Born into one of New Zealand rugby’s royal families, Brooke Stanley Pao is a daughter of privilege. Now she’s the face of the fight against poverty in Auckland. Every Tuesday and Thursday just before 10am, a small queue forms on an Onehunga street corner, waiting for the glass doors to slide open on hope. These … Read more
Summer reissue: Claims that cherry pickers can pull in $400 a day should have all of us packing our bags and heading south. But is orchard work really that lucrative? First published November 27 2020 Every year, as a crisp and blissful summer thaws the South Island out of its languor, students at the University … Read more
Claims that cherry pickers can pull in $400 a day should have all of us packing our bags and heading south. But is orchard work really that lucrative? Every year, as a crisp and blissful summer thaws the South Island out of its languor, students at the University of Otago toss up their end-of-year options: … Read more
Novelist Catherine Robertson explains why she and poet Jane Arthur will not be stocking [redacted] or [redacted] at their new store, Good Books, in Wellington. “You’re so brave” is the most irritating thing to say to someone who’s set up a new business. It implies you’ve taken a risk that no sane person would contemplate, … Read more
With the Covid-19 lockdown casting a light on the value of essential workers, the movement to pay them the living wage is gathering momentum. Every night at corporate and government buildings across the country, long after most of the day workers have gone home, a largely unseen labour force of cleaners and security guards arrives … Read more
They’re not getting paid extra, they miss their families and they’re tired of people losing it over yoghurt. Leonie Hayden talks to a supermarket checkout manager about the craziest time of her career. Rosie* is the checkout manager for one of the large supermarket chains in a medium-sized New Zealand city. She calls her team … Read more
Corporates shouldn’t think of the living wage as an expense, but rather as an investment in their business and people, says Vector’s Chief Risk Officer Kate Beddoe. As New Zealand’s largest energy distributor, Vector puts a lot of money into electricity investments and infrastructure in Auckland. I mean, a lot: we’re talking billions of dollars … Read more
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A handful of employers in the retail, hospitality, food manufacturing and events industry have gone above and beyond the minimum wage requirement by paying all their staff at least $20.55 per hour – in line with the official living wage for 2018. Here, they explain why they believe paying staff properly is important and how … Read more
Employees at organic supermarket chain have reached a deal for a living wage, reports Alex Braae A strike that was set to take place outside Grey Lynn organic grocery store Harvest has been called off, after an in-principle agreement was made to progressively move all staff to a living wage. Huckleberry, who own the Grey … Read more
Mojo Coffee NZ general manager Katy Ellis responds to criticism over the company’s decision to raise coffee prices following the minimum wage increase. First, I’d like to take the opportunity to clear the air. There is talk that we do not pay over the minimum wage; in fact, we pay a large majority of our … Read more
Wellington-based coffee chain Mojo has announced it is upping its prices in response to the increase in the minimum wage. Fine, says Emily Writes, but I won’t be buying your coffee again. My love of coffee is known, and while it doesn’t reach the levels of “has Google alert for Wellington and Coffee” it does … Read more
As we wait for the government announcement today, let’s reflect on the power of the individual to effect change, whatever the political party in power, writes peace activist Jessie Anne Dennis. Recently, a friend told me that part of what fuels her to be an activist is that she’s not a content person. Everything can … Read more
‘Business is Boring’ is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and a transcribed excerpt. Today we’re joined by a great chap; he’s one half of Tommy … Read more