Archive for October, 2012
Whaleoil and his toilet paper
Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, October 31st, 2012 - 205 comments
The New Zealand Truth has been going down the toilet for a long time. But they may have found their perfect editor. Cameron Slater aka “Whaleoil” has apparently been made editor of it. A bombastic bullyboy with fetish for inaccuracy is exactly the right fit for the role. And it gets a real deadbeat away from the taxpayers purse.
Housing NZ to build to sell
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, October 31st, 2012 - 22 comments
Housing New Zealand is going to build some affordable houses in Christchurch and then sell them. It’s not a bad idea. In fact, if it were done right and en masse, it should have been a centrepiece of National’s empty ‘affordable housing’ announcment. But I fear it won’t be done right. It’s not enough just to build affordable homes: you need to make sure landlords don’t snap them up.
From Sugarbags to Foodbanks
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, October 31st, 2012 - 60 comments
Sugarbags are a symbol of self-help in the 1930s Depression. Foodbanks are a symbol of the failure of consumer capitalism. Should the left reclaim Labour’s original core values? What are those core values, and are they still relevant today?
World class education
Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, October 31st, 2012 - 34 comments
The Secretary for Education has drawn the wrong conclusions from data on educational performance, and a bunch of commentators (including a particularly egregious anonymous editorial in The Herald) have been quick to follow. We certainly have a world class education system. The fact that not every child can take advantage of it is our real failing and our shame.
Sandy’s wake-up call
Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, October 31st, 2012 - 33 comments
If any good can ever be said to come from a natural disaster, then let the good of Sandy be its function as a clear and present wake up call. It’s a crisis, and it’s an opportunity.
Failing on jobs? Attack the workers
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, October 31st, 2012 - 62 comments
National are economic failures. Unemployment is up two thirds under their watch and still rising. Household incomes are falling behind inflation. Manufacturing firms are closing up and making workers redundant. People are fleeing to Aussie in record numbers looking for jobs and decent wages So, what’s Key’s solution? Drive down wages by attacking workers’ right to organise.
Open mike 31/10/2012
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 31st, 2012 - 52 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
NRT: National’s tyranny
Written By: - Date published: 1:55 pm, October 30th, 2012 - 43 comments
No Right Turn on the overthrow of local democracy in Canterbury…
Who guards the guardians?
Written By: - Date published: 11:19 am, October 30th, 2012 - 8 comments
It is poor timing for an extension of surveillance powers. Cases where the police have flouted the law have been coming thick and fast recently. Without Ministerial oversight it has been up to the courts to provide balance, but that’s a method of last resort, and very much an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
Is anyone ABC any more?
Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, October 30th, 2012 - 178 comments
It’s fine not to agree with someone’s politics. It’s fine to weigh up the attributes of one prospective leader against another and decide that one is the better choice. But the Anyone But Cunliffe clique didn’t do that. They literally wanted anyone who wasn’t Cunliffe. When Parker wasn’t going to win, they went to Shearer. It was a childish way to play with Labour’s future.
On the tip of his tongue
Written By: - Date published: 9:26 am, October 30th, 2012 - 36 comments
It was almost funny listening to Bill English on Checkpoint. He had identified all, or at least most of, the problems with housing in Auckland: in short, nobody’s building affordable houses, the prevelance of bespoke houses pushes up prices, and speculative capital raises them even more. But his solutions were all, well, not solutions: try to make consenting even quicker, more sprawl.
Will Sandy decide the election?
Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, October 30th, 2012 - 53 comments
The US Presidential election is close. Really close. The political futures markets favour Obama about 2 to 1 but polls of the nationwide popular vote and the polls in key states, such as Ohio and Virginia, are essentially tied. Enter the October surprise – Sandy, the latest ever recorded Atlantic storm, now coming ashore and pounding key battleground states.
Open mike 30/10/2012
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 30th, 2012 - 160 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Bugger the environment
Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, October 29th, 2012 - 62 comments
Bugger the environment – who needs it? That’s the message from National, both domestically and internationally.
‘The Asian Century’: Aus, NZ
Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, October 29th, 2012 - 22 comments
Gillard’s ‘Asian Century’ white paper, and negotiations of the ASEAN trade agreement (RCEP) are significant developments in US-China struggle for dominance in the region. Aussie wants to be a major player. How should NZ respond?
Sprawl does not equal affordability
Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, October 29th, 2012 - 85 comments
Listening to the Nats on housing affordability, it’s pretty clear that their only plan is to allow more sprawl. So, let’s say this clearly: sprawl is expensive, not cheap, and it is not lack of housing but over-investment in house price speculation that leads to high prices. National’s ‘solution’ is for the country to needlessly spend tens of billions.
It really is the economy, stupid
Written By: - Date published: 7:18 am, October 29th, 2012 - 112 comments
The latest Roy Morgan also includes a poll of what people think is the single most important issue facing New Zealand.It makes informative reading. Jobs is the largest: 1 in 5 consider it the most important issue. Combined, the economic categories are 57% of people’s top issue, up from 49% a year ago, and 43% the year before that.
Open mike 29/10/2012
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 29th, 2012 - 142 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
The slow decline of the Maori Party
Written By: - Date published: 1:25 pm, October 28th, 2012 - 22 comments
In my opinion the MP signed their own death warrant when they allowed the split with Mana to happen. Coverage arising from their Conference paints a picture of a party in terminal decline.
The job ahead
Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, October 28th, 2012 - 179 comments
The latest Roy Morgan poll bodes badly for Labour.
If they are to take the government benches in 2014 they need to get their house in order.
The rhythms of life
Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, October 28th, 2012 - 18 comments
On Planet Key natural body processes are ignored, and nature has been tamed into a golf course. It’s a place where mothers don’t lactate or have a heightened sensitivity to their babies’ cries; a place disconnected from the chaotic consequences of climate change.
Open mike 28/10/2012
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 28th, 2012 - 154 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Poverty Watch 9
Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, October 27th, 2012 - 13 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, a party that wants to help, and a party that doesn’t.
Plain packaging insults my intelligence, and yours too
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 27th, 2012 - 124 comments
Plain packaging isn’t just an unproven idea, it’s pointless, illogical in the current circumstances, and seriously condescending.
29%
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 27th, 2012 - 172 comments
The latest Roy Morgan poll has Labour down 4.5% to 29%. There’s no way to varnish it, this is a very bad poll for Labour, particularly for David Shearer. Yeah, it’s just one poll, and it does come off the back of the GCSB tape debacle. But it’s part of a broader trend of Labour […]
Shearer Says
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, October 27th, 2012 - 13 comments
David Shearer’s weekly e-newsletter, this week on Greymouth, jobs, and privatisation.
We’re happy to post similar newsletters from other opposition leaders – our email is on our contact page.
Open mike 27/10/2012
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 27th, 2012 - 61 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Weekend social 26/10/2012
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, October 26th, 2012 - 11 comments
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?
Protecting criminal cops
Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, October 26th, 2012 - 14 comments
Detective Inspector Grant Wormald and his Organised and Financial Crime Agency appear to be a rogue police unit that thinks it’s above the law. They acted illegally in the Dotcom raid, they had GSCB illegally spy on Dotcom, Wormald appears to have perjured himself, and, now, there’s the illegal fake prosecution that has led to 21 accused criminals going free.
Out of touch on jobs
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, October 26th, 2012 - 9 comments
Yet National’s position is that there isn’t a problem, let alone that they can do anything about it.
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- Climate Change: Sabotaging the Climate Commission
Throughout its term in government National has been annoyed by repeated unwelcome advice from He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission to move faster, do more, or even just do something. But Rod Carr's term as commission chair expired over the weekend, as did those of two other board members. ...1 hour ago - I Put A Spell On You
You know I can't stand itYou're running aroundYou know better, daddyI can't stand it 'cause you put me downOh, noI put a spell on youBecause you're mineSongwriter: Jay Hawkins.Please note that there is a paywall later in this newsletter, so before I begin, a reminder of my current offers and ...2 hours ago - A Confession
Hi,I have a confession to make — I have been on holiday. I don’t really do holidays. They fill me with guilt. I need to be making something, or trying to make something. It’s all tied in with my sense of self worth, but we’ll get to that another day.I’ve ...2 hours ago - Simeon Brown alienates another National electorate
Brown’s abrupt and ideological rulings have overturned locally driven plans and expectations and angered locals in yet another National electorate. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, December 9 are:Warkworth residents are angry that Transport ...4 hours ago - Monday Wrap Up: Politics News
1. Anti-red tape ministry advises against anti-red tape bill (The Post, Andrea Vance)David Seymour's anti-red tape ministry says his new bill to slash red tape is unnecessary.An interim regulatory impact statement from [The Ministry of Regulation] said while it supports the overall objectives [of Seymour’s bill], it says the legislation ...4 hours ago - Simeon Brown’s fanaticism kills Warkworth intersection fix
I grew up in Warkworth, and the infamous Hill Street intersection has been an issue not just my whole life, but for decades before I was even born. My dad told me stories of how, back in the 80s, he’d set up seats overlooking the intersection and sit watching the ...6 hours ago - Gordon Campbell on the fall of Assad, and the new Dylan movie
Hold the champagne. Ugly and brutal as it was, the Assad regime may have been the lesser evil for Syria, the Middle East region and the rest of the world. The last time an extremist Sunni fighting force – called Islamic State (IS) – exerted control over large swathes of ...14 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #49
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 1, 2024 thru Sat, December 7, 2024. Alternative listing prototype Instead of a "Story of the Week" we added a listing by assigned category, so this installment will ...16 hours ago - Mokopuna Thinking
Because the sky is blueIt makes me crySongwriters: Paul McCartney / John Lennon.This morning, I went along to the launch of the Greens’ alternative plan for emissions reduction. Contrasting the coalition’s approach of burying their head in the sand and glowering “thou shalt not” at others who try to stop ...20 hours ago - Are Lester Levy and Shane Reti “cooking the books?”
This news piece is important enough it serves as a recap of events:Please consider supporting my work if you can afford to.In July, after most Health NZ Board members had already resigned – many without notice and it was starting to look embarrassing for the sitting Government - Shane Reti ...2 days ago - Watching the Tide
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bayWatching the tide roll awayI'm sittin' on the dock of the bayWastin' timeSongwriters: Stephen Lee Cropper / Otis ReddingChristmas PartiesAs you might recall from yesterday’s newsletter, last night was Christmas Party time for the Rockels.One of the younger members of ...2 days ago - My Saturday Soliloquy for Dec 7
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty in this week were:PM Christopher Luxon said his Goverment was ‘re-learning’ the austerity-infused economic lessons taught by former National Finance Minister Ruth Richardson in 1991, when she slashed spending to reduce public ...2 days ago
- TKP 26/50 solutions: A new home without a power bill
As part of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50) and When The Facts Change ,I interviewed Octopus Energy Zero Bills Technical Director Nigel Banks from the UK about this week's launch in New Zealand of a partnership with Classic Homes to build new homes in Auckland1 with ...2 days ago
- A wellbeing economy is the only option!
I recently attended a conference organised by WEALL (Wellbeing Economy Alliance) Aotearoa. WEALL defines 'economy' differently from the current neoliberal approach and that is simply 'the way that we produce and provide for one another'. Attending this conference made me even more aware of how far we have drifted away ...2 days ago
- Interview with John Cook about misinformation and artificial intelligence
In March, John Cook met with Adam Ford from Science, Technology & the Future to talk about his work researching misinformation and how to counter it. The interview - published on October 10 - explored the complex and evolving landscape of climate misinformation, covering a range of topics including the different types ...3 days ago
- Economic Progress May Not Add To Wellbeing
How the Prospect Theory of Behavioural Economics Makes Economic Analysis DifficultBehavioural economics has been described as the most revolutionary thing which has happened to economics for ages. The notion that people do not behave like ‘rational economic men’ (women are mainly ignored) undermines the microeconomic foundations of the subject. Not ...3 days ago - National finds out
Since coming to power last year, National has viciously cut the public service, sacking nearly 10,000 public servants (to date). Those people weren't just doing nothing, and it was obviously going to have an impact on something other than the government's books. But while National's over-paid, privately-insured, and DPS-guarded Ministers ...3 days ago
- Lockout of disability workers before Christmas unacceptable
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh is condemning the actions of disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust in deciding to respond to legitimate strike action by locking out their workers with just a few weeks before Christmas. “The actions of Te Roopu Taurima are totally ...3 days ago - Friday 6 December
In another blow to the media landscape, Māori TV’s daily news service is set to end after 20 years, following the announcement that they have cut 27 jobs. PSA members at MBIE have voted to initiate industrial action, after rejecting a pay offer because it failed to keep up with ...3 days ago
- An experiment and our Christmas offer to subscribe to The Kākā
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāIt’s that time of the year when we offer 50% off for a year to new subscribers for the next fortnight until December 21, which is ‘Gravy Day’1. It’s our version of a Christmas/Black Monday/Cyber Monday/Singles Day/Boxing Day offer. We call it the ‘Gravy Day ...3 days ago
- The State of David Seymour’s Shameless Condescension and Unbridled Arrogance
.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..Setting the stageQuestion: How does one make money, when something stands in the way?Answer: Get rid of that thing. Or at least dilute it.Present Day, Aotearoa New ZealandIn his Beehive media statement, Seymour recently ...3 days ago - Weekly Roundup 06-December-2024
It’s another Friday and it has been a big week in Auckland. We hope everyone’s excited to be in the final stretch of the year! Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely ...3 days ago
- The Days Go By
It must be your skin, I'm sinkin' inIt must be for real, 'cause now I can feelAnd I didn't mind, it's not my kindIt's not my time to wonder whySongwriter: Gavin Rossdale.As the year winds up, I’m feeling a bit mentally drained, so today’s newsletter is one of reminiscing. Today, ...3 days ago - The Hoon around the week to December 6
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with: on Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay saying New Zealand would not buy emissions credits overseas, effectively admitting we’ll renege on our Paris commitments. (RNZ) ...3 days ago
- Paying for National’s roads
The Government has promised 17 Roads of National Significance, but the brutal truth is that it cannot afford them. So Transport Minister Simeon Brown yesterday announced that from now on, tolls and other user charges will be the way New Zealand pays for new roading infrastructure. Tolls are likely ...3 days ago - Confession: Why Shane Reti & Ayesha Verrall’s Performance Helps Me
Video above. These videos are also designed for those not versed in the detailed subject matter so excuse any repeats of Health NZ facts you are aware of from reading Mountain Tui for too long!Recently, I read a Substack article which, on my brief skim, lamented the rise of critiquing ...3 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2024
Open access notables Global emergence of regional heatwave hotspots outpaces climate model simulations, Kornhuber et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Multiple recent record-shattering weather events raise questions about the adequacy of climate models to effectively predict and prepare for unprecedented climate impacts on human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Here, we ...4 days ago
- The Bewildering World of Chris Luxon – Three Bad Polls – Three Strikes for National?
.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..As I wrote on 3 December:“One bad poll for a government can be dismissed as “rogue”. Two? That’s damaging.”Three bad polls? That is when Red Alert lights start flashing; klaxons start to blare; and ...4 days ago - Climate Change: More unwelcome advice
He Pou a Rangi / Climate Change Commission has just released its Review of the 2050 emissions target including whether emissions from international shipping and aviation should be included. After noting that there have been significant changes since the target was originally set in 2019 - stronger evidence that we ...4 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for The Hoon
4 days ago - No sweat
Let's say I want to run a marathon, but I’m not keen on all that running.At the registration desk I say, I want to start at the last kilometre. What's the fee for that?They tell me,We don't offer that option. You have to do the whole race.I reply,Yeah but I ...4 days ago - Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris II
Back in September, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts shocked us by suggesting that New Zealand could refuse to meet its international commitments under the Paris Agreement. Now Forestry Minister Todd McClay has echoed that position: Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Todd McClay says the Government won't be buying carbon ...4 days ago
- Marsden Fund changes will undermine prosperity and social cohesion
The Government’s rewrite of the Marsden Fund’s investment plan and terms of reference demonstrates a complete lack of understanding and risks undermining the breadth of research that is essential for the wellbeing and prosperity of New Zealanders, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh. “Humanities and social science ...4 days ago
- Thursday 5 December
The Government has announced further changes to the personal grievance regime that will make it even tougher for workers, and changes to the Marsden Fund investment plan to stop funding for humanities and social sciences research. Workers at Kinleith mill are worried that they will lose even more jobs. A ...4 days ago
- Can desalination quench agriculture’s thirst?
This article by Lela Nargi originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a nonprofit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. Sign up for Knowable Magazine’s newsletter. Ralph Loya was pretty sure he was going to lose the corn. His farm had been scorched by El Paso’s hottest-ever June and ...4 days ago
- A housing market with bits tacked on doesn’t need many (if any) pure scientists
The humanities and social sciences panels of The Marsden fund will be disbanded and no longer supported, because “real impact on our economy will come from areas such as physics, chemistry, maths, engineering and biomedical sciences,” said Judith Collins. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMorena. Long stories short in Aotearoa’s ...4 days ago
- Cooking the Books
Come with me, and you'll beIn a world of pure imaginationReach out, touch what was onceJust in your imaginationDon't be shy, it's alrightIf you feel a little trepidationSometimes, these things don't needExplanationSongwriters: Anthony Newley / Leslie Bricusse.If you don’t ask, you don’t get... Dream big, or go home… Ask for ...4 days ago - Kirikiriroa Rising
This post is essentially an update on a very similar one I wrote seven years ago. Hamilton: City of the Future, the intervening years have confirmed those speculations. The case for good passenger rail service between our biggest city and its fast growing neighbour remains compelling. Below I offer a ...4 days ago
- Treasury to Government; cut super or raise taxes
The warnings from the Treasury about the state of the country’s finances are starting to appear on a regular basis. So far, they have been delivered by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor Dominick Stephens, and yesterday, he faced the Finance and Expenditure Committee to answer questions on Treasury’s long-term thinking about ...4 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On How Slavishly This Government Is Serving Its Corporate Donors
For much of 2024, centre stage has been taken by (a) the government’s relentless attacks on all forms of Māori empowerment and (b) by the wholesale embrace of mid-1980s style austerity policies, which even the most conservative economies in Europe abandoned a decade ago. Easy to miss that the government ...5 days ago
- Big Eyes
2014, directed by Tim Burton I didn’t expect to be watching a Harvey Weinstein movie today. How it happened was, I had a few hours to kill before my regular afternoon streamer came on, so I was browsing Netflix looking for something I hadn’t already seen that didn’t look terrible, ...5 days ago - What a thing to happen.
Subjection!Poor, unloved, disparaged, AT. What a thing to happen.In the Game of Thrones version, smirking Little Lord Simeon orders them to disrobe and commands them to parade along K Road, across the rainbow crossings, down Queen Street to Britomart while being pelted with trash, rotten produce and Big Mac boxes.Here ...5 days ago - Government’s personal grievance changes will empower bad employers
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh is saying that the Government’s proposal to further weight the scales in favour of employers in personal grievance cases will make workplace culture worse and harm efforts to create a fair playing field for workers. “Making the personal grievance regime even tougher ...5 days ago
- Climate Change: The ETS needs reform
The final ETS auction of the year was held today, resulting in a partial clearance: 4 million of the available 11.1 million units were sold, at the minimum price of $64/ton. Once you add in March's partial sale, the government managed to sell just over 7 million tons all year ...5 days ago
- Throw Away All You Know.
In the cradle of the civilised disobedience derivedFrom a forlorn weeping widow crying tearsthat don’t see eye to eyeKeep the well fullA thirst forgotten A misery made for twoThat’ll use you then throw you awayThat’ll use you then throw you awayThat’ll use you then throw you awaySong: Nowhere.Today, I’m feeling ...5 days ago - NZCTU Rūnanga calling for submissions on proposed changes to NZ Post
The CTU Rūnanga is asking affiliates to support postal workers and get out and make submissions against contracting out postal delivery, to stop job cuts and ensure fair pay and conditions for postal workers. The Postal Workers Union is fighting NZ Post’s plans to replace postal workers with contracted couriers. ...5 days ago
- ‘The cuts will continue until the economy improves’
Health Minister Shane Reti has even more cuts in his sights. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMorena. Long stories short on Wednesday, December 4, with more detail and analysis in the podcast above:Health Minister Shane Reti says spending cuts will continue for an extra year into 2027 because of a ...5 days ago
- Auckland Transport (mostly) goneburger
Auckland Transport has long been a easy punching bag for the public, politicians and media, sometimes deservedly so, other times not. That could all be about to change following an announcement yesterday by the Browns – Wayne and Simeon. Greater Auckland is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew ...5 days ago
- Luxon Takes A Beating
The latest polls are in.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. And who could have guessed that a government that destroys the economy (‘economic vandalism on steroids’), tears up our public health system (‘National is BAD for health’), de-stabilises Crown-Māori relations (‘largest protest in modern history’), eviscerates environmental progress and protections ...5 days ago - It’s not easy being green
As Kermit the frog said, it isn’t easy being green. A Select Committee yesterday heard how difficult it was for the country’s electricity grid operator, Transpower, to prepare for the electrification of New Zealand that will be required if we are to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Their ...5 days ago
- *THOSE* polls! And *NOT* a hung Parliament!
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.One bad poll for a government can be dismissed as “rogue”. Two? That’s damaging.A recent Talbot Mills done for the Labour Party - released on 1 December - had startling results that would’ve raised ...6 days ago - Sabin 33 #5 – Is solar energy worse for the climate than burning fossil fuels?
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...6 days ago
- We like to watch
Some millions of years ago, our ancestors learned the trick of standing upright. This made it much easier to reach the bottles on the top shelf and surely aided our progress towards splitting the atom.It also made us more vulnerable. Giving birth became more perilous. Our infants - needing to ...6 days ago - Waimate Water: Not A New Problem
The last time residents of Waimate received a nitrate warning was only two years ago. In 2022, the Glenavy township in South Canterbury were unable to drink their own water for over four months due to it containing nitrate levels high enough to kill an infant. This restriction was lifted ...6 days ago - Restoring the status quo is not enough
Labour held its party conference over the weekend, and Chris Hipkins gave a speech promising to make the current coalition a one term government. Along the way he made some policy promises: restoring free prescriptions, resuming the Smokefree Aotearoa policy, restarting the build of Dunedin hospital, restoring state housing investment, ...6 days ago
- No Matter What I Do, Everything I Do Is Bad
Hi,I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind a bit lately, and I’m not quite sure how to say it besides expressing this idea that on some days I feel like throwing myself into the sea.I am saying this metaphorically — don’t worry — but it’s just this ...6 days ago - Political Wrap Up: 11,000 construction jobs gone, Nurses Strike & Unemployment to reach Pandemic...
Good morning, here’s a quick wrap up of 10 developments:1. HEALTH: AUSTERITY BUDGETFront-line hospital workers told jobs could soon be gone (RNZ / Lauren Crimp)The government is set to fire non-clinical front line roles in Auckland as part of its cost saving measures. This includes teams who support clinical logistics, ...6 days ago - Tuesday 3 December 2024
Today NZNO healthcare workers are striking for safe staffing and fair pay. More job losses are on the line at NZDF due to budget deficits. In political news, Chris Hipkins is trying to build some momentum following the Labour Party conference. Union coverage NZNO: 36,000 Health NZ nurses to ...6 days ago
- Where Is My Mind?
With your feet in the air and your head on the groundTry this trick and spin it, yeah (Yeah)Your head will collapse, and there's nothing in itAnd you'll ask yourselfWhere is my mind?Where is my mind?Where is my mind?Songwriter: Black FrancisClear craniums are the order of the day. Not to ...6 days ago - Gt North Rd improvements to finally start
After around 10 years of delays and frustration, Auckland Transport are finally going to make Gt North Rd greater. In an update sent out yesterday, they said: We are pleased to advise that we have appointed JFC Ltd to deliver the work and they’ll be starting work early January. The ...6 days ago
- Govt says borrowing to build now last resort
The way through our $100 billion-plus infrastructure deficit will not be eased by Chris Bishop’s approach. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Chris Bishop unveiled his major infrastructure funding and financing plan yesterday that made clear borrowing with public debt to build infrastructure would be a last resort, with private ...6 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why An AUKUS Led By Trump Is A Scary Prospect
According to Social Development Minister Louise Upton her latest crackdown on the unemployed is just “common sense.” Oh, really. Upston is threatening to reduce or cancel the income of an increasing number of people already living on the breadline – unless they spend more of their scarce money on the ...7 days ago
- Incy Wincy History: Pre-Tolkien Fantasy Arachnids of Unusual Size
It has been remarked that the only truly original invention in The Hobbit is the hobbit himself. Tolkien stole his dwarves from the Poetic Edda (albeit, he redefined the spelling of the plural). The trolls and the manner of their death are also borrowed from Norse tradition. Gandalf is rooted ...7 days ago - How Plastics Fuel Climate Change
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). We're choking our planet with pollution - whether that's greenhouse gases or plastics. But these two crises are deeply connected - ...7 days ago
- Labour 2026, Democrats 2024, and Luxon Accidentally Admits Neoliberalism has Broken the Country
Kia ora kotou, and I hope everyone is having a good start to their week. Usually I try to be a bit more themed and connected and essay-like in what I write, but it’s been too long since I got anything out at all and the topics I keep meaning ...7 days ago - Gendered violence and harassment in the world of work
International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 190 (C190) provides a framework for the legal, cultural and industrial changes necessary to eliminate and prevent violence, in all its forms, from the world of work. It establishes the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based ...7 days ago
- The Prime Minister hits the cones
More Than A Feilding: Prime Minister thanks for taking the time to chat again with More Than A Feilding.Prime Minister Old Mate Grabaseat: Gidday Jack what I would say to you Jack is what I would say to you.MTAF: I think that was yesterday’s interview, Prime Minister. I’m Dave.OMG: Oh. ...7 days ago - Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the lame duck window of opportunity.
In the last episode of this year Selwyn Manning and I discuss the rebel assault on Aleppo in Syria and tit-for-tat missile exchanges between Russia and Ukraine as illustrative of foreign actor attempts to gain geopolitical leverage as part of … Continue reading ...7 days ago - Subsidising ecocide
Aotearoa has long been an opponent of fossil fuel subsidies. In 2010 we joined the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform. In 2015 we reviewed our policies to eliminate subsidies following advice from APEC. In 2021 we "lead the call" for subsidy reform at the WTO. And at COP29 just ...7 days ago
- A two-faced “apology”
Last month, the government formally apologised to victims of child torture and abuse-in-care. Part of the apology was meant to be for the state's long-standing policy of aggressively minimising its liabilities by dragging out cases, slandering its victims and ultimately denying redress. So you'd think that the state would actually ...7 days ago
- Labour leaning back towards Capital Gains Tax
1 week ago - Going in circles: How to fix transport in the City Centre
The last few years have seen headline after headline talk about how much of a ‘mess’ the City Centre is in terms of transport. Whether it be parking, confusing bus lanes (and buses being held up), the GV lane on Queen Street, loading and delivery, enforcement (or lack thereof), congestion, ...1 week ago
- Inside Labour’s difficult tax politics
The former Minister, former finance spokesperson, and one-time leadership contender David Parker suffered a defeat at the Labour Party conference over the weekend over what has been his political crusade: a wealth tax.The conference rejected, apparently by a wide margin, a remit calling for a wealth tax “to proceed”.Instead, they ...1 week ago
- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 24, 2024 thru Sat, November 30, 2024. Story of the week Before Skeptical Science and an entire fleet of other websites devoted to combating and correcting climate misinformation ...1 week ago
- Kaamos: Published
New story out, as part of the December issue of Bare Back Magazine:https://www.barebackmag.com/post/kaamos (As previously noted, this one is magical realism mashed up with erotica. But it’s nice for a story first written ... 1 week ago
- Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...23 hours ago - Release: Boot camps must be shut down today
The Prime Minister has committed to shut down his government’s boot camps if there is evidence of harm to children – so he must do that today. ...3 days ago - Greens echo OECD call for electricity market reform
The Green Party has welcomed the OECD urging the Government to re-examine separating ‘gentailers’ to make a fairer electricity market for New Zealanders. ...3 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks Auckland housing promise
Housing Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed National has broken yet another election promise. ...4 days ago
- Government smokescreen to downgrade climate ambition
Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet project’s findings on “no additional warming” were released. ...5 days ago
- Release: Health NZ admits errors led to claimed deficit
Health New Zealand has exaggerated its deficit to justify job cuts. ...5 days ago
- Release: More cuts to research, science and innovation sector
The Government’s latest round of cuts to research and innovation targets the long-established and successful Marsden Fund. ...5 days ago
- Govt guts funding for social sciences and humanities
The Government’s decision to axe all Humanities and Social Science research funding through the Marsden Fund is a massive step backwards. ...5 days ago
- You can’t bank on pine trees in a climate crisis
Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nicola Willis being sneaky with new taxes
Nicola Willis is refusing to rule out putting sneaky new taxes on Kiwi households. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt benefit target even further out of reach
Christopher Luxon has once again failed to read the room and claimed success while life gets harder for everyday Kiwis. ...6 days ago
- Govt continues to punch down
The Government’s new initiative to get people off the benefit won’t address the core drivers of poverty such as low incomes, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of employment opportunities. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour urges ACC to pull investments in Israel’s illegal settlements
Labour is urging ACC to divest from companies identified by the United Nations as complicit in the building and maintenance of Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ...7 days ago
- Release: Further evidence to stop school lunch cuts
A new report provides further proof that David Seymour should not be messing with the free school lunch programme. ...7 days ago
- Jamie Arbuckle: Inquiry into Banking Competition
This week was the start of the bank inquiry hearings into banking competition. The inquiry was confirmed in the NZ First/National Coalition agreement. 140 submissions were received on the inquiry, and we will hear from over 60 submitters including all the major banks. ANZ, New Zealand's largest bank, was first ...1 week ago - Casey Costello: What Once Was…
Entering politics is a privilege afforded to very few and, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Being an MP is a call to service. Whatever your politics you have a duty to show up. Whatever your party's policy, you have made a promise to those who ...1 week ago
- Casey Costello: International Day of Older Persons
Throughout New Zealand it is difficult to think of a sports club, charity, church group, festival, foundation, or service organisation that does not owe its existence, effectiveness, or success to the contribution of older New Zealanders. October 1st is International Day of Older Persons so please take a moment to consider ...1 week ago
- NZ First Member’s Bill To Disestablish Auckland Transport
Today New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will restore democratic control over transport management in Auckland City by disestablishing Auckland Transport (AT) and returning control to Auckland Council. The ‘Local Government (Auckland Council) (Disestablishment of Auckland Transport) Amendment Bill’ intends to restore democratic oversight, control, and accountability ...1 week ago
- Tanya Unkovich: It’s time to start the debate on palliative care as a ‘right’
There is one topic that is the great human leveller, and that is of death and dying. One day, we will all have to face it, and I am of the belief that being able to pass away with grace and dignity is a vital, basic, human right. How we ...1 week ago
- Mark Patterson: Farmers understand we have their backs
Spring is here which means the start of the A&P show season. Those treasured community days where town meets country. There's no rural-urban divide here, just a chance to meet up with family and old friends and celebrate all things that make rural New Zealand so special. I'm embarking on ...1 week ago
- Release: A Labour Government will not join AUKUS
New Zealand will not sign up to the nuclear-powered pillar one, or the pillar two of AUKUS under a Labour Government. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour will build Dunedin Hospital
Labour will build Dunedin Hospital as it was committed to prior to election 2023. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins: Speech to Labour Party Conference 2024
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e rau rangatira ma Tena koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa ...1 week ago
- Luxon Folds on ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill
Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, is calling Luxon’s leadership a joke after it was revealed this morning on Q+A that ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill was not a bottom line. "New Zealand officially has a laughing-stock Prime Minister whose leadership folded as he trades away the rights of tangata whenua ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister shirks responsibility on global climate commitment
In an interview with Q&A this morning, the Prime Minister refused to say whether he would commit to meeting the Paris Agreement, the international climate agreement which commits all countries to act locally to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. ...1 week ago
- Release: All workers deserve fair treatment
The Government’s latest change to the Employment Relations Act has no justification apart from making it easier to sack employees without having to follow due process. ...1 week ago
- COURT OF APPEAL RULING: SFO METHODS “OVERREACH, UNLAWFUL, OPPRESSIVE”
Today the Court of Appeal has found the Serious Fraud Office has been acting indiscriminately and unlawfully throughout an eight year long investigation. The SFO has shown their incompetence and arrogance and shown to be abusing their authority to conduct its own overreaching and unlawful fishing expeditions. The Court of Appeal said the SFO has relied on its misuse of compulsory interview ...1 week ago
- Covid Inquiry report underlines need to invest in Health
The Green Party says the report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 Response underlines the need for proper investment in our health system so we are prepared for future pandemics. ...2 weeks ago
- Waititi Orders Police Withdraw from Matapihi
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki is demanding that the Police Minister immediately remove the heavy Police presence in the Matapihi community, as hundreds of officers saturate the Western Bay of Plenty area. “Minister Mitchell must intervene immediately and order the removal of the armed Police presence in ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Opposition parties unite on way forward to protect ECE
Early childhood education needs to be treated as a public good, say Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori in their newly released report of findings from public hearings they held into the Government’s ECE Regulatory Review. ...2 weeks ago
- Government’s First Year a ‘Catastrophe for Māori’
Te Pāti Māori is calling the Government’s first year a catastrophe for Māori, following a year of policies that have done nothing but marginalise tangata-whenua. Today marks one year since the coalition was sworn into power. “This year has been an absolute catastrophe for Māori. This Government has fast-tracked us back ...2 weeks ago
- Release: 1500 Te Whatu Ora cuts will hurt New Zealanders’ health
Massive cuts across Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora demonstrate National’s willingness to risk the health of New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government to make public transport more expensive… again
The Government’s decision to push for significant fare increases on buses and trains over the next few years is a huge blow to communities across the country. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National has given up on climate action
Climate action is missing from the list of things National is patting themselves on the back for one year on from becoming government. ...2 weeks ago
- Public transport fare hikes a disaster
The Government’s directive to councils to increase bus and train fares substantially over the next few years is a bitter pill to swallow for communities across the country. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Minister leaves Community Housing Providers out in the cold
Housing Minister Chris Bishop’s speech to Community Housing Providers today should have been titled ‘we want you to build houses, but we refuse to spend money so you’re on your own’. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party appalled by woeful Government offer to school support staff
Support staff across Aotearoa have been dealt yet another devastating blow with the release of the latest collective agreement offer from the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins sad to hear about Nikki Kaye
"The news today that Nikki Kaye has passed away after her long battle with cancer is incredibly sad," Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government should be transparent on live exports
Targeted consultation on reinstating live cattle exports by sea won’t allow the New Zealand public to have their say. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...3 weeks ago
- New campaign promotes alcohol-free pregnancies
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has launched a new public health campaign to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder by promoting alcohol-free pregnancies. FASD is the leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disorders in New Zealand, causing lifelong physical, behavioural, learning and mental health problems. “The impact of FASD in ...3 hours ago - New Climate Change Commission Chair appointed
Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy has been appointed as the new chair of the Climate Change Commission, the independent Crown entity that provides the Government advice, monitoring and reporting to support New Zealand’s transition to a climate-resilient, low emissions future, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “I’m pleased that Dame ...4 hours ago
- Commonsense changes to insulation standards
The Government is proposing commonsense changes to reduce the upfront cost of building, while maintaining robust energy efficiency standards, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “We know from a social investment point of view that Kiwis do much better when they have access to affordable, insulated, secure housing. “However, ...4 hours ago
- Racing Act changes to boost racing industry sustainability
Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced the introduction of legislation to amend the Racing Industry Act 2020 which will extend TAB NZ’s current land-based monopoly for sports and racing betting to online. The Racing Industry Act established TAB NZ for the purposes of funding the racing industry. It provides ...23 hours ago
- New members appointed to EECA Board
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has today announced two new appointments to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) Board.John Carnegie and Vijay Goel have both been appointed as members for three-year terms which will begin on 6 January 2025 and end on 5 January 2028.“As Minister for Energy, my goal ...3 days ago
- JOINT STATEMENT ON AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN AND DEFENCE MINISTERIAL CONSULTATIONS (ANZMIN) DECE...
1. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters MP and Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC MP hosted Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong on 6 December in ...3 days ago
- Swift avian influenza response in Otago on track
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says good progress is being made in the response to the detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, but there is more work to do. “Rigorous testing and monitoring continue to show no confirmed signs of the disease in chicken farms outside of Mainland ...3 days ago
- Funding for Hawke’s Bay water security project
Up to $3 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund has been allocated for pre-construction development of the Tukituki Water Security Project in Hawke’s Bay, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The grant for the project, which is being co-funded by the Tukituki Water Security Project, is limited to work to ...3 days ago
- Waimārama ban on taking pāua to continue
A two-year temporary closure banning the take of pāua from Waimārama south of Hastings will support efforts by local iwi to rebuild pāua stocks, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The closure includes Waimārama Beach and Ocean Beach, two beaches popular with holidaymakers and recreational fishers. Ngāi Hapū o ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the New Zealand Post board
Four new appointments have been made to the New Zealand Post Ltd (NZ Post) board, Acting State-Owned Enterprises Minister Chris Bishop says. “NZ Post is one of New Zealand’s largest State-owned enterprises with revenue of around $1.2 billion and total assets of around $1.5 billion. It is the designated universal ...3 days ago
- Government to partner with private sector to plant trees on low value Crown land
Ministers responsible for Climate Change, Forestry, Conservation and Land Information today announced that Cabinet has agreed to explore public-private partnerships to plant trees on Crown land, supporting New Zealand’s climate change targets and creating more jobs. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that nature-based solutions is a key part to ...4 days ago
- International data confirms maths transformation
New international data validates the Government’s plan to transform maths education in New Zealand, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the longest-running, large-scale international assessment of mathematics and science and takes place every four years. While 2023 results show an improved ...4 days ago
- Government partners to boost rural productivity in Hawke’s Bay
The Government is partnering with Hawke’s Bay farmers and the Regional Council to improve farm productivity and build resilience against adverse weather events, Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay announced today at a ceremony in Hawke’s Bay. “The Government is co-investing $995,000 to grow the Land for Life (LFL) pilot programme ...4 days ago
- Peters visit to New Caledonia concludes
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed his visit to New Caledonia, New Zealand’s closest neighbour. “Over the last few days, we have listened to and learned from a wide range of people in New Caledonia - so that we can better understand the acute challenges it faces,” Mr Peters says. ...4 days ago
- More charter schools to open Term 1 2025 announced
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Christchurch North College, The BUSY School, Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao, Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland and North West Creative Arts College will open in term one 2025 as charter schools. “This announcement is another significant step in the Government’s efforts to ...4 days ago
- New chair appointed to Heritage New Zealand
Dame Jo Brosnahan DNZM QSO has been appointed chair of the Heritage New Zealand Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Dame Jo has extensive governance and business experience which has been recognised in various Honours, notably in 2023 when she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order ...4 days ago
- Survey results to drive change for tourism and hospitality workforce
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey has welcomed the data released today about the hospitality and tourism workforce. “Two of my key priorities include supporting the people who make up the tourism and hospitality workforce and growing the value of international tourism. In order to grow New Zealand’s international tourism ...4 days ago
- Upgrading substations to improve reliability for Wellington metro rail
Wellington commuters will benefit from a $137.2 million funding boost that will deliver long overdue upgrades to substations on the city’s metro rail network and improve the reliability of services, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Our Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that reduces congestion, boosts productivity to support economic growth, ...4 days ago
- Record $434 million in community grants from Lotto NZ
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says Lotto NZ has granted $434 million to the community in the past financial year, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year. “It’s fantastic to see an increase in funding going to important community projects, providing opportunities for New Zealanders to ...4 days ago
- Major review of competition to lift productivity
The Government has launched an ambitious review of New Zealand’s competition rules to combat monopolies and improve economic productivity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Improving competition is one of the most important ways to boost productivity and lift living standards,” Mr Bayly says. “When competition is working ...4 days ago
- NZ-Australia Ministers to discuss foreign policy, defence
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will host the second Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) in Auckland tomorrow. “The ANZMIN is an important trans-Tasman forum for strengthening our alliance relationship and developing shared approaches to foreign policy, security, and ...4 days ago
- Funding boost to strengthen Maritime’s rescue team
The Government has approved funding to increase staffing at Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, ensuring a critical boost in its search and rescue operations, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say.“Our Government is delivering an annual funding boost to New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre to ...4 days ago
- Government releases independent scientific review on biogenic methane science and targets
The Government will carefully consider the findings of the independent review on New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and targets, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, and Associate Ministers of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard, and Mark Patterson have announced today. The panel of highly regarded, New Zealand ...5 days ago
- New courthouses for Whanganui and Papakura
The Government has agreed to fund new courthouses for both Whanganui and Papakura to help improve access to justice and court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Minister Nicole McKee say. “In both cases the current buildings are not fit for purpose and need to be replaced. Staying put ...5 days ago
- Positive progress for the NZ ETS
The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) auction today has resulted in a partial clearance, showing work to restore credibility in the market is working, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Today’s auction result shows the market is moving in the right direction to restore credibility in the NZ ...5 days ago
- Catalyst Fund updated for global impact
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins today announced an updated plan for the Catalyst Fund to be laser focused on clear outcomes and priority research areas. “We are taking a more strategic approach to science funding across the board, as we seek to deliver greater economic impact for ...5 days ago
- Marsden Fund refocused for science with a purpose
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins today announced the Government has updated the Marsden Fund to focus on core scientific research that helps lift our economic growth and contributes to science with a purpose. “The Government has been clear in its mandate to rebuild our economy. We are ...5 days ago
- Speech to Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and members
Removing rewards for poor employee behaviour Good afternoon everyone, and thank you Malcolm for that lovely introduction. It’s wonderful to be here today at MJH Engineering. Thank you to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and MJH Engineering for inviting me to speak and share some exciting announcements with you ...5 days ago
- Govt delivers Māori Education Action Plan
The Government has released its Māori Education Action Plan which sets out its approach to deliver better outcomes in the classroom for Māori students, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “25 per cent of learners within our schooling system are Māori. While many achieve excellent results, on average Māori experience worse ...5 days ago
- Removing rewards for poor employee behaviour
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says it is important employees are not rewarded in the personal grievance system for poor behaviour or performance and is introducing changes to personal grievances to strengthen employee accountability. “Simplifying personal grievances is a policy ACT campaigned on, in particular, removing the ...5 days ago
- Protecting NZ food production and ETS credibility
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts have today announced clear rules to limit farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). “These changes deliver on a key election commitment to protect food production for farmers while providing ETS certainty for foresters,” Mr ...5 days ago
- Fuel companies required to store more jet fuel
New rules will be introduced that require fuel companies to hold at least 10 days of jet fuel near the country’s busiest airport to provide resilience against supply disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. “For more than seven years fuel companies have held jet fuel supplies at lower than ...5 days ago
- Strong growth in international student enrolments
New Zealand’s international education sector is rebounding strongly, up 24 per cent year-on-year and 6 per cent above 2023 totals, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “With 73,535 enrolments between January to August 2024, more enrolments have been achieved in just two terms this year than we saw ...5 days ago
- Speech to Early Childhood Education sector– Reducing red tape and barriers to ECE
When I was delegated responsibility for the ECE Sector from the Minister for Education it became immediately clear that my focus had to be on reducing red tape and regulatory obstacles for the early learning sector. While there is huge demand for ECEs from families across New Zealand, numbers show ...6 days ago
- Democracy restored to transport in Auckland
The Government is restoring democratic accountability to transport decision-making in Auckland, ensuring voters can hold their elected representatives responsible for the city's transport policies, Transport and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown say."Aucklanders have become increasingly frustrated with how transport decisions are made and how little their ...6 days ago
- Health NZ makes progress on financial recovery
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand is making encouraging progress recovering from a financial shambles left behind by the previous government. “Health NZ reported today that its revised budget for 2024/25 is a $1.1 billion deficit,” Dr Reti says. “That’s significantly lower than the $1.76 billion deficit they ...6 days ago
- Wait times for veterans improve
Additional funding in Budget 2024 has reduced the waiting list of veterans seeking medical and rehabilitation support, Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. “When we were elected a year ago, the Government made a commitment to improve New Zealand’s public services. As Veterans Minister this means improving access for veterans to ...6 days ago
- 30 per cent growth in international visitor spend
The latest International Visitor Survey shows that New Zealand continues to bounce back and the economy is benefiting from the shifting trends in international visitation, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. International Visitor Survey results for the year ending September 2024 released today show a promising increase of 30 ...6 days ago
- New data shows fewer victims of violent crime
New data shows an encouraging reduction in the number of victims of violent crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows there were 14,000 fewer victims of crime nationwide over the 12 months to August 2024, than there were over the 12 months ...6 days ago
- Government open for business on market-led infrastructure proposals
The Government has released new guidelines for market-led proposals to clarify how market participants can contribute innovative ideas for solving New Zealand’s infrastructure problems, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. A market-led approach is where a private sector player wishes to deal directly with Government with ...7 days ago
- Newspoll returns to a tie after Coalition leads, but Labor has worst result this term in Resolve
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Newspoll, conducted December 2–6 from a sample of 1,258, had a 50–50 tie, a one-point gain for Labor since the ...1 hour ago - As Australia’s giant trees succumb to fire or drought, we’re racing to preserve their vital gene...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Bar Ness, Research associate, University of Tasmania Giant old trees are survivors. But their size and age do not protect them against everything. They face threats such as logging or intensifying drought and fire as the climate changes. Tasmania has ...1 hour ago
- The Spinoff guide to life: How to attend a tangi
The tikanga and kawa for tangi can vary from marae to marae and even whānau to whānau, but the broad principles tend to remain the same. Remain respectful, bear in mind that tikanga Māori is central to all proceedings, and you’ll be fine. For the uninitiated, tangi can be a daunting ...1 hour ago - Insulation standards shake up could save homes thousands, government says
The government says it could save at least $2300, and as much as $15,000 per home. ...2 hours ago - Prime Minister’s new chief press secretary starts
Finn Stitchbury has taken on the role for one year. ...2 hours ago
- Dame Patsy Reddy to chair Climate Change Commission
The former Governor General Dame Patsy replaces Rod Carr, whose term ended last week. ...2 hours ago
- Anti-Corruption Day 2024: Monday 9 December 2024 Is International Anti-Corruption Day
This day is a celebration of the progress in the fight against corruption since it was initiated; and a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done. ...3 hours ago - A book for every year of your life: Part one, ages 0-30
From picture books to bell hooks, some reading inspiration for every age. There’s no such thing as age-appropriate books because there’s no such thing as age-inappropriate books, unless you’re planning to give your four-year-old nephew a copy of Anna Karenina (although, like Thomas The Tank Engine it does have an ...3 hours ago
- How satellites are bridging New Zealand’s connectivity gap
Many parts of the country still lack mobile coverage, but that’s about to change thanks to One NZ and Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellite technology. For those who need to stay connected in remote areas, the project could be transformational, reports Jihee Junn. Despite being one of the most developed ...3 hours ago
- Ferry decision: You’re gonna need a smaller boat
The Govt has left the Cook Strait ferries project drifting rudderless towards the rocks for 12 months – but there was an alternative The post Ferry decision: You’re gonna need a smaller boat appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago - Welcome To Summer School For Ministers Toy Assembly (Climate Change 101 Curriculum Delivery)
Parents for Climate Aotearoa are holding the Toy Assembly to welcome the Prime Minister and cabinet Ministers to the Climate Change 101 Summer School to highlight that they also need to get the basics right and do them brilliantly. ...3 hours ago
- Homelessness much worse than before COVID leaves agencies battling a perfect storm
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hal Pawson, Professor of Housing Research and Policy, and Associate Director, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Rising homelessness across Australia is overwhelming the capacity of services to offer emergency help. New evidence in the Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024, released today, confirms ...5 hours ago
- Up to 40% of bushfires in parts of Australia are deliberately lit. But we’re not doing enough to p...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nichola Tyler, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology Toa55/Shutterstock A recent bushfire in Kadnook, western Victoria, which destroyed at least one property and burned more than 1,000 hectares of land, is being investigated due to suspicion it was ...5 hours ago
- Should we give students awards at school?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Waghorn, Lecturer, School of Education, RMIT University Tomertu/ Shutterstock It’s almost the end of the school year. And that means it’s “awards season” for school students. Before the holidays, students, teachers and families will gather for speech days ...5 hours ago
- No booze after 9pm: What you need to know about Auckland’s new alcohol rules
From today, liquor stores will have to close at 9pm. This article was originally published in August when the new rules were announced. In August, after almost a decade of legal battles with the supermarket duopoly, Auckland’s councillors unanimously voted to adopt a new local alcohol policy that will restrict ...5 hours ago
- Raft Of Politicians Expected At Save Our Mill Meeting In Tokoroa
The deputy PM is among those attending a community meeting about the mill, with calls for worker relief heading into Christmas. ...5 hours ago
- Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore at 50: the film that marks a path not taken in Scorsese’s career
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Danks, Associate professor in Cinema and Media Studies, RMIT University IMDB Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, released on December 9 1974, is a fascinating composite of both 1970s New Hollywood and the legacy of the women-centred melodrama of the 1930s ...5 hours ago
- New research reveals a key evolutionary benefit of sleeping for a season – or for centuries
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Jones, Lecturer in Ecology, Griffith University What can plants or animals do when faced with harsh conditions? Two options for survival seem most obvious: move elsewhere or adapt to their environment. Some organisms have a third option. They can escape not ...5 hours ago
- The Greens try and rev up the climate debate
It’s been a tough year for the opposition party. Now, it has its sights set on 2025 and beyond, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund for The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...6 hours ago
- NZ joins new group that ‘might be answer’ to US exhausting weapons in a war
The partnership "directly supports" America's defence strategy to boost "warfighting" capabilities. ...7 hours ago
- Arts don’t just decorate knowledge, they deepen It
Last month, I stood before Aotearoa’s top researchers at the Royal Society Te Apārangi Research Honours Awards in three cities – Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington. As their poet and host, I did something different: I wove their scientific achievements into verse. For each brilliant mind in that room, I crafted a ...7 hours ago
- The government’s targets in charts: More than half behind track
RNZ's new visualisations, which track progress on nine public sector targets, show crime and education goals are particularly at risk. ...8 hours ago
- NZ surrogacy law a mix of modern science and outdated legislation
Having a baby by surrogacy in New Zealand is complicated, convoluted and costly. A bill promised fast-tracked change, but progress has been anything but. ...8 hours ago
- Too hot to handle: How climate-friendly housing is becoming unliveable
Sustainable housing is focused on density and warmth. But as New Zealand’s climate warms, that might be a downside, not a drawcard. My partner and I live in a north-facing apartment that’s perfect for low-pollution living. We live near a bus stop, and everything we need is a 15-minute ...9 hours ago
- Windbag: Did Te Rauparaha really drink at the Thistle Inn?
According to a Wellington urban legend, the notorious Ngāti Toa chief used to pull his waka onshore to have a drink at the city’s oldest pub. Is it true? Windbag is The Spinoff’s Wellington issues column, written by Wellington editor Joel MacManus. It’s made possible thanks to the support of ...9 hours ago
- Bitcoin proves the sceptics wrong – for now
As it turns out, August 5 was a great day to buy bitcoin when it briefly fell below US$50,000.If you did, and held on for what turned out to be a relatively short white knuckle ride lasting exactly four months, you would have succeeded in doubling your money after bitcoin ...9 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 9 December
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- Daily crossword, Monday 9 December
The post Daily crossword, Monday 9 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...9 hours ago
- NZ climate politics matures with Greens emissions plan
Analysis: The Green Party’s alternative emissions reduction plan can serve as the platform for a substantive debate on climate The post NZ climate politics matures with Greens emissions plan appeared first on Newsroom. ...9 hours ago
- Iwi cold shoulder forces Govt to change engagement
The Govt has been forced to change how it engages with the influential National Iwi Chairs Forum after the group formally uninvited the Crown The post Iwi cold shoulder forces Govt to change engagement appeared first on Newsroom. ...9 hours ago
- The long, expensive road to surrogacy
Reproductive science has come far in the past 50 years, but when it comes to surrogacy, our laws have not kept up.In New Zealand, surrogacy is legislated under the Adoption Act 1955.“At the moment surrogacy is governed by the adoption laws which were set up obviously when surrogacy was like ...9 hours ago
- Marsden Fund needed scrutiny only for the ‘silly’ projects, says Govt advisor
Nearly a billion dollars in dedicated funding is already available for core sciences, but arts and humanities were cut from $78m Marsden anyway The post Marsden Fund needed scrutiny only for the ‘silly’ projects, says Govt advisor appeared first on Newsroom. ...9 hours ago
- Xmas: best nonfiction of 2024
Two of the three best books of New Zealand nonfiction of 2024 were two memoirs by two extraordinary Māori women authors – Hine Toa by Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku and Whaea Blue by Talia Marshall rose out of the whenua like steam, like geysers, like magma, hot to the touch and amazing ...9 hours ago
- White Ferns’ coach gets to defend World Cup title
After their recent T20 World Cup success, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have reappointed White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer for a further two years.Sawyer, a 46 year-old Australian, was first appointed in June 2022 on a two-year contract, which was later extended until the end of the side’s tour to ...9 hours ago
- To call this voodoo economics is an insult to voodoo priests
Comment: Trying to retrospectively graft an economic theory onto the coalition Government’s economic policy is equally simplistic The post To call this voodoo economics is an insult to voodoo priests appeared first on Newsroom. ...9 hours ago
- Panguna human rights report fuels Bougainville demands for Rio Tinto-funded mine clean-up
By Stefan Armbruster in Brisbane The first large-scale environmental impact assessment of Rio Tinto’s abandoned Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea has found local communities face life-threatening risks from its legacy. The independent study was initiated after frustrated landowners in PNG’s Autonomous Region of Bougainville took their longstanding grievances against ...13 hours ago
- Bashar al-Assad’s regime has fallen in Syria. How will this impact an already fractured region?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Mamouri, Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University The swift and unexpected fall of the Syrian capital, Damascus, to Sunni opposition forces marks a pivotal moment in the modern history of the Middle East. Bashar al-Assad’s regime had withstood more ...14 hours ago
- PNG’s Parkop tells exiled Papuans ‘don’t lose hope – keep up the freedom struggle’
Asia Pacific Report Governor Powes Parkop of Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby has appealed to West Papuans living in his country to carry on the self-determination struggle for future generations and to not lose hope. Parkop, a staunch supporter of the West Papua cause, reminded Papuans at their Independence ...14 hours ago
- Extinction Rebellion Will Cease To Exist If Greens Policy Is Enacted
‘The Green Party Emission reduction Plan – He Ara Anamata, will obviate the need to take ongoing actions’, says Caril Cowan, spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Tāmakai Makauraru. ...15 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the reactions to incidents of antisemitism, many people observe a contrast between New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Over the past year, Minns has seemed quicker off the ...15 hours ago
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