Bolt launches in Auckland against Uber and DiDi, promises ‘lower fares than the incumbent'
Dynamic pricing makes direct comparisons between ride-sharing services tricky.
But Bolt New Zealand country manager Adam Muirson says: 'While we can't control the pricing or response
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Oil Changers Emphasises Transparent, Efficient Vehicle Servicing Across New Zealand
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The Spinoff
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The cost of being: An international flight attendant who's studying part-time
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a long-haul flight attendant who spends half the year overseas shares their finances. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 21. Ethnicity: NZ European. Role: Full-time international flight attendant, part-time uni student and casual barista. Salary/income/assets: $58,000 (full-time job), $3,000 (casual work). We deserve more, especially for our long hours and unique working conditions. Hopefully we hear some positive Union news soon. My living location is: Urban. Rent/mortgage per week: My partner and I live in a one-bedroom apartment in a new building complex (we're the first tenants in our apartment!) and pay $695 per week between the two of us – $347.50 each. The complex has access to a full gym, movie room, rooftop BBQ space and a WFH space. Our two carparks are covered and secured. 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Takeaways: Honestly, about $40 a week at the moment. Not UberEats, I'll always walk from the hotel rather than pay for a delivery. I get sick of takeaways, but when you spend over 180 nights a year in a hotel, that's bound to happen. Workday lunches: We get food on board! So it's all provided. There are plenty of options for crew – I usually opt for the salad/cold meal choice. Cafe coffees/snacks: Airport coffee… I drink decaf and oat. Sometimes the flight crew shout us a coffee! Otherwise, I love a coffee and a walk. When I'm home, I try to make my own. $15. Other food costs: A coffee subscription from Eightthirty. $16 a week, one bag per week. Savings: About $200 per week – $75 in my emergency fund, $75 in my long-term savings and $50 to my university fees. I am trying to get my emergency fund to $5,000 this year, and it's currently at $2,675 – over halfway! I have lots of different accounts, so there is money incase anything goes wrong. 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NZ Herald
3 days ago
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Butter prices to keep increasing, say industry experts and analysts
That's been driven by a rise in wholesale prices at Global Dairy Trade auctions, which have doubled in the past five years and tripled in the past decade. High Ground Dairy consultant Stu Davison, who provides regular analysis of global prices on Gold Sport's Country Sport Breakfast, said the biggest factor was long-term growth in demand from China and Southeast Asia. 'Diets have been developing in Asia. The premise of including butter in a more Western diet in these Asian nations has been a big driver, especially New Zealand butter as they value the taste and they see the difference in the colour.' Davison said Europe had also been producing consistently less butter since the start of last year, prompting many European countries to stockpile more and export less. 'You get to the situation we're in now where butter is at extraordinary heights and everyone wants their butter on toast. We don't see it running right back to where we were five years ago.' Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen, who produces an annual index of Foodstuffs' supply costs, said New Zealand was impacted by those global factors because it exports so much of its product overseas. 'It's a bit of a double-edged sword. Although clearly households are paying more at supermarkets, those higher prices internationally are also bringing forward better gains and returns for farmers domestically.' Fonterra chief financial officer Andrew Murray told The Country wholesale prices weren't expected to fall any time soon. 'If you look at [New Zealand butter], it's still a lot less than you're paying in Europe, so I think that will put a floor on butter prices for a while.' Michael Sergel is a senior reporter, usually based in Auckland. He has been covering business, politics, local government and consumer affairs for more than a decade.
