Tetraplegic disputes $30k motel bill
A tetraplegic man is fighting ACC and the Ministry of Social Development over a $30,000 debt, accumulated after he was put up in a motel when there were no suitable homes with wheelchair access.
Both organisations stopped funding the motel even though John Horsfield, 53, had nowhere else to go. He was thrown from a scooter in February 2015, while travelling at 70 kilometres an hour.
”I landed squarely on my back. If I had rolled I would’ve broken my arms and legs,” he said.
Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner Gagau Annandale-Stone said Horsfield didn’t qualify for emergency housing support, because he had significant cash assets, including a large ACC pay-out. “We advised John that we were no longer able to make the emergency grant non-recoverable, and he would need to pay it back,” he said.
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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84.6% Yes
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14% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
Brooklyn Twilight Festival this Saturday
The annual Brooklyn Twilight Festival is on this Saturday 16 November from 2pm to 9pm on Harrison Street and at the Brooklyn Community Centre, featuring market stalls, live music, food and much more.
It’s Riddle Time – You Might Need an Extra Cup of Coffee!
Nobody has ever walked this way. Which way is it?
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