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Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Almost a Quarter of Children Reported to Child Protection Services
Almost a quarter of New Zealand children have been reported to child protection services, according to a new study. The report from AUT researchers tracked 55,000 children born in 1998 for 17 years, following maltreatment cases for the children. 23 percent of children had at least one report to child protection, a rate higher than medicated asthma. Almost 10 percent had experienced abuse. Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft describes the study results as "profoundly concerning".New Push for Pay Equity
The Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles has worked with the government to remove barriers for women to lodge their pay equity claims. The 2017 gender pay gap report, released by the Ministry of Women, shows women in female–dominated workforces are paid less for equal work. Tali Williams of First Union told 95bFM the changes to pay equity are for everyone involved in the state and private sectors: “Sometimes a whole industry can suffer from wage discrimination”. With these new changes, wage discrimination in female dominated workforces will likely decrease.Otago University Students Excluded for Flat Initiations
Nine students from the University of Otago were excluded last year as a result of unruly flat initiations. At an initiation event last September, nine first-year students were stripped, had their heads shaved and were forced to drink large quantities of alcohol until they vomited. The students responsible for the initiations received exclusions from the first semester this year following failed appeals. University proctor Dave Scott says the initiation issue is a concern, as it has taken an ugly turn towards harmful behaviour.Government Can’t Sue Fletcher Building For Bad Repairs
The Earthquake Commission cannot sue Fletcher Building for faulty repairs following the Christchurch earthquakes. RNZ obtained a copy of the contract between Fletcher and EQC, which contains an indemnity clause exempting Fletcher from any claims against its work. Former Fletcher boss Mark Binns says EQC was out of its depth in the rebuild process, and that he would not have signed the contract if the indemnity clause wasn't included. There are reportedly nearly 2600 outstanding claims to the EQC, all of which are re-repairs.Ngati Rangi to Sign Treaty Settlement
Ruapehu iwi Ngati Rangi will sign a Treaty settlement on March 10 after two years of negotiation. The iwi will regain the bed of a mountain lake, and more say in a river's health as well as around $17 million in the settlement. Descendants of Ngati Rangi were 99 percent in favour of the deed of settlement. The money involved in the settlement can be used to buy back Crown land which the iwi will have first refusal on, including Karioi Forest. Che Wilson, the lead negotiator for Ngati Rangi, says the iwi hopes the settlement will bring a healthier environment, and prosperity for its people.First Home Buyers Returning to Market
State valuer Quotable Value is positive about the future of New Zealand's housing market. QV's spokesperson Andrea Rush says "Low interest rates and the easing in the loan to value restrictions has seen many more first home buyers active in areas where they can still afford to enter the market". The national average house price was $672,645 which rose 6.5 percent in the year to February. House prices have risen in Hawkes Bay, the bottom of the North Island and various parts of the South Island while continuing to fall in Christchurch. Rush says she foresees a rise in house prices with the constant demand of those wishing to buy NZ property.Blackberry Thinks it Owns Messaging Apps
Blackberry has filed a lawsuit against Facebook and its units WhatsApp and Instagram. The company claims that it holds the intellectual property relating to mobile messaging apps, and that Facebook infringed those rights. A spokesperson for Blackberry says the decision to sue was taken after several years of dialogue, and continued infringement by Facebook. Blackberry's patent includes many common features of messaging apps such as displaying the number of unread messages on the homescreen icon.North Korea Open to Disarmament Talks
North Korea is open to discussing disarmament. A meeting between North's leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in has led to reports that North Korea is open to US talks and is willing to halt weapon testing. The discussion occurred during President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Pyongyang this Monday. South officials have reported the two leaders "somewhat shared" views on various issues but the US is skeptical of Mr Kim's commitment. Mr Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are set to meet next month, at the North Korean truce village of Panmunjom. North Korea has previously offered to end its nuclear program in return for the US to end its military exercises on North Korea's borders, though all proposals have been quickly rejected.Russian Plane Crashes in Syria
A Russian transport plane has crashed in Syria, killing 39. The aircraft crashed at a Russian base in the Latakia province, and is presumed to have been caused by a technical fault. Russia's Investigative Committee says it has opened a criminal investigation into the crash, following suggestions that flight safety rules had not been followed. The aircraft is the second Russian military plane to crash in Syria this year, after an attack jet was struck by a missile last month.UN Officials to Visit Liberia
United Nations officials are visiting Liberia to assess if the country is upholding freedom of expression after Liberian President George Weah vowed his commitment to free speech. Liberia has seen 15 years of peace since the end of the civil war and the country is still trying to establish its institutions. University of Otago Politics Professor Robert Patman told 95bFM Liberia's civil war history will take decades to recover from: “Over 250,000 people were killed in Liberia’s civil war, and remember this is a country with a population of 5 million”. The nation has seen no sign of ethnic conflict in recent years.Additional reporting: Reuben McLaren, Sae Strang, Reilly Hodson
LOCAL NEWS
Almost a quarter of New Zealand children have been reported to child protection services, according to a new study. The report from AUT researchers tracked 55,000 children born in 1998 for 17 years, following maltreatment cases for the children. 23 percent of children had at least one report to child protection, a rate higher than medicated asthma. Almost 10 percent had experienced abuse. Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft describes the study results as "profoundly concerning".New Push for Pay Equity
The Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles has worked with the government to remove barriers for women to lodge their pay equity claims. The 2017 gender pay gap report, released by the Ministry of Women, shows women in female–dominated workforces are paid less for equal work. Tali Williams of First Union told 95bFM the changes to pay equity are for everyone involved in the state and private sectors: “Sometimes a whole industry can suffer from wage discrimination”. With these new changes, wage discrimination in female dominated workforces will likely decrease.
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Nine students from the University of Otago were excluded last year as a result of unruly flat initiations. At an initiation event last September, nine first-year students were stripped, had their heads shaved and were forced to drink large quantities of alcohol until they vomited. The students responsible for the initiations received exclusions from the first semester this year following failed appeals. University proctor Dave Scott says the initiation issue is a concern, as it has taken an ugly turn towards harmful behaviour.Government Can’t Sue Fletcher Building For Bad Repairs
The Earthquake Commission cannot sue Fletcher Building for faulty repairs following the Christchurch earthquakes. RNZ obtained a copy of the contract between Fletcher and EQC, which contains an indemnity clause exempting Fletcher from any claims against its work. Former Fletcher boss Mark Binns says EQC was out of its depth in the rebuild process, and that he would not have signed the contract if the indemnity clause wasn't included. There are reportedly nearly 2600 outstanding claims to the EQC, all of which are re-repairs.Ngati Rangi to Sign Treaty Settlement
Ruapehu iwi Ngati Rangi will sign a Treaty settlement on March 10 after two years of negotiation. The iwi will regain the bed of a mountain lake, and more say in a river's health as well as around $17 million in the settlement. Descendants of Ngati Rangi were 99 percent in favour of the deed of settlement. The money involved in the settlement can be used to buy back Crown land which the iwi will have first refusal on, including Karioi Forest. Che Wilson, the lead negotiator for Ngati Rangi, says the iwi hopes the settlement will bring a healthier environment, and prosperity for its people.
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State valuer Quotable Value is positive about the future of New Zealand's housing market. QV's spokesperson Andrea Rush says "Low interest rates and the easing in the loan to value restrictions has seen many more first home buyers active in areas where they can still afford to enter the market". The national average house price was $672,645 which rose 6.5 percent in the year to February. House prices have risen in Hawkes Bay, the bottom of the North Island and various parts of the South Island while continuing to fall in Christchurch. Rush says she foresees a rise in house prices with the constant demand of those wishing to buy NZ property.
INTERNATIONAL
Blackberry has filed a lawsuit against Facebook and its units WhatsApp and Instagram. The company claims that it holds the intellectual property relating to mobile messaging apps, and that Facebook infringed those rights. A spokesperson for Blackberry says the decision to sue was taken after several years of dialogue, and continued infringement by Facebook. Blackberry's patent includes many common features of messaging apps such as displaying the number of unread messages on the homescreen icon.North Korea Open to Disarmament Talks
North Korea is open to discussing disarmament. A meeting between North's leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in has led to reports that North Korea is open to US talks and is willing to halt weapon testing. The discussion occurred during President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Pyongyang this Monday. South officials have reported the two leaders "somewhat shared" views on various issues but the US is skeptical of Mr Kim's commitment. Mr Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are set to meet next month, at the North Korean truce village of Panmunjom. North Korea has previously offered to end its nuclear program in return for the US to end its military exercises on North Korea's borders, though all proposals have been quickly rejected.Russian Plane Crashes in Syria
A Russian transport plane has crashed in Syria, killing 39. The aircraft crashed at a Russian base in the Latakia province, and is presumed to have been caused by a technical fault. Russia's Investigative Committee says it has opened a criminal investigation into the crash, following suggestions that flight safety rules had not been followed. The aircraft is the second Russian military plane to crash in Syria this year, after an attack jet was struck by a missile last month.UN Officials to Visit Liberia
United Nations officials are visiting Liberia to assess if the country is upholding freedom of expression after Liberian President George Weah vowed his commitment to free speech. Liberia has seen 15 years of peace since the end of the civil war and the country is still trying to establish its institutions. University of Otago Politics Professor Robert Patman told 95bFM Liberia's civil war history will take decades to recover from: “Over 250,000 people were killed in Liberia’s civil war, and remember this is a country with a population of 5 million”. The nation has seen no sign of ethnic conflict in recent years.Additional reporting: Reuben McLaren, Sae Strang, Reilly Hodson