Latest news with #CommerceCommission
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
What you need to know about the Matariki holiday
Matariki celebrates the Māori New Year and is a time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present and make plans for the future. This year, the public holiday falls on Friday, June 20. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. There will be plenty of Matariki events throughout Friday and the weekend, and RNZ will be featuring coverage throughout. Do I have to work? It's a non-working day just like any other public holiday - which means if you are asked to work on the day (as regularly rostered), you're entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative day off. What's open? Trading restrictions don't apply to Matariki in the way they do on Easter holidays, Christmas or the first half of Anzac Day. Shops, restaurants, cafes and other businesses can be open as usual, but they can close if they wish - so it pays to check opening hours beforehand. Will there be surcharges? Hospitality businesses can add a 15 percent surcharge to their services to cover the costs of paying employees time and a-half. If a business does charge a surcharge, they must have clear signage communicating this to the customer. Customers can complain to the Commerce Commission if they feel they have been misled about surcharges. What is Matariki all about? Matariki is the name of a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, commonly known as Pleiades. In mid-winter, the stars rise and herald in Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. The word 'Matariki' is an abbreviation of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea' or 'the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea'. Matariki was taken as a wife by Rehua and she gave birth to eight children, each star having a unique purpose and defined role in Te Ao Māori. Traditionally falling at the end of the harvest, the cluster's rise marked a time of abundant food and feasting. Today, people across Aotearoa gather to celebrate the day with plenty of kai, stargazing, and community gathering. Why does the holiday date change each year? Matariki public holiday is observed on different dates each year. This is because Māori follow an environmental calendar system that considers the sun, the moon, various stars, and other ecological indicators to determine time. The Matariki public holiday dates fall on the closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar period during the lunar month of Pipiri. Tangaroa is not a single phase of the moon but rather the last quarter period of the lunar calendar. Because of this, the dates to celebrate Matariki will differ from year to year. Future public holiday dates In 2022, the Matariki Advisory Committee set out the Matariki public holiday dates for the next 30 years. 2025 - 20 June 2026 - 10 July 2027 - 25 June 2028 - 14 July 2029 - 6 July 2030 - 21 June 2031- 11 July 2032 - 2 July 2033 - 24 June 2034 - 7 July 2035 - 29 June 2036 - 18 July 2037 - 10 July 2038 - 25 June 2039 - 15 July 2040 - 6 July 2041 - 19 July 2042 - 11 July 2043 - 3 July 2044 - 24 June 2045 - 7 July 2046 - 29 June 2047 - 19 July 2048 - 3 July 2049 - 25 June 2050 - 15 July 2051 - 30 June 2052 - 21 June
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki public holiday: What you need to know
Matariki celebrates the Māori New Year and is a time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present and make plans for the future. This year, the public holiday falls on Friday, June 20. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. There will be plenty of Matariki events throughout Friday and the weekend, and RNZ will be featuring coverage throughout. Do I have to work? It's a non-working day just like any other public holiday - which means if you are asked to work on the day (as regularly rostered), you're entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative day off. What's open? Trading restrictions don't apply to Matariki in the way they do on Easter holidays, Christmas or the first half of Anzac Day. Shops, restaurants, cafes and other businesses can be open as usual, but they can close if they wish - so it pays to check opening hours beforehand. Will there be surcharges? Hospitality businesses can add a 15 percent surcharge to their services to cover the costs of paying employees time and a-half. If a business does charge a surcharge, they must have clear signage communicating this to the customer. Customers can complain to the Commerce Commission if they feel they have been misled about surcharges. What is Matariki all about? Matariki is the name of a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, commonly known as Pleiades. In mid-winter, the stars rise and herald in Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. The word 'Matariki' is an abbreviation of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea' or 'the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea'. Matariki was taken as a wife by Rehua and she gave birth to eight children, each star having a unique purpose and defined role in Te Ao Māori. Traditionally falling at the end of the harvest, the cluster's rise marked a time of abundant food and feasting. Today, people across Aotearoa gather to celebrate the day with plenty of kai, stargazing, and community gathering. Why does the holiday date change each year? Matariki public holiday is observed on different dates each year. This is because Māori follow an environmental calendar system that considers the sun, the moon, various stars, and other ecological indicators to determine time. The Matariki public holiday dates fall on the closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar period during the lunar month of Pipiri. Tangaroa is not a single phase of the moon but rather the last quarter period of the lunar calendar. Because of this, the dates to celebrate Matariki will differ from year to year. Future public holiday dates In 2022, the Matariki Advisory Committee set out the Matariki public holiday dates for the next 30 years. 2025 - 20 June 2026 - 10 July 2027 - 25 June 2028 - 14 July 2029 - 6 July 2030 - 21 June 2031- 11 July 2032 - 2 July 2033 - 24 June 2034 - 7 July 2035 - 29 June 2036 - 18 July 2037 - 10 July 2038 - 25 June 2039 - 15 July 2040 - 6 July 2041 - 19 July 2042 - 11 July 2043 - 3 July 2044 - 24 June 2045 - 7 July 2046 - 29 June 2047 - 19 July 2048 - 3 July 2049 - 25 June 2050 - 15 July 2051 - 30 June 2052 - 21 June
1News
4 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Matariki: What's open, what's not, and when you have to pay a surcharge
Matariki celebrates the Māori New Year and is a time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present and make plans for the future. This year, the public holiday falls on Friday, June 20. It became an official public holiday only in 2022, but it's already become one of our most meaningful days and the first holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori. It was the first new public holiday since Waitangi Day became a public holiday in 1974. The date of Matariki changes from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July. There will be plenty of Matariki events throughout Friday and the weekend, and RNZ will be featuring coverage throughout. ADVERTISEMENT Do I have to work? It's a non-working day just like any other public holiday – which means if you are asked to work on the day (as regularly rostered), you're entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative day off. What's open? Trading restrictions don't apply to Matariki in the way they do on Easter holidays, Christmas or the first half of Anzac Day. Shops, restaurants, cafes and other businesses can be open as usual, but they can close if they wish – so it pays to check opening hours beforehand. Will there be surcharges? Hospitality businesses can add a 15 percent surcharge to their services to cover the costs of paying employees time-and-a-half. ADVERTISEMENT If a business does charge a surcharge, they must have clear signage communicating this to the customer. Customers can complain to the Commerce Commission if they feel they have been misled about surcharges. What is Matariki all about? Matariki is the name of a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, commonly known as Pleiades. In mid-winter, the stars rise and herald in Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. The word 'Matariki' is an abbreviation of 'Ngā mata o te ariki o Tāwhirimātea' or 'the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea'. Matariki was taken as a wife by Rehua and she gave birth to eight children, each star having a unique purpose and defined role in Te Ao Māori. Traditionally falling at the end of the harvest, the cluster's rise marked a time of abundant food and feasting. Today, people across Aotearoa gather to celebrate the day with plenty of kai, stargazing, and community gathering. Why does the holiday date change each year? ADVERTISEMENT Matariki public holiday is observed on different dates each year. This is because Māori follow an environmental calendar system that considers the sun, the moon, various stars, and other ecological indicators to determine time. The Matariki public holiday dates fall on the closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar period during the lunar month of Pipiri. Tangaroa is not a single phase of the moon but rather the last quarter period of the lunar calendar. Because of this, the dates to celebrate Matariki will differ from year to year. Future public holiday dates In 2022, the Matariki Advisory Committee set out the Matariki public holiday dates for the next 30 years. 2025 - June 20 2026 - July 10 ADVERTISEMENT 2027 - June 25 2028 - July 14 2029 - July 6 2030 - June 21 2031- July 11 2032 - July 2 2033 - June 24 ADVERTISEMENT 2034 - July 7 2035 - June 29 2036 - July 18 2037 - July 10 2038 - June 25 2039 - July 15 2040 - July 6 ADVERTISEMENT 2041 - July 19 2042 - July 11 2043 - July 3 2044 - June 24 2045 - July 7 2046 - June 29 2047 - July 19 ADVERTISEMENT 2048 - July 3 2049 - June 25 2050 - July 15 2051 - June 30 2052 - June 21
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Loss of copper network in rural areas decried
The owner of a remote Maniototo farm and distillery is calling a move to deregulate copper networks in rural New Zealand "farcical" and potentially dangerous, but a Chorus boss warns today's copper is less reliable than people think. Lammermoor Distillery — based on a 5200ha property in the Paerau valley — has a landline listed on its website, but how the company continues to connect with customers is up for debate as decision-makers in Wellington decide on a policy that would enable Chorus to withdraw remaining copper services around the country. Susan Elliot, of Lammermoor Distillery, said it did not make sense to take the copper network away in areas where fibre was not available to replace it. "Taking the copper away from us is a health and safety issue. "The whole thing is farcical. They really don't give a stuff about the farmer." She said she had lived in the valley for 40 years and had never felt more isolated than she did now. "It's just another nail in the coffin for rural New Zealand." A little further up the road, Matakanui farmer and district councillor Tracy Paterson said cellphone coverage could be "quite sketchy" in her neck of the woods, even with flagged network improvements. Ms Paterson said any loss of the copper network would impact some more than others. "Connectivity for a lot of elderly people in the community is probably quite a big concern, while younger people are quite happy to go out and source different things that are available." The simultaneous shutdown of 3G as copper withdrawal conversations were under way required proactive planning, she said. "I know that for us at the moment, we're looking at the drop down of 3G, and it's going to be a big issue for some of our software that we use, and we're going to have to do a whole lot of upgrades for that. "So there's quite a few things to do with connectivity that are going to be a bit of a nuisance." Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith is due to make a decision by the end of the year on the future of the copper network in rural New Zealand, off the back of a recommendation by the Commerce Commission that was consulted on earlier this year. Anna Mitchell, of Chorus, responsible for retiring the copper network, called it "end of life technology" used by fewer than 107,000 New Zealand households — of which fewer than 1000 were in Central Otago. Of the 75,000 households around the country still on copper and located outside of the coverage of the fibre network, about 850 were in Central Otago, but other options, including fixed wireless broadband from major mobile providers, regional Wireless Internet Service Providers, and satellite solutions, could keep them connected, she said. "Today, more people are choosing faster, more reliable technologies ... with the majority of rural New Zealanders already having made the switch to an alternative technology to copper." Other options could often be cheaper and more reliable and did not have to mean the death of the landline, Ms Mitchell said. Anyone still using the copper network would be notified before any change to it was made in their area, and "given plenty of time to transition", she said.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Mill sale awaits Commerce Commission approval
The sale of a farmer-owned flour mill in South Canterbury's Washdyke must get Commerce Commission clearance to go ahead. The commission has received an application from George Weston Foods, trading as Mauri New Zealand, to buy the wheat milling and storage assets, including land, used by Farmers Mill. A purchase price was undisclosed with the sale subject to conditions including regulatory approval from the commission. The mill was opened at Washdyke in 2013 as New Zealand's only independent grower-owned and operated flour producer. Farmers Mill supplies bulk and bagged flour to industrial food manufacturers, bakeries, and some retailers. The mill is owned by Grainstor, South Island's largest grain storage facility. Directors for both companies are listed as Ashley Biggs, Raymond Bowan, Antony Howey and Murray Turley. A Commerce Commission spokeswoman said in a statement the commission could only give clearance to a proposed merger if it was satisfied it was unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market. Mauri operates flour mills in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, supplying flour in bulk to large users of flour such as industrial food manufacturers and bagged flour to wholesalers, bakeries and supermarkets. Mauri flour is also used by George Weston Foods' bakery division to produce breads and bakery goods under brands including Tip Top bread and Big Ben pies. Australian-based George Weston Foods is owned by Associated British Foods Plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Both Mauri and Farmers Mill also supply broll, which is a by-product of the wheat milling process and most commonly used as an input for animal feed. Farmers Mill bought its wheat milling plant from a company in Italy in 2012 for about $12 million. When the mill was launched the following year with former prime minister John Key cutting the ribbon, Mr Turley, as chairman, said South Canterbury arable farmers had teamed up to mill their own grain to gain more control of their grain production and create a homegrown product. "We have harnessed our own resources to secure the industry's future investing more than $10m to get Farmers Mill up and running," he said. Initially 12 local farmers were involved in the ground-up building of the mill. The commission expects to make a decision by early August.
