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Comment: Where Is the Resistance to Privatisation and Austerity?
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:43 pm, March 12th, 2025
The link to the asset sales protests is not an accurate comparison. The timeline then was: 1) Key rules out asset sales in 1st term. 2) Key proposes asset sales in 2nd term. 3) Key wins 2nd term (for various other reasons but not asset sales, where polls ...Comment: Open mike 11/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 4:11 pm, March 11th, 2025
Usual caveats, it's only Roy Morgan, but still ... the same story in every poll now: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9863-nz-national-voting-intention-february-2025 Trend down for Luxon & co.Comment: Labour to campaign on tax reform
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:15 pm, March 11th, 2025
Cutting the regressive GST isn't neo-liberalism. Switching tax burden from work to property isn't neo-liberalism. Which is why I mentioned them.Comment: Open mike 10/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 5:35 pm, March 10th, 2025
But even an Aussie "spill" includes the nomination of candidates and revealing the actual voting numbers. History here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_spill When National pick a new leader they refuse point-blank to even tell the public what the ...Comment: Open mike 10/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 2:24 pm, March 10th, 2025
Canada's Liberals have a new leader, and new PM to be. And guess what? The leader was chosen by ... a party leadership election! Yes, that's how it's done in the vast majority of democracies around the world, including Right-wing parties like the UK Tories ...Comment: Open mike 10/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 2:05 pm, March 10th, 2025
And an amusing aside on that poll ... it tells us 8.6% want Winston to be PM, but only 5.1% want to vote NZF. You wonder what those extra 3.5% are thinking ... vote National, get Winston as PM?Comment: Labour to campaign on tax reform
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:41 pm, March 10th, 2025
Labour must sell a tax cut. There are several options (e.g. a cut in GST, reversing Key's increase, or as others have suggested, income tax at the bottom). And/or they could offer a radical indirect saving, like free dental care (see the Greens 2023). But ...Comment: Open mike 10/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:25 pm, March 10th, 2025
I wish they'd hurry up and roll him, because Luxon can give the opposition a false sense of security. When you're facing the worst and most unpopular new PM this century (and arguably, in NZ polling history) then you're going to poll well without saying or ...Comment: Another blow against decency and truth: the flourishing of evil.
Written By: observer - Date published: 6:40 pm, March 8th, 2025
Yes, Peters aligns himself with Trump (and not just on foreign policy). It's shameful. But the famous old definition of an ambassador is "somebody sent abroad to lie for his country". Goff's job was to represent a terrible government. He didn't resign on ...Comment: Another blow against decency and truth: the flourishing of evil.
Written By: observer - Date published: 4:59 pm, March 8th, 2025
Goff overstepped. He was foolish. But really the only question here, once we strip away all the posturing and political theatre, is ... "Would he have been sacked if Peters/Luxon really wanted to keep him?". If he was important, to them. Of course not. A ...Comment: Luxon’s Untenable Grasp
Written By: observer - Date published: 4:46 pm, March 8th, 2025
... them". I wouldn't. It's just observing the obvious. Seymour is a [ ...Comment: Open mike 06/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 4:36 pm, March 6th, 2025
Goff probably overstepped, though that seems like a lesser crime than kissing Trump's butt. He'll have both public opinion (now) and (later) history on his side. A bigger story, which continues a familiar narrative, is that yet again the "PM in name only" ...Comment: Blink twice if you are being held hostage
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:30 pm, March 5th, 2025
Always remember that John Key, that sensible moderate guy with a great grasp of economics, endorsed Trump in 2024. Next time he does another jokey blokey photo-op, perhaps a reporter could ask why he wanted a global trade war. (And if his answer is "Oh, I ...Comment: Open mike 04/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 6:29 pm, March 4th, 2025
It's still early at this stage, but it's pretty clear that there's some careful distancing from Seymour going on. When National replace Luxon the message to the swing voters will be "new management, not beholden to Seymour, centre-right, nice Nats, you can ...Comment: Daily review 04/03/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 5:38 pm, March 4th, 2025
Obviously "marmite sandwich" will lead the news tonight (see 6 pm, shortly). But a bigger point is being missed. It's not what kids should have for lunch, but what Luxon promised they would have. (You could argue for a right-wing, small government approach ...Comment: Radio NZ’s bizarre handling of the Bayly fiasco
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:34 pm, February 26th, 2025
There's a transcript here. The man is just weird. Stubborn, stupid. https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2025/02/26/mediawatch-luxon-train-wreck-interview-with-mike-hosking-is-so-embarrassing-it-hurts/Comment: Radio NZ’s bizarre handling of the Bayly fiasco
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:33 pm, February 26th, 2025
Luxon can lose RNZ, but much worse, he has now lost Mike Hosking (see NZ Herald, Stuff etc). That's fatal for a National PM. And there's no indication at all that Luxon learns from these media failures. He doesn't change his robotic, repetitive ...Comment: Daily review 24/02/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 10:15 pm, February 24th, 2025
And for the record, Ardern visited the Cook Islands shortly after taking office, when she was pregnant and derided by the Nats as the "part time PM". The super dynamic man-gets-things-done not-pregnant PM Luxon hasn't bothered going there yet. https://www. ...Comment: Bayly goneburger
Written By: observer - Date published: 3:54 pm, February 24th, 2025
Summary of the day: Bayly: "I resign". Reporters: "What happened?" Bayly: "Not saying, that's all. Bye." Reporters to Luxon: "What happened?" Luxon: "What he said." So inept it's laughable.Comment: Bayly goneburger
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:59 pm, February 24th, 2025
Bayly has just given a very brief and meaningless press conference - not even that, a couple of Qs and then walks away, after reading the same statement word-for-word that is already in the media. Another one who "doesn't get it". Talk like a robot, say ...Comment: Bayly goneburger
Written By: observer - Date published: 1:24 pm, February 24th, 2025
If you tell NZ citizens who have been here for decades to "go back to [wherever]" then you stay in Luxon's cabinet. No problem, says the PM. On that scale, Bayly must have done something really bad. Or (and we can guess this is the real story) what he did ...Comment: Open mike 14/02/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 2:23 pm, February 14th, 2025
Back when the Director-General of Health was Ashley Bloomfield and the PM was competent, a common response from the Right to the life-saving competence was ... "oh, it's not that hard, it would have happened anyway if our lot had been in power". The D-G ...Comment: Open mike 14/02/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 2:11 pm, February 14th, 2025
The flaw in Hooton's musings is that historically NZF has only switched sides after a bust-up with the Nat/Lab governing party and a spell in opposition, or even out of Parliament completely. 1999 - below 5%, holds an electorate (Tauranga), then 6 years in ...Comment: Daily review 10/02/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 8:05 pm, February 10th, 2025
As usual, TVNZ (1 News) bury the lede even when reporting on their own poll. Do they really have no memory of previous PMs, or the ability to Google results in their own polls? The story is right there, but they miss it, while doing meaningless vox pops ...Comment: Leadership D.O.A.
Written By: observer - Date published: 4:51 pm, February 10th, 2025
Bad poll for Luxon out today (TPU/Curia) and another one out today at 6 pm (TVNZ). Willis and Bishop will be sharpening their knives ...Comment: Open mike 04/02/2025
Written By: observer - Date published: 2:41 pm, February 4th, 2025
The alarm bell ringing in that poll is NZ First scraping just above 5%. Soon Winston will be off the leash (no longer deputy PM, no longer sitting alongside Luxon in the House and playing loyal sidekick). Then he and Shane Jones will turn the rabble- ...Comment: What does Trump have against Canada?
Written By: observer - Date published: 2:33 pm, February 4th, 2025
The one thing Luxon can never, ever say is: "John Key was wrong". Luxon would be toast. The Nats don't love him, but they did love Key. So of course Luxon (and McClay and the rest) can't stand up and criticise Trump. But the rest of us should never forget ...Comment: On the tenth day of Christmas Chris Luxon took from me …
Written By: observer - Date published: 5:54 pm, December 24th, 2024
Incorrect. There is no polling to suggest that the public "are happy with this outcome and its continuation in 2025". See the right/wrong track questions, and on specific policy areas. Always look beyond the headline numbers for the details. December ...Comment: Is Luxon on a roll?
Written By: observer - Date published: 3:59 pm, December 19th, 2024
It's not complicated really. Both National and Labour have a leader who is a negative rather than a positive. One is the most unpopular new PM in modern history (going back decades, since proper polling began). The other was a PM who led a failed, ...Comment: Is Luxon on a roll?
Written By: observer - Date published: 3:34 pm, December 19th, 2024
Sure, comments on The Standard might be similar, but that's not very significant. Lefties won't applaud a popular Nat any more than an unpopular one. What matters is public opinion outside the political echo chambers, and on that the difference between Key ...
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Long stories shortest: The IMF says a capital gains tax or land tax would improve real economic growth and fix the budget. GDP is set to be smaller by 2026 than it was in 2023. Compass is flying in school lunches from Australia. 53% of National voters say the new ...6 days ago- 5 Reasons Labour Are Doing Well
Last year in October I wrote “Where’s The Opposition?”. I was exasperated at the relative quiet of the Green Party, Labour and Te Pati Māori (TPM), as the National led Coalition ticked off a full bingo card of the Atlas Network playbook.1To be fair, TPM helped to energise one of ...6 days ago- Visualizing daily global temperatures
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink Good data visualizations can help make climate change more visceral and understandable. Back in 2016 Ed Hawkins published a “climate spiral” graph that ended up being pretty iconic – it was shown at the opening ceremony of the Olympics that year – and ...6 days ago- How Russia will reassess its ties with North Korea after Ukraine
An agreement to end the war in Ukraine could transform Russia’s relations with North Korea. Moscow is unlikely to reduce its cooperation with Pyongyang to pre-2022 levels, but it may become more selective about areas ...6 days ago- Government’s Investment Summit
This week, the Government is hosting a grand event aimed at trying to interest big foreign capital players in financing capital works in New Zealand, particularly its big rural motorway programme. Financing vs funding: a quick explainer The key word in the sentence above is financing. It is important ...6 days ago- Gordon Campbell On Winston Peters’ Battle Against The Phantom Legions Of The Woke
In a month’s time, the Right Honourable Winston Peters will be celebrating his 80th birthday. Good for him. On the evidence though, his current war on “wokeness” looks like an old man’s cranky complaint that the ancient virtues of grit and know-how are sadly lacking in the youth of today. ...6 days ago- Haul from the 2025 Regent Booksale
As noted, early March has been about moving house, and I have had little chance to partake in all things internet. But now that everything is more or less sorted, I can finally give a belated report on my visit to the annual Regent Booksale (28th February and 1st March). ...6 days ago- The threat spectrum
Information operations Australia has banned cybersecurity software Kaspersky from government use because of risks of espionage, foreign interference and sabotage. The Department of Home Affairs said use of Kaspersky products posed an unacceptable security ...6 days ago- My life as a dog
6 days ago- Understanding ’ndrangheta operations in Australia
The ’ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia, plays a significant role in the global cocaine trade and is deeply entrenched in Australia, influencing the cocaine trade and engaging in a variety of illicit activities. A range of ...6 days ago - A Palate Cleanser
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...15 hours ago - Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...15 hours ago - MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...1 day ago - Shane Jones has no shame
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...3 days ago
- Release: National botches health funding numbers
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...4 days ago
- Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...4 days ago
- Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing
Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...5 days ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds’ speech to NZ Investment Summit 2025
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...5 days ago
- Dunedin Futures report should be a wake-up call
The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...5 days ago
- Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime
Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...6 days ago
- Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt procurement plan cuts wages and trashes the environment
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...6 days ago
- Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet
The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...7 days ago
- Just six Government MPs needed to pass Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...7 days ago
- Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all
Under Labour, the Māori economy went from strength to strength according to the latest report released by MBIE. ...1 week ago
- 20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access
The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill to Remove Woke ‘DEI’ Regulations from Public Service
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour outlines priorities of next Govt
The next Labour Government will prioritise jobs, health and homes so Kiwis and Kiwi businesses have the opportunity to thrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Refreshed team to drive Labour’s 2026 priorities
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled a new economic team as part of a caucus reshuffle. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes
Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...2 weeks ago
- Good Riddance: Prebble Resigns from Waitangi Tribunal
Te Pāti Māori welcomes the resignation of Richard Prebble from the Waitangi Tribunal. His appointment in October 2024 was a disgrace- another example of this government undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi by appointing a former ACT leader who has spent his career attacking Māori rights. “Regardless of the reason for ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls on Govt to condemn Israel’s aid blockade
The National Government needs to publicly condemn Israel’s cutting off of aid supplies to the war-ravaged people of Gaza. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Mark Mitchell missing in action
Police Minister Mark Mitchell is avoiding accountability by refusing to answer key questions in the House as his Government faces criticism over their dangerous citizen’s arrest policy, firearm reform, and broken promises to recruit more police. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Fewer houses, consents down under National
The number of building consents issued under this Government continues to spiral, taking a toll on the infrastructure sector, tradies, and future generations of Kiwi homeowners. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt urged to rule out any involvement in AUKUS
The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to rule out joining the AUKUS military pact in any capacity following the scenes in the White House over the weekend. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: PSA survey proves Govt’s cuts are hurting patients
The National Government’s decision to cut jobs and freeze recruitment of health care workers is hurting frontline services and harming patients. ...2 weeks ago
- Government levels another blow at kaupapa Māori education
The Green Party is appalled by the Government’s plan to disestablish Resource Teachers of Māori (RTM) roles, a move that takes another swing at kaupapa Māori education. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour PR: More clarity needed for homebuyers
The Government’s levies announcement is a step in the right direction, but they must be upfront about who will pay its new infrastructure levies and ensure that first-home buyers are protected from hidden costs. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: More clarity needed for homebuyers
The Government’s levies announcement is a step in the right direction, but they must be upfront about who will pay its new infrastructure levies and ensure that first-home buyers are protected from hidden costs. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens welcome pause of works at Lake Rotokākahi and call for council to work constructively with m...
After months of mana whenua protecting their wāhi tapu, the Green Party welcomes the pause of works at Lake Rotokākahi and calls for the Rotorua Lakes Council to work constructively with Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tumatawera on the pathway forward. ...3 weeks ago
- The week in review
New Zealand First continues to bring balance, experience, and commonsense to Government. This week we've made progress on many of our promises to New Zealand. Winston representing New Zealand Winston Peters is overseas this week, with stops across the Middle East and North Asia. Winston's stops include Saudi Arabia, the ...3 weeks ago
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- Government has work to do to build trust on gene tech bill
Opinion: I was too young to remember, but when my father heard I was researching public opinions on gene technologies, he recalled a television interview that became known as ‘Corngate’. John Campbell put the then-Prime Minister Helen Clark on the spot about the suspected release of genetically modified corn seed, ...19 minutes ago - View from The Hill: Dutton’s talk about a citizenship referendum is personal over-reach and politi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Peter Dutton, when he gets on his favoured ground of security, too often goes for the quick hit, and frequently over-reaches. His suggestion of running a possible referendum to facilitate the removal of bad ...3 hours ago - The Israel-Hamas ceasefire didn’t resolve any deep-seated issues. Now, it’s shattered
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne When a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel finally came into effect on January 19, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, that ceasefire agreement, and its associated ...4 hours ago
- The Israel-Hamas ceasefire didn’t resolve any deep-seated issues. Now, it appears to be shattered
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne When a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel finally came into effect on January 19, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, that ceasefire agreement, and its associated ...6 hours ago
- The Israel-Hamas ceasefire failed to resolve many deep-seated issues. Now, it appears to be shattere...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne When a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel finally came into effect on January 19, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, that ceasefire agreement, and its associated ...6 hours ago
- Treasurer Chalmers promises ‘meaningful and substantial’ cost of living help in Tuesday’s budg...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week’s budget will have cost-of-living assistance that will be meaningful and substantial but “responsible”, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said. In a Tuesday speech framing the budget Chalmers said, “it will be a responsible ...6 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Barbara Pocock on the Greens’ policy priorities
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Greens have heaped a lot of pressure on the government during this term, from issues of the environment, housing, and Medicare, to the war in the Middle East. With the polls close to a ...6 hours ago
- Amid claims of abuse, neglect and poor standards, what is going wrong with childcare in Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabrielle Meagher, Professor Emerita, School of Society, Communication and Culture, Macquarie University On Monday, an ABC’s Four Corners investigation reported shocking cases of abuse and neglect in Australian childcare centres. This included examples of children being sexually abused, restrained for hours in ...6 hours ago
- Catholic priest calls PNG’s Christian state declaration ‘cosmetic’ change
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Papua New Guinea being declared a Christian nation may offer the impression that the country will improve, but it is only “an illusion”, according to a Catholic priest in the country. Last week, the PNG Parliament amended the nation’s constitution, introducing a declaration in ...6 hours ago
- PSNA calls on NZ govt to condemn renewed Israel air strikes on Gaza – 230 killed
Asia Pacific Report A national Palestinian advocacy group has called on the Aotearoa New Zealand government to immediately condemn Israel for its resumption today of “genocidal attacks” on the almost 2 million Palestinians trapped in the besieged Gaza enclave. Media reports said that more than 230 people had been killed ...7 hours ago
- Americans can’t stop Aussie kickers on college football fields – so they’re trying in court
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Cohen, Senior Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney The National Rugby League has recently made headlines for trying to crack the American sporting landscape by hosting matches in Las Vegas. But the NRL’s great rival, the Australian Football League (AFL), has been ...7 hours ago
- Renewables are cheap. So why isn’t your power bill falling?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Steve Tritton/Shutterstock Power prices are set to go up again even though renewables now account for 40% of the electricity in Australia’s main grid – close to quadruple the clean power we had just 15 ...7 hours ago
- The next round in the US trade war has the potential to be more damaging for Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law, Taxation and Climate Change, Queensland University of Technology Slladkaya/Shutterstock On April 2 the United States is set to implement a new wave of tariffs under its Fair and Reciprocal Trade Plan. Details of the plan ...8 hours ago
- After a century of Monday to Friday, could the 4-day week finally be coming to Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John L. Hopkins, Associate Professor of Management, Swinburne University of Technology The reality of shorter working hours could be one step closer for many Australians, pending the outcome of the federal election. The Greens, who could control crucial cross bench votes in ...8 hours ago
- Here’s what’s different about Slinda, the single-hormone contraceptive just added to the PBS
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University areeya_ann/Shutterstock From May 1, the oral contraceptive Slinda (drospirerone) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This means the price will drop for the more than 100,000 Australian women who ...9 hours ago
- ‘I felt like I was the one in trouble.’ Collecting evidence after sexual assault can be scary fo...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Whitehouse, PhD Candidate, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University Kaboompics.com/Pexels The 72 hours after the sexual assault of a child can be a crucial window for police to collect biological evidence and document signs of bruising or ...10 hours ago
- REVEALED: KiwiRail Painting Over Failure With $87,000 Kitty-Cat And Cultural Murals
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said: “Wellington commuters should be fur-ious that KiwiRail is prioritising feel-good pet projects while services go to the dogs.” ...11 hours ago - Keith Rankin Analysis – Geopolitical fractures, and untidy yet workable solutions
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. As most of us appreciate, there is a whole geopolitical world that overlays the formal political world of about 200 ‘nation states’ (aka ‘polities’). Geopolitical ...11 hours ago
- ‘Another Tax Grab’ – Wellington’s Airbnb Rates Bump
“It’s an excuse to get more out of ratepayers” said Sam Warren, the Local Government Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union. ...11 hours ago
- Opinion-Analysis by Keith Rankin – Invoking Munich, ‘Appeasement’, and the ‘Lessons of Histo...
Opinion-Analysis – by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. Former ambassador Phil Goff is the latest (so far) and (probably) the least of many ‘statesmen’ who have invoked Munich and the ‘resolute’ Winston ...11 hours ago
- Internal Affairs Gutted Again With Govt Planning To Cut 133 Roles
Staff were told today of the latest proposed job cuts which could result in the net loss of 64 permanent roles, plus 69 fixed term roles which are not being renewed beyond 1 September, for a total reduction of 133 roles. These are spread across all ...11 hours ago
- Why do plastic containers always come out wet from the dishwasher? Science has the answer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kamil Zuber, Senior Industry Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia ShowRecMedia/Shutterstock It’s annoying to open your dishwasher after the cycle is finished only to find half of the dishes still wet. Instead of being able to stack them ...12 hours ago
- NZ has no dedicated database to track losses from weather disasters – without it, we’re planning...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ilan Noy, Chair in the Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington STR/AFP via Getty Images Following the Trump administration’s abrupt cuts to USAID funding last month, the online international disaster database EM-DAT (normally ...12 hours ago
- The Removalists remains a brutal commentary on Australian masculinity. This new production treats wo...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denise Varney, Professor of Theatre Studies, The University of Melbourne Pia Johnson/MTC The Removalists was first performed in 1971 at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, by the Australian Performing Group, an ensemble of young graduates, artists and friends. A beacon of the ...12 hours ago
- Side hustles to small business: How to make a ‘patchwork career’ work
Whether by choice or circumstance, a growing number of people are leaving ‘real jobs’ for more flexible modes of employment. Frances Cook spoke to one such self-employed slashie about how she’s made it work for her. Beth Vickers never planned to run her own business. She had a solid, stable career, ...12 hours ago - Rangitāne O Wairau Slams Government’s Water Services Bill As An Attack On Local Decision-Making A...
Corey Hebberd, Kaiwhakahaere Matua of Rangitāne o Wairau, presented to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee today, outlining the Bill’s serious failings and the devastating impact it will have on iwi, councils, and communities, with a particular ...13 hours ago
- Poverty Is No Joke: April 1st Rallies Demand A Living Wage
Every worker deserves a wage they can live on. That remains out of reach for many. On April 1st, the minimum wage will rise by just 35 cents. This is effectively a pay cut for thousands of workers as it is a below inflation adjustment. ...13 hours ago
- Ukraine critical for New Zealand in Rubio meeting – Patman
The US forcing Ukraine into a peace deal that favours Putin would set a disastrous precedent "unacceptable" to New Zealand, an international relations expert says. ...13 hours ago - In siding with Russia over Ukraine, Trump is not putting America first. He is hastening its decline
ANALYSIS: By Matthew Sussex, Australian National University Has any nation squandered its diplomatic capital, plundered its own political system, attacked its partners and supplicated itself before its far weaker enemies as rapidly and brazenly as Donald Trump’s America? The fiery Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ...14 hours ago
- ‘Don’t settle for crumbs’: Meet the people who found love later in life
In the final episode of Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club, the pair travel to Thames to get some wisdom from those who have been on the dating scene since long before they were born. Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club is a new documentary series for The Spinoff following ...14 hours ago
- Homegrown 2025 review: More than just a Shihad farewell gig
14 hours ago
- Free press under threat in US – Columbia J-School speaks out
Columbia Journalism School Freedom of the press — a bedrock principle of American democracy — is under threat in the United States. Here at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism we are witnessing and experiencing an alarming chill. We write to affirm our commitment to supporting and exercising First Amendment ...15 hours ago
- EV curious? What new drivers need to know
There may be a lot of acronyms, but caring for an electric vehicle, and getting the most out of it, can be very simple. You’ve brought home a shiny new treat. It’s got two darling little ears, four rubbery feet, multiple glowing eyes and oh! – no tail at the ...16 hours ago
- The Māori economy is more diverse and wealthier than ever
A new report suggests a focus on export industries will provide the best opportunity for growth in an expanding Māori economy. The Māori economy is at a turning point, with rapid growth, a diversifying asset base and untapped export potential creating new opportunities. But despite nearly doubling in five years ...16 hours ago
- Govt Must Act Decisively And Ban Engineered Stone
“If Brooke van Velden is genuine when she calls for an evidence-based approach to this issue, then she must support a full ban on engineered stone products,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. ...17 hours ago
- No decisions expected on US aid changes for Pacific until April
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the US will not make any decisions on aid funding for the Pacific region until mid-April. ...17 hours ago
- The cost of being: An unemployed 31-year-old who wishes he could afford good food
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a ‘broke’ volunteer and former policy adviser explains how he gets by. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Man. Age: 31. Ethnicity: Mixed ethnicity. Role: Unemployed (ex-policy ...17 hours ago
- US and India leaders want NZ to step up on security
Luxon commits to ‘scaling up’ NZ’s defence resources and cooperation The post US and India leaders want NZ to step up on security appeared first on Newsroom. ...17 hours ago
- ACT looks to stand candidates in local elections for first time
Seymour is expected to call for a "cleanout" of councils which he says have missed the memo for "real change" that New Zealanders voted for. ...18 hours ago
- Less than 1% of the world’s biggest radio telescope is complete – but its first image reveals a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Randall Wayth, SKA-Low Senior Commissioning Scientist and Adjunct Associate Professor, Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Curtin University The first image from an early working version of the SKA-Low telescope, showing around 85 galaxies. SKAO Part of the world’s biggest mega-science facility – ...18 hours ago
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