NZ PARLIAMENT
Guy Pope-Mayell, chairman of Dyslexia NZ tells MPs about how stressful internet banking can be for neuro-different people.
More than a million low-vision, elderly and “neuro-different” New Zealanders have been let down by the withdrawal of cheques, and the closure of bank branches, MPs have been told. National Party MP Andrew Bayly called for an inquiry into how branch closures, and the ditching of cheques, including by government agencies like ACC, Inland Revenue and Kiwibank, had made it harder for “vulnerable” people to manage their money lives. Bayly called for the inquiry after hearing the story of a dyslexic Pukekohe man too afraid to use internet banking, who was told by his bank to drive to another town to a branch to see a teller.
But the current legislation dated from a time when apartment living was still relatively new, she said. To give a sense of that, Willis pointed out that in 2010 multi-unit housing developments made up around 15 percent of new houses and by 2017 that number was 40 per cent. “Multi-unit housing developments must continue to grow, but because the current law is archaic and outdated, it is creating headaches for owners and prospective buyers. It is preventing people from choosing apartment living.”
realestate.co.nz
Reform of the law governing apartments will make life easier for people living in multi-unit dwellings. The bill would make life easier for thousands of people currently living in multi-unit dwellings and it would open the door for thousands more people to choose that type of housing in the future, she said.
Report said investments were picked up that posed no risk to national security or national interest.
Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Select Committee has recommended changes to overseas investment legislation to make it a bit easier for foreign investors.
Tougher rules came into effect after the country was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, mainly in response to the government’s fear that strategic New Zealand assets could be picked off by foreign investors. The Urgent Measures Act introduced a national interest test and imposed tighter controls.
Now the committee, chaired by Labour MP Dr Duncan Webb, has reported back on the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3), which would make permanent a number of changes introduced in the