Author Archive
Dog whistling climate change
Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, January 12th, 2023 - 30 comments
National MP Stuart Smith has tweeted suggesting that students should not be taught about climate change but should instead be taught the skills to decide for themselves if it exists.
Why is everything always Jacinda’s fault?
Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, January 10th, 2023 - 57 comments
Son of former National MP and former Political reporter and currently self branded travel reporter Brook Sabin has produced potentially the most ridiculous article of the year by blaming the Government for not sorting out Auckland Airport’s baggage handling problems. And we are only 10 days in.
New Zealand is in a terrible state *
Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, January 6th, 2023 - 116 comments
* or is it?
Trump’s tax returns
Written By: - Date published: 2:47 pm, January 2nd, 2023 - 18 comments
One of the mysteries of the ages has now been resolved. One of the great mysteries along with who killed JFK and is there life on Mars is how wealthy is the orange one. And now we know. And it appears that he is not as wealthy as he made out to be.
The Standard’s political awards for 2022
Written By: - Date published: 12:01 pm, December 30th, 2022 - 39 comments
It is that time of year again where the events of the year are reviewed and what was notable, noteworthy and notorious.
Meri Kirihimete
Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, December 26th, 2022 - 116 comments
Even on the one day of the year that is meant to be a day of peace and calm and family some people get triggered by the use of Te Reo.
The smartest guys in the room
Written By: - Date published: 7:08 am, December 24th, 2022 - 9 comments
Vector has received a warning letter from the Commerce Commission for attempting to artificially boost the value of assets so that price increases for power could be imposed.
Federated Farmers – climate change “probably” exists
Written By: - Date published: 11:35 am, December 23rd, 2022 - 49 comments
Federated Farmers leader Andrew Hoggard thinks that climate change is probably happening but we will have to wait 50 to 100 years to see the effects.
Be afraid, be very afraid …
Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, December 22nd, 2022 - 165 comments
David Seymour is feeling his oats and has claimed that past National Governments never changes anything. A brief review of history would suggest otherwise.
Why selling Auckland Airport shares is a silly thing to do
Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, December 20th, 2022 - 34 comments
Wayne Brown is proposing the sale of Auckland Council’s Airport shares to plug a budget hole. He thinks it is a simple decision and a rational way to take care of the deficit. I beg to differ.
Much ado about nothing
Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, December 16th, 2022 - 54 comments
The big news this week was Jacinda Ardern describing David Seymour in an unparliamentary phrase on an open mike in Parliament. But the matter was resolved in a way that can only happen in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Dog whistles and South Auckland garages
Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, December 14th, 2022 - 20 comments
Chris Luxon has doubled down on a dog whistle attack on South Auckland garages by apologising if anyone was offended, thereby ignoring most of South Auckland who were definitely offended.
Labour’s big reset
Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, December 13th, 2022 - 77 comments
New Zealand politics is at an interesting stage. With announcements about Ministerial futures pending and with a review of all current projects to occur over Christmas Jadinda Ardern is planning to repurpose Labour to have its best chance in the election next year.
The Hamilton West by election
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 pm, December 10th, 2022 - 95 comments
The polls are now closed but someone should tell National about how on election day you should not be campaigning.
Luxon’s first year
Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, December 4th, 2022 - 56 comments
Chris Luxon marked the anniversary of his becoming National leader this week by showing that he is that out of touch he had no idea what the single rate of superannuation is.
Three strikes law is not the answer
Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, November 29th, 2022 - 25 comments
National is proposing a return of the Three Strikes legislation, despite the Supreme Court ruling that the law went well beyond excessive punishment and would shock the conscience of properly informed New Zealanders, and was so disproportionately severe as to breach the Bill of Rights. And despite there being no evidence that it would actually work.
Overblown rhetoric and Laura Norder
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, November 27th, 2022 - 69 comments
This week has seen some extreme rhetoric from various quarters about who to blame for a recent senseless killing. But news that the person arrested had recently been extradited from Australia has shown the rhetoric to be entirely misplaced.
The politics of the voting age change
Written By: - Date published: 8:12 pm, November 21st, 2022 - 90 comments
The Supreme Court has just lobbed a grenade into New Zealand politics by ruling that denying 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote was not only discrimination on the basis of age but also had not been justified and was therefore a breach of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
National’s Boot Camps announcement is deeply cynical policy recycling
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, November 21st, 2022 - 28 comments
There should be a law against the cynical recycling of dog whistle policies that everyone knows will not work. Last week’s announcement by National of a boot camp policy is as good an example as you can imagine.
Are Luxon’s days numbered?
Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, November 17th, 2022 - 66 comments
Yesterday was a bad day for Chris Luxon. It is increasingly clear that he is not up to the job of being leader of the opposition and National’s senior management must be worried.
What happened to National’s policy machine?
Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, November 16th, 2022 - 70 comments
Remember when a few leaders ago then National Leader Simon Bridges promised that National would be a 56 MP policy machine? Judging by its response to the Government’s release of two bills at the centre of RMA reform the machine has major problems.
The power companies are rorting us
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, November 15th, 2022 - 25 comments
FIRST Union, NZCTU, and 350 Aotearoa have just released a joint report suggesting that the privatisation of our power companies by National were not only disastrous for the country’s finances but also disastrous for the planet.
Equality for the Black Ferns
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, November 13th, 2022 - 42 comments
After the epic Women’s World Cup result from last night’s final the question has to be asked, why aren’t the Black Ferns and the All Blacks paid the same amount?
Comrade Chris and the politics of the warm inner glow
Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, November 9th, 2022 - 127 comments
Left wing contrarian Chris Trotter has made some outlandish claims about Jacinda Ardern’s recent conference speech.
What happens if Twitter dies?
Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, November 8th, 2022 - 95 comments
It seems strange to type this but Twitter may be terminal. The social media site that has become the go to for many years for journalists, politicians and any one interested in news especially breaking news may be on its death bed.
National’s relentless negativity
Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, November 5th, 2022 - 86 comments
National’s recent press releases show that its approach to politics will be relentlessly negative, with no idea of what it will do as an alternative or how it will fund changes.
Is it fair for the PM to get a weekly tax cut of $349 while a minimum wage worker would receive only $2.15?
Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, November 2nd, 2022 - 148 comments
Chris Luxon has avoided answering this question so far but he needs to be asked continuously about it. Is it fair that he as Prime Minister would receive under National’s proposed tax cuts a tax cut of $349 per week while a minimum wage worker would receive only $2.15 per week
National has gone full woke
Written By: - Date published: 8:39 pm, November 1st, 2022 - 22 comments
Remember this scene from the Tauranga by election? National has decided it will not be repeated by ensuring that it has no potential white male candidates for the Hamilton West by election.
The use of rumour as a political weapon
Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, November 1st, 2022 - 26 comments
US conservative figures are downplaying the right’s involvement in a hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband by spreading completely unfounded rumours. And in Aotearoa rumours continue to be spread about Jacinda Ardern’s pending resignation despite her repeatedly ruling this out. Clearly some see the use of rumours as a valid political weapon even if they are based on complete falsehoods.
The most important election in the world this year
Written By: - Date published: 8:40 am, October 31st, 2022 - 25 comments
With the future of the Amazon rain forest at stake the people of Brazil go to the polls today to vote on who will be their next President in an election that may profoundly affect the world’s future.
Male privilege is a fragile thing
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, October 28th, 2022 - 22 comments
Golriz Ghahraman wanted Parliament to condemn the Iranian Government’s oppression of women’s rights. David Seymour moved to block the motion because Golriz had raised points of order against him during a previous speech. Fancy putting your hurt feelings in front of making a statement of support and principle.
- Gordon Campbell on firing Stuart Nash, plus a music playlist
Here’s an analogy for the Stuart Nash saga. If people are to be forgiven for their sins, Catholic dogma requires two factors to be present. There has to be a sincere act of confession about what has been done, but also a sincere act of contrition, which signals a painful ...1 week ago - Gordon Campbell on firing Stuart Nash, plus a music playlistHere’s an analogy for the Stuart Nash saga. If people are to be forgiven for their sins, Catholic dogma requires two factors to be present. There has to be a sincere act of confession about what has been done, but also a sincere act of contrition, which signals a painful ...1 week ago
- Political Roundup: 17 March 2023
STUART NASH Felix Desmarais (1News): Nash’s continued tenure far less tenable now Herald: Stuart Nash resigns as Police Minister: Almost faced contempt charge in 2020 over comment about cop killer’s arrest Felix Desmarais (1News): Revealed: Nash warned in 2020 on public comments on separate court case Amelia Wade (Newshub): Stuart ...1 week ago - Weaponising Illegal Immigration.
Human Destabilisers: Russia now has a new strategic weapon – migratory waves of unwelcome human-beings. Desperate people with different coloured skins and different religious beliefs arriving at, or actually breaching, the national borders of Russia’s enemies can wreak as much havoc, culturally and politically, as a hypersonic missile exploding in the ...1 week ago - Bonus Content: James from Simply Fresh
Hi,After Webworm contributor Hayden Donnell wrote his latest piece, ‘RIP to Millennials Killing Everything’, he delivered this exciting and important bonus content.It will make more sense if you’ve read his piece.David. Read more ...1 week ago - RIP to Millennials Killing Everything
Hi,Before we get to Hayden’s column — RIP to Millennials Killing Everything — a quick observation.There was a day last week where it had suddenly reached 10pm and I hadn’t eaten all day. Hunger had suddenly gripped me with a panicky all-consuming force, so I jumped onto Uber Eats and ...1 week ago - Some new CMIP6 MSU comparisons
We add some of the CMIP6 models to the updateable MSU comparisons. After my annual update, I was pointed to some MSU-related diagnostics for many of the CMIP6 models (24 of them at least) from Po-Chedley et al. (2022) courtesy of Ben Santer. These are slightly different to what ...1 week ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2023
Open access notables Jeongmin Yun et al. tag increasing acidifcation as a root cause of changes in behavior of CO2 fluxes below the equator, in Enhanced seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO2 by the changing Southern Ocean carbon sink. "The enhanced seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO2 has been viewed so far primarily as a Northern Hemisphere ...1 week ago - Is it time for Mr Wolf?
In a memorable Pulp Fiction scene, Vincent inadvertently shoots their backseat passenger in the head. This leads our heroes Jules and Vincent to express alarm about their predicament.We're on a city street in broad daylight here! says Vincent. We gotta get this car off the roads. You know cops tend to ...1 week ago - Labour’s austerity victimises teachers
Primary, secondary and kindergarten teachers are all on strike today, demanding higher pay and an end to systematic understaffing. While the former is important - wages should at least keep up with inflation - its the latter which is the real issue. As with the health system, teachers have been ...1 week ago - Teachers Take Strike Action!
So the teachers are on strike, marching across Aotearoa today to press their demands for better pay and working conditions.Children remained in bed this brisk morning, many no doubt quite pleased about a day off school. Parents perhaps taking the day off to look after the kids, or working from ...1 week ago - The return to Big Wars.
After the Cold War the consensus among Western military strategists was that the era of Big Wars, defined as peer conflict between large states with full spectrum military technologies, was at an end, at least for the foreseeable future. The … Continue reading ...1 week ago - Dairy giant Fonterra posting a big lift in profit underlines the importance of the dairy industry ...
Dairy giant Fonterra has posted a 50% lift in net profit to $546m, doubled its interim dividend, and is proposing a return of capital of 50c a share, injecting a note of optimism into the nation’s dairy industry. Fonterra’s strong performance is against a backdrop of market volatility. It ...1 week ago - Latest BoP figures show NZ sinking deeper into the red, but O’Connor is doing his bit to put thing...
Buzz from the Beehive The bothersome economic news today is that New Zealand’s GDP fell by 0.6% in the December quarter, weaker than market forecasts of a fall of around 0.2% and much weaker than the Reserve Bank’s assumption of a 0.7% rise. This followed the even-more-bothersome news yesterday that ...1 week ago - Labour's climate policy bonfire just blew up the ETSOuch: Hipkins’ policy bonfire has resulted in an expensive self-administered removal of a Budgetary foot with an explosive device. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: Bonfires can be dangerous things when they get out of control. They also create a lot of smoke and heat and burn the grass. ...1 week ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Stuart Nash’s resignation shows our leaders need a lesson in ...
* Dr Bryce Edwards writes – I teach a first-year course at Victoria University of Wellington about government and the political process in New Zealand. In “Introduction to Government and Law”, students learn there are rules preventing senior public servants from getting involved in big political debates – as we ...1 week ago - Bryce Edwards: Stuart Nash’s resignation shows our leaders need a lesson in civicsI teach a first year course at Victoria University of Wellington about government and the political process in New Zealand. In “Introduction to Government and Law”, students learn there are rules preventing senior public servants from getting involved in big political debates – as we have recently witnessed with Rob ...1 week ago
- Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Integrity issues at the heart of resignationAn issue of integrity has claimed the first ministerial scalp in Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ premiership. Police Minister Stuart Nash lasted mere weeks in the role after admitting in a radio interview this morning that he had called Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to ask him if police were going to ...1 week ago
- CRL’s COVID Cost Change
For some time now we’ve known that the cost and completion timeframe for the City Rail Link would increase. Yesterday we finally learned by just how much. Costs City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd) today confirms it has submitted a formal funding request to its Sponsors – the Crown and ...1 week ago - Speed limits hit pot holesThe Government’s decision to back peddle on lowering speed limits is hitting potholes. At this stage, although it is part of the Government’s reprioritisation efforts to free up money to alleviate cost of living increases, the speed limit change looks unlikely to do that. And it appears that it ...1 week ago
- Corporate Vandalism: The University of Otago and that Hideous Logo
The University of Otago – the oldest university in New Zealand – towers over my home city of Dunedin. When classes are on, something like a fifth of Dunedin’s population are university students. It is also the largest employer in the South Island. To say that this is a ...1 week ago - Top quality Stuff
Last weekend brought the latest instalment in Stuff’s bravura satirical series Of course you can afford a house! Just dig deeper!I love how much their appreciation of humour has evolved in just a few short years since the days when I would get to produce, for a few meagre dollars, ...1 week ago - Garrick Tremain’s view…
... 1 week ago - Australia buys nuclear-powered subs – would NZ be concerned if we came under attack and they ...Australia’s move to strengthen its defence capability with five nuclear-powered attack submarines underlines how relatively defenceless New Zealand is in the Pacific. Kiwis may gasp that the Labor government in Australia recognises it must outlay $400bn on the nuclear subs, but this ensures that Australia is not exposed ...1 week ago
- A challenge to Wayne Brown's debt crisis excuse
Ironically, a repurposed Auckland Ratepayers Alliance placard (with a demand for climate action on the front) featured at the recent climate march. Voting ratepayers don’t want ‘bureaucrats in cushy council jobs’ borrowing or increasing rates, even when the need for investment is becoming increasingly obvious. So is council cost-cutting a ...1 week ago - Climate Change: Another ETS crisisThe quarterly ETS auction was held today. In the past, these have seen collusion by big players to game the price and force a dump of extra credits from the cost-containment reserve (essentially, trying to pick stuff up cheap now in the belief that it will be more valuable later). ...1 week ago
- While climate change policies are tossed on to Hipkins’ bonfire, the Greens claim victory with fri...Buzz from the Beehive Exempting bikes, electric bikes and scooters from fringe benefit tax looked like something of a sop for a Green Party that had good grounds to grumble after a bunch of climate change measures was tossed on to the PM’s policy bonfire. The combustibles included the clean car ...1 week ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day, the first of the year. Unfortunately it also looks to be a boring one. First, there's a two hour debate on the budget policy statement (somehow inexplicably "member's business", despite it being fundamentally a government thing). Then there's a couple of "private bills" - people ...1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell on the Hipkins cutbacks, and the major Saudi/Iran dealMost days, Chris Hipkins and James Shaw seem a bit like the Seals and Crofts of the centre-left: Earnest, inoffensive, and capable of quite nice harmonies at times. They blow gently through the jasmine in your mind, but you know they’re never going to rock your world. Back in 2020, ...1 week ago
- Beware The Ides of March.
The reflection gazed back at him. Pale and a little paunchy, he wasn’t a well man.He had a toga made from a fitted sheet and it kept bunching up under his armpits.His Laurel wreath was made from some Christmas tree branches he’d found in the shed, not a real pine ...1 week ago - Political Roundup: 15 March 2023Items of interest and importance today CLIMATE CHANGE Felix Desmarais (1News): Exclusive poll: After cyclone, do voters want urgency on climate change? Henry Cooke (Guardian): Ruthless Chris Hipkins backpedals on climate action as New Zealand elections near Bernard HIckey: This is the rainy day we’ve been saving for Toby Manhire ...1 week ago
- Government speeds away from the evidenceYesterday we covered the government’s latest policy/delivery changes with a focus on light rail. But there was another important transport part of the announcement: The government will also intends to scale back its road safety plans. The programmes that are being reprioritised include: Significantly narrowing the speed reduction programme to ...1 week ago
- Nobody To Shoot.Unbridled Consumption: This civilisation we have built (we being the whole human species) is the most astonishingly wonderful thing homo sapiens has ever seen. We love it. We cannot imagine how awful life would be without it. And, we most certainly are not going to co-operate with anyone who advises ...1 week ago
- At a glance – What do the 'Climategate' hacked CRU emails tell us?On 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 ...1 week ago
- The bonfire of the policies
Let’s start with the absolute truisms.Politics is the art of the possibleHalf of something is better than all of nothingLet us now consider these with reference to the Under New Management government.What is a supporter of progressive politics to make of the abandonment of various policies, as announced in recent post-cabinet ...2 weeks ago - Hipkins shows his quality as PM in securing a bounce for Labour, but now comes the hard partChris Hipkins has surprised even some of his closest friends and backers with the bounce he has secured for Labour in public polls since he became Prime Minister. He has been put to the test since he took over from Jacinda Ardern in the top job, and has shown a ...2 weeks ago
- More policies are stopped or slowed to help save $1bn for bread-and-butter spending – but RMA “r...Buzz from the Beehive It was a big day for the stopping or slowing of a second tranche of government programmes, an exercise which Beehive publicists are pitching as measures to allow the Government to focus more time, energy and resources on “the bread and butter issues” facing New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- National numbers on the decline.
Last night there was a One News political poll which was welcomed by the left and will cause some concern in the opposition camp. A poll that showed no path to victory for ACT and National and which would likely result in another Labour/Greens government, possibly with the inclusion, or ...2 weeks ago - Wasn't this the rainy day we saved for?2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Labour’s refocus is workingDr Bryce Edwards writes – Labour’s shift in focus is working. Under Jacinda Ardern they were a party and government focused on the voters and ideologies of liberal Grey Lynn and Wellington Central. Now under Prime Minister Chris Hipkins Labour has a laser-like focus directed at ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: Labour’s refocus is workingLabour’s shift in focus is working. Under Jacinda Ardern they were a party and government focused on the voters and ideologies of liberal Grey Lynn and Wellington Central. Now under Prime Minister Chris Hipkins Labour has a laser-like focus directed at the working class politics of places like West Auckland ...2 weeks ago
- How heat pumps of the 1800s are becoming the technology of the futureThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Chris Baraniuk It was an engineering problem that had bugged Zhibin Yu for years — but now he had the perfect chance to fix it. Stuck at home during the first UK lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, the thermal engineer suddenly had all ...2 weeks ago
- What We Learnt From The Oscars
Hi,I just wanted to say hello as this week really gets going, and check in about a few things. They’re a series of fractured random thoughts, so bear with me! First up — I haven’t watched the Oscars in ages and I’m really glad I watched yesterday. It felt like ...2 weeks ago - Is Auckland Light Rail getting even more off-track?Yesterday the Prime Minister laid out the next tranche of plans to scale back the ambition of Labour’s policy/delivery programme – and this time the Auckland light rail project gets a mention. “I can also confirm today that we will roll out transport projects in Auckland in stages. “Reducing transport ...2 weeks ago
- No more time for words; Hipkins becomes action manThe Hipkins Government revealed its true colours yesterday as it chopped a whole series of “nice to have” policies — many of them promoted by the Greens — and instead diverted the savings to relieve the impact of inflation. His approach is all about taking action; no more excuses, ...2 weeks ago
- Parliamentary Sovereignty And Its Discontents.Saving The People From ... The People: The strangest aspect of the mass Israeli protests, from a New Zealand perspective, is that the judicial reforms proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government would only confer upon Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, powers which the New Zealand House of Representatives has not only exercised ...2 weeks ago
- Labour: We can’t do thisAnother week, and another post-cabinet press conference consisting of the Prime Minister reeling off a long list of policies being scrapped or pushed out past the election. Yes, they're dumping climate change policies in a climate emergency, while betraying young people over the voting age, and ensuring hoons can continue ...2 weeks ago
- Govt’s plan for lifting productivity and wages entails a $30m investment and a role for the state ...Buzz from the Beehive One economic measure which Ministers of Finance can’t brag about is productivity growth. It has been an issue of concern for decades. In the 2022 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, New Zealand suffered the biggest drop in rankings among 63 nations compared on measures which include business productivity. ...2 weeks ago
- It is entirely unnecessary to fill your face and endanger your life in order to be interesting on Th...
2 weeks ago - Pruning The Consultancy Money-Tree.In Need Of Pruning: Small wonder the National Party chose the massive government spend on consultants as its most promising source of savings. Ceasing to pay these parasitic characters $9,000 per week, and then applying the money saved to something as wholesome as reducing child-care costs for Kiwi families battling ...2 weeks ago
- Hawkesby goes to Helltown.
Kate Hawkesby wrote today of her harrowing experiences visiting central Auckland over the weekend. She was especially concerned with what tourists must think. Be prepared to be afraid - that could’ve been the title of her article, but more on that later.It started with a visit to the mean streets ...2 weeks ago - A Whole Lot of Less is More
Hello! I have made a collection of recent Sunday columns free to all to read and share. The links are here:Less Is MoreWhat an appetite for destruction we have acquired, in the name of convenience and mindless consumption.More Less is MoreThe recurring heroes of Christopher Luxon’s sloganeering are New Zealanders ...2 weeks ago - What SVB's collapse says about our worldAlways a bailout? Then-Finance Minister Bill English talks to reporters about the collapse of South Canterbury Finance in 2010. Photo: Mike Heydon/Getty Images TLDR: The fastest rise in US interest rates since 1979 just claimed its first big scalp in the form of the collapse of its 16th biggest bank ...2 weeks ago
- BRIAN EASTON: Gabrielle’s Trumpet challenges fiscal stabilityBrian Easton writes – Cyclonic Storms Raise Economic Questions. Some years back – it was in the time of the Key-English Government so, as usual, this column is not making a party-political point – a friend working in the climate change area wondered to me whether we ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on AUKUS and Australia’s decision on nuclear subsChina may well regard Taiwan as a renegade province. Yet the invasion of Taiwan – as the Australian economist and commentator John Quiggin points out – would pose massive challenges for the forces or Xi Jinping. Basically, sea-borne invasions are very, very difficult to pull off. Even with the benefit ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Big “consultocrats” debate needs to carry on* Dr Bryce Edwards writes – A parasitic blight on our democracy? Or a useful and necessary aid to our government departments? Those are two perspectives on the usefulness of the Wellington consultant class that contract to government agencies. The role of business management consultants took centre stage last ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: The Big “consultocrats” debate needs to carry onA parasitic blight on our democracy? Or a useful and necessary aid to our government departments? Those are two perspectives on the usefulness of the Wellington consultant class that contract to government agencies. The role of business management consultants took centre stage last week when National’s Christopher Luxon called time ...2 weeks ago
- Human Rights Commission hires He Puapua authorThe Human Rights Commission has appointed the chair of the Committee that produced the controversial He Puapua report to its staff. Indigenous rights scholar and activist Professor Claire Charters is stepping into a role with the Human Rights Commission but will continue her work in the University of Auckland’s ...2 weeks ago
- Q&A with Jack Tame.
This morning saw the first major political interview of the year. The first interview of Chris Hipkins with Q&A since he became Prime Minister.Which Jack Tame would turn up? The one that asks the tough questions or the one that floats up great juicy patsy questions. You never quite know ...2 weeks ago - The hoon for the week that was to March 12Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: This week’s news in geo-politics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:National proposed a select committee inquiry into bank profits, which prompted the Government to say it was considering a full market study of the banking sector by the Commerce Commission (Thursday’s ...2 weeks ago
- 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #10A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 5, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 11, 2023. Story of the Week The Paris Agreement Will Fail Without Slashing Methane Emissions From Dairy and Meat, Researchers Say A new study projects the Earth ...2 weeks ago
- Robots coming for your job, your horse, and your claim
A gold rush story can be captivating. I loved The Luminaries, I liked Deadwood even more. Both creations had the same fragrance of fresh-sawn pine hanging in the air, buildings rising in a great flurry, the hapless and over-eager throwing in with the malign and downright evil, all that naivete ...2 weeks ago - Attack, slash, privatise: the real public theft and gravy train waiting to leave the station under L...
We’re seeing more and more what passes for policy positions coming out from the Opposition Parties. And while some in the Press continue to hawk the line that we’ve simply got to get to know Luxon better – haven’t people actually seen it, and we’re simply turning away? You ...2 weeks ago - Tinetti goes back to school after her truancy numbers are questioned in ParliamentBuzz from the Beehive Education Minister Jan Tinetti no doubt welcomed the opportunity to go back to school after being tested on a few portfolio issues at Question Time in Parliament. She popped up at Puketapu School in Napier yesterday to say the Government would repair and rebuild damaged education ...2 weeks ago
- We are better than this.
Last night I watched a speech from Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand’s first female Foreign Affairs Minister. It was on division, long standing injustice, bigotry and the sad ignorance of those that want to carry it on today.It wasn’t about Israel, or the Ukraine, it wasn’t about the southern states in ...2 weeks ago - Teachers action deserves support, not white anting
By Don Franks There may yet be a shittier article written about next week’s teacher’s strike than Martin Bradbury’s effort in today’s Daily Blog but it will take some doing. Bradbury writes : “I think the Teacher Unions may well have overplayed their hand here with news of a general ...2 weeks ago - Gabrielle’s Trumpet Challenges Fiscal Stability
Cyclonic Storms Raise Economic Questions.Some years back – it was in the time of the Key-English Government so, as usual, this column is not making a party-political point – a friend working in the climate change area wondered to me whether we should be putting more effort into adaptation. Whatever ...2 weeks ago - Jump onto the weekly hoon at 5pm
Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link for our chat about the week’s news with special guests from the University ...2 weeks ago - This pill is a good thing
The phrase often used to describe a displeased expression on the face of prime minister Helen Clark was death stare.In many instances, it was perfect. But not always. Once, in search of the right words, I turned instead to a description of our cat, and her response to being given ...2 weeks ago - Nash crows about gang crackdown – his changes for the fishing industry (the 40% Māori portion) a...Buzz from the Beehive As Minister of Police, Stuart Nash was obviously chuffed about the Police filing over 28,000 charges related to something called Operation Cobalt and a “crack down on gangs” to “keep our communities safe”. His delighted can be found in a ministerial press statement headed Milestone reached ...2 weeks ago
- The Great Kiwi OE – Upgrade.
The OE, or Overseas Experience, as much a kiwi tradition and birthright as the quarter acre pavlova paradise. Generations of young Kiwis have left these shores, usually to London but in more recent years to other places, to experience working and living somewhere else.An opportunity for New Zealanders, so far ...2 weeks ago - Stuck in two worlds.I have been loath to write more about the situation in my cyclone-ravaged coastal community, but since we are going on a month since Gabrielle hit and things are not […] ...2 weeks ago
- National’s Problem
It is becoming increasingly clear that National, under Christopher Luxon’s leadership, cannot win the next election. A Labour government, having recently brought about a smooth change of leadership, and currently being confronted with a series of unprecedented challenges – the impact on the economy and health services of the covid ...2 weeks ago - Ask Me Anything about the week to March 10
Photo by Dario Brönnimann on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:Michael Wood’s about-face on a new transport policy prioritising emissions reductions;the Labour Government finally deciding to look at doing a market ...2 weeks ago - Weekly Roundup 10-March-2023Tēnā koutou, everyone – hope your week has been a good one. This Week in Greater Auckland A busy week in the blog mines for Matt in particular. Just a reminder that we always welcome guest posts (and reposts) on topics relevant to the field of urbanism and the ...2 weeks ago
- More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home
80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...1 week ago - Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASAThe Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...1 week ago
- New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in AustraliaThe Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...1 week ago
- Health and safety action plan for portsThe health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...1 week ago
- Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBTBikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...2 weeks ago
- Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with FijiForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...2 weeks ago
- New legislation to streamline Cyclone recoveryThe Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...2 weeks ago
- Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi familiesApproximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...2 weeks ago
- Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living$1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...2 weeks ago
- State of National Emergency to end for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s BayThe remaining state of national emergency over the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions will end on Tuesday 14 March, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today. Minister McAnulty gave notice of a national transition period over these regions, which will come into effect immediately following the end of the ...2 weeks ago
- Government delivers on Dawn Raids commitmentThe Government is today delivering on one of its commitments as part of the New Zealand Government’s Dawn Raids apology, welcoming a cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand participating in the He Manawa Tītī Scholarship Programme. This cohort will participate in a bespoke leadership training programme that ...2 weeks ago
- New plan to increase productivity and high wage jobs across advanced manufacturing sectorIndustry Transformation Plan to transform advanced manufacturing through increased productivity and higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs into a globally-competitive low-emissions sector. Co-created and co-owned by business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacific peoples and wider stakeholders. A plan to accelerate the growth and transformation of New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing sector was launched ...2 weeks ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand supports Pacific countries to combat animal disease New Zealand will provide support for Pacific countries to prevent the spread of harmful animal diseases, Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said. The Associate Minister is attending a meeting of Pacific Ministers during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry in Nadi, Fiji. “Highly contagious diseases such as African ...2 weeks ago
- Government delivers better public transport for ChristchurchThe Public Transport Futures project will deliver approximately: 100 more buses providing a greater number of seats to a greater number of locations at a higher frequency Over 470 more bus shelters to support a more enjoyable travel experience Almost 200 real time display units providing accurate information on bus ...2 weeks ago
- Minister praises education heroes in cyclone damaged regionsAll but six schools and kura have reopened for onsite learning All students in the six closed schools or kura are being educated in other schools, online, or in alternative locations Over 4,300 education hardpacks distributed to support students Almost 38,000 community meals provided by suppliers of the Ka Ora ...2 weeks ago
- Government investments drive health and business outcomes in the Bay of PlentyA new health centre has opened with financial support from the Government and further investment has been committed to projects that will accelerate Māori economic opportunities, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. Community health provider QE Health will continue its long history in Rotorua with the official opening of the ...2 weeks ago
- UK NZ Working Holiday Scheme upgradedThe new three year NZ UK Working Holiday Visas (WHV) will now be delivered earlier than expected, coming into force by July this year in time to support businesses through the global labour shortages Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The improved WHV, successfully negotiated alongside the NZ UK Free trade ...2 weeks ago
- 2023 Offshore Renewable Energy Forum, New PlymouthIt seems like only yesterday that we launched the discussion document Enabling Investment in Offshore Renewable Energy, which is the key theme for this Forum. Everyone in this room understands the enormous potential of offshore wind in Aotearoa New Zealand – and particularly this region. Establishing a regime to pave ...2 weeks ago
- Milestone reached in crack down on gangsPolice has reached a major milestone filing over 28,000 charges related to Operation Cobalt. “I’m extremely proud of the fantastic work that our Police has been doing to crack down on gangs, and keep our communities safe. The numbers speak for themselves – with over 28,000 charges, Police are getting ...2 weeks ago
- New funding for Cyclone waste removalThe Government will provide $15 million in the short term to local councils to remove rubbish, as a longer-term approach is developed, the Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today. “Several regions are facing significant costs associated with residential waste removal, which has the potential to become a public ...2 weeks ago
- Government working faster and smarter to support response and recovery$15 million of immediate reimbursement for marae, iwi, recognised rural and community groups $2 million for community food providers $0.5 million for additional translation services Increasing the caps of the Community and Provider funds The Government has announced $17.5 million to further support communities and community providers impacted by Cyclone ...2 weeks ago
- More Māori getting access to mental health and addiction servicesThe Government’s approach of using frontline service providers to address inequities for Māori with mental health and addiction needs is making good progress in many communities, a new report says. An independent evaluation into the Māori Access and Choice programme, commissioned by Te Whatu Ora has highlighted the programme’s success ...2 weeks ago
- New website to better connect people to free wellbeing servicesMinister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall said a new wellbeing website will give those with mild and moderate mental health and addiction issues an easier pathway to free support. “Improving mental health and addiction support is a priority for this Government and is why we invested $455 million from the ...2 weeks ago
- Completion of Taupō projects strengthens regional economic resilienceThree community-led projects that will strengthen economic resilience in Taupō and the wider region have been completed with the support of a $29 million Government investment, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. The Taupō Town Centre Transformation project, new Taupō Airport terminal and Eastern Arterial Shared Path were officially opened ...2 weeks ago
- 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women: New Zealand National StatementTēnā koutou katoa [I acknowledge and greet you all] Excellencies, and distinguished guests. Chair, I am honoured to speak to you today at the sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Aotearoa New Zealand aligns with the statements delivered on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum ...2 weeks ago
- Two new Bay of Plenty schools to open in ŌmokoroaŌmokoroa, in the Bay of Plenty, will get a new primary school and secondary school in the southwest of the township, with construction expected to begin in 2024, Education Minister Hon Jan Tinetti announced today. “The recent consultation with Iwi, other schools, and the local community shows there is strong ...2 weeks ago
- Public service neutrality for Crown Entity Board Chairs and membersLast night, the Government received advice from the Public Service Commissioner that Steve Maharey’s actions did breach the Code of Conduct but do not justify dismissing him from his posts, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “The Commissioner has characterised Mr Maharey’s actions as ‘unwise’, but at the ‘lower end of ...2 weeks ago
- Public feedback wanted on resilience measures for trees near powerlinesOptions propose to improve the resilience of the electricity network and prepare New Zealand for a changing climate. Feedback sought on amendments to Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003. The Regulations cover the trimming of trees near power lines and aim to protect the security of New Zealand’s electric supply ...2 weeks ago
- Pay equity roll out delivers over half a billion dollars to nursesNurses have received an historic bump in pay, with interim equity payments being completed across the country, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said. “This Government said it would deliver pay equity for nurses, and I’m delighted to be able to acknowledge this,” Dr Verrall said. “Today, backdated interim payments were ...2 weeks ago
- Government extends business support package to WairarapaMinisters have agreed to extend the interim support package for cyclone and flood affected businesses to include the Wairarapa region. “As further information has come to hand about the extent of the damage, it is clearer that businesses in the Wairarapa have also been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, so it ...2 weeks ago
- Poroporoaki: Georgina BeyerTangi kau ana te maunga titohea a Taranaki i te rironga a te uri o Te Āti Awa, e karapoti ana a Wharekaurī i ngā tai o te ahiahi i te rironga a te uri o Ngāti Mutunga, he ua kōpatapata e kōrehurehu ana i ngā whārua i te rironga ...2 weeks ago
- Impacts of extreme weather yet to show in Govt accountsThe Government’s sound financial management means New Zealand is well placed to support families and businesses dealing with cost of living pressures and extreme weather events. For the seven months to the end of January, the Operating Balance before Gains and Losses (OBEGAL) recorded a deficit of $2.4 billion, close ...3 weeks ago
- Interim Board Chair appointedMinister of Health Ayesha Verrall has appointed Naomi Ferguson as the interim Board Chair for Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand. “Naomi Ferguson is a highly accomplished leader and brings a wealth of experience both in governance and as an executive, having served as Commissioner and Chief Executive of ...3 weeks ago
- New High Commissioner to Port Moresby announcedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of Peter Zwart as Aotearoa New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea. “Aotearoa New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have a warm and long-standing relationship, underpinned by shared history, growing people-to-people links, and partnerships spanning a range of sectors — including ...3 weeks ago
- Pay equity settlement for school librarians and science technicians reachedThe Government is recognising the important work of school librarians, library assistants and science technicians with a historic pay equity settlement signed today, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said The settlement includes pay increases of up to 40 percent, covering more than 1,200 librarians and library assistants and around 400 ...3 weeks ago
- Government approves $26 million grant extension for farmers and growersAs farmers and growers continue their work to re-establish their businesses in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government is providing a boost of $26 million to meet the need in the recovery efforts. This sits alongside the initial $4 million rural community recovery fund already available to sector and ...3 weeks ago
- State of National Emergency extended for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s BayThe Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty has today extended the state of national emergency declared on 14 February for a further seven days for the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay areas, to manage the continuing impacts from Cyclone Gabrielle in these regions. “The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle continues to be ...3 weeks ago
- A win for our oceans: Aotearoa New Zealand welcomes the conclusion of a new global treaty for ocean ...Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, has welcomed a new global treaty to protect and restore high seas biodiversity. She said the conclusion of negotiations followed two decades of talks at the United Nations. “This new agreement is a huge win for our oceans, and a huge win for global ...3 weeks ago
- Speech at the French Pacific Business ForumE ngā mana, E ngā reo, rau rangatira ma. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Bonjour, Bienvenue, ia ora na, Bocu I am very pleased to welcome you all here today to the first ever French Pacific Business Forum. Firstly, I would like to recognise the work of those ...3 weeks ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand sends relief to VanuatuAotearoa New Zealand is sending much-needed humanitarian supplies to Vanuatu following two destructive cyclones within two days of each other, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules will depart this morning from Whenuapai carrying relief supplies, including water containers, kits for temporary shelters, and family hygiene kits. Cyclones Judy and Kevin ...3 weeks ago
- China’s only now revealed crucial COVID-19 origins data. Earlier disclosure may have saved us 3 ye...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic Dwyer, Director of Public Health Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, University of Sydney Once more, we’re talking about the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. First the US Department of Energy’s review gave more ...2 days ago - Vanuatu minister says harvests will take time to recover after cyclonesBy Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change warns “there’s going to be a lot of hardship” for people waiting for their crops to grow back as dry rations are distributed to communities. Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the main food push started in the middle of last ...2 days ago
- As Pacific islanders, we bear the brunt of the climate crisis. The time to end fossil fuel dependenc...Monday’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has given a “final warning” to avert global catastrophe. Pacific cabinet ministers call on all world leaders to urgently transition to renewables. COMMENT: By Ralph Regenvanu and Seve Paeniu The cycle is repeating itself. A tropical cyclone of frightening strength strikes a ...2 days ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Michael Brennan on Australia’s parlous productivity growthSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Productivity Commission’s nine-volume report has a tough central message. It says productivity policy has to focus on the areas that have proven the hardest in the past, rather than those where previously progress has ...2 days ago
- Child poverty reduction stalls ahead of cost-of-living crisis
The latest child poverty stats show there was no statistically significant improvement in the year to June 2022. But Child Poverty Reduction Minister Jan Tinetti says even one child living in poverty is "too many". ...2 days ago - Wellington mayor decries ‘Auxit’ as Wayne Brown leads Auckland out of local government group
The Auckland mayor’s casting vote to take the Super City out of Local Government NZ shows a lack of team play, says Tory Whanau, while LGNZ’s president insists it will cost everyone, including Auckland ratepayers. The Auckland Council withdrawal from Local Government NZ, a national association of local, regional and ...2 days ago - ‘We’re all in’, declares an emotional Albanese as he launches the wording for the Voice refere...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra An emotional Anthony Albanese, flanked by members of the referendum working group, has released the final proposed wording of the question to be put to Australians to incorporate an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the ...2 days ago
- Rainbow groups launch legal action over decision on Kellie-Jay Keen-MinshullA group of rainbow and human rights organisations has filed for judicial review in the High Court, following the lack of intervention by the immigration minister, Michael Wood, over the decision to allow Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, an anti-trans-rights activist, to enter the country. Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT Kōaro, and Auckland Pride ...2 days ago
- Rainbow groups take Immigration Minister to court over Posie Parker decisionA coalition of rainbow community groups are taking Immigration Minister Michael Wood to court over a decision to allow a controversial anti-transgender activist into the country. ...2 days ago
- Immigration Minister’s Failure To Act Challenged In High Court By Rainbow Organisations
Today human rights organisations Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT Kōaro, and Auckland Pride filed for judicial review in the High Court. Our case follows the Immigration Minister's decision to allow Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, a known anti-transgender ...2 days ago - Amazon group's web services signs cooperation deal with New Zealand governmentThe US tech giant is building large data centres here and has been courting senior ministers for months. ...2 days ago
- Auckland pulls a Brexit – on the mayor's casting vote
The great southern joke that New Zealand does indeed end at the Bombay Hills, but that it starts at Bluff, takes on a new hue now with Auckland Council breaking away from the sector organisation Local Government NZ Auckland Council has suddenly pulled its own version of Brexit. At the ...2 days ago - Auckland Council to leave LGNZ, Wayne Brown casts deciding voteAuckland Council will leave Local Government NZ, the group that represents councils acorss the country. It’s part of mayor Wayne Brown’s attempts to curb spending in the face of a multimillion dollar budget hole. About $400,000 could be saved from the decision to leave the group. According to tweets, the ...2 days ago
- Ratepayer Victory: Auckland Council Resigns From Unaccountable Pressure Group LgnzThe Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is welcoming Auckland Council’s decision to resign from Local Government New Zealand. On Thursday, the Governing Body voted 11-10 for Auckland Council to resign its membership of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). ...2 days ago
- AI tools are generating convincing misinformation. Engaging with them means being on high alertSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University This is a fake AI-generated image. Daniel Kempe via Twitter/Midjourney AI tools can help us create content, learn about the world and (perhaps) eliminate the more ...2 days ago
- Oxfam Respond To ETS Review Announcement...2 days ago
- We were told we’d be riding in self-driving cars by now. What happened to the promised revolution?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Neil G Sipe, Honorary Professor of Planning, The University of Queensland According to predictions made nearly a decade ago, we should be riding around in self-driving vehicles today. It’s now clear the autonomous vehicle revolution was overhyped. Proponents woefully underestimated the ...2 days ago
- We now know exactly what question the Voice referendum will ask Australians. A constitutional law ex...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor emerita, University of Sydney The Albanese government has now released the formal wording of the proposed referendum it will introduce into parliament next week. It had earlier released a draft proposed amendment at the Garma Festival last year, ...2 days ago
- Submissions Open On New Zealand Joining International Solar Energy OrganisationSubmissions are invited on the examination of an agreement which would enable New Zealand to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA is an inter-governmental organisation which aims to develop and share solar energy expertise to reduce global ...2 days ago
- ‘Zombie of the past’: Labour takes aim at National’s curriculum rewriteThe National Party’s plan for rewriting the school curriculum looks a lot like the “failed experiment” of national standards, according to the education minister. It was revealed today that, as prime minister, Christopher Luxon would introduce regular testing for primary and intermediate-age children and enforce more consistent teaching of reading, ...2 days ago
- A multi media guide to trans rights and allyshipKeen to equip yourself with information and resources to support and affirm the idea that everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their own skin? Here’s a list of resources to help self-educate and bolster your confidence when it comes to making a stand for trans rights. ...2 days ago
- Child Poverty “Unnecessary”The latest statistics released have shown that 120,000 children are still living in homes who experience material hardship. 'The number of children still experiencing poverty is so unnecessary given how rich of a country we are' says Auckland Action ...2 days ago
- Newsroom podcast shortlisted for international award
The debut podcast produced by Newsroom Investigates has been selected as a finalist in two categories of a prestigious international award Newsroom Investigates podcast, Peter Ellis, the Creche Case & Me, has been shortlisted for two categories in the 2023 New York Festivals Radio Awards. Peter Ellis, the Creche Case ...2 days ago - Clinic Registration And Planning Key To Accessing Prompt Veterinary Care In EmergenciesPet owners are being encouraged to register with a veterinary clinic, understand what services they provide, and have a robust emergency plan in place. Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) Professional Advisor Seton Butler says the veterinary ...2 days ago
- Does the PSVR2 finally make VR worth the plunge?VR gaming has come a long way with the new PSVR2 console – but is it worth putting down the controller and putting on a helmet for? When it comes to virtual reality, I remain something of a luddite. My past experiences with this form of gaming have mostly ...2 days ago
- Children Languishing In Poverty Forgotten In Government Policies, Says CPAGLatest figures measuring child poverty rates in Aotearoa New Zealand are a sad indictment on the country with no real improvement in policy that could turn things around, according to Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), the leading voice on the issue. StatsNZ ...2 days ago
- The referendum rules have been decided. What does this mean for the Voice?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Kildea, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney On Wednesday night, the Senate passed a bill to amend Australia’s referendum machinery laws, ending a long and sometimes tense debate on the rules that will govern the Voice referendum later ...2 days ago
- Stormwater Identified As Neglected WaterLatest findings by Water New Zealand have revealed significant under investment and a lack of consistency at a national level for funding stormwater networks across Aotearoa New Zealand. The latest National Performance Review has found that investment ...2 days ago
- Children's Commissioner – Targeted Action Needed To Address Child Poverty Right Now...2 days ago
- Our child protection system is clearly broken. Is it time to abolish it for a better model?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Newcomb, Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock The tragic deaths of two small children in an overheated car in Queensland in 2019 highlight just how flawed our child protection system has become. Darcey and Chloe Conley were known to ...2 days ago
- National unveils education policyIt’s Thursday, March 23 and welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates. I’m Stewart Sowman-Lund and you can get in touch on [email protected] The agenda National’s new education policy would introduce standardised testing for students in years three to eight. New child poverty stats show one-year plateau. Broadcaster ...2 days ago
- Anti-trans activism is extremely harmful. It’s also a confusingly wasteful use of time.When trans people are being targeted, the least the rest of us can do is lend some of our time, writes Mad Chapman. Everyone has causes they’re passionate about. For some it’s climate action or the environment. For many its indigenous rights. For others its legalising cannabis or euthanasia or ...2 days ago
- National wants standardised testing for primary, intermediate studentsPrimary and intermediate school children would be tested twice a year as part of a new education plan unveiled by the National Party. As part of the party’s plan to rewrite the school curriculum, students in years three to right would undergo “standardised, robust assessment” in reading, writing at maths ...2 days ago
- Child Poverty Data Shows The Continuing Need For Investment In Our Most Vulnerable FamiliesChild poverty numbers produced by Statistics New Zealand today showed the continuing need for investment in our most vulnerable families, said CTU Economist Craig Renney. Renney said “the number of children living in poverty has not moved significantly ...2 days ago
- Ghosts come back to haunt both Donald Trump, Boris JohnsonTwo former world leaders are both embroiled in ongoing scandals surrounding their time in office. Former US president Donald Trump is expecting to be arrested this week – though the details remain unclear – over hush money payments during his campaign back in 2016. Trump, as 1News reported, stated on ...2 days ago
- National Party leader Christopher Luxon announces education policyNational leader Christopher Luxon is giving details on planned changes within the education system, if his party wins the general election. ...2 days ago
- You’ll never guess which groups are over-represented in Auckland budget feedbackAs the deadline approaches for submissions on sweeping cuts proposed across Auckland Council budgets, more than four in five are European, and most over the age of 45. Just a few days out from Tuesday’s deadline, more than 10,000 submissions have been received in response to the Auckland Council budget ...2 days ago
- Save The Children: Continued Government Investment Vital To Lift More Children And Families Out Of P...Save the Children is calling on the Government to "keep children in its sights" and continue investing in policies to lift more children and whānau out of poverty following the release of today’s latest child poverty statistics showed no real ...2 days ago
- New child poverty stats show one-year plateauNew figures suggest the government’s efforts to reduce child poverty may be failing. Stats NZ has reported that child poverty rates for the year ending June 2022 were unchanged when compared with the previous year. However: “Compared to the baseline year, the year ended June 2018, eight of the nine ...2 days ago
- Scams Run High During Tax Time: Cyber Security Expert Warns New Zealanders Of Common Fraudster Tacti...Ahead of tax season, Avast , a leading digital security and privacy brand of Gen ™ (NASDAQ: GEN), is warning New Zealanders of increased scam activity as cybercriminals prey on taxpayers' vulnerability during a time when they are expecting their tax ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateshipAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a ...2 days ago
- Housing Affordability More Challenging For Renters Than HomeownersIn the year ended June 2022, 1 in 4 households that were renting were spending more than 40 percent of their disposable income on housing costs, compared with 1 in 5 households that were paying a mortgage, according to figures released by Stats NZ ...2 days ago
- Child Poverty Statistics Show No Annual Change In The Year Ended June 2022Child poverty rates for the year ended June 2022 were unchanged compared with the previous year, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. “Child poverty statistics have not changed compared with last year,” general manager social and ...2 days ago
- Broadcaster turned conspiracy theorist Liz Gunn appears in courtThe former broadcaster Liz Gunn, who has become a vocal figure within the anti-vaccination movement in New Zealand, has appeared in court today after an alleged airport altercation earlier this year. Gunn pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, trespass and resisting arrest over the incident at Auckland International Airport. ...2 days ago
- How to boost your backyard biodiversityYou don’t need to go to wildlife sanctuaries to see native birds, bugs and reptiles. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof brought to you by Electric Kiwi – sign up here. Recently I wrote a feature for New Zealand Geographic on weeds – it turns out, a ...2 days ago
- ‘Tough news for tenants’: Rent prices soar to new record highRental costs have hit a record high, according to new statistics released this morning. Trade Me has reported that the national median rent was up to $600 in February – a jump of 4%, or $25, when compared with the same month in 2022. It’s not unusual to see rent ...2 days ago
- Sense Prevails As Immigration NZ Chooses To Allow Free Speech Of British SpeakerThe Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by Immigration New Zealand to not suspend Kellie-Kay Keen-Minshull's NZeTA and to allow her entry into the country, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. “The Free Speech Union envisions ...2 days ago
- Finally A Political Party For The Farmers – HeartLandNZHeartLandNZ represents provincial New Zealand, the heart of the nation, the men and women, workers, contractors, businesses and farmers in the successful primary production sector. For over 30 years these voters have been economically ...2 days ago
- Help Me Hera: How do you know when it’s time to quit?This week, Hera Lindsay Bird ponders whether it’s better to leave a party too early or too late. Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to [email protected] Dear Hera, How can you tell when something is over? A recurring theme through my life is sticking around way past the due date. There have been ...2 days ago
- National’s education ‘rewrite’ to target years one to eightNational’s new education policy will focus on the first eight years of education – primary and intermediate – in an effort to prepare students for high school. The opposition will formally unveil their policy later today – coincidentally (or likely not) in the prime minister’s electorate of Upper Hutt. Erica ...2 days ago
- Why is my loved one with dementia sometimes ‘there’ and sometimes not?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yen Ying Lim, Associate Professor, Monash University Shutterstock Dementia is an umbrella term to describe a progressive neurological condition that affects people’s cognitive abilities, such as memory, language and reasoning. Alzheimer’s is the most common form, but other common ...2 days ago
- Fear and Wonder podcast: how scientists know the climate is changingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Green, Host + Producer, The Conversation A comparison between two views of the same coral reef on Kiritimati, taken by University of Victoria scientists. Danielle Claar, Kristina Tietjen/University of Victoria Earlier this week, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ...2 days ago
- The Great Southern Reef is in more trouble than the Great Barrier ReefSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graham Edgar, Senior Marine Ecologist, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Graham Edgar/Reef Life Survey, Author provided Marine heatwaves are damaging reef ecosystems around Australia, but while the tropical north has received the lion’s share of the ...2 days ago
- ‘Some of them do treat you like an idiot’: what it’s like to be a casual academicSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Burch, Lecturer in Accounting, University of Tasmania Shutterstock One of the priorities of the federal government’s sweeping Universities Accord is to improve employment conditions in higher education. This is long overdue. Australia’s university sector once set the standard for ...2 days ago
- Yes, the 1.5 million Australians getting rent assistance need an increase, but more public housing i...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Davies, PhD Candidate, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Image: David Kelly, Author provided Australia is in the grip of a housing crisis, with low-income households hit hardest by rising rents and falling vacancy rates. Social housing tenants were ...2 days ago
- Why Lent is the perfect time to spiritually prepare for revolutionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristie Patricia Flannery, Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Francisco V. Coching’s Rendition of Gabriela Silang Charging on a Mount, 1986 (Ayala Museum). It was around this time of year back in 1763 that Filipino rebels ...2 days ago
- Government eyes EV charging ‘hubs’ across the countryThe government’s planning to roll out dozens of new electric vehicle charging stations across the country in new “hubs” that would operate similar to existing petrol stations. The “charging our future” strategy has set a target of bringing in new hubs ever 150 to 200 kilometres along the state highways, ...2 days ago
- The Bulletin: The fight to have a former All Black’s CTE recognised by ACCThis morning we bring you an exclusive on The Spinoff from Dylan Cleaver. Wellington rugby stalwart, one-game All Black and former New Zealand First MP Tutekawa Wyllie has had his probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) condition recognised and compensated for by the ACC after a five-year campaign. CTE is a brain ...2 days ago
- Why governments are banning TikTok from phonesNew Zealand joins countries around the world by banning TikTok on government-issued devices as the US threatens an outright ban on the popular social media app, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...2 days ago
- Warring building supplies firms tie up critical NZ land with 999-year covenants
Big building supply companies have fended off competition by wrapping desirable blocks of land in legal constraints on generations of NZers, alarming the Commerce Commission into issuing a far-reaching warning. Jonathan Milne reports. ...2 days ago - Green Party Announces Environmental Lawyer Teall Crossen As Candidate For The Nelson ElectorateThe Green Party is announcing Teall Crossen as their candidate for the Nelson Whakatū electorate. Teall is an environmental barrister and activist with two decades of experience advocating for the rights of people and nature in the Courts in Aotearoa, ...2 days ago
- Women refs rise with Aupiki
NZ Rugby wants to triple the number of female rugby referees - starting with the rise of Natarsha Ganley to Super Rugby honours, and handing a whistle to an Aupiki star player in a new scholarship. Suzanne McFadden writes. Natarsha Ganley loves rules. So during the week, she's on the lookout for ...2 days ago - Inside the years-long fight to have a former All Black’s CTE recognised by ACCExclusive: All Black turned NZ First MP Tutekawa Wyllie and his wife Margaret have won a landmark battle that could open the floodgates for rugby-related head injury claims. Dylan Cleaver reports. Wellington rugby stalwart, one-game All Black and former New Zealand First MP Tutekawa Wyllie has had his probable chronic ...2 days ago
- Shows of local strength deliver upsets in key Labour selection contestsDo the results in Mt Albert, Wellington Central and Christchurch East amount to thumbing noses at head office, or are they a sign of party strength? Across three Labour selection contests in three high-profile electorates over the last fortnight, candidates have succeeded from local foundations in seeing off rivals considered ...2 days ago
- More 'how' less 'what' for social services
The Wellington City Missioner wants government agencies to move away from simply administering social services to the needy. ...2 days ago - Book of the Week: Terfs, and other haters
This week's anti-trans rally is straight out of the right-wing playbook With strange and toxic prescience, a subject from the new study Histories of Hate: The Radical Right in Aotearoa New Zealand has leapt from the pages of the book into a major news story this week. The ...2 days ago - Solomons PM joins Pacific push for NZ visa waiver access
More than half the visitor visa applications rejected by officials come from just nine Pacific nations ...2 days ago - Healing te taiao: Moving on from peak pine
More than half of Aotearoa may need to be in native ngahere (bush) to merely blunt future worsening storms, but without such revolutionary change, Aotearoa could descend into a spiral of social, ecological, and economic damage Much of our land is without any trees, or is without the right trees, ...2 days ago - Behind the story: Lobbying and the backdoor of our democracy
Unlike other countries around the world, New Zealand has no regulations about lobbying. Is change needed to ensure greater transparency about who's influencing our decision-makers? If you want to know who lobbies the Australian government on behalf of Air New Zealand, you simply go to an online register, type ...2 days ago - How the Rakaia turned into a pipe for irrigators
Problems protecting NZ's biggest braided river were predicted years ago, papers show ...2 days ago - China will test NZ's fence-straddling diplomacy as never before
NZ's likely Aukus involvement relating to technology will have far-reaching consequences ...2 days ago - Disaster-in-waiting warn south’s farmers
Cyclone Gabrielle’s hammering of Hawkes Bay has ignited fears in Southland of bridges failing and farmland flooding through “mismanagement” of accumulated gravel Southland farmer Barry Taylor is frustrated gravel is being allowed to build up beneath a bridge on one of the country’s key tourist routes despite his years of ...2 days ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 23 March
Loading...(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. ...2 days ago - Daily crossword, Thursday 23 March
...2 days ago - Throwing voting-age legislation onto the 'policy bonfire' only delays a debate that has to...Opinion - There's plenty of research supporting lowering the voting age to 16. Public debate and the law just need to catch up, Claire Breen writes. ...2 days ago
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