45,000 more signatures

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:14 am, July 8th, 2013 - 46 comments
Categories: national, Privatisation - Tags: keep our assets, not yours to sell

Like other recent calls for citizen initiated referendums, the referendum on asset sales was deemed to need more signatures after the initial submission. The eight week window to gather more signatures is now over, and the new signatures will be presented to Parliament today. Lots of them:

Asset petition gathers 45,000 more names

Opponents of the Government’s asset sales programme say they have gathered more than 45,000 new signatures to bump the petition over the threshold for a referendum.

After coming up about 16,500 valid signatures short two months ago, the Keep Our Assets coalition, which includes Labour, the Greens and other opposition parties, along with Grey Power, will present the newly gathered signatures to the Clerk of the House of Representatives tomorrow.

16,500 needed, 45,000 submitted, hopefully after inspection it will be enough to do the trick.

Coalition spokesman Andrew Campbell says that despite the Government already selling 49 percent of Mighty River Power, there was still public enthusiasm to stop further sales of power companies. “You might have thought there would be some weakening of resolve, but we found people were still as committed to getting this referendum,” he told NZ Newswire.

Stupid ideas are always worth opposing, whether the government of the day is half way through implementing them or not. The referendum isn’t binding of course, but other factors may yet derail the remaining sales:

Mr Campbell said the Government’s plan to sell up to 49 percent of power companies was in trouble. The Government would struggle to sell more power company shares as MRP shares were not snapped up by “mum and dad” investors the share price had dropped since the sale, Mr Campbell said.

MRP shares initially went on sale at $2.50 each but are now worth $2.29. On the Australian stock exchange they have dropped from $A2.16 to $A1.97.

You’d have to be a mug to invest in the Nats’ next planned Meridian sale – and they know it, having resorted to desperate tactics to try and drum up interest.

Congratulations to all involved in putting pressure on the government on this issue, and particularly to the organisers and volunteers who collected an amazing number of signatures. The chickens aren’t hatched yet, but either way it has been an amazing effort.

46 comments on “45,000 more signatures ”

Comments are now closed

infused 1

8 July 2013 at 9:30 am

Should have had them all first go. That would have had some impact.
- One Anonymous Knucklehead 1.1
  
  8 July 2013 at 10:04 am
  
  Silly – the impact will be delivered by the result, which will show just how out of touch with New Zealand you are.
  - infused 1.1.1
    
    8 July 2013 at 2:52 pm
    
    Errr, Labour at 30%. I’m not the one out of touch.
    - framu 1.1.1.1
      
      8 July 2013 at 3:01 pm
      
      no – the fact youve equated two completely different things proves youve got your finger on the pulse of the nation
James 2

8 July 2013 at 9:42 am

Too Little. Too Late.
- One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1
  
  8 July 2013 at 11:17 am
  
  Too late for the 2011 election, that’s for sure. Not too late for the next one though. The timing should be just right in fact 🙂
  
  Oh, and all straws are “little”, but the camel’s spine still snaps.
Te Reo Putake 3

8 July 2013 at 9:54 am

Excellent work! I would expect the majority of the 45000 new signatures will be accepted, because both collectors and the public understand the process better. The great thing is that the issue doesn’t go away for National. For the second election in a row, they will have to advance their pro sales position against the wishes of the majority of kiwis. And I confidently predict National will again fail to get a mandate for the sales.
- TighyRighty 3.1
  
  8 July 2013 at 10:18 am
  
  But you can’t confidently predict that national will lose the election. Which is in effect not gaining a mandate anyway. So you can’t confidently predict anything without looking like a twat.
- BM 3.2
  
  8 July 2013 at 10:21 am
  
  Assets sales vs Man ban.
  
  Ding, ding “And it’s a knock out win to asset sales in the first round.”
  - the pigman 3.2.1
    
    8 July 2013 at 8:13 pm
    
    🙄
- Rich the other 3.3
  
  8 July 2013 at 10:26 am
  
  They already have a mandate and you know it, they won an election with this as their main policy and what’s more they will easily win the next election.
  
  You seem to forget that stopping asset sales labours main policy at the last election, they got thumped.
  - Te Reo Putake 3.3.1
    
    8 July 2013 at 10:43 am
    
    Oh, dear. Have you forgotten the result of the election already Rich? National didn’t get an outright majority, hence no mandate. They were, however, able to get enough votes to pass the sales legislation with the assistance of ACT, who campaigned for the sales, and United Future, who did not. Parties opposed to the sales fell just short of a majority. That may well change next time around, especially now that the referendum will be a live issue at the same time.
    - dumrse 3.3.1.1
      
      8 July 2013 at 11:11 am
      
      Straws. Clutching. Wildly……
      - One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.3.1.1.1
        
        8 July 2013 at 11:18 am
        
        Straws, meet camel 🙂
    - Disraeli Gladstone 3.3.1.2
      
      8 July 2013 at 8:44 pm
      
      Oh for crying out loud.
      
      United Future campaigned on supporting the asset sales of the energy SOEs and Air NZ while also campaigning on opposing any further sales beyond those companies.
      
      I don’t mind the right lying out of their asses, it’s what they do. But I’m getting really sick of the centre and left resorting to lie and misinformation; we should be better than that.
Sable 4

8 July 2013 at 10:22 am

Its all just dead trees, I’m afraid. This government has no interest in public opinion, they have shown this again and again and again.
Rich the other 5

8 July 2013 at 10:43 am

I’m sure you man ban ,stop everything dreamers will love this.

MRP up 6cents this morning, still down but and looking good.
- the pigman 5.1
  
  8 July 2013 at 8:15 pm
  
  MRP up 6cents this morning, still down but and looking good.
  
  Your use of conjunctions still betraying hubris and or but insecurity.
Tiger Mountain 6

8 July 2013 at 11:00 am

Petitions, the lowliest form of political activity, but the torys, “they don’t like it up ’em!” As Lance Corporal Jones said repeatedly. Who? “Dad’s Army” Brit Com.
dumrse 7

8 July 2013 at 12:16 pm

Store the boxes safely till recycling day.
framu 8

8 July 2013 at 12:25 pm

wow – extremely well constructed arguments from the right on this thread
Yes 9

8 July 2013 at 1:09 pm

You guys keep going on about the down trodden and poor in the country and how the gap of equality is growing bigger – figure me this – why is it that John Key is over 60% popular.

There are so many small fractional parties now I don’t know who to vote for:

Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?
- Te Reo Putake 9.1
  
  8 July 2013 at 1:16 pm
  
  Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?
  
  Probably not, Key is safe for now. But Collins is lurking.
- Pascal's bookie 9.2
  
  8 July 2013 at 1:17 pm
  
  “why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”
  
  Brilliant, and a bit of the old-answer-is-contained-within-the-question there.
- framu 9.3
  
  8 July 2013 at 1:23 pm
  
  theres so many factors in play
  
  for a start your comparing two things that arent easily comparable in a soundbite driven environment
  
  but a few items that are in the mix
  1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation
  2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question
  3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country
  4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles
  5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans
  
  theres more that could be added here – but why does it even need to be pointed out? Is your knowledge of politics and society in NZ, both historical and contemporary really that lacking?
  - Yes 9.3.1
    
    8 July 2013 at 3:12 pm
    
    (comments in brackets)
    
    1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation (really!!! tell Gillard that in Australia)
    2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)
    3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country (stll 60%)
    4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles (which makes them really happy with John boy – still 60%)
    5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans (yep that plane keeps going up for John – as for Labour – they are as bumping as a plane landing in Wellington in reverse)
    - framu 9.3.1.1
      
      8 July 2013 at 3:17 pm
      
      your answers have only proven one of two things
      
      1) your really thick
      2) your being thick on purpose
      
      so, either attempt to show some comprehension in your answer, or at least admit you dont have a clue what your talking about.
      When the question you, yourself asked is “why is it that John Key is over 60% popular. “. Just saying “still 60%” over and over again doesnt actually prove anything other then reinforcing the assumption that your a clueless idiot or a tr0ll
      
      come on! – you stink up plenty of threads with you posturing and derailments – how about behaving like an educated adult for a change
    - framu 9.3.1.2
      
      8 July 2013 at 3:32 pm
      
      “2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)”
      
      just to highlight (and godwin myself a little) – heres the problem with this
      
      You live some years back in western europe and youve been rung up by a polling company. The question is “Who of the following would you prefer as ruler of europe – hitler, mussolini or stalin?”
      
      Now, if you choose none of the above your answer isnt counted – So do the poll results have an accurate reflection of any of the three candidates actual popularity? or does it more accurately reflect their popularity only in relation to each other, and only by not including the answers where some one didnt make a particular choice?
      - Yes 9.3.1.2.1
        
        8 July 2013 at 3:57 pm
        
        still 60%
        
        framu 9.3.1.2.1.1
        
        8 July 2013 at 4:04 pm
        
        still not answering the question
        
        still thick?
        
        Yes …
        
        8 July 2013 at 5:39 pm
        
        I did 60%. you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis very outdated.
        
        You should take their posters off your wall now. It’s sort of like saying cliff Richard never has had cosmetic surgery
        
        framu …
        
        9 July 2013 at 7:25 am
        
        WTF are you even going on about? what the fuck does cliff fucking richard have to do with anything?
        
        your not even making sense.
        
        did you or did you not ask this question?
        —-“why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”
        
        yes/no?
        
        so when someone attempts to have, you know, a civil discussion with you about what the answer to your question might involve, you just sit there and go “still 60%” and “I did 60%” (did 60% of what? 60% of all the crack??)
        
        and if you hadn’t figured out yet – its a logic question, its designed to highlight the problem with assuming a question that asks you to pick from a list of choices is an indicator of actual feeling
        
        I dont really give a shit what the % is, or whether you agree with me or not – but if the best argument youve got is to keep spouting a number all anyone can assume is either your not that bright, your about 3 years old, or your off your meds. Fucks sake – whats wrong with you?
        
        Its as pointless and pathetic as your attempts at basic addition when your were stomping about the place trying to claim that union membership is only 6%. Crawl back under your rock now – go on – off you go
        
        Yes …
        
        10 July 2013 at 4:34 am
        
        I understand your logic…the polls show 60%.. you were trying to show that it maybe lower…I understand that. However it is not what the public is told. They are told 60%.
        
        For completeness you are right.
        
        For reporting the answer given to the public is 60%… so 60% is all we are ever going to know. So if you can get the pollsters to give the detail you are stuffed.
        
        However the reverse is still the same for the other preferred pm’s. Therefore overall the average of the answers are correct which 60% of whatever number is still 60%.
        
        Maybe you should ease off and accept the poll result
        
        felix …
        
        10 July 2013 at 4:54 am
        
        I can’t parse a single sentence of that.
        
        You_Fool …
        
        9 July 2013 at 11:18 am
        
        to clarify relevance of 3 dead dictators:
        
        Question: Who is your prefered Prime Minister? John key, David Shearer, Russel Norman, Winston Peters or some one else?
        
        Answer: Someone else
        
        Question: Who would that be?
        
        Answer: Anyone else
        
        …
        
        Analyst: category: unknown/did not say
        
        Results: Do not include unknown
        
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        
        Is John Key still preferred by 60% of respondents?
        
        framu …
        
        9 July 2013 at 11:48 am
        
        no because of “Results: Do not include unknown”
        
        you havent clarified anything at all (if this is still “yes” talking – your icon keeps changing so im only assuming its the same person here)
        
        stop being stupid and stop side stepping around how a conversation actually works.
        
        You_Fool …
        
        9 July 2013 at 12:25 pm
        
        I am not YES, and I was trying to clarify the point for Yes… Or at least make his trolling more obvious…
        
        framu …
        
        9 July 2013 at 12:47 pm
        
        oh his trolling is pretty obvious – it doesnt need any help 🙂
        
        but i will note that you didnt actually clarify anything, youve just posed the same logic question i did but with different names
        
        You_Fool …
        
        9 July 2013 at 2:33 pm
        
        i was replying to YES’s comment “you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis (sic) very outdated” by making the example more modern and NZ based; since YES seemed to miss the point of your quite obvious point.
        
        framu …
        
        9 July 2013 at 3:38 pm
        
        ahh – righto. My apologies – sometimes the reply chain gets a little confusing once it reaches its limit. 🙂
        
        felix …
        
        10 July 2013 at 4:55 am
        
        “Yes” didn’t miss anything.
        
        “Yes” is wasting your time.
      - Murray Olsen 9.3.1.2.2
        
        9 July 2013 at 11:41 pm
        
        I’d pick Mussolini over Hitler or Stalin. The food would be better. Or was that a trick question?
- the pigman 9.4
  
  10 July 2013 at 4:40 pm
  
  ^^ Oh, Yes. You’re very good at running the media/WO lines but in this case you seemed to be on the “coup rumor” du jour a lot faster than anyone else.
  
  I am really intrigued…
dave 10

8 July 2013 at 6:31 pm

we have in the bag even with a 30 percent failour rate we have the numbers. watch the might river share price thats the best opinion poll.
millsy 11

8 July 2013 at 10:24 pm

Should really put more effort into keeping the ones we have left.
georgecom 12

9 July 2013 at 11:03 pm

Can someone explain to me why a number of right wing contributors on this subject seem so worried about having a public vote on asset sales?

Surely if asset sales in such a good idea, Key has such a strong mandate and so many people are in favour, then a public vote would show that? Surely?

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This blog post is part 1 of a series of excerpts from The Debunking Handbook 2020. The list of references is available here. Misinformation can do damage Misinformation is false information that is spread either by mistake or with intent to mislead. When there is intent to mislead, it is ...
Skeptical Science
5 days ago

Not as a Christian, but as a New Zealander: Why I am voting against assisted suicide tomorrow.
I am no stranger to lost causes. And, while there is always hope, it does appear that David Seymour’s “End of Life Choice” law will receive the necessary endorsement of voters to finally legalise assisted suicide in this country. A significant minority of voters will dissent, however.I will be one ...
PunditBy Liam Hehir
5 days ago

Ardern reassures voters that Greens’ negotiating table will be a tiny, humiliating one
On the eve of the election, the Prime Minister wants New Zealanders to know the Greens will be given a very small seat at the table, quite literally. In the final hours of the campaign, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has made a forceful appeal to the electorate not to be ...
The CivilianBy admin
5 days ago

A Waste of Time: The Hundred “Best” Fantasy Books
Time Magazine has put out a list of the hundred best fantasy books of all time: https://time.com/collection/100-best-fantasy-books/ It is bad. Very bad. I get that this is clickbait nonsense, but… really. Time Magazine ought to be ashamed of themselves. Ostensibly, the selection process was as follows: ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
5 days ago

Big changes do stick
In one of her last pre-election interviews, Jacinda Ardern tries to defend her policy of doing nothing while in government: Ardern reflected on large changes made by Helen Clark’s government – particularly in education and welfare – that were still part of the system now, saying they prove smaller ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
5 days ago

Polls show regret for not voting Green
I have looked at election polling for last four elections and have noticed a concerning pattern. The Green Party's polling leading up to each election is stronger than what they actually achieve, then the poll immediately afterwards is always considerably higher. For most parties the opposite is generally the case. ...
Local Bodies
5 days ago

Climate Change: Planning to fail
Last year, the government passed the Zero Carbon Act, setting short-term and long-term goals for carbon reduction. And they're already saying that they will fail to meet them: Environment Minister David Parker appears to have already given up on the country’s ability to meet the 2030 methane goal set ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
5 days ago

Another issue Labour is ignoring its voters over
Jacinda Ardern is trying to rule out even discussing a wealth tax if she gets re-elected. But if she gets re-elected, it will be by voters who support one. A Newshub poll shows that nearly half of all voters - and 60% of labour supporters - support a wealth tax: ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
5 days ago

Scholarship Physics
It’s that time of year when school students become seriously focused on exams. This year has been messy for student learning, and has affected some students more than others, but the NCEA external assessments and the Scholarship exams are going ahead pretty-much as normal. I’ve taken some interest in the ...
SciBlogsBy Marcus Wilson
6 days ago

“Fitz” On Cannabis.
"I Like It!" “Shall I tell you the real reason to legalise cannabis? Because all the stuff I’ve told you, while true, isn’t enough. You should legalise cannabis because you’d like it. No, actually, you’d love it! Cannabis makes food taste better. It turns music into magic. It suppresses pain and nausea ...
Bowalley Road
6 days ago

Crusher fails to resonate
Judith Collins - National Party leaderYou can tell the National Party is in damage control mode most of the time these days. Instead of being able to provide any valid alternative to a Labour led Government, Judith Collins is going out of her way to be controversial just to get ...
The Jackal
6 days ago

A flaw in our electoral transparency regime II
Last month, we learned there was a flaw in our electoral transparency regime, with the New Zealand Public Party receiving a quarter of a million dollars in donations which will never have to be decalred. And now its got worse,as it turns out they're also explicitly soliciting donations from rich ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
6 days ago

“Entirely separate”
When two people whose identities we all know but cannot say publicly due to name suppression were charged with "Obtaining by Deception" over routing donations to NZ First through the NZ First Foundation, Winston Peters claimed his party had been exonerated because "The Foundation is an entirely separate entity from ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
6 days ago

Judith Collins' little green lies
New Zealand is not the United States, thank goodness. We don't have the same level of political partisanship nor public media outlets that blatantly display political bias. However, during the closing weeks of this campaign I do feel an infection of trumpism is evident. Judith Collins and her National Party ...
Local Bodies
7 days ago

Which ‘milk’ is best for the environment? We compared dairy, nut, soy, hemp and grain milks
Making eco-conscious choices at the shops can be tricky when we’re presented with so many options, especially when it comes to milk. Should we buy plant-based milk, or dairy? We’ve looked at the evidence to help you choose. Dora Marinova, Curtin University and Diana Bogueva, Curtin University Dairy has the ...
SciBlogsBy Guest Author
7 days ago

Josh Van Veen: The Psychology of Ardernism
Jacinda Ardern has made New Zealanders feel safe. Josh Van Veen looks at psychological understandings of leadership to help explain the ongoing success of Labour in this election campaign. Simon Bridges could have been the Prime Minister. Opinion polls in February suggested a close election, with Colmar Brunton giving the ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
7 days ago

Let's Make Jacinda Break Her Promises.
Make Her An Offer She Can't Refuse: Expecting Jacinda and her colleagues to break their promise not to introduce a Wealth Tax is not only unfair it is unwise. A consensus for change has never arisen out of a series of polite discussions - or base betrayals. A better New ...
Bowalley Road
7 days ago

Two days to go, 12 questions still worth asking
One last lap. One last crack. One last chance to boost your own policies or knock down your opponents. Tonight TVNZ hosts the final leaders’ debate and although over a million New Zealanders have voted and much of the policy debate seems to have stagnated around negative attacks, there are ...
PunditBy Tim Watkin
7 days ago

Possible inter-satellite collision on Friday
Two objects in low-Earth orbit may collide with each other on Friday, in a hyper-velocity impact which would lead to millions of fragments being left on-orbit, each potentially-lethal to functioning satellites. Fingers crossed (not that I am superstitious) that it is a miss, rather than a hit. One local ...
SciBlogsBy Duncan Steel
1 week ago

Do Elections Deliver What We Want?
MMP may deliver a parliament which reflects us, but frequently the government does not. At the heart of my recent history of New Zealand, Not in Narrow Seas, is the interaction between economic and social change. I could measure economic change via the – far from comprehensive – ...
PunditBy Brian Easton
1 week ago

Flailing last grasps bring lasting gasps in the NZ General Election…
The last week of the 2020 election here in New Zealand has been an increasingly torrid and venal affair has it not? Many expect the last week of any Election campaign to get considerably more tetchy, everyone is hurrying to nail the last voter down after all. But this ...
exhALANtBy exhalantblog
1 week ago

Skeptical Science New Research for Week #41, 2020
Zika follows climate Sadie Ryan and coauthors combine what we know about the Zika virus and its preferred regime with modeling to show the pathogen will greatly expand its range during the next few decades. We do have some remaining control over the situation. From the abstract: "In the ...
Skeptical Science
1 week ago

Does a delay in COP26 climate talks hit our efforts to reduce carbon emissions?
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz Will the delay of the COP26 UN climate negotiations impact ...
SciBlogsBy Guest Author
1 week ago

Where do the parties stand on open government?
The election is in less than a week, so I thought I'd take a quick look at where the parties stand on open government, freedom of information, and the OIA. The short answer is that most of them don't. While Andrew Little has "promised" to rewrite the OIA, there's no ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

The Second Time As Farce: National's Election Campaign Falls Apart.
The Mask Of Civility Is Removed: According to Politik’s editor, Richard Harman, Collins has become her own campaign manager. Now, as a lawyer, you might think that the Leader of the Opposition would be familiar with the old saying: “The lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client.” ...
Bowalley Road
1 week ago

National's Little Helpers have A Cunning Plan.
Keep Your hands Off Of My Stash: Viewed from the perspective of the 2020 General Election as a whole, the intervention of the Taxpayers’ Union against the Greens' Wealth Tax confirms the Right’s growing sense of desperation that the campaign is slipping away from them. With hundreds of thousands of ...
Bowalley Road
1 week ago

Covid-19: A planetary disease
Louise Delany* This blog focuses on the underlying environmental causes of Covid-19 (Covid) and the role of international law in tackling both Covid and other planetary crises. I argue that major changes to our relationship with our planet and its creatures are needed and these changes must be supported by ...
SciBlogsBy Public Health Expert
1 week ago

Liam Hehir: How to make your mind up
If you’re still on the fence about how to vote, Liam Hehir says it’s probably more important for you to vote on the basis of your principles, and he offers a way to think about how these principles might align with the main party options. Still undecided? Here’s how ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
1 week ago

What else apart from a Wealth Tax? The shape of a Labour-Greens coalition
If you haven’t heard, the Green Party supports a Wealth Tax. Yeah, I thought you might have heard of it. Everyone’s been talking about it on the campaign trail these past few days. It would force the wealthiest six percent of New Zealanders to pay a one percent tax each ...
PunditBy Tim Watkin
1 week ago

Time is slipping by for the fruit industry to improve wages
The covid-19 pandemic has meant a lot of changes for New Zealand. Lockdowns, social distancing, a massive shift to working from home and the death of tourism for a start. But the sensible and necessary border closure has also completely cut off the supply of cheap, migrant labour - and ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

A new low in American “democracy”
Every US election, we're used to seeing long lines of voters, and reading stories of widespread gerrymandering and voter suppression (including things like flyers falsely telling people their assigned polling place (!) has moved or that voting will be on a different day, and robocalls threatening that people will be ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

A suggestion for Biden’s foreign policy.
I have been thinking about US foreign policy after the upcoming election. My working assumption is that try as he might, Trump will lose the election and be forced from office. There will be much litigating of the results and likely civil unrest, but on Jan 21, 2021 the Orange ...
KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
1 week ago

Bleak views of melting Antarctic ice, from above and below
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Images from satellites high above the Earth have helped a research team put together a stark visual chronicle of decades of glacier disintegration in Antarctica. Meanwhile, a separate international research team has taken the opposite perspective – studying the ice ...
Skeptical Science
1 week ago

Five reasons I am voting for National (and why you should too)
Centre right voters have three realistic options this year.
PunditBy Liam Hehir
1 week ago

Graeme Edgeler: How to vote, and how to think about voting
Your choice of who to vote for could make a real difference. Electoral law expert Graeme Edgeler suggests you make an informed choice, and he goes through a variety of different ways to think about your voting options. The New Zealand general election is being held next Saturday, the ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
1 week ago

That School Debate: Tolkien, Shakespeare, and Anti-Stratfordianism
Today, I am responding to one Philip Lowe, who back in August 2019 produced an interesting but flawed piece, looking at the way in which Tolkien viewed Shakespeare: Tolkien and Shakespeare: Counterparts ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
1 week ago

Older posts

WATCH LIVE: Election Night 2020
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Labour Blog
4 days ago

Election Night Speech – Marama Davidson
Kia ora tātou kātoa. Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou Te Roopu Kakariki, ngā kaitautoko, e aroha ana I te kaupapa mo te taiao me te mokopuna. No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. I am so proud to be standing here tonight, at the end of an ...
Greens
4 days ago

Election Night Speech – James Shaw
On Election Night three years ago I stood up in front of you to say, “We are still here!” Well, tonight, not only are we still here, we are the first support party in MMP history to have started and finished a term in government above the 5% threshold. We ...
Greens
4 days ago

Greens only party with plan to meet scale of climate challenge
A new report showing that the effects of climate change are already being felt in Aotearoa New Zealand shows the importance of the Green Party pushing for urgent action in the next Government. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Green Party commits to stronger urban tree protection and no new mines on public conservation land
The Green Party is the only party in Parliament which is explicitly committing to protecting public conservation land and the indigenous plants and wildlife which live there, from destructive mining. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Vote still undecided? Watch this.
As of today, over 1.4 million New Zealanders have already cast their votes in this year’s election. While this shows that a huge number of people have already made up their minds about who they want to lead our country, there are many who are still undecided. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Labour's 2020 Election Manifesto
The Labour Party understands how important continuity, stability and clarity are for New Zealanders in these uncertain times. That’s why, in our 2020 Election Manifesto, we’re setting out how we will continue to invest in people, jobs, small businesses, infrastructure, and global trade, to set New Zealand up for the ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Green Party releases tourism policy
Today the Green Party’s conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage went kayaking on Akaroa Harbour to highlight the greater protection achieved for Hector’s and Maui dolphins this term and the Greens’ election commitment to supporting sustainable tourism. ...
Greens
1 week ago

National’s false ‘wealth tax’ claims: The “last roll of the misinformation dice”
“Collins has warned voters to expect a wealth tax. This is despite the fact Labour has ruled this out a number of times.” – Jason Walls, NZ Herald. “The Labour Party has ruled out implementing the Green Party's wealth tax.” – Henry Cooke, Stuff. “Labour has time and time again ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Week that was: Counting down to Election Day
It’s getting incredibly close to Election Day now – and over a million people have already cast their vote! ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Jacinda Ardern's Wellington Rally Speech
Jacinda Ardern delivers a rally speech at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Grant Robertson's Wellington Rally Speech
Grant Robertson delivers a rally speech at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Building a vibrant creative sector
The Green Party will push for better conditions, more certainty, and greater opportunities for New Zealand’s artists and creatives as part of the next Government, Co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw said today. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Greens promise continued action to reduce mental health waiting times
The Green Party is committed to reduce the waiting times people in mental distress have to put up with before they receive attention and get treatment. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Early voting is open
Did you know that early voting is open? That means you can go out and cast your vote right now - whether you've already enrolled or not. Almost 600,000 Kiwis have already voted, and you can join them! ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Greens would go further and faster for kauri protection
The Green Party says Labour’s commitment to protecting kauri is a good start, but the Greens would go further and faster to keep our kauri standing. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Greens would bring urban food farms to Auckland City
The Green Party will invest funding in community agriculture and urban food gardens in places like Auckland city centre. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Our next steps on climate change
We’re proud of our record on climate change. Since coming to Government we’ve put climate and the environment at the heart of all of our policies, as they are inextricable from issues like housing, agriculture, waste, energy and transport. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

10 days out: 10 reasons to vote Labour
With only ten days to go until Election Day, we’re counting down the top ten reasons you should vote Labour this October. Already voted? Share this list with friends and family who haven’t voted yet to encourage them to give two ticks to Labour! ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Greens welcome Labour’s climate commitments, will push for more action to match the scale of the c...
The Green Party welcomes Labour’s commitment to reduce climate emissions in the next term of Government, but would go further and faster to address the true scale of the crisis. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Greens call for independent review of Pharmac
The Green Party is calling for an independent review of Pharmac to ensure that there is proper equity around funding for medication for sick New Zealanders. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Labour’s record on Christchurch and Canterbury
From investing in health and education to getting key projects built, we’re proud of our record in Canterbury. We know there’s still more to do, but we’ve made a good start, and we’re committed to supporting the region as together, we respond to COVID-19. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Investing in the South Island
As part of our COVID recovery plan, we’re investing in shovel-ready infrastructure projects that not only create jobs across the South Island, but also help us build back better. From tackling climate change to strengthening our health system, we’re taking on the long-term challenges while keeping our economy moving. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

National versus Labour: Our record on Christchurch
The past decade has been tough for our second largest city. Unlike National, Labour’s backing the people of Christchurch so together, we can make it through COVID-19 and build back better. Here’s how National’s record on Christchurch compares to our progress so far. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

National’s economic plan a cruel blow for those on low incomes
The Green Party says National’s economic plan would devastate those earning the least, and further entrench poverty across our communities. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Greens welcome Labour’s commitment to ban conversion therapy, but want Office for Rainbow Communit...
The Green Party is pleased to see Labour commit to a long-standing Green stance of banning gay conversion therapy, as part of its Rainbow policy released today. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Green Party announces plan for net zero energy buildings
If re-elected, the Green Party would work towards net zero energy new buildings by 2030 in order to accelerate the transition to a low carbon future for Aotearoa and a cleaner, safer planet for our kids and grandkids. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Greens commit to protecting Kauri
If re-elected, the Green Party will focus $50 million of the existing Jobs for Nature package to keep Aotearoa’s iconic kauri forests standing. “Kauri are an incredibly important taonga for Aotearoa and the Greens want to go further and faster to keep them healthy and standing,” said Green Party ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Week that was: Health, housing and early voting
It was a big week of policy announcements as Jacinda and the Labour team hit the road to let New Zealanders know about our plan to keep New Zealand moving. From snow down south to our day of action, here are this week’s highlights from the campaign trail. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Greens welcome Labour Housing Plan, will push to clear the public housing waiting list in five years
The Green Party welcomes the Labour Party’s plan to continue delivering more public houses whilst ensuring more New Zealanders have a chance of owning a home. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Greens must be at table during RMA reform to protect environment
The Green Party welcomes Labour’s commitment to reform the Resource Management Act, but says a Green voice is crucial to ensure the environment is not put at risk. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

NZ announces a third P-3 deployment in support of UN sanctions
The Government has deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea, announced Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark. “New Zealand has long supported ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Pacific trade and development agreement a reality
Pacific regional trade and development agreement PACER Plus will enter into force in 60 days now that the required eight countries have ratified it. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker welcomed the announcement that the Cook Islands is the eighth nation to ratify this landmark agreement. “The agreement represents ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Securing a pipeline of teachers
The Government is changing its approach to teacher recruitment as COVID-19 travel restrictions continue, by boosting a range of initiatives to get more Kiwis into teaching. “When we came into Government, we were faced with a teacher supply crisis,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Over the past three years, we ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Border exceptions for a small number of international students with visas
The Government has established a new category that will allow 250 international PhD and postgraduate students to enter New Zealand and continue their studies, in the latest set of border exceptions. “The health, safety and wellbeing of people in New Zealand remains the Government’s top priority. Tight border restrictions remain ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

First COVID-19 vaccine purchase agreement signed
The Government has signed an agreement to purchase 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccines – enough for 750,000 people – from Pfizer and BioNTech, subject to the vaccine successfully completing all clinical trials and passing regulatory approvals in New Zealand, say Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods and Health Minister Chris Hipkins. ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

International statement – End-to-end encryption and public safety
We, the undersigned, support strong encryption, which plays a crucial role in protecting personal data, privacy, intellectual property, trade secrets and cyber security. It also serves a vital purpose in repressive states to protect journalists, human rights defenders and other vulnerable people, as stated in the 2017 resolution of the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Ministry of Defence Biodefence Assessment released
The Ministry of Defence has today released a Defence Assessment examining Defence’s role across the spectrum of biological hazards and threats facing New Zealand. Biodefence: Preparing for a New Era of Biological Hazards and Threats looks at how the NZDF supports other agencies’ biodefence activities, and considers the context of ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

New Approaches to Economic Challenges: Confronting Planetary Emergencies: OECD 9 October 2020
New Approaches to Economic Challenges: Confronting Planetary Emergencies: OECD 9 October 2020 Hon David Parker’s response following Thomas Piketty and Esther Duflo. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, wherever in the world you might be. I first acknowledge the excellent thought provoking speeches of Thomas Piketty and Esther ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Kaipara Moana restoration takes next step
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today at Waihāua Marae between the Crown, local iwi and councils to protect, restore and enhance the mauri of Kaipara Moana in Northland. Environment Minister David Parker signed the document on behalf of the Crown along with representatives from Ngā Maunga Whakahī, Ngāti ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

New Zealand and Uruguay unite on reducing livestock production emissions
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Uruguayan Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Carlos María Uriarte have welcomed the launch of a three-year project that will underpin sustainable livestock production in Uruguay, Argentina, and Costa Rica. The project called ‘Innovation for pasture management’ is led by Uruguay’s National Institute of Agricultural ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

3100 jobs created through marae upgrades
Hundreds of marae throughout the country will be upgraded through investments from the Provincial Growth Fund’s refocused post COVID-19 funding to create jobs and put money into the pockets of local tradespeople and businesses, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced. “A total ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Health volunteers recognised in annual awards
Health Minister Chris Hipkins has announced 9 teams and 14 individuals are the recipients of this year’s Minister of Health Volunteer Awards. “The health volunteer awards celebrate and recognise the thousands of dedicated health sector volunteers who give many hours of their time to help other New Zealanders,” Mr Hipkins ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Community COVID-19 Fund supports Pacific recovery
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio says a total of 264 groups and individuals have successfully applied for the Pacific Aotearoa Community COVID-19 Recovery Fund, that will support Pacific communities drive their own COVID-19 recovery strategies, initiatives, and actions. “I am keen to see this Fund support Pacific ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Community benefits from Māori apprenticeships
Up to 50 Māori apprentices in Wellington will receive paid training to build houses for their local communities, thanks to a $2.75 million investment from the Māori Trades and Training Fund, announced Employment Minister Willie Jackson today. “This funding will enable Ngāti Toa Rangatira Incorporated to provide its Ngā Kaimahi ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Training fund supports Māori jobseekers
Rapidly growing sectors will benefit from a $990,000 Māori Trades and Training Fund investment which will see Wellington jobseekers supported into work, announced Employment Minister Willie Jackson today. “This funding will enable Sapphire Consultants Ltd. to help up to 45 Māori jobseekers into paid training initiatives over two years through ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Ruakura Inland Port development vital infrastructure for Waikato
The Government is investing $40 million to develop an inland port at Ruakura which will become a freight super-hub and a future business, research and residential development for the Waikato, Urban Development and Transport Minister Phil Twyford, and Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The funding has been has ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Appointments made to Defence Expert Review Group
Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today the establishment of an Expert Review Group to review a number of aspects of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) structure, information management and record-keeping processes. The Expert Review Group’s work arises out of the first recommendation from the Report of the Government’s Inquiry ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

No active community cases of COVID-19
There are no active community cases of COVID-19 remaining in the country after the last people from the recent outbreak have recovered from the virus, Health Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “This is a big milestone. New Zealanders have once again through their collective actions squashed the virus. The systems ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Clean energy upgrade for more public buildings
More public buildings will be supported by the Government to upgrade to run on clean energy, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. Minister Shaw announced that Lincoln and Auckland universities will receive support through the Clean-Powered Public Service Fund to replace fossil fuel boilers. Southern, Taranaki, and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Schools back donations scheme for the second year
More schools have opted in to the donations scheme for 2021, compared to 2020 when the scheme was introduced. “The families of more than 447,000 students will be better off next year, with 94% of eligible schools and kura opting into the scheme,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. “This is ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Ruapehu cycle trails gets PGF boost
The spectacular Mountains to Sea cycle trail in Ruapehu District will receive $4.6 million in funding from the Provincial Growth Fund for two additional trails, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This is an exciting development for the local community, and one that will provide significant economic opportunities ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Update to air border order strengthens crew requirements
Additional measures coming into effect on Monday will boost our defence against COVID-19 entering New Zealand through the air border, Health Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “As part of our precautionary approach and strategy of constant review, we’re tightening the requirements around international aircrew,” Chris Hipkins said. The COVID-19 Public ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

A true picture of Māori business activity
A better picture of the contribution Māori businesses make to the economy will be possible with changes to the way information is collected about companies and trading enterprises. Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash have announced a new option for Māori enterprises who are part ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

PGF funding for Taranaki projects
The South Taranaki museum, a New Plymouth distillery and a Pasifika building firm will benefit from a Government investment totalling more than $1 million, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. The $1.05m in grants and loans from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will help the recipients expand and create ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Fijian Language Week 2020 inspires courage and strength during COVID-19 pandemic
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio says the theme for the 2020 Fijian Language Week reflects the strong belief by Fijians that their language and culture inspires courage and strength that is strongly needed in times of emergencies, or through a significant challenge like the global COVID-19 pandemic ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Trades training builds on iwi aspirations
An investment of $2.025 million from the Māori Trades and Training Fund will support Māori to learn new skills while making a positive difference for their communities, announced Employment Minister Willie Jackson today. “K3 Development Limited Partnership will receive $2,025,000 for its Takitimu Tuanui apprenticeship programme, which will support the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Taskmaster NZ proves we can do panel comedy as well as the Brits
New Zealanders love Taskmaster UK. But will they warm to the homegrown version? Guy Williams is doing his best to amp up the crowd, while Angella Dravid sits quietly alongside with her usual look of both discomfort and amusement. Leigh Hart has that wry smirk on his face that viewers of ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
4 hours ago

At the highwater mark with little wriggle room
This Government’s work, its future successes and its failures, will now all sit fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the Labour Party. ...
Newsroom
5 hours ago

The US is taking on Google in a huge antitrust case. It could change the face of online search
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katharine Kemp, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, UNSW, and Academic Lead, UNSW Grand Challenge on Trust, UNSW The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google for unlawful monopolisation. The department says Google’s conduct harms competition and consumers, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

Wāhine grab chance to have voice at the council table
Local government in Wairarapa is no longer the "pale, stale male" environment it once was, according to a recent survey. ...
Radio NZ – political
6 hours ago

NSW wants to change rules on suspending and expelling students. How does it compare to other states?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Sullivan, Associate Professor of Education, University of South Australia The disability royal commission heard from experts last week on the disproportionate number of students with a disability who have been suspended or expelled from school for “problem behaviour”. The commission’s public ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

Greater needs, but poorer access to services: why COVID mental health measures must target disadvant...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graham Meadows, Professor of Adult Psychiatry, Monash University COVID-19 outbreaks and the resulting lockdowns, particularly in Victoria, have adversely affected many people’s mental health. Social isolation, financial stress, and anxiety about contracting COVID-19 can all contribute to psychological distress. For some people, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

NSW needs to prohibit religious discrimination, but not like this
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Elphick, Adjunct Research Fellow, Law School, University of Western Australia It has long been a glaring problem that the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Act (ADA) does not prohibit religious discrimination. One Nation’s Mark Latham recently proposed a new Religious Discrimination Bill. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
7 hours ago

The redemption of Hine-nui-te-pō
An extract from Witi Ihimaera’s new book Navigating the Stars: Māori creation myths.This is an abridged passage of a deeply empathetic section analysing the life story of Hine-nui-te-pō, who crushed Māui to death with her vulva. At the end of the book, Ihimaera argues that Hine-nui-te-pō should be instated to ...
The SpinoffBy Witi Ihimaera
8 hours ago

Green Party: 'Fruitful discussions … further discussions to have'
The Green Party says there is a negotiation going on with the Labour Party, but there are more discussions to be had. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

The online support club that helps the newly redundant through a scary time
Covid-19 has shoved New Zealand’s economy into recession, prompting a whole lot of businesses to downsize and slash their workforce. That’s why a support club has been formed to help the newly unemployed to get back on their feet.Redundancy can hit like a ton of bricks. The shock, uncertainty, the ...
The SpinoffBy Shabnam Dastgheib
8 hours ago

Police Continue To Ignore Their Own Pursuits Policy
A police crash during a pursuit in Masterton in the early hours of Wednesday morning suggests the police are simply ignoring their own pursuits policy, says the car review website dogandlemon.com . Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety ...
Scoop politics
8 hours ago

Green Party provide update after election results
The Green Party is speaking to media amid speculation over possible negotiations about a coalition deal. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Houses (and their prohibitive prices) will be high in Ardern’s considerations as she appoints her ...
One of the strange outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the surge in house prices, not just in Auckland but through the rest of the country. It’s a phenomenon that runs contrary to past experience when the economy has slipped into recession. Many authorities say booming house prices are ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
9 hours ago

Calls for Labour to fast-track child poverty mandate
Anti-poverty campaigners are urging Labour to move fast and use its massive electoral support to forcefully tackle inequality. ...
Radio NZ – political
9 hours ago

Indigenous leadership presents a new way of looking at the changed world
Don Rowe meets the post-graduate students putting tikanga and kaupapa Māori at the centre of learning how to lead. The planet is in trouble. Since the time of the industrial revolution, the Western world has become increasingly enthralled and enchanted by the pursuit of economic and individualistic success. Power, prestige, and ...
The SpinoffBy Don Rowe
9 hours ago

The tale of ‘habitual criminal’ William King: a Black life in Victoria’s white justice system
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alana Piper, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney The Black Lives Matters movement in the United States and Australia has drawn welcome attention to Black deaths in the criminal justice system. Such fatalities are extreme manifestations of a long history of ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
9 hours ago

Review: The Vow takes a deep dive into the cesspit of the NXIVM cult
Just a few years ago, few people had heard of the self-help group/cult of personality known as NXIVM. Now the dark story has gone global, thanks to an eight-part docuseries that debuts on Neon today. This review contains mild spoilers for The Vow.What is it that white people love so ...
The SpinoffBy Jean Sergent
9 hours ago

Video: Death of a toddler – Mel Reid investigates
How did 3-year-old Lachie Jones really meet his death? Mysterious circumstances, improbable theories and a once-over-lightly police investigation spark calls for a new inquiry into how little Lachie Jones died in Gore last year. Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner report. *Watch the full story in the video player below* ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Whakatōhea Settlement Another Step Closer
The Waitangi Tribunal decision to decline an urgent hearing into the Crown's decision to continue treaty negotiations with the Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust is another step forward for the Whakatōhea Settlement. "We are pleased with ...
Scoop politics
10 hours ago

Calls for an ABC-run social network to replace Facebook and Google are misguided. With what money?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona R Martin, Associate Professor in Convergent and Online Media, University of Sydney If Facebook prevented Australian news from being shared on its platform, could the ABC start its own social media service to compensate? While this proposal from the Australia Institute ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
10 hours ago

A loss of ‘Fijian’ identity – or no identity at all – in Aotearoa
By Sri Krishnamurthi “No matter how we come to be in Fiji, or how long we have been here …we all part of the land. It is the land of our birth or land of our adoption, the land to which we belong” – The late archbishop Petero Mataca. When ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
10 hours ago

Decisive Victory of MAS in Bolivia: A Blow to Anti-Indigenous and Anti-Socialist Coups in the Americ...
Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage By William CamacaroFrom Caracas The decisive electoral victory of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) in Bolivia may be a point of inflection on the continent that advances the construction of a new South American socialist bloc. After having been removed from ...
Evening ReportBy Evening Report
12 hours ago

Podcast documents first-hand witness of the Senkata Massacre in Bolivia
Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage Francesca Emanuele is a Peruvian journalist and a Ph.D. student of Anthropology at American University in Washington, DC. She interviewed a first-hand witness of the Senkata Massacre, that took place on November 19th, 2020, days after the overthrow of Evo Morales, ...
Evening ReportBy Evening Report
12 hours ago

With a mandate to govern NZ alone, Labour must now decide what it really stands for
ANALYSIS: By David Hall, Auckland University of Technology A pandemic can change the foundations of a society. But if this happens in New Zealand over the next three years, it will be for reasons beyond the control of the sixth Labour government. When it comes to the fundamental structure of ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
12 hours ago

Jornal Independente wins annual ‘best media’ award in Timor-Leste
By Jose Sarito Amaral in Balibo The Jornal Independente newspaper has been awarded Timor-Leste’s mediaoutlet of the year prize in the National Press Council’s 2019 awards. Rigoberto Monteiro, executive director of Timor-Leste’s Press Council, said the Independente took out the award because of the quality of its stories and “strict ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
12 hours ago

Sediment, jobs and mauri – Minister responds to questions about measuring progress on Kaipara clea...
We found nothing new, in our daily check of the Beehive website. But we can report the reply to questions that were raised in an announcement from Environment Minister David Parker (which we noted at the time) earlier this month. The announcement was headed Kaipara Moana restoration takes next step. ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
12 hours ago

New Zealand’s gluten-free bread, reviewed and ranked
A definitive answer to a burning question: what is the best gluten-free bread of them all?Outside of coeliac circles, not many people know that gluten-free bread is actually better than regular bread. It’s true.* After years of fastidious experimentation and perfecting, gluten-free bakers have now produced a product vastly superior ...
The SpinoffBy Michael Andrew
12 hours ago

Voting patterns are more volatile than ever and will bring a stark test for Labour
What is vote volatility and how will it affect the Labour Party over the next three years? Jack Vowles, professor of political science, explains.As the dust begins to settle after the 2020 election, a new electoral landscape becomes visible. It is remarkably different from the one before. One way to ...
The SpinoffBy Jack Vowles
13 hours ago

Agreement Better Than Division
A prominent Northland principal is raising concerns with the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF), suggesting its proposal to establish a breakaway principals’ union is misleading, divisive and would likely worsen outcomes for principals. Pat ...
Scoop politics
13 hours ago

Meet the duo behind some of The Beths’ coolest music videos
After a lockdown spent creating stop motion in their laundry, Sports Team is now nominated for an Aotearoa Music Artisan award. The duo talk to The Spinoff about making music videos.The first music video Annabel Kean and Callum Devlin made was accidental. It happened on a date, wandering around Auckland ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Webb-Liddall
13 hours ago

Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 21 2020
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Election Jack Vowles (The Conversation): The 2020 NZ election saw record vote volatility — what does that mean for the next Labour government? Jason Walls and Chris ...
Evening ReportBy Bryce Edwards
14 hours ago

Bicultural, bilingual, bijural: A plan for a new model of legal education in Aotearoa
OPINION: It is time to integrate tikanga Māori into law schools to create a truly bicultural legal system, writes University of Otago law professor Jacinta Ruru. I see, hear, feel racism. Every day. Each morning, I begin my trek from carpark to office, walking across the campus lawns, alongside the Ōwheo ...
The SpinoffBy Jacinta Ruru
14 hours ago

Greens better off independent – Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty
Catherine Delahunty says the party does not have the leverage to form a government with Labour and is better off pushing for change from opposition. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

Winning election a 'big ask' – National leader Judith Collins
Judith Collins is looking to the future where she envisions herself as leader, and the party as the best opposition ever. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

Trump has changed America by making everything about politics, and politics all about himself
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Senior Lecturer in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney On October 14, Donald Trump held a rally attended by several thousand in Iowa, despite White House guidelines that gatherings in the state should be limited ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Despite more than 30 major inquiries, governments still haven’t fixed aged care. Why are they gett...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eileen Webb, Professor of Law and Ageing, UniSA: Justice and Society, University of South Australia This article is part of our series on aged care. You can read the other articles in the series here. Australia’s aged care sector has been ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Why more housing stimulus will be needed to sustain recovery
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Rowley, Professor; School of Economics, Finance and Property, and Director, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Curtin Research Centre, Curtin University In response to the COVID-19 recession, federal, state and territory governments quickly provided support to the housing industry for two ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Mathias Cormann wants to lead the OECD. The choice it makes will be pivotal
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Blundell-Wignall, Adjunct Professor, School of Economics, University of Sydney My old OECD boss Secretary General (SG) Angel Gurria’s third term is coming to an end and the race is on to replace him. Australia’s departing finance minister Mathias Cormann will face ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

We vibrated earthworms to learn about safely connecting human brains to computers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ivan Maksymov, Australian Research Council Future Fellow (Senior Lecturer), Swinburne University of Technology This year, my colleague Andrey Pototsky and I were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for our experimental work involving vibrating living earthworms. The Ig Nobel Prizes are ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

When too much news is bad news: is the way we consume news detrimental to our health?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evita March, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Federation University Australia Humans are curious and social creatures by nature. The news helps us make sense of the world around us and connects us with our local, national and international community. So it’s no wonder ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Food, tools and medicine: 5 native plants that illuminate deep Aboriginal knowledge
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zena Cumpston, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Over countless millennia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have harnessed the tremendous potential of plants, ingeniously using them for medicines, nutrition, to express our culture and to develop innovative technologies. But as I learn ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Guide to the classics: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier — gender, gothic haunting and gaslighting
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Gildersleeve, Associate Professor of English Literature, University of Southern Queensland A small group of novels are famous for their first lines: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), Herman Melville’s Moby Dick (1851) and Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina (1877). Rebecca by Daphne ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Live updates, October 21: Labour-Green coalition off the table – report
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 21. All the latest New Zealand news, updated throughout the day. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.45am: Labour-Green coalition off the table – reportA Newshub report last night suggests that the chances of a formal coalition deal between Labour and the Greens are slipping ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
16 hours ago

Forget Ardern v Collins, it's Trump v Biden that matters
Why the US election is more critical for our financial markets than our own one. ...
Newsroom
16 hours ago

The Bulletin: Climate change already happening, says new report
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: New report shows climate change already affecting New Zealand, new crop of managed isolation Covid cases, and National leader and ousted electorate MPs all staying on.As promised, today’s Bulletin will cover the government’s new climate change report, called Our Atmosphere ...
The SpinoffBy Alex Braae
17 hours ago

Govt seeks to buy up motels for Christmas
With the election over, there's a renewed drive to lease or purchase hotels for transitional housing – but industry leaders warn it is simply subsidising the tourism industry without fixing the crisis in homelessness. ...
Newsroom
17 hours ago

Business & Investing: RBNZ's shot across the property market
The Reserve Bank warns that it could act if house prices are driven by high leverage loans or investors rather than households, plus business sentiment improves ...
Newsroom
17 hours ago

Why standing apart is good for the Greens
Labour not seeking a formal coalition with the Greens might actually be good for the minor party. David Williams reports The Green Party has overcome several fears in recent months, chief among them a potential blowback from the Green School debacle, and not making the five percent MMP threshold. Its ...
Newsroom
17 hours ago

Not in the cloud yet? Here are 5 reasons why you should be
The potential for disaster - fire, earthquakes and the Covid-19 pandemic – are all reasons for organisations to think about moving operations into the cloud. Many companies had to do it because of the Christchurch earthquakes and the recent lockdowns. But there are other advantages too. Vodafone NZ’s Glenn Johnstone ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

Emma Espiner on Māori women owning the written word
Newsroom columnist Emma Espiner delivered the following speech at Waitohu: Women Reclaiming The Ink, a celebration of mana wāhine hosted by the National Library He kārakia tēnei nā Stacey Morrison Karanga karanga te rangi e tū nei Karanga karanga te papa e takoto nei Rārangahia mai te ira ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

How did 3 year-old Lachie really meet his death?
WATCH: the Melanie Reid investigation here: Mysterious circumstances, improbable theories and a once-over-lightly police investigation spark calls for a new inquiry into how little Lachie Jones died in Gore last year. Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner report. Death by drowning. Case closed, according to the police. But the discovery of a ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

How did 3-year-old Lachie really meet his death?
WATCH: the Melanie Reid investigation here: Mysterious circumstances, improbable theories and a once-over-lightly police investigation spark calls for a new inquiry into how little Lachie Jones died in Gore last year. Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner report. Death by drowning. Case closed, according to the police. But the discovery of a ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

Labour's red wave hits Parliament as National soul searching begins
The first caucus meetings since Labour's thumping election win brought boundless joy for Jacinda Ardern and her team, but the beginnings of soul searching for National and Judith Collins Analysis: The newly enlarged Labour caucus streamed into their meeting room on Tuesday morning - or perhaps flooded was the more ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

A 'girl and her wolf' attack the Coastal Classic
She brought back a once-mighty trimaran from the dead, and now 'still green' sailor Liz Alonzi is about to race Timberwolf in one of the world's iconic coastal yacht races. Liz Alonzi lovingly calls her “Wolfy… with a Y” – the unmistakable bright green trimaran with a snarling wolf on her bow, sitting ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

Solved: The mystery of Nick Smith’s ‘jam and scones’ election billboard
It was the campaign we could have all got behind: strong tea, more jam, better scones. How the heck did that sign end up on Nick Smith’s wall? When One News interviewed National Party candidate Nick Smith at his Nelson party headquarters during Saturday night’s election coverage, it seemed like just ...
The SpinoffBy Tara Ward
18 hours ago

The only two words at parliament this week: no comment
The election is over and three of parliament’s parties have retreated behind closed doors, reports Justin Giovannetti.Parliament has entered, on the surface at least, a post-election hibernation. The government is in caretaker mode, barred from making major decisions, while party leaders eager for attention just days ago now have nothing ...
The SpinoffBy Justin Giovannetti
18 hours ago

Wringing the truth from those who sheltered abusers
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in state care has been hearing some harrowing evidence - but an investigation by journalist Aaron Smale published in Newsroom recently has revealed just how difficult it's been to lever the truth out of the institutions that sheltered abusers. There are some harrowing and ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

Building up, squashing in
A growing population, cities straining at the edges, and everyone wants a back yard for the kids. Or do they? We may have reached the stage where a change of mindset is helping to house people. RNZ's Māori Strategy manager Shannon Haunui-Thompson recently bought her first ever home - and ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

Wildlife rules for private land queried by owners and businesses
A policy aimed to protect indigenous wildlife is on its final dash to the finish line. Public support is strong, but landowners and industry still have concerns. ...
Newsroom
18 hours ago

Covid-19 outbreak among Russian fishers at NZ isolation facility
Sealord responds to international fishers covid-19 outbreak at Christchurch MIQ. Video: RNZBy RNZ News Some 11 cases of covid-19 have been confirmed at a New Zealand managed isolation facility (MIQ) in Christchurch, with another 14 possible cases being investigated. The Ministry of Health said last night it was investigating after ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
22 hours ago

The 2020 NZ election saw record vote volatility — what does that mean for the next Labour governme...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Vowles, Professor of Political Science, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington As the dust begins to settle after the 2020 election, a new electoral landscape becomes visible. It is remarkably different from the one before. One way to put ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Melburnians will soon be able to have 2 visitors per day. It’s far riskier than an exclusive bubbl...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary-Louise McLaws, Professor of Epidemiology Healthcare Infection and Infectious Diseases Control, UNSW Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday a further easing of coronavirus restrictions, as Victoria’s 14-day average of new daily cases continues to trend downwards. Among the changes, Melburnians were ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Tears, goodbyes and silver trays for departing National MPs
It was haere rā to a massive chunk of National's caucus on Monday, after the blue bloodbath at the weekend. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

What happens if electorate candidates are tied after the election
It's never happened before, but if an electorate ends up with the candidates tied, the Electoral Commission "must determine by lot which of those candidates is to be elected". ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Another building-site death adds to demands for industrial manslaughter laws
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bobbie Oliver, Honorary Research Fellow, Humanities, University of Western Australia The death of 23-year-old apprentice Jonnie Hartshorn on a Perth university building site is the 23rd workplace fatality among construction workers in Australia in 2020. Hartshorn was killed on October 13 after ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Voting for first time at 37 years old: 'I felt really good after it'
Inspired by the work Labour has done in Bay of Plenty, 37-year-old Chris Graham cast a vote for the first time on Saturday. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

New Zealand's new LGBTQ MPs make Parliament most rainbow in world
Eleven LGBTQ people won seats in the weekend's election - that's 9.16 percent of the 120 MPs. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

View from The Hill: Morrison says he wants to run full term, and there are good reasons to believe h...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra We don’t have to credit Scott Morrison’s claim at Tuesday’s Coalition joint party room meeting that an election is the furthest thing from his mind, but we can take at face value his indication he ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Parliament still packed with lawyers – but is that a bad thing?
Analysis - The new Parliament might be the most diverse in history, but some things remain the same, including the high number of lawyers who have just been elected, Craig Stephen writes. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi arrives at Parliament in style
The Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi - donning a white cowboy hat - touched down at Parliament today for the first time since winning the Waiariki electorate. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

My best worst film: dubbed a crass Adam Sandler comedy, Click is a deep meditation on relationships
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jo Li Tay, Lecturer, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University In a new series, our writers explore their best worst film. They’ll tell you what the critics got wrong – and why it’s time to give these movies another ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Defending state abuse: Follow the money
The cost to the Crown of fighting claims by victims of abuse in state care is finally revealed before a Royal Commission. Aaron Smale calculates where most of the money went As Deep Throat would say, follow the money. There were likely to be a few people gagging as they ...
Newsroom
1 day ago

As the Queensland campaign passes the halfway mark, the election is still Labor’s to lose
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Williams, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities, Griffith University We’re at the mid-point of the Queensland election campaign. Pre-polling opened on Monday, with about two million Queenslanders expected to vote before election day on October 31. But with just 12 days to ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Tofiga isn’t sorry about it
Tofiga Fepulea’i is back on stage with some comedic relief in a truly dismal year. Tofiga Fepulea’i cracks up as we discuss some of the trends he’s clicked onto.First, there’s the fitness buzz. Anyone who follows the Laughing Sāmoans comedian online will have seen the videos he posts of he ...
The SpinoffBy Teuila Fuatai
1 day ago

Two High Court of Australia judges will be named soon – unlike Amy Coney Barrett, we know nothing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joe McIntyre, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of South Australia Many Americans were riveted last week by the at times absurd confirmation hearing for US Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The death in mid-September of Ruth Bader Ginsburg thrust the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago