Archive for July, 2008
Time to front up on ACC
Written By: - Date published: 11:53 am, July 3rd, 2008 - 23 comments
Some excellent journalism by Vernon Small has revealed that Australian insurers expect National to privatise the ACC scheme and they see $200 million profit in it for themselves. National has now been forced to admit its policy is to allow private competitors for workplace and accident insurance, although (as always) details are not provided. Mr […]
One door closes, another opens
Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, July 3rd, 2008 - 8 comments
A shame to hear that our mates at blogblog have called it quits for now but a delight to see that our friends from keepleftnz.org – active at the last election – are kicking off “the smartest political fun in the galaxy” on July 7: 08Wire.org
Taumarunui no longer on Main-trunk line, had Key had his way
Written By: - Date published: 9:04 am, July 3rd, 2008 - 78 comments
A day into the renewed public ownership of our railway system and it has emerged that not only did John Key help sell it in the first time and make a profit off the asset-stripping that followed. Further, his party’s policy of keeping the rail in private hands would have seen nearly all the network […]
Real John vs Brand Key
Written By: - Date published: 5:41 am, July 3rd, 2008 - 31 comments
Let’s go back to the heart of this story: it is not about push-polling or whatever, this is about how Brand Key has been purpose-built by a company world-renowned for its secretive, anti-democratic practices. Crosby/Textor are not just some consultants like parties might use to assist policy development. They have built our image of Key […]
Greens discover Nats full of hot air
Written By: - Date published: 2:12 pm, July 2nd, 2008 - 46 comments
A classic ‘cake and eat it’ from Crosby/Textor National has been their approach to climate change – stating they support tackling this issue but opposing every policy that has been developed. The latest example is their position on the ETS, which No Right Turn explains beautifully: Reading the National Party’s minority report [PDF] on the […]
Merrill Lynch: Nats will privatise ACC
Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, July 2nd, 2008 - 93 comments
It’s refreshing to see some proper investigative journalism in this morning’s Dominion Post, with a revelation from Vernon Small that while National continues to try and downplay ACC and talk about “no privatisation in the first term,” a report from John Key’s old firm Merrill Lynch suggests National’s privatisation plans are an open secret among […]
TVNZ7 ad
Written By: - Date published: 12:05 pm, July 2nd, 2008 - 13 comments
TVNZ7 have some great content. Looks like some serious effort’s going into their advertising as well. Here’s one that caught my attention the other day. If your eyesight’s anything like mine you might want to click for a larger version.
What’s the future for Brand Key?
Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, July 2nd, 2008 - 62 comments
Crosby/Textor, an outfit renowned for its anti-democratic, secretive practices, has built the public image of John Key (Brand Key) from the ground up. That’s why Key is seen as ‘nice’ but people, including National supporters, say they don’t know what he stands for and can’t say why he would a good PM. That’s why he […]
National releases 3 more lines of policy – Scoop
Written By: - Date published: 6:24 am, July 2nd, 2008 - 17 comments
A classic headline that says it all. Here’s the three lines: ‘Give schools additional resources over time to ensure more students can take part in extra-curricula organised sport. Ensure more of the government’s sport spending gets through to the front line.’ Stop it, John. It’s great knowing exactly what you would do, how much it […]
Crosby/Textor Spin Bingo
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 pm, July 1st, 2008 - 67 comments
John Key has his round of five interviews tomorrow morning (Breakfast, Sunrise, ZB, KiwiFM, bFM) and will undoubtedly face questions on his use of Crosby/Textor. So, what line will C/T have him parrot repeatedly? He’s already trying “I get most of my advice from the public” (weak) and the more aggressive “I’m going to set […]
Reminder: Drinking Liberally Auckland
Written By: - Date published: 2:36 pm, July 1st, 2008 - Comments Off on Reminder: Drinking Liberally Auckland
Remember that Drinking Liberally Auckland is having its inaugural session tomorrow with David Slack. Note it in your schedules and tell your left-leaning and green friends where the action is. In fact phone a techno-phobe friend now! WHAT Drinking Liberally Auckland WHEN 7:30pm, Wed 2 July WHERE London Bar, corner Queen and Wellesley Streets, Auckland […]
Crosby Textor spin the use of Crosby Textor
Written By: - Date published: 1:52 pm, July 1st, 2008 - 33 comments
I wish some journo would ask Key whether Crosby/Textor helped him with lines on how to handle questions about his using them – they must have a standard set they give their clients. Would Key really have thought of this one himself: John Key says the vast bulk of advice he takes is from the […]
Mr Key’s real concerns
Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, July 1st, 2008 - 37 comments
While more questions will no doubt be asked about Mr Key’s choice of hiring infamous Aussie spin-stars, Crosby/Textor, (no doubt some more of them will feature here) I thought this point raised by Barry Soper yesterday was a good one: There’s clearly a concern how this information is yet again leaking from the National Party office. I mean, […]
All aboard KiwiRail
Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, July 1st, 2008 - 40 comments
Today marks the launch of KiwiRail. It’s great to have rail back in Kiwi hands, after a decade of asset-stripping. Now comes the task of building up the network so it can provide cheap and clean transport. Businesses are keen to take more freight off the road in the face of skyrocketing fuel prices and long-distance […]
Fairfax milks the cash cow
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, July 1st, 2008 - 28 comments
It was bound to happen. The Herald did it about a year ago and now Fairfax is following suit. Getting rid of subeditors who actually live in the same town as the paper for which they write. In their place Fairfax is offering New Zealander newspaper readers Centres of Editorial Expertise. The trouble is that […]
Same old National. Same old spin.
Written By: - Date published: 10:46 am, July 1st, 2008 - 39 comments
Former National Party MP Marilyn Waring wrote in the introduction to The Hollow Men: I must admit to a sense of anticipated despair about the treatment [the book] might receive… The focus may be on looking for and condemning the leakers as opposed to scrutinising an appallingly mendacious political campaign. This has been precisely the […]
Hager to speak at Drinking Liberally – Wellington
Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, July 1st, 2008 - 13 comments
This is one not to be missed. Nicky Hager will be speaking at Drinking Liberally – Wellington this coming Thursday. Hager, author of The Hollow Men – shortly to screen as a movie at the International Film Festival – is back in the spotlight this week following this article in the Sunday Star Times. In it, […]
Brand Key shows a contempt for ordinary Kiwis
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, July 1st, 2008 - 39 comments
It comes as no surprise that Brand Key has been a Crosby/Textor project from Day 1. The hit and run, the bait and switch, the cake and eat it, the shoot the messenger, the misdirection, the dog-whistle, wedge politics, the outright lie – these are all elements of the classic Crosby Textor strategy that have […]
- Watch: More NZ support for monitoring North Korea, Luxon says
The prime minister has announced a ramping-up of Aotearoa's part in monitoring sanctions on the state. ...1 week ago - Granny flats: Do they pay off? Investors run the numbersIt is set to get easier to put in a granny flat, but does it pay off? ...1 week ago
- A dream of broth
When I’m sick, there’s nothing I crave more. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. As I write this, I have Covid. I am in bed, my laptop propped on my legs, a warm cat on my chest and a cup of tea dangerously resting on ...1 week ago - Bonuses For Public Sector Mediocrity Need To Be Taken Off The Table
While views are similar across ages and ethnicities, levels of concern over potential harm versus the right to freedom of expression differ markedly according to people’s comfort levels with gender diversity. ...1 week ago - When a Māori person goes to hospital, they don’t leave their Māori identity at the doorNicola Willis said her budget delivered for Māori, because New Zealanders ‘don’t turn up at the emergency room thinking about their ethnic identity’. Research into kaumātua health suggests differently. When entering a hospital or health clinic, you arrive with the hope that you will go home with improved health and ...1 week ago
- 'Dogs love racing': Racing Minister won't rush decision on greyhound racing banRacing Minister Winston Peters found himself in a quick-fire exchange during a select committee meeting. ...1 week ago
- 'Dogs love racing': Winston Peters won't rush decision on greyhound racing ban"Watch them in the wild," the Racing Minister said during an exchange at a select committee. ...1 week ago
- Drop in consumer confidence wipes out recent gainsConsumer confidence soured in June as households' hopes for interest rate relief faded. ...1 week ago
- We want nice things. We can’t afford them. Has Chris Bishop found an ‘edgy’ solution?A controversial policy announced on Friday has the potential to both revive and break some left-right divides. The first term of this government has been unusually fractious, with protests and harsh words exchanged across a number of different fronts. In part that’s because on some issues – the appropriate deployment ...1 week ago
- Airline working to get passengers to Australia after horror take-offWatch: Fire was seen coming out the back of a Boeing 737 that departed from Queenstown. ...1 week ago
- The cost of being: A parent of ‘two under two’ with a hefty mortgageAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a mother on maternity leave who’s living on savings explains how she and her young family are getting by. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female Age: ...1 week ago
- How some lower-income households could end up with a 128 percent tax rateSome lower-income families could end up with an effective marginal tax rate of more than 100 percent. ...1 week ago
- Fast-track legislation: DOC's OIA refusal was unlawful – OmbudsmanThe Ombudsman found the Department of Conservation was both unlawful and unreasonable in its refusal to provide copies of its advice to ministers regarding the proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...1 week ago
- Business delegation travelling with PM finally arrives in JapanChristopher Luxon welcomed the group after leaving them behind in Port Moresby when the Defence Force plane broke down. ...1 week ago
- Could granny flats help solve our housing crisis?In this extract from The Bulletin by Stewart Sowman-Lund: What Australia can teach us about secondary housing as a means to address our own property shortfall. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...1 week ago
- ‘Weak’ evidence for advisory group’s plan for maths
Erica Stanford’s advisory group has recommended a new approach to maths, but it acknowledges there is a lack of evidence to support the new approach The post ‘Weak’ evidence for advisory group’s plan for maths appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago - Farm lobby groups present Ministers with eerily united frontA trio of farming lobby groups wrote to ministers on the same day in March, a month before the Government announced freshwater farm plans would be “improved”. Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb, and Dairy NZ wrote to a quintet of ministers, including Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, on March 5, calling ...1 week ago
- Granny flat change welcomed by housing providers and oppositionProposed law changes which would remove the need for building consents on homes under 60 square metres in certain areas are being met with enthusiasm from housing providers and the opposition. ...1 week ago
- NZ at centre of vast info sharing with 'five eyes' nationsThe 'Five Eyes' group turning over information about millions of travellers is administered by New Zealand. ...1 week ago
- Christopher Luxon loves localism, until locals have the wrong opinionsThe government wants local communities to make their own decisions. The only problem – they keep disagreeing with the government. If there’s one thing the prime minister loves, it’s locals. Local government, local ice cream shops and local airlines. Most of all, he loves localism; the idea that local people should ...1 week ago
- Could mana motuhake be only a sovereign wealth fund away?Improving the Māori economy by increasing capital supply could lead to a ‘paradigm shift’, say the group developing the new fund – which in turn could address the social disparities experienced by tangata whenua. Mana motuhake looks different to different people. For some, it’s living in the bush, wearing nothing ...1 week ago
- Mates-based management an Achilles’ heel for NZOpinion: Last week, Newsroom reported on the recent restructure at the Department of Conservation, which resulted in the removal of a deputy-director general role. I have had both the burden and privilege of working with DoC for over 20 years for a range of organisations and clients. In my experience, the department is ...1 week ago
- Local government needs to step up in our health systemComment: The replacement of DHBs with a top-down culture has left a void for local advocacy that councils must fill The post Local government needs to step up in our health system appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- The problem with Ans Westra (and Paul Moon)Paul Moon became friends with Ans Westra in the last years of her life, and quotes his interviews with her frequently in his biography of her life and work. It’s tempting to see a parallel between the careers of historian and the photographer: both are Pākehā who have worked often ...1 week ago
- The blissfully boring British electionThe UK’s ruling Conservative Party could be staring at electoral oblivion according to the latest opinion polls out this weekend, with one commentator suggesting they could even be vulnerable to a hostile, aggressive takeover by Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform Party. Less than three weeks out from the July 4 UK ...1 week ago
- 40-year-old official information laws fare well on social mediaSomeone has been using Instagram to request official information from Chris Bishop, testing how prepared the legislation is for a burgeoning information age The post 40-year-old official information laws fare well on social media appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Tuesday 18 JuneThe post Daily crossword, Tuesday 18 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 18 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 18 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- The troubling rationale behind liquor levy reviewOpinion: It looks as if the Ministry of Health wants to promote a flawed and inflated measure of the social cost of alcohol The post The troubling rationale behind liquor levy review appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Public service cuts dominate start of scrutiny weekAnalysis: Senior ministers Nicola Willis and Judith Collins are the first to defend the Government’s decision to cut public service spending and roles, as Parliament kicks off a week of intense scrutiny of this year’s Budget. But they won’t be the last. For the first time, Parliament is putting aside ...1 week ago
- Public Service Minister Nicola Willis defends job cuts before select committeePublic Service Minister Nicola Willis was grilled at the governance and administration select committee today about the thousands of job losses. ...1 week ago
- Watch live: Winston Peters faces questions at post-Cabinet briefingThe Deputy Prime Minister has stepped in in to take the podium as Christopher Luxon visits Japan. ...1 week ago
- If you’re going to teach kids to write in cursive, you better teach them to read it tooAs the debate over what should be in New Zealand’s curriculum continues, Shanti Mathias says there’s no point learning to write in cursive if you can’t read it. I still remember the day I realised I was never going to learn to write in cursive. For my first five years ...1 week ago
- Government seeks feedback on no-consent 'granny flat' policyThe move would force councils to allow buildings of up to 60 square metres in some areas, without requiring a consent. ...1 week ago
- Live updates: Winston Peters faces questions at post-Cabinet briefingThe Deputy Prime Minister is stepping in to take the podium as Christopher Luxon visits Japan. ...1 week ago
- The PM should just take Greg Foran on every tripThe Air New Zealand boss has stepped in to save the prime minister’s business trip to Japan, proving that he should probably already be on the government payroll. Who better to have onboard your grounded Defence Force plane than the boss of the national airline? Air New Zealand CEO Greg ...1 week ago
- New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this weekWe round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a local comedy series: Kid Sister (TVNZ+, June 17) Photo: TVNZ Welcome back to local comedy Kid Sister, the semi-autobiographical series created by, written by and ...1 week ago
- Wellington Chief Exec Crosses A Line, Must Be Sacked After Latest Power GrabFor the second year in a row, and despite being a major political debate, Wellington City Council Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow has denied elected councillors access to ratepayer-funded legal advice surrounding the sale of the airport shares. ...1 week ago
- Time for NZ to purchase new Defence Force planes – former minister"Airlines don't run planes of this nature for 30 years, and neither should the air force," Wayne Mapp says. ...1 week ago
- Live: Greens co-leader Marama Davidson announces breast cancer diagnosisGreen MP Marama Davidson says she will stay on as co-leader once her treatment is complete: "While I can work, I will continue to." ...1 week ago
- How kiwi returned to WellingtonIn just a single generation, Wellington went from a native bird wasteland to a city where kiwi wander nonchalantly into people’s backyards. The Māori names of Wellington’s landscape reflect a place of bird abundance. Mt Kaukau was Tarikākā, the place of kākā. Karori is a transliteration of Kaharore, the place ...1 week ago
- Disabled New Zealanders Must Have A Seat At The Cabinet TablePoliticians and parties were challenged to give disabled New Zealanders winnable positions on party lists, and seats at the cabinet table in the opening address of the New Zealand Disability Support Network national conference this morning. ...1 week ago
- My car got stolen and Auckland Transport tried to take me to court for itFinn Barry was relieved when he learned his stolen car had been found abandoned on an Auckland side street. He had no way of knowing his troubles were only beginning. That day last November started like any other. My regular commute involves hopping into Nancy, my 2004 Nissan Tiida, and ...1 week ago
- Rugby’s governance problem: misogyny, racism and the ‘blazeratti’The governance battle between NZ Rugby and the provincial unions is more than just grassroots ‘democracy’ vs a new corporate model for an organisation worth billions. Who are the key players? NZ Rugby oversees the silver fern logo, teams’ names and international competition entries. 26 Provincial ...1 week ago
- Can Labour win back Auckland?The super city needs some attention, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. The 2026 campaign starts now On election night last year, ...1 week ago
- Don’t be fooled by what ‘social investment’ slogan meansOpinion: The limitations of the coalition’s slogan will become apparent as it is rolled out The post Don’t be fooled by what ‘social investment’ slogan means appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- GDP data expected to show economy remains sluggishBusiness & Investing: Economists forecast a GDP reading for the first quarter of between minus 0.1 percent and plus 0.2 percent The post GDP data expected to show economy remains sluggish appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Agriculture is staying out of the ETS. What does it mean for our climate commitments?The exemption of agricultural emissions from the Emissions Trading Scheme has been called an ‘abrogation of New Zealand’s international responsibilities’. But what have we signed up to – and are we anywhere near meeting these goals? On Tuesday, the government fulfilled an election promise, confirming that agriculture will remain exempt ...1 week ago
- Windbag: Inside the messy drama tearing apart Wellington City Council’s left wingGather round, because I have some piping hot tea. There’s gossip, insults, personal feuds, and an airport sale. 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. For most of this term, Wellington City Council’s ...1 week ago
- The lessons for NZ from EU’s climate backlashOpinion: NZ’s climate-focused political movements must centre economic justice to avoid losing ground to the far right as in the EU The post The lessons for NZ from EU’s climate backlash appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Fonterra doesn’t plan on taking the fast trackFonterra has recommendations to improve the Fast-Track Approvals Bill, but says it doesn’t plan on taking advantage of the process. A key concern it had with the Bill was a lack of provisions for private landowners, echoing concerns made by Federated Farmers. In the written submissions by both groups, neither ...1 week ago
- Fuelling the oil and gas sectorThe Government’s planned reversal of the oil and gas exploration ban has been unsurprisingly divisive, applauded by some and harshly criticised by others. But Newsroom’s Marc Daalder says in reality, it may make no tangible difference. “It’s possible that the Government repeals the ban and new developers don’t come in ...1 week ago
- Fisheries NZ adopts stronger-than-expected seabird protectionsThe on-board camera rollout revealed 3.5 times more albatross were being caught by fishing boats than expected, prompting officials to adopt stringent new protections The post Fisheries NZ adopts stronger-than-expected seabird protections appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- How Tāwhaki Aerospace got millions of dollars it wasn’t eligible forA Cabinet workaround saw Tāwhaki Aerospace centre approved for $5.4 million from a regional fund despite officials advising it shouldn’t The post How Tāwhaki Aerospace got millions of dollars it wasn’t eligible for appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- There’s no buying our way out of the environment crisisOpinion: To genuinely tackle the climate crisis, we need to focus more on cultural, behavioural, and policy changes rather than relying on technological solutions. The sooner we accept the fact that we can’t buy our way out of the situation through ‘green consumerism’, the more effective our policy strategies will ...1 week ago
- A good keen racistAugust in Wellington in the 1960s. In her flat on Allenby Terrace, directly in the shadow of the gothic-inspired St Mary of the Angels Catholic church, Ans Westra was holding gatherings of a particular stratum of the city’s creative community. “That was the segment of my life where it was ...1 week ago
- Molly makes half of America’s Cup sibling firstNew Zealand sport has been blessed with some dynamic sister and brother duos. Athletes Dame Yvette and Roy Williams; windsurfing Olympic champions Barbara and Bruce Kendall; sevens stars Niall and Sonny Bill Williams. And sailors Molly and Sam Meech – the first sister and brother to win medals for New ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 17 JuneThe post Daily crossword, Monday 17 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 17 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, Monday 17 June appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Chinese Premier Li Visits New Zealand To Counter US War DriveLi’s visit to New Zealand was the first by a Chinese premier since 2017. He held talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and business leaders, highlighting New Zealand’s heavy dependence on trade with China, which took about 27 percent of ...1 week ago
- Media Cop Flak For Airing Data Misuse AllegationsColin Peacock , Mediawatch Presenter Everyone seemed to agree the allegations of census information misused for political purposes were serious - and serious enough for the prime minister to launch an independent inquiry on top of official investigations ...1 week ago
- Who’s under the cloak? Meet the cast of The Traitors NZAs season two of The Traitors NZ approaches, we introduce the brave souls about to blag and backstab their way to $100,000. Grab your cloak and get ready to betray your closest friends, because the new season of The Traitors NZ is about to hit our screens. On July 1, ...2 weeks ago
- An Ode to .. Rishi SunakDownfall In a secure bunker deep under the Thames The Supreme Leader marshals his final battle plan. He is surrounded by his High Command. On the map, he points at a massed group of flags. “We will counterattack Marshal Von Starmer’s armoured column With an overwhelming show of force here!” ...2 weeks ago
- University education is about to get more expensiveStriking Auckland University students called off their protest against high rent costs last week, but if a proposal from the Budget goes ahead, the price of education in New Zealand will only get worse. In a press release titled ‘Rewarding hard work in tertiary education and training‘, Minister for Tertiary ...2 weeks ago
- Short story: Market Day, by Sue WoottonThe miniature ladies had been coming to the Villa Soleil on Friday mornings for a year, ever since Mrs Burton suffered the stroke that made it impossible for her to attend the miniature meetings at the other ladies’ houses. On Beth’s first Friday, they alighted in the spacious high-ceilinged front ...2 weeks ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Christopher LuxonMONDAY First they came for me over claiming a housing allowance that was well within the rules. I tried to speak out – but was told to be silent. And now they have come for another National MP who is claiming a housing allowance which is well within the rules. ...2 weeks ago
- The Weekend: Must everything be a competition?Editor Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was and the urge to win. Mōrena and welcome to The Weekend. Last week I gave a shout out to our award winning journalists on staff and this week it’s all about not being so competitive. In fairness, I don’t consider industry ...2 weeks ago
- The best things we’ve learnt after a year of My Life in TVAlex Casey looks back on a year of talking television with local celebrities. It all began with Chris Parker in a jacuzzi. Since, June 2023, Tara Ward and I have been interviewing beloved New Zealand personalities about their TV habits and memories for our My Life in TV series. We’ve ...2 weeks ago
- ‘Your exit song for any party’: Ringlets share their perfect weekend playlistPost-punk quartet Ringlets share the songs that would soundtrack their perfect weekend. Picture this: it’s 11am on a Sunday morning, the sun is out, and you’re tending to the garden while listening to ‘New Life’ by Ringlets on repeat. This is the optimal way to enjoy the new single from ...2 weeks ago
- ‘The sort of book that lingers’: My Brilliant Sister by Amy Brown, reviewedAmy Brown’s debut novel is a three-part ode to family and art-making interrupted. My Brilliant Sister is a marginalia-worthy literary tryptych – a novel in three parts, with three very distinct point of view characters – that explores creation in all its forms, from childbirth to art and everything in ...2 weeks ago
- The need for speed: What I learnt competing in an online jigsaw puzzle competitionSpeed puzzling is like a marathon for the mind – intense, demanding, surprisingly exhausting. But does turning it into a sport destroy it as a relaxing pastime? Watching the highlights of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship makes me want to be sick. Dozens of teams in matching T-shirts swarm around ...2 weeks ago
- Photo essay: In Case of Emergency, portraits of a haunting and beautiful polar worldI joined an expedition to South Georgia island, a remote and ecologically vulnerable place, with camera in hand. This is what I saw. In October of 2023, I was one of 22 “Inspiring Explorers” who ventured to remote South Georgia, a sub-antarctic island, as part of the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s ...2 weeks ago
- Remembering Young George, the barber who cut Auckland’s hair foreverHe earned 5c for his first cut in 1955, and $35 for his last in March. Duncan Greive recalls the life of his late barber, “Young” George Dyas, who never stopped snipping. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. ‘If you’re reading this you ...2 weeks ago
- Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Welcomes More Conversation Around Ethnicity Pay Gap“However, it’s not enough to talk about the gender pay gap alone. We must include ethnicity in all pay transparency conversations.” ...2 weeks ago
- Fast Track Bill Threatens Democracy And Environment, Say AnglersThe NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers objects strongly to the proposed law because it violates that sacred principle. ...2 weeks ago
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