Dynabook Unveils New Ultra Lightweight Portégé X30L-M Packed with AI-Powered Performance
Dynabook ANZ Pty. Limited, The Laptop Experts, proudly announce the launch of its latest innovation, the Portégé X30L-M, a high performance laptop that delivers unparalleled mobility and productivity.
The post Dynabook Unveils New Ultra Lightweight Portégé X30L-M Packed with AI-Powered Performance first appeared on PR.co.nz.
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Source: BNZ statements
New research from BNZ highlights the unrelenting onslaught of criminal scammers facing New Zealanders, with nearly nine in ten Kiwis reporting they’ve been targeted by scammers in the past year.
BNZ’s annual Scam Savvy survey found that 87% of New Zealanders were targeted by scams in the past 12 months, virtually unchanged from 2023 (88%).
However, in a positive shift, New Zealanders are fighting back: despite persistent attacks, the proportion of people reporting scams to organisations like banks, police, and Netsafe, has jumped to 70%, up from 62% in 2023 and a mere 46% in 2022.
BNZ Head of Financial Crime, Ashley Kai Fong, says, “While it’s concerning that scammers continue to target Kiwis at such a high rate, we’re pleased to see a significant increase in scam reporting.
“This shift suggests that our efforts to raise awareness and encourage action are paying off. However, it’s crucial to remember that if you suspect you’ve been scammed, you should always call your bank immediately. Quick action can often help prevent or limit financial losses.”
Key findings from BNZ’s 2024 Scam Savvy survey include:
“The tactics used by scammers are constantly evolving, so the increase in reporting is a crucial step in our collective fight against fraud – every report makes it harder for scammers to operate. We’re seeing a real shift in attitudes, with more people recognising the importance of speaking up,” Kai Fong says.
In response to the evolving scam landscape, BNZ recently launched another anti-scam tool. The ‘online banking lock’ feature gives customers the ability to disable all online banking activity and lock access to their online banking if they suspect a scammer has gained access to their accounts.
“This new tool – available in the BNZ app – gives customers the ability to lock their online banking while they’re contacting us, potentially speeding up the process to lock their accounts and shut scammers out,” says Kai Fong.
The online banking lock is just one of a number of new features BNZ has introduced, including:
“While we’re making progress and introducing new protective measures, our research underscores the need for continued vigilance and education. We urge all New Zealanders to stay informed about the latest scam tactics and to report any suspicious activity immediately.
“Remember, reporting a scam isn’t just about your own protection—it could prevent someone else from becoming a victim too,” says Kai Fong.
Keeping account details, passwords and pin numbers safe
Top tips to get scam savvy – BNZ will never:
The BNZ Scam Savvy research was commissioned by BNZ using the Insights HQ my2cents online research panel. Responses were collected between July 30 and August 16, 2024, with a sample size of 1,263 New Zealanders. The sample was weighted to be nationally representative on region, age and gender.
The post Scammers undeterred: 9 in 10 NZers targeted, but reporting surges appeared first on BNZ Debrief.
Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: HazardCo takes its leading health and safety system to the UK
HazardCo is proud to announce its expansion into the UK market, marking a significant milestone in its journey as a New Zealand-born tech company. With its roots in New Zealand and a proven track record in Australia, HazardCo is ready to help UK builders feel confident in their compliance and focus on delivering high-quality projects.
The post HazardCo takes its leading health and safety system to the UK first appeared on PR.co.nz.
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Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is celebrating a strong turnout of workers across the country who stood together in opposition to the Government’s anti-worker agenda, with more than 10,000 working people attending hui from Whangārei to Invercargill.
“Today workers from a wide range of sectors and industries came together and demonstrated the strength of union power. Workers told the Government that they are sick and tired of the total disregard for their livelihoods,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.
“It is galling to hear Brooke van Velden try and claim today the coalition is great for working people, when she is overseeing a series of policies that erode hard fought for worker’s rights, and refuses to even meet with unions.
“Actions speak louder than words. That’s why we know that this coalition government is in the pockets of the rich and corporate interests and doesn’t care about working people.
“We are proud of our movement for uniting together and sending this Government a strong message that will not back down and let them get away with their anti-worker and anti-Te Tiriti agenda.
“When unions and working people unite and use our collective strength, we bring people together and transform society for the better. We have a proud history of creating change, even in the toughest circumstances.
“We will continue to fight for good work, livable incomes, well-funded public services, health and safety at work, and the rights of kaimahi Māori,” said Wagstaff.
Source: Etu Union
E tū members will join the wider union movement and our community allies at the ‘Fight Back Together – Maranga Ake’ hui happening nationwide tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October 2024.
E tū is the biggest private sector union in Aotearoa New Zealand, covering a huge variety of workers including in aviation, communications, community support services, manufacturing, food, engineering, infrastructure, extractions, property services, and in many other industries.
E tū National Secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, says E tū members will be out in force.
“The hui are one part of the union movement’s mobilisation in the face of attacks from a shockingly anti-worker coalition Government,” Rachel says.
“The Government has already cancelled Fair Pay Agreements, re-introduced 90-day ‘fire at will’ trials for all workplaces, and increased the minimum wage below the inflation rate – effectively giving Aotearoa’s lowest paid workers a pay cut during a cost-of-living crisis.
“They aren’t stopping there. The Government has plans to remove the rights of workers to challenge their status as contractors, robbing them of an important legal protection. We’re deeply concerned about their proposals to meddle with health and safety legislation. They have deprioritised pay equity. We’re calling on the Government to reverse their dangerous agenda in workplace relations.”
Rachel says E tū members are troubled by the Government’s actions and plans beyond workplace relations as well.
“Luxon’s Government is overseeing a deliberate weakening of our public services, particularly in healthcare. They are stoking upsetting divisions in our society with their attacks on te Tiriti and te ao Māori. They have mucked up our social housing programme and cancelled modern transport solutions. It’s a Government of profits for rich mates ahead of people and the environment. Workers are angry, and they have every reason to be.
“We have a vision for something better for working people in Aotearoa. This can be a place where we have decent work, good social and physical infrastructure to support communities, justice under Te Tiriti, an end to inequality and hope for the future.”
Rachel says tomorrow will be a landmark event for E tū and the wider union movement’s activities to demand better for all, not just for a few.
“This isn’t the start, nor the end, of our campaign to protect workers and our communities from the harms of bad political leadership. However the hui will be a significant milestone, and I am proud that E tū members’ voices will join the chorus tomorrow and beyond.”
Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand
New polling released on 15 October by the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) shows the public wants publicly owned, rail enabled ferries.
The poll was conducted by Talbot Mills over the period of 2-14 October and asked:
New ferry options
As you may be aware, in relation to the Cook Strait ferries, “rail-enabled” means freight carriages can roll onto and off of the ferry directly rather than requiring unloading and reloading onto trucks as additional handling steps on each side of Cook Strait. The efficiency gains of being “rail enabled” is thought to add 10-20% to the overall cost to the ferries/infrastructure. The government is now considering three possible options for new ferries. Which of the following options is closest to the one you would support?
Results showed a clear public preference:
Maritime Union spokesperson Victor Billot says “This shows that New Zealanders can see the terrible mistake the Minister has made in cancelling the new rail ferries and that is only going to get more obvious as the massive costs of this fiasco, like the cancellation fee of up to a half a billion dollars, come to light.
“Rail enabled and publicly owned ferries are vital to New Zealand’s domestic freight. No rail ferries would likely mean no viable rail system, and privatising would be like putting a toll booth on the strait and sending the revenue overseas.
“Unions want rail-enabled ferries, so do logistics companies including Mainfreight, New Zealand First has just said they want them, and now it’s clear the people of New Zealand want them too. The question is why is the Finance Minister so intent on forcing New Zealanders into a bad deal that nobody wants?”
Road-bridging – the practice of taking containers from trains and transporting them onto non-rail ferries adds up to $200 per container cost and takes up to three hours more per sailing. Industry experts have noted this additional cost would price rail out of the north/south freight market.
Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Parapet – Integrated Risk Management
Parapet has introduced a comprehensive suite of new Integrated Risk Management (IRM) solutions aimed at empowering businesses to better navigate the complexities of modern risk landscapes. Designed to address evolving regulatory requirements, operational risks, and cybersecurity threats, the new offerings provide companies with robust tools for risk assessment, compliance management, and business continuity planning. This launch underscores Parapet’s commitment to equipping organizations with innovative, user-friendly solutions that support sustainable growth and resilience.
The post Parapet – Integrated Risk Management first appeared on PR.co.nz.
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Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to show leadership following the announced closure of the Smithfield meat works, and the continued loss of regional manufacturing jobs, by putting in place policies to support workers with retraining and income insurance.
“The loss of 600 jobs will be devastating for Timaru and the communities of South Canterbury, especially during a cost-of-living crisis and an economic downturn,” said Wagstaff.
“It is unacceptable that there has been absolutely no help for the affected workers even though the Government has known since last month that this was likely to happen. We have already seen this lack of support in other situations, such as Winstone pulp and paper.
“The trend we are seeing in terms of the loss of manufacturing jobs in regional communities is going to have a long-term negative impact on regional economic development and on the health and wellbeing of whānau and communities.
“Every forecast tells us that unemployment is going to rise, but nothing is being done at the government level to address it. What we are seeing is a total failure of leadership.
“The Government is happy to underwrite private building construction but will do nothing to underwrite workers incomes.
“We need to learn the lessons of the past and not throw workers on the scrap heap when the manufacturing sector is under pressure. Government has a responsibility to support workers with retraining and pathways into employment.
“It is also becoming clearer by the day just how foolish it was to scrap plans for an income insurance scheme that would have helped tide workers over until they found new work,” said Wagstaff.
Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
4 mins ago
James McKinley-Blake is currently in his second year of the Bachelor of Business Studies (Marketing and Management).
James McKinley-Blake always had a dream of starting his own business, so he decided to act on it by enrolling in a business programme at EIT.
James, who was born in Australia and grew up in Hawke’s Bay, decided to take a gap year to work in retail and ponder his future after completing his final year at Napier Boys’ High.
“I was really interested in the arts and science and thought that’s what I wanted to do, but when I got to the end of my final year at school, I was a bit unsure of where I wanted to go to.”
“I took a gap year to think about what I actually wanted to do before I hopped into making this decision. But during that time, I always had the passion to start up or eventually manage my own business.”
“I thought business studies would be perfect. I saw that it was advertised at EIT and I thought, why not? Let’s do it, see what happens and I’m really enjoying it.”
James, 20, is currently in his second year of the Bachelor of Business Studies (Marketing and Management) at EIT Hawke’s Bay and he is loving it.
However his time at EIT got off to a tough start because the programme started the day before Cyclone Gabrielle struck, and the campus had been closed as a precaution. The classes were moved online and then moved off campus.
“The lecturers were great. They handled it well and just got into it. But when we ended up getting back to campus, you could tell a significant difference with that interaction because, personally, I prefer that face-to-face interaction.”
“Personally, I didn’t know what to expect with the business studies. I did go to an open day and heard about it for a bit, but when I got into it, it was a lot more than what I thought.”
James says that he would have no hesitation in recommending the Bachelor of Business at EIT.
“I may explore the sciences or arts a bit later in life, but at the moment just to build a steady foundation for my business, the business studies course is really enjoyable.”
He says that he is interested in starting his own business within horticulture or agriculture, but is keeping his options open.
He says he is also open to continuing studying and may look to do the Postgraduate Diploma in Business at EIT after he finishes his degree.
“James has already proven himself to be a conscientious student who is focused on his goals and impressed his lecturers with a positive and mature attitude,” says Russell Booth, Programme Co-ordinator for the Bachelor of Business Studies at EIT.
“He has also been discussing with me ways he can expand his experience whilst at EIT through applying for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship and has volunteered his time to help other students as a valued peer mentor. James is already making his intentions clear that he intends on taking advantage of every opportunity he can whilst studying at EIT and for someone like James, we are more than happy to help in whatever way we can!” says Russell.
Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU
Data released by Stats NZ today showed inflation slowed to an annual rate of 2.2%, reflecting lower petrol prices and a weaker economy, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.
“The data shows that petrol prices fell 8% annually, and vegetable prices fell 18% annually. These reflect both softer global demand and a return to normal harvests after Cyclone Gabrielle. Prices for discretionary spending items such as furniture, electronics, or second-hand vehicles fell. This suggests weak demand and low consumer confidence, which is exactly what you would expect when unemployment is rising,” said Renney.
“Inflation and rising costs that can’t be avoided by households kept rising much faster than the headline rate. Electricity costs are up 7.4% a year. Rates bills rose 12% last year. Pharmaceutical products rose 17% with the reintroduction of prescription fees. Housing insurance was up 20% from last year.
“Rents were the biggest contributor to annual inflation, up 4.5%. It’s clear that the landlord tax cuts aren’t working to reduce rents. Low-income households, struggling after real terms cuts to the minimum wage this year, will still be feeling the pinch of these increases.
“One of the biggest drivers of the fall in inflation was the reduction in early childhood costs associated with the new family boost payment. Without that change quarterly inflation would have risen from 0.6% in September to 0.9%. Yet we know that more than half of all eligible households aren’t claiming that support – meaning that fall is unlikely to be translating into families’ pockets for many. Petrol pricing was supported by the one-off removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax, and with rising oil prices globally that fall is unlikely to be sustained.
“Inflation is falling right now, but low-income workers might not be feeling the benefit as inflation they can’t escape keeps rising. Lower inflation is good news if it doesn’t come at a cost of much higher unemployment, which every forecast tells us will be happening.
“With inflation now being back in the target band, the Government has no reason to not invest in making sure that unemployment doesn’t happen. Anything else is a choice,” said Renney.