Author Archive
Gordon Campbell: new Labour leadership
Written By: - Date published: 7:34 pm, November 12th, 2008 - 42 comments
As we’ve come to expect, a thought provoking piece from Gordon Campbell, who says …the public may one day come to rue the change they sought on Saturday. But if and when they do, there is no guarantee that a paternalistic Labour would be the only, or best source of relief. The Greens, now that […]
Fare thee well
Written By: - Date published: 10:54 pm, November 9th, 2008 - 37 comments
Firstly I must say congratulations to the winners on the night, and sympathies to those who did not succeed. We may not hold politicians in high regard but they put themselves on the line. The voting public have had their say and that, if nothing else, we must celebrate and respect. But for Labour the […]
Video: Get the vote out
Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, November 6th, 2008 - 12 comments
Want a say in who will run the country – let’s get the vote out. Just as long as they know it’s Saturday 8th November!
PSA tackles the stats
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, November 3rd, 2008 - 38 comments
The PSA have put together some interesting numbers on the size of the public service. They appear to tell a different story to the one we’ve been hearing about from Mr Key who wants a” razor gang of cabinet ministers to trim state sector fat”. For example: We’re on par with Australia: Australian public service […]
Public politics
Written By: - Date published: 3:30 pm, November 2nd, 2008 - 46 comments
In today’s Herald six prominant NZer’s nail their political colours to the mast: Sir Paul Reeves: electorate vote Maori party, party vote Labour; “Labour will still get his party vote, and he would prefer that the Maori Party formed a government with Labour, rather than National” Graham Lowe: “ending a 40-year relationship with Labour to […]
SSTimes finds more $ in the pocket
Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, November 2nd, 2008 - 22 comments
From this mornings SSTimes: New research has revealed a dramatic reversal in financial fortunes for the average Kiwi family, which is now $60 better off each week than it was six months ago. Falling mortgage costs teamed with the government’s October 1 tax cuts and a beefed up Working for Families package are the main reasons […]
Arseneau: Election too close to call
Written By: - Date published: 1:26 pm, October 31st, 2008 - 64 comments
In her blog column Teresa Arseneau discusses the polls overall, and what happens if the largest party doesn’t form the government: Several of these polls suggest that while National is likely to “win” the election – receive both the most votes and seats – it may not govern….But in an MMP election it is important […]
Brian Fallow: words of warning on bailout
Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, October 30th, 2008 - 11 comments
Feeling attracted to the idea of getting your mortgage covered should the sky fall in? Brian Fallow comments on the perils of Key’s policy plans: “We are in the mess we are in because of a cavalier attitude towards debt and risk by households and their bankers, both here and in more important economies overseas. […]
Video: National muppets
Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, October 26th, 2008 - 11 comments
Warning – this song will stick in your head!
Video: Election coverage 23rd Oct
Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, October 24th, 2008 - 1 comment
If you missed Ali Ikram’s view of the day (from yesterday)
A missing NZ Herald poll?
Written By: - Date published: 1:54 pm, October 23rd, 2008 - 23 comments
Now I’m not one to gossip (well, not too much) but in the last few days I’ve heard from several people that the NZ Herald has held back an opinion poll. Why might they do this? Well perhaps it’s related to NZ First apparently polling over 5%. That could really set the cat amongst the […]
Video: Election campaign, 22 Oct
Written By: - Date published: 5:34 pm, October 22nd, 2008 - 19 comments
Observations of the campaign trails from TV3’s Ali Ikram…. Not sure what I think of those “bleeps” on the John Key excerpt…
Clark winning in the style stakes
Written By: - Date published: 2:31 pm, October 22nd, 2008 - 34 comments
And now for something fluffy. That’s right, the fashion stakes count in the election as well. According to one stylist National leader John Key needs to update his style. Stephanie Rumble, a top New Zealand stylist says: “he hasn’t changed his appearance much since the election campaign started, but that Key’s look is very smart, […]
Williamson on tolls for roads (again)
Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, October 21st, 2008 - 12 comments
I see Maurice Williamson has again confirmed that we will be paying more for driving on some roads under National: Williamson: “If it is quite a short distance road of a few kilometres, somewhere in the city-type link, you’d only be talking of $1 or $2. If it’s a very long haul road you may […]
Video: 12 Flip Flops from Mr Key
Written By: - Date published: 4:25 pm, October 17th, 2008 - 33 comments
National policy on Maori seats (2007): “The Caucus today confirmed that the Maori seats will be abolished, which we anticipate will take place around the time of settlement of historic Treaty claims,” says National Party Leader John Key. National policy on Maori seats (Sept 2008); “National wants to scrap the Maori seats in Parliament once all […]
What exactly did Mr Key say?
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, October 17th, 2008 - 50 comments
We see this morning that: John Key concedes he has privately indicated to the Maori Party that National’s policy to abolish the Maori seats would not stand in the way of doing a deal with the party post-election. What did Mr Key say in that debate again? Shane Taurima: ” Pita Sharples said that you told him […]
Pita falls for the lines – but not for long
Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, October 16th, 2008 - 97 comments
I have some sympathy for Dr PIta Sharples over the fallout of Mr Key’s promises. He’s clearly been left high and dry by Mr Key, his would-be coalition partner. According to the Maori Party’s chief of staff we now find: …that Mr Key was clear in the meeting that National’s position could be put on the backburner. […]
Where were you then (and do you care?)
Written By: - Date published: 11:38 pm, October 15th, 2008 - 94 comments
Lots of comments continue over the leaders debate. One of the bits that made it through the usual dinner time madness in my household was the section on the Springbok tour. It reminded me of this video clip. In it, Key was all over the place, before adopting that favourite technique, tell everyone what they […]
Wouldn’t you be embarrassed if…..?
Written By: - Date published: 1:28 pm, October 15th, 2008 - 40 comments
I have to declare – yes, I am an urban liberal. So I would be embarrassed if a member of my family said this: The National Party’s candidate for New Plymouth (Jonathan Young) says homosexuality is a choice and strongly objects to it being seen as a “normal alternative“: Jonathan Young’s views, printed in the […]
Video: TV3 on Key’s campaign day 2
Written By: - Date published: 4:52 pm, October 14th, 2008 - Comments Off on Video: TV3 on Key’s campaign day 2
Media coverage of the campaign is coming thick and fast – a helpful reader pointed out this excerpt from TV3 on Key’s day yesterday.
Every reason for Key to blitz debate tonight
Written By: - Date published: 2:34 pm, October 14th, 2008 - 20 comments
It is still possible to follow the news without encountering politics at every turn – but it’s getting harder. And the journalists are sitting alongside the leaders watching every step along the way. So far we see Otago Uni students giving Helen Clark a “rock star welcome“, with the ODT saying: The Prime Minister was […]
The problem for National in fewer than 100 words
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, October 14th, 2008 - 14 comments
OK – they are not my words. I could do it – but then again I really liked what Gordon Campbell wrote: The financial meltdown poses a basic identity problem for National, the instinctive champion of de-regulation and market solutions. That’s a bit of a problem right now, given that Europe and the US are […]
Words to watch
Written By: - Date published: 9:20 pm, October 11th, 2008 - 2 comments
Two headings in today’s Herald caught my eye. One from John Armstrong (who I don’t always agree with but who is most often an obersver of skill) who says “Tax plan turns divide into ideological chasm”: After months of deliberately lying low on policy details, National has finally been obliged to put its head above […]
Video: The Joker
Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 11th, 2008 - 22 comments
Spotted by an eagle eyed reader. Fancy leaving the running of our economy up to the Joker? Seems like the economic risks/challenges ahead have proved a creative inspiration….
TV3 poll shows movement
Written By: - Date published: 8:31 pm, October 10th, 2008 - 28 comments
From TV3 A full 3 News political poll shows Helen Clark is back up off the canvas, while John key has taken a significant blow, in the very week he tried to land one using tax cuts…. Labour has been 12 points behind in the 3 News Poll since March 2007. Now that gap has […]
Costs of the Nats tax cuts – commentators’ views
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, October 9th, 2008 - 4 comments
Here’s a smattering of what some of the commentators are saying: Gordon Campbell: Putting tax cuts ahead of science and research neatly underlines the lack of vision, or sensible strategy for growth in the National package … The cutbacks on science and research will only send more scientists and high tech jobs offshore and rob New […]
Note to self – Mr Key will say what you want to hear
Written By: - Date published: 2:39 pm, October 7th, 2008 - 18 comments
Mr Key will tell you what you want to hear. That’s the message that Pita Sharples has taken from his encounter with Mr Key over the future of the Maori seats: Dr Sharples told Sky TV on Sunday night Mr Key had assured him the seven Maori seats would not be abolished till Maori agreed […]
Video: Why vote? Watch this
Written By: - Date published: 3:15 pm, October 3rd, 2008 - 3 comments
We’ve seen the work of Declare Yourself before. Their message is aimed at voters in the US but the call to engage and get involved resonates just as strongly for us here. This time some big names are promoting the message to get involved including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston and Ellen DeGeneres (others whose faces […]
Key’s leadership questioned again
Written By: - Date published: 11:26 am, October 2nd, 2008 - 27 comments
When a commentator like Jenni McManus raises questions over Key’s leadership ability in troubled global economic times you know National should be getting worried. In today’s Independent Financial Review she writes: Just as the United States House of Representatives this week rightly refused give a US$700 billion (NZ$1.04 trillion) blank cheque to Treasury Secretary Henry […]
Nats testing plan proves unpopular
Written By: - Date published: 8:51 pm, October 1st, 2008 - 18 comments
Just one in 10 school principals support the type of national standards for pupils being proposed by the National Party, a study reported in the NZ Herald suggests: National education standards are favoured by: * 10% of the 196 primary school principals surveyed. * 13% of the 912 primary school teachers surveyed. * 38% of […]
Fun: Whack a poll
Written By: - Date published: 2:03 pm, September 30th, 2008 - 2 comments
Need a little respite from election madness? Utilise your keyboard to reach your desired poll result with Whack a Poll…
- The Song of Saqua: Volume III
Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...1 week ago - Chris Bishop: Smokin’
Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...1 week ago - 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...1 week ago - Affirmative Action.
Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...1 week ago - 100 days of something
It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...1 week ago - Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...1 week ago - What's The Story?
Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...1 week ago - The longest of weeks
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...1 week ago - Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts toLike earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...1 week ago
- Under New Management
1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...1 week ago - While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action planSorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...1 week ago
- DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshitRadio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...1 week ago
- ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 millionEle Ludemann writes – Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...1 week ago
- Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...1 week ago - Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...1 week ago - The Hoon around the week to Dec 1Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...1 week ago
- 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...2 weeks ago - Forward to 2017
The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...2 weeks ago - Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...2 weeks ago - Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime MinisterFirst QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...2 weeks ago
- Finally
Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...2 weeks ago - Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...2 weeks ago
- DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
David Farrar writes – 1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...2 weeks ago - Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...2 weeks ago - Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...2 weeks ago - We need to talk about Tory.
The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...2 weeks ago - Dangling Transport SolutionsCable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...2 weeks ago
- November AMA
Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...2 weeks ago - National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...2 weeks ago - Backwards to the futurePrime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...2 weeks ago
- New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some of the economic issues confronting New Zealand. It may take time for some new ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the changes that ...2 weeks ago - Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...2 weeks ago
- How long does this last?
I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...2 weeks ago - National’s giveaway politicsWe already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...2 weeks ago
- CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...2 weeks ago
- GRAHAM ADAMS: Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...2 weeks ago - Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...2 weeks ago - Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...2 weeks ago - As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on holdWellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...2 weeks ago
- National takes over infrastructureThough New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them. POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees National MPs Chris ...2 weeks ago
- At a glance – Evidence for global warmingOn February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...2 weeks ago
- Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
2 weeks ago - Sanity break
Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...2 weeks ago - Sanity breakCheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...2 weeks ago
- National’s murderous smoking policyOne of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...2 weeks ago
- NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under controlNew Zealand has a chance to rise again. Under the previous government, the number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing year by year. The Luxon-led government must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising the pillars of the economy. After the mismanagement of the outgoing government created huge ...2 weeks ago
- KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new governmentTwo articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations. He writes – Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...2 weeks ago
- PHILIP CRUMP: Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadershipThe work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...2 weeks ago
- Black Friday
As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...2 weeks ago - In Defense of the Media.
Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...2 weeks ago - Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
2 weeks ago - PT use up but fare increases comingYesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had.
That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ... 2 weeks ago - The very opposite of social investmentNicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...2 weeks ago
- Giving TuesdayFor the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...2 weeks ago
- Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...2 weeks ago - Climate Change: Stopping oilNational is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...2 weeks ago
- Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise “informed by” head ...2 weeks ago
- The stupidest of stupid reasonsOne of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...2 weeks ago
- A website bereft of buzzBuzz from the Beehive The new government was being sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found …. Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...2 weeks ago
- MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at lastMichael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon's Breakfast.
The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...2 weeks ago - LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreementLindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item: Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki: “Section ...2 weeks ago
- BRIAN EASTON: Peters as MinisterA previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...2 weeks ago
- Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet2 weeks ago
- Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...2 weeks ago - Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryearThis column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...2 weeks ago
- The New Government’s AgreementsLast Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...2 weeks ago
- How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?2 weeks ago
- How the culture will change in the BeehivePerhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...2 weeks ago
- No More Winnie Blues.
2 weeks ago - 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023. Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...2 weeks ago
- Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...2 weeks ago - “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...2 weeks ago
- The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...2 weeks ago
- The Amalgamated Workers Union Calls On The Government To Give Fair Pay Agreements A Fair Go
“The new government has a clear choice to make before Christmas. Do they live up to their stated intention of governing for all New Zealanders, or do they dash the hopes of tens of thousands of kiwi workers by unilaterally abolishing Fair Pay ...3 days ago - What does El Niño do to the weather in your state?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University titoOnz, Shutterstock You’ve probably heard El Niño brings hot and dry weather to the eastern states, but what about the rest of Australia? Are we all in for a scorcher ...3 days ago - Australia’s first mobile cooling hub is ready for searing heat this summer – and people who are ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Currie, Professor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Heatwaves are a major public health hazard. Socially disadvantaged people are especially exposed to extreme heat and other impacts of climate change. Many people experiencing homelessness – more than 120,000 ...3 days ago
- Free Speech Union Releases Briefing To Incoming Government, Outlining Key Areas Of Policy To Protect...The Free Speech Union has sent 14 Cabinet Ministers a comprehensive Briefing to the Incoming Government, outlining five key areas of policy that the Government must address in order to protect and expand Kiwis’ speech rights. We look forward to ...3 days ago
- Interislander ferry upgrade: Finance Minister warns of cost blowout
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she has already met twice with KiwiRail bosses over a "major cost blowout" in the project to replace the Interislander ferries. ...3 days ago - A rangatahi Māori perspective on Cop28
With the new government gaining international infamy for its climate policy, for rangatahi Māori like Kaeden Watts, attending climate conferences is more important than ever. Every year world leaders meet for the annual Conference of the Parties (Cop), the world’s most powerful climate crisis conference. Despite Cop being criticised for ...3 days ago - BBC host denies she was ‘flipping the bird’ after live faux pasAccidental Partridge is one of my favourite Twitter (I am never going to call it X) accounts, and given today is the last day of live updates I think it’s absolutely fair I include a video from it. If you don’t know why it’s called Accidental Partridge, go watch all ...3 days ago
- National Trying To Rewrite History By Removing App Tax Website And Press ReleaseThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the National Party to front up to consumers who will face 15% higher prices for some services from the likes of Uber, Airbnb and food delivery apps after their app tax U-turn rather than trying to erase all ...3 days ago
- Netballers may have a new pay deal, but the sport remains in a precarious positionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University While 2023 was a watershed year for Australian women’s sport due to the Matildas’ stirring run at the Women’s World Cup, netball is going through its worst period ever. Netball Australia and the ...3 days ago
- PM Luxon visits cyclone-hit parts of Hawke’s BayThe prime minister is spending the day out of Wellington, touring parts of cyclone-damaged Hawke’s Bay and meeting with senior leaders in the community. Christopher Luxon began the day in Wairoa, where he met with mayor Craig Little. Later, he’ll head to Napier for a meeting with regional council members. ...3 days ago
- The dark shadow over the NZ TV AwardsHow will the new government look at our television? Duncan Greive reflects on this year’s awards ceremony. This is an excerpt from The Spinoff’s weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. The NZ TV Awards took place in downtown Auckland on Tuesday, which coincided with Te Pāti Māori’s National Māori ...3 days ago
- Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau’s Platitudes Ring HollowResponding to news that Wellington City Councillors have voted down a proposal to reduce business rates in the capital, Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser, James Ross, said: “When Mayor Tory Whanau comes out with a line like ‘I couldn’t in good ...3 days ago
- Te Pūkenga to be replaced with 8-10 institutions – ministerThe new tertiary education minister says Te Pūkenga will be replaced with eight to 10 individual institutions, and hopes legislation will be in place within eight months. ...3 days ago
- Commission Presents Urgent Human Rights ‘must-do’ ListTe Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has today launched a short film calling for the public and government to champion and protect human rights ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “Seventy-five years on, ...3 days ago
- A Cowardly, Anti-Palestinian Parliamentary MotionThe parliamentary motion passed today , a full two months after Israel’s slaughter of Palestinian civilians began, says: "Express grave concern at the ongoing violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, unequivocally condemn ...3 days ago
- Political editors panel: Māori make voices heard as Parliament resumesMorning Report - RNZ and 1News deputy political editors Craig McCulloch and Maiki Sherman dissect a fractious week in the halls of power. ...3 days ago
- Listen: The real cost of the smoking excise taxTo replace $700 million a year of revenues lost from a foreign buyers tax, the new coalition government is dumping the previous government’s smokefree 2025 goal. This relaxing of policies will keep more people smoking for longer, costing thousands of lives per year and at least $10 billion is extra ...3 days ago
- Is the London OE still worth it?London has always been a hard place to live, but in 2023, it’s almost impossible. Charlotte Doyle, a New Zealander currently living in London, explores why we keep heading there. “You’re dreaming,” the letting agent tells me impatiently over the phone. “A one-bedroom for £1,500 per month is a needle ...3 days ago
- GCSB Minister Judith Collins condemns Russian cyber attacksNew Zealand is joining other nations, including Britain, in condemning Russian government malicious cyber-attacks. ...3 days ago
- GCSB Minister Judith Collins condemns Russian cyber attacksNew Zealand is joining other nations, including Britain, in condemning Russian government malicious cyber-attacks. ...3 days ago
- Ryan Bridge to host Three’s new 7pm showWith The Project wrapping up last week (you can read Duncan Greive’s excellent reflections on that here), Warner Bros Discovery has announced broadcaster Ryan Bridge will host a brand new current affairs show for Three. The currently unnamed show will focus on live news and interviews and is a return ...3 days ago
- We thought we’d find 200 species living in our house and yard. We were very wrongSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew H. Holden, Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland Dot-underwing moth (_Eudocima materna_) found in the researchers’ yard. Matthew Holden, CC BY-NC We are biodiversity researchers – an ecologist, a mathematician and a taxonomist – who were locked ...3 days ago
- What’s the difference between ‘reasonable and necessary’ and ‘foundational’ supports? Here...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Bennett, Disability Program Director, Grattan Institute The long-awaited NDIS review has looked far beyond the National Disability Insurance Scheme, taking a bird’s eye view of disability services in Australia. Critical to the future of the NDIS are services for people with ...3 days ago
- Harnessing the oceans to ‘bury’ carbon has huge potential – and risk – so NZ needs to move w...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca J McLeod, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Otago Climate change might not be high on its immediate agenda, but New Zealand’s new government does have one potentially significant and innovative policy. Recognising the marine environment’s ability to remove ...3 days ago
- Councils are opening the door to tiny houses as a quick, affordable and green solutionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hing-Wah Chau, Course Chair in Building Design & Senior Lecturer in Built Environment, Victoria University Soaring rents and home prices, increasing mortgage stress, record immigration and a growing population are fuelling a housing crisis and increasing homelessness. In the face of this ...3 days ago
- I’m an expert in diplomatic gift giving. Here are my 5 top tips for the best Christmas present exc...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Happé, Graduate researcher in art history and material culture studies, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock As we get closer to Christmas, your family will probably have some kind of gathering. You will reunite with people who you might not ...3 days ago
- The Bulletin: Covid data leaker was largely unknown in conspiracy circlesTe Whatu Ora IT worker Barry Young had a “relatively muted” digital presence prior to his arrest last week over a massive Covid data breach, Stuff reports. Young has since become something of a cause celebre among vacccine sceptics, appearing on online shows hosted by local conspiracy theorist Liz Gunn and ...3 days ago
- Home Brew back with first album in over a decade and slot at LanewayAfter an 11 year hiatus, legendary Aotearoa hip-hop group Home Brew are back today with their first new album in over a decade, Run it Back, and will continue that reunion at Laneway Festival in February. Breaking their indefinite hiatus, Run it Back comes off the back off the 2023 ...3 days ago
- MPs settle into new roles as parliament cranks back into actionThere may be less than a fortnight left in the political year, but politicians seem determined to make the final days count, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Question time is ...3 days ago
- Literacy, numeracy tests as NCEA requirement 'detrimental' to learnersA leading education researcher warns new high-stakes NCEA literacy and maths tests could do more harm than good. ...3 days ago
- Labour's Damien O'Connor goes against party policy in calling Israel's actions in Gaz...Labour's leader says O'Connor is "incredibly passionate" about the issue but party policy is that relevant international bodies will determine whether Israel's actions are lawful. ...3 days ago
- Farewell, live updates: Why we’re shifting our approach to daily newsThe Spinoff’s live updates editor reflects on three-and-a-half years in the role, and looks forward to what’s next. Today marks the final day of live updates on The Spinoff. It’s a big day for me given I have been editing the live updates since mid-2020, but it’s also a big ...3 days ago
- Chris Hipkins opens up on what went wrong at the 2023 electionOn a quiet morning before the first parliamentary question time of the new term, Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon took a moment to analyse and reflect on their election campaigns. When Chris Hipkins was sworn in as prime minister on January 21, 2023, he had a feeling of optimism and ...3 days ago
- COP28’s chaotic talkfest on climate change
It could be the most consequential international climate change conference yet, but it’s being held in the United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s major oil producers and led by one of the country’s top oil bosses. Newsroom journalist Rod Oram is attending COP28 and joins The Detail from ...3 days ago - Daily crossword, Friday 8 DecemberThe post Daily crossword, Friday 8 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 8 DecemberLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],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, Friday 8 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- The ‘troubled-teen’ industry and conflicts of interest in Family CourtOpinion: Courts are halls of justice, but they are also well-financed institutional purchasers of goods and services, outsourcing much of their work to private consultants and contractors, including lawyers, advocates, psychologists, social workers, and drug counsellors who earn their living from court contracts. Though there is nothing inherently wrong ...3 days ago
- Politicians won’t close ‘dire, dismal and awful’ gaps in climate dealAnalysis: The United Nations’ COP28 climate negotiations have begun their final phase with only five days or so left to agree a wide range of measures designed to accelerate nations’ climate responses in coming years. While the draft text prepared by government officials over the past week has some ...3 days ago
- Hipkins: ‘We were swimming upstream the whole way through the year’Labour winning required a lot of things to go right, and Chris Hipkins says they didn't The post Hipkins: ‘We were swimming upstream the whole way through the year’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- McGoverne returns in search of the FernLiv McGoverne has just returned from an enjoyable season playing rugby in England, but playing there in a Black Ferns jersey, on the sport’s biggest stage, remains the ultimate goal. McGoverne, 26, played the 2022-23 campaign for Exeter Chiefs in the Premier 15s competition. Coached by former England half-back ...3 days ago
- This week’s bestselling NZ booksFICTION 1 The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner (Hachette, $37.99) An ideal Xmas present for the commercial fiction reader who would relish a wartime story of a shipboard romance. 2 The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $35) An ideal Xmas present for the ...3 days ago
- Wayne Brown: ‘Govt has underfunded road renewals in Auckland for years’After most of a billion dollars and six years’ work, the Puhoi to Warkworth section of State Highway 1 has been warmly received by long-distance motorists no longer slowed down by small town traffic lights. Where once cars would back bumper to bumper on a Sunday evening, now the ...3 days ago
- School’s back in session at ParliamentThe first regular sitting day of the new Parliament took place on Thursday and the country got a peek at what Question Time will look like over the next three years. The sitting started with a rare moment of cross-party unity, when the Government adopted Labour MP Phil Twyford’s ...3 days ago
- City deals can drive Auckland to international levelsThe generational infrastructure deficit has a massive impact on cities The post City deals can drive Auckland to international levels appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- How New Zealand could stop producing fossil fuelsPhasing out fossil fuels is the subject of much negotiation at Cop28 this week. But the wording will be fiercely debated, and the presence of fossil fuel lobbyists looms large. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof, brought to you by AMP. Sign up here. The government’s plans ...3 days ago
- Helping the Pacific financially is a great start – but Australia must act on the root cause of the...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Fiji was flooded by a severe cyclone in 2016. ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock The federal government has announced an extra A$150 million for climate finance – including $100 million for the Pacific to help protect its ...4 days ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on making the NDIS fit for purposeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services, has released the review of the NDIS, which recommends sweeping changes to the scheme. The reforms to come will see the states take ...4 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: winners and losers in end-of-year report card on Albanese ministersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It’s not just kids who get report cards (PDFs these days) as school breaks up. So do government ministers, when parliament rises at year’s end. Judgments about how members of the team have performed, ...4 days ago
- If humans disappeared, what would happen to our dogs?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bradley Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock For many of us, dogs are our best friends. But have you wondered what would happen to your dog if we suddenly disappeared? Can domestic dogs make do without people? ...4 days ago
- Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith refuses to express confidence in Chief Human Rights Commissioner Pau...He's refusing to express confidence in Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt, and while he won't abolish the commission like ACT wants, changes will be made. ...4 days ago
- Auditor general issues damning findings into Manaaki dispute with Callaghan InnovationA new chapter in the controversial dispute between an Auckland tech company and a government agency, with the tabling of a withering report in parliament today. A highly critical report from the auditor general has been tabled in parliament today, the latest twist in an acrimonious dispute between government agency ...4 days ago
- Signposted, sealed and delivered: How Wayne would fix the roadsAfter most of a billion dollars and six years of work, the Puhoi to Warkworth section of State Highway One has been warmly received by long-distance motorists no longer slowed by small town traffic lights. Where once cars would back bumper to bumper on a Sunday evening, the road ...4 days ago
- COP28: Turning the tap off slowly – why Australia’s decision to end overseas fossil fuel finance...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Shutterstock Until recently, financing fossil fuel projects has been relatively easy. But that is slowly changing. At the COP28 climate negotiations yesterday, Australia announced it will sign the Glasgow Statement and will ...4 days ago
- ‘That’s as far as it will go’: Luxon on Act’s Treaty principles billThe prime minister has appeared to suggest that Act’s Treaty principles bill will not be allowed to proceed beyond the select committee stage. Supporting such legislation to select committee is promised in the Act-National coalition agreement, which implies the bill won’t go any further, but Luxon has not said it ...4 days ago
- Russian Ambassador expulsion on hold: Government 'seeking advice'The government is considering advice about whether to expel Russia's ambassador, the prime minister says, softening his previous position. ...4 days ago
- Recommendations to reboot the NDIS have finally been released. 5 experts reactSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Brown, Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University Shutterstock Findings from an extensive review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have been released with ideas on how to transform it. Led by co-chairs Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul, the ...4 days ago
- Sexual orientation and earnings appear to be linked – but patterns differ for NZ men and womenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Plum, Senior Research Fellow in Applied Labour Economics, Auckland University of Technology New Zealand has made substantial progress on promoting LGBTQ+ rights over the past 20 years, including legalising same-sex civil unions in 2004, legalising same-sex marriage in 2013, and banning ...4 days ago
- Rural Crime Rates Continue To Rise, Federated Farmers Survey FindsSentencing judges need to stop going lightly on those convicted of illegal hunting and the killing or stealing of livestock, Federated Farmers rural policing spokesperson Richard McIntyre says. And to keep pressure on the Government to ensure rural areas ...4 days ago
- NZ Government Must Follow Through To Secure A CeasefireThe following quote can be attributed to Lisa Woods, Campaigns Director at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. This statement is in response to the news that the New Zealand Government has passed a motion indicating the government’s support ...4 days ago
- Opposition calls for stronger ceasefire motion rejectedThe motion by deputy prime minister Winston Peters to call for “urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire” in Gaza has passed in parliament, after the majority of amendments suggested by the opposition were rejected. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said New Zealand should be calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire ...4 days ago
- Gaza ceasefire debate: Opposition pleas for stronger statement largely rejectedPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has continued with National's approach in calling for "steps towards" a ceasefire, saying that must be in place before a ceasefire can begin. ...4 days ago
- A Start-up With The Answer To NZ’s Food Waste Crisis Receives Significant Boost To Their Cause$50,000 brand development package awarded to Rescued’s sustainable solution to surplus food Rescued, a social enterprise with a sustainable and delicious solution for food waste, has been named as the winner of the Brand For Good Competition. The ...4 days ago
- $700k “Adult Toy Store” Bus Stop Stretching Hamilton City Council’s Budget HoleResponding to Hamilton City Council’s decision to spend $700,000 moving and re-developing a bus stop due to its location outside an adult toy store, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Only a couple of weeks ago, Hamilton City Council ...4 days ago
- MPs debate ceasefire motion following pro-Israel protest at parliamentDuring the first question time of the new parliament, MPs have debated a motion proposed by deputy prime minister Winston Peters for all parties involved in the conflict in Gaza to “take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire”. Members have spoken passionately about the conflict, with Labour MP Damien O’Connor ...4 days ago
- COP28: New Zealand added to list of countries supporting tripling renewable energyAotearoa was one of only a few OECD countries missing from the initial list of 118 signatories to the pledge, but a spokesperson for the Climate Change Minister has confirmed NZ is supporting it. ...4 days ago
- Why ‘restoring balance’ to the histories curriculum is not as innocuous as it soundsThe government’s policy to ‘restore balance to the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum’ could work to undermine more inclusive and honest ways of engaging with the past, argues history teacher Christopher Burns. When the plans for compulsory New Zealand history content were announced, Jacinda Ardern presented them as an opportunity ...4 days ago
- The Jingle Bellethon Telethon is chaotic Christmas comedy at its bestThree reviews of this year’s Basement Theatre Christmas Show. It pains me to say it but I’m a veteran of the annual Basement Theatre Christmas show at this point. In the decade that I’ve been a regular of the theatre, I’ve seen Kura Forrester do a tour-de-force 10-minute monologue that ...4 days ago
- Nobody reads T&C’s – but the High Court’s Ruby Princess decision shows consumer law may pr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James D Metzger, Senior Lecturer in Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney How many times have you booked travel – like a cruise or a tour – and simply clicked that you’ve read and agreed to the terms and conditions for your trip ...4 days ago
- Watch: Gaza ceasefire motion debated, Luxon and Hipkins to face off in first question timeThe first question time of the new parliament is under way. Deputy prime minister Winston Peters has called on parties involved in the Gaza conflict to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson is currently seeking amendments to the motion. ...4 days ago
- Watch: Parliament's first Question Time and Gaza ceasefire motionThe new Parliament's first Question Time today is coming after a motion from the Foreign Minister calling for urgent steps towards a ceasefire in Gaza. ...4 days ago
- Creative bureacracy is possible. Here are 3 things cities do to foster innovative local governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pauline McGuirk, Senior Professor of Urban Geography, University of Wollongong metamorworks/Shutterstock Heavyweight international players from the OECD to Bloomberg Philanthropies and the United Nations have in recent years prescribed “innovation” as a solution for the many challenges city governments face. ...4 days ago
- NZ Jews Against Occupation Welcomes The News That Foreign Minister Will Urge Parliament To Call A Ce...As the death and injury tolls mount in Gaza, this is the least that can be done to save lives and begin a peace and reconciliation process. O ver a month ago, UNICEF was already calling Gaza “ a graveyard for children, ” and now warns in the strongest ...4 days ago
- Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki outside ParliamentAt a rally in the grounds of Parliament attended by about 400 people, Bishop Brian Tamaki has asked for Foreign Minister Winston Peters not to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. ...4 days ago
- Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki underway outside ParliamentAt a rally in the grounds of Parliament, Bishop Brian Tamaki said "we have to stand on the right side of history and standing with Israel is right". ...4 days ago
- The rising price of real Christmas treesHaving a nicely scented, well-dressed guest in the corner of your living room is always a festive treat. But has it always been this pricey? Despite often being put in a corner, she’s Christmas’s main character. Green, fragrant, and usually the best-dressed member of your household throughout the festive period, ...4 days ago
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