Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by bFM and VICE NZ.Greater Auckland Releases $1.45 Billion Rail Plan
Auckland-based lobby group Greater Auckland has revealed a $1.45 billion plan for a rapid rail network. The plan wants to link Auckland with Hamilton and Tauranga as well as numerous regional centres. Initially the proposal would see a $10 million refurbishment of three existing carriages. The bulk of the project's spending, however, would be on 17 new tilt trains capable of reaching 160km per hour, and on extending existing rail systems. If the plan were to go ahead it would service over half of the current national population, in areas where 70 percent of future growth is expected to occur.Dip in Housing Market Prompts Call to Ease Loan-to-Value Mortgage Restrictions
The Real Estate Institute is backing Bill English's call to review loan-to-value mortgage restrictions. Under current rules, potential buyers must have a 20 percent deposit on a house before they can get a loan. REINZ CEO Bindi Norwell told 95bFM that conducting a review was crucial. "Just in relation to first-home buyers it's having a huge impact. Time and time again, we're hearing across the market that they're really struggling to get into the market." The request for a review came after Auckland house prices dropped 0.8 percent between May and June.National Announces New Clutha-Southland Candidate
The National Party has announced a replacement for disgraced Southland MP Todd Barclay.
Hamish Walker will fill Barclay's shoes in the Clutha-Southland Electorate, which is widely considered a safe National seat. He was up against WorkSafe assessment manager and Southland district councillor Nick Perham and former Queenstown mayor Vanessa van Uden. Walker headed a property management firm in Auckland before moving to campaign for the Dunedin South Electorate in 2014.Public Backlash Puts Pipeline Plans on Hold
A planned pipeline through Mt Aspiring National Park may have lost momentum amid rising public unrest. The proposed pipeline, which would pipe water to offshore ships for bulk export, would affect the habitat of the Haast tokoeka kiwi, one of New Zealand's rarest kiwis. Numbers of the flightless bird are estimated at about 400, and it is believed that 33 currently reside near the pipeline's proposed location. A petition objecting to the pipeline containing more than 18,000 signatures was presented to Green MP Eugenie Sage, but it was rejected by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry. Barry said the process would be open and competitive, but that the petition would not influence her decision. Relocating the birds is being discussed as an option, but leading conservationist Sir Alan Mark said it would not ensure their survival.CYF Restructure Caused Mass Exodus
New documents released by Radio New Zealand reveal that Child, Youth and Family saw an exodus of high-ranking social workers in the months leading up to its restructure and relaunch as Oranga Tamariki. According to the documents, the number of social workers leaving CYFs rose 60 percent in the lead up to the April launch. A further 240 staff also handed in notice. This came at a time when record numbers of children were being placed in state care, with just over 5600 young people being handed to CYFs between January and April. Association of Social Workers CEO Lucy Sandford-Reed blamed the lack of consultation during the restructure for the exodus, and said the feeling of being unsettled paired with work pressures was the catalyst for many resignations. However Oranga Tamariki deputy CEO Glynis Sandland said things were turning around, and the organisation had started to fill the gaps left by outgoing staff.GOP Bashes Trump Over Ambiguity on Charlottesville
President Trump has been criticised by leading Republicans for again failing to clearly condemn white supremacist hatred and violence in Charlottesville. Trump insisted Tuesday that there was "blame on both sides." A memo sent by the White House to GOP lawmakers in Congress reportedly advised them to argue the president was "entirely correct" on the issue. But House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted: "White supremacy is repulsive… There can be no moral ambiguity." Senator Marco Rubio said "you can't allow #WhiteSupremacists to share only part of the blame," while Senator John McCain said there was "no moral equivalency between racists & Americans standing up to defy hate & bigotry."At Least 30 Killed by Female Suicide Bombers in Nigeria
At least 30 people were killed and another 80 wounded in an attack carried out by three female suicide bombers in Nigeria. The women set off their explosives in a busy shopping area at the edge of a refugee camp in the town of Mandarari, in Borno State. Islamist militants from Boko Haram have carried out previous attacks in the area, but so far no group had claimed responsibility for the attack.Civilians Depart ISIS-Held Town in Iraq
Thousands of civilians in the ISIS-held stronghold of Tal Afar in Iraq have begun fleeing amid air strikes by the government-led coalition intent on retaking the town. Hundreds who escaped Monday were taken by the army to a humanitarian aid area outside Mosul.Philippine Army Deployed to Stop Spread of Bird Flu
Soldiers in the Philippines have been ordered to kill roughly 600,000 birds in a bid to stop the spread of avian flu, according to the country's agriculture secretary, Emmanuel Pinol. The outbreak among fowl has spread to dozens of farms, but no humans are believed to have caught the virus.Reporting by Katie Doyle, Ximena Smith and Conor Mercer.
LOCAL NEWS
Auckland-based lobby group Greater Auckland has revealed a $1.45 billion plan for a rapid rail network. The plan wants to link Auckland with Hamilton and Tauranga as well as numerous regional centres. Initially the proposal would see a $10 million refurbishment of three existing carriages. The bulk of the project's spending, however, would be on 17 new tilt trains capable of reaching 160km per hour, and on extending existing rail systems. If the plan were to go ahead it would service over half of the current national population, in areas where 70 percent of future growth is expected to occur.Dip in Housing Market Prompts Call to Ease Loan-to-Value Mortgage Restrictions
The Real Estate Institute is backing Bill English's call to review loan-to-value mortgage restrictions. Under current rules, potential buyers must have a 20 percent deposit on a house before they can get a loan. REINZ CEO Bindi Norwell told 95bFM that conducting a review was crucial. "Just in relation to first-home buyers it's having a huge impact. Time and time again, we're hearing across the market that they're really struggling to get into the market." The request for a review came after Auckland house prices dropped 0.8 percent between May and June.
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The National Party has announced a replacement for disgraced Southland MP Todd Barclay.
Hamish Walker will fill Barclay's shoes in the Clutha-Southland Electorate, which is widely considered a safe National seat. He was up against WorkSafe assessment manager and Southland district councillor Nick Perham and former Queenstown mayor Vanessa van Uden. Walker headed a property management firm in Auckland before moving to campaign for the Dunedin South Electorate in 2014.Public Backlash Puts Pipeline Plans on Hold
A planned pipeline through Mt Aspiring National Park may have lost momentum amid rising public unrest. The proposed pipeline, which would pipe water to offshore ships for bulk export, would affect the habitat of the Haast tokoeka kiwi, one of New Zealand's rarest kiwis. Numbers of the flightless bird are estimated at about 400, and it is believed that 33 currently reside near the pipeline's proposed location. A petition objecting to the pipeline containing more than 18,000 signatures was presented to Green MP Eugenie Sage, but it was rejected by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry. Barry said the process would be open and competitive, but that the petition would not influence her decision. Relocating the birds is being discussed as an option, but leading conservationist Sir Alan Mark said it would not ensure their survival.
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New documents released by Radio New Zealand reveal that Child, Youth and Family saw an exodus of high-ranking social workers in the months leading up to its restructure and relaunch as Oranga Tamariki. According to the documents, the number of social workers leaving CYFs rose 60 percent in the lead up to the April launch. A further 240 staff also handed in notice. This came at a time when record numbers of children were being placed in state care, with just over 5600 young people being handed to CYFs between January and April. Association of Social Workers CEO Lucy Sandford-Reed blamed the lack of consultation during the restructure for the exodus, and said the feeling of being unsettled paired with work pressures was the catalyst for many resignations. However Oranga Tamariki deputy CEO Glynis Sandland said things were turning around, and the organisation had started to fill the gaps left by outgoing staff.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
President Trump has been criticised by leading Republicans for again failing to clearly condemn white supremacist hatred and violence in Charlottesville. Trump insisted Tuesday that there was "blame on both sides." A memo sent by the White House to GOP lawmakers in Congress reportedly advised them to argue the president was "entirely correct" on the issue. But House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted: "White supremacy is repulsive… There can be no moral ambiguity." Senator Marco Rubio said "you can't allow #WhiteSupremacists to share only part of the blame," while Senator John McCain said there was "no moral equivalency between racists & Americans standing up to defy hate & bigotry."At Least 30 Killed by Female Suicide Bombers in Nigeria
At least 30 people were killed and another 80 wounded in an attack carried out by three female suicide bombers in Nigeria. The women set off their explosives in a busy shopping area at the edge of a refugee camp in the town of Mandarari, in Borno State. Islamist militants from Boko Haram have carried out previous attacks in the area, but so far no group had claimed responsibility for the attack.Civilians Depart ISIS-Held Town in Iraq
Thousands of civilians in the ISIS-held stronghold of Tal Afar in Iraq have begun fleeing amid air strikes by the government-led coalition intent on retaking the town. Hundreds who escaped Monday were taken by the army to a humanitarian aid area outside Mosul.Philippine Army Deployed to Stop Spread of Bird Flu
Soldiers in the Philippines have been ordered to kill roughly 600,000 birds in a bid to stop the spread of avian flu, according to the country's agriculture secretary, Emmanuel Pinol. The outbreak among fowl has spread to dozens of farms, but no humans are believed to have caught the virus.Reporting by Katie Doyle, Ximena Smith and Conor Mercer.