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Photo: 123rf If New Zealand's gender pay gap continues to close at its current rate, it will be almost 100 years after the passing of the Equal Pay Act before women are paid the same as men. The Council of Trade Unions each year calculates the date that women start working for "free", because of the difference in their wages compared to what men earn. For all women, compared to all men, that date is 28 November. But compared to Pākehā men, Pasifika women start working for free from Friday. Asian women hit the "free" date on 21 October. The gender pay gap currently sits at 8.9 percent. It is down from 14.9 percent in 2008 but increased for a period during the pandemic. Council of Trade Unions policy director and economist Craig Renney said the gap could be caused by direct discrimination ...

Treasury's deputy secretary and chief economic adviser Dominick Stephens. Photo: Wespac Bank An ageing population, combined with higher-than-expected government debt and structural fiscal deficits, poses a major financial challenge for New Zealand, Treasury's deputy secretary and chief economic adviser says. Dominick Stephens made a speech today in which he outlined the impact of increasing longevity on public finances. While healthcare, society and economic advances had created improvements in living standards, society would have to adapt, he said. "Including regarding government revenue and spending… I have every confidence that we can make the changes necessary to live sustainably in a society characterised by longer human lives." In the 1970s, there were about seven people aged 15 t...

More than 600 people are employed at Alliance Group's Smithfield meatworks during the peak season. (File image) Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Hundreds of Canterbury meatworkers are anxiously waiting to find out if their jobs are safe. Staff employed at at Alliance Group's Smithfield meatworks in Timaru have been called to a surprise meeting at 11am Friday. The company will not say what it is about. Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen said the plant employed more than 600 people at peak season, and workers were going into the meeting with a lot of questions. "There's a lot of concern for those workers that are affected. There's been rumours for some time now around possible changes, potential closure, so I guess one thing that is positive is that affected parties will have that confirmed in one way or...