The Case for Restoring Regional Rail
Written By:
Date published: 1:49 am, June 6th, 2023 - 47 comments
Categories: climate change, public transport, science, sustainability, transport
Tags: cradle to grave, earth system boundaries, pollution, rail, regional rail, roading, whole systems thinking
How does regional rail fit into the biggest story on the planet?
Stop Defending Regional Rail
Written By:
Date published: 12:44 pm, June 5th, 2023 - 43 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment, public transport, science, transport
Tags:
Regional rail is a perpetual makework gig servicing the wrong economy and just needs to stop.
Daily review 06/06/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, June 6th, 2023 - 6 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 06/06/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, June 6th, 2023 - 81 comments
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Diplomacy with China hasn’t failed – it hasn’t been tried
Written By:
Date published: 8:45 pm, June 5th, 2023 - 18 comments
Gerald Hensley was David Lange’s chief of staff when New Zealand’s nuclear free policy was adopted. He opposed what happened then and opposes it still. He now argues we should prepare for war with China.
Open mike 05/06/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, June 5th, 2023 - 53 comments
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Our Great De-Leveraging
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Date published: 5:05 pm, June 4th, 2023 - 11 comments
Debt is the most destructive and addictive form of economic behaviour we have in New Zealand. And mortgages are New Zealand’s very high grade heroin and we are being forced to come down off a most spectacular high into a rage-inducing forced withdrawal.
DIA Is Not Short For Diablo
Written By:
Date published: 3:29 pm, June 4th, 2023 - 94 comments
A fine example of when a free speech advocate is spouting garbage that serves nothing and nobody well except his own biased views.
Open mike 04/06/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, June 4th, 2023 - 68 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 …
Open mike 03/06/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, June 3rd, 2023 - 39 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 02/06/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, June 2nd, 2023 - 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 …
Open mike 02/06/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, June 2nd, 2023 - 117 comments
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Daily review 01/06/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, June 1st, 2023 - 10 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 We Need Universalism, Not Tax Cuts, To Solve The Cost-Of-Living Crisis
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Date published: 8:24 am, June 1st, 2023 - 63 comments
The pros & cons of tax cuts vs. universalism suggest that universalism might be universally better for New Zealand.
Open mike 01/06/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, June 1st, 2023 - 68 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 31/05/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, May 31st, 2023 - 13 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 …
Blowin’ in the wind
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Date published: 9:02 am, May 31st, 2023 - 36 comments
National is blowing hard on the racist dog whistle by claiming that replacing signs with a Te Reo English version will affect the number of potholes that can be repaired.
Open mike 31/05/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, May 31st, 2023 - 60 comments
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Daily review 30/05/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, May 30th, 2023 - 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 …
National’s triple backward summersault on RMA reform
Written By:
Date published: 10:40 am, May 30th, 2023 - 26 comments
The focus groups have spoken. National has performed a complete reversal on the bipartisan changes to the Resource Management Act amendments designed to improve housing supply and introduced only 18 months ago.
Open mike 30/05/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, May 30th, 2023 - 61 comments
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Daily review 29/05/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, May 29th, 2023 - 10 comments
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Superannuation policy becomes political
Written By:
Date published: 9:18 am, May 29th, 2023 - 68 comments
National’s promise to increase the age of retirement and likely cuts to Cullen fund contributions and state Kiwisaver payments have been seized on by Labour as evidence that National does not care about ordinary people.
Open mike 29/05/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, May 29th, 2023 - 19 comments
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Open mike 28/05/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, May 28th, 2023 - 37 comments
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Carmel Sepuloni – bring it on
Written By:
Date published: 8:05 pm, May 27th, 2023 - 49 comments
Carmel Sepuloni’s speech to the 2023 Labour Party Congress.
Open mike 27/05/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, May 27th, 2023 - 69 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 26/05/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, May 26th, 2023 - 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 …
Enter the Patriarchy
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Date published: 9:57 am, May 26th, 2023 - 68 comments
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; send him off to fish and you get a matrilineal society.
Open mike 26/05/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, May 26th, 2023 - 123 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 25/05/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, May 25th, 2023 - 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 …
- At a glance – Can animals and plants adapt to global warming?
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...60 mins ago - Corrupted Generations.
Socrates Takes The Rap: “Corrupting the youth”, the Athenian philosopher Socrates was convicted and executed for this offence more than 2,400 years ago. It is a sure sign of generational desperation: of the old order’s fear of the values and aspirations of its younger citizens; and of a generation no ...2 hours ago - Labour’s electoral review
Labour's "independent" review of the electoral system reported back today. You can read the full thing here, but most of it was basicly a rehash of the 2012 Electoral Commission review, and in response to the same questions, produced mostly the same answers: a lower threshold and removing the one-seat ...2 hours ago - Politics as Super Rugby
ACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023, read an RNZ headline this morning. Foregone conclusions are totally the new black in election reporting this season. The article that followed was not quite so breathless, and concluded with the reminder that in the end it’s all up to the ...3 hours ago - Politics as Super RugbyACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023, read an RNZ headline this morning. Foregone conclusions are totally the new black in election reporting this season. The article that followed was not quite so breathless, and concluded with the reminder that in the end it’s all up to the ...3 hours ago
- Another trust problemToday transport Minister Michael Wood was stood down after failing to properly declare a conflict of interest. He'd bought shares in Auckland airport "as a teenager", hidden them in a trust when he became an MP, and failed to declare them for seven years, for three of which he was ...4 hours ago
- We are told (but not officially) that airport shares have landed Michael Wood in a bit of bother
Buzz from the Beehive At least one headline-grabbing ministerial announcement had not been posted on the government’s official website, when Point of Order checked early this afternoon. We learned from other sources that Michael Wood has been stood down as Transport Minister over over failing to properly disclose shares owned ...5 hours ago - Record dairy output ending the dairy season may help ease higher cost pressures on NZ’s key expo...
Battered by storms, and soaring costs, New Zealand dairy farmers have countered by extracting higher production. As one commentator put it, end-of-season production “has been through the roof” . Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny notes in a report in the NZ Herald that we are probably looking at two ...6 hours ago - Gordon Campbell on red tape and Nicky Hager’s regal reward
Not for the first time, David Seymour looks like an answer to a non-existent problem. Reportedly, ACT is promising to establish a Ministry of Regulations to cut through all that bureaucracy and red tape. Yep. To cut down on bureaucracy. Seymour is promising to create a whole new bureaucracy, presumably ...9 hours ago - What ‘The Simpsons’ taught ’90s kids about climate changeThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sara Peach In 1989, cartoonist Matt Groening told a reporter that his new television show, “The Simpsons,” would tackle the serious subjects in life. “It always amazes me how few cartoonists in print or animation go after the bigger issues, the kinds ...11 hours ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 6 June 2023
ELECTION, PARLIAMENT Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Labour will regret hatchet job on contraception Tracy Watkins (Stuff): How low will this election campaign go? Fran O’Sullivan: (Herald): National must make it clear – women’s work is leading, not cleaning up (paywalled) Claire Trevett (Herald): No more Mr Nice Guy – backtracks on housing and ...11 hours ago - Liberate the Lane on the Auckland Harbour Bridge!
This is a cross post from our friends at Bike Auckland. You can see the original post here. An Auckland for Everybody It’s 2024, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge is finally open and available to all modes of everyday transport. Using a dedicated lane protected from traffic, people walk, ...11 hours ago - Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Why Parliament’s rules matterIt could be easy to shrug away Education Minister Jan Tinetti’s referral to the Privileges Committee as just another example of a Minister not following the rules of Parliament. But its significance should be recognised in the fact it is only the second time since 2008 that a Member of ...12 hours ago
- Geoffrey Miller: How fake AI images could stoke tensions in the Indo-PacificSeeing is no longer believing. Surprisingly realistic – yet fake – images created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are here. To date, most have seemed more like curiosities than genuine deception attempts. Last month, it was revealed that New Zealand’s National Party had used the AI image generation app Midjourney to ...12 hours ago
- Dawn Chorus: Call to lower voting age renewedYoung climate activists watch a livestream of Jacinda Ardern declaring a climate emergency in December 2020. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: There’s another call this morning to lower the voting age and to lower the threshold for parties to get into Parliament under MMP.Elsewhere, there’s news:most social homes ...12 hours ago
- Will we say goodbye to free speech?
Interesting speech by Rowan Atkinson where he defends free speech. Timely too, as several countries are now facing the introduction of legislation which will be used to attack freedom of speech. New Zealand/Aotearoa is no exception. And this comes on top of actions of censorship, de-platforming and social pressure ...23 hours ago - Free Speech and the left conference
The left has really been silent and allowed the traditional leftist commitment to free speech to erode and even fall out of favor. This has had an effect on a whole range of leftist issues, from journalism to environmental activism, worker’s rights, animal rights, etc. From June 17 to June ...23 hours ago - Beehive brays about King’s Birthday gongs and a deal with Japan – but it is bashful about rebuff...Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – dominated today by announcements of who has been awarded King’s Birthday gongs – also carries news of a development in New Zealand’s relationship with Japan. This sits alongside the speech which Defence Minister Andrew Little delivered to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue ...1 day ago
- Turning a new page[s]
The world is full of climate dashboards (and dashboards of dashboards), and so you might imagine that all datasets and comparisons are instantly available in whatever graphical form you like. Unfortunately, we often want graphics to emphasize a particular point or comparison, and generic graphs from the producers of ...1 day ago - The Extinction Of Rebellion.Not Even Close, Comrades! Occupy made it all the way to New Zealand, but its fate here did not differ substantially from its fate everywhere else around the world. The political praxis of identity politics, its extraordinary disintegrative power, made the organisation of any kind of credible threat to the ...1 day ago
- 134 Days Out.1 day ago
- BRIAN EASTON: What do economists do?
Steven Levitt, famous for his Freakanomics, shows that being an economist is not just mouthing supply and demand. Brian Easton writes – Anyone can call themselves an ‘economist’. Many do, despite having no qualifications in economics and hardly any formal training; they often make elementary errors. That is the ...1 day ago - King’s Birthday Grumpiness: ‘Dame’ Jacinda Ardern
Today is New Zealand’s first King’s Birthday since 1951. It’s not Charlie’s actual birthday, any more than Queen’s Birthday was Liz’s, but it’s a public holiday nonetheless. Until the creation of Matariki, the monarch’s observed birthday marked the start of a black hole in New Zealand’s holiday calendar, stretching ...1 day ago - Changing Seasons.
All things change. Nations, sporting teams, individuals. All have a time of ascent, and, in time, of decline. Their time on the stage, in the spotlight - however brightly they shone, gone. A new generation in their place.We see it on this day, in what still sounds strange, King’s Birthday. ...1 day ago - 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #22A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 28, 2023 thru Sat, june 3, 2023. This week, several shared articles did quite well on our Facebook page: At a glance - How reliable are climate models?, Call for ...2 days ago
- Wolves on the Roof
Hi,A few days ago I screwed up my back. Rather, I inflamed an old injury — agitating a naughty protruding disc on my spine so it pinched a nerve, turning my lower back into a swarm of confused electrical signals. As a bonus feature, my entire right leg felt like ...3 days ago - Seymour Shocks Sky City!
Seymour smirked at his reflection.Hi he said.Hi Hi Hi Hi the different reflections from the mirrored surfaces around the bathroom responded. Those days are over he thought, no more having to knock on every bloody door in Epsom - everybody knows my name now.The theme tune to Cheers ran through ...3 days ago - They go off 24/7 while he just does his job
Last Sunday, we looked out across the seas to, of all places, the USA for inspiration and hope. We're going back again today to visit Joe Biden.But first, an octopus. Arguably this creature with more neurons in its arms than head qualifies as this planet’s first intelligent being.Arguably it also qualifies ...3 days ago - Unfinished Projects.
When I left academia in 2011 I was forced to stop two book projects that were in the works. Without institutional support and resourcing it is impossible to conduct in-depth academic research that requires field research in foreign countries and … Continue reading ...3 days ago - Bob Brockie’s view …
... 3 days ago - Defence Minister doesn’t mention US or China at international summit – and Singapore newspaper d...Buzz from the Beehive Defence Minister Andrew Little, addressing big-wigs from around the world in Singapore, was oh-so-diplomatically disinclined to identify some countries as goodies or baddies in his government’s defence thinking. In his Speech To The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023, he did say New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment ...3 days ago
- The Hoon: On the China Tightrope; Cycleways vs driversThis week’s hoon included Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paul on the politics of Lets Get Wellington Moving and the great battle for the Thorndon Quay cycle way. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: The week’s news in Aotearoa’s political economy I covered via The Kākā for subscribers included:The Labour Government’s ...3 days ago
- How do you read substack?
Morning all,I’ve been taking a look at some of the new features Substack have released and I’m keen to find out how you access newsletters. Some of the features are only available on certain platforms.Whether you use a mobile device like a phone or tablet, or a PC or laptop. ...3 days ago - A genuinely inspiring story about political leaders getting huge things done
Hello! This is the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the week.Here’s what you may have missed.Last Sunday’s column had a genuinely inspiring story about political leaders getting huge things done in the face of culture wars and conservative resistance. Readers told me this should ...4 days ago - Unforced Variations: Jun 2023This month’s open thread on climate topics. The post Unforced Variations: Jun 2023 first appeared on RealClimate. ...4 days ago
- What Do Economists Do?
Steven Levitt, famous for his Freakanomics, shows that being an economist is not just mouthing supply and demand.Anyone can call themselves an ‘economist’. Many do, despite having no qualifications in economics and hardly any formal training; they often make elementary errors. That is the result of a conscious decision of ...4 days ago - Call for help: Update or create translations for updated rebuttals!Over the years, we've published several calls for help with translations but most of them were rather generalized in nature like last year's blog post published in February 2022. This time around, we are asking for help with a quite specific task, namely to update existing translations for the rebuttals included ...4 days ago
- Only a fool believes past performance is any indicator of future performance
1. By what name is this work of art known?a. The Drowning Dog, Francisco Goyab. The Temptation of St Anthony, Hieronymus Boschc. Saturn Devouring His Son Peter, Paul Rubensd. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Waves To A Stuff Journalist Through A Window, Stuff Photographer Ricky Wilson2. Who was in the news ...4 days ago - GRAHAM ADAMS: “Co-governance for your deck!”An effective campaign against the RMA reforms will be a nightmare for Hipkins. Graham Adams writes – After a Budget that failed to excite voters and a lacklustre party conference where his senior colleagues faintly praised him for his proletarian taste in food, the very last thing Chris Hipkins ...4 days ago
- Code of conduct for school board members is announced by a minister whose grasp of Parliament’s ru...Buzz from the Beehive Education Minister Jan Tinetti brings news of a book of rules for school board members at the same time as her own grasp of Parliament’s rule book has been brought into question. Tinetti has announced a compulsory code of conduct to “ensure school board members are ...4 days ago
- Ask Me Anything about the week to June 2
Photo by Branden Tate on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour from midday (my apologies for the late start today), including:the Government’s vague promise of sharing the costs of cyclone rebuilding and buy-backs ...4 days ago - Perfect 10?
Last night was a big night for our most celebrated radio presenter.Mike Hosking was named the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year - for the third straight year - as well as Best Talk Presenter (breakfast/drive) at the New Zealand Radio awards. Do you feel proud Aotearoa?In the presenter category ...4 days ago - Gordon Campbell on how private profits are driving Defence spendingSpeak of the devil. The Australian website Crikey has just launched an investigative series about the notorious lobbying firm Crosby Textor, or C/T as it now prefers to be called. It transpires that two clients of C/T’s American subsidiary will benefit greatly from the AUKUS defence pact between the US, ...4 days ago
- The climate change bill arrives and the grown-ups don't want to payAotearoa’s failure to deal with the escalating pace of human-induced climate change was starkly on display yesterday. Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Our planet is now warming and generating extreme climate events faster than our politicians, voters and institutions can agree to reduce the costs and share the burden of those events ...4 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 2 June 2023MEDIA REGULATION AND CODE OF CONDUCT, BROADCASTING Glenn McConnell (Post): ‘The cost will be everyday Kiwis’: New media regulation concerns civil society (paywalled) Jonathan Ayling (Stuff): Media regulation plan – a censor’s greatest dream Shayne Currie (Herald): Media regulation: New super-power government body set to rule over news and social media ...4 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 2-June-2023It’s Friday and we’ve got a long weekend ahead of us. Here’s our latest roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. The Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt reviewed National’s new housing policy. On Tuesday Matt looked at some of the highlights from Auckland Transport’s ...4 days ago
- The Commonwealth, cricket and curryThe facts are bald and simple; India is now the most populous country in the world and the fifth largest economy and is on track to becoming the fourth. Despite that, New Zealand’s relationship with India could best be described as in its infancy, even though New Zealand has ...5 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #22 2023Open access notables Multiple studies indicate changes in the properties of Antarctic bottom water (AABW) over the past half century. These changes involve density and hence will affect both local and distant circulation of the oceans, not least overturning effects that are vital for marine biology but also climate and ...5 days ago
- 2023 More Reading: MayCompleted reads for May: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne Round the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne The Secret of the Island, by Jules Verne From the Earth ...5 days ago
- Australia’s most-decorated war-criminalBen Roberts-Smith is apparently "Australia’s most decorated living soldier", having won a Victoria Cross for killing people in Afghanistan. But today, after a stupendous self-own defamation case, he's also been proven to be a war criminal who committed multiple murders: Ben Roberts-Smith VC, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has ...5 days ago
- Will the Government come to my rescue?
Hey Uncle Dave, My house got wrecked in the summer floods. Do you know if the government’s got any plans to help me, or are they too busy making bilingual road signs?Noah InsuranceYou picked a good day to ask, Noah, the Govt has just announced there’ll be an offer of ...5 days ago - Levy on agricultural fertiliser ruled out by farmers in the battle on climate change – but that do...
The government has looked at imposing a tax on nitrogen fertiliser, used heavily in NZ agriculture, but yesterday Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor conceded he had not convinced farming leaders to go ahead with it. ACT”s Mark Cameron claimed credit in Parliament for “killing” the plan. Both Federated ...5 days ago - National commit to fund a mental approach to birth control.
Are women the new Māori?Since Christopher Luxon has been leader National have shown they’re prepared to throw Māori under a bus. Be it not wanting them to have a seat at the table on water management, referring to the Treaty as a “little experiment”, or the monocultural candidate selection polices ...5 days ago - National commit to fund a mental approach to birth control.Are women the new Māori?Since Christopher Luxon has been leader National have shown they’re prepared to throw Māori under a bus. Be it not wanting them to have a seat at the table on water management, referring to the Treaty as a “little experiment”, or the monocultural candidate selection polices ...5 days ago
- Verrall enthuses about the beneficial effects of tax breaks while O’Connor muses on a fertiliser t...Buzz from the Beehive An email from Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta had yet to be posted on the government’s official website, when Point of Order made its morning check on our ministers and what they are (officially) up to. She was providing us with an account – a ...5 days ago
- THOMAS CRANMER: Minister awaits review into DOC funding holeMultiple reviews are examining options to address a $25M to $40M funding hole in its operating budget and a reported $300M, 70,000 hour maintenance backlog for huts, tracks and visitor assets. Thomas Cranmer writes – Following Friday’s revelation that Budget 2023 has left the Department of Conservation ...5 days ago
- Brighter signs from economy pre-electionProperty values fell a further 0.7% in May from April across Aotearoa, but Core Logic sees evidence in the data “the current downturn is winding up.” Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: There are fresh signs this morning the housing market-with-bits-tacked-on economy is brightening up going into winter, and just ...5 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 1 June 2023FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SPY AGENCIES Thomas Manch (Post): New Zealand’s search for security as a new era of great-power competition arrives(paywalled) Thomas Manch (Post): Defence Minister Andrew Little to meet Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Singapore Alexander Gillespie (North & South): The Awkwardness of AUKUS (preview) Christine Rovoi (Stuff): Pacific takes ...5 days ago
- The future of the Medium Density Residential StandardsThis is a cross post by Malcom McCracken at Better things are possible. It was from between when National signalled their change in housing policy but before they announced it but highlights why the Medium Density Residential Standards are important. Yesterday, the leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon, ...5 days ago
- Evaluation of GCM simulations with a regional focus.Do the global climate models (GCMs) we use for describing future climate change really capture the change and variations in the region that we want to study? There are widely used tools for evaluating global climate models, such as the ESMValTool, but they don’t provide the answers that I ...6 days ago
- Climate Adam: We're NOT about to pass the 1.5 degree climate change limitThis video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). The world is getting hotter and the headlines are scary. So does climate change mean the world is about to pass ...6 days ago
- Climate Change: He waka eke noa is dead, hurrah!Politik (paywalled) reports that He waka eke noa, the farmers' scam to have the rest of us subsidise their emissions forever, so they can keep on destroying the planet, is dead: Reality appears to be about to shatter Jacinda Ardern's dream that New Zealand could lead the world in ...6 days ago
- Mātauranga Māori will propel Pāpāmoa school kids’ science learning (in te reo) and give lift-o...Buzz from the Beehive Two ministerial press statements today draw attention to the Government’s incorporation of mātauranga Māori in its science policies and programmes. One of these announced the launch of the national space policy, which will oblige our space boffins to bring indigenous knowledge into their considerations. The ...6 days ago
- The Stations of the Chris
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...6 days ago - The Stations of the ChrisThe Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...6 days ago
- Trivial, but tellingThe Herald reports on a trivial but telling incident from Parliament: Labour Cabinet Minister Kiri Allan read the wrong speech at the third reading of a freedom camping bill in Parliament last night. She re-read almost word for word a speech given at the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation bill’s ...6 days ago
- BARRIE SAUNDERS: Exiting the constitutional rabbit holeBarrie Saunders writes – Very well-intentioned politicians, judges and others have taken New Zealand down into a Treaty rabbit hole, from which few know how to exit without creating more social divisions. The modern interpretations of the Maori version of Treaty have set aside a common understanding of ...6 days ago
- House prices primed to surge 10-20% if National winsIt’s like deja-vu all over again. House prices are primed to surge 10-20% soon after any clear National-ACT win on October 14. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: There are increasing signs in economists’ forecasts, auction clearance rates, migration rates, divergent tax policies and house building rates that a clear ...6 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 31 May 2023BILINGUAL ROAD SIGNS, TE REO MĀORI Jo Moir (Newsroom): National getting sucked into regressive race debate Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Luxon’s familiar issue: Another awkward week struggling with Māori politics Amelia Wade, Jamie Ensor and Jenna Lynch (Newshub): Watch: ‘His view’s different to mine’ – National MPs react to te reo ...6 days ago
- Removing the Takanini Level CrossingsAnother of the interesting items at the Auckland Transport board meeting yesterday was about the plans for removing the remaining four road level crossings on the Southern Line in Takanini at Spartan Rd, Manuroa Rd, Taka St and Walters Rd. The board were asked to approve a business case for ...6 days ago
- Hive Talking.
I did something yesterday that I hadn’t done in ages. Watch Oral Questions in parliament. I’m not sure what happened in all the episodes I missed, but nothing much seemed to have changed.For those unfamiliar, Question Time takes place in parliament at 2pm each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the ...7 days ago - Luxon’s Lack Of Political “Muscle Memory”.Slow Learner: Effective leaders develop a political “muscle memory” of their own. The National Party should get one.SPEAKING IN PUBLIC tops most people’s list of fearful situations. There are some careers, however, for which public fluency is a non-negotiable pre-requisite. There’s little point in pursuing an acting career, for example, ...7 days ago
- Reality shatters Ardern’s dreamReality appears to be about to shatter Jacinda Ardern’s dream that New Zealand could lead the world in showing how to deal with farm emissions. The Government is facing a breakdown in negotiations over its much-vaunted He Waka Eke Noa deal with farmers to price greenhouse gas emissions and ...7 days ago
- ERO Looking Into the “Emotional & Physical Safety of All Students” at Bethlehem Coll...
Hi,Webworm won a Voyager media award over the weekend for “Best Team Investigation”! This would not have been possible without readers. Without you. Thank you.Also, there’s a new Flightless Bird out today, where I look at drug rehab clinics in Florida. I talk to three former addicts, and their stories ...7 days ago - At a glance – How reliable are climate models?On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...1 week ago
- Greens welcome Government joining the party to deal with disposable vapes
The Green Party are welcoming the Government’s announcement of regulations to curb youth vaping. ...3 hours ago - Greens launch rental stories campaignThe Green Party are today launching a campaign asking for people to submit their stories of subpar, substandard and downright awful experiences of renting in Aotearoa. ...12 hours ago
- Greens call for cross-party support on electoral reformThe Green Party is welcoming the draft report of the Independent Electoral Review and challenging all political parties to commit to implementing its final recommendations after the 2023 general election. ...13 hours ago
- Tākuta Ferris to stand in Te Tai TongaToday, Te Pāti Māori announce Takuta Ferris will contest the Te Tai Tonga seat at this year’s General Election. “Takura ran for the Te Tai Tonga seat for Te Pāti Māori in 2020. It takes tremendous courage and commitment to put your hand up for another round in the ring ...2 days ago
- Repeating Mass Immigration Mistakes For Same Result
Focussed immigration has always been essential to our future, but New Zealanders need to be aware of the immediate dire situation our government is putting us in with a predicted record of one hundred thousand new immigrants moving to New Zealand in this year alone. That means we will have ...4 days ago - Heather Te-Au Skipworth to stand in the General Seat in TukitukiToday, President of Te Pāti Māori, John Tamihere has confirmed that Heather Te-Au Skipworth will stand for Te Pāti Māori in the Tukituki electorate this election. ...4 days ago
- New Zealand First Secure 1800 New Frontline Police – Not LabourDuring New Zealand First coalition negotiations our policy was to train and resource 1800 new frontline police. We secured this coalition policy win to ensure our streets had a police force that could tackle crime - after years of neglect. Remember those previous nine years of neglect saw a ‘tag ...5 days ago
- STUFF's 'Fact Checking' Is StuffedKatie Kenny from Stuff published an article today with a lazy attempt at so-called ‘fact checking’ my recent comments on the World Health Organisation’s concerning new regulations being developed. What is most surprising is that throughout this entire ‘fact checking’ process, Kenny never once rang me asking for my side ...6 days ago
- Greens back striking secondary teachersThe Green Party backs secondary teachers resuming strike action. ...6 days ago
- Chris Hipkins: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023
Chris Hipkins addressed the Labour Party Congress in Wellington. Read the Labour Leader’s speech here. ...1 week ago - National’s backtrack forces another visionless, shambolic policyThe National Party has released another confused and rushed policy that will only further worsen the inequality that is driven by unaffordable housing. ...1 week ago
- Grant Robertson: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023Welcome to sunny and calm Wellington, which I know those of you who are visiting would of course expect to be the case. It’s been a busy week since we put forward the 2023 Budget. Labour MPs have been out across the motu giving the good oil on the Budget. ...1 week ago
- Carmel Sepuloni: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023Kia orana, Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whānau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my ...1 week ago
- Kelvin Davis: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023One of my kaumātua up North stood before the Waitangi Tribunal and said: ‘He aha kē ahau, te tangata kore hara i mua i te Atua, e tu nei kia whakawaatia e koe, te tangata tāhae, te tangata hara, te tangata kore tikanga? Ko koe kē te tika, kia tū ...1 week ago
- W.H.O. Director General Seeking Powers To Override Sovereign StatesNew Zealanders will be highly concerned that the World Health Organisation proposes to effectively take control of independent decision making away from sovereign countries and place control with the Director General. W.H.O International Health Regulations on future outbreaks of disease aim to give the Director General extraordinary and wide-sweeping powers. ...2 weeks ago
- We don’t need to engineer a recession, Government can tax wealthThe Green Party is calling on the Government to take responsibility for reducing inflation by taxing wealth instead of leaving RBNZ to continue hiking the Official Cash Rate. ...2 weeks ago
- Enough posturing, let’s get on and build enough public housingThe Green Party is urging the Government to take its own advice and come up with a long-term plan to build thousands more public homes. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party unveils its list for the 2023 electionThe Green Party has released its list of candidates for the 2023 election. With a mix of familiar faces, fresh new talent, and strong tangata whenua voices, this exceptional group of candidates are ready to set the direction of the next Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Beyond the Farm Gate Lurks SeparatismThank you for your invitation to be here, after yesterday's budget, and for the opportunity to talk with you. In the economic and social turmoil following the arrival of COVID 19 in New Zealand many concerns emerged. How would we keep our economy going and maintain our exports which are ...3 weeks ago
- Budget 2023: More cost of living supportAt the heart of Budget 2023 is a cost of living package, designed to ease the pressure on New Zealanders in the face of global inflation and the challenges of rebuilding from extreme weather events. It provides practical cost of living relief across some of the core expenses facing Kiwis ...3 weeks ago
- Highlights of Budget 2023Budget 2023 delivers practical cost of living support for New Zealanders today and makes targeted investments to build a better future. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens welcome much needed investment but Labour can go further for Te Ao Māori & Pasifika in t...Today the Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus supported the 2023 Budget, but there’s still room for improvement. ...3 weeks ago
- Free prescriptions important step forwardThe Green Party is today welcoming free prescriptions. ...3 weeks ago
- Long-term commitment needed on public housingBudget 2023’s investment in public housing falls short of what’s needed. ...3 weeks ago
- ECE extension Green win nearly 10 years in the makingThe Green Party is today celebrating Budget 2023 funding extending free ECE to two year olds. ...3 weeks ago
- Green initiative addresses both climate and inequalityA long standing Green Party policy has been extended yet again in this year’s Budget. This will deliver warmer homes for thousands of people, lower power bills, and cut climate pollution. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens on board with more affordable buses and trainsThe Green Party is fully on board with free bus and train travel for under 12s and half price travel for under 25s - next stop, free travel for all under 18s, students, and apprentices. ...3 weeks ago
- Budget 2023 falls short of what’s neededToday’s Budget makes good progress on climate and inequality, but falls short of what’s needed to fix both. ...3 weeks ago
- Equal gender representation on public sector boards for third year in a row
Representation for women on public sector boards and committees is the highest it’s ever been with wāhine now making up 53.1 percent of public board and committee members,” Minister for Women Jan Tinetti said. Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s 2022 stocktake of public sector boards and committees shows for the ...2 hours ago - New law passes on child support to sole parentsA new law enabling sole parents on a benefit to receive child support payments for their tamariki was passed in Parliament today. “This change is estimated to lift as many as 14,000 children out of poverty and give families a median of $20 extra a week,” said Social Development and ...3 hours ago
- New moves to curb youth vapingCrack down on disposable vapes No new vape shops near schools or marae Restricted descriptions for product flavours The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Too many young people are vaping, which is why we’re ...3 hours ago
- Fiji Prime Minister Rabuka to visit New ZealandFiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998, over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again,” Chris Hipkins said. “New Zealand and Fiji have a long ...11 hours ago
- Sports stars and administrators honouredThe King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 includes sporting stars and administrators who reflect the best of New Zealand’s sporting community. Sir Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby. Sir Wayne was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and ...2 days ago
- Kapa Haka rangatira amongst those honoured on King’s BirthdayEhara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa taki tini ‘My success is not mine alone, but that of the people” The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list 2023 celebrates Māori from all walks of life, reflecting the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to ...2 days ago
- King’s Birthday Honours recognise strength of service to NZThe strength and diversity of service in New Zealand is a standout feature of today’s King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Each of today’s 182 recipients has contributed individually to our country. Viewed collectively, their efforts reflect an overwhelming commitment to service.” Chris Hipkins said. ...2 days ago
- Closer defence cooperation between New Zealand and JapanThe Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the ‘Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...2 days ago
- SPEECH: To the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 by the Honourable Andrew Little MP, New Zealand Ministe...New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...4 days ago
- Govt supporting more rangatahi into training and employment opportunitiesThe government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. “We’re backing 30 new by Māori for Māori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careers” says ...4 days ago
- Energy self-sufficient marae reopens with support of Government investmentMurihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of Waihōpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “The marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980’s. With the support of $9.65 million ...4 days ago
- First major Whangārei public housing project in a generation completeThe first major public housing development in Whangārei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...4 days ago
- Trade Minister to represent New Zealand trade interests abroadTrade and Export Growth Minister Damen O’Connor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. “My travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...4 days ago
- Bill to boost national fuel resiliency introducedThe Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...5 days ago
- Faster ACC payment top-ups and fairer systemThe Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today. The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...5 days ago
- Compulsory code of conduct for school boards introducedA compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. It’s the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...5 days ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen annual conference.Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...5 days ago
- Govt to support councils with buyout and better protection of cyclone and flood affected propertiesThe Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...5 days ago
- Government delivers changes to reduce pokies harmThe Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...5 days ago
- Government delivers 1800 additional frontline PoliceThe total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...5 days ago
- Minister Mahuta talks Pacific ambitions at the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ summitMinister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea. “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...5 days ago
- Government drives $2 billion of business research and developmentThe Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...6 days ago
- Achieving lift off: National Space Policy launchedThe next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...6 days ago
- New science and creative technologies wharekura announcedA new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...6 days ago
- Freedom Camping changes a win for the environmentProtecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...6 days ago
- Speeding up the family court, reducing stress on familiesA new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...6 days ago
- UK FTA delivers benefits from todayNew Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today. “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...7 days ago
- Next steps to reform outdated surrogacy lawThe Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...1 week ago
- Defence Minister to attend Shangri-La DialogueDefence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...1 week ago
- New Zealand–China science relationship affirmedResearch, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...1 week ago
- Supporting a strong future for screen sector5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...1 week ago
- Minister Sepuloni to attend 61st Anniversary of Samoa’s IndependenceDeputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...1 week ago
- Govt backs retailers with expansion of fog cannon programmeThe Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...1 week ago
- Government will consider recommendations of Intelligence and Security Act reviewThe Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...1 week ago
- Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Sui’ilikutapuPrime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...1 week ago
- Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Siu’ilikutapuPrime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...1 week ago
- Security support to Solomon Islands extendedDefence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the regionally-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of working alongside the Royal Solomon ...1 week ago
- Minister Mahuta to attend the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ SummitForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to the Republic of Korea today to attend the Korea–Pacific Leaders’ Summit in Seoul and Busan. “Korea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region. I am eager for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues that matter to our ...1 week ago
- Agreement between Indo-Pacific partners for supply chain resilienceTrade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor joined ministerial representatives at a meeting in Detroit, USA today to announce substantial conclusion of negotiations of a new regional supply chains agreement among 14 Indo-Pacific countries. The Supply Chains agreement is one of four pillars being negotiated within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ...1 week ago
- Celebrating Samoa Language Week 2023Our most spoken Pacific language is taking centre stage this week with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week kicking off around the country. “Understanding and using the Samoan language across our nation is vital to its survival,” Barbara Edmonds said. “The Samoan population in New Zealand are ...1 week ago
- Self-interest versus public good: the untold damage the PwC scandal has done to the professions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Longstaff, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Shutterstock The unfolding PwC scandal could be considered nothing more than an especially egregious example of ethical failure with dire consequences. However, there are deeper issues to be examined. The most obvious concerns ...5 mins ago - Australia’s ties with Vietnam are important in their own right – not just in relation to the US ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Byrne, Honorary Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Luong Thai Linh/ AAP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent trip to Vietnam is a recognition that Australia’s relationship with the Southeast Asian nation is important ...34 mins ago
- Intimate and immense: remembering Kaija Saariaho, one of the greatest composers of our timeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liza Lim, Professor, Sculthorpe Chair of Australian Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho passed away Friday at the age of 70. There’s been an outpouring of grief, sadness and love on social media and ...35 mins ago
- Maxim Insitute Rejects Calls To Lower Voting Age
Maxim Institute respectfully disagrees with He Arotake Potitanga Motuhake – Independent Electoral Review’s interim report insofar as it advocates for lowering the minimum voting age from 18 to 16 years. There are indeed many decisions made by Parliament ...1 hour ago - PM stung by his own team falling short
The political radar has been switched off for some in Labour and it's Chris Hipkins’ political capital taking the hit, writes political editor Jo Moir Comment: Even if the Prime Minister had wanted to act quickly to deal with his Transport Minister’s conflicts of interest, he couldn’t because he was ...2 hours ago - 'No time to waste' dropping voting age to 16 – campaigners
A group campaigning to lower the voting age to 16 has been vindicated by an expert review of electoral laws. ...2 hours ago - Wood had been reminded to dispose of shares ‘half a dozen’ times – PM
The prime minister has faced further questions on Michael Wood’s failure to properly disclose his Auckland Airport shares, saying the transport minister himself “didn’t really have an adequate explanation” for the oversight. Speaking at this afternoon’s post-cabinet press conference, Chris Hipkins said he trusted that Wood, who was earlier today ...3 hours ago - West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSGAsia Pacific Report The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua“with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). In a statement issued in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila after a meeting ...3 hours ago
- Does competition make us less moral? New research says yes, but only a little bitSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ozan Isler, Research Fellow, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Bao Truong / Unsplash Many of our economic and even social interactions are competitive. We use markets to find jobs, but also dates. What does this mean for our ...3 hours ago
- Crackdown on disposable vapes and vape shops near schools announcedThe government has announced new vaping restrictions aimed at reducing the number of young people who take up the habit, with a crackdown on cheap disposable vapes, bans on new vape shops near schools and rules around how vaping products can be named. “From August this year, all vaping devices ...3 hours ago
- Crackdown on disposable vapes and vape shops near schools announcedThe government has announced new vaping restrictions aimed at reducing the number of young people who take up the habit, with a crackdown on cheap disposable vapes, bans on new vape shops near schools and rules around how vaping products can be named. “From August this year, all vaping devices ...3 hours ago
- Watch: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall speak at post-Cabinet press conf...The Prime Minister and Health Minister have announced changes to vaping products to try to reduce the number of young people taking it up. ...3 hours ago
- Three shows you should see at this year’s Pacific Dance FestivalThe traditional and contemporary intertwine at the first Pacific Dance Festival in three years. After a pandemic-induced absence of three years, Pacific Dance New Zealand’s annual Pacific Dance Festival has returned to Auckland. Opening the three week-long festival last week was Manu Malo by Aloali’i Tapu, with the highly anticipated ...3 hours ago
- Three shows you should see at this year’s Pacific Dance FestivalThe traditional and contemporary intertwine at the first Pacific Dance Festival in three years. After a pandemic-induced absence of three years, Pacific Dance New Zealand’s annual Pacific Dance Festival has returned to Auckland. Opening the three week-long festival last week was Manu Malo by Aloali’i Tapu, with the highly anticipated ...3 hours ago
- Knighthood A Very Special Day For Ngati Porou“A very special day for Ngati Porou”, was the reaction of Rei Kohere, Deputy Chairman of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, on the announcement of the Knighthood bestowed on Selwyn Tanetoa Parata in this year’s King’s Birthday honours. “The KCNZM, ...4 hours ago
- Strengthening Relations With ThailandA visit by officials from the Thai Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is being welcomed as an opportunity to strengthen a key bilateral relationship and support ongoing work to combat the illicit transnational narcotics trade in the Asia-Pacific ...4 hours ago
- How India’s ‘slum-free’ redevelopment fails residents by ignoring their design insights and ne...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kali Marnane, Honorary Associate Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Queensland Kali Marnane (2023), Author provided I’m in Ahmedabad, India, standing where families once built their homes under the shade of large trees. Today, those houses are ...4 hours ago
- Housing and heritage don’t have to be mutually exclusiveHow a few basic rules can help get the balance right. Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local councils to opt out of the Medium ...4 hours ago
- Housing and heritage don’t have to be mutually exclusiveHow a few basic rules can help get the balance right. Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local councils to opt out of the Medium ...4 hours ago
- Major new research claims smaller-brained _Homo naledi_ made rock art and buried the dead. But the e...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Petraglia, Director, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University Wikimedia, CC BY-SA On September 13 2013, speleologists Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker descended deep into South Africa’s Rising Star cave system and discovered the first evidence of an ...5 hours ago
- Wood speaks on losing transport role, Hipkins questioned in houseA key reason for standing down Michael Wood as transport minister was the fact he had told the Cabinet Office his shares in Auckland Airport would be sold, but then they weren’t, Chris Hipkins has said. On his way to question time in parliament this afternoon, soon after he announced ...5 hours ago
- Wood speaks on losing transport role, Hipkins questioned in houseA key reason for standing down Michael Wood as transport minister was the fact he had told the Cabinet Office his shares in Auckland Airport would be sold, but then they weren’t, Chris Hipkins has said. On his way to question time in parliament this afternoon, soon after he announced ...5 hours ago
- Building activity produces 18% of emissions and a shocking 40% of our landfill waste. We must move t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By M. Reza Hosseini, Senior Lecturer in Construction, Deputy Director, Mediated Intelligence in Design (MInD) Research Lab, Deakin University Shutterstock Architecture, engineering and construction employ 1.2 million people in Australia and account for 9% of GDP. But our biggest services sector ...5 hours ago
- Controversial Wongan Hills Feedlot Development CancelledSAFE has been notified today that the resource consent application to build four composting barns/feedlots in Kaituna Valley has been withdrawn. The feedlots would have confined 2,200 cows permanently indoors. The controversial proposal faced substantial ...5 hours ago
- Rich Countries’ Continued Failure To Honour Their Climate Finance Promise Threatens Undermines Cli...New Zealand still has much more to do to support poorer countries adapt and respond to the climate crisis. Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Nick Henry said: “Oxfam’s report reveals that as governments around the world begin negotiations of a new global ...5 hours ago
- How fudgeywudgeychef mastered the art of chaotic TikTok cooking contentStep aside perfect-looking food content, there’s a new chef in town. Charlotte Muru-Lanning meets fudgeywudgeychef, the Auckland TikTok creator bringing an eccentric edge to cooking videos. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. Whenever social media purports to shed its softly-lit, idealised vision of what food, ...5 hours ago
- The King's Birthday And Coronation Honours List 2023...5 hours ago
- Michael Wood stood down as transport minister over airport shares controversyMichael Wood has been stood down as transport minister after it was revealed he had not properly disclosed owning shares in Auckland Airport. “This morning I spoke with Michael Wood and advised him that he will be stood down as transport minister while any remaining issues around his conflicts are ...6 hours ago
- Transport Minister Michael Wood stood down after airport shares controversyMichael Wood has been stood down as Transport Minister while any remaining issues around his conflicts are resolved. ...6 hours ago
- PM to update on transport minister’s airport shares controversy this afternoonChris Hipkins had yet to decide on the future of transport minister Michael Wood at this morning’s caucus run, after it was revealed Wood had failed to properly disclose shares he owned in Auckland Airport. At the Beehive, the prime minister told media he still hadn’t had a chance to ...6 hours ago
- Housing and heritage aren’t mutually exclusive – a few basic rules can help get the balance righ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local ...6 hours ago
- Kathleen Folbigg is free. But people pardoned and exonerated of crimes face unique challenges when r...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hayley Cullen, Associate lecturer, University of Newcastle In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of killing her four children. She has now been released from prison, 20 years later, after being pardoned by the Attorney General of New South Wales. While Folbigg ...7 hours ago
- DIA Warns Scammers Over ‘toll’ ScamStop what you’re doing and hand yourself in, is the message to scammers responsible for the ‘toll’ scam, from Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). The ‘NZTA toll’ phishing scam has been circulating Aotearoa New Zealand since ...7 hours ago
- Wellington wins global prize and funding for cycleways Wellington has won $650,000 to put towards its rapid bike lane rollout, securing a spot alongside nine other cities on the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure. Announced late last week, the prize recognises the capital’s Paneke Pōneke bike network plan, which is in the process of increasing 23km of cycleways ...7 hours ago
- Climate-related disasters leave behind trauma and worse mental health. Housing uncertainty is a majo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ang Li, Research Fellow, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing, Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne Australia, the world’s driest inhabited continent, is particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as droughts, ...7 hours ago
- The graphs that show why Police Ten 7 had to goTVNZ says Police Ten 7 was ‘reflective of the reality of patterns of crime and offending in Aotearoa’. This analysis found otherwise. When TVNZ cancelled reality TV show Police Ten 7 earlier this year, it certainly rattled some law-and-order cages. The show’s former host Graham Bell, who described suspects variously ...7 hours ago
- Alternative Budget Group Publishes Two Budgets That Avoid Wayne Brown’s ‘Slash And Burn’ Propo...The group A Better Budget for Auckland, which published an alternative budget for Auckland Council in March, has released two new alternative budgets for councillors that it says will not “slash and burn” services and assets. A Better Budget for ...8 hours ago
- Party Urges Voters To Put Candidates On The Spot On Women’s RightsIt is Election season and candidates are out on the hustings seeking votes. The Women’s Rights Party is urging voters to turn up to their local election campaign meetings and ask candidates where they stand on issues that affect women’s rights. ...8 hours ago
- Expert Independent Electoral Law Review Joins Chorus Of Calls Saying The Voting Age Must Be Lowered ...Today (Tuesday 6 June 2023) the Independent Electoral Law Review, made up of independent experts in New Zealand’s election system, recommended in its interim report that the voting age be lowered to 16. This comes just two weeks after Parliament’s Justice ...8 hours ago
- Rt Hon Winston Peters – Latest Electoral Review: More Dangerous Woke NonsenseThe Independent Electoral Review out today has included a recommendation to ‘affect the Treaty of Waitangi and its Principles’ and make it one of the Act’s ‘explicit objectives’. What ‘principles’ are they talking about ...8 hours ago
- The Opportunities Party Calls For A Referendum To Lower The MMP ThresholdToday, the Independent Electoral Review released its interim report which proposes several key updates to the Electoral Act, with a strong focus on enhancing fairness in the electoral system. The Opportunities Party (TOP) is happy to see that many ...9 hours ago
- Greens urge tenants to share stories to bolster tenancy reformThe Green Party hopes its campaign targeted at renters who have endured substandard accommodation will open the eyes of some MPs. ...9 hours ago
- The race to stop the spread of myrtle rust and save some of our most iconic plantsThis invasive fungal pathogen is decimating forests – but research and field trials offer hope. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof brought to you by Electric Kiwi – sign up here. It’s been six years since myrtle rust was first detected in mainland New Zealand, after ...9 hours ago
- The cost of Auckland growing upAucklanders have been paying the costs of a city sprawl built for cars for too long. The council’s new Future Development Strategy proposes that the city slows its spread and focuses on growing in existing urban areas. There’s one tall building that defines Auckland. It looks like a needle, and ...9 hours ago
- Government ministry blocks AI technology from staff useThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has banned staff from using artificial intelligence technology such as ChatGPT - citing data and privacy risks. ...9 hours ago
- Independent Electoral Review Releases Interim Report To Make Our Electoral System Fairer, Clearer, A...The Independent Electoral Review Panel has published its draft recommendations focused on ensuring our electoral system is fairer, clearer, and more accessible so that as many people as possible can take part. The draft recommendations address important ...10 hours ago
- Te Tai Tokerau Political Candidacy...10 hours ago
- Geoffrey Miller’s Political Roundup: How fake AI images could stoke tensions in the Indo-PacificAnalysis by Geoffrey Miller. Seeing is no longer believing. Image via Wikimedia, by David S. Soriano. Surprisingly realistic – yet fake – images created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are here. To date, most have seemed more like curiosities than genuine deception attempts. Last month, it was revealed that New Zealand’s ...10 hours ago
- Further conversation to be had with transport minister about airport shares, PM saysPrime Minister Chris Hipkins says he is yet to have the chance to get any detail on the controversy surrounding Michael Wood's shares in Auckland Airport. ...10 hours ago
- Newsletter: June 06 2023 – Items of interest and importance todayNew Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s content ELECTION, PARLIAMENT Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Labour will regret hatchet job on contraception Tracy Watkins (Stuff): How low will this election campaign go? Fran ...10 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Fijian PM visiting New Zealand, Hipkins offered chance to meet ZelenskyFiji’s new prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has arrived in the country and will spend Wednesday in Wellington where he’ll meet with prime minister Chris Hipkins, foreign affairs minister Nanaia Mahuta and minister for climate change James Shaw. Rabuka became prime minister last year after a tumultuous election, where his party People’s Alliance ...10 hours ago
- The cost of being: A solo mother in small-town TaranakiAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a photographer tells us how she supports herself and three children on a freelance income. Want to contribute? Send us an email briefly describing your situation at [email protected] Gender: Female Age: 42 Ethnicity: NZ Pākehā ...10 hours ago
- Make it 16 group calls for support over voting age changeThe Make it 16 group has welcomed a review of our electoral laws that suggested lowering the voting age. It was part of a swathe of initial recommendations made by the panel, ahead of further public consultation. Read all the top lines from the review here. In a statement, Make ...11 hours ago
- The world’s first flowers were pollinated by insectsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruby E. Stephens, PhD Candidate, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Ruby E Stephens, Author provided Plants existed on Earth for hundreds of millions of years before the first flowers bloomed. But when flowering plants did evolve, more than 140 ...11 hours ago
- ‘Too small and carefree’: endangered animals released into the wild may lack the match-fitness t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Harrison, PhD Candidate, The University of Western Australia Breeding threatened mammals in fenced, predator-free areas is a common conservation strategy in Australia. The method is designed to protect vulnerable species and breed animals for release into the wild. But our research ...11 hours ago
- Hidden carbon: Fungi and their ‘necromass’ absorb one-third of the carbon emitted by burning fos...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Frew, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, Western Sydney University Mycorrhizal fungi growing with a plant root Dr Yoshihiro Kobae, Author provided Beneath our feet, remarkable networks of fungal filaments stretch out in all directions. These mycorrhizal fungi live in partnership ...11 hours ago
- Australian students in rural areas are not ‘behind’ their city peers because of socioeconomic st...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Roberts, Associate professor (Curriculum Inquiry / Rural Education), University of Canberra Shutterstock Major international and national tests show rural students, on average, do not do as well at school as their city peers. This includes lower scores on ...11 hours ago
- Labor plans to stamp out the exploitation of migrant workers, but it won’t succeed until we treat ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Coates, Program Director, Economic Policy, Grattan Institute Shutterstock The exploitation of migrants is widespread in Australia. Our recent report for the Grattan Institute, Short-changed, found that as many as one in six migrant workers are paid less than the ...11 hours ago
- From being mildly late to sucking on people’s tears – what is a ‘beige flag’ on TikTok?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Portolan, PhD student, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University TikTok TikTok is one of the most prevalent social media platforms for trend-setting and trend-spotting – particularly within the relationship space. From trends and concepts like #DatingStoryTime to ...11 hours ago
- ‘I don’t have all the facts’: PM not ready to make call on Michael Wood over airport sharesWe’re back after a long weekend and what a morning of news we have today. Another senior MP could end up before the privileges committee and a major review of our electoral laws has recommended changes, including the lowering of the voting age. We’ll start with the former. The Herald ...11 hours ago
- Major changes proposed for our electionsThe voting age should be 16, we should have a referendum on extending the parliamentary term and donations to parties should be capped, says the interim report from the Independent Electoral Review, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin ...12 hours ago
- ACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023Power Play - ACT Party leader David Seymour will be patting himself on the back after a sell-out annual conference in central Auckland this weekend. ...13 hours ago
- ACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023Power Play - ACT Party leader David Seymour will be patting himself on the back after a sell-out annual conference in central Auckland this weekend. ...13 hours ago
- Electoral system review recommends voting age lowered to 16, party threshold to 3.5%The independent panel of legal experts which considered public submissions on electoral law also recommended a referendum on a longer Parliamentary term. ...14 hours ago
- Make it 16, and make it 3.5% – the big calls from the electoral reviewFrom voting age to thresholds, from term lengths to coat-tails, the Independent Electoral Review has come in hot in its interim report. Just over a year ago, an independent panel of experts was tasked with a wide-ranging review of New Zealand electoral law – nothing less than a “once-in-a generation ...14 hours ago
- The case for privatising sperm donationOverly tight regulation is hurting hundreds of New Zealanders who want a baby but can’t have one the old-fashioned way, argues Amber Older. Deafening silence. Awfully good. Bittersweet. Who doesn’t love an oxymoron? Here’s another one: sperm shortage. Come again? Come again, indeed. And again, and again, while you’re at ...14 hours ago
- Ruapehu hapū warn Govt against selling ski fields without asking Māori
Descendants of war chief Te Peehi Tūroa vow to fight a sell-off to corporate raiders ...14 hours ago - US debt decision lifts markets, but job numbers remain key
Wage growth and tight labour markets in the US are making it increasingly likely the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in June ...14 hours ago - For small Māori business, together is stronger
Developing a supplier relationship with a $3.7 billion NZX-listed company like Spark as a small Māori business owner can be daunting, but with te ao Māori values at the heart of the relationship, Thomas Netana Wright tells Newsroom how he did it | Content Partnership When indigenous chocolatier Thomas ...14 hours ago - Counting the benefits of big events
Promises of a huge global television audience, a boost for the profile of women's football, and big spending by fans descending on New Zealand – but do forecasts about the economic benefits of big events actually add up? The FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off here and in Australia from ...14 hours ago - Electoral review recommends 3.5% threshold, voting age of 16
An independent review of New Zealand's electoral system has concluded a major shake-up of MMP is needed to ensure a fairer and more accessible democracy, Marc Daalder reports In a new draft report, the Independent Electoral Review has recommended wide-ranging changes to the electoral system. If all of the recommendations were ...14 hours ago - It's crunch time: we need an Auckland digital twin
A full, live, digital replica of the city’s infrastructure is essential for future decision-making and public engagement, says a coalition of Auckland experts. ...14 hours ago - Alpine Fault quake is coming, ready or not
Inhabitants of the shakiest part of Aotearoa’s shaky isles are readier than ever for the overdue big one West Coasters turned out in their hundreds this week to hear scientists remind them they face disaster when the Alpine Fault decides to rearrange the scenery. The AF8 roadshow has just completed ...14 hours ago - On the housing crisis Labour and National need to grow up (and grow out)
If housing is ever to be affordable, Labour and Nats must allow cities to grow up, and grow out ...14 hours ago - Environment Minister wades into river battle
David Parker intervenes in a court case over a water conservation order ...14 hours ago
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