Articles by Laura Smith
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National
New payment to help drought-affected communities
Monday, 1 July 2024, 4:47pmA new scheme will help farmers and growers affected by droughts. On Monday, June 24, the new Rural Assistance Payments were...
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National
Councillor cites Nazi experiments in fluoride debate
Friday, 28 June 2024, 2:34pmA Rotorua councillor who referenced Nazi experimentation during a fluoridation infrastructure funding debate has been criticised...
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National
'Unsettling time': 30 jobs proposed to go at forestry research institute Scion
Tuesday, 14 May 2024, 3:42pmThirty jobs are proposed to be cut at Scion, the forestry-focused Crown research institute based in Rotorua, as it looks...
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Audio
Elliott Smith: NZ Cricket needs to pick its best talent
Saturday, 11 May 2024, 9:20amIn the world of retirements from international sport, Colin Munro's from international cricket was an interesting one. Because...
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Business
2degrees hit with charges over alleged misleading 'free Aussie roaming' claims
Tuesday, 7 May 2024, 11:49amThe Commerce Commission has hit telco 2degrees with eight charges under the Fair Trading Act for alleged misleading claims...
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National
'Monumental': Funding secured to fix and reopen Rotorua Museum
Wednesday, 1 May 2024, 11:12amConstruction to reopen Rotorua’s museum will begin in June as the council secures the final funding needed and brings down...
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National
'They have taken us for fools': Councillor hits out over homeless motels
Thursday, 25 April 2024, 9:42amA Rotorua Lakes councillor says Government agencies have “taken us for fools” over the city’s controversial emergency housing...
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Audio
Elliott Smith: Sabbaticals are a fact of life now in New Zealand Rugby
Tuesday, 16 April 2024, 4:07pmSo Jordie Barrett is staying, but also going. Staying till 2028 but leaving next year for a sabbatical. This sabbatical is...
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Business
Market just too small: Menulog quits New Zealand
Tuesday, 16 April 2024, 3:23pmOnline food delivery platform Menulog will discontinue its New Zealand operations in May. Parent company Just Eat Takeaway...
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Business
Snap, crackle, stop: Sanitarium axing jobs as it discontinues iconic cereals
Wednesday, 27 March 2024, 4:01pmBreakfast food maker Sanitarium is proposing axing 49 jobs as it ceases production of a number of its cereals. Sanitarium...
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Business
Peter Gordon's Homeland restaurant to close its doors
Monday, 25 March 2024, 8:57pmAuckland CBD waterfront restaurant Homeland will close its doors after falling victim to a major new development in the area. Celebrated...
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Business
Former CBL boss Peter Harris admits continuous disclosure breaches, misleading conduct
Monday, 25 March 2024, 12:31pmFormer CBL managing director Peter Harris has admitted to continuous disclosure breaches and misleading conduct in a long-running...
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National
'It's a sad day for Rotorua': Iconic tourism business in liquidation
Wednesday, 20 March 2024, 10:25amIconic Rotorua tourism paddle boat business Lakeland Queen has gone into liquidation. It comes after the company ceased...
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National
'Couldn't move': Allergic woman trapped in home as 'millions' of wasps swarm
Tuesday, 12 March 2024, 12:07pmA Rotorua woman says she is forced to shut herself inside her home as “millions” of wasps from a neighbouring property swarm...
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National
Maggots, rats, poo on the walls: Tenants paid up to $600pw at 'disgusting' lodge
Saturday, 9 March 2024, 9:20amMaggots on the floor. Human excrement on bathroom walls and floors. Rodents so common one resident gave them names. These...
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National
Tower insurance overcharges 65,000 Kiwis more than $9.5m
Thursday, 7 March 2024, 3:34pmNew Zealand’s financial watchdog has filed civil proceedings against insurer Tower over alleged fair dealing breaches resulting...
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Business
Nearly half of Kiwis worry about money, young feel 'overwhelmed'
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 7:11amAlmost half of New Zealanders say they often or always worry about money amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures, according...
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Business
'Deeply saddened': 90-year-old retailer Godfreys enters voluntary administration
Tuesday, 30 January 2024, 3:29pmVacuum and cleaning retailer Godfreys Group has appointed voluntary administrators amid a struggle with profitability and...
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National
Boatie fears he may lose foot after boat ramp injury, flesh-eating bacteria
Tuesday, 30 January 2024, 7:54amWarning: Graphic images A boatie fears he could lose his foot to infection after stepping on corroded metal at a council-maintained...
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Business
Accounting firm launches nine-day fortnight for NZ staff
Tuesday, 16 January 2024, 1:28pmAccounting firm Grant Thornton is trialling a nine-day fortnight for staff in New Zealand. The trial, which launched on...
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News
Rotorua Lakeland Queen owner told to build new jetty then gift to iwi and lease back
Monday, 18 December 2023, 9:02amFor 36 years, the Lakeland Queen provided tourists and locals with opportunities to cruise and dine on Lake Rotorua. But...
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National
Crumbling teeth or a home? The choice a retired couple say they are weighing up
Saturday, 2 December 2023, 10:38amFix crumbling teeth or keep their home? A retired couple say they are weighing up their choices in the face of a potential...
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Business
19,000 payments overdue: Mortgage arrears spike as interest rate pain drags on
Friday, 1 December 2023, 7:03amThe number of Kiwis behind on their mortgages spiked back up again in October, according to Centrix. Centrix’s latest Credit...
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Business
Supie collapse: How much are staff owed, and why did the grocer collapse?
Thursday, 16 November 2023, 10:13pmThe first liquidators’ report on Supie has shed some light on the financial trouble the failed online delivery grocer was...