logo
Smith and Caughey's shutting its doors after 145 years

Smith and Caughey's shutting its doors after 145 years

RNZ News13-06-2025
business life and society 27 minutes ago
After 145 years iconic Auckland department store Smith and Caughey's will close its doors for the final time this Sunday at 4pm. The closure was set for the end of July but Aucklanders have been snapping up the discounted items almost all of the stock is gone. Reporter Louise Ternouth spoke to Lisa Owen.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Retail crime advisory group costs $500k in three months
Retail crime advisory group costs $500k in three months

RNZ News

time10 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Retail crime advisory group costs $500k in three months

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says he is confident the group has done what it was set up to do. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii The justice minister is defending the amount of money spent on the government's retail crime advisory group in 100 days, saying the group has come up with ideas the government will implement to better deal with retail crime. The Labour Party says the half-million dollar sum is hard to stomach, and that ideas the group came up had previously been dismissed as being too dangerous. But the group's chair says its budget is strictly managed and controlled, and he had robust checks and accountability measures in place. The government has announced a suite of law-and-order reforms designed to crack down on retail crime, including on-the-spot fines for shoplifters, citizen's arrest powers, and toughened trespass laws. The reforms were suggested by the ministerial advisory group, chaired by Sunny Kaushal. Answering a parliamentary question from Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said "The Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime has spent $507,468.71 from 1 March 2025 to 10 June 2025." Those costs include personnel costs ($329,900.93), chair and member fees ($102,788.26), travel and accommodation ($9,605.71), and admin ($65,173.81). Member remuneration is in accordance with the Cabinet fees framework, with the Ministry of Justice reimbursing invoiced fees. On Tuesday, Goldsmith told media the MAG's budget was $1.8m a year, so it was under budget. "The point of the advisory group is to come up with well-thought-through, oven-ready legislation for us to get on with, and that's what they've done," he said. However, some of the policies still needed time to work through before the bill is introduced, or during the select committee process. When announcing the trespass law changes, Goldsmith said the government would explore how best to support retailers when distributing notices to those who refuse to engage. He also said the precise details on the use of facial recognition or CCTV to identify shoplifters would be "argued out" over the select committee process. Andersen said it was unclear why that amount of money had been spent by the group. She said when she was police minister, Kaushal had come to her suggesting a citizen's arrest policy, but it was dismissed as police had advised it was dangerous. "It does seem an exorbitant amount for ideas that were given to our government for free, and ideas that have been advised as dangerous," she said. Goldsmith, however, said he was confident the group had done what it was set up to do, and criticised Labour for not implementing such ideas. "A lot of them weren't taken up because their government was frankly soft on crime and they weren't actually listening and making the changes that needed to be made." Kaushal said the group operated under a clearly defined and stringently managed operating budget, controlled and overseen by the Ministry of Justice's finance team. "In line with public expectations around the responsible use of funds, I have robust checks and accountability measures in place across all areas of expenditure," he said. Kaushal said the group's "strict cost control and efficient operations" had already delivered a significant savings underspending from its allocated annual operating budget. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Immigration advisor loses license, ordered to repay victims $58,500
Immigration advisor loses license, ordered to repay victims $58,500

RNZ News

time10 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Immigration advisor loses license, ordered to repay victims $58,500

The immigration advisor was ordered to compensate $19,061 to one victim, and fined $17,000 across three different complainants. File photo Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin An immigration advisor has lost their license after charging Chinese migrant workers tens of thousands of dollars in visa fees for jobs that didn't exist. Tzu Tong (Jane) Ma has had her license cancelled by the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal, over breaches relating to arranging work visa applications for two migrants at a building company ZR Homes. The company ZR Homes was owned by Ma's husband, which she hadn't disclosed as a conflict of interest, and there were no jobs. She has been ordered to repay the victims $58,500 in compensation and has also been fined $10,000. There have been widespread reports of fraudulent employers and agents selling jobs under the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme since early 2023 . The latest decision by the Tribunal comes more than a year after the Tribunal upheld 51 breaches by Ma, involving advice given to five other clients. The breaches included six counts of dishonesty involving giving false information and documents to Immigration New Zealand, as well as other breaches of the licensed immigration advisers Code of Conduct. Ma was ordered to compensate $19,061 to one victim, and fined $17,000 across three different complainants. Ma's license was suspended in April 2024, shortly after the first Tribunal decision against her, but was not revoked then. In this latest case, the two migrants arrived in New Zealand only to find there was no available work with ZR Homes. They filed complaints to the Immigration Advisers Authority against Ma, and stated that they had no work or any income for several weeks after arriving in New Zealand, which caused them significant mental distress. Immigration Advisers Authority registrar Duncan Connor said the numerous breaches and deliberate attempt to conceal a conflict of interest was unacceptable. "The seriousness of the complaints and pattern of behaviour prompted the Authority to seek suspension of Ms Ma's licence which was granted by the Tribunal pending the outcome of the final Tribunal decision which we were pleased the tribunal agreed with," Connor said. Tribunal chairperson DJ Plunkett said in his decision that the misconduct is aggravated by the lack of any acknowledgement of serious wrongdoing by Ma.

Auckland Company Highlights Whole-Home Climate Control With Ducted Heat Pump Solutions
Auckland Company Highlights Whole-Home Climate Control With Ducted Heat Pump Solutions

Scoop

time10 hours ago

  • Scoop

Auckland Company Highlights Whole-Home Climate Control With Ducted Heat Pump Solutions

Happy Air Heat Pumps, an Auckland-based provider of climate control systems, is drawing attention to the benefits of ducted heat pump technology for both residential and commercial properties. The company's team of Auckland ducted heat pump installers specialises in the installation and servicing of centralised heating and cooling systems designed to provide even temperature control throughout entire buildings. Ducted heat pump systems operate by distributing warm or cool air through a network of vents, offering a discreet alternative to traditional wall-mounted units. According to Happy Air Heat Pumps, this approach eliminates hot and cold spots and can be configured to allow for smart zoning, enabling different areas of a home or office to be set to individual temperatures. The company supplies and installs leading brands such as Fujitsu and Daikin, noted for their energy efficiency and reliability. The demand for ducted air conditioning in Auckland has increased as property owners seek solutions that balance comfort, energy savings, and aesthetics. Ducted systems are particularly suited to open-plan or multi-level buildings, as they deliver consistent airflow to all rooms via a single, centralised unit. Installations can be tailored to suit new builds or retrofitted into existing structures, with options ranging from whole-home systems to smaller, low-noise solutions for bedrooms and targeted spaces. Happy Air Heat Pumps provides guidance throughout the process, from initial consultation and system selection to installation and ongoing support. The company offers free on-site assessments and quotes, aiming to ensure that each system is matched to the specific needs of the property. For Auckland residents and businesses considering a move to ducted climate control, the company's experienced installers and focus on efficient service are available to assist with enquiries and planning.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store