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Wellington News – PSA calls on WCC to reject slash-and-burn Deloitte report

Source: PSA

The PSA is calling on Wellington City Council Chief Executive Matt Prosser to reject the Deloitte report, which suggests eliminating up to 330 positions.
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Duane Leo says the report is fundamentally flawed.
“This is a flimsy PowerPoint presentation that lacks any depth, rigour or even a basic understanding of what the Council’s role is. Hidden in the fine print, the report notes that its assumptions need to be validated and shouldn’t be relied upon for decision-making.
“The Chief Executive’s cautious response shows he recognises the report's flaws and he has acknowledged that some recommendations are at odds with community wishes. He's right to be sceptical – this report should be rejected.
“Deloitte is recommending cutting 330 positions – nearly one in five staff – based on crude benchmarking that ignores Wellington provides services many other councils don't, including social housing, city safety programmes, and addressing homelessness. It also ignores the fact an extra 22,000 people come into the city every day for work.
“This is slash-and-burn cost-cutting, not a serious analysis of how to improve the Council’s operations.
Leo said the recommendations would devastate public services.
“You cannot remove one in five positions without serious impacts. Building consent times will blow out. Libraries will have reduced hours. Parks will be less well maintained. Council has already removed 58 roles this year and staff are stretched thin.”
The PSA is particularly concerned about heavy reliance on automation and AI as a substitute for experienced staff, without any evidence it would work.
“Deloitte is assuming AI can deliver productivity gains of up to 50% but they haven't done the work to show replacing experienced staff with ChatGPT would actually deliver those results. They're asking Council to invest millions in unproven technology while cutting the people who actually serve our communities. This is a recipe for disaster, particularly for vulnerable residents who need face-to-face support.”
Leo said PSA members want to work constructively on genuine improvements.
“Our members deliver services to Wellingtonians every day. They know what works, what doesn't, and where real efficiencies can be found. But you don't get that knowledge by hiring consultants to produce PowerPoint presentations – you get it by sitting down with staff in good faith and listening to their expertise.
“We're calling on the Chief Executive to reject Deloitte's slash-and-burn agenda and work with staff and unions on realistic improvements that don't gut the organisation.”
Notes: The benefit assumptions the report sets out to justify savings have not been based on actual data – or in fact any data from WCC about its actual assets. Instead, they have made assumptions or used figures for savings taken from other councils around the world, many with little relevance to Wellington.
On page 32 there is a long disclaimer statement that says:
– Deloitte have assumed WCC can cut 5% from roading as that is what the UK Chartered Institute of Public Finance identified in a report for the Cumbria County Council’s Highway Asset Management plan.
– They’ve based their assumption of 10% savings on wastewater treatment plants on what the US Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance on value engineering.
– They’ve based their assumption of 15% savings on energy efficiency “as experienced in the Community of Madrid, Spain.”
– For plant and equipment asset types, they’ve based this “on the experience of multiple US municipal governments where implementing Asset Investment Planning has led to savings of between 10% and 30%…”
The relevance of these examples to Wellington City Council do not appear to have been tested.
The disclaimer goes on to note that the savings assumptions require rigorous verification before being relied upon for decision-making.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health care and community groups.
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Earth Sciences – Award winning shots from scientists

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

An annual photography competition held by Earth Sciences New Zealand has put our exceptional natural environment in the spotlight.
A charismatic turtle and an intense struggle with an otherworldly sand dune were just some of the 300 competition entries submitted by Earth Sciences NZ's staff, whose scientific endeavour gives them a unique glimpse into our world.
Our Places winner:  Headwind, Eleanor Haigh
Moorings Technician Eleanor Haigh captured this otherworldly shot on a trip to Te Paki sand dunes, near Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua. It won the Our Places category.
Eleanor hadn’t planned to take her camera out of the car because the wind was so forceful, but once she saw the beautiful pattens and holidaymakers dwarfed by the dunes, she quickly changed her mind.
It was a high-risk exercise; she used her full body to shield the camera and was finding sand in her ears days later.
The judges chose this photo because of itslovely colour contrast and how effectively it captures the insignificance of the human presence in a vast, unforgiving landscape. 
Our Work winner:  Bull kelp, Simon Hayes
This unusual photo won the Our Work category. At first glance, this looks like long hair floating in the water. It is in fact bull kelp.
Hanging off a rock ledge on the Otago coast, Web Manager Simon Hayes was mesmerised watching it roll back and forth in the waves.
The judges loved this picture for its semi-abstract composition and beautiful simplicity.
Special Award winner:  Duuuuuuude,  why is it so cold?, Crispin Middleton
A regular photo competition winner, Principal Technician Crispin Middleton says hello to this green turtle at Poor Knights Island.
He got this photo, which won the Special Award category, during winter – despite the cold, some turtles hang around for the whole season.
The judges said that this is an amazing shot with great detail, excellent subject separation, strong central composition, and a lovely background.
Our People winner:  A quick breather, Rasool Porhemmat
Scientifically important environments are often challenging to get to. Hydrologist Rasool Porhemmat captures this perfectly in his winning Our People category shot, which shows his team climbing Mt Philistine in Arthur’s Pass for fieldwork on Rolleston Glacier.
The photo reflects Rasool’s love for his work, which the judges said shone through because of the “clearly happy” people in the shot. They also commented on the difficulty of showing slope steepness in a picture, which Rasool managed to do well thanks to his use of diagonals and receding perspective.
Data visualisation winner:   Waimakariri River gravel fan, Paul White
This striking infographic created by Principal Scientist Paul White won the Data Visualisation category. It shows abandoned river channels weaving their way around Christchurch Airport.
Paul used LiDAR and spatial filtering of 2D digital terrain models (DTMs) to identify features of braided river gravel. This gravel was sourced from the Waimakariri River and forms aquifers that are vitally important to the groundwater supply of Christchurch.
People's Choice winner:   Matches, Shannan Crow
Last but not least, the People’s Choice winner.
After hundreds of public votes, Shannan’s contrasting image of the 2024 Craigieburn Forest fire took first place.
Shannan was drawn to enter this photo because of its abstract nature, where the scorched trees are highlighted by recent snowfall.
Shannan leaned into the elements shown by cropping it into a square rather than the standard 3 x 2 size as a way of highlighting the symmetry and evenness.
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Lifestyle – From a Christchurch School Hall to Global Recognition: Chan’s Martial Arts Celebrates 50 Years

Source: Chan's Martial Arts

A sold-out gala dinner on Saturday November 29 will mark a special milestone for a local institution that has grown from humble beginnings to become a leading martial arts organisation nationally:

Chan’s Martial Arts is celebrating 50 years of teaching, training, and transformation.

Founded in 1975 by Grandmaster Chan Seng Chee, the school began with a small Tae Kwon Do class at the Christchurch YMCA. Half a century later, Chan’s Martial Arts (CMA) has grown into an internationally respected organisation which has shaped the lives of hundreds of people. CMA offers Shao Chi Chuan Kung Fu and Sing Ong Tai Chi Chuan, with schools across Aotearoa and connections around the globe.

“This year’s dinner is extra special,” says an organiser. “We hold a dinner after the annual Black Belt grading every year, but this is the first time we’ve gathered to celebrate five decades of legacy – and to formally launch a limited edition book telling the story of CMA’s journey.”

The event is at capacity with 220 guests attending, featuring Grandmaster Chan himself as well as his senior students, including Master Mike Kinney, Master Bruce Lord, Master Marcus Simons, and Master Paul Reid. The celebration will also honour the many Christchurch families who’ve trained together and reached Black Belt status across more than one generation.

Over the past 50 years, thousands of students have trained through CMA’s system, with hundreds of Black Belts earned. The style developed by Grandmaster Chan emphasises biomechanical efficiency, stress-free movement, and lifelong wellness — drawing on a unique synthesis of Eastern martial arts philosophy and modern health science.

“When I started teaching in 1975, I never imagined the impact this school would have,” says Grandmaster Chan. “It’s humbling to see so many students walk this path. Martial arts is not just about self-defence — it’s a way of growing strong minds, kind hearts, and resilient communities.”

The 50th Anniversary commemorative book, Chan’s Martial Arts: The First 50 Years, will be officially launched at the gala and is available in limited numbers via chansmartialarts.com.

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Fire and Emergency New Zealand – Statement on Application for Facilitation

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has applied to the Employment Relations Authority for independent facilitation to try and resolve its long-running industrial dispute with the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU). The parties will discuss the application at an investigation meeting today. 
Fire and Emergency and the NZPFU have been in bargaining talks for a collective employment agreement for paid firefighters since 16 July 2024. More than 16 months later, the NZPFU’s most recent settlement proposal is more than three times Fire and Emergency’s offer and is far outside our bargaining parameters. 
“We’re asking the Employment Relations Authority to provide facilitation to help bring the parties together because of the protracted nature of bargaining and the impact on public safety from prolonged and repeated strike action,” says Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler. 
“There’s a gulf between us at the moment. Moving to facilitated bargaining is the next logical step to resolve the dispute and keep our communities safe.” 
“We’ve approached bargaining in good faith with the goal of reaching a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU.” 
Fire and Emergency’s recent offer amounts to a 6.2 percent average increase over three years and compares favourably with equivalent public sector agreements. 
“This proposal would have taken the average senior firefighter remuneration from a range of $80,682.82 – $87,364.25 to $85,789.14 – $92,893.43 at the end of the period, excluding overtime and allowances which currently adds an average of $38,823 to annual remuneration. We believe this represents a fair and sustainable increase for our people. 
“The NZPFU’s settlement proposal is three times more than our offer, which was fair, reasonable and in line with other settlements across the public service. It would represent a significant proportion of our current operational budget and is prohibitively uneconomic. 
“We value our people, which is why over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent, which is more than 10 percent above the average increase for all workers. 
“We want a fair outcome that recognises the incredible dedication and service of our people and delivers a modern and sustainable fire service. At the same time, approximately 95 percent of Fire and Emergency’s operations are funded by a levy on New Zealanders’ building, contents and vehicle insurance. With increasing insurance costs, we have to be mindful of cost-of-living pressures. 
“We’re working to deliver a modern and efficient service, which is why we’re also consulting on a restructure for the organisation to become a more effective and sustainable emergency service that can meet future requirements. 
“And while the proposed restructure doesn’t impact frontline fire fighters or communication centre employees, it is part of the balanced approach we’re taking to delivering sustainability and efficiency, fairness in remuneration and conditions, and affordability for the general public. 
“We hope the Employment Relations Authority accepts the referral to facilitation and the NZPFU withdraws its scheduled strikes. There is little to be gained by continuing to strike and putting the community at risk while this process plays out.”
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Improvements to gross domestic product September 2025 quarter – Stats NZ methods paper

Improvements to gross domestic product September 2025 quarter – methods paper

Source: Statistics New Zealand

25 November 2025

This page provides technical users with information about changes to data and methods applied to the forthcoming release of Gross domestic product: September 2025 quarter, scheduled for 18 December 2025. It provides an early indication of the impact of incorporating detailed data from the balanced annual national accounts on our volume estimates of annual economic growth.

Visit our website to read this methods paper:

 

The Government Statistician authorises all statistics and data we publish.

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University Research – Is globalisation unravelling? – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Where to for globalisation: cooperation, competition, or collapse? World-leading thinkers are exploring what comes next at the first-ever International Economics Workshop in Auckland.

As political allies shift, supply chains reorganise, and major powers butt heads, the University of Auckland is bringing some of the world’s most influential economic thinkers to New Zealand to examine what comes next.

On 4 December, two events will feature global heavyweights tackling the big questions shaping trade, finance, and geoeconomics, and what it all means for Aotearoa New Zealand.

The inaugural University of Auckland International Economics Workshop will explore the geoeconomics of the new world order, strategic industrial policy, macro-financial spillovers, and the geopolitics of trade, climate, and critical minerals.

Among the speakers is Harvard University’s Professor Pol Antràs, one of the world’s most cited authorities on global supply chains and trade fragmentation, and Professor Stephen Redding, an authority on trade and uncertainty. They're joined by experts including former New Zealand Reserve Bank Governor Dr Alan Bollard and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England, now Chief Economic Adviser at PwC, Andy Haldane.

In the evening, the event Geoeconomic Fragmentation: Challenges and Opportunities, will feature Harvard Business School Professor Laura Alfaro, a globally recognised expert on international investment and former Minister of National Planning in Costa Rica. She’s joined by Haldane, and Business School economics professor and member of the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, Prasanna Gai, for an in-depth conversation about the forces reshaping inclusive growth, financial stability, and cross-border spillovers.

Gai says the two events create a rare opportunity to hear directly from the thought leaders shaping global debates.

“Globalisation is changing in fundamental ways,” he says. “These conversations will help us better anticipate risks, adapt policy, and identify where our comparative advantages will lie.”

In recent research, Professor Antràs shows that multinationals don’t just trade with the countries where they have affiliates — they also trade heavily with nearby markets, because sharing fixed costs across their global plants creates deep interdependencies that can magnify the geopolitical spillovers of trade policy. For New Zealand, a small, trade-dependent nation, this shift poses risks and opportunities.

Higher tariffs, US policy swings, and ongoing fractures in global governance all point to a more challenging environment for exporters.

When it comes to trade, climate and migration, University of Auckland Associate Professor Asha Sundaram says she’s looking forward to discussing how globalisation will interact with the rising influence of emerging markets in the world economic order, and the challenges and opportunities that climate change, the race for critical minerals and growing talent flows across borders will engender.

Workshop co-organiser and University of Auckland economics lecturer Chanelle Duley is chairing a panel discussion on trade policy and macroeconomics. She says firms are now at the centre of the story.

“While outsourcing was commonplace in the early stages of globalisation, firms are increasingly expanding their boundaries to secure reliable access to upstream goods as geopolitical tensions and uncertainty intensify.”

These shifts, says Duley, are creating new cross-jurisdictional interdependencies, with important macroeconomic implications for countries like New Zealand.

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Analysis – 73% of Enterprises Suffered AI Security Incidents: Is Your Security Framework AI-Ready?

Source: CyberNews – Analysis by Aras Nazarovas.

Not so long ago, we saw highly visible events, such as mainstream chatbots ChatGPT and Grok conversations ending up on Google results and exposing sensitive prompts, private data, and company strategies, which showed as examples of systemic control failure.

If that is not enough, Vyro AI followed by leaving an Elasticsearch server completely open, which included prompts, tokens, and user agents. This is like leaving a data center's doors wide open for everyone to see.

It is, without a doubt, a C-suite issue. In addition to operational risks such as stolen bearer tokens and session artifacts, supply chain vulnerabilities, and trust damage, it also presents significant legal risks that invoke data protection obligations. It's a clear warning for all CTOs, CISOs, and other executives.

These are not nation-state intrusions, sophisticated attacks, or zero-days. These are simple security mistakes with large consequences. A database was left open for anyone to see, and the pattern is repeating across the industry.

Free AI, Hidden Risks

Vyro AI leak? There is no password protection, authentication requirements, or network restrictions. It just misses the basic security that every developer or system engineer needs to follow.

Traditional security frameworks do not work for most AI systems, with unpredictable data flows, processing, and AI operating across different principles. The attack surface extends beyond traditional boundaries.

For example, prompt injection. Attackers can manipulate AI responses by crafting prompts, leading to unauthorized access to user data. This requires no specialized technical skills, only the ability to craft persuasive language that influences the system's behavior. It requires more thought about security than apparently some can provide.

Since 73% of enterprises faced at least one AI-related security incident in the past year, with an average cost of $4.8 million per breach, there is preparation for warfare, but the door is left wide open. Or, as we see, some are building defenses against AI-powered attacks and discussing cutting-edge threats while leaving databases exposed, and nobody admits they forgot to enable authentication.

Human Error or Technical Incompetence?

I agree that human error is inevitable. Not everything needs to be perfect, but it should not be neglected. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, but the leak connected to Vyro AI is not that. It proves that a simple mistake, like leaving a database open to everyone, can expose user data to attackers for months.  And it could have been avoided if it had been given more attention.

Some people, myself included, think twice before putting sensitive info into AI tools. The Vyro AI server was left unsecured for several months, and once data goes into someone else's system, we can lose control over where it might end up.

Transparency Is Not Profitable

Most AI services do not tell you how they protect or store your data, who has access to it, or how long they keep it. This becomes dangerous whenever everything gets exposed and users know it.

Communities notice the excuses. When the Tea App incident happened, Reddit users immediately questioned the official narrative. A user asked, “Was it just a poorly configured cloud bucket that allows public users to view and download data, meaning it was negligence and not force?” Others called out the official statements that said, “The information was stored in accordance with law enforcement requirements related to cyber-bullying,” a blatant lie.

Users have seen it before: vague statements and blaming external factors, hoping that the attention will not shift to actual security practices. We have noticed that these “sophisticated attacks” have become a lot less complicated to commit.

Everyone deserves to know how their data is stored and protected. Some things should take precedence over saving money while hoarding personal data. And it is your responsibility to do so.

First Steps Towards Compliance

Yes, you can lecture employees on what data they can input into AI and train them to protect sensitive company information, but this is not sustainable, mostly because people are too lazy to think.

Start by considering implementing role-based training using scenario prompts or pre-approved prompt templates. Block high-risk tools, and provide authorized alternatives with safe defaults. It is your job to minimize the risk, starting from the basics.

However, this process should not be limited to recommendations. It needs to be enforced and supported by tooling. Your job is not only about convenience but also about making the easiest path the most secure path.  

And no, that does not mean you should stop using AI. You should use it more wisely. Before I type anything into a chatbot, I often ask myself, “Would I be okay if this info were leaked tomorrow?”

Handle Your Infrastructure (and People) Better

Can your team and your entire infrastructure handle AI demands? Hoping for the best is not a security strategy. If you are planning to add AI or are already using it, treat it like a Tier‑1 data system.

Start with vendor reassurance: invest in and pay for reputable providers, validate private modes and retention settings, do not allow your data to train the models, review SOC 2/ISO  and all that you can possibly think of, keeping in mind that you have company secrets to keep.

Try to establish technical guardrails by routing AI traffic through CASB/SSE, enabling DLP on prompts and outputs, deploying masking or redaction for PII and secrets, default-minimizing and encrypting logs. Try to build an infrastructure you would be proud of, not something that can crumble at the first issue.

The bottom line is that you should not blindly trust your employees. Set clear rules and use necessary tools. Data deserves protection, and until companies face consequences, everyone will continue to be surprised when another “sophisticated” attack is left to be simple negligence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aras Nazarovas is a Senior Information Security Researcher at Cybernews, a research-driven online publication. Aras specializes in cybersecurity and threat analysis. He investigates online services, malicious campaigns, and hardware security while compiling data on the most prevalent cybersecurity threats. Aras along with the Cybernews research team have uncovered significant online privacy and security issues impacting organizations and platforms such as NASA, Google Play, App Store, and PayPal. The Cybernews research team conducts over 7,000 investigations and publishes more than 600 studies annually, helping consumers and businesses better understand and mitigate data security risks.

ABOUT CYBERNEWS

Cybernews is a globally recognized independent media outlet where journalists and security experts debunk cyber by research, testing, and data. Founded in 2019 in response to rising concerns about online security, the site covers breaking news, conducts original investigations, and offers unique perspectives on the evolving digital security landscape. Through white-hat investigative techniques, Cybernews research team identifies and safely discloses cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, while the editorial team provides cybersecurity-related news, analysis, and opinions by industry insiders with complete independence. For more, visit www.cybernews.com.

Cybernews has earned worldwide attention for its high-impact research and discoveries, which have uncovered some of the internet's most significant security exposures and data leaks. Notable ones include:

  • Cybernews researchers discovered multiple open datasets comprising 16 billion login credentials from infostealer malware, social media, developer portals, and corporate networks – highlighting the unprecedented risks of account takeovers, phishing, and business email compromise.

  • Cybernews researchers analyzed 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps – around 8% of the apps present on the App Store – and uncovered a massive oversight: 71% of them expose sensitive data.

  • Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher and owner of SecurityDiscovery.com, and the Cybernews security research team discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch index, which contained a wide range of sensitive personal details related to the entire population of Georgia. 

  • The team analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone's web traffic, and found that Google's latest flagship smartphone frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed.

  • The team revealed that a massive data leak at MC2 Data, a background check firm, affects one-third of the US population.

  • The Cybernews security research team discovered that 50 most popular Android apps require 11 dangerous permissions on average.

  • They revealed that two online PDF makers leaked tens of thousands of user documents, including passports, driving licenses, certificates, and other personal information uploaded by users.

  • An analysis by Cybernews research discovered over a million publicly exposed secrets from over 58 thousand websites' exposed environment (.env) files.

  • The team revealed that Australia's football governing body, Football Australia, has leaked secret keys potentially opening access to 127 buckets of data, including ticket buyers' personal data and players' contracts and documents.

  • The Cybernews research team, in collaboration with cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, discovered a massive data leak containing information from numerous past breaches, comprising 12 terabytes of data and spanning over 26 billion records.

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Hospitality – KIWI TRAVELLERS LAP UP LUXURY ESCAPES AS TRAVEL DEMAND SOARS

Source: Luxury Escapes

NEW TRAVEL REWARDS PROGRAM OFFERING POINTS, PERKS & PRIVILEDGES

25 November 2025, Auckland, New Zealand: Kiwi travellers are set to make 2026 a year of discovery, looking beyond traditional holiday hotspots in favour of fresh cultures, new cities and richer travel experiences.

New booking data from global travel brand Luxury Escapes shows overall hotel bookings by New. Zealand customers are up 26% year-on-year to October 2025. While perennial favourites Australia and Fiji remain strong, the standout growth is coming from Japan (+56%), Thailand (+24%) and Indonesia/Bali (+14%).

Australians, meanwhile, continue their love affair with New Zealand, with Luxury Escapes recording a remarkable 70% increase in bookings compared with the same period last year. The top five most-booked hotels were Hotel Indigo Auckland, Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa, QT Auckland, Kamana Lakehouse and Novotel Queenstown Lakeside.

Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and CEO Adam Schwab said New Zealand is a key growth market for the business, both in supporting inbound tourism and helping Kiwis explore the world with greater value.

“We’re seeing strong demand for the exceptional-value, high-end packages we’re known for in places like Thailand, Fiji and Bali. More recently, Japan has surged, particularly at the premium end, showing that Kiwi travellers are eager to broaden their horizons, in style.

”Luxury Escapes is elevating the experience further for New Zealand customers with the launch of Société, its new rewards program offering travellers status perks and the ability to earn rewards across holidays, tours, hotel bookings, flights and experiences.

Luxury Escapes is ramping up the style factor for its New Zealand customers, launching its rewards program Société in the New Zealand market, giving local travellers a new way to enjoy status perks and earn rewards across holidays, tours, hotel bookings, flights, and experiences.

Launched in Australia earlier this year, Société has quickly become one of the fastest-growing lifestyle rewards programs in the region, with almost 900,000 members, many who are already earning and redeeming Points.

Now available to New Zealand travellers, Société offers free membership and the ability to earn Status Credits and Points across every Luxury Escapes bookings and then redeem Points with no blackout dates or restrictions.Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and CEO Adam Schwab said Société is designed to give travellers more value and flexibility.

“Société Points are real currency and not restricted like most travel programs,” said Schwab.

“Our customers can redeem their Points for absolutely everything on Luxury Escapes, from tours, flights, and experiences to travel insurance and hotel rooms, whenever they want. Members can pay with Points, or a mix of Points and cash.”

“We want to make sure we are rewarding our most loyal customers, not frustrating them by having a big bank of points they can’t redeem when they want or how they want. With Societe, our members can and are redeeming Points even on the best Luxury Escapes deal to Fjii and Bali for example”

Members earn Status Credits on eligible purchases, moving through Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers with access to exclusive benefits such as:

  • Guaranteed room upgrades at the time of booking (no arriving on the day and crossing fingers for an upgrade)
  • Airport lounge access at Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown International Airport’s and other global destinations including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (using the uber lux
  • Aspire lounges like The House lounge in Melbourne with full open bar and a la carte and buffet dining options throughout the day)
  • Private chauffeur airport transfers from home to the airport
  • Priority customer support via a dedicated 24/7 number
  • Lots of bonuses and discounts (TravelShoot vouchers and tour experience credits).
  • Hidden offers only available to Société members (e.g. first-look exclusive travel offers)

Schwab added, “We designed Société from scratch to offer genuine value and simplicity. Our customers can even ‘triple-dip’ by earning Société Points alongside their credit-card and airline loyalty programs.

Our goal is to become New Zealand’s favourite lifestyle rewards program, continually adding more value for our members.”

For more information and to sign up for free, https://luxuryescapes.com/nz/societe

Luxury Escapes is a global leader in offering the world’s best travel experiences for less, with an intuitive and user-friendly website, app and dedicated 24/7 call centre. With more than 9 million members globally, including New Zealand, Luxury Escapes offers a gateway to the world via tailor-made experiences on everything from world-class accommodation to excursions, flights, tours, travel insurance and car hire. 

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Local News – Porirua City Council holds inaugural meeting of new triennium

Source: Porirua City Council

The newly elected Porirua City Council will be sworn in this evening at its inaugural meeting.
Meanwhile, Mayor Anita Baker has confirmed the shape of the Council for the coming triennium.
Incumbent Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi, the successful candidate for the city’s Parirua Māori ward, will again take on the deputy role.
“Kylie will be reappointed as my Deputy Mayor, recognising her teamwork, work ethic, leadership and contribution during the previous term,” Mayor Baker said.
“Kylie was a great support to me in that role. She was Porirua’s first Māori ward councillor and I’m sure she will build on that experience.”
There are also changes to the committee structure with the appointment of Councillors Josh Trlin and Geoff Hayward to co-chair Te Puna Kōrero, the committee of the full Council which oversees major policy and strategy decisions.
“They have earnt these positions showing tremendous teamwork, knowledge, experience and a great attitude during their time on Council,” Mayor Baker said.
Councillor Ross Leggett will chair the Chief Executive’s Employment Committee, responsible for oversight of the Council’s senior leadership performance and employment matters, and Councillor Nathan Waddle will continue as the Deputy Chair of Audit & Risk.
“These appointments reflect a Council focused on teamwork, experience, collaboration, continuity, and action. We’ve lost a few weeks to the recount process, but we’ll more than make up for it with the energy, focus and teamwork Porirua deserves,” said Mayor Baker.
The new council will be sworn in on Tuesday 25 November.
Full committee structure:
Deputy Mayor
Councillor Kylie Wihapi
Te Puna Kōrero
Heamana: Josh Trlin
Heamana: Geoff Hayward
Mayor Anita Baker
Councillor Mike Duncan
Councillor Kathleen Filo
Councillor Izzy Ford
Councillor Hemi Fermanis
Councillor Moira Lawler
Councillor Ross Leggett
Councillor Nathan Waddle
Councillor Kylie Wihapi
Taku Parai, Council Kaumātua (Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira)
Dog Control Hearings Subcommittee | Komiti Iti mō Ngā Whakawātanga Whakahaere Kurī
Mayor Anita Baker (Chairperson)
Councillor Mike Duncan
Councillor Kylie Wihapi
Audit and Risk Committee | Komiti Tātari me te Mōrea
Chair: Warren Allen
Deputy Chair: Councillor Nathan Waddle
Mayor Anita Baker
Councillor Mike Duncan
Councillor Moira Lawler
Councillor Ross Leggett
Councillor Josh Trlin
Felicity Caird
Chief Executive Employment Committee | Komiti Whai Mahi a te Tumuaki
Chair: Councillor Ross Leggett
Deputy Chair: Mayor Anita Baker
Councillor Izzy Ford
Councillor Josh Trlin
Councillor Moira Lawler
Councillor Nathan Waddle
Councillor Kylie Wihapi
Taku Parai, Council Kaumātua (Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira)
Porirua District Licensing Committee | Te Rōpū Tuku Raihana Waipiro o Porirua
Councillor Kylie Wihapi (Chairperson)
Councillor Mike Duncan (Deputy Chairperson)
Externals
Regional Transport: Councillor Ross Leggett
Wellington Water: Councillor Kylie Wihapi
Wellington Regional Leadership Committee: Councillor Kylie Wihapi
Regional Waste Minimisation Committee: Councillor Geoff Hayward.
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Consumer NZ – Are the deals real this Black Friday? Possibly not!

Source: Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ's 12-week price-tracking investigation in the lead up to Black Friday reveals how two retailers could be more naughty than nice when it comes to genuine deals.  

Gemma Rasmussen, head of research and advocacy at Consumer NZ, says her team of investigators are always sceptical of the “fizzed up” deals that appear this time of the year.  

“We’ve been tracking 10 products across Briscoes, Harvey Norman, Farmers and Noel Leeming for 3 months to find out how good the specials around Black Friday really are,” says Rasmussen.

“Based on our price tracking, we think Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman could be bending the rules with their promotional pricing, while Farmers and Briscoes follow a rhythmic 'up and down' price pattern, where if you wait long enough, you’ll get a special. They are all contributing to a chaotic, ‘FOMO’ energy as we sprint towards the hyped-up sales tradition and the start of the Christmas shopping spree.”

Rasmussen is dubious that the sales on Black Friday will blow anyone’s minds when it comes to them offering genuine value.

“Our suspicion is that the retailers will continue to fluctuate prices and dazzle us with colours and promotional language as they have over the last few months. But we’d love to be pleasantly surprised.”

They play the game: Briscoes and Farmers

Rasmussen says Briscoes has really created a name for itself for almost always having a sale. In reality, they’re playing by the ‘specials’ rules, where prices regularly rise and fall.

“With Briscoes, our data shows us that if you wait a week or two, generally you will get a deal. Having prices that shift back and forth feels sneaky, and it can make it hard for those who don’t understand there’s a pattern to know what’s a good deal and what’s not.”

Of the 10 items Consumer tracked, 9 were frequently on special at Briscoes, with most falling into a pattern of being on special for one or two weeks and then the normal price for a week or two.

“Our spot-check found Briscoes is playing by the ‘specials’ rules because it does offer shoppers a genuine opportunity to buy at a discounted price, for a limited time, before returning the product to its usual price.”

Consumer found a similar pattern at Farmers, where goods were on special for two weeks, then back to their usual selling price for the following one to two weeks.

“If you've got your eye on something, watch the price across a fortnight, and grab it when it next drops. It’s OK to feel the FOMO, but you don’t need to act on it straight away. Check your finances and what other shops are offering, then, if you still want it, head back – you probably won’t miss out.”

They lure with language: Harvey Norman and Noel Leeming

For 10 of the 12 weeks, most products tracked at Harvey Norman were promoted with deal-saving claims almost every week.

“Harvey Norman stood out in our investigation for the wrong reasons,” says Rasmussen.  

“While the promotional tags changed frequently, the prices only shifted a little.

“Promotions were labelled ‘great price’, ‘super deal’, ‘huge deal’ or a ‘massive stock sell-out’ for 9 of the 10 products we tracked nearly every week we tracked them.

“A toastie maker was priced at $64 for 10 of the 12 weeks we tracked, during which time, it was variously labelled as a ‘great price’, ‘super deal’, ‘massive stock sell-out’, ‘now’ and even a ‘huge deal’.

“When you look at it like that, wouldn’t you reach the conclusion $64 is the normal price, rather than a special?“  

Consumer thinks Harvey Norman could be at risk of misleading customers with all this hype by creating the impression customers are paying less than they usually would.

Consumer’s investigation found Noel Leeming regularly uses the word ‘now’ on its online pricing. “We think the continual ‘now’ pricing creates the impression products are cheaper than their usual price. But the ‘now’ price jumped around from week to week, too.  

“For example, the NutriBullet appeared to be 'now’ on special for 10 out of the 12 weeks, and yet the special price varied between $69 and $91,” says Rasmussen.

“You'd be forgiven for thinking the continual ‘now’ promo means you’d be paying less than you usually would. But that’s not necessarily true.”

They capture our attention – so do this instead

Rasmussen says the pull of a special is always stronger when cost pressures are hitting hard.

“Even though most of us know that Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are mostly just a big hit of dopamine, you'd be hard-pressed to find a New Zealander who’s immune to the allure of a red strike-through or a percentage discount.

“Use sites like PriceSpy and PriceMe to track sales and learn when pricing is genuinely low. Don't get sucked into the hype. Chances are, there will be another sale in a fortnight,” says Rasmussen.

“Our research shows time and time again that the prices around Black Friday are a bit like shaking up a bottle of Coca-Cola – it’s all fizzy and bubbly and exciting, but when you take a sip, it’s flat, and you realise you’d probably have been fine without it.  

“If an advertisement or promotion raises your eyebrows, send it our way. We’re not afraid to call out this year’s naughty retailers.”

Note:

Read the full article on Consumer's website: Is it really on special?: https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/is-it-really-on-special

About Consumer

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.