UNICEF call for action on NZ poverty
Written By:
Date published: 7:08 am, August 18th, 2016 - 126 comments
Categories: class war, john key, national, poverty, useless
Tags: anne tolley, child poverty, poverty, the guardian, unicef
Once again this country under National is rightly shamed in the international media.
Charles Hugh Smith – The Ultimate Long Game: Autarky and Resilience
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Date published: 6:17 pm, August 18th, 2016 - 22 comments
Today, electronic numbers in electronic bank accounts are the most important things to the people who lead NZ. That’s going to have to seriously change. The country’s capacity and resources in terms of food, energy, water and cultural/social resiliency is what actually counts.
Daily Review 18/08/2016
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Date published: 5:30 pm, August 18th, 2016 - 39 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Check your Kiwisaver
Written By:
Date published: 12:30 pm, August 18th, 2016 - 18 comments
An excellent piece by Matt Nippert, Caleb Tutty, Olivia Carville in The Herald is generating a lot of discussion this morning. Are you unknowingly investing in tobacco and munitions?
Interest free student loans – still safe for now?
Written By:
Date published: 10:05 am, August 18th, 2016 - 48 comments
A right wing “think-tank” wants to load students up with even more debt.
Open mike 18/08/2016
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 18th, 2016 - 78 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily Review 17/08/2016
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, August 17th, 2016 - 27 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
The Christchurch Commons
Written By:
Date published: 1:50 pm, August 17th, 2016 - 18 comments
Meanwhile, down in Christchurch the plan is to put water back in the centre of our physical, cultural and spiritual lives.
NRT: Against anti-whistleblower laws
Written By:
Date published: 1:48 pm, August 17th, 2016 - 11 comments
I/S at No Right Turn does great analysis of legislation. His coverage of the new spying laws has been excellent. Here he is on National’s clumsy and misguided attempt to re-impose official secrets. Criminalised for reading The Guardian?
Affordable housing fail – we can’t rely on the private sector
Written By:
Date published: 9:20 am, August 17th, 2016 - 55 comments
To the complete surprise of no one, private sector developers have largely waited out the “affordable houses” requirement in the special housing areas. Another National failure.
Grant Robertson on the adjusted unemployment figure
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Date published: 7:02 am, August 17th, 2016 - 137 comments
“The sad reality is that while the change in measurement might elicit a lower number or percentage it will not mean one fewer person is unemployed.”
Open mike 17/08/2016
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 17th, 2016 - 19 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
July 2016 was the hottest single month recorded since 1880
Written By:
Date published: 6:32 pm, August 16th, 2016 - 89 comments
July 2016 was the hottest month ever in recorded modernity.
Daily Review 16/08/2016
Written By:
Date published: 5:43 pm, August 16th, 2016 - 19 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
New Zealand’s most shameful secret: ‘We have normalised child poverty’
Written By:
Date published: 4:01 pm, August 16th, 2016 - 166 comments
Fuck the whole “Brighter Future” New Zealand.
Richard Wagstaff: “Things need to change”
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Date published: 2:00 pm, August 16th, 2016 - 19 comments
The inaugural CTU organisers’ conference is being held in Auckland this week, bringing together organisers from across the CTU affiliated unions to discuss the future of the movement. CTU President Richard Wagstaff opened the conference this morning. E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou koutoa. Welcome […]
Spy vs Us
Written By:
Date published: 9:08 am, August 16th, 2016 - 135 comments
Today National introduced a bill that will enable the NZ Government to spy on its citizens.
Another Key lie is why this government can’t be trusted with increased spying powers
Written By:
Date published: 9:07 am, August 16th, 2016 - 31 comments
When caught abusing new powers the response will be the same as when caught out abusing the old – meh, so sue us.
A UK Labour Split
Written By:
Date published: 7:58 am, August 16th, 2016 - 90 comments
The options for UK Labour appear to be limited. Split or die or do both.
Open mike 16/08/2016
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 16th, 2016 - 51 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily Review 15/08/2016
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, August 15th, 2016 - 28 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Shit in the water
Written By:
Date published: 3:15 pm, August 15th, 2016 - 91 comments
The damage so far in the Havelock North “gastro” outbreak is one possible death, two older people in intensive care, 18 hospitalised, 50 making their way to the emergency department, 280 notifications, and hundreds of kids staying away from school.
In praise of David Shearer
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Date published: 2:31 pm, August 15th, 2016 - 10 comments
David Shearer has criticised the Australian Government as having lost its “moral compass” in relation to the Nauru Asylum Detention Centre.
Spark – kudos
Written By:
Date published: 8:05 am, August 15th, 2016 - 30 comments
Our wages are too low generally, and this is one of the main economic challenges that we face. A few more employers committing to paying a living wage would be a good place to start.
The housing crisis and the diseases of poverty
Written By:
Date published: 7:01 am, August 15th, 2016 - 122 comments
Rheumatic fever is on the rise again. It is likely that other diseases of poverty are also or will also increase as the housing crisis drags on under National.
Open mike 15/08/2016
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 15th, 2016 - 32 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
This is the face of the failure of globalisation
Written By:
Date published: 10:12 am, August 14th, 2016 - 271 comments
My apologies to Mohammad Jamal, the man in the photo, for using his largely unknown story to make a point about free-trade and Western privilege.
Why do right wing politicians like stealing dead babies identities?
Written By:
Date published: 9:37 am, August 14th, 2016 - 15 comments
Savea Peseta Al Harrington Lavea, Auckland Future candidate for the Whau Local Board, shares an unfortunate similarity with David Garrett.
NZ at the Olympics
Written By:
Date published: 8:06 am, August 14th, 2016 - 9 comments
Congratulations to all the athletes representing NZ at the Olympics!
Globalisation and global incomes (the “elephant graph”)
Written By:
Date published: 7:01 am, August 14th, 2016 - 53 comments
An elegant graph explains why free trade is a good thing, but why it is causing a backlash in rich “Western” countries.
Open mike 14/08/2016
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, August 14th, 2016 - 108 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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- OCR cut would be vote of no confidence in economyIf Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler cuts the OCR tomorrow it would show that, despite his loudly-voiced concerns about fuelling the housing market, the stuttering economy is now a bigger concern, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. “Bill English and ...1 week ago
- Leading medical experts back Healthy Homes BillLeading medical experts have today thrown their weight behind my Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, saying it will improve the health of Kiwi kids, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says. “The Bill sets minimum standards for heating, insulation and ventilation ...1 week ago
- Minister, it’s time to listen to the Auditor GeneralMinister of Health Jonathan Coleman needs to listen to the independent advice of the Auditor General and review the capital charge system imposed on District Health Boards, says Labour’ Health Spokesperson Annette King. “The capital charge on DHBs has been ...1 week ago
- Peas explain, MinisterThe Minister of Primary Industries needs to explain how the failure of its biosecurity systems led to the Pea Weevil incursion in the Wairarapa, Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor says “The decision to ban the growing of peas in ...1 week ago
- PM’s police numbers wrongThe Prime Minister has said that police numbers will increase in-line with population growth, however, the Police’s own four year strategy clearly states there are no plans to increase police numbers for the next four years, Labour’s Police spokesperson Stuart ...1 week ago
- Ministerial double speak on GP FeesThe Associate Health Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga was simply making it up when he claimed today that General Practitioners had been given money in the Budget to lower fees, says Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King. “In a reply to a ...1 week ago
- Government must close loophole in LVR rulesThe Government must urgently close a loophole in loan to value ratio mortgage restrictions which are stopping homeowners from buying new houses before they sell their old one, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says. “The Reserve Bank was forced to ...1 week ago
- Bulk funding means bigger classesNational’s plan to bulk fund schools can only result in bigger class sizes and a reduced range of subject choices, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. ...1 week ago
- Time for John Key to sack his Housing MinisterIt is time for the Prime Minister to take serious and meaningful steps to address the housing crisis – and start by sacking Nick Smith as Housing Minister, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says. “Clearly whatever it is National ...1 week ago
- Coleman puts skids under cheaper GP visitsHundreds of thousands of New Zealanders with high health needs are missing out on cheaper GP fees as the cost of going to the doctor hits $70, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says. “The number of practices subsidised to ...2 weeks ago
- Police indifference over dine-and-dash appallingThe fact that the police couldn’t be bothered investigating a dine–and-dash in Auckland is appalling and shows an indifference that is unacceptable, says Labour’s Police spokesperson Stuart Nash. “The way it stands these men have got away scot free ...2 weeks ago
- Covenant promises new deal for our childrenA covenant drawn up by Judge Carolyn Henwood promises an important new deal for New Zealand’s children, says Labour’s spokesperson for Children Jacinda Ardern. “It’s important that this covenant is a pledge to all children in this country. ...2 weeks ago
- Flagship fund more housing policy on the flyThe Government’s flagship $1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund was so rushed it wasn’t considered until after the Budget and announced just a month later, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says. “Documents obtained by Labour through Written Parliamentary Questions show ...2 weeks ago
- Unemployment count changes to meet international standards
Changes to how the unemployed are counted when they look for work online were made to meet international standards, Statistics NZ said today. This week there has been some misunderstanding of the changes, which were first announced on 29 June ...10 hours ago - Law allows information sharing about vulnerable children nowPrivacy Commissioner John Edwards says he supports the Government’s message that any information about a current or future danger to a child needs to be shared between the appropriate agencies. ...12 hours ago
- Hunter Education continues to be the focus for The BlokeHunter Education continues to be the focus for The Bloke. Auckland, New Zealand - Monday, 15th August 2016 It's easy to talk about it, even easier to complain there isn't enough of it, but one group is working to provide ...12 hours ago
- Parole Board Decisions Leave Corrections in No Win Situation“Any violent offender or sexual offender who is considered high risk, whether or not subject to a Public Protection Order or Extended Supervision Order, has no place in our community. If the Parole Board decide that they should be released ...12 hours ago
- Committee Urged To Scrap TPPAThe Government should scrap the TPPA legislation and withdraw from the agreement, Democrats for Social Credit Deputy Leader and Finance Spokesperson, Chris Leitch told the select committee hearing submissions on the TPPA Amendment bill. ...12 hours ago
- The Howard League Prison Performance TableThe Howard League Wellington has released its inaugural prison performance table. The results are compiled from questionnaires sent to our members in prison, the users of the prison service. ...12 hours ago
- Dreams of a Guilt Free Retirement Go Up In Smoke18 August 2016 Hāpai Te Hauora are stunned by the latest news that community members have been unwittingly investing their KiwiSaver into companies that deal in death and destruction. “We run the National Tobacco Control Advocacy service and our ...12 hours ago
- Law Commission begins review of 1995 ActThe Minister of Justice has requested that the Law Commission conduct a comprehensive review of the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 (the Act) and report back with recommendations. ...13 hours ago
- Closure of Manus Island detention only first stepAustralia/PNG: Closure of Manus Island detention only first step to ending offshore nightmare for refugees ...14 hours ago
- Challenges for new Ministry for Vulnerable ChildrenSocial Service Providers Aotearoa welcomes the certainty provided by the Minister’s announcement today of the role of the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children and the timeline to establish it. ...14 hours ago
- New Ministry focuses on problems, not potentialThe government’s choice of name for the new Ministry of Vulnerable Children is short-sighted and may further disadvantage the families it aims to help, the Public Service Association says. ...15 hours ago
- Ministry for Vulnerable Children Chief Executive appointedState Services Commissioner Peter Hughes has today announced the appointment of Gráinne Moss as establishment Chief Executive of the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki. ...16 hours ago
- NZ needs Zero Carbon Act to honour Paris AgreementYouth organisation Generation Zero has welcomed today’s announcement by the Government to ratify the Paris Agreement by the end of the year, but reiterated that New Zealand needs a Zero Carbon Act to live up to the agreement. ...1 day ago
- Law Commission Begins Review of Declaratory JudgmentsThe Minister of Justice has requested that the Law Commission commence a review of declaratory judgments. ...1 day ago
- Ratification Can’t Replace Real Action on Climate ChangeThree-Fifty Aotearoa is sceptical that New Zealand’s ratification of the Paris Agreement by the end of the year will create any positive change for the climate. ...1 day ago
- EPA Report ignores Harmful Effects From Herbicide IngredientThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its re-analysis of the risks from glyphosate — a main ingredient in the commonly used herbicide Roundup. [1] ...1 day ago
- 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War eventsThe 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be marked with two services in Wellington on 18 August. A wreathlaying ceremony attended by His Excellency The Governor-General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae, Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key and the ...1 day ago
- “Cclimate denialist” policies will undermine Paris AgreementWednesday 17 August - New Zealand’s ratification of the Paris Agreement won’t be worth the paper it’s written on unless the Government abandons its “climate denialist” policies, says Greenpeace. ...2 days ago
- Spies Given More Powers In Spite Of Their FailuresThe Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) are being handed more powers by the Government, and given legal backing for spying on New Zealanders, in spite of yet another example of their wrongdoings ...2 days ago
- Setting the Record Straight…Last week, Ministers’ Amy Adams (Broadcasting) and Nicky Wagner (Disability Issues) put out a joint press release about how Parliament captioning increases accessibility, which is true. ...2 days ago
- Community calls on Government for a Hindi Language WeekAdding to the diversity in New Zealand and recognition for one of the most spoken languages in the country, the Indian Community has urged the Government to declare one week in a year as “Hindi Language Week” in New Zealand. ...2 days ago
- Oxfam Welcomes Pollution-Busting AgreementResponding to news today that the Government plans to ratify the celebrated Paris Agreement on climate change by the end of the year, Rachael Le Mesurier, executive director of Oxfam New Zealand said: ...2 days ago
- Walter Nash Labour Party Centennial SpeechOne of the quotations from Sir Walter that I most admire is: ‘I don’t want to get rid of poverty just to ensure that prosperity is maintained. I want to get rid of poverty because it is bad , it ...2 days ago
- Actors Team up to Fight Human TraffickingSome of New Zealand’s best known television characters are joining forces to stand up against human trafficking. ...2 days ago
- Save the Children urges Government to help children on NauruSave the Children is calling on the New Zealand government to redouble its efforts to offer refuge to children and families living in detention centres in Nauru, following fresh evidence of abuse. ...2 days ago
- Taiwanese man jailed for ‘P’-lined suitcasesTaiwanese man jailed for ‘P’-lined suitcases A 21-year-old Taiwanese drug courier has been sentenced to 11 years 6 months’ imprisonment for his role in attempting to smuggle methamphetamine or ‘P’ with a street value of approximately $9.5 million ...2 days ago
- Genesis Energy’s link to organised crime “highly disturbing”Tuesday, August 16: Genesis Energy has been named as one of a dozen New Zealand companies that bought large numbers of fraudulent carbon credits from Russia and the Ukraine, it has been revealed. ...2 days ago
- Whānau Tahi strengthens with SimplHealth acquisitionWhānau Tahi Limited, the Waipareira Trust subsidiary with growing interests in IT, health and well-being, today announced the acquisition of SimplHealth, the well-known health IT specialist behind the technology powering New Zealand’s ePrescription ...3 days ago
- Wellington mayoral candidates support the Living WageThree Wellington mayoral hopefuls say they will ensure Wellington City Council fully adopts the Living Wage at the first candidates’ forum of this election campaign. ...3 days ago
- Climate Cheats II: The Dozen Dirty BusinessesOur first report Climate Cheats showed that NZ was the biggest user of fraudulent carbon credits from Ukraine and Russia ...3 days ago
- Arbitraged carbon credits are not money in the bankLargely as a result of three years of arbitrage between foreign and domestic units as New Zealand de-linked its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from international carbon markets, the New Zealand government was liable for 140 million banked carbon credits ...3 days ago
- Price effect of breaking from Kyoto – Expert reactionA new report says the Government would have got better bang for its buck if it had de-linked the emissions trading scheme promptly after announcing it would not sign up to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. ...3 days ago
- Young Women Challenge Government on Equal PayOver a working lifetime, the average woman will earn around half a million dollars less than the average man – and veteran campaigners will meet high school student leaders today to discuss the equal pay campaign. ...3 days ago
- The Truth About Section 70Since announcing the formation of the New Zealand Seniors Party, the whiners and knockers have definitely come out of the woodwork attacking the Party as 'Double Dipping, greedy old people and winging Poms'. It has to be said there are ...3 days ago
- Rotorua celebrates 130 years of ProbationThis month the Department of Corrections is celebrating the 130th anniversary of probation services in New Zealand. ...3 days ago
- New report shows school funding cutSchools - already struggling to juggle costs - are going to be put under further pressure after a freeze to their operations grant this year, a new report shows. ...3 days ago
- Capacity crowds for University public lecturesTwo public talks at the University of Canterbury will have capacity audiences after both of tomorrow’s UC Connect lectures sold out of tickets early. ...3 days ago
- Majority backs cannabis law changeMajority backs cannabis law change A majority of the public favours a change to the legal status of cannabis according to a new poll commissioned by the NZ Drug Foundation. 64 percent of respondents think possessing a small amount of ...4 days ago
- Benny Wenda’s visit to Aotearoa New Zealand on holdBenny Wenda’s visit to Aotearoa New Zealand on hold Prominent West Papuan independence leader, Benny Wenda, will not be able to visit Aotearoa New Zealand at the end of August as previously announced. There is hope that the visit can ...4 days ago
- Free Press – 15/08/2016Growing Shoots The number one determinant of educational success is school leadership and teacher quality, and New Zealand has one of the most unequal education systems in the world. Thankfully this Government, with ACT’s pressure and support is opening ...4 days ago
- Rewa victims call for re-prosecutionRewa victims call for re-prosecution A Stuff Circuit investigation has led to three victims of serial rapist Malcolm Rewa calling on the police to prosecute him a third time over the murder of Susan Burdett. Two of those women went ...4 days ago
- Overwhelming Opposition to Euthanasia in New ZealandRight to Life welcomes the news that an analysis of the submissions reveals, 78 per cent of submissions to the Parliamentary Health Select Committee were opposed to the law being changed to allow doctors to kill their patients or assist ...4 days ago
- MPI response to PSAMPI has started a consultation with our staff on proposals to improve how we prepare for and manage food, biosecurity, trade and animal welfare responses, and deliver compliance and investigation services. Under the proposals, the roles of 49 staff ...4 days ago
- Zoos ask for choice on palm oil labellingNew Zealand’s four major zoos are throwing their support behind Unmask Palm Oil in a campaign that’s calling on Kiwis to join them in demanding clear labelling of palm oil on all food products. ...4 days ago
- Reports About Violence And Abuse on Nauru 100% AccurateNatasha Blucher, and Australian woman who worked for Save the Children in Nauru in 2014 for a period, says horrific accounts of sexual abuse, assault and self-harm contained at the detention camps in a leak of thousands of documents to ...4 days ago
- New approach to cracking down on freedom campersLocal government and Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) are partnering to launch a freedom camping infringements trial in response to campervan rental hirers who break freedom camping laws. The Thames-Coromandel and Queenstown-Lakes district councils are partnering ...4 days ago
- Polls Show Dope Not A Done DealFamily First NZ is rejecting calls for the laws on marijuana to be changed, and says that the poll released today confirms that as high as 75% of NZ’ers don’t want a free-for-all. ...4 days ago
- UN Committee against Torture publishes findings on KuwaitGENEVA (12 August 2016) – The UN Committee against Torture has published its findings on the countries it examined during its latest session from 25 July to 12 August: Kuwait, Honduras, Burundi and Mongolia. ...4 days ago
- Australia has lost its moral compassThe Australian policy for detaining refugees indefinitely is unsustainable, according to Labour’s spokesperson for foreign affairs, David Shearer. ...4 days ago
- On The Nation: Lisa Owen interviews Phil TwyfordLabour housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says Housing New Zealand has been selling state houses for below the official valuations ...4 days ago
- TPP clause ‘not making copyright easy to understand’
The music industry wants to dump the new copyright provisions in the TPP, saying New Zealand is the only country to sign up to such cumbersome and costly rules. ...7 hours ago - The Real Podcast of Housewives – Episode 1
A new weekly podcast about what looks to be a tentpole reality TV series, The Real Housewives of Auckland. Your old idiot mates are back to talk about what is already indisputably the greatest reality show in New Zealand’s history. The ...9 hours ago - PM dismisses KiwiSaver weapon investment concernsThe government is dismissing concerns about KiwiSaver members unknowingly investing in companies making bombs and mines. ...9 hours ago
- The music of No Man’s Sky: talking politics while making loads of noise
Comprised of over 18 quintillion (yes, that’s a number) planets, No Man’s Sky is a seemingly infinite game. Sarah Illingsworth spoke to Paul Wolinski from 65daysofstatic, the Sheffield band behind its soundtrack – also the band’s new album – to find ...9 hours ago - Terrible news: We found out what the K in K Bar stands for and it’s not good
CONTENT WARNING: The following post contains information that may ruin your life. Are you standing? I’m going to need you to sit down. Set aside any hot liquids. Swallow any large morsels of food. Make sure there are no sharp ...9 hours ago - Tony Alexander’s New Zealand Economic Overview 18 August 2016
9 hours ago - Podcast: Business Is Boring #16 – Sarah Hopkinson on how to sell art
‘Business is Boring’ is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and ...10 hours ago - Govt confirms new Ministry for Vulnerable ChildrenA new Ministry for Vulnerable Children will be set up from April next year, the government has confirmed. ...13 hours ago
- Book of the Week: Was 1971 the greatest year in the history of New Zealand music?
Steve Braunias leads a special Spinoff investigation into fresh claims that 1971 was the greatest year in music ever. David Hepworth makes the fairly audacious but sustained and kind of also really persuasive argument in his new book 1971: Never ...15 hours ago - Confirm a ‘timeframe’ for Manus Island detention centre closure, demand NGO
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz Young children are among the hundreds that are kept on the islands detention centre where there are reported instances of physical and sexual abuse. Video: Al Jazeera Australia and Papua New Guinea have confirmed the Manus Island detention centre will ...15 hours ago - Throwback Thursday: A brief history of awkward Shortland Street cast photos
With an exciting new cast photo coming out of Ferndale this week, Tara Ward digs through some of the finest offerings from Shortland Street‘s archives. Forget the Olympics, ignore the housing crisis, pay no heed to Justin Bieber deleting his Instagram. ...16 hours ago - Fiji flag to remain unchanged for foreseeable future, says PMArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz The Fiji government has announced that it will retain its current flag, after more than year of debating that its colonial symbols were no longer relevant to the country. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the decision is influenced ...16 hours ago
- Across the Ditch: NZ Govt Set To Increase Spy Powers + Olympics Roundup and Happy KiwisAcross the Ditch: Australian radio FiveAA.com.au’s Peter Godfrey and EveningReport.nz’s Selwyn Manning deliver their weekly bulletin Across the Ditch – This week: NZ Government introduces to Parliament intelligence law reform that will make it legal for the spy agencies to ...18 hours ago
- Labour’s loan write-off: a solution in search of a problem
There is good reason for reforming the student loan system, but the proposal to wipe debt for those who work in the regions doesn’t hold water, argues Eric Crampton. It’s hard to think of any problem solved by Labour’s proposed ...20 hours ago - ‘I was the first blood relative my mother ever laid eyes on’
Our appalling adoption laws meant 100,000 New Zealanders were forcibly removed from their mothers. Now another law means their descendants have no way of tracking their parents down, writes Bonnie Sumner. When my mother gave birth to me and held me in her arms, ...20 hours ago - Murray Horton: Spies given more powers in spite of their failuresArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz OPINION: By Murray Horton The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) are being handed more powers by the New Zealand government, and given legal backing for spying on New Zealanders — in ...1 day ago
- ‘High time’ for female head of UN – Ban Ki-MoonThe Secretary-General of the United Nations says it is "high time" for a female head, after more than 70 years of the UN and eight male leaders. ...1 day ago
- NZ to ratify Paris Agreement by end of yearNew Zealand will ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change by the end of the year, the government says. ...2 days ago
- PNG govt delegation satisfied with Hides landowner discussionsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz By Peter S. Kinjap in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea government representatives have met with landowner leaders of PLD1 and PLD7 in the Hides province this week where discussions between the two groups were said to be satisfying. ...2 days ago
- Jailed Vanuatu MPs could face extended sentences after new conspiracy findingsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz Eleven former Vanuatu MPs and one lawyer have been found guilty of new conspiracy revelations in a bribery case which sentenced them to prison in 2015. The accused MPs, have already served 10 months of their three to ...2 days ago
- Students’ lawyer served with contempt charges over UPNG campus unrestArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz By Peter Kinjap in Port Moresby The University of Papua New Guinea has served a contempt charge against the Students Representative Council lawyer Laken Lepatu Aigilo over the recent two months of protests demanding the resignation of ...2 days ago
- Would Jack Donaghy and Donald Trump be best friends? A Spinoff Investigation
Pete Douglas looks at two of the great capitalists of our times, Donald Trump and 30 Rock‘s Jack Donaghy, and wonders if they really would get along like a house on fire IRL. One of the best plot ...2 days ago - Do you want to talk about it?: An appointment with traumatised charactersSaradha Koirala reviews two teen novels which both deal with girls who have “survived something horrific at the hands of a male classmate”. I will talk literature with anyone who’ll listen. Most recently the ones listening have been clinical psychologists. ...2 days ago
- The Kuggelijn case and the simple concepts we still don’t understand about consent
The Scott Kuggeleijn case is but the latest example in a long history of damaging misconceptions about consent in this country. Lawyer Madeleine Holden says we need to improve that conversation, and fast. Content warning: This essay concerns the topic of sexual assault ...2 days ago - Statistician denies political interference over job seeker figuresThe Government Statistician has been forced to defend her independence after claims there was political interfenece with the labour figures. ...2 days ago
- Visa holders cheating refugee policy – PetersNearly 1600 people have claimed asylum in New Zealand after arriving on work and student visas, the NZ First leader says. ...2 days ago
- My plea to the government: Don’t let politics prevent dignity for the dying
Senior ministers just want the assisted dying issue to go away. But for people like Rachel Rypma, legislation could not be more important, writes David Seymour. David Seymour will be talking assisted dying as part of the next Spinoff-Ika Table ...2 days ago - Spy committee a cosy club – GreensThe Intelligence and Security Committee is being likened to a cosy club between National and Labour, with calls for broader political representation. ...2 days ago
- MP defends lost luggage bill in ParliamentBackbench National MP Nuk Korako has defended his lost luggage bill in Parliament after a barrage of questions from Labour MPs. ...2 days ago
- Defence Force’s $1.5b building upgrade approvedThe Defence Force has received government approval for a $1.5 billion upgrade of its buildings and facilities. ...2 days ago
- Defence Force’s $1.5bn building upgrade approvedThe Defence Force has received government approval for a $1.5 billion upgrade of its buildings and facilities. ...2 days ago
- Emergency housing fund for abusive family membersShort-term emergency housing for abusive family members, designed to get them away from their victims, will be funded by the government. ...2 days ago
- ‘Strap them on and get a bit braver’ – Penny Hulse’s advice to would-be Mayor Phil Goff
Deputy mayor and Unitary Plan hero Penny Hulse has told the Spinoff she is ‘vaguely uninspired’ by the candidates for the Auckland mayoralty, saying she’s waiting to hear some ‘genuine vision’. It is an irrefutable fact that the most exciting ...2 days ago - Govt could face legal fight over Tauranga state housesA social housing advocacy group intends to seek a judicial review of the government's plan to sell more than 1000 state houses in Tauranga. ...2 days ago
- Fiji awaits gold medal team to start national celebrationsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz The Vodafone Fiji 7s team Olympic win not only made sporting history for Fiji but it was also the first time an Olympic gold had ever been won by a small island nation. Video: Fijian Government The ...2 days ago
- PNG Immigration Office office in Moresby risks closure over lack of fundsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz By Peter S. Kinjap in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority in Port Moresby is risking closure due to a constant lack of operational funds to keep its office running. Sources within the ...2 days ago
- The truth about *that* weirdly racist Chinese real estate story: Guy Williams presents a Spinoff Inv...
On Sunday, the Herald ran a crazily racist opinion piece where an unnamed real estate agent criticised Auckland for being “unwholesomely Chinese”. Guy Williams went in search of the truth about the story, and ended up being sucked down a ...3 days ago - Warcast #3: Unitary Plan hero Penny Hulse reveals all about urban density, shock rift with LenIn the third Earth-shattering installment of The Spinoff’s recently renamed Warcast, we talk to Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse about the Unitary Plan, the disappointing Auckland mayoral candidates, and why she got upset with Mayor Len Brown. She should have been sleeping off a ...3 days ago
- The 8 hour No Man’s Sky live-stream supercut into 7 minutes
On the launch day of Hello Game’s massively anticipated No Man’s Sky Don Rowe and José Barbosa played the thing for 8 hours straight. They invited special guests and streamed it all live to the internet. This is their story heavily edited ...3 days ago - No plans for Clark to pull out of UN race – KeyThe Prime Minister is still backing Helen's Clark's bid to be UN Secretary-General, despite disappointing results from two straw polls. ...3 days ago
- The good and not so good of the new GCSB bill – and a word on that ‘cheerleader clown’ thing
Privacy commissioner John Edwards assesses the newly drafted Intelligence and Security legislation, and responds to Kim Dotcom’s suggestion he’s a government lackey and ‘clown’ Until last night I was unfamiliar with the commissioning process for pieces for The Spinoff. Mine ...3 days ago - ‘Her shining dark face expresses both imperiousness and terror’: The strange, amazing Nina Simon...
Nick Bollinger reviews What Happened Miss Simone?, the biography of black American singer and activist, the strange and brilliant Nina Simone. If music is some kind of social barometer, then America is brewing a civil war. It would be hard ...3 days ago - Stuff Circuit and the weird dance we do around publicly funding journalism
Two brilliant pieces of longform current affairs just showed up on Stuff within hours of each other. Duncan Greive looks at the work of Stuff Circuit, and asks why it is that we leave the production of this critical style ...3 days ago - Human rights must be ‘to the fore’ in Indonesia ties, says The AgeArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz Australia must consider human rights, including the military crackdowns on the West Papuan provinces, when pursuing closer ties with Indonesia, says the Melbourne newspaper The Age in an editorial. Condemning Attorney-General George Brandis for visiting Papua last ...3 days ago
- How The Block NZ’s live auctions perfectly illustrated Auckland’s housing crisis
The Block NZ held its most profitable auctions over the weekend. But while the four teams celebrated their record-breaking profits, Madeleine Chapman saw a housing crisis in action. There’s nothing like a bit of reality television to take your mind ...3 days ago - Video: Little on immigrationIn Focus - Labour Party leader Andrew Little tells Morning Report the government must review the country's immigration policy. ...3 days ago
- Key ignoring immigration problem – LabourThe Prime Minister's refusal to limit immigration is leaving him increasingly isolated, Labour says. ...3 days ago
- The TPP needs an ambulance, but it’s not dead yet
Obama wants to get the trade deal through Congress during the lame duck session, but both Trump and Clinton are vocally opposed. It is too early, however, to declare the battle lost, argues TPP advocate Stephen Jacobi Trade has been ...3 days ago - New spy laws need to strike balance – LabourThe Labour Party will support the first reading of new legislation that allows intelligence agencies to spy on NZers, but says there are areas that need addressing. ...3 days ago
- Hey Adam, about this ‘unwholesomely Chinese’ Auckland thing
Lumping together foreign investors, international students and immigrants isn’t about policy, it’s about class, writes Keith Ng. Immigrants are like teenagers. We spend a lot of time fitting in, and being hyper-aware of whether we fit it. When teenagers say ...3 days ago
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