Archive for July, 2008
Hit and miss
Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, July 8th, 2008 - 24 comments
Let’s look at some of the issues National has hit and run on. They were all you heard from the Nats for a while and then they were dropped when their marketing usefulness wore off. “Power crisis” – dropped in June when it started to rain “After-tax incomes” – Dropped in May, after the Budget, […]
Blueprint for a Crosby/Textor campaign
Written By: - Date published: 6:13 am, July 8th, 2008 - 41 comments
While trying desperately to paint Crosby/Textor as ‘just ordinary consultants’ and argue that C/T does nothing that polling and research companies do, National allies like the Herald have also puzzled over why National won’t just admit to being C/T clients. The answer is simple: C/T are not ordinary consultants giving media training or policy advise […]
Havoc interviews Hager
Written By: - Date published: 5:44 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 15 comments
Hager confirms that his info comes from a leak from within the National Party, not as the Nats would have you believe, a devious external computer hacker intent on exposing them.
Nats spending your money to build “Brand Key”?
Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 72 comments
Looks like John Key might be a little less “self-made” and a little more “taxpayer-made” than he’d have us believe… click the image for a larger version.
Broadcasting policy broadly outlined
Written By: - Date published: 4:58 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 12 comments
National’s Jonathan Coleman has announced a bullet-point excuse for a broadcasting policy. Essentially, it adopts the status quo but moves TVNZ charter funding to NZ on Air’s control (there goes any hope of TV1 ever becoming a proper public broadcaster) and preps the ground for privatisation in a second term. Amongst the bullet points is […]
Sacked
Written By: - Date published: 4:13 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 103 comments
In perhaps the most unsurprising announcement of the year, National has let slip it’s going to maintain its 90 day no rights policy, which basically means your boss can sack you for whatever reason he likes within the first 90 days of your employment. Don’t be fooled by the spin there’s already a provision for […]
The Girl Effect
Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, July 7th, 2008 - Comments Off on The Girl Effect
Learn more at thegirleffect.org
Introducing 08wire
Written By: - Date published: 2:50 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 2 comments
Well, as promised 08wire launched today – “The Smartest Political Fun in the Galaxy.’ After you’ve joined their Facebook group check out their first video – John the Chameleon…
Havoc interviews Key on Crosby/Textor
Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 37 comments
Here’s some great audio of Key running Crosby/Textor lines to avoid answering Havoc’s questions. Around the half way point my personal favourite C/T line even makes an appearance: “I intend to run a positive upbeat ambitious campaign; I think it reflects my personality”. As Havoc observes “[John] you’ve spent the last nine months gaining New […]
Nats’ NGO policy, give the money to Aussies
Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 18 comments
Charities are voicing fears that under a National Government public funding for NGOs would be administered by an Australian NGO called Mission Australia with dire consequences for small charities here. The NGOs say Key thinks there are too many NGOs here and wants to starve them of cash. Mission Australia does the admirable work you expect from […]
The right incentives?
Written By: - Date published: 12:06 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 25 comments
National tells us that, if we put the right incentives in place, people will work harder and their incomes will go up. National opposes the 39 cent tax bracket because they argue people would be incentivised to work more and earn more if incomes over $60K were taxed 6 cents in the dollar lower. They […]
Beyond the political showboating
Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, July 7th, 2008 - 36 comments
Ok. Now that the political theatre is done maybe National and its allies would like to engage in proper debate on the freight trucking industry. Here’s some issues for debate: Road user charges are less than 10% of costs and the increase, half what was recommended meaning petrol vehicles are still subsidising truck companies, is […]
Who are National’s moles?
Written By: - Date published: 5:53 am, July 7th, 2008 - 60 comments
The information being leaked to Nicky Hager is obviously coming from well-placed sources inside National The idea of hacking is farcical (Lyndon Hood mocks it beautifully). In the Hollow Men, Hager refers to his sources as ‘six senior National figures’, in the SST article he talks of ‘staffers’ being concerned about the actions of Crosby/Textor. […]
Democracy under attack
Written By: - Date published: 3:02 pm, July 6th, 2008 - 27 comments
Ruth Laugesen’s got a piece in the SST today entitled “How National’s spin doctors operate“. She points out that Crosby/Textor’s methods, contrary to the opinion of many other journalists here, do differ from what are considered standard focus group and polling methodologies. Auckland University political studies senior lecturer Jennifer Lees-Marshment suggests that C/T are different […]
National’s New Plymouth candidate quits
Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, July 6th, 2008 - 28 comments
National Party’s New Plymouth candidate Clem Coxhead has reportedly wanted to be in politics since he was nine years old. Earlier this year he won a hard fought and sometimes bitter internal selection process. Puzzling then that he’s now abandoning the candidacy citing “work commitments”. The Taranaki Daily News has been informed that “business dealings […]
Video: The Century of the Self
Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, July 6th, 2008 - 13 comments
Hager’s Crosby/Textor revelations and the ensuing debate reminded me of this four party BBC documentary by Adam Curtis: The Century of the Self. Embedded below is part four entitled “Eight people sipping wine in Kettering”: To many in both politics and business, the triumph of the self is the ultimate expression of democracy, where power has […]
The making of some (commercial) magic
Written By: - Date published: 8:36 pm, July 5th, 2008 - Comments Off on The making of some (commercial) magic
As usual we’ve been running the hot political stories this week but I, for one, need a breather. And what better way to relax than to watch people create an amazing scene of fluffy white stuff floating around? It’s not the snow and wintry weather that’s covering the country. This is the Making of Foam […]
The Standard Week: June 27-July 4
Written By: - Date published: 3:49 pm, July 5th, 2008 - 18 comments
A big week in politics. The rail system is back in public ownership as KiwiRail, Nicky Hager exposed Brand Key as a Crosby Textor production, National was forced to reveal that it was secretly planning to privatise the ACC scheme, the Incomes Report showed poverty rates continue to fall back to levels they were before […]
Geek’s View – Papers Plus
Written By: - Date published: 1:42 pm, July 5th, 2008 - 3 comments
One of the links to The Standard this week was from Reading the Maps on the topic of Playing the history card. The very long post is a interesting commentary of the differences between the various wars of the 19th century that made up New Zealand formation and well worth a read. The author rightly […]
On Freedom
Written By: - Date published: 6:51 am, July 5th, 2008 - 122 comments
It is time for the Left to take back the language of freedom. At its heart freedom, power for the ordinary person, is what the Left is about. – Freedom from unemployment, – Freedom from crappy wages that mean you have to work 60 hours a week to make ends meet, – Freedom from having to […]
Report shows incomes up, inequality down
Written By: - Date published: 1:50 pm, July 4th, 2008 - 32 comments
The MSD’s Incomes Report provides a wealth of information. For instance, here’s how the mean and median household incomes have moved since 1982. Households suffered a massive erosion of income during the rightwing revolution from 1984 to the late 1990s. The leftwing governments since 1999 put that to a stop that. Now, incomes have regained […]
Buying trains gets noticed in Britain
Written By: - Date published: 1:44 pm, July 4th, 2008 - 16 comments
The buy back of rail has been put in a British context in this article from the Guardian. Here are some excerpts: “New Zealand has long had a record of being ahead of the political game. It was the first country in the world to accept women’s right to vote, in 1893. In the 1930s, […]
Reviewing the ‘truck strike’
Written By: - Date published: 12:59 pm, July 4th, 2008 - 46 comments
As a piece of political theatre it’s good and people who walk to work, including myself, enjoyed the unusual sight and gave them a wave (some people stuck in traffic didn’t find it so fun, though). But just remember, this was a set-up – truck companies did not waste a whole morning and all that fuel protesting […]
Poverty falls, more to be done
Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, July 4th, 2008 - 35 comments
13% of people are living in poverty in New Zealand (defined as less than 60% of the median income, less than $40K a year for a household, $16K for an individual) compared with 17% in 2004 and 23% in 1994. Child poverty dropped 7% between 2004 and 2007. Since the Government came to power it […]
Government slashes ‘waste’
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, July 4th, 2008 - 36 comments
The Government’s new core benefit will see all beneficiaries given the same treatment and the same assistance to get into work if they are able. The changes will reduce monthly costs for both beneficiaries and MSD. The more efficient system will save $40 to $70 million a year (source: newsroom). A cheaper system that will […]
Mr Key, where is your ‘positive, ambitious campaign’?
Written By: - Date published: 6:01 am, July 4th, 2008 - 67 comments
In four separate interviews this week, John Key used more or less exactly the same line to divert from questions on his use of Crosby/Textor: ‘I’m the Leader of the party and I’ll set the tone of the campaign. And it will be a positive, ambitious, outlooking campaign because that fits with my personality‘ OK, everyone can […]
Road spike
Written By: - Date published: 5:02 pm, July 3rd, 2008 - 118 comments
The truck companies are going to blockade our motorways tomorrow morning to protest being forced to pay a levy to cover the damage their trucks do to the roads. They expect us to pick up the tab instead. Well, hey, we all like a free-ride, don’t we? So, click on the image below and print off […]
Did Clark endorse push-polling?
Written By: - Date published: 3:59 pm, July 3rd, 2008 - 18 comments
Some of the more excitable righties on the blogosphere and John Key have taken a throw-away comment in Audrey Young’s blog to mean that Helen Clark said Labour will be doing push-polling. Here’s what was actually said, according to Young’s recording: Reporter: Will Labour use push-polling with ‘the truth?’ Clark: Well I’m not sure how […]
Who’s driving the ‘truck strike’?
Written By: - Date published: 3:02 pm, July 3rd, 2008 - 100 comments
So, let’s get this straight the Government has increased road user charges for diesel vehicles by half the amount recommended by the Ministry of Transport to cover the roading costs of those vehicles. The increase is 7-8%. Road user chargers account for 10% of trucking costs. So, we’re talking a less than 1% increase in […]
Drinking Liberally reminder
Written By: - Date published: 12:44 pm, July 3rd, 2008 - 3 comments
Don’t forget Drinking Liberally tonight. The weather’s crap but the good people at Southern Cross have provided their function room, so you won’t get wet. Nicky Hager will be drawing a big crowd and there should be plenty of lively discussion in the light of this week’s political events. WHAT Drinking Liberally Wellington WHEN 5:30pm, […]
Question
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, July 3rd, 2008 - 72 comments
Howcome when capital goes on strike over political issues it’s seen as a legitimate part of democracy, but if workers tried the same thing it would be illegal under the Employment Relations Act? [UPDATE: Seems frog had similar thoughts over here.]
- Farming To Remain Outside NZ's Emissions Trading Scheme – Expert Reaction
The coalition government has announced greenhouse gases from agriculture will not be covered in the country's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) next year. ...6 days ago - Peter Dutton’s latest salvo on Australia’s emission goals suggests our climate wars are far from...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt McDonald, Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Tuesday reiterated the Coalition’s support for the Paris climate agreement, following suggestions he might walk away from the deal. But he fuelled speculation the Coalition plans to ...6 days ago - Peter Dutton’s latest salvo on Australia’s emission goals suggest our climate wars are far from ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt McDonald, Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Tuesday reiterated the Coalition’s support for the Paris climate agreement, following suggestions he might walk away from the deal. But he fuelled speculation the Coalition plans to ...6 days ago
- What perks do MPs really get?
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- NDIS fraud is more than ‘growing pains’ – how fundamental flaws in the scheme should be addres...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mona Nikidehaghani, Senior Lecturer in Accounting, University of Wollongong New estimates suggest nearly 5% of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is spent in error. John Dardo, the integrity chief of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA — the agency that ...6 days ago
- Greenpeace Response To Govt Move To Take Agriculture Out Of ETSThe National-led coalition Government has today confirmed the demise of He Waka Eke Noa and a new Pastoral Sector Group for tackling agricultural climate emissions which Greenpeace says is just more dairy industry collusion and climate denial by the Luxon ...6 days ago
- Census Consultation Closing Soon – Stats NZThere’s one week to go to have your say on the approach for the next census. ...6 days ago
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- Boot camps for young offenders are back – the psychological evidence they don’t work never went ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Davies, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images “Boot camps” for young people who commit serious offending are coming back. The coalition government has promised to pilot “military-style academies” by the middle of ...6 days ago
- Not quite an introvert or an extravert? Maybe you’re an ambivertSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peta Stapleton, Associate Professor in Psychology, Bond University Los Muertos Crew/Pexels Our personalities are generally thought to consists of five primary factors: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism, with each of us ranking low to high for each. ...6 days ago
- Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: What happens to limbo law change with French snap election?ANALYSIS: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron’s surprise dissolution of the National Assembly and call for snap general elections on June 30 and July 7 has implications for New Caledonia. Grave civil unrest and rioting broke out on May 13 in reaction to ...6 days ago
- Opposition makes gains in new political pollBut not enough to take power if there was an election tomorrow. ...6 days ago
- New Poll: Gap Between Government And Opposition NarrowsThis month's results are compared to last month's Taxpayers' Union – Curia poll. National is down three seats on last month to 44 and Labour is also down one seat to 36. ...6 days ago
- Another 146 job losses for Ministry of Education take total past 700The ministry's digital division will cut about 146 positions. ...6 days ago
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- As Australia toughens its 501 policy, here’s what you need to know
Our trans-Tasman neighbour has backtracked on its earlier commitment to ease up on controversial deportations of New Zealanders under Section 501 of the Australian Migration Act. Gabi Lardies explains. “It’s just not right,” said prime minister Christopher Luxon on Friday, responding to news that Australia had hardened its immigration policy ...6 days ago - Government ignored funding process with cancer drug promise – former Pharmac chairSome drugs on the promised list were no longer current while others had been previously declined, former Labour minister Steve Maharey says. ...6 days ago
- Imagining a better food system for AotearoaCommunity Supported Agriculture is a model that’s common overseas, but still little known in Aotearoa. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. Do you know where your eggs came from? How about your chicken, your milk, bananas, the salad leaves you buy in those air-filled plastic ...6 days ago
- Fuel companies quick to hike prices, slow to drop them – Commerce CommissionDelays in dropping petrol prices are costing drivers $15 million a year, the Commerce Commission says. ...7 days ago
- The cost of being: A 19-year-old landscape gardener in Tāmaki MakaurauAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an ‘anxious and broke’ young renter in Auckland shares how he spends and saves. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Male Age: 19 Ethnicity: Māori Role: Landscape ...7 days ago
- Christopher Luxon defends MP Tim Costley claiming allowance to live in own flat"That's not inappropriate." the prime minister says, defending his MP claiming more than $36,000 in housing allowances. ...7 days ago
- Cancer drugs funding 'actively' being worked on – Nicola WillisAccused of funding potholes over cancer patients, the government is promising it will deliver 13 treatments left out of the Budget. ...7 days ago
- Foreign affairs and Fieldays top of the political agendaChristopher Luxon prepares to walk the diplomatic tightrope, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A visit at home, and a trip abroad ...7 days ago
- Winds of political change blow through environmental conference
Analysis: It was a sure sign the new Government had stamped its mark on officials. A Ministry for the Environment leader, Nadeine Dommisse, told an environmental conference the country needed to be “aware of the pitfalls of over-regulation”, the week after 300 job cuts at MfE were announced. Coming just ...7 days ago - Te Pāti Māori inquiry: Six government agencies in the spotlightAt least six government agencies are now the focus of an independent inquiry triggered by claims Te Pāti Māori misused census information. ...7 days ago
- Everyone is rich but me: The allure of money porn in a cost of living crisisInterest in Lotto and the Rich List has never been greater. Madeleine Chapman ponders why. On Saturday the big story was the must-win $50m Lotto jackpot. Every major news outlet ran multiple stories ahead of the draw. Are self-selected numbers more likely to win than a random line? Is it ...7 days ago
- From Aoraki to Whanganui: 25 of Aotearoa’s best new (old) placenamesWith Petone potentially set to become Pito One, here’s a whistle-stop tour of some of our country’s most notable placename changes. Name changes are in the news: consultation has opened on the plan to change the name of seaside Lower Hutt suburb Petone to the correct spelling of Pito One; Russell ...7 days ago
- NZ football’s time to shineThe biggest news in New Zealand football so far this year is Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen signing with English Premier League club Bournemouth. But he’s just the crest of a wave of news about our players excelling on the world stage. Nearly a year after our nation co-hosted the ...7 days ago
- Staff come first amid surge in crimeA couple of times a week, Wayne Kennerly’s phone rings in the dead of night. His heart starts beating fast, as he’s desperate to know the answer to the question he asks each time: “Is everyone okay?” Kennerly is a retailer for Z Energy, operating 17 sites across south and ...7 days ago
- Daily crossword, Tuesday 11 JuneThe post Daily crossword, Tuesday 11 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 days ago
- The big eurozone gambleOpinion: European Central Bank risks reigniting the inflationary embers it worked so hard to extinguish The post The big eurozone gamble appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 days ago
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- Why the NZ sharemarket needs some star powerOpinion: The NZX needs to make clear why it still deserves a slice of the Kiwi investor’s portfolio The post Why the NZ sharemarket needs some star power appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 11 JuneLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,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, Tuesday 11 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 days ago
- Govt backpedals on Iran guard terror designationThe Govt has no plans to label Iran’s military guard a terrorist group, despite having pushed for such a move in opposition The post Govt backpedals on Iran guard terror designation appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 days ago
- Falling apples and noisy trains – one side of fight against ECE red tapeRisk plans for falling apples and train horns among onerous regulation. Others see red tape as a framework to keep kids and kaiako safe The post Falling apples and noisy trains – one side of fight against ECE red tape appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 days ago
- Comprehending te reo Māori proves difficult for Crown Counsel in Tribunal hearingCrown lawyers apologised for long pauses at a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into claims the government's policy is causing significant, irreversible harm to te reo Māori. ...7 days ago
- Future of disputed land at Ihumātao still undecided as government meets with committeeThe government says it has had "good robust kōrero" about Ihumātao with the committee tasked with deciding its future. ...1 week ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon faces questions at post-Cabinet briefingThe PM is back and has announced a visit to NZ from Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his own trip to Japan with a business delegation. ...1 week ago
- Public Service Commission to conduct inquiry after Te Pāti Māori data allegationsThe commission's been directed to investigate after allegations Te Pāti Māori misused data during the 2023 election campaign. ...1 week ago
- Chinese Premier Li Qiang to visit New ZealandThe relationship between China and New Zealand is "significant, complex, and resilient", Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. ...1 week ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions at post-Cabinet briefingThe PM is back and hosting a media conference in the wake of the weekend's protests against the Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...1 week ago
- Disentangling the claims around census data and Te Pāti MāoriAre the existing probes sufficient to address such a swarm of allegations? Eleven agencies were summoned by the public service commissioner for a meeting on Friday to discuss “action” to address a series of allegations involving Manurewa marae and Te Pāti Māori, the most serious of which centres on misuse ...1 week ago
- ‘I felt sorry for him’: Reconsidering the Southern ManAvi Duckor-Jones’ Max is a coming-of-age novel about a teenage boy who struggles to come to terms with his sexuality, and where he fits into his family and the world beyond school. Here he explores the pervasive brand of masculinity that he grew up with. At university, there was a ...1 week ago
- Environment Not Threatened By Fast-track BillThe notion that the Fast-track Approvals Bill somehow paves the way to destroy the environment, with vast swathes of the countryside turned into mines, is way off track, says Straterra chief executive, Josie Vidal. ...1 week ago
- The Government Must Scrap Taxpayer Funding For EV Charging RortThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling the Government to scrap its EV charging rort that will see millions of taxpayer dollars funnelled into the hands of private companies despite the policy doing absolutely nothing to reduce New Zealand’s net emissions. ...1 week ago
- No Country for Cheese Scones: A love letter to the elusive Kiwi delicacyWould you still move to Melbourne or London knowing it’d be a cheese-scone-less life? Bryer Oden talks to New Zealanders abroad pining for a Kiwi cafe favourite. In Wellington, to call cheese scones elusive would be to call the wind elusive, or rich ladies in quilted jackets, or psych students, ...1 week ago
- Will AI accelerate or relegate New Zealand’s tech sector?Artificial intelligence (AI) presents both a risk and an opportunity to New Zealand’s tech sector, which is now the country’s second biggest offshore earner. Will the industry struggle to keep up? Or are we about to experience a massive boost that will finally break our decades-long productivity slump? “AI has ...1 week ago
- Accommodation Assistance extended for homeowners hit by Auckland floods, Cyclone GabrielleThe government will continue weekly accommodation payments until June 2025 to help bridge the gap for homeowners until a decision is made on the future of their property. ...1 week ago
- Wellington’s secondhand bookshops, ranked and reviewedClaire Mabey assesses the browsing merits of the capital’s secondhand bookstores. Secondhand bookstores are extremely dangerous places for someone like myself. My house has become so overrun with book piles that if I crafted a hand-painted sign and hung it on the gate it could easily pass for a homely ...1 week ago
- Ministers Safeguard Tourism Sector’s Role As Driver Of Economic GrowthTourism ministers from the APEC member economies are coordinating their policies in a bid to make the industry more accessible, inclusive and sustainable. ...1 week ago
- How the government plans to give certainty to gas investorsInvestors are still scared to get back into the market in the event of another ban. ...1 week ago
- Questions swirling after allegations against three political partiesA look at the claims, and how they’ve been responded to, in this extract from The Bulletin by Stewart Sowman-Lund. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Multiple agencies called in to ...1 week ago
- Australia's hardening stance on 501 deportees is 'devastating', detainee saysHaley Rukuwai has lived in Australia since she was 6, but may be sent back to NZ. The policy is "destroying lives", she says. ...1 week ago
- Te reo Māori in public sector Waitangi Tribunal inquiry gets underwayNgāi Te Rangi filed the application last year after the government told departments with dual Māori-English names to lead with their English title first. ...1 week ago
- Act rallies the troops for 2026What a difference eight months in Government makes. Act staged its first major political rally since the election and was back in confident mood. The party’s chutzpah was dented on election night when it underperformed its own, and most political commentators’, expectations. After rising to record highs in opinion ...1 week ago
- Luxon cuts frequency of post-Cabinet press conferencePrime Minister Christopher Luxon has ended the convention of regularly holding a post-Cabinet press conference even in weeks where Parliament is not sitting. Of the six recess (non-sitting) blocks so far this year, Luxon has only helmed the Monday press conference in two of them. A spokesperson confirmed there is ...1 week ago
- Fact-checking artificial intelligenceIs AI one big step towards a more productive life, or one giant leap into the realm of misinformation? This incredible development is being forced on the tech world, with plenty of potholes on the way. Cats on the moon, anyone? Establishing a daily rock-eating habit? Cooking with gasoline … ...1 week ago
- ACT leader David Seymour brushes off claims party has a 'culture of fear'The reported complaints are not representative of the party as a whole, ACT leader says. ...1 week ago
- How DoC’s boss removed a seat from her top tableIt was called a “proposed functional model”. In October 2023, the Department of Conservation issued a consultation document to staff, released to Newsroom under an official information request. It was a year on from its “organisational reset”, which, among other things, brought together its policy, legal and Treaty of Waitangi ...1 week ago
- The future of Aotearoa is entwined with the future of MāoriNearly one in three under-25s are Māori, the latest census data revealed. How can New Zealand plan for this huge demographic shift today? The latest census data has revealed that Māori make up almost one in five of the country’s population, and the Māori population is growing at double the ...1 week ago
- Wellington desperately needs the Golden Mile upgradeWellington’s central streets are in dire need of a spruce-up. Efforts to cancel the Golden Mile upgrade would doom the city to another decade of stagnation. Windbag is The Spinoff’s Wellington issues column, written by Wellington editor Joel MacManus. It’s made possible thanks to the support of The Spinoff Members. ...1 week ago
- In search of ‘progressive capitalism’Opinion: We would gain by seeing social progress as a balance between ‘freedom from’ perspectives and ‘freedom to’ which is resolved by the people and the planet The post In search of ‘progressive capitalism’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Free-market approaches do not sit well with scienceOpinion: In recent years, the phrases “world-leading” and “for the first time in New Zealand” have frequently appeared in press releases and announcements related to research projects or scientific achievements. Many in the science community might contemplate the whakatauki “Kāore te kumara e kōrero ana mo tōna ake reka” (the ...1 week ago
- Fonterra’s consumer sell-off a setback for NZ innovationOpinion: Fonterra’s decision to sell off its consumer products could undermine the ‘value add’ movement The post Fonterra’s consumer sell-off a setback for NZ innovation appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- EV sales yet to pick up as rest of auto market joins declineClean cars made up just 6 percent of new vehicles sold in May, well down from the 2023 average share of 20 percent The post EV sales yet to pick up as rest of auto market joins decline appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Niwa to disestablish air quality teamRegional councils urged Niwa not to cut its Air Quality Team in a letter in May, but Newsroom understands the cuts are going ahead The post Niwa to disestablish air quality team appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Court costs and fees set to rise as part of Govt savings exerciseHigher costs to have the Ministry of Justice collect fines on behalf of other agencies could see organisations choose to use private debt collection companies instead The post Court costs and fees set to rise as part of Govt savings exercise appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Kiwi author’s work celebrated at TribecaOne of the best New Zealand novels of the past 20 years – almost certainly the smartest, and most exactingly crafted – has just had its movie adaptation premiered at the Tribeca Film festival in New York to good reviews. The Mistake by Wellington writer Carl Shuker is directed by ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 10 JuneThe post Daily crossword, Monday 10 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
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