https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/116558/eight_col_000_8ZA6MZ.jpg?1611678211 Questions are being asked about whether it should be mandatory for employees, including healthcare workers, to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: AFP Vaccines are already available overseas, with New Zealand slated to start getting next month. Employment lawyer Barbara Buckett said the law did not allow employers to force staff to get vaccinated, and could not fire them if they did not. “That’s your Bill of Rights, it’s your right to have medical treatment or to refuse medical treatment.” Buckett said employers can make providing proof of vaccination a requirement for getting a job – subject to possible exceptions, such as religious or medical grounds. But she said employers were also required to keep all their staff safe, and could make unvaccinated employees work offsite or even wear a mask. Buckett said there was a strong argument for mandatory vaccination for those in high-risk employment situations like healthcare workers. ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news/34520/eight_col_par_18.jpg?1425262623 Stronger scrutiny of the life insurance sector by the Reserve Bank has forced a retirement fund to suspend new memberships. Greater Reserve Bank scrutiny has led Lifetime insurance to suspend new memberships. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson Lifetime Retirement Income manages over $250 million worth of assets, and because of the uncertain economic outlook, its insurer Lifetime Income Limited, was ordered to strengthen its finances. However, its parent company – Retirement Income Group – could not raise the cash. Lifetime fund managing director Ralph Stewart said since the fund launched in 2016, the operating environment had changed. “Very low interest rates, the uncertainty of Covid-19 and extreme market volatility have contributed to the RBNZ requiring additional regulatory capital to be held by the fund’s insurer Lifetime Income Limited.” The insurer must raise $10m by 30 June. A capital raise last year, yielded only $5m. Stewart said until it could ...

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/beehive-red-og_0.png The Crown has recognised 14 customary marine title areas along the East Cape and East Coast in ngā rohe moana o ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced today. This recognition reflects the determination of ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou to safeguard their longstanding customary rights and the continued exercise of mana by ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou in their rohe moana. Customary marine title recognises customary rights and interests that whānau, hapū or iwi can show they have had in an area of the takutai moana (common marine and coastal area) from 1840, in accordance with strict legal tests. “I would like to thank ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou for their commitment through this long journey since reaching agreement with the Crown to recognise their customary rights and interests in the marine and coastal area in 2008,” Andrew Little said. “Ngā ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Nathaniel-Henry-Lorenzo-Brohier.jpg This story began in 19 th Century during the colonial period when The British were governing in Ceylon. Ceylonese Nathaniel Henry Lorenzo Brohier was born on 12th April 1847. His parents were James Harris Brohier (land surveyor) and Louisa Catherina Loftus from Uthuwankanda in Kegalle district. There were 11 children and Mr. Lorenzo Brohier was the 2nd child of the family. Mr. Brohier in Kandy.He was an educationalist with vast experience of teaching in different parts of the country. From 1871 – 1872 Brohier N was a teacher at Central School in Kandy. Mr. Brohier had been worked closely with St. Joseph’s Church Kandy during the time of Bishop Clemente Pagnani, there he was an organist and also a composer (Tablet publishing company 1883.) When he moved to Kalutara By the time of 1885 – 1886 Brohier N was in Kalutara at a private Roman Catholic School which he ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/116560/eight_col_000_8T83V6.jpg?1611680563 Mandatory hotel quarantine will be imposed on New Zealanders travelling to Australia for an extra three days after the Federal Government extended the suspension of the trans-Tasman travel bubble. A passenger wearing a mask arrives from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on 16 October, 2020. Photo: AFP Green-zone travel arrangements were paused after a Kiwi woman infected with the highly contagious South African variant of Covid-19 travelled to about 30 locations in New Zealand before testing positive. Australian health authorities had sought information on a further two people who tested positive to Covid-19 in New Zealand. The initial 72-hour suspension was due to end at 2pm today. Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, said the suspension would protect Australians while the extent of the situation in New Zealand can be determined. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she retained confidence in the country’s systems and processes. ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/birds-of-paradise-project.jpg   This fall, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Geographic are bringing the Birds-of-Paradise Project to the public. Get an advance look now…and witness diverse strategies of evolution at work and experience one of nature’s extraordinary wonders – up close. Source link ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news/253975/eight_col_000_8ZA6MZ.jpg?1611678202 Covid-19 jabs given to millions of people around the world will factor into the decision this week about whether Pfizer’s vaccine can be used here. Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: AFP Medsafe’s Medicine Assessment Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow to decide whether to approve it. It was using data from Pfizer’s clinical trials as well as from countries which had already been using the vaccine under emergency situations. Medsafe group manager Chris James said they had been working with Australian and British regulators, as well as the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. “That data is really helpful and New Zealand is in a fortunate position that we’re able to learn a lot from countries that have been using the vaccine in their populations,” he said. Australia approved the vaccine for use last week but Medsafe would be making its decision independently, looking at how it ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Dilhara-Lo.jpg Dilhara Lokuhettige Source:Dailynews Former Sri Lanka player Dilhara Lokuhettige has been found guilty of three offences under the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code following a hearing by an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal. Lokuhettige, who was charged under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code in November 2019, has been found guilty on all charges after he exercised his right to a hearing before a Tribunal. Lokuhettige remains suspended and sanctions will follow in due course, the ICC said in a release yesterday. The three-member Tribunal concluded, by a majority, that the ICC had jurisdiction to bring the charges against Lokuhettige and was unanimous in deciding the merits of the case. Lokuhettige has been found guilty of: Article 2.1.1 – for being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match. Article 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news/225657/eight_col_075_torres-notitle200312_npGoC.jpg?1584506535 The National Iwi Chairs pandemic response group has called for the number of New Zealanders returning home to be restricted to 1500 a week, almost half the current number of returnees. Dr Rawiri Taonui says it is no longer sustainable to allow the current number of arrivals into the country. Photo: AFP As of 8am, 27 January a total of 5483 New Zealanders were due to return home in the next two weeks. National Iwi Pandemic Response Group principal adviser Dr Rawiri Taonui said it was no longer sustainable to allow this number of arrivals into the country. “The important thing is that the Northland case and the two cases in Auckland, that’s the 11th outbreak in New Zealand and all our outbreaks have occured when the average number of returnees per week is over 2000, what that has caused is active cases in MIQ to be between 60 ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Maurice-de-Silva.jpg Maurice de Silva Source:Dailynews Maurice de Silva, the former top class rugby player, coach and administrator died in Brisbane early morning on Thursday, at the age of 83.He was surrounded by his family and showered with their love as he breathed his last He suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday and died in hospital Maurice as he was popularly known was widely regarded as one of the greatest centres in the history of Sri Lanka rugby. He learnt his rugby at St. Peter’s College and later played for Havelock SC, Kandy Lake Club and Sri Lanka. He had natural talent. His coaches were amazed at his ability. He was one of the top players at Havelock SC, and in the mid 1960’s he was invited by E.W. Balasuriya to coach the Kandy Lake Club and their rugby rose to great heights Maurice coached Kandy Lake Club which had players ...