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Sapling planted at Sycamore Gap to "restore hope" removed by National Trust

UK resident Kieran Chapman, 27, is "absolutely gutted" after the sapling he planted in memory of the<a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/you-can-t-forgive-that-teen-arrested-after-felling-of-iconic-200-year-old-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> felled Sycamore Gap tree</a> was heartbreakingly removed by National Trust. The 27-year-old spent hours on Friday planting the sapling just metres away from the stump of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, but his efforts were in vain, as the sapling had been dug up by the National Trust on Sunday morning. The conservation charity said that they had to remove the sapling because it is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. A National Trust spokesperson told the Newcastle Chronicle that while they understand “the strength of feeling following the events at Sycamore Gap” the site “is a scheduled ancient monument and a globally important archaeological setting, with UNESCO world heritage designation”. “Altering or adding to it can damage the archaeology, and is unlawful without prior consent from government.” But Chapman couldn't hide his disappointment: “It’s just devastating, isn’t it? It genuinely brought people a lot of joy and that’s been taken away," he told the publication. “I honestly thought if it got a good response they might end up keeping it.” Chapman planted the sapling because he wanted to “restore people’s faith in humanity, bring a smile back to people’s faces and just give them a bit of hope”. “I planned to go and take the dog for a walk next weekend there," he added. In a follow up post on Facebook, Chapman added that he was told by the National Trust that his tree will be replanted on another piece of land at the Housesteads Visitor Centre on Hadrian’s Wall. “Too many politics around all this for my liking, the top and bottom of it, it’s a tree, planted in soil. I understand the land is protected, but to protect a tree from being planted in the earth, where they’re designed to be, no matter where it’s location, is crazy,” he wrote. Two people were arrested over the incident, a 16-year-old boy and 69-year-old former lumberjack. Both have been released on bail, with the lumberjack insisting that he had no involvement in the felling. “You’ve got the wrong feller,” he told The Sun. “I’m a former lumberjack and I’ve just been kicked off my property so I can see why people have pointed the finger. “My brother came down to make sure I hadn’t been arrested as he had heard a rumour that I had cut it down. I didn’t do it," he added. Images: Getty/ Facebook

Travel Trouble

King Charles cuts ties with TV host over affair revelations

King Charles has cut all ties with UK television host Phillip Schofield, after he lied about having an affair. Schofield has been dumped from his hosting gig at This Morning, which he has been the face of for 21 years, after he admitted he had an affair with a much younger man who worked at the ITV network. The 61-year-old resigned from the network after lying about the “consensual on-off relationship", admitting in a statement that the affair was "unwise" but stressed it was "not illegal". He added that he was "deeply sorry" for having lied to his wife and to ITV about his relationship with the man reportedly 30 years his junior and who he first met as a teenager. “Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship,” he said in his recent statement. In light of the affair, Schofield has been dropped by The Prince's Trust, after being an ambassador for several years. A spokesperson from the King's charity told <a title="The Telegraph" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/30/phillip-schofield-dropped-princes-trust-this-morning-affair/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a> UK that it was mutually agreed it was "no longer appropriate to work together". "In light of Phillip's recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together," a Prince's Trust spokesperson said. All references to Schofield have been removed from the charity's website and also his own page. It previously read, "Outside of work, Phillip is an ambassador for the charity The Prince's Trust, dedicating time to further the work of supporting vulnerable young people in the UK". The Prince's Trust was created in 1976 by then-Prince Charles to help young disadvantaged people in the UK, with the hugely successful charity helping more than one million young people by providing them with business grants, education and training. Following the bombshell revelation of Schofield's affair, ITV said it had investigated the allegations of his affair "several times" from early 2020, but said it didn't find any evidence. It's been a trying time for the ex-presenter with his brother Timothy recently being jailed for 12 years over child sex offences. Image credits: Getty Images

News

12 trusted home remedies that will only make you worse

Proceed with caution Any herbal supplement or remedy could potentially cause liver or kidney failure or have dangerous interactions with other medications you may be taking. That’s why physician Dr Ehsan Ali, recommends you ask your doctor before popping any herbal pill or natural cure. “All patients of all ages should check with their doctor first about what home remedy they want to try,” says Dr Ali. “Better to be safe than sorry!” St. John's Wort This herb is touted as a treatment for depression, but comprehensive studies are lacking. Dangers can arise when patients are already taking other medications. There have been incidents of St. John’s Wort interfering with birth control pills, leading to unintended pregnancies. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns that St. John’s Wort can disrupt the action of many medications, including warfarin, antidepressants, and anti-rejection drugs following organ transplants. Kava This herb, grown on South Pacific islands is often suggested for anxiety. It has been found to have a calming effect similar to Valium. Research, including a study published in 2015 in the journal Trialssuggests that kava may be an effective treatment for generalised anxiety disorder. However, heavy consumption of the herb is linked with heart problems and eye irritation. Kitchen cures for burns Kitchen cures can seem harmless and certainly, food products can make gentle and effective beauty treatments (think: avocado or honey masks for skin and hair). But when someone has an injury or disease, natural products can do more harm than good. Dr Svetlana Kogan, a holistic physician, has heard many potentially dangerous cures for injuries, including applying egg whites to burns. Egg whites, especially organic ones, can be full of bacteria – including salmonella – which could lead to serious infections. Instead, minor burns can be treated at home with cool water and acetaminophen for pain. Gargling with mouthwash The common cold continues to confound doctors and there isn’t much sufferers can do except stay hydrated. But when the symptoms progress to an inflamed throat, indulging in the common practice of gargling with mouthwash can do more harm than good. “Gargling inflamed tonsils with mouthwash is actually very irritating to the area and does not have any effect on potential strep throat,” says Dr Kogan. Her recommendation for a sore throat? Warm liquids to soothe the inflamed area and get plenty of rest. Money The best use for money when it comes to your health is paying your medical bills. But some people use currency to try and cure ailments. For years, placing a coin or other hard, flat object on a baby’s belly to help heal an umbilical hernia has been a common practice in many cultures – a very unsafe practice: “An umbilical hernia is a gap in the layer of muscle in the abdominal wall (called the rectus abdominis muscle),” explains Dr Danelle Fisher, a paediatrician. “The muscle usually grows together and the hernia goes away on its own in more than 90 per cent of babies who are born with it. Having an object strapped to the baby’s belly is not advisable because it can cause a skin infection and it doesn’t change the hernia or hasten its healing.” (Not to mention that coins can be pretty dirty and are a choking hazard for your baby.) So what should you do if your baby has an umbilical hernia? Nothing, aside from watchful waiting and consulting with your child’s paediatrician. Breast milk Mother’s milk is the best possible natural food for babies. Although many mothers claim their milk clears up skin conditions, there’s no scientific proof of this, warns Dr Sarah Yamaguchi, an obstetrician and gynecologist. “Breast milk can transmit infectious diseases such as HIV and pumped breast milk if not stored properly can be contaminated and can actually introduce bacteria into an already infected area,” says Dr Yamaguchi. Instead, she advises, patients suffering from infections or inflamed skin should try to keep the area clean and dry and seek medical attention. Castor oil In her work as an obstetrician, Dr Yamaguchi has seen her fair share of women in the final stages of pregnancy who just cannot wait to have their baby. She has seen many women take castor oil believing it will jump-start labour. “Castor oil may help if you are constipated and need to pass a bowel movement, but it’s not going to help you go into labour and it tastes awful,” she says. Syrup of Ipecac This syrup, made from the roots of a South American plant, is often kept in the home by parents to act as a counter treatment for accidental poisoning, as it induces vomiting. However, this form of treatment is incredibly dangerous, warns Dr Fisher. Many poisons do further damage when they make their way out of the body, damaging the oesophagus and potentially causing breathing problems. Dr Fisher advises parents not to use syrup of ipecac at all. The only appropriate reaction to a child swallowing something poisonous, she says, is to call your local Poison Control immediately and seek medical treatment. Charcoal Some people believe that activated charcoal, often derived from coconut shells, is thought to trap and remove dangerous toxins from the body. It is often recommended for treating bloat and constipation. However, it is a controversial treatment. Dr Kogan has heard of patients swallowing activated charcoal for detoxification purposes, which she strongly discourages. “It is dangerous because it can cause life-threatening intestinal obstructions and severe dehydration,” she says. Eating well and drinking plenty of water can have similar, but safer, detoxification effects on the body. Blowing on or licking a wound Parents everywhere are known for spitting on a tissue and using it to clean their children’s faces and sometimes even to clean a wound. Blowing on or introducing saliva to a cut is very dangerous. “Our breath and saliva have tons of bacteria which can contaminate the wound and lead to an infection,” says Dr Kogan. Instead, use fresh water and consult a doctor if needed. Vitamins As long as you follow a healthy diet, you’ll get all the vitamins and minerals you need. That’s good because sliding into the habit of trying to make up supposed deficiencies with supplements can quickly lead to trouble, warns Dr Kogan. The danger comes when people ignore the recommended doses and take too much of a particular vitamin. Too much vitamin D, for instance, can cause liver and heart problems, while an overabundance of B6 can lead to nerve toxicity; a vitamin A overdose can even cause death in extreme cases. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/12-trusted-home-remedies-that-will-only-make-you-worse?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Body

6 trusted tips for finding love

Whether you are newly single or have been playing the dating game for a while, it can be tough to find someone that you have a real connection with. There are some guidelines that you can follow that can help you, by simply asking yourself a few questions. 1. What are you looking for? Do you want someone to grow old with, someone to take to a movie now and then, or something more casual? Knowing what you want and being fairly upfront about it can help you filter out the options. 2. Are you ready to show your hand? Finding someone special means you will need to be open about who you are and be ready to invest time and effort into someone else. Are you ready for this step? If you’ve recently been hurt or are grieving it may not be the right time to search for a long term partner. 3. Do you know your assets? Work out what you have to bring to the table as a partner, as this will help you know what to say if you have to describe yourself quickly (think online dating or speed dating). 4. Would you consider yourself interesting? It can be helpful to try something new – take an art class, take a camping trip, do some volunteer work. Not only can you meet new people, it’s also nice to have something to talk about when you meet them. 5. Can you show your funny side? Funny people tend to be liked, so it can pay to ensure you are using the right sort of humour. Too much sarcasm or negativity can turn people off, so ensure you are keeping things light and witty. 6. Would your friends be able to help? When you’re looking for love, it can be helpful to ask your friends if they have anyone that might be suitable. They can offer a casual introduction at a social event, or set up a dinner to introduce you to some new people without too much pressure. Images: Shutterstock

Relationships

New Zealand's most trusted brands revealed for 2023

When it comes to big brands, there are certain names that New Zealanders go back to time and time again for their reliability and trustworthy reputations. This year, according to recent data collated by <a href="https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>, consumers are interacting differently with big name brands after recovering from the pandemic, but now being faced with the cost of living crisis. The survey, now in its 24th year, was carried out by independent market research company Catalyst Consultancy & Research and asked thousands of consumers of a mixed demographic to name the brands they trusted across more than 70 categories. The data suggests that our most trusted brands have "not only changed the way they interact with us during the past three years of the pandemic", but current "cost-of-living pressures mean the most successful organisations are making even further refinements". "With inflation putting price pressure on everyone at the moment, trust remains a hard-earned and vitally important commodity," Reader's Digest Australia Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson said. "Many leading companies are rebranding their image, or reshaping their services, to hold on to existing customers and seek out new ones." Check out the list below of New Zealand's top 20 most trusted brands, and <a href="https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head here for the full 2023 results</a>. 20. Huntley & Palmers 19. Weber 18. Yates 17. Sleepyhead 16. Dilmah 15. Fisher & Paykel 14. Panadol 13. Arnott's 12. Anchor 11. Dettol 10. CookieTime 9. Mainland 8. Samsung 7. TipTop 6. Toyota 5. Resene 4. Canon 3. Mitre 10 2. Hato Hone St John 1. Whittaker's Image credits: Trusted Brands

News

"I trusted anyone": Olivia Newton-John's daughter shares drastic health decision

Chloe Lattanzi has opened up about a recent health decision, announcing she is planning to reverse a lot of her cosmetic surgery enhancements. Chloe said she is going to have her breast implants removed, just months after her mother Olivia Newton-John died from a turbulent 30 year battle with breast cancer. Lattanzi, who has reportedly had $845,000 worth of plastic surgery over the years, took to Instagram to talk about her health. She shared that in trying to be the healthiest version of herself, she has already had fillers in her face dissolved and plans to remove her breast implants. “I’ve had the fillers removed from my face. When I had it done, I had body dysmorphia so I had very low self-esteem,” Lattanzi admitted. “I think I started doing (fillers) about 10 years ago,” she continued. “My face looked very puffy and strange. There’s a product called hyaluronidase that can take it out, it basically dissolves it, which is an ongoing process that I go through.” Speaking about her breast implants, Chloe said she “wasn’t aware” of the potential health problems that implants can bring. “I trusted anyone in a white coat and I wasn’t aware that there was any side effects or consequences,” she admitted. “I’m actually looking into removing them. It does cost a lot of money.” Lattanzi also spoke about her lip fillers, explaining she has injected them “so much” they are “permanently stretched out”. “Not that this is anyone’s business, but it hurt to see some of these comments and I just wanted to educate people,” she said. “You can believe me or not, but it’s the truth, from having them filled so much, they’re just stretched, I haven’t had them done in years.” Since her mother died in August after her journey with breast cancer, Lattanzi has been outspoken about “preventative care”. “I’m so excited to be carrying the torch for my mum continuing to not battle cancer, but finding out what’s causing it,” she said. <div> </div> “Preventive care was something she was very passionate about, you know we need to think about all the drugs that are put into our body." Image credits: Instagram

Body

How to tell if someone is trustworthy

Trust is a key ingredient of success in any relationship whether it is platonic, romantic or business. But how do you know if you can trust somebody or if you should run for the hills? What exactly is the difference between someone who is trustworthy and someone who isn’t? Sometimes it’s very obvious, sometimes it isn’t. Some people have a natural instinct for detecting untrustworthy characters while some of us might need a bit of help to develop the skill. Assessing trustworthiness takes time and there are always individual circumstances to consider but here are a few things to look out for. Honest A trustworthy person is an honest person. Someone who is constantly lying is probably hiding something. Always consider intentions and there are sometimes benign reasons why somebody might tell a white lie, but if someone is continually being dishonest, warning bells should be going off! Sometimes it’s difficult to determine if someone is lying though. Here are some things to consider: <ul> <li>The person repeats your question or doesn’t answer the questions. For example, “That’s a good question.” This may be a signal to buy time to form a response.</li> <li>The person is always reminding you how honest and trustworthy they are. For example, “I would never lie, I’m an honest person.”</li> <li>The person makes very showy and boastful claims but none of it can be verified or validated. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.</li> </ul> Reliable Being reliable and dependable is the hallmark of a trustworthy person. Of course, people do let us down from time to time but a consistently unreliable person is usually untrustworthy. <ul> <li>The person constantly does not do what they say they will even if explicitly promised. There is always a reason though such as an unpredictable drama.</li> <li>The person is always late for appointments, meetings or dates with you.</li> <li>The person is never available to see or meet you.</li> <li>The person’s words and actions contradict. Untrustworthy people will make a lot of claims but when actions consistently don’t follow words, red flags should be appearing.</li> </ul> Communication A trustworthy person will be open, transparent and attentive in their communication whereas those who might have something to hide are heavily focused on themselves. <ul> <li>The person constantly talks themselves up with boastful statements and criticises or tears other people down. If the person is gossiping about someone else, what’s to stop them doing the same to you?</li> <li>The person does not support or encourage you. Instead they play down or make a joke about your thoughts, ideas and accomplishments.</li> <li>The person is never forthcoming with information about themselves. You have to constantly ask questions but they try and redirect the conversation or reply with partial truths.</li> </ul> Intuition Your gut-feeling is perhaps your most important tool and it’s usually correct. Don’t ignore feelings of anxiousness or wariness. We often want to think the best of people but if your gut is telling you something is up with this person, it might be right. Look out for the other indicators and if any of them are sounding familiar, combined with your intuition, make an exit, fast! Image: Getty Images

Relationships

Revealed: New Zealand’s most trusted brands for 2022

Celebrating its 100th year as a global brand, Reader’s Digest has announced the <a href="https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Most Trusted Brands in New Zealand</a> in its annual survey – and the results are about as delicious as we’ve come to expect! Taking out the Number One spot in 2022 was popular chocolate brand Whittaker’s – making this the 11th year in a row it has earned the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted of all Brands award – proving that New Zealanders are clearly very proud of the sweet treat that consistently tastes great. The award-winning brands that appear in the Reader’s Digest 23rd annual survey have stood out among their competitors during the most challenging of times throughout the pandemic, and have continued to build their customers’ trust. “Trust in consumer brands takes years of careful planning, execution and nurturing,” says Reader’s Digest editor-in-chief, Louise Waterson. “But during challenging times, and the past year has been one of the most difficult on record, we’ve seen quality brands live up to their promises to their customers. These brands have been able to win and retain the trust of their customers.” The Trusted Brands survey covers a comprehensive range of products and services across 71 categories, as selected by New Zealanders, was without prejudice. Brands included in the list to be rated were generated by asking local New Zealand consumers for their most trusted brands. This question was unprompted to ensure the rating of top brands in each category, as selected by New Zealanders. Each respondent was asked score each brand out of ten, as well as providing comments on their most trusted brand within each category – providing key drivers of trust for consumers. Each category contains one Winner, and two Highly Commended brands. These brands scored higher in their respective categories than the other brands polled. The top 20 winners – that scored higher in their respective categories than the other brands polled – are as follows: Top 20 Trusted Brands of all brands surveyed <ul> <li>1 Whittaker’s </li> <li>2 St John New Zealand </li> <li>3 Mitre 10 </li> <li>4 Tip Top </li> <li>5 Mainland </li> <li>6 Samsung </li> <li>7 Anchor </li> <li>8 Resene </li> <li>9 Toyota </li> <li>10 Dettol </li> <li>11 Panadol</li> <li>12 Canon</li> <li>13 Dyson</li> <li>14 Bridgestone</li> <li>15 Yates</li> <li>16 Griffin’s</li> <li>17 Fisher & Paykel</li> <li>18 Masport</li> <li>19 Dilmah</li> <li>20 Cookie Time</li> </ul> Under each category one winner and two highly commended placings were awarded. To find out who you can officially trust, see the full results of all 71 categories in the May edition of Reader’s Digest or visit <a href="https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.trustedbrands.co.nz</a>

Money & Banking

Antarctic Heritage Trust offers up dream jobs

If your dream job involves living in one of the most remote places on Earth and waking up to count penguins, then the Antarctic Heritage Trust has your back. The UK branch of the trust is hiring a base leader, shop manager and general assistant for their Port Lockroy location in Antarctica. The roles of the job are to help protect the heritage, conserve its environment and share its rich history with about 18,000 visitors each season. The successful applicants will spend five months from November to March at Base ‘A’ – an historic British base situated on the tiny Goudier Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. The main tasks of the job include managing a gift shop and British Antarctic Territory Post Office on the site, as well as overseeing the annual maintenance and upkeep of the buildings and artefacts and wildlife observations for the British Antarctic Survey. While this unique opportunity may be a dream job for some, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust said Antarctica is a physically and mentally challenging workplace for many reasons. During summer months, temperatures vary between -5C and 10C, with overcast days and windchill often making it feel much colder. It’s also worth noting that there is no running water on the island. Water is collected in jerry cans from visiting ships, which will also offer showers every few days. There is also no flushing toilet at the base, with the basic living quarters involving a singular shared bedroom for all staff. The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust’s flagship historic site was established in 1944 and operated as a British research station until it closed in 1962. In 1996, Port Lockroy was restored as a living museum, and has operated during the Austral summer as a visitor site welcoming those who travel to Antarctica on expedition vessels and yachts. Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

Aussies and Kiwis top the world in trusting scientists

A new global survey has determined that people in Australia and New Zealand have the most trust in scientists out of 113 countries. The <a rel="noopener" href="https://wellcome.org/news/public-trust-scientists-rose-during-covid-19-pandemic" target="_blank">Wellcome Global Monitor</a> surveyed more than 119,000 people aged 15 or older about their views on science during COVID-19 pandemic, finding that public trust in scientists actually increased since the last survey in 2018. In Australia and New Zealand, 62 percent said they trusted scientists “a lot” compared to 41 percent globally. The survey also found that trust in doctors and nurses, charity workers, journalists, and national governments increased, while trust in the people living in the same neighbourhood decreased. With the influx of scientific jargon and knowledge during the pandemic, 48 percent of participants said they had “some” knowledge of science versus only 39 percent in 2018. “The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust scientists into the spotlight, where they have provided information and guidance affecting the day-to-day lives of billions of people,” said Lara Clements, the associate director of public engagement and campaigns at Wellcome. “In both 2018 and 2020, we saw a link between people’s perceived knowledge of science and their trust in science. As the pandemic has brought science into more people’s lives, it is perhaps no surprise that people’s trust in science and scientists has risen so much.” The survey also found differences influenced by the wealth of a country, with participants from high-income regions being more likely to say their government should spend money to help prevent and cure diseases wherever they occur. Meanwhile, those from traditionally middle-income countries were more likely to support government spending on preventing and curing disease only if their country was at risk. Beth Thomspon, the associate director of policy at Wellcome, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/aussies-and-kiwis-now-have-the-worlds-highest-level-of-trust-in-scientists" target="_blank">said</a>: “This survey highlights a clear willingness and generosity of people in mainly high-income countries to prevent and cure diseases wherever they occur. “However, since this survey was conducted, stark inequalities in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic have unforgivably left low- and middle-income countries further behind particularly with access to vaccines. “Although this report provides a snapshot of views in 2020, prior to successful or licenced treatments, it’s vital that we can listen to - and understand - people’s views.” Importantly, the survey was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021, before the widespread approval of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines. “Trust has always been intrinsic to public health and success can only be achieved when communities are open to and readily understand the science,” Ms Clements said. “This vast dataset can offer huge potential to learn how the public relate to science, particularly during this crucial stage of the pandemic.” Image: Master Steve Rapport (<a rel="noopener" href="https://flickr.com/photos/148102174@N05/33398946193" target="_blank">Flickr</a>)

Mind

How to use the 5 love languages, according to therapists

Your love language isn’t English, Italian, German, Portuguese, or any other verbal language you can learn in school. The term refers to the ways in which people give and receive love in their lives. Although this includes romantic love, it may also affect how we prefer to give and receive love in friendships and other relationships too. They can also shed light on your personal habits or behaviour that might not seem to be linked to love languages or relationships at all. For example, a viral TikTok pointed out that your love language could be linked to self-destructive habits. If your preferred love language is words of affirmation, you might be prone to negative self-talk, or if your love language is gifts, you may tend to over-spend. That’s just one of the many ways people might use love languages to learn more about relationships and their own mental health. Not sure what your love language is? Here’s what you need to know about the five love languages, including love language examples, how to determine yours, and other insights and relationship advice from therapists. The history of the five love languages The love language concept comes from the book The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, which was first published in 1992. In it, he describes the most common ways that people communicate love, based on his experience in marriage counselling and linguistics. Everyone has a different idea of how to express love to those around them, explains Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist. The trick is avoiding language barriers when your love language differs from that of your partner, family, or friend. Couples need to find balance and harmony given their respective styles and differences to make sure they speak the language of love, says Jane Greer, a marriage and family therapist and author of several books, including What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship. What are the five love languages? Acts of service “Some of us prefer to express our appreciation through various acts of service, like running errands for our partners,” Hafeez says. This love language essentially refers to the things loved ones do for each other to make their lives easier. Gifts Giving or receiving gifts is a somewhat straightforward love language. People value the thought and effort that goes into the gift-giving process. “People who speak this language cherish the gift and the time and thought put into the gift,” Hafeez adds. Physical touch Physical signs of affection, like hugging, kissing, holding hands, cuddling, and having sex, are ways to connect and communicate appreciation for those who prefer this love language. “The love language physical touch includes those who require physical attention to express and know that they are loved,” Hafeez says. Quality time Those who identify with this love language prioritize spending attentive time with their partner or loved one. People who rely on quality time to express their passion need undivided attention from their loved ones instead of a simple “I love you,” according to Hafeez. Speaking this love language may look like identifying a favourite activity to do together, acknowledging it, and doing it together. Words of affirmation People who prefer this love language value verbal and/or written communication and acknowledgment. Those who speak this language prefer to express and receive their love through spoken words, rather than just spending time together, per Hafeez. What is my love language? Determining your love language requires looking at how you prefer to express and receive love. Hafeez notes that you can identify with more than one. “Not everyone has just one way that they like to show their appreciation,” she says. “It’s common to have a combination of the five.” Paul Hokemeyer, a clinical and consulting psychotherapist and author of Fragile Power: Why Having Everything Is Never Enough adds that not only is it possible to have more than one love language, but it’s also beneficial. “Humans are dynamic and multidimensional. We change and grow over time,” he says. “As such, we need to be able to communicate in a host of languages. The ability to do so opens up our lives and our hearts and enables us to have rich and meaningful lives.” And, no, one language isn’t “better” than another. “I think to make a judgment over which is better or not is to ultimately limit the way love is conveyed, shared, and expressed,” Greer says. The pros of love languages Hafeez says that knowing each other’s love languages can be very helpful for both parties while in a relationship. Hokemeyer agrees, saying the concept of love languages is brilliant. Here’s how they may help: Deepen understanding Rather than question whether you’re meeting your partner’s needs, discuss love languages to get a deep understanding of what they need, recommends Hafeez. “Knowing how to communicate and express your love eliminates miscommunication in the relationship,” she says. Greer adds that another benefit is that love languages help your partner appreciate what’s important to you, what you consider loving, and what you appreciate. Improve communication People can form better relationships with more communication if they know how to express and receive love, according to Hafeez. For example, if someone knows they need words of affirmation to feel loved, they can communicate that to their partner, making the relationship much healthier. Simplify love Love languages give people a concrete way to think about how to give and receive love in a meaningful way, according to Hokemeyer. “They provide us with language to talk about what can be a very abstract feeling,” he says. This helps people manage the raft of consuming negative feelings when we intuitively know the relationship isn’t right. Build the relationship Romantic relationships require reciprocation to be meaningful and enduring, Hokemeyer says. That means that there must be an emotional and physical give and take. “Love languages enable people to figure out what they want to take and what they need to give,” he says. “They are helpful in that they provide a starting point from which couples can learn about their partner and themselves.” For this reason, it’s important to look at them as an art form that you are constantly practising and striving to improve, Hokemeyer says. The cons of love languages A 2017 study in the journal Personal Relationships looked at whether couples with aligned love languages experience more relationship satisfaction. The researchers looked at 67 couples and found that neither sharing the same love language nor knowledge of a partner’s primary love language corresponds with higher relationship satisfaction. So although the experts see value in this concept, there are limits to the benefits. It can be narrow-minded Hafeez says that, in some cases, love languages can hurt a relationship. “If all the focus is put on speaking in your partner’s love language, you can sometimes forget to listen to what they are saying,” she says. In addition, love languages can change throughout a relationship, so just sticking to one love language can eventually become irritating, according to Hafeez. That’s a real downside, according to Hokemeyer, who says identifying your love language may cause you to see it as fixed and exclusive. “The truth of the matter is that most people are bilingual – they can enjoy multiple love languages,” he says. It’s key to remember these languages are dynamic. They can change throughout life as people mature and come to value different aspects of love and romance. It could cause competition Another problem: love languages can create an issue of “who does more” overall for the relationship. For example, one person can feel as if they are speaking their partner’s love language all the time, but maybe their partner isn’t stepping up to the plate, Hafeez explains. “This can create a sort of score-keeping attitude and create ongoing issues, such as feeling like one person loves more in a relationship or that the relationship is unequal,” she says. The discussion may be misread Another con that could come out of discussing love languages is that sometimes, when you tell your partner what you like, want, or need, they can translate it as a demand. They may misinterpret it as a control tactic, Greer explains. It's not a cure-all It’s important to remember that knowing each other’s love language will not cure all your relationship troubles, Hafeez notes. Image credit: Shutterstock This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/how-to-use-the-5-love-languages-according-to-therapists" target="_blank">Reader's Digest</a>.

Relationships

New Zealand’s top 20 Most Trusted Brands for 2021 revealed

20 Most Trusted brands in New Zealand Coming off a year where our trust has never been more tested, with deadly dangers and testing lockdowns, the 22nd annual survey of New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brands has been revealed exclusively in New Zealand Reader’s Digest. The findings make for fascinating reading. This is not a survey of the magazine’s readers. New Zealand Reader’s Digest commissioned an independent market research agency to conduct a stand-alone survey of a representative sample of more than 1,800 Kiwi adults. The full results, across 71 categories, appear exclusively in the magazine’s latest issue and can be found online <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/results.asp" target="_blank">here</a>. “Perhaps more than any other year previously, trust has been the guiding human emotion we’ve all had to rely on to navigate through our day safely,” notes Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief, Louise Waterson. Read on to find out who made up the Top 20 list. 1 Whittaker’s This year marks the 10th consecutive time the iconic chocolate brand and confectionary category winner has won overall. Congratulations! 2 Toyota 3 Samsung 4 Tip Top 5 St John New Zealand 6 Mainland 7 Dettol 8 Mitre 10 9 Anchor 10 Sony 11 Weber 12 Huntley & Palmers 13 Sleepyhead 14 Resene 15 Bridgestone 16 Yates 17 Canon 18 Griffin’s 19 Dilmah 20 Persil

Money & Banking

New Zealand’s most Trusted Brands revealed

When it comes to New Zealand’s most trusted brand, Whittaker’s is again the best on the block. Whittaker’s has been voted by New Zealanders as the Most Trusted of all Brands in the annual 2020 Reader’s Digest survey. It’s the ninth consecutive year the iconic chocolate brand has won the overall title. Whittaker’s, which has been “crafting NZ’s finest chocolate since 1896,” has also been confectionery category winner every year since 2011, as well as winner of the NZ Iconic Brand accolade since 2013. That’s according to the results, released today, of the Reader’s Digest-commissioned survey conducted by Catalyst Research. Reader’s Digest Australasian editor-in-chief Louise Waterson says nine consecutive years as a Trusted Brands superstar is an amazing result and unprecedented across the Australasia region. The annual Reader’s Digest Survey is in its 21st year and has grown over the years to include 69 categories of products and services, reflecting a broad range of industries. A total of 1601 New Zealanders from a broad demographic were asked to select three of their most trusted brands for each category. They then rated those brands on the 1-10 scale for trust. Ms Waterson says being considered so trustworthy comes with responsibilities. Maintaining a top rank involves a genuine commitment to protect and fulfil the promises made to the consumer, she says. It appears many NZ companies are comfortable with that commitment; Whittaker’s is far from the only NZ brand to win the right to a podium placing over many consecutive years. Others noted by New Zealanders for consistently being genuine, authentic and reliable include Panadol as 11- time winners, as well as Dettol, Healtheries and AA Insurance – which are all 10-time winners in their respective categories. Resene is a ninth-time winner; Harcourts has taken top spot for all eight years its category has been included in the survey; and Ryman Health Care has scored top place six years out of seven in its sector. St John New Zealand (Most Trusted charity), G.J. Gardner, Yates, Sleepyhead, and Cavalier Bremworth are examples of other repeated winners. Some brands join Whittaker’s in scoring more than one award each year. Fisher & Paykel, for example, has cleaned up the Laundry Appliance category, as well as the Large Kitchen Appliances and Cooking Appliances categories. The 2020 category winners are as follows: Aged Care & Retirement Villages – Ryman Healthcare; Banks – Kiwibank; BBQs – Weber; Beds – Sleepyhead; Bicycles – Avanti; Biscuits – Griffins; Bread – Vogels; Breakfast food – Sanitarium; Cars – Toyota; Car care products – Turtle Wax; Car rental companies – Avis; Carpet – Cavalier Bremworth; Charities – St John New Zealand; Cheese – Mainland; Cleaning products – Dettol; Coffee machines – Breville; Confectionery – Whittaker’s; Cooking appliances – Fisher & Paykel; Cooking Stocks – Campbell’s Real Stock; Crackers – Huntley & Palmers; Digital cameras – Canon; DIY power tools (drills, saws, sanders etc) – Bosch; Dog food – Tux (Purina); Electronics (TV & home entertainment) – Samsung; Fruit & herbal tea – Dilmah; Garages & sleepouts – Versatile Homes & Buildings; Garden power tools (hedge trimmers, chainsaws etc) – Stihl; Electrical appliance stores – Noel Leeming; Gardening products (seeds, fertilisers, soils etc) – Yates; General insurance (home, contents, car) – AA Insurance; Glues & construction adhesives – Selleys; Hair care – Head & Shoulders; Health insurance – Southern Cross Health Society; Hearing services – Bay Audiology; Heat pumps – Fujitsu; Home builders – G.J. Gardner; Home improvement stores – Mitre 10; Ice cream – Tip Top; Jewellers – Michael Hill Jeweller; Kitchen designer and manufacturers – Kitchen Studio; Large kitchen appliances – Fisher & Paykel; Laundry appliances – Fisher & Paykel; Laundry detergent - Persil; Lawnmowers – Masport; Life insurance – AA Life; Manufacturer certified used car sales – Toyota Signature Class; Marine engine – Yamaha; Milk – Anchor; Kindergarten centre operators – BestStart; Muesli & snacks – Nice & Natural; NZ Wines – Villa Maria; Optometrists – Specsavers; Pain relief – Panadol; Paint – Resene; Real estate agencies – Harcourts; Retailer (excluding supermarkets and home improvement stores) – The Warehouse; Sealants & fillers – Selleys; Skin care (anti-ageing) Nivea; Small kitchen appliances – Breville; Supermarket / home brand – Pams; Supermarkets – Pak’nSave; Tea – Dilmah; Tyres – Bridgestone; Vacuum cleaners – Dyson; Vegetarian food – Lisa’s Hummus; Vitamin & Supplements – Healtheries; Soups – Watties; Used vehicle dealership – Turners. NZ iconic brands – Whittaker’s. Highly commended ratings were also acknowledged in the survey. Each category contains one winning, and two highly commended brands. These brands scored higher in their respective categories than the other brands polled. Those receiving highly commended plaudits include: AMI and State; Summerset Retirement Villages; Kapiti (ice cream); Lockwood; Nikon (digital cameras); and Dilworth Hearing. There are those receiving this accolade for the first time - for example, Lewis Road Creamery (milk), Rhino Carpet and Enterprise Motor Group, and at the other end of the spectrum – Blackmores (vitamins and supplements), which has featured 10 times. For the full Trusted Brands survey results see <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/results.asp" target="_blank">https://www.trustedbrands.co.nz/results.asp</a>

Money & Banking

Global trust crisis as people no longer believe hard work will bring a better life

Many people no longer believe that <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/2020-edelman-trust-barometer-shows-growing-sense-of-inequality/11883788">hard work will lead to a better life</a>, a new survey found. In its <a href="https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2020-01/2020%20Edelman%20Trust%20Barometer%20Global%20Report_LIVE.pdf">20th annual Trust Barometer</a>, which polled more than 34,000 people in 28 countries, public relations firm Edelman found that despite strong economic performance, the majority of people in developed markets said they believe they and their families will not be better off in five years’ time. “We are living in a trust paradox,” said the agency’s CEO Richard Edelman. “Since we began measuring trust 20 years ago, economic growth has fostered rising trust. This continues in Asia and the Middle East but not in developed markets, where national income inequality is now the more important factor in institutional trust. “Fears are stifling hope, as long-held assumptions about hard work leading to upward mobility are now invalid.” Trust in government also continued to decline as people grappled with concerns over job insecurity and income inequality. More than four out of five (83 per cent) employees said they worry about losing their job due to a range of factors, including gig economy, looming recession, foreign competitors and automation. Government was viewed as the most unethical and least competent institution, with only 42 per cent of respondents saying they have confidence that government leaders will be able to address the challenges int their country. Media was also considered incompetent and unethical, with 57 per cent saying the media they consume contain untrustworthy information. Business ranked the highest in competence but was deemed unethical, with the majority of respondents agreeing that capitalism does more harm than good in the world today. No institution was seen as fair in the survey’s index of public perception.

Retirement Income

3 reasons to trust a travel agent when booking a cruise

Cruising with a travel agent may not have been who you were thinking of turning to when you decided you wanted to book a holiday. Afterall, there are many options already available at the touch of a finger. Online directories, websites and information pages are just some of the many options available when you want to book a holiday. However, there is a level of expertise and passion for finding what is best for a prospective traveller that you just can’t find anywhere else. Here is why travel agents make booking a cruise that much better. 1. They know more than you do If you’re not a regular cruiser, there are a number of things you may not know about booking a holiday or ways to make it the best one possible. A good travel adviser is extremely important when booking a holiday, as they can match your interests with the right cruise to make sure you have the best options possible. 2. They’re on the ball New itineraries, deals and bargains are usually released to travel agents first. Those looking for a good cruise steal that works for them and their needs are better off opting for one of their local travel agents who have the most up-to-date information. 3. They organise everything Once your cruise is booked, your travel agent has access to some of the best extras as well. A travel agent is able to look after you from start to finish -whether that is flights, pre ad post-accommodation packages and even visas. Will you use a travel agent when booking your next high seas getaway? Let us know in the comments below.

Cruising

"Born out of wedlock": Liz Hurley's son set to inherit nothing

The biological grandfather of Liz Hurley’s son is doing everything within his power to stop Hurley’s son from getting any of the family fortune. Damian Charles Hurley was born in 2002 after Liz Hurley was romantically involved with US businessman Steve Bing. As Steve has an estimated net worth of $USD600 million ($AU853 million), with the bulk of his wealth coming from his grandfather, Leo S. Bing, a New York real estate baron, it makes sense that the family would want to protect the fortune. The grandfather, Dr Peter Bing, is trying to prevent Damian from getting involved with the family trust. Peter Bing has argued that Damian and Steve have never met since he was born, and that Damian isn’t eligible for the trust as he was “born out of wedlock”. Although that rule might sound old-fashioned, the trust was established in 1980 and states, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/elizabeth-hurleys-son-damian-to-14097520" target="_blank">The Mirror</a>: “[The trust] would not benefit any person bought out of wedlock unless that person had lived for a substantial period of time as a regular member of the household.” The legal battle began after another of Steve Bing’s illegitimate children, Kira Bing, claimed she was a beneficiary of the trust and wanted information on it. Despite Steve Bing demanding paternity tests for both children, they confirmed that Kira and Damian are his children. Peter Bing’s claim is that since Damian and Kira have never lived with Steve, they do not have rights to the trust. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824541/liz-hurley-steve-bing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0e2a1c2fa12a413da8e49e6094726a09" /> Elizabeth Hurley with boyfriend Steven Bing in 2001. In Peter Bing’s affidavit, he claims: “l know that neither of them has lived with Stephen while a minor as a regular member of his household,” the affidavit states. “To the best of my knowledge, Stephen has never met Damian, and Stephen only met Kira after she became an adult. “Regardless of whether, when and if Stephen met with or had any relationship with Damian or Kira while they are or were minor because neither was raised by him during their formative years l do not consider them my grandchildren. “Even were Stephen to develop a relationship with Damian now, l would not consider him my grandchild because he is nearing adulthood.” As the legal battle continues, it is unknown whether Damian and Kira will benefit from the family’s trust.

Legal

Michael Jackson's trusted staffer goes public: "It's time for the world to know"

Michael Jackson’s former staff have opened up about what they witnessed at the Neverland in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the King of Pop. Almost 10 years after Jackson’s passing, the singer continues to dominate headlines. Earlier this month, Jackson’s family filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO over its documentary Leaving Neverland, which focuses on two men who have accused the late pop star of molesting them as children. Jackson’s former private security guard Melanie Bagnall has told <a href="https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/michael-jacksons-security-guard-breaks-silence-032906735.html">Sunday Night</a> about her experience of working at Jackson’s residence at the Neverland Ranch in California, US. “It’s time for the world to know,” said Bagnall, who claimed she saw bizarre behaviour during her three years of working for Jackson. “There was a child sitting on his lap and he had his hands close to his genitalia,” Ms Bagnall said. “Like, cupping his genitalia. “It was disturbing, it was alarming, a confirmation in a way … I think Neverland was built for his pleasure. I think it was part of romancing kids. You know?” Former maid Adrian McManus, who worked from 1990 to 1994 at the ranch, also told <a href="https://www.9now.com.au/60-minutes/2019/extras/clips/clip-cjsil2mys001f0hph2q218e8x">60 Minutes</a> that some of her findings gave her “anxiety and misery”. “I knew the little boys were there,” said McManus. “When they would arrive they would put their clothes in a suitcase and the suitcase in this room. I started realising, thinking, wondering, when he was taking baths with them, with the boys, and they were sleeping in his bed. “When I would go in the next day there were little boys’ underwear either on the floor with Michael’s, or they were in the jacuzzi.” McManus also claimed that Vaseline could be found all over the ranch. In January, Jackson’s brother Jermaine Jackson told Good Morning Britain that his family was “tired” of the allegations. “I am a thousand per cent sure because Michael was tried by a jury of his peers and he was acquitted on all of this because there was no real evidence,” he said. “There was nothing there. And I will say this, our family are tired. We’re very tired. “Let this man rest. He did a lot for the world, let him rest. I’ll just say this, there is no truth to this documentary.” Jackson’s lawyer Tom Mesereau, who helped the singer get acquitted in a 2005 child molestation case, continued to deny allegations of sexual abuse.

Music

Would you trust a robot with your life?

First, let's put the Terminator to bed, sort of. Dr Simon Kos is the chief medical officer of Microsoft's $10b plus worldwide health unit. He was in Rotorua recently as the keynote speaker at the Health Informatics NZ Conference, and in the refined environment of the Millenium Hotel Club Room, we're discussing the staggering advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Stephen Hawking recently claimed AI could be the end of mankind. Could the technology go rogue? "The short answer is yes," said Kos. "It makes a great plot for a sci-fi movie and the reason I say yes is because in the early experimentation of some of this AI we had some of our own direct learnings." Kos is talking about Microsoft's AI 'chatbot' Tay, which after being linked to Twitter did indeed go rogue. He described Tay as a "garbage in garbage out" AI, and when the inputted 'garbage' included sexist and racist content, "soon Tay was starting to respond with this sort of material." Now the good news. "Extend that to the Terminator 'Judgement Day' scenario. Would you have an AI agent with the keys to nuclear weapons? (You) probably wouldn't." Kos said the Tay experience proved the need for AI to have human checks and balances, something he said is quite a simple process. "(It is) the junction between a future of computers going rogue and how we can shape the future we want." Kos began his career as a frontline doctor in Australia in the 1990s, working in intensive care and emergency units. His decision to join Microsoft's health unit in 2010 was prompted by the growing digitisation of the medical world. The second prompt can be traced back as far as the Third Century BC and the Hippocratic Oath instruction 'first do no harm'. "If I projected out my clinical career I would have caused patient harm by not having the right information to make the right decisions," he said. "I thought who's fixing that?" One of Microsoft's current fixes is the AI Project Hanover. Kos said this was essentially a search system on steroids, using natural language processing to enable medical researchers to hone in on all the required research on a subject - he uses the example of a specific cancer gene. "If you want to stay current in your medical literature, you should be reading about 28 hours a day. This is the conundrum modern clinicians face," he said. Kos is optimistic about not just about the future, but now. He said we already have robots that are conducting prostate operations with a far higher level of success than human surgeons, Project Hanover is speeding up research and a US project using AI to speed up retinal exams for diabetics has seen compliance rates for the yearly checks increase from between 33 and 50 per cent to more than 80 per cent. Virtual reality and hologram technology is coming on in leaps and bounds too, he said. The surgeon in the US operating on the patient in Japan? "We're almost there." There's a frustration too though. Kos said the digitisation of medical information was creating an ever-expanding source of untapped knowledge. "We don't have permission to break open that black box, look at the information and use it, but that's the gold mine sitting there. Your information could be the next breakthrough that leads us to the cure for cancer." Kos said Microsoft was already "aggressively" lobbying European governments to get access to that gold mine, reassuring that proper privacy checks would be in place. He's also slightly frustrated by what he refers to as the lag time - the gap between medical best practice being ascertained and going into frontline practice. "X-rays on pregnant ladies. That persisted long after the evidence was out. My hope is that with AI reducing the latency between when we've got the findings and when it comes into clinical practice, we can start to get better patient outcomes." He said the recent WannaCry cyber attack on the British National Health Service shouldn't dampen enthusiasm for technology use, but rather act as a wake-up call to keep systems updated. He's aware of a the darker side of the tech space though, even referring to cases where building management systems have been hijacked and threats issued that hackers would turn off operating theatre lights mid-procedure. It's big business, he said, with a black market existing for medical data. "Nation state actors and national espionage, we absolutely see that. We track that through our digital crimes unit. I probably can't say much more than that," he said. Overall however, Kos sees the benefits of the technology as far outweighing any risks, provided the human element remains. "I very much see it as human augmentation rather than human replacement," he said. "We're far from being redundant." What are your thoughts? Written by Benn Bathgate. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Technology

Trust funds can work but you must be wary

As a child I remember my father saying that one pound put into a bank account for a newborn child and left to compound for 30 years would be worth some huge amount of money. I do not recall the number, but to my young ears it seemed some incredible sum of money - like a telephone number (although remember that telephone numbers were only four digits in those days). Whatever the actual numbers, we all know that a relatively small amount of money invested for a newborn baby will be worth a tidy and useful sum in 20 to 30 years. There are many of us who want to help their child or grandchild - we want to make a gift of money and use the miracle of compound interest to support the new little miracle of life. So, how do we go about this? After all, intent is one thing but the practicalities are quite another. While it may seem a simple thing to use the power of compound interest for the years a child is growing, when you really look at it, things are not that simple. The first difficulty is the ownership of the fund that is established. If the fund is in the child's name, on turning 18, the money becomes that child's. That may be fine - you may be perfectly happy for the child to take the money and buy a motorbike and have a big party, but the intent of putting aside some money is more usually for the child's education or to help with the deposit on a house. As an alternative, you may hold the money for the child, resolving to give this money at a certain age or circumstance (eg, first house or tertiary education). The difficulty with this is that in the absence of any legal document to the contrary, the funds that you hold for the child will be yours and deemed so in areas like tax, asset testing, Working For Families, insolvency etc. To resolve this you could establish a trust - but if you have not already established a trust there will be considerable expense for establishment and ongoing management and interest from the child's fund could be taxed at 33c. The second difficulty is the investment strategy. It is easy enough to set up a bank account in the child's name and to make contributions to it which will mean that the interest will be taxed at the child's own low rate. However, a simple bank account will give low returns. This is important: for an investment of 20 years or more, there should be a very high proportion of shares and property. To illustrate, a gift of $10,000 put into a simple bank account earning 3 per cent would be worth $18,000, but a growth portfolio earning 6 per cent would be worth $33,000. The third difficulty is tax. This is linked to the ownership of funds: if the donor (parent, grandparent etc) owns the fund, the returns are taxed as their income; if the child owns the fund, they are likely to be taxed at a much lower rate. So, given the desire to use the power of compound interest to give the child the best start, what should you do? Well, there are options, but none of them is perfect: first, you could simply open a bank account in the child's name (but, as shown, the lower returns will mean that compound interest is lower too). Third, you could establish some kind of trust for the child (but the costs of this mean that you will have to gift a good deal of money to make it worthwhile - and there are also difficult tax considerations). I do not have an easy answer to this. Your love for that new little speckle of life means that you want to help, but you have to recognise that, in a practical sense, using compound interest to give that help is not simple. You need to weigh all the factors and then choose the best (although probably imperfect) means of help for your family. Have you set up a trust fund? Written by Martin Hawes. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Martin Hawes is an authorised financial adviser. A disclosure statement is available on request and free of charge, or can be found at martinhawes.com. This article is of a general nature and is not personalised financial advice.

Legal

Why you shouldn’t trust hotel star ratings

Remember when the star rating of hotels would determine if you stayed at a place or not? Those days are long gone, thanks to travel review sites like TripAdvsor, which have changed the way we travel. No longer are stars the only information travellers have to judge the suitability of an accommodation facility. Today, there are so many resources available to travellers to help them decide their travel needs – from various official rating systems to consumer reviews. From modest beginnings in 2000, TripAdvisor is now the go-to website for hotel reviews with an ever-growing online community posting millions of reviews every year. The website’s “traveller ranking’’ – the TripAdvisor Popularity Index – can make or break a hotel. “The popularity ranking algorithm, which refreshes daily, is not solely on reviews but also looks at a number of features including recency as well as quality and quantity of reviews and the consistency of ratings over time,’’ TripAdvisor communications director Janice Lee Fang told news.com.au. “Every single review goes through our tracking system which maps how, what, where and when of each review and we use cutting-edge technology and investigation methods to ensure consumers find reviews accurate and helpful in determining the quality of the trip experience.’’ But can you trust the reviews on these sites? Expedia managing director Michael Pearson says that while guest reviews are valuable, they need to be read with a discerning eye. “Make sure you read both positive and negative comments and keep an eye out for points that are most relevant to you such as location, room size, breakfast quality and Wi-Fi,’’ he says. “We recommend searching for a hotel with a large number of reviews, which help provide more accurate scoring and also just how popular the hotel is, and if you do come across a negative review see how it stacks up to the rest as one poor review is not necessarily providing a balanced overview. “It’s also important to note all Expedia reviews are verified, which means only travellers who stayed in the hotel are able to post a review.’’

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Sapling planted at Sycamore Gap to "restore hope" removed by National Trust

King Charles cuts ties with TV host over affair revelations