Author Archive
No Medal of Honour for Wayne Mapp
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 pm, August 27th, 2010 - 24 comments
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp must be desperate for publicity. He’s attacked the latest version of the Medal of Honour game set in Afghanistan. According to Mr Mapp, Medal of Honour “undermines the values of our nation, and the dedicated service of our men and women in uniformâ€. Okaaay…….
Some good reasons for New Zealand to stay in Afghanistan
Written By: - Date published: 10:29 pm, August 25th, 2010 - 67 comments
The recent death in Afghanistan of Lieutenant Timothy O’Donnell was a tragedy for his family and a blow to his army colleagues. It was also a missed opportunity, a chance to debate why our Government continues to send troops to a violent and intractable war, and what national strategic interests this deployment serves. In On […]
- Collins is crushing her own credibility
Even before Judith Collins became overlord of the National Party, you could tell there was a huge ideological divide between her questionable values and those of the party’s former leaders. And just over a year after becoming the opposition's de facto leader, that chasm between Crusher and what her party ...1 hour ago - Legal Beagle: The New New Prohibition
In the decades leading up to the 18th Amendment, the case for the prohibition of alcohol was made repeatedly. The harms of alcohol were substantial, and the US experience was worse than most. The victims made the case, and campaigners made the case for those who couldn’t speak for themselve. ...9 hours ago - Let’s talk about sex self ID
Speak Up For Women have toured New Zealand in the last month speaking on the proposed law change that would allow people to change their birth certificate sex by a simple declaration. It was a great opportunity to meet with hundreds of people and exchange ideas. Here is the talk: ...10 hours ago - 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #31
Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 25, 2021 through Sat, July 31, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: The insect apocalypse: ‘Our world will grind to a halt without them’, State of the climate: 2021 ...11 hours ago - July ’21 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking
Image credit: Nicole MamaNYC I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or the numbers seem very low please check this out. ...19 hours ago- The Adventures of Annalax: Volume XXVI
Session Fifty-Six Annalax’s schemes were, alas, put on hold at the start of the session, due to a horrifying discovery of a mangled body outside the town brothel. The victim had been hideously mutilated, complete with faux-antlers being driven into their skull. And, sure enough, a crowd was ...1 day ago- 2021 Reading Log: July (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for July: The Caesars, by Emperor Julian the ApostateThe A.B.C. Murders, by Agatha ChristieFive Little Pigs, by Agatha ChristieThe Works of Edgar Allan Poe (Vols 2-4 of 6) The Works of Poe is the six volume 1896 edition, edited by Stoddard. The library was missing the first ...2 days ago- Clouds study finds that low climate sensitivity is ‘extremely unlikely’
This is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Ayesha Tandon It is “very likely” that the way clouds change as the world warms will drive further temperature rise, a new study finds. The response of clouds to a change in global temperature – known as the “cloud feedback” – plays a ...2 days ago- Are We Nudging Enough?
Inside the Nudge Unit by David Halpern, provides new insights into behaviour which New Zealand public policy is steadily taking into consideration.Have you noticed that the defaults or first choices in the website of a commercial entity favour the business’s goal? Fill in their forms and, as like as not, the ...3 days ago- Ending royal corruption in Scotland?
Earlier in the week, The Guardian reported that England's monarch had been secretly having laws amended to carve out exemptions for herself, using a procedure called "crown consent". Its a corrupt holdover from the days of absolute monarchy, and something which has no place in a modern democracy, or even ...3 days ago- Government must ban synthetic fertilisers
3 days ago- Ending conversion “therapy”
The government has introduced a bill to outlaw homophobic conversion "therapy": Practices intended to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, also referred to as gay conversion therapy, will become a criminal offence under legislation announced today. Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi said today the ...3 days ago- The Sin Of Cheapness.
Commodities, Commodities, Everywhere - And None Of Them Are Cheap! No less an authority than the Commerce Commission has determined that New Zealanders are paying too much for their food and groceries. An apparent aversion to aggressive competition has led the dominant players to match one another’s’ prices rather than better ...3 days ago- Should We Trust The Science – Or Ourselves?
“Pure” Science: The lesson to be drawn from the history of science, however, is that knowledge is always and everywhere embedded in culture. That the one cannot be separated from the other. Culture can empower knowledge, or suppress it; advance it or divert it to the utmost wickedness. Knowledge goes where it’s told. “TRUST ...3 days ago- Kids set free to roam on their own feel more confident navigating in adulthood
Vanessa Vieites, Rutgers University The distance from home that kids are allowed to roam and play has shrunk significantly over the last 50 years. That’s largely due to parents’ concerns over safety, especially in cities. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has further restricted children’s independent activity. As a Ph.D. ...3 days ago- Running into Trouble: COVID-19 in Japan during the Tokyo Olympics
Dr Leah Grout, Dr Jennifer Summers, Prof Nick Wilson, Prof Michael Baker * The 2020 Olympic Games were originally postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The delayed event has now opened, with the opening ceremonies held on 23 July 2021 and competitions scheduled to take place through 9 August 2021. ...3 days ago- Simon Bridges cannot be trusted
You may recall former National Party leader Simon Bridges gaining a lot of public attention last month after claiming he was a witness to a gang fight. The former Crown Prosecutor made a huge song and dance about it all over Facebook and Twitter while also attacking the Government with ...3 days ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30, 2021
88 articles Physical science of climate change, effects Energetics of surface melt in West Antarctica Ghiz et al. The Cryosphere Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc Quantifying the Mechanisms of Atmospheric Circulation Response to Greenhouse Gas Increases in a Forcing–Feedback Framework Zhang et al. Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli ...3 days ago- Hate Speech law is unworkable
Make a submission to stop this mess being codified into law The Free Speech Union is urging people to make submissions to halt the proposal putforward by the Ministry of Justice for hate speech laws. The FSU state: “[T]he proposals put forward by the Ministry of Justice are dangerously vague ...3 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – How the Government has fuelled rampant increases in wealth
Jacinda Ardern’s household wealth increased by an estimated $290,000 over the last year. Although she earnt nearly half a million dollars from her job, her windfall was solely due to the value of her Auckland house increasing. And by her own policy designs, it’s a capital gain which is untaxed. ...4 days ago- Climate Change: The other Tiwai scam
Newsroom has a good piece this morning about the government's consultation on industrial free allocations, revealing that Fletcher Building is getting an extra $5 million a year ($7 million at today's prices) due to miscalculated carbon subsidies. That's bad, and it needs to be stopped by resetting emissions baselines to ...4 days ago- End the Tiwai scam
A little over a year ago, Rio Tinto was pleading povery, claiming its Tiwai Point aluminium smelter was unprofitable, and threatening to close it unless it got a government handout to keep it running. Their bluff worked, and we ended up paying the BluffGeld by giving them lower electricity prices ...4 days ago- Holes in the Tundra: Why Burping Cows Are the Least of Our Worries.
4 days ago- Piers Morgan – Arsehole of the Week
4 days ago- Climate change and tornadoes: Any connection?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson Climate change may be the existential threat of our lives, yet when it comes to in-your-face weather, tornadoes are in a class of their own. Fortunately, human-warmed climate isn’t making violent U.S. tornadoes any more frequent. However, climate change may ...4 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Labour’s sacrificing of the poor
Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson like to think of themselves as leftwing politicians. So why aren’t they prioritising and championing the vulnerable at the bottom of society? Since Covid hit they have chosen economic policies that benefit the rich while pushing more into poverty. Increasing inequality was thrown into stark ...5 days ago- Climate Change: Just predatory delay again
Another day, another story arguing that climate change is Just Too Hard for farmers, and that they should be given more time to wait for a magic technological solution which will cut emissions while allowing them to continue doing exactly what they're doing at the moment. Today, the magic Technological ...5 days ago- A note on the “jihadi bride.”
I ruffled a few feathers by referring to Gerry Brownlee as a “buffoon” during a radio interview this week. The subject in question was the involuntary repatriation of Suharya Aden and her children to NZ after Australia cancelled her citizenship. Brownlee was blathering about her being a terrorist security threat, ...5 days ago- Militaries plunder science fiction for technology ideas, but turn a blind eye to the genre’s socia...
Will Slocombe, University of Liverpool Military planning is a complicated endeavour, calling upon experts in logistics and infrastructure to predict resource availability and technological advancements. Long-range military planning, deciding what to invest in now to prepare armed forces for the world in thirty years’ time, is even more difficult. ...5 days ago- Still the same question
The Independent Police Conduct authority has found another case where police used excessive force in making an arrest: A police officer broke a woman’s arm with a baton before dragging her out of her car by the hair following a chase. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found the ...5 days ago- The Danger from the Extreme Right
Like other readers, no doubt, I recently experienced a “believe it or not” moment, when I read an account of a crowd at a recent Trump rally cheering the news that the US Women’s Football Team had been beaten at the Olympic Games. The reason for the cheering was, apparently, ...5 days ago- Why calling ordinary Kiwi cyclists ‘elitist’ just doesn’t add up
Timothy Welch, University of Auckland Something strange has happened to the perception of cyclists and cycling in the more than 200 years they’ve been around. Once a novelty, bike riding has moved from being a critical transport mode to a children’s pastime to now being popularly perceived as an ...5 days ago- Zebra Ethics: The Amazon Second Age Series and Lessons from Game of Thrones
Today I stumbled across a genuinely interesting reddit article, which looks at the (positive) influence Game of Thrones may have on the upcoming Amazon Tolkien series: https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/comments/oqvi81/amazons_the_lord_of_the_rings_show_going_got/ Essentially, the argument is that the framework of Tolkien’s Second Age material inherently lends itself to “Machiavellian Thriller” stories, rather than to ...5 days ago- The War over Sex and Gender: Kathleen Stock talks to the Free Speech Union
Speakeasy #1: Free Speech and the War over Sex and Gender from Free Speech Union on Vimeo. ...6 days ago- Why governments will have to consider the costs of long COVID when easing pandemic restrictions
Richard Meade, Auckland University of Technology With governments worldwide under pressure to ease pandemic restrictions as vaccination rates rise and impatience with border restrictions grows, new threats become clearer. One of the costliest, it is now feared, could be a tsunami of “long COVID” cases. Long COVID is a ...6 days ago- Taxpayers' Union gets destroyed
The Taxpayers’ Union scored another own goal yesterday when they decided to have a go at well-known journalist David Farrier (not to be confused with David Farrar) over Government funding he’d received to make a documentary.While that slinging match isn’t really worth reporting on, being that it was mainly just ...6 days ago- Gender-specific health programs address important issues, but risk creating new biases
Matthew Jenkins and Victoria Chinn, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Gone are the days when health programmes were designed to simply punish or reward people to encourage behaviour change. We now know lasting behaviour change is more complex and nuanced, and this has prompted a proliferation ...6 days ago- Fossil tooth fractures and microscopic detail of enamel offer new clues about human diet and evolut...
Ian Towle; Carolina Loch, and Thomas Loho, University of Auckland Teeth can tell us a lot about the evolution of prehistoric humans, and our latest study of one of our species’ close relatives may finally resolve a long-standing mystery. The genus Paranthropus is closely related to ours, Homo, ...6 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – “Year of the vaccine” at risk
A consensus is emerging that the Government has generally managed the Covid crisis very well over the last 18 months, but they have dropped the ball when it comes to the crucial vaccine rollout. This was nicely encapsulated in opinion polling last week showing that while 69 per cent of ...7 days ago- Profiteering politicians delegitimise parliament
Why aren't politicians interested in actually solving the housing crisis? Because virtually the entire political class is making massive profits from it: MPs have pocketed $50 million in capital gains from their property interests in the last year amid a growing housing affordability crisis, a Stuff analysis has found. ...7 days ago- Democracy wins in Samoa
Over three months ago Samoa had an election, in which the people voted out the incumbent Human Rights Protection Party and voted in the opposition FAST Party. The incumbent Human Rights Protection Party ignored the results and clung to power, hoping to get their patsy head of state to call ...7 days ago- Climate Change: The solution farmers don’t want us to talk about
RNZ this morning has a piece asking Can NZ really meet its methane emissions targets?. Posing it as a question like this frames it as difficult, more of the "but its too hard!" whine from farmers. But its not hard at all. Pretty obviously, we can meet methane reduction targets ...7 days ago- A Conversation That Never Happened.
7 days ago- Graham Adams: Parliament is in recess but Kris Faafoi is too busy to discuss proposals for hate-spee...
The Minister of Justice appears to have gone into hiding. Graham Adams provides an update on how the public debate on hate speech regulation is going, especially in terms of whether political opinion should or shouldn’t receive an exemption from new laws. It fell to RNZ to break the ...7 days ago- Engineering A Miracle: Can Judith Collins Reprise Rob Muldoon?
Miracle Worker? But Judith Collins and National cannot regain power by simply hoping for the worst. Elections are won by politicians like Rob Muldoon, who persuade the voters that the incumbent government is the worst choice.WAITING FOR THE MIRACLE, as Leonard Cohen observed, is an agonising test. Especially if its ...7 days ago- Hearing loss and social isolation – the silent burden
Feature image: this picture was chosen as it illustrates two elderly people in each other’s company. Tying in with the theme of hearing loss and social isolation, this depicts the importance of connection to each other and the world in which we live. Charlotte Gordon* Untreated hearing loss is a ...1 week ago- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #30
Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 18, 2021 through Sat, July 24, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: Extreme rainfall in China: over 25 inches falls in 24 hours, leaving 33 dead, As scientists have ...1 week ago- Capitalists in Space
. . Billionaire Richard Branson did it. Also-billionaire, Jeff Bezos, did it. Both will be the first money-hoarders into space (or sub-orbital near-space, to be more specific). Also-also-billionaire, Elon Musk – not content with sub-orbital ‘jaunts’ – has expressed a desire to go Full Interplanetary and personally colonise Mars. Meanwhile, ...1 week ago- Elizabeth Rata: Responding to Andrew Geddis on Treaty Partnerships
My recent article about the role that the concept of a Treaty ‘partnership’ has played in the development of ethno-nationalism provoked a critical response from Professor Andrew Geddis. We obviously have different opinions about the value of a Treaty partnership in New Zealand’s liberal democracy. My purpose here is to ...1 week ago- When tough on crime goes wrong
If there’s one thing that you can safely rely on, it’s right-wing politicians grandstanding with tough on crime rhetoric. It's understandable being that such propaganda is usually a sure bet, obviously because a very large proportion of the public wants to see less crime and fewer criminals in their communities.However ...1 week ago- Billionaire space race: the ultimate symbol of capitalism’s flawed obsession with growth
Tim Jackson, University of Surrey Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids, laments the Rocket Man in Elton John’s timeless classic. In fact, it’s cold as hell. But that doesn’t seem to worry a new generation of space entrepreneurs intent on colonising the “final frontier” as fast ...1 week ago- Michael Cullen’s Policy Achievements
Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.Implicit in the title of the Michael Cullen’s memoir Labour Saving is his greatest policy achievement of improving the savings of the economy, as well as his saving the Labour Party from neoliberalism. But first, ...1 week ago- Call to ‘come home’ does not apply to our sleeper cells in Australia, says Government
A map of believed New Zealand sleeper cells in Australia, which the Australian Secret Intelligence Service has described as “painfully obvious” and believes is “pretty much comprehensive.” As the Covid-19 travel bubble with Australia closes once more, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins have made clear ...1 week ago- Cranky Uncle game now being translated
The Cranky Uncle game is now being translated into multiple languages, paving the way to building public resilience against misinformation across the world. So far, we have had volunteers offer to help translate the game into Danish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Ukrainian. But we are always looking ...1 week ago- Andrew Geddis: Responding to Elizabeth Rata on Treaty Partnerships
In a recent post on this site, Prof Elizabeth Rata expressed her concerns at the growth of what she terms “ethno-nationalism” and the role that the concept of a “Treaty partnership” has played in this development. She does so by telling a story about how this idea of a Treaty ...1 week ago- The Greatest Cyber-Weapon May Be The Truth.
Who's Hacking Who? So, let’s be clear: the very same Western powers who were voicing their alarm at China’s alleged outsourcing of its cyber-attack capabilities to private actors, are the identical Western powers who, for years, have winked at their friends in Jerusalem outsourcing their intelligence gathering to a shadowy Tel ...1 week ago- Morbid Symptoms: Why Are Māori Vaccination Rates Plummeting?
Not Enough Shots In The Arm: The percentage of 8-month-old Māori babies in Counties Manukau receiving their primary course of immunisation on time has fallen from 85 percent in May 2020 to 68 percent in May 2021. A report prepared for the Counties Manukau DHB attributes this startling drop-off to: ...1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29, 2021
94 articles Physical science of climate change, effects Three flavors of radiative feedbacks and their implications for estimating Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity Rugenstein & Armour Geophysical Research Letters DOI: 10.1029/2021gl092983 Observations of climate change, effects Multi-decadal change in western US nighttime vapor pressure deficit DOI: 10.1029/2021gl092983 Recent changes in ...2 weeks ago- Looking for more coal is indefensible
Siberia is burning. China is flooding. Westport flooded last weekend. And against this backdrop of climate breakdown, the Southland District Council thinks its a good time to approve new coal exploration. This is a terrible idea. But its also a waste of time. Any coal discovered can never be burned ...2 weeks ago- An end to imprisoning refugees?
Back in May, Amnesty International exposed New Zealand's repuslive system of refugee detention, and the ongoing human rights abuses it leads to. It clearly embarassed the government, because today they've announced a formal inquiry into the practice - the first step to ending it: But following the release in ...2 weeks ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – The Seriousness of the rural revolt
It’s nearly a week since the “Howl of a Protest” took place throughout the country, and we’re still talking about the rural revolt. What are the farmers’ concerns? Are they legitimate? Has the rural-urban divide has become too deep, and will any of this have an impact on politics in ...2 weeks ago- Extreme heat warning: what the first-ever UK Met Office alert means
Chloe Brimicombe, University of Reading Summer 2021 will mark a turning point in how heat is seen by the public and communicated by experts. For the first time in its 167-year history, the UK’s Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat for much of Wales and parts ...2 weeks ago- Hydrogen in Southland?
New Zealand wants to move to more renewable electricity. But there's a barrier: the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. It sucks up 13% of our total electricity supply, but its continued threats to shut down create ongoing uncertainty about demand, which puts people off building the additional renewables we need. But ...2 weeks ago- When an ancient volcanic ‘supereruption’ caused sudden cooling, early humans got lucky
Ben Black, Rutgers University and Anja Schmidt, University of Cambridge Around 74,000 years ago, a “supereruption” on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, blasted out an estimated 5,000 cubic kilometres of magma. This was the Toba eruption, the largest volcanic eruption of the past 2 million years. To put 5,000 ...2 weeks ago- Talley’s Group Ltd – Arsehole of the Week
2 weeks ago- Climate Crisis Intensifies Dramatically in 2021
In 2007 an organisation chose its name based on the scientific consensus that 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was the uppermost level to avoid a climate tipping point. We are currently just short of 420pp of carbon and the last seven years have been the hottest ...2 weeks ago- Samoa’s women’s quota: Have I missed something?
(Narrator voice: Yes, yes I did. See correction at the bottom) Another election petition was finalised in Samoa today, seeing the first finding of an illegal practice against a FAST candidate (a party roadshow made a customary gift - koha in NZ terms - during a period where these are ...2 weeks ago- A promising start
The "rebate" half of the government's feebate scheme to lower transport emissions came into force three weeks ago. And it looks like its had an immediate effect, with two months worth of EVs registered in the first 19 days alone: More than 1300 electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles ...2 weeks ago- Taking shortsighted penny-pinching to a whole new level
Over the weekend Westport was hit by devastating floods. Half the town had to be evacuated, 89 homes (so far) are uninhabitable, and another 400 (of ~1700) need serious repairs. The total cost hasn't come in yet, but its going to be well into the tens of millions of dollars. ...2 weeks ago- TORN’s Spy Report on the Amazon LOTR/Second Age Series
It’s been a while since we got an update on the upcoming Amazon Second Age series. Not since the leaked Synopsis. The poor fandom twisted itself into knots speculating about supposed nudity in a Tolkien adaptation, and then… nothing. Well, that has suddenly changed. The One Ring.Net has ...2 weeks ago- Calling out China for cyberattacks is risky — but a lawless digital world is even riskier
Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato This week’s multi-country condemnation of cyber-attacks by Chinese state-sponsored agencies was a sign of increasing frustration at recent behaviour. But it also masks the real problem — international law isn’t strong or coherent enough to deal with this growing threat. The coordinated announcement by several ...2 weeks ago- Could Britain be sued for reopening and putting the world at risk from new COVID variants?
Kris Gledhill, Auckland University of Technology With most COVID-19 restrictions now lifted in England, the world is watching to see what this so-called “freedom day” will bring. Some scepticism is warranted, given Britain’s approach throughout the pandemic has hardly been a success. By July 19, there had been 128,985 deaths ...2 weeks ago- As scientists have long predicted, warming is making heatwaves more deadly
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In its 2001 Third Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) foresaw that global warming would lead to increasingly deadly heatwaves. “More hot days and heatwaves are very likely over nearly all land areas,” the world’s top climate scientists warned. “These increases ...2 weeks ago- Geoffrey Miller: NZ’s statement on China a shot across the bow
A statement issued by the New Zealand Government alleging Chinese state involvement in hacking goes much further than a simple, pro forma endorsement of the views of New Zealand’s allies. Geoffrey Miller explains the significance. New Zealand joined Western allies on Monday by issuing a statement that called out ...2 weeks ago- Climate Change: Calling time on “leakage”
When New Zealand was trying to implement carbon pricing back in the early 2000s, polluters whined about "leakage", either threatening to take their production overseas so they could continue to pollute for free, or complaining that paying the full cost of their pollution would mean they would be out-competed by ...2 weeks ago - The Adventures of Annalax: Volume XXVI
- Green Party welcomes conversion therapy prohibition bill
The Green Party welcomes the announcement by Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi to introduce a bill to prohibit conversion therapy used against Rainbow communities. ...3 days ago - Green Party welcomes Commerce Commission’s draft findings, cautions against wait and hope solution...The Green Party welcomes the findings of the Commerce Commission’s report on competition in the retail grocery sector, which takes aim at the duopoly formed by Woolworths NZ and Foodstuffs. ...4 days ago
- Building back better
It’s a three-week recess in Parliament – so, no bills are going through the House and no select committees are meeting. But the hard work of our ministers continues, and many of our MPs are back in their electorates, taking the opportunity to meet with local communities and businesses about ...1 week ago - Greens call for a Warrant of Fitness for rental homesThe Green Party is launching a petition today calling on the Government’s Healthy Homes Standards to be backed up with a proper Warrant of Fitness (WoF) for rental homes. ...2 weeks ago
- Securing our recovery: By the numbersOur plan to secure New Zealand’s recovery from COVID-19 is working, with the past three months seeing the second-highest number of people moved off a main benefit into work since records began. ...3 weeks ago
- More Kiwis in work through recovery planThe latest statistics show the Government’s focus on jobs is working. The net number of people on a main benefit dropped by around 11,190 people during the past three months, with around 31,240 people moving off a benefit into work. ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party appoints new Chief of StaffThe Green Party has appointed a new Parliamentary Chief of Staff, Robin Campbell. ...3 weeks ago
- Government offers formal apology for Dawn Raids
A formal and unreserved apology for the Dawn Raids The Government will offer education scholarships as part of the apology Manaaki New Zealand Short Term Scholarship Training courses Support Pacific artists and historians to develop a comprehensive written and oral account of the Dawn Raids Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ...15 hours ago - Speech to Dawn Raids ApologyTēnā koutou katoa, Kia orana kotou katoatoa, Fakaalofa lahi atu ki mutolu oti, Tālofa nī, Mālō nī koutou, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakatalofa atu, Noa'ia 'e mauri, Kam na mauri, Malo e lelei, Sioto'ofa, Mālō lava le lagi e mamā ma le soifua maua, Oue tulou, tulou atu, tulouna lava ...16 hours ago
- Bridging the gap – last piece of Northcote Safe Cycle Route now completeThe opening of two bridges over Auckland’s Northern Motorway is the last link of a cycling and walking route which provides a safe, active alternative for students and commuters, Transport Minister Michael Wood said today. Michael Wood cut the ribbon for the completion of the Northcote Safe Cycle Route, at ...19 hours ago
- Progress in establishment of Aged Care CommissionerRecruitment for an Aged Care Commissioner will start next month, to ensure greater oversight of New Zealand’s aged care sector. “This sector is responsible for supporting a large and often vulnerable population. While most people are able to access quality care, there have been cases where that care has fallen ...2 days ago
- New record number of homes consentedIn the year ended June 2021, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 44,299, up 18 percent from the June 2020 year. In June 2021, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings consented rose 3.8 percent. In June 2021, 4,310 new dwellings were consented, an increase of 3.8 per ...3 days ago
- Communities backed to tackle wilding pinesTwelve community projects across New Zealand will receive a share of $2 million to carry out wilding pine control, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor announced as part of Biosecurity Week. “Wilding pines are a serious problem that threaten many of the unique landscapes that New Zealanders value. Community groups and trusts ...3 days ago
- Health Minister Andrew Little responding to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation's rejection of ...I was advised last night that the result of the ballot of Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation members have rejected the latest proposal to settle their collective agreement. Let me be clear: the proposal was one they put to the Government. The Nurses Organisation rejected their ...3 days ago
- Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation introduced to ParliamentLegislation has been introduced to Parliament to protect against practices intended to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Introducing the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, Minister of Justice, Kris Faafoi, said the measures proposed were aimed at ending conversion practices which don’t work, are widely ...3 days ago
- New school site for booming West AucklandThe Government will build on a new school site in West Auckland to cope with rapid population growth in the area, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. The Ministry is working with existing local schools to determine how the 1.5-hectare site at 279 Hobsonville Point Road will be used to support ...3 days ago
- Trans-Tasman travel window to close at midnight tomorrowA further 500 MIQ rooms released for managed returnees from NSW Further Government actions announced today are balanced to provide more certainty for Kiwis wanting to return from Australia, while continuing to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, acting Minister for COVID-19 Response Ayesha Verrall says. The actions were foreshadowed last ...4 days ago
- Govt investing millions in Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti schoolsNapier Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools are among those set to benefit from a $16.5 million investment in the Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti region, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced today. The Government has set aside money in Budget 2021 to accelerate five projects in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North ...4 days ago
- Game changing Jobs for Nature investment for NorthlandConservation Minister Kiri Allan has announced Jobs for Nature funding for a portfolio of projects that will create ‘game changing’ gains for nature and communities across Northland/Te Tai Tokerau as part of the Government’s acceleration of the economic recovery from COVID. “This portfolio of 12 projects will see over $20 ...4 days ago
- Third COVID-19 vaccine receives provisional approvalNew Zealand’s regulatory authority Medsafe has granted provisional approval of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 18 years of age and older, Acting Minister for COVID-19 Response Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. New Zealand secured 7.6 million doses (enough for 3.8 million people) of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through an ...4 days ago
- Bowel-cancer screening programme is saving livesMore than 1000 New Zealanders have had bowel cancer – New Zealand’s second-most-common cause of death from cancer - detected under the Government’s National Bowel Screening Programme, Health Minister Andrew Little said today. More than 1200 New Zealanders died from bowel cancer in 2017. The screening programme aims to save ...4 days ago
- Govt welcomes draft report on the retail grocery sectorThe Commerce Commission’s draft report into the retail grocery sector is being welcomed by Government as a major milestone. “I asked the Commerce Commission to look at whether this sector is as competitive as it could be and today it has released its draft report for consultation,” Commerce and Consumer ...4 days ago
- Christchurch’s Youth Hub ‘set to go’ thanks to further Government fundingConstruction of New Zealand’s first, purpose-built centre for youth well-being is ready to get underway thanks to an extra $2.5 million of COVID-19 response funding, Housing Minister and Associate Minister of Finance, Megan Woods announced today. “The Christchurch Youth Hub is about bringing together all the things young people need ...4 days ago
- Next step to protect Milford Sound PiopiotahiExpert group lays out plan to better protect iconic UNESCO World Heritage site Milford Sound Piopiotahi and its surrounds Funding confirmed for dedicated unit and Establishment Board to assess the recommendations and provide oversight of the process from here Milford Opportunities Project a test case for transformational change in tourism ...5 days ago
- Funding for projects to reduce waste from construction and demolitionThe Government has announced funding for projects in Auckland and the lower North Island to help reduce construction and demolition waste. “Construction is the main source of waste sent to landfill, and much of this could be reduced, reused and recovered,” Environment Minister David Parker said. “The Government is funding ...5 days ago
- Speech at the launch of the National Hepatitis C Action PlanTēnā koutou katoa. Thank you Anglesea Pharmacy and Te Manawa Taki for hosting this event. As a doctor, I saw first hand the impact of hepatitis C. I met Moana in 2019; she came to the infectious diseases outpatient clinic at Wellington Hospital having tested positive for hepatitis C. Like ...5 days ago
- Plan to eliminate hepatitis C as a major health threat by 2030A plan to eliminate hepatitis C in New Zealand, reducing liver cancer and the need for liver transplants, has been released today by Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. “Around 45,000 New Zealanders have hepatitis C, but only around half know they have it,” said Ayesha Verrall. “Symptoms often ...5 days ago
- School upgrades and new classrooms for West Coast, Tasman and CanterburyA funding injection from Budget 2021 to complete four shovel ready projects and new classrooms at six schools and kura will provide a real boost to local communities, Minister Dr Megan Woods announced today. “This Government has committed to providing quality fit for purpose learning environments and 100,000 new student ...5 days ago
- Warmer Kiwi Homes smashes annual targetThe Government's highly successful insulation and heating programme, Warmer Kiwi Homes, is celebrating a key milestone with the completion of more than 38,000 insulation and efficient heater installs in the year to the end of June, smashing its target of 25,000 installs for the year. “The Warmer Kiwi Homes scheme ...6 days ago
- Exemption granted for Wallabies to enter NZBledisloe Cup rugby will be played in New Zealand after the Australian rugby team received an economic exemption to enter New Zealand. Travel between Australia and New Zealand was suspended on Friday for at least eight weeks following the worsening of the COVID outbreak across the Tasman. New Zealanders have ...6 days ago
- Minister of Foreign Affairs makes three diplomatic appointmentsForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced three New Zealand Head of Mission appointments. They are: Mike Walsh as Ambassador to Iran Michael Upton as Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union Kevin Burnett as Ambassador to Indonesia Iran “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long-standing and constructive relationship with Iran, despite a ...6 days ago
- Enhanced Task Force Green Approved for West Coast and MarlboroughThe Government has activated Enhanced Task Force Green (ETFG) in response to the West Coast and Marlborough floods, Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “To assist with the clean-up, up to $500,000 will be made available to support the recovery in Buller and Marlborough which has experienced ...6 days ago
- Govt support for upgrade of Eden Park players facilitiesMinister for Sport and Recreation Hon Grant Robertson has announced funding to upgrade the players facilities at Eden Park ahead of upcoming Women’s World Cup events. Eden Park is a confirmed venue for the Rugby World Cup 2021, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, and a proposed venue for matches of ...6 days ago
- More jobs and quicker public transport motoring towards West AucklandWork to improve public transport for West Aucklanders and support the region’s economic recovery by creating hundreds of jobs has officially kicked off, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff this morning marked the start of construction on the Northwestern Bus Improvements project. It ...6 days ago
- Government backs critical health researchResearch into some of New Zealanders’ biggest health concerns including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease is getting crucial support in the latest round of health research funding, Health Minister Andrew Little announced today. The funding, awarded through the Health Research Council of New Zealand, covers 31 General Project grants ($36.64 ...6 days ago
- New Bay of Islands hospital facilities to bring services closer to homePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little have joined a ceremony to bless the site and workers for Phase Two of the redevelopment of the Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa today. The new building will house outpatients and primary care facilities, as well as expanded renal care ...7 days ago
- Raukokore re-imagined with ‘smart’ relocatable rent to own housingIwi, Crown Partnership Relocatable, fully insulated housing, connected to a new solar plant Provides a pathway to home ownership New housing in the remote eastern Bay of Plenty community of Raukokore shows how iwi and Crown agencies can work together effectively to provide warm, dry, energy efficient homes in a ...7 days ago
- Cabinet accepts Turkish authorities’ request for the managed return of three NZ citizensCabinet has agreed to the managed return of a New Zealand citizen and her two young children from Turkey, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The three have been in immigration detention in Turkey since crossing the border from Syria earlier this year. Turkey has requested that New Zealand repatriate ...7 days ago
- Govt delivers more classrooms so children can focus on learningExtra Government investment in classrooms and school building projects will enable students and teachers to focus on education rather than overcrowding as school rolls grow across the country, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis say. The pair visited Ruakākā School in Whangārei today to announce $100 ...7 days ago
- New station a platform for AirportLink to take offEvery Aucklander with access to the rail network will now have a quick and convenient trip to the airport, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said during the official opening of the new Puhinui Interchange today. The new interchange links the rail platform with a new bus ...1 week ago
- 10 days sick leave for employees deliveredLegislation doubling employees’ minimum sick leave entitlement to 10 days comes into effect today, bringing benefits to both businesses and employees, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Our Government is delivering on a key manifesto commitment to help Kiwis and workplaces stay healthy,” Michael Wood said. “COVID-19 ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister congratulates Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on Election WinPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern tonight congratulated Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on her victory in the Samoa’s general election. “New Zealand has a special relationship with Samoa, anchored in the Treaty of Friendship. We look forward to working with Samoa’s new government in the spirit of partnership that characterises this ...1 week ago
- Quarantine Free Travel with Australia suspendedQuarantine Free Travel from all Australian states and territories to New Zealand is being suspended as the Covid situation there worsens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. From 11.59pm today Australians will no longer be able to enter New Zealand quarantine-free. This will be ...1 week ago
- Growing conservation efforts in GisborneA big injection of Jobs for Nature funding will create much-needed jobs and financial security for families in TeTairāwhiti, and has exciting prospects for conservation in the region, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The projects target local communities most affected by the economic consequences of COVID 19 and are designed ...1 week ago
- Flood recovery given further assistanceThe Government is contributing a further $1 million to help the flood battered Buller community, Acting Emergency Management Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Buller is a small community which has found itself suddenly facing significant and ongoing welfare costs. While many emergency welfare costs are reimbursed by Government, this money ...2 weeks ago
- Funding for five projects to reduce food wasteThe Government is funding five projects to help address the growing problem of food waste, Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “New Zealand households throw away nearly 300,000 tonnes of food every year, half of which could still be eaten. By supporting these initiatives, we’re taking steps to reduce this ...2 weeks ago
- Temporary Accommodation Service activated for West Coast flooding eventThe Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated today - meaning residents on the West Coast of the South Island and in the Marlborough region hit by flooding over the weekend can now access help finding temporary accommodation, announced Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing) Poto Williams in Westport today. ...2 weeks ago
- Ministers warned students are 'falling through the cracks'
Education officials have warned their ministers that students are "falling through the cracks" because the curriculum does not clearly signal when they need more support. ...31 mins ago - Investor nervousness rises in new global headwinds
Business & Investing: Facebook and Amazon, among others, see sales growth slowing and China's crackdown on its own firms causes concern ...42 mins ago - ACT hopes growing popularity will lead to 'a change in direction'Support for the Labour Party has taken a hit while the ACT Party, and its leader, is growing in popularity, a new political poll shows. ...2 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 2 August
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...2 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Monday 2 August
...2 hours ago - Consent education needs more than tea
Among her peers, sexual assault and harassment are everyday occurrences, writes high school student Nevada Wolfgramm. It’s about time our education system stopped tip-toeing around it.Among my friends, sexual assault and sexual harassment is talked about as if it’s a completely normal thing. It’s rare for me to talk to ...2 hours ago - ‘We accept your apology. However …’ Pacific leaders look to ‘new dawn’Pacific leaders thanked Jacinda Ardern for her formal apology for the dawn raids yesterday, at the same time as challenging the government to work to ensure the racism experienced by their communities is rubbed out. Shortly after emerging from underneath a finely woven mat, as part of a modified version of ...2 hours ago
- KiwiGrocer is a classic Catch-22
A Government-sponsored grocery chain to break the duopoly of NZ supermarket firms would suffer the same problems faced by any strictly commercial competitor. But Eric Crampton offers a solution. ...2 hours ago - Anna Rawhiti-Connell: Building armour for thin skin
As we plod along, confused, scared and hurt together in a world that will potentially never be the same, Anna Rawhiti-Connell sees small chinks of light in the presence of people carrying on despite not knowing where we are headed Wednesday, July 21, 2021 started as an utterly unremarkable day. ...2 hours ago - Govt wants ambitious audience growth at RNZ
Awkwardly, just as audiences shrink at RNZ National, the broadcasting minister has asked for more ambitious listenership and online viewer targets, Stephen Parker reports. ...2 hours ago - The women guiding our Olympians to greatness
Just four women are coaching Kiwi athletes in Tokyo. Suzanne McFadden talks to Angie Dougal, coach of our trampoline bronze medallist, and Jo Aleh, who’s coached a sailor with a broken leg. They have must have made quite a sight on Saturday afternoon. Inside a car parked up outside ...2 hours ago - Government didn't report possible hack
For three days in January, the Government thought it may have been the target of a malicious cyber attack. ...2 hours ago - Importing coal by the shipload
How can New Zealand be importing massive amounts of coal when we are supposedly on a journey towards 100 percent renewable energy? New Zealand is importing coal by the shipload. Coal is the worst emitter you can possibly find and we’re finding lots of it – in Indonesia. Last ...2 hours ago - Is Auckland really the most liveable city?
How do we know if Auckland is really becoming a better place to live? Mark Thomas says global indexes don't tell half the story and we need a local measurement citizens can rely on The prospects for Auckland’s liveability should be looking up following Auckland Council’s recent $32 billion, 10-year ...2 hours ago - Consumer spending funded through debt and buy-now pay-later liability
Covid has spurred consumer spending but Kiwis are also stacking up tens of thousands in personal debt, a new report shows. ...2 hours ago - 'No escape from NZ' says reservation system expert
Evaluating booking systems is his job, but now like thousands of others he’s hit a dead end with MIQ - and the Government doesn't want to hear his solutions When Mike Moore lost his brother to suicide a few months ago, his niece asked when she could expect him. His brother ...2 hours ago - Dawn Raids: 'This incredible moment'
A moving, historic event of reconciliation in Auckland sees the Crown forgiven for its racist immigration policies, but asked repeatedly to fix the problems of today for Pacific peoples in NZ Apologies offered are one thing. Apologies accepted, especially after generations of pain, are another. Speaker after speaker at yesterday's ...2 hours ago - A patient's story: inside a mental health ward
A personal account of “New Zealand’s worst mental health ward” actually providing excellent care It was reported in June that the West Coast mental health unit was the worst in the country. But what it lacks in shiny new fittings, it makes up for through its delivery of ...2 hours ago - Top economists say cutting immigration is no way to boost wages
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND Australia’s top economists have overwhelmingly rejected cuts to either permanent or temporary migration as a means of restoring lost wage growth. The 56 ...11 hours ago - ACT main beneficiary as Labour takes hit in new pollThe Labour Party could no longer govern alone, according to the latest political poll. ...12 hours ago
- Recap: Government makes apology over Dawn RaidsThe prime minister has delivered the government's apology for the Dawn Raids. Watch the ceremony again here and review the event as it happened on RNZ's blog. ...13 hours ago
- National Cabinet’s plan out of COVID aims too low on vaccinations and leaves crucial questions una...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Wood, Chief executive officer, Grattan Institute At Friday’s National Cabinet meeting, our nation’s leaders put some meat on the bones of their 4-stage plan to reopen Australia. The plan includes target vaccination thresholds and some details on restrictions that might ...14 hours ago
- Live updates: Government making apology over Dawn RaidsThe prime minister has delivered the government's apology for the Dawn Raids. Watch the ceremony live here and follow all the latest developments with RNZ's live blog. ...15 hours ago
- Olympic Greatness: Dame Val and her Louloubelle
UPDATE: Dame Valerie Adams has done it - she's won a bronze medal Sunday afternoon in the women's shot put at the Tokyo Olympic Games, adding to her career total of two golds and a silver. In the buildup to the Games, she told Suzanne McFadden of the special bond she ...17 hours ago - PNG byelection officers protest over unpaid work – told ‘wait, no funds’By Clifford Faiparik in Port Moresby Angry policemen, election officials and others involved in Papua New Guinea’s Moresby North-West byelection last month stormed into the Electoral Commission (PNGEC) headquarters this week demanding to be paid what they are owed. They have been waiting since June 24 to be paid wages, ...19 hours ago
- Meet the contestants of Celebrity Treasure Island 2021Celebrity Treasure Island is back and bigger than ever, with a fresh group of New Zealand stars ready to raise money for charity. Gird your loins for a new season of the reality series with it all: sea, sand, and 21 celebrities ready to catch pineapples with their feet. There’s no ...1 day ago
- What’s new to Netflix NZ, Neon and other streaming services in AugustWhat are you going to be watching in August? With thanks to our friends at Nando‘s, we round up everything coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ OnDemand.The biggiesNine Perfect Strangers (limited series, first three episodes on Amazon Prime Video on ...1 day ago
- Dismissing mātauranga Māori: Racism and arrogance in academia
The University of Auckland's Stephen May explains how mātauranga Māori is a complementary counterweight to the arrogance and insularity of so much European thought Comment: A controversy has erupted over a letter to the editor in last week‘s Listener collectively penned by seven of my professorial colleagues at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University ...1 day ago - The wahine winemaker hunting for a sense of placeWith few Māori in the winemaking industry, and even fewer Māori women, Jannine Rickards is a rare breed. Charlotte Muru-Lanning visits her in Wairarapa.An eye-catching bone hei matau adorns Jannine Rickard’s neck.A fishhook symbolic of journeys that are interwoven into journeys, it’s been worn for the last 20 years, since ...1 day ago
- The Sunday Essay: Letter from AureliaHinemoana Baker writes from a boat on a river a long way away. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New ZealandOriginal illustrations by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.Not everything needs to be forced through the mind. I don’t know who said this first. Was it Derrida? The Buddha? ...1 day ago
- Olympic bronze: The lady and the trampolinist
* Dylan Schmidt has won Olympic bronze in the men's trampoline final in Tokyo. Read about him and his special relationship with the life coach who's helped him on his medal journey.* The longest-serving member of “Team Dylan” – the network around Olympian Dylan Schmidt – is his athlete life ...2 days ago - ULMWP calls for suspension of Indonesia from UN rights council over assault on deaf PapuanAsia Pacific Report newsdesk The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on the international community to immediately suspend Indonesia from the UN Human Rights Council over a shocking assault on a young deaf indigenous Papuan that has been likened to the George Floyd tragedy in the United ...2 days ago
- At last – a commissioner to serve the elderly (the cohort which remembers the role of the hyphen i...
A splendid demonstration of the usefulness of the compound adjective can be found on The Beehive website today. A headline among the latest announcements says: Progress in establishment of Aged Care Commissioner Without a hyphen in “Aged-care” to show this is a compound adjective, an element of uncertainty can creep ...2 days ago - Coral Bell: the ‘accidental academic’ who wanted to stop armageddonSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Conley Tyler, Research Associate, Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne ANU Bell School This piece is part of a new series in collaboration with the ABC’s Saturday Extra program. Each week, the show will have a “who am I” ...2 days ago
- Focus on Politics: Education grapples with systemic racismPodcast - "That every Māori child can see themselves ... valued in the education system." Will moves to bring tikanga and te reo into classrooms work? John Gerritsen and Jamie Tahana investigate. ...2 days ago
- Vaccine resistance in West Papua as covid-19 pandemic ragesBy Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific journalist As with much of Indonesia, the country’s easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua are struggling to contain the spread of covid-19, with the delta variant on the loose. In their latest update, health authorities in Papua province reported 33,826 confirmed cases of the ...2 days ago
- NZ covid-19 mass vaccination event starts in Auckland – long delaysRNZ News New Zealand’s first mass vaccination event is getting under way in Manukau where 16,000 people are due to receive a covid-19 vaccine in the next three days. The Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau has been set up with 242 booths, and people will file in at their allotted ...2 days ago
- Opinion by Chris Leitch – Return to orthodoxy the last thing we needOpinion by Chris Leitch, Leader of Social Credit party. Cashflow repeat. Image courtesy of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. See: https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/monetary-policy-tools As the Reserve Bank winds down its money creation programme (Quantitative Easing) some economists and commentators are calling for a return to orthodoxy – as if the economic ...2 days ago
- FAST now says it needs to delay Samoa’s Parliament conveningRNZ Pacific After previous calls for the Samoan Parliament to convene so a national budget can be passed, the ruling FAST Party now says there is no real need to rush to convene Parliament. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said last Saturday that Parliament would meet “in the first opportunity” ...2 days ago
- Solomons PM warns journalists against ‘yellow journalism’ rumoursPacific Media Watch newsdesk Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has warned the news media that the country’s emergency powers enable the government to target “yellow journalism” and the spreading of misinformation, reports the Solomon Islands Herald. Speaking in Parliament on a motion to extend the covid pandemic State of ...2 days ago
- Health: Land of the long, white inequity
Friday's first mass vaccination event initially suffered from poor communication with the intended communities. Dr Collin Tukuitonga says that is a problem repeated time and again for Pacific people, who continue to suffer poor health statistics The initial take-up failure of south Auckland’s mass-Covid-19 vaccination event is a clear indication ...2 days ago - The supermarket duopoly is a disaster for consumers. But don’t bet on a break-upIf you thought this week’s damning report on the state of our supermarkets would augur big changes in the sector, brace yourself for disappointment.This column was first published on Bernard Hickey’s newsletter, The Kākā.The Commerce Commission’s scathing draft review of the Foodstuffs/Woolworths duopoly suggests state intervention that could include a ...2 days ago
- Pouākai – the world's largest eagle
From fable to fact, the world’s largest eagle was once considered a mythical creature. We now know that for a period of time it dominated forests in parts of the South Island. It was a perfect but petrifying predator. A massive bird with hooked beak, talons like tigers’ claws and ...2 days ago - Short story: XXX, by Emma Sidnam
"One minute we were fully clothed, chaste, and filled with longing, the next it was done. Thank you, she said": a short story by Emma Sidnam On a map, I mark an X for the houses of all the people I’ve slept with. It goes without saying that I avoid ...2 days ago - The Unity Books children’s bestseller chart for the month of JulyWhat’s the best way to get adults reading? Get them reading when they’re children – and there’s no better place to start than the Unity Children’s Bestseller Chart.AUCKLAND1 In Our Own Backyard by Anne Kayes (Bateman, $22, 13+)After the launch (featuring speeches by John Minto and Chlöe Swarbrick) Jo McColl ...2 days ago
- We need to talk about down thereWomen’s symptoms are all too frequently dismissed by healthcare professionals, especially when they relate to that shameful region between the legs. It’s time to stop suffering in silence, writes Maia Ingoe.When I was eight years old, I fell off the trampoline. It was a haven among unruly grasses, sitting on ...2 days ago
- Recipe: Vietnamese pho with garlic sesame tofuHearty and comforting, this twist on a classic is jazzed up with garlicky tofu and beautiful brown field mushrooms. If there is one meal my kids would eat every night, this is it. Even if I up the ante and we venture into the big city to a little food alley ...2 days ago
- The day I began my journey from Young Nat to committed socialistRobert Reid is a veteran of New Zealand’s trade union movement. But, believe it or not, he was once a committed National Party member.Fifty years ago, on Saturday 31 July, 1971, I left the National Party.Those who know me (or even troll me) as a socialist and trade unionist may ...2 days ago
- Vaccination rate needs to hit 70% to trigger easing of restrictionsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Seven in ten people aged 16 and over will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID restrictions to begin to be eased, under targets agreed in principle by national cabinet on Friday. Further relaxation and ...2 days ago
- The Tokyo Lowdown: Day 8 and 9
Two incredibly emotional medals capped off a great Kiwi weekend at the Tokyo Olympics. The Tokyo Lockdown, looking at the fortunes of our NZ sportswomen, continues. Performances of the day What an emotional rollercoaster it's been over the past 48 hours for some of New Zealand’s top female athletes in Tokyo. ...3 days ago - The Tokyo Lowdown: Day 7 glory
In one of NZ's great Olympic days - three medals on the rowing course - the fairytale of Emma Twigg stands out. LockerRoom's daily wrap of our Kiwi sportswomen continues. Performances of the day Emma Twigg can now finally believe. Many times during her 18-year Olympic journey, the single ...3 days ago - Week in Politics: Return of Suhayra Aden stirs up debateAnalysis - Harsh words from Judith Collins as it is announced Suhayra Aden can return to New Zealand, another big vaccine delivery clears the way for the programme to ramp up. ...3 days ago
- India’s vaccine rollout is ignoring the many inequities in its societySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rajib Dasgupta, Chairperson, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University Some 6 months after India began what is said to be the largest COVID-19 vaccination drive in the world, equitable distribution has been a challenge. A recent instance ...3 days ago
- We must include more women in physics — it would help the whole of humanitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathy Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist Prajval Shastri, Author provided All around the world, there is an extreme gender imbalance in physics, in both academia and industry. Examples are all too easy to find. In Burkina ...3 days ago
- No wonder people are confused. Most official COVID vaccine advice is way too complexSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Marie Muscat, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Sydney from www.shutterstock.com As Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow, the message has shifted to urgently “get the jab”. And people’s motivation to get vaccinated is increasing. But with ever-changing advice, many ...3 days ago
- Curious Kids: do penguins fly underwater?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Belinda Cannell, Research fellow, Research Associate, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock Do penguins fly underwater? – Rhys, age 7, Perth. Indeed they do. They can’t fly through the air but they can fly underwater. In ...3 days ago
- 3 things we need to get right to ensure online professional development worksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Filia Garivaldis, Senior Lecturer, BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash University Shutterstock One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed is the need for employee training and skills development. Although lockdowns have reduced access to offices and increased job insecurity, they have provided ...3 days ago
- Vital Signs: Uber’s impact on traffic accidents is a lesson in calculating social benefitSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Twinsterphoto/Sutterstock Uber has been great for some people and bad for others. It has been good for its founders and investors. It has been good for riders who get a convenient and well-priced new ...3 days ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on changes in opposition policySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan discusses the week in politics with University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher. This week the pair discuss the extension of the Sydney lockdown, and the anti-lockdown protests which took place over the ...3 days ago
- HRC To Play A Role In Law Banning Conversion Practices
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata / The Human Rights Commission welcomes the Government’s introduction of the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill. The proposed legislation would criminalise conversion practices . If passed, it would also create a civil ...3 days ago - Gamblers bet more when in the dark: feedback can curb their online lossesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Newell, Professor of Cognitive Psychology, UNSW Online wagering is the fastest-growing segment of gambling in Australia. It’s a trend of particular concern because losing money through online brokering and betting apps is associated with higher rates of gambling-related harm than other ...3 days ago
- Conversion therapy 'widely discredited by science' – FaafoiConversion therapy can cause serious harm, says Justice Minister Kris Faafoi, who is introducing the government's planned law to ban the practice. ...3 days ago
- Not all the millions offered by the Ardern govt have been accepted – let’s see how it fares with...Several million dollars have been dished out for projects to build schools, control wilding pine control and what-have-you. Nurses – on the other hand – have turned down the money they were offered. In their case, Health Minister Andrew Little is obviously bemused and frustrated. He was advised last ...3 days ago
- The power of no: Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Black women’s resistanceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathomi Gatwiri, Senior lecturer, Southern Cross University Simone Biles, the US gymnast widely considered “the greatest of all time”, withdrew from the Olympic finals this week, saying: I have to focus on my mental health […] We have to protect our ...3 days ago
- The discovery of Indigenous children’s bodies in Canada is horrific, but Australia has similar tra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lilly Brown, Lecturer, The University of Melbourne Content warning: This article contains distressing information on Stolen Generations and residential schools. When I read that the bodies of 215 children had been found in unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops ...3 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending July 30The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 In Our Own Backyard by Anne Kayes (Bateman, $22) From Kete Books: “It’s March 2020 and Liza, her ...3 days ago
- Rapid antigen testing isn’t perfect. But it could be a useful part of Australia’s COVID responseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Williamson, Professor of Microbiology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Shutterstock Since the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 testing in Australia has been performed using highly sensitive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. But this conventional model of ...3 days ago
- Muller takes more time away
Former National leader Todd Muller, forced to retire by leader Judith Collins and the party caucus, will remain on leave for three more weeks to care for his wife Outgoing National MP Todd Muller will not return to Parliament as planned on Tuesday after taking five weeks leave. The MP ...3 days ago - Yesterdaze: A gold in synchronised snarking
James Elliott hands out red cards to runners in the reckons relay as he does his best not to put his hand into a power saw The sensation you get when you see that Mike Hosking is trending on Twitter is a lot like the feeling some people get when they ...3 days ago - Demand at South Auckland mass vaccine event takes organisers by surpriseNew Zealand’s first mass vaccination event proved more popular than expected this morning, with many waiting up to an hour for their jab due to higher than anticipated demand. Justin Latif reports. Shortly after New Zealand’s first vaccination event commenced, reports began filtering in of long wait times for people ...3 days ago
- The Friday Poem: To Get Here, by Lynn DavidsonA new poem by 2021 Randell Cottage Creative NZ Writer in Residence Lynn Davidson.To get hereI drove through the Kaimanawas (which is the old forest,survivor of brutal winters/ or the wild horses streaming over tussock/or the mountain range) And which translates as treasure or eat the wildor heart-eater or ...3 days ago
- Everything we learned from Lorde’s recent publicity blitzShe’s Lorde of onion rings and chicken wings, but what else have we learned about the award-winning singer from her run of media appearances?With the impending release of a new album and an upcoming global tour, Lorde has climbed aboard the promotional train, destination everywhere. We watched her get day ...3 days ago
- COVID has changed policing — but now policing needs to change to respond better to COVIDSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vicki Sentas, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Law, UNSW With rolling lockdowns now part of how Australians live in the pandemic age, important questions arise about corresponding changes in policing. Constantly changing public health orders bring not only confusion but expansive police authority to ...3 days ago
- Conversion therapy law: Government reveals all the detailsThe government has revealed all the details of its ban on conversion therapy, with a penalty of up to five years in prison for serious harm caused by putting someone through it. ...3 days ago
- Govt To Jail Parents For Affirming Daughter As Girl, Son As BoyFamily First NZ says that the proposed ‘conversion therapy’ ban will be yet another attack on parents’ rights, is fundamentally flawed and unfair, and has been opposed by the Ministry of Health, a government select committee, and by the ...3 days ago
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