recession
Older first-time mothers face increased health risks
Women are waiting a lot longer to start having children, according to Statistics New Zealand. But health professionals warn this may increase health risks for women.
The latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show in the year ending March 2010 the median age of first-time mothers was 30 years. In the 1980s the figure was 26 [...]
Bring back Robin Hood, says poverty action group
Poverty and injustice watch-dog, Oxfam, is putting pressure on the Government to consider a tax on currency transactions to provide money to tackle global poverty and climate change, as well as hold the financial sector to account.
The so-called “Robin Hood” tax is a rebranding of the Tobin tax, named after economist James Tobin, who originally [...]
Award-winning K’ Road building still standing empty
The Ironbank building has been applauded for its unique approach to the patchwork streetscape of Karangahape Road and has won several architecture awards.
But months after completion, the office and retail complex remains virtually empty.
High-flying property investment company Samson Corporation commissioned the seven-storey building.
The detailed brief included ensuring the building was ecologically sustainable, aiming for a [...]
Burglary on the rise as people look for ways to get by
Genevieve Helliwell celebrated her 21st birthday in May this year with friends and family. She received gifts, both sentimental and practical, which she thought she would keep forever. Three days later, the AUT University student came home to find her room ransacked and her gifts, along with things she had built up over a lifetime, [...]
Recession taking its toll on confidence
His eyes said it all.
Jason Brown – who two months ago joined the ranks of the newly unemployed – sits in a chair in his bedroom in his bedroom, leaning backwards, resting against the wall, his feet flopping restlessly from side to side.
His tale is all too common in the New Zealand of 2009.
A [...]
Immigrant workers struggle in silence
Protecting jobs for locals is an issue that often crops up during a recession.
With unemployment climbing, many countries – New Zealand included – are putting their citizens first.
Yet advocates say migrants face many challenges in the job market, and perceptions of immigrants “stealing jobs” from New Zealanders are unfounded.
National Distribution Union (NDU) spokesman Simon Oosterman [...]
Charities still hurting despite signs of economic recovery
Economic forecasters believe the recession is coming to an end, but charities aren’t seeing much change.
Earlier this month, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research said it believed the country was starting to recover economically from the recession.
However, the recovery is not resonating across the board.
Charities have seen a dramatic increase in the number of [...]
A garage sale like no other
Claims the recession has ended might ring true.
The New Zealand Herald Designer Garage Sale for Air New Zealand Fashion Week, in the Auckland Viaduct Harbour Marine Village, proved that the recession may have taken a trip elsewhere.
Held from September 25 to 26, the Designer Garage Sale prompted a swarm of women of all ages to devour the largely discounted [...]
Refugee services resist cut backs in recession
Despite the recession, Refugee Services New Zealand will not be making any cutbacks in the resettlement of refugees.
Communications coordinator Jude Walcott says although money is getting tighter, the service will not make any compromises in helping refugees integrate into New Zealand society.
“There is definitely not as much to go around this year, particularly in donations [...]
Gyms prove to be ‘recession-proof’ – so far
There has been no drop in gym memberships so far this year, despite the recession, say some of New Zealand’s largest gyms.
Some US commentators have labelled it a “recession-proof industry” and so far the fitness industry in New Zealand has lived up to that.
City Fitness’ Auckland cluster manager, Angus Campbell, said memberships were [...]
