News of Zealand: The Opportunities Party Wants to Give You Money For Nothing

All you need to know about the world this morning, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.

The Opportunities Party Releases New Youth Policy
If you are between the ages of 18 and 23, you could find yourself with an extra $200 cash in hand every week post-election. That is if The Opportunities Party gets its way: the party yesterday announced a new policy, which would hand out the universal income to all young people with "no questions asked". Leader Gareth Morgan told reporters that this age group is a demographic that has been badly neglected by policy-makers for decades, and that this will provide a safety net for youth during the potentially difficult transition to adulthood. The party estimates it will cost $3.4 billion per year.

Winter is Coming Early for Overwhelmed Health Workers
Winter illnesses are overwhelming hospitals around the country, with patients forced to wait in ambulances outside. Waikato Hospital Emergency Department (ED) clinical director John Bonning said there has been an eight to 10 percent increase of people showing up at the ED in the last month, with the majority in need of urgent care.

St John Ambulance has had its busiest June on record, responding to up to 300 more callouts a day compared to this time last year. Ambulance operations manager Geoff Procter said it has been very tough on ambulance staff who have had to cut into breaks. It is recommended people see a GP or call Healthline before their illnesses require hospitalisation.

Kaikōura Economy Still Shaken by Earthquake Damage
Staff shortages are starting to bite in Kaikōura, as the country's biggest ever roading project trucks on. Local business owners say construction companies are poaching workers, making it difficult to maintain their staff. A local hardware store owner, Sam Baker, raised the issue with ministers Steven Joyce and Nathan Guy during a meeting with business owners in Kaikoura yesterday. Baker said he would like better communication with authorities, and that some businesses may need more money to help get them through winter. The ministers told him they were willing to work with businesses on the issue.

First Home Buyers House Sit to Save
As rent and property prices rise, more Kiwis are becoming professional house sitters, living in other people's homes and looking after their pets to save on rent and living costs. Jason Strong, managing director for The Housesitting Company, said business is booming as house prices rise across the country, with Auckland representing 55 percent of activity. Primary school teacher Brittany Wong and her husband, who works in finance, managed to save a sizeable deposit over 18 months by saving one income and house-sitting part time in Auckland.

Auckland Taxi Companies Stalling in a Modernised Industry
Auckland is officially the 12th most expensive city in the world for taxi fares per kilometre. Online car dealership Carspring released the list in a report looking at 80 of the most visited cities in the world and their taxi fares. New Zealand Taxi Federation executive director John Hart said the index is not accurate, as taxi fares are deregulated and are set by market competition, not government standards. Carspring co-founder Peter Baumgart said people only care about how much a taxi will cost, not whether the industry is regulated. Auckland's cab prices average at $3 per kilometre, more expensive than both Melbourne and New York, and almost double the average price in Sydney.

Qatar Accuses UAE of Violating International Law
Qatar has opened a new front against the United Arab Emirates, accusing the regional rival of breaking international law by helping arrange the hacking of its news sites. The move follows a report in the Washington Post claiming US intelligence officials believe the UAE was at least somewhat involved in the hack that sparked a diplomatic beef via publication of false statements attributed to Qatari leadership. UAE officials dispute the idea that they played a role.

Six Human Rights Activists Accused of Terror Help in Turkey
A Turkish court has ordered the arrest of Amnesty International's national director and five other human rights activists. Originally held on July 5, they are now formally suspected of assisting a terrorist group. Amnesty's secretary general, Salil Shetty, said the arrest of Idil Eser and the other campaigners was part of "a politically motivated witch-hunt". Four more activists have been released ahead of trial.

Fiancé of Australian Killed by Police Demands Answers
The American fiancé of the Australian woman killed by a police officer in Minneapolis claimed to have been kept in the dark about the details of her death. Don Damond said he is "desperate" to find out why Justine Damond was fatally shot after calling 911 Saturday to report a possible sexual assault in her neighbourhood. The officer who shot Damond has been identified as Mohamed Noor.

Duterte Wants to Extend Martial Law in Philippines
Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte wants lawmakers to lengthen a period of martial law on the southern island of Mindanao to help wipe out Islamist militants that continue to wage an insurgency campaign in Marawi City. Duterte has asked Congress to extend the emergency measure until the end of 2017, but critics claim martial law is excessive and inappropriate across the whole of the island.

Australian Senator to Resign Over Dual Citizenship
Australian senator Larissa Waters announced she would resign after realising she holds dual citizenship—forbidden for federal lawmakers under the country's constitution. Waters, the first senator to breastfeed in Parliament, was born in Canada and had failed to actively renounce her citizenship there. She said it was an "honest mistake".

Additional reporting by Momoko Burgess, Josh Storey, Harry Willis and Tash Aull-Timbers