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Should the Government spend massively more?
Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, August 8th, 2019 - 58 comments
With yesterday’s announcement by the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates by 1%, some are suggesting that the government should embark on a massive public works spree to stimulate the economy while increasing national debt at low interest rates. But Kiwisaver reform may be more effective.
Jacindamania
Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, July 28th, 2019 - 138 comments
Despite the babies and the engagements, maybe it’s time to ditch the default Jacindamania.
About the CGT decision
Written By: - Date published: 8:06 am, April 18th, 2019 - 232 comments
With the benefit of hindsight the decision not to proceed with a capital gains tax was almost inevitable.
CGT Dumped
Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, April 17th, 2019 - 244 comments
The Government has announced that there will be no Capital Gains Tax. It’s a shame, but it’s good politics.
Support Tax Fairness Reform
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, April 9th, 2019 - 16 comments
The Tax Justice Network has started a campaign to gain support for taxing capital as income to support and improve our public services. If you would like to support the campaign, you can sign the petition here or donate here. All funds donated will go to the campaign advertising.
Astroturf organisation accuses Tax Justice Aotearoa of being an astroturf organisation
Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, April 8th, 2019 - 18 comments
The Taxpayer’s Union (not a real union) has hit peak irony by accusing another organisation of being an astroturf organisation.
Tax Justice Aotearoa starts campaign in support of CGT
Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, April 8th, 2019 - 168 comments
Tax Justice Aotearoa has started a public campaign in support of a capital gains tax.
We need more than capital gains tax to address inequality
Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, March 25th, 2019 - 46 comments
The most important comment in the Tax Working Group’s Final Report is that even the reasonably comprehensive capital gains tax proposed is likely to have only a minor impact on addressing inequality — what is needed is a more progressive income tax system that lifts the top marginal tax rate
Landlord advocates threatening rent increases if Labour wins next election
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, March 11th, 2019 - 288 comments
A landlord has advocated that all landlords should threaten to increase tenant’s rentals if Labour wins the next election.
The tax debate – Dogwhistle time
Written By: - Date published: 8:07 am, March 7th, 2019 - 111 comments
National has resorted to race baiting in its attempt to denigrate the Tax Working Group’s proposed capital gains tax.
National’s Tax review strategy
Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, March 5th, 2019 - 107 comments
The Government is not due to announce its response to the Tax Working Group’s recommendations for a few more weeks. It appears that National using outrageous assumptions will take the opportunity to raise horror stories in the media on how bad the tax could be.
MAFS National Style*
Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, March 3rd, 2019 - 61 comments
National is grooming the voters for another dirty ACT.
Lies damn lies and tax analysis
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, March 2nd, 2019 - 67 comments
National’s claim that a capital gains tax would reduce the value of an average worker’s Kiwisaver account by $64,000 over a 45 year working life seems to be as valid as Steven Joyce’s claim there was an $11.5 billion dollar hole in Labour’s draft budget.
CGT as a Charitable Donation
Written By: - Date published: 12:44 pm, March 2nd, 2019 - 31 comments
Treat CGT like a semi-voluntary donation and give people a say in how it is spent.
Why New Zealand needs a capital gains tax
Written By: - Date published: 9:16 am, February 27th, 2019 - 249 comments
Expert comment suggests that a capital gains tax will redress inequality, improve the economy and make housing more affordable.
‘Taxpayers union’ – too ‘stupid’ to understand tax?
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, February 26th, 2019 - 59 comments
There is a classic piece of waffle in the NZ Herald about when capital gains tax will apply to the family home. But the conditions when this applies are extremely simple and obvious. However professed experts on taxation like the so-called ‘taxpayers union’ can’t understand them. Probably because they are paid not to.
Spare a thought for our poor impoverished landlords
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, February 25th, 2019 - 225 comments
Spare a thought for poor landlords who are aghast at the thought that they should have to share capital gains on properties they have purchased with no intent of making a capital gain.
It’s the kiwi way
Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, February 22nd, 2019 - 74 comments
National is engaging in hysterical levels of hyperbole in its response to the Tax Working Group’s reform package.
In defense of taxing the family home
Written By: - Date published: 7:53 pm, February 21st, 2019 - 129 comments
Let’s talk about why houses, art, and basically everything should be in the new Capital Gains Tax that Labour and New Zealand First should get onboard with, contrary to their reservations.
The Tax Working Group proposals
Written By: - Date published: 12:38 pm, February 21st, 2019 - 339 comments
The Tax Party working group’s recommendations have been released.
National and its no tax promises
Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, November 27th, 2018 - 38 comments
National have got out the old “no new taxes” songbook and are singing it as loudly as they can.
Tax Working Group report depressing reading
Written By: - Date published: 6:10 pm, September 21st, 2018 - 66 comments
The Tax Working Group says the gaping holes in our tax system make it unfair and undermine its integrity, but the prospect of the electorate embracing even its limited recommendations on taxing capital gains make for depressing contemplation.
Cullen says 2020 election effectively a referendum on tax
Written By: - Date published: 1:20 pm, March 7th, 2018 - 32 comments
Don’t hold your breath for recommendations of radical tax reform from the Tax Working Group. Chair Sir Michael Cullen says the 2020 election will be a referendum on tax and he is already kicking for touch
Tumbleweeds from National on the Tax Working Group
Written By: - Date published: 12:37 pm, December 21st, 2017 - 40 comments
A month ago Labour announced that Sir Michael Cullen would chair the tax working group and the National Party was cock-a-hoop! Steven Joyce said: “Sir Michael is many things but a politically independent voice on taxation policy he is not,” Judith Collins had fun with it too, in her regular spot on Newshub she dubbed […]
IMF: higher taxes for rich will cut inequality and won’t hurt growth
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, October 14th, 2017 - 104 comments
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it now favours higher taxes on the rich and has demolished the myth this might adversely affect economic growth. The authoritative Washington-based think tank in its influential half-yearly monitor also argued for taxes on capital, suggesting a wealth and/or land taxes should be considered, something that will make Gareth […]
Labour won’t regain power until it wins the tax debate
Written By: - Date published: 4:36 pm, September 25th, 2017 - 178 comments
Labour didn’t deserve to win on Saturday because, firstly, because it failed to bring a fully-fleshed tax policy to voters, and, secondly, it never attempted to win the ideological battle over tax. To succeed at the next election, Labour must begin work today to frame this debate.
Lets talk about tax policy
Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, September 14th, 2017 - 282 comments
Tax is emerging as the big issue of this campaign. How valid are National’s claims that Labour will introduce a variety of new taxes and what has National’s record been like? Update: in a smart tactical move Labour has promised no new taxes will be introduced until after the next election.
The actual implications of a Capital Gains Tax
Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, September 4th, 2017 - 109 comments
Matthew Whitehead looks at what the Greens, Labour and National really mean when they talk about a CGT.
Ardern cautious on capital gains tax
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, August 23rd, 2017 - 146 comments
Jacinda Ardern will not campaign on a capital gains tax, but will seek advice and will not rule it out in a first term. The Nats have introduced a week form of CGT already. A more robust version needs serious consideration.
Greens will finally close property speculators’ tax loophole
Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, August 22nd, 2017 - 71 comments
The Green Party in government will end the tax advantages property speculators currently enjoy under National by implementing a comprehensive tax on capital gains
More thoughts on the Labour-Greens Budget Responsibility Rules
Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, March 25th, 2017 - 111 comments
The Labour-Green Budget Responsibility Rules announcement this week ought to dispel the notion that Labour and the Greens cannot work together.
- Winning the battle on feebates
It looks like the government has won over the public on its vehicle feebate scheme:A feebate scheme that would transfer hundreds of millions of dollars from buyers of higher-emission cars into the pockets of people buying EVs and other more fuel-efficient vehicles has been winning favour with submitters, the Government ...21 mins ago - Dead white malesOver the weekend Stuff had an analysis of the demographics of our local body "representatives". It was a horrifying read. The average councillor is dead, white, and male, and there are more councillors named "John" than there are councillors born after 1980. Representative? Not very. Local government is basicly a ...47 mins ago
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- Mass mobilisations shake up Algeria
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- Upholding The Accused’s Right To Write.
3 days ago - Simon Bridges Leads National Down Into The Dark.
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- Against facial recognitionYesterday, we learned that Auckland Transport wanted to turn Auckland into a surveillance state, with an extra 8,000 cameras equipped with facial recognition technology. Today, we learned that the police want to use those cameras:The new cameras are capable of facial recognition but Auckland Transport (AT) said this function was ...4 days ago
- Report: Equality Network Hui 2019
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When the Justice Committee reported back on the Administration of Justice (Reform of Contempt of Court) Bill, free speech advocates breathed a sigh of relief. As originally introduced, the Bill reitered the ancient offence of "scandalising the court" - basicly, a special sedition law protecting judges from criticism. The select ...7 days ago- A reminder
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Those concerned for Langridge’s wellbeing say they hope he’ll change his mind when he sees the ocean coming. The protester who has vowed to stand outside Parliament every day until the Government announces a climate emergency says he accepts that his quest will most likely end in drowning. Ollie Langridge, ...2 weeks ago- New Fisk
2 weeks ago- Disappointing
Back in April, the Remuneration Commission allowed local authorities to pay childcare costs for councillors and community board members. It promised to be a significant step forward for local democracy, which would enable parents and would-be parents (as opposed to grandparents) to stand for council. But councils have to vote ...2 weeks ago- Swiss tax agreement tightens net
Opportunities to dodge tax are shrinking with the completion of a new tax agreement with Switzerland, Revenue Minister Stuart Nash announced today. Mr Nash and the Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger have today signed documents to update the double tax agreement (DTA). The previous DTA was signed in 1980. “Double tax ...2 weeks ago - Maintaining momentum for small business innovationSmall Business Minister Stuart Nash says the report of the Small Business Council will help maintain the momentum for innovation and improvements in the sector. Mr Nash has thanked the members of the Small Business Council (SBC) who this week handed over their report, Empowering small businesses to aspire, succeed ...2 weeks ago
- Seventy-eight new Police constablesExtra Police officers are being deployed from Northland to Southland with the graduation of a new wing of recruits from the Royal New Zealand Police College. “The graduation of 78 constables today means that 1524 new constables have been deployed since the government took office,” says Police Minister Stuart Nash. ...3 weeks ago
- Tax refund season ends near $600 millionAlmost $600 million has been paid into taxpayers’ bank accounts in the past two months, after the first season of automatic tax assessments. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says the completion of this year’s tax refund season is a significant milestone. “The ability of Inland Revenue to run auto calculations for ...3 weeks ago
- More than a bit rich for Goff to talk about honesty
Ratepayers around Auckland were spitting out their morning coffees listening to Phil Goff’s incredible claims on breakfast radio today that this election is about ‘honesty’ and that Aucklanders can trust him on his promises. Auckland Ratepayers’ ...36 mins ago - New Corrections plan for Māori “repeat of failed policies”The Hōkai Rangi plan for reducing Māori reoffending announced today fails to fulfil the Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendations, says justice organisation People Against Prisons Aotearoa. Minister Kelvin Davis announced the plan this morning, which aims ...2 hours ago
- Waatea Livestreams Second Historic Māori HuiWaatea News at the invitation of the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency will exclusively broadcast the next Māori-led Inquiry into Oranga Tamariki starting today at 1pm. ...3 hours ago
- Government support for homeless a welcome stepStaff at the Ministry of Social Development say they are enthusiastic about the government’s $54 million investment in housing the homeless, with many describing it as a welcome change. ...3 hours ago
- Exposed: ANZ sponsors of fossil fuel lobby group?Today posters have gone up outside ANZ branches across New Zealand to expose ANZ’s sponsorship of an exclusive oil industry group, ‘The Petroleum Club’. The satirical posters play on ANZ’s recent ad campaigns, replacing the banks’ tagline ‘healthy ...3 hours ago
- 2019 Toitū Hauora Māori Leadership SummitTe Rau Ora will host their annual Toitū Hauora Māori Leadership Summit at Te Papa in Wellington on the 21st and 22nd of August 2019. ...3 hours ago
- ‘Road to Zero’ Values New Zealand LivesImagine a country where children look forward to walking or cycling to school, parents arrive home safely, and the journeys we take for work or pleasure do more than leave us alive or uninjured, they also improve our lives. This is happening now in countries ...4 hours ago
- Children’s Commissioner calls on government to consult30 years of child rights: Children’s Commissioner calls on government to consult with children and young people ...17 hours ago
- Call For Inquiry Into Southern ResponseA light must be shone into every crack and crevice of government-owned Southern Response. ...17 hours ago
- Race to save Māui dolphins to land on Parliament stepsSunday, 18 August, 2019 - Environmental groups and well known New Zealanders are preparing to deliver a 55,000 strong petition to the steps of Parliament tomorrow, calling on the Government to protect the world’s smallest dolphin. ...21 hours ago
- Last chance to save Māui dolphinsThe Government’s proposed rescue plan must be strengthened because it is the last chance to save Māui dolphins from extinction and secure the future for Hector’s dolphins, Forest & Bird says. ...1 day ago
- The Nation: Dr Chris Wilson and Aliya DanzeisenOn Newshub Nation: Simon Shepherd interviews conflict & terrorism expert Dr Chris Wilson and Muslim community leader Aliya Danzeisen ...2 days ago
- The Nation: Infrastructure Minister Shane JonesSimon Shepherd: Roads, schools, hospitals, prisons, the building blocks that keep society functioning. And we don't have enough. It's called the infrastructure deficit and will be the focus of a major conference this coming week. The man charged with ...2 days ago
- Ardern must meet Pacific callsNew Zealand has been issued a stark challenge from Pacific leaders to dramatically upscale its action to address climate breakdown, Oxfam says, after a clear rallying cry from nations at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum. ...2 days ago
- Support for Recreational Dope Going ‘Up in Smoke’Support for Recreational Dope Going ‘Up in Smoke’ Family First NZ is welcoming yet another poll showing plummeting support for legalising cannabis in New Zealand. The Horizon Research poll shows support for legalising has plummeted from 60% last ...2 days ago
- Support to legalise recreational cannabis in declineThe prospect of ending wider cannabis prohibition looks increasingly unlikely. Over the last nine months, the percentage of New Zealanders who would vote for legalising the personal use of cannabis has declined at a near linear rate of around 10% per ...2 days ago
- News coverage hinders Smoke-free, says vaping boss“It’s disappointing that news out of the United States of hospitalisations linked to illegal street drugs is somehow seen as relevant to the New Zealand vaping scene,” says Ben Pryor, Director of Alt New Zealand – the largest Kiwi-owned vaping company. ...2 days ago
- NZ Psychiatrists tautoko handling of synthetic drugs billThe Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) welcomes the successful passing of Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill through parliament, by the New Zealand Government. ...3 days ago
- The system, not social workers, are the issue at OTThe Association is disappointed at comments made by Minister for Children Tracey Martin about Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Children, this week. ...3 days ago
- Coalition NZ response to Electoral Commission outcomeToday’s news from the Electoral Commission has provided the party with the clarity it was seeking around use of the word “Coalition” being used as the brand name of the party. ...3 days ago
- Why are we still building cold and damp homes?A recently released Otago University study has provided further evidence that low-quality housing is a significant problem in Aotearoa. This has prompted the Chief Executive of the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACENZ) Paul Evans to question “why ...3 days ago
- Manufacturing contraction bolsters case for tax reliefWith the BNZ-Business NZ PMI signaling manufacturing is contracting , the Government needs to seriously consider tax relief, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . ...3 days ago
- Maori Council calls for a public service executive overhaulThe New Zealand Maori Council has called for an overhaul of the Public Services executive ranks as the Corrections debacle shows mis-management and incompetence at the highest level. Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the New Zealand Maori Council has said ...3 days ago
- Consumer Survey findings lean to supporting workers rightsFindings from the 2018 New Zealand Consumer Survey have been released and the results are in; 48 per cent of respondents consider their purchases based on how ethically employees are treated. ...3 days ago
- Government responsible for Westland Milk saleThe responsibility for the fact that Westland Milk Products is now in the hands of an overseas conglomerate 25% owned by the Chinese government can be laid fair and square at our government's doorstep. ...3 days ago
- Big losses for dairy giant as plant milk popularity increaseAs Fonterra is projecting multi million dollar losses for the second year in a row, it is clear the writing is on the wall for dairy as more and more Kiwis turn to plant milks. 22nd August is International Plant Milk Day and there is now a different plant ...3 days ago
- Firearms owners hand in 12,183 firearmsNZ Police have now held 104 collection events and collected 12,183 firearms from around New Zealand so far. ...3 days ago
- “Low emissions fund” helps burn bunker oilThe $65,000 granted to Interislander so it can install electric vehicle chargers on its ferries is the most absurd waste of money yet to be delivered by the “Low Emissions” vehicle fund, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. ...4 days ago
- Child rights experts to speak at Wellington seminarWellingtonians will have the chance to hear international child rights experts from Ireland, Scotland and Samoa speak at the Making Child Rights Real in Aotearoa New Zealand seminar to be held in the city on Wednesday 21 August. ...4 days ago
- NPS on productive land – a balanced approach is neededPaul Evans, Chief Executive of the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACENZ), is advocating a balanced approach to the development of productive land. ...4 days ago
- New research supports CPAG’s call for a housing WOFCPAG (Child Poverty Action Group) says that new research from the University of Otago provides a solid foundation for why the Government must not delay instating a comprehensive Warrant of Fitness for tenanted homes in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and ...4 days ago
- Police collision with motorcycle following pursuit in ChchThe Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that an officer drove carelessly during a pursuit and that this was the primary cause of a collision with a motorcycle that injured the rider. ...4 days ago
- Funding for Pacific nations needs proper oversightResponding to the Prime Minister’s commitment of $150 million in funding for climate change response in the Pacific, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “It is no secret that many Pacific nations lack serious oversight when it ...4 days ago
- Central affiliation linked to success in local electionsAUT research not only shows an increase in political affiliation, but that candidates affiliated to a central political party are more likely to win seats in Auckland local government. ...4 days ago
- School Strike 4 Climate NZ stands with OllieOn the 23rd of August School Strike NZ will join Ollie Langridge in his 100th day of sitting outside of New Zealand Parliament calling for the government to declare a climate emergency. School Strike 4 Climate NZ also demand that Parliament acknowledge ...4 days ago
- A distress call from Kashmiri community in NZYou have stood up for what is fair, and I am sure you will speak for over 7 million people who have been muted and rendered voiceless in Indian occupied Kashmir for more than a 10 days now. I am writing to bring to your notice the plight of Kashmiri ...4 days ago
- Nine New Parliamentary Petitions launched for vital medicineIn the last 10 months alone, 11 petitions have been delivered to Parliament calling for medicines to be funded by Pharmac. Today, another nine petitions have been launched by Patient Voice Aotearoa (PVA) members asking that life changing, saving and extending ...4 days ago
- Miscanthus – Political lack of interestWhen we were first working to get Miscanthus approved for import into New Zealand, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) waived the fee for their work because they thought that having Miscanthus in New Zealand was so very much in the ...4 days ago
- Dunne Speaks: A Better Way to Fund Medicines?PHARMAC’s recent decision to fund two additional drugs from December this year has been widely welcomed by patients and the general public alike. The drugs, Kadcyla and Ibrance, are used in the treatment of advanced lung and breast cancers and will ...4 days ago
- SAFE urges Minister to appoint non industry expertsAnimal rights organisation SAFE is urging the Government to include experts and advocates from outside the agriculture industry on its newly announced winter crop grazing taskforce. ...4 days ago
- Nick Rogers to Retire from NZTA BoardNick Rogers is to retire from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Board on 17 September 2019. ...5 days ago
- Anti-housing rules to keep Kiwis locked outThe Government’s plans to prohibit housing on ‘productive’ farmland will serve as yet another regulatory tax on housing, and is a shameful breach of Jacinda Ardern’s promise to fix housing supply, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . ...5 days ago
- A little can go a long wayThe latest round of the Ethnic Communities Development Fund opens today, supporting projects that grow the leadership and capability of ethnic groups, improve cultural understanding, and ensure our ethnic communities are a vibrant and celebrated part ...5 days ago
- Hiking booze tax a terrible mistakeThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is warning of the dangers of hiking excise tax, in response to calls from a former Prime Minister for stronger action on alcohol harm. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “It seems inevitable ...5 days ago
- LGNZ cautious as government pits potatoes against housesLGNZ will be cautiously assessing the wider implications of the newly proposed National Position Statement on Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), noting that that it traverses a number of highly complex policy areas including housing affordability and property ...5 days ago
- HortNZ welcomes safeguarding of country’s best growing soilsHorticulture New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s draft National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land, saying it will help ensure that New Zealand can grow its own vegetables and fruit. ...5 days ago
- Publication of background documents for Budget 2019Background documents for Budget 2019 are now available from on the Treasury website: https://treasury.govt.nz/publications/information-release/budget-2019-information-release ...5 days ago
- Census undercount of Pacific families a serious concernPacific experts warn of the dangers of utilising census data that inadequately represents Pacific communities. ...5 days ago
- Inquiry welcomes confidentiality waiverThe Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has welcomed a move by Crown agencies to lift confidentiality obligations on survivors of abuse in State care arising from settlement agreements with the Crown. ...5 days ago
- Sexual Violence Court reduces lead-up times and traumaAn evaluation of New Zealand’s first sexual violence court has confirmed that the approach taken in the judge-led pilot considerably reduces the time that cases take to reach trial. ...5 days ago
- Shrink time, not space: How trains could revitalise the regions
High speed rail links between cities could play a massive role in revitalising regional New Zealand, says a visiting transport infrastructure expert. Professor Andrew McNaughton spoke to Alex Braae. Imagine commuting from Hamilton to Auckland, and it only taking an hour to get there. It’s a vision of how the right ...23 mins ago - International log war hurting NZ
The country's wood processors say the international log price war and protected overseas economies are crippling the New Zealand trade. ...24 mins ago - Staff had sufficient grounds to withhold inmate’s letter – Corrections boss
The Department of Corrections has asked the government to widen its powers, allowing more grounds under which it can block mail from prisoners. ...1 hour ago - Crash, cry and carry on: The often grim reality of riding a bike in Auckland
On the good days, riding a bike is the best. But in Auckland there aren’t nearly enough of those days, and unless decision makers take urgent action, that’s not going to change.This piece originally appeared on Bike AucklandMy first bike crash in central Auckland happened on Symonds Street. I was ...1 hour ago - Surge in pre-poll numbers at 2019 federal election changes the relationship between voters and parti...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Mills, Hon Senior Lecturer, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney On the morning of the last Monday in April, 2019, federal election officials opened the doors of more than 500 pre-poll voting centres around Australia, and waited for ...4 hours ago - How many people have eating disorders? We don’t really know, and that’s a worry
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Hart, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Last week, federal health minister Greg Hunt announced that more than 60,000 Australians will be asked about their mental health and well-being as part of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study. The mental ...4 hours ago - Ode to the poem: why memorising poetry still matters for human connection
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Veronica Alfano, Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University Memorising poetry was once common in classrooms. But it has, for the most part, gone out of style. There are good reasons for this. Memorisation can clash with creativity and analytical thought. Rote learning can ...4 hours ago - From Donald Glover to Phoebe Waller-Bridge: what exactly does a showrunner do?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Paul Fisher, Head of Directing, Department of Film, Screen and Creative Media, Bond University What do J.J. Abrams, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Shonda Rhimes, David Lynch, Aaron Sorkin, Donald Glover, Jenji Kohan, Jordan Peele, Tina Fey, and Joss Whedon have in common? They ...4 hours ago - The drivers of market mayhem
The inverted yield curve is to economists what Voldemort was to Harry Potter - the dark lord whose name should never be mentioned. ...4 hours ago - Phil Goff’s clean, green mayoralty re-election campaign launchPhil Goff has told supporters he'd make the environment the central plank of his Auckland mayoralty re-election campaign. ...5 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Incumbents launch mayoral campaigns amid stern challenges
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Mayors launch bids to return in Auckland and Wellington, Hamilton’s skyline could change significantly, and support for cannabis legalisation plummets in poll.Two incumbent mayors have launched their re-election campaigns over the weekend, with a bigger fight on their hands than ...5 hours ago - Helping people stay in tenancies a ‘critical’ step toward ending homelessnessThe government's new plan to prevent homelessness is being described by service providers as a critical step towards ending the problem. ...6 hours ago
- Garner’s strange outburst fitted PR strategy
MediaWorks has been lobbying the Government to turn TVNZ 1 into a non-commercial channel to help stem its own financial bleeding. Frustrated, and getting nowhere, it’s decided to change tack. ...6 hours ago - Confession time: some All Blacks doubts had crept in
The Wallabies arrived in Auckland with one hand on the Bledisloe Cup and flew home with it amputated. ...7 hours ago - Trade Me dragged feet on GST rort, retailers say
Customs has cracked down on a GST rort, leaving Trade Me to pay back thousands of dollars to customers who had new cameras and smartphones seized at the border. ...7 hours ago - Black Ferns sign off in style – but with work still to do
The 37-8 result meant the Black Ferns finished with a handy 5-1 record for the year, suggesting they are tracking well enough towards a successful defence of the 2021 World Cup. ...7 hours ago - Social procurement: a match made in heaven?
Nikki Mandow tells us why social procurement is more exciting than it sounds - and how it might change the world. ...7 hours ago - Everyone says they’re moving to New Zealand – ray of light in a bleak worldNew Zealand has long been the world’s imagined lifeboat – and increasingly for something more than just escape, writes Elle Hunt.One Friday morning in January 1847, Charles Dickens wrote to his friend John Forster that he was “disposed to go to New Zealand and start a magazine”. The quote was ...7 hours ago
- NZ needs to join the rest of the world and ban prescription medicine ads
New Zealand is one of only two developed countries, along with the US, that permits direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines, and it needs to stop, writes Dr David Menkes. It’s been a long time coming: a new Consumer report makes it clear that most New Zealanders want to see a ban ...7 hours ago - Banks behaving badly
A look at how our banks behave when the rules aren't tough enough. ...7 hours ago - Scott Morrison tells public servants: keep in mind the ‘bacon and eggs’ principle
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has a sharp lecture for bureaucrats about their KPIs, in a comprehensive speech laying down how he expects the Australian Public Service to operate under his government. Morrison stresses the service must be ...11 hours ago - Frydenberg outlines financial sector reform timetableSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has issued a timetable for the government’s dealing with the recommendations from the royal commission into banking, superannuation and financial services, which aims to have all measures needing legislation introduced by the ...11 hours ago
- Indonesian police raid Papuan student dormitory with tear gas, arrest 43
By Ghinan Salman in Surabaya As many as 43 Papuan students were taken to the district police headquarters after Indonesian police fired teargas and forced their way into a student dormitory in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya at the weekend. The Papuan students were forcibly removed from ...12 hours ago - For the first time in centuries, were setting up a generation to be worse off than the one before it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute Each new generation of Australians since Federation has enjoyed a better standard of living than the one that came before it. Until now. Today’s young Australians are in danger of falling behind. A new Grattan Institute ...12 hours ago - Review: Jonah is a troubled story of a tragic legend
Jamie Wall reviews Jonah, the two-part Three telefeature that follows the life of our most famous All Black, and finds it an effective but mixed retelling of the legend.Honestly, it’s a wee bit disappointing that the only notable on-screen dramatisation of the All Blacks in recent years was centred on replacement ...15 hours ago - Cheat sheet: The trouble with tarakihi
We love it battered and served with chips, but tarakihi stocks aren’t doing well and another big cut to commercial catch limits is in the works. Ah yes, terrakee, that’s a fish, right?Well, first things first, let’s say it correctly. Pronounce every syllable, remember the Māori vowel sounds (A-E-I-O-U), roll the ...17 hours ago - Government announces an extra $54m to stop homelessnessThe government will spend $54 million on fresh initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness. ...22 hours ago
- Lack of transparency hampers cancer drug debate
The debate over cancer drug funding us further complicated by lobby groups and opaque agenda. ...22 hours ago - Government announces more measures to prevent homelessnessThe government has announced extra measures to prevent and reduce homelessness. ...1 day ago
- Recipe: Seedy crackersGood on their own, even better with cheese – these crisp, moreish crackers are destined to become your new go-to savoury snack.These crackers have been on high rotation in our household – they’ve filled lunchboxes, accompanied fine cheeses on evening platters and been eaten by the fistful straight from the jar. ...1 day ago
- The Sunday List: 12 headlines about Adrian OrrLists are good and so are Sundays. We combine both those things in a new Spinoff feature. This week: Headlines from the past six months about the the Reserve Bank governor, Adrian OrrRBNZ prepares to stick its Orr inASB, March 29Banks Orr-struck yet againThe Australian, April 10Big banks brace for ...1 day ago
- They made the culture: An interview with the man behind Funny As
Over 300 hours of interviews condensed into five episodes that cover the entirety of New Zealand’s comedy history – how do you even start to approach that? Sam Brooks interviews Paul Horan, the documentarian behind the show.It’s one of those projects that sounds utterly futile – how does one cover ...1 day ago - Stereotypes and stigma: Drug use in the LGBTQ community
Judgement prevents understanding, which in itself is a barrier to preventing unsafe behaviour. Are different approaches to harm reduction in the Rainbow community needed? Sex. Drugs. Carly Rae Jepsen. This is the iconography that tends to be massaged into mainstream conceptions of gay culture. Depictions in TV/film see us railing lines ...1 day ago - Inside the enclave of old that may win John Tamihere the mayoralty
The Spinoff is covering local elections across the country with a new pop-up section. To kick things off, Hayden Donnell went to a mayoral debate at Grey Power on the North Shore of Auckland.John Tamihere walked into the mayoral debate at North Shore Grey Power on Friday just minutes after ...2 days ago - Inside the enclave of old that may win John Tamihere the mayoralty
The Spinoff is covering local elections across the country with a new pop-up section. To kick things off, Hayden Donnell went to a mayoral debate at Grey Power on the North Shore of Auckland.John Tamihere walked into the mayoral debate at North Shore Grey Power on Friday just minutes after ...2 days ago - Two’s company, three’s a crowd
The three parties in the coalition have to negotiate compromises, concessions and conquests week after week. ...2 days ago - Things I Learned at Art School: Simon Denny
Things I Learned at Art School is a new series featuring artists discussing how they do what they do and know what they know. In the second instalment, Megan Dunn talks to Berlin-based New Zealander Simon Denny about Michael Parekowhai, teaching and technology, and an idea involving the online shoe ...2 days ago - The best matchup in rugby is a long way from the field
With the acquisition of global rugby streaming leader RugbyPass, Sky might have just secured its future, writes Trevor McKewen.For several months now, the war between Sky and Spark Sport for the peerless prize of All Blacks and New Zealand rugby rights from 2021 onwards has been escalating. Every week, one ...2 days ago - Saturday short story: The closed fist, by Eileen Duggan
Today, a short story from the late 1920s, published in a posthumous new collection by Marlborough writer Eileen Duggan. Photo by Peter Black. ...2 days ago - Twiice: the family business making edible coffee cups
The Lightbulb asks innovators and entrepreneurs how they turned their ideas into reality. This week we talk to Jamie Cashmore, co-founder of Auckland-based edible packaging company Twiice. First of all, give us your elevator pitch for Twiice.Twiice is a company making edible coffee cups with plans to progress into other areas ...2 days ago - Black Ferns’ cowgirl proves doctors wrong
Black Fern Aleisha-Pearl Nelson was told by doctors, twice, that her rugby days were over - after serious horse-riding accidents. ...2 days ago - The giant parrot proves we have to save Foulden Maar
The recent discovery of a fossil parrot the size of a human toddler is even more reason for Foulden Maar to be protected, writes the chairperson of Save Foulden Maar, Kimberley Collins.Last week, scientists discovered a new species of extinct parrot in the St Bathans Fauna. Weighing in at seven ...2 days ago - Assessing the TVNZ, RNZ and Māori TV merger that everyone is talking aboutCould a new hybrid of all the government’s major media holdings solve multiple media and government problems? Duncan Greive assesses the case.The media industry, despite what some of us might like to believe, really doesn’t matter all that much economically. Doesn’t employ all that many people. Relatively low wage. ...2 days ago
- The three parties of power are taking their marks for the 2020 election
The three governing parties are turning their attention to next year’s general election. RNZ‘s Jo Moir surveys the field.The night New Zealand First formed a government with Labour and the Greens, its leader Winston Peters quoted the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”.Almost two years later all three ...2 days ago - The coming crisis in Taiwan
Protests in Hong Kong have attracted worldwide attention - but are we ignoring a more serious situation across the sea? ...3 days ago - Week in Politics: Political row follows chief statistician’s resignationAnalysis: The botched census brings down a chief executive, there's another wave of speculation about Christopher Luxon standing for National and NZ First could sink an attempt to reverse the ban on prisoner voting. ...3 days ago
- Australia has coal removed from PIF documentation
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Wording has played a crucial role in a reportedly “fierce” Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu with Australia allegedly managing to alter documental terms to downplay its commitment to climate change mitigation. According to RNZ Pacific, a communiqué and separate statement on climate change was released ...3 days ago - ‘Bullying’ Australia disregards Pacific over climate crisis, says 350 Pacific
Australia’s coal policy and its use of carry over credits to fulfill its obligations under the Paris Agreement have come under fire and been major points of contention at this year’s 50th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Meeting in Funafuti, Tuvalu. READ MORE: ‘We should have done more for our ...3 days ago - Pacific Island nations will no longer stand for Australia’s inaction on climate change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael O’Keefe, Head of Department, Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University The Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tuvalu this week has ended in open division over climate change. Australia ensured its official communique watered down commitments to respond to climate change, gaining ...3 days ago - Glamorising violent offenders with ‘true crime’ shows and podcasts needs to stop
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xanthe Mallett, Forensic Criminologist, University of Newcastle Even in death, the voice of Carl Williams is louder than that of his victims. Intimate prison letters written by the convicted murderer and drug trafficker to his ex-wife, Roberta – herself arrested this month ...3 days ago
- Anti-fluoride activists misrepresent a new kidney/liver study
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