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Comment: Open mike 15/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 10:42 pm, February 15th, 2025
It sounds obvious, but we need to increasingly adopt an external, market focus that puts the citizens we serve at the centre. […] Quoted from Brian Roche by Incognito 5.1.2.2 This is just rubbish. Any 'public at the centre' went west from 1987 on. With ...Comment: Open mike 15/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 6:34 pm, February 15th, 2025
I think Brian Roche's analogy about vaccuum cleaners, dust bags as it relates to the Public Service is one of the most heartless and generally horrible one I have heard for many a year. Revolting These are people generally doing the best job they know how ...Comment: Open mike 09/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 1:24 pm, February 9th, 2025
I would have thought that Real Estate, along with the medical sphere, would have been the areas most likely to need and benefit from training in the Maori world view. Land is intrinsically linked, as is health, to Maori. The pepeha people are encouraged to ...Comment: Why get upset with solar power?
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 12:35 pm, February 9th, 2025
Yes. I also saw years ago studies showing that production was higher because of the more intensive use on life style blocks. I'd hate to think that references to life style blocks etc were being driven by the politics of envy. I am not sure about noise but ...Comment: Why get upset with solar power?
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 12:25 pm, February 9th, 2025
Hear, hear Weka. I totally agree. Surely we can be sensible in the placement of what are, in effect, an industrial building. Mind you it was only after court cases that the placement of wind farm turbines was semi regualted. In our haste to applaud new ...Comment: Open mike 05/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 6:22 pm, February 5th, 2025
That child's foot is in just the wrong place.....on the other hand seeing the busy child at the desk 'voting' I remember going to the polls with my father and having a great time as they had what I thought were chunky 'Black Beauty' pencils that were ideal ...Comment: Open mike 04/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 4:42 pm, February 4th, 2025
Support all that Weka has said. There are women who voted right last year, other who voted left but who were absolutely over the moon when Trump made his pronouncement. As important & ground breaking as a changed vote from left to right for womens rights ...Comment: Open mike 03/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 2:14 pm, February 3rd, 2025
I clicked on the link MB and was confronted with this as the first sentence.... 'Sir Brian Roche said the public service engaged in too many meetings, had too many management layers and didn’t focus enough on outcomes.' I didn't read any further as I ...Comment: Standing for Auckland
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 10:32 am, February 3rd, 2025
I let this one through but left the handle on probation as it appears to be a first time commenter acting like a troll, or someone on a ban being a dimwit. But most likely is just some political dickhead from another team being bitchy. I think? we are not ...Comment: Open mike 01/02/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 11:32 am, February 1st, 2025
It is part of the large area raised by the HB earthquake in 1931. The Landcorp farm mentioned used to, in days gone by, have pumps going 24/7 to keep the water at bay so farming could take place. Will the new subdivision keep these on? Napier CC already ...Comment: What will he do next?
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 11:16 am, February 1st, 2025
I wish newsmedia would have a separate section that you could hide or not that they posted all the Trump stuff in. It was mildly funny first time round to read of his weirdo musings/thoughts.....now it is just shocking that seeming normal people could ...Comment: Open mike 26/01/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 11:37 pm, January 26th, 2025
And here is an excellent article on why he bewilders many of us, just as many of us are bewildered by the US citizens who voted for such a crass person. https://londondaily.com/british-writer-pens-the-best-description-of-trump-i-ve-read.Comment: Open mike 26/01/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 4:58 pm, January 26th, 2025
I know that, it was carrying on a tongue in cheek response to ideas that there is any justification for what Mr Weirdo is doing 'Spurred by the nationalism aroused by the Spanish-American War, the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898 at the urging of ...Comment: Open mike 26/01/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 3:27 pm, January 26th, 2025
But Incognito you've left off the important, to the current weirdo in the White House, ability to spawn alternative facts. Armed with 'alternative facts' I forsee we will see a brand new and more palatable modern history where even bleach is found to rid ...Comment: The Left Went That Way
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 1:49 pm, January 16th, 2025
I forgot to mention that there are others concerned. Read The Scoop https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/ for articles by Wellington-focussed thinkers like Lindsay Shelton, Helene Ritchie and Sir Hugh Rennie. Tory Whanau also writes an uninspiring word salad. So ...Comment: The Left Went That Way
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 1:25 pm, January 16th, 2025
WCC to put it mildly is a cot case, Green Mayor or not. The 'sad/tragic Wellingtonians like me who listen/watch to the WCC meetings on Youtube, respond to invitations to submit comments on developments, that are always ignored, have seen this trend over ...Comment: Open mike 08/01/2025
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:01 pm, January 8th, 2025
Very good points Jenny. Don't forget the United Fruit Corporation as a front for US interests in Central & Southern America. At least bananas are better for us than Coca Cola I'm astounded how benign the Trump pondering about Greenland is being written up ...Comment: Who funds the Taxpayer’s Union?
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 7:45 pm, January 8th, 2025
I'm a bit the same Binders. They are a lobby group and we have all sorts of lobby groups funded in all sorts of ways. Lobby group of all sorts and stripes are a feature of democracy. At least they are resident in NZ and for all I know are getting donations ...Comment: The Pogues wrote the best Christmas song ever
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 11:51 am, December 25th, 2024
I love the Pogues. I love the song 'Fairytale of New York'. It was wonderful seeing it performed at Shane MacGowan's funeral and all the dancing! Here is the song sung by Shane and with Kirsty MacColl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8 To me this ...Comment: Creative accounting
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:53 pm, December 6th, 2024
Very naughty SPC please the comment in 8.1.1!Comment: Creative accounting
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:51 pm, December 6th, 2024
He's desperately trying to find the calculations he gave to someone within the 14 layers of health staffing...he did this on the advice of Dr Reti. They just have to find an important person at the end of the chain who was last seen with them and a large ...Comment: Creative accounting
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:43 pm, December 6th, 2024
Yes I am sure that some of those receiving redundancy payments or complicated back pay that often pushes their current earnings (even if they get special tax treatment) into higher brackets would be keen to put some back into earlier years returns of ...Comment: Tax and the Splintering World
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:29 pm, December 6th, 2024
I favour a bouquet of different tax types. I liked Labour's CGT that it was so coy about last year. I think these from SPC are good (usually in the form of estate/inheritance tax and gift and stamp duties). I'd like a bold better look at personal income ...Comment: Open mike 03/12/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 10:05 pm, December 3rd, 2024
My sister would disagree Ad. Her view is that a diet that includes a typical NZ pie is far superior in developing the means to defeat allergies and other food related reactions.Comment: Open mike 08/11/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:07 pm, November 8th, 2024
In the interests of seeing whre people are coming from I voted for Tory Whanau as mayor and also for Cnclr Nureddin Abdurahman was my ward councillor. I guess a 50% return is better than nothing. I'd be interested to know who you voted for in the WCC ...Comment: Open mike 08/11/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 8:02 pm, November 8th, 2024
Some Cnclrs like Diane Calvert are trying to get a conversation going about items that could be chopped etc. Good on her. All sorts of people have responded with their ideas. Other Cnclrs are trying to deal with the fallout from a terribly-run public ...Comment: Open mike 08/11/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 7:49 pm, November 8th, 2024
.they can only reduce rates by borrowing more for water infrastructure and or spending less on water out of rates money. In point of fact WCC has mismanaged itself. No $$$$ for water should be coming out of rates money according to the usual ways that ...Comment: Open mike 08/11/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 7:12 pm, November 8th, 2024
The proposal was to sell the shares and place the money into an asset/wealth fund, not spend any money. This does not tally with my sources about the money go round. Did you miss the point that where this same type of scheme was initiated, in a council ...Comment: Open mike 08/11/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 7:04 pm, November 8th, 2024
Well the end result is that we are now looking at the possibility of slowing down, ditching some of the most divisive and unwanted projects facing Wellingtonians. If those who voted for the NoM keep their nerve then the we will finally be able to have some ...Comment: Open mike 08/11/2024
Written By: Shanreagh - Date published: 2:45 pm, November 8th, 2024
The so called budget crisis caused by 4 right wing councilors changing their vote on airport share sale, was of a conspiracy to end the GM project. One that involved Bishop and Brown, who after the election tried to heavy the mayor to change or end it. ...
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- Hugo’s Rainbow and the Church of Angry Brian
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- 13 signs you may be living in a fascist state
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- I Am Woke
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- Deputy Dave
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...6 days ago - My Unaired Interview with a Hero
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...6 days ago - Business doubts about National’s growth tactics growing
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confident Nicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...6 days ago - Sabin 33 #15 – Does EM radiation from wind turbines pose a threat to human health?
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- Live long, maybe prosper
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- Good riddance
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- United States of corruption
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- Who does Shane Jones Work For?
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...6 days ago - Tuesday 11 February
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...6 days ago
- First polls of 2025 show coalition losing
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...6 days ago - Seymour tells Luxon where to go
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- Climate Adam: Is it Game Over for the 1.5 Degree Climate Limit?
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...1 week ago
- The Kākā’s weekly roundup on politics and economics to Feb 10
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...1 week ago - Wait ’til you see what Disney can do for it
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...1 week ago - A reminder about soft power.
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...1 week ago
- Monday 10 February
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...1 week ago
- Why NZ’s new looser ‘golden visa’ won’t ‘turbocharge’ GDP
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...1 week ago - Were politicians ever honest?
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...1 week ago - 2024s Busiest Bus Routes
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...1 week ago
- Leadership D.O.A.
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...1 week ago - The Kākā’s diary for the week to Feb 16 & beyond
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...1 week ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #06
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...1 week ago
- Sauron’s Predicament: As a Chess Position
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...1 week ago - Kieran McAnulty is severely underrated: How Chris Bishop Got Away with Blowing Up Kāinga Ora & ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...1 week ago
- Release: University cuts on the cards under National
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...11 hours ago - Release: Transparency needed on boot camps
The Government is stonewalling requests for information about its boot camps experiment, while pushing ahead with a Bill to enshrine them into law. ...2 days ago
- Release: Disabled people languishing in psych wards due to Govt cuts
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...3 days ago
- Release: Nicola Willis tone deaf as 230 jobs lost
Nicola Willis thought it was the perfect time to celebrate today, while 230 people lost their jobs. ...3 days ago
- Release: Students misled on halal school lunches
It’s been revealed that Muslim students have been misled on the Government’s school lunches, which were claimed to be halal. ...3 days ago
- Job losses from Kinleith Mill closure devastating
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...3 days ago - Mariameno Kapa-Kingi Enters Members Bill to Establish Mokopuna Māori Authority
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...3 days ago
- Release: Bloodbath continues for health leadership
The Government continues to tear apart New Zealand’s health leadership, sacking or forcing the resignation of our top medical experts. ...3 days ago
- Release: Paper mill closure adds to growing job losses
The Government has no plan to support workers as 230 more jobs are lost today with the closure of the Kinleith paper mill. ...3 days ago
- Democracy Matters
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...4 days ago - Release: Willis’ supermarket announcement all talk, no plan
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...4 days ago
- Release: Homelessness growing under National
Housing is going in the wrong direction under National, despite promises to build more houses and reduce the social housing waitlist. ...4 days ago
- Release: More Kiwis are hungry, homeless and out of work
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...5 days ago
- Fisheries consultation must put sustainability before profit
The Green Party is urgently calling on the Government to prioritise long-term prosperity of our oceans in its consultation on the Fisheries Act. ...5 days ago
- Benefit levels fail to keep families out of poverty
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...5 days ago
- NZ First Introduces Fluoridation Referendum Bill
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...6 days ago
- Release: Health system will suffer from ‘let it fail’ strategy
National’s cutting of digital staff in our health system will put patients at risk and leave hospitals vulnerable to cyber-attack. ...1 week ago
- Release: Cuts to school bus routes put Northland kids at risk
The Government is putting cost-cutting ahead of kids’ safety with its decision to cut rural school bus routes in Northland. ...1 week ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill To Fight ‘Woke Banks’
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...1 week ago
- Release: Watered down investor visa will fail economy
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...1 week ago
- Release: Craven silence on ICC conveys consent
New Zealand has long been a member of the International Criminal Court, which impartially prosecutes serious war criminals for atrocities. ...1 week ago
- MP Views: Waitangi Day 2025
Our originating document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...1 week ago
- Release: Health leadership in disarray while Kiwis miss out
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...1 week ago
- PM must condemn Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...1 week ago
- Public Works Act overhaul fails to protect Māori land
The Government’s so-called overhaul of the Public Works Act will fail to prevent further injustices around the confiscation of Māori land. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Māori and Pacific people hit hardest by lack of jobs
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt’s lack of a plan shows in soaring unemployment stats
The latest labour market figures confirm unemployment has risen to levels not seen since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Unemployment soars as Government fails Kiwis
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Kiwis hard, with unemployment reaching 5.1%—a four-year high. ...2 weeks ago
- Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven – Shane Jones
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Still no commitment to build more public houses
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...2 weeks ago
- Government plan fails on growing public housing stock
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- MP Views: Tough on crime, water storage, Easter trading laws, and vocational training
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...2 weeks ago
- Marama Davidson to mark return to politics at Waitangi
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...2 weeks ago
- Our Tamariki Deserve Better than Seymour’s Slop
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Mining plan offers false promises with real damage
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Dunedin wins, hospital build continues
The people of Dunedin have won in an almost year-long battle to have their hospital confirmed, but National’s delays have cost dearly. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens stand with Coromandel locals against Luxon’s destructive mining policy
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...2 weeks ago
- Where’s the “culture of yes” on climate ambition?
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...2 weeks ago
- Taranaki Maunga Granted Legal Personhood
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Frontline providers deserve certainty, not name-calling
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...3 weeks ago
- 98 per cent of potholes repaired within 24 hours
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...2 weeks ago - Decision reached on Dunedin Hospital
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...2 weeks ago
- First Plunket site begins delivering childhood immunisations
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...2 weeks ago
- Government confirms international commitment to disability community
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...2 weeks ago
- Major milestone reached with launch of Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...2 weeks ago
- A new direction for the minerals sector to grow the economy
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...2 weeks ago
- Tax policy proposal would boost NZ racing
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...2 weeks ago
- Business confidence signals progress
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...2 weeks ago
- Hawke’s Bay patients to benefit from new and improved radiology and cancer treatment services
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...3 weeks ago
- Setting New Zealand’s second international climate target
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...3 weeks ago
- Major negotiations with iwi of Taranaki conclude
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...3 weeks ago
- Relentless focus on literacy & numeracy at school
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...3 weeks ago
- Ministers welcome Kāinga Ora’s revised approach to wool carpets
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...3 weeks ago
- New school lunch programme serves up first healthy lunches
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...3 weeks ago
- Barnardos decision reversed
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...3 weeks ago
- Customs’ levies bill passes first reading
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...3 weeks ago
- Citizenship applications completed up 54 per cent in December
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...3 weeks ago
- Speed limit reduction reversals begin
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...3 weeks ago
- Budget will be delivered on 22 May
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...3 weeks ago
- Would Sidney Nolan be cancelled for painting Ned Kelly today? That’s what Creative Australia has d...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Barclay, Senior Lecturer, School of Art and Design, Australian National University Despite the perceived outrage at Khaled Sabsabi’s depiction of Hassan Nasrallah in his 2007 work You, Australian art has long made subjects of outlaws and questionable figures. And it is ...2 hours ago - We’ve told this story for 2,500 years: how Hadestown playfully brings alive an ancient Greek myth
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Pryke, Honorary Research Associate, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Sydney Lisa Tomasetti/Opera Australia “It’s an old song”, Hermes (Christine Anu) sings at the opening of Hadestown, but “we’re gonna sing it again and again”. Based on a ...2 hours ago
- Some Good Conservation News
An additional $13 million will be invested in tourism infrastructure, including upgrading huts and resolving the backlog in Milford Sound concessions. ...2 hours ago - No Tolerance For The Intolerant
The reality is that we have no obligation to tolerate the intolerant. They are using violence to shut down and silence others. The result of tolerating intolerant views is the loss of everyone’s freedom of speech except for the one who most effectively ...2 hours ago
- Lethal second-generation rat poisons are killing endangered quolls and Tasmanian devils
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Davis, Associate Professor in Conservation, Edith Cowan University Adwo/Shutterstock Humans have been poisoning rodents for centuries. But fast-breeding rats and mice have evolved resistance to earlier poisons. In response, manufacturers have produced second generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as bromadiolone, widely ...2 hours ago
- Government announces $30m spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, made the announcement at the post-Cabinet brief on Monday. ...2 hours ago - Exclusive: We found Act MP Simon Court’s full menstrual cup sales pitch
Alex Casey unearths Simon Court’s full sales pitch for how menstrual cups could end poverty. On Friday last week, Act MP Simon Court was accused of “mansplaining” during a parliamentary committee hearing about benefit sanctions. After submitter Rachel Dibble shared her concerns about period poverty and the impact that sanctions ...3 hours ago - Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions at post-Cabinet press conference
The government has announced a $30 million spend on tourism, infrastructure and biodiversity projects. ...3 hours ago
- ‘Massive body count’ in health due to targets falling short – Labour says
New reports show emergency department wait times are suffering, particularly in Auckland. ...3 hours ago
- Rail Minister Winston Peters announces new chairperson of Ferry Holdings Limited
The company is charged with negotiating the procurement contracts for the two new Interislander ferries. ...4 hours ago
- The threat of 3D-printed ‘ghost guns’ is growing, but NZ is yet to act on these 3 big legal gaps
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato It’s an unfortunate fact that bad people sometimes want guns. And while laws are designed to prevent guns falling into the wrong hands, the determined criminal can be highly resourceful. There are three main ...4 hours ago
- Open letter from local Jewish Voices condemns Zionist ‘colonisation’ project
Asia Pacific Report Two independent Jewish Voices groups in Aotearoa New Zealand have written an open letter to the government condemning the Zionist “colonisation” project leading to genocide and criticising the role of the NZ Jewish Council for its “unelected” and “uncritical support” for Israel. The groups, Alternative Jewish Voices ...5 hours ago
- Cook Islands PM returns home, addresses NZ’s China deal fears
Mark Brown is hoping to have "an opportunity to talk" with the New Zealand government to "heal some of the rift" between the two countries. ...5 hours ago
- Coalition leading narrowly in four polls and would likely win an election held now
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Newspoll, conducted February 10–14 from a sample of 1,244, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead, unchanged from the previous Newspoll, ...5 hours ago
- New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you enjoy whip-smart satire: The White Lotus (Neon, February 17) HBO’s award-winning The White Lotus is back for what critics are calling “an absolutely exquisite third ...6 hours ago
- Minister’s View Not The Experience Of Schools, Say Principals
NZPF called for a slowdown of the curriculum change, asking for one subject at a time, so that teachers and principals could be fully trained and feel confident and competent to implement the changes, New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) President ...6 hours ago
- Generative AI is already being used in journalism – here’s how people feel about it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Indonesia’s TVOne launched an AI news presenter in 2023. T.J. Thomson Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has taken off at lightning speed in the past couple of years, creating disruption in ...7 hours ago
- We asked young people if they wanted tighter vaping rules – here’s what they said
Many of the young vapers interviewed by a team of public health researchers said they felt unable to resist the pro-vaping environment that surrounded them. New Zealand’s smokefree law was hailed around the world for creating a smokefree generation that would have lifelong protection from smoking’s harms. The smokefree ...7 hours ago
- New Zealand-born teen’s deportation to India paused at last minute
The family of the 18-year-old Daman Kumar, who has never set foot in India, have appealed to Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk. ...8 hours ago
- ‘A republic, if you can keep it’
Analysis: While most Wellingtonians enjoyed a rare but unbeatable sunny day on Saturday, some New Zealand diplomats will have been briefly shocked by a screenshot making the rounds on social media showing US President Donald Trump calling us a “third world country”.The image, it appears, was a fake – certainly a ...8 hours ago - Together for Te Tiriti creators submit on Treaty Principles Bill today
ActionStation Director, Kassie Hartendorp says that the Treaty Principles Bill has galvanised the biggest movement in support of Te Tiriti in modern history. ...9 hours ago
- Unused EV Charger Sell-Off Highlights Wellington Council’s Ineptitude
While it is in the interests of Wellington ratepayers to sell off this subsidy for the rich, it is unfortunate that it has come to this point. The council should have never spent a penny on this programme, and the $3.4 million spent is a flagrant abuse ...9 hours ago
- Who is Matua Kahurangi and does it matter if he’s fake?
A search for the person behind a social media account ridiculing Māori. Last week, while scrolling Facebook, I came across a post shared to the New Zealand Centre for Political Research group. The post began, “From Matua Kahurangi on X”, before pasting his critique of iwi leadership – particularly Ngāpuhi ...9 hours ago
- How to get Thailand’s White Lotus luxury for less
On the heels of The White Lotus season three, Tara Ward travels to Koh Samui, Thailand, to live her best life as a five-star wannabe. I’ve never been one for luxury travel. Despite religiously watching TV shows like Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays and harbouring grand dreams of one day ...9 hours ago
- Watch live: Select committee hearings on Treaty Principles Bill continue
The Treaty Principles Bill submission hearings continue at Parliament today with a range of submitters expected including councils, iwi, community organisations and individuals. ...10 hours ago
- The real story behind Christchurch’s ‘brutalist’ Timezone
It’s become of one of Christchurch’s most famous landmarks online, but why? Alex Casey steps through the portal of the brutalist Timezone. Ask anyone what Christchurch’s most iconic building is and you might expect to hear some of the dusty old classics like the Cathedral, or the Town Hall, or ...11 hours ago
- New Zealand Government Refuses To Condemn Trump’s Gaza Takeover
New Zealand’s alignment with the White House is further underscored by its refusal to oppose Trump’s sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). ...11 hours ago
- Unrest in Bangladesh is revealing the bias at the heart of Google’s search engine
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Abdul Aziz, Lecturer in Media and Communication Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Google’s search engine handles the vast majority of online searches worldwide. By one estimate, it fields 6.3 million queries every second. Because of the search ...11 hours ago
- In Afghanistan, families are forced to sell children to survive. Trump’s USAID cuts will be devast...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is a serious blow to the soft power of the United States and disastrous for many poor countries ...11 hours ago
- We asked young people if they wanted tighter vaping regulation to phase out nicotine – here’s wh...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Hoek, Professor in Public Health, University of Otago Shutterstock/Aliaksandr Barouski New Zealand’s smokefree law was hailed around the world for creating a smokefree generation that would have lifelong protection from smoking’s harms. The smokefree generation would have ended sales of ...11 hours ago
- NDIS reforms aim to make the scheme fairer. But we’ve found the groups struggling to gain access
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By George Disney, Research Fellow, Social Epidemiology, The University of Melbourne Edwin Tan/Getty Images When the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was established in 2013, one of its driving aims was to make disability services and support systems fairer. However, our new ...11 hours ago
- ‘I feel constant anxiety’: how caring for a seriously unwell pet can lead to stress and burnout
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Ground Picture/Shutterstock Living with a pet brings many benefits, including constant presence, love and support. Pet ownership is also linked with a lower long-term risk of early death. ...11 hours ago
- Everyone must… joke? Listeners mock NZ’s new tourism slogan
Critics say the new phrase, 'Everyone Must Go', sounded like a clearance sale - so they came up with alternatives. ...12 hours ago
- New Zealand’s top health officials are dropping like flies
The resignation of the director general of health is the latest departure in what Labour is calling a ‘purge’ of health leadership. Another day, another health resignation It’s a dangerous time to be a top health executive. On Friday, Dr Diana Sarfati announced her resignation as director general of health ...12 hours ago
- Opposition pans ‘Everyone Must Go’ ads for toilet-queue tone
Labour and the Greens say the government should focus spending on tourism infrastructure like tracks, toilets and protection of nature instead of more advertising. ...13 hours ago
- Tech agencies lawyer up after claim they failed to protect Jacinda Ardern from ‘violence, misogyny...
Hundreds of people called the former prime minister vile and dehumanising things online. Internet safety agencies did nothing - then called in the lawyers. ...13 hours ago
- Tech safety agencies lawyer up after accusation they failed to protect Jacinda Ardern from ‘violen...
Hundreds of people called the former prime minister vile and dehumanising things online. Internet safety agencies did nothing - then called in the lawyers. ...15 hours ago
- Picking through charred aftermath of the Craigieburn fire
After a morning spent calf marking, Flock Hill Station manager Richard Hill headed up Bridge Hill – about 100km from Christchurch on the way to the West Coast – to check on a fire near the station’s boundary.It was December 5 last year, and the Craigieburn area had experienced three ...15 hours ago
- The Beehive doors are shut to the CTU
It can’t be much of a surprise that a relatively inexperienced Act MP, handed the workplace relations portfolio, doesn’t want to entertain the country’s biggest union in her office.But it still astonishes the head of that union, the CTU’s president, Richard Wagstaff.After all, he’s met regularly with ministers of all ...15 hours ago
- Christchurch, underwater
Late 21st century Christchurch will be unrecognisable when compared with Christchurch today.Flooding will prompt retreat from all eastern and many northern suburbs. These areas, together with land near the Heathcote and Avon Rivers, are in a fifty-year flood zone. Fifty-year floods can happen more than once every fifty years; there ...15 hours ago
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