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The SeaLink vehicle ferry to Waiheke Island. Photo: Supplied An Auckland ferry company will continue negotiations with workers on Friday to avoid strike action next week. Unionised employees of SeaLink, which operates freight and passenger ferries between Auckland, Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands, will strike from Tuesday over pay disparity in the industry. First Union organiser Justin Wallace said workers want wages and conditions to match that of Auckland Transport's ferries, which had a cash injection to increase pay for crew earlier this year. "SeaLink's workers are struggling with the absurd cost of living in Auckland, while going to work every day knowing that they are being underpaid compared to colleagues who do the same work as them on a different ferry provider." In a statem...

Photo: 123rf A Canadian energy company will be in the country next week for a close inspection of possible oil and gas investment in Taranaki region. Monumental Energy said it would work with the New Zealand Energy Corporation (NZEC), which it owns close to nine percent of, to look at new exploration and development projects. The company's director and founder, Maximilian Sali, said its strong links with NZEC made a closer look at New Zealand opportunities sensible. "It seemed only natural for us to take another step farther into oil and gas in this prolific basin in New Zealand and begin assessing opportunities for Monumental to generate its own revenue by partnering on certain assets and potentially bidding on new blocks with NZEC," he said in a statement to the Toronto Stock Exchange....

By Dan Fastnedge and Melissa L Gould* of Controversial advertising holds a mirror up to society. It can unite us in laughter or outrage, spark debates that shape our beliefs - and sometimes expose our political differences. But where do lines of acceptability or offensiveness get drawn? Earlier this year the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced the percent7E:text=1.,our percent20pizza percent20for percent20meat percent20lovers. percentE2 percent80 percent9D most complained about ads ever. Categories ranged from political advocacy to household products. And the most complained about spot belonged to Hell Pizza's "Lust condom" mailers. The brand's "Hell Crossed Buns" billboard came in third. This is not surprising, given the brand is often in the hea...

Photo: Unsplash An Auckland hospitality entrepreneur hopes to flip the New Zealand culture of 'no tipping' at bars and restaurants. Luke Dallow told Morning Report a struggling economy means many hospitality spots are employing fewer waiters, so diners are getting slack service. With the cost of goods and rents increasing, something needs to change, he said. "And what is controllable is wages. My concept would be to reduce the menu price on the menu, then that would get more consumers into the restaurants or bars. "Now to top this up you would tip, encourage tipping." He said it would mean minimum wage plus tips for wait staff, though Dallow's maths could be a bit off. "Minimum wage is $24 or I think it's roughly around that at the moment, and a waitress or waiter could easily make $10 i...

The Tāhunanui Slump is one area covered by the slope risk overlay and now insurers appear to be retreating from properties in the area. Photo: Supplied / Nelson City Council Proposed hazard maps for Nelson are allegedly preventing properties across the city from being insured. The claim has been put to the commissioners overseeing the hearing for the city council's controversial overhaul of its planning rules. The original maps the council put out for consultation included several areas shaded with flooding, inundation, fault hazard, and slope risk overlays. One Rocks Road resident, whose home falls within the slope risk overlay, said that her property has never failed to be insured until the council put out its map for consultation. "It has essentially rendered our property uninsura...