Author Archive
PM’s Science Advisor worried PM doesn’t understand science
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, April 5th, 2013 - 74 comments
Why else would he say “that he is particularly concerned by the trend for the complex nature of science to be ignored or misunderstood in societal debates, leading to the argument that you can find a scientist to support any given position. This, he says, totally misinterprets the way that scientific consensus is achieved and can engender serious mistrust in the scientific enterprise.”
Look over there!
Written By: - Date published: 1:34 pm, April 4th, 2013 - 14 comments
John Key needs some cover for his being caught out lying / incompetent / omitting stuff (/ insert your interpretation), so today the government is making sure it is Doing Something. More importantly Doing Something about Bad People.
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, March 31st, 2013 - 6 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: the moral dilemmas of work vs children, the youth of today, buses as prozac and an easter chocolate quiz.
More Bullshit
Written By: - Date published: 9:32 pm, March 28th, 2013 - 56 comments
National ministers – Nick Smith, Steven Joyce, John Key – come up with their stories, but reality keeps on not fitting to their stories. I call bullshit.
Key delusions
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, March 28th, 2013 - 57 comments
John Key often lives in a different world than us – and not just in that he doesn’t mix with us. Over Sky City and Anzac Day he is very much in his own bubble.
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, March 17th, 2013 - 25 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: the squeezed middle, tax avoidance, Sheryl Sandberg’s feminist non-manifesto and Pentagon technology.
Dunne in
Written By: - Date published: 1:06 pm, March 15th, 2013 - 43 comments
National are trying to blame their petty carpark tax on Peter Dunne, while he’s out of the country. Apparently his 1-vote is getting it through parliament by itself… (much like Charter Schools?). I doubt Dunne wants to die in a ditch for a petty carpark tax, so it’ll be good to see his response when he gets back.
Two Things
Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, March 14th, 2013 - 12 comments
Marriage Equality and Mondayisation – both proceeding fabulously!
Two Things
Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, March 13th, 2013 - 124 comments
David Shearer won’t rule-out asset buy back (at cost), and a great blog post on “Climate Change: The New Normal”
Shearer signed up for sale
Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, March 12th, 2013 - 64 comments
On Morning Report this morning there was a clip of John Key (in Brazil) saying that David Shearer had signed up to buy shares in Mighty River Power – and he was welcome at the front of the queue like all New Zealanders. Shortly after there was a rushed response from a Labour spokesperson to […]
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, March 10th, 2013 - 6 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: International Women’s Day, climate change and Israel.
International Women’s Day
Written By: - Date published: 1:07 pm, March 8th, 2013 - 8 comments
Happy International Women’s Day; the fight for equality still has some way to be won…
Two Things
Written By: - Date published: 5:45 pm, March 6th, 2013 - 5 comments
Parata was told it was too early to make Christchurch school decisions by her ministry and why aren’t we allowed to know how much the state paid off Don Elder when he resigned over Solid Energy’s rapid decline?
$425,000 for scapegoat
Written By: - Date published: 5:51 pm, March 5th, 2013 - 18 comments
That’s how much we’re paying for Lesley Longstone‘s being forced to resign on 19 December last year, hidden in the Christmas rush. At the time Hekia couldn’t comment because she was going on holiday, was on holiday, was just back from holiday, was busy with Christchurch f%#k-ups, was busy with Novopay f%#k-ups… now she can’t […]
Mighty River is go!
Written By: - Date published: 5:24 pm, March 4th, 2013 - 41 comments
Prepare for the government’s million dollar asset sales ad blitz…
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, March 3rd, 2013 - 12 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Killer robots, Al Qaeda on marriage equality and private prisons sponsoring sports teams.
John Key: High dollar works for me
Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, February 28th, 2013 - 24 comments
As a Canadian currency dealer dubs the NZ$ the “new gold”, John Key sings the praises of a high dollar
Breaking: Supreme Court dismisses Maori Council appeal
Written By: - Date published: 3:20 pm, February 27th, 2013 - 127 comments
Unanimous decision by the 5 judges to dismiss the Maori Council’s appeal.
JK wants to inject life into zombie
Written By: - Date published: 6:12 pm, February 26th, 2013 - 30 comments
John Key is keen that the ACT party is “regenerating” and National will be there for them. That’s if a party that registered 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.5% in the latest round of polls can be called “regenerating”: I’ve seen (other) zombies more full of life…
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, February 24th, 2013 - 5 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Feminism, tax and juries.
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, February 17th, 2013 - 3 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Billionaire interest groups, sex tapes and romantic love?
Happy Gilmore returns
Written By: - Date published: 5:36 pm, February 15th, 2013 - 13 comments
So Aaron Gilmore returns as ex-speaker Lockwood Smith heads to London. His Prime Ministerial ambitions can finally continue…
Employment down – blame the data!
Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, February 8th, 2013 - 5 comments
So the Nats have lost 30,000 jobs in the last year. But it’s not their fault right? If we can’t blame the global economy, it must be the stats! And to be fair since this government came in the Household Labour Survey has jumped about a bit – between bad and horrendous.
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 11:12 am, February 3rd, 2013 - 5 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Economics, inequality, privacy-destroying drones and citizen responsibilities.
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 11:34 am, January 27th, 2013 - 13 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: girls dying in recession, forgotten wars, and the spin of the Right.
Jobs(.govt.nz) to Australia
Written By: - Date published: 10:52 am, January 23rd, 2013 - 27 comments
Danyl at Dimpost has discovered that National is so serious about (enhancing) the drain of jobs and Kiwis to Australia that they’ve actually outsourced the Government Jobs website (http://jobs.govt.nz/) to… Australia. While I love irony, surely this says everything about National’s actually commitment to the people of our country.
Hello everybody! Hi Dr Nick!
Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, January 22nd, 2013 - 39 comments
So Nick Smith is to be returned to cabinet after spending nearly a year on the bench for his ethical flaws. Presumably 10 months on the back benches heals all those desires to abuse your powers to try to help your friends get money.
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, December 16th, 2012 - Comments Off on Sunday Reading
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. But this week it’s mainly your chance for you to share what you found this week, as I’m off overseas for a month by the time you read this.
Finlayson QC
Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, December 14th, 2012 - 100 comments
So Chris Finlayson, Attorney General, finally managed to get his Bill through last month re-allowing the antiquated title of Queen’s Counsel to be conferred on lawyers again. The title is worth hundred of thousands in extra legal fees you can charge with your added prestige of having ‘taken silk’. Yesterday he had his first appointment to the title. It went to…
National’s 12 days of Christmas
Written By: - Date published: 4:16 pm, December 13th, 2012 - 43 comments
Grant Robertson in the Christmas adjournment speeches yesterday gave a great list of National’s terrible 2012 gifts to Aotearoa. For the twelfth day of Christmas National’s gift to Kiwi folk, twelve Hekia stuff-ups, eleven diplomats a leaking, ten cronies conspiring, nine paper boys crying, eight leaks of personal details, 7.3% unemployment, six ACC casualties, five […]
Sunday Reading
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, December 9th, 2012 - 3 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Tax-shaming and the real shirkers, climate change, disability month and happiness.
- Manawatū Tenants Union Condemns Proposed Residential Tenancies Act Amendments
The Manawatū Tenants Union has expressed deep concern over the proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act put forward by Housing Minister Chris Bishop. The changes, aimed at revitalising the rental property market, have raised significant ...1 week ago - 'Devastated': Widow pleads for late husband’s dream to be realised
The wife of a late Rotorua councillor is pleading with the council not to shelve her late husband's dream of a skatepark. ...1 week ago - Pseudoephedrine could be back on the shelves as soon as JuneMedsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing the medicine. ...1 week ago
- Annual Food Price Inflation Slows To 0.7 PercentFood prices increased 0.7 percent in the 12 months to March 2024, the smallest increase since April 2021, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The 0.7 percent increase followed a 2.1 percent increase in the 12 months to February 2024, and is ...1 week ago
- Public Submissions Open On The Te Pire Whakatupua Mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Red...The Māori Affairs Committee is calling for public submissions on the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill. This bill would give effect to certain matters contained in Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo/the Taranaki Maunga ...1 week ago
- When Wellington starred in a Bollywood spy thriller: a scene-by-scene breakdown
Subways, palaces, gold heists, rockets on trains and luxury nightlife? You Bollywood in Wellington. I still remember the first Bollywood movie I ever watched. The year was 2001, I was eight years old, and my cousins had just brought home a copy of Khabbie Khushi Khabie Gham that they’d bought ...1 week ago - Fast-track bill: Which projects could be approved for quicker consent?There is consensus among advocates on which projects are most likely to try their hand at a path of lesser resistance. ...1 week ago
- Fast-track bill: Which projects could be approved for quicker consent?There is consensus among advocates on which projects are most likely to try their hand at a path of lesser resistance. ...1 week ago
- All the things we won’t know in 10 yearsAn ongoing survey measuring child poverty has been axed, and a longitudinal study of child health is at risk. Are we throwing the literal baby out with the bathwater? The year is 2034. Four journalists and 120 trained bots assemble to report on a speech from the prime minister in the ...1 week ago
- Watch live: PM Christopher Luxon talks to media in AucklandThe Prime Minister is back in Auckland and talks to journalists during a bleak week for media and public servants. ...1 week ago
- RNZ's pips are changing – Can you hear the difference?The iconic beeps that mark each hour are getting a shake-up. ...1 week ago
- Does Melissa Lee have a plan to help media?The media minister’s stubborn unwillingness to share any details of what she proposes has drawn both criticism and ridicule, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A tough day to be media ...1 week ago
- Lessons from Manchester as Govt works out how it wants city deals run
A presentation to NZ mayors and chief executives by Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham has added fuel to the growing discussion about city deals and devolution The post Lessons from Manchester as Govt works out how it wants city deals run appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago - Ranking the best and worst of Wellington’s tourism adsFrom ‘Absolutely Positively Wellington’ to ‘You would in Wellington’, the coolest little capital sure has seen plenty of slogans. Wellington’s promotional agency, WellingtonNZ, has revealed its latest ad campaign to attract tourists to the capital city, centred around a new slogan: “You would in Wellington”. Over the past three decades, ...1 week ago
- Stuff, The Spinoff, Newsroom, SYSCA and NZ Geographic on the media crisisAbove the Fold: as two of our biggest media organisations face radical downsizing, Duncan Greive asks media leaders what’s going on, and what can be done about it. Today: the leaders of Stuff and a number of key independent news and magazine publishers. This is part five of Above the ...1 week ago
- Auckland credit union to hand over operations as costs mountCredit Union Auckland fell foul of the Reserve Bank’s Capital requirements midway through last year The post Auckland credit union to hand over operations as costs mount appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Is netball’s top league tough enough?Last year was a disappointing one for netball in New Zealand, with the Silver Ferns missing out on a medal for the first time in their rich Netball World Cup history. After the Ferns lost to Jamaica in the bronze medal match in Cape Town, it raises the question: Is ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 12 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 12 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- This week’s bestselling books, April 12NONFICTION 1 Evolving by Judy Bailey (HarperCollins, $39.99) Judy Bailey! Legend; nice person; the New Zealander of pretty much every year. A free copy of her guide to ageing is available in this week’s book giveaway. To enter, email stephen11@xtra.co.nz with the subject line in screaming caps OLD AGE IS ...1 week ago
- NZ urgently needs to invest in strong climate researchLong-term climate research funding is needed to properly understand what weather extremes NZ faces in the future The post NZ urgently needs to invest in strong climate research appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Minister left $46b benefit of smokefree reforms out of Cabinet paperNZ would only reach a five percent smoking rate in 2061 if smokefree reforms were repealed, officials warned The post Minister left $46b benefit of smokefree reforms out of Cabinet paper appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 12 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],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, Friday 12 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Winston goes to WashingtonThe Right Honourable Winston Peters is back on the world stage, and showing every sign of relishing his new, old, job. But it won’t be business as usual for him despite having held the Foreign Affairs role twice before. “I think we’re seeing a sea-change in New Zealand foreign policy,” ...1 week ago
- Lobbying: an industry devoid of principles?Opinion: The problem with lobbying lies somewhere between affable arrogance, profit maximisation and abrogation of duty The post Lobbying: an industry devoid of principles? appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Auckland housing hearings halt until certainty returnsAuckland’s councillors have provided some certainty to residents on whether or not they need to be preparing for hearings on the future of intensification in areas like the former Auckland Light Rail corridor. The National-led Government came into power on the back of strong promises around housing and transport, such ...1 week ago
- Master Plumbers Support Government Plans To Cut Red TapeMaster Plumbers was pleased to hear how the Government is focused on making it quicker and easier to build. Speaking at the NZ Plumbing Conference in Wellington today, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the Government wants to remove ...1 week ago
- Women Bearing Brunt Of Job Cuts At Tertiary Education CommissionTertiary Education Commission (TEC) staff were told yesterday (April 10) by their Chief Executive that the organisation is cutting 28 roles including administration and clerical roles like Executive Assistants, Administrators, Executive Officers ...1 week ago
- NEW POLL: New Zealanders Oppose Taxpayer-funded Bailouts For Private Media CompaniesLabour voters were the only demographic in support of media bailouts (+7% net support), while those aged under 40 were split evenly. A majority or plurality in every other demographic opposed taxpayer-funded media bailouts. ...1 week ago
- The Unity Books children’s book review roundup for AutumnThe booksellers of Unity Books Auckland and Wellington review a handful of children’s books sure to delight and inspire readers of all ages. AUCKLAND Reviews by Elka Aitchison Roger Christensen, booksellers at Unity Books Auckland Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz (Ages 9+) This a graphic memoir for middle-grade readers looking for ...1 week ago
- Minister Of Finance Admits To New Borrowing NeedAt Finance and Expenditure Committee today the Minister of Finance admitted that the Government will have to borrow to make ends meet in the forthcoming Budget. ...1 week ago
- Hidden Long COVID Crisis Deepens In New ZealandInitially, with strict border controls and lockdowns imposed by the Jacinda Ardern-led Labour Party government, New Zealand was largely successful keeping the pandemic at bay. ...1 week ago
- Improved Privacy, Security In Wellington Service Centre UpgradeThe Ministry of Social Development’s Work and Income Service Centre at Wellington will close for renovations for four weeks from 5pm Thursday 2 May 2024. MSD Regional Commissioner Gagau Annandale-Stone says plans are in place to ensure clients are ...1 week ago
- Prominent American Journalist And Author To Tour New Zealand Universities With Free Speech UnionProminent American journalist and author Jonathan Rauch will visit New Zealand with the Free Speech Union next month to discuss the importance of academic freedom, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. ...1 week ago
- No, I can’t just get a frontline jobA commentator recently suggested laid-off public servants should move into frontline work. My response: I can’t. Early on in my career, a personality test told me I had no practical skills. “May struggle with everyday tasks,” it said. This came as no surprise to me, nor my colleagues, almost all ...1 week ago
- The five most baffling moments from Melissa Lee’s post-Newshub interviewsDon’t ask her to talk about the process. When the news of Newshub’s impending closure was first made public in late February, the media minister Melissa Lee was widely accused of being missing in action. Official Information Act documents provided to The Spinoff reveal the minister was approached with 24 ...1 week ago
- Household Saving Remains Positive For Third Consecutive QuarterNew Zealand household saving was $424 million in the December 2023 quarter as household net disposable income exceeded spending for the third consecutive quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Household net disposable income increased ...1 week ago
- Menstruation through four generationsThere are so many options for menstrual care products available on the supermarket shelves these days, but that wasn’t always the case. Alex Casey spoke to five people from different generations about what period care was like for them. We’ve come a long way when it comes to attitudes to ...1 week ago
- ‘Pads as big as surfboards’: Four generations reflect on their first periodsThere are so many options for menstrual care products available on the supermarket shelves these days, but that wasn’t always the case. Alex Casey spoke to five people from different generations about what period care was like for them. We’ve come a long way when it comes to attitudes to ...1 week ago
- Explainer: The controversial refugee bill that Luxon flip-flopped overCritics say it paves the way for Australian-style detention policies. Supporters say it’s merely procedural. Who’s right? Dozens of refugees or asylum seekers arriving at once is common in European countries and Australia, but it’s still largely unknown on New Zealand shores. But mass arrivals are a highly sensitive issue, ...1 week ago
- Help Me Hera: I set up two of my closest friends and bitterly regret itTheir relationship strikes me as unhealthy and it’s making me angry. What should I do? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera, A few months ago, I set up two of my closest friends thinking that they would hit it off. And so they did. They got along straight away ...1 week ago
- April 10 Is A Dramatic Day In New Zealand’s HistoryOn April 10, 1919, the preliminary results of a referendum showed that New Zealanders had narrowly voted for prohibition by a majority of around 13,000 votes. However, when the votes of soldiers still overseas after World War I were later added in, ...1 week ago
- A shocking night in parliament and a victory for fairnessGlad tidings from parliament as a bill introduced by a Green MP to remedy an incredibly unfair law gets support in its first reading from Act and NZ First, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each ...1 week ago
- The CEOs of TVNZ, Sky, NZME and MediaWorks on the media crisisAbove the Fold: as two of our biggest media organisations face radical downsizing, Duncan Greive asks media leaders what’s going on, and what can be done about it. Today: the leaders of our broadcasters and streamers – those most impacted by the current crisis. This is part four of Above ...1 week ago
- An interactive map of political scandals in WellingtonTracking the locations of political scurrilousness and stupidity across the capital city. Wellington’s streets are littered with stories. Most of those stories are about corruption, incompetence, or other stupid/illegal things politicians have done to ruin their own careers. This is an interactive guide to places around Wellington where big political ...1 week ago
- Book of the Week: Colin McCahon’s insatiable desireDear Colin, Dear Ron selects from the correspondence between Colin McCahon and Ron O’Reilly over a period of nearly forty years (1944-1981). The stats are impressive: 165,000 words over 500 plus pages; 380 letters, split more or less equally between the two; 1500 footnotes; sixty colour illustrations, ordered sequentially and ...1 week ago
- Security alliances need loftier goalsOpinion: The new security alliance framework must be more than a containment exercise against Russia or China The post Security alliances need loftier goals appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- RNZ’s security shake-up for Chinese news launchAs RNZ’s Asia unit approaches its first anniversary, documents show how the broadcaster’s concern about foreign interference in its work The post RNZ’s security shake-up for Chinese news launch appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Taxes – what’s happened and what’s in store?Benjamin Franklin wrote that nothing is certain except death and taxes. He might well have revised that statement, however, had he lived to witness the rapidly shifting tax landscape of the 21st century. As New Zealand moves forward into a new tax year, we wrap up some of the key tax ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Thursday 11 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Thursday 11 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Suppliers swamped with deals as supermarket grace period endsOne supplier told Newsroom it was handling ‘dozens and dozens’ of varying agreements in place of just one The post Suppliers swamped with deals as supermarket grace period ends appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- ‘Exciting therapeutic possibilities’ to slow or halt Parkinson’s progressionOpinion: Parkinson’s disease, a condition that clouds the lives of millions worldwide, has long been a puzzle for researchers. The focus has been on the notorious alpha-synuclein, a neuronal protein gone rogue that clumps together, wreaking havoc in the brains of those affected. Yet, much like the recent struggles faced ...1 week ago
- The heritage building hullabalooA loophole in the law may allow derelict heritage buildings to be demolished or renovated – pending ministerial approval – but it’s caught the ire of architectural experts. While heritage buildings may be important to preserve, the reality is that they’re often too expensive and complicated to fix and are ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 11 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],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 11 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Lack of trust in Govt drives ‘hard refusals’ to censusAnti-government sentiment drives down participation in the latest census, but Stats NZ plugs gaps The post Lack of trust in Govt drives ‘hard refusals’ to census appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Anne Salmond: NZ is a democracy, not a companyComment: In a recent article, Richard Prebble asked, ‘Why not govern the country like it is a company?’ The answer is simple, and obvious. New Zealand is a democracy, not a business. According to Oxford Reference, a democracy is based on rule by the people. In an election, aspiring representatives (MPs ...1 week ago
- ‘The end of news as we know it’: How the news reported the end of the news, again Today it was confirmed that both Newshub and Sunday would be gone by the middle of the year. Here’s how the networks covered the news of their own closures. “Tēnā tātou katoa,” began Mike McRoberts, “it’s the end of the news as we know it.” In front of a steely ...1 week ago
- Court lifts ban on Newsroom child ‘uplift’ video investigationNewsroom has won the right to re-publish a video investigation into Oranga Tamariki uplifting children, after it had to be removed from the site by order of the the High Court. In an important decision for media, the Court of Appeal has overturned the High Court judge’s order, found Newsroom ...1 week ago
- DOC Job Cuts Will Have Long-term Consequences For NatureForest & Bird is warning of long-term consequences for nature and the economy following today’s announcement of 131 proposed jobs losses at DOC. This comes on top of proposed redundancies in other government organisations that have roles to ...1 week ago
- TVNZ’s Consultation Process Legally Challenged By E TūE tū has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority against TVNZ, as the company did not follow their consultation requirements that are guaranteed for workers in their collective agreement. The filing comes as TVNZ makes formal announcements ...1 week ago
- Sexual Orientation Should Be Protected Under Hate Speech LawsTe Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission addressed whether New Zealand’s hate speech law is discriminatory, in court yesterday. The Court of Appeal heard the case brought by Russell Hoban, who is seeking a declaration from the Court that ...1 week ago
- Govt Forces DOC To Shed 130 Jobs Despite Fragile State Of Natural EnvironmentThe reckless nature of the Government’s cost cutting drive has again been exposed with DOC forced to make big cuts at a time when it is struggling to protect the conservation estate - the jewel in our tourism crown. DOC told staff today the Government had ...1 week ago
- Important: Chris Warner has a beard nowHe’s endured five divorces, a painkiller addiction, cancer, being framed for murder, being kidnapped, being shot and having a heart attack. But through all those terrible moments, he never once let his grooming slip. Until now. Shortland Street fans are about to see Dr Chris Warner as we’ve never seen ...1 week ago
- Greenpeace Slams Government’s Fast-track Advisory Panel AnnouncementGreenpeace says that today's announcement of a fast-track advisory group with no discernible environmental expertise adds insult to injury and shows just how little regard the Luxon Government has for the environment. The coalition Government claims ...1 week ago
- This could be the biggest loss of journalism jobs in New Zealand history. What’s next?Three today confirmed that Newshub will shut forever on July 5th. When combined with dozens of job losses at 1News, it marks a dark week for New Zealand news. Duncan Greive lays out what just happened, and what it means. “Warner Bros. Discovery [WBD] today announced a new business model ...1 week ago
- Sky-high Interest Rates Show Kiwi Families Need Government To Show Some Fiscal ResponsibilityResponding to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to hold the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 5.5%, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “High interest rates stifle growth and punish Kiwi families. They’re ...1 week ago
- OCR 5.50% – Official Cash Rate Remains UnchangedThe Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to leave the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 5.50 percent. ...1 week ago
- ‘No singular book is going to be useful for everyone’: Reading tips of a budgeting legendWelcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: Cameron Wislang, author of Budget Like a Legend. The book I wish I’d written Easy as, The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape. It has set the ...1 week ago
- Government Must Clamp Down Harder On Managerial Class With Public Service CutsResponding to concerns from public servants that managers seem to be ‘immune’ from staffing cuts, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Alex Murphy, said: "The whole point of the Government's spending cuts was to axe the back-office bureaucracy and ...1 week ago
- What’s going on with Jacinda Ardern and the Christchurch Call?An update on New Zealand’s future engagement with the Christchurch Call – and likely Jacinda Ardern’s role with it – is expected to be made public in the coming weeks. Let’s start at the beginning: what’s the Christchurch Call again? Spearheaded by Ardern while in office, alongside French president Emmanuel ...1 week ago
- Dwelling And Household Estimates: March 2024 Quarter – Information ReleaseDwelling and household estimates are used for many purposes including planning, policy formation, business decisions, and as 'bottom lines' in the calculation of market coverage rates. Key facts At 31 March 2024, the estimated number of: ...1 week ago
- Midwifery Petition Presented To Parliament on 09 AprilMrs Hayes said the replacement of the words “woman” and “mother” with the broader term “whānau” was among other changes to the current midwifery scope of practice opposed by 90% of respondents in a feedback document released by the ...1 week ago
- New Report Highlights Importance Of Natural Assets And Infrastructure To People And The EconomyOur communities and economies are at risk if we do not protect our natural ecosystems and landscapes. That is a key message of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ’s latest, three-yearly update about the state of land in Aotearoa New ...1 week ago
- Autism New Zealand’s Autism Acceptance Month Breakfast At ParliamentThe Autistic and wider Autism communities will be represented en masse at parliament on April 11th, 2024. This year the annual World Autism Acceptance Month Parliamentary breakfast will focus on housing for Autistic people. Recent research completed by ...1 week ago
- ‘Our Land’ Report Highlights Dire State Of NZ’s FreshwaterGreenpeace Aotearoa is calling on the Luxon Government to stop the rollback of freshwater protections following the release of the Ministry for the Environment’s Our Land 2024 report. Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says, "Rivers, wetlands, ...2 weeks ago
- We all deserve a healthy environment – now let’s make it a human rightAs the government slashes protections for wildlife in service of short-term economic growth, James Shaw is campaigning to enshrine environmental protections into human rights law. WWF-New Zealand’s Kayla Kingdon-Bebb explains why Shaw’s fight is one worth having. Politicians often like to pit people against nature. Just recently, prime minister Chris ...2 weeks ago
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