National tries to blame Labour for National’s tax flip flop flip
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Date published: 10:25 am, August 7th, 2022 - 10 comments
Categories: chris bishop, Christopher Luxon, nicola willis, tax
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Chris Bishop has accused Labour of engaging in dirty politics for pointing out that this week National has changed its policy on income tax indexation twice.
Open mike 08/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 8th, 2022 - 1 comment
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Open mike 07/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 7th, 2022 - 90 comments
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Open mike 06/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 6th, 2022 - 106 comments
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Daily review 05/08/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, August 5th, 2022 - 15 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 …
Socialist economic views on current inflation
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Date published: 9:07 am, August 5th, 2022 - 56 comments
Energy costs, supply line issues, worker rights.
Open mike 05/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 5th, 2022 - 37 comments
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Daily review 04/08/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, August 4th, 2022 - 23 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 …
Luxon’s latest gaffes
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Date published: 9:48 am, August 4th, 2022 - 57 comments
Hot on his confusion of Hawaii with Te Puke Christopher Luxon’s has dropped a couple of new clangers by admitting then denying that National will not increase health funding at least by the rate of inflation and then by displaying his class prejudice by saying people are not going to get rich on welfare.
National’s weird take on the Government’s Climate Adaption Plan
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Date published: 9:05 am, August 4th, 2022 - 7 comments
The Government’s release of the National Adaption Plan to deal with climate change has been met by National with an insistence that who should pay for potentially hundreds of billions of costs should have already been identified.
Should therapists and counsellors speak about the medicalisation of gender non-conforming children?
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Date published: 6:05 am, August 4th, 2022 - 45 comments
Is there a connection between the closure of the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service in the UK, and a conference being held 12,000 miles away in Nelson, Aotearoa?
Open mike 04/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 4th, 2022 - 57 comments
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Daily review 03/08/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, August 3rd, 2022 - 12 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 …
What New Zealanders are thinking about climate change
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Date published: 9:13 am, August 3rd, 2022 - 29 comments
A new Ipsos poll has some good news.
Chris Bishop supports AND opposes vaccine mandates
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Date published: 8:28 am, August 3rd, 2022 - 51 comments
Remember when National’s Chris Bishop thought that Labour was not being staunch enough of mandates? He now thinks that Labour is being too staunch.
Open mike 03/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 3rd, 2022 - 84 comments
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Daily review 02/08/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, August 2nd, 2022 - 42 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 02/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 2nd, 2022 - 80 comments
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Why stick more fingers in the donations dyke?
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Date published: 9:50 pm, August 1st, 2022 - 13 comments
The latest attempt to construct a sensible political donations regime will likely again prove to be full of holes. Going back to basics would be much better. The good news is that the basics were comprehensively assessed 36 years ago by the 1986 Royal Commission on Electoral Reform. It recommended state funding.
Daily review 01/08/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, August 1st, 2022 - 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 …
Political donations law needs reform
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Date published: 2:44 pm, August 1st, 2022 - 6 comments
Judge Jagose’s decision to acquit two persons linked to New Zealand First charged with obtaining control over $750,000 has opened up rather large holes in the obligations of political parties to report donations.
Poverty is a political choice, why are Labour choosing it?
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Date published: 1:30 pm, August 1st, 2022 - 53 comments
Labour announced earlier in the year that it would give a $350 cash transfer to all New Zealanders earning less than $70,000.
Except beneficiaries.
Open mike 01/08/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, August 1st, 2022 - 130 comments
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Open mike 31/07/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, July 31st, 2022 - 13 comments
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Open mike 30/07/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, July 30th, 2022 - 165 comments
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Daily review 29/07/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, July 29th, 2022 - 31 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 …
Why is the UK’s only youth gender identity clinic closing, and what does this mean for New Zealand?
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Date published: 1:13 pm, July 29th, 2022 - 71 comments
The NHS is shutting down its gender identity clinic for children after a damning review found that it failed vulnerable under-18s.
Emeritus Professor Jane Kelsey Valedictory Lecture
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Date published: 10:36 am, July 29th, 2022 - 12 comments
Academic activism and speaking truth to power.
Open mike 29/07/2022
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Date published: 6:00 am, July 29th, 2022 - 89 comments
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Daily review 28/07/2022
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Date published: 5:30 pm, July 28th, 2022 - 18 comments
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Best yet in National Party splatter series in production
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Date published: 1:31 pm, July 28th, 2022 - 46 comments
The kicker in Andrea Vance’s Blue Blood, her insider’s view of the splatter-movie that has been the National Party since John Key stepped down, is that the best yet is in production. She chronicles treachery that has become the modus operandi of the vacuous vipers inhabiting the caucus. Details of the dirty work induce you to turn the page for more. It doesn’t look like Luxon is the redeemer.
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- In Defence of Modern Students: A Reply to Chris Trotter
Chris Trotter has put out a piece, lamenting the myopic focus of modern student activism on, well, students, and the tendency of university-educated policy-makers to take care of their own: https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/07/poverty-is-indivisible-ms-swarbrick.html I think he raises some fair points, at least in the sense that assisting New Zealand’s university ...2 weeks ago - Trade Deals Are a-Changin'
Are We Keeping Up With the Changing Global Trade Patterns?Much of the response to the recent New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was disheartening, especially the complaints about the limited gains for our meat and dairy products. Yes, the gains were small, but significant in the circumstances.About a decade ago ...2 weeks ago - Taking the Temperature: a dispatch from the UKWell, it has happened. Forty degrees Celsius. It was bound to happen eventually, given the lack of determined action to halt our rising temperatures worldwide. Those who insisted such a temperature was impossible here in the UK have been left with egg on their faces. It was not a case ...2 weeks ago
- Corroboration: The key January 6 moment where Trump is exposed
Today’s January 6 committee hearings from Washington DC captured a series of remarkable, damning moments that make it clear Donald Trump is not fit for any role in public office, let alone the highest in the land. A series of moments, but one above all that leaves us in no ...2 weeks ago
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- Member’s bill adds to growing demands on Govt to stop deep sea mining
The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to announce its support for a moratorium on deep sea mining, and to support a member’s bill going to select committee. ...4 days ago - Let’s build better, warmer, and climate-friendlyThe Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party said. ...4 days ago
- Mana in Mahi must guarantee liveable incomesThe Government’s employment initiatives led by the Ministry of Social Development must guarantee liveable incomes and fair working conditions, the Green Party says. ...4 days ago
- Time to strike anti-Pacific racism from New Zealand lawA Green Party member’s bill launched today would strike an anti-Pacific racist law from the country’s books and help heal the wrongs of the past. ...4 days ago
- More nurses, doctors and health workers
New Zealanders deserve a health system that works for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. Our Government has a plan to make this a reality, and we’re taking the next steps. We now have thousands more health professionals, such as doctors and nurses, working in New ...6 days ago - Green Party welcomes new report critiquing OT Oversight billThe Green Party once again calls on the Government to withdraw its Oversight of Oranga Tamariki Bill. ...6 days ago
- 15 times Jacinda Ardern has shown she’s a true leaderDuring her time as Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has navigated New Zealand through unprecedented times. Through it all, she’s become known as someone who leads with kindness, compassion and strength, while keeping the wellbeing of Kiwis at the heart of her approach. To celebrate five years of Jacinda leading the ...7 days ago
- Govt must wipe debt to MSD as part of ‘cost of living’ responseThe Government needs to clear the debt that MSD has forced hundreds of thousands of low income people to take on, says the Green Party. ...1 week ago
- Easing the pressure on New ZealandersSince taking office in 2017, our Government has worked hard to lift wages and make life more affordable for New Zealanders, as we move forward with our plan to grow a secure economy for all. ...1 week ago
- NZ First Foundation loophole must be closed at select committeeThe Government must use the opportunity of the Electoral Amendment Bill in Parliament to close the loophole in the political donations regime, the Green Party says. ...2 weeks ago
- Wider scope for birth injuries bill celebratedThanks to political pressure from the Green Party and the more than 900 personal stories of birth injury and trauma delivered to Minister Sepuloni, more injuries have been added to the ACC birth injuries bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens back taihoa call on Oranga Tamariki billThe Green Party will be voting against the Oranga Tamariki oversight bill as it comes up for second reading in Parliament today. ...2 weeks ago
- “A real game-changer” – how we’re supporting KiwisSupporting New Zealanders is at the heart of our approach as a Government, and we’re working hard to tackle the big issues Kiwis are facing. While long term challenges like child poverty won’t be solved overnight, we’re putting in place policies that make a real difference for New Zealanders. Here ...2 weeks ago
- Delegates at the Green Party AGM have voted to re-open nominations for Co-leaderDelegates at the AGM of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have voted to retain Marama Davidson as Green Party co-leader and to re-open nominations for the other co-leader position. ...2 weeks ago
- Making housing more affordableEvery New Zealander deserves a healthy, affordable place to call home. We have a comprehensive plan to make it happen, and we’re making good progress. Here's the latest on how we're supporting Kiwis into homes: ...3 weeks ago
- Greens call for overhaul of ‘double standards’ in investor category visaThe Government is allowing wealthy individuals to ‘purchase’ residency while entrenching a system that keeps low-waged workers on a precarious and temporary status, the Green Party says. ...3 weeks ago
- Accessible elections a step closer, thanks to the GreensThe Election Access Fund established by a Green Party members’ bill opened for submissions this week, showing positive progress towards more accessible elections. ...3 weeks ago
- New evidence boosts case for urgent pay transparency reformThe Green Party is calling on the Government to pass legislation to increase pay transparency, saying it is an urgent step that needs to be taken in response to shocking new evidence that most of the pay gap for Pacific, Māori, and other ethnic minorities cannot be explained. ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party AGM to move onlineThe Green Party has made the decision to move its 2022 AGM online. Members of the party will not be gathering in Christchurch this weekend. ...3 weeks ago
- Regional approach the focus at ASEAN and East Asia Summit talks
The Foreign Minister has wrapped up a series of meetings with Indo-Pacific partners in Cambodia which reinforced the need for the region to work collectively to deal with security and economic challenges. Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Phnom Penh for a bilateral meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Aotearoa New Zealand, ...14 hours ago - The beat goes on as Government renews support for musiciansExtension of Aotearoa Touring Programme supporting domestic musicians The Programme has supported more than 1,700 shows and over 250 artists New Zealand Music Commission estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis have been able to attend shows as a result of the programme The Government is hitting a high note, with ...3 days ago
- Minister of Defence to attend Guadalcanal Commemorations in the Solomon IslandsMinister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart tomorrow for Solomon Islands to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. While in Solomon Islands, Minister Henare will also meet with Solomon Islands Minister of National Security, Correctional Services and Police Anthony Veke to continue cooperation on security ...3 days ago
- New programme to provide insights into regenerative dairy farming The Government is partnering with Ngāi Tahu Farming Limited and Ngāi Tūāhuriri on a whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury to validate the science of regenerative farming, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The programme aims to scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. ...3 days ago
- More women on public boards than ever before52.5% of people on public boards are women Greatest ever percentage of women Improved collection of ethnicity data “Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees is now 52.5 percent, the highest ever level. The facts prove that diverse boards bring a wider range of knowledge, expertise and skill. ...3 days ago
- Awards support Pacific womenI am honoured to support the 2022 Women in Governance Awards, celebrating governance leaders, directors, change-makers, and rising stars in the community, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. For the second consecutive year, MPP is proudly sponsoring the Pacific Governance Leader category, recognising Pacific women in governance and presented to ...4 days ago
- Govt investment into Whakatāne regeneration reaches new milestonesToday Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash turned the sod for the new Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour, cut the ribbon for the revitalised Whakatāne Wharf, and inspected work underway to develop the old Whakatāne Army Hall into a visitor centre, all of which are part of the $36.8 million ...4 days ago
- Government determined to get a better deal for consumersNew Zealanders are not getting a fair deal on some key residential building supplies and while the Government has already driven improvements in the sector, a Commerce Commission review finds that changes are needed to make it more competitive. “New Zealand is facing the same global cost of living and ...4 days ago
- Government exceeds Mana in Mahi targetMana in Mahi reaches a milestone surpassing 5,000 participants 75 per cent of participants who had been on a benefit for two or more years haven’t gone back onto a benefit 89 per cent who have a training pathway are working towards a qualification at NZQA level 3 or ...4 days ago
- Government opens new research and innovation hubThe Government has invested $7.7 million in a research innovation hub which was officially opened today by Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall. The new facility named Te Pā Harakeke Flexible Labs comprises 560 square metres of new laboratory space for research staff and is based at ...5 days ago
- Unemployment remains low and wages rise despite volatile global environmentUnemployment has remained near record lows thanks to the Government’s economic plan to support households and businesses through the challenging global environment, resulting in more people in work and wages rising. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the June quarter, with 96,000 people classed out ...5 days ago
- First ever climate adaptation plan lays foundations for resilient communitiesAction to address the risks identified in the 2020 climate change risk assessment, protecting lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses and infrastructure A joined up approach that will support community-based adaptation with national policies and legislation Providing all New Zealanders with information about local climate risks via a new online data ...5 days ago
- New mental health and addiction services making a difference for MāoriMāori with mental health and addiction challenges have easier access to care thanks to twenty-nine Kaupapa Māori primary mental health and addiction services across Aotearoa, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare says. “Labour is the first government to take mental health seriously for all New Zealanders. We know that Māori ...5 days ago
- Data and Statistics Bill Passes its Third ReadingA Bill which updates New Zealand’s statistics legislation for the 21st century has passed its third and final reading today, Minister of Statistics David Clark said. The Data and Statistics Act replaces the Statistics Act, which has been in effect since 1975. “In the last few decades, national data and ...5 days ago
- Further moves to improve the lives of disabled peopleThe Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today, marking a significant milestone to improve the lives of disabled people. “The Bill aims to address accessibility barriers that prevent disabled people, tāngata whaikaha and their whānau, and others with accessibility needs from living independently,” said ...6 days ago
- Speech to the China Business SummitKia ora koutou, da jia hao It’s great to be back at this year’s China Business Summit. I would first like to acknowledge Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, His Excellency Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, and parliamentary colleagues both current and former the Right Honourable Winston Peters, the ...6 days ago
- Further changes to CCCFA Regulations will improve safe access to creditNarrowing the expenses considered by lenders Relaxing the assumptions that lenders were required to make about credit cards and buy-now pay-later schemes. Helping make debt refinancing or debt consolidation more accessible if appropriate for borrowers The Government is clarifying the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (CCCFA) Regulations, to ensure ...6 days ago
- Government prioritises firearm prohibition orders to reduce gun harmThe Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill will be passed through all remaining stages by the end of next week, Police Minister Chris Hipkins said. The Justice Select Committee has received public feedback and finalised its report more quickly than planned. It reported back to the House on Friday. “The Bill will ...6 days ago
- National plan to protect kauri commencesThe Government has stepped up activity to protect kauri, with a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) coming into effect today, Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor and Associate Environment Minister James Shaw said. “We have a duty to ensure this magnificent species endures for future generations and also for the health of ...6 days ago
- Support for Samoa’s Climate Change Plan and rebuild of Savalalo MarketPrime Minister Ardern met with members of Samoa’s Cabinet in Apia, today, announcing the launch of a new climate change partnership and confirming support for the rebuild of the capital’s main market, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New ...6 days ago
- Reconnecting with ASEAN and MalaysiaForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for the Indo-Pacific region today for talks on security and economic issues at meetings of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, and during bilateral engagements in Malaysia. “Engaging in person with our regional partners is a key part of our reconnecting strategy as ...6 days ago
- Statement to the 2022 Review Conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations Headquarters, New York City Thank you, Mr President. Ngā mihi ki a koutou. I extend my warm congratulations to you and assure you of the full cooperation of the New Zealand delegation. I will get right to it. In spite of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the nuclear ...6 days ago
- 10,000 more permanent public homes added under the Labour GovernmentA major milestone of 10,037 additional public homes has been achieved since Labour came into office, the Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods confirmed today. “It’s extremely satisfying and a testament to our commitment to providing a safety net for people who need public housing, that we have delivered these warm, ...6 days ago
- Sanctions on Russian armed forces and weapons manufacturersThe Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on the armed forces and military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. “President Putin and the Russian military are responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is a grave breach of fundamental international law,” Nanaia Mahuta ...7 days ago
- Government plan to boost health workersEasing the process for overseas nurses and provision of up to $10,000 in financial support for international nurses for NZ registration costs. Provide for the costs of reregistration for New Zealand nurses who want to return to work. Covering international doctors’ salaries during their six-week clinical induction courses and ...7 days ago
- Today marks one year since Government’s Dawn Raids apologyA new future between Pacific Aotearoa and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is the essence of a Dawn Raids Apology anniversary event in Auckland this month, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. One year ago, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern formally apologised to Pacific communities impacted by the Dawn Raids in ...7 days ago
- PM Speech to China Business SummitTēnā koutou katoa Tuia ngā waka, Tuia ngā wawata, Tuia ngā hou-kura Let us bind our connection, let us bind our vision, let us bind our shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. This year marks a significant milestone in the New Zealand – China relationship. Fifty years ago – 1972 – ...7 days ago
- Cook Islands Language Week will close generational gapIt’s Cook Islands Language week and the Minister of Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio wants the community to focus on what it means to keep the language alive across the generations. “Our Cook Islands community in Aotearoa have decided to focus on the same theme as last years; ‘ Ātuitui’ia ...1 week ago
- Cost of Living support payment to reach over 2 million New ZealandersFrom 1 August an estimated 2.1 million New Zealanders will be eligible to receive the first targeted Cost of Living Payment as part of the Government’s plan to help soften the impact of rising global inflationary pressures affecting New Zealanders, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. The payments will see eligible ...1 week ago
- New Zealand’s border fully open to visitors and students· New Zealand’s international border opens to all visitors, including from non-visa waiver countries, and international students from 11:59PM, 31 July 2022. · Cruise ships and recreational yachts able to arrive at New Zealand ports. This evening marks the final step in the Government’s reconnecting plan, with visitors from non-visa ...1 week ago
- Government sets out plan to eliminate HIV transmission in New ZealandNew Action Plan to eliminate HIV transmission released for consultation today $18 million Budget 2022 boost Key measures to achieve elimination include increasing prevention and testing, improving access to care and treatment and addressing stigma The Government has today released its plan to eliminate the transmission of HIV in ...1 week ago
- Government support lifts income for beneficiariesA report released today shows Government support has lifted incomes for Beneficiaries by 40 percent over and above inflation since 2018. “This is the first time this data set has been collected, and it clearly shows Government action is having an impact,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “This Government made a commitment ...1 week ago
- Māori Housing: Urban development underway in Mt WellingtonThirty new warm, safe and affordable apartments to be delivered by Tauhara North No 2 Trust in Tāmaki Makaurau Delivered through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme, jointly delivered by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Allocation of the apartments will be prioritised to support ...1 week ago
- Phil Twyford to attend Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meetingDisarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford will lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations in New York next week. “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons,” Phil Twyford said. “The NPT has ...1 week ago
- Construction Sector Accord – launch of Transformation Plan 2022-2025I am delighted to join you today for the launch of the Construction Sector Accord Transformation Plan 2022-2025. I would like to acknowledge my colleagues – the other Accord Ministers, the Accord governance and sector leadership, the CEOs of Government agencies, and leaders from the construction sector. The construction ...1 week ago
- Work underway to make Wairarapa roads saferAssociate Minister of Transport Kieran McAnulty was joined this morning by the Mayors of Carterton and Masterton, local Iwi and members of the Wairarapa community to turn the first sod on a package of crucial safety improvements for State Highway 2 in Wairarapa. “The work to improve safety on this ...1 week ago
- Next steps taken to deliver Milford Opportunities ProjectThe board to take the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) forward has been announced by Minister of Conservation Poto Williams today. “The Milford Opportunities Project is a once in a generation chance to reshape the gateway to Milford Sound Piopiotahi and redesign our transport infrastructure to benefit locals, visitors, and our ...1 week ago
- Construction Sector Transformation Plan to accelerate change in industryA new three year plan to transform the construction industry into a high-performing sector with increased productivity, diversity and innovation has been unveiled by the Minister for Building and Construction Dr Megan Woods and Accord Steering group this morning. As lead minister for the Construction Sector Accord, Dr Woods told ...1 week ago
- More counsellors to boost mental health workforceFor the first time counsellors will be able to become accredited to work in publicly funded clinical roles to support the mental wellbeing of New Zealanders. The Government and the board of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) have developed a new opt-in accreditation pathway so NZCA members can ...1 week ago
- Kua waitohua he Whakaaetanga Whakataunga ki a Ngāti Tara Tokanui – Deed of settlement signed ...Kua waitohua he Whakaaetanga Whakataunga i waenga i a Ngāti Tara Tokanui me te Karauna, te kī a te Minita mō ngā Take Tiriti o Waitangi, a Andrew Little. Ko Ngāti Tara Tokanui tētahi o ngā iwi 12 o Hauraki, ko te pokapū o tōna rohe whai pānga ko Paeroa, ...2 weeks ago
- National's welfare plan over-simplified and out of touch, opposition parties say
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence National's welfare plan will work, while the Greens say it shows a "depressingly familiar side of the National Party". ...11 hours ago - National's welfare plan over-simplified and out of touch, opposing parties sayMinister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence National's welfare plan will work, while the Greens say it shows a "depressingly familiar side of the National Party". ...11 hours ago
- Welfare Is About Support, Not Sanctions
The Greens are the only party with a comprehensive plan to support people on low incomes so everyone in and out of work has enough to make ends meet and provide for their families. “It is clearer today than ever before that thousands of families ...16 hours ago - Sylvia Wood Elected President Of The National PartySylvia Wood has been elected President of the National Party by the Party’s board of directors at its annual conference in Christchurch. Ms Wood has been on the board since 2021 and will serve as National’s 18th President after the retirement of ...17 hours ago
- Professor Elizabeth Rata – In defence of democracy
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH RATA gave this address – ‘In Defence of Democracy’ – to the New Zealand ACT Party Annual Conference, in Wellington and Auckland, last month. Although the address was given at a political party event, she says she was a guest speaker and the ideas she presents are her ...18 hours ago - National lays out plan for those on welfare longer than a yearNational has taken aim at those on welfare for longer than a year, in particular young people, saying it's unacceptable in a time of extreme labour shortages. ...18 hours ago
- Vale Judith Durham, the cuddly Aussie ‘girl-next-door’ whose soaring voice found international f...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney Judith Durham, one of Australia’s most recognisable voices, has passed away at 79. An icon of the Australian music industry as lead singer for The Seekers and a solo artist, hers ...19 hours ago - Garrick Tremain’s view…
... 19 hours ago - National Party elects Sylvia Wood as new presidentThe National Party has elected a new president at its annual conference in Christchurch. ...21 hours ago
- Public health ‘patriot’ protesters march onto central Auckland streetsRNZ News Protesters blocked roads in central Auckland this afternoon for the second time in two weeks, marching past the main entrance to the city’s hospital. The Auckland motorway onramp used by protesters two weeks ago was closed ahead of another rally at the Auckland Domain today. Aucklanders were warned ...2 days ago
- 'I've seen it all': Peter Goodfellow looks back at 50 years as National memberNational Party outgoing president Peter Goodfellow has acknowledged mistakes in his final speech, but says he does not regret trying to move the party into the 21st century. ...2 days ago
- More money for musicians (but Sepuloni isn’t saying how much) because they say the last lot was su...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers were dishing out money to musicians and Māori farmers over the past day or so while also announcing awards for women and – in the case of our Minister of Defence – travel plans for a a trip to the Solomon Islands. The announcement of ...2 days ago - Backlash after Solomons government reins in public broadcasterRNZ Pacific The Solomon Islands government has prompted anger by ordering the censorship of the national broadcaster. The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has forbidden it from publishing material critical of the government, which will vet all stories before broadcast. The Guardian reports that on Monday the government announced ...2 days ago
- Former PNG military chief calls for gun ban to curb election violencePNG Pacific A former Papua New Guinea military commander who drew up a plan 17 years ago to try to end gun violence says the first thing he would do is ban the public from owning guns. Major-General Jerry Singirok compiled a gun control report in 2005. It included 244 ...2 days ago
- Women leaders condemn PNG men’s ‘violence, bribery, vote rigging’ to keep them outBy Peter Korugl of the PNG Post-Courier “Shame on yous!” … these are the three powerful words Julie Soso, former governor and candidate for the Eastern Highlands regional seat, had to say for the newly elected members to Papua New Guinea’s Parliament — all men so far. Soso, Carol Mayo ...2 days ago
- Taxing New Zealanders: National promises cuts, warns of Labour hikesNational's deputy Nicola Willis has sought to extinguish any doubt over her tax plan, telling members the party will deliver as much relief as it "responsibly can". ...2 days ago
- Nationwide Rallies To Protest Israel's Ethnic Cleaning In Masafer YattaPSNA is holding nationwide rallies on Saturday August 6th in solidarity with Palestinians resisting ethnic cleansing in Masafer Yatta, an area of the South Hebron hills which is home to over 1200 Palestinians living in 20 villages. “Many of these people ...2 days ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Covid19: Is there a Significant Covid19 Toll of Younger People?Analysis by Keith Rankin. A couple of weeks ago I received a number of articles mainly about Covid19 deaths in the United States. (See below.) As I have noted in the past, it is important to address the reported facts, rather than to ignore them. As they stand, these articles ...2 days ago
- Labour's Andrew Little tells court he was distanced from donations in 'sham donors' t...Former Labour Party leader Andrew Little and the Prime Minister's chief press secretary have appeared as witnesses in a trial about anonymous donations to the country's two biggest political parties. ...2 days ago
- Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta meets with Chinese counterpart as tensions loom over TaiwanForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has met with her Chinese counterpart face-to-face for the first time at the East Asia and ASEAN summits in Cambodia. ...2 days ago
- ‘I left with the kids and ended up homeless with them’: the nightmare of housing wait lists for ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Morris, Professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock People who flee domestic violence desperately need safe, affordable and secure housing. Our study of people on housing waiting lists in New South Wales, Tasmania and ...3 days ago
- Could ‘virtual nurses’ be the answer to aged care staffing woes? Dream onSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Micah DJ Peters, Senior Research Fellow / Director – Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) National Policy Research Unit (Federal Office), University of South Australia Shutterstock Former Health Department Chief Martin Bowles has reportedly proposed “virtual nurses” could help address ...3 days ago
- World’s first ‘synthetic embryo’: why this research is more important than you thinkSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Munsie, Professor Emerging Technologies (Stem Cells), The University of Melbourne Mouse emobryo model in the lab from day 1 to 8. The Wizemann Institute of Science In what’s reported as a world-first achievement, biologists have grown mouse embryo models in the ...3 days ago
- VIDEO: Government’s climate win, Plibersek says no to coal mine, Albanese moves forward on referen...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. Michelle and Caroline discuss the first fortnight sitting of the new parliament, with the government’s ...3 days ago
- The length of Earth’s days has been mysteriously increasing, and scientists don’t know whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt King, Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Atomic clocks, combined with precise astronomical measurements, have revealed that the length of a day is suddenly getting longer, and scientists don’t know ...3 days ago
- The PM is telling us power resides in the ownership of water assets, so we shouldn’t fret about h...It sounded curiously like something out of a Marxist textbook – the notion that power sits with ownership. The relationship between ownership and power – it seems – should be more important to us than the issue of representation in the country’s democratic institutions or the concept of one person, ...3 days ago
- Should we be worried about our pet cats and dogs getting COVID?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Shutterstock The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID, originated from bats and then, probably after passing through an intermediary host, gained the ability to infect humans. Many new viruses that emerge in this way, ...3 days ago
- Record coral cover doesn’t necessarily mean the Great Barrier Reef is in good health (despite what...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University Shutterstock In what seems like excellent news, coral cover in parts of the Great Barrier Reef is at a record high, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. But ...3 days ago
- VIDEO: On the first week of the new parliamentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. Michelle and Caroline discuss the first fortnight sitting of the new parliament, with the government’s ...3 days ago
- ‘This is not a barbeque’: a short history of neckties in the Australian parliament and at workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University The question of what counts as professional dress for Australia’s politicians loomed large again this week. New Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather rose to speak in question time. He wore a neat navy suit ...3 days ago
- New Zealand has launched a plan to prepare for inevitable climate change impacts: 5 areas where the ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Glavovic, Professor in Natural Hazard Planning, Massey University Fiona Goodall/Getty Images New Zealand’s first climate adaptation plan, launched his week, provides a robust foundation for urgent nation-wide action. Its goals are utterly compelling: reduce vulnerability, build adaptive capacity ...3 days ago
- Consumers Deserve To Know The Painful Truth Behind Food Delivery CompaniesFirst-of-its-kind ranking report highlights food delivery companies taking important steps to improve chicken welfare in New Zealand and those lagging behind. Animals Aotearoa has today released a ranking report of food delivery service businesses ...3 days ago
- Plumbing A Public Poo ProblemThere’s a small hole in current law which a responsible camping group wants plugged. Often publicly blamed for fouling our natural environment, freedom campers and van travellers have been the target of a lot of poo-slinging lately. Tourism Minister ...3 days ago
- A wet spring: what is a ‘negative Indian Ocean Dipole’ and why does it mean more rain for Austra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne The Bureau of Meteorology recently announced a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event is underway. But what does that mean and how does it affect Australia’s weather? Will we get a ...3 days ago
- Ngāti Ruanui Supports Bill To Ban Seabed Mining, Chance To Take Urgent ActionTe Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui are this morning welcoming yesterday’s news that a members bill to ban seabed mining will finally enter the parliamentary process. “Ngāti Ruanui is thrilled to hear that Debbie Ngarewa-Packers bill to ban seabed mining ...3 days ago
- Housing Crisis – Government Must Get Out Of The WayThe Government’s meddling is driving up the cost of land and contributing to the ongoing housing crisis, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says. “The ‘huge upfront’ purchase of land at Ferncliffe Farms is setting off major ...3 days ago
- Back on stage – Pacific Music Awards gig banishes covid bluesBy Susana Suisuiki and Finau Fonua of RNZ Pacific The Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland came alive with music, glitz and glam for the first live Pacific Music Awards in two years last night. The annual ceremony has been held online for the past two years due to covid-19 ...3 days ago
- Murray Horton: The day the police came looking for a swifty Mr GangsterBy Murray Horton As I was having breakfast in my Christchurch suburban dining room on Monday morning, I heard a loud but indeterminate noise. I actually thought it was a quake, but as there was no shaking, I assumed it came from the noisy construction site two doors away. So, ...3 days ago
- Censoring SIBC an ‘assault on media freedom’ in Solomons, says IFJPacific Media Watch newsdesk The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the censoring of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) as an “assault on press freedom” and an “unacceptable development” amid mounting concern over China’s influence on the media and security. “The censoring of the Solomon Island’s national ...3 days ago
- O’Neill ‘bombshell’ throws top position in PNG elections wide openBy Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby People’s National Congress party leader Peter O’Neill has blown the race for the Papua New Guinea prime minister’s job wide open by declaring he will not run for the country’s top post. As the national election winds down and lobbying intensifies among Pangu Pati, ...3 days ago
- Break this cycle of sorcery-related violence in Papua New GuineaCOMMENTARY: By Anton Lutz The sun rises over a strange landscape. Come with me and meet these people over here. Even though they have stayed awake all night, now that the sun has risen, they are jumping up and down, singing happy songs and even expressing tears of joy. Next ...3 days ago
- Business can no longer ignore extreme heat events – it’s becoming a danger to the bottom lineSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lont, Professor of Accounting and Finance, University of Otago Getty Images When record-breaking heatwaves cause train tracks to bend, airport runways to buckle, and roads to melt, as happened in the United Kingdom last month, it is likely that ...3 days ago
- Political editors panel: A week of news in 10 minutesMorning Report - In a new Friday feature dissecting the latest political yarns, this week RNZ and TVNZ's political editors Jane Patterson and Jessica Mutch-McKay talk tax attacks and the payments shemozzle. ...3 days ago
- Have Your Say On The Child Protection Amendment Bill And Supplementary Order Paper No 175The Justice Committee is seeking submissions on the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) No 175. The bill and SOP would amend the Child ...3 days ago
- Curious Kids: what is the apex predator of the world?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Shutterstock What is the apex predator of the world? – Mahmood, age 11, Brisbane Hi Mahmood, thanks ...3 days ago
- Why Papua New Guinea urgently needs to elect more women to parliamentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland Rob Griffith/AAP Counting is still underway following Papua New Guinea’s national elections, and there is still some hope that at least one woman might be elected ...3 days ago
- ‘Brain fingerprinting’ of adolescents might be able to predict mental health problems down the l...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Hermens, Professor of Youth Mental Health & Neurobiology, University of the Sunshine Coast Shutterstock Despite the best efforts of clinicians and researchers for decades, we still do not fully know why some people develop mental disorders and others do ...3 days ago
- ‘This is like banging our heads against the wall’: why a move to outsource lesson planning has N...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Wilson, Associate Professor in Education, University of Sydney This week, teachers in New South Wales learned they were going to get a “helping hand” preparing lessons from the start of term 4. The state’s education minister Sarah Mitchell announced teachers ...3 days ago
- How ‘bad credit’ lender Cigno has dodged ASIC’s graspSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucinda O’Brien, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Cigno is exactly the sort of business the Australian Securities and Investments Commission had in mind when it asked for stronger powers to ban the sale of harmful financial products. Cigno ...3 days ago
- Cancelled culture comes back: the Edinburgh Festival turns 75, alive and well after two years of pan...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Thomasson, Lecturer in Theatre, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images After two years of pandemic programming, with performers and audiences moved into virtual online venues, the Edinburgh International Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary this year ...3 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Government win on climate legislation leaves opposition looking like a stranded a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Perhaps not since the marriage equality vote has the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives carried such a combination of substantive and symbolic import as the Albanese government’s climate legislation. While ...3 days ago
- Government win on climate legislation leaves opposition looking like a stranded assetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Perhaps not since the marriage equality vote has the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives carried such a combination of substantive and symbolic import as the Albanese government’s climate legislation. While ...3 days ago
- Australia secures 450,000 new monkeypox vaccines. What are they and who can have them?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By C Raina MacIntyre, Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney Caroline Brehman/EPA/AAP Health Minister Mark Butler today announced Australia had secured 450,000 doses of a third-generation monkeypox vaccine, 22,000 of which will ...3 days ago
- In pictures: Youth MPs get candid on prejudice, demand rightsEvery three years, 120 young MPs descend on Parliament, bringing speeches, stories, ideas and experience that are compelling. Here's what this year's group had to say. ...3 days ago
- Chief ombudsman to investigate councils over concerns on closed door meetingsThe chief ombudsman has launched an investigation into concerns councils are discussing issues and making decisions behind closed doors in workshops. ...3 days ago
- Statement On The Green Party Co-leadership ElectionNominations for co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand closed tonight, Thursday 4 August. James Shaw was the only nomination received. In line with the Green Party’s constitution and its long-standing commitment to member-led decision ...3 days ago
- James Shaw only contender as Green co-leader nominations closeNominations for the position of Green Party co-leader have closed, with James Shaw the only candidate. ...3 days ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Covid19: Is South Korea the Country to Follow?Analysis by Keith Rankin. Chart by Keith Rankin. Chart by Keith Rankin. Chart by Keith Rankin. These three charts show pandemic and post-pandemic excess deaths by age group. I highlight South Korea in light of this RNZ piece of ‘journalism’. For Omicron-related deaths, look for the period from February to ...3 days ago
- Avoiding a gas shortage is one thing, but what’s needed is action on pricesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute The Albanese government has accepted the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recommendation to “initiate the first step” to trigger the controversial Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism to avert a supply crisis in eastern ...4 days ago
- Don’t fall for the snake oil claims of ‘structured water’. A chemist explains why it’s nonse...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney Yoann Boyer / Unsplash Is there a “fourth phase of water”? From time to time you might see people talking up the health benefits of so-called hexagonal water, or structured water, or exclusion-zone ...4 days ago
- Greenpeace Welcomes Members Bill To Ban Seabed MiningA members bill from Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has been drawn from the ballot at Parliament today proposing legislation that would ban seabed mining in Aotearoa - a move Greenpeace is heralding as an opportunity to stop a highly destructive ...4 days ago
- Have Your Say On The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation BillTell the Justice Committee what you think The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill aims to improve outcomes for people who participate in Family Court proceedings, particularly children, by reducing delays. It would do this by creating ...4 days ago
- Provincial Growth Fund is still giving Ministers the chance to score a photo opportunityBuzz from the Beehive Remember the Provincial Growth Fund? This Government got rid of it, on being elected in 2020 without the need to take New Zealand First on board as a coalition partner. But Ministers in the current Cabinet can still delight in turning up for ceremonies to mark ...4 days ago
- Establishing a Voice to Parliament could be an opportunity for Indigenous Nation Building. Here’s ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryle Rigney, Director, Indigenous Nations Collaborative Futures Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the wording of the referendum question to enable a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament. It would seem ...4 days ago
- More than ever, it’s time to upgrade the Sydney–Melbourne railwaySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Laird, Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Wollongong It’s 14 years since former NSW rail chief Len Harper described the rail link between Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, as “inadequate for current and future needs”. And it’s 31 years since ...4 days ago
- Is it ethical to allow soldiers to take performance enhancing drugs such as steroids?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katinka van de Ven, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Rural Criminology, HASSE, University of New England & Visiting Fellow, Drug Policy Modelling Program, SPRC, University of New South Wales, University of New England Shutterstock There’s a long history and growing evidence ...4 days ago
- Whoa there, before saluting the Ardern government for keeping so many people in work
Stats NZ figures this week indicated the country’s unemployment was 3.3% of the workforce in the June quarter, or 0.1% less than in the March quarter. So should we give three cheers to the Ardern government for sustaining employment at such a high level through the Covid pandemic? Given how ...4 days ago - Labour and National go Tit for tat over taxA war of words has broken out between National and Labour over tax cut promises, with National forced to clarify its tax cut package after questions over what it intends to take to the 2023 election. ...4 days ago
- Ngai Tahu are given governance privileges in Canterbury and Willie Jackson gives us a rundown on “...
Concerns about the constitutional implications of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill were overwhelmed by a tsunami of Labour hubris and ballyhoo in Parliament yesterday. The weight of numbers against upholding ... 4 days ago - ‘I am Country, and Country is me!’ Indigenous ways of teaching could be beneficial for all child...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Wilson, Associate Professor, University of Canberra GettyImages The authors are cultural men who have undertaken learning on and through Country with Elders in NSW, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. This piece is the product of their own experience and ...4 days ago
- Ombudsman To Test Concerns Council Workshops Are Undermining Local DemocracyThe Chief Ombudsman has launched an investigation into concerns that councils are undermining local democracy by using ‘workshops’ to discuss issues and make decisions behind closed doors. Mr Boshier is taking action after becoming concerned about the ...4 days ago
- Our Intentions: Looking At The Effectiveness Of Mental Health And Addiction Services For Young Peopl...We’ve published some information about a performance audit we are carrying out about the effectiveness of mental health and addiction services for young people. Mental health and addiction issues are common in New Zealand. Young people are particularly ...4 days ago
- Building supply market: Report a clear signal for sector to 'think about their behaviour' ...The government is promising more action on tackling high prices for residential building materials, but says more detailed work still has to be done. ...4 days ago
- ‘Decolonising’ classrooms could help keep First Nations kids in school and away from policeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aleryk Fricker, Lecturer, Indigenous Education, Deakin University GettyImages The recent decision to transport juvenile offenders into an adult maximum-security prison in Western Australia shows the youth justice system is in crisis. The findings of the Don Dale Royal Commission, and ...4 days ago
- Why do some people who take Paxlovid for COVID get ‘rebound’ symptoms? Or test positive again, l...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University For many people with COVID, their recovery isn’t linear. United States President Joe Biden is one such person – he continues to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, ...4 days ago
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