On The Up: Rotorua joins national drive to collect 1 million cans for foodbanks
Donating one million cans of food to Kiwis living in poverty would be 'really easy' if enough people took part, a Rotorua businessman says.
Rotary Rotorua Sunrise Club is encouraging local schools, businesses and community groups to support Rotary Cans For A Cause, a national effort to raise one
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
23 minutes ago
- 1News
Govt on next steps to replacing fuel tax with road user charges
Cabinet has agreed on a set of changes as it looks to roll out electronic road user charges to all light vehicles as it seeks to replace petrol tax. A replacement of fuel excise taxes in favour of electronic road user charging is part of National's coalition agreement with ACT. Currently New Zealanders help pay for the roads via their vehicle licence (or 'rego') fee, road user charges (RUC) and the petrol excise duty (PED). Minister of Transport Chris Bishop said the transition will ensure all vehicles pay based on actual road use (including weight) regardless of fuel type. "Right now, New Zealanders pay Fuel Excise Duty (FED, or petrol tax) of about 70c per litre of petrol every time they fill up at the pump with a petrol car. ADVERTISEMENT "Diesel, electric, and heavy vehicles pay road user charges based on distance travelled." Bishop said as hybrid and petrol efficient vehicles become more common, the way New Zealand funds its roads needed to change. He said in 2015, there were 12,000 hybrid vehicles in the country, whereas now, there are over 350,000. "For decades, petrol tax has acted as a rough proxy for road use, but the relationship between petrol consumption and road usage is fast breaking down. Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. (Source: Q and A) "For example, petrol vehicles with better fuel economy contribute less FED per kilometre towards road maintenance, operations, and improvements. "As our vehicle fleet changes, so too must the way we fund our roads. It isn't fair to have Kiwis who drive less and who can't afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often." ADVERTISEMENT Timeline Bishop said the transition will happen in stages, beginning with legislative and regulatory reform to modernise the current road user charges system and enable private sector innovation. "The current road user charges system is outdated. It's largely paper based, means people have to constantly monitor their odometers, and requires people to buy road user charges in 1000km chunks." Bishop said he expects to pass legislation in 2026, followed by an updated code of practice for road user charge providers and an upgrade in systems for both New Zealand Transport Agency and police. "By 2027, the RUC system will be 'open for business', with third-party providers able to offer innovative payment services and a consistent approval process in place. "At this stage, no date has been set for the full transition of the light vehicle fleet. That's a deliberate choice, as we're focused on getting the system right rather than rushing its rollout." The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, new report into submersible implosion, body found in Auckland park, and mixed injury news for the Warriors. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Key legislative changes the Government is progressing include: Removing the requirement to carry or display road user charge licences, allowing for digital records instead. Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic road user charge devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles. Supporting flexible payment models such as post-pay and monthly billing. Separating NZTA's roles as both road user charge regulator and retailer to foster fairer competition. Allowing bundling of other road charges like tolls and time of used based pricing into a single, easy payment. "The changes will support a more user-friendly, technology-enabled RUC system, with multiple retail options available for motorists," Bishop said. "Eventually, paying for RUC should be like paying a power bill online, or a Netflix subscription. Simple and easy." Who currently pays road user charges? Vehicles that weigh more than 3500kg pay RUC. Lighter vehicles also pay RUC if they are powered by diesel, electricity or another fuel that isn't taxed at its source. ADVERTISEMENT Light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids began paying road user charges last year. EVs that weigh more than 3500kg are still exempt from paying RUC, but will start paying them after December 31, 2025. 'Fairer and more efficient' - Motor Industry Association Motor Industry Association chief executive Aimee Wiley is supportive of the Government's plan, which she said will make for "efficient administration and compliance". "Converting the whole fleet to road user charges will be a major undertaking, and we will gain nothing if we do not make use of the latest technology to manage the system digitally and in real time. It'll make compliance much easier and administration less expensive." She said it is the "correct approach" to determine the technology platform for the new system before deciding the approach and timeframe for the transition. Overall, the association, which represents manufacturers and suppliers of new vehicles to New Zealand, said the move "places all vehicles on the same footing, making the system fairer and more efficient".
Techday NZ
an hour ago
- Techday NZ
Dosh partners with Visa & Pismo to build NZ digital banking
Dosh has announced a collaboration with Visa and Pismo aimed at developing its digital banking platform in New Zealand. The Auckland-based digital wallet provider, established in 2021, is progressing towards becoming a registered bank and says its partnership with Visa and Pismo will support this next phase of its business. The collaboration is set to allow Dosh to deliver digital banking services with greater speed, security, and scalability to customers throughout New Zealand. Partnership details Dosh will use Pismo's cloud-native core banking and payments platform, which Visa acquired in 2024, to underpin its expanding financial offerings. Currently, the digital wallet serves more than 40,000 accounts, all of which are expected to be migrated to the Pismo platform by May 2026. According to the company, the migration will be seamless with no service disruption for existing users. "Working with Visa and Pismo allows us to move faster and scale with confidence," said Shane Marsh, CEO of Dosh. "As we step into this exciting next chapter, our focus is on offering New Zealanders a modern banking experience that's smart, simple, and puts value back in their pockets. This collaboration is a key step in that journey." Pismo's platform will allow Dosh to consolidate spend, save, and borrow features within a single banking application, giving it the infrastructure required to broaden its digital services and scale its user base over the coming years. Strategic goals Dosh's stated ambition is to become New Zealand's first fully digital, locally owned registered bank, with an application currently underway at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. By leveraging this new partnership, Dosh aims to offer solutions that it says are aligned to the needs and preferences of modern New Zealanders. Anthony Watson, Visa Country Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, said: "We want Kiwi fintechs to thrive, so we're proud to support Dosh in their mission to bring more innovation and choice to New Zealanders. Their vision aligns closely with Visa's ongoing commitment to digital innovation and financial inclusion." This partnership marks the first client engagement for Pismo in New Zealand. Vishal Dalal, CEO at Pismo, commented: "Dosh is known for delivering a simple and intuitive customer experience. We're excited to help enable that with a modern, scalable platform powering it behind the scenes. We're also proud to welcome Dosh as our first client in New Zealand." Local focus with global technology Dosh highlighted the importance of a local customer focus while leveraging the expertise and technologies of international partners. The collaboration intends to merge global payments infrastructure with local requirements. Marsh said: "Collaborating directly with Visa, a global leader in payments innovation, reinforces our ambition to bring world-class digital banking technology to Kiwis. Together, with Pismo, we're building the foundation for the future of banking in New Zealand." Dosh is positioning its model to streamline costs, adopt new technologies including artificial intelligence, and offer a service described as tailored for New Zealand customers as it seeks regulatory approval to operate as a digital-only bank. Follow us on: Share on:
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
Construction Begins On Papakura District Court
Hon Paul Goldsmith Minister of Justice Minister for Courts Construction begins today on the new Papakura District Court which will help speed up court processes and improve critical infrastructure, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Courts Minister Nicole McKee say. 'Improving the quality of New Zealand's infrastructure is vital to creating jobs, growing our economy and helping Kiwis with the cost of living,' Mr Goldsmith says. 'Better and more efficient court processes means people can spend less time and money on legal battles and instead move on with their lives. Improving court timeliness and access to justice is a major part of plan to restore law and order, which we know is working. 'Courts are an important part of our social fabric, where the law is enforced, civil disputes are resolved, and the rights of individuals upheld,' Mr Goldsmith says. A modern approach is being taken when it comes to the construction of the new court. 'Half the new building is being constructed off-site. These components will be delivered as prefabricated modules and then installed onsite,' Mrs McKee says. 'This is a way of building safely and efficiently, while reducing time, cost, and material resources, as we respond to demographic changes in the fast-growing South Auckland area. 'The building will include three courtrooms, two hearing rooms and, I am pleased to note, a suite for vulnerable witnesses. Victims are our priority, and this helps return them to the heart of the justice system,' Mrs McKee says. The new courthouse is expected to open to the public in early 2027. It has an estimated construction budget of $34m.
