Author Archive
PPE from a Universe Far, Far Away
Written By: - Date published: 2:33 pm, August 22nd, 2020 - 11 comments
An antidote against the pounding waves of BS coming from inside and outside Aotearoa.
A Stunt Scene from Mission Impossible*
Written By: - Date published: 3:52 pm, August 17th, 2020 - 16 comments
In NZ politics, the perception of fairness matters more than actual fairness.
National Has Found a Moral Compass
Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, June 6th, 2020 - 34 comments
National has embarked on a moral crusade to not lose the Election.
Is National Just Inconsistent or Incompetent?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 1st, 2020 - 65 comments
National’s new job-creation scheme appears to be inconsistent with their desire to fully re-instate the 90-day trial period.
Draconian Tourism or no Tourism?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 27th, 2020 - 192 comments
If overseas tourists want to visit NZ, they may have to give up a little bit of their privacy to keep all of us safe.
How Not to Engage in Public Debate
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 15th, 2020 - 95 comments
The best way to engage in public debate on the lockdown is to be open, clear, and transparent and show the facts. A press release full of beliefs and reckons is unhelpful and irresponsible.
Are the Vultures Already Circling Above?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 14th, 2020 - 116 comments
We cannot go back to business as usual after the lockdown but can we shape the way things will be for the greater good?
National’s Petition is Cynical Populism
Written By: - Date published: 12:45 pm, April 9th, 2020 - 124 comments
National is trying to steal show political leadership and relevance by launching a petition.
Addendum added
About Carrots and Sticks
Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, April 4th, 2020 - 119 comments
How can we improve motivation to stamp out this virus in New Zealand?
Holding the Government to Account or Concern Trolling?
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, March 31st, 2020 - 35 comments
When Opposition Spokespersons behave like concern trolls, we have a problem.
One Virus to Rule Them All
Written By: - Date published: 2:33 pm, March 28th, 2020 - 37 comments
Trying to make sense of what’s happening is mindboggling.
Constructive Criticism and Team Work In Politics
Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, January 26th, 2020 - 34 comments
Team play is more important than ever in politics.
Known Knowns and All the Other Ones
Written By: - Date published: 12:49 am, January 4th, 2020 - 6 comments
We cannot know everything and our only option is to trust others who know stuff that we don’t.
It Is the Thought That Counts
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 am, December 28th, 2019 - 70 comments
Antagonistic personalities are an obstacle to effective politics tackling major present problems.
MMP Mark II*
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 pm, December 25th, 2019 - 24 comments
What beats MMP? Open-list proportional representation with a low threshold would be a good option.
Democratisation by Social Media and the Internet Is Just Meaningless Waffle
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, December 24th, 2019 - 22 comments
Social Media and the Internet are literally in our faces 24/7 but our political engagement is diminishing.
Two Referendums Too Many
Written By: - Date published: 1:32 pm, November 16th, 2019 - 50 comments
The referendums on two contentious issues could cloud and crowd out the General Election.
Smells Like Stale Male Spirit
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 18th, 2019 - 92 comments
We live in a rich and diverse society but this is not reflected in our local government.
Dinosaurs Fight Extinction Rebellion
Written By: - Date published: 12:46 am, July 17th, 2019 - 181 comments
Dinosaurs are speeding up our extinction.
Simon Bridges Going Blue in the Face Barking at Green Cars
Written By: - Date published: 3:48 pm, July 14th, 2019 - 51 comments
Simon Bridges is barking madly at green cars.
Toll by Stealth
Written By: - Date published: 4:17 pm, July 13th, 2019 - 52 comments
A tunnel is like a wormhole to another dimension. It changes people’s behaviour ever so slightly, ever so briefly, without them realising.
Politics is like a Traffic Jam
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 9th, 2019 - 45 comments
Traffic jams are frustrating, waste time and money, have no cause or purpose, and they are all the same.
The Attack of the Snowflakes
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 4th, 2019 - 119 comments
National is playing the innocent victim of Budgetgate whilst being the aggressive attacker all along.
Politicians Don’t Know Jack
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, June 3rd, 2019 - 63 comments
Politicians rely on information provided to them, not on an encyclopaedic memory and an IQ of a genius.
Beware of Truth Sayers
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 2nd, 2019 - 21 comments
We don’t all have to know all the facts and admitting ignorance is no shame but a virtue.
Same old dirty National
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 30th, 2019 - 179 comments
National is still embedded in Dirty Politics.
Hate Speech Is an Evitable Evil
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 19th, 2019 - 72 comments
Online behaviour like any other behaviour can be modified but this will not happen by itself.
This Could Happen To You
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 6th, 2019 - 58 comments
For some reason, this story struck a nerve. An 80-year old had his 59-year career terminated by an impersonal e-mail from a faceless manager. Ironically, the manager on his public LinkedIn profile likes a post entitled “Treat a janitor with the same respect as the CEO”. Isn’t it sad that we now treat people as […]
Everything Should Be Made As Uncomfortable As Possible, But No Less Comfortable
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, April 24th, 2019 - 26 comments
When providing a voluntary carbon-offset scheme, make it as simple as possible, but not simpler, and tell people about it.
Kiwi Cultural Cringe is Alive and Well
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, April 22nd, 2019 - 75 comments
New Zealand is too small for high-achievers and star-performers and does not offer enough challenges and rewards.
Don’t Rock The Titanic!
Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, April 19th, 2019 - 31 comments
The pace of politics of transformation is glacial but it is unstoppable.
- Event information: 24 Hours of Reality – Countdown to the Future
This is the official announcement from Climate Reality about their 24 Hours of Reality event happening on October 10/11. We're at an inflection point. COVID-19, the climate crisis, and a global reckoning on racial justice have forced us to rethink normal and created a new world of possibilities. Now it’s time ...3 hours ago - Conversation In An American Bar.
Out of Options: “What does it say about this country, Jerry, that this is the choice we’ve been given? Between a septuagenarian grifter and a septuagenarian dotard. Three hundred and thirty million Americans and the best candidates we can come up with for President of these United States are Donald Trump ...4 hours ago - A plucking good night for Judith Collins, but promises will be hard to deliver
You could almost see the basket in Judith Collins’ arm during last night’s Newshub Leaders’ Debate, as she went merrily about her business picking fruit from the voter tree.Praise farmers and reassure them she won't "beggar” them for a photo op? One apple plucked from the National tree. Tough on ...5 hours ago - Climate Change: Why won’t Labour listen to its voters?
Jacinda Ardern came into office promising action on climate change, which she infamously called "my generation's nuclear-free moment". But while her government has enacted some useful climate change policy this term, its been under the handbrake of Winston Peters, who has vetoed policies like bringing agriculture into the ETS and ...7 hours ago - Status quo politicians want less democracyI didn't watch last night's debate, in part because I'd made up my mind how I was going to vote months ago, and in part because two status quo politicians desperately spamming pre-scripted soundbites and zingers while failing to be meaningfully different in any way bores the shit out of ...8 hours ago
- September ’20 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking
Image credit: How To Write High-Quality Blog Posts For Search Engines and Readers I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or the numbers seem very low ...10 hours ago - Of Democratic Duties: Report from Taieri Candidate Forum
So New Zealand has a general election in October, which means politicians. In the interests of having my worst fears confirmed reporting back on the Dunedin situation, I thought I’d attend a local candidate forum. I’m in Taieri, of course – the old Dunedin South, with rural Clutha added.11 hours ago- Getting the Marketing Mix Right: A Commentary on NZ’s Forthcoming Vaping Regulations
Janet Hoek, Lindsay Robertson, Jude Ball, Richard Edwards, Anaru Waa On August 11 2020, the NZ Parliament passed legislation that extends existing regulation of tobacco and herbal smoking products to vaping products (or electronic nicotine delivery systems [ENDS] and heated tobacco products (HTPs]. The new Act represents an important step ...12 hours ago- Live Blog: The Great Debate – Part 2 (well… it was live when we were live blogging last night)
Morning all. Last evening Aotearoa New Zealand was excited by the opportunity to watch the two main party leaders square off in a shouting match hosted by Patrick Gower. MyThinks were on the scene recording all the intricacies and minutia as Judith Collins and Jacinda Adern battled each other in ...14 hours ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39, 2020
Ghost forests grow in North Carolina as sea level rises Lindsey Smart leads a team of researchers to publish findings on carbon loss from forests dying as sea level rise causes transition to salt marsh. From the abstract: Coastal forests sequester and store more carbon than their terrestrial counterparts ...1 day ago- When analogies are taken too far: Spacetime is bent, but it’s not quite a stretchy membrane
Last week I was asked by some school students about the nature of gravity. What is it? Isaac Newton, and a whole pile of textbooks following him, treat gravity as an attractive force between two objects. It’s a force that is proportional to the product of the masses of the ...1 day ago- And still paying for it
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...1 day ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup –
As the public decide who to vote for, the matter of whether wealthy interests have been able to influence Government decisions has arisen once again. This relates to controversy from late last year about whether junior coalition partner New Zealand First is using their fundraising mechanism to illegally hide the ...1 day ago- 2020 Just Reading: September
Completed reads for September: On the Mortality (or Plague), by Cyprian of CarthageThe Origin and Deeds of the Goths, by JordanesThe Book of Gomorrah, by Peter DamianThe Poem of the Cid, by AnonymousThe Song of Roland, by TuroldThe Death of Aoife’s Only Son (two versions), by AnonymousThe Pursuit of ...1 day ago- Only Bob Dylan Has The Words For The Trump-Biden Debate.
Idiot Wind by BOB DYLANIt took only ten minutes to grasp the sheer scale of the Democrat's failure. This sad old man, Sleepy Joe Biden, hasn't a hope of defeating Donald Trump. Goddammit! It's a wonder that he still knows how to breathe!Idiot Wind indeed!Video courtesy of YouTube.This posting exclusive to ...1 day ago- An Apology, Not A Complaint, Is Now Needed
Some commentators, and particularly – not surprisingly – those who wished to remain in the European Union, have been making much of the difficulties the UK has experienced in extricating itself from the embrace (if that is the right word) of the EU. They cite the difficulty the UK has ...1 day ago- Are consumers willing to pay more for climate-friendly products?
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I’m seeing quite a few “climate-friendly” products at the supermarket. ...1 day ago- At least three named Atlantic storms likely during October
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters The enjoyable lull in Atlantic tropical cyclone activity over the past week may come to an end this weekend, when a large low-pressure system that is expected to develop in the western Caribbean has a 50% chance of spawning a ...2 days ago- Two people in serious condition after incident involving NZ First bus
Police say the two victims were found lodged “firmly underneath” the bus. Two people are in a serious condition this evening after an incident apparently involving the New Zealand First campaign bus. They are presently unable to be identified. Authorities say two people were found underneath the bus shortly after ...2 days ago- This doesn’t sound like exoneration
The SFO has finally reported back on NZ First's dodgy foundation, and charged two people with "obtaining by deception". They're at pains to say that neither of the people charged (who have name suppression, but we can all guess who they are, even if we cannot say publicly) is a ...2 days ago- Elections in NZ: some Redline articles
For a campaign of positive abstention in the 2017 elections 9/4/17 by Phil Duncan In 2014, most of us at Redline favoured not voting in the New Zealand general election. There was simply no party that represented the interests of workers, much less that attempted to politicise and organise workers to ...2 days ago- The transport policy we need
Transport was responsible for 21% of our greenhouse gas emissions in 2017. Its our second-biggest source of pollution after agriculture. And the Greens have just announced a serious policy to tackle it: The Green Party wants to make public transport free for under-18s, ban petrol car imports from 2030, ...2 days ago- Dunedin as Spring Snowglobe
Dunedin has had a succession of mild winters – our last genuinely cold one was in 2015. 2020 was no exception. But that still leaves spring… and having lived through the week-long spring blizzard of 2011, I am not unaware that September snows are a thing. Such was this morning, ...2 days ago- Spain is (still) not a democracy
The list of Spanish abuses of Catalonia's democracy is long. When Catalans voted for independence, Spanish riot police seized ballot boxes and beat them in the streets. When they elected leaders to represent their views, Spain refused to allow them to take their seats, or jailed them for "sedition". And ...2 days ago- Crusher threatens Nicky Hager
Crusher Collins - National Party LeaderEverybody should know by now that Judith (Crusher) Collins is a very malicious person. She is perhaps the most vindictive MP ever to disgrace our halls of power.Some of her unprecedented nastiness over the decades has been well documented in the book Dirty Politics: How ...2 days ago- The Confident Traveller Led Astray – A Poem For Winston Peters.
3 days ago- Racism loses in Switzerland
Over in Switzerland, the racist "People's Party" tried to have a Brexit-style referendum on ending freedom of movement with the EU, so they could stop the "flood" of foreigners. But the Swiss people said No: Swiss voters have resoundingly rejected an attempt to tear up the country’s agreement with ...3 days ago- International Right To Know Day
Today, 28 September, is International Right To Know Day (or, as the UN puts it, the "International Day for Universal Access to Information"). The Ombudsman is celebrating with a poll showing that while most people don't know about their freedom of information rights, those that use them mostly get what ...3 days ago- One way or another, we’re paying for this
Back in July, when foreign polluters (and archaeological criminals) Rio Tinto announced they planned to close Tiwai Point, I was dancing on its grave. Why? Because the carbon subsidies alone were more than enough to fund alternative jobs - or even just to pay everyone dependent on it a reasonable ...3 days ago- End of life – it isn’t so easy
In a few weeks, New Zealanders will make a choice whether we implement into law the End of Life Choice Act 2019. My scientific expertise includes developing and validating methods to predict future events of ill people including death. There is one section of the Act that concerns me deeply. Section ...3 days ago- Democracy Under Threat
My wife and I are at an age when we have begun to think (and worry) about the kind of world we will leave behind for our children and, particularly, our grandchildren. We have experienced during our own lives, like others of our generation, our fair share of hard times ...4 days ago- Liam Hehir: Why it’s important to be open to relationships with people who vote differently
There are few things written more deeply on the human heart than religion. Differences between us on the purpose and ultimate destiny of human existence have sometimes inspired great intolerance and even wars. But what would we make today of a Catholic who refused to countenance a meaningful relationship ...4 days ago- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #39
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... The Warming Climates of the Arctic and the Tropics Squeeze the Mid-latitudes, Where Most People Live Melting Arctic ice sends ...4 days ago- Where in the world will the next epidemic start?
Naomi Forrester-Soto, Keele University Viruses jumping from animals to humans have been the starting point of numerous outbreaks, from Ebola to Zika. Given the similarity of SARS-CoV-2 to coronaviruses found in bats, this probably marked the beginning of COVID-19 too. We know that viruses have passed from animals to humans ...4 days ago- Fiscal Maths with Paul “Goldie” Goldsmith
Mr Thinks has asked me to come onto the blog today to outline a few concepts in fiscal mathematics. ...5 days ago- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 20, 2020 through Sat, Sep 26, 2020 Editor's Choice Climate Disruption Is Now Locked In. The Next Moves Will Be Crucial A crack on the Amery Ice Shelf in ...5 days ago- National behind the times
When Todd Muller resigned as leader of the National Party and allowed for Judith Collins to assume command, you could tell the blue “team” was desperate and in search of past glories. After all, Crusher is towards the end of her political career and from a bygone era where dirty ...5 days ago- Coronavirus: the road to vaccine roll-out is always bumpy, as 20th-century pandemics show
Samantha Vanderslott, University of Oxford If you have been following the media coverage of the new vaccines in development for COVID-19, it will be clear that the stakes are high. Very few vaccine trials in history have attracted so much attention, perhaps since polio in the mid-20th century. A now ...5 days ago- PREFU: The State of Government Accounts
‘The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update’ (PREFU) tells us something about the future of the Public Sector but it requires careful analysis to assess how it is going. The 2020 PREFU is the most important economic statement during any election campaign. Unfortunately the commentariat tends to treat it briefly ...6 days ago- Predatory delay
Farmers are whining again about being expected to clean up their act: Canterbury farmers want politicians to stop painting them as climate change villains, listen to their needs and allow them more time to boost environmental standards. [...] “The targets are necessary for the environment, but do we ...6 days ago- Flight to nowhere sends the wrong message in climate crisis
Qantas Airlines’ 7-hour “flight to nowhere”, that sold out in 10 minutes with prices from A$787 to A$3787, seemed like a sick joke to climate advocates. Apart from the waste of fuel and the pointless emissions, passengers would be able to see first-hand, from a plane just like those that ...6 days ago- Speaker: The cannabis referendum – a doctor’s perspective
Cannabis is part of our culture: 80% of adults have tried it sometime. Intuition tells us that legalising cannabis will increase use – science suggests that is not likely. Our Dunedin and Christchurch studies show that cannabis use peaks in our 20s. Older people are less frequent users whether it ...6 days ago- First steps: Jerry DeSilva on the evolution of bipedalism
Yesterday morning I got up (at the rather early and unaccustomed hour of 3.30am) to listen to a webinar by paleoanthropologist Dr Jeremy DeSilva¹. Titled “First Steps”, his presentation was about the origins of bipedalism in the human lineage. It was a fascinating session & I thought I’d turn my ...6 days ago- True Believers In A False God.
Down The Rabbit Hole: "Social psychologists have found that when fearful people contemplate potential misfortunes, they tend to feel helpless and pessimistic, but when angry people contemplate the same, they feel a sense of optimism and control. And one simple way to transmute fear into anger is to perceive an evil ...6 days ago- Majority Rule Requires Majorities That Are Real.
Fifty Percent Plus One: New Zealand’s genuine-majority-delivering two-party system endured for five elections only (1938, 1943, 1946, 1949, 1951) a period of just 16 years. Very few New Zealanders alive today can boast of participating in an election which delivered a true majority to either Labour or National. Someone who ...7 days ago- Labour super exploitation
This is the second in the lecture series by Andy Higginbottom on superexploitation. Here he looks at Marini’s theory of labour super-exploitation and Capital ...7 days ago- Small asteroid to make near-miss of Earth in NZ skies tonight
Sorry for the late notice on this one, but I only just heard myself, in common with most of the human race. A small asteroid, somewhere between the size of a truck and the size of a house in dimensions, will hurtle past the Earth tonight, dipping closer to ...1 week ago- This is not what accountability looks like
When someone commits trespass, assault with a weapon, and kidnapping, you'd expect them to be prosecuted, right? But apparently the rules are different if you wear a blue uniform: A police investigation has found officers in Northland trespassed on a man's property, then unlawfully pepper sprayed him and arrested ...1 week ago- Cycling: head injuries ignored because of entrenched macho culture
Howard Hurst, University of Central Lancashire and Jack Hardwicke, University of Winchester Competitive road cycling is a demanding and unique sport. One where crashing is inevitable – especially at the professional level. While the risk of head injury is relatively low in cycling – approximately 5-13% – compared to contact ...1 week ago- The coming US shitshow
Today President Trump once again refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the US election. Coincidentally, The Atlantic has a long article on exactly what that means, from voter suppression by armed thugs in the name of "ballot security", to refusing to allow the vote ...1 week ago- A moral void
That's the only way to describe the SIS, who - like their British counterparts - decided to look the other way on child abuse: The SIS knew a young woman was being sexually abused by her father but failed to lodge a complaint with the police, effectively allowing the ...1 week ago- When will Goldsmith resign?
The National Party’s campaign has gone from bad to worse with a further two large miscalculations being uncovered in their alternative fiscal plan. Firstly, National’s economic spokesperson and list MP, Paul Goldsmith, used May's Budget figures instead of last week's PREFU numbers, and came up with a whopping $4.3 billion ...1 week ago- The Adventures of Annalax: Part IX
The initial session was a struggle. Annalax and Magni tried sorting out the details with the Isaac twins (the people pursuing the mountain trip). Annalax happened to mention his devotion to Lolth… whom the Isaacs, being ... 1 week ago- This is bullshit
On March 13, three plainclothes police officers kicked in Breonna Taylor's door under a no-knock warrant targeting another person. When a person inside reasonably assumed they were home invaders and (this being America) started shooting, they shot up the place and everyone around them - killing Taylor. Today, one of ...1 week ago- The case for tax (more of it, much more)
Laura O’Connell Rapira | Contributing writer, the spinoff, 21 Sept, 2020. Let’s put tax at the core of this election. Sharing wealth is how we share care and responsibility for this land and all of the people in it, writes Laura O’Connell Rapira It’s election season in the middle of ...1 week ago- Arctic sea ice is being increasingly melted from below by warming Atlantic water
Tom Rippeth, Bangor University Arctic sea ice today (white) is covering a much smaller area than in 1980-2010 (orange line). National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CC BY-SA Each September, scientists like me look out for the point when the Arctic’s meagre summer fizzles out and ...1 week ago- The long-term health burden of COVID-19: further justification for NZ’s elimination strategy
Prof John D. Potter* This blog briefly surveys the emerging scientific evidence on the longer-term burden of symptoms and disease in survivors of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these symptoms point to damage in the brain and heart. These long-term harms add to the wide range of other reasons for ...1 week ago- Going High, Going Low: An Assessment Of The First Leaders’ Debate.
Uncrushed: Jacinda Ardern knew exactly what was expected of her in the first Leaders' Debate. Labour’s dominant position, three weeks out from the general election, is constructed out of the admiration and gratitude of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who, more often than not, vote National. Nothing she said ...1 week ago- The smokefree policies of political parties: Do they care about people who smoke?
George Thomson*, Nick Wilson, Janet Hoek, Andrew Waa, Richard Edwards In this time of Covid-19, helping people who smoke to quit their addiction has an even greater importance. Smokers are more vulnerable to many harmful health effects, including severe effects from the virus. Policies that support people who smoke to ...1 week ago- The Fog Of Economic Policy Is Starting To Clear…
Bryan Bruce, https://www.facebook.com/www.redsky.tv, 19 September 2020 National’s economic policy of temporary tax cuts yesterday proved, if proof be needed, that they are unapologetic neoliberals. While their claim that with more money in their pockets people will spend more might sound attractive, the reality is that tax cuts always benefit the ...1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38, 2020
Highlighted article: Carbon pricing and planetary boundaries Engström et al take what might be called a systems approach to evaluating carbon pricing, taking into a account various economic sectors affected by and affecting paying for emissions. The conclusions are overall a rare pleasant surprise— a feature predicated on cooperation. Abstract: ...1 week ago- Humans ignite almost every wildfire that threatens homes
Nathan Mietkiewicz, National Ecological Observatory Network and Jennifer Balch, University of Colorado Boulder CC BY-ND Summer and fall are wildfire season across the western U.S. In recent years, wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and exposed tens of millions to harmful ...1 week ago- Climate Change: China steps up
China has increased its climate change ambition, and set a target to be carbon-neutral by 2060: China will reach carbon neutrality before 2060 and ensure its greenhouse gas emissions peak in the next decade, Xi Jinping has told the UN general assembly. “China will scale up its intended nationally ...1 week ago- Humans have dealt with plenty of climate variability
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz How much climate variability have humans dealt with since we ...1 week ago- Indigenous perspectives on unrestricted access to genomic data
By Genomics Aotearoa researcher Maui Hudson, University of Waikato It is vital that genomics research respects genomic data and genetic heritage from indigenous communities. Genomics research is a rapidly growing field of study, and there is a strong push to make the huge amount of data being produced open ...1 week ago- Terrible luck: lockdowns on learning and youth job prospects
What is bad luck? Bad luck is spilling spaghetti sauce down your shirt right before an important meeting. When the person in front of you gets the last seat on the bus, that’s bad luck. Bad luck is when it’s sunny outside, so you leave the house without a coat, ...1 week ago- Ian Powell: Does private healthcare threaten public healthcare in New Zealand?
Is the private health system impacting negatively on the public health system? Health commentator Ian Powell evaluates a recent NZ Herald article by Natalie Akoorie (“Public v private healthcare: Moonlighting, skimming, duplication – should NZ do better”), and looks at how the dual system works, and concludes that the answer ...1 week ago- A rabbit-hole election debate: So do you want more avocado orchards?
We live in strange and unusual times. It’s been a century since we’ve endured a global pandemic like this, more than half a century since we’ve had economic woes like this. So maybe we got an opening election debate for the times - because that was a strange and unusual ...1 week ago- LIVE: Jacinda Ardern vs. Judith Collins, First Debate
Tonight, The Civilian will be live-blogging the first of too many debates between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National Party leader Judith Collins, and also the last fifteen minutes of the news. Be sure to tune in from 6:45pm for regular updates, which can be accessed by refreshing this page ...1 week ago- Hundreds of Aucklanders arrested after illegal mass gathering on Harbour Bridge
An enormous drive-in party, shown here, was held this morning on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, where police were forced to intervene. Hundreds of Aucklanders were arrested this morning on public health grounds, after an apparent illegal mass gathering on the city’s Harbour Bridge. Police say hundreds of Aucklanders gathered in their ...1 week ago- The Looming Fight.
Social Distancing Be Damned - It's Jacinda! Shortly after ascending to Labour’s leadership, Jacinda described herself as a “pragmatic idealist”. It was an inspired oxymoron – packing into just two words the essence of the social-democrat’s dilemma. It was good to know that she knew what lay ahead of her. ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Moving faster
Back in 2017, the UK announced that it would ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2040. Its a basic climate change measure, aimed at reducing emissions by shifting the vehicle fleet to cleaner technologies. Now, in the wake of the pandemic, they're planning to bring it forward ...1 week ago- The Australian courts have had enough of refugee detention
For the past decade, Australia has had a racist, anti-refugee policy. Those claiming refugee status are imprisoned without trial and left to rot in the hope they would "voluntarily" return to be tortured and murdered. When the courts have granted them visas, the government has immediately revoked them on racial ...1 week ago- Friction and the Anti-lock Braking System
Yesterday afternoon I had to call on my car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS). For reasons best known to its driver, a car pulled out of a side road right in front of me while I was driving home after work, and I needed to stop in a hurry. I rather ...1 week ago- The Inside Word: New Zealand Quarantine
There are a fair few misconceptions about conditions within New Zealand’s Quarantine Hotels. Madeline Grant’s misplaced accusations being one prominent example, though she is not alone. Today, I thought I’d share the inside word, so to speak. A friend of mine has recently returned to New Zealand from overseas, and ...1 week ago - Getting the Marketing Mix Right: A Commentary on NZ’s Forthcoming Vaping Regulations
- 100 reasons to vote Labour
Soon, people across New Zealand will get to decide who they want to see leading our country through the next three years. We’ve always believed that putting people and our shared futures at the heart of everything we do is the only way to run a Government, and we want ...3 hours ago - Labour’s fiscal plan: responsible, balanced and fully costedWe’ve released our fiscal plan for next term, and it shows how we’ll continue to manage the Government books responsibly if re-elected on October 17th. ...3 hours ago
- Jacinda Ardern takes out Newshub debateJacinda Ardern nailed it in this week’s Newshub debate, holding Judith Collins to account on National’s shambolic economic plan and outlining our plan to keep New Zealand moving. ...3 hours ago
- Greens announce plan to close digital divide and support high-tech industries
The Green Party has today outlined plans to address the digital divide and support New Zealand’s high-tech sectors. ...4 hours ago - Modern hospitals, quality care: Labour’s record on healthWe believe that when New Zealanders need healthcare, they deserve to have it delivered in a safe and healthy environment. Patients and staff shouldn’t have to worry about mould or rot in hospital walls – but that was the reality when Labour came into Government in 2017. We inherited a ...1 day ago
- Why we support increasing the minimum wageLabour has a proud history of standing for fairness at work, supporting the development of high-quality, high wage jobs and for improving the quality of life for New Zealand workers. ...1 day ago
- Working with farmers for a better futureFarmers play a key role in our economy and in our communities, and will be at the forefront of our COVID recovery. Labour has worked in partnership with Kiwi farmers over the past three years and together we’ve tackled Mycoplasma bovis, worked through droughts and flooding, started cleaning up our ...1 day ago
- Is National really better than Labour with the economy? Yeah, nah.National tells New Zealanders to trust them with the economy, but recent data shows they’re not the strong economic managers they like to claim. Labour has a strong track record of keeping debt under control. We’ve worked hard over the past three years to pay down the debt we inherited ...1 day ago
- Minimum wage increases vs. tax cuts – what really boosts the economy?This election, Labour and National have set out very different proposals for growing our economy and supporting New Zealanders through our COVID recovery. But when it comes to real results, the experts are clear – only our plan will keep New Zealand moving. ...1 day ago
- Do Kiwis trust Labour more than National on the economy? Three polls say yes.As our economic rebuild gets underway, New Zealand needs a strong, responsible government to lead our recovery. National bills itself as the Party with economic credibility, but that’s not what the numbers show or what voters believe. In the past five months, three polls have consistently shown that more New ...1 day ago
- Better healthcare for KiwisFrom mental health support in every primary and intermediate school to more publicly-funded medicines, Labour’s plan for health will ensure New Zealanders can get quality care. ...2 days ago
- Green Party responds to NZ First Foundation SFO chargesGreen Party spokesperson on Electoral Issues Golriz Ghahraman said: “We’re glad to see the SFO has laid charges before the election, so voters have more clarity on what is going on before they cast a vote. ...2 days ago
- Greens announce bold transport plan for Auckland to tackle climate change and congestionThe Green Party has today outlined a major transport plan for Auckland including new investments in light rail, busways, an expansion of regional rail services, and quick improvements to buses. ...2 days ago
- Greens announce bold transport plan for Wellington to tackle climate change and congestionThe Green Party has today outlined a major transport plan for Wellington including investments in light rail, an expansion of regional passenger rail, and fast-tracking improvements to buses. ...2 days ago
- Greens announce bold transport plan for Christchurch to tackle climate change and congestionThe Green Party has today outlined a major transport plan for Christchurch including new investments in commuter rail, a high frequency bus service to the airport, and cycleways. ...2 days ago
- Greens announce bold plan to ensure NZ transport tackles climate changeThe Green Party will transform how New Zealanders get around to address the climate crisis, with a comprehensive climate-focused transport package. ...2 days ago
- Reports of great whites finned alive cement case for cameras on boatsClaims of illegal fishing and live finning of great whites in New Zealand waters show once again that cameras on fishing boats are long overdue, and must be urgently rolled out. ...3 days ago
- We must investigate COVID-19 retraining support that skews towards men: GreensThe Green Party is calling for a review into the gender split of training programmes offered by government to help New Zealanders retrain following COVID-19 job losses. ...4 days ago
- Labour’s plan for plastic and wasteAs part of our plan to build back better, we’re taking action on waste and improving recycling to protect our environment, create jobs and future proof our economy. ...4 days ago
- Labour’s plan for plastic and wasteAs part of our plan to build back better, we’re taking action on waste and improving recycling to protect our environment, create jobs and future proof our economy. ...4 days ago
- Week that was: Three weeks to go!Today marks three weeks until the election, and the campaign is ramping up. This week, we’ve continued to focus on our economic recovery, announcing our plan to reduce costs for farmers and growers. We also set out our commitment to continuing our partnership with Māori as we rebuild together. ...5 days ago
- Labour’s Māori Manifesto: Working together in partnershipTogether, Māori and Labour have walked a new path in our first term of Government. Based on the articles of the Treaty and the promise of equality, this path has been one of partnership and collaboration. Our Māori Manifesto builds on the work we’ve undertaken with Māori during our first ...5 days ago
- Healthy, affordable homes a Green Party priority for WellingtonThe Green Party would push to ensure everyone in Wellington has a warm, safe and affordable place to live as part of the next Government. ...6 days ago
- Environment and climate will be decimated by National’s dangerous agriculture policyThe Green Party is slamming National’s agriculture policy as a huge step backwards which puts future generations at risk. ...1 week ago
- Reducing costs for Kiwi farmersNew Zealand’s farmers and growers play a key role in our economy and in our communities. Labour has set out a clear vision to transition to a carbon-neutral economy and today we committed to supporting our farmers and growers to achieve this goal. ...1 week ago
- Jacinda Ardern sets out Labour’s plan in first TV debateTonight was the first Leaders’ Debate, broadcast live on TVNZ 1. It was the first time New Zealanders have seen Jacinda Ardern side-by-side Opposition Leader Judith Collins this campaign. ...1 week ago
- Helping Kiwis into homesEveryone deserves a warm, dry place to live. As part of our plan for housing, Labour’s making sure more New Zealanders have a healthy place to live, while tackling long-term issues like homelessness and housing affordability. Here’s how we’re helping Kiwis into homes. ...1 week ago
- Our plan to keep New Zealand movingLast updated 30 July 2020. The whole world is battling with COVID-19, and no country is immune. In New Zealand, our focus is getting the latest resurgence under control and making sure we put in place immediate financial supports to cushion the economic blow. As before, the best economic response is ...1 week ago
- Our AchievementsLed by Jacinda Ardern, our strong, stable government has delivered results and put people first every step of the way. In health, housing, education and more, we've got a strong track record of delivering for New Zealanders. Now, we’re continuing to put people first with our decisive response to COVID-19. ...1 week ago
- Why should I vote for Labour?Labour has a strong track record of making progress on the big issues facing our country. Now, as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19, we’re rolling out our plan to grow our economy, support businesses and communities, and keep New Zealand moving. If you’re still undecided ahead of this year’s ...1 week ago
- Labour’s plan to create jobsCreating jobs is a key part of our plan to grow the economy, support communities and seize the opportunities created by our world-leading COVID response. We’ve already started rolling out initiatives that are creating thousands of jobs right around the country, and we’ll keep up this momentum as we continue ...1 week ago
- Labour’s plan to tackle unemploymentNew Zealand is not immune to the global economic impacts of COVID-19, but our strong health response means we’re now in a better position than many other countries. We’re taking advantage of this headstart by rolling out our plan to protect jobs, create new ones and grow our economy – ...1 week ago
- Labour’s plan for reducing child povertyChild poverty is a complex issue that won’t be fixed overnight, but so far under Labour’s leadership seven out of nine child poverty indicators have already started to improve. Under National’s nine years of neglect, seven out of nine indicators got worse. ...1 week ago
- Labour’s health response to COVID-19We went hard and early in our health response to COVID-19 – and it worked. After a short period of lockdown, we were able to safely ease restrictions and open up our economy much quicker than many other countries. We had a plan in place to combat a resurgence, which ...1 week ago
- Labour’s plan for managing our bordersAs COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, robust border controls are essential to protect New Zealanders and keep our economy moving. Labour will continue to carefully manage our borders to keep New Zealanders safe, while ensuring businesses can access the skilled workers they need for our recovery. ...1 week ago
- Labour’s infrastructure investmentOne of the key ways we’re keeping New Zealand moving through our COVID-19 response is by investing in shovel-ready infrastructure projects. No country is immune to the economic impact of COVID-19, but with targeted infrastructure projects throughout New Zealand, we are creating new jobs and ensuring our communities have the ...1 week ago
- Who should I vote for?It’s now less than one month until election day. If you still haven’t decided who you’re voting for, check out our handy guide below to help you make up your mind! ...1 week ago
- A vote for National is a vote for putting on the brakesThinking about voting National in this year’s election? Here are five reasons you might like to reconsider ahead of 17 October. ...1 week ago
- How Labour’s team is leading New ZealandDuring our time in Government, the Labour team has worked hard to improve the wellbeing of New Zealanders while making progress on the long-term challenges facing our country. There’s still more to do, but our track record shows that our team is leading New Zealand in the right direction. Read ...1 week ago
- What’s the difference between National and Labour?Still weighing up who to vote for in this year’s election? Here are five key differences between National and Labour to help you make your decision. ...1 week ago
- Conservation Minister plants two millionth tree in Raglan restoration
A long-term conservation project led by the Whaingaroa Harbour Care group in the western Waikato reaches a significant milestone this week, with the planting of the two millionth tree by the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. “Planting the two millionth tree crowns 25 years of commitment and partnership involving Whaingaroa ...10 hours ago - Residential building sector growing strongerFigures released by Statistics New Zealand today show healthy growth in residential building consents in an environment of Government support for the sector during COVID-19, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. Statistics New Zealand reported today that a record 10,063 townhouses, flats, and units were consented in the August 2020 ...1 day ago
- PGF helps Bay of Plenty youth find jobsProvincial Growth Fund (PGF) support for a pathways to work hub in Tauranga will help address high youth unemployment in the Bay of Plenty by connecting young people with training and meaningful employment opportunities, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced. “Priority One Western Bay of Plenty ...1 day ago
- Government confirms new acute mental health facility for Lakes DHBA new acute inpatient mental health facility at Rotorua Hospital will provide more patient-centred and culturally appropriate care to better support recovery, Health Minister Chris Hipkins says. “Improving mental health and addiction services remains one of the biggest long-term challenges facing New Zealand,” says Chris Hipkins. “Lakes DHB’s existing Whare ...1 day ago
- Community Languages Fund to increase support for Pacific community language projectsRound two of the Community Languages Fund (CLF) will provide even more support for Pacific grassroots community and family language projects with the introduction of a second funding tier of $10,000, in addition to the $2,500 tier, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. During the first round of the ...1 day ago
- Government puts teacher wellbeing at the centreThe Government is committing nearly $9 million to ensure educators in early learning services and schools get the wellbeing support they need. Education Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement, which includes providing frontline counselling and advice services for educators, during his address at the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) annual ...1 day ago
- Pasifika churches gain from PGF fundingPasifika churches around the country will receive a total of nearly $10 million in government funding for renovations and improvements which will improve facilities for the communities they serve and create jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio have announced. The funding will ...2 days ago
- Job numbers up in AugustNew data from Stats NZ today shows a rise of more than 9,000 filled jobs from July – driven mostly by the education and training sector, Grant Robertson says. Filled jobs were up 9,147 to 2.2 million in August 2020 compared with July – with 7,409 of those in education ...3 days ago
- Māori development receives fundingMāori development projects across the country will receive a total of $18.8 million from the Provincial Growth Fund that will create infrastructure and permanent jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “These projects will support economic development in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti, Manawatū-Whanganui, Waikato and Southland to ...3 days ago
- Hand-up for owners of earthquake-prone unitsFrom today, owner-occupiers of unit and apartments living in earthquake-prone buildings can apply for financial support to fix their homes, Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa says. The Residential Earthquake-Prone Building Financial Assistance Scheme will help unit owners facing financial hardship over earthquake strengthening costs. “We understand how complicated ...4 days ago
- PGF backing successful Māori enterpriseWhanganui will benefit from a Provincial Growth Fund investment in a local food-processing company which will help the company increase production and create jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. Kii Tahi Ltd, which is owned by South Taranaki iwi Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, will receive a Provincial Growth Fund ...4 days ago
- Hokitika Landmark earmarked for $22m restorationSeddon House in Hokitika, once a hub for government on the West Coast, has been earmarked for government use once again. “Today we’re announcing a $22 million investment from the Government’s $3 billion infrastructure fund for shovel ready projects for the purchase and restoration of Seddon House in the heart of ...5 days ago
- Town halls and war memorials in PGF renovation programmeTown halls, war memorials and other community landmarks across the country will be renovated thanks to grants totalling just under $12.4 million from the Provincial Growth Fund. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says more than 1000 jobs are expected to be created during the renovation programme. “Town halls, other ...6 days ago
- Minister of Foreign Affairs makes two diplomatic appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced two new diplomatic appointments: • Michael Appleton as New Zealand’s first resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. • Tredene Dobson as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Viet Nam. Sri Lanka “New Zealand is opening a post in Colombo in 2021 because we are ready ...6 days ago
- NZ’s most prestigious conservation award – Loder Cup presented to Graeme AtkinsThe Minister of Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage, today presented Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prestigious conservation award, the Loder Cup, to the 2020 winner Graeme Atkins while in Gisborne/Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa. “Graeme Atkins of Ngāti Porou is a Department of Conservation ranger whose contribution to conservation goes well above and beyond his employment,” ...6 days ago
- Early help for whānau who need extra supportThe Government is investing in a new, whānau-centred early intervention prototype designed to strengthen families and improve the safety and wellbeing of children. The new programme, Ngā Tini Whetū, is a collaboration between Oranga Tamariki, Te Puni Kōkiri, ACC and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (WOCA) and was announced today ...6 days ago
- Parliament to install solar and cut carbonParliament is leading by example by taking action to cut its carbon footprint by installing solar and improving energy efficiency, the Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw said today. The Minister confirmed that Parliamentary Services will receive support through the Clean-Powered Public Service Fund to install solar PV and LED ...6 days ago
- Tuvalu Language Week theme promotes community resilience in the face of COVID-19The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio says the 2020 Tuvalu Language Week theme of “Fakatili Te Kiloga Fou” which means “Navigating the changing environment” is a call on all Pacific peoples to be strong and resilient in the face of COVID-19. “This theme is a reminder to us ...6 days ago
- International sport back up and running in New ZealandThe Government is welcoming today’s announcement that the West Indies and Pakistan cricket teams will tour New Zealand this summer. “A lot of hard work has been undertaken by sports officials including New Zealand Cricket, Netball New Zealand and government officials to ensure that international sport can return safely to ...6 days ago
- 1BT funds for Northland forest taongaNorthland’s indigenous tree canopy is set to grow for the benefit of mana whenua and the wider community thanks to nearly $2 million in One Billion Trees funding, Forestry Minister Shane Jones announced today. Te Komanga Marae Trust has received more than $1.54 million to restore and enhance the native ...6 days ago
- Better health care for West Coasters as Te Nikau Hospital officially openedThe Government has delivered a new hospital for Greymouth and is starting work on a much needed new health centre in Westport, ensuring local communities will benefit from better access to high quality integrated health services. Today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare officially open Te ...6 days ago
- Government backing local with PGF loanA West Coast distillery will benefit from a Provincial Growth Fund investment that will enable it to expand its operations and create jobs in the town of Reefton, Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Reefton Distilling Co will receive a $928,000 ...7 days ago
- Primary sector exports and jobs up againPrimary sector exports and jobs are up again, demonstrating the sector’s underlying strength amid the COVID-19 global pandemic and US-China trade war, and supporting New Zealand’s economic recovery. Stats NZ today reported New Zealand’s merchandise exports in August were up 8.6% on a year ago, driven by an increase in ...1 week ago
- Clean energy future for more schoolsSchools across Aotearoa New Zealand will be supported by the Government to upgrade to run on clean energy, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. The Minister has allocated $50 million from the Clean Powered Public Service Fund to replace, or convert, coal boilers in schools with clean ...1 week ago
- Building business strength with digital toolsNew training and tools for digital commerce will give small businesses, especially in the tourism sector, the support they need to adapt and innovate in a COVID world. Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash have announced details of how $20 million digital capability funding set aside ...1 week ago
- New pest lures to protect natureThe Department of Conservation (DOC) is investing $1.4 million to develop new predator lures that would be game-changers for trapping and surveillance towards a predator-free Aotearoa, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage, announced in Christchurch today. The proposal is to develop long-life lures attractive to a range of predators—rats, mustelids ...1 week ago
- Support for innovative Pacific education responses to COVID-19 needsSupporting new and creative Pacific education practices as part of our COVID-19 response and recovery is the focus of a new $28.5 million Pacific Education Innovation Fund announced today by Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa. “There is already an incredible amount of innovative and creative work going on in ...1 week ago
- Eligibility expanded for COVID-19 leave supportThe expanded scheme will cover: People who have COVID-19 like symptoms and meet the Ministry of Health’s criteria, and need to self-isolate while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test. People who are directed to self-isolate by a Medical Officer of Health or their delegate or on advice of their ...1 week ago
- Seasonal work visa available to more peopleThe Government is putting in place a range of immigration policy changes to help fill labour shortages in key industries while ensuring New Zealanders, who have lost jobs due to COVID-19, have the chance to find new employment. “Two key sectors we are moving to help are horticulture and wine ...1 week ago
- More border exceptions for critical rolesThe Government has established class exceptions for border entry for a limited number of veterinarians, deep sea fishing crew, as well as agricultural and horticultural machinery operators. “Tight border restrictions remain the backbone of the Government’s border strategy to protect New Zealand against COVID-19 and ensure New Zealand citizens and ...1 week ago
- Crown will not appeal Dodds v Southern Response decisionThe Crown will not appeal the Court of Appeal decision in the Dodds v Southern Response case, Grant Robertson announced today. “Southern Response will be paying the damages awarded by the Court to Mr and Mrs Dodds shortly. The Crown was already meeting their legal costs for this appeal. “The ...1 week ago
- Crucial PGF investments for NorthlandThe Provincial Growth Fund is investing nearly $30 million in a diverse range of projects that will create immediate and long-term jobs and lift economic and social outcomes for Northland and its people. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones made the announcement today in ...1 week ago
- $27million investment in global vaccine facilityThe Coalition Government has committed to invest $27 million in COVID-19 vaccine development through the global COVAX Facility, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. “The COVAX Facility is a key part of our COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy to obtain safe and effective vaccines. It allows us to invest in a high-quality, ...1 week ago
- Government backing Māori landownersThe Government will provide up to $1.69 million through the One Billion Trees programme to Māori landowners to make their whenua more productive through the planting of forests, both native and exotic, and improve economic and environmental outcomes, Forestry Minister Shane Jones has announced. “Around 1.5 million ha of land ...2 weeks ago
- New tools to make nature more accessiblePeople planning to head outdoors now have a resource that lets them know how accessible an area is for people with varying levels of mobility, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. The Halberg Foundation, Sensibel, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have launched Accessibel, a new tool which helps ...2 weeks ago
- PGF makes Māori history more accessibleOne of the most significant battle sites of the 1860s Land Wars will receive $2.96 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to improve the site and help tell the New Zealand story to visitors, Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. Nanaia Mahuta ...2 weeks ago
- Making it official: The journey of te reo Māori | Kia whakapūmautia: Ngā piki me ngā heke o te r...The journey towards recognising Māori as an official language and taonga has been captured as a web series and launched today during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “Te reo Māori is a living language, and understanding its significance, and pathways to ...2 weeks ago
- Better-than-forecast GDP reflects decision to protect New ZealandToday’s better-than-forecast GDP figures show the expected impact of the decision to act quickly to protect New Zealanders from the global COVID-19 pandemic. GDP fell 12.2% in the June quarter from March, reflecting decisions to close New Zealand’s borders and enter Alert Level 4. “This result was better than the ...2 weeks ago
- Boost for COVID-19 related Pacific education needsThe Government is investing $39.7 Million over four years to support the educational needs of Pacific learners and families in the regions hardest hit by COVID-19, with Auckland getting an immediate boost, Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa says. “Like all New Zealanders Pacific families want learners to do well ...2 weeks ago
- More resources for kiwi conservationNew Zealand’s goal of 100,000 kiwi by 2030 is being helped by an extra $19.7 million in funding to accelerate iwi and community efforts to protect kiwi, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced. “$19.7 million of Jobs for Nature funding is being invested in kiwi conservation activities including increased predator ...2 weeks ago
- As it happened: the powerbrokers debate with Peters, Davidson, Seymour, and Tamihere
Recap: Follow our liveblog to see how the Newshub Nation powerbroker debate played out this evening. ...40 mins ago - Live updates: the powerbrokers debate with Peters, Davidson, Seymour, and TamihereWelcome to our coverage of Newshub Nation's powerbroker debate - we'll be bringing you live updates as leaders from some of the minor parties go toe-to-toe. ...2 hours ago
- Monash University plans to cut its musicology subjects. Why does this matter?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tregear, Principal Fellow, University of Melbourne There’s a telling scene in Peter Bogdanovich’s 1972 screwball comedy What’s Up, Doc? in which a judge asks an academic to tell the court what kind of doctor he is. When he responds “music”, the ...2 hours ago - Cheese ‘n’ crackers! Concerns deepen for the future of Australian children’s televisionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Lecturer in Cinema and Screen Studies, Swinburne University of Technology Today ABC, BBC Studios and Screen Australia announced series three of the award-winning animation series Bluey will commence production in Brisbane later this year. But despite Bluey’s global success, policy ...2 hours ago
- Political leaders favour four-year parliamentary term but many voters not so keenA four-year parliamentary term got the nod from both major party leaders last night, but what do voters think? ...3 hours ago
- ‘You wake up with lab-engineered coffee’: how our imaginations can help decide Earth’s futureSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Lim, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University There’s no shortage of scientific studies projecting a bleak future for the planet and her people, but none have led to real change. It’s clear we need better ways to envisage the futures ...3 hours ago
- Can NZ PM Jacinda Ardern claim success on child poverty trends?AAP FactCheck: Did seven child poverty measures worsen under National, and seven measures improve under the Ardern government? ...3 hours ago
- Why we eat mooncakes today, and how to make them yourself
Mooncakes are a traditional rich pastry eaten for the Mid-Autumn festival in East-Asian communities. Sherry Zhang shares a few recipes for mooncakes from her friends and family.October 1st is the Mid-Autumn festival for the East-Asian community and, like many harvest festivals around the world, it’s about having a big ol’ ...3 hours ago - New Zealand First releases policy vision statementNew Zealand First has released 40 pages of policy this afternoon, hours before leader Winston Peters appears in a debate. ...3 hours ago
- Election 2020: The issues at stake for Dunedin’s Pacific communityMany in Ōtepoti/Dunedin's 4000 strong Pacific Island community believe the government could do more to help them thrive in the south of the South Island. ...4 hours ago
- National misleads with NZ renewable energy figuresDid the proportion of renewable electricity generation increase faster under the previous National government than the current Labour leadership - and was National responsible for this? ...4 hours ago
- National misleads with NZ renewable energy claimsDid the proportion of renewable electricity generation increase faster under the previous National government than the current Labour leadership - and was National responsible for this? ...4 hours ago
- Am I coping well during the pandemic?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Haslam, Professor of Psychology, University of Melbourne The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges. Many of us have lost work, gained carer responsibilities and grappled with social isolation. Experts have warned of a looming wave of mental illness as a result. Research ...5 hours ago
- Undecided on the cannabis referendum: 10 pros and cons of legalising the drugSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick van Esch, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, AUT Business School, Auckland University of Technology The latest poll shows a drop in support by New Zealanders for the recreational use of cannabis ahead of next month’s referendum on the issue. The 1 NEWS ...5 hours ago
- Greens promise to support ‘weightless exports’The Green Party will establish a digital export office to support low-carbon 'weightless exports' as part of its technology policy if elected. ...5 hours ago
- Tikanga Maori Lens On The Upcoming End Of Life Act Referendum
Whakarongo Mai Aotearoa I recently had the privilege of having an article published by the New Zealand Law Society on the End of Life Choice Act 2019 looking at the legislation. In writing that article, I felt anxiety that I could not initially explain. ...5 hours ago - How to launch a print magazine in the time of coronavirusBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he’s joined by Simon Farrell-Green, founder of Here magazine.This podcast has always had a special interest ...5 hours ago
- Unions Welcome Labour’s Fiscal PlanThe Council of Trade Unions is welcoming the Labour Party’s well thought out, and fully costed, fiscal plan. CTU President Richard Wagstaff comments "It is pleasing to see an allowance to accommodate living wage changes for people working ...6 hours ago
- Australia is not ready to criminalise coercive control — here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre; Associate Professor of Criminology, Faculty of Arts, Monash University There are increasing calls to making coercive control a criminal offence across Australia. The NSW Labor opposition has proposed a bill to criminalise ...6 hours ago
- Zealandia: The sci-fi short film that Covid-19 turned into a social dramaDirector Bruno du Bois talks about Zealandia, a short film depicting a futuristic New Zealand in the midst of a global pandemic which was written long before Covid-19. New Zealand’s biggest annual short film festival Show Me Shorts kicks off on October 2, bringing over 75 films from around the world ...6 hours ago
- Meet the outstanding 2020 Arts Foundation laureatesThe 2020 Arts Foundation laureates have been selected, awarding seven outstanding artists who represent the diversity of New Zealand and the arts in Aotearoa right now.The past nine months have not been easy for artists all around the world. In New Zealand, lockdowns and financial disruption caused by Covid-19 have ...7 hours ago
- The future of work is flexibleCovid-19 taught businesses that one workplace doesn’t fit all employees. Ben Fahy learned about what flexibility really means in a modern office. Vaughan Fergusson, the founder and director of retail software company Vend, lifts up his laptop and gives me a glimpse of Vend HQ a few days after the second ...7 hours ago
- Public Debate: National, Labour, Greens, ACT, TOP To Debate Doughnut Economics Policies For NZAuckland Central candidates Helen White (Labour) and Chlöe Swarbrick (Greens) join Dan Bidois (National), Felix Poole (ACT) and Shai Navot (TOP) to debate their party’s respective policies for sustainable economic progress at a public meeting on October ...8 hours ago
- Labour pledges grocery, building supply market studiesLabour is promising to conduct market studies to ensure New Zealanders are paying a fair price for groceries and building supplies, if re-elected. ...8 hours ago
- Gone By Lunchtime: How did we rate the Newshub leaders’ debate?A very special guest joins Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee Mather and Ben Thomas to go over what we learned from last night’s Newshub leaders’ debate between Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins. It’s a four-person episode of Gone By Lunchtime this week as special guest Mihingarangi Forbes (The Hui, RNZ’s political podcast ...8 hours ago
- Court rules against Jami-Lee Ross, Billy Te Kahika over debate exclusionThe Advance NZ Party's court case over not being included in a television debate has been rejected. ...8 hours ago
- New Caledonians will vote again on independence. Will the answer this time be ‘Oui’?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tess Newton Cain, Adjunct Associate Professor, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University On October 4, the people of New Caledonia will go to the polls. For the second time in the past two years, they will be asked if they wish to remain ...8 hours ago
- Court Helps Media Stack Deck Against DemocracyThe Co-Leaders of Advance NZ, Jami-Lee Ross and Billy Te Kahika, say the decision by the High Court today is another example of the media stacking the deck against democracy. “Today’s High Court decision is disappointing for us as a political ...8 hours ago
- Buried lakes of salty water on Mars may provide conditions for lifeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graziella Caprarelli, Adjunct Research Fellow, University of Southern Queensland In 2018 a team of Italian scientists announced to the world that there was a lake on Mars. Using satellite radar data, the team detected a very bright area approximately 20 kilometres across ...9 hours ago
- Jacinda Ardern vs Judith Collins: A dynamic leaders debate that lacked soulOpinion - Newshub put on a first-class and entertaining leaders debate last night, but political analyst Bryce Edwards says the politicians themselves didn't bring enough ideological differentiation to give viewers much choice. ...9 hours ago
- LIVE: A View from Afar – Paul Buchanan + Selwyn Manning on the Pandemic Effect, Rising Powers, US ...Hi I’m Selwyn Manning and you are watching… A View from Afar. Today we examine how a within a global leadership vacuum we are witnessing regionalised conflicts as middle and rising powers juxtaposition for influence. Are we witnessing the rise of a new global order, or the beginning of ...9 hours ago
- Housing Minister is chuffed about latest building stats – but “housing chaos” grabbed the hea...
It wasn’t the best of days for Megan Woods to be braying about the latest residential building statistics. Her press statement from the Beehive was vying for public attention with an RNZ report – which the NZ Herald carried on its website this morning – drawing attention to a claim ...9 hours ago - What’s new to Netflix NZ, Neon and other streaming services in OctoberWhat are you going to be watching in October? The Spinoff rounds up everything that’s coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ OnDemand.The biggiesThe Mandalorian (season two weekly on Disney+ from October 30)The Mandalorian was the surprise hit of 2019 for ...9 hours ago
- National promises water storage policy under Infrastructure BankThe National Party is promising to set a strategic policy on water storage, and spend $600m over three years on planning and infrastructure. ...10 hours ago
- Labour releases largely unchanged fiscal planLabour's fiscal plan has little changes other than an already announced top income tax bracket change, saying it has set aside double what National would to deal with basic cost pressures. ...10 hours ago
- 100 Year Forecast: What will climate change mean for our animals?Watch all five episodes of 100 Year Forecast on our special interactive website HERE. Aotearoa’s ecosystems are already under strain from habitat loss and introduced pest species. A warmer climate, more extreme weather and rising sea levels will intensify these stresses. This episode explores which plants and animals are ...10 hours ago
- Lambs slaughtered at Lincoln in New Zealand’s safest seat What happens when you put a bunch of farming students in a deeply National electorate in a room with their local candidates? Alex Braae went to the Lincoln University election debate to see the political equivalent of an abattoir. Despite the protestations of most of the candidates, there’s only going to ...10 hours ago
- New Zealanders With Disabilities Face Five Year Wait For Life-changing Assistance DogThose with severe disabilities around the country are waiting five or more years for access to an assistance dog that would give them independence and provide crucial daily aid. Assistance Dogs NZ Trust (ADNZT) is calling on the New Zealand public ...10 hours ago
- Advance Voting Starts On SaturdayVoters will head to the polls on Saturday when nearly 450 advance voting places open their doors for this year’s election and referendums. Chief Electoral Officer Alicia Wright says the popularity of advance voting has been rising steadily – ...11 hours ago
- Save or spend? Small business plea to open wallets
Spend up large, your country needs you. That’s the message from a survey of small businesses, but it runs counter to most Kiwis’ conservative instinct to avoid ostentatious consumerism, writes Jonathan Milne. ...11 hours ago - Safe, Open Border Crucial To NZ’s Export SuccessA plan for opening our border safely to international students, business travellers and essential skilled workers should be the incoming government’s highest priority, according to ExportNZ’s Election Manifesto released today. "ExportNZ holds ...11 hours ago
- National’s Paul Goldsmith on party’s economic planNational's finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith spoke to RNZ Nine to Noon's Kathryn Ryan about his party's economic plan should it be elected. ...11 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: It’s An Election, Not A CoronationAs this year's election campaign got underway the Prime Minister described it as the "Covid19" election. Her subliminal hope was obviously that voters would take the opportunity to reward the government – and the Labour Party in particular ...11 hours ago
- A sniff of hope for Collins
In this week's campaign column, Ryan Bridge outlines an improbable path to power for Judith Collins This was the Mixed Martial Arts debate of the campaign that made the last one feel like a game of tiddlywinks. Round after round of drama and laughs and substance, too. Judith Collins emerged ...11 hours ago - World Fails To Meet Any Biodiversity Targets For BirdsAn international report says the world has failed to meet any of its 2020 biodiversity targets for birds. The Aichi targets were set in 2010 at a meeting of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Japan. The BirdLife International report ...12 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 01 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Newshub Leaders debate Spinoff: Leaders’ debate #2, election 2020: The verdicts Toby Manhire (Spinoff): How Ardern, Collins and Gower rinsed away the Trump bile Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern steps ...12 hours ago
- Andrews under fire: why an activist premier’s greatest challenges may yet lie aheadSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Strangio, Associate Professor of Politics, Monash University We have long been accustomed in Australia to the Commonwealth’s pre-eminence over the states and prime ministers dwarfing premiers. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has given us a practical reminder of the extensive day-to-day powers ...12 hours ago
- A COVID-19 vaccine may come without a needle, the latest vaccine to protect without jabbingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vasso Apostolopoulos, Professor of Immunology and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Partnerships, Victoria University Vaccines are traditionally administered with a needle, but this isn’t the only way. For example, certain vaccines can be delivered orally, as a drop on the tongue, or via a ...12 hours ago
- A brutal war and rivers poisoned with every rainfall: how one mine destroyed an islandSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew G. Allen, Professor of Development Studies, The University of the South Pacific This week, 156 people from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, an island in Papua New Guinea, petitioned the Australian government to investigate Rio Tinto over a copper mine that ...12 hours ago
- Some private schools need to change their models — they were losing students even before COVIDSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Kidson, Lecturer in Educational Leadership, University of Wollongong Some Australian private schools have reported lower interest from prospective parents due to the financial pressures of COVID-19. A number of Victorian school principals have also called on the state government to re-open ...12 hours ago
- Meet the Liveable Income Guarantee: a budget-ready proposal that would prevent unemployment benefits...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland The economic crises that have punctuated the 21st century, most notably the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 crisis, have led to a growing realisation that alternatives to our present system are ...12 hours ago
- Introducing the Maliwawa Figures: a previously undescribed rock art style found in Western Arnhem La...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul S.C.Taçon, Chair in Rock Art Research and Director of the Place, Evolution and Rock Art Heritage Unit (PERAHU), Griffith University Western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, has a remarkable range and number of rock art sites, rivalling that of Europe, southern Africa ...12 hours ago
- Aged Care Workers Highlight Need For Urgent Reform With International Action DayOn International Day of the Older Person, New Zealand aged care workers are adding their voices to the global call to create a “shield against COVID-19” with better conditions for workers and residents in aged care homes around the world. E tū members ...12 hours ago
- Live updates: National finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith interviewNational's finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith is speaking to RNZ Nine to Noon's Kathryn Ryan about his party's economic plan should it be elected. Follow live updates here. ...12 hours ago
- Check your breasts for change – it could save your lifeAfter surviving breast cancer, Sarah Gandy has made it her mission to make sure New Zealand women know the signs of the disease so they can too.Sarah Gandy is so delightful you can’t help but smile when you speak to her. She speaks in a flurry and giggles often. It ...12 hours ago
- Election Live, October 1: Second debate more ‘lively’ than first – CollinsWelcome to The Spinoff’s Election Live for October 1, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other NZ news. The essential campaign dates are here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Explore the parties’ pledges at Policy. I’m ...14 hours ago
- Pacific voters ‘just want opportunities’
'My husband is Samoan,' Judith Collins repeated in the debates. But support from the big Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands and other Pacific communities could help Labour over the line, despite challenges from other parties, writes Jonathan Milne. When Winston Peters stepped aboard his imposing black-and-white campaign bus outside Westfield Manukau ...14 hours ago - Click, like, share, vote: who’s spending and who’s winning on social media ahead of New Zealand...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sommer Kapitan, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Auckland University of Technology If social media engagement rates determined which parties form the next government, New Zealand’s parliament would soon look a lot different. With its daily social media interactions commanding an average 7.7% engagement ...14 hours ago
- NZ election 2020: survey shows voters are divided on climate policy and urgency of actionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University New Zealanders are polarised on climate change policy, according to a recent Stuff/Massey University survey of 55,000 readers. This puts the two major political parties in a difficult position as they seek options that ...14 hours ago
- Election 2020 Newshub leaders’ debate: Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins vie for public’...In the reality TV show The Bachelor a group of women compete to "win" the bachelor - a single guy looking for his one true love. Throughout the series, the contestants get to continue if they are awarded a rose. The art is to get enough roses an ...14 hours ago
- ‘Battle For The North’ Open To PublicTe Hiku Media are proud to be hosting the second ‘BATTLE FOR THE NORTH’ political debate for the three northern electoral seats of Aotearoa - Whangārei, Te Tai Tokerau and Northland - this Saturday 3rd October at the Turner Centre, Kerikeri. Our pre-production ...14 hours ago
- The Bulletin: East Coast looms as race to watchGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Poll puts spotlight on tight East Coast race, Ardern and Collins go toe to toe in very different debate, and solo mother speaks out over denied benefit.The East Coast is going to be a fascinating electorate to watch on the ...14 hours ago
- Second leaders’ debate: Jacinda Ardern more assertive, but Judith Collins’ one-liners wo...Power Play - The second leaders' debate felt more like a "pub quiz" at times for Jacinda Ardern, but she stood her ground against Judith Collins making for a more lively affair, writes RNZ political editor Jane Patterson. ...14 hours ago
- Second leaders’ debate a more lively affairPowerplay - The second leaders' debate felt more like a "pub quiz" at times for Jacinda Ardern, but she stood her ground against Judith Collins making for a more lively affair, writes RNZ political editor Jane Patterson. ...15 hours ago
- America’s Supreme Court battle is refreshingly clear and largely predictable
There is much talk about whether the Republicans should try to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of the late Justice Ginsburg. And much of it misses the point. Leave aside the diversions about not filling vacancies during an election campaign or leaving it to the next ...15 hours ago - Business & Investing: A cautious return of optimism
Business confidence is improving, but still remains negative. ...15 hours ago - Gower gets the debate into top gear
It was a better performance by Jacinda Ardern in the second leaders' debate, writes Mark Jennings, but she doesn't seem as comfortable as Judith Collins in the debate setting. It's unanimous. This was an enjoyable debate, a better debate, and finally, a debate that produced some answers. To be fair, it ...16 hours ago - Four Year Term Self-Serving Power Grab By National & LabourSuggestions by the two J’s on the Leader’s Debate that they both favour a four year parliamentary term are simply a self serving attempt to further entrench the two party dominance of New Zealand’s political scene. This is a classic example ...16 hours ago
- Decision time for crypto traders
Inland Revenue is eyeing up a tax take that could potentially be worth millions. ...16 hours ago - ‘Making do’ with Northland infrastructure
From 'hangi hole' roads to rotting houses Northland's infrastructure is crumbling while its population grows ...16 hours ago - Election 2020: $200k spent on online ads in one week
It's been a week of big spending online for political parties with over $200,000 flowing to Facebook and Google in an attempt to woo voters The two big parties spent just shy of $70,000 each on advertisements running on Facebook and Google this week as the race for ballot box ...16 hours ago - Ardern steps up but Collins holds her own in second debate
After a passive first showing, the Prime Minister brought a bit of fire to the second leaders' debate - but Judith Collins again showed she will scrap to the bitter end, Sam Sachdeva writes Well, at least we’re not them. The second leaders’ debate of New Zealand’s election may not ...16 hours ago - Book of the Week: Aro Valley confidential
Redmer Yska on the long, strange story of Bill Sutch, the Wellington civil servant busted for spying A plaque appeared during lockdown under a grove of pohutukawas by the corner of Holloway Road and Aro Street in Wellington. It marks the spot where civil servant Bill Sutch was arrested on ...16 hours ago - The constant loss that wiped out Kayla Imrie
Olympic paddler Kayla Imrie has struggled for a decade with the debilitating condition menorrhagia and now wants to help other young women to talk about their periods. Kayla Imrie remembers the embarrassment she felt returning to the jetty after an international race in a kayak awash with blood. It would be the ...16 hours ago - Election 2020: Fixing the injustice in our justice system
You asked us to make the climate emergency, housing, health, and justice reform key election issues. Today, we share the fourth of the top five election questions, chosen by you - our readers - for the political leaders vying for your votes. It has long been a cliche that politicians must be ...16 hours ago
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