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Everything you need to know today curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.The government says nothing is off the table in the inquiry into mental health issues in New Zealand. The inquiry, announced yesterday by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, will examine a diverse range of mental health problems through private and public submissions around the country. It will also inform the re-establishment of the mental health commission. The inquiry will be chaired by former Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson, and is expected to report back in October, in time for any potential changes to the 2018 budget required by its findings.Pay Equity Closer to RealityThe Council for Trade Unions President Richard Wagner says he’s looking forward to working with the government on making steps towards pay equity for women. The joint Labour-Greens working group are reconvening to make pay equity laws more concrete. Wagner told bFM putting pay equity into law and common practice is a top priority for 2018: “Currently we know that there are thousands and thousands of women whose pay is historically low. It is unfair, and it is unbalanced, and we need legislation to support working people to be able to work and get fair pay outcomes.” Currently, on average, women earn 84 cents for every dollar a man makes with the same experience, and the government is recommencing a working group to find ways to phase out these disparities.Waka Used to Measure Rubbish
A waka is being used to measure the amount of plastic rubbish coming from the East Coast. The international organisation 5 Gyers Institute is leading the Te Matau a Māui waka which will carry a micro plastic trawl along the coastline between Napier and Wellington. Scientists will collect data from the trawl in order to measure East Coast contributions to plastic pollution in oceans.Rates Rebel’s House Ordered to be Sold
A court has ordered that the house of activist and former Auckland mayoral candidate Penny Bright be sold to repay 10 years' worth of unpaid rates. Bright says her decision not to pay rates is a protest against a lack of transparency in the Auckland Council. Councillor Dick Quax says there is no lack of transparency in the Council, and Bright should pay rates like every other Aucklander. Bright has been fighting the council in court since 2014, and says she still makes use of public services which are funded by rates, like libraries and waste collection.Loan Companies Target Back-To-School Families
High interest loan companies are targeting families who are struggling to pay for back-to-school costs through social media advertising. Earlier this week, a study found a public education now costs $37,000 or more over the course of a child's schooling. Darryl Evans, the chief executive of Budgeting and Family Support Services, says the organisation had seen at least 30 families stressed about back to school costs in the last 10 days. Loan packages being advertised as back to school deals carry interest rates between 40 percent and 60 percent. Pat Newman, the principal of Hora Hora Primary School in Whangarei, says families should talk to schools if they are stressed about the costs related to the start of the school year.National Criticises Labour Immigration Policy
National Party spokesperson Simon Bridges says the past government's policy was working fine and there was no change necessary. However, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway told bFM the policy will improve what was set-out by the previous government:”We do have to make changes, but business requires certainty, and that’s why we’ll keep the previous government’s policy in place until we’ve done the proper consultation and done everything that it’s important for governments to do before we implement new policy.” Lees-Galloway also spoke about the policy to encourage migrants to explore outside of Auckland and gain the full experience of New Zealand.Alaskan Tsunami Warning Cancelled
A major tsunami warning issued overnight for parts of Alaska and Canada has been cancelled. The warning came at 12.31 AM local time after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck in the Gulf of Alaska at a depth of just 25km. A tsunami watch was also issued for the entire west coast of the United States and the Hawaiian islands. Locals have now been assured they can return home after thousands spent the night in evacuation centres above sea level. New Zealand's Civil Defence Ministry said there was no threat of tsunami to New Zealand.TPP Close to a Deal
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is currently taking place in Davos, with Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amongst its attendees. This year's forum carries the theme of "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World" and will include 400 sessions. A notable announcement at the meeting comes from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who shared that the 11 remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership have concluded a new agreement that will maintain their alliance. This is a significant progression in TPP negotiations since the United States pulled out of the agreement. New Zealand is one of the 11 countries and Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has confirmed the tweaked agreement will be signed in March in Argentina.Civilians Flee Syrian Border
Clashes between Turkish-led forces and Kurdish fighters on Syria's northern border are leaving civilians displaced in Afrin. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says civilians are having difficulty fleeing Kurdish territory for government-held Aleppo. It says thousands of civilians were trying to flee to Aleppo, 50km from Afrin and cited unnamed sources saying people are being stopped at government checkpoints and prevented from reaching relatives and friends in two Kurdish districts. The UN says the concern is for an estimated 450,000 civilians who are at risk. The government avoids conflicts with the Kurds and has made no immediate comment.Jeff Sessions Questioned by Russia Investigators
The United States Department of Justice has confirmed Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned last week by investigators examining possible Russian collusion. Sessions appears to be the first member of President Donald Trump's cabinet to be questioned by Former FBI Director Robert Mueller. It is believed the interview with Mr Sessions lasted several hours as congressional committees investigated allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US General Election. The US intelligence community has already concluded that Moscow attempted to sway the presidential election in favour of Donald Trump, though Russia denies this.Egyptian Presidential Candidate Arrested
Egyptian authorities have arrested a retired general who has been denied permission to run in presidential elections in March. Sami Anan was the last challenger to current President Adel Fatah al-Sisi, whose re-election is now considered almost certain. Anan was arested on charges of election violation, along with 30 members of the campaign and some of their family members. Anan is the second former high ranking official to be prevented from running against Sisi, who is leading a crackdown on dissidents while attempting to enact tough economic reforms.Reporting by Reilly Hodson, Issy Walker and Tess Barnett.
LOCAL NEWS
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A waka is being used to measure the amount of plastic rubbish coming from the East Coast. The international organisation 5 Gyers Institute is leading the Te Matau a Māui waka which will carry a micro plastic trawl along the coastline between Napier and Wellington. Scientists will collect data from the trawl in order to measure East Coast contributions to plastic pollution in oceans.Rates Rebel’s House Ordered to be Sold
A court has ordered that the house of activist and former Auckland mayoral candidate Penny Bright be sold to repay 10 years' worth of unpaid rates. Bright says her decision not to pay rates is a protest against a lack of transparency in the Auckland Council. Councillor Dick Quax says there is no lack of transparency in the Council, and Bright should pay rates like every other Aucklander. Bright has been fighting the council in court since 2014, and says she still makes use of public services which are funded by rates, like libraries and waste collection.
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High interest loan companies are targeting families who are struggling to pay for back-to-school costs through social media advertising. Earlier this week, a study found a public education now costs $37,000 or more over the course of a child's schooling. Darryl Evans, the chief executive of Budgeting and Family Support Services, says the organisation had seen at least 30 families stressed about back to school costs in the last 10 days. Loan packages being advertised as back to school deals carry interest rates between 40 percent and 60 percent. Pat Newman, the principal of Hora Hora Primary School in Whangarei, says families should talk to schools if they are stressed about the costs related to the start of the school year.National Criticises Labour Immigration Policy
National Party spokesperson Simon Bridges says the past government's policy was working fine and there was no change necessary. However, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway told bFM the policy will improve what was set-out by the previous government:”We do have to make changes, but business requires certainty, and that’s why we’ll keep the previous government’s policy in place until we’ve done the proper consultation and done everything that it’s important for governments to do before we implement new policy.” Lees-Galloway also spoke about the policy to encourage migrants to explore outside of Auckland and gain the full experience of New Zealand.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A major tsunami warning issued overnight for parts of Alaska and Canada has been cancelled. The warning came at 12.31 AM local time after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck in the Gulf of Alaska at a depth of just 25km. A tsunami watch was also issued for the entire west coast of the United States and the Hawaiian islands. Locals have now been assured they can return home after thousands spent the night in evacuation centres above sea level. New Zealand's Civil Defence Ministry said there was no threat of tsunami to New Zealand.TPP Close to a Deal
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is currently taking place in Davos, with Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amongst its attendees. This year's forum carries the theme of "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World" and will include 400 sessions. A notable announcement at the meeting comes from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who shared that the 11 remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership have concluded a new agreement that will maintain their alliance. This is a significant progression in TPP negotiations since the United States pulled out of the agreement. New Zealand is one of the 11 countries and Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has confirmed the tweaked agreement will be signed in March in Argentina.Civilians Flee Syrian Border
Clashes between Turkish-led forces and Kurdish fighters on Syria's northern border are leaving civilians displaced in Afrin. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says civilians are having difficulty fleeing Kurdish territory for government-held Aleppo. It says thousands of civilians were trying to flee to Aleppo, 50km from Afrin and cited unnamed sources saying people are being stopped at government checkpoints and prevented from reaching relatives and friends in two Kurdish districts. The UN says the concern is for an estimated 450,000 civilians who are at risk. The government avoids conflicts with the Kurds and has made no immediate comment.Jeff Sessions Questioned by Russia Investigators
The United States Department of Justice has confirmed Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned last week by investigators examining possible Russian collusion. Sessions appears to be the first member of President Donald Trump's cabinet to be questioned by Former FBI Director Robert Mueller. It is believed the interview with Mr Sessions lasted several hours as congressional committees investigated allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US General Election. The US intelligence community has already concluded that Moscow attempted to sway the presidential election in favour of Donald Trump, though Russia denies this.Egyptian Presidential Candidate Arrested
Egyptian authorities have arrested a retired general who has been denied permission to run in presidential elections in March. Sami Anan was the last challenger to current President Adel Fatah al-Sisi, whose re-election is now considered almost certain. Anan was arested on charges of election violation, along with 30 members of the campaign and some of their family members. Anan is the second former high ranking official to be prevented from running against Sisi, who is leading a crackdown on dissidents while attempting to enact tough economic reforms.Reporting by Reilly Hodson, Issy Walker and Tess Barnett.