New Lynn school students named: Fred Hollows Humanity Awards
Zoey Wood and Amelia Bettany Barr have been crowned finalists in the Fred Hollows Humanity Awards.
The Arahoe School learners are among 10 finalists from around the country chosen for their efforts to improve the world around them.
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ aims to thwart avoidable blindness in the Pacific and to give people permanent access to quality eye care.
Arahoe School teacher Amanda Kemp nominated Zoey, 10 for the awards.
Zoey was diagnosed with cataracts in 2019 and only had sight in one eye for a year.
"She possesses the most outstanding attitude towards her school life, is a leader amongst her friends and her can-do attitude has not slowed her down,' Kemp said.
In July, the Titirangi youngster had her cataracts removed "and this has not impacted her attitude towards all she does any differently."
Amelia, from Glen Eden, was nominated by her teacher, Bridget Dymock-Johnson.
Amelia,11 showed great initiative and spent time researching the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ before delivering her speech in front of the class.
"Amelia is kind and helpful.
"When someone doesn't have a group she invites them to join her," Dymock-Johnson said.
"Her words towards others are always kind."
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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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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79.1% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.9% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
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