Cable car companies unveil plans to connect Queenstown
A cable car race is underway in Queenstown, as two different companies unveil their schemes to connect the town by high-wire. Whoosh and Southern Infrastructure Ltd have revealed blueprints of their proposed urban transport networks, at the Electrify conference in Queenstown this week. But are these sky high fantasies, or firmly on track? Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd has the story.
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Consumer NZ to launch campaign looking into supermarket pricing
A photo of a pound of butter being sold for more than $18 has proved a lightening rod for shoppers concerns about food prices. The Consumer NZ post about the mainland semi soft butter in a tub has got more than 3,500 comments in the past 24 hours, with many people asking if that the price was accurate. Consumer NZ is about to launch a campaign looking at pricing and promotional practices of supermarkets - as well as penalties for breaches under the Fair Trading Act. Consumer NZ chief executive, Jon Duffy spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Appointments To Reserve Bank Board
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua welcomes the appointment of Grant Spencer and the reappointment of Byron Pepper to its governing Board. Mr Spencer will serve for a five-year term, from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030. Mr Pepper will serve for a five-year term from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030. Mr Spencer and Mr Pepper were appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance following their participation in a public appointment process run by Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury. Grant Spencer brings extensive expertise in central banking, financial stability, and monetary policy. He held several senior roles at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, including Deputy Governor, Head of Financial Stability (2007–2017), and Acting Governor (2017–2018). His international experience includes active participation in OECD and EMEAP forums, as well as contributions to the development of New Zealand's capital markets. In addition to his professional experience, Mr Spencer is an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, with academic interests in financial regulation and macroeconomics. He holds advanced qualifications in economics and econometrics. 'Mr Spencer's appointment will enhance the Board's expertise in prudential regulation, macro-prudential policy, and financial market operations, offering complementary strengths to existing board members, particularly in the context of New Zealand's central banking landscape,' RBNZ Board Chair Professor Neil Quigley says. Byron Pepper continues to bring strong governance and financial expertise to the Board. An independent investment banking advisor and director, Mr Pepper has more than 25 years' experience advising corporate and government clients, particularly in the financial services sector across New Zealand, Australia, and internationally. He is the former director of Ando Insurance Group Limited and currently serves as a director or trustee of several New Zealand-based entities. Mr Pepper is also the founder of Vorigo Advisory, following a 22-year career at Goldman Sachs in its global investment banking business. 'We're pleased to reappoint Mr Pepper to the Board,' says Professor Quigley. 'His financial and governance experience continues to add valuable insight to the RBNZ's decision-making.' The Reserve Bank welcomes the contributions of both Mr Spencer and Mr Pepper to its governing Board and looks forward to their support in delivering on Te Pūtea Matua's strategic objectives.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Union warns against meat self-inspection plans
Photo: 123RF The Public Service Association (PSA) says potential plans to privatise New Zealand's meat inspection service could put food quality and safety at risk. The PSA said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is looking at allowing meat processing companies to carry out more of their own inspection work with reduced oversight from AsureQuality (AQ), the government's meat inspection service. Vincent Arbuckle of New Zealand Food Safety said MPI has been reviewing inspection and supervision requirements for exported meat with support from industry and AQ, including looking at more flexible and efficient inspection and verification options. However Arbuckle said no changes had been proposed yet, and any changes would involve a formal consultation process. The PSA feared the changes could result in the loss of jobs at AQ, leading current meat inspectors to move to the private sector, with lower wages and poorer conditions. National secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said independent meat inspectors were important for ensuring high food quality and safety. "It's clear there are plans underway for company meat inspection, which is a major departure from the current situation where we have independent meat inspectors employed by AQ." She said they had been doing an "excellent job" for many years. "The work of meat inspectors ensures that disease and defects in products are identified and that meat is fit for human consumption. "Independent meat inspectors are more rigorous because they have no vested interest in the end product and will not cut corners to increase company profits. Our overseas markets and consumers here at home will miss out if we lose the independence of our meat inspection services." Arbuckle said instead, along with the support of industry and input from AQ, MPI had been developing a programme of work to review the inspection and supervision requirements for exported New Zealand meat. "The programme is investigating possible changes to align New Zealand's requirements for inspecting and verifying exported meat more closely with international guidelines and our own domestic regulatory rules," he said. "As part of this we are investigating models for meat inspection and verification that would allow New Zealand to maintain our high standards for meat products in a more flexible and efficient way." Arbuckle said some companies had carried out inspections for more than a decade with no food safety incidents. Together they accounted for roughly 17 percent of all slaughter establishments, and had exported millions of kilograms of meat. Similarly, he pointed to New Zealand's dairy sector which performed its own quality and food safety compliance with external verification from MPI-appointed verifiers. He said nothing would be changed to risk New Zealand's reputation for food safety. "New Zealand enjoys an excellent reputation for food safety and suitability - this cannot be jeopardised and will not change." Arbuckle said any proposed changes would be subject to a formal consultation process, with the development of any proposals and consultations expected to take the remainder of the year. "We, and our partner AQ, are doing the right thing by communicating with relevant unions to keep them abreast of developments, even at this very early stage." Consultation on possible changes to meat inspection and supervision requirements could start in August. Any resultant changes would not come into force until next year. AQ chief executive Kim Ballinger said as no consultation process had yet been undertaken, she could not comment on any potential outcome implications at this point. She said they were "incredibly proud of our employees for the exceptional meat inspection service they provide" and looked forward to continuing a premium service for New Zealand exports into the future. "We're continuing to prioritise collaboration with our people and unions, customers, MPI, industry bodies and our other partners, to support New Zealand's red meat sector in providing the high-quality, safe meat products that it's renowned for globally." Richard McColl from the Meat Industry Association, which represented meat processors, said one of the models being explored would give members more control and flexibility. "The current meat inspection model is resource intensive and has not evolved along with other parts of the sector. This programme is about giving meat processors and exporters responsibility and ownership of their own risks. "This programme is an opportunity to explore and consider other meat inspection options to achieve the crucial food safety and market access requirements, while also building a more resilient and higher-skilled workforce, with roles that offer greater responsibility, development, and career progression for the thousands of staff employed by red meat processors." He said whichever model was chosen, the final inspection would always be done by a government employee "Our members' reputations rises and falls on the back of food safety outcomes. New Zealand has one of the highest if not the highest reputation for food safety so none of our members are going to compromise food safety outcomes." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
