Author Archive
Granny’s baked some patsies for you, dearie
Written By: - Date published: 10:48 am, February 21st, 2009 - 24 comments
Can you spot the question that wasn’t asked of Key by Armstrong and Young in their six page interview with him in today’s Herald? Is there too much “doom and gloom” talk at the moment, especially by and in the media? There’s a lot of debate among commentators as to whether your stimulus package will […]
The praiseworthy and the pitiful
Written By: - Date published: 1:04 pm, February 20th, 2009 - 23 comments
The praiseworthy and the pitiful is our weekly post on the little things that caught our eye but didn’t lead to a full post. This week: Tracy Watkins’ new blog A best of the political journos’ blogs I reckon. Watkins has been responding to comments, showing a bit of a sassy side, and her pieces […]
Thankfully, the election isn’t tomorrow
Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, February 19th, 2009 - 148 comments
When John Key and Pita Sharples were jostled by two Maori men opposed to the National-Maori Party alliance, the thing that stuck in my mind was Key’s smile. Like Donald Trump’s hair, it was back in place immediately, covering whatever lies underneath. That smile, and the intensive, expensive, extensive image management it represents, are the […]
Tories bulldoze human rights, your rights
Written By: - Date published: 7:38 pm, February 18th, 2009 - 43 comments
The Attorney-General, National’s Chris Finalyson, has declared that the ‘3 strikes and you’re out’ Bill that National/ACT (and Finlayson himself) are about to vote for violates human rights. From Finlayson’s report: What does that mean? Finlayson is saying that giving a life sentence to a person who is on their third strike for an offence that […]
DL Christchurch with Therese Arsenau
Written By: - Date published: 1:13 pm, February 18th, 2009 - 4 comments
Drinking Liberally Christchurch has its first meeting of the new year on March 5, with political commentator and academic Therese Arsenau to speak. She had some interesting perspectives on what the Left needed to do during the campaign and I’m sure she will have some comments on what the Left needs to do now. As […]
Sleight of hand
Written By: - Date published: 5:55 am, February 18th, 2009 - 29 comments
We’ve been saying for some time that the $9 billion of fiscal stimulus that the Government claims it is putting into the economy in reaction to the global recession is no such thing. In fact, the Government is spending within the ordinary increase in spending allotted by the Budget back in May. And it is […]
That’s strange
Written By: - Date published: 2:49 pm, February 17th, 2009 - 13 comments
An hour ago No Right Turn posted a piece citing what was apparently a Ministry of Social Development press release, which he says was “confirmation that the government is planning to slash 500 to 1000 people from the Ministry of Social Development”. He gives a link to scoop for the presser. But Scoop has since taken it down […]
The media bash
Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, February 17th, 2009 - 17 comments
* Did any journo ask Key how much the boot camp is costing per person? Follow my maths. Total cost of new youth punishment measures – $35 million on top of existing costs for 1000 youths per year. So, per youth cost = $35,000 on top of existing costs. Of that, the most expensive element […]
Micropartywatch
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, February 17th, 2009 - 3 comments
Wondering about the latest on New Zealand First’s leadership? Curious as to the prospects for a RAM/Workers’ Party union? The new blog Micro Party Watch promises to keep us up to date on the latest developments for the little extra-parliamentary parties.
Boots and all
Written By: - Date published: 4:18 pm, February 16th, 2009 - 51 comments
Tracey Watkins reports that National has announced details of its Boot Camps policy: “The military-style camp programme would target the 40 most serious young offenders and consist of up to three months’ residential training, using army type facilities or training methods.” 40? I thought this was going to be some massive project turning the next […]
Why do dummies lead our national debates?
Written By: - Date published: 3:38 pm, February 16th, 2009 - 31 comments
Why does the Business Roundtable employ an economic illiterate to represent them to the public and argue their corner on macroeconomics? Here’s some of what Roger Kerr has to say in his op-ed in Granny Herald today: “What seems to be overlooked is that the huge rises in core Crown spending in recent years – […]
You’ve got to know to ask the questions that matter
Written By: - Date published: 2:51 pm, February 16th, 2009 - 41 comments
When I heard Shell is looking at selling its service stations in NZ and its shares in Fulton Hogan, my initial thought was that the Government should look at buying – to keep profits in NZ, to help ensure competition in the market as Kiwibank has for banking, and so there is a publicly-owned network […]
Grassroots healthy
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, February 16th, 2009 - 12 comments
It’s great to see a lot of grassroots activity around the Left at the moment. No Right Turn has set up the Progbills wiki. It’s open-source legislation, that works similarly to Wikipedia. You can go on and contribute to formulating draft Bills on left-wing issues, small bite-size pieces of draft legislation that would be ideal […]
Which end to break the egg, and other pointless debates
Written By: - Date published: 12:29 pm, February 15th, 2009 - 22 comments
The NZPA has revealed that Ministrial Services is employing fewer people on higher pay under the new National/ACT government than it did under the Labour-led government last year. David Farrar is spinning this as great news, they’ve cut the number fo people the Government is employing ‘hurrah’. Without a trace of irony, he says the […]
Do they know its credit crunch time?
Written By: - Date published: 8:22 am, February 15th, 2009 - 11 comments
Great video for the real victims of this recession, the ‘smartest men in the room’ who cocked everything up, the money-men. Bleed the World/ Let them know it’s credit crunch time
Culpae poenae par esto
Written By: - Date published: 1:45 pm, February 14th, 2009 - 49 comments
I just want to second Tane’s comments regarding the sentence for the killer of Pihema Cameron. A 12 year old Maori child acts as look out for some older kids in a robbery that goes wrong. That kid, Bailey Kurariki, despite not having even hurt, let alone killed, anyone is sentenced to seven years and labelled our […]
The praiseworthy and the pitiful
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, February 13th, 2009 - 14 comments
Lockwood Smith managing of Question Time. B. Lockwood has made a commendable effort to get ministers to answer questions and cut down on some of the other bollocks that ruins Question Time. National MPs clearly expect that after years of complaining of ministers skirting questions it’s now their turn to do it, and Lockwood has […]
Wake up, Bill
Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, February 13th, 2009 - 32 comments
Bill English is living in a dream, and he may create a nightmare for the rest of us. Last week, he said the recession would be over in 6-12 months. He hasn’t bothered to announce any significant new spending in response to the recession – all the supposedly new spending he has announced so far […]
Sugar rush
Written By: - Date published: 6:37 am, February 13th, 2009 - 24 comments
John Key and Tracey Watkins have both (completely by coincidence) said we must avoid responding to the recession with a ‘sugar rush’ of spending. They’re just making excuses for National’s hopelessly inadequate policies for dealing with the recession but they are right about the need to avoid a sugar rush we don’t want to just […]
Fossil watch
Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, February 12th, 2009 - 25 comments
The hilarity continues. According to a person who was there, Douglas didn’t use his speech because it had been accidently leaked, and subsequently delivered on Youtube by a sockpuppet. The Herald, however, quoted from the speech as if he had given it. Turns out they didn’t bother sending a reporter. If a tree doesn’t fall […]
Reminder: Drinking Liberally Wgtn tonight
Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, February 12th, 2009 - 3 comments
Just got an email through from the team at DL Wellington confirming that tonight’s event with Brian Easton is on despite the rain and will be under cover so you won’t get wet. Brian Easton is one of our leading left-wing economists and his talk will look at what can be done as NZ enters […]
What we should be doing
Written By: - Date published: 4:25 pm, February 11th, 2009 - 17 comments
As IrishBill has said, National’s so-called ‘kick-start’ is pretty underwhelming – bringing forward a few more roads and a bigger bridge so that a couple of times a year those Aucklanders that can afford to holiday in the Coromandel won’t create such a big traffic jam, 69 new State houses in six months (= bugger […]
More powers for the cops, that’ll solve everything
Written By: - Date published: 2:09 pm, February 11th, 2009 - 38 comments
I was going to write about the new DNA powers National/ACT is giving the Police, but No Right Turn has already done it far better than I could: The government’s bill allowing DNA to be taken from anyone arrested breaches the Bill of Rights Act [PDF]. The Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill would allow […]
Minimum wage rise a small but important victory for the Left
Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, February 10th, 2009 - 20 comments
Great, through concerted pressure the Left managed to force a 9-cent an hour real increase in the minimum wage from National/ACT. A 9 cent an hour real increase is not much but it’s a hell of a lot better than freezing the minimum wage at $12 an hour and letting inflation eat it as National/ACT had planned. The decision […]
More than words
Written By: - Date published: 11:20 am, February 10th, 2009 - 33 comments
I see the Maori Party has come out saying the increase in the minimum wage to $12.50 an hour isn’t enough, and that they still support both a $15 an hour minimum wage and a tax-free bracket up to $25,000 (about the full-time minimum wage income). Pity they didn’t do something about it when they […]
Es ist mein teil
Written By: - Date published: 12:46 pm, February 9th, 2009 - 28 comments
This year, the economy will shrink (at least) 1%. At the same time, the population will grow 1% (at least, growth may be stronger due to expats fleeing the UK). So, there’s going to be at least 2% less to go around (on top of a 2% reduction in GDP per capita last year). Now, […]
Just a little respect
Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, February 9th, 2009 - 7 comments
David Farrar has a wee post where he laments that he is rarely credited when he breaks stories that are then picked up by the media. We have the same thing happen to us. We broke the story on the minimum wage – that National/ACT was planning a freeze, despite the Department of Labour recommending […]
In for a penny
Written By: - Date published: 3:15 pm, February 8th, 2009 - 44 comments
Key’s old arm cast has sold for $18,500 on Trademe. The money will go to the Fred Hollows Foundation to help blind people in the Solomon Islands. Great, a fair old dollop of money raised for a worthy cause. But let’s not stop there. A large number of people bid large amounts for two things of […]
The praiseworthy and the pitiful
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, February 7th, 2009 - 3 comments
The praiseworthy and a pitiful is a weekly compilation of some of the comments we’ve seen around the traps that warrant some response, whether praise or criticism, whether for the substance of what has been said or the quality of the rhetoric. David Haywood’s piece on what would happen if the Herald had a ‘your […]
Lowering his standards ever lower
Written By: - Date published: 5:17 pm, February 6th, 2009 - 59 comments
Just when Farrar had made me happy, as I explain in this post, and had even been quite funny in his retort, he goes and reminds me I should never put anything past him. Today, he’s attacking the welfare system by running a post about a invalid beneficiary who he reckons can’t be an invalid […]
Employment numbers have both good and bad news
Written By: - Date published: 4:04 pm, February 5th, 2009 - 23 comments
The new employment data for the December quarter are out and they’re surprising reading. Now, the media will grab hold of the headline unemployment figure. At 4.6%, it’s up from 4.2% in the September quarter and brings the number of unemployed over 100,000 for the first time since 2003, which is about what everyone expected. But what you have to […]
- ‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers
Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...2 weeks ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
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 ...2 weeks ago - HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...2 weeks ago - “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...2 weeks ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...2 weeks ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...2 weeks ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...2 weeks ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...2 weeks ago - 8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...2 weeks ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...2 weeks ago - Govt to double number of toll roads
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...2 weeks ago - Luxon’s pre-emptive strike
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...2 weeks ago - Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...2 weeks ago - More public service contempt of parliament
Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...2 weeks ago
- If There Is A God
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...2 weeks ago - A Lipstick Government
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...2 weeks ago - NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...2 weeks ago
- Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...2 weeks ago
- Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...2 weeks ago
- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...2 weeks ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...2 weeks ago
- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...2 weeks ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...2 weeks ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...2 weeks ago
- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...2 weeks ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...2 weeks ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...2 weeks ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...2 weeks ago - As Our Power Lessens: Accepted
2024 is now officially my best-ever year for short stories. My 1,850-word dark fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens, has been accepted for the upcoming solstice edition of Eternal Haunted Summer (https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/), thereby making that six published short stories for the calendar year. As always, see the Bibliography page for ...3 weeks ago - Six years of work wasted – Holidays Act reform now years away
Brooke van Velden has wasted six years of work from businesses, unions, and government by binning planned Holidays Act reforms, said Acting CTU President Rachel Mackintosh in response to today’s announcement from Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety. “The Minister has cynically kicked the can on Holiday Act reform even ...3 weeks ago
- Come Undone?
Words, playing me deja vuLike a radio tune, I swear I've heard beforeChill, is it something real?Or the magic I'm feeding off your fingersWho do you need?Who do you love?When you come undoneSongwriters: John Taylor / Simon Le Bon / Nick Rhodes / Warren Cuccurullo.When this three-way coalition was being ...3 weeks ago - ‘Tis The Season …
Last week, I was speaking to a doctor in a public health hospital.She was wearing a brown Christmas seasoned shirt littered with pics of candy canes, elves, Xmas trees and mini Santas.And it took me a few minutes into the conversation before the realisation slowly struck me: “It’s Christmas time..!”How ...3 weeks ago - Friday 13 December
More public service job cuts are on the way, with hundreds more jobs set to be axed at Health NZ, and close to 50 jobs at Te Arawhiti. Winston Peters is saying Nicola Willis’ ferry proposal is now dead in the water and that he is going back to the ...3 weeks ago
- Govt cancels Tauranga housing expansion
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 12 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below are:The National-ACT-NZ First Government, which has a ‘Going for Housing Growth’ policy designed to massively ...3 weeks ago
- Weekly Roundup 13-December-2024
It’s one of the final Fridays of the year and we are getting into the last couple of weeks before the summer shutdown. We hope everyone’s excited to have a break! Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is ...3 weeks ago
- The Hoon around the week to December 13
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with: on the Government’s inadequate final emissions reduction plan and pro-business climate appointments; on the lightening overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and what might ...3 weeks ago
- Our Education System Will Be the Battlegrounds for the New Culture War
Luxon is the best negotiator. He’s just negotiated us into a culture war and he doesn’t even know it. Neoliberalism is preventing our school system from serving the population. People — most people — cannot really select the schools their children go to unless they are wealthy enough to pay ...3 weeks ago - The ferry saga; cracks in the coalition and closing Wellington’s container port
Yesterday, the coalition showed the first real public signs of cracks, as Ministers and the Prime Minister spent the day contradicting each other over the future of the inter-island ferries. The cracks between ACT and New Zealand First have always been there. But what made yesterday’s exchanges different was that ...3 weeks ago
- Chris Penk Personally Intervenes for Holocaust Denier
The general advertising strategy of far-right speakers for the last few years has been to announce they’re coming to New Zealand, wait for their visa to be denied or their venue to cancel on them, and then use that free promotion and outrage generation (sponsored by the Free Speech Union) ...3 weeks ago - Wulf vs Beowulf: A Review of The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
Oh good. Back to the Tolkien adaptations. Not just any Tolkien adaptation either. The story of Helm Hammerhand, as done in anime style – something a bit different. It’s actually the first animated Tolkien adaptation since Rankin-Bass’ Return of the King in 1980, as well as the first Tolkien adaptation ...3 weeks ago - Georgescu and the Arrogance of the West
I enjoy reading the views of pundits and people. I like knowing what they think, and why they think it. But sometimes I look at what commentators are saying and where conversations are leading and I despair. How often do we here on the left do the right’s job for ...3 weeks ago - Gordon Campbell On The Latest Round Of Ferry Follies
The scorned iRex option would have entered service in 2026. Thanks to Finance Minister Nicola Willis, there will now be a three year delay until 2029 at the earliest. Instead of fit-for-purpose iRex ferries, Willis is likely by then to have saddled us with smaller, less capable, more weather vulnerable ...3 weeks ago
- Rotten to the core
Just a few months ago, Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was one of the final two candidates for the position of police commissioner. Now, he's on leave and facing multiple investigations for unspecified wrongdoing: The second-most powerful police officer in the country is on leave pending separate investigations, the Herald ...3 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #50 2024
Open access notables: Regional Impacts Poorly Constrained by Climate Sensitivity, Swaminathan et al., Earth's Future: Climate risk assessments must account for a wide range of possible futures, so scientists often use simulations made by numerous global climate models to explore potential changes in regional climates and their impacts. Some of ...3 weeks ago
- About Syria.
I have been thinking about Syria and coverage of the fall of the Assad regime, and to be honest I believe that there is something missing from the picture being painted, at least in NZ. Although I am no expert … Continue reading ...3 weeks ago - The Two Hundred Million Dollar question
Here we see Napoleon delivering glory in Russia.Here we see Elizabeth Holmes delivering a blood test for anything. Read more ...3 weeks ago - Join us at 5pm for The Hoon
Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and ...3 weeks ago - Luxon & Willis Double Down on Ferries Debacle
The day before today, Nicola Willis told the House that they would have to wait until the ferries announcement for the details about ferries cost etc. It was the same promise Luxon has been making in Parliament over the last weeks and months: the details are coming, the details are ...3 weeks ago
- Luigi Mangione and Jury Nullification
Luigi Mangione, the shooter of the Ultimate Healthcare CEO, has been caught by the cops after a tip-off from a McDonalds worker. (A timely reminder, perhaps, that there is an official boycott against McDonalds for their profiting from and support of Israel’s occupation in Palestine, and it has been having ...3 weeks ago - Thursday 12 December
There has been widespread condemnation of the Government’s mishandling of the Cook Strait ferry replacements, including from unions, industry, and political parties. It has also led to public division among the coalition, with Winston Peters and David Seymour at odds regarding cost and privatisation. In other political news, Labour says ...3 weeks ago
- Foreshadowing HYEFU 2024
By way of prologue, the closest parallel to the current economic situation may be when Ruth Richardson became Minister of Finance in late 1990. The economy had been contracting, although there were signs of a fragile recovery. She was an Austerian and cut public spending savagely. The economy plunged a ...3 weeks ago - How unusual is current post-El Niño warmth?
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink As I noted a few months back, despite the end of El Niño conditions in May, global temperatures have remained worryingly elevated. This raises the question of whether this reflects unusual El Niño behavior, or a more persistent change in the underlying climate forcings ...3 weeks ago
- Nicky No Boats
I remember you by, thunderclap in the skyLightning flash, tempers flare'Round the horn if you dareI just spent six months in a leaky boatLucky just to keep afloatSongwriters: Brian Timothy FinnToday, a tale of such ineptitude, unwarranted confidence and underplanning that you will scarcely believe it. I can hear you ...3 weeks ago - Ferries delayed again, then handed to Peters, who hits out at Seymour
Willis wouldn’t give a cost estimate or confirm new ferries would be ‘rail enabled’ rather than ‘rail-compatible’, but Seymour has let slip the ferries and ‘landside’ development would cost around $1.5 billion. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...3 weeks ago
- When Should You Consider Retreat? – The Sooner the Better
This is a guest post by Waitematā local board member Dr Alex Bonham, about the Auckland Council’s Shoreline Adaption Plans. Currently consultation is open for the Auckland Central & Ōrākei to Karaka Bay SAPs until December 18th. If the sea bowls through your front door, through the house and ...3 weeks ago
- Shameless advertising: Two days only — 50% off subscriptions, forever
But wait!! If you would like to pay me LESS, on Friday the discount will be bigger. Subscription benefits include my endless gratitude, warm fuzzy feelings, bragging rights, and a slight spring in your step. ...3 weeks ago - Toot, toot, here comes Winston
The big question hanging over yesterday’s ferry announcement press conference was why Winston Peters was there at all. Finance Minister Willis went out of her way to tell a press conference yesterday afternoon that the Government had not decided whether to have rail-enabled ferries or even whether KiwiRail should run ...3 weeks ago
- Channelling Madame Defarge: Of Lampposts and CEOs
The recent shooting of that Health Insurance CEO in the USA has sparked quite the online furor. On one hand, one is confronted with a violent murder… on the other hand, many, many people think the victim was such a monster, he got what was coming to him. The result ...3 weeks ago - Ranking the New Zealand Prime Ministers since 1893
The New Zealand Listener has a poll of historians ranking Prime Ministers since Seddon (1893-1906): https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/politics/the-real-power-list-nzs-prime-ministers-rated/UEHAIM2NQRDKNPWR3HNKBLKK6Q/#google_vignette Alas, it’s behind a paywall. Bastards. So I thought I’d provide my own list as an exercise: Peter Fraser Richard Seddon Helen Clark Keith Holyoake (second term) M.J. Savage Gordon Coates Norman Kirk ...3 weeks ago
- Wednesday 11 December
The Government has kicked the can down the road on the replacement Interislander ferries, by setting up a company to begin a procurement process, rather than making a decision. But they have made a decision when it comes to greyhound racing, banning the sport over the next 20 months. The ...3 weeks ago
- It’s got to be good for you
One of my favourite Substackers had an intriguing question to ask this morning:Why was a British baby born after September 1953 significantly more likely to die from disease later in life than a British baby born before September 1953?I gave it a good try but I didn’t get it. Makes ...3 weeks ago - NZCTU slams Government’s ferry fiasco
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is slamming the Government for failing to show any leadership on infrastructure delivery after they revealed today that they have no plan to replace the Cook Strait ferries a year on from their decision to cancel the iReX project. “Today’s announcement by the Minister of ...3 weeks ago
- Climate Change: Hope is not a plan
One of the purposes of the Zero Carbon Act was to break the bad old cycle of announcing targets and then doing nothing to meet them. Instead, governments would have regular carbon budgets with relatively short deadlines - meaning any failure would happen on their watch - and be required ...3 weeks ago
- A bad joke
That's the only way to describe National's announcement today on replacement Cook Strait ferries. A year ago they cancelled iRex, which would have given us two new, rail-enabled ferries in January 2026 for $551 million (plus port costs). Today, they're promising two smaller, non-rail enabled ferries sometime in 2029, and ...3 weeks ago
- The Long Awaited Kiwirail Interislander Announcement
Complimentary:In July, Nicola Willis promised that her expensive Kiwirail Interislander “independent” advisory committee had finished their work - and an answer was due to the public imminently.That blew out to August, then September, October, November, before Winston Peters announced the government was definitely going to announce the decision on December ...3 weeks ago - Does Luxon understand Keynesian economics?
Do our journalists? Do LabourDo we? John Maynard KeynesOh, I do so love New Zealand news, our left-leaning, deliberatively disinterested, striving-to-be-unbiased media. They are working so hard for us, doing the mundane jobs that I would hate to do. That’s why deliberatively never used my English degree to become a ...3 weeks ago - Luigi Mangione’s Pain
This morning I followed a link to Luigi Mangione’s now defunct Substack He is the accused in the murder of US health insurance CEO Brian Thompson.And of course it must be noted that murder is not the right course of action, and there can only be condolences to Thompson’s family.But ...3 weeks ago - Seymour’s Principles Rejected
Look inside, look inside your tiny mind, now look a bit harder'Cause we're so uninspiredSo sick and tired of all the hatred you harbourSo you say our treaty is not okay; well, I think you're just evilYou're just some racist who can't tie my lacesYour point of view is medievalFuck ...3 weeks ago - Top 10: Ferries, $2.1 billion in fossil fuel related healthcare costs, Curia’s Problem & M...
1. Fast-Track projects: Speaker rules no private benefit in list (RNZ, Russell Palmer)In a fairly rare move, the Speaker of the House Garry Brownlee (National) overturned the ruling of the Clerk, David Wilson, and Assistant Speaker, Barbara Kuriger (National).The Clerk of the House of Representatives advises the speaker and members ...3 weeks ago - Does AT misunderstand the government’s new PT targets?
A few weeks ago we revealed that a new policy from the NZTA is pushing for changes to the level of public transport costs covered by fares (and a few other things), which could potentially lead to fare hikes by as much as 70 percent or service cuts. While some ...3 weeks ago
- When haste makes waste & is risky, dangerous & mean
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 11 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus and Pick ‘n’ Mix are:The National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government is set to announce today it will spend $900 million on new ferries to ...3 weeks ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...2 weeks ago - Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...2 weeks ago
- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...2 weeks ago
- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...2 weeks ago
- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand ratifies AANZFTA Upgrade
New Zealand has ratified the Upgrade to the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), Minister for Trade Todd McClay announced today. “ASEAN which is comprised of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, is New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner in two-way trade – ...2 weeks ago
- PM’s Space Prizes highlight talent and innovation
The inaugural winners of the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes showcase the depth and breadth of talent in New Zealand’s dynamic space and advanced aviation sectors, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Space Minister Judith Collins say. “The Government established these prizes to recognise and encourage innovative expertise and rising talent in ...2 weeks ago
- One-stop shop fast-track bill passes third reading
The coalition Government’s new one-stop shop fast-track consenting regime for regionally and nationally significant projects will help rebuild the New Zealand economy, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones. The Fast-track Approvals Bill passed its third reading in Parliament today. Applications for projects to ...2 weeks ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointment
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appointed Craig Ellison to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand. The appointment is effective from 18 December 2024 for a three-year term and brings the Board to its full capacity of seven members. “Mr Ellison joins the Board with a background in Antarctic ...2 weeks ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...2 weeks ago
- Financial measure and capital allowance updated
The Government is adopting a new financial indicator and a new approach to capital allowances, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. These changes follow reviews, announced at the Budget, of the operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) and the multi-year capital allowance (MYCA). “Since 2008, governments have used OBEGAL to ...2 weeks ago
- Lifting productivity key
Lifting the productive capacity of the economy is the key to realising New Zealand’s potential, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “The Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update released today shows the Crown’s financial position has deteriorated over the past six years, but the economy has reached a turning point. “Inflation ...2 weeks ago
- Consultation on Arms Act rewrite to begin
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed Cabinet’s decision to undertake public consultation on the rewrite of the Arms Act 1983. “Phase four of my firearms reforms is the rewrite of the Act and, as promised, we will be consulting with the New Zealand public. The consultation period will open ...2 weeks ago
- Government confirms reduction to Forestry ETS annual charge
The Government has today confirmed a 50 per cent reduction to the annual charge for forest owners participating in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “This decision delivers on the Government’s promise to rebuild confidence in the forestry sector and support its role in achieving ...2 weeks ago
- First quarterly Oranga Tamariki performance data released
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has welcomed the release of the first quarter of Oranga Tamariki performance data. “Since becoming Minister for Children, I have been clear that Oranga Tamariki must be relentlessly focused on the safety of children and young people in its care. “This is why I introduced key performance ...2 weeks ago
- Public to have their say on disability funding
The wider disability community will have their say early next year on how the Government should deliver disability support services that are fair, consistent, transparent, and sustainable, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “The Government is committed to better public services and building a disability support system that delivers better ...2 weeks ago
- Securing the skills and experience NZ needs
The Government is supporting businesses to secure the skills and experience New Zealand needs by continuing to refine the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). “A responsive immigration system is fundamental to rebuilding the economy,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says. “Earlier in the year, we made initial changes to the AEWV ...2 weeks ago
- Minimum wage set for 2025
The adult minimum wage rate will increase by 1.5 percent to $23.50 an hour from 1 April 2025, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today. This minimum wage increase meets the NZ First-National coalition commitment to moderate increases to the minimum wage every year. Cabinet’s decision reflects ...2 weeks ago
- Extra security to again keep EDs safe this summer
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti is again reminding New Zealanders that violence against patients, visitors and health workers won’t be tolerated, with additional security for hospital emergency departments across the country this summer. “Staff and patients in our EDs deserve to feel safe when they’re working or visiting hospitals across ...2 weeks ago
- Q4 plan sets NZ up for growth and infrastructure
It will soon be easier to get things built in New Zealand due to the actions delivered by the Government as part of our Quarter Four (Q4) Action Plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “The modern and reliable infrastructure New Zealand desperately needs is a lot closer thanks to the ...2 weeks ago
- Government getting local government back to basics
The Government has agreed to reforms that refocus local councils on delivering essential services and core infrastructure, spending responsibly, and operating under greater scrutiny, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Homeowners face the fastest rates rise in more than twenty years. Rates are out of control and the Government is taking ...2 weeks ago
- Cabinet circular paves way for better regulation to benefit everyone
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that changes to the way regulations are made will ensure the process is more efficient, transparent and effective. From 1 January 2025, government agencies making new regulations will follow a more simplified and streamlined process, saving time and energy by focusing only on what’s important. ...2 weeks ago
- Ministers recognise health volunteers
Seven outstanding individuals and organisations have been recognised in the 2024 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards. The recipients hail from across the country, and range in age from 17 to 90 years old. Their work includes leading exercise groups for people with lung conditions, school students supporting disabled people, and ...2 weeks ago
- New plan for reducing family and sexual violence
The launch in Auckland today of the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan for the prevention of family violence and sexual violence featured three government ministers, together to symbolise this government’s commitment to reducing harm from violence. The launch was hosted by Karen Chhour, as Minister for the Prevention of Family ...2 weeks ago
- Speech – Launch of the Second Te Aorerekura Action Plan
Welcome everyone, thank you for joining us today for the launch of the Second Te Aorerekura Action Plan - Breaking the cycle of violence. My name is Karen Chhour – I am the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence and Minister for Children. This is a big ...2 weeks ago
- Low-emission hydrogen plan released
The Government has released a Hydrogen Action Plan which sets out key steps to unlock private sector investment in hydrogen energy and support New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced today.“New Zealand is fortunate to have abundant renewable energy ...2 weeks ago
- Trade Minister to visit India
Trade Minister Todd McClay will travel to New Delhi on 15 December to continue strengthening New Zealand’s relationship with India. Mr McClay will meet with his counterpart, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. He will also meet with senior members of the Indian business community. “India is an important partner ...2 weeks ago
- Modernising dietary supplement regulations
The first steps in modernising the regulation of exported dietary supplements have been announced today by Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard, and Trade Minister Todd McClay. “We are using the Therapeutic Products Act Repeal Bill to address some long-term issues for New Zealand companies wanting ...3 weeks ago
- Therapeutic Products Act repeal bill passed
The Therapeutic Products Act Repeal Bill has been passed by Parliament, clearing the way for better regulation for medicines, medical devices, and natural health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “Repealing the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) was a promise this Government made to the New Zealand public, and ...3 weeks ago
- Assurance received from the National Library on freedom of expression
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has spoken to Rachel Esson, the National Librarian responsible for the National Library of New Zealand, about the importance of the Government institution remaining impartial and not attempting to censor academics hosted to talk at the National Library. “It is essential that Government ...3 weeks ago
- Kaitaia Airport resolution takes flight
Tērā te āniwaniwa e tāwhana mai ana i te rangi i runga i Te Waionepū me ngā pā tawhito ko Tūtūtarakihi ko Wharekākāriki – A rainbow arches in the skies above Te Waionepū and the ancient pā of Tūtūarakihi and Wharekākāriki. A vital future for the country’s northernmost airport has ...3 weeks ago
- New Zealand and Thailand make progress towards strategic partnership
New Zealand and Thailand have set an ambitious timeline to upgrade their relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership’, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. Mr Peters met with his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa in Auckland today. “New Zealand has great ambitions for our partnership with Thailand," Mr Peters says. “There are significant opportunities to do more ...3 weeks ago
- Government delivers standardised emissions measurement tool
The Government is delivering on our Q4 commitment, restoring certainty and credibility to the agriculture sector by introducing a standardised, science-based method for measuring farm-level greenhouse gas emissions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, today announced. “Our farmers are some of the most carbon efficient food producers in the world, but they ...3 weeks ago
- New appointments to the Sport NZ board
Four new board members have been appointed to the board of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sport NZ), Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says. “Megan Campbell, John Fiso (ONZM), Kathryn Irving and Ken Laban will collectively bring strong governance experience in the community, sporting and recreational sectors to the ...3 weeks ago
- Government sets target to reduce persistent poverty
The Government has set a target to lift 15,000 children out of persistent child poverty by 2035, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston has announced. “We are committed to making New Zealand the best place in the world for children and addressing persistent poverty is an important step in realising ...3 weeks ago
- Next phase of Whangārei Hospital development underway
The next phase of the Whangārei Hospital redevelopment is underway, with Health Minister Dr Shane Reti breaking ground on the new child health centre. Dr Reti says the $35 million unit, Tira Ora, replaces the existing children’s clinic with a modern, fit-for-purpose facility which will provide significantly more capacity and ...3 weeks ago
- Judicial appointments announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of six lay members of the High Court under the Commerce Act 1986. Lay members assist the Court in cases involving appeals from decisions of the Commerce Commission and in other matters under the Commerce Act. They also play a key role in ...3 weeks ago
- Three Strikes Bill passes third reading
The Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill which passed its third reading today, makes it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending will not be tolerated, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Reinstating the Three Strikes regime will help keep New Zealanders safer while sending a strong message to those ...3 weeks ago
- Record wild goat hunting competition removes 12,935 goats
A collaborative effort between hunters, landowners, and conservation organisations has successfully removed 12,935 wild goats during the second annual National Competition, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay announced today. This marks a 22 per cent increase from last year. “This is fantastic result demonstrates the importance and benefit of strong partnerships ...3 weeks ago
- Government to enable tolling to accelerate investment in roads
The Government has agreed key policy changes to enable tolling of roading infrastructure, helping bring forward critical investment in New Zealand’s transport network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Tolling is a tool used around the world to accelerate investment in roading infrastructure, and the changes the Government is making will allow ...3 weeks ago
- Black Ferns Sevens coach learns more from his players
When Cory Sweeney was named coach of the year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards he equalled Sir Steve Hansen as a five-time winner of that honour.The Black Ferns Sevens coach successfully defended the Olympic title won in Toyko in 2021 in Paris in July. Recently the 46-year-old celebrated his ...2 days ago - My robot waiter reminds us what really matters
Comment: Those who have been reading or listening to my commentaries in recent months will note that I have a pretty bleak view of the immediate future. The New Zealand economy is struggling to grow, the economy of our major export market is not doing much better, we have wars ...2 days ago
- New Zealand not responsible for ship seized by Finland – MFAT
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says New Zealand is not responsible for a Cook Islands-registered vessel carrying Russian oil seized in Finland. ...3 days ago - Government Coy On Police Plan To Target ‘At Risk’ Children For Social Investment
The "prevention support" would be targeted at primary school-age children, but the police minister will not say if the idea is being progressed. ...3 days ago - Hui, protests, kōtahitanga, and a new Kuini – A historic year for Māoridom
A hīkoi, a haka, and the rise of a new generation - RNZ unpacks a contentious and momentous year for Māoridom. ...3 days ago
- There are lots of reasons to eat insects. Will we ever overcome the ‘yuck’ factor?
Summer reissue: Insects have been the ‘next big thing’ in food for the last decade, but will we ever have an appetite for them? Shanti Mathias investigates – and tastes some bugs. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of ...3 days ago - ‘I’ve never lived it down’: The Breakfast live cross that still haunts Jack Tame
Summer reissue: The TVNZ broadcaster reflects on his life in television, including a full circle moment with David Attenborough, his favourite politicians to interview and why he’ll never watch Game of Thrones. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of ...3 days ago
- The mystery of the killer bike lane
Summer reissue: A chain of three cafes closed down and the owner blamed cycleways. But none of the cafes were anywhere near one. What is happening? Joel MacManus investigates. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read ...3 days ago
- The beginning of a book
Summer reissue: Claire Mabey’s early brush with evangelical Christianity sparked a life’s fascination with the power of stories – and the fuel to write her own. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open ...3 days ago
- A treat within a treat: How the Trumpet got its chocolate tip
Alex Casey uncovers the story behind that perfect final bite. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. In the first episode of Snackmasters NZ, in ...3 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 28 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 28 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- Daily crossword, Saturday 28 December
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- Time to get off the literacy lobotomy train
Opinion: A few months ago, The Times of London reported that an Oxford professor of English, Shakespearean scholar Sir Jonathan Bate, warned that his present-day students had trouble reading long books. A Kiwi perspective was added a few weeks later, when a sociologist at the University of Canterbury, Mike Grimshaw, told ...3 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. 2024
Twas very heaven in 2024 to write as a satirist. Credit where credit is due: Christopher Luxon just got funnier and funnier, more determinedly ridiculous, a David Brent for our times, the embarrassing boss who is at once inept and bombastic. Stuff writer Verity Johnson came up with a widely ...3 days ago
- School support staff work through holidays to make ends meet
On an average weekday Jan Monds drives into the carpark at Knighton Normal School, in Hamilton, just before 7.30am to run a pre-school programme for students. This wraps up at 8.45am, when she heads from the hall to the main part of the school to start her primary job as a ...3 days ago
- Black Saturday Protest At Devonport Naval Base, Tāmaki Makaurau, 28 December 2024
The protest action isn't only to mark the historical acts of violence the NZ govt has enacted against Sāmoans but also to highlight the responsibility this current govt and navy have for the environmental and societal impacts of the Manawanui shipwreck. ...3 days ago
- Fiji’s PM dismisses Tabuya as Minister for Women and Children
RNZ Pacific Fiji MP Lynda Tabuya has been dismissed as the country’s Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said in a statement that in light of the recent events concerning the conduct of Lynda Tabuya, and in consideration of: the Oath she has taken ...4 days ago - ‘Block’ resignation over riots recovery plan topples New Caledonia’s government
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent, French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s territorial government has been toppled on Christmas Eve, due to a mass resignation within its ranks. Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Jérémie Katidjo-Monnier said he was resigning from the cabinet, with immediate effect. Katidjo-Monnier was the sole representative from ...4 days ago
- Like your pet more than people? So did some of the Greco-Romans
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, The University of Melbourne Jacques Mossot/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA The Roman writer Claudius Aelian (2nd–3rd century CE) tells us a curious story about a boy and a pet snake: A boy bought ...4 days ago
- From the Big Bogan to Larry the Lobster, why do towns build Big Things?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Clarke, Senior Lecturer in History, specialising in built heritage and material culture, University of the Sunshine Coast Big Things first appeared in Australia in the 1960s, beginning with the Big Scotsman (1962) in Medindie, South Australia, the Big Banana (1964) in ...4 days ago
- We don’t all need regular skin cancer screening – but you can know your risk and check yourself
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By H. Peter Soyer, Professor of Dermatology, The University of Queensland Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates globally, with nearly 19,000 Australians diagnosed with invasive melanoma – the most lethal type of skin cancer – each year. ...4 days ago
- Children can be more vulnerable in the heat. Here’s how to protect them this summer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wen-Qiang He, Research Fellow in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney maxim ibragimov/Shutterstock Extreme heat is increasingly common in Australia and around the world and besides making us uncomfortable, it can harm our health. For example, ...4 days ago
- Dogs and cats get diabetes too. Here’s what to look out for and how to manage it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacquie Rand, Emeritus Professor of Companion Animal Health, The University of Queensland Elena Vorman/Shutterstock Learning a pet has diabetes can be a shock. Sadly, about 20% of diabetic cats and dogs are euthanised within a year of diagnosis due to the ...4 days ago
- Sport produces mountains of high-tech waste. We are finding new ways to recycle it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Hadigheh, Senior Lecturer, Structural Engineering, University of Sydney Pavel1964/Shutterstock In the early days of the modern Olympics and Paralympics, athletes competed using heavy, non-aerodynamic equipment. The record for throwing a javelin, for instance, has almost doubled since 1908, when the ...4 days ago
- Regular lessons have paused – but your kids should still practise their swimming this summer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Peden, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health & co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, UNSW Sydney MarKord/Shutterstock Many swimming schools have temporarily closed for the summer holidays. But this doesn’t mean you should take a break from helping ...4 days ago
- From Cleopatra to Wellington, leaders have always taxed beer. But Australia’s system has made beer...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthea Gerrard, Assistant Professor of Law, Bond University ELEVATE/Pexels Beer has existed for thousands of years. It was the drink of choice in ancient Egypt, in northern Europe in the Middle Ages and, of course, remains popular around the world ...4 days ago
- Australia has a remarkable history of outdoor cinema. Here’s why Netflix will never beat it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruari Elkington, Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries & Chief Investigator at QUT Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC), Queensland University of Technology Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema In December 1916, as war raged in Europe, an entrepreneurial pearl diver took a chance on ...4 days ago
- ‘One hell of a shock’: Why not everyone wants flowers from David Lomas
Alex Casey chats to David Lomas about the art of finding needles in haystacks. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. There are around 100 ...4 days ago
- What I write about when I write about mermaids
Summer reissue: Megan Dunn’s mer-moir, The Mermaid Chronicles, is an immersive, moving and funny search for the meaning of mermaids and the anchors of interests and family in the ebb and flow of life. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these ...4 days ago
- Reviewing the very first episode of bro’Town, 20 years on
Summer reissue: The groundbreaking show has had mixed reviews over the past two decades. Madeleine Chapman revisits a classic. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member ...4 days ago
- Can NYC ever live up to the hype?
Summer reissue: After three decades of inhaling American-dominated, disproportionately New York-based media, Sharon Lam’s first time in the city became a traipse through a collage of movie sets rather than any real place. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds ...4 days ago
- Selling security, delivering anxiety: The rise of home surveillance cameras
Summer reissue: Why do so many of us install security cameras – and are they breaching other people’s rights? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member ...4 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 27 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 27 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 days ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 27 December
The post Daily crossword, Friday 27 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 days ago
- Hopes versus expectations for ALL survivors
This year has been a big one for me personally and professionally. The firm won the Litigation and Disputes Resolution Firm of the year award on November 28 and I was an Excellence Finalist in the category of firm leader for a firm with under 100 staff. I was also ...4 days ago
- 2024, the year of the election
Opinion: In 2024, 64 countries were scheduled to hold different types of national elections this year for an array of offices.Some of these, of course, were more democratic than others, but it made for a bumper year for election nerds like me.Incumbents had a bad year – more than three ...4 days ago
- Five journalists killed by Israeli air strike near hospital – media watchdogs condemn killings
Pacific Media Watch Five Palestinian journalists have been killed in a new Israeli strike near a hospital in central Gaza after four reporters were killed last week, reports Al Jazeera citing authorities and media in the besieged enclave. The journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were covering events near al-Awda ...4 days ago
- Powerful 7.3 magnitude quake strikes Vanuatu – serious damage in Vila
RNZ Pacific A large 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila , shortly after 3pm NZT today. The US Geological Survey says the quake was recorded at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles). Locals have been sharing footage of serious damage to infrastructure ...5 days ago
- Cardinal David slams Israel, says Jesus would have been born in Gaza
By Victor Barreiro Jr in Manila Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan, has condemned the state of Israel on Christmas Eve for its relentless attacks on Gaza that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. “I can’t think of any other people in the world who live in darkness ...5 days ago
- Publisher tells of storytelling and its role in shaping Fiji’s identity
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