Latest news with #SimonWatts
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
PM's Intervention To Kill Simon Watts' Ute Tax 2.0 Welcomed By Taxpayers
The Taxpayers' Union is welcoming the Prime Minister's intervention to rule out the Inland Revenue Department's proposal to apply Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) to all utes worth $80,000 or more and other work vehicles — a plan directed by Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. In response to media comment issued by the Prime Minister's Office last night, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said: 'Simon Watts was pushing a new Ute Tax, without his Cabinet colleagues or the public even knowing. Had it gone ahead, farmers and tradies would have been slammed with thousands of dollars in additional tax each year – not just once like Labour's Ute Tax, but every year.' 'The documents are crystal clear. IRD was instructed by Minister Watts to proceed with and consult with the tax industry on the implementation of a new FBT regime that would capture work vehicles, regardless of how they're actually used. This was a massive tax hike by stealth.' "As far as we can tell, the Revenue Minister didn't consult with any taxpayer, business, or farming groups, despite work having been done on this for nearly a year. Had he bothered to engage, the unfairness and political risk would have been obvious. That lapse saw the Government facing backlash because it was tax boffins who blew the whistle and it took everyone by surprise. Minister Watts should learn the lesson." 'Within hours of our campaign launch yesterday, the National Party was in damage control. Within six hours, the PM's team overruled Watts and confirmed the policy would not proceed.' The Taxpayers' Union yesterday revealed documents showing that IRD had been working on changes to remove the logbook exemption for work vehicles and impose FBT on the assumed private use of double cab utes. According to IRD's own estimates, the tax grab would have cost farmers, tradies and other ute owners $100 million per year. 'We give credit to the Prime Minister and his office for stepping in quickly and pulling the handbreak.' says Mr Williams. 'This is a clear win for taxpayers and proof that grassroots pressure works. We thank the thousands of Kiwis who used our online tool to email National MPs and demand the Ute Tax 2.0 be scrapped."
CBC
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Child dies following accident at harness racing track in Woodstock, N.B.
Police in Woodstock, N.B., are investigating a death that occurred during Saturday's harness racing card at Connell Park Raceway. In a social media post late Saturday, police say that they were investigating a "tragic incident" that resulted in a fatality. Woodstock police declined CBC's interview request Sunday. Theresa Blackburn, a reporter for the River Valley Sun in Woodstock, said it was a three-year-old boy who was killed. She was in touch with Deputy Police Chief Simon Watts on Saturday. Watts confirmed to Blackburn that the accident happened when the boy was struck by the starting gate, she said. She said: "There really is a pall over the community. I mean it's Father's Day weekend. Harness racing is big here. We're now the hub for harness racing and it's always a joy to have them here when … the horses are running and there's crowds, and it's just devastating and everyone is talking about it but not in a good way. It's just really quite horrifying for everybody right now." In Saturday's harness race video, the announcer can be heard calling for an ambulance shortly after the second race begins. It is not clear from the video exactly what happened. In harness racing, the starting gate is attached to a vehicle that guides the horses to the race start. Investigation underway Racing continued for the remainder of the afternoon. Mitchell Downey, president of Horse Racing New Brunswick, said in an email that his organization is assisting in a joint investigation with police, the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission and New Brunswick Coroner Services. "The entire racing community is deeply saddened," he said. "On behalf of all our participants we wish to express our deepest sympathies." Every year there are more than 20,000 races in North America, he said. "Over the last 30 years — 600,000 plus races — something as tragic as this has only happened three times to my knowledge," said Downey. The Town of Woodstock's council and staff are "all deeply saddened," Mayor Trina Jones said in an email. She thanked the bystanders who provided help until the first responders could arrive at the scene. "We understand that the general public has a vested interest in understanding what happened, but for the benefit of all it is important that the information is guided by fact and the conclusion of the police investigation," she said. The track will remain closed until the investigation is completed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Child dies following accident at harness racing track in Woodstock, N.B.
Police in Woodstock, N.B., are investigating a death that occurred during Saturday's harness racing card at Connell Park Raceway. In a social media post late Saturday, police say that they were investigating a "tragic incident" that resulted in a fatality. Theresa Blackburn, a reporter for the River Valley Sun in Woodstock, said it was a three-year-old boy who was killed. She was in touch with Deputy Police Chief Simon Watts on Saturday. Watts confirmed to Blackburn that the accident happened when the boy was struck by the starting gate, she said. She said: "There really is a pall over the community. I mean it's Father's Day weekend. Harness racing is big here. We're now the hub for harness racing and it's always a joy to have them here when … the horses are running and there's crowds, and it's just devastating and everyone is talking about it but not in a good way. It's just really quite horrifying for everybody right now." In Saturday's harness race video, the announcer can be heard calling for an ambulance shortly after the second race begins. It is not clear from the video exactly what happened. Racing continued for the remainder of the afternoon. The track will remain closed until the investigation is completed. More to come.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Government moves to boost household solar power
Solar panels on a roof. Photo: Fabian Rieger / 123RF Households with solar panels on their roofs will be able to send more power back to the grid - and get faster building consents - under changes announced by the government. Energy Minister Simon Watts and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said planned changes would expand the permitted voltage range for electricity networks, to enable solar power systems to return more power to the grid. The government would also clarify that a building consent was not needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing buildings. Councils would be required to process building consents for new homes with solar panels within 10 working days, down from the standard 20. Watts said New Zealand's residential uptake of rooftop solar was lower than many other countries'. He said changing that would mean people could save money on power bills and contribute more to a secure electricity system. "Rooftop solar will play a crucial role in supporting energy security and reducing emissions. But our networks need to be able to better support the growing flow of electricity from consumers, while also dealing with growing demand for more electric vehicle charging. "That's why we are expanding the voltage range from +/- 6 percent to +/- 10 percent to manage the changing flow of electricity from rooftop solar and EV charging. This will future-proof our electricity system and help electrify the economy. "Modelling suggests this change could boost solar investment and overall generation by a whopping 507 GWh through increased solar connections. This is great for the security of our energy supply." Mike Casey, Rewiring Aotearoa chief executive, said the changes were "incredible news". He said the electricity system was restricted to ensure that voltage remained within a certain range. "You can think about voltage like water pressure. What it means is there's all sorts of issues where people are being restricted in the amount they can export back to the grid for fear we go over that voltage level and the pressure on the wires gets too much. "It's updating the regulations to better align with solar and battery systems being installed in homes and farms now." Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone He said that would mean more generation, "which is exactly what New Zealand needs… for households in Australia, the average size for solar systems is about 10kWh. In New Zealand it's 5 or 6kWh because solar installations are being built to the size people are allowed to export. "This allows for higher levels of solar panels to be on homes. It makes larger systems more economical. When you finance solar panels on your mortgage it probably costs you 13c per kWh - there are many retailers out there buying power off you at more than 13 per kWh. So every piece of power that you don't use in your home that goes back to the grid is actually still in the economic best interest of the household." He said the more solar that was generated on the rooftops of New Zealand, the more it backed up the hydro system and meant it could be used more as a battery. "It's a massive win for energy security." Powerswitch general manager Paul Fuge said solar had become a bit more competitive in recent times and there had been quite a rapid uptake from households. About 4 percent now have solar power, "but from a low base". He said there was "huge potential" for solar in New Zealand, because the country had a high number of sunshine hours. Penk said the building consent system could help accelerate the shift to renewable energy. "With the energy system preparing for a surge in residential solar, the consenting process needs to play its part to support the transition. "We are proposing changes to the Building Act that will make it clear that a building consent is not needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing buildings. "Right now, decision-making is inconsistent between councils - creating unnecessary barriers for homeowners who want to take responsibility for their environmental impact and make sustainable choices. "As a further incentive, we are also proposing that Kiwis who choose to include solar panels in the design of new homes will have their entire building consent fast-tracked and processed in 10 working days instead of the standard 20 working days, saving Kiwis around $400 a day in time and consenting costs." Casey said the changes were a no-brainer. "It's such a fiscally responsible thing to do now, to put solar panels on buildings." Casey said a system could pay itself off in five to six years. "The more electric the home is the better the payback of the solar system. If you're using gas for water and cooking and a wood fire for heating, the payback on a solar system is much longer." He said people with an EV or using electricity for all their household needs could get payback much more quickly. Fuge said it also gave people an opportunity to hedge their power bills. "Basically by putting in solar power you've hedged your solar electricity price for the next 25 years. If power prices are going to keep going up then the solar just gets better." It would cost about $12,000 to $20,000 for a typical household system, he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Lawyers sue government over emissions, claiming plan misses the mark
A lawyer says hardly anyone thinks the government's plan to plant around 700,000 hectares of trees, mostly pines, is a good idea. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton A group of lawyers is suing the government over what they say are glaring holes in the country's emissions reduction plan. Lobby group Lawyers for Climate Action NZ has launched the action against Climate Minister Simon Watts. It alleges the government is failing to fulfil the basic legal requirements needed to meet its climate targets. Lawyer Jessica Palairet who is the group's executive director said the main thrust was that the government was not meeting its obligations under the Zero Carbon Act. It had obligations to make emissions remission plans every five years with "legal guardrails and requirements" that the Act imposed. It was a precedent-setting case, she told Morning Report , because the legal guardrails would be scrutinised in court. "This is the first time an emissions reductions plan like this has ever been challenged under New Zealand law. "We ultimately think the plan the government has made is risky, unlawful and misses the mark," Palairet said. The lawyers disputed the way the government had devised the plan, including that it had scrapped about 35 private policies without following the Act's policy. Pine tree. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King The government was also relying heavily on tree planting, with around 700,000 hectares to be planted by 2050, mostly of pine trees. "And it's pretty hard to find anyone who thinks that a good idea, including the government's own experts. "So we're also taking issue with the way the government reached that decision but also whether or not such a tree-heavy strategy is consistent with the government's obligations." The government's plan was failing to set the country up to meet future emissions targets "which we think is a pretty remarkable position". Side-stepping advice from the independent Climate Change Commission, the government last year appointed its own scientific panel to tell it what level of cuts would be consistent with a goal of creating "no additional warming" from farming. Both the commission and the lawyers believed the government was not making enough reforms to its centrepiece Emissions Trading Scheme, Palairet said. The commission had also been critical of the reliance of tree planting. "So this certainly forms part of the fabric of the case that we're going to be bringing." RNZ has approached Watts for comment. Last week Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called international scientists "worthies" for criticising the government's approach to methane . Luxon received a letter from 26 international climate change scientists accusing the government of "ignoring scientific evidence" over plans to lower its methane target. New Zealand has one of the highest per-capita methane rates in the world because of its farming exports and the current target is reducing methane by between 24 and 47 percent by 2050. Luxon denied he was dismissing science or deflecting attention from this country's farming emissions. "What a load of rubbish, my point was very clear, those scientists can write to leaders of 194 countries before they send it to me," he said.
