Originally published by The Spinoff OPINION: A parade of former and aspiring politicians lent their support to the movement – and now there’s a byelection in play. Toby Manhire looks at the characters involved and the challenges…
Tag Archives: oceania
Ukrainian president 'prepared to swap NATO plans for cease-fire'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to discuss a commitment from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership in exchange for a cease-fire.
Mayor attended St Patrick's Day lunch while Wellington Water questioned over fluoride failure
Wellington’s mayor attended a St Patrick’s Day lunch while Wellington Water appeared before a council committee for the first time since its mishandling of fluoride in the city’s water supply was revealed.Last week Wellington Water’s…
One person dead, others injured after crash in Upper Moutere, South Island
One person has died following a crash in Upper Moutere in the South Island’s Tasman District. Emergency services were called to the three-vehicle collision near the intersection of Gardner Valley Rd and the Coastal Highway around…
Taunted for speaking te reo given as a reason for Nelson man's offending
A Nelson man’s violent offending has been partly blamed on language barriers as a youth, in that he spoke only te reo for which he was taunted and bullied at school. Reuben Herewini was today on the brink of going to prison for…
Enchanter tragedy: Final missing body found
The fifth and final missing person has been found dead following the sinking of the fishing charter vessel Enchanter off North Cape on Sunday night. It is understood the person was found inside the hull, which dive squad members…
Mystery solved: New Zealand backpacker who died 48 years ago identified by family
A mystery New Zealand backpacker who died in South Africa 48 years ago has been identified. A South African expatriate who witnessed his death at his Johannesburg home made a public appeal through the Herald this week to find…
The Front Page: Is NZ ready for what living with Covid actually means?
Welcome to the first 15-minute episode of our new daily podcast, The Front Page, where senior journalist Damien Venuto goes behind the headlines to grill newsmakers and journalists on the big stories of the day. The Front Page will…
Push for public transport to be made free in Victoria as petrol prices soar
The Victorian Premier is rejecting calls for his government to offer free public transport for at least a month to combat the exceptionally high petrol prices at the moment.
The push for free public transport to help ease the cost of living for Victorians comes as the Tasmanian Government has announced it will offer free bus journeys for five weeks in response to rising petrol prices.
The New Zealand Government has also moved to halve public transport fares for the next three months in response to the global hike in petrol prices caused by Russia invading Ukraine.
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The price of petrol has risen above $2.20 at some outlets and prices are expected to keep increasing.
Victorian Greens MP Sam Hibbins is leading the call for free public transport in Victoria.
"With petrol prices now soaring and the cost of living rising for so many Victorians, now is the time for the government to support the shift away from expensive, polluting, petrol vehicles," he said outside parliament today.
"They can do that by immediately making public transport free for the next month."
Mr Hibbins has estimated the move would cost the government about $75 million and and would make a significant impact on reducing the cost of living for Victorians.
"But it could be significantly cheaper than that," he said.
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Speaking on behalf of the Opposition, David Southwick MP agreed the move would "be a great way to re-energise the city".
However, Premier Daniel Andrews has not favoured the idea.
When asked about it today he instead pointed to the fact the Prime Minister is expected to cut the 44 cent per litre tax on petrol in the Federal Budget, which is set to be handed down on Tuesday.
Car dealer defrauds finance company, pockets money
A car dealer who defrauded a finance company by pretending he’d sold a car when he’d simply pocketed the money has won the right to appeal against his sentence. A jury had already found him guilty after he sold another dealer’s…