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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Majority of southern ratepayers hit hard
More than two-thirds of Otago and Southland's councils hiked rates above the national average for 2025, new data shows. Only the Invercargill City Council (7.11%), the Otago Regional Council (5.50%) and the Southland District Council (7.23%) were below the national average rates increase of 8.39% for 2025. Of the 78 councils across New Zealand, less than half (34) were below the national average rates increase, and now the Taxpayers' Union is calling for ratepayers to sign a petition calling for a cap to be put on rates hikes. Taxpayers' Union local government campaigns manager Sam Warren said the union had created a Rates Dashboard so ratepayers could track and compare their council's annual rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It also showed the average cumulative rates increase over the present three-year council term, which was an ''astonishing'' 34.4% — more than two and a-half times inflation over the same period. ''The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a-third higher than just three years ago. ''These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. ''They show why United Kingdom or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. ''Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.'' He said more than 28,000 New Zealanders had signed the Cap Rates Now petition. However, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said Dunedin's 10.70% rates increase this year was necessary, because the city had underinvested in infrastructure over the past two decades. ''Our rates are a bit higher than the national average because we've got more ground to make up with water in particular. ''We are embarking on a programme to bring our water services and infrastructure up to standard. ''We're an older city and we're suffering from a lack of expenditure on pipes and plumbing and the water infrastructure over the last 20 years in particular. ''So we're having to make up that ground, but also we're looking to try to balance the increasing levels of debt of council with rates, and we're looking to maintain the water infrastructure within council ownership.'' He said feedback from residents in the nine-year plan consultation, showed there was ''a definite preference'' for the Dunedin City Council to retain control of its own water infrastructure. ''So what that means is, it will cost us a little bit more in the short term to fund that infrastructure, but in the longer term, we'll save a considerable amount of money over the course of the nine-year plan. ''I think it's $158million that we save by funding the water infrastructure upgrades and renewals ourselves, as opposed to forming a council-controlled organisation.'' He said many councils further north were banding together and forming council-controlled organisations, and as a result, they were loading all of the infrastructure upgrades on to debt. ''And in some cases, that debt is heading towards a maximum of about 500% of revenue. We are well under that. ''Even though some people complain about the level of council debt, we are at a realistic level,'' he said. 2025 rates rises % rise 3-year cumulative rise* Central Otago District Council 12.47% 47.95% Clutha District Council 16.59% 39.85% Dunedin City Council 10.70% 38.53% Environment Southland 8.80% 37.13% Gore District Council 8.82% 46.60% Invercargill City Council 7.11% 24.28% Otago Regional Council 5.50% 45.76% Queenstown Lakes District Council 13.50% 50.23% Southland District Council 7.23% 31.15% Waitaki District Council 9.79% 34.79% *(as of July 10, 2025) Top 10 rates rises in 2025 Clutha District Council - 16.59% Upper Hutt City Council - 15.78% Hamilton City Council - 15.50% Waipa District Council - 15.50% Hastings District Council - 15.00% Selwyn District Council - 14.20% Grey District Council - 13.73% Queenstown Lakes District Council - 13.50% Westland District Council - 13.20% Taranaki Regional Council - 12.90%
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Majority of southern ratepayers hit hard: Many rates rises above national average increase
More than two-thirds of Otago and Southland's councils hiked rates above the national average for 2025, new data shows. Only the Invercargill City Council (7.11%), the Otago Regional Council (5.50%) and the Southland District Council (7.23%) were below the national average rates increase of 8.39% for 2025. Of the 78 councils across New Zealand, less than half (34) were below the national average rates increase, and now the Taxpayers' Union is calling for ratepayers to sign a petition calling for a cap to be put on rates hikes. Taxpayers' Union local government campaigns manager Sam Warren said the union had created a Rates Dashboard so ratepayers could track and compare their council's annual rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It also showed the average cumulative rates increase over the present three-year council term, which was an ''astonishing'' 34.4% — more than two and a-half times inflation over the same period. ''The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a-third higher than just three years ago. ''These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. ''They show why United Kingdom or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. ''Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.'' He said more than 28,000 New Zealanders had signed the Cap Rates Now petition. However, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said Dunedin's 10.70% rates increase this year was necessary, because the city had underinvested in infrastructure over the past two decades. ''Our rates are a bit higher than the national average because we've got more ground to make up with water in particular. ''We are embarking on a programme to bring our water services and infrastructure up to standard. ''We're an older city and we're suffering from a lack of expenditure on pipes and plumbing and the water infrastructure over the last 20 years in particular. ''So we're having to make up that ground, but also we're looking to try to balance the increasing levels of debt of council with rates, and we're looking to maintain the water infrastructure within council ownership.'' He said feedback from residents in the nine-year plan consultation, showed there was ''a definite preference'' for the Dunedin City Council to retain control of its own water infrastructure. ''So what that means is, it will cost us a little bit more in the short term to fund that infrastructure, but in the longer term, we'll save a considerable amount of money over the course of the nine-year plan. ''I think it's $158million that we save by funding the water infrastructure upgrades and renewals ourselves, as opposed to forming a council-controlled organisation.'' He said many councils further north were banding together and forming council-controlled organisations, and as a result, they were loading all of the infrastructure upgrades on to debt. ''And in some cases, that debt is heading towards a maximum of about 500% of revenue. We are well under that. ''Even though some people complain about the level of council debt, we are at a realistic level,'' he said. 2025 rates rises % rise 3-year cumulative rise* Central Otago District Council 12.47% 47.95% Clutha District Council 16.59% 39.85% Dunedin City Council 10.70% 38.53% Environment Southland 8.80% 37.13% Gore District Council 8.82% 46.60% Invercargill City Council 7.11% 24.28% Otago Regional Council 5.50% 45.76% Queenstown Lakes District Council 13.50% 50.23% Southland District Council 7.23% 31.15% Waitaki District Council 9.79% 34.79% *(as of July 10, 2025) Top 10 rates rises in 2025 Clutha District Council - 16.59% Upper Hutt City Council - 15.78% Hamilton City Council - 15.50% Waipa District Council - 15.50% Hastings District Council - 15.00% Selwyn District Council - 14.20% Grey District Council - 13.73% Queenstown Lakes District Council - 13.50% Westland District Council - 13.20% Taranaki Regional Council - 12.90%
Time Out
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Two Singapore restaurants are named in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 extended list for 2025
Every year, we wait in anticipation for the announcement of the World's 50 Best Restaurants to see which establishments from Singapore make it onto this world-acclaimed list. It's never really a matter of 'if', but 'how many'; After all, eating is one of the top pastimes of Singaporeans and our city is brimming with such a diverse line-up of cuisines and dining venues – the perfect representation of the multi-culturalism that we're known for. Ahead of the official announcement of the top 50 on June 19, 2025, the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 extended list of 51 to 100 has just been revealed, and two from this Lion City have been named: modern Australian-style BBQ restaurant Burnt Ends (#93), and Labyrinth (#97) which prides itself on its 'new Singaporean cuisine'. Both Burnt Ends and Labyrinth are no stranger to the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, having emerged at 68th and 92nd place respectively in last year's extended list. Admittedly, this is quite a drop for Burnt Ends in particular, both one-Michelin-star holders will have to work a little harder to maintain their top 100 placings in next year's edition of this food award ranking. This year sees one less Singapore-based dining establishment on the 51 to 100 extended list, with Meta (#95 in 2024) making a disappearance. This can only mean one thing: It's either been bumped up to the top 50, or fallen off the list entirely. Only time will tell. Last year, only one restaurant from Singapore made the top 50 ranking: Odette, one of the two long-standing F&B tenants at the National Gallery that remains after its refresh. The other five, which include rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors and Cantonese restaurant Yan, have since made a sad exit from the museum. Odette was crowned the Best Restaurant in Asia in 2023's awards. We'll be eagerly waiting to see if it remains in the top 50 global placings this year, and whether any other of our favourite restaurants will be joining the party.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Horizon Organic Dairy Names Patricia Stroup as Chief Operating Officer
New executive leader joins the Horizon Organic Dairy leadership team bringing more than 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry and a passion for premium dairy BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Organic, a pioneer in organic dairy and the largest USDA-certified organic milk and dairy brand in the world,1 and Wallaby, a leading brand of creamy Australian-style yogurts and organic Greek yogurts, are pleased to announce Patricia Stroup has joined the team as chief operating officer (COO). Stroup has a lifelong connection to dairy, and an extensive background in global leadership within the food and beverage industry. She brings a broad range of capabilities to the COO role, including operational expertise, industry insight and a people-first leadership mentality. In her role as COO, Stroup will oversee day-to-day business operations, partnering closely with teams to strengthen supply chains, optimize performance, and continue delivering the products consumers love. Her focus will be on driving operational excellence, leading strategic network optimization, improving cross-functional engagement, and providing team members with professional development and growth opportunities. "We're thrilled to welcome Patricia to the team. Her vast experience will lend itself to improving our brands, accelerating our progress, expanding high-impact teams and strengthening our culture," said Tyler Holm, CEO of Horizon Organic. "We're building the tomorrow we want to see for all who are impacted by our work, from our team, to our farmers, business partners and the families who choose to put our products in their fridges and on their tables. Patricia is the right COO to help us achieve our goals now and in the future." Prior to joining Horizon Organic, Stroup worked in numerous dairy categories, including milk, cheese, butter and milk powders at leading organizations like Hilmar Cheese Company and Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association. She also spent more than 18 years at Nestle, most recently serving as the global senior vice president and chief procurement officer out of Switzerland. Stroup previously served as the former chair of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) board of directors, and is actively pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of San Diego. She also studied dairy science at Virginia Tech. "I am passionate about the dairy industry and am honored to join the Horizon Organic team," shared Stroup. "My roots in dairy are deep as I grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania and ran a dairy farm of my own for nearly 10 years. I believe our future success starts with our commitments to dairy farmers and will provide the strong foundation upon which we build both Horizon Organic and Wallaby. I'm excited to serve as COO on this amazing team as we strive to serve even more families across the country with high-quality products," said Stroup. Horizon Organic's experienced leadership team, now including Stroup, brings a depth of unmatched knowledge in strategic business operations, particularly in premium organic dairy. About Horizon OrganicTwo generations of families—and counting—have grown up on Horizon Organic® milk. From the start, as the leading organic milk producer in the U.S., Horizon has been committed to delivering innovative, nourishing dairy that growing families can rely on. As a certified B Corp, Horizon works with more than 500 farmers across the U.S. to bring high-quality, certified organic milk to consumers. For more information on Horizon's full portfolio of organic dairy products, visit About WallabyWallaby is a premium yogurt brand that has been producing great tasting organic yogurt for over 20 years. Wallaby was born out of a trip to Australia by its founders, where they chanced across a deliciously distinctive yogurt. Convinced that Americans would love Australian-style yogurt as much as they did, they set off on a mission with one simple goal: to produce the best tasting yogurt in America. That's why Wallaby yogurt is always slow-crafted with organic milk and premium organic ingredients to create something deliciously different. To learn more about Wallaby Organic, please visit 1 Source: Circana OmniMarket Core Outlets, 52 Weeks Ending Feb 25, 2024 MEDIA CONTACTEmily RadoSchroderHaus954-592-2003emily@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Horizon Organic
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Act calls for inquiry into proposed social media ban
The Act Party is calling for Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the harms of social media for young people, a day after a proposal from National to ban it for the same group. On Tuesday National MP Catherine Wedd, with the backing of leader Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, put forward a members' bill which would follow Australia's lead on cracking down on the social media giants. The proposed law would require age verification measures on social media platforms. Luxon said he wanted to explore picking it up as a "broader government bill", which would mean it could become law more quickly. On Tuesday speaking at Parliament, Act leader David Seymour said National's proposal was "simple, neat and wrong". "Just slapping on a ban - hastily drafted - won't solve the real problem. The real problem has to involve parents. This solution proposed by National doesn't." On Wednesday morning a letter penned by Act MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar to the chair of Parliament's education and workforce committee was released. It proposed an inquiry which would look at the harms of social media for young people. It would also include looking at the practicalities of implementing a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16 and other alternative solutions. In the letter Parmar said there had been a troubling rise in mental distress among young people. She said there was a growing consensus that mobile phones and social media were detrimental to children's development. "Educators and principals across the country have observed that students arriving at school are more needy and distracted than they were 15 years ago." Parmar said the National Party's members bill was not workable and that it was "imperative" Parliament not hastily adopt an Australian-style social media ban without an understanding of its impacts. "Instead, I propose that the Education and Workforce Committee undertake a detailed inquiry." In a press release she said the proposal to simply ban social media for those under 16 was unlikely to solve the problem. "Technologically, it's a mine field. Morally, it is a government solution that does not involve parents. Its unintended consequences could do more harm than good." Parmar said just implementation of a ban could fail technically due to people getting around it, it could drive people to darker parts of the internet and make people less likely to discuss harm they face on the internet. She also said a ban would erode personal responsibility.
