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Windows 10 Q&A: How can I get security updates for another year, for free?

Windows 10 Q&A: How can I get security updates for another year, for free?

Microsoft is today officially pulling the plug on Windows 10 - its 10-year-old operating system that still runs hundreds of thousands of computers in New Zealand, and hundreds of millions around the world. The tech giant will no longer provide security updates for the software, meaning it will become more exposed to hackers over time. Microsoft says software first released in 2015 just can’t be endlessly tweaked around the edges to keep up with modern security threats, many of which simply didn’t exist 10 years ago. At some point, you have to upgrade to a fundamentally redesigned system. Is this really the end? Nope. There’s essentially been a stay of execution. On the heels of lobbying by groups like Consumer NZ, Microsoft created an Extended Security Updates program (known as ESU) that will keep updating Windows 10 PCs until October 13, 2026. And you can enrol in the extended upgrade programme for free - if you’re using Windows 10 for personal use. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update then click “Enrol now”. All you have to do is choose the option to back up your PC’s settings to a OneDrive account (Microsoft’s cloud or online storage). You’re not backing up your whole computer, just a few lines of settings, so a basic free OneDrive account is fine. You also have the option to redeem Microsoft rewards points - which you’ll likely have accumulated if you’re an Xbox player - but simply backing up should be fine for most people. Microsoft has instructions here. What if I’m using Windows 10 for business? Then you’ve got to pay $50.40 (per computer) to join the extended update program. Can I just fib and say my work PC is for home? No. Not if Microsoft detects it has Active Directory Services or Entra ID enabled, indicating it’s on a business network. But I still want to get off the creaky Windows 10 at some point, right? What will it cost to upgrade my computer to Windows 11? Nothing. Microsoft is offering free upgrades. What’s the catch? Your computer has to have enough horsepower to run Windows 11. There’s probably a better chance than you’d think, going by some coverage. Windows 11 - released four years ago - has relatively modest hardware requirements, such as 4GB of RAM. Microsoft has a free app that will tell you if your PC can handle Windows 11. Download it here. What if my PC’s not powerful enough to run Windows 11 - or it will, but it’s just too sluggish with my 4GB of RAM and other bare-minimum specs? You have to buy a new computer. Can’t I just install a free operating system like Linux to run my PC instead? My mate knows how. Not if you want to use all the apps you’re using today, in the same way. For most people, it’s not a viable option. Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald’s business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.

More than 1500 Bay of Plenty secondary teachers striking over pay dispute

More than 1500 Bay of Plenty secondary teachers striking over pay dispute

Senior and area school teachers are the latest to take strike action, with more than 1500 in the Bay of Plenty set to walk off the job over their pay dispute with the Government. This includes 800 in the western Bay of Plenty and about 450 in Rotorua. A business leader says the strikes could hit local companies, and another says small- and medium-sized operators may have limited sympathy for public servants seeking pay rises in a tight economy. About 21,000 Post-Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) members voted last week to take partial rolling strikes, affecting different year groups on separate days this week, among other action. They will join nurses, midwives, other healthcare workers, and primary teachers in a nationwide mega-strike on October 23, with more than 8000 Bay of Plenty workers walking off the job that day. Bay of Plenty regional PPTA chairwoman Kim Wilson said its members taught from Years 7 to 13 in state and state-integrated schools, including area schools. It had about 450 members in the wider Rotorua area and 250 around the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Rotorua members would be picketing from 7.30am to 8am on Wednesday, outside Lakes High School and on the corner of Malfroy and Old Taupō Rds. Western Bay of Plenty regional PPTA chairwoman Julie Secker said there were 800 PPTA members from Katikati to Te Puke. Members would picket outside Otumoetai College at 8am on Thursday, with more being planned. PPTA Te Wehengarua president Chris Abercrombie said members “strongly endorsed” strike action. Negotiations between the PPTA and the Government began in August, and teachers voted to strike over a proposed pay increase of 1% every year for three years. Abercrombie told RNZ the latest offer of a 2.5% pay increase after settlement and 2% a year later was “worse” and could mean no further pay rises for up to 24 months. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, who is negotiating with the teachers, urged the union to return to the bargaining table. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche. Photo / NZME Roche is also bargaining with the primary school teacher unions. Roche told RNZ he believed the offer for teachers was “fair and fiscally responsible”. Associate Education Minister David Seymour defended the pay offer, saying the teachers’ pay had increased by 14% over the past few years and 60% of teachers earned more than $100,000. Also striking this week are NZ Professional Firefighter Union members, including 50 in Tauranga and 70 in Rotorua who will walk off the job for an hour on Friday. Union president Joanne Watson said support staff, communication staff, health and safety and risk reduction officers, and trainers would join firefighters on strike.Tauranga Senior Firefighter Steven Opie (left) and Senior Station Officer Curtis van Heyden, along with other career firefighters, are taking industrial action for better pay, staffing, and operational resources. Photo / Sandra Conchie While the union was not striking on October 23, off-duty members would support the mass strike. Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley said there could be public support for critical public services to be optimally resourced. “However, requests for public servant pay rises are unlikely to get much support from local small and medium business owners, as many have seen their take-home pay drop to cover their business’s rising costs and slow revenue in this tight economy.” Rotorua Business Chamber president Paul Ingram said these strikes had the potential to “negatively impact” Rotorua businesses faced with significant challenges due to the current economic climate. “For example, team members of local businesses will likely need to take unplanned leave to provide care for children who would otherwise be in school.” He said it was important to find a balance between financial constraints and the “well-being and equity for all workers.” Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua...

Auckland’s yum cha restaurants running out of steam

Auckland’s yum cha restaurants running out of steam

By Duoya Lu of RNZ Several established Chinese restaurants in Auckland renowned for serving authentic Cantonese dim sum have gone into liquidation in recent months. Some of the Chinese eateries still standing say they are struggling to stay in business. Yum cha, a Cantonese dining tradition that pairs tea consumption with small, shared dishes known as dim sum, has long been a hallmark of Chinese restaurants nationwide. Now, however, the long-standing tradition is under strain. Sluggish consumer spending, rising operational costs and changing dining habits have forced some operators to shut their doors. Imperial Palace Restaurant, which opened in Mt Wellington in 2009, was placed into liquidation on June 4. Dragonboat Restaurant was placed into liquidation in July. Photo / RNZ, Yiting Lin One month later, Dragonboat Restaurant in central Auckland was also placed in liquidation after operating for 31 years. By the end of August, renowned yum cha operator Sun World Seafood Restaurant in Newmarket had met the same fate. According to the liquidators’ report, the restaurant suffered a severe cashflow deficit during the Covid-19 pandemic and had been unable to recover financially. Despite efforts to stabilise operations, the business continued to be affected by the broader economic downturn and sustained increases in key operating costs. Ocean Yu found it hard to close Star Cafe Seafood Restaurant. Photo / RNZ, Yiting Lin Ocean Yu, director of popular Cantonese outlet Star Cafe Seafood Restaurant, said he had made the painful decision to close his restaurant on the North Shore on September 30 after six years of business. Yu said the end of the lease and a sharp decline in customers from 2023 were key reasons behind the closure. He said customers had begun dining out less frequently and become more selective about where they spent their money. “Now people only go out for special occasions, like birthdays or wedding anniversaries,” Yu said. “Most of the time, household spending has tightened significantly.” Yu said an increasingly competitive market had also contributed to the closure of many Chinese eateries specialising in yum cha. “There’s been a wave of Chinese restaurants opening on Auckland’s North Shore,” he said. “There used to be just four or five yum cha places here – now there are nearly 10. However, the customer base is limited.” Star Cafe Seafood Restaurant closed its doors in September. Photo / RNZ, Yiting Lin He said shifting migrant demographics posed another challenge. Most of his customers were typically older than 35 years old, mainly families and senior diners, he said. However, that core audience had slowly shrunk as younger migrants arrived, he said. “Yum cha restaurants will still be around,” he said. “But the shift in customer age could lead to fewer of them,” he said. “Older diners used to go for yum cha every week, but the younger generation doesn’t see it that way. “I’ve noticed the trend. That’s why I have decided not to invest any more money in it.” Yu said while he planned to open a new Chinese restaurant, he ruled out starting another yum cha establishment. Slashing prices Zhuolun He, owner of Golden Rooster Chinese Restaurant in Auckland’s Rosedale, is originally from China’s Guangdong province and has a deep connection to his hometown cuisine, one of the main reasons he continues to serve Cantonese dim sum to his customers. “Yum cha is more than just a meal – it’s a tradition and part of daily life,” he said. “Many seniors, community groups and families like to come in the morning for dim sum and tea, forming a regular crowd. “When the economy is good, I see these regulars almost every day. We would chat and catch up. … That’s how social bonds are built.” Although his customers still enjoyed the food, he noticed a significant drop in foot traffic this year. “Two years ago, most of my customers were middle-income professionals - they’re all gone now,” he said. “Some returned a few months ago...

Pak’nSave Rolleston, South Island’s biggest supermarket, opens its doors

Pak’nSave Rolleston, South Island’s biggest supermarket, opens its doors

Rolleston has a new local landmark today, with the South Island’s largest supermarket officially opening its doors. At 8100sq m and representing a $40 million-plus investment, Pak’nSave Rolleston brings both scale and substance to New Zealand’s fastest-growing district. About 270 people have joined the store’s team, making it one of the largest single employers in Selwyn, two months before the original schedule. From the moment the doors opened this morning, customers were welcomed with bustling aisles, a bakery churning out its first loaves and speciality donuts, butchers serving fresh cuts and hot food ready to go. Foodstuffs South Island chief executive Mary Devine said the opening marks the beginning of a new chapter for Selwyn. “This is more than a supermarket – it’s a community hub built to last for generations. The scale, resilience and sustainable design mean Rolleston is well-served today, and well-prepared for tomorrow,” she said. Pak'nSave Rolleston officially opened its doors today. The IL3-standard design, rooftop solar and back-up generator capability gives greater assurance it can keep operating during and after major events – a first for Selwyn supermarkets. The store is owned and operated by Phill and Sarah Blackburn, who are experienced grocers with a reputation for putting their community first. The Blackburns have over 24 years of grocery experience under their belts, having previously owned and operated Pak’nSave Riccarton, New World Ilam, New World Balclutha and managing New World Wānaka. “We’re incredibly proud to welcome our community and customers through the doors today,” Phill Blackburn said. “Our team has worked tirelessly to get ready and it’s fantastic to finally see all the planning come to fruition.” Sarah Blackburn added: “What excites us most is being part of Rolleston’s and Selwyn’s story. This is a fast-growing, vibrant community and we want people to walk through our doors and feel like this is their supermarket – built for them by a co-operative that invests in and cares for communities and with locals on the team.” Alongside their engagement with local schools and aligning with the E Tū Tāngata programme, the Blackburns have been connecting with the community through the Selwyn District Council, police and iwi, all part of their commitment to being a strong partner from day one.