Latest news with #ScottSimpson
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Certification Scheme Unlocks $200M Market For Kiwi Cosmetics In China
Hon Todd McClay Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Scott Simpson Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson have welcomed a new certification scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in Shanghai today, that unlocks access to China's $200 million cosmetics and skincare market — a move that will drive stronger returns for New Zealand exporters and boost the economy. 'This is a smart, practical step that removes a long-standing trade barrier and opens up valuable new channels for our exporters,' McClay says. 'It means more high-quality, innovative New Zealand products on shelves in China - not just online, but in stores across one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets.' The scheme, developed with International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), provides exporters with a Government-issued Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate that meets Chinese regulatory requirements. 'This certification allows Kiwi-made cosmetics to be sold through traditional retail channels in China, significantly expanding market reach beyond cross-border e-commerce and supporting our goal of doubling exports by value in 10 years,' Mr McClay says. Minister Simpson says the scheme is a strong example of the Government's commitment to backing New Zealand businesses and removing barriers to growth. 'With global demand for health and beauty products rising, this gives our exporters the confidence to grow and compete in China; quickly, credibly, and at scale,' Mr Simpson says. 'It's another example of how we're cutting red tape and aligning our standards with key trading partners to give Kiwi firms the certainty they need to succeed.' How it works: Exporters complete an independent GMP assessment with IANZ. If successful, MBIE confirms compliance with a certificate signed on behalf of the Government. New Zealand's ban on animal testing for cosmetics remains in place, giving Chinese consumers assurance that Kiwi products are high-quality, safe, sustainable, and ethically produced.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
ACC supported 160,000 people at a cost of $2.5 billion last year, new data shows
ACC has just released data showing that last year it dealt with 162,571 people who required financial support because of injury. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver There were more than 160,000 people off work due to injuries last year who had to be supported by ACC, new data shows, and it came at a cost of $2.5 billion. ACC has released data showing the accidents and injuries it dealt with last year. It said there were 162,571 people who required financial support because of injury. They were paid more than 18 million days of weekly compensation. In total, ACC accepted two million injury claims from 1.6 million people in the year, which cost $7b in total. Of that, $4.4b went to rehabilitation expenses. In 2004, the cost was less than $1b. "To put it simply, more people are getting injured, and it is taking longer and costing more for them to recover," ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said. ACC Minister Scott Simpson said ACC was a unique and world-leading scheme. "Injuries cause harm to the person injured, but they also put pressure on business productivity and on the financial position of the ACC scheme. "We need to safeguard ACC, so it is there to help and support our future generations. One of the key areas we need to improve is reducing injuries." He said the number of people being injured was too high, and many injuries were preventable. The large number of days people took off work could stop the country reaching its potential. Whitaker said the high number of injury claims and costs put pressure on the sustainability of the ACC scheme. "We want all New Zealanders to get the help and support they need when they're injured now and for many generations to come," he said. "What we all need to do is be more mindful and present when there is injury risk present, if I get hurt, what is the impact on those people who I care about." The most common areas injured were the lower back and spine, at 13 percent, followed by shoulders at 8 percent. Only 10 percent of injuries happened in accidents at work. Two-thirds were at home and almost a quarter in sport or recreation. Almost 16,000 people aged in their 60s made a claim for a gardening accident. Just under 40 percent of all workplace claims last year were from manufacturing, construction, forestry, agriculture and fisheries workers. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
15-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Telecommunications Industry To Review Scam Prevention Code With Consumer Focus
The New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF) today announces it will commence with a review of its Scam Prevention Code. Since its inception, the Code has played a key role in improving the sector's response to preventing scams and anti-scam sector collaboration. The purpose of the Code is: To reduce the volume of scam calls and scam SMS, stopping them as close as possible to the source. Coordinate sharing of scam call and scam SMS information within the sector and with other third parties. Minimise the risk of harm to New Zealand consumers from scams. Define how retail providers, network operators and A2P SMS partners identify and communicate scam calls and SMS with each other. To educate consumers on scam awareness and protections. The Code ensures telecommunications providers have in place mechanisms to detect, verify, block, and report suspected scam activity. Alongside the telecommunications providers signatories there are currently nine non-telecommunications organisations who have signed a memorandum of understanding to the Scam Prevention Code, including most of the major New Zealand banks and key government agencies. This agreement enables non-telecommunications organisations to submit scam SMS and call notifications to telecommunications providers for investigation who can then take action to block messages that may harm New Zealand consumers. As scam tactics evolve and consumer harm persists, the TCF has committed to reviewing the Code to ensure it is still fit for purpose and incorporates the new anti-scam initiatives that telecommunications providers are implementing today. 'The Scam Prevention Code has helped create a robust framework for industry-wide cooperation. But scams are becoming more sophisticated, and the impacts on everyday New Zealanders are increasing,' says Paul Brislen, Chief Executive of the TCF. 'This review will ensure we maintain a high standard of technical response, while also strengthening the Code's accessibility and relevance to consumers.' The review will focus on incorporating feedback from the Ministerial roundtable that has been set up to coordinate activity between industry, law enforcement and government. The TCF plans to also review consumer education and reporting mechanisms to better support public awareness and response to scams. Hon Scott Simpson, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Government's lead anti-scam Minister, says: 'Combatting scams is a joint effort, requiring strong collaboration between all the players in the 'scam ecosystem'. It's essential that New Zealanders feel safe and confident when using telecommunications services, and I welcome the Telecommunications Forum's proactive steps to align industry action with the needs and expectations of consumers.' The revised Code will be developed with a view to engaging more closely with digital platforms – a key partner in the fight against scams. 'Enhanced cross-sector coordination is essential to counter the increasingly complex scam landscape. By sharing insights, intelligence, and best practices across sectors, the TCF aims to build a more unified national response that better protects New Zealand consumers from harm,' says Paul Brislen.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: Victor Perez aces Oakmont's No. 6 for the first hole-in-one at the 2025 U.S. Open
We've seen hole-out eagles and a rare albatross so far at the U.S. Open. Now we finally have an ace. Victor Perez, who had a triple-bogey 8 on the 12th hole (he started on the back nine in Friday's second round), hit a perfect shot on the sixth hole. Advertisement Perez made his hole-in-one on the 192-yard par-3 sixth. His shot was dead online, bounced three times before rolling up to the cup and going in. His celebration was a good one, too. Perez has a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and an 8 on his Friday scorecard. This is the 54th ace in U.S. Open history. It's the first since Francesco Molinari aced his last hole (the ninth) a year ago, a shot that he actually needed to make the cut. It's the first ace for Perez and it's the 16th on the PGA Tour in 2025. Scott Simpson has the only other ace in a U.S. Open held at Oakmont. He got his in the first round on the 16th hole in 1983. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: US Open 2025 hole-in-one: Victor Perez makes an ace on the sixth hole
Associated Press
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Victor Perez makes first US Open ace at Oakmont in 42 years, pulls within 4 shots of the lead
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Victor Perez capped a nice second-day rally with a tournament highlight — the first U.S. Open ace at Oakmont since 1983. Perez hit a 7-iron on the sixth hole, a 192-yard par 3. The ball landed short of the hole, took a couple of bounces and rolled in. Perez ended up shooting an even-par 70 on Friday despite an early triple bogey. He's at 1 over through two rounds and was tied for sixth when play was suspended because of rain with only a few players left on the course. 'Obviously, a hole-in-one takes a bit of luck,' Perez said. 'I was trying to hit something maybe 15, 20 feet past the hole.' A double eagle, or albatross — like the one Patrick Reed made Thursday — is much more rare than an ace. However, the last time Oakmont yielded a hole-in-one during this national championship was 42 years ago, when Scott Simpson had one on No. 16. The 1994, 2007 and 2016 U.S. Opens, also held at this course, all came and went without an ace. Perez, a Frenchman who earned a spot for this tournament at a qualifier in Canada, said he's on a bit of a hole-in-one run. 'I've actually had two this month, against all odds,' he said. 'Back in the Bahamas, where I live.' After shooting a first-round 71, Perez started Friday on No. 10 and quickly made a triple-bogey 8 on No. 12. 'Obviously, it wasn't an ideal start. Kind of put myself a little bit behind the 8-ball after three holes,' he said. 'It was a bit unfortunate, but I was able to kind of keep my head going and bounce back.' He was at 4 over when he birdied the par-4 fifth hole. Then came his ace, which he celebrated by doing a leaping chest bump with his caddie. 'You try to just make pars and survive,' Perez said. 'When you get kind of a chip-in, bonuses, something like that, it definitely kicks off. So it was nice to have a little bit of emotion.' By the time Friday was over, Perez was just four strokes off the lead. He said he'd have happily signed up to be 1 over through 36 holes. 'A hundred percent,' he said. Savor the moment James Nicholas clearly wanted to enjoy himself at Oakmont this week. The 28-year-old from Scarsdale, New York — who played football in addition to golf at Yale — qualified for the U.S. Open in New Jersey earlier this month and then turned some heads with a first-round 69 on Thursday. Friday wasn't as kind as Nicholas shot 45 on the front nine, including a quadruple bogey on No. 5. But he rebounded with a 33 on the back, smiling and egging on his supporters after making three straight birdies. Nicholas flipped his putter and caught it out of the air after missing a par putt on No. 18. Perhaps he thought that would cost him the weekend, but he ended up making the cut right on the number at 7 over. Executive visit Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stopped by for Friday's second around and declared his state to be 'the golf capital of the United States.' He'd surely receive some pushback on that, but Pennsylvania has been quite popular to the USGA. This is the 95th USGA championship held in the commonwealth, the most of any state. Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open for a record 10th time. 'It's a sense of pride for Pennsylvania, and particularly western Pennsylvania, to know that this is the course that's been chosen more than any other for a U.S. Open,' Shapiro said. 'It's also big business. It means our hotels and our restaurants, our bars are filled because of this. It also opens up people's eyes to the beauty of western Pennsylvania, the great culture of western Pennsylvania.' Hastings hangs around Justin Hastings shot a second straight 73 to become the lone amateur to make the cut. The 21-year-old Hastings is the first player from the Cayman Islands to compete in the U.S. Open. He earned his spot by winning the Latin America Amateur in January in Argentina. That win also got him into the Masters, where he missed the cut by two strokes but was the top amateur. Hastings just finished his senior season at San Diego State, where he won the Mountain West individual title. Hoping for some help The rainstorm near the end of the second round was significant enough to halt play, and there's a chance for more of that over the weekend. That could be welcome if a softer course becomes a bit more manageable. 'It was starting to look like another day of hot, dry weather and the weekend would be very difficult out here,' said Adam Scott, who is three shots off the lead. 'There were certain greens that had a slickness about them and a firmness too. Fairways even getting a little bit like that. So the rain might keep it under control, hopefully, and spare us some frustrations.' ___ AP golf:
