minimum wage
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Why National had to settle the Pay Equity case
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, April 19th, 2017 - 45 comments
National is trying to give the impression that it settled the pay equity case out of the goodness of its heart. The reality is that the Unions forced it to settle through gritted teeth.
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 […]
Spark – kudos
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, August 15th, 2016 - 30 comments
Our wages are too low generally, and this is one of the main economic challenges that we face. A few more employers committing to paying a living wage would be a good place to start.
This is why we need a living wage
Written By: - Date published: 3:25 pm, June 30th, 2016 - 60 comments
It is tragic that a family working 80 hours a week cannot make ends meet.
Taihoa on Immigration?
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, June 7th, 2016 - 213 comments
Winston Peters has called for a slashing of migrant worker numbers and for screening of would be workers based on things like their attitude to women. Is it time for a taihoa on immigration or is Winston just doing a Trump?
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 27th, 2016 - 76 comments
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Child poverty has been monitored – now what?
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, December 18th, 2015 - 104 comments
A guest post from McFlock on what we might do about poverty when the talking’s done.
Food Bank Charity
Written By: - Date published: 4:45 pm, October 30th, 2015 - 97 comments
Guest post from Kōrero Pono on the politics and ethics of food banks.
Making Like Private Frazer
Written By: - Date published: 1:20 pm, September 14th, 2015 - 20 comments
Political awakenings.
2.1 Times More Likely to get a pay rise…
Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, September 2nd, 2015 - 6 comments
If you still wonder WHY anyone would want to join a union, the fact that union members are 2.1 x more likely to get a pay rise might make you wade through the anti-union propaganda. Some unions escape scorn, like the Police Union which is referred to as an Association. It’s probably an oversight though, not anything deliberate…
Dear Maccas, Burger King and Wendys, about those zero hour contracts
Written By: - Date published: 4:56 pm, April 10th, 2015 - 11 comments
Following its success in persuading Restaurant Brands to do away with zero hour contracts Unite Union has set up a webpage where people can email these organisations.
The “Brighter future”.
Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, March 21st, 2015 - 34 comments
Labour, in 1984, with Richard Prebble and Roger Douglas, promised that if we adopted their prescription we would have a “Brighter Future”. Ruth Richardson in the 90’s promised a “Brighter Future”. Again in 2014 John Key’s National promises a “Brighter Future”.
A “Brighter Future”. For whom?
‘Ditch the [misleading] rhetoric’
Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, December 12th, 2014 - 16 comments
On RNZ this morning PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff criticised Bill English for his misleading rhetoric about rises in “average wages”. NZ’s income and wealth gaps have increased in recent decades. The lowest income remain low; the top earners get big salary increases.
This is not business as usual. This is not some hippy over-reaction. This is serious shit!
Written By: - Date published: 4:18 pm, December 11th, 2014 - 55 comments
New author Mandy Hager joins us with some reflections on having become a grandmother: “So that’s why I’m speaking out now, every opportunity I get. Not because I like the exposure (shudder), but because I love this tiny little person and I will fight for his future, come what may. It’s the right thing to do. …”
Hiding the government’s failure on poverty
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, October 17th, 2014 - 81 comments
Thanks to Radio New Zealand, we now know that National got no real plan to address poverty, but also that they really, really don’t want to be honest about it.
Boots Theory: Numbers are meaningless when families are living in cars
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, October 5th, 2014 - 137 comments
There’s something obscene about the way the economic story gets framed: the figures on a page, the points on an index, the number of dollars someone can swap for a number of different-coloured dollars, when people are suffering.
The hairdressers of Levin and Foxton
Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, September 13th, 2014 - 44 comments
John Key reckons increasing the minimum wage would hurt “the hairdressers in Levin or Foxton”. So Rob McCann, Labour’s candidate for Ōtaki, asked one how she felt about that.
Parker nails English on economic policy
Written By: - Date published: 2:25 pm, August 25th, 2014 - 32 comments
Labour has the bold set of policies to take New Zealand forward into the 21st century – National’s “same old same old” tinkering will see the Kiwi skiff swamped. That was the clear conclusion from the debate between David Parker and Bill English on National Radio this morning.
Polity: Minimum wage rises do not cause unemployment
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 16th, 2014 - 48 comments
In the cartoon world of Economics 101, there is perfect supply, perfect competition, perfect demand, perfect information and prices for labour (and everything else) are set at their true market values. The real world is somewhat different.
Occasionally Erudite: Please, Labour, stop trying to link everything to the housing crisis
Written By: - Date published: 11:20 am, May 21st, 2014 - 99 comments
Jono at Occasionally Erudite has this advice to offer the strategy team at Labour. Make sure pushing of theme(s) this election doesn’t get snagged into the irrelevant that doesn’t have much to do with it. For instance “…are people currently earning minimum wage really likely to be even close to getting into the Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington housing markets?”
Trickleup
Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, January 26th, 2014 - 207 comments
There has been an abundance of research showing that communities and societies function better when their resources are shared around. But the need to persuade ordinary people that this is so is the most important thing to achieve. Because without popular support attempts to change the current system are bound to fail.
UBI
Written By: - Date published: 8:47 pm, January 7th, 2014 - 359 comments
New Zealand was once considered one of the best places on earth to live. It could be again …
A Tale of Two Cities
Written By: - Date published: 10:03 pm, December 19th, 2013 - 88 comments
It was the best of times in Wellington today. Council workers will get a living wage, and parking wardens will become council employees so they will get decent pay also. It was the worst of times in Auckland as the right-wing Scrooges having failed to remove Mayor Len Brown took it out on their workers by overturning his call for a living wage for Council staff.
Cunliffe stands strong for fair pay and your work rights
Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, October 10th, 2013 - 139 comments
David Cunliffe showed that he wasn’t just pandering for votes in the leadership race by reaffirming and strengthening his commitment to work rights at the CTU conference yesterday. When David is PM the minimum wage will rise to $15 an hour, the public service will set an example by paying the living wage, and the Nats’ attacks on rights will be reversed – no more Fire at Will, no more youth rates.
“Predistribution”: From Miliband to Cunliffe
Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, September 23rd, 2013 - 41 comments
Ed Miliband got the idea of pre-distribution from Jacob Hacker. Cunliffe has followed. Can “pre-distribution” underpin a new direction for the left in NZ: one relevant to the challenges of the 21st century, especially in countering the too wide inequality gap & re-instating social democracy?
UBI. (Universal Basic Income).
Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, September 5th, 2013 - 230 comments
The concept of UBI has a long history in New Zealand.
Of course, we already have a UBI for those over 65. Which has been extremely successful at eliminating poverty amongst the elderly, at a very moderate cost by international standards.
A conservative view on low wages.
Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, July 25th, 2013 - 37 comments
It is a national evil that any class of Her Majesty’s subjects should receive less than a living wage in return for their utmost exertions… where you have what we call sweated trades, you have no organisation, no parity of bargaining, the good employer is undercut by the bad and the bad by the worst; …
Fairness at work and a living wage
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, July 21st, 2013 - 7 comments
The Government has been warned that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is likely to breach ILO conventions. Bridges has responded by saying that the breaches “may not be significant”. Why is it that the Government gets all hard core when dealing with beneficiaries legal obligations but is so casual when it deals with its own obligations?
Why Doug Heffernan wants you to keep paying too much for power
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, April 29th, 2013 - 49 comments
John Key has committed to giving up the National Party’s leadership if he loses the next election. That didn’t stop him from committing the next National Government from reversing NZ Power and putting up electricity prices whenever it comes to power . It got me thinking about the people who are so keen to kill NZ Power in its cradle and why. Today: MRP CEO Doug Heffernan.
Massive changes to employment legislation announced today
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, April 26th, 2013 - 137 comments
The changes announced today to employment law represent the most serious attack on the rights of working people to a fair go since 1991. As I wrote on this blog that the Bill will reduce the Employment Relations Act to a farce and the result will be wages are driven down and employment agreements broken […]
Towards a more inequal New Zealand
Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, February 27th, 2013 - 30 comments
The average CEO got a 10% pay rise last year. The average worker got 2.6%. Minimum wage workers will get 1.9% – a 25 cent an hour token gesture. And 30,000 fewer of us have jobs than a year ago and are not earning at all any more. And now we learn the finance sector sucked $440m more out of us last year – a total of $4 billion. No wonder the planes to Aussie are full.
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- Bill English misleads Parliament on Police statementBill English's attempt to restore his damaged credibility over the Todd Barclay affair has backfired after his claim to have "reported" Mr Barclay's actions to Police has proven not to be true, says Labour MP for Wellington Central Grant Robertson. ...4 days ago
- Keep it Public
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- Labour to invest in public transport for Greater ChristchurchLabour will commit $100m in capital investment for public transport in Greater Christchurch, including commuter rail from Rolleston to the CBD, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “As the rebuild progresses, there are huge opportunities for Greater Christchurch, but ...5 days ago
- Green Party will repeal solar taxIt’s ridiculous for an electricity distribution monopoly to apply a charge on solar panels but worse than that, it’s harming our effort to tackle climate change. Hawke’s Bay lines company Unison last year announced a new solar charge for their ...5 days ago
- English fails the character test over BarclayBill English is hoping this scandal will go away, but he is still dodging important questions over his role in covering up for Todd Barclay, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...5 days ago
- Government must apologise for Christchurch schools stuff-upThe Ombudsman’s findings that the Ministry of Education botched the reorganisation of Christchurch schools after the 2011 earthquake are damning for an under-fire National Government, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins. “The Ombudsman has found the reorganisation of schools in ...5 days ago
- Government’s multinational tax measures weakThe Government’s proposals to crack down on multinational tax avoidance, by its own admission only recovering one third of the missing money, means hardworking Kiwis will bear more of the tax burden, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Michael Wood. “The Government ...6 days ago
- World Refugee Day – we can do our bitI’m really proud that yesterday, on World Refugee Day, the Greens launched an ambitious plan to increase the refugee quota to 5000 over the next six years. Of those places, 4,000 will be directly resettled by the government and another ...6 days ago
- PM’s leadership in question over Barclay affairThe Prime Minister must belatedly show some leadership and compel Todd Barclay to front up to the Police, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “Twice today Bill English has been found wanting in this matter. ...6 days ago
- Another memory lapse by Coleman?The Minister of Health ‘couldn’t recall’ whether the Director General of Health Chai Chuah offered his resignation over the Budget funding fiasco involving the country’s District Health Boards, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “In the House today Jonathan Coleman ...6 days ago
- Bill English needs to come clean over BarclayBill English needs to explain why he failed to be upfront with the public over the actions of Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay, following revelations that he knew about the secretly recorded conversations in the MP’s electorate office, says Labour Leader ...7 days ago
- Minister, show some backbone and front up and debateRather than accusing critics of his Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill of telling ‘lies’, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell should show some backbone and front up to a debate on the issue, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “Te ...7 days ago
- Equal pay for mental health workersToday, mental health workers are filing an equal pay claim through their unions. Mental health support workers do important and difficult work in our communities. But because the workforce is largely female, they are not paid enough. It’s wrong for ...1 week ago
- Nats’ HAM-fisted housing crisis denialNational’s decision to knowingly release a flawed Housing Affordability Measure that underestimates the cost of housing is the latest evidence of their housing crisis denial, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...1 week ago
- New Pike footage builds compelling case for mine re-entryNew footage of the Pike River Mine deep inside the operation, revealing no fire damage or signs of an inferno, provides a compelling reason to grant the families of Pike River’s victims their wish to re-enter the drift, says Labour ...1 week ago
- Labour will get tough on slum boarding housesThe next Labour-led Government will legislate a Warrant of Fitness based on tough minimum standards to clean out slum boarding houses, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. “It’s not acceptable for New Zealanders in the 21st Century to be living ...1 week ago
- Green Party tribute to Dame Nganeko Minhinnick
Haere ngā mate ki tua o paerau; te moenga roa o ngā mātua tupuna. Haere, haere, haere. It was with a huge sense of loss that we learned of the death of Dame Nganeko Minhinnick yesterday. The Green Party acknowledges ...1 week ago - Urgent answers needed on DHB fundingJonathan Coleman must come clean and answer questions about what actual funding DHBs received in Budget 2017, says Labour Health Spokesperson David Clark. ...2 weeks ago
- Treasury puts Māori Land Service on red alertA damning Treasury report raises serious questions about the delivery of Te Ururoa Flavell’s proposed Māori Land Service, giving it a ‘red’ rating which indicates major issues with the project, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “Treasury’s Interim Major Projects Monitoring ...2 weeks ago
- Economy stalling after nine years of National’s complacencyThe second successive quarterly fall in per person growth shows the need for a fresh approach to give all New Zealanders a fair share in prosperity, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. ...2 weeks ago
- Kiwi kids deserve much moreAll Kiwi kids deserve so much more than the impoverished picture painted by the shameful rankings provided by the UNICEF Innocenti Report Card, says Labour’s children spokesperson Jacinda Ardern. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Zone a precursor to a total nuclear weapon banNew Zealand’s nuclear-free zone, legislated by Parliament in 1987, is something we all take pride in. It’s important, however, that we don’t let it thwart its own ultimate purpose – a world free of nuclear weapons. That goal must be ...2 weeks ago
- English must confirm we still stand by our principles on UN resolutionBill English must tell New Zealand whether we remain in support of the UN Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “After Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee’s evasive answers to repeated questions on ...2 weeks ago
- Māori party drop the poi on Māori healthThe Māori Party have dropped the poi when it comes to supporting Ngati Whakaue and Māori interests in Bay of Plenty by allowing an iwi owned and operated service Te Hunga Manaaki to be brushed aside in favour of a ...2 weeks ago
- Labour to invest in Whanganui River infrastructureLabour will work in partnership with the Whanganui Council to repair and redevelop the city’s Port precinct in advance of planned economic development and expansion. To enable Whanganui’s plans, Labour will commit $3m in matching funding for repairing the Whanganui ...2 weeks ago
- Parihaka: an apology
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- Councils step up as Nats drop the ball on housing crisisPhil Goff’s Mayoral Housing Taskforce is another positive example of councils stepping up where National has failed on housing, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 weeks ago
- Time for a breather on immigrationLabour will introduce moderate, sensible reforms to immigration to reduce the pressure on our cities, while ensuring we get the skilled workers our country needs, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “New Zealand is a country built on immigration. ...2 weeks ago
- Inaction puts Māui dolphins at riskConservation Minister Maggie Barry was at the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York last week, trying to convince the world that the New Zealand Government is doing a good job at protecting our marine environment. Yet last week after ...2 weeks ago
- National unprepared as immigration runs four times faster than forecastNational has been caught asleep at the wheel by record immigration that has outstripped Budget forecasts, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...2 weeks ago
- First home buyers shouldn’t carry the can for National’s failed policiesThe introduction of tighter limits on lending to first home buyers would see them paying the price for the National Party’s failure to recognise or fix the housing crisis, Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson says. “Nine years of denial and ...3 weeks ago
- Motel bill blows out as Nats fail to deliver emergency housingMinister Amy Adams has admitted at select committee that National has now spent $22m on putting homeless families in motels as it fails to deliver the emergency housing places it promised, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...3 weeks ago
- Minister, how out of touch are you?What was going through Jonathan Coleman’s head in the Health Select Committee this morning when he claimed he was unaware that an estimated 533,000 people have missed out on a GP’s visit in the last 12 months due to cost, ...3 weeks ago
- Divided we fallI’m getting pretty sick of the politics of division in this country. The latest example was yesterday’s comments from NZ First leader Winston Peters having a good go in the House at driving up fear and loathing towards people of ...3 weeks ago
- Labour’s Electoral Amendment Bill to enhance democracyDemocracy will be enhanced under Labour’s Private Member’s Bill which will have its First Reading today, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson MP Meka Whaitiri. ...3 weeks ago
- Police underfunded despite rise in crimeAs crime continues to rise dairy owners are scared for their lives and communities reel under a record increase in burglary numbers, it has now been revealed that Police received less than three quarters of their bid in this year’s ...3 weeks ago
- Road pricing years off, public transport investment needed nowWith road pricing still years away, Labour will step up with investment in public transport to ease Auckland’s congestion woes, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...3 weeks ago
- Call to protect Easter Sunday in AucklandAuckland’s Labour MPs are backing the community to protect Easter Sunday by retaining current trading restrictions in the city, says Labour MPs Aupito William Sio and Michael Wood. “The Government’s weak and confusing decision to delegate the decision over Easter ...3 weeks ago
- $2.3 billion shortfall in healthThe funding needed for health to be restored to the level it was seven years ago to keep pace with cost pressures has widened to a massive $2.3 billion, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “We used to have a health ...3 weeks ago
- Government RMA Changes Ominous for Future of Water
Recent changes by government to the Resource Management Act pointed to a grim future for the public’s water and in particular rivers say the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA). ...8 hours ago - Environmental victory for coastal marine speciesIn a significant victory for New Zealand’s coastal wildlife, the High Court has backed a landmark 2016 Environment Court finding that Regional Councils can protect their marine environment using the RMA. Forest & Bird has previously criticised ...8 hours ago
- Helensville -Winston Peters Public MeetingNew Zealand First Party Leader the Rt. Hon Winston Peters will be conducting a public meeting on Sunday 2nd July, at 1.30pm, to be hosted by the New Zealand First Helensville Electorate. The meeting is open to all and will ...11 hours ago
- NZ First’s Campaign for the Regions shows welcome commitmentNew Zealand First’s Campaign for the Regions which was launched yesterday contains a number of commitments Local Government New Zealand welcomes. ...12 hours ago
- The Treasury appoints new Deputy SecretaryTreasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf has announced the appointment of Jon Grayson as the Treasury’s new Deputy Secretary, Financial & Commercial. ...12 hours ago
- Neoliberalism stopped the rise in inequality"The left-wing hullabaloo is wrong, inequality hasn't changed in 20 years", said Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, responding to new research findings by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. ...13 hours ago
- Insurance Council supports thrust of EQC reformsThe Insurance Council of New Zealand supports the thrust of the reforms to the EQC Act announced by the Government today, but seeks a clear expectation that insurers should be responsible for assessing and managing claims for house damage. “The ...13 hours ago
- Foreign Policy conference tackles forced migration, bordersForced migrations of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, the closing and enforcement of immigration borders, and the widespread misery and geopolitical instability that ensues is the focus of the Otago Foreign Policy School that takes place this weekend. ...13 hours ago
- New Documents Confirm EQC Inquiry NeededThat from Christchurch lawyer Dr Duncan Webb after documents released under the Official Information Act show that Southern Response is to step in and take over EQC’s botched repairs of AMI insured houses. ...14 hours ago
- Sugar kills more New Zealanders than drugsJust hours from the Fizz Symposium opening Mika Haka , Auckland Central candidate for The Opportunities Party states: ...14 hours ago
- Five Hundred make Joint Submission on NZ Suicide PlanThe deadline for public submissions on the Ministry of Health’s Suicide Prevention Strategy closed today, and the People’s Mental Health Review has been gathering submissions for a joint submission. ...15 hours ago
- Water Charges – A Political And Policy Can Of WormsINSIGHTS ABOUT THE NEWS - Public and political pressure for a charge on bottled water exports is continuing to mount, however Ministers are still determined to kick the issue out beyond the election. ...16 hours ago
- Five actions to save our oceansFresh from UN talks in New York, a University of Auckland doctoral student has drafted five key actions she says New Zealand must take now to protect our oceans. ...16 hours ago
- Unanimous Cross-Party Support Reached on Students’ WelfareA remit successfully passed by the National Party Conference on Saturdaymarks a full cross-party political consensus on the increase of weekly loan living costs, according to the Aotearoa Students’ Alliance. ...17 hours ago
- New Dingle Foundation Programme Builds ResilienceThe Graeme Dingle Foundation is launching its latest research and evaluation report at Parliament tomorrow, which confirms the effectiveness of its newest programme, MYND Sibling. ...17 hours ago
- Sarah Thomson Sues NZ Government Over Climate Change TodayMy name is Sarah Thomson I’m a 26-year old law student, and I’m taking the Government to court over their failure to act on climate change. The case will be heard in the Wellington High Court over three days from ...17 hours ago
- David Seymour’s End of Life Choice BillRight to Life requests that Members of Parliament support a culture of life, by voting down this contentious bill at its first reading. This was the prudent action of Parliament when defeating Michael Law’s Death with Dignity bill in 1995 ...17 hours ago
- Social Media Accounts of all General Election CandidatesFrom Snapchat to Facebook, a complete list of all the social media accounts of candidates contesting the upcoming General Election ...18 hours ago
- Rally outside High Court supporting climate caseA rally supporting Sarah Thomson's climate change case against the Minister for Climate Change Issues is happening at 9:30 am outside the Wellington High Court today. ...18 hours ago
- Enrolment packs go out to 3.15m votersMore than three million packs will be sent out this week as the Electoral Commission launches its campaign to enrol voters for the 2017 General Election. ...18 hours ago
- New Political Party Offers EmpowermentNew Political Party Offers Empowerment June 23 2017 Kia Koe Party Press Release Tags: Politics, voting and policies. ...1 day ago
- Get a grip, sugar is not the ‘new tobacco’Anti-sugar political campaigners, launching their election campaign tomorrow for a new ‘soda tax’, show their true colours when they make ridiculous claims that ‘ sugar is the new tobacco’ . ...1 day ago
- English puts cart before the horse in tax cut offer“Tax cuts shouldn’t be contingent on healthy growth and incomes, tax cuts are the pathway to healthy growth and incomes,” said Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, responding to Prime Minister Bill English’s speech to ...1 day ago
- Labour’s “About Face” on Rivers Sad for EnvironmentA national trout fishing organisation says the Labour Party’s reversal of its policy on charging commercial users for use of freshwater is a retrograde 180 degree turn around and therefore disappointing. ...2 days ago
- PCE receives Forest & Bird ‘Old Blue’ environmental awardForest & Bird has awarded the outgoing Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment an ‘Old Blue’ for her significant contribution to New Zealand’s environment and wildlife. “Over ten years, Dr Jan Wright’s insightful reports have illuminated ...2 days ago
- Nick Smith re-writes Ngati Paoa historyNick Smith re-writes Ngati Paoa history In an interview on Te Karere yesterday, Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith dismissed Labours alternative plan for Treaty settlement with Ngati Paoa saying “…Ngati Paoa is wanting to do housing on their ...2 days ago
- Antarctica Conference puts the spotlight on climate changeAntarctica Conference puts the spotlight on climate change Media release for immediate use on 25 June 2017 Over 150 leading scientists from New Zealand and around the world are coming together over the next three days to showcase the latest ...2 days ago
- Q+A: Anthony Wilson and Andrew LittleQ+A: Anthony Wilson interviewed by Jessica Mutch | Andrew Little also interviewed by Jessica Mutch ...2 days ago
- Q+A: Prime Minister Bill English interviewed by Corin DannPrime Minister still “unclear” of Todd Barclay employment dispute details Prime Minister Bill English says he is still unclear of exactly what happened between Todd Barclay and the staff member who took an employment dispute against him. ...2 days ago
- Kiwis And Govt Fleeced in Massive Fuijxerox NZ RacketKiwis And Govt Fleeced in Massive Fuijxerox NZ Racket Schools, councils and the government have been fleeced by the $500m fraud at FujiXerox NZ – with the financial fallout on schools and ratepayers likely to be felt in coming months. ...2 days ago
- The Nation: Lisa Owen interviews Hone HarawiraOn The Nation: Lisa Owen interviews Hone Harawira Headlines: Mana Party Hone Harawira has raised the idea of executing Chinese drug dealers, imprisoning them for life or deporting them, as a response to the methamphetamine problem in his area. “We ...3 days ago
- The Nation: Patrick Gower interviews Bill EnglishOn The Nation: Patrick Gower interviews Bill English Headlines: Prime Minister Bill English now says there’s no evidence that his MP Todd Barclay actually did make recordings of his colleague, Glenys Dickson. English says he’s satisfied that the ...3 days ago
- Hamilton student to battle Govt in landmark climate lawsuitFriday, June 23: A law student from Hamilton is preparing to challenge the Government in the High Court on Monday over what she says is a “failure” to properly address climate change. ...3 days ago
- Roy Morgan Poll – National Party consolidates leadIn June New Zealand’s governing National Party has jumped 3.5% to 46.5% after Finance Minister Steven Joyce handed down a New Zealand Budget projecting a string of surpluses over the next few years. National are now well ahead of the ...3 days ago
- Last chance for Lawrence Yule to release expensesNational Party Tukituki Candidate and former Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule, is the only mayor in New Zealand whose travel, entertainment, and slush fund is kept secret from New Zealand ratepayers as head of ratepayer-funded lobby group, Local Government ...4 days ago
- TOP’s Mika on Labour bringing in unpaid overseas studentsOpportunities Party Auckland Central Candidate Mika responds to Labour Party bringing in unpaid overseas students. ...4 days ago
- NZ Cuban friendship group condemns Trumps anti-Cuba policyThe Auckland Cuba Friendship Society has condemned the latest rollback of the Obama presidency’s easing of relations with Cuba as a deepening of the blockade, now in place for 54 years. ...4 days ago
- Bridges’ handout sees taxpayers fork out $600 eachSimon Bridges has announced a second $300,000 non-refundable taxpayer grant to the Tarawera ultramarathon, apparently to attract only 500 international visitors in what must be one of the most ridiculous examples of corporate welfare to date. Jordan ...4 days ago
- LABOUR FOLDS TO FARMING LOBBYIn electoral desperation, the Labour Party yesterday abandoned any attempt to address one of the greatest concerns facing New Zealanders, the ongoing pollution of our waterways. ...4 days ago
- Southland plan gets ministerial go-aheadThe Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan has received sign-off by the Minister of Civil Defence Gerry Brownlee. This means it will set the scene for Emergency Management Southland and its partners for the next five years. ...4 days ago
- Shameful $19 Million Clean-up Bill For TaxpayersEnvironment Minister Nick Smith today provided a little good news and far more frustratingly bad news for our shameful national scrap tyre problem. ...4 days ago
- Green Party to run campaign to unseat Nick Smith in NelsonThe Green Party is today announcing that its Nelson candidate, second term local councillor Matt Lawrey, will run to win the electorate and unseat Nick Smith in September’s election. ...4 days ago
- Green Party Run Campaign to Unseat Nick Smith in NelsonThe Green Party is today announcing that its Nelson candidate, second term local councillor Matt Lawrey, will run to win the electorate and unseat Nick Smith in September’s election. ...4 days ago
- Government announces false solution for tyre woesAfter rejecting an industry-designed workable product stewardship scheme for end of life tyres, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today the government would allocate $19 million taxpayer dollars into a false solution instead - most of the ...4 days ago
- More than 1000 place names taken forwardThe New Zealand Geographic Board made decisions on 1109 New Zealand, Antarctic and Undersea place names at its recent meeting on 18 May 2017. ...4 days ago
- Two Reports Show Health & Poverty Gaps WideningTwo reports released last week show need for real concern about widening children’s health & poverty gaps, according to the Closing the Gap organisation. ...4 days ago
- Simple, nation-wide window-washer rules needed – WDCWhangarei District has reiterated that window washers at intersections are a significant problem in the District and that simple, low-cost, nation-wide laws are needed to manage them. Speaking to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee ...5 days ago
- Auditor-General’s report, Border securityThe Auditor-General’s report Border security: Using information to process passengers was presented to the House of Representatives today. This report looks at whether staff working on the frontline at major ports have the information they need to effectively ...5 days ago
- Police Association launches election year policy documentPolice Association launches 2017 election year policy document: Towards a Safer New Zealand ...5 days ago
- New zone plan for Taupō catchmentA new high-level plan to guide Waikato Regional Council’s work to promote a healthy catchment in the crucial Lake Taupō zone has been approved by the integrated catchment management committee today. ...5 days ago
- Breaking: Jesse Mulligan just absolutely owned Bill English on The Project
Tonight on The Project between burger talk and Hanson, Jesse Mulligan addressed a savage monologue to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Here it is, transcribed for your eyes. I saw something on Twitter from the Prime Minister. I know what you’re ...6 hours ago - Social housing candidate has links to Manus detention centre
One of the consortiums shortlisted to buy Housing New Zealand homes in Christchurch has links to a company accused of human rights breaches on Manus Island. ...7 hours ago - Barclay scandal ‘sad situation’ – PMPrime Minister Bill English is dismissing the Todd Barclay controversy as an employment dispute between two people. ...9 hours ago
- Better Call Saul: an end and a new beginning
With season three of Better Call Saul just finished, Jimmy and Kim have their own terrible futures to confront. Simon Wilson revisits his favourite programme (well, one of them). Contains some very cryptic spoilers. It’s like Star Wars in the strip ...11 hours ago - ‘No point asking me all these questions’: Bill English in his own words on the Barclay affair
The Todd Barclay affair has plunged the new prime minister into his first major political maelstrom, leading to claims of contradictory statements. Do they add up? Here’s our trawl of the key remarks.Text messages from Bill English to then Clutha-Southland electorate chairman ...11 hours ago - Māori writing in 2017: Apirana Taylor on the making of his novel about two alcoholic drug addicts
All week this week the Spinoff Review of Books looks at new Māori (and Pasifika) writing. Today: Apirana Taylor backgrounds his new novel set in “the criminal underbelly of New Zealand’s underworld”.I sat down one morning to write a sentence ...13 hours ago - Why is The Block NZ so damn white?
Property porn addict Ghazaleh Golbakhsh takes the premiere of The Block NZ out for a spin. Last night was the premiere of New Zealand’s sixth season of The Block NZ. It’s a franchise which I have previously managed to avoid, despite ...13 hours ago - When PJ falls off the foils, watch out
13 hours ago - The Spinoff Reviews New Zealand #35: Cooked Taro in Wellington
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. This time, Pani Chapman (staff writer Madeleine Chapman’s mum) reviews the best cooked taro in Wellington.I’m always looking out for the best cooked taro in ...14 hours ago - Is Cars 3 the most feminist movie of the year?
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We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Sam Brooks reviews the West Side Story touring blockbuster spectacle.I consider myself a big fan of musicals. I listen to them more than your ...15 hours ago - NZ law student takes government to court over climate policy ‘failure’
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz Hamilton law student Sarah Thomson speaking about her court case against the NZ government. Video: Greenpeace NZ A New Zealand law student is battling the country’s government in court today over an alleged “failure” to properly address ...15 hours ago - Why can’t New Zealand quit supermarket plastic bags?
Nearly half our mayors have signed a letter calling for a compulsory charge on plastic bags, and surveys show strong public support for the idea. Still the government remains staunchly opposed. If other countries can do it, why can’t we, ...16 hours ago - So it’s unanimous: all parties want to act for students, and the minister must respond
The National Party has voted: something needs to be done to improve students’ welfare. A new consensus has been formed, which may change the lives of struggling students across New Zealand, writes Jack CloseThree months ago, I launched a lobby ...17 hours ago - VIDEO: PM ‘gave no advice’ on Barclay recordingsPrime Minister Bill English does not know whether the recording at the centre of the Todd Barclay controversy still exists, he tells Morning Report's Susie Ferguson. ...19 hours ago
- VIDEO: PM on his changeable story over BarclayNational had its pre-election annual conference over the weekend but the Todd Barclay issue refused go away. Watch Bill English live on Morning Report. ...20 hours ago
- LIVE VIDEO: PM on his changable story over BarclayNational had its pre-election annual conference over the weekend but the Todd Barclay issue refused go away. Watch Bill English live on Morning Report. ...20 hours ago
- The Sure Things: Erica Stanford
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With a little help from David Bowie, Craig Stevens, president of the NZ Association of Scientists, surveys the challenges and possibilities of the moment, and the need for science to reach beyond the usual suspects. Five YearsI started my schooling in London ...21 hours ago - NZers in regions should their fair share – PetersWinston Peters wants 25 percent of royalties and taxes collected by the government from mining, petroleum and water to go back to the region it came from. ...21 hours ago
- NZers in regions should get their fair share – PetersWinston Peters wants 25 percent of royalties and taxes collected by the government from mining, petroleum and water to go back to the region it came from. ...21 hours ago
- Todd Barclay story shadows National Party conferenceThe Todd Barclay story is refusing to die, despite the best efforts of senior government ministers, as the National Party held its election year conference over the weekend. ...22 hours ago
- More than 100 PNG border soldiers from Papua frontier for pollsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz PNG border patrol soldiers … drafted for elections security duty. Image: EMTV News Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk The Joint Security Operation in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province will see more than 100 Defence Force troops ...1 day ago
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- PM dangles vague tax cut carrot
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- English: Barclay offered to play recording
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- National President backs Board over Barclay sagaThe President of the National Party says he backs his board as acting with integrity and professionalism throughout Todd Barclay affair. ...2 days ago
- Hughes stonewalls Dickson questions
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- Barclay affair a ‘tap’, not a ‘fatal blow’ for National – Deputy PMThe National Party faithful have been issued a stark warning that if they think this week has been a tough one, then they need to prepare for the next three months. ...3 days ago
- ‘We’re in a special moment in New Zealand cinematic history’ – Park Road Post’s Cameron Ha...
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- Green Party to contest Nick Smith’s Nelson seatThe Green Party will fight National's Nick Smith for the Nelson seat in this year's election, the first time the party has tried to win a seat since 1999. ...3 days ago
- Journalism loses a true hero
3 days ago - Complaints made to HRC over leafletsThe Human Rights Commission has received complaints about a series of leaflets including from Hobson's Pledge, a group fronted by Don Brash, which aims to end what it calls 'race-based privilege'. ...3 days ago
- PMC to host visiting Pacific exchange student journalistsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz University of the South Pacific’s Linda Filiai filming in the Fiji National Sports Stadium … “once in a lifetime” opportunity. Image: PCF Pacific Media Watch News Desk The Pacific Media Centre will host three student ...3 days ago
- The angel investor breakdown: do you really need millions of dollars?Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and ...3 days ago
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