There has been a huge $130,661,758 increase in pokie-machine profits this year. Te Tari Taiwhenua – the Department of Internal Affairs – is linking September’s 116 percent increase on the June quarter to the end of Covid-19 restrictions. A Te Tari Taiwhenua spokesperson says the September quarter figures are higher than any of the June Read more
Thousands of the 27,000 New Zealanders who ceased receiving the 12-week COVID-19 Income Relief Payments (CIRP) have not returned paid work. The Salvation Army says although the application period for CIRP ended last week, only one in ten people who have finished their CIRP are in work. Some people have been able to transition onto Read more
A sexual assault trial for the former papal envoy to France went ahead despite his absence on Tuesday. Archbishop Luigi Ventura (75) had produced a doctor’s note saying it was too dangerous for him to travel from Rome to the trial in Paris during the coronavirus epidemic. Lawyers for the accusers of the retired papal Read more
Changes to global fertility rates could be on the way. Some countries are likely to experience a spike in births, while others are likely to see fewer births. Few women want to have a child in a time of uncertainty. In the rich world many are delaying starting a family or adding to it. But Read more
Concerns about New Zealand’s post-Covid inequalities are piling up. There is disquiet that the monetary response to Covid-19 is fuelling inequality by driving up share-markets and house prices. Recent Stat’s NZ data shows high-spending households are benefiting from zero inflation on the mix of products and services they buy. In contrast, price rises are still Read more
Helping churchgoers make safe, digital donations during the Covid-19 pandemic has proved a boon for Kiwi company Pushpay, which doubled its first-half profit. After-tax profit jumped to US$13.4 million (NZ$19.6m) in the six months ended September 30, up from US$6.5m last year, while revenue rose 51 per cent to US$86.6m. Founded in Auckland by Christians Read more
Catholics bishops in England and Wales want the Government to justify closing churches in the latest lockdown. All places of worship must end acts of collective worship. There are exceptions – for limited-attendance funeral ceremonies, to broadcast acts of worship, for individual prayer, for formal childcare/school and for essential voluntary and public services, eg food Read more
A man living in the same Vatican residence as Pope Francis has returned a COVID-positive test. The Vatican says those with whom the symptomless man had direct contact are in quarantine, as is he. The man is the first to test COVID-positive at the Santa Marta residence – which has about 130 rooms and suites Read more
Mourners were banned from saying the Lord’s Prayer at a funeral as it could “spread the coronavirus”. Bosses at a council-run crematorium said if more than one person joined in, it counted as “chanting” and was not allowed. Minister Alison Davies, 53, was left in tears at the ban at the funeral of a 94-year-old Read more
Pope Francis’ repeated non-use of a face mask is again in focus as Four Swiss Guards test positive for COVID-19. The four are in isolation while their contacts are being traced, the Vatican said Monday. The Swiss Guards provide ceremonial guard duty during papal Masses, man the Vatican gates and help protect the 83-year-old Pope Read more