Who leaked the Fair Pay Cabinet Paper?
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Date published: 12:39 pm, December 7th, 2023 - 26 comments
Categories: act, national, nz first, Politics, uncategorized, wages, workers' rights
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My initial impression was that the person who leaked the Fair Pay Cabinet Paper to the media was probably a disgruntled Public Servant but was it?
Open mike 08/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 8th, 2023 - 9 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review 07/12/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, December 7th, 2023 - 20 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 07/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 7th, 2023 - 50 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
About that Speech from the Throne
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Date published: 8:33 pm, December 6th, 2023 - 40 comments
The new Government blows the dog-whistle like the pied piper.
The inspiring Pope Francis
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Date published: 5:36 pm, December 6th, 2023 - 18 comments
Pope Francis has been pope for a bit over 10 years. He’s made a difference.
Daily review 06/12/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, December 6th, 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 …
What does National have against Te Reo?
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Date published: 10:17 am, December 6th, 2023 - 173 comments
It may have been coincidental but the day after there were mass protests against the new Government’s actions in undermining te Tiriti o Waitangi it was announced that National would seek to remove bonus payments for Public Servants learning Te Reo. Not only is this petty and vindictive, it may also be a breach of te Tiriti.
Tobacco bans in NZ and the UK.
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Date published: 8:13 am, December 6th, 2023 - 8 comments
The decision in 2021 to introduce the smoking ban was a courageous one. Smoking causes many deaths each year and places a strain on the country’s health system. Smoking is addictive and we should do all we can to discourage young people from taking up this habit. This being said, putting a total ban on tobacco sales of people born after 2009 is well-meaning, but would likely have unintended and profoundly negative consequences.
Open mike 06/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 6th, 2023 - 40 comments
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Daily review 05/12/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, December 5th, 2023 - 4 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Willis’s budget analysis is either deeply cynical or evidence she does not know what she is talking about
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Date published: 8:33 am, December 5th, 2023 - 71 comments
Recent claims by Nicola Willis that the Governments Finances are full of fiscal cliffs is evidence either that National will cynically make baseless claims to attack Labour or that Nicola Willis has no idea about what she is talking about and has not been doing her most basic job of reading and comprehending previous budget documents.
Greenpeace event: What will the new Government mean for the environment?
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Date published: 6:05 am, December 5th, 2023 - 10 comments
In a special live stream event [Weds 6th December], the Greenpeace crew will respond to the makeup of the new coalition government and what it will mean for the environment.
Open mike 05/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 5th, 2023 - 56 comments
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Cutting fair pay agreements will disproportionately impact women, Māori and Pasifika and young people
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Date published: 9:49 pm, December 4th, 2023 - 12 comments
The Cabinet Paper dealing with the Government’s proposal to do away with fair pay agreements has hit the media. And the advice suggests that Cabinet is completely disinterested in the on the ground reality of what their shitty policy will do to ordinary Kiwis.
Daily review 04/12/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, December 4th, 2023 - 29 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
The long wait – dithering, inexperience and wreckers
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Date published: 8:58 am, December 4th, 2023 - 43 comments
After 59 days after election day, parliament will finally sit today with a new government. The process has mostly been notable for its incoherent dithering, inexperience, and general stupidity. It is a coalition based on chaos,lack of usable policy and based on wrecking rather than work. It took so long because of wishful thinking and laziness.
Open mike 04/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 4th, 2023 - 43 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 …
Chris Bishop can’t count
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Date published: 12:26 pm, December 3rd, 2023 - 48 comments
This morning on Q&A and despite being pulled up on it Chris Bishop repeated National’s claim that under the Smokefree reforms there would only be allowed one tobacco retail shop in Northland when there would actually be at least 34.
Labour needs to open the military-political front
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Date published: 10:13 am, December 3rd, 2023 - 27 comments
The new National coalition cares little about defence. Defence is surprisingly a large and under-appreciated strength for Labour.
Open mike 03/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 3rd, 2023 - 26 comments
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Just One Term
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Date published: 9:06 am, December 2nd, 2023 - 74 comments
There is every reason to believe National will be chucked out in 2026.
Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back
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Date published: 8:51 am, December 2nd, 2023 - 18 comments
For a Government that hates gangs you would think that they would be more circumspect with policies that may enrich gangs and increase illicit drug use. But this is exactly what the current Government is planning.
Open mike 02/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 2nd, 2023 - 38 comments
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Daily review 01/12/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, December 1st, 2023 - 21 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 …
100 days of chaos
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Date published: 10:58 am, December 1st, 2023 - 18 comments
National’s 100 days of action is to address the rhetoric of economic difficulties but the announced policies will do nothing to help the pressure that ordinary people are feeling.
Why is the right so afraid of Tory Whanau?
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Date published: 10:42 am, December 1st, 2023 - 119 comments
Tory Whanau is the latest high ranking female Politician to be the subject of a media onslaught based on rumour and innuendo.
Open mike 01/12/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, December 1st, 2023 - 51 comments
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Daily review 30/11/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, November 30th, 2023 - 11 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 30/11/2023
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Date published: 6:00 am, November 30th, 2023 - 108 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review 29/11/2023
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Date published: 5:30 pm, November 29th, 2023 - 35 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 …
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Sometimes one gets morbidly curious about the oddities of one’s own legal system. Sometimes one writes entire essays on New Zealand’s experience with Blasphemous Libel: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/blasphemous-libel-new-zealand-politics/ And sometimes one follows up the exact historical status of witchcraft law in New Zealand. As one does, of course. ...6 hours ago - No surprises
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Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...2 days ago - Eleven years of work.
Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...2 days ago - Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
2 days ago - How Did We Get Here?
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The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...3 days ago - Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' momentWillis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...3 days ago
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Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...3 days ago - Cooking the booksFinance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...3 days ago
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- Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
4 days ago - Be Honest.
Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...4 days ago - Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
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Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...6 days ago - Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts toLike earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...6 days ago
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1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...7 days ago - While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action planSorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...7 days ago
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Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...1 week ago - The Hoon around the week to Dec 1Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...1 week ago
- 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...1 week ago
- Forward to 2017
The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...1 week ago - Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...1 week ago - Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime MinisterFirst QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...1 week ago
- FinallyHenry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...1 week ago
- Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...1 week ago
- Teanau Tuiono first Green MP appointed Assistant Speaker
The Green Party is pleased to announce today that MP Teanau Tuiono will be an Assistant Speaker for the 54th Parliament. ...17 hours ago - Release: Labour calls on Government to give visas to Kiwis’ families stuck in Gaza
Labour’s immigration spokesperson Phil Twyford is calling on the Government to follow the example of Australia and help New Zealanders’ close family members stuck in Gaza to escape and take shelter here. ...3 days ago - Now, more than ever, we must whakamana Te Tiriti o WaitangiThe Green Party is urging the Government to recognise its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi so our tamariki and mokopuna can grow up in an Aotearoa where their language is celebrated, their health is prioritised, and their whenua is protected. ...3 days ago
- Release: Labour team ready to take on the coalition of chaosLabour’s strong line-up for the 54th Parliament brings experience and energy to the job of Opposition. ...1 week ago
- The future of Aotearoa is at stakeThe next 100 days will be a fight for our future. ...1 week ago
- Māori will die to fund tax cutsBy scrapping Aotearoa’s world-leading smokefree laws, this government is sacrificing Māori lives to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. Not only is this plan revolting, but it doesn’t add up. Treasury has estimated that the reversal of smokefree laws to pay for tax cuts will cost our health system $5.25bn, ...1 week ago
- Release: National’s fiscal plans dealt another blowFigures showing National needs to find another $900 million for landlords highlights the mess this coalition Government is in less than a week into the job. ...1 week ago
- Green Party unveils portfolio spokespeople for the 54th ParliamentThe Green Party is pleased to announce the allocation of portfolios across its largest caucus ever. ...1 week ago
- The Time is Now for Oceans ProtectionCommunity organisations, mana whenua and the Greens have written to the incoming Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to call for the progression without delay of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill. ...1 week ago
- Greenpeace nitrates research proves need for strong freshwater regulationThe Green Party is welcoming the release of an interactive map which enables people to monitor nitrate levels in their drinking water. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins congratulates Christopher Luxon"On behalf of the Labour Party I would like to congratulate Christopher Luxon on his appointment as Prime Minister,” Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens launch petition to save oil and gas banThe Green Party has launched a petition to save the ban on oil and gas exploration. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon’s Government will whitewash AotearoaNZ First has gotten their wish to ‘take our country back’ to the 1800s with a policy program that will white-wash Aotearoa and erase tangata whenua rights. By disestablishing the Māori Health Authority this Government has condemned Māori to die seven years earlier than Pākehā. By removing Treaty obligations from ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party a strong opposition to divisive governmentThe Green Party will keep up the fight for an Aotearoa that works for everyone. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori call for Foreign Affairs CEO to be sackedTe Pāti Māori have called for the resignation of the Ministry of Foreign and Trade chief executive Chris Seed following his decision to erase te reo Māori from government communications. While the country still waits for a new government to be formed, Mr Seed took it upon himself to undermine ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour Party calls for immediate ceasefireThe New Zealand Labour Party is urgently calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to put a halt to the appalling attacks and violence, so that a journey to a lasting peace can begin, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...3 weeks ago
- Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says. “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...15 hours ago - Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in DubaiClimate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...15 hours ago
- New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meetingDefence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...16 hours ago
- Study shows need to remove distractions in classThe Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...20 hours ago
- Minister sets expectations of CommissionerToday I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...2 days ago
- New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETSNew Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...2 days ago
- PISA results show urgent need to teach the basicsWith 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids. The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...2 days ago
- Collins leaves for Pacific defence meetingDefence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...4 days ago
- Working for Families gets cost of living boostPutting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...4 days ago
- Post-Cabinet press conferenceMost weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...4 days ago
- Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrappedThe Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...5 days ago
- NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in GazaNew Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...7 days ago
- Condolences on passing of Henry KissingerForeign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...7 days ago
- Backing our kids to learn the basicsEvery child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...7 days ago
- US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through tradeI would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber. I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...1 week ago
- Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, AucklandGood morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...1 week ago
- India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic PriorityGood morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...1 week ago
- Coalition Government unveils 100-day planPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...1 week ago
- New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade AgreementA significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...2 weeks ago
- Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and IsraelThe Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...3 weeks ago
- Literacy, numeracy tests as NCEA requirement 'detrimental' to learners
A leading education researcher warns new high-stakes NCEA literacy and maths tests could do more harm than good. ...1 hour ago - Labour's Damien O'Connor goes against party policy in calling Israel's actions in Gaz...Labour's leader says O'Connor is "incredibly passionate" about the issue but party policy is that relevant international bodies will determine whether Israel's actions are lawful. ...3 hours ago
- COP28’s chaotic talkfest on climate change
It could be the most consequential international climate change conference yet, but it’s being held in the United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s major oil producers and led by one of the country’s top oil bosses. Newsroom journalist Rod Oram is attending COP28 and joins The Detail from ...3 hours ago - Daily crossword, Friday 8 DecemberThe post Daily crossword, Friday 8 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 8 DecemberLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 8 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- The ‘troubled-teen’ industry and conflicts of interest in Family CourtOpinion: Courts are halls of justice, but they are also well-financed institutional purchasers of goods and services, outsourcing much of their work to private consultants and contractors, including lawyers, advocates, psychologists, social workers, and drug counsellors who earn their living from court contracts. Though there is nothing inherently wrong ...3 hours ago
- Politicians won’t close ‘dire, dismal and awful’ gaps in climate dealAnalysis: The United Nations’ COP28 climate negotiations have begun their final phase with only five days or so left to agree a wide range of measures designed to accelerate nations’ climate responses in coming years. While the draft text prepared by government officials over the past week has some ...3 hours ago
- Hipkins: ‘We were swimming upstream the whole way through the year’Labour winning required a lot of things to go right, and Chris Hipkins says they didn't The post Hipkins: ‘We were swimming upstream the whole way through the year’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- McGoverne returns in search of the FernLiv McGoverne has just returned from an enjoyable season playing rugby in England, but playing there in a Black Ferns jersey, on the sport’s biggest stage, remains the ultimate goal. McGoverne, 26, played the 2022-23 campaign for Exeter Chiefs in the Premier 15s competition. Coached by former England half-back ...3 hours ago
- This week’s bestselling NZ booksFICTION 1 The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner (Hachette, $37.99) An ideal Xmas present for the commercial fiction reader who would relish a wartime story of a shipboard romance. 2 The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $35) An ideal Xmas present for the ...3 hours ago
- Wayne Brown: ‘Govt has underfunded road renewals in Auckland for years’After most of a billion dollars and six years’ work, the Puhoi to Warkworth section of State Highway 1 has been warmly received by long-distance motorists no longer slowed down by small town traffic lights. Where once cars would back bumper to bumper on a Sunday evening, now the ...3 hours ago
- School’s back in session at ParliamentThe first regular sitting day of the new Parliament took place on Thursday and the country got a peek at what Question Time will look like over the next three years. The sitting started with a rare moment of cross-party unity, when the Government adopted Labour MP Phil Twyford’s ...3 hours ago
- City deals can drive Auckland to international levelsThe generational infrastructure deficit has a massive impact on cities The post City deals can drive Auckland to international levels appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Helping the Pacific financially is a great start – but Australia must act on the root cause of the...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Fiji was flooded by a severe cyclone in 2016. ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock The federal government has announced an extra A$150 million for climate finance – including $100 million for the Pacific to help protect its ...8 hours ago - Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on making the NDIS fit for purposeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services, has released the review of the NDIS, which recommends sweeping changes to the scheme. The reforms to come will see the states take ...8 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: winners and losers in end-of-year report card on Albanese ministersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It’s not just kids who get report cards (PDFs these days) as school breaks up. So do government ministers, when parliament rises at year’s end. Judgments about how members of the team have performed, ...9 hours ago
- If humans disappeared, what would happen to our dogs?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bradley Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock For many of us, dogs are our best friends. But have you wondered what would happen to your dog if we suddenly disappeared? Can domestic dogs make do without people? ...14 hours ago
- Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith refuses to express confidence in Chief Human Rights Commissioner Pau...He's refusing to express confidence in Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt, and while he won't abolish the commission like ACT wants, changes will be made. ...14 hours ago
- Auditor general issues damning findings into Manaaki dispute with Callaghan Innovation
A new chapter in the controversial dispute between an Auckland tech company and a government agency, with the tabling of a withering report in parliament today. A highly critical report from the auditor general has been tabled in parliament today, the latest twist in an acrimonious dispute between government agency ...15 hours ago - Signposted, sealed and delivered: How Wayne would fix the roadsAfter most of a billion dollars and six years of work, the Puhoi to Warkworth section of State Highway One has been warmly received by long-distance motorists no longer slowed by small town traffic lights. Where once cars would back bumper to bumper on a Sunday evening, the road ...15 hours ago
- COP28: Turning the tap off slowly – why Australia’s decision to end overseas fossil fuel finance...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Shutterstock Until recently, financing fossil fuel projects has been relatively easy. But that is slowly changing. At the COP28 climate negotiations yesterday, Australia announced it will sign the Glasgow Statement and will ...16 hours ago
- ‘That’s as far as it will go’: Luxon on Act’s Treaty principles billThe prime minister has appeared to suggest that Act’s Treaty principles bill will not be allowed to proceed beyond the select committee stage. Supporting such legislation to select committee is promised in the Act-National coalition agreement, which implies the bill won’t go any further, but Luxon has not said it ...16 hours ago
- Russian Ambassador expulsion on hold: Government 'seeking advice'The government is considering advice about whether to expel Russia's ambassador, the prime minister says, softening his previous position. ...16 hours ago
- Recommendations to reboot the NDIS have finally been released. 5 experts reactSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Brown, Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University Shutterstock Findings from an extensive review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have been released with ideas on how to transform it. Led by co-chairs Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul, the ...16 hours ago
- Sexual orientation and earnings appear to be linked – but patterns differ for NZ men and womenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Plum, Senior Research Fellow in Applied Labour Economics, Auckland University of Technology New Zealand has made substantial progress on promoting LGBTQ+ rights over the past 20 years, including legalising same-sex civil unions in 2004, legalising same-sex marriage in 2013, and banning ...16 hours ago
- Rural Crime Rates Continue To Rise, Federated Farmers Survey Finds
Sentencing judges need to stop going lightly on those convicted of illegal hunting and the killing or stealing of livestock, Federated Farmers rural policing spokesperson Richard McIntyre says. And to keep pressure on the Government to ensure rural areas ...16 hours ago - NZ Government Must Follow Through To Secure A CeasefireThe following quote can be attributed to Lisa Woods, Campaigns Director at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. This statement is in response to the news that the New Zealand Government has passed a motion indicating the government’s support ...16 hours ago
- Opposition calls for stronger ceasefire motion rejectedThe motion by deputy prime minister Winston Peters to call for “urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire” in Gaza has passed in parliament, after the majority of amendments suggested by the opposition were rejected. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said New Zealand should be calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire ...16 hours ago
- Gaza ceasefire debate: Opposition pleas for stronger statement largely rejectedPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has continued with National's approach in calling for "steps towards" a ceasefire, saying that must be in place before a ceasefire can begin. ...17 hours ago
- A Start-up With The Answer To NZ’s Food Waste Crisis Receives Significant Boost To Their Cause$50,000 brand development package awarded to Rescued’s sustainable solution to surplus food Rescued, a social enterprise with a sustainable and delicious solution for food waste, has been named as the winner of the Brand For Good Competition. The ...17 hours ago
- $700k “Adult Toy Store” Bus Stop Stretching Hamilton City Council’s Budget HoleResponding to Hamilton City Council’s decision to spend $700,000 moving and re-developing a bus stop due to its location outside an adult toy store, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Only a couple of weeks ago, Hamilton City Council ...17 hours ago
- MPs debate ceasefire motion following pro-Israel protest at parliamentDuring the first question time of the new parliament, MPs have debated a motion proposed by deputy prime minister Winston Peters for all parties involved in the conflict in Gaza to “take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire”. Members have spoken passionately about the conflict, with Labour MP Damien O’Connor ...17 hours ago
- COP28: New Zealand added to list of countries supporting tripling renewable energyAotearoa was one of only a few OECD countries missing from the initial list of 118 signatories to the pledge, but a spokesperson for the Climate Change Minister has confirmed NZ is supporting it. ...17 hours ago
- Why ‘restoring balance’ to the histories curriculum is not as innocuous as it soundsThe government’s policy to ‘restore balance to the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum’ could work to undermine more inclusive and honest ways of engaging with the past, argues history teacher Christopher Burns. When the plans for compulsory New Zealand history content were announced, Jacinda Ardern presented them as an opportunity ...17 hours ago
- The Jingle Bellethon Telethon is chaotic Christmas comedy at its bestThree reviews of this year’s Basement Theatre Christmas Show. It pains me to say it but I’m a veteran of the annual Basement Theatre Christmas show at this point. In the decade that I’ve been a regular of the theatre, I’ve seen Kura Forrester do a tour-de-force 10-minute monologue that ...18 hours ago
- Nobody reads T&C’s – but the High Court’s Ruby Princess decision shows consumer law may pr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James D Metzger, Senior Lecturer in Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney How many times have you booked travel – like a cruise or a tour – and simply clicked that you’ve read and agreed to the terms and conditions for your trip ...18 hours ago
- Watch: Gaza ceasefire motion debated, Luxon and Hipkins to face off in first question timeThe first question time of the new parliament is under way. Deputy prime minister Winston Peters has called on parties involved in the Gaza conflict to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson is currently seeking amendments to the motion. ...18 hours ago
- Watch: Parliament's first Question Time and Gaza ceasefire motionThe new Parliament's first Question Time today is coming after a motion from the Foreign Minister calling for urgent steps towards a ceasefire in Gaza. ...18 hours ago
- Creative bureacracy is possible. Here are 3 things cities do to foster innovative local governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pauline McGuirk, Senior Professor of Urban Geography, University of Wollongong metamorworks/Shutterstock Heavyweight international players from the OECD to Bloomberg Philanthropies and the United Nations have in recent years prescribed “innovation” as a solution for the many challenges city governments face. ...18 hours ago
- NZ Jews Against Occupation Welcomes The News That Foreign Minister Will Urge Parliament To Call A Ce...As the death and injury tolls mount in Gaza, this is the least that can be done to save lives and begin a peace and reconciliation process. O ver a month ago, UNICEF was already calling Gaza “ a graveyard for children, ” and now warns in the strongest ...19 hours ago
- Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki outside ParliamentAt a rally in the grounds of Parliament attended by about 400 people, Bishop Brian Tamaki has asked for Foreign Minister Winston Peters not to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. ...19 hours ago
- Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki underway outside ParliamentAt a rally in the grounds of Parliament, Bishop Brian Tamaki said "we have to stand on the right side of history and standing with Israel is right". ...19 hours ago
- The rising price of real Christmas treesHaving a nicely scented, well-dressed guest in the corner of your living room is always a festive treat. But has it always been this pricey? Despite often being put in a corner, she’s Christmas’s main character. Green, fragrant, and usually the best-dressed member of your household throughout the festive period, ...19 hours ago
- Emission Impossible: MFAT's Pricy Climate Trip Defies Eco-LogicThe Taxpayers' Union is dismayed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MFAT) outrageous expenditure on its delegation to the COP 27 climate conference. New information revealed under the Official Information Act shows that the total ...19 hours ago
- One Human Rights Commission For The Price Of TwoCommenting on the Human Rights Commission’s appointment of a second “shared leader” to work alongside the existing Chief Executive , Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser, James Ross, said: “The cushy jobs-for-lefties culture at the top of the ...20 hours ago
- Wellingtonians Lumped With The Bill For Exorbitant Heritage Pet ProjectsResponding to Wellington city’s earthquake-strengthening crisis, which sees the city on track to upgrade just 20% of vulnerable buildings , Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser, James Ross, said: “Hundreds of millions of dollars are being burnt upgrading ...20 hours ago
- The worrying rise of retired rentersThe housing crisis is hitting senior renters especially hard, and their numbers are set to double in 25 years. Rachel Judkins explores this unsettling trend. When retired nurse Jenny* bought her first house with her husband in 1986, it felt like she was starting down a road of financial security ...21 hours ago
- Wakey Wakey Auckland Council – Keep Your 2030 Climate TargetThis morning at 10:30am around 20 Restore Passenger Rail supporters staged a sleep-in at the Auckland Council, to highlight the Council’s decision to slow progress on sustainable transport options. “We don’t want Auckland Council ...21 hours ago
- 5 expert tips on how to look after your baby in a heatwaveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University b-finity/Shutterstock Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense in Australia. This can cause illness or worsen existing conditions. During hot weather, hospital admissions and deaths ...21 hours ago
- Foreign Minister Winston Peters to urge Parliament to call for 'steps towards' ceasefire i...Peters is expected, later today, to call on all parties involved in the Gaza conflict - including countries with influence in the region - to "take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire". ...21 hours ago
- Local Authority Statistics: September 2023 QuarterLocal authority statistics provides information on the performance of core non-trading activities of New Zealand's territorial and regional councils. Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files: Local authority ...22 hours ago
- The sustainable, Indigenous arts community thriving in South AucklandIn a small office in Manukau, a ngahere of artists is growing tall. The ecosystem of a ngahere is a delicate balance. From nutrient-dense soil grows life; tall trees reach up towards the sunlight, providing a canopy for the smaller life below. And the smaller living things – from silver ...22 hours ago
- Free Speech Union Welcomes Announcement Of Kīngitanga Hui And Applauds Call For Constructive Dialog...In response to growing concern at the Government’s policies regarding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Kīngitanga has announced a national hui to which ‘all are invited’, to foster dialogue and greater unity on these contentious ...22 hours ago
- ACT MP Brooke van Velden wrongly quotes Parliamentary Commissioner for the EnvironmentParliament's environment watchdog has written to ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden to say she is sharing misinformation about his findings on the oil and gas. ...22 hours ago
- Foreign Minister Winston Peters to urge Parliament to call for ceasefire in GazaPeters is expected, later today, to call on all parties involved in the Gaza conflict - including countries with influence in the region - to "take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire". ...22 hours ago
- Positive Progress In Reducing Child Poverty Must Be MaintainedEncouraging progress has been made in reducing child poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand but more focus on the issue is urgently needed to maintain it, according to a new report from UNICEF. UNICEF’s 18th Report Card, ‘Child Poverty in the Midst of ...23 hours ago
- “We’re Falling Behind”: New Zealand Must Ban Rodeo To Sustain Our Position As Leader I...Animal Rights organisation SAFE is urging the Government to follow quickly on the heels of Los Angeles and ban rodeo, to uphold the country’s animal welfare status. As rodeo season kicks off in Aotearoa, the Los Angeles City Council has voted in ...23 hours ago
- Help Me Hera: Is it possible to be in a happy relationship with an addict?I have tried supporting him the best I can and I love him so much, but I’m finding the cycles of relief, anxiety and heartache almost too much to bear. Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to [email protected] Dear Hera, Is it possible to stay in a (happy) relationship with an addict? When ...23 hours ago
- Foreign Minister Winston Peters to call for ceasefire in GazaPeters is expected, later today, to call on all parties involved in the Gaza conflict - including countries with influence in the region - to "take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire". ...23 hours ago
- Foreign Minister Winston Peters to call for ceasefire in GazaPeters is expected, later today, to call on all parties involved in the Gaza conflict - including countries with influence in the region - to "take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire". ...23 hours ago
- Noam Chomsky turns 95: the social justice advocate paved the way for AI. Does it keep him up at nigh...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Shackell, Sessional Academic and Visitor, School of Information Systems, Queensland University of Technology Noam Chomsky, the revered and reviled genius once famously described as “the most important intellectual alive”, turns 95 today. He is a monumental figure in modern linguistics, and ...24 hours ago
- What is needle spiking, and how can I protect myself?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University Mircea Moira/Shutterstock Last week two young Australian women spoke candidly to the ABC about being sexually assaulted while on holidays. The alleged incidents occurred in Greece in 2022 ...24 hours ago
- A great year to be a cabbage white butterfly: why are there so many and how can you protect your cro...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Andrew, Professor of Entomology, Southern Cross University Christian Mueller/Shutterstock Cabbage white butterflies – Pieris rapae – are one of the most common garden visitors across southern and eastern Australia. The butterfly looks elegant in white with black dots on ...24 hours ago
- The Boy and the Heron is an autobiographical reflection by Hayao Miyazaki in the twilight of his lif...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tets Kimura, Adjunct Lecturer, Creative Arts, Flinders University © 2023 Studio Ghibli Much about Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and the Heron, remained a mystery until its premiere in Japanese theatres on July 14. The title Kimi tachi ...24 hours ago
- Police Minister Mark Mitchell backs commissioner Andrew CosterMitchell has finally declared his full confidence in Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, after repeatedly dodging the question. ...1 day ago
- Our ‘worst ever’ reading, maths and science scores and why people question themA decline in our Pisa scores was described as ‘disastrous’ and ‘disappointing’, but plenty of educators question the merit of the OECD-backed testing scheme, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Pisa ...1 day ago
- NZ approach to cutting emissions criticised by climate researchersNew Zealand will need to spend billions on projects cutting emissions in other countries to make up for what the Climate Change Commission says was a late start to cutting greenhouse gases at home. ...1 day ago
- With or without Te Aka Whai Ora, the mahi will continueWith the new government pledging to scrap the Māori Health Authority, board member Dr Mataroria Lyndon tells Ronan Payinda that while the exact path forward may not yet be known, there’s no stopping the fight for Māori health equity. Dr Mataroria Lyndon (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato) is ...1 day ago
- I’m a high school student. Here’s why National’s phone ban is a bad ideaNational’s ban on phones in schools is poorly researched, won’t work and misses the real problem, argues high-schooler Caspar Levack. On a typical weekday, I wake up, hurriedly get ready, and rush off to school, barely making it there in time. At this point, because I haven’t had the chance ...1 day ago
- A new plan for Wellington, post-Let’s Get Wellington MovingA top transport expert lays out some new ideas to fix the capital’s transport troubles. Let’s Get Wellington Moving is dead. The three-headed transport monster, run equally by Waka Kotahi, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council, but somehow less effective than any of them individually, is set to ...1 day ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 7 DecemberLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 7 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 day ago
- The alcohol conundrumWellington mayor Tory Whanau’s admission that she has a drinking problem is another new headline for a not-so-new issue. The New Zealand Health Survey says that 4 in 5 Kiwi adults have had a drink in the past year, and 1 in 5 have a hazardous drinking pattern. So ...1 day ago
- The destructive diabetes blame gameOpinion: People don’t choose to get diabetes, yet there is a perception that they do, that their condition is a ‘lifestyle disease’, that it’s all their own fault, purely a consequence of eating an unhealthy diet , of not getting enough exercise. Diabetes stigma is alive, and unfortunately, kicking where ...1 day ago
- Daily crossword, Thursday 7 DecemberThe post Daily crossword, Thursday 7 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 day ago
- PM can’t just dismantle Labour policiesLuxon's plan for Govt's first 100 days in office looks more like a work programme set out by a chief executive The post PM can’t just dismantle Labour policies appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 day ago
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