Archive for September, 2008
Booed on boot camps
Written By: - Date published: 4:53 pm, September 12th, 2008 - 56 comments
It’s not John Key’s week really. Winston disappears like magic off the front pages (I honestly thought I had time travelled somehow when I woke up as usual this morning to Moaning Report and there wasn’t a single item on Winston & Glenn), Labour keeps releasing leaked National policies, Bollard slashes interest rates the day […]
You dicks
Written By: - Date published: 2:49 pm, September 12th, 2008 - 59 comments
Anyway, Tane sees the article on Stuff that the election date is going to be announced. He puts up a post about it and bets it will be November 8th (which we have already been predicting for weeks, you can see my rationale for it here). Next thing we know someone (we don’t know who […]
Election date to be announced
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, September 12th, 2008 - 75 comments
So, Helen Clark is expected to announce the election date at 12.30. $20 says it’s November 8. UPDATE: The 8th it is. I’ll be collecting my $20 off each of you in due course. Full text of the speech over the break: PM’s announcement on the 2008 General Election I have called this press conference […]
A new champion
Written By: - Date published: 11:16 am, September 12th, 2008 - 12 comments
Finally, from realestate.co.nz, we have an example of illiteracy to rival National’s billboards: I blame Labour’s failing education system. [Hat-tip: Matthew Pilott.]
On morality
Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, September 12th, 2008 - 81 comments
The Catholic Church has called for politicans to take a ‘moral stand’ on abortion, adoption by same-sex couples, gambling, embryonic stem-cell research, and euthanasia. Ok, well here are my moral stands on those issues: Abortion: is an awful thing for anyone to have to go through but the moral principle is that a woman’s body is […]
National: for a more confused future
Written By: - Date published: 9:54 am, September 12th, 2008 - 14 comments
On Sunday, John Key, apparently off-the-cuff, announced he would dismantle the Families Commission and give the money to church groups, who just happened to be the people he was speaking to at the time. Then, he had to speak to UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne. The Families Commission is his baby and Key will probably need […]
Who’s clueless?
Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, September 12th, 2008 - 50 comments
Visit google.co.nz search for the word “clueless” then hit “I’m feeling lucky”. I wonder where you’ll end up… Update: Make sure you select “pages from New Zealand”
Introducing Campaign Hub 2008
Written By: - Date published: 3:37 pm, September 11th, 2008 - 69 comments
Helena Catt, head of the Electoral Commission, says the EFA has had a ‘chilling effect’ on democratic participation. I’m convinced that that is a foolish position based on a belief that ‘democratic participation’ is rich lobby groups paying for ads and billboards, trying to market to us. What the EFA has actually done is democratise […]
Sideshow
Written By: - Date published: 1:07 pm, September 11th, 2008 - 36 comments
With an almost Winston-esqe turn of phrase Owen Glenn has labelled Labour Party president Mike Williams an “unmitigated falsifier of veracity”. Yet Glen himself has claimed that he was offered a cabinet post (cough), that he donated money to Labour because of the Exclusive Brethren’s involvement in National’s campaign (timing doesn’t work), that Labour Party President […]
Nats still getting money from trusts
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, September 11th, 2008 - 79 comments
One of the great things about the EFA is that donations over $20,000 must be declared within 10 working days. Because of that, we have today learned National received $30,000 from something called the Road Transport Trust on August 27. The Trust is clearly a front – there is no record of it on the […]
Fewer literacy?
Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, September 11th, 2008 - 40 comments
Like John Key, I’m utterly bored with Peters. So, just a short, tangentially-related note. Tracy Watkins, like every other press gallery journo, thinks the latest micro-development around Peters is more important than the release of a major party’s health policy (in contrast, my flatmates are changing the channel when Peters comes on but were straight […]
Video: Take aim and wave goodbye
Written By: - Date published: 10:29 am, September 11th, 2008 - 7 comments
Is this our first real Youtube election? 08wire is doing its bit with another new video:
NZ – still a great place to do business
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 pm, September 10th, 2008 - 33 comments
We can do good news here on the Standard! According to a World Bank survey shows New Zealand is still ranked second in the world when it comes to ease of doing business. Singapore ranked first with the United States third. According to Clayton Cosgrove: …positive findings included that New Zealand was the easiest country […]
Nats’ leaked health policy full of holes
Written By: - Date published: 9:20 pm, September 10th, 2008 - 10 comments
Having just read the National health policy and background paper released by Labour, a few things stand out to me. 1) There is no commitment to primary health-care. In fact, in 25 pages all it says is ‘we’ll do what’s already happening but we’ll re-name PHOs ‘Family Health Centres’, got ‘family’ in the name, don’t […]
Mr Slippery at it again
Written By: - Date published: 6:02 pm, September 10th, 2008 - 27 comments
An interesting interview between John Key and Wammo today. He starts out saying Labour is spending all its time talking about Owen Glenn and Peters whereas he wants to concerntrate on what matters. Funny, because he then spends the rest of the interview turning the topic back to that issue whenever possible and the only […]
Nat health policy: more money for rich, fewer for poor
Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, September 10th, 2008 - 60 comments
Jim Anderton is releasing elements of National’s health policy at Question Time: – Pharmac’s independent decisions could be overruled by politicians. – Private health insurance would be subsidised by the taxpayer. – No more money for public health National’s Jonathan Coleman also reportedly said that he doesn’t think GP fees are high enough.
The truth behind the Shawn Tan affair
Written By: - Date published: 1:27 pm, September 10th, 2008 - 43 comments
For the last several weeks the EPMU has had to weather an extraordinary series of attacks from ACT, ACT candidate and EPMU employee Shawn Tan, and right-wing activist/Herald journalist Lincoln Tan. The union has been accused of breaching Tan’s human rights and racism but it has had to respond to these attacks with one hand […]
End of the line for Peters
Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, September 10th, 2008 - 152 comments
Winston Peters will be wondering why he has let his political legacy be destroyed by not simply declaring donations that came from legal sources and being open in his role in soliciting them. All those MPs and other hangers-on who have ridden on the coat-tails of one of New Zealand’s most successful politicians* must be […]
Which seems more likely?
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 pm, September 9th, 2008 - 109 comments
Multiple spies, whom National has been unable to catch, and a series of ‘gaffes’ and accidents involving sensitive papers? Or a bitter faction led by the man who was deposed by Key’s vote?
Video: Nats head in sand on environment
Written By: - Date published: 4:55 pm, September 9th, 2008 - 48 comments
Boosting their green credentials is not proving as straightforward as National would like, as this video that’s doing the rounds shows.
Key breaks flip-flop world record
Written By: - Date published: 2:29 pm, September 9th, 2008 - 68 comments
Can’t put it any better than Jafapete has: Seems that John Key has done it again. Announced policy off-the-cuff and back tracked later. TV3 reports that, speaking to an Auckland families forum yesterday, Key ‘veered away from a written speech appearing to announce in off the cuff remarks that National would axe the commission.’ ‘He […]
How many leaks to sink a ship?
Written By: - Date published: 12:45 pm, September 9th, 2008 - 44 comments
This is really getting pretty serious now – a fourth National party policy has been leaked to Labour, who have made it public. In the last week we’ve seen National’s environment, conservation, biofuels, and, now, research, science, and technology policies leaked from within National. This is unprecedented – so many policies being leaked this close […]
Video repeat: Leaking Hollow Man
Written By: - Date published: 11:42 am, September 9th, 2008 - 1 comment
Apologies if you’ve seen this before – but I had a reader request a replay.
Another leak
Written By: - Date published: 10:56 am, September 9th, 2008 - 58 comments
God, another leak from National, this time their research, science and technology policy. From Mallard’s press release: “Mr Key should not only be embarrassed, he should be very worried about the shambolic show he is running. Contrary to his desperate claims last week, I did not find any of these policies in any café. Or […]
Spin-busting: ‘Labour has no policy, either’
Written By: - Date published: 9:09 am, September 9th, 2008 - 45 comments
John Key is running a line that first emerged in the rightwing blogs a few months ago: ‘Labour doesn’t have any policy, either’. It was a moron’s line when it was on the blogs and Key has only taken it up in a desperate attempt to divert from National’s policy leaks. It’s meant to be a response […]
What I want from a 4th term Labour-led Govt
Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, September 8th, 2008 - 140 comments
With the election fast approaching, here’s a non-exhaustive list of policies I would like to see from a 4th term Labour-led Government. Hopefully, other Standardistas will have time to make their own wish-lists too: – Serious investment in low-oil/low-carbon infrastructure. If we’re not to let peak oil catch us unprepared, we have to get serious […]
The polls and petrol prices
Written By: - Date published: 1:43 am, September 8th, 2008 - 19 comments
Updating a post from a few months ago, here’s how Labour’s Roy Morgan poll numbers are going compared to the price of petrol since the last election (the price of petrol axis is inverted, lower line = higher price). The trend continues, when petrol prices go up support for Labour goes down and vice versa. Labour hit a […]
Political Funding – Have your say (eventually).
Written By: - Date published: 12:45 am, September 8th, 2008 - 8 comments
In 1993, the then National government reluctantly implemented the MMP system by putting in the Electoral Act 1993. This was an act that had some serious flaws, some of which were fixed in the Electoral Finance Act of 2008. One of the Electoral Act’s innovations appeared to be designed to make sure that the true […]
The Greens’ billboards, too good?
Written By: - Date published: 4:50 pm, September 7th, 2008 - 86 comments
I’m impressed with the Green’s new billboard campaign and I’m pretty certain it’ll work as it is clean and effective marketing and reminds me of the best work that was coming out of Saatchi when they were at the peak of their powers. One thing about the billboards disquiets me however, and that is that […]
Nats’ adman an objectivist fruitloop
Written By: - Date published: 3:28 pm, September 7th, 2008 - 33 comments
If you’ve caught yourself asking why the Nat’s billboards are so bad, then Jafa Pete has the answer. Their adman, Glenn Jameson, is an objectivist. For those of you not familiar with objectivism it’s kind of like a cross between neo-liberalism and Nietzschen fascism (as long as the Nietzsche is read without irony). Here’s a […]
- “Feel good” school is out
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...3 weeks ago - 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...3 weeks ago - Bread, and how it gets buttered
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...3 weeks ago - Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...3 weeks ago - Justice for Gaza?
The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...3 weeks ago - If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...3 weeks ago - FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...3 weeks ago - Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...3 weeks ago - Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Retispan class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...3 weeks ago
- Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...3 weeks ago - Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
3 weeks ago - Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...3 weeks ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...3 weeks ago
- Watch: Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announces new 'National Gang Unit'
Police are setting up frontline teams to tackle crime and intimidation by gangs, Andrew Coster has announced. ...5 days ago - Watch live: Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announces new 'National Gang Unit'Andrew Coster has revealed new dedicated police teams will tackle organised crime. ...5 days ago
- ‘As much as we built it, it built us’: How Sunday said goodbye
Tara Ward watches as TVNZ’s long-running current affairs show bows out with humility and grace. We have just 12 days left to view the final episode of Sunday on TVNZ+. In just over a week, there will be no more evidence of the award-winning current affairs show on the digital ...5 days ago - Botched prison mutiny, protests ahead of New Caledonia constitution vote
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia has gone through yet another day of tense political protests and a failed prison mutiny — a few hours ahead of a vote in Paris’s National Assembly on a government-tabled Constitutional amendment. This amendment would “unfreeze” the list of ...5 days ago - Winston Peters cancels New Caledonia visit amid violent unrestThe Foreign Affairs Minister was due to visit the capital Nouméa this week. ...5 days ago
- One woman’s ranking of her 20 favourite local band shirtsTo celebrate New Zealand Music Month, Sophie Ricketts wears a different band T-shirt every day. Here she picks her top 20. I love music. I love listening to it, I love seeing it live, and I love buying a T-shirt from the band or artist I’ve enjoyed. Every year, during ...5 days ago
- Behind the roller door: How people are using their garages for much more than storageResearch from AA Insurance reveals more and more people are taking pride in their garage. Meet three New Zealanders using their space in creative ways. If you think of a garage, you might picture a dark room with a parked car. There might be some tools on the wall, or ...5 days ago
- Critical Forestry Research Under Threat As Attack On Science Ramps Up
Government spending cuts have forced Scion, the dedicated Crown research institute charged with growing forestry exports, to propose shedding a significant number of scientists. ...5 days ago - About 30 jobs to go at Crown forestry institute ScionAbout 30 jobs are being cut at the Crown forestry institute, the PSA says. ...5 days ago
- Winston Peters cancels New Caledonia vist due to unrestThe Foreign Affairs Minister was due to visit the capital Nouméa this week. ...5 days ago
- Watch: Charter schools to get $153m in new funding in Budget 2024Up to 50 charter schools will be funded with $153m out of Budget 2024, David Seymour has announced. ...5 days ago
- Access Denied: Government Must Fund Online Access To Public Records...5 days ago
- Scrapping the waste export levy threatens Australia’s emerging lithium battery recycling industrySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yasir Arafat, Senior Research Associate, Edith Cowan University asharkyu, Shutterstock As electric vehicle (EV) demand accelerates, so does the need for lithium batteries. But these batteries contain valuable critical minerals, as well as toxic materials, so they should not be treated ...5 days ago
- Centenarian Recalls Battles Of Cassino Ahead Of 80th Anniversary CommemorationsNZDF personnel will support the New Zealand National Commemorative Service at the Cassino War Cemetery and a New Zealand Service of Remembrance at the Cassino Railway Station, next week. ...5 days ago
- Consultants needed for education system changes – Christopher LuxonBut the Prime Minister says he's not aware of ministry staff who are losing their jobs being asked to work as consultants. ...5 days ago
- The cost of being: A sex worker with a taste for luxury shoppingAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a masseuse tells us how much she earns and where she spends it. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female Age: 33 Ethnicity: NZ European Role: ...5 days ago
- AI can make up songs now, but who owns the copyright? The answer is complicatedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wellett Potter, Lecturer in Law, University of New England Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock Artificial intelligence (AI) text and image generation tools have now been around for a while, but in recent weeks, apps for making AI-generated music have reached consumers as well. ...5 days ago
- 1968 was an inflection point for the US. Is another one coming in 2024?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Byrne, Honorary Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne For many reasons, the 2024 US presidential election will be like no other. Republican nominee Donald Trump’s campaign is unprecedented. Never before has a former president who ...5 days ago
- 154 million lives saved in 50 years: 5 charts on the global success of vaccinesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meru Sheel, Associate Professor and Epidemiologist, Infectious Diseases, Immunisation and Emergencies Group, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney We know vaccines have been a miracle for public health. Now, new research led by the World Health Organization has found vaccines ...5 days ago
- Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chrissy Severinsen, Associate Professor in Public Health, Massey University Getty Images Becoming a mother is a significant identity shift, and many new mums struggle. Up to 18% of New Zealand mothers experience depression and anxiety after giving birth. The first ...5 days ago
- Our research shows children produce better pieces of writing by hand. But they need keyboard skills ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anabela Malpique, Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University Norma Mortenson/ Pexels , CC BY Children today are growing up surrounded by technology. So it’s easy to assume they will be able to write effectively using a keyboard. But our research suggests ...5 days ago
- Is it wrong to have a romantic type based on race? Yes – it’s a form of racism we rarely speak a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Teo, Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Southern Queensland ABC Much has been written and produced about white men’s fetishisation of Asian women (crudely nicknamed “yellow fever”). The ABC’s comedy series White Fever breaks new ground by exploring an ...5 days ago
- What the Court of Appeal’s latest ruling means for the future of the Waitangi TribunalThe children’s minister could have been legally brought before the tribunal after all, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. The end of ...5 days ago
- Public sector cuts: Education ministry prepares to use consultantsStaff consulting firms were already asking some of the staff being made redundant to work for them. ...5 days ago
- Fast-track submissions: Hundreds will miss out on speaking at committeeThe Select Committee has six weeks to hear submissions and its chair said it simply did not have enough time to get through everyone. ...5 days ago
- Public service cuts: Education ministry prepares to use consultantsThe Ministry of Education is already preparing consultants to do the work of the people it is laying off, say staff. ...5 days ago
- ‘Eat the bugs’: a short history of yet another global conspiracySeen comments on social media about eating bugs? Byron Clark explains the short history of our latest conspiracy. “No, Bill Gates nor Klaus Schwab has not funded the research done here,” reads an August 2023 Facebook post from Otago Locusts, the first farm in Aotearoa rearing insects for human consumption. ...5 days ago
- ‘I get bread and milk in the mail’: Why the decline of post will hurt rural communitiesRural post is essential but expensive, and residents are worried about its future. It’s 9.30am on a Monday morning in rural Manawatū, and farmer Mairi Whittle is on an all-terrain vehicle with her two young sons. After moving sheep from one slope to another, she swings by the letterbox. Opening ...5 days ago
- Mega-prison’s missing business case
Analysis: The Government’s decision to return to a mega-style prison seems to be missing a clear business case The post Mega-prison’s missing business case appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago - East Coast mayors hold out hope for Budget as rebuild bills mountEast Coast mayors are confident their region remains a priority, despite the Government’s focus on building new roads elsewhere The post East Coast mayors hold out hope for Budget as rebuild bills mount appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago
- Ockhams: the sad truth about authors’ pot plantsNew Zealand authors hate houseplants. They are frightened of them, have nightmares about them, regard them as bad omens; they are afraid, too, of the responsibility of caring for them, and think of them as an alien species that will take over the selfish planet of their interior lives. There ...5 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 14 MayLoading…(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 14 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago
- Daily crossword, Tuesday 14 MayThe post Daily crossword, Tuesday 14 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago
- Fanning the sparks of dying languagesMore than 160 languages are spoken in New Zealand. Week-long events celebrate the unique languages heard across the country, and this week the focus is on the Rotuman language. According to Unesco, the Rotuman language is listed as endangered along with four other Pacific languages – Tokelauan, Niuean, Cook Islands ...5 days ago
- Chinese ‘volatility’ shows case for Aukus – UK diplomatChina’s massive military buildup and aggressive actions in the South China Sea are creating “volatility” that the controversial Aukus pact can help counter, the UK’s top diplomat in New Zealand says. British High Commissioner Iona Thomas will deliver a speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs on Tuesday evening, ...5 days ago
- The politics behind pending health appointmentComment: ‘An outsider planted inside’ the health system is likely to assume one of its top roles The post The politics behind pending health appointment appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago
- Jones suggested fast-track bid at undeclared dinnerA coal miner’s bid to enter the Government’s controversial fast-track regime arose from a dinner with Shane Jones The post Jones suggested fast-track bid at undeclared dinner appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago
- DoC responsible for $87.5m Ruapehu remediationRemediating Mt Ruapehu if things go pear-shaped could cost more than $80m – and the new operators aren’t on the hook for any of it The post DoC responsible for $87.5m Ruapehu remediation appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago
- Where the ‘woke’ word fits in a history of racismOpinion: Unfortunately, the term ‘woke’ is back in the news and for the most stupid of reasons: Act leader David Seymour is now designating certain types of food as ‘woke’ or not. As the Government makes cuts to school lunches, let us consider what ‘woke’ might mean here. ...5 days ago
- Jim Chalmers’ third budget will have a surplus of $9.3 billion for this financial yearSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The third Chalmers’ budget will deliver a surplus of $9.3 billion for this financial year – the second successive surplus of the Albanese government. This will be the first time there have been back-to-back ...5 days ago
- NZ pro-Palestine protester climbs onto Christchurch City Council roofRNZ News A New Zealand pro-Palestinian protester who climbed onto the roof of the Christchurch City Council building has been handcuffed and taken away in a police car. About 20 protesters gathered near the Christchurch Art Gallery today. Officers were called to the scene near Worcester Boulevard about 11.20am, and ...5 days ago
- Leadership In An Insecure World: Urgent Need To Increase NZ’s Official Development Assistance At T...The Council for International Development (CID) presented a compelling case to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committees this week at Parliament, urging the New Zealand Government to significantly boost its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) ...5 days ago
- Te Pāti Māori slams tabling of controversial Oranga Tamariki Bill during Parliament recessThe bill to repeal Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 was introduced to Parliament on Monday. ...5 days ago
- What is the process of an athlete being ‘medically retired’ due to concussion?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Greenhow, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University In recent years, a growing number of professional athletes are medically retiring from sport, particularly in some of Australia’s most popular football codes. In April, Collingwood player Nathan Murphy, 24, medically retired ...5 days ago
- It’s so hard to see a doctor right now. What are my options?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Scott, Professor of Health Economics, Monash University David Fuentes Prieto/Shutterstock Deciding whether to wait and see if your health condition improves or go to a GP can be a difficult task. You might be unsure about where to go, whom ...5 days ago
- NZ’s big chill was an early winter warning: power should be subsidised for struggling householdsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Gardner, Professor, Law School, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Wirestock/Getty Images Last week’s headlines warning of electricity shortfalls brought the issue of access to energy into (increasingly chilly) homes around the country. The threat of power cuts due ...5 days ago
- Boycotts, protests, harassment: Eurovision’s future is on the line after its most controversial ye...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jess Carniel, Associate professor in Humanities, University of Southern Queensland Every year claims to be the most controversial year in the Eurovision Song Contest’s history, but it will take a lot to beat the 68th contest. The 2024 Eurovision contest, which took ...5 days ago
- Pākiri residents would be 'crushed' if sand mining fast-tracked, committee toldA provision in the proposed fast-track law allowing previous court rulings against consents to be put aside would be a 'travesty of justice', they say. ...6 days ago
- What causes the different colours of the aurora? An expert explains the electric rainbowSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney Last week, a huge solar flare sent a wave of energetic particles from the Sun surging out through space. Over the weekend, the wave reached Earth, and people around the world enjoyed the sight of ...6 days ago
- Waitangi Tribunal able to summons minister, court findsThe Waitangi Tribunal’s summons to sitting Minister Karen Chhour as part of its inquiry into the Government’s plans to amend the Oranga Tamariki Act was lawful, the Court of Appeal has found. The ruling runs counter to a judgment by the High Court three weeks ago, in which Justice Andru ...6 days ago
- Court of Appeal overturns decision that blocked Children's Minister from Waitangi Tribunal summ...But a bill has been introduced to Parliament, meaning the Tribunal no longer has jurisdiction over the case. ...6 days ago
- Snap Protest Against Archive Cuts On Tuesday 14 MayThe PSA is holding a snap protest at 8am, Tuesday 14 May outside the National Library in Wellington against the decision to not continue funding digitising the national archives. ...6 days ago
- Goodbye to Fair Go, television’s ‘plucky little battler’ Ahead of the final episode of Fair Go, some of the show’s former presenters look back at what the iconic consumer affairs series meant to them. Fair Go, as former presenter Haydn Jones puts it, was “the show nobody wanted to appear on”. You either had to be ripped off ...6 days ago
- How to cope with not seeing the aurora this weekend when everyone else didDidn’t see the amazing and exquisite southern lights over the weekend? You’re not alone: Shanti Mathias has some tips on how to cope. Not to gloat, but I had a very lovely weekend. I went for a long bike ride in the sunshine. I read a magazine on the back ...6 days ago
- Roads Over Everything Else Will Cost People And PlanetThis morning’s announcement from the Minister of Transport highlights his lack of ideas and lack of appetite to confront the climate crisis ...6 days ago
- Auckland Man Sentenced To Home Detention For Pokies Gambling Grant FraudAt the time of the offending, Mr Ape ran Hoop Star Basketball Academy and submitted fraudulent grant applications that represented over $75,000 in fictitious costs. ...6 days ago
- Local Authority Financial Statistics: Year Ended June 2023Local authority financial statistics provide information on the annual performance of core non-trading activities of all New Zealand's territorial and regional councils. ...6 days ago
- Transport Minister announces new 'Roads of Regional Significance'The government its expanding Roads of National Significance to regional routes, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. ...6 days ago
- Why public housing is under threat from the debt narrativeKāinga Ora’s debt problem is serious – but so is the urgent need for more affordable homes, says poverty campaigner Alan Johnson. As Kāinga Ora cancels projects and sells land previously earmarked for development, it’s clear that two issues are set to dominate the public housing narrative over the next ...6 days ago
- Watch live: Transport Minister announces new 'Roads of Regional Significance'The government its expanding Roads of National Significance to regional routes, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. ...6 days ago
- Wellington Residents’ Views Being Misrepresented In Long-Term Plan ConsultationTrue to form, Wellington City Council’s consultation has been a flop. If they’ve been recording residents’ answers incorrectly, then the only option is to go back to the drawing board and start public consultations again from scratch. ...6 days ago
- Mayor told about Auckland parking changes in April, Auckland Transport head claimsThe head of Auckland Transport is a "little bit surprised" by the mayor's claim he was blindsided by the changes. ...6 days ago
- A record-breaking year for political donations is no cause for celebrationBig business is pouring eye-watering sums into parties on the political right. Max Rashbrooke wonders what it’s getting in return. A couple of years ago, a National Party contact told me it had “never been easier” to get big donations from businesses. Anger about the Covid-era “fortress New Zealand” policy, ...6 days ago
- Announcement From Councillor Ray Chung, WellingtonWellington City is in the worst shape it’s ever been – economically, socially, and culturally. ...6 days ago
- Why the UK parliament is monitoring our fast-track consenting billIn this extract from The Bulletin, Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the proposed law and the ongoing concern about it. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Where we’re at with the fast-track ...6 days ago
- NZTA tells dealers to repay Clean Car rebates on almost 200 EVsWaka Kotahi has found almost 200 cases where car dealers pocketed electric vehicle subsidies, then broke the law. ...6 days ago
- Heath funding fails to keep up with inflation or demand – doctors' unionSome experts argue it's time to consider alternatives ways to pay for healthcare which could take politics out of it. ...6 days ago
- Can you really provide meals for teens for $3 a pop? And will they eat it?The revamped school lunch programme is budgeting $3 per lunch, rather than the current $8. But is it really so simple to cut costs? Shanti Mathias investigates. Last week, associate education minister and Act Party leader David Seymour announced the government’s revamped school lunch programme, which will provide food to ...6 days ago
- A Kiwi mermaid in Paris, 100 years agoExactly 100 years ago, on the eve of another Paris Olympics, young Kiwi Gwitha Shand was the talk of the swimming world. The 19-year-old from Christchurch had broken the world record in the 440-yard freestyle multiple times leading up to the 1924 Olympics, and was described in newspapers as one ...6 days ago
- Ockhams: Penguin shock on eve of book awardsThe New Zealand book trade is still reeling after the shock news that Penguin has axed its head of publishing. The redundancy comes just as the biggest week of the year in New Zealand literature is set to take place. The winners of the Ockham national book awards are announced ...6 days ago
- The haves and have-nots of aged careA rest home with a concierge, iced tea fountain, hybrid Jaguars to drive, and caviar on the menu. That’s not imaginary or from some far-flung country – it’s reality here in Aotearoa. Oceania Healthcare just officially opened ‘The Helier’ – a retirement apartment and aged-care complex in the Auckland suburb ...6 days ago
- I don’t know what Aukus is and at this point I’m afraid to askThe USA and China are beefing, Winston Peters is getting sued by some Australian guy, and Helen Clark and Don Brash are friends now? Here’s everything you need to know about Aukus but were too afraid to ask. What is Aukus? Aukus, which stands for Australia, the United Kingdom, and ...6 days ago
- Auckland’s gravity-defying debt swallows the airport share millionsAuckland’s debt remains stubbornly high, despite a large airport share sale, but the Watercare deal and new limits might start to tame the beast The post Auckland’s gravity-defying debt swallows the airport share millions appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 days ago
- Explainer: Why new school attendance data doesn’t match the rhetoricAnalysis: The Government has launched its crackdown on truancy, with daily attendance data reporting The post Explainer: Why new school attendance data doesn’t match the rhetoric appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 days ago
- Mining lobby: Fast-track bill’s ministerial powers ‘not unusual’ Ministers make the final decision in many areas, but the ability to control the front and back end of the process would be unique The post Mining lobby: Fast-track bill’s ministerial powers ‘not unusual’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 days ago
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