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More people taking strike action over low wages and insecure work
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, October 11th, 2016 - 12 comments
Members of FIRST Union are striking over terrible pay and conditions at Brand Developers TV Shop.
The Chief Prison Inspector’s report on Serco and MECF
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, October 7th, 2016 - 46 comments
The Chief Prison Inspector’s report on Mount Eden Corrections Facility has now been released and has presented a damning judgment on Serco’s management of the prison.
Warren strips cross-selling bank CEO
Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, September 22nd, 2016 - 25 comments
Watch Elizabeth Warren strip Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf alive at a Senate hearing on ‘cross-selling’ of bank products customers didn’t need. Wells Fargo, one of the US’ biggest banks, was fined $185million, and 5300 employees at branch and teller level were sacked. The senior executive in charge was allowed to retire with nearly $100million in stock benefits. Warren thinks the top management should be held accountable. See what you think.
Chloe King – John Key, I am a low waged worker, and neither “lazy” nor “drug addled”
Written By: - Date published: 2:39 pm, September 9th, 2016 - 254 comments
Blogger and social activist Chloe King, one of the hundreds of thousands of low waged workers in this country was devastated by John Key’s comments suggesting that she and others were lazy and had no work ethic. This is her response.
The Mayoral candidates and the living wage proposal
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, September 4th, 2016 - 29 comments
I attended the Living Wage People’s assembly this week in St Matthews in the City. The idea behind the meeting was to get Mayoral and Waitemata ward candidates to express their views on the living wage proposal as well as improved public transport services and rental accommodation standards. The organiser was Living Wage Aotearoa who have been […]
European Union v Apple and the US
Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, September 1st, 2016 - 49 comments
And in Europe the EU has taken steps against Apple for rampant tax evasion and an EU-US free trade deal appears to be dead.
Hollowing out the regions
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, August 28th, 2016 - 44 comments
The closure of 19 mostly rural Westpac branches is indicative of the ongoing hollowing out the regions. Neglecting Northland cost the Nats the last by election. Neglecting regional NZ as a whole might cost them the next general.
Take back our communities and create Jobs That Count
Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, August 21st, 2016 - 22 comments
So often we lose sight of the fact that local government is about much, much more than rates. We’re launching a Jobs That Count ticket to change that.
Why are wages flat?
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 9th, 2016 - 179 comments
The Nats would have you believe that the economy is in good shape, in which case there is no excuse for the ongoing stagnation of wages. Of course it’s not as simple as that.
Hollywood should try a different model
Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, July 30th, 2016 - 17 comments
Piracy is shifting from peer-to-peer to streaming. Big Entertainment isn’t shifting it’s attitudes at all – still stuck in the dark ages.
The Ray White – China deal
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, July 30th, 2016 - 87 comments
Real Estate agent Ray White has formed a partnership with China’s Lianjia to market NZ houses to about 260 million Chinese buyers. They say it’s the government’s problem – and they’re right.
Talleys versus Free Speech
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, July 29th, 2016 - 33 comments
The Talley group want the courts to order a union to stop telling the truth about how they bully, maim and kill their workers. Will the Standard be next in the firing line?
China trade realpolitik
Written By: - Date published: 1:45 pm, July 18th, 2016 - 137 comments
We can’t afford to be using sub-standard steel. We shouldn’t have to buckle to pressure to do so, but we have no leverage at all.
Panama Papers – Nat U-turn complete
Written By: - Date published: 1:11 pm, July 13th, 2016 - 28 comments
Having ignored the IRD and other advice, having insulted calls for transparency as “barking mad”, today the Nats’ U-turn on disclosure for foreign trusts is complete.
1/3 of Nobel Laureates say Greenpeace is “anti-science”, must now embrace GMOs
Written By: - Date published: 7:56 pm, June 30th, 2016 - 181 comments
Unless you are scaremongering and “anti-science” you should embrace GMO foods. Say 107 Nobel Laureates.
From barking mad to common sense in one easy U turn
Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, June 28th, 2016 - 65 comments
April Key said our foreign trusts had full disclosure and proposals to increase transparency were “barking mad”. June Key is going to implement “sensible and well-reasoned” proposals to increase disclosure and transparency.
Panama papers – Shewan inquiry – our rules are inadequate
Written By: - Date published: 4:25 pm, June 27th, 2016 - 26 comments
There were many who were concerned that John Shewan was not a good choice for an inquiry into NZ’s tax haven system. Seems we owe Shewan an apology, as initial reaction suggests that he has done a good job.
We’re going to burn it all, until we burn it down.
Written By: - Date published: 12:11 am, May 20th, 2016 - 173 comments
What does it really mean to reduce NZ’s total fossil fuel use by 50% by 2030: a warm up discussion for an upcoming thought experiment.
Key’s Lawyer is a Mossack Man
Written By: - Date published: 6:44 am, May 10th, 2016 - 50 comments
Despite the PM’s assurances, it turns out the his lawyer had direct links to Mossack Fonseca. And so did everyone else in the room when Todd McClay was successfully convinced to drop the IRD review into foreign trust. Someone’s been telling porkies …
REALITY TV UPDATE: Mark Weldon Wins NZ’s Biggest Loser.
Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, May 4th, 2016 - 56 comments
MediaWorks CEO and mate of the PM, Mark Weldon, has quit his job. Is it too late to save MediaWorks? Should we care?
EDIT: Staff get in the champers shock!
McCully, the National Party donation and the Niue resort
Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, April 18th, 2016 - 57 comments
Murray McCully has assured New Zealand that there is no link between the granting of valuable rights to manage a luxury resort in Niue and the making of large donations to the National Party.
Panama tax rort stirs world leaders but not Key
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 7th, 2016 - 18 comments
The Panama Papers highlight a significant problem for the countries of the world. The actions of the 1% is robbing countries throughout the world of funds needed to run their countries and underlines that the capitalist system is based on greed. Most leaders see this but not John Key.
Kiwibank partial sell-off
Written By: - Date published: 11:36 am, April 6th, 2016 - 149 comments
This morning Michael Cullen announced plans to sell 45% of Kiwibank.
Bunnings has no heart
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, March 27th, 2016 - 47 comments
Bunnings management has insisted that a defibrillator bought by the workers at its Dunedin Store be given away to charity.
Guest Post: Government’s multi billion dollar lies
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, March 20th, 2016 - 39 comments
Amakiwi analyses why foreign corporations are hurting New Zealand’s economy and questions why they should be allowed the estimate their profitability.
Key fiddles while dairy industry burns
Written By: - Date published: 9:27 am, March 16th, 2016 - 46 comments
The dairy crisis is escalating with a further drop in prices occurring overnight. And John Key has chosen to defend the Government’s handling of the crisis by attacking Andrew Little. He would be better off explaining what his Government is doing to address what is becoming a crisis.
Who is ultimately responsible for NZ’s massive dairy farm debt?
Written By: - Date published: 1:11 pm, March 12th, 2016 - 82 comments
People talk of excessive borrowing in the dairy sector. Of course, the real problem is that of excessive lending.
Labour and Lees-Galloway secure end to zero hours contracts
Written By: - Date published: 2:07 pm, March 8th, 2016 - 126 comments
Labour has forced the Government to back down on plans to entrench zero hour contracts.
the Global Death Economy
Written By: - Date published: 10:15 am, February 25th, 2016 - 141 comments
A new edition of “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” has been released. It makes it clear that we are in the grip of a global “Death Economy” and a collective embrace of ‘Thanatos’, the death instinct.
What poverty?: Emirates declares 1st Class a success
Written By: - Date published: 11:08 am, February 23rd, 2016 - 55 comments
Looks like the top 1% and the cashed up asset rich are doing just fine. The rest of you, work harder.
Police illegally arrest and detain union officials
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 14th, 2016 - 47 comments
Its bad enough that workers’ rights and conditions are being crushed by National Ltd™ but now Police have joined in. Again.
- New Zealand Far-Right Government’s Anti-Democratic “Law And Order” Agenda
The legislation is part of the far-right government’s sweeping “law and order” agenda targeting the most alienated and vulnerable layers of society, including impoverished youth and welfare beneficiaries. Sooner rather than later, the crackdown will extend ...4 days ago - RNZ Mediawatch: Under the sinking lid from offshore tech companies
By Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter This week, Minister of Racing Winston Peters announced the end of greyhound racing in the interests of animal welfare. Soon after, a law to criminalise killing of redundant racing dogs was passed under urgency in Parliament. The next day, the minister introduced the Racing ...4 days ago - Government launches new plan for reducing family and sexual violence
The second Te Aorerekura - the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence - has been launched. ...4 days ago - Parliament on the home stretch, but first, a 30-hour sitting week
The bills ...4 days ago
- An Ode to .. Nicola Willis
The Horror! The Horror!“Now Captain,” says Admiraless Willis,Striding onto the bridgeOf the antique ferry Roi des BelgesAs it winds up the endless brown riverThrough a steaming jungle.“I expect you to follow my commandsTo the letter. Do you understand?”The Captain is silentAs he steers between treacherous sandbars.“We’ve entrusted you with this ...4 days ago - Mental Health Bill: ‘No place for compulsory care’ in new law, academic says
The legislation is "completely inconsistent with expert advice and international law and best practice", associate professor says. ...4 days ago
- Why is Israel bombing Syria? – ‘because it can get away with it’, says Bishara
Asia Pacific Report Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, has condemned Israel’s extensive airstrikes on Syrian installations — reportedly 500 times in 72 hours, comparing them to historic Israeli actions justified as “security measures”. He criticised the hypocrisy of Israel’s security pretext endorsed by Western powers. Asked why Israel ...4 days ago
- Ōtaki highway tolls to reach vital services unfair – mayor
Ōtaki and surrounding communities could be split off from vital resources they depend on - or hit in the pocket - if a planned toll goes ahead on State Highway 1, a mayor says. ...4 days ago
- Damascus and Gaza prisoners: Syrians and Palestinians search for ‘disappeared’ loved ones
Democracy Now! AMY GOODMAN: We begin today’s show in Syria, where tens of thousands of people gathered at the Great Mosque of Damascus for the first Friday prayers since longtime authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition fighters. DAMASCUS RESIDENT: [translated] Hopefully this Friday is the Friday of ...5 days ago
- This year’s sports superstars and triumphs – and who’ll be big in 2025
The Paris Olympics, a cricketing marvel, a shooting star in tennis and coaches who pulled off wonders: some of the LockerRoom highlights of a super year for NZ women’s sport.Best individual sports achievementKristy Havill: Lydia Ko’s Olympic gold followed quickly by her Women’s Open win at St Andrews a fortnight ...5 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Xmas songs
CHRIS HIPKINSIt was Christmas Eve, babeIn the Beehive bar.An old man said to me,“What’s your name, son?”And then he sank his glassOf cold clear Mountain Dew.I looked him in the eyeAnd sank a glass too.Had a quiet yearWithout a single care.I’ve got a feelingNext year’s much the same.So happy Christmas,Old ...5 days ago
- Our report to you – Newsroom in 2024
We want to thank you for the support you’ve given us to continue delivering groundbreaking, robust and independent journalism of public importance. That support is through your subscriptions and donations – and critically, it’s also through you sharing and championing our work to friends, family and colleagues. We’re grateful.We owe it to you to ...5 days ago
- The Treaty principles bill – bad execution of a good idea?
Comment: To anyone genuinely interested in resolving the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in modern New Zealand, the arrival of the Treaty principles bill must be deeply disappointing.Part circus, part political stunt. Part farce, part tragedy.A ‘phantom’ bill that will never be enacted, Act and Te Pāti Māori politicking ...5 days ago
- The Weekend: The phrase of the year is ‘gingle malt’
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. This is my final weekend editorial for the year and I was struggling to think of how I could sum up the year in a clever, succinct way. At our Spinoff Year in Review event in Auckland on Wednesday, host Anna Rawhiti-Connell ...5 days ago - I see hundreds of ads for togs so why is it so hard to find a decent pair?
Togs, togs, everywhere and not a pair I want to wear. A few years ago, during another round of Cranium, my dad announced that as he only had a certain number of “good summers left”, he would not be spending them playing board games with his family. He has no ...5 days ago
- ‘I’m very happy about that’: Frankie Stevens on being the voice of Christmas
New Zealand’s ‘Godfather of Christmas’ looks back on his life in TV and music. When The Spinoff reaches Frankie Stevens, he’s in a festive mood. Christmas is barely two weeks away, and he’s riding the high of having emceed his local Waverley Summer Christmas Jam last Sunday while also looking ...5 days ago
- ‘A great song is one you can dance and cry to’: Elliott Dawson’s perfect weekend playlist
Art rock singer-songwriter Elliott Dawson shares his perfect weekend playlist. It’s nighttime in the world of Pōneke-based musician Elliott Dawson, the perfect period for introspection, stargazing and letting the singer serenade you in dim light. “I’m talking about that 20-30 minute period after the sun has gone below the horizon ...5 days ago
- Wasteland: A response to a university restructure
This essay is the joint winner of this year’s Landfall Essay Competition and was first published in Landfall 248: Spring 2024. “What is most distinctive, and perhaps distinctively valuable, about what universities do is precisely what cannot be captured by the metrics societies increasingly use to measure value.” – Stefan ...5 days ago
- A love letter to my five friends
After nearly 50 years of friendship, Venetia Sherson thanks her inner circle. Over a decade ago, when British anthropologist Robin Dunbar deduced humans typically have 150 friends, of whom just five are intimate, I did a head count. My inner circle aced the test. I have five close women friends ...5 days ago
- RSF says global attacks on journalists ‘alarming’, Gaza ‘most dangerous’ and seeks ‘urgent...
Pacific Media Watch The global media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has revealed an “alarming intensification of attacks on journalists” in its 2024 annual roundup — especially in conflict zones such as Gaza. Gaza stands out as the “most dangerous” region in the world, with the highest number of ...5 days ago
- Report card shows some mental health services hit targets, others fall short
There is "still work to do" around getting people timely treatment when they go to ED for mental health. ...5 days ago
- Eugene Doyle: The dismemberment of Syria is a crime
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle What we are witnessing is not just the end of a regime but quite possibly the destruction of the Syrian state. We are being told by the Western media that we should join Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe ...5 days ago
- No plans for scaling back of Whangārei’s hospital redevelopment
Health Minister Shane Reti says stage one is still on budget and on track to be completed by 2031. ...5 days ago
- The Coalition reveals the cost of its nuclear power plan – but the devil is in the missing detail
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Longden, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University The Coalition has released long-awaited detail on its nuclear energy policy, claiming its plan to build seven nuclear power stations would be A$263 billion cheaper than Labor’s renewables-only approach. The figures ...5 days ago
- What is the drug captagon and how is it linked to Syria’s fallen Assad regime?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University After the fall of the al-Assad regime in Syria, large stockpiles of the illicit drug captagon have reportedly been uncovered. The stockpiles, found by Syrian rebels, are ...6 days ago
- Te Tiriti: The history and implications of the Treaty Principles Bill
By Te Aniwaniwa Paterson of Te Ao Māori News Activist/educator Tina Ngata (Ngati Porou) has warned proposed changes to Aotearoa New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi principles would undermine indigenous Māori sovereignty, rights, and protections, and risk corporate exploitation and environmental harm. Ngata is a member of Koekoeā, a tāngata whenua ...6 days ago
- Govt’s cuts to contractor and consultant spending ahead of schedule
The government says it is well ahead of its target to cut contractor and consultant spending. ...6 days ago
- Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill officially put on hold
The government has put legislation that would force tech giants to pay media companies for journalism on hold. ...6 days ago
- Teenage prodigy Gukesh D defeats Ding Liren to become youngest world chess champion
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smerdon, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Eighteen-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju has become the new world chess champion, winning the final game of the title match after a dramatic blunder from the reigning champ, China’s Ding Liren. ...6 days ago
- Naughty, often naked, deeply wild: F Christmas is a joyous gift at the time we need it most
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Senior Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Gregory Lorenzutti/Malthouse Theatre There are many great traditions of Christmas performances, mostly European and American in origin, where the occurrence of Christmas in deep winter means it is more likely that ...6 days ago
- A new treaty could prevent some misappropriation of Māori and Indigenous design – and shouldn’t...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica C Lai, Professor of Commercial Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington From patents relating to mānuka, fake Māori souvenirs being sold in Aotearoa New Zealand, or the use of Māori designs on bedspreads sold online, the misappropriation and ...6 days ago
- Health New Zealand cuts: 569 staff take voluntary redundancy
Almost 600 staff have taken voluntary redundancy in job cut proposals laid out to staff today, it has been confirmed. ...6 days ago
- New three-strikes regime passed into law
The Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill was among a raft of legislation debated under urgency on Thursday. ...6 days ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Cash register ding’ by Eliana Gray
A new poem by Eliana Gray. Cash register ding If the price of rigidity is fracture The price of flexibility is bent over backwards sleeping on couches seeding twice a day paracetamol The price of pressure to leave an imprint like the price of new mountains is the destruction of ...6 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 13
The 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. AUCKLAND 1 Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail (Wai Ako Press, $25) The little book that made ...6 days ago
- New laws to protect ground-based space infrastructure from foreign spies
Laws will be introduced to stop foreign military or intelligence interference in radar and other space infrastructure being built here. ...6 days ago
- Industry supportive of government’s planned KiwiSaver changes
The government wants to loosen the rules to allow KiwiSaver funds to invest in private assets, housing and infrastructure projects. ...6 days ago
- Tech companies claim AI can recognise human emotions. But the science doesn’t stack up
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Sheard, Researcher and Lawyer, La Trobe University Master1305/Shutterstock Can artificial intelligence (AI) tell whether you’re happy, sad, angry or frustrated? According to technology companies that offer AI-enabled emotion recognition software, the answer to this question is yes. But ...6 days ago
- How is the Big Bash League faring after 14 years of ups and downs – and what’s next?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney The 14th season of Australia’s major domestic men’s Twenty20 (T20) cricket competition, the Big Bash League (BBL), starts on Sunday. Its rise is probably the biggest change in Australian cricket ...6 days ago
- New Mental Health Act a ‘potentially wasted opportunity’ – healthcare professional...
A group of mental health professionals say the new bill is just "the old act, with some new lipstick". ...6 days ago
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