New Covid-19 antibody blood test to check for undetected cases in Southern Region

29 May, 2020

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases across New Zealand could rise – thanks to a new blood test. Scientists expect the test to reveal some cases of Covid-19 that were missed because of initial rules around swab testing. The study will target healthcare workers or close contacts of confirmed cases found in hotspots in the southern region.

Covered in:

RNZ – write up
Morning Report, RNZ – audio coverage
Otago Daily Times
NZ Herald
Stuff.co.nz
The Spinoff
1News


Rapid COVID-19 testing now in regional laboratories

22 May, 2020

From today, eight regional labs will be receiving much needed capability to rapidly test for COVID-19 and influenza, providing crucial and timely support to regional hospitals. Rapid COVID-19 tests take just under an hour, enabling the smaller regional labs to add to the national testing capacity and support regional hospitals to act early. Read the press release here.

Covered in:

NZ Doctor
NZ HIT


GP uptake in e-ordering a positive outcome from lockdown

18 May, 2020

Electronic ordering of lab tests has been available around the country for some time now, but the uptake from GPs has been relatively low in some regions. With COVID-19 forcing the country into lockdown, and for many GPs – taking them online, e-ordering lab tests to support virtual consults saw significant uptake in the Nelson Marlborough region.

Covered in:

NZ Doctor
Pulse + IT
eHealthNews.nz
South Island Alliance


Industry raises cash for hospice

6 Feb, 2019

Manufacturers, distributors and customers from the local apple growing industry came together recently to present a cheque for $22,000 to Hawkes Bay’s Cranford Hospice. George McHardy, managing director of Grochem, the horticulture manufacturer and supplier who raised the funds, says being a local business means it’s important for their team to give back to local communities that support them.

Covered in:

Hastings Leader


Landlord awarded tenant's Airbnb profits after property illegally subleased

22 May, 2018

For the first time in New Zealand, a landlord has successfully been awarded the profits earned by a tenant illegally sub-leasing a rental property on Airbnb. The tenant had been sub-leasing his rented Bellagio Apartment in central Wellington on at least 54 occasions over a 6-month period, making over $12,450 in revenue.

Covered in:

Newshub
Newstalk ZB
Stuff.co.nz
NZ Herald
1 News Online
1 News 6pm news bulletin
RNZ
Daily Mail Australia
NBR
Landlords.co.nz


Cost of claims for ‘injuries caused by medical treatment’ double in 5 years – infection rates growing concern

10 May, 2018

The latest ‘treatment injury’ data released by ACC shows that the cost of claims for new and existing treatment injuries have more than doubled in the last five years from $70 million to $142.5 million, placing some real figures against concerns that our hospitals are becoming increasingly unsafe.

Covered in:

NZ Doctor
Breakfast TV1


Tenants fined for sub-letting property on Airbnb

06 March, 2017

In the first ruling of its kind in New Zealand the Tenancy Tribunal has ruled that sub-letting a rental property on the online accommodation marketplace Airbnb, is in breach of the Tenancy’s Act, but the tenants who lost the case had made over $1,500 and weren’t required to pay it back.

Covered in:

Newstalk ZB
NZ Herald
RNZ
Stuff.co.nz
APIA
Insurance Business NZ
Landlords.co.nz


Parents refuse to help children with their money homework

9 December, 2016

With the use of cash declining and cashless, contactless payments on the rise, it makes no sense that our children are still using toy coins and notes to practice maths in school, according to Wellington-based financial educator Dean Blair.

Covered in:

Stuff.co.nz
School News NZ


Tenancy Tribunal makes a move in the right direction for property damage claims

13 October, 2016

Property manager and landlord Keith Powell was successful in winning a case brought to the Tenancy Tribunal where, among other things, the carpet and curtains in a room of the rental property were damaged by the five cats that were kept closed in the room. The outcome has been seen as a small win for landlords nationwide who are experiencing the impacts of the Osaki case, which demonstrates that landlords who are insured will be required to cover the cost of damage caused by tenants if it can be proved that the damage was unintentional.

Covered in:

Property Professional Magazine
Stuff.co.nz


Hush-hush attitudes toward cyber attacks 'devastating' Kiwi businesses

16 April, 2016

Hush-hush attitudes of professional services firms and their IT providers are contributing to a tidal wave of cyber attacks that are continuing to devastate New Zealand businesses, according to IT firm Resolve.
Covered in:

SecurityBrief
Computer World


The real cost of IT for a new firm: a comparative analysis

8 October, 2015

Matt’s been developing plans to start his own practice with four associates, and intends to hire a junior lawyer and one support person. He was looking for guidance on the IT side of his business plan, so we met to talk through the IT infrastructure and associated outlay he’ll need to make to get his team up and running smoothly and with minimal upfront cost and downtime.

Written for LawTalk


Heather is an outstanding communication specialist. She is clearly an expert at keeping the clients needs at the centre of her work. I was overwhelmed with professionalism and her passion to understand a cultural history and paradigm that was not her own.

— Ivan Tava, Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust

Heather is an outstanding communication specialist. She is clearly an expert and keeping the clients needs at the centre of her work. I was overwhelmed with professionalism and her passion to understand a cultural history and paradigm that was not her own.

— Ivan Tava, Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust