As part of the party’s controversial tax plan, National proposed reversing the foreign buyers’ ban on ‘luxury’ houses worth over $2 million to help pay for tax relief. There would be a 15 per cent tax for overseas buyers who purchase a property over that price limit. But National’
The word for today is… gauntlet (noun): 1: a glove worn with medieval armor to protect the hand 2: any of various protective gloves used especially in industry 3: an open challenge (as to combat) – used in phrases like throw down the gauntlet 4: a dress glove extending above the
She hides inside her flat, in mental and physical pain. It’s been 19 years of turmoil – in which Brittany Kremers has been conditioned to the word ‘no’ and unrequited hope. Disfigured in a world that elevates beauty, she keeps her twisted jaw and unaligned teeth behind four walls and
The word for today is… oleaginous (adjective): 1: resembling or having the properties of oil : oily also : containing or producing oil 2: marked by an offensively ingratiating manner or quality Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The oily oleaginous slipped into English via Middle French oleagineux, coming from Latin oleagineus, meaning “of
Broadcaster Kate Hawkesby is leaving her Newstalk ZB show Early Edition, the station has confirmed. Hawkesby will continue to host the show until November 24, but will continue her Friday morning slot on her husband Mike Hosking’s breakfast show. She first joined Early Edition in 2017, replacing Rachel Smalley.
The word for today is… upbraid (verb): 1: to criticize severely : find fault with 2: to reproach severely : scold vehemently Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : First things first: do not confuse upbraid with topknot lest you be upbraided for it. Topknot is a noun referring to a hairstyle, while upbraid is
cfact.org The transformation to a fossil-fuel-free, all-electric economy would take the world back to living conditions in the 1800’s by ridding the world of crude oil, coal and natural gas usage and result in: * The pre-1800’s, when the world had no fuels other than wood, dung, and
The word for today is… embargo (noun, verb): noun 1: an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports 2: a legal prohibition on commerce 3: stoppage, impediment, especially : prohibition 4: an order by a common carrier or public regulatory agency prohibiting or restricting freight
Covid-19 expert Dr Siouxsie Wiles is taking on the University of Auckland in the Employment Court this week. The three-week hearing follows complaints to the Employment Relations Authority, claiming the university employer failed to respond adequately to safety concerns arising from harassment and threats from the public. An earlier determination,
The word for today is… pundit (noun): 1: pandit 2: a learned person : teacher 3: a person who gives opinions in an authoritative manner usually through the mass media : critic Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The original pundits were highly learned scholars and teachers in India. Our English word pundit comes
The word for today is… caustic (adjective, noun): adjective 1: capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action : corrosive 2: marked by incisive sarcasm 3: relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic noun 1: a caustic agent: such as a: a substance that burns or
The word for today is… assay (verb, noun): verb 1a: to analyze (something, such as an ore) for one or more specific components b: to judge the worth of : estimate 2: try, attempt noun 1: examination and determination as to characteristics (such as weight, measure, or quality) 2: analysis (as
National and Act will need the support of NZ First to form the next government, based on the final election results released today. The final results see National losing two seats compared to election night on October 14 – and with it the slim one-seat majority it held with Act. In
The word for today is… myriad (noun, adjective): noun 1: ten thousand 2: a great number adjective 1: innumerable 2: having innumerable aspects or element Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a
Daniil Medvedev dropped out of contention for the year-end No. 1 ranking by losing to Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2) in the second round of the Paris Masters today, and then was booed off the court after remonstrating with the crowd during the match. The crowd got under
The word for today is… suffrage (noun): 1: a short intercessory prayer usually in a series 2: a vote given in deciding a controverted question or electing a person for an office or trust 3: the right of voting : franchise Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Why would a 17th-century writer warn
