Auckland to get fuel tax

November 1, 2017

A new petrol tax of 10-cents a litre for Aucklanders is only months away, with the council hoping to introduce the tax as soon as possible.

The newly sworn-in government has confirmed it will change legislation to pave the way for the Auckland Council to bring in the new levy.

The money raised from the new tax will be used to help pay for $15 billion worth of light rail around the city, as well as new bus ways, bike paths and roads.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the fuel tax was the fairest way to raise the money needed to pay for new transport projects.

The new fuel tax will replace the current Interim Transport Levy, which expires in June next year.

Mr Goff said this 10-cent a litre tax raises twice as much money, and is a fairer way to source it.

1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article? A new petrol tax of ten-cents of a litre for Aucklanders is only months away, with the council hoping to introduce the tax as soon as possible.

2. What was the key event from the news article? The newly sworn-in government has confirmed it will change legislation to pave the way for the Auckland Council to bring in the new levy.

3. Where did this event take place? The new fuel tax will replace the current interim Transport Levy, witch expires in June next year.

4. When did this event take place? The money raised from the new tax will be used to help pay for $15 billion worth of light rail around the city, as well as new bus ways, bike paths and roads.

Air New Zealand named airline of the year

November 6, 2017

Air New Zealand has been named Airline of the Year for 2018.

Airline website AirlineRatings.com has given the company the award for the fifth consecutive year.

The airlines were judged on 12 key criteria, including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings and staff relations.

AirlineRatings.com said Air New Zealand was honoured for its “record-breaking performance, multi award-winning in-flight innovations, operational safety, environmental leadership and motivation of its staff”.

Other winners included Qantas (Best Domestic Airline Service, Best Catering and Best Lounges), Singapore Airlines (Best First Class and Best Cabin Crew) and Korean Air (Best Economy).

Best In-Flight Entertainment went to Emirates, while Tianjin took out the category of Most Improved Airline.

A new category – Best Low-Cost Airline – went to VietJetAir.

AirlineRatings.com’s Top 10 Airlines for 2018:

1. Air New Zealand

2. Qantas

3. Singapore Airlines

4. Virgin Australia

5. Virgin Atlantic

6. Etihad Airways

7. All Nippon Airways

8. Korean Air

9. Cathay Pacific

10. Japan Airlines

1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article? Air New Zealand has been named airline of the year for 2018

2. What was the key event from the news article? Airline website AirlineRatings.com has given the company the award of the fifth consecutive year.

3. Where did this event take place? Other winners included Qantas (Best Domestic Airline Service, Best Catering and best lounges), Singapore Airlines (Best First Class and Best Cabin Crew) and Korean Air (Best Economy.

4. When did this event take place? The airlines were judged on 12 key Criteria including fleet age, passenger reviews, Profitability Investment rating, product offerings and staff relations.  

New Zealand remembers Passchendaele

New Zealand remembers Passchendaele

October 16, 2017

October 12 marked the 100th anniversary of New Zealand’s darkest day on a battlefield: The Battle of Passchendaele.

Officially 843 New Zealanders died and over 1700 were wounded in just the first few hours of October 12th 1917, as allied troops tried and failed to take the village of Passchendaele in Belgium.

The battle eventually claimed the lives of nearly 2000 New Zealand soldiers.

Historian, Ian McGibbon said that while 843 New Zealanders were officially listed as killed in the first few hours of the offensive, his research into the wounded shows that another 114 men died over the next three months from wounds received on that morning.

Canadian troops eventually captured what was left of Passchendaele in early November, but six months later the Germans retook it and held it until just before the end of the war.

The New Zealand National Commemorative service was held in Belgium. Other services were held in New Zealand, including at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article? October 12 marked the 100th anniversary of New Zealand darkest day on a battlefield: the Battle of Passchendaele.

2. What was the key event from the news article? Officially 843 New Zealanders died and over 1700 were wounded in just a few hours of October 12 1917 as allied troops tried and failed to take the village Passchendaele in Belgium.

3. Where did this event take place? Canadian troops eventually captured what was left of Passchendaele in early November, but six months later the German retook it and held it until just before the end of the war.  

4. When did this event take place? The battle eventually claimed the lives of nearly 2000 New Zealand Soldiers.

2017 Maniakalani Film Festival - Volcanoes of Auckland

I proudly present my entry for the 2017 Maniakalani Film Festival.

Volcanoes

77% of New Zealanders live in North Island

October 30, 2017

Official population figures from the end of June show that 77% of New Zealanders live in the North Island.

That means that 3.67 million people live on the North Island of New Zealand.

The North Island’s population grew at a rate of 2.2 percent, slightly faster than the national average of 2.1 percent.

Stats NZ said there were now 18 people per square kilometre, compared with 13 in 1991.

There is considerable variation at the local level though, with 18,000 people per square kilometre in central Auckland.

Half of New Zealand’s population lives north of Rotorua.

1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article? Official population figures from the end of June shows that 77% of New Zealanders lived on the North Island.

2. What was the key event from the news article? The North Island’s population that grew at a rate 2.2 percent slightly faster than the national average of 2.1 percent.

3. Where did this event take place? Stats said that were now 18 people per square kilometre compared with 13 in 1991.

4. When did this event take place? That means that 3.67 million people per square kilometre in Central Auckland.

Jacinda Ardern new New Zealand Prime Minister

October 19, 2017

New Zealand First has announced that it will form a coalition government with the New Zealand Labour party.

This means that Jacinda Ardern is the next Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Ardern will claim the top job after only two and a-half months as Labour leader.

The decision will be a shock to National. Currently, they hold two more seats than the Labour-Green partnership.

Ardern will be New Zealand’s third woman Prime Minister, after Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark. She will become the second youngest ever Prime Minister, after Edward Stafford who was also aged 37 when he took office 161 years ago.

After the September 23 election, Labour’s 36.9 per cent and the Greens’ 6.3 per cent gave them 54 seats between them, not enough for a majority without New Zealand First.

The three parties have 63 seats.

National polled 44.4 per cent and holds 56 seats, not enough for an outright majority.

1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article? Ardern will claim the top job the only two and a-half months as Labour leader.

2. What was the key event from the news article? Ardern will be New Zealand’s third woman Prime Minister after Jenny Shipley and Allan Clark.    

3. Where did this event take place? After the September 23 election, Labour’s 36,9 per cent and the greens, 6.3 per cent gave them 54 seats between them, not enough for an outright majority.

4. When did this event take place? The three party have 63 seats.