Latest news with #Q+A
1News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- 1News
'Many' link Govt's emergency housing policy to homelessness rise
Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka has acknowledged reports of rising homelessness but says it's "not just down to one thing" as he defends the Government's tougher rules for emergency housing. Potaka was grilled on the issue on Q+A, where he conceded the changes to increase scrutiny for emergency housing support applicants have been "reported by many" as contributing to making more people homeless. When asked directly whether the policy changes had contributed to leaving more people homeless, the minister said: "That's a very strong view that many people have." But Potaka refused to make that connection himself, instead attributing claims of a link to "anecdotal" reports and what others had reported. Person helps person up (file image). (Source: ADVERTISEMENT "There's a range of factors that influence [homelessness], and the changes to the emergency housing policy have been reported by many people as being a contributor." The Government introduced tougher eligibility for emergency housing last year, including scrutiny of whether people had "unreasonably contributed" to their own housing need. When interviewer Jack Tame suggested the policy could've "put more people on the street", Potaka said: "Those are the things that we have acknowledged that there are some challenges, and we are responding to those with agility." His office later clarified to Q+A this did not mean the Government was actively considering changing emergency housing settings. Reacting to the minister's interview, the Greens said he was "refusing to take any accountability" for the outcomes of the harsher policies. Govt's policies 'very, very harsh', providers tell minister Speaking to Q+A, the minister confirmed an updated briefing on homelessness from the Housing and Urban Development Ministry had found rough sleeping had increased "in some areas". He insisted the rises may be down to a range of factors. ADVERTISEMENT Tougher emergency housing rules and two-strike warning policy for tenants has meant more young people on the streets, says charities. (Source: 1News) Potaka said the latest insights briefing he had received showed "there's a whole range of potential causes, including that, but a whole range of other things", such as mental health, addiction, cost of living, and other physical health issues. "It does recognise, throughout the country, there are community housing providers [and] councils who are saying, hey, there's a big, big challenge with homelessness." Some providers had described the emergency housing policy as "harsh", Potaka said. "They report that the emergency housing policy is very, very harsh. That's what some of the anecdotal reports are saying." The associate minister said he would release the homelessness insights report "soon", but did not provide a specific timeframe. Potaka maintained there were multiple factors behind rising homelessness: "What they're saying is we've got a whole range of causes." Labour has been pressuring the Government over the report earlier this week. ADVERTISEMENT The senior minister spoke to Q+A's Jack Tame. (Source: Q and A) Housing Minister Chris Bishop denied that homelessness and rough sleeping were rising as a result of the Government's changes in a Q+A interview in March. 'Refusing to take responsibility' - Greens on interview Reacting to Potaka's interview, the Greens' housing spokesperson Tamatha Paul said the Government needed to "admit" that its policy was increasing homelessness. "This Government has cut back on public housing, slashed emergency housing access, and is refusing to take any accountability or responsibility for the impact this is having on the rising rates of people being forced to live on the streets, in tents and in cars." The coalition rolled out changes for emergency housing eligibility in early to mid-last year, including a tougher approach to allowing people into homes in the first place. People seeking support would face greater scrutiny, more requirements for information, and to prove they hadn't themselves "contributed" to their needs for emergency housing. ADVERTISEMENT At the time, officials warned the Government that the changes risked putting more people into situations of rough sleeping. Q+A's Whena Owen takes a look at changes to emergency housing and public housing policy. (Source: 1News) "Making these changes ahead of significant increases to the supply of affordable housing and more preventative wraparound supports does create a risk of increased levels of rough sleeping, people living in cars and overcrowding," they told ministers at the time. Target met but concerns remain Potaka defended the policy changes, saying the Government had also met its target to reduce emergency housing numbers by 75%. The policy intended to move people from emergency housing facilities, such as motels, to more stable housing. "We set up a target. That target was to reduce the number of whānau and households living in emergency housing. We've reached the target, but we've also recognised there are still some challenges and some issues," he said. The associate minister said tracking of people leaving emergency housing had improved, with the Government now knowing where "85-86%" of people went. ADVERTISEMENT "When we came into administration, the teams knew where around 50% of people were going. Now we know that there is about 85-86% of where people are going. In my view, that's actually good progress," he said. Govt not actively considering changes to tougher rules In a subsequent statement, the associate minister clarified to Q+A that this did not mean changes were coming to the Government's policy on emergency housing. "Emergency housing remains available for those in genuine need, and the causes of homelessness are not just about housing," a spokesperson for Potaka said. "A long-term response to the complexities requires consideration across multiple portfolios, for example helping people to face physical or mental health and addictions challenges, they might need help learning financial skills like budgeting, or help connecting and working with support services. "In the housing portfolio, $500 million in funding goes into programmes to help people, for example through the Housing First programme. "To help increase the amount of affordable housing, Budget 2024 allocated $140 million for 1500 new social housing places to be operated by community housing providers. ADVERTISEMENT "The Government has also accelerated $200 million into Māori housing projects across the country that will enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas." In his Q+A interview, Potaka was also questioned about his conservation portfolio and how changes to smoking laws would affect Māori. For the full interview, watch the video above Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Mediawatch: Ministers' 'Helpful' Handouts Go Multimedia
, Mediawatch Presenter "Dear Prime Minister: the rise in crime and antisocial behaviour since COVID 19 struck is stark and confronting. We ask that you please take urgent action to support recovery and retain our reputation as a safe city and country." That was the message of a full-page ad in the Weekend Herald placed by groups representing Auckland businesses, accusing the government of failing to act on past promises. It was almost identical to a similar plea to a previous PM four years ago. The following day the current PM was the target of another open letter advert in the Sunday papers. This one - placed by electricity retailers, users and Consumer NZ - called on him to fix "a broken energy sector". That campaign also featured on TVNZ's Q+A show the same day, and in a front-page New Zealand Herald story the next day, the Minister of Energy - the aptly named Simon Watts - acknowledged our electricity market was "not functioning as well as it should". But it's not the first time that he's been singled out by a lobbying campaign in public. In June, pro-electrification group Rewiring NZ deployed AI animation to turn him into a superhero in ads that urged the public to make it an election issue - and it used a billboard near the Beehive to make sure that he didn't miss it. TVNZ's Q+A said lobby groups like Federated Farmers and the Sensible Sentencing Trust had used the same spot for the same reason in other campaigns. But do ministers targeted by these ads even notice them? "Yes, I do. On the way to the airport, out of Parliament and down onto the quays there - it's pretty hard to not to," National's Chris Bishop told TVNZ's Whena Owen. But are campaigns singling out individual politicians in public really effective? Most ministers are also lobbied behind the scenes by the same special interest groups. Being hectored publicly as well could make them more inclined to dig in rather than give in. "Lobby groups have always taken out ads in newspapers. Now they're moving it to digital billboards which can be up longer and can be cheaper," said Dr Claire Robinson, the author of Promises, Promises: 80 years of Wooing New Zealand Voters. "They can be located at traffic lights where ministerial cars have to stop. It's probably a really good way of getting something under the nose of a cabinet minister who may not open the newspaper anymore in the morning to see it there." "If you want to lobby a minister now you've got not only print, radio and TV - and you've got your own channels, social media and even LinkedIn posts. There's a complete industry in being able to disseminate your messages, hoping that one of them is going to get through," Dr Robinson told Mediawatch. Politicians going multimedia Politicians aren't shy about getting their own messages out to the media either - and have specialised staff to do it. Journalists' email inboxes are clogged with media statements from ministers and MPs hoping that their comments will make it into the media's coverage. And now they are going multimedia too. Last weekend reporters got video of the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio greeting Winston Peters, along with a media statement, after an ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia, which was attended by Peters. NZ First posted that footage on Facebook on the day of the meeting - and then there was another version last Tuesday featuring Peters looking statesmanlike, with a TikTok-type soundtrack added. The same day the streaming show Herald Now ran the Rubio footage during an interview with Peters. Should media be wary of airing images hand-picked by ministers' staff? "Yes, because by using it they're essentially using party generated pictures and feeding the beast - and exacerbating the rule-breaking of political parties," Dr Robinson told Mediawatch. "Anything that is generated through party social media channels really needs to be stopped at the door. "But at the same time the media loses all perspective when a PM or foreign minister meets a US president or Secretary of State. In 2014, photos of John Key playing golf with Obama were splashed across the newspapers . . . and nobody asked who took the photos back then." MPs offering mp3s Recently reporters have also received sound bites from ministers along with standard media statements. Last week, Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee announced anti-money laundering law changes to make managing property easier through family trusts. The release included a minute-long MP3 clip of her reading out some of the key points - and 'video on request'. In June her office also sent three separate sound bites about the 'Three Strikes' law coming into force. Why send selected comments rather than allow reporters to record their own in a media conference in the usual way? "Quite often we'll put out a media release, then we get all the phone calls looking for a grab. Why not give a grab ourselves?" McKee told Mediawatch. RNZ's reporters in the press gallery in Parliament told Mediawatch they wouldn't use audio supplied under those circumstances. "I believe it has been picked up by a couple of radio stations but I haven't actually tracked it myself." ACT leader David Seymour has spoken about bypassing the media because they "abuse their power to edit" and refused to allow ACT's ministers to appear on RNZ's Morning Report. He's even appealed for funds from ACT supporters to fund his own online media channels. Is McKee supplying audio comments as a substitute for interviews or media conferences at which she could be challenged or questioned by reporters? "That's not the reason. It's actually realising that our media are quite stretched - for time and for people," McKee told Mediawatch. On that issue of the family trusts and anti-money laundering laws, McKee was interviewed by RNZ news after sending out the statement and audio. "I've always made myself available to the media. Should they want a sound grab directly, I'm happy to give it. We just thought that this would help the media, especially if they do have those tight deadlines. And of course some have less staff now." "It doesn't take me long to add a couple of 10-second sound bites to the media releases we put out. And of course if it is being picked up then it is useful to some. So we'll continue to do it." McKee says she hasn't tracked which media outlets have used the supplied audio. Another minister handing out sound bites with media statements lately is Associate Minister of Transport James Meager. "Now is the perfect time to look ahead toward building a resilient maritime economy for future generations," he said in mid-June, announcing pumped-up investment in navigation services for shipping. One week later, Meager sent out three more sound bites, about a funding boost for lifesaving. Meager credits his press secretary, former Newstalk ZB journalist Blake Benny. "He came to me with the idea that if we include some audio grabs with our press releases, it makes the job of producers and radio reporters so much easier," Meager told Mediawatch. If so, it might mean not having to answer questions about contestable claims made in statements - or confront contradictions? "There's always the option for journalists who want to ring up and press on some of the details in those press releases. I'm always happy to take interviews. The only time I decline would be if it's outside my portfolio or if I literally can't do them." Few ministers ever issue statements on matters outside their portfolio - and Meager declined to say which outlets had broadcast his recorded statements. More to come? Before he became an MP, he set up an online archive of political ads - - with partner Dr Ashley Murchison, an expert who wrote a PhD about responses to political ads. Some of Nicole McKee's recent media statements said video was available on request as well. Meager doesn't offer that - yet. "But if we had the resources and that made people's lives easier then it might be something that we look into. I used to work as a press secretary and I think I wish I'd been smart enough to think of this six years ago," he told Mediawatch. But he says he and other ministers will be offering the media more multimedia stuff in future. "I'm doing a couple (of soundbites) this weekend for a couple of announcements we're making in the top of the South so hopefully they'll be picked up. In the weekend when staffing levels are lower, that might be a little bit helpful too." Exploiting a week spot "Political parties have always used new technology to try and get their messages across - even going back to Michael Joseph Savage in 1938 when he used film, which was a new technology back then," Dr Claire Robinson told Mediawatch. "I think that the politicians hope that the time-poor media will just insert (the content) into coverage. But there's something deeper going on here because they're exploiting the whopping decline in journalism employment," said Dr Robinson, who is also the current chief of Toi Mai / the Workforce Development Council, which published a development plan for journalism in 2024. "That decline is because of government-enabled inaction or policies that have seen that advertising money that used to sustain news media organisations go offshore. In the old days (they) would have more scrutiny and political parties are now exploiting that gap and creating their own media." Bending the rules for funding the ads In a recent piece for The Post, Dr Robinson said the public pays for political parties' digital media messaging - but shouldn't be paying for some of it. "The rules are really clear. You can only electioneer using public funds in the three months prior to an election campaign. The rest of the time parties are enabled to create information, but not to electioneer with social media," Dr Robinson told Mediawatch. She says the NZ First party publishing footage of Winston Peters in Malaysia as foreign minister on social media is an example of the problem. "It has their party logo and is using Peters' role in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs for party purposes. It doesn't say 'Vote for NZ First' but the boundaries are blurred. It is really saying our leader is a great leader because he can create amazing relationships with people."
1News
13-07-2025
- Business
- 1News
Electricity market concerns outlined in new campaign
A group of industry bodies and independent energy retailers have launched a new campaign calling for an overhaul of the energy market. In response, Energy Minister Simon Watts told 1News a review into the market's affordability and reliability was underway and announcements would come "in due course". In a full-page open letter in Sunday newspapers, the group asserts "our energy market is broken", claiming the existing market structure was hurting Kiwi households and businesses by suppressing competition and delaying investment in new generation. The groups involved include the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the NZ Manufacturing Alliance, Consumer NZ, the Major Electricity Users group, and independent retailers such as Octopus Energy and Electric Kiwi. Appealing to the Prime Minister, they wrote in the open letter that "the competitive pressures that should attract new investors" and drive fair pricing are "severely diminished" in a market dominated by so-called "gentailers" – power companies that both generate electricity and retail it to customers. ADVERTISEMENT Power lines. (Source: 'Investment in new generation is being delayed, sustaining high prices, and contributing to the energy supply crisis we now face,' said the group, saying this results in lower productivity and international competitiveness, and drives up the cost of living. The four electricity "gentailers" were 51% owned by the Government. Karen Boyes, executive director of the Major Electricity Users Group, outlined her concerns in an interview with Q+A. She said if reforms were not made, New Zealand faced a "risk of deindustrialisation", citing closures of several industrial factories and sawmills during the 2024 winter that was partially attributable to rapid spike in electricity prices. In a worst case scenario, 'some businesses will struggle, particularly those who rely on both electricity and gas — things are getting twice as hard and it's getting very hard to get gas". "I think you'll see some struggle, hopefully we won't see more leave, but we did see last winter Winstone Pulp and Oji [Fibre Solutions] closed some of their facilities, which is really going to hurt those local regions who rely on them." ADVERTISEMENT Boyes also highlighted the opportunity cost currently facing New Zealand if more generation wasn't brought online. 'We'll lose opportunities as well. We've got some great opportunities with data centres who could come here and make the most of our abundant energy — if we can get it abundant — who can set us up to compete internationally and grow the economy.' Minister for Energy Simon Watts. (Source: Q+A/Irra Lee) Market performance review ongoing, announcements 'in due course' — Watts Energy Minister Simon Watts told 1News ensuring the security and affordability of the country's energy system was his "bottom line". New Zealand had both an energy shortage, with a low wind generation and faster than expected falls in gas production, and an electricity market "not functioning as well as it should", he said. "New Zealanders need to have confidence that the electricity market is doing its part to deliver on the long-term interests of Kiwis, and that there is enough competition to deliver the affordable prices we need." ADVERTISEMENT Watts said the Government initiated a review of the market's performance last year which looked at how it could be improved to support economic growth and accessibility of reliable and affordable electricity. "The Government will make announcements on this work in due course." For the full interview and story, watch the video above Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
1News
13-07-2025
- Business
- 1News
Kiwi founder of Marketplace says Facebook is a 'complex mirror'
A Kiwi entrepreneur who held senior roles in Facebook says "it's hard to say" if the social media platform represents a net good in the world. Leaving Auckland for California, Bowen Pan went on to spearhead the development of Facebook Marketplace from 2014 to 2018. Facebook app log-in screen (file image). (Source: He then became a product leader for Facebook Gaming from 2018 to 2020. Q+A asked Pan to reflect on the issues raised by fellow Kiwi Sarah Wynn-Williams in Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, her memoir where she recounts her time as Facebook's public policy director. ADVERTISEMENT Pan told Q+A: "One thing I will say is my view around Facebook has always been that it's somewhat of a mirror on society and on people, and that mirror is very complex because sometimes you may like what you see. Sometimes you may not like what you see." Wynn-Williams' book included allegations that Facebook's management was "deeply unconcerned" about its role in the Rohingya genocide, and that the company had worked closely with the Chinese Communist Party to create censorship tools. Facebook admitted in 2018 that its social media platform was used to incite violence in Myanmar and that it was making progress to tackle the issue. Facebook's owner Meta rejected accusations in the memoir. 'This is a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives,' a Meta spokesperson previously said. Speaking to Q+A, Pan said there was a "very complex question" about how the social media giant should handle human nature. ADVERTISEMENT "What level of control, and what level of filtering should you have on that mirror? And whose responsibility is that?" A person contemplating whether to delete the Facebook app off their phone (file image). (Source: When considering the impact of algorithms on that mirror of society, and whether it led to increased polarisation, Pan said: "I don't have strong opinions around that." Pan said he "deliberately stayed" in areas of Facebook where he saw "more of the frontier-type opportunities". He was also asked whether he thought Facebook was a net positive in the world. "I think that's probably really hard to say. "There is certainly a lot of good and a lot of positives Facebook has brought, and a lot of consequences that are really hard to know when you first have the product built." ADVERTISEMENT Time for a Kiwi tech boom? Pan moved to the US after working at TradeMe in the early 2010s. At the time, he said there weren't many other places in New Zealand left for him to grow. Entrepreneur Bowen Pan speaks to Q+A, July 2025. (Source: Q+A / Irra Lee) But the tech leader told Q+A that he had returned home to "a different country". Pan joined the board of media company NZME last month as an independent director. He was also an advisory board member at Auckland University's business school. He said the Kiwi start-up sector was currently "low-key exciting" and reminiscent of "very early-day Silicon Valley". "I've really noticed the change in trajectory and momentum in the last seven to eight years, in the level of ambition and the type of companies here. ADVERTISEMENT "I think the talent and the hard work has always been there, but it just takes that many [repetitions] for this ecosystem to slowly build." For the full story, watch the video above Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
Cosmopolitan
10-07-2025
- Health
- Cosmopolitan
"One sold every 3 minutes": Why everyone needs to try this £6 salicylic body wash
Let's be real, not all body washes are created equal. Some just smell nice, others actually do something but Q+A's Salicylic Acid Body Wash? It's the overachiever of the shower shelf. A*'s across the board. Racking up a sale every 2.5 minutes globally (no big deal), this £6.50 wonder has officially gone viral, and for good reason. It's packed with salicylic acid – a BHA that gently exfoliates to help unclog pores, smooth bumps (hi, KP), fight body acne and even prevent future breakouts. Basically, it's your skin's very own personal assistant. But it's not just about the acids. The formula also features aloe vera, green tea, and white willow bark for a calming, skin-soothing experience. Plus, the scent? A tropical, fruity blend of cactus water and watermelon that smells like a summer holiday in a bottle. And while your £30 luxury shower gel might look good on the bathroom shelf, this one is 95% natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologically tested. Clean and conscious. 'Acid' in any skincare product ingredients list can sound a lil scary, we know. But believe it or not, acids are some of the best for achieving smooth, clear skin, specifically salicylic acid. So, to help demystify and debunk any fears, we consulted two specialists who shared everything you need to know. "Salicylic acid is an active ingredient that is mainly used for acne. It has a large molecular size, which doesn't penetrate the skin as aggressively," Medical Aesthetician Bianca Estelle previously told Cosmopolitan. "It's ideal for addressing excess oil within the skin, including on areas of cystic and inflamed acne." It can penetrate deep into the skin's surface and unclog pores effectively because it is oil-soluble. Using salicylic acid to unblock excess oil and dirt from your pores is key to helping to stop breakouts and blackheads before they have had time to wreak havoc with your skin. "This is a great ingredient for more congested skins, so it's a perfect option for a client suffering with blackheads, it keeps the pores clean and clear," Dermatologist Dr Howard Murad and Founder of Murad Skincare also previously told Cosmopolitan. I started using the Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash a few months ago to tackle some body acne that had taken up a long-term lease on my back, and let me tell you, eviction notices have been served. This stuff lathers up like a dream and goes straight to work unclogging pores without any abrasion. As a result of daily use, my skin feels smoother, looks clearer, and above all, is glowing to the Gods. Now, I personally don't have keratosis pilaris (aka chicken skin), but my sister does – and after stealing this body wash (rude but natch), she reported noticeable improvement in just a couple of weeks. Impressive, much? Bonus: It's gentle and doesn't strip your skin, so even those with dry skin can use it every other day. 10/10, would recommend – and hide from family. Still not fully convinced? Well, we've searched the web to curate some of the product's best reviews, which you can read through below. (TBH, they weren't hard to find because 99 per cent of them were all five-star!) Smooth limbs, clear skin, and a dreamy scent for less than a Pret lunch? Yeah, we're obsessed. Follow Lia on Instagram. Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she's an expert in recognising the season's next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You'll usually find her putting TikTok's recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it's true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
