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New reports from Consumer Online - read them now!

Friday, 30 April 2004, 9:45 am
Press Release: Consumer Online

PROFIT BEFORE COMPASSION Telecom has been charging the recently bereaved $45 for a simple name change. http://www.consumer.org.nz/newsitem.asp?docid=1848&category=News

QANTAS REWARD POINTS LOST Some cardholders will be disadvantaged by a recent makeover to the Qantas ANZ Visa card reward scheme. http://www.consumer.org.nz/newsitem.asp?docid=1849&category=News

* * MEMBER-ONLY REPORTS * *

FAT OR FICTION? Fast food chains are starting to get healthy by offering fruit and salads as alternatives to fat-laden burgers and fries. But what you think is the light option might not be. http://www.consumer.org.nz/internallink.asp?topic=Healthy%20fast%20food%3F

COSMETIC MYTHS Don't believe all the horror stories about toiletries and cosmetics, especially in scaremongering emails and websites. http://www.consumer.org.nz/internallink.asp?topic=Cosmetic%20myths

COOKS' KNIVES Cooks' knives are the all-rounders of the kitchen. We tested eleven 20cm knives. Find out which models made the cut! http://www.consumer.org.nz/internallink.asp?topic=Cooks%27%20knives

CLOTHES DRYERS Suffering from wet day washing woes? We put 20 clothes dryers through their paces, and found three to recommend. http://www.consumer.org.nz/internallink.asp?topic=Clothes%20dryers

WATERPROOF JACKETS The weather shouldn't stop you enjoying your favourite outdoor activity. Our guide will help you find the best jacket to stay dry this winter. http://www.consumer.org.nz/internallink.asp?topic=Waterproof%20jackets

* * CAN YOU HELP * * Your chance to help us research topics for our upcoming reports and articles.

EXTENDED WARRANTIES Have you made a claim in the last 12 months under an extended warranty you bought for a home appliance, car, or something else?

To send us brief comments about your experiences, use our online form: http://www.consumer.org.nz/about/helpus.asp?category=Can%20You%20Help

* * COMING SOON TO CONSUMER ONLINE * *

Recycling, flavours in food, household energy, psychometric testing, NCEA, downloading music, managed funds, body corporates. Plus: tests of oil column heaters, vacuum cleaners, fridge/freezers, digital print labs, and more ...

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Save 40% by buying all three of our popular health books: A Woman's Guide to Health, A Man's Guide to Health and A Guide to Children's Health. Get the set for $58.00! http://www.consumer.org.nz/books

* * ABOUT THIS UPDATE * *

This update was brought to you by Consumer Online, New Zealand's trusted source of independent consumer advice. For more articles, test reports and best buy recommendations, go to Consumer Online. http://www.consumer.org.nz

Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH > >

Sky City : Auckland Convention Centre Cost Jumps By A Fifth

SkyCity Entertainment Group, the casino and hotel operator, is in talks with the government on how to fund the increased cost of as much as $130 million to build an international convention centre in downtown Auckland, with further gambling concessions ruled out. The Auckland-based company has increased its estimate to build the centre to between $470 million and $530 million as the construction boom across the country drives up building costs and design changes add to the bill.
More>>

ALSO:

RMTU: Mediation Between Lyttelton Port And Union Fails

The Rail and Maritime Union (RMTU) has opted to continue its overtime ban indefinitely after mediation with the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) failed to progress collective bargaining. More>>

Earlier:

Rail And Maritime Transport Union - Lyttelton Port workers begin overtime ban
Lyttelton Port of Christchurch - LPC operations will continue as usual during overtime ban
Environment Canterbury - Next phase of Lyttelton Port recovery underway

Science Policy: Callaghan, NSC Funding Knocked In Submissions

Callaghan Innovation, which was last year allocated a budget of $566 million over four years to dish out research and development grants, and the National Science Challenges attracted criticism in submissions on the government’s draft national statement of science investment, with science funding largely seen as too fragmented. More>>

ALSO:

NZ Govt - Submissions on future of science system
Science Media Centre - Year in Review: the big science stories of 2014

Scoop Business: Spark, Voda And Telstra To Lay New Trans-Tasman Cable

Spark New Zealand and Vodafone, New Zealand’s two dominant telecommunications providers, in partnership with Australian provider Telstra, will spend US$70 million building a trans-Tasman submarine cable to bolster broadband traffic between the neighbouring countries and the rest of the world. More>>

ALSO:

Spark NZ - New trans-Tasman telecommunications cable plan confirmed
InternetNZ - New cable a positive sign for the future

Scoop Business - ComCom pushes out final decision on Chorus copper pricing
Commerce Commission - Backdating prices for Chorus’ copper lines and broadband
TUANZ - TUANZ welcomes further clarification by Commerce Commission
Spark NZ - Spark New Zealand Moving Ahead in 4g Network Build

Statistics: Current Account Deficit Widens

New Zealand's annual current account deficit was $6.1 billion (2.6 percent of GDP) for the year ended September 2014. This compares with a deficit of $5.8 billion (2.5 percent of GDP) for the year ended June 2014. More>>

ALSO:

Scoop Business - NZ Sept quarter current account deficit near six-year high

Still In The Red: NZ Govt Shunts Out Surplus To 2016

The New Zealand government has pushed out its targeted return to surplus for a year as falling dairy prices and a low inflation environment has kept a lid on its rising tax take, but is still dangling a possible tax cut in 2017, the next election year and promising to try and achieve the surplus pledge on which it campaigned for election in September. More>>

ALSO:

BusinessDesk - Economy can grow faster than thought before inflation bites
Audio - Treasury Forecast Announcement for 2015
NZ Treasury - Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2014
Office of the Clerk - Public Submissions - Budget Policy Statement 2015
NZ Govt - Government focused on surplus in 2014/15 - English: National is focussed on achieving surplus
Labour - Bill English’s face is redder than his books - Failure to diversify puts prosperity at risk
United Future - Dunne Speaks - Christmas Edition
Greens - Irresponsible tax cuts lead to seventh successive deficit
NZ First - Dishonesty Only Thing in Surplus in Forecasts
CTU - Cuts in public services likely from Budget Policy Statement
PricewaterhouseCoopers - New Zealand Government signals reversal of fortune
NZ Taxpayers' Union - Cut Taxes + Cut Waste = Surplus
TV3 Video - Don't blame deficit on tax cuts - English
Earlier - Cuts to Health Suggested

Job Insecurity: Time For Jobs That Count In The Meat Industry

“Meat Workers face it all”, says Graham Cooke, Meat Workers Union National Secretary. “Seasonal work, dangerous jobs, casual and zero hours contracts, and increasing pressure on workers to join non-union individual agreements. More>>