National and the Gutting of Local Democracy
Written By:
Date published: 7:57 pm, February 13th, 2024 - 16 comments
We have remarkably little democracy left in New Zealand.
Daily review 13/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 13th, 2024 - 9 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 …
A Trump-led Withdrawal from NATO
Written By:
Date published: 7:30 am, February 13th, 2024 - 37 comments
Just as he did in 2017, Trump is clear in 2023 that the United States should withdraw from NATO.
Open mike 13/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 13th, 2024 - 29 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 12/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 12th, 2024 - 3 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 …
Who are the four lobbyists with Parliamentary swipe cards?
Written By:
Date published: 12:23 pm, February 12th, 2024 - 23 comments
National has trashed its comment last terms that lobbyists should not have special access rights by handing out four swipe cards to lobbyists and refusing to say who they are.
Open mike 12/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 12th, 2024 - 49 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 …
The apparatus behind the curtain – Part 2: The mainline
Written By:
Date published: 2:40 pm, February 11th, 2024 - 60 comments
In a guest post Seddonville Miner explores links between the Atlas Network and the Taxpayer’s Union.
The Subs and the Next War
Written By:
Date published: 11:28 am, February 11th, 2024 - 9 comments
In March 2023, former Australian prime minister Paul Keating attracted significant media attention when he described AUKUS as a manifestation of the United States’s campaign to encircle China with hostile military allies and partners.
Should America elect a well intentioned but hapless President or an evil and dangerous President?
Written By:
Date published: 9:58 am, February 11th, 2024 - 30 comments
Robert Hur, the Republican prosecutor investigating President Biden’s retention of classified documents has concluded he should not face trial because he was “well-intentioned, but sometimes hapless and forgetful”.
Alex Foulkes To Stand For Green Party Co-Leader
Written By:
Date published: 6:05 am, February 11th, 2024 - 147 comments
Faulkes describes himself as a staunch Eco-Socialist and trade unionist
Open mike 11/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 11th, 2024 - 24 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 …
Simeon Brown works to make transport system less sustainable
Written By:
Date published: 2:10 pm, February 10th, 2024 - 6 comments
This week we have seen National confirm it will cancel the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax and this will cause the cancellation or suspension of many projects designed to address congestion. And it has been confirmed that axing the clean car discount has seen sales of electric vehicles plummet. And that electric vehicles will shortly pay more to use the road than petrol vehicles.
Open mike 10/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 10th, 2024 - 80 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 09/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 9th, 2024 - 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 …
Open mike 09/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 9th, 2024 - 89 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 08/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 8th, 2024 - 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 …
Laura Norda strikes again
Written By:
Date published: 9:14 am, February 8th, 2024 - 78 comments
National has announced the cancellation of funding for Cultural Reports because of the cost and the abandonment of Labour’s plan to decrease the muster despite the cost.
Open mike 08/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 8th, 2024 - 16 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 07/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 7th, 2024 - 1 comment
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 …
Toitu te Tiriti
Written By:
Date published: 12:20 pm, February 7th, 2024 - 68 comments
Recent events have shown overwhelming support for the treaty among Iwi, the willingness for David Seymour to create chaos for political advantage, and that Christopher Luxton is not in control of the Government.
Open mike 07/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 7th, 2024 - 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 06/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 6th, 2024 - 4 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 …
Ratana and The Treaty of Waitangi
Written By:
Date published: 5:25 pm, February 6th, 2024 - 10 comments
“My understanding is a guy came out as a prophet of his own religious movement in the 1870s. And politicians feel a strange obligation to be there every year. I’ve never felt that.” David Seymour is shallow as a birdbath.
Open mike 06/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 6th, 2024 - 18 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 05/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 5:30 pm, February 5th, 2024 - 3 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 …
A modest proposal on Waitangi day
Written By:
Date published: 1:58 pm, February 5th, 2024 - 32 comments
While the Treaty of Waitangi continues to be battered back and forth, the clear reality is that Maori, after signing the infuriating Treaty, were systematically dispossessed of their land. Any reading of the history of colonial treaties shows that treaties were the primary method of dispossession and were designed to be broken. And invariably they were.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office
Written By:
Date published: 6:54 am, February 5th, 2024 - 12 comments
Originally published on Nick Kelly’s blog Many question the value of the performing arts and drama. At the start of 2024, the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office did what journalists, politicians and broader civil society have failed to do over the last 25 years. It raised public awareness of the injustice faced […]
Open mike 05/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 5th, 2024 - 50 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 …
The “New Zealand model” for prostitution liberalisation doesn’t work
Written By:
Date published: 6:09 am, February 4th, 2024 - 57 comments
The Women’s Rights Party New Zealand and the Women’s Declaration International – New Zealand recently made a joint submission to Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
Open mike 04/02/2024
Written By:
Date published: 6:00 am, February 4th, 2024 - 87 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 …
- 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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, ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks ago
- Master Plumbers Support Government Plans To Cut Red Tape
Master 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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. ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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. ...2 weeks 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. ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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. ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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, ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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, ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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. ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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: ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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
- Understanding The Data – Benefits Are Being Cut In Value In Real Terms – But Why?It seems that there is no direct relationship between the level of benefits (or minimum wages for that manner) and the number of people unemployed. New Zealand benefit levels (and minimum wages) were much higher when unemployment was low from the period after ...2 weeks ago
- Heritage Homeowners Make Plea Direct To RMA MinisterThe Voluntary Heritage Group has formally issued a “plea for help” to the RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, asking him to enshrine in law the right to refuse heritage designation. Following Wellington City Council dropping heritage status on disputed ...2 weeks ago
- Kiwis Asked To Have Their Say On New Draft Rules For Using BiometricsThe Office of the Privacy Commissioner has developed draft rules for the use of biometric technologies and is now asking what people think of those. Biometrics is the automated processing of physical and behavioural characteristics (face scans, ...2 weeks ago
- NZDF Personnel Commemorate Sinking Of HMNZS Moa In Solomon IslandsNew Zealanders have gathered for a moment of reflection in Solomon Islands to commemorate the Second World War sinking of HMNZS Moa in Tulagi Harbour. <img src="https://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/2404/b42d0a3900f4388dda7b.jpeg" width="720" height="491"> Personnel from three New Zealand ...2 weeks ago
- KASM Taking Complaint Over Seabed Miner Misleading Australia’s ASXKiwis Against Seabed Mining, Inc. (KASM) is lodging a complaint to the Australian Securities Investment Commission about the seabed mining company Tran Tasman Resources’ parent company Manuka Resources Ltd for misleading the ASX. "That TTR's owner ...2 weeks ago
- New Campaign Confronts Culture Of Silence On Abuse, Empowering Children To Speak OutA new campaign designed to empower the "brave voices" of children by encouraging them to speak out and find help if they experience abuse will launch today. Supported by Life Education Trust , Save the Children , and Women’s Refuge , the campaign ...2 weeks ago
- Press Release From New Zealand Asian LawyersNew Zealand Asian Lawyers is pleased to announce the establishment of a panel to assist the New Zealand courts by applying to intervene in cases of wider public interest where Asian parties are concerned. The panel will recommend that New Zealand Asian ...2 weeks ago
- NEW POLL: More Bad News For Centre-Right As Government Parties Drop In SupportNational is down on last month to 37.1% (-0.3 points) while Labour is up slightly to 25.7% (+0.4 points). The Greens take third place on 14.6% (+3.3 points) while ACT drops back to 7.2% (-2.8 points). The smaller parties are NZ First on 6.3% (-1.1 ...2 weeks ago
- Shifting Focus From Race To Culture: Preserving Trust With Indigenous CommunitiesIn an attempt to dispel any intention of racism, I am writing this op/ed to help move the dial from a focus on race, to a focus on cultural norms and sensitivities. ...2 weeks ago
- Another Dark Day For Science And Climate – 90 Jobs To Go At NIWANIWA, one of New Zealand’s leading climate research agencies, is set to lose up to 90 jobs, at a time when our climate crisis is worsening. "This is utter madness at this critical time for New Zealand," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for ...2 weeks ago
- Comments About Ethnic ‘priority’ For Surgical Waitlists Ruled Misleading And DiscriminatoryComments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. The Authority has upheld a complaint ...2 weeks ago
Recent Comments