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Comment: Open mike 07/12/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 8:17 am, December 7th, 2024
Democratic backsliding. Aotearoa is not immune. https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/07/amid-doubt-and-uncertainty-democracy-slips/ “Consider the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. Proponents argue it will streamline significant developments as part of the wider RMA ...Comment: Open mike 04/12/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 8:15 pm, December 4th, 2024
First Dog on the Moon on the money again. Exactly the same here with the likes of Kings, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/dec/04/who-is-responsible-for-the-breathtakingly-immoral-volumes-of-taxpayer-cash-being-foie-grased-to-private- ...Comment: Open mike 19/11/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 4:20 pm, November 19th, 2024
They’re not wrong. A few minor details need tinkering, but the gist is exactly the same here. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/nov/18/electoral-reform-its-the-worst-snitty-the-psephological-cassowary-tries-to-make-it-interesting?utm_ ...Comment: Open mike 13/11/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 4:12 pm, November 13th, 2024
A lot of this is relevant here. https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/the-root-of-trumpism?r=aax0&utm_medium=ios ”Large corporations, CEOs, and billionaires have embraced global trade without giving blue-collar workers any means of coping with it. ...Comment: Open mike 11/11/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 7:11 pm, November 11th, 2024
North London is in Israel now?Comment: Open mike 11/11/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 5:53 pm, November 11th, 2024
Any any club that regularly chant and sing anti semetic songs at Spurs?Comment: Open mike 09/11/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 4:32 pm, November 9th, 2024
Robert Reich on lessons from Tuesday. https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/the-lesson?r=aax0&utm_medium=ios ”Most of the economy’s gains have gone to the top. This has caused many Americans to feel frustrated and angry. Trump gave voice to that ...Comment: Open mike 02/11/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 6:25 pm, November 2nd, 2024
Not sure how that would work. For a successful coup, Trump would need the military. Who are loyal to the Constitution, rather than an individual.Comment: Open mike 27/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 8:42 am, October 27th, 2024
Hope. https://thinkeratthegates.substack.com/p/use-logic-not-polls-to-expect-a-decisive “In this article I’ll be ignoring polls and election forecasts, which serve very little purpose for the average person. If the polls were highly decisive, like showing ...Comment: Open mike 19/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 5:28 pm, October 19th, 2024
From Chat GPT. A lot of good ideas, and common sense. If we treat neoliberalism metaphorically as a “cult,” deprogramming its believers would require a systematic and thoughtful approach to addressing the beliefs and assumptions that underlie it. This ...Comment: Open mike 19/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 9:56 am, October 19th, 2024
I was at a public meeting last night with Deborah Russell and Craig Renney. He spoke about the economics of what the CoC is doing, and how the economy is in real trouble. And is going to get a lot worse. All data via Treasury. Deborah went over the Policy ...Comment: Open mike 18/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 4:08 pm, October 18th, 2024
True colours. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/small-business-affairs-minister-andrew-bayly-apologises-for-interaction-during-company-visit/C5UGE434CVBKXPXHJJTO5JQR2U/ “Minister Andrew Bayly has apologised after a complaint he swore at, mocked and ...Comment: Open mike 18/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 12:38 pm, October 18th, 2024
Ooops. https://theconversation.cmail19.com/t/r-e-tdhkkha-nltldiikrh-r/Comment: Open mike 18/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 9:00 am, October 18th, 2024
Don’t tell David! Via, The Conversation. ”Health and physical education is a key pillar of the school curriculum. It’s compulsory from the very first year of schooling to Year 10, and alongside basic movement skills and sport, it also covers healthy eating ...Comment: Open mike 08/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 5:34 pm, October 8th, 2024
I didn’t say they were the only peoples in the region.Comment: Open mike 08/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 5:07 pm, October 8th, 2024
Oh dear. Someone doesn’t realise that Jewish people have been in that region for 3500 years.Comment: How does the left win the Auckland Mayoralty?
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 4:51 pm, October 8th, 2024
Richard Hills??Comment: Open mike 04/10/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 6:44 pm, October 4th, 2024
Set it up. Sell it. Another step towards a fully functioning privatised education system.Comment: She did her own research
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 2:30 pm, October 4th, 2024
The pressure needs to be applied on Winston. As leader of her party he is the only one who can sack her. Blowtorch on Winnie time.Comment: Submit as if your grandkids’ lives depend on it
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 12:51 pm, September 30th, 2024
What I would like to see is the opposition clearly state that this bill will be repealed immediately on regaining the treasury benches. Make it clear that there is no future in exploration in Aotearoa.Comment: Open mike 29/09/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 11:26 am, September 29th, 2024
Denying 3000 years of history. Interesting.Comment: Open mike 19/09/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 1:34 pm, September 19th, 2024
We all know that the US backs Israel, and takes the flak accordingly. So how is it that Iran gets a free pass. They’re the ones supporting, and arming Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. With Iran’s avowed intent to wipe Israel off the face of the map, is ...Comment: Open mike 15/09/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 3:59 pm, September 15th, 2024
Fascinating read. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350397585/auckland-sisters-took-dna-test-and-ended-apologising-slavery-jamaica “The economic benefits derived from chattel slavery contributed to the financial and imperial strength of Britain, which in ...Comment: Shane Jones is obsessed with communists
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 10:34 am, September 6th, 2024
But we all know Winston won’t.Comment: Guess who needs help with his literacy and numeracy?
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 2:53 pm, September 5th, 2024
A lot of that is true MtL. In any one day, we can be councillors, mediators, parents, nurses, and paediatric psychiatrists. However most of the time we do manage to deliver knowledge and skills. What we could all do with is much more PD across the whole ...Comment: Open mike 05/09/2024
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 2:32 pm, September 5th, 2024
If Jo Biden was going to raise taxes, why can’t we?? Rhetorical question. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-will-kamala-harris-do-about?r=aax0&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=trueComment: About David Parker’s and Labour’s debate about taxation
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 1:55 pm, September 1st, 2024
What Craig H said. Also, ask the leadership questions. We have Jill Day coming to our LEC at our next meeting.Comment: Simeon Brown peddling porkies about gas shortage
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 12:46 pm, August 27th, 2024
A mate put solar panels on their new build. Family of 4 with teenagers. Midwinter power bill $6.00.Comment: NZ: No jobs, expensive housing, time to leave
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 12:36 pm, August 22nd, 2024
Why would they want to reduce the cost of power? They’re there to make a profit, not provide cheap electricity.Comment: Is the Treaty Principles Bill dead or has it just suffered a flesh wound?
Written By: Stephen D - Date published: 4:32 pm, August 20th, 2024
Curia polls are discredited. https://www.reddit.com/r/nzpolitics/comments/1escg1f/curia_found_in_breach_of_industry_standards/
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- Watching the Tide
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bayWatching the tide roll awayI'm sittin' on the dock of the bayWastin' timeSongwriters: Stephen Lee Cropper / Otis ReddingChristmas PartiesAs you might recall from yesterday’s newsletter, last night was Christmas Party time for the Rockels.One of the younger members of ...1 hour ago - My Saturday Soliloquy for Dec 7
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty in this week were:PM Christopher Luxon said his Goverment was ‘re-learning’ the austerity-infused economic lessons taught by former National Finance Minister Ruth Richardson in 1991, when she slashed spending to reduce public ...4 hours ago - TKP 26/50 solutions: A new home without a power bill
As part of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50) and When The Facts Change ,I interviewed Octopus Energy Zero Bills Technical Director Nigel Banks from the UK about this week's launch in New Zealand of a partnership with Classic Homes to build new homes in Auckland1 with ...5 hours ago
- A wellbeing economy is the only option!
I recently attended a conference organised by WEALL (Wellbeing Economy Alliance) Aotearoa. WEALL defines 'economy' differently from the current neoliberal approach and that is simply 'the way that we produce and provide for one another'. Attending this conference made me even more aware of how far we have drifted away ...9 hours ago
- Interview with John Cook about misinformation and artificial intelligence
In March, John Cook met with Adam Ford from Science, Technology & the Future to talk about his work researching misinformation and how to counter it. The interview - published on October 10 - explored the complex and evolving landscape of climate misinformation, covering a range of topics including the different types ...16 hours ago - Economic Progress May Not Add To Wellbeing
How the Prospect Theory of Behavioural Economics Makes Economic Analysis DifficultBehavioural economics has been described as the most revolutionary thing which has happened to economics for ages. The notion that people do not behave like ‘rational economic men’ (women are mainly ignored) undermines the microeconomic foundations of the subject. Not ...18 hours ago - National finds out
Since coming to power last year, National has viciously cut the public service, sacking nearly 10,000 public servants (to date). Those people weren't just doing nothing, and it was obviously going to have an impact on something other than the government's books. But while National's over-paid, privately-insured, and DPS-guarded Ministers ...21 hours ago - Lockout of disability workers before Christmas unacceptable
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh is condemning the actions of disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust in deciding to respond to legitimate strike action by locking out their workers with just a few weeks before Christmas. “The actions of Te Roopu Taurima are totally ...1 day ago - Friday 6 December
In another blow to the media landscape, Māori TV’s daily news service is set to end after 20 years, following the announcement that they have cut 27 jobs. PSA members at MBIE have voted to initiate industrial action, after rejecting a pay offer because it failed to keep up with ...1 day ago
- An experiment and our Christmas offer to subscribe to The Kākā
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāIt’s that time of the year when we offer 50% off for a year to new subscribers for the next fortnight until December 21, which is ‘Gravy Day’1. It’s our version of a Christmas/Black Monday/Cyber Monday/Singles Day/Boxing Day offer. We call it the ‘Gravy Day ...1 day ago
- The State of David Seymour’s Shameless Condescension and Unbridled Arrogance
.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..Setting the stageQuestion: How does one make money, when something stands in the way?Answer: Get rid of that thing. Or at least dilute it.Present Day, Aotearoa New ZealandIn his Beehive media statement, Seymour recently ...1 day ago - Weekly Roundup 06-December-2024
It’s another Friday and it has been a big week in Auckland. We hope everyone’s excited to be in the final stretch of the year! Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely ...1 day ago - The Days Go By
It must be your skin, I'm sinkin' inIt must be for real, 'cause now I can feelAnd I didn't mind, it's not my kindIt's not my time to wonder whySongwriter: Gavin Rossdale.As the year winds up, I’m feeling a bit mentally drained, so today’s newsletter is one of reminiscing. Today, ...1 day ago - The Hoon around the week to December 6
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with: on Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay saying New Zealand would not buy emissions credits overseas, effectively admitting we’ll renege on our Paris commitments. (RNZ) ...1 day ago
- Paying for National’s roads
The Government has promised 17 Roads of National Significance, but the brutal truth is that it cannot afford them. So Transport Minister Simeon Brown yesterday announced that from now on, tolls and other user charges will be the way New Zealand pays for new roading infrastructure. Tolls are likely ...1 day ago - Confession: Why Shane Reti & Ayesha Verrall’s Performance Helps Me
Video above. These videos are also designed for those not versed in the detailed subject matter so excuse any repeats of Health NZ facts you are aware of from reading Mountain Tui for too long!Recently, I read a Substack article which, on my brief skim, lamented the rise of critiquing ...1 day ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2024
Open access notables Global emergence of regional heatwave hotspots outpaces climate model simulations, Kornhuber et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Multiple recent record-shattering weather events raise questions about the adequacy of climate models to effectively predict and prepare for unprecedented climate impacts on human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Here, we ...2 days ago
- The Bewildering World of Chris Luxon – Three Bad Polls – Three Strikes for National?
.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..As I wrote on 3 December:“One bad poll for a government can be dismissed as “rogue”. Two? That’s damaging.”Three bad polls? That is when Red Alert lights start flashing; klaxons start to blare; and ...2 days ago - Climate Change: More unwelcome advice
He Pou a Rangi / Climate Change Commission has just released its Review of the 2050 emissions target including whether emissions from international shipping and aviation should be included. After noting that there have been significant changes since the target was originally set in 2019 - stronger evidence that we ...2 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for The Hoon
2 days ago - No sweat
Let's say I want to run a marathon, but I’m not keen on all that running.At the registration desk I say, I want to start at the last kilometre. What's the fee for that?They tell me,We don't offer that option. You have to do the whole race.I reply,Yeah but I ...2 days ago - Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris II
Back in September, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts shocked us by suggesting that New Zealand could refuse to meet its international commitments under the Paris Agreement. Now Forestry Minister Todd McClay has echoed that position: Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Todd McClay says the Government won't be buying carbon ...2 days ago
- Marsden Fund changes will undermine prosperity and social cohesion
The Government’s rewrite of the Marsden Fund’s investment plan and terms of reference demonstrates a complete lack of understanding and risks undermining the breadth of research that is essential for the wellbeing and prosperity of New Zealanders, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh. “Humanities and social science ...2 days ago
- Thursday 5 December
The Government has announced further changes to the personal grievance regime that will make it even tougher for workers, and changes to the Marsden Fund investment plan to stop funding for humanities and social sciences research. Workers at Kinleith mill are worried that they will lose even more jobs. A ...2 days ago
- Can desalination quench agriculture’s thirst?
This article by Lela Nargi originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a nonprofit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. Sign up for Knowable Magazine’s newsletter. Ralph Loya was pretty sure he was going to lose the corn. His farm had been scorched by El Paso’s hottest-ever June and ...2 days ago
- A housing market with bits tacked on doesn’t need many (if any) pure scientists
The humanities and social sciences panels of The Marsden fund will be disbanded and no longer supported, because “real impact on our economy will come from areas such as physics, chemistry, maths, engineering and biomedical sciences,” said Judith Collins. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMorena. Long stories short in Aotearoa’s ...2 days ago
- Cooking the Books
Come with me, and you'll beIn a world of pure imaginationReach out, touch what was onceJust in your imaginationDon't be shy, it's alrightIf you feel a little trepidationSometimes, these things don't needExplanationSongwriters: Anthony Newley / Leslie Bricusse.If you don’t ask, you don’t get... Dream big, or go home… Ask for ...2 days ago - Kirikiriroa Rising
This post is essentially an update on a very similar one I wrote seven years ago. Hamilton: City of the Future, the intervening years have confirmed those speculations. The case for good passenger rail service between our biggest city and its fast growing neighbour remains compelling. Below I offer a ...2 days ago
- Treasury to Government; cut super or raise taxes
The warnings from the Treasury about the state of the country’s finances are starting to appear on a regular basis. So far, they have been delivered by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor Dominick Stephens, and yesterday, he faced the Finance and Expenditure Committee to answer questions on Treasury’s long-term thinking about ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On How Slavishly This Government Is Serving Its Corporate Donors
For much of 2024, centre stage has been taken by (a) the government’s relentless attacks on all forms of Māori empowerment and (b) by the wholesale embrace of mid-1980s style austerity policies, which even the most conservative economies in Europe abandoned a decade ago. Easy to miss that the government ...2 days ago - Big Eyes
2014, directed by Tim Burton I didn’t expect to be watching a Harvey Weinstein movie today. How it happened was, I had a few hours to kill before my regular afternoon streamer came on, so I was browsing Netflix looking for something I hadn’t already seen that didn’t look terrible, ...3 days ago - What a thing to happen.
Subjection!Poor, unloved, disparaged, AT. What a thing to happen.In the Game of Thrones version, smirking Little Lord Simeon orders them to disrobe and commands them to parade along K Road, across the rainbow crossings, down Queen Street to Britomart while being pelted with trash, rotten produce and Big Mac boxes.Here ...3 days ago - Government’s personal grievance changes will empower bad employers
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh is saying that the Government’s proposal to further weight the scales in favour of employers in personal grievance cases will make workplace culture worse and harm efforts to create a fair playing field for workers. “Making the personal grievance regime even tougher ...3 days ago
- Climate Change: The ETS needs reform
The final ETS auction of the year was held today, resulting in a partial clearance: 4 million of the available 11.1 million units were sold, at the minimum price of $64/ton. Once you add in March's partial sale, the government managed to sell just over 7 million tons all year ...3 days ago
- Throw Away All You Know.
In the cradle of the civilised disobedience derivedFrom a forlorn weeping widow crying tearsthat don’t see eye to eyeKeep the well fullA thirst forgotten A misery made for twoThat’ll use you then throw you awayThat’ll use you then throw you awayThat’ll use you then throw you awaySong: Nowhere.Today, I’m feeling ...3 days ago - NZCTU Rūnanga calling for submissions on proposed changes to NZ Post
The CTU Rūnanga is asking affiliates to support postal workers and get out and make submissions against contracting out postal delivery, to stop job cuts and ensure fair pay and conditions for postal workers. The Postal Workers Union is fighting NZ Post’s plans to replace postal workers with contracted couriers. ...3 days ago
- ‘The cuts will continue until the economy improves’
Health Minister Shane Reti has even more cuts in his sights. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMorena. Long stories short on Wednesday, December 4, with more detail and analysis in the podcast above:Health Minister Shane Reti says spending cuts will continue for an extra year into 2027 because of a ...3 days ago
- Auckland Transport (mostly) goneburger
Auckland Transport has long been a easy punching bag for the public, politicians and media, sometimes deservedly so, other times not. That could all be about to change following an announcement yesterday by the Browns – Wayne and Simeon. Greater Auckland is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew ...3 days ago
- Luxon Takes A Beating
The latest polls are in.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. And who could have guessed that a government that destroys the economy (‘economic vandalism on steroids’), tears up our public health system (‘National is BAD for health’), de-stabilises Crown-Māori relations (‘largest protest in modern history’), eviscerates environmental progress and protections ...3 days ago - It’s not easy being green
As Kermit the frog said, it isn’t easy being green. A Select Committee yesterday heard how difficult it was for the country’s electricity grid operator, Transpower, to prepare for the electrification of New Zealand that will be required if we are to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Their ...3 days ago
- *THOSE* polls! And *NOT* a hung Parliament!
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.One bad poll for a government can be dismissed as “rogue”. Two? That’s damaging.A recent Talbot Mills done for the Labour Party - released on 1 December - had startling results that would’ve raised ...4 days ago - Sabin 33 #5 – Is solar energy worse for the climate than burning fossil fuels?
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...4 days ago
- We like to watch
Some millions of years ago, our ancestors learned the trick of standing upright. This made it much easier to reach the bottles on the top shelf and surely aided our progress towards splitting the atom.It also made us more vulnerable. Giving birth became more perilous. Our infants - needing to ...4 days ago - Waimate Water: Not A New Problem
The last time residents of Waimate received a nitrate warning was only two years ago. In 2022, the Glenavy township in South Canterbury were unable to drink their own water for over four months due to it containing nitrate levels high enough to kill an infant. This restriction was lifted ...4 days ago - Restoring the status quo is not enough
Labour held its party conference over the weekend, and Chris Hipkins gave a speech promising to make the current coalition a one term government. Along the way he made some policy promises: restoring free prescriptions, resuming the Smokefree Aotearoa policy, restarting the build of Dunedin hospital, restoring state housing investment, ...4 days ago
- No Matter What I Do, Everything I Do Is Bad
Hi,I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind a bit lately, and I’m not quite sure how to say it besides expressing this idea that on some days I feel like throwing myself into the sea.I am saying this metaphorically — don’t worry — but it’s just this ...4 days ago - Political Wrap Up: 11,000 construction jobs gone, Nurses Strike & Unemployment to reach Pandemic...
Good morning, here’s a quick wrap up of 10 developments:1. HEALTH: AUSTERITY BUDGETFront-line hospital workers told jobs could soon be gone (RNZ / Lauren Crimp)The government is set to fire non-clinical front line roles in Auckland as part of its cost saving measures. This includes teams who support clinical logistics, ...4 days ago - Tuesday 3 December 2024
Today NZNO healthcare workers are striking for safe staffing and fair pay. More job losses are on the line at NZDF due to budget deficits. In political news, Chris Hipkins is trying to build some momentum following the Labour Party conference. Union coverage NZNO: 36,000 Health NZ nurses to ...4 days ago
- Where Is My Mind?
With your feet in the air and your head on the groundTry this trick and spin it, yeah (Yeah)Your head will collapse, and there's nothing in itAnd you'll ask yourselfWhere is my mind?Where is my mind?Where is my mind?Songwriter: Black FrancisClear craniums are the order of the day. Not to ...4 days ago - Gt North Rd improvements to finally start
After around 10 years of delays and frustration, Auckland Transport are finally going to make Gt North Rd greater. In an update sent out yesterday, they said: We are pleased to advise that we have appointed JFC Ltd to deliver the work and they’ll be starting work early January. The ...4 days ago
- Govt says borrowing to build now last resort
The way through our $100 billion-plus infrastructure deficit will not be eased by Chris Bishop’s approach. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Chris Bishop unveiled his major infrastructure funding and financing plan yesterday that made clear borrowing with public debt to build infrastructure would be a last resort, with private ...4 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why An AUKUS Led By Trump Is A Scary Prospect
According to Social Development Minister Louise Upton her latest crackdown on the unemployed is just “common sense.” Oh, really. Upston is threatening to reduce or cancel the income of an increasing number of people already living on the breadline – unless they spend more of their scarce money on the ...4 days ago
- Incy Wincy History: Pre-Tolkien Fantasy Arachnids of Unusual Size
It has been remarked that the only truly original invention in The Hobbit is the hobbit himself. Tolkien stole his dwarves from the Poetic Edda (albeit, he redefined the spelling of the plural). The trolls and the manner of their death are also borrowed from Norse tradition. Gandalf is rooted ...5 days ago - How Plastics Fuel Climate Change
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). We're choking our planet with pollution - whether that's greenhouse gases or plastics. But these two crises are deeply connected - ...5 days ago
- Labour 2026, Democrats 2024, and Luxon Accidentally Admits Neoliberalism has Broken the Country
Kia ora kotou, and I hope everyone is having a good start to their week. Usually I try to be a bit more themed and connected and essay-like in what I write, but it’s been too long since I got anything out at all and the topics I keep meaning ...5 days ago - Gendered violence and harassment in the world of work
International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 190 (C190) provides a framework for the legal, cultural and industrial changes necessary to eliminate and prevent violence, in all its forms, from the world of work. It establishes the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based ...5 days ago
- The Prime Minister hits the cones
More Than A Feilding: Prime Minister thanks for taking the time to chat again with More Than A Feilding.Prime Minister Old Mate Grabaseat: Gidday Jack what I would say to you Jack is what I would say to you.MTAF: I think that was yesterday’s interview, Prime Minister. I’m Dave.OMG: Oh. ...5 days ago - Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the lame duck window of opportunity.
In the last episode of this year Selwyn Manning and I discuss the rebel assault on Aleppo in Syria and tit-for-tat missile exchanges between Russia and Ukraine as illustrative of foreign actor attempts to gain geopolitical leverage as part of … Continue reading ...5 days ago - Subsidising ecocide
Aotearoa has long been an opponent of fossil fuel subsidies. In 2010 we joined the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform. In 2015 we reviewed our policies to eliminate subsidies following advice from APEC. In 2021 we "lead the call" for subsidy reform at the WTO. And at COP29 just ...5 days ago
- A two-faced “apology”
Last month, the government formally apologised to victims of child torture and abuse-in-care. Part of the apology was meant to be for the state's long-standing policy of aggressively minimising its liabilities by dragging out cases, slandering its victims and ultimately denying redress. So you'd think that the state would actually ...5 days ago
- Labour leaning back towards Capital Gains Tax
5 days ago - Going in circles: How to fix transport in the City Centre
The last few years have seen headline after headline talk about how much of a ‘mess’ the City Centre is in terms of transport. Whether it be parking, confusing bus lanes (and buses being held up), the GV lane on Queen Street, loading and delivery, enforcement (or lack thereof), congestion, ...5 days ago
- Inside Labour’s difficult tax politics
The former Minister, former finance spokesperson, and one-time leadership contender David Parker suffered a defeat at the Labour Party conference over the weekend over what has been his political crusade: a wealth tax.The conference rejected, apparently by a wide margin, a remit calling for a wealth tax “to proceed”.Instead, they ...5 days ago
- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 24, 2024 thru Sat, November 30, 2024. Story of the week Before Skeptical Science and an entire fleet of other websites devoted to combating and correcting climate misinformation ...6 days ago
- Kaamos: Published
New story out, as part of the December issue of Bare Back Magazine:https://www.barebackmag.com/post/kaamos (As previously noted, this one is magical realism mashed up with erotica. But it’s nice for a story first written ... 6 days ago - Luxon Finally Shows
Mr Moon I like the way you thinkLet's sit a while and have another drinkYou can tell me how the new will rise,How the old will sinkOpen my eyes and make me wiseDon't fall from the sky just yetCause it won't be long enough to make me strongSongwriters: Grant Fell ...6 days ago - Never mind the planet, check out these savings!
The same day Solar Zero got their legs cut off, we paid a deposit to an other installer. Solar panels should be on our roof on December 23. Merry Christmas to our carbon footprint.We also have a new oven and hot water cylinder coming, which means we'll be able to ...6 days ago - The Enemy Within – Maire Leadbeater & Nicky Hager
Like so many others involved in social justice movements, Maire Leadbeater was subjected to state surveillance during a long life of activism. With the help of archival material, released SIS files, and other formerly secret material, she has been able to examine the depth of stateintrusion into the lives of ...7 days ago - Sabre-Rattling.
Putin’s Thunderbolts: What message was the devastating arrival of the Russian Federation’s nuclear-defanged MIRVs supposed to send? And how should the government of far-away New Zealand respond?THE IMAGES BROADCAST ON CNN were terrifying. Out of a glowing circle of dim light, multiple bolts of fire, moving at astonishing speed, burst from the lowering ...7 days ago - No Cheers For Democracy.
Sic’em! The silver-tongued demagogue whips up the impoverished masses against those deemed responsible for both the nation’s decline and their own immiseration. He then proceeds to direct his mesmerised followers against a succession of terrified scapegoats, with results that are neither just nor pretty. Out of the ensuing chaos, demagoguery ...7 days ago
- Hearing Ourselves Think.
No Longer Silent: The one sound loud enough to be heard above the efforts of even the most determined makers of political noise, is the sound of the long-suffering majority making up its mind. Emeritus Professor Nigel Biggar addresses the Free Speech Union AGM held at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre on ...7 days ago
- Privatisation Kills So Why is Reti, Luxon and Lester Levy Speeding Towards It Like A Rocket Ship?
In 2022, Lancet Medical Journal issued the findings of a long term longitudinal study on the effects of increased outsourcing of health to the private sector i.e. privatisation.Examining the outcomes from between 2013-2020, it conclusively found:The privatisation of the NHS in England, through the outsourcing of services to for-profit companies, ...7 days ago - 2024 Reading Summary: November (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for November: Clarimonde, by Théophile Gautier The Mummy’s Foot, by Théophile Gautier One of Cleopatra’s Nights, by Théophile Gautier Arria Marcella, by Théophile Gautier Omphale: A Rococo Story, by Théophile Gautier King Candaules, by Théophile Gautier Lot No. 249, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Captain of ...1 week ago
- Translation #20 of The Debunking Handbook 2020 published!
In November 2011, we published the first version of The Debunking Handbook. As the update notice on that page already shows, more research has come in since then and the time had finally come for a complete overhaul of this very popular handbook (it still gets downloaded a couple of thousand ...1 week ago
- The Meaning of MAGA
The Dangers of Delusions of GrandeurThis is a column about MAGA – Make America Great Again. But as a prequel I scroll back sixty years to when I was teaching in England. I have fond memories of the students – bright and personable as they were. But their attitudes to ...1 week ago
- Release: Boot camps must be shut down today
The Prime Minister has committed to shut down his government’s boot camps if there is evidence of harm to children – so he must do that today. ...21 hours ago - Greens echo OECD call for electricity market reform
The Green Party has welcomed the OECD urging the Government to re-examine separating ‘gentailers’ to make a fairer electricity market for New Zealanders. ...23 hours ago - Release: Govt breaks Auckland housing promise
Housing Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed National has broken yet another election promise. ...2 days ago
- Government smokescreen to downgrade climate ambition
Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet project’s findings on “no additional warming” were released. ...3 days ago
- Release: Health NZ admits errors led to claimed deficit
Health New Zealand has exaggerated its deficit to justify job cuts. ...3 days ago
- Release: More cuts to research, science and innovation sector
The Government’s latest round of cuts to research and innovation targets the long-established and successful Marsden Fund. ...3 days ago
- Govt guts funding for social sciences and humanities
The Government’s decision to axe all Humanities and Social Science research funding through the Marsden Fund is a massive step backwards. ...3 days ago
- You can’t bank on pine trees in a climate crisis
Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source. ...3 days ago
- Release: Nicola Willis being sneaky with new taxes
Nicola Willis is refusing to rule out putting sneaky new taxes on Kiwi households. ...4 days ago
- Release: Govt benefit target even further out of reach
Christopher Luxon has once again failed to read the room and claimed success while life gets harder for everyday Kiwis. ...4 days ago
- Govt continues to punch down
The Government’s new initiative to get people off the benefit won’t address the core drivers of poverty such as low incomes, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of employment opportunities. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour urges ACC to pull investments in Israel’s illegal settlements
Labour is urging ACC to divest from companies identified by the United Nations as complicit in the building and maintenance of Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ...5 days ago
- Release: Further evidence to stop school lunch cuts
A new report provides further proof that David Seymour should not be messing with the free school lunch programme. ...5 days ago
- Jamie Arbuckle: Inquiry into Banking Competition
This week was the start of the bank inquiry hearings into banking competition. The inquiry was confirmed in the NZ First/National Coalition agreement. 140 submissions were received on the inquiry, and we will hear from over 60 submitters including all the major banks. ANZ, New Zealand's largest bank, was first ...5 days ago - Casey Costello: What Once Was…
Entering politics is a privilege afforded to very few and, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Being an MP is a call to service. Whatever your politics you have a duty to show up. Whatever your party's policy, you have made a promise to those who ...5 days ago
- Casey Costello: International Day of Older Persons
Throughout New Zealand it is difficult to think of a sports club, charity, church group, festival, foundation, or service organisation that does not owe its existence, effectiveness, or success to the contribution of older New Zealanders. October 1st is International Day of Older Persons so please take a moment to consider ...5 days ago
- NZ First Member’s Bill To Disestablish Auckland Transport
Today New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will restore democratic control over transport management in Auckland City by disestablishing Auckland Transport (AT) and returning control to Auckland Council. The ‘Local Government (Auckland Council) (Disestablishment of Auckland Transport) Amendment Bill’ intends to restore democratic oversight, control, and accountability ...5 days ago
- Tanya Unkovich: It’s time to start the debate on palliative care as a ‘right’
There is one topic that is the great human leveller, and that is of death and dying. One day, we will all have to face it, and I am of the belief that being able to pass away with grace and dignity is a vital, basic, human right. How we ...5 days ago
- Mark Patterson: Farmers understand we have their backs
Spring is here which means the start of the A&P show season. Those treasured community days where town meets country. There's no rural-urban divide here, just a chance to meet up with family and old friends and celebrate all things that make rural New Zealand so special. I'm embarking on ...5 days ago
- Release: A Labour Government will not join AUKUS
New Zealand will not sign up to the nuclear-powered pillar one, or the pillar two of AUKUS under a Labour Government. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour will build Dunedin Hospital
Labour will build Dunedin Hospital as it was committed to prior to election 2023. ...6 days ago
- Chris Hipkins: Speech to Labour Party Conference 2024
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e rau rangatira ma Tena koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa ...6 days ago
- Luxon Folds on ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill
Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, is calling Luxon’s leadership a joke after it was revealed this morning on Q+A that ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill was not a bottom line. "New Zealand officially has a laughing-stock Prime Minister whose leadership folded as he trades away the rights of tangata whenua ...6 days ago
- Prime Minister shirks responsibility on global climate commitment
In an interview with Q&A this morning, the Prime Minister refused to say whether he would commit to meeting the Paris Agreement, the international climate agreement which commits all countries to act locally to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. ...6 days ago
- Release: All workers deserve fair treatment
The Government’s latest change to the Employment Relations Act has no justification apart from making it easier to sack employees without having to follow due process. ...1 week ago
- COURT OF APPEAL RULING: SFO METHODS “OVERREACH, UNLAWFUL, OPPRESSIVE”
Today the Court of Appeal has found the Serious Fraud Office has been acting indiscriminately and unlawfully throughout an eight year long investigation. The SFO has shown their incompetence and arrogance and shown to be abusing their authority to conduct its own overreaching and unlawful fishing expeditions. The Court of Appeal said the SFO has relied on its misuse of compulsory interview ...1 week ago
- Covid Inquiry report underlines need to invest in Health
The Green Party says the report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 Response underlines the need for proper investment in our health system so we are prepared for future pandemics. ...1 week ago
- Waititi Orders Police Withdraw from Matapihi
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki is demanding that the Police Minister immediately remove the heavy Police presence in the Matapihi community, as hundreds of officers saturate the Western Bay of Plenty area. “Minister Mitchell must intervene immediately and order the removal of the armed Police presence in ...1 week ago
- Release: Opposition parties unite on way forward to protect ECE
Early childhood education needs to be treated as a public good, say Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori in their newly released report of findings from public hearings they held into the Government’s ECE Regulatory Review. ...1 week ago
- Government’s First Year a ‘Catastrophe for Māori’
Te Pāti Māori is calling the Government’s first year a catastrophe for Māori, following a year of policies that have done nothing but marginalise tangata-whenua. Today marks one year since the coalition was sworn into power. “This year has been an absolute catastrophe for Māori. This Government has fast-tracked us back ...1 week ago
- Release: 1500 Te Whatu Ora cuts will hurt New Zealanders’ health
Massive cuts across Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora demonstrate National’s willingness to risk the health of New Zealanders. ...1 week ago
- Release: Government to make public transport more expensive… again
The Government’s decision to push for significant fare increases on buses and trains over the next few years is a huge blow to communities across the country. ...1 week ago
- Release: National has given up on climate action
Climate action is missing from the list of things National is patting themselves on the back for one year on from becoming government. ...1 week ago
- Public transport fare hikes a disaster
The Government’s directive to councils to increase bus and train fares substantially over the next few years is a bitter pill to swallow for communities across the country. ...1 week ago
- Release: Minister leaves Community Housing Providers out in the cold
Housing Minister Chris Bishop’s speech to Community Housing Providers today should have been titled ‘we want you to build houses, but we refuse to spend money so you’re on your own’. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party appalled by woeful Government offer to school support staff
Support staff across Aotearoa have been dealt yet another devastating blow with the release of the latest collective agreement offer from the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins sad to hear about Nikki Kaye
"The news today that Nikki Kaye has passed away after her long battle with cancer is incredibly sad," Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government should be transparent on live exports
Targeted consultation on reinstating live cattle exports by sea won’t allow the New Zealand public to have their say. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...2 weeks ago
- Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...2 weeks ago
- New members appointed to EECA Board
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has today announced two new appointments to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) Board.John Carnegie and Vijay Goel have both been appointed as members for three-year terms which will begin on 6 January 2025 and end on 5 January 2028.“As Minister for Energy, my goal ...19 hours ago - JOINT STATEMENT ON AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN AND DEFENCE MINISTERIAL CONSULTATIONS (ANZMIN) DECE...
1. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters MP and Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC MP hosted Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong on 6 December in ...22 hours ago
- Swift avian influenza response in Otago on track
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says good progress is being made in the response to the detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, but there is more work to do. “Rigorous testing and monitoring continue to show no confirmed signs of the disease in chicken farms outside of Mainland ...22 hours ago
- Funding for Hawke’s Bay water security project
Up to $3 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund has been allocated for pre-construction development of the Tukituki Water Security Project in Hawke’s Bay, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The grant for the project, which is being co-funded by the Tukituki Water Security Project, is limited to work to ...1 day ago
- Waimārama ban on taking pāua to continue
A two-year temporary closure banning the take of pāua from Waimārama south of Hastings will support efforts by local iwi to rebuild pāua stocks, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The closure includes Waimārama Beach and Ocean Beach, two beaches popular with holidaymakers and recreational fishers. Ngāi Hapū o ...1 day ago
- Government to partner with private sector to plant trees on low value Crown land
Ministers responsible for Climate Change, Forestry, Conservation and Land Information today announced that Cabinet has agreed to explore public-private partnerships to plant trees on Crown land, supporting New Zealand’s climate change targets and creating more jobs. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says that nature-based solutions is a key part to ...2 days ago
- International data confirms maths transformation
New international data validates the Government’s plan to transform maths education in New Zealand, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the longest-running, large-scale international assessment of mathematics and science and takes place every four years. While 2023 results show an improved ...2 days ago
- Government partners to boost rural productivity in Hawke’s Bay
The Government is partnering with Hawke’s Bay farmers and the Regional Council to improve farm productivity and build resilience against adverse weather events, Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay announced today at a ceremony in Hawke’s Bay. “The Government is co-investing $995,000 to grow the Land for Life (LFL) pilot programme ...2 days ago
- Peters visit to New Caledonia concludes
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed his visit to New Caledonia, New Zealand’s closest neighbour. “Over the last few days, we have listened to and learned from a wide range of people in New Caledonia - so that we can better understand the acute challenges it faces,” Mr Peters says. ...2 days ago
- More charter schools to open Term 1 2025 announced
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Christchurch North College, The BUSY School, Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao, Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland and North West Creative Arts College will open in term one 2025 as charter schools. “This announcement is another significant step in the Government’s efforts to ...2 days ago
- New chair appointed to Heritage New Zealand
Dame Jo Brosnahan DNZM QSO has been appointed chair of the Heritage New Zealand Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Dame Jo has extensive governance and business experience which has been recognised in various Honours, notably in 2023 when she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order ...2 days ago
- Survey results to drive change for tourism and hospitality workforce
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey has welcomed the data released today about the hospitality and tourism workforce. “Two of my key priorities include supporting the people who make up the tourism and hospitality workforce and growing the value of international tourism. In order to grow New Zealand’s international tourism ...2 days ago
- Upgrading substations to improve reliability for Wellington metro rail
Wellington commuters will benefit from a $137.2 million funding boost that will deliver long overdue upgrades to substations on the city’s metro rail network and improve the reliability of services, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Our Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that reduces congestion, boosts productivity to support economic growth, ...2 days ago
- Record $434 million in community grants from Lotto NZ
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says Lotto NZ has granted $434 million to the community in the past financial year, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year. “It’s fantastic to see an increase in funding going to important community projects, providing opportunities for New Zealanders to ...2 days ago
- Major review of competition to lift productivity
The Government has launched an ambitious review of New Zealand’s competition rules to combat monopolies and improve economic productivity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Improving competition is one of the most important ways to boost productivity and lift living standards,” Mr Bayly says. “When competition is working ...2 days ago
- NZ-Australia Ministers to discuss foreign policy, defence
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins will host the second Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ANZMIN) in Auckland tomorrow. “The ANZMIN is an important trans-Tasman forum for strengthening our alliance relationship and developing shared approaches to foreign policy, security, and ...2 days ago
- Funding boost to strengthen Maritime’s rescue team
The Government has approved funding to increase staffing at Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, ensuring a critical boost in its search and rescue operations, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say.“Our Government is delivering an annual funding boost to New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre to ...2 days ago
- Government releases independent scientific review on biogenic methane science and targets
The Government will carefully consider the findings of the independent review on New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and targets, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, and Associate Ministers of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard, and Mark Patterson have announced today. The panel of highly regarded, New Zealand ...3 days ago
- New courthouses for Whanganui and Papakura
The Government has agreed to fund new courthouses for both Whanganui and Papakura to help improve access to justice and court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Minister Nicole McKee say. “In both cases the current buildings are not fit for purpose and need to be replaced. Staying put ...3 days ago
- Positive progress for the NZ ETS
The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) auction today has resulted in a partial clearance, showing work to restore credibility in the market is working, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Today’s auction result shows the market is moving in the right direction to restore credibility in the NZ ...3 days ago
- Catalyst Fund updated for global impact
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins today announced an updated plan for the Catalyst Fund to be laser focused on clear outcomes and priority research areas. “We are taking a more strategic approach to science funding across the board, as we seek to deliver greater economic impact for ...3 days ago
- Marsden Fund refocused for science with a purpose
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins today announced the Government has updated the Marsden Fund to focus on core scientific research that helps lift our economic growth and contributes to science with a purpose. “The Government has been clear in its mandate to rebuild our economy. We are ...3 days ago
- Speech to Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and members
Removing rewards for poor employee behaviour Good afternoon everyone, and thank you Malcolm for that lovely introduction. It’s wonderful to be here today at MJH Engineering. Thank you to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and MJH Engineering for inviting me to speak and share some exciting announcements with you ...3 days ago
- Govt delivers Māori Education Action Plan
The Government has released its Māori Education Action Plan which sets out its approach to deliver better outcomes in the classroom for Māori students, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “25 per cent of learners within our schooling system are Māori. While many achieve excellent results, on average Māori experience worse ...3 days ago
- Removing rewards for poor employee behaviour
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says it is important employees are not rewarded in the personal grievance system for poor behaviour or performance and is introducing changes to personal grievances to strengthen employee accountability. “Simplifying personal grievances is a policy ACT campaigned on, in particular, removing the ...3 days ago
- Protecting NZ food production and ETS credibility
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts have today announced clear rules to limit farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). “These changes deliver on a key election commitment to protect food production for farmers while providing ETS certainty for foresters,” Mr ...3 days ago
- Fuel companies required to store more jet fuel
New rules will be introduced that require fuel companies to hold at least 10 days of jet fuel near the country’s busiest airport to provide resilience against supply disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. “For more than seven years fuel companies have held jet fuel supplies at lower than ...3 days ago
- Strong growth in international student enrolments
New Zealand’s international education sector is rebounding strongly, up 24 per cent year-on-year and 6 per cent above 2023 totals, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “With 73,535 enrolments between January to August 2024, more enrolments have been achieved in just two terms this year than we saw ...3 days ago
- Speech to Early Childhood Education sector– Reducing red tape and barriers to ECE
When I was delegated responsibility for the ECE Sector from the Minister for Education it became immediately clear that my focus had to be on reducing red tape and regulatory obstacles for the early learning sector. While there is huge demand for ECEs from families across New Zealand, numbers show ...4 days ago
- Democracy restored to transport in Auckland
The Government is restoring democratic accountability to transport decision-making in Auckland, ensuring voters can hold their elected representatives responsible for the city's transport policies, Transport and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown say."Aucklanders have become increasingly frustrated with how transport decisions are made and how little their ...4 days ago
- Health NZ makes progress on financial recovery
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand is making encouraging progress recovering from a financial shambles left behind by the previous government. “Health NZ reported today that its revised budget for 2024/25 is a $1.1 billion deficit,” Dr Reti says. “That’s significantly lower than the $1.76 billion deficit they ...4 days ago
- Wait times for veterans improve
Additional funding in Budget 2024 has reduced the waiting list of veterans seeking medical and rehabilitation support, Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. “When we were elected a year ago, the Government made a commitment to improve New Zealand’s public services. As Veterans Minister this means improving access for veterans to ...4 days ago
- 30 per cent growth in international visitor spend
The latest International Visitor Survey shows that New Zealand continues to bounce back and the economy is benefiting from the shifting trends in international visitation, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. International Visitor Survey results for the year ending September 2024 released today show a promising increase of 30 ...4 days ago
- New data shows fewer victims of violent crime
New data shows an encouraging reduction in the number of victims of violent crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows there were 14,000 fewer victims of crime nationwide over the 12 months to August 2024, than there were over the 12 months ...4 days ago
- Government open for business on market-led infrastructure proposals
The Government has released new guidelines for market-led proposals to clarify how market participants can contribute innovative ideas for solving New Zealand’s infrastructure problems, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. A market-led approach is where a private sector player wishes to deal directly with Government with ...5 days ago
- Speech to The Post Infrastructure Panel Event
Introduction Good afternoon to you all. I am glad to be here today to discuss changes we are making to the infrastructure system, which will lay the foundations for New Zealand to prosper. Thanks to Infrastructure New Zealand and The Post for organising this event, and Chapman Tripp for hosting ...5 days ago
- Speech to Stuff Infrastructure Panel Event
Introduction Good afternoon to you all. I am glad to be here today to discuss changes we are making to the infrastructure system, which will lay the foundations for New Zealand to prosper. Thanks to Infrastructure New Zealand and The Post for organising this event, and Chapman Tripp for hosting ...5 days ago
- Targets data positive but action needed on welfare
The second quarterly update on the nine Government targets shows a range of areas moving in the right direction but underlines the need for robust measures to get people off welfare and into work, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “The Government’s ambitious targets put Kiwis first by driving outcomes that ...5 days ago
- More support to help people on benefit into work
Up to 70,000 job seekers are to receive a new, more comprehensive needs assessment of the challenges holding them back from finding work and a personalised job plan to help overcome them. “Individual Job Plans are a significant step forward in the Government’s efforts to provide welfare that works for ...5 days ago
- New Funding and Financing Framework released
Cabinet has agreed to an ambitious new Funding and Financing Framework to help the Crown make smarter and more informed funding and financing decisions, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. “Improving the way we fund and finance infrastructure will help drive better value for money from public investment, make public investment ...5 days ago
- ‘Forged in fire’: Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick on the Greens’ challenging year
One MP was arrested, another passed away, and a third was diagnosed with cancer - but through it all, "we've really stuck by our values", co-leader says. ...5 hours ago - The Weekend: Seriously, you need to wear sunscreen
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. It is officially summer. And it is officially hot. Typically, I love the first few days of summer, when the chill in the wind turns into a pleasant breeze. But there’s been a sad and necessary evolution in my feelings about long ...5 hours ago - Short story: Annie, My Anne, by Barbara Else
It’s the summer evening she remembers, not the overloaded wharf and rushed goodbye, her aching throat. No – it’s months before the troop ship left, the dunes, the tiny island far beyond each wave, the sandy startled child who toppled over them, the way they laughed, Jack saying Annie, my ...5 hours ago - Amid doubt and uncertainty, democracy slips
Opinion: We often think of democracy as, at the very least, a one vote per person system where we collectively choose our leaders. This is fundamental, but many modern democracies also have a range of checks and balances, limit government power and ensure civil rights to protect a democracy from ...5 hours ago
- Christmas red flags for online shoppers
New research by Avast Malware identifies nearly 80,000 counterfeit websites posing as genuine retailers that are targeting New Zealand shoppers of well-known brands like Pandora, Zara, Swatch and H&M.Netsafe’s chief online safety officer Sean Lyons says these sites are set up with one purpose – to make people part with ...5 hours ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Xmas office parties
Christopher LuxonFun times at National’s Xmas office party last night.I sidled up to one of the ministers at the nibbles table. He was hoeing into the sausage rolls. “The rest of the cabinet are absolutely useless,” I said. “If they were working in the private sector, I’d send them down ...5 hours ago
- Review: A decolonial trip through femininity in Ngahuia Murphy’s Intuitive Ritual
‘The perfect sleeper decolonisation tool’: Lyric Waiwiri-Smith reviews Ngahuia Murphy’s stunning pink book, Intuitive Ritual. My fingernail clippings are buried in the garden outside my flatmate’s window. Cut on takirau, the eighteenth moon of the maramataka, the clippings of keratin are submerged under the Earth next to a kūmara, banana, ...6 hours ago
- ‘Damn near knocked me out’: Scotty Stevenson’s biggest live TV headache
The TVNZ sports commentator and writer looks back on his life in TV. When The Spinoff reaches Scotty Stevenson he’s in a reflective mood, caught in between calling an intriguing test cricket series, and a second round of deep staffing cuts at TVNZ. Asked how he’s going, and he immediately ...6 hours ago
- ‘Māori Bass should be its own genre’: Mokotron’s perfect weekend playlist
Ngāti Hine historian and producer Mokotron shares his perfect weekend playlist. Producer Mokotron might be feasting on the treats from Indian Sweets and Snacks on Dominion Road. He’s eyeing up the paneer, idli and kahori for the weekend, which he’ll pair with “mowing the lawns, taking bubba to ride her ...6 hours ago
- What I ate while I grieved
Remembering what makes the food of mourning taste a little sweeter. My husband Bill died unexpectedly one afternoon. He’d been unwell for a while but there was no suggestion that he would be gone so suddenly. It was a shattering day. Our two sons and I spent time with him ...6 hours ago
- Booze, brawls, batons and blood: The Queen Street riot, 40 years on
On December 7, 1984, more than 10,000 peopled piled into downtown Auckland for a free concert in Aotea Square. A few hours later, Queen Street had descended into chaos. What happened? Gabi Lardies asks people who were there. With special thanks to Bryan Staff and Bruce Jarvis for use of ...6 hours ago
- Israeli extremism has a new best friend in the White House
COMMENTARY: By Antony Loewenstein The incoming Trump administration will bring a dangerous brew of Christian nationalism and anti-Palestinian racism Things can always get worse. Much worse. The Biden/Harris administration has bank-rolled and funded Israel’s mass slaughter in Gaza, the sight of the highest number of child amputees per capita in ...9 hours ago - Palau’s president invites Trump to visit Pacific to see climate crisis impacts
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/Bulletin editor Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr is inviting US President-elect Donald Trump to “visit the Pacific” to see firsthand the impacts of the climate crisis. Palau is set to host the largest annual Pacific leaders meeting in 2026, and the country’s leader Whipps told ...13 hours ago
- Winston Peters signals progress on India trade deal negotiations
"I think there's a chance that we will be announcing the beginning of negotiations on that [trade deal] matter," Peters says. ...15 hours ago
- Rates of youth radicalisation are climbing in Australia and abroad. Here’s what to look out for
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Shutterstock When the police and intelligence agencies of the five nations of the Five Eyes intelligence community come together and release a report, it’s a ...17 hours ago
- After 65,000 years caring for this land, First Nations peoples are now key to Australia’s clean en...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Convenor: Indigenous Land & Justice Research Group, UNSW Sydney Australia is on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation transformation, as our energy systems shift to clean, renewable forms of power. First Nations peoples, the ...17 hours ago
- Cuts To Humanities And Social Sciences Research Will Impact Māori Most
Humanities and social sciences are foundational to advancing and nurturing the next generation of Māori scholars. Without this funding avenue, the future for them looks pretty grim. ...18 hours ago - ‘Unacceptable’: Children’s Minister not told about second boot camp youth absconde...
Two teenagers on the run from the coalition's boot camp programme is not a reason to end it, the Children's Minister says. ...18 hours ago
- Greens accused of spreading ‘misinformation’ over teen’s bootcamp death
"This tragic accident is bigger than politics and Tamatha Paul should be ashamed of herself", Children's Minister Karen Chhour said. ...19 hours ago
- Is a massive dam in Hawke’s Bay viable? Govt gives $3m grant to find out
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the perilous state of water security and resilience in Hawke's Bay can no longer be ignored. ...20 hours ago
- Land of opportunity or bicultural nation? Twin visions of national identity face off over the Treaty...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images The controversial Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill is being presented by its architect, ACT Party leader David Seymour, primarily as a matter of lawmaking – a clarification ...20 hours ago
- Climate Commission Methane Advice A Chance To Pull Climate Emergency Brake: Greenpeace
The intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra, is NZ’s worst climate polluter, belching out vast amounts of superheating methane gas, Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn says. ...21 hours ago
- Some people say they have a high pain threshold. Here’s why
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Pate, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney Mart Production/Pexels We’ve all heard someone claim they have a “high pain threshold” as if it’s a mark of strength or resilience. But does science support the idea that some people ...21 hours ago
- Review: Double Whammy’s first all-ages gig proves punk is for the children
Former underage gig-goers turned average-age music lovers Gabi Lardies and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith review Double Whammy’s first all-ages gig, featuring Dartz, Dune Rats and Groopchat. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith: Gabi, do you remember your first all-ages gig? I was 15 and watched Miss June tear up the grimy little stage at the Old ...21 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Lamium purpureum’ by Joel LeBlanc
A new poem by Joel LeBlanc. Lamium purpureum I found an old notebook containing research for an article I wrote nine years ago on Deadnettles. On impulse, I googled it. The words of my younger self echoed through years, bold and clear and sure of himself, lecturing me on anti-inflammatory ...21 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 6
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Tiahuia: A Karanga for My Mother by Merenia Gray (Huia Publishers, $45) Striking cover! Here’s the ...21 hours ago
- Why is soccer fandom so linked to violence?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Risk & Resilience, UNSW Sydney Ververidis Vasilis/Shutterstock Soccer’s global allure is unmatched, yet its history is shadowed by tragedies. At a recent soccer match in Nzérékoré, Guinea, a controversial refereeing decision led to unrest, ...22 hours ago
- Plans to stabilise Earth’s climate rely on emerging carbon removal technology – we need to get m...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lenton, Director CarbonLock, Environment, CSIRO CSIRO, CC BY Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels continue to rise and 2024 is likely to be the world’s hottest year on record. It’s becoming increasingly clear that limiting global warming to 1.5°C ...22 hours ago
- Funding research for economic return sounds good – but that’s not how science really works
The announcement that half of New Zealand's sole fund for fundamental science won't cover social sciences and the humanities came as a shock to many, writes Nicola Gaston. ...22 hours ago
- Watch: Second boot camp youth goes missing
One of the 10 participants escaped from a tangi they were allowed to attend, and now it's been revealed a second left a day later. A third was killed in a car crash. ...22 hours ago
- Our favourite Christmas movies and where to watch them
Looking for a festive film to watch this Christmas? We’ve got you covered. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. Breaking news: it’s officially December, and Christmas is only 19 sleeps away. Down here in Ōtepoti Dunedin it’s staying light until 10pm, and ...23 hours ago
- Watch: Winston Peters, Penny Wong, Judith Collins, Richard Marles meet in Auckland
New Zealand this week is hosting the second Australia-NZ Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN). ...24 hours ago
- Second government boot camp trial youth missing
One of the 10 participants escaped from a tangi they were allowed to attend, and now it's been revealed a second left a day later. A third was killed in a car crash. ...24 hours ago
- How Jeton Anjain planned the Rongelap evacuation – new Rainbow Warrior podcast series
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – REVIEW: By Giff Johnson in Majuro As a prelude to the 40th anniversary of the evacuation of Rongelap Islanders to Mejatto Island in Kwajalein in 1985, Radio New Zealand and ABC Radio Australia have produced a six-part podcast series that ...1 day ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Israel, Syria, and the Map of the ‘Millennium’
Keith Rankin Analysis. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. I recently read the Auckland Library copy of the 1986 book Prophecy and politics: militant evangelists on the road to nuclear war, by Grace Halsell (1923-2000). ...1 day ago
- Second young person flees from boot camp trial
One of the 10 participants escaped from a tangi they were allowed to attend, and now it's been revealed a second left a day later. A third was killed in a car crash. ...1 day ago
- A reminder about your Spotify Wrapped
There are better ways to support the artists whose music got you through 2024. It’s that time again, when Instagram stories are clogged to high heavens with people sharing their Spotify Wrapped, a collection of data points outlining their listening habits for the year. These include top artists, most played ...1 day ago
- Funding research for economic return sounds good – but that’s not how science really works
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Gaston, Co-Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images The announcement by Science Minister Judith Collins this week that half of New Zealand’s sole fund for fundamental science will now ...1 day ago
- How pop-up warnings and chatbots can be used to disrupt online child sex abusers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Price, Research Fellow | Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, University of the Sunshine Coast Sander van der Werf/Shutterstock The scale of online child sexual abuse is immense: estimates suggest there are more than 300 million child victims of ...1 day ago
- The cost of being: A pensioner with no car or cellphone, who spends on books
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 79-year-old writer explains his approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Gay male. Age: 79. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Writer and pensioner. Salary/income/assets: ...1 day ago
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