The Families Package – Best Start payments
From 1 July 2018 the Families Package takes effect, including the Best Start tax credit.
This is a new weekly payment of $60 per child, available to eligible parents who have a baby due on or after 1 July 2018.
All eligible families will receive this payment until the child turns 1 year old, regardless of their household income. Households whose income is less than $79,000 will continue to receive $60 per week until the child turns 3 years old. Those earning above $79,000 may continue to receive payments at a reduced amount. The upper threshold is $94,000 (for one child) when payments stop.
Parents can apply for Best Start when registering their baby’s birth through SmartStart. If the birth is not registered through SmartStart, the parents can apply for Best Start by completing the Working for Families registration (FS1) form.
A parent is eligible for Best Start payments if:
they are the principal caregiver of the child
they are a NZ resident/citizen and have been in NZ for a continuous period of 12 months at any time
they have received an IRD number for the child and
the child they are claiming for is both a resident and present in NZ.
For more information go to:
www.ird.govt.nz...
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.6% Yes
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13.2% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
BLACKHAWK CORGI RACES SUNDAY NOV 17
Who is the fastest Corgi in NZ?
This will be decided on Sunday, November 17 at Belmont Domain, Lower Hutt with racing starting at 2pm.
Thirty Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis will take to the 60 metre track for racing like no other.
Competition comes from as far away as Auckland and Whanganui and if you want to stretch it a little - Scotland - with the very recent arrival of Skye and his owners from the other side of the world.
The youngest to compete is 7 month old, Atlas whilst Bonnie at 14 years is part of the seniors (nine and over) event.
Spectators very welcome to this sixth annual championship organised by the Wellington Welsh Corgi Club.
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