Rates relief no silver bullet
It seemed on first sight a somewhat ludicrous move by the Otago Regional Council, to insist on forging ahead with a proposed 9.1% rates rise when the nationwide economy is tanking, thanks to the...
Opinion
To be essentially exceptional
To be essentially exceptional
It is not surprising businesses smarting from the damage to their livelihoods from the four-week Covid-19 lockdown have been keen to see themselves as essential.
Having to grin and bear it
Having to grin and bear it
Even on the darkest of days there is usually a glimmer of light, a spark of humour, a surprisingly upbeat moment.
Serve the message straight
Serve the message straight
Alcohol Healthwatch will not be the only organisation frustrated by the latest delay to mandatory labelling on alcohol products about the risk of drinking when pregnant.
Valuing the essential but low paid
Valuing the essential but low paid
Our response to the Covid-19 crisis will embolden many low-income workers to ask for a better deal. In workplaces around the country, many will wonder how their employers should recognise their...
Guilty as charged
Guilty as charged
Many questions remain following the shock news yesterday that the lone gunman who murdered 51 Muslim people at two Christchurch mosques a year ago had admitted his guilt.
Deep breaths for families on day 1
Deep breaths for families on day 1
It started innocently enough.
Making sense
Making sense
As part of the mainstream media, we are proud to play our part in crises, to provide essential information, ask relevant questions and convey what we know as clearly as possible.
Lockdown for an extreme challenge
Lockdown for an extreme challenge
They are desperate measures for desperate times, imposed on one of the most sobering days in New Zealand’s collective living memory.
Election up in the air
Election up in the air
Parliament has moved to alter its processes to allow for its work to continue should there be reduced numbers of members of Parliament able to attend because of Covid-19.
Cometh the hour…
Cometh the hour…
If you saw director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield in a crowd, you might be unlikely to pick him out as a leader in a crisis.
Isolation for community
Isolation for community
Covid-19 has set us into an age of self-isolation and social distancing. Both are prudent and necessary as we confront a virus for which there is no vaccine, but they must be tempered by the ever...
A trivial pursuit?
A trivial pursuit?
Oh, but it’s only sport. It’s really not that important.
Preparing for the fight
Preparing for the fight
NZ stands ready to wrest recession from the jaws of depression with an economic package that, at 4% of our national GDP, has been called the country’s largest peacetime spend and one of the most ambitious and extraordinary of almost anywhere in the world.
Broad support needed in recession
Broad support needed in recession
New Zealand is heading for recession. The extent to which we should be worried now depends on how the Government reacts — and how many billions of dollars it makes available to underpin its reaction.
Borders eyed to tackle virus’ spread
Borders eyed to tackle virus’ spread
The Covid-19 global pandemic is now the most significant threat to the lives and livelihoods of New Zealanders since the 1918 influenza epidemic — and its impact will only intensify as our people...
The scars remain
The scars remain
The gunman brought injury and death. Places of prayer were desecrated and lives were ended or altered forever. Our collective community was assaulted and deep scars remain.
Vale to a principled politician
Vale to a principled politician
Many New Zealanders will have felt a stab of sadness at the sudden death of former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons recently, even though they may not have met her or necessarily agreed...
Rating jobs by the numbers
Rating jobs by the numbers
There is little doubt many businesses and organisations are enjoying a sustained period of growth on the back of a buoyant economy fuelled by the demands of the South’s growing population.
The university’s blues
The university’s blues
It is with deep concern the Otago Daily Times featured the University of Otago and its troubling times in the Weekend Mix last Saturday.