Posts Tagged ‘Batya Ungar-Sargon’
Are we drifting away or falling apart?
Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, May 18th, 2024 - 16 comments
What is the antidote for our socio-economic problems and how do we deal with this coalition government?
- March for Nature
Do do do do do do do doDo do do do do doDi di di di di di di di di di diNature enter me…In 2018 the Labour lead government banned new oil and gas exploration in Aotearoa. A change welcomed by those who care deeply for our environment and ...1 hour ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Thursday, June 6
The Transport Minister is trying to push through urgent legislation that would allow him to change emissions standards for car imports without approval from Parliament, after only consulting car importers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Just as two major reports showed fossil fuel burning was warming the planet to dangerous levels and ...2 hours ago - A Better Broadway: Act 2
This is a guest post by reader Grant A, the second of a pair about how to fix Broadway. If you missed the beginning of the show, here’s the link to Act 1 from yesterday. Yesterday, I discussed changing traffic circulation around Broadway in Newmarket. This included implementing a car-free ...4 hours ago - National breaks another health promise
National has broken another manifesto health promise, apparently to save only $550,000. It will now train an additional 25 med students next year rather than the 50 it promised. This comes on top of the delays caused by National’s coalition partners in pushing ahead with the Waikato Medical School and ...7 hours ago - Rawiri Waititi’s gift to the coalition
Graham Adams predicts the government will win any showdown between order and anarchy. Not every government is lucky enough to be gifted a parliamentary opponent who effortlessly makes its leaders look sagacious and principled. Someone who immediately makes them look competent and sane in comparison, and very much the adults ...15 hours ago - An 86-year-old has better budget policies
Richard Prebble writes – A “pakeha budget” would not cut the NZ Symphony Orchestra funding and maintain funding to Te Māngai Pāho. The agency’s CEO in a press release said the budget “signaled good news for the te reo sector…continuity of funding” for Maori media.A “pakeha budget” would ...18 hours ago - Climate Adam: Coping as the world’s best known climate scientist
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Katharine Hayhoe is quite possibly the world's most famous climate scientist. She's produced wide ranging research, and communicated climate change with ...19 hours ago - But wait – there’s more
Ele Ludemann writes – Andrea Vance reports on more allegations about the misuse of personal data for political advantage: Te Pāti Māori is facing fresh allegations that personal information collected for the Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was used for political campaigning. A complaint was laid with the Electoral ...19 hours ago - Provincial Growth Fund wasn’t a big vote-winner – and much of a $36m farm support initiative wil...Buzz from the Beehive Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today is generating admiring headlines – or hoping to do so – by celebrating the realisation of big-spending announcements in 2019 and 2020. Back then he was the Minister in charge of the Provincial Growth Fund, and would have been counting ...19 hours ago
- SIS “evidence” isn’t, again
Back in 2016, then-Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne cancelled a New Zealand woman's passport, claiming she was a terrorist. The basis for his decision was a secret briefing by the SIS, which claimed that if she was allowed to travel, the woman would "engage with individuals who encourage acts of ...21 hours ago - As Low As You Go
Taking you as low as you goAs low as you goA sense of Déjà vu this morning. How many times have I begun a newsletter, “just when you thought they couldn’t go any lower…” Only for the groundhog to reappear, more pissed off than the day before.Another day with headlines ...23 hours ago - Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Wednesday June 5
TL;DR: The public health costs of human-caused air pollution in Aotearoa-NZ is estimated at $38.8 billion a year because it kills 3,300 people each year, which is almost ten times more than the death toll on roads from accidents. Yet the Ministry for the Environment has just one staff member ...1 day ago - A Better Broadway: Act 1This is the first of a two-part guest post by Grant A, a long time reader and commenter with a keen interest in all things urban, especially cycling and public transport. He’s been thinking about how to fix Broadway. Stay tuned for Act 2! Readers might remember the pre-Christmas traffic snarl-ups in ...1 day ago
- Road trance
Sometimes technology is your friend and sometimes it can’t be bothered with you. Once you’re away from home and your dependable wifi, well, there’s no telling what will happen. I’ve been going in and out of high-speed and low-speed no-speed Internet pockets all over England and France and look, I’m ...1 day ago - You Can't Undo Fake NewsHi,I’ve been thinking a lot about Corey Harris, the 44-year old man who went viral after Zooming into his court appearance while driving. The headlines generated were basically all the same: “Man With Suspended Driver's License Dials Into Court Hearing While Driving”. The headlines said it all, and most people ...1 day ago
- At a glance – CO2 is the main driver of climate changeOn February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...2 days ago
- Acting Prime Minister David Seymour.
When it came to David Seymour, Jacinda got one thing right, and another wrong. What is the sacrilege, I hear you ask? In what world in relation to David Seymour was our Jacinda ever wrong?Subscribe nowAs you no doubt remember, and personally I think there should be some sort of ...2 days ago - More democratic abuse from National"Abuse of democracy" seems to be the emerging theme of this government, with bills rammed through under urgency or given pathetically short select committee submission times seemingly designed to limit and undermine public engagement. And today we have another case, with the public given just nine days to submit on ...2 days ago
- Maori Wards? Maori electorates? Away with them allDon Brash writes – The Coalition Agreements which the National Party reached with the ACT and New Zealand First parties oblige the new Government to “restore the right to local referendum on the establishment or ongoing use of Maori wards, including requiring a referendum on any wards established ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the curse of being politically moderate about everythingNigel Farage’s initial reason for not standing in the British election – because he wanted to be a Trump adviser – never looked very convincing. His perfectly timed “change of mind” though, has won him extensive media coverage, and he’s now plunging into the election campaign as the rival candidate ...2 days ago
- A great ideaDavid Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Te Pāti Māori has issued a Declaration of Political Independence, Te Ngākau o Te Iwi Māori, beginning the process to establish its own Māori Parliament. This is a great idea. I’m all for a Maori Parliament and Government, funded by ...2 days ago
- The PM remembers to congratulate honours winners while colleagues are forging links with foreign par...Buzz from the Beehive Someone must have reminded the PM what day it was yesterday, because after Point of Order had checked the government’s official website for the latest announcements yesterday morning, we found a press statement headed … PM congratulates King’s Birthday Honours recipients Something else that hadn’t been ...2 days ago
- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Tuesday, June 4
2 days ago - Budget 2024 HighlightsLast week the government delivered their first budget and while there’s been plenty of other discussion about the main aspects of it, I was particularly interested to look at what it meant for transport. Before getting into too much detail, the chart below shows at a high level where transport ...2 days ago
- Jeff Masters and Bob Henson give us the low-down on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane seasonThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Samantha Harrington (Background photo credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project / CC BY 2.0 DEED) To kick off hurricane season, Yale Climate Connections editors Sara Peach and Sam Harrington sat down with meteorologists and Eye on the Storm writers Jeff Masters and Bob ...2 days ago
- There’s news today of guns and gongs – and of the PM’s trip to Niue and Fiji while Shane Jones...Buzz from the Beehive Guns, gongs and goings feature on the government’s official website today. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has announced the Government is delivering on a commitment made in the National-ACT coalition agreement by commencing a review of the Firearms Registry. That takes care of the “guns” part ...3 days ago
- ‘Beads and blankets’ buying votesEle Ludemann writes – There is so much wrong with what is alleged here: A Te Pāti Māori MP and the marae she once ran are at the centre of claims that private information collected during the census was used for political campaigning. Stats NZ, the Government’s official ...3 days ago
- Bernard's pick 'n' mix for Monday, June 3
TL;DR: The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, which consumes over 15% of the motu’s renewable electricity, has struck a deal to stay open for another 20 years. This will delay Aotearoa-NZ’s transition to carbon zero and make it more expensive and unfair for the 100,000 households who currently can’t afford their ...3 days ago - maBaguette
Today we rolled through troglodyte caves and ate a fresh roast chook by the river, the mighty Loire River, the still quite angry-looking Loire River. The Loire is not itself because it has been raining here for the last seven months without a break, the locals have been telling us, ...3 days ago - Empty Promises.
Fighting out of the blue corner, wearing a pale pink jacket, a half hearted smile, and a lot of flack from the left and the right, it’s your Finance Minister - Nicola Willis.Her challenger will probe the Minister for answers. Armed with boyish charm and tricky questions, the last remaining ...3 days ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #22A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 26, 2024 thru Sat, June 1, 2024. Story of the week Sometimes one story is not enough. Our ongoing 2023-2024 experiences with lethal heatwaves, early wildfires and a threatening Atlantic hurricane season ...4 days ago
- Treaty Principles Bill: Smokescreen for sweeping change?
Much has been said about how the coalition government’s Treaty Principles Bill distorts te Tiriti o Waitangi. However, it could also serve as a Trojan horse, installing an extreme libertarian agenda. We don’t know the intent driving the proposed Bill; however, many serious effects may ensue. Far from simply clarifying the ...4 days ago - Modern elections are supposed to be choreographed and disciplined – but not in Britain
British PM Rishi Sunak seems to have surprised everyone with last week’s announcement of a snap poll. Perhaps even himself, to judge by his surprisingly upbeat mood. Labour leader Keir Starmer’s troubles have probably cheered him up a bit, with the spotlight coming onto Starmer’s efforts to purge some of ...5 days ago - Fact Brief – Have climate models overestimated global warming?Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by John Mason in collaboration with members from the Gigafact team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Have climate models overestimated global warming? Climate ...5 days ago
- Te Pati Loco?
Normally I would not write about Maori issues. I may have been living in NZ for over 25 years but I do not feel that it is my place to opine because I am not an expert on Maori history … Continue reading ...5 days ago - Finding more for cancer drugsEle Ludemann writes – National campaigned on funding more cancer drugs but the government wasn’t able to do that in this Budget. These drugs would make the difference in both quality and length of life for some, and could be the difference between life and death for others. ...5 days ago
- Budget 2024 shows NZ has some tough choices to make – Scandinavia or SingaporeBryce Edwards writes – To truly understand yesterday’s [May 30] Budget, it’s worth returning to a statement made in 2020 by the then British High Commissioner Laura Clark that New Zealand has “Scandinavian ambitions in terms of quality of life and public services, but a US attitude to ...5 days ago
- Falling monkeys and 'kitty cat' stormsTornado damage, like this in Oklahoma, has left the insurance industry reeling at the accumulated scale of losses. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:A ...5 days ago
- The Hoon around the week to June 1Poster on Cuba St, Wellington. Similar signs were prominent at the Budget Day protests around the country. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent about extreme heat in India ...5 days ago
- Superannuitants who were disappointed by the Budget will be cheered (if they are hunters) by conserv...Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis hadn’t finished with wanting to tell us about Budget 2024 at the end of play on Budget Day. She had more announcements yesterday. One of these informed us that people will get to keep more of their own money from 31 July ...5 days ago
- Pedalling flat out
5 days ago - “Since 2009 I've Been Running a Facebook Page Devoted to Reptilian-Shapeshifters”
Hi,When Webworm contributor Jackson James Wood (the guy who marathoned Lord of the Rings and investigated Kremelta’s horny recipes) told me he’d been secretly running a Facebook page dedicated to reptilian shapeshifters for 15 years I said, “You must write about what you’ve learnt about both reptilians and the human ...5 days ago - 2024 Reading Summary: May (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for May: The King of Elfland’s Daughter, by Lord Dunsany The House on the Borderland, by William Hope Hodgson The Book of Wonder (collection), by Lord Dunsany Fifty-One Tales (collection), by Lord Dunsany Magna Carta (1215) The Creole Village, by Washington Irving Tales of Wonder (collection), by ...5 days ago - On Hens, Eggs, Temperature and CO2The original version of this blog – written by Giacomo Grassi, with contributions from Stefano Caserini, Giorgio Vacchiano, Gianni Comoretto, Claudio della Volpe, and Mario Grosso - appeared in the Italian climate website Climalteranti. The version here has been checked and further enriched by Pierre Friedlingstein (Global Carbon Project). A recent ...6 days ago
- The Taxpayers’ Union at Eleven
How to run a successful pressure group.In 2013 a group of idealists, led by Jordan Williams and David Farrar, established the Taxpayers’ Union. To celebrate its first decade as surely New Zealand’s most successful political pressure group NZTU published The Mission: The Taxpayers Union at 10, ten short interviews (by ...6 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Budget 2024 shows NZ has some tough choices to make – Scandinavia or Singapore
To truly understand yesterday’s Budget, it’s worth returning to a statement made in 2020 by the then British High Commissioner Laura Clark that New Zealand has “Scandinavian ambitions in terms of quality of life and public services, but a US attitude to tax”. Her point is that New Zealand politicians ...6 days ago - The Disease That Didn't Spread.
Not Wanted: What is truly astonishing about Pukekohe is that it was the only place in New Zealand where the vicious racism endemic to the other Anglo-states took hold with sufficient force to construct a permanent system of overt racial oppression and humiliation. At a moment in history when Western racial ...6 days ago - Naked corruptionThere's been all sorts of corruption swirling around the government's Muldoonist fast-track law, with various donors invited to apply. And now we have another case, with a donor demanding specific amendments to help it in a legal dispute: A NZ First donor wants Fast Track legislation to free up ...6 days ago
- Willis borrows an extra $12b to pay for $14.7b of tax cuts
Willis is dancing not-so-daintily on the head of a fiscal pin when she describes the tax cuts as ‘fully funded’ by spending cuts and a few little revenue increases. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered her first Budget, deciding to go ahead with long-promised ...6 days ago - The 2024 no-frills BudgetBryce Edwards writes – Today’s anti-government protests around the country will not be convinced by Nicola Willis’s budget. She has announced exactly what critics were expecting—a right-wing Budget containing tax cuts and further cuts to government programmes. Yet the Budget is far from being the “neoliberal” or radical ...6 days ago
- There WAS something in the Budget for Maori – it’s the farm sector and rural communities that Wi...Buzz from the Beehive Agriculture – the backbone of the economy – was not mentioned in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ first Budget speech. Nor was there any mention of “farming” or “horticulture” or “rural”. Hmm. Maybe there’s something for the farm sector in the deluge of press statements from Ministers ...6 days ago
- How Much a Fortnight?
I was supposed to be sent awayBut they forgot to come and get meI was a functioning alcoholic'Til nobody noticed my new aestheticAll of this to say I hope you're okayBut you're the reasonAnd no one here's to blameBut what about your quiet treason?Those first lines resonate, having done my ...6 days ago - Gordon Campbell on Nicola Willis and her surplus fetishSo…. according to the Treasury, we’ll have to borrow $17.1 billion by June 2028, to help fund ( among other things) a nearly $10 billion tax cut programme, also paid for by slashing billions – and 240 line items – from our public services. Conventional political wisdom to the contrary, ...6 days ago
- Budget learnings
And so this is budget week, and what have we learned? Or rather: what are the takeaway learnings going forward?Learning number 1: Just saying a thing is true doesn’t make it so Remember last year when these people were all like: Oh, we can totally do all this without borrowing we can ...6 days ago - Weekly Roundup 1-June-2024Welcome to June, a long weekend (happy birthday to all the kings and queens of urbanism out there), and another Rāmere Roundup! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week. Header image: Toitū te Tiriti march moving down Queen St, Thursday 30 May 2024 This Week ...6 days ago
- The next cuts will be the deepestA slowing economy and, consequently, a lower tax take means we are looking at three years of economic austerity from the Government. That austerity will be the product of what will need to be more deep cuts to Government spending. That much was evident from yesterday’s Budget, which showed tax ...6 days ago
- The Incredible Shrinking Nicola Willis
What you see is what you get. Mostly. For all the coalition haggling, culture wars and “let me be clear” obfuscation we’ve seen in the first six months of this government, National has delivered a very National budget. It’s not so much the axe being swung in this budget as ...7 days ago - Of George R.R, Martin, Adaptations, and Improving the Story
George R.R. Martin has taken a potshot at the adaptation process, arguing that screenwriters’ desire to improve on source material leads to a worse story outcome: https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2024/05/24/the-adaptation-tango/ “Everywhere you look, there are more screenwriters and producers eager to take great stories and “make them their own.” It does ...7 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #22 2024Open access notables Unveiling Unprecedented Methane Hotspots in China's Leading Coal Production Hub: A Satellite Mapping Revelation, Han et al., Geophysical Research Letters: China is likely the world's largest anthropogenic source of methane emissions, with coal mine methane (CMM) being the predominant contributor. Here, we deploy 2 years of satellite observations ...7 days ago
- Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live
Photo by Marino Linic on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...7 days ago - This mattersI've been watching the reports of the Māori-led protests all around the country this morning, seeing huge crowds not just in Auckland and Wellington and other major cities, but in much smaller places like Nelson and Whangārei. Its a significant show of opposition to the government, and hopefully they are ...7 days ago
- This mattersI've been watching the reports of the Māori-led protests all around the country this morning, seeing huge crowds not just in Auckland and Wellington and other major cities, but in much smaller places like Nelson and Whangārei. Its a significant show of opposition to the government, and hopefully they are ...7 days ago
- Taking less, not giving moreEle Ludemann writes – Ever since National talked about helping us by allowing us to keep some of our own money, critics have been vociferous in opposition. There are so many urgent needs in core public services – education, health, infrastructure, police . . . it’s not hard ...7 days ago
- Winston sums it up wellDavid Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has taken aim at Te Pāti Māori, calling them “radical extremists” and accusing them stoking racial division. Peters was responding to Te Pāti Māori’s promotion of the nationwide protests planned for Budget Day and comments ...7 days ago
- Karen Chhour has spoken about family violence – but the media are waiting for the Budget speech (a...Buzz from the Beehive We drew a blank, almost, when we checked the government’s official website this morning. Yes, there was a speech by the redoubtable Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour. For the rest of it, our comfortably paid ministers of the Crown have ...7 days ago
- Communication Breakdown.Inadequately Equipped: Forget the loud-hailers Minister, what you need is TikTok. Shane Jones marches into Blackball preaching the gospel of “Mine, Baby, Mine!” the old-fashioned way.IT ALMOST WORKED. “Matua Shane”, local supporters in tow, advanced down the main street of Blackball. Had the Minister for Resources, Shane Jones, been supplied with a ...1 week ago
- Communication Breakdown: Roy Orbison.A treat for all those who have just read the preceding post. Roy Orbison sings (as only Roy Orbison can sing) his 1966 hit, Communication Breakdown.Video courtesy of YouTubeThis post is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...1 week ago
- Nationwide Activation Day
Hi all,I thought I’d write a quick note on the start of a long day. Protests this morning, speeches soon, then that budget thingy, and no doubt a lot of post match analysis.After the appalling weather last evening I was a little reluctant to get up, but this was no ...1 week ago - What you need to know about record-breaking heat in the AtlanticThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Michael Lowry Over 90% of the tropical Atlantic is experiencing record or near-record warm sea surface temperatures for late May. Waters across the Atlantic’s tropical belt — extending from the coast of Africa through the Caribbean — are hotter now ...1 week ago
- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Thursday, May 30
1 week ago - In praise of alleyways and paths through parksThe Waitematā Local Board is currently consulting on the cutely named Local Active Modes Plan (aka LAMP), which aims to illuminate a programme of quick wins for walking and cycling. There’s a nifty drop-a-pin map here. Get in quick – consultation closes tomorrow, Friday 31 May, presumably at midnight. In the ...1 week ago
- Can Willis beat the bank?The success – or otherwise — of today’s Budget will depend as much as anything else on the views of one man, Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr. If the Bank concludes that the deficit track is either unconvincing or too lax, then despite the “back pocket boost” tax cuts, the ...1 week ago
- Tom Bombadil to Appear in Rings of Power
Rumours can be glorious things. One some time ago went so far as to suggest that Melkor/Morgoth will appear in Season Two of Rings of Power… disguised as Tom Bombadil. And now we know that crazy rumour had a grain of truth to it. He might not be ...1 week ago - Going some place and there's no going back
Been busy getting on bikes and pointing them towards Europe.Been feeling melancholy, seeing Karren off at the train, back to Heathrow, back to Auckland, back to the seaside village; hugging Mary-Margaret goodbye after one last coffee at Hackney 215. Even though you’ve been really really looking forward to this road ...1 week ago - Performer of a karakia in Parliament was not miffed by being muzzled – but Waititi demands reprima...Buzz from the Beehive Six ministers have posted announcements on the government’s official website in the past 24 hours, two of them contributing to one media statement in the matter of the decision to support the Papua New Guinea response to the devastating landslide in Enga Province. Three statements ...1 week ago
- Release: Christopher Luxon promised he wouldn’t take workers’ sick leave
Today’s announcement that would see some workers’ entitlement to sick leave reduce flies in the face of yet another promise National made during the election campaign. ...19 hours ago - Release: Environment cuts show govt’s disregard for future generationsCutting a third of the staff at Ministry for the Environment will undermine years of work to clean up our fresh water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and leave us unprepared for a changing climate. ...20 hours ago
- Workers’ rights must be respected in review of Holidays Act
The Government must ensure workers’ rights are at the core of any changes made to the Holidays Act 2003. ...21 hours ago - Release: Barbara Edmonds post-Budget speechMy world view is shaped by resilience through adversity. ...1 day ago
- Release: More than $1.5 billion slashed from housingFewer public homes, maintenance funding slashed and millions gone from rangatahi youth transitional housing and Māori housing. ...2 days ago
- National’s climate cuts will take us backwardsThe National Government has shown all their talk about meeting climate targets is just hot air as they cut more than $3 billion in climate-related work, said Labour climate spokesperson Megan Woods. ...6 days ago
- Release: Budget not enough to cover rent increasesRents will keep going up according to yesterday’s Budget, while Kiwis are finding out they aren’t getting as much as they were promised. ...6 days ago
- Government throws the environment on the scrap heapThe Government has shown its disdain for nature by undermining and cutting programmes which protect and conserve our environment. ...6 days ago
- Budget neglects Māori and disregards Te TiritiThe Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus has labelled this year’s Budget as unambitious for Māori and unapologetic in its disregard for Te Tiriti. ...6 days ago
- The Coalition Government and its road to yesterdayToday’s Budget will lead our transport network down a road of more emissions and more misery. ...7 days ago
- Funding for Māori slashed in BudgetNicola Willis’ Budget represents the worst outcome for Māori in a generation. ...7 days ago
- Trickle-down tax cuts while the planet and social contract burnsThe Government’s bloody-minded commitment to delivering trickle-down tax cuts at all costs comes at the expense of investment in people and planet. ...7 days ago
- Government missing in action on Pasifika issuesThis year’s Budget reflects the heartlessness of the Coalition Government when it comes to Pasifika, according to the Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus. ...7 days ago
- Release: Back out budget breaks promisesThe budget today is a sad state of affairs and the country can now see the result of Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ wrong choices and the Government’s broken promises. ...7 days ago
- Coalition of cowards slashes investment in climate actionActions speak louder than words and this Government's attack on the climate will ripple through generations, says the Green Party. ...7 days ago
- Release: Economy goes backwards under incompetent coalition govtFinance Minister Nicola Willis has repeatedly said she will not be borrowing for tax cuts and denied fiscal irresponsibility. Today, the budget has revealed Nicola Willis has borrowed $12 billion – and her tax cuts cost $10 billion. ...7 days ago
- Government gives nothing to climate and inequality crisesThe coalition Government has offered Aotearoa little hope and even less ambition in this year’s Budget. ...7 days ago
- Release: National Government takes anti-housing stanceIn six short months the Minister for Housing has shrunk the pool of potential home owners in New Zealand, removed housing security for renters, re-introduced competition on existing stock between investors and speculators, and served power and billions of dollars to landlords on a silver platter, says Labour housing spokesperson ...1 week ago
- Speech: Commemoration of 145th Anniversary of Girmit in Fiji...1 week ago
- New Zealand First Member’s Bill to protect Freedom of Speech
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect New Zealanders' right of free speech. The “Protection of Freedom of Expression Bill” will ensure that no organisation or individual, when acting within the law, is unreasonably denied use of a public venue for an organised event or ...2 weeks ago - Government trying to rush Māori wards legislation through without public sayThe Green Party unequivocally condemns the governing parties’ attempts to limit the public’s say on the controversial Māori wards legislation, after the select committee considering the legislation set a deadline for submissions of just five days. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Statement from housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty“Today it sounds like the Minister for Housing and his associate are announcing 500 homes that already exist,” Kieran McAnulty said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Mining on conservation land will take NZ backwardsShane Jones’s speech today demonstrates once again that he will put his political theatrics ahead of New Zealand’s workers and their futures. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Disabled children latest to lose access to fundingDisabled children and families nationwide have recently found out they’re no longer able to use disability support funding for programmes during school hours in another quiet update from the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Coalition of coal will prove catastrophic for climateThe Government’s plans to ramp up coal mining in the heat of a climate crisis will see our chances of a liveable future melt away. ...2 weeks ago
- Aotearoa must follow in the footsteps of countries recognising Palestinian statehoodThe Green Party is calling on the Government to follow in the footsteps of Ireland, Spain and Norway in recognising Palestinian statehood. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Time to make stalking a crimeFollowing a horrific case of stalking that ended in tragedy, Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen has drafted a bill that would add stalking to the Crimes Act. ...2 weeks ago
- $24 million for free mental health counselling for young kiwisThe Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Strong support for disability fundingTwo thirds of Kiwis in a new poll want funding flexibility reinstated for disabled people and carers. ...2 weeks ago
- Petition launched to save Māori babies and their right to be with whakapapaTe Pāti Māori have launched a petition to stop the repeal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. This announcement comes prior to the first reading of the Section 7AA repeal bill in Parliament today. “Section 7AA forces the Government to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi with respect ...2 weeks ago
- Government introduces Bill to roll back Māori WardsThe Green Party has sounded the alarm over the Government’s introduction of legislation to remove Māori Wards and roll back years of progress. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Pre-Budget Speech: Barbara Edmonds...2 weeks ago
- Release: Another announcement, still no funding for more public housesThe Government has yet again failed to do the one thing that needs to happen to ensure houses can be built – commit to ongoing funding, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...2 weeks ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...2 weeks ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Treasury advice show flaws in Fast Track Approvals BillTreasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...2 weeks ago
- State of the Planet speeches, 2024Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick used this year's State of the Planet to call on the Government to prioritise people and planet as the delivery of the Budget approaches. A full transcript of their speeches can be found below. ...3 weeks ago
- State of the Planet: Government must be guided by values not moneyGreen Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have used their State of the Planet speeches to challenge the Government to prioritise people and planet over profit as the delivery of the Budget approaches. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ speech: New Zealand in 2040 – A vision worth fighting for...3 weeks ago
- Making it easier to invest in New Zealand
The Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour has issued a new Ministerial directive letter to Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to make consent processing timeframes faster under the Overseas Investment Act. “New Zealand is currently rated as having the most restrictive foreign direct investment policy out of the OECD countries ...1 hour ago - $30m investment for faster access to radiology servicesNew Zealanders will now benefit from free access to radiology services referred directly by their general practitioner, resulting in faster diagnosis and improved health outcomes, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “Our Budget last Thursday delivered the foundations for a thriving New Zealand economy, but also for better public services ...3 hours ago
- Speech to Pacific Economic Development Agency – Pacific Business TrustGood afternoon everyone, and warm Pacific greetings. Thank you for your lovely introduction Mary Losé. It’s wonderful to be here today at the Pacific Economic Development Agency - Pacific Business Trust. I want to acknowledge the chair Paul Retimanu and chief executive Mary Losé, your team and the many business ...23 hours ago
- Progress for fixing the Holidays Act 2003The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says this Government will improve the Holidays Act 2003 [the Act] with the help of businesses and workers who will be affected by changes to the Act. “Change has been a long time coming, and I know there are many ...23 hours ago
- New Zealand and Niue mark special milestonePrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi have agreed to enhance the special relationship that exists between their two countries, as Niue marks 50 years of self-government in free association with New Zealand. Mr Luxon and Mr Tagelagi held formal talks this morning and released a Joint Statement ...24 hours ago
- Ministry for Regulation kicks off first sector review – Early Childhood EducationMinister for Regulation David Seymour today announced the terms of reference for the sector review into early childhood education (ECE) by the new Ministry for Regulation. This will be the first review by the Ministry. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, ...24 hours ago
- $43 million commitment for local catchment groupsThe Government is backing farmers to improve land management practices with a $36 million commitment to support locally led catchment groups, and an additional $7 million direct investment into catchment groups across the country, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced. “Budget 2024 provides $36 million over four years for regionally based ...1 day ago
- $36 million commitment for local catchment groupsThe Government is backing farmers to improve land management practices with a $36 million commitment to support locally led catchment groups, $7 million of which will go directly to catchment groups across the country, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced. “Budget 2024 provides $36 million over four years for regionally based ...1 day ago
- Communities reap rewards of regional investmentThe success of regional investment in the Far North has been highlighted with the opening of two community projects that benefit their communities, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones attended a dawn blessing for the $10.16 million Te Hiku Revitalisation project, which has provided much-needed community infrastructure improvements ...1 day ago
- Government to sign groundbreaking Indo-Pacific agreementsTrade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts travel to Singapore tomorrow to sign three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements. IPEF’s 14 partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP and account for 50 per cent of New Zealand’s exports. They include critical markets for Kiwi exporters ...3 days ago
- King’s Birthday Honours recognise significant contributions to educationMinister of Education Erica Stanford today recognises the significant achievements of those included in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List, particularly those being celebrated for their services to education. “This year’s King’s Birthday Honours recognises the commitment, dedication and passion that those who have been honoured have shown,” Ms Stanford ...3 days ago
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- King’s Birthday Honours for East Coast championMe aro koe ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one The devotion shown by Katareina Kaiwai to improving the lives of people across her community is an inspiration to all New Zealanders, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Katareina Kaiwai (Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga) has been awarded a King’s Service Medal ...3 days ago
- Ethnic communities recognised in King’s Birthday HonoursEthnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee has congratulated the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours recipients hailing from ethnic communities, saying they embody the valuable contributions of diverse peoples to New Zealand society. “The King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List recognises a number of outstanding individuals for their services to New Zealand’s ethnic and ...3 days ago
- King’s Birthday Honours recognise significant contributions to medical sciences and Pacific leader...Minister of Health and Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti today recognises the significant work of those included in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List, particularly those being honoured for services to health and medical sciences and services to Pacific communities. “This year’s King’s Birthday Honours List represents a massive breadth ...3 days ago
- Champions of women top King’s Birthday HonoursActing Minister for Women Louise Upston has congratulated the large number of women who received King’s Birthday Honours this year, including two inspiring new Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. “Dame Joan Withers’ is a formidable force in the business world and a true champion of diversity ...3 days ago
- PM congratulates King’s Birthday Honours recipientsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has congratulated the recipients included on the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List, saying they reflect the best of New Zealand. The 176 recipients include the appointments of two Dames and two Knights. “The New Zealanders being honoured in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours have given decades ...3 days ago
- Speech to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024Thank you to the International Institute for Strategic Studies for the invitation to speak on this panel today, and for your ongoing work organising the Shangri-La Dialogue. It’s great to be here today alongside my Thai and Canadian colleagues to discuss security connections across the wider Indo-Pacific. I am so ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister heads to Niue and FijiPrime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Niue and Fiji this week (4-7 June), as New Zealand continues to sharpen its focus and engagement in the Pacific. It will be Mr Luxon’s first visit to the region as Prime Minister. “Niue and Fiji are two of New Zealand’s closest friends ...4 days ago
- Certainty for marine farms through reformsThe Coalition Government is delivering New Zealand’s aquaculture industry the confidence and security it needs to grow, says Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones. A Bill which passed its first reading in Parliament today will extend current resource consents for marine farms by up to 20 years, removing a significant ...5 days ago
- Government commences Firearms Registry reviewThe Government is delivering on a commitment made in the National-ACT coalition agreement by commencing a review of the Firearms Registry. “Cabinet has agreed to the registry review terms of reference and the review is now underway,” Associate Minister of Justice, Hon Nicole McKee says. “It is important that we ...5 days ago
- People to keep more of their own money from 31 JulyAverage-income households will be up to $102 a fortnight better off from 31 July following passage of The Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill in Parliament today, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “The bill gives effect to the coalition Government’s promise to allow New Zealanders who have been experiencing a prolonged cost ...6 days ago
- More than 240,000 hits on Tax CalculatorWithin 18 hours of the Budget being released, there have been 240,821 visits to our tax calculator website which outlines exactly how much tax relief lower and middle income New Zealanders will receive, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Hardworking Kiwis, who often work two jobs and juggle family commitments need ...6 days ago
- NZ celebrates 12 months free trade with the UKThe Government is encouraging businesses to take advantage of the reduced tariff rates under our free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK). The UK is now our fastest growing export market, Trade Minister Todd McClay says. The deal entered into force one year ago today. Mr McClay meet with ...6 days ago
- Handheld thermal tech now allowed on public conservation landTechnology making it easier for hunters to find animals will be allowed on public conservation land from 1 June, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay has announced. The use of hand-held thermal technology during daylight hours will add to safety and help hunters to better identify animals,” Minister McClay ...6 days ago
- Government to repeal costly log trade legislationThe Government will repeal legislation this weekend requiring the compulsory registration of log traders and forestry advisers, Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “The current system fails to deliver outcomes and places unnecessary costs on forest businesses,” Mr McClay says. “The repeal will be delivered at speed, with changes coming into ...6 days ago
- New direction for Health New ZealandProfessor Lester Levy has been appointed as a member and Chair of the Board of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ), Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “Professor Levy has extensive experience working in the health system and will provide strong leadership to Health NZ through ...6 days ago
- Government welcomes smelter agreementThe signing of individual 20-year bilateral long-term contracts between the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS), Meridian Energy, Contact Energy, and Mercury NZ will provide certainty for the electricity market and will be a welcome relief for the Southland economy, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Tiwai Smelter is New Zealand’s ...6 days ago
- Foreign Minister to visit South East AsiaForeign Minister Winston Peters will travel to South East Asia next week. “South East Asia is critical to maintaining and building New Zealand’s security and prosperity,” Mr Peters says. “My travel to the region is a further demonstration of the Coalition Government’s strong commitment to boosting New Zealand’s ...6 days ago
- Budget delivers on promises to KiwisPrime Minister Christopher Luxon says Budget 2024 delivers on the Government’s promises, with savings across the public sector being reinvested in frontline services and meaningful tax reductions to support hard-working Kiwis. “This Budget is prudent and fiscally responsible. By identifying billions of dollars of lower-value spending across the public sector, ...7 days ago
- Nicola Willis – Budget 2024 SpeechMr Speaker, I move that the Appropriation (2024/25 Estimates) Bill be now read a second time. Tēnā koutou katoa. E mihi ana ki a Ahumairangi, ki a Tangi-te-keo, ki te Whanganui-a-Tara. Tāne whakapiripiri e tū nei, e ngā tāngata whenua o te rohe, e ngā mema ...7 days ago
- Budget supports practical climate actionResponsible and effective climate related initiatives that support New Zealand to reduce emissions, and adapt to the future effects of climate change are a priority, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Our Government is committed to meeting emission reduction targets, including the overall goal of carbon net-zero by 2050, while ...7 days ago
- More than $1 billion for Cyclone relief, resilience and emergency preparednessBudget 2024 invests more than $1 billion in a package of initiatives to further support the rebuild and recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods to improve New Zealand’s emergency preparedness, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell say. ...7 days ago
- Waste levy changes to improve environmentRevenue from the Waste Disposal Levy will be spent on a wider range of projects supporting the environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation in addition to minimising waste, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “The Government will introduce a Bill as part of Budget 2024 legislation which expands the scope ...7 days ago
- Rewarding hard work in tertiary education and trainingBudget 2024 sets the path for a sustainable tertiary education sector that supports and incentivises hard working learners, businesses, and tertiary education providers, Tertiary Education Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The first year Fees Free policy was an expensive failure and did not deliver its aim of more students going into ...7 days ago
- Investing in transport for growthBudget 2024 confirms a $2.68 billion investment in roads, rail, and public transport to unlock economic growth and enable Kiwis and freight to get to where they want to go quickly and safely, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “This funding includes a billion-dollar increase over that signalled during the consultation ...7 days ago
- Budget assures funding for Te MatatiniKua tū te haka a Tāne Rore me ngā mahi a Hine Rēhia! Secure long-term funding of $48.7 million from 2025 will ensure the future of Te Matatini prospers with the support of the Government, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. I tēnei tahua pūtea kua whakangaoa e te Kāwanatanga ...7 days ago
- Regional resilience and prosperity focus of new fundSupporting regional productivity, prosperity and resilience will be at the heart of the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “The coalition Government is committed to building a stronger, more productive economy, and this fund will help support our regional economies to grow,” Mr Jones says. “Building infrastructure ...7 days ago
- $1.1 billion investment to support disabled peopleCritical support services that improve the lives of disabled people, their families, and those who care for them will receive significant investment through Budget 2024. “The coalition Government wants the best outcomes for the disability community, which is why we are prioritising the essential frontline services they rely on,” says ...7 days ago
- Fixing New Zealand’s infrastructure deficitBudget 2024 lays the foundations for a better performing infrastructure system, with investments to ensure Kiwis spend less time waiting in traffic, that improve our climate resilience, and in modern classrooms that support our kids to achieve at school, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Government is determined to address ...7 days ago
- Taxpayers’ Union Calls On Privacy Commissioner To Open Formal Investigation Into Alleged Misuse Of...
The Taxpayers’ Union has written to the Privacy Commissioner this morning calling on him to launch an investigation into alleged misuse of census data by Auckland’s Manurewa Marae, entities associated with John Tamihere, and Te Pāti Māori. ...45 mins ago - Extreme sick leave scenarios 'rare', if they happen at all, employers' group says
A high-profile backer of a proposed change to sick leave rules has admitted an example it has been using of flaws in the current system would only apply in "rare" cases, if at all. ...1 hour ago - Watch live: Christopher Luxon and Sitiveni Rabuka hold joint press conference in SuvaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced nearly $27 million for projects in Fiji and removing the need for transit visas for Fijians entering New Zealand. ...1 hour ago
- Watch: Shane Reti announces $30m radiology boostThe money will remove co-payments for radiology and allow GPs to refer patients directly for scans, the Health Minister has announced. ...1 hour ago
- Privacy Commissioner seeks more detail on possible census data breach at maraeThe Privacy Commissioner's Office says given the public interest, it's asking various government agencies for more information. ...2 hours ago
- Watch live: Shane Reti announces $30m radiology boostThe money will remove co-payments for radiology, with funding coming from Te Whatu Ora's baseline, Shane Reti has announced. ...2 hours ago
- A shocking 79% of female scientists have negative experiences during polar field work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Duncan, PhD Candidate in Polar Marine Ecology and Climate Change, University of Technology Sydney Rebecca Duncan Every day, women are working on frontier science in Earth’s unforgiving polar environments. Our study, published today in PLOS Climate, investigated what their experiences ...3 hours ago - Super funds are using ‘nudges’ to help you make financial decisions. How do they work?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fernanda Mata, Research Fellow, Monash University song-about-summer/Shutterstock Late last year the federal government announced measuresmake it easier for Australians to access financial advice? As part of this, the government wants super funds to use “nudges” to get members to engage more ...3 hours ago
- Early childhood centre manager scared review will remove rules to keep children safeA Wellington early childhood centre manager says she is scared some regulations that keep children safe may be taken away by a government review. ...3 hours ago
- Help Me Hera: Mean report cards, freckle bullying and a paparazzi girlfriend
Three of your quickfire questions, answered. Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera, I recently visited my mum and was helping her clear out some old boxes. Amongst all of that, we found my mum’s old school reports from when she was a child. My mum is a talented artist, ...3 hours ago - 1 in 5 deaths are caused by heart disease, but what else are Australians dying from?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garry Jennings, Professor of Medicine, University of Sydney Gualtiero Boffi/Shutterstock Nobody dies in good health, at least in their final moments. But to think the causes of death are easy to count or that there is generally a single reason somebody ...3 hours ago
- Yes, carbon capture and storage is controversial – but it’s going to be crucialSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tianyi Ma, Distinguished Professor in Chemistry and Renewable Energy, RMIT University VanderWolf Images/Shutterstock Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are vital tools to help us make cuts to the 36 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases we emit each year. ...3 hours ago
- Solar farms can eat up farmland – but ‘agrivoltaics’ could mean the best of both worlds for NZ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images New Zealand plans to commission about eight gigawatts of solar photovoltaic projects – more than the maximum power demand of the whole ...3 hours ago
- Hydration is really important for learning. How much do kids need to drink?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Mary Taylor/Pexels , CC BY Last month, Ballarat Clarendon College began a trial to ban water bottles in the classroom for students in Years 5 to 9. According to the school, “early feedback” indicated ...3 hours ago
- Blade Runner soundtrack at 30: how Vangelis used electronic music to explore what it means to be hum...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Cole, Composer and Lecturer in Screen Composition, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney IMDB In June 1994 the late composer Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou – better known as Vangelis – released his soundtrack for the 1982 film Blade Runner. It ...3 hours ago
- 111 call failures between emergency services exposedAmbulances were called to a fatal fire by phone last month after a 111-link between police, fire and ambulance failed. ...4 hours ago
- Time ticking for decision on greyhound racing banAs Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this extract from The Bulletin, the final call rests with Winston Peters. An impending decision Two weeks ago, Newshub’s tireless investigations reporter Michael Morrah obtained a government briefing paper suggesting a call would soon be made on the future of greyhound racing in New Zealand. It was ...5 hours ago
- Police foot patrols fell by 6% across Auckland city between October and April data showsThe number of foot patrols across the entire Auckland City police district dropped by 6 percent between October and April official police data shows. ...5 hours ago
- What the crime figures in central Auckland tell usAnd would more police fix the problem, The Detail asks. ...5 hours ago
- Who’s on the shortlist for the 2024 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults?All the books still in the running for this year’s children’s book awards, with commentary from books editor Claire Mabey and student readers. Our annual celebration of the best in children’s books has arrived and this year’s shortlist (which doubles as your curated book shopping list, and reminder that adults ...6 hours ago
- He hates the media, and loves it too. Will the real David Seymour please stand up?One leads a party that cheers for the downfall of the news media. The other is among the most thoughtful defenders of the press in politics. Duncan Greive asks the Act leader (and current acting PM) what he really thinks about journalism. Outwardly, there is no one in politics with ...7 hours ago
- For and against a Māori parliamentWith Te Pāti Māori renewing calls for the establishment of a Māori parliament, Liam Rātana explores how it might work, and the potential benefits and pitfalls. Coinciding with nationwide protests last week, Te Pāti Māori issued a petition calling for the establishment of a Māori parliament. It’s not a new ...7 hours ago
- Book of the Week: Novel of the Year
I met Saraid de Silva at a Palestine rally in Auckland over the summer. She told me there would be a Wellington launch for her new book, Amma. I attended it on a Wednesday, bought the book, read it by Saturday and gave it to my visiting sister to take ...7 hours ago - Spend on inequity and the climate crisis, not soldiers’ wargamesOpinion: For one day’s worth of defence spending in New Zealand, we could pay 144 registered nurses for a year. One hour’s worth of defence spending would pay for 216 cataract operations in a public hospital. As understaffed hospitals struggle, and patients wait many months for elective surgery, it is ...7 hours ago
- Govt scores not one but two Budget own goalsOpinion: National’s populist pre-election pledge to fund specific new cancer drugs was always foolhardy The post Govt scores not one but two Budget own goals appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- Air pollution above safe levels in 12 of 13 regionsWhile air quality is improving overall, the latest statistics show the most dangerous, unregulated pollutants are still commonly detected at unsafe levels The post Air pollution above safe levels in 12 of 13 regions appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- Beyond transportation: electric vehicles as batteries on wheelsOpinion: EVs provide more than transportation and can play a crucial role in stabilising our energy grid The post Beyond transportation: electric vehicles as batteries on wheels appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- Key and Collins talk tech after high-profile stoushHe once forced her out of Cabinet – now, Sir John Key has offered Judith Collins his tech and security insights The post Key and Collins talk tech after high-profile stoush appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- English curriculum needs changing – this isn’t the way to do itThose tasked with re-writing the English curriculum are suggesting students study Chaucer and Melville. As the sector waits for the group’s report, Taylor Hughson suggests the panel is taking the wrong approach. The post English curriculum needs changing – this isn’t the way to do it appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- Kerr’s phenomenal year of cricket in build-up to World CupThere are just two more major stops for Melie Kerr and the White Ferns en route to the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this October. At the end of this month, they’ll start their tour of England, which contains three ODIs and five T20Is. Then, in mid-September, they’ll travel ...7 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 6 JuneLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 6 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- Paving paradise: Fears Queenstown’s highways will become a parking lotWithout further costly upgrades to public transport, traffic congestion in fast-growing Queenstown may well get worse The post Paving paradise: Fears Queenstown’s highways will become a parking lot appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
- Reality and perception over safe citiesThe head of Auckland’s central business association says she’s relieved the police commissioner has finally admitted the city was abandoned by police during lockdown. Today’s episode of The Detail looks at what’s behind the fears for safety in our biggest city, after constant complaints around crime hit the headlines. Police ...10 hours ago
- Trailblazing surf star lines up new gigThe high-achieving sporting career of Danielle Richards is set to break new ground, with the champion surf lifesaver about to embark on her first official coaching gig. The five-time New Zealand ironwoman winner will become one of the first female coaches at club level, signing on as an assistant coach ...10 hours ago
- Elon Musk says he won a battle for free speech in court, but it won’t stop the war for social medi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria O’Sullivan, Associate Professor of Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has dropped its Federal Court case against X relating to tweets distributing the footage of the Wakeley church stabbing. In response to the decision, X’s owner, billionaire ...11 hours ago
- A strange intermittent radio signal from space has astronomers puzzledSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Manisha Caleb, Lecturer, University of Sydney Shutterstock When astronomers turn our radio telescopes out towards space, we sometimes detect sporadic bursts of radio waves originating from across the vast expanse of the universe. We call them “radio transients”: some erupt only ...14 hours ago
- Has the tide finally turned for Narendra Modi after his party’s disappointing election result in I...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Hall, Professor of International Relations, Griffith University Most pundits and exit polls predicted a big win for Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India’s massive six-week election that just came to a close. They were wrong. Instead, many voters ...16 hours ago
- ‘Junk science’ is being used in Australian courtrooms, and wrongful convictions are at stakeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Edmond, Professor of Law, UNSW Sydney Bushko Oleksandr/Shutterstock The conviction of Robert Farquharson for the murder of his three sons on Father’s Day 2005 is being questioned in the media, with doubts raised about the reliability of prosecution’s medical, traffic ...16 hours ago
- eSafety commissioner drops court effort to force Elon Musk to put international ban on stabbing vide...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The eSafety Commissioner has abandoned the legal case to try to force X – formerly Twitter – to remove footage of the April stabbing attack on a Sydney bishop from the platform worldwide. This ...17 hours ago
- From immunotherapy to mRNA vaccines – the latest science on melanoma treatment explainedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Svitlana Hulko/Shutterstock More than 16,000 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma each year. Most of these will be caught early, and can be cured by ...17 hours ago
- End of the line for P&O: why is Australia such a tough market for the cruise ship industry?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management/ Adjunct Associate Professor, University of South Australia Slow Walker/Shutterstock Miami-based cruise operator Carnival Corporation has announced it will retire its P&O Cruises Australia brand in March 2025. The decision marks the end of ...17 hours ago
- 7 graphs that show economic growth near zero as Australia waits for a budget boostSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra The Australian economy came close to a standstill in the first three months of this year. March-quarter economic growth sank to just 0.1%, meaning that, when adjusted for ...17 hours ago
- Santos just copped a large fine. What did the oil and gas company do?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University noomcpk/Shutterstock South Australian oil and gas company Santos has been hit with a A$2.75 million fine for breaching its record-keeping obligations. The Federal Court ordered the fine for Santos Direct, a wholly ...18 hours ago
- “It Is Better To Live For A Cause Than To Die For One” – Actor Ends Hunger Strike And Cont...Shortland Street actor Will Alexander has ended a 19 day hunger strike for the people of Palestine today. He has been on a zero-calorie diet, consuming only water. ...18 hours ago
- With all this bird flu around, how safe are eggs, chicken or milk?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Enzo Palombo, Professor of Microbiology, Swinburne University of Technology AS Foodstudio/Shutterstock Recent outbreaks of bird flu – in US dairy herds, poultry farms in Australia and elsewhere, and isolated cases in humans – have raised the issue of food safety.18 hours ago
- Protesters Intercept Fast Track Minister
Dressed as lumps of coal, holding signs which read “Frogs Declare War!”, and addressing the minister through a megaphone, protesters asked “Will you approve projects that kill endangered species?” ...19 hours ago- Proposed Holiday Act Changes Undermine Workers’ Entitlements
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on the Government to not reduce worker entitlements in their review of the Holidays Act. ...20 hours ago- Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announces $20m investment in Niue renewable energy project
Christopher Luxon says a new large-scale, renewable energy project in Niue should be operating by the the end of next year. ...20 hours ago- Are little libraries doomed to be filled with rubbish books? An argument with myself
Why does it feel so sacrilegious to throw away a book? And do the little free libraries that dot our suburbs primarily exist to assuage our guilt? Book lover Shanti Mathias debates book realist Shanti Mathias. I was outraged to read about the Invercargill Rotary Club recycling books that weren’t ...21 hours ago- David Seymour 'a political idiot' for pursuing Treaty Principles Bill, Tuku Morgan says
Waikato-Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan takes aim at the ACT Party's Treaty Principles Bill, predicting "protest action never seen in the history of this country" if it proceeds. ...21 hours ago- Kids, courts, canines: can justice facility dogs like Winston help children and the broader court sy...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rock, Lecturer and Researcher in Criminology, Edith Cowan University Winston, a justice facility dog trained by Guide Dogs WA. David French/Edith Cowan University, CC BY-ND The recent focus on youth crime in Australia may create a perception that all children in ...22 hours ago- Early childhood education was largely missing from the budget, undermining other education spending
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marek Tesar, Professor, Head of School of Learning Development and Professional Practice, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Despite a NZ$1 billion increase in spending on education in the 2024 budget, there was a noticeable absence ...22 hours ago- Supreme Court rules Minister was wrong to cancel passport over Islamic State fears
The Supreme Court has declared the then National-led government broke the law in 2016 when it cancelled a woman's passport on national security grounds. ...22 hours ago- Are data breaches the new normal? Should we just assume our data isn’t safe?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sigi Goode, Professor of Information Systems, Australian National University Waniza/Shutterstock In recent days, both Ticketek Australia and Ticketmaster have experienced breaches which have exposed customer details to hackers. They join a growing list of high-profile data breaches that have put the ...22 hours ago- Bad weather, hills and the dark deter cyclists, particularly women. So what can we do about it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Bean, Research Fellow, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland YuryKara/Shutterstock The gender gap in urban cycling worldwide is staggering. Most cyclists are young to middle-aged men – hence phenomena such as “lycra cyclists” or “mamils”. ...22 hours ago- Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speak to media from Niue
Christopher Luxon speaks to media on his first official visit to the Pacific. ...23 hours ago- Part-time workers could get less sick leave under law change, Workplace Relations Minister announces
The Workplace Relations Minister has announced draft legislation to change the Holidays Act, including a change that hit part-time staff. ...23 hours ago- Ministry for the Environment proposes cutting more than 300 jobs
There will also be voluntary and proposed redundancies of permanent employees. ...23 hours ago- David Seymour confirms terms of early childhood regulation review
The ACT leader has announced what will and won't be covered, and set a deadline. ...23 hours ago- Stats NZ appoints Doug Craig to investigate census data misuse claims
The findings of the investigation will be shared with police who are also investigating ...23 hours ago- The full timeline of National’s broken cancer drugs promise
How a key campaign pledge came undone. August 21, 2023: The big promise is made Two months out from the election, National promises that if elected, it will fund 13 treatments for lung, bowel, kidney and head and neck cancers that New Zealand’s Cancer Control Agency has identified as providing ...24 hours ago- Interim Financial Statements Of The Government Of New Zealand For The Ten Months Ended 30 April 202...
The April results are reported against forecasts based on the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update 2024 (BEFU 2024), published on 30 May 2024, and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...24 hours ago- Timely boost for government books from financial markets, trust tax payments
Treasury figures show a deficit of $6.5 billion in April compared with a forecast of $8.2b. ...1 day ago- Secretary Of Defence Appointed
Acting Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott today announced the appointment of Mr Brook Barrington as the Secretary of Defence and Chief Executive, Ministry of Defence. ...1 day ago- NZ’s prime minister Luxon in Niue: ‘This is the Pacific family’
By Giles Dexter, RNZ News reporter, in Niue Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he wants New Zealand to be a partner of choice in the Pacific, as other countries make moves in the region. Luxon is in Niue ahead of bilateral talks with Premier Dalton Tagalagi, and to celebrate 50 ...1 day ago- An interview with Will Alexander, who was willing to die for the people of Palestine
On May 18, Will Alexander announced his hunger strike for Palestine. Today, he ended it. After one day without food, the body starts turning to other energy sources: glycogen from the liver and muscles, then fat, and finally, muscle tissue – including that of the heart. The body begins to ...1 day ago- Questions hang over investigation into controversial New Plymouth chemical plant
Leaked documents show testing for contamination at the New Plymouth site may need to go further. ...1 day ago- Lessons from cucina povera
Why osso buco is on the menu this week. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. One of my earliest food memories doesn’t involve me eating at all – only the unrivalled joy of watching two plump middle-aged men cook and taste their way around Italy ...1 day ago- How to help Auckland’s $63bn bid for better transport get over the line
The Regional Land Transport Plan will determine how Aucklanders move (or don’t) for the next 10 years. Here’s how to have your say on where the money gets spent (or doesn’t). It’s a Friday afternoon. You reach your bus station, check your phone and realise your bus isn’t coming. You’ll ...1 day ago- Christopher Luxon, Dalton Tagelagi announce $20m Niue energy project
New Zealand plans to invest $20.5 million into a new, large-scale, renewable energy scheme in Niue. ...1 day ago- Prime Christopher Luxon, Dalton Tagelagi announce $20m in Niue energy project
New Zealand plans to invest $20.5 million into a new, large-scale, renewable energy project in Niue. ...1 day ago- Groundwater is heating up, threatening life below and above the surface
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriel C Rau, Lecturer in Hydrogeology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Gabriel C. Rau, CC BY-SA Under your feet lies the world’s biggest reservoir. Groundwater makes up a whopping 97% of all usable freshwater. Where is it? ...1 day ago- Layoffs, tax cuts and flat dinners: The sitcom life of a Wellington twenty-something
Life in Wellington in 2024 feels like being trapped in a sitcom, with a bizarre cast of characters and no laugh track. For a few years now, especially in Wellington, the political scene has been all-consuming. It used to be that you could show up, you could vote, you could ...1 day ago- Why ‘Team Australia’ needs a new sports diplomacy game plan as other countries gain an edge
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stuart Murray, Bond University Writing of the unique place of sport in Australian society, the celebrated US travel writer Bill Bryson once wrote “truly, never has there been a more sporting nation … it is a wonder in such a vigorous and ...1 day ago- Mental illness, psychiatric disorder or psychological problem. What should we call mental distress?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Haslam, Professor of Psychology, The University of Melbourne Engin Akyurt/Pexels We talk about mental health more than ever, but the language we should use remains a vexed issue. Should we call people who seek help patients, clients or consumers? ...1 day ago - Protesters Intercept Fast Track Minister
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