Latest news with #AntoniaWatson
Scoop
07-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
The Big Sleepout Returns: Lifewise Calls On Kiwis To Help Raise $500,000 To Tackle Homelessness
Sir Bob Harvey, Antonia Watson and Rob Campbell are among those backing The Big Sleepout's return to spotlight housing hardship. AUCKLAND, New Zealand – 7 July 2025 – After a six-year hiatus, Lifewise's largest fundraiser - The Big Sleepout - is back. With an ambitious goal of raising $500,000, the event will bring together high-profile business and community leaders for one cold, unforgettable night spent sleeping rough to support people experiencing homelessness across Aotearoa. The event will take place on 10 July, at AUT Campus in the CBD. First launched in 2010, The Big Sleepout invites participants to step outside of their comfort zone - swapping warm beds for cardboard and cold concrete - to raise awareness and funds to support the over 4,000 whānau who experience homelessness every night. This year, the Big Sleepout will raise funds for Merge Cafe - a non-profit cafe that often acts as the first point of contact for those sleeping rough, offering warm meals, peer support, and connection to Lifewise's wider wraparound services. A growing crisis and a call to action Recent figures from Stats NZ show over 112,000 people are now severely housing deprived across New Zealand. In Auckland, homelessness is worsening, with a 53 per cent increase in rough sleeping since late 2024, according to Auckland Council's Community Committee. Homelessness is now also increasingly affecting people who weren't previously considered at risk - including working families, single parents, young people and the LGBTQ+ community. 'The return of the Big Sleepout couldn't have come at a more critical time. 'Homelessness has increased significantly, especially in our city. The Big Sleepout isn't about replicating the experience - it's about building empathy, shining a light on a complex issue, and driving action. At Lifewise, we want our street whānau to know they are seen and valued - and that together, we can create real, lasting change,' says Haehaetu Barret, Chief Executive of Lifewise. A night of insight and impact The Big Sleepout gives participants a small glimpse into the hardship faced by street whānau. Attendees receive a piece of cardboard, eat a basic meal of soup and bread, and sleep outside. Throughout the evening, they'll hear from speakers with lived experience, such as comedian Joe Daymond, view a short film created by former homeless individuals, and take part in discussions on systemic solutions. This year's Big Sleepout has participants from all walks of life including former Waitakere mayor Sir Bob Harvey, KiwRail CEO Peter Reidy, ANZ Bank CEO Antonia Watson, Barrister Mai Chen, AUT Vice-Chancellor, Damon Salesa and Professional Director Rob Campbell among others. Campbell says, 'We treat homelessness as a background issue - as something that happens to others and is out of sight and out of mind. The reality is homelessness affects people in every corner of our communities. Every person deserves dignity, safety and a place to call home. We need more than policy tweaks - we need empathy, courage, and collective responsibility. 'The Big Sleepout is a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins when we connect, not just with the issue, but with each other. I'm proud to stand alongside others to support Lifewise and the work they do every day to create a more just and compassionate Aotearoa, ' says Campbell. Proceeds from the event will directly support the work of Merge Café, which serves more than 250 people a day and provided over 10,700 hot meals in the last financial year. With the support of peer workers and case managers, 587 whānau and 70 rangatahi were housed through Lifewise's services in 2023/24. Just a small donation can make a tangible difference:
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Watch live: Christopher Luxon on what Budget 2025 means
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will provide fresh insights into last week's Budget, when he speaks to a business audience at the ANZ Breakfast event in Wellington. Luxon will on Wednesday share what he sees as the Budget's key initiatives and the government's policy priorities. He is being joined at the forum by ANZ NZ chief executive Antonia Watson and ANZ NZ's chief economist Sharon Zollner. Watch the livestream and follow RNZ's live updates at the top of this page.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Watch live: Sharon Zollner, Christopher Luxon on what Budget 2025 means
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will provide fresh insights into last week's Budget, when he speaks to a business audience at the ANZ Breakfast event in Wellington. Luxon will on Wednesday share what he sees as the Budget's key initiatives and the government's policy priorities. He is being joined at the forum by ANZ NZ chief executive Antonia Watson and ANZ NZ's chief economist Sharon Zollner. Watch the livestream and follow RNZ's live updates at the top of this page.
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
ANZ New Zealand result: First-half profit edges up to $1.16 billion
The bank's New Zealand chief executive, Antonia Watson, said the result came at a time of global uncertainty and market turmoil. 'Our performance reflects the broader economy we operate in,' Watson said. 'With revenue and costs largely flat, our half-year result demonstrates consistent performance,' she said. 'Many Kiwis are starting to feel the benefits of a lower-inflation and interest-rate environment and our farmers are seeing strong commodity prices. 'However, global uncertainty is likely to keep firms cautious about taking risks for a bit longer, slowing the recovery in investment and employment.' ANZ's economists have revised down their forecasts for both activity and the Official Cash Rate, which stands at 3.5%. 'Kiwis are very aware of what is going on in the economy and we are seeing this play out through our customers' behaviour,' Watson said. Almost 40% of ANZ's home loan customers were ahead on their payments by six months or more and 45% have a savings buffer of $5,000 or more in place. Over the past three months, just under a quarter of all home loan customers refixing at a lower rate have either kept their repayment amounts the same or increased them, which means they will now be paying off their home loans faster than before, the bank said. ANZ said cautious consumer spending was impacting on some sectors like retail and hospitality. Watson said many business and agricultural-sector customers were reluctant to take on more debt in the current environment. 'While there are still challenges ahead, we're seeing encouraging signs that New Zealand's economy has some firm foundations and there are green shoots,' Watson said. 'It's important to note that while it is now looking like it will take a little longer, the New Zealand economy is forecast to continue to improve as the impacts of interest rate cuts work their way through.' Advertise with NZME. Since last August, the Reserve Bank has cut the Official Cash Rate by 200 basis points and fixed home loan rates have fallen even more, providing some relief for home loan customers. By the end of this year, around 86% of ANZ's customers with a fixed interest rate higher than 6% will roll off on to lower rates. These borrowers could potentially see 100 basis points or more coming off their home loans when they refix, Watson said. For someone with a $500,000 loan, this could mean monthly savings of around $260 in repayments. The bank's revenue for the first half of the year was $2.541b, up 1% on the six months to September 30, 2024. Expenses dropped by 1%, inclusive of higher wages and operational costs. Watson said the Reserve Bank's capital rules equated to an increase in minimum regulatory capital required of $5.4b by July 1 this year. Beyond that, as the Reserve Bank has announced the incoming requirements will be reassessed, any further increases are unknown, she said.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
ANZ bank posts 23% first-half profit lift
The profit lift was driven by gains from financial hedges, lower costs, and reduced bad debts. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The country's biggest bank has posted a 23 percent lift in first half profit driven by gains from financial hedges, lower costs, and reduced bad debts. ANZ's profit for the six months ended March was $1.28 billion on the back of instruments to protect against foreign exchange and interest rate volatility. Leaving aside those gains the cash profit was up 3 percent to about $1.2b with a slight increase in lending, higher deposits, and a small gain from money set aside for bad debts that did not eventuate. Chief executive Antonia Watson said the bank's performance reflects the broader economy with customers cautious about spending, but is benefiting from lower mortgage rates and paying off debt quicker. More to come...
