Schools won't re-open as soon as lockdown lifts
Education Minister Chris Hipkins is warning parents it would be wrong for them to assume that all schools will reopen as soon as the lockdown ends. "That's not going to happen," he told the Epidemic Response Committee this morning. Hipkins said parents would need to prepare to have their kids at home for longer than the four-week lockdown period. "It's going to be a progressive reopening of the system, rather than a big bang all at once." The same went for tertiary institutions and early childhood centres as well. Although Hipkins said that at level 3 there would be more flexibility, it would take a while for most schools to reopen. New Zealand is just past the halfway point in the four-week lockdown period – however the Government has always maintained that the lockdown can be extended. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has so far provided no confirmation as to whether level 4 would be extended. Hipkins said the key measure as to when schools would reopen would be based on health advice.
The Government was working on a number of different packages and initiatives in this area for when New Zealand goes back down to level three. Hipkins thanked the entire educational community for "keeping the system running" over the lockdown. "It's been incredibly difficult," he said. He also thanked parents who have their kids at home – "I want to take my hat off to them". Hipkins also had a message for those parents who are helping with their children's learning over lockdown: "Be reasonable of your expectations of yourself". He also warned parents to be "reasonable" when it comes to their expectations of their young children's productivity. So far, 20,000 work book packages have been delivered to kids so far – that number will jump to 60,000 next week, Hipkins said.
And the Government is gearing up to be in a position where it can deliver half a million workbooks across the country, he said. These were primarily for those students who don't have access to internet or the appropriate devices. If costs continue to be a barrier for learning, the Government would look into that, Hipkins said. "We will make sure it [cost] is not a barrier." Asked if the Government was planning on providing a support package for schools heavily impacted by the drop in international students, Hipkins said: "We will have to do some modelling on that". He pointed out that the wage subsidy scheme was available to those in the tertiary education sector.
But he said the Government will not subsidise international students.
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Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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79.7% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.3% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Meri Kirihimete:----- Here's wishing all Christians a very MERRY CHRISTMAS
Wishing you a Christmas filled with light, laughter, and the kind of friendly conversation that makes our neighborhood feel welcoming, connected, and full of goodwill all season long.
May your festive season be peaceful, joyful, and rich with shared smiles, thoughtful gestures, and moments that remind us why community and connection matter so much.
Sending heartfelt greetings that celebrate the warmth of our neighborhood, encouraging shared laughter, cooperative spirit, and the joy of being part of a caring community.
Wishing you a Christmas where every door opened brings laughter, every conversation inspires friendship, and every small act of kindness reflects the true meaning of the season.
May this holiday season fill our neighborhood with light, love, and harmony, creating memories that bring everyone closer and strengthen bonds that last well beyond the festive period.
Sending greetings that reflect gratitude for your presence, friendship, and the support you offer, making our corner of New Zealand feel like home during Christmas.
Wishing you a festive season full of community celebrations, cheerful greetings, and shared moments that strengthen the connection we enjoy as neighbors.
May our streets be brighter with laughter, our gardens warmer with friendship, and our gatherings filled with memorable festive moments that bring joy to every household.
Sending heartfelt wishes that even in the busiest moments, we pause to appreciate one another, fostering goodwill, understanding, and a sense of shared joy during the holidays.
Wishing you Christmas mornings full of cheerful greetings, afternoons filled with kind interactions, and evenings that reflect the harmony and warmth of our neighborhood
May the spirit of Christmas inspire generosity, smiles, and memorable connections that remind us of the true value of community and companionship.
Sending you long, thoughtful messages of gratitude and goodwill, wishing every festive activity brings happiness and shared enjoyment.
Wishing for moments of neighborly cooperation, laughter, and support that enhance our holiday celebrations and create lasting festive memories.
May this season bring a sense of belonging, connection, and appreciation for every individual who contributes to the vibrancy and warmth of our neighborhood.
Sending wishes for shared joy, memorable interactions, and meaningful moments that make our community stronger and more cheerful this Christmas.
Wishing you celebrations where everyone feels valued, appreciated, and included, reflecting the essence of kindness and togetherness this festive season.
May our neighborhood be a space of warmth, smiles, and shared experiences that elevate the Christmas spirit for everyone living here.
Sending greetings that celebrate friendship, community spirit, and thoughtful gestures, leaving lasting impressions on every neighbor we encounter.
Wishing you holidays where communication, kindness, and shared laughter make our community stronger and more connected than ever.
May every Christmas greeting, conversation, and shared moment enrich our neighborhood, fostering joy, trust, and long-lasting relationships.
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Christmas Eve busiest shopping day of the year with more than 500,000 sales
Busiest shopping day of the year
Peak time 12 noon-1 pm - 563,303 transactions
Per second peak - 167 transactions
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Number of sales beats Black Friday, but lowest Christmas Eve in six years
Christmas Eve has been the busiest shopping day of the year with 9,745 sales a minute at its peak.
Payments company Worldline says noon to 1pm saw 563,303 sales recorded on its network, down by about 7 percent on a year ago.
The company's network covers about three-quarters of the electronic terminals in operation.
Worldline did not have a dollar value for spending, but the peak number of transactions was the lowest for the past six years and well shy of the record 679,436 in 2019, before the pandemic.
Earlier this month it noted rising sales in the first three weeks of the month, but they remained 1.3 percent lower than 2024, with most parts of the country trailing the previous year's spending.
Official data from Stats NZ to the end of November showed a small rise in spending on the previous month, to 1.6 percent higher for the year.
Retail spending has been subdued as households have remained cautious because of high prices and a slow benefit from lower interest rates, and as well as concerns about the soft labour market.
However, recent surveys have shown improving consumer sentiment with ANZ bank's monthly report showing confidence at its highest level in four years.
Boxing Day is traditionally the country's favourite shopping day, but with Black Friday spending also softer this year the amount going through retailers' terminals may also be down on a year ago.
Adding a dampener to consumer spending may be the recent rises in longer term fixed mortgage rates because of higher wholesale rates.
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