For exhausted Cantabrians, the various words expressed from around the country over the past year have had a hollow ring. There is little that can be said to sum up just what last year’s earthquake has done to Canterbury and to our country as a whole. There is a gap now between the city that once existed and a difficult…
Read MoreCategory: March 15, 2012 Issue
ACT pushes for greater freedom for schools
The government will present plans this year to trial a new type of school. Charter schools, like those already running in the US, and being set up in the UK, will be trialled in South Auckland and Christchurch as per the National-Act Confidence and Supply Agreement signed after the last election. Charter schools will be funded by the Government, just…
Read MoreNew Academy to train secondary students
Massey High School and Unitec Institute of Technology have jointly established a Trades Academy to offer vocational training to secondary students. Stated to be the first of its type, the Academy will function within the Massey School. The initial project was launched at the West Auckland Vocational Academy (WAVA) at the school’s Performing Arts Centre recently. Applications are open to…
Read MoreEnglish quizzed over tertiary funding
A business event in Auckland turned out to be a major challenge for finance minister Bill English as he was repeatedly questioned on issues relating to tertiary education funding, student debts recovery and returning to surplus. Massey University and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce hosted ‘Finance 2012,’ at which he was the guest speaker on February 23. Albany Students’ Association…
Read MoreDual Citizenship seminar this month
There are still places left for those wishing to attend the Fiji Dual Citizenship Seminar due to be held at the Novotel Auckland in Ellerslie from 9 am to 5 pm on March 29, 2012. Organised by the Wellingtons based Fiji High Commission, the Seminar aims to apprise former Fiji nationals the benefits of reacquiring their citizenship and reclaiming their…
Read MoreArt of Living gets $1000 for Fiji Flood Relief
February 19, 2012 will be marked in the national calendar as the ‘Day of Peace and Tranquillity’ as the Art of Living Foundation New Zealand performed the ‘Maha Mrityunjaya Homa’ for universal peace. The ceremony was held at the Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Hall in Onehunga, Auckland. More than 40 volunteers including children participated in the grand prayers that aimed…
Read MoreThere could be a taxman behind every property deal
You have just sold a property. Have you checked to see if there are any tax implications? Even the sale of your private home could be taxable in some cases. I If you are planning to buy or sell a property, we recommend you talk to your tax advisor before you take action. Properties are ‘big ticket’ items and if…
Read MoreGlobal presence adds to Bank of India advantage
One of the distinct advantages of dealing with major Indian banks that are fully owned by the Indian government is the security and safety that they offer and the global spread enabling individuals and institutions to benefit from their worldwide presence. Banks registered and licenced by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand offer the additional advantage of stringent monetary and…
Read MoreNew law to combat counterfeiting
Counterfeiting continues to be a problem in New Zealand, with the NZ Customs regularly intercepting shipments of counterfeit and pirated goods destined for the local market. Under the Trade Marks Act 2002, it is a criminal offence to import or sell goods with falsely applied registered trademarks. A product is considered a counterfeit when a registered trademark is applied to…
Read MoreLean strategy works to competitive edge
While every company strives to enhance productivity, customer satisfaction and profitability, the way to achieve the objectives differs between organisations, regions and countries. In the absence of a template that could be applied to all organisations in all situations, the need to at least find a common ground that would be useful in most cases cannot be over-emphasised. However, ‘Lean…
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