Welcome to The Spinoff's live updates for June 25 (extended to take in key developments across the weekend), bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz
We’re doing our utmost to keep you updated on all the Covid-19 coverage. We can’t do it wi
If house prices fall, will the sky fall too?
14 May, 2021 05:00 PM
12 minutes to read
What would happen if house prices fell? Photo / Sylvie Whinray House prices were supposed to fall last year. Everybody said they would: almost all the economists and property people, the politicians and the business writers. Even while prices were rising faster than they had for decades, the commentators kept on saying it would soon come to an end.
For a moment, they were almost right. In May, the median house price fell 8.8 per cent: the largest fall in a single month for decades. But then prices surged again. By September they were rushing past the April peak and they just didn t stop.
Political Roundup: Have billions been incorrectly paid out in the wage subsidy scheme?
12 May, 2021 05:30 AM
7 minutes to read
The Auditor General s report is highly critical about the lack of checks and balances on a scheme that has doled out $14bn to businesses. Photo / 123RF
The Auditor General s report is highly critical about the lack of checks and balances on a scheme that has doled out $14bn to businesses. Photo / 123RF
OPINION:
The Government s wage subsidy scheme may have incorrectly paid out billions of dollars to ineligible businesses, and this is not being audited.
That s the conclusion to be taken from the Auditor General s report, released yesterday. It is highly critical about the lack of checks and balances on a scheme that has doled out $14bn to businesses.
The Bulletin: Change looms in Samoa after knife-edge election
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Change looms in Samoa after knife-edge election, another border worker has tested positive for Covid-19, and dozens of organisations call for Misuse of Drugs Act to be scrapped.
The balance of power could be shifting in an important country in our neighbourhood, after a big election swing. The dominant Human Rights Protection Party may end up losing power in Samoa after decades in office, with the newly formed Faatuatua i Le Atua ua Tasi (FAST) taking a surprisingly large share of the vote. FAST was founded last year by MPs who split from HRPP, in large part over a controversial land ownership reform bill. RNZ Pacific reports unofficial results show the split between the two big parties is so close, it is likely to come down to a kingmaker independent MP. Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, told the Samoa Observer that he wants to see change in the way politics i