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A Climate Change Commission suggestion that new homes should not connect to the gas network was rejected by the industry. Photo: 123RF The New Zealand gas industry went to an international fossil fuel forum and claimed responsibility for killing off a proposed government ban on new gas connections. Gas NZ presented its success as a model for avoiding regulation for others in the fossil gas industry. The body's presentation to the World LPG Association says it achieved its goal of stopping what it called the "existential threat" posed by a draft suggestion from the Climate Change Commission that new homes should not connect to the gas network, to avoid locking their owners in to rising energy bills. "The immediate challenge was having the sections recommending an end-date for connections...

After record numbers of migrants in the past few years, many are now finding it difficult to find work. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Many migrants who arrived here during the immigration boom of recent years are now struggling to find work. The country gained a record 136,000 new residents in the year ending October 2023 But many of those people - including those whose ability to stay in the country is tied to their employment - have been victims of a softening labour market. First Union general secretary Dennis Maga said about 25 percent of migrant union members had been affected. Some were being sent back home on furlough arrangements, he said. "They are still employed, but the company pays them $100 a month on furlough and will bring them back to New Zealand once construct...

Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers Serious assaults and cases of verbal abuse have reduced thanks to facial recognition technology, Foodstuffs North Island says It's tested the systems in 25 New World and Pak'nSave stores over the past six months Early results indicate 130 incidences of serious assaults and verbal abuse have been avoided The stores will continue using the technology while the company awaits final reports from an independent evaluator and the Privacy Commissioner The Privacy Commissioner has previously raised concerns about the use of facial recognition technology in supermarkets A facial recognition technology trial at 25 supermarkets has reduced crime and prevented more than 100 serious physical and verbal assaults, Foodstuffs North Island says. The New World and Pak'nS...