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Photo: 123RF When Claire Nickson applied for the Family Boost early childhood education rebate this week, she was surprised to be declined. "Our combined income is around $150,000 - well below the $180,000 cap that has been advertised." Claims for rebates from the new scheme began to be accepted by Inland Revenue from the start of this month. The subsidy took effect in July but is paid out quarterly. Families can claim 25 percent of their weekly cost of childcare, up to a maximum $75. Payments for those earning between $140,000 and $180,000 are gradually reduced and those earning more than $180,000 are not eligible. Nickson said the payment would be a help to her family. Her daughter has just started daycare and will increase to four days a week from January next year. She expected to pa...

The MV Regatta, Whangārei's first cruise ship, arrives at Northport early on 4 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / NorthPort, Adam Jones Whangārei is hoping to cash in on the cruise ship boom with the number of vessels calling in to the northern city going from zero last year to four next season - and possibly as many as 30 by 2044. Cruise ship spending in the city is expected to be just under $1 million in the upcoming season, with more than 3000 passengers and crew due ashore. That number could rise to 45,000 by 2044, according to an economic impact report prepared for the Whangārei District Council. Whangārei mayor Vince Cocurullo told Midday Report the city had been seen in the past as a mere stop-off. "Now it's actually a destination point for people. They can see the Hundertwasser A...

Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock Cuts to Air New Zealand regional routes will mean less money circulating in the economy of larger cities, the Queenstown Lakes District mayor says. The national carrier has announced more trims to regional flights, including swapping out larger jets for much smaller twin engine turboprop planes on some Queenstown and Dunedin flights - meaning there will be 100 fewer seats on a flight. In some cases, morning departure times will be later and return flights will be earlier in the afternoon, compressing any day trips. Air New Zealand also announced it was ditching direct flights from Invercargill to Wellington from January. Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers told Checkpoint it had come as "a bit of a surprise", and he ...

Photo: RNZ/Tess Brunton A private company that builds hospitals is putting its hand up to play a part in Dunedin's beleaguered public project. The government is looking at cutting back the scope of the new hospital or breaking it into more stages to deal with cost blowouts. Vital Healthcare Property Trust already leases some small health facilities to the government, and owns a couple of billion dollars worth across the Tasman. Its fund manager Aaron Hockly told Morning Report it was willing to be part of the Dunedin solution. "We could certainly look at breaking up part of this project, acquiring part of it and leasing that back to the government for a very long term," he said. "There'd be a whole range of contractual projections for the state, and essentially they would pay us rent." ...