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Comment: Open mike 24/01/2025
Written By: arkie - Date published: 11:28 am, January 24th, 2025
As predicted, it begins Act leader David Seymour is today expected to blow open what will likely be a controversial public debate on privatisation. The Herald understands Seymour will use his State of the Nation speech in Auckland on Friday to suggest New ...Comment: Open mike 23/01/2025
Written By: arkie - Date published: 4:09 pm, January 23rd, 2025
There was some dispute about the application of the science online. Some users raised the issue that the order discusses 'large reproductive cells' vs 'small reproductive cells,' referring to eggs and sperm. It does not allude to x and y chromosomes, or ...Comment: Open mike 23/01/2025
Written By: arkie - Date published: 2:49 pm, January 23rd, 2025
Congratulations to the First "female" President, Donald Trump: Did Trump define all Americans as women? According to his executive order, "female” means a person belonging at conception to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell, whereas "male” ...Comment: Daily review 11/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:01 pm, October 11th, 2023
Such policy would first have to reckon with the demands by employers for cheaper, less demanding labour. In addition to infrastructural and environmental pressure, such migrant levels ensures increased rental housing pressure and justifies continued ...Comment: Multimillionaire landlords are the real squeezed middle according to National
Written By: arkie - Date published: 11:22 am, October 11th, 2023
This morning on RNZ, Sue Harrison of the Property Investors Federation is confirms Luxon's 'downward pressure on rents' is another lie https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018910602/questions-as-to-whether-tax-cuts-will-be-passed- ...Comment: Managing Expectations – the NZ Housing crisis and Labour’s response.
Written By: arkie - Date published: 11:15 am, October 6th, 2023
“Voting isn’t marriage, it’s public transport. You’re not waiting for “the one” who’s absolutely perfect: you’re getting the bus, and if there isn’t one to your destination, you don’t not travel- you take the one going closest.” https://medium.com/@ ...Comment: Managing Expectations – the NZ Housing crisis and Labour’s response.
Written By: arkie - Date published: 10:49 am, October 6th, 2023
Your understanding is wrong: The latest figures from the OneRoof-Valocity House Index show the nationwide average property value is, at $958,000, 23.9% ($185,000) higher than it was in March 2020, just before Covid-19 struck. https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 10:31 pm, October 4th, 2023
Lying isn't a property inherent to maleness. Males of any identity self ID-ing into women's business is. And in this situation males self-identifying as men were the problem, no need to invoke trans people at all, except that you're a gender critical ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 10:23 pm, October 4th, 2023
As the article I posted said the issue in this situation was men, 'self-identifying males'. That excludes trans women and non-binary people. Biology doesn't come in to itComment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 9:57 pm, October 4th, 2023
I didn't lump trans people in with this and then It's male entitlement, many men do it and so do many trans women and non-binary males. You can't be serious Trans women and, as you say, non-binary 'males' would be welcome at this event, the issue here was ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 9:44 pm, October 4th, 2023
The article I posted says it is not legal because of 'federal non-discrimination protections in the US' Self ID enables males to gain access to women’s spaces You say male because you are lumping trans women in with the men in this situation which is ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 8:56 pm, October 4th, 2023
No they didn't, they lied on an online form, paid an entry fee and showed up to apply for jobs as a man, identifying as a man, at a women's conference they cannot legally be excluded from. Entitled behaviour that is very disappointing but unsurprising from ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:45 pm, October 4th, 2023
This isn't an issue of identification on legal documents (what trans people want to 'self-ID' about) this is men, who identify as men, gate-crashing the event. Some booked places claiming non-binary status but didn't assert it when they attended. This ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:00 pm, October 4th, 2023
The statement that this situation is what trans rights activists 'wholly support and fought for' is absolutely incorrect and it is blaming trans advocates for a number of men (self-identifying men, i.e. not claiming to be trans) attending a space they ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 5:20 pm, October 4th, 2023
This year, droves of men showed up with résumés in hand. AnitaB.org, the nonprofit that runs the conference, said there was “an increase in participation of self-identifying males” at this year’s event. https://www.wired.com/story/grace-hopper-celebration ...Comment: Open mike 04/10/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 9:20 am, October 4th, 2023
To those who thought TOP were principled and progressive: [TOP leader, Raf Manji is] calling on National to stand aside in Ilam so TOP gets into Parliament with a handful of MPs, meaning Luxon wouldn't have to rely on New Zealand First if that's what's ...Comment: Open mike 27/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 5:11 pm, September 27th, 2023
Same with youth crime. Up huge over 2 terms Stop repeating their mistruths: ...is youth crime actually getting worse? Turns out, not really. The past 15 years have actually seen a dramatic decline in youth crime, which the Ministry of Justice classifies ...Comment: Open mike 17/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 9:45 am, September 17th, 2023
Turnout decides elections. Triple the vote is a volunteer project that has proven to work in recent international elections: It’s simple; have a conversation with three friends and ask them to vote. Then follow it up once ballot boxes open. Behavioural ...Comment: Open mike 16/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 9:15 am, September 17th, 2023
Society as it currently functioning IS detrimental to society and the planet. Trying to improve that, even marginally, is still an improvement; keeping the status quo keeps things getting worse. It is a sort-of nihilist, teenaged-anarchist sentiment; " ...Comment: Open mike 16/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 11:27 am, September 16th, 2023
I appreciate your dramatic phrasing, and the assessment is largely accurate but there is a fundamental problem; 'least bad' remains better than the rest, and not participating makes the 'more bad' more likely. The path ahead will be fraught with ...Comment: Open mike 14/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 12:44 pm, September 14th, 2023
The planet cannot wait any longer: The Earth's life-support systems are facing greater risks and uncertainties than ever before, with most major safety limits already crossed as a result of planet-wide human interventions, according to a scientific study ...Comment: Open mike 14/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 8:24 am, September 14th, 2023
“A report released today says that the Government’s proposed reforms will not be enough to address the high cost of groceries,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for commerce and consumer affairs, Ricardo Menéndez March. “The report agrees with what the ...Comment: Open mike 13/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 2:14 pm, September 13th, 2023
Climate emergency? What emergency? In December 2020, the New Zealand government declared a climate change emergency. But are we acting like we’re in an emergency? The short answer is no. International science and policy analysts Climate Action Tracker ...Comment: The silver lining of last night’s poll
Written By: arkie - Date published: 3:07 pm, September 12th, 2023
if Labour don't get the bulk of the votes to be able to form a government, the Green Party will be a larger opposition bloc, which won't do much good at all This just isn't true though, as long as the total vote for the Greens, TPM and Labour is greater ...Comment: The Greens In Real Government in October 2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 9:05 pm, September 11th, 2023
It is a failure of analysis to class Labour as left, they are only left in comparison to the other parties of the centre and the right. There is a process known as the ratchet effect where the Overton window moves rightward and the nominally left party ...Comment: Daily review 11/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:39 pm, September 11th, 2023
If either institutional party is prepared to change their mind on wealth taxes to fund the first $10k tax-free then I'd imagine a conversation would be had. Realistically though the other aspects of Nationals policy prohibit any coalition arrangement with ...Comment: Daily review 11/09/2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:28 pm, September 11th, 2023
The Greens have announced a plan to protect our oceans. This will involve an Act to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, create an independent Ocean Commission and a Minister for Oceans: Less than 1% of Aotearoa’s seas are currently protected and our ...Comment: The Greens In Real Government in October 2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:21 pm, September 11th, 2023
We should be concentrating in getting the Left in Yes, and the only way to get a Left government is to party vote for the Greens or Te Pāti Māori. As has been pointed out many times before: Labour has been gradually drifting rightward ... and is not and ...Comment: The Greens In Real Government in October 2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 6:13 pm, September 11th, 2023
Chloe Davidson – Minister of Democractic Reform is still appearing for me.Comment: The Greens In Real Government in October 2023
Written By: arkie - Date published: 10:55 am, September 11th, 2023
Chlöe Swarbrick not Chloe Davidson
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- Recession & local protests drag National below Labour
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report shows worsening food poverty and housing shortages mean more than 400,000 people now need welfare support, the highest level since the 1990s. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and ...1 hour ago - Death and The Maiden
You're just too too obscure for meOh you don't really get through to meAnd there's no need for you to talk that wayIs there any less pessimistic things to say?Songwriters: Graeme DownesToday, I thought we’d take a look at some of the most cringe-inducing moments from last week, but don’t ...4 hours ago - Destiny Church
Please note: I’ve delayed my “What can we do?” article for this video.The video above shows Destiny Church members assaulting staff and librarians as they pushed through to a room of terrified parents and young children.It was posted to social media last night.But if you read Sinead Boucher’s Stuff, you ...6 hours ago
- Fact brief – Is sea level rise exaggerated?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is sea level rise exaggerated? Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, not stagnating or decreasing. Warming global temperatures cause land ice ...13 hours ago - Why Does Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church Terrorise With Impunity in New Zealand?
White nationalist groups in the US have been terrorising LGBTQ communities for years.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.And across Australia, there has been a marked and violent increase in anti-LGBTQ activity from neo-Nazis.Neo-nazis protest transgender ...14 hours ago - The limits of over-reach.
Here is a scenario, but first a historical parallel. Hitler and the Nazis could well have accomplished everything that they wanted to do within German borders, including exterminating Jews, so long as they confined their ambitious to Germany itself. After all, the world pretty much sat and watched as the ...20 hours ago - Rennie, Roche & Willis want faster GDP growth, smaller Govt, lower debt, more competition & ...
I’ve spent the last couple of days in Hamilton covering Waikato University’s annual NZ Economics Forum, where (arguably) three of the most influential people in our political economy right now laid out their thinking in major speeches about the size and role of Government, their views on for spending, tax ...1 day ago
- Simeon Brown Ruthlessly Executes Health Privatisation
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”. “It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...2 days ago
- Preparing for the Next Financial Earthquake
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...2 days ago - Nobody puts Davey in a corner
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a. Ill-advisedb. A perfect letterc. A letter that will live in infamyd. He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a. What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...2 days ago - PPPs are still a rort
On Thursday, infrastructure minister Chris Bishop was wanking in the House about the benefits of Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs). So how do they work out in practice? We all know Transmission Gully is a complete shitshow which ultimately had to be completely restructured after the contractor simply refused to complete the work. ...2 days ago - OJI needs to work with government and unions before closure
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...2 days ago - Brooke van Velden completely undermines personal grievance system
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...2 days ago
- These Men & Their Dead Animals
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...2 days ago - So Smooth
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...2 days ago - Chris Trotter: Visitors with votes
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...2 days ago - Weekly Roundup 14-February-2025
Already halfway through February, but welcome to another Friday! Some exciting news this week in Auckland. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt took an in-depth look into Auckland’s 2024 bus ridership numbers. On Wednesday Matt highlighted a few points on Thursday’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee ...2 days ago - The Hoon around the week to Feb 14
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...2 days ago
- Roche says public service has lost its way and needs to get out of Wellington
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...2 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #7 2025
Open access notables A year above 1.5 °C signals that Earth is most probably within the 20-year period that will reach the Paris Agreement limit, Bevacqua et al., Nature Climate Change: The temperature goals of the Paris Agreement are measured as 20-year averages exceeding a pre-industrial baseline. The calendar year of ...3 days ago
- A small wine tasting with a petroleum finish
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...3 days ago - United States of betrayal
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...3 days ago
- Book review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton Book review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...3 days ago
- How big insurance’s investment in fossil fuels came back to bite it
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...3 days ago
- As it Was
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...3 days ago - Unserious People.
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...3 days ago
- Concrete production slumps to 2014 levels
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On Why “Golden Visas” Are A Losing Bet On Growth
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...3 days ago - The late Winston Peters
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...4 days ago - Its almost as if there’s a pattern here…
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...4 days ago
- 13 signs you may be living in a fascist state
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...4 days ago - Transforming New Zealand:Brian Easton
Transforming New Zealand: Brian Easton Brian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington The sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...4 days ago - Wednesday 12 February
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...4 days ago
- I Am Woke
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...4 days ago - Council’s February 2025 TRIC
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...4 days ago
- 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 ...4 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 ...4 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 ...4 days ago - Sabin 33 #15 – Does EM radiation from wind turbines pose a threat to human health?
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 ...5 days ago
- Live long, maybe prosper
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...5 days ago - Colonialism towards the Cook Islands
Last week, 1 News broke the news of a major diplomatic rift between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, over the latter's plans to sign a "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement". Foreign Minister Winston Peters felt that he should have been consulted. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown disagreed. So who's ...5 days ago
- All about AI (artificial inteligence)
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...5 days ago
- Good riddance
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...5 days ago
- United States of corruption
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...5 days ago
- 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 ...5 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. ...5 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 ...5 days ago - Seymour tells Luxon where to go
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...5 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Surviving The 47th US President
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...5 days ago
- 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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,” ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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 ...7 days 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 ...7 days 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 ...7 days ago - The Condundrum of David Seymour
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...1 week ago - All your dreams are on their way
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...1 week ago - Fact brief – Is methane the largest driver of recent global warming?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...1 week ago
- Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for Feb 8
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...1 week ago - Home Time
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...1 week ago - My Decision on Mountain Tui After The Poll
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...1 week ago - The Yes Prime Minister
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...1 week ago - Let It Be Said – Loudly & Clearly!
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...1 week ago
- On the DOGE data sweep..
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...1 week ago
- Oh, Jokerman
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...1 week ago - Weekly Roundup 7-February-2025
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...1 week ago
- Govt grasping at economic growth straws
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...1 week ago
- The quiet Waitangi that said a lot
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...1 week 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. ...2 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. ...2 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. ...2 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. ...2 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 ...2 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. ...2 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. ...2 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 ...3 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. ...3 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. ...3 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. ...4 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. ...4 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. ...4 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 ...5 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. ...6 days 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. ...6 days 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 ...6 days 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. ...6 days 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. ...6 days 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. ...2 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. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Seymour’s school lunch cuts already failing kids
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...2 weeks ago
- Open season on renters begins with no-cause evictions
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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
- PM emphasises importance of growth in 2025
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...3 weeks ago
- Students are back at school
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...3 weeks ago
- Going for Growth: New rules for visiting tourists
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...3 weeks ago
- ‘Devastating’: Hundreds of engineers leaving NZ due to infrastructure delays, CEO claims
Hundreds of engineers are losing their jobs and leaving our shores due to infrastructure project delays, creating "significant" risk to our nation's development, says the head of New Zealand's engineering body. ...42 minutes ago - Mediawatch: Golden visas obscured by politics and talkback pushback
Mediawatch: Media management helped the government's new 'golden visas' into the headlines, but it also got obscured by the ACT leader's antics. ...2 hours ago
- The House: Fighting over growth, forgetting to mention the plan
Much of Parliament's time so far this year has been spent on one very long debate, and not about legislation - but a plan for legislation. ...3 hours ago
- China deal ‘complements, not replaces’ NZ relationship, says Cook Islands PM
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the deal with China “complements, not replaces” the relationship with New Zealand after signing it yesterday. Brown said “The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030” provides a structured framework for engagement between the Cook Islands ...10 hours ago - Fiji and Israel strengthen bilateral relations, plan embassy opening
Pacific Media Watch Fiji has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing an embassy in Israel, with plans to open the embassy in Jerusalem, despite global condemnation of Tel Aviv over the war in Gaza. This announcement came as the Coalition Cabinet prepared to discuss the matter in Suva next week, reports ...13 hours ago
- Tick for ‘short’ bootcamp review too soon – children’s commissioner
The government should not set military style academies into youth justice law, the children's commissioner says, despite its first bootcamp getting a glowing report. ...15 hours ago
- PM’s ‘fashion crime’ T-shirt now up for auction
The infamous over-the-suit T-shirt worn by the PM at a Parliament barbecue has gone on sale to raise funds for children living in poverty, in a TradeMe auction. ...18 hours ago
- Environmental Protection Authority Will End Up Defaulting On Loan If Too Few Developers Use GovtR...
It plans to repay the loan over five years using application levies from would-be beneficiaries of the shortened route planning approval. ...21 hours ago - Cook Islands signs closely watched China deal
Official ratification of a "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement is likely to cause consternation in Wellington. ...1 day ago
- Government accused of ‘othering’ Muslim community after failing to provide halal-certifi...
The government is being accused of racism and 'othering' the Muslim community, after failing to provide halal-certified school lunches. ...1 day ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Sheriff Seymour
MONDAYSheriff Seymour rode slowly down the main street of Dodge on his faithful white horse Atlas Network.He liked what he saw.Children were being fed free lunches prepared by kind people who collected the scraps from an offal rendering plant.“Very strongly flavoured liver, such as ox liver, can be soaked overnight ...1 day ago - Dark questions over child social media stars
Once upon a time it was all about being an astronaut, a firefighter or doctor; but these days kids have their sights set on becoming vloggers or YouTubers.That’s according to a 2019 study by Lego that surveyed 3000 children between the ages of eight to 12 from the US, the ...1 day ago
- The Weekend: Being single vs being alone
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. From the moment I started high school and realised almost every other girl in my year was at least partially interested in what the boys were up to, I realised that I would be single for life. The feeling wasn’t one of ...1 day ago - Pacific profiles: Meet Selina Alesana Alefosio, who teaches Pacific dance at Aotearoa’s most prest...
The Pacific profiles series shines a light on Pacific people in Aotearoa doing interesting and important work in their communities, as nominated by members of the public. Today, Selina Alesana Alefosio. All photos by Geoffery Matautia. On a bright Sunday morning from her grandparent’s home in Pito-one, I spoke with ...1 day ago
- ‘I really thought it was a scam’: Morgana O’Reilly on getting The White Lotus call
The White Lotus star reflects on her life in TV, including the local ad reference that doesn’t work in Australia, and her bananas co-star on Neighbours. Morgana O’Reilly was scrolling her phone next to her sleeping son on an idle Saturday morning when she got the call confirming that she ...1 day ago
- Brilliant and devastating: Are book blurbs anything more than a circle jerk?
Claire Mabey explores the pros and cons of puff quotes on book covers. In January, Publishers Weekly put out an article by Sean Manning – publisher of Simon & Schuster’s flagship US imprint – in which he said he’d “no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books”. The ...1 day ago
- Spineless, but still special: Eight bugs vying for your vote
New Zealand’s Entomological Society is hosting its annual bug of the year contest. Here are some of the insects in the running. For some reason – perhaps humans’ inherent competitiveness, the idealisation of democracy, the need to demarcate winners and losers – one of the best ways to get people ...1 day ago
- The Spinoff Essay: Sunset Limited
A journey along the border, with words and illustrations by Bob Kerr. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members. The Sunset Limited leaves Union Station New Orleans on time at nine in the morning. We ...1 day ago
- The falcon on Taieri Ridge
Neville Peat is the 2024 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in nonfiction. He’s written 56 books, mostly on natural history; this excerpt is from The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal, first published in 1992. The falcon wintering on the Rock and ...1 day ago
- Olympic sailor architect of her own good fortune
It was a light-hearted gesture Greta Pilkington will be forever grateful for – thanks to an Aussie rival who jumped in when the Olympic sailor couldn’t be at her own graduation.Pilkington, then 20, had been leading a double life – while qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the ILCA ...1 day ago
- Short story: A Matchstick, by Madeleine Walker
I was born in the back of my grandfather’s ute, by an overgrown windbreak in a remote place called Wahi-Rakau you can’t find on a map. I was born a girl but given the man’s name Harvey, as my dad always wanted a violent-minded boy to one day help him ...1 day ago
- Ngāi Tahu witness allays fears over water consents
“We’re not here to interfere in people’s property rights,” Ngāi Tahu’s Te Maire Tau has told the High Court.Tau, a historian, Upoko (traditional leader) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and a university professor of history, is the lead witness in a case designed to force the Crown to recognise the tribe’s rangatiratanga ...1 day ago
- RSF demands White House restores AP’s access — and let press do its job
Pacific Media Watch Trump administration officials barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from covering White House events this week because the US-based independent news agency did not change its style guide to align with the president’s political agenda. The AP is being punished for using the term “Gulf of Mexico,” ...1 day ago
- France’s top diplomat confirms ‘unfreezing’ of New Caledonia’s electoral roll back on table
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...1 day ago
- Free Speech Union Announces Four Speakers For National Tours In 2025
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...2 days ago
- How would Israel respond if Trump called for death camps in Gaza?
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...2 days ago
- ‘A shameful call by Creative Australia’: the arts community reacts to Khaled Sabsabi being dropp...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cecelia Cmielewski, Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, ...2 days ago
- Bracing for a monster: Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on WA. Here’s what to expect
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on the northwest coast of Australia and is likely to make landfall early Friday evening. It’s a monster storm of great concern to Western Australia. ...2 days ago
- Dingoes are being culled in Victoria. How much harm to the species is needed to protect commercial p...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal. Animals Australia, an animal welfare ...2 days ago
- School lunch provider Compass admits halal meals ‘friendly’ but not certified
Labour says students have been "misled" but education minister David Seymour says they have always described the meals as 'halal friendly'. ...2 days ago
- In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more ...2 days ago
- Treaty principles bill hearings, day five: ‘Nice to be here – not really’
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions. Read our recaps of the previous hearings here. It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...2 days ago
- Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...2 days ago
- Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stitch up’ but they also ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades. The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after ...2 days ago
- First official evaluation from government’s youth bootcamp revealed
The report was largely positive, but did find there were issues with staff shortages and a lack of Māori input. ...2 days ago
- Environmental Protection Authority will end up defaulting on loan if too few developers use governme...
It plans to repay the loan over five years using application levies from would-be beneficiaries of the shortened route planning approval. ...2 days ago
- Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stich up’ but they also i...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades. The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after ...2 days ago
- In the quest to appease Israel, the media undermine our basic rights
In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy. COMMENTARY: By Bernard Keane Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ...2 days ago
- New Zealand still lacking cohesive storm response, Emergency Management Minister says
But we're in a better place than before and we should be very "proud as a country", the Emergency Management Minister says. ...2 days ago
- ‘Bloodbath’: Director-General of Health resignation a huge blow, doctors say
The sector is now in a perilous position after the resignation of Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati, doctors and colleagues say. ...2 days ago
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