Latest news with #Gabrielle
1News
a day ago
- Business
- 1News
Undeclared tax totalling $45m found in horticulture industry
Inland Revenue (IR) has found $45 million worth of undeclared taxes in the horticulture industry over the past 10 months. The tax department also said it had seen some "concerning" practices in the sector, including people being paid under the table. Inland Revenue spokesperson Tony Morris said paying tax for some in the sector had often become an afterthought with ongoing recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, increasing compliance costs, and labour shortages. "Along with paying people under the table, IR is seeing cash sales not being reported correctly (including payments to contractors) and withholding tax not being deducted on schedular payments made, deducted at incorrect rates or not being reported to Inland Revenue." 'While many growers are doing things right, they typically hire labour through a contracting firm, which then frequently pays the labourers in cash. Some of these contracting firms then use convoluted business structures to try and hide those payments. ADVERTISEMENT "Not only does this mean they could avoid their tax, but it also means the labourers can get benefit payments they aren't entitled to or avoid their child support or student loan payments," Morris said. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including what will happen to food after supermarket blaze, Trump's dithering over the Middle East, and winter car care tips. (Source: 1News) IR recently said it would be intensifying its tax compliance and collection efforts after a significant funding injection in the last two Budgets. The Government had allocated new additional permanent funding of $35 million a year for Inland Revenue and also continued funding of $26.5 million a year from Budget 2022 that was due to run out in June. A return of $4 for every dollar was expected for the first year with $8 for every dollar from the second year. Morris said IR was cracking down by requiring contracting firms to withhold tax from their labourers' payments and pay it directly to IR. "Where Inland Revenue identifies growers and other payers not correctly deducting or accounting for the tax, we are also following these up." Close to 100 audits of contracting firms were active at the moment, with prosecutions also underway. "With a high use of cash and migrant labour, the horticulture industry is also a sector open to abuse of workers," Morris said, adding that IR works with other government agencies to address those issues. 'Alongside Hort NZ and Zespri, we work hard to ensure growers and contracting firms are aware of what they need to do to get things right, and appreciate the efforts of the many who do get it right."
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Cyclone Recovery Projects Benefit From Special Lotto Draw Funding
Two years on from Cyclone Gabrielle, communities are now stronger and more resilient following the distribution of $11.77 million raised through a special Lotto draw. More than 560 groups and organisations have received grants that have allowed them to rebuild and prepare for future adverse weather, with much of the funding coming from the Lotto draw on 18 March 2023. Funds raised from the draw were passed by the Lottery Grants Board to the Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Trust for distribution to the community. 'We're incredibly proud to have played a role in this vital recovery effort and very grateful to our players for rallying around to help support those worst affected by the cyclone,' says Lotto NZ Chief Executive Jason Delamore. The Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Trust funded hundreds of grassroots projects to help restore and strengthen other hard-hit areas, most of them rural. Examples include: $18,509 to the Ahuroa Community Hall to purchase a generator, marine VHF radios, a storage container and emergency supplies $28,000 to Te Ahi Kaa Training and Social Services Centre to purchase satellite phones and handheld radios, ensuring the Kennedy Bay community on the Coromandel Peninsula can stay connected in the aftermath of an emergency $30,000 to Te Rawhiti Work Trust to purchase a container, trailer, and essential emergency equipment — vital tools to help them respond quickly and effectively in future crises Many of the grants have focused on funding equipment and infrastructure that will enable community organisations to withstand another severe weather event more effectively. Delamore says the team at Lotto NZ leapt into action to support communities affected by the cyclone. 'When the cyclone hit, our role was clear. As the national lottery, we were in a unique position to offer a way that Kiwis could contribute towards relief for those in need and to help them get back on their feet in the long term.' The special draw was part of the overall cyclone recovery effort and complemented the work done by the government, charities, mayoral relief funds, corporate partners and local fundraisers in raising money to help with response and recovery in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. Project spotlight: Solar on marae More than 70 organisations received funding for new solar and battery installations to enable them to remain open to their communities during power outages. In one of the affected areas, Tairāwhiti, 21 marae received a combined $856,979 in funding for solar panels, helping build resilience both within the community and against any future events like Cyclone Gabrielle. The project includes marae locations from Pōtaka in the north through to Te Araroa, Rangitukia/Tikitiki, Ruatōria, Waipiro Bay, Tolaga Bay, Makauri, Whatatutu, and Muriwai with the allocation of funds overseen by Trust Tairāwhiti. 'Our marae has always been a natural place of gathering for our whānau, especially in times of crisis,' says Matahi o te Tau Marae Trustee and Secretary Campbell Dewes. 'When the cyclone hit and the power went out, we were cut off. 'Having solar and battery storage now means we're not only able to keep our freezers full of kai and meet our day-to-day needs — we're also less dependent on the grid, more resilient, and doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint. 'As one of the first places in Aotearoa to see the sun, it's only fitting we can harness some of its energy to power our future,' says Dewes. Trust Tairāwhiti General Manager Audine Grace-Kutia says the 21 marae are being equipped with 28 to 40 high-efficiency solar panels and a battery averaging just over 20 kWh in capacity. 'These systems are expected to cover more than 50 percent of a marae daily energy needs and will save them $100's a month on power bills — all while giving the marae greater energy independence, which is especially important in remote or outage-prone areas,' Grace-Kutia said. 'It means they're able to meet their cultural obligations in times when communities, whānau and hapū need support in the face of extreme weather events and the like.' Notes All funds raised from the special draw went to support communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. The Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Trust was established by the Crown as an independent entity to distribute funds raised in the Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal. The Trust allocated $14,511,916 in total to help recovery efforts, of which $11,770,000 came from the live Lotto NZ draw on 18 March 2023.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dwyane Wade's wife Gabrielle Union makes financial wellness go viral at ABFF
Dwyane Wade's wife Gabrielle Union makes financial wellness go viral at ABFF (Image Source: Getty Images) Gabrielle Union joined the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Florida. After her appearance, she shared a simple, genuine post on Instagram . She thanked Ally and the festival for letting her speak on something personal to her. The post was soft and honest, but it sparked a big response. Fans quickly filled the comments with support, reflection, and love. Some cheered. Some paused to reflect. No one expected the quiet post to make such noise. Let's take a closer look at what made it so meaningful. Gabrielle Union thanked Ally and ABFF after her talk on financial wellness Gabrielle Union posted a photo on Instagram. She had just finished a talk at ABFF. Her message was short and clear. She thanked Ally and the festival. The topic on which she talked was 'Money mindfulness.' The session was named as "Sisterhood & Savings: A Conversation with Gabrielle Union." It focused on how women save, grow and support each other. Gabrielle spoke about planning for the future and making money choices that matter. She talked about how those choices affect whole families. Her look was simple and strong. In the photo, she is seated, holding a mic, listening with full focus. She wore a black fitted dress and black heels. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Her hair was in a sleek ponytail. She wore gold hoop earrings. This panel was part of Ally's plan to uplift Black voices. They want to build awareness around financial wellness. Gabrielle used her platform to support that goal. She kept it honest. She kept it real. Gabrielle Union showed how leadership can look quiet but strong Gabrielle didn't take the stage, she made a connection. Her presence was calm, her thoughtful words and polished style. It wasn't just what she said, but how she carried herself. As soon as Gabrielle posted, fans reacted. The post reached thousands. People shared it again and again. Some talked about money stress. Others spoke about future plans. Gabrielle sparked a quiet conversation that kept growing. Her fans don't just admire her for acting. They admire how she uses her voice. Whether it's championing women, talking about money, or just showing quiet strength, she stays grounded. She didn't need a long caption. She didn't need to explain. Her presence, her style, and her focus said it all. Also Read: Dwyane Wade's wife Gabrielle Union extends her unwavering support for Victoria Monét in a heartfelt post Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Horticulture Sector In The Spotlight
Inland Revenue (IR) says it is seeing a few concerning practices in the horticulture sector, including people being paid under the table. Most people do the right thing and pay the right amount of tax, however in the past 10 months IR has found $45m of undeclared tax in the horticulture industry. Tax an afterthought Inland Revenue spokesperson Tony Morris says with some in the sector still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, and dealing with increasing compliance costs and labour shortages, paying tax has often become an afterthought. 'Along with paying people under the table, IR is seeing cash sales not being reported correctly (including payments to contractors) and withholding tax not being deducted on schedular payments made, deducted at incorrect rates or not being reported to Inland Revenue,' Tony Morris says. 'While many growers are doing things right, they typically hire labour through a contracting firm, which then frequently pays the labourers in cash. Some of these contracting firms then use convoluted business structures to try and hide those payments. 'Not only does this mean they could avoid their tax, but it also means the labourers can get benefit payments they aren't entitled to or avoid their child support or student loan payments. Audits and prosecutions 'Inland Revenue is cracking down on this by requiring many contracting firms to withhold tax from their labourers payments, and pay that directly to IR. Where Inland Revenue identifies growers and other payers not correctly deducting or accounting for the tax, we are also following these up. 'IR is also pursuing the contracting firms through audits and through prosecutions. There are nearly 100 such audits active at the moment. Joint efforts 'With a high use of cash and migrant labour, the horticulture industry is also a sector open to abuse of workers. IR works with other New Zealand Government agencies to address these issues. 'Alongside Hort NZ and Zespri, we work hard to ensure growers and contracting firms are aware of what they need to do to get things right, and appreciate the efforts of the many who do get it right,' Tony Morris says.
1News
3 days ago
- Climate
- 1News
South Auckland storm repairs almost complete
Road damage repairs from extreme weather events almost two years ago is almost complete in south Auckland. In 2023, heavy rain on Auckland's Anniversary Day weekend and Cyclone Gabrielle caused severe flooding, and more than 2000 slips were reported to Auckland Transport on local roads, across the region. In the south, 30 complex slips needed repairing: nine minor (less than $250,000 to repair) and 21 major (more than $250,000 to repair). In a statement, Auckland Transport (AT) said their flood recovery team has repaired 83% of the slips. AT road asset maintenance and renewals general manager Alan Wallace said 25 slips have been fixed, and three more will be repaired in the second half of the year. ADVERTISEMENT These are Ararimu Rd, Cemetery Rd, and East Coast Rd. 'Last month, we completed the repairs to the second slip site on Kemp Road in Āwhitu, and Urquhart Road in Karaka – both substantial slips which closed the road," he said. Wallace said work involved the installation of a soil nail retaining wall and drainage improvements. Work to repair two slips on Kemp Rd began in February; the first involved building a timber retaining wall and repairs to the road surface, he said. The second involved installing a soil nail retaining wall and drainage improvements. Construction to re-establish the connection on Urquhart Rd began in April 2025, and was completed last month. He said work included the installation of new drainage across the road and the construction of a mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall to mitigate the slip. ADVERTISEMENT By the end of May 2025, 56% of minor slips, and all but one major slip in the south had been repaired. Only one major slip, Manukau Heads Rd, is still currently under construction. Construction teams have continued work on the general fill of the Manukau Heads site, switching to the use of crushed concrete because of the wet ground conditions. New rock armour on the face of the MSE wall now protects the road from further erosion. AT said the head of the slip has been trimmed back and was ready to be planted. "One of the two large stormwater pipes that will protect the road from flooding in the future has been installed." Since the 2023 weather damage, AT has fixed 1200 small slips across the region, but more than 800 bigger slips have required extensive investigation to inform sustainable and resilient engineering design solutions. ADVERTISEMENT LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
