Author Archive
Miliband:Dangerous Muppet?
Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, May 3rd, 2015 - 40 comments
Is Ed Miliband fighting democracy? Well…
Swings
Written By: - Date published: 11:26 am, May 1st, 2015 - 41 comments
A snippet on Labour’s prospects in Scotland.
A Very British Jamboree
Written By: - Date published: 12:22 pm, April 18th, 2015 - 33 comments
Is Thatcherism finally to be laid to rest?
Trident
Written By: - Date published: 2:21 pm, April 15th, 2015 - 20 comments
Nothing will shift the main UK parties’ attitude on nuclear weapons. Right?
Finally!
Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, March 15th, 2015 - 500 comments
Julian Assange to be allowed to answer to accusations…
Heroes and Villains
Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, March 15th, 2015 - 9 comments
Thinking authorities in the west have yet discover the difference between their arse and their elbow…
A Bright Spark Burning…
Written By: - Date published: 1:39 pm, March 11th, 2015 - 40 comments
A further piece on the peoples’ revolution within Northern Syria.
Revolutionary Spain, Revolutionary Syria, and the Bastards We Vote For.
Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, February 11th, 2015 - 63 comments
It seems that just as the 30’s offered the chance to turn dreams into reality, Syria is offering that chance up to ‘the left’ today. Suddenly, for me, the recent travel bans and the passport confiscation laws etc make sense since we are potentially looking at an international influx of non-nutters and non- psychopaths as happened during the Spanish Revolution of the 30s.
North of 2
Written By: - Date published: 2:13 pm, February 1st, 2015 - 138 comments
The international energy agency’s (IEA) view on climate change is that we are “on track for a 3.5°C rise by 2040” (i.e. 4.2°C relative to pre-industrial).
Fatih Birol – IEA chief economist said (3 years ago)
When I look at this data, the trend is perfectly in line with a temperature increase of 6 degrees Celsius, which would have devastating consequences for the planet….we have 5 years to change the energy system – or have it changed
Over it.
Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, December 16th, 2014 - 56 comments
In a land far away from here and behind a curtain of iron, it was said that to understand anything, it was necessary to first of all discount the fictions that were being presented as truth.
A Breakdown.
Written By: - Date published: 10:44 am, November 26th, 2014 - 25 comments
There’s a lot of smash flying around concerning the SIS, the PM’s office, OIA requests, Judith Collin’s and what not. So here’s a simple, stripped back, breakdown
All Things Being Equal…
Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, October 27th, 2014 - 173 comments
Assuming that all four contenders for leadership of Labour are equally worthy, there is a defining factor that ought to be considered…vulnerability to attack.
On Navel Gazing and Looking Out.
Written By: - Date published: 2:38 pm, October 6th, 2014 - 63 comments
As the NZ Labour Party stands on the cusp of some soul searching, it might want to note that there are alternatives to pointless navel gazing.
The Monkeywrench
Written By: - Date published: 2:01 pm, September 29th, 2014 - 75 comments
Some thoughts from a different angle on ‘what went wrong’, or maybe just saying stuff along the lines of what plenty of other people are thinking
Idiots, Cowards and Bastards.
Written By: - Date published: 4:18 pm, September 22nd, 2014 - 47 comments
When they write about it at all, the media tends to produce a lot of smash on the issue of global warming, and I’ve had enough of the crap. I apologise for both the length of this post and the number of data chewing links (pdfs and video). I’m hoping to write a number of posts looking at global warming from a variety of perspectives, and hopefully, it’ll be possible to keep others somewhat briefer than this one.
Right Back At You John.
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 16th, 2014 - 130 comments
I need to say this – for those academics who will slice and dice a subject to slithers so small that all that is left is invisible and meaningless; and to all those who think or believe that fascism is marked by brown shorts and Nuremberg rallies – No. Fascism comes with a smile and […]
Bombs Away?
Written By: - Date published: 5:00 pm, September 12th, 2014 - 73 comments
So much for any abatement of dirty politics…
Dirty Filthy Red Herring
Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, September 1st, 2014 - 105 comments
Big fish and little fish.
Questions
Written By: - Date published: 12:16 pm, August 24th, 2014 - 38 comments
A few simple questions on democracy.
Arses and Elbows
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, June 19th, 2014 - 123 comments
So, the Deputy Prime Minister insists that no-one from the ruling National Party knew of an eleven year old letter from Labour’s David Cunliffe asking Immigration about time frames for decision making. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister states he knew of the letter for some weeks. Scandalously, some ministers from the ruling National Party have sought […]
Late Mother’s Day Reflection
Written By: - Date published: 10:40 am, May 12th, 2014 - 26 comments
Behind the passive receiving of cards, chocolates and flowers.
Thanks for the Piss, Collins.
Written By: - Date published: 11:41 am, April 26th, 2014 - 108 comments
Karol has already mentioned this in her post from this morning. But in the interests of splitting milk from alcohol…
September 18th
Written By: - Date published: 7:36 pm, April 8th, 2014 - 46 comments
The 18th of September 2014 is a big day.
On that day, people living in Scotland will decide if they want to become citizens in a nation that will have reclaimed its sovereignty.
Taiwan
Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, March 19th, 2014 - 9 comments
Taiwanese legislature occupied. Could be news…
a wee note to the msm
Written By: - Date published: 11:23 am, March 11th, 2014 - 49 comments
Spot the difference?
Update: The referendum on the flag will be after the election.
Ukraine
Written By: - Date published: 3:27 pm, March 10th, 2014 - 50 comments
That thing about truth and war…
Well Done Paddy
Written By: - Date published: 1:12 pm, March 6th, 2014 - 55 comments
For anyone who’s had enough of the media being footloose and fancy free with their reporting.
Shooting Messengers with Wonky Long Bows.
Written By: - Date published: 4:58 pm, March 3rd, 2014 - 5 comments
Looks like Mark Ames really has lost the plot viz a viz Glen Greenwald and ‘The Intercept’
Voices and Power
Written By: - Date published: 1:41 pm, February 28th, 2014 - 15 comments
When did the left leave the left? Or, perhaps more accurately, why do we continue to regard liberals as being of the left?
Positive Things
Written By: - Date published: 2:27 pm, February 16th, 2014 - 21 comments
Change becomes embedded when it emanates from and across many quarters and traditions.
Role of Government
Written By: - Date published: 10:56 am, February 11th, 2014 - 46 comments
Governments are holding on to their traditional roles and functions, but the world has changed. We need something else.
- Two steps forward on pay gaps – let’s make it three
Opinion: Next step is for businesses to report their gender and ethnic pay gaps The post Two steps forward on pay gaps – let’s make it three appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago - The way NZ treats animals is a race to the bottom
Racing Minister Winston Peters’ decision to ban greyhound racing from 2026 was both courageous and evidence-led. It is a rare good news story for anyone who cares about the interests of animals, and warrants celebration. It was also astonishingly overdue, and successive governments’ delay in arriving at the only logical ...2 weeks ago
- The bestselling books at Xmas
We have given away oh probably like 40 books this year in our weekly contest published every Friday within the Nielsen BookScan bestseller chart. We have one final book up for grabs in 2024. Simply identify one book in this week’s chart – and get into the spirit of Xmas ...2 weeks ago
- Is the economy responding to interest rate cuts?
Opinion: There is a general expectation that cuts in interest rates will eventually pull the economy out of recession. The Official Cash Rate (OCR) has been slashed 125bps since August. It’s early days, but folk are starting to ask if we’re seeing a response.Below, we check in on some of ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand COVID-19 Inquiry Endorses Abandonment Of Elimination Strategy
The scientific knowledge & resources exist that could eliminate COVID-19 & other preventable diseases. If the elimination strategy initially adopted in New Zealand & China had been implemented on a global scale, the COVID pandemic could have been ...2 weeks ago - New Sex Education Curriculum Should Be Age Appropriate And Scientifically Accurate, Women’s Rights...
The current guidelines, which cover 1-10 yrs, are to be replaced by a refreshed curriculum that would define the core knowledge & skills students should learn at each age, & will look at extending compulsory relationships & sexuality education to senior ...2 weeks ago
- Raw Politics picks the best and worst of 2024 – and 2025
Four different MPs are nominated by our four Raw Politics panelists for the honour of standout politician of 2024 – and consensus is hard to come by for many of our other accolades.The Raw Politics podcast weighs the good and bad for 2024 – leaders, new MPs, policy pushes, controversies and cringeworthy ...2 weeks ago
- What we should have done with Candace Owens is nothing
Immigration NZ could have made any decision on the controversial speaker’s visa and it would’ve been better than a minister intervening. It’s happened again. As the world turned and things progressed in their natural way, we as a country have managed to trip over our own feet, face first into ...2 weeks ago - Minister Reverses Visa Denial, Allows Candace Owens Access To New Zealand: Massive Win For Kiwis’ ...
Those calling for censorship should take note: denying Owens’ entry into the country has simply widened interest in her. Those who disagree with Owens should channel that into counter speech and peaceful protest – cancellation won’t get us anywhere. ...2 weeks ago
- Gone By Lunchtime: A plan to have a plan about some ferries
Ready the lifeboats: the coalition boat appears to be listing. Twelve months after the coalition government torpedoed the new ferry plan it had inherited, along with a wild cost blowout, from the previous government, a much heralded announcement finally arrived on Wednesday, and it provided plenty more questions that it ...2 weeks ago
- Govt Acting With Too Much Haste To Upend Established Flexible Work Practices
Te Kawa Mataaho today issued new flexible work guidelines just days after the PSA filed action with the Employment Relations Authority challenging the Government’s legal right to do so. ...2 weeks ago
- A love letter to community newspapers
Bethany Rolston looks back at the three years she wrote for the Te Awamutu Courier, one of the 14 NZME community newspapers set to close before Christmas. Looking back at the three years I was a journalist at the Te Awamutu Courier feels like a happy sort of fever ...2 weeks ago
- The Spinoff’s best NZ book covers of 2024
In which Claire Mabey judges this year’s New Zealand books by their covers. Among a sea of books some are more alluring than others, like tropical fishes glinting. The art of the book cover is a serious matter: the cover has to help the book stand out as well as ...2 weeks ago
- Will Taxpayer Bailouts Of Failing Skifield Never End?
“It’s time for the abuse of taxpayer money to stop, and start investing in things that will actually benefit hardworking Kiwis.” ...2 weeks ago
- Modern Slavery Legislation Drafted To Drive Cross Party Political Support For NZ Law
A team of independent experts has drafted legislation ready for immediate introduction to Parliament in a bid to fast-track progress on modern slavery laws with cross-party backing. ...2 weeks ago
- A brief history of celebrity cameos on Shortland Street
Ahead of Conan O’Brien’s Shortland Street cameo tonight, Alex Casey looks back at some of the more memorable cameos to grace Ferndale. Nothing signals the festive season better than a tall redhead American late show host visiting our favourite fictional hospital. Tonight, Conan O’Brien will don a pair of grape ...2 weeks ago
- Help Me Hera: How do I navigate Auckland traffic without going insane?
The selfishness of this city’s drivers never fails to ruin my day. How do I get from A to B without wishing punishment and retribution on my fellow commuters? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Help Me Hera! Why do I see Auckland driver behaviour (not letting people merge, tailgating, etc) ...2 weeks ago
- Own goal? Govt sets new $4b goalpost for ferries
This new Number of the Day is based on 42 very, very costly words in an old Treasury report, and some ‘spotty’ costings out of China and Korea The post Own goal? Govt sets new $4b goalpost for ferries appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- An ‘announcement of an announcement’ of two new boats
The wait for replacement Interislander ferries will drag on until 2029, as ministers reveal a plan to buy two smaller ships, reports Joel MacManus reports from parliament. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Crown company created to procure two new Interislander ferries by 2029 The long-awaited ...2 weeks ago
- Communities swamped by torrent of new water reforms
Without the fire and fanfare of the previous Govt’s three waters reforms, the coalition has this week quietly introduced a 100,000-word whale of a water services bill The post Communities swamped by torrent of new water reforms appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- From elusive principles to the year’s biggest loser – 2024 had it all
A lighthearted celebration: Newsroom’s political team awards the coveted annual political prizes – from Biggest Loser to Teen Choice The post From elusive principles to the year’s biggest loser – 2024 had it all appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- National Iwi Chairs Forum Open Letter To King Charles
Signatories hope the letter will resonate with King Charles’s sense of justice and intervene to support a peaceful resolution to the damage this government is creating across communities. ...2 weeks ago
- The world in 2024, in one sentence
From ‘testing’ to ‘tiring’, there’s a clear theme. As 2024 draws to a close, we asked our pantheon of politics watchers to describe the world this year in one sentence, or even a single word. Here’s what they came up with. Madeleine Chapman (editor, The Spinoff) Relentless. Eric Crampton (chief ...2 weeks ago
- The inside story of Auckland’s Korean culinary boom
From fried chicken and franchises to fusion and fine dining, Korean cuisine has taken over Tāmaki Makaurau, fuelled by the same ‘soft power’ that made K-pop go global and mukbang go viral. Jihee Junn charts the rise. In 1991, Il Mee on Auckland’s Queen Street became the first Korean ...2 weeks ago
- The finalised second Emissions Reduction Plan is out – what’s in it and what’s not?
New Zealand’s second Emissions Reduction Plan has just been finalised, with eight key policies and a ‘technology-led’ approach. Shanti Mathias takes a look. This is an updated version of a piece that was published in July, when the draft Emissions Reduction Plan was released OK, so… what’s an Emissions Reduction ...2 weeks ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 12 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 12 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- Hopes for grand coalition on modern slavery law
Can Labour and National put aside their differences to take action on a growing concern? The post Hopes for grand coalition on modern slavery law appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- Daily crossword, Thursday 12 December
The post Daily crossword, Thursday 12 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- Xmas: Best novels of 2024
Issues and personal identities of race were at the absolute foreground of five of the best works of fiction of the year, each by writers of colour; the Pākehā authors of the other five outstanding works of fiction skirted the issue by largely avoiding having anything to do with Māori ...2 weeks ago
- Final Emissions Reduction Plan ‘Woefully Inadequate’ – WWF-New Zealand
WWF-New Zealand’s CEO, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, says the utter lack of ambition in the plan shows the Government is not serious about tackling emissions in line with New Zealand’s international commitments and the Prime Minister’s own ‘performance ...2 weeks ago
- Council Urges Government To Drop Treaty Principles Bill
The Council has particular concerns that the Bill would negatively impact the trust and collaboration underpinning its long-standing relationship with Ngāi Tahu. ...2 weeks ago
- ‘A sick wish fulfilment fantasy, so badly written’: Harry Ricketts’ biggest book regret
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Harry Ricketts – poet, literary scholar and author of memoir First Things and around 30 other books. The book I wish I’d written Byron’s comic verse-novel Don Juan. ...2 weeks ago
- Pure SEO Report Reveals Carbon Footprint Of New Zealand MPs
The critical analysis of MPs’ travel emissions reveals inefficiencies and discrepancies across all major parties. National leads in both expenses and emissions, with Labour close behind, reflecting the significant environmental impact of the dominant parties. ...2 weeks ago
- Kirihimete gift guide 2024: cool stuff from Māori and Pasifika-led brands
Our legendary guide is back to help you through another silly season. Note: When we first published this guide six years ago, it was about finding the small labels and makers out there and pointing hungry shoppers in their direction. Since then, there has been huge and exciting growth in ...2 weeks ago
- Five classic summer road trips, with burgers to match
Lollies and chips can only sustain you so far. Here are five of our favourite New Zealand road trips, with burger pairings to enjoy along the way. Auckland to Northland I know not everyone is a fan of new roads being built, but the drive from Auckland to Northland is ...2 weeks ago
- Stuff ‘consciously uncouples’ into two separate digital and print businesses
Exclusive: Leaked emails and documents show that the media giant will soon be two legal entities – opening up a range of options for owner Sinead Boucher. Duncan Greive analyses the move. News media giant Stuff will soon be two separate businesses, as it splits into one built around the ...2 weeks ago
- With its daily news bulletin scrapped, what’s next for Whakaata Māori?
With funding stagnant since 2008, the broadcaster is racing to adapt to a digital world – and a hard pivot might be the key to ensuring its survival. Last week, Whakaata Māori announced the end of its flagship daily news bulletin, Te Ao Māori News, which has been a fixture ...2 weeks ago
- PSA Takes Legal Action To Stop Govt Cutting Working From Home Arrangements
The PSA has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority to stop the Government restricting flexible workplace practices, including the recent directive on working from home. "The PSA is firmly of the view that the Government is unable to do ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing sprints toward the finish line
Some in the industry say a small number of negligent trainers ‘buggered it’ for everyone else, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund for The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...2 weeks ago
- Auckland Council opposes new housing because motorists won’t be able to see a hill
Over the motorway from Sylvia Park is Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park. Parts of it can be seen from the motorway and Auckland Council is fighting to keep that view sacred. If there’s one rule for being a safe driver, it’s keeping your eyes on the road. That may ...2 weeks ago
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