Latest news with #123RF
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
New Zealand authorities investigating over 40 trafficking offences
The current 42 active investigations had elements of trafficking. Photo: 123RF Authorities have more than 42 active investigations underway into suspected trafficking offences. Associate Immigration Minister Casey Costello said the government is 'not sitting on its laurels' about the extent of the cross-border and domestic issue. RNZ reported in March trafficking investigations had increased by almost 4000 percent , but no-one had been prosecuted since 2018. The figures show there were only six investigations from 2018 to 2020, and 236 in the two years up to last October. The current 42 active investigations had elements of trafficking, said Costello, who took over responsibility for work against organised crime, including trafficking, earlier this year. She said people were becoming desensitised to exploitation, trafficking and slavery - and were conflating it with issues such as being paid under the table or not getting holiday pay. The victimisation was often unseen and the enormity of trafficking was often not understood, she said. The last trafficking case to be prosecuted was in 2020, when Hastings-based Joseph Auga Matamata was jailed for 11 years after bringing 13 Samoans to New Zealand and exploiting them over 25 years. An unknown number of children have been brought from overseas and been sexually or financially exploited, or used as household slaves . Costello said she is hopeful that fixes to international adoptions, where children have been exploited after being brought into the country without checks , will happen before the end of this parliamentary term. But she remains unconvinced about how effective legislation would be in forcing companies to check their supply chains for modern slavery, a recommendation from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime. "We have heard that it is highly likely that serious criminal exploitation, such as people trafficking, forced labour and sexual exploitation, is underreported and growing within New Zealand," said the group in its latest report. "There are almost certainly exploited migrants in our horticulture, construction, beauty services and hospitality sectors." Associate Immigration Minister Casey Costello. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver It recommended 'high-risk industries' to actively identify, prevent, mitigate and account for the integrity of their supply chains, and making them subject to legal liability and regulatory enforcement similar to workplace health and safety. Organised crime is the theme of today's World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and INZ said criminal networks were often behind trafficking. "Frontline staff, particularly at the border, are trained to help them recognise indicators of trafficking in persons. We also support the training of law enforcement officials to recognise suspected trafficking in the community," INZ said. "When a report is made, we assess the information provided. Victims of trafficking are eligible for access to support services from the government including from the Ministry of Social Development, the health sector, and INZ." It points out warning signs that a person may need help, including migrants living at their place of work, locks on the outside of doors, people who have 'rehearsed' statements and stories, or do not have money or ID, which might suggest their passport is being withheld. The latest ministerial advisory group report recommends clarifying the mandates between MBIE and Police for taking the lead on human trafficking offences to improve effectiveness, and called for MBIE to update its systems and processes. In September 2018, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US jointly launched the Principles to Guide Government Action to Combat Human Trafficking in Global Supply Chains, including in private sector supply chains and government procurement practices. The five-year New Zealand plan of action against forced labour, people trafficking and slavery expires this year. Out of its annual implementation reports, only two were published, in 2021 and 2022. One of the measures was visas for certified victims to work and/or stay in New Zealand. Thirteen Victims of People Trafficking residence (and 33 temporary work) visas were approved in 2020/21, three the year after but none since. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- Science
- RNZ News
Just how strong can an earthquake get?
Magnitudes are on a logarithmic scale, which means that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude. Photo: 123RF Wednesday's magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of far eastern Russia is one of the largest in years, raising fears of a tsunami around the Pacific. It was the strongest quake since 2011, when a magnitude 9 megaquake struck northeast Japan, killing nearly 20,000 people. If it holds, it might be one of the 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded. Magnitudes are the size of the earthquake, usually based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded on seismometres. Magnitudes are on a logarithmic scale, which means that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude. A magnitude can be adjusted once more seismic readings come in - the Russia earthquake was originally listed as magnitude 8, but upgraded to 8.8. Other factors can influence how severe an earthquake is, including its location and depth. The Christchurch earthquake that killed 185 people in February 2011 was magnitude 6.2, but struck a densely populated centre. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that left more than 225,000 people dead was triggered by a quake with a magnitude of 9.2 to 9.3. Damage from the Myanmar quake earlier in 2025. Photo: AFP/ Xinhua - Myo Kyaw Soe The largest earthquake reliably recorded was a magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile in 1960. The subsequent tsunami traveled across the world and caused coastal evacuations around New Zealand . The effects were observed at more than 120 locations, GeoNet reported. "The most affected locations occurred along the whole eastern seaboard from Cape Reinga to west of Bluff and to Stewart Island, but the tsunami was also observed at locations on the west coast of the North Island including Ahipara in Northland, and notably as far south as Whanganui and Paremata, but not at New Plymouth, Foxton, or Himatangi Beach." It triggered the setup of the formal tsunami warning system in 1965, NIWA researcher Rob Bell told the East Coast Lab . "Our tsunami warning system was virtually non-existent. Following the event, negotiations to connect New Zealand to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and a formalised warning system were concluded in 1965," Bell said. "It struck New Zealand blind," distinguished professor of disaster management David Johnston told RNZ last year . "It hit most of the east coast of the North and South Islands, inundating properties in Napier, Gisborne, and Lyttelton [and] caused considerable damage. "No loss of life, but a higher tide would most likely have led to multiple fatalities." The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. Photo: RNZ / SIMON ROGERS By the way, there has never been a magnitude 10 earthquake ever recorded, and there probably never will be. "No fault long enough to generate a magnitude 10 earthquake is known to exist, and if it did, it would extend around most of the planet," the US Geological Survey says . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
'Beautiful' Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower set to peak overnight
Photo: 123RF A "beautiful" meteor shower is set to light up the skies over Aotearoa overnight. The Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower is fast, faint shooting stars from the Aquarius constellation . Auckland's Stardome Observatory and Planetarium says the annual event "is a reliable and beautiful meteor shower best viewed from here in the Southern Hemisphere". Astronomer Josh Aoraki told Morning Report at their peak you may see about 20 meteors per hour. "Which would be really gorgeous if you imagine star gazing with that up in the sky." The best time to see it will be about 2am, so you'll have to set an early alarm if you're keen to see it. "It's one of the more reliable ones, so usually we have a pretty constant rate of shooting stars every year. "We don't have a huge amount here so if we do get clear skies it's definitely worth a look." Did you see the meteor shower? Send us your photos and videos iwitness@ You won't need any eqiupment to see it but you'll need to be looking to the north-east about half way up the sky and it'll be best if you're away from city lights. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) Is Driving Efficiency Drive At Defense Contractors
We recently published . Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is a stock frequently discussed by Cramer in his morning show. The shares have gained a whopping 105% year-to-date as the firm remains the only pure-play analytics provider with significant catalysts from cost-cutting initiatives at the US government. Cramer's previous comments about Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) have seen him proudly claim that he predicted the stock would cross the $100 price mark well before Wall Street analysts. This time, he discussed the firm in the context of a new age of defense contractors springing up and efficiency drives at the old ones: 'But I do think that we're gonna have to start focusing, [inaudible] Palantir. I mean Palantir is behind a lot of the effort to have contractors be competitive.' Copyright: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo Earlier, Cramer discussed how he had been bullish on Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) well before others: 'Remember Palantir, I said at 50 it goes to 100. When it gets to 150, it gets to 200. I'm gonna revise my price target when it gets to 200. Cause it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, it's got the Rule of 40. It has the messianic CEO. When you bring them in, they make you money. And it has what this market really wants. Which is momentum. While we acknowledge the potential of PLTR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Savings momentum building - but who's struggling?
File photo. Photo: 123RF Savings momentum is building, Kiwibank says, unless you're Māori, Pacific, or a woman. It has released its latest State of Savings Index, which tracks how New Zealanders are balancing daily financial pressures with long-term goals. Chief executive Steve Jurkovich said it showed progress. "Young people are showing real savings discipline and financial confidence is on the rise. Larger businesses are also moving beyond survival mode, with growing optimism. After a tough stretch, that's a promising sign." But Māori, Pacific peoples and women were struggling to save considerably more than the average, he said. Māori reported struggling to save at a rate of 79 percent, Pacific peoples at 82 percent and women at 71 percent, compared to an average of 63 percent and men at 55 percent. Jurkovich said for those struggling to save, the cost of living was the biggest barrier. "The number one view expressed is the cost of living. It's a hurdle to how people are struggling to stick to their budgets. It shows regardless of what your intent is, the reality of bills and things you have to face into is really challenging." But he said it was possible that the experience of high inflation in recent years had reinforced to many people how important it was to have a goal and save what they could. "However, the good news is that for now, the risk of persistently high inflation appears low, especially with significant spare capacity still in the Kiwi economy and signs that price increases are becoming less pronounced. And falling mortgage interest rates are offering a measure of relief to homeowners, helping to ease pressure and potentially stabilise household finances. We anticipate further rate relief as the RBNZ looks through volatile movement ahead of its next OCR decision." While almost 95 percent of people said it was important to be financially prepared for unexpected events, less than half were saving regularly. Just under half of respondents with saving outside KiwiSaver said they had dipped into long-term savings in the past year to cover short-term expenses. Māori and Pacific peoples were more likely to do so, at just over 60 percent. High numbers of people have also been withdrawing money from KiwiSaver in the past year for hardship reasons. Jurkovich said it was preferable that people dipped into KiwiSaver to cover emergencies rather than taking out high-interest debt or putting it on a credit card. "It's a long term savings vehicle and KiwiSaver performance will go up and down, you want to get capital in there ... if you were able to take some out and put some back in it would certainly seem to be a much better financial outcome than suspending contributions to KiwiSaver over the long term." Jurkovich said the improvement in the economy was being driven by the South Island. Kiwibank had opened a Christchurch office in part because of the demand from staff to move there. "Agriculture and tourism are providing a tailwind for those areas." Just over half the businesses surveyed said they were financially stronger than a year ago, but this was primarily among larger organisations. "There's a confidence gap between larger organisations and smaller businesses. While large businesses (more than 100 people) report they are investing and growing, many sole operators are still just trying to stay afloat. The drive and ambition are there, but the data shows they're often missing the tools to act on it." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
