All the news that fits in emoji: December 12

Why say it in 140 characters when you’ve got pages of emoji at your disposal?

TENTATIVE TICK TO ONLINE VOTING

The Government has given the green light to trialling online voting during local body elections in two year’s’ time. Details of the trial, which will involve a limited number of local bodies, are yet to be decided, but ratepayers will have to cover the expected cost of $8 to $10 million.

NO SURPLUS THIS CHRISTMAS

The Government’s tax take is lower than forecast according to latest official financial statements, a sign that people are thinking twice before opening their wallets in the lead-up to Christmas. Finance Minister Bill English has conceded that it will be more difficult than expected to return to a government surplus this financial year.

ANYTHING TO DECLARE?

Overseas yachts arriving in New Zealand are under closer scrutiny this season following last summer’s fruit-fly scare in Whangarei, which triggered a costly full-scale biosecurity alert. The Ministry of Primary Industries say the fruit-fly would devastated New Zealand’s horticultural industry if it became established and is stepping up efforts to keep the pest out.

MINDING THE GAP

A new OECD report says New Zealand has one of the fastest-growing rates of income inequality among the world’s richest countries, and that the growing gap between rich and poor is leading to lower overall economic growth. Politicians have disputed its findings, but education groups say it shows more funding for poor schools and more courses for poorly-educated adults could improve the economy.

DEFAMATORY TEA?

Bradley Ambrose, the freelance reporter at the centre of the so-called “teapot tapes” incident in November 2011, is seeking $1.25m in damages from John Key, claiming the Prime Minister has defamed him.