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It’s Time.
Written By: - Date published: 2:46 pm, January 10th, 2022 - 324 comments
In seven or eight days from now, the dutiful lackeys of the NZ government and the public health dept they direct, are set to come after every child in NZ between the ages of 5 and 12 with injections of m-RNA to hand.
Friday will change Us As Citizens
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, October 22nd, 2021 - 210 comments
While we may have been lifted out of martial lockdowns and some rights have been reinstated in limited form, we have surrendered to another more pervasive power. The power of big data.
New Zealand Superconductors
Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, September 8th, 2021 - 18 comments
Just to note a little sadness at the sale of New Zealand’s High Temperature Superconductor business out of Scott Technology (a robotics specialist company based in Dunedin sold to a Brazilian meat company a few years back).
Let the Mills die
Written By: - Date published: 1:03 pm, June 24th, 2021 - 13 comments
From Kawerau to Nelson to Tiwai Point, our accelerated decline of heavy mass manufacturing factories continues.
Rangitata and the Future of the National Party
Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, October 24th, 2020 - 42 comments
As National reels from the disastrous 2020 election result could a policy based on high tech agriculture represent a way back?
How to kill the car
Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, April 29th, 2020 - 45 comments
What would you do so that instead of wandering endlessly through tilt-slab monstrosities soaked in 80s music and fluorescent lighting, surrounded by oppressed minimum-wage slaves who hate being there and you hating being there worried about your wheeled asset damaged in their carpark instead you get freedom?
Covid-19: Back home again
Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, March 17th, 2020 - 2 comments
As a programmer, I’ve had a lot of experience with working from home for work, last time was about 13 years ago. Yesterday we got shifted to working from home. The toolkit has changed a lot even in the last few years. What is going to be interesting for me is to see how companies disperse their employees out in the same way over this pandemic – that will be a real test of productivity.
The death of Holden
Written By: - Date published: 11:01 am, February 18th, 2020 - 43 comments
Thousands of households across New Zealand heard the announcement of the complete death of the Holden marque this week, as the death of one of the greatest binaries and one of the most closely teased and contested brands of all: Holden versus Ford.
Battery power gets way more interesting
Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, September 27th, 2019 - 35 comments
Anyone who has been around tech for the last couple of decades will be aware of the liberating and industry disruptive effect of batteries. This caught my attention – “Tesla May Have Invented a Million-Mile Electric Car Battery”. It was well worth the read.
5G flip flop
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, July 2nd, 2019 - 62 comments
Six weeks after banning China’s leading tech firm Huawei from contracts with U.S. businesses, U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have reversed it after meeting China’s Premier Xi Jinping.
Digital Corporations: Pay Us What You Owe Us
Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, February 19th, 2019 - 75 comments
The Government has indicated that it will seek to tax digital companies from overseas.
Spark vs Spooks
Written By: - Date published: 1:47 pm, February 13th, 2019 - 66 comments
Spark wants Huawei’s 5G technology because its the best and the cheapest. The GCSB spooks don’t want us to have it because 5Eyes and because the US has yanked their chain. The Prime Minister says no decision has been made – the media and the world think it is a goneburger. We should support New Zealand’s Spark, not US corporate interests.
The wonder of e-bikes and e-scooters
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 6th, 2019 - 20 comments
The rise of cycleways, e-bikes, and e-scooters is steadily revolutionising commutes around Auckland, especially Central Auckland. Like public transport the economic reasons for commuters are easy to understand. You don’t get ridiculous parking costs or the lousy variable commute times of fat footprint cars jammed up on crowded roads.
How To Get There 30/12/18
Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, December 30th, 2018 - 139 comments
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
Safe from prying 5Eyes
Written By: - Date published: 10:22 pm, December 8th, 2018 - 62 comments
I like my Huawei phone. Apparently the US National Security Agency can’t break its encryption. That’s presumably the “security” issue why Spark is being blocked from using Huawei, and why Meng Wanzhou is held hostage in Canada at the behest of US neocons.
Spooked!
Written By: - Date published: 2:52 pm, November 29th, 2018 - 29 comments
The GCSB ban on Spark’s use of Huawei technology means this government has gone from “honest broker” to poodle in a very short time. Pressure has been applied by the US and others, apparently fearing we are the “soft underbelly” of the Five Eyes spy network. Maybe its time we got out of that too – it was designed for war.
Censorship
Written By: - Date published: 2:07 pm, August 23rd, 2018 - 13 comments
It seems that if you’re the right person, harbour the correct thoughts, have the right connections, and you don’t like whatever the political opinion, news or information that’s floating about is, then you can get it banned.
More speakers arriving
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, August 3rd, 2018 - 20 comments
If you felt like being challenged but can’t quite imagine opening your leftie Facebook after going to Laura Southern, you could always open your minds for another for-profit event with a better class of speakers.
A Question from a Room.
Written By: - Date published: 6:02 am, June 19th, 2018 - 113 comments
Take a look around the room you’re in. Or if you’re out and about and reading this on some mobile device, then take a look around the next room you enter. Closely.
Would you step into a driverless car?
Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, May 11th, 2018 - 51 comments
And would you send your child off to a party in a driverless car?
Facebook Bullshit
Written By: - Date published: 12:04 pm, February 26th, 2018 - 70 comments
A very cursory glance at Facebook, Palantir Technologies, Cambridge Analytica, AggregateIQ, click bait, targeted ads…and what the hell is the FBI playing at?
Global Sharemarkets
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, February 15th, 2018 - 63 comments
Recent volatility in the U.S. stockmarkets has attracted calls that capitalism is facing a crisis. But the reality appears to be different.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership
Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, January 25th, 2018 - 137 comments
The positive aspects of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership.
A billion Indians
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, August 26th, 2017 - 33 comments
The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that privacy is a fundamental right to life and liberty under India’s constitution. Other countries recognise the right to privacy against the state. But commercial interest through social media have access to huge amounts of private information. Why should there be a right of privacy against the state but not corporate interests?
Are Government-business Think Tanks worthwhile?
Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, August 17th, 2017 - 7 comments
In America Donald Trump has abandoned business think tanks that he established not that long ago. During the last Labour Government Helen Clark established the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board with mixed results. What should a Jacinda Ardern led Labour-Green coalition do?
Why the America’s Cup is better than Rugby
Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, June 19th, 2017 - 136 comments
And now for something completely different. Is the America’s cup a more potent example of New Zealand’s unique place in the world than the Rigby World Cup.
Eight years to an electric transport world
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, May 31st, 2017 - 66 comments
The pace of change in transportation may mean that some time soon private ownership of petroleum cars may disappear.
David Cunliffe’s final speech
Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, April 23rd, 2017 - 28 comments
The text of David Cunliffe’s final speech delivered to the New Lynn Labour Party earlier this week where he decries neoliberalism and worries about the world’s environmental future.
Labour gets serious about regional development
Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, February 1st, 2017 - 46 comments
Labour is serious about regional development. It is proposing a 10 year $200m package of regional initiatives. The first of these was just announced in Dunedin.
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #25 2022
Stashing renewable energy Do a little internet sleuthing on renewable energy via your favorite search engine and you'll find some honest critique and much more dishonest misinformation (aka disinformation) to the effect that photovoltaic and wind generation are fickle energy supplies, over-abundant in some periods and absent in others. There's ...6 hours ago - Bryce Edwards: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t want this changed
The current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The juicy details coming out each day show private wealth being funnelled into some peculiar schemes in an attempt to circumvent the Electoral Act. Yet ...7 hours ago - Ideology and Foreign Investment
As in so many other areas of public policy, attitudes towards overseas investment in New Zealand – and anywhere, for that matter – boil down in the end to ideology. For proponents of the “free market”, there is really no issue. The market, in their view, must never be second-guessed; ...9 hours ago - Media Link: “A View from Afar” on NATO and BRICS Leader’s summits.
Selwyn Manning and I discussed the upcoming NATO Leader’s summit (to which NZ Prime Minister Ardern is invited), the rival BRICS Leader’s summit and what they could mean for the Ruso-Ukrainian Wa and beyond. ...11 hours ago - From “Friend”, To “Threat” – In Just Five Years.
New Zealand’s Most Profitable“Friend” Dangerous “Threat”: This country’s “Five Eyes” partners, heedless of the economic consequences for New Zealand, have cajoled and bullied its political class into becoming Sinophobes. They simply do not care that close to 40 percent of this country’s trade is with China. As far as Washington, London, ...13 hours ago - A Tale As Old As Time: Musings on the ‘Corporatisation’ of Tolkien
I have seen some natter around about how The Rings of Power represents the undue and unholy corporatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien. I won’t point out examples, but anyone who has seen YouTube commentary has a pretty good grasp of what I am talking about – the sentiment that ...24 hours ago - Uncomfortable Comparisons: If Labour’s Harking Back To 2017, Then It’s Not Looking For A Win.2017’s Queenmaker: Five years ago, Winston Peters’ choice ran counter to New Zealand’s informal, No. 8 wire, post-MMP constitution, which, up until 2017, had decreed that the party with the most votes got to supply the next prime minister. Had National not been in power for the previous 9 years, it ...1 day ago
- Treasury is ignoring long covid
I've read some bad stuff about long covid recently, and Marc Daalder's recent Newsroom piece about what endemic covid means for Aotearoa got me wondering about whether the government was thinking about it. Mass-disability due to long covid has obvious implications for health and welfare spending, as well as for ...1 day ago - A perfect exampleLast year, a stranded kiwi criticised the MIQ system. Covid Minister Chris Hipkins responded by doxxing and defaming her. Now, he's been forced to apologise for that: Minister Chris Hipkins has admitted he released incorrect and personal information about journalist Charlotte Bellis, after she criticised the managed isolation system. ...1 day ago
- Gil-galad is an Elven Chad: An Ode to the Leaks
Gil-galad is an Elven Chad Gil-galad is an Elven Chad But Celebrimbor makes them mad Digesting leaks from Amazon Of Isildur and Pharazôn. The hair is short? The knives are keen. The beardless face of Dwarven Queen? With meteor and man-not-named The fandom temper is inflamed. Of Annatar ...2 days ago - Dear striking British workers: F___ You! Love, the Labour Party
From the desk of Keir "Patriotic Duty" Starmer:“We have robust lines. We do not want to see these strikes to go ahead with the resulting disruption to the public. The government have failed to engage in any negotiations.“However, we also must show leadership and to that end, please be reminded ...2 days ago - Why the Ombudsman should not oversee Oranga TamarikiLast week the Social Services and Community Committee reported back on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People's Commission Bill. The bill attracted an unprecedented three minority reports and universal opposition from other parties, but Labour is going to ram it through anyway. Among other things, ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the fate of Julian Assange
Has swapping Scott Morrison for Anthony Albanese made any discernible difference to Australia’s relations with the US, China, the Pacific and New Zealand ? Not so far. For example: Albanese has asked for more time to “consider” his response to New Zealand’s long running complaints about the so called “501” ...3 days ago - What it would take for U.S. to meet its Paris commitmentThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The Biden administration in April 2021 dramatically ratcheted up the country’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions pledge under the Paris target, also known as its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Obama administration in 2014 had announced a commitment to cut U.S. emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels ...3 days ago
- An admission of guiltStuff reports that the National Party opposes greater transparency for political donations because it might have a "chilling effect" on donors: National says officials have underestimated “the aversion of donors to being publicly identified”. The party says only a “small fraction” of donors who currently give between $1,500 and ...3 days ago
- Tauranga: A Predictable Result, With A Warning Attached.Walking On Sunshine: National’s Sam Uffindell cantered home in the Tauranga By-Election, but the Outdoors & Freedom Party’s Sue Grey attracted an ominous level of support.THE RIGHT’S gadfly commentator, Matthew Hooton, summed up the Tauranga by-election in his usual pithy fashion. “Tonight’s result is poor for the National Party, catastrophic for ...4 days ago
- Nurtured by and dedicated to te reo Māori
Te reo Māori is Dr. Anaha Hiini’s life purpose. Raised by his grandparents, Kepa and Maata Hiini, Anaha of Ngāti Tarāwhai, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue descent made a promise at the age of six to his late grandmother, Maata Hiini. “I’ve always had a passion for Māori culture. My first inspiration ...4 days ago - Striving for recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi motivates Dr Carwyn JonesDr Carwyn Jones’ vision is to see Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the law given equal mana. Carwyn who holds a PhD in law and society and currently teaches Ahunga Tikanga (Māori Laws and Philosophy) at Te Wānanga o Raukawa after 15 years at Victoria University of Wellington has devoted ...4 days ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Tale of two summits – why Jacinda Ardern said no to the Commonwealth, but yes to ...Jacinda Ardern’s decision to attend the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Spain – but to skip the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda – symbolises the changes she is making to New Zealand foreign policy. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) starts today in ...4 days ago
- 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 12, 2022 through Sat, June 18, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): White lies: Daily Telegraph’s excitement over bumper snow season skates ...4 days ago
- What is the Medium-Term Future for the New Zealand Economy?
The outlook does not look that promising. Forecasting an economy is a mug’s game. The database on which the forecasts are founded is incomplete, out-of-date, and subject to errors, some of which will be revised after the forecasts are published. (No wonder weather-forecasting is easier.) One often has to adopt ...6 days ago - Ram raids then and now
by Don Franks It seems that almost each day now another ram raid shatters someone’s shop front and loots the premises. Prestigious Queen street is not immune, while attacks on small dairies have long stopped being headline news. Those of us not directly affected are becoming numbed to this form ...6 days ago - Labour: $1 million a year is “too much” for transparencyBack in 2018 the government proposed an OIA review. After a ludicrious attempt to do it in secret, they finally held a public consultation, which made a clear case for reform. They then sat on it for a year, before announcing out of the blue that they planned to rewrite ...6 days ago
- Sciblogs gave scientists a platform before social media took overIt’s hard to believe that when we created Sciblogs in 2009, the iPhone was only two years old, being a ‘Youtuber’ wasn’t really a thing and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok didn’t exist. But Science blogging was a big thing, particularly in the United States, where a number of scientists had ...6 days ago
- Bidding farewell to SciblogsFor 13 years, Sciblogs has been a staple in New Zealand’s science-writing landscape. Our bloggers have written about a vast variety of topics from climate change to covid, and from nanotechnology to household gadgets. But sadly, it’s time to close shop. Sciblogs will be shutting down on 30 June. When ...6 days ago
- Jacinda Ardern’s Radical Reshuffle.Radical Options: By allocating the Broadcasting portfolio to the irrepressible, occasionally truculent, leader of Labour’s Māori caucus, Willie Jackson, the Prime Minister has, at the very least, confirmed that her appointment of Kiri Allan was no one-off. There are many words that could be used to describe Ardern’s placement of ...6 days ago
- Protecting Freedom/Preventing Harm. Can New Zealand’s New Chief Censor Do Both?7 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the Penny Wong visitGood grief. Has foreign policy commentary really devolved to the point where our diplomatic effort is being measured by how many overseas trips have been taken by our Foreign Minister? Weird, but apparently so. All this week, a series of media policy wonks have been invidiously comparing how many trips ...7 days ago
- Skeptical Science tackles 'discourses of climate delay' and 'solutions denial'Where we've been Time flies. This coming summer will mark 15 years of Skeptical Science focusing its effort on "traditional" climate science denial. Leaving aside frivolities, we've devoted most of our effort to combatting "serious" denial falling into a handful of broad categories of fairly crisp misconceptions: "radiative physics is wrong," "geophysics is ...7 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24 2022Mercenary army of bogus skeptics on parade Because they're both squarely centered in the Skeptical Science wheelhouse, this week we're highlighting two articles from our government and NGO section, where we collect high-quality articles not originating in academic research but featuring many of the important attributes of journal publications. Our mission ...1 week ago
- Media Link: AVFA on Latin America.In the latest episode of AVFA Selwyn Manning and I discuss the evolution of Latin American politics and macroeconomic policy since the 1970s as well as US-Latin American relations during that time period. We use recent elections and the 2022 Summit of the Americas as anchor points. ...1 week ago
- Another referendum in Scotland?The Scottish government has announced plans for another independence referendum: Nicola Sturgeon plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence in October next year if her government secures the legal approval to stage it. Angus Robertson, the Scottish government’s constitution secretary, said that provided ample time to pass ...1 week ago
- Something is wrong in TaurangaOn Monday, Stuff reported that queer-supporting students at a Tauranga "Christian" school were subjected to chants of "kill the gays". This morning, a building hosting queer and trans groups was burned down in an apparent arson attack: A building used by Gender Dynamix – an organisation that aims to ...1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell on the price tag for closer US military tiesSo far, the closer military relationship envisaged by Jacinda Ardern and Joseph Biden at their recent White House meeting has been analysed mainly in terms of what this means for our supposedly “independent” foreign policy. Not much attention has been paid to what having more interoperable defence forces might mean ...1 week ago
- The most reliable hurricane models, based on their 2021 performanceThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters For those puzzling over the various hurricane computer forecast models to figure out which one to believe, the best answer is: Don’t believe any of them. Put your trust in the National Hurricane Center, or NHC, forecast. Although an individual ...1 week ago
- Proactive release: The documentsBack in April, Stuff was leaked a consultation copy of a cabinet paper on changes to proactive release policy. The full paper - The next steps in the public release of official information - was eventually released, but in the interim I filed an OIA request seeking information on the ...1 week ago
- Young people care about things that matterThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Scott Denning The excellent Julia Steinberger essay posted at this site in May provides a disturbing window into the psychology of teaching climate change to young people. It’s critically important to talk with youth about hard topics: love and sex, deadly contagion, school shootings, vicious ...1 week ago
- Applying genomics to the taxonomic dilemma of threatened albatrossesBy Imogen Foote (Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington) A lack of consensus among international conservation regimes regarding albatross taxonomy makes management of these ocean roaming birds tricky. My PhD research aims to generate whole genome data for some of our most threatened albatrosses in a first attempt ...1 week ago
- Misusing Tolkien and History: Loconte and Bellicosity
Joseph Loconte has clearly never met a War he didn’t like. A couple of years ago, he was using Tolkien to beat the drum at a time when war with Iran seemed imminent: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/dracones-et-bellum-tolkien-and-the-serpents-a-reply-to-joseph-loconte/ Now? He’s doing it again. This time, via wheeling out Tolkien analogies in the ...1 week ago - A durable U.S. climate strategy … or a house of cards?This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Richard Richels, Benjamin Santer, Henry Jacoby, and Gary Yohe Just when it seemed that real progress might be made on climate change, war has pushed climate concerns to the back burner. This shift in focus is understandable. War is affecting millions in ...1 week ago
- New look, but can Labour find a new focus?
Well, if that’s “minor” I’d be interested to see what a major reshuffle looks like.Jacinda Ardern has reminded New Zealand of the steel behind the spin in her cabinet refresh announced today. While the Prime Minister stressed that the changes were “triggered” by Kris Faafoi and Trevor Mallard and their ...1 week ago - The stench of corruptionA company gives a large amount of money to a political party because they are concerned about law changes which might affect their business model. And lo and behold, the changes are dumped, and a special exemption written into the law to protect them. Its the sort of thing we ...1 week ago
- Beating The Gangs.Active Shooters: With more than two dozen gang-related drive-by shootings dominating (entirely justifiably) the headlines of the past few weeks, there would be something amiss with our democracy if at least one major political party did not raise the issues of law and order in the most aggressive fashion. (Photo ...2 weeks ago
- The Recession New Zealand Has To Have?Going Down? Governments also suffer in recessions and depressions – just like their citizens. Slowing economic activity means fewer companies making profits, fewer people in paid employment, fewer dollars being spent, and much less revenue being collected. With its own “income” shrinking, the instinct of most government’s is to sharply ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on the flaws in National’s pet solution to gangs and povertyIn the 50 years since Norm Kirk first promised to take the bikes off the bikies, our politicians have tried again and again to win votes by promising to crack down on gangs. Canterbury University academic Jarrod Gilbert (an expert on New Zealand’s gang culture) recently gave chapter and verse ...2 weeks ago
- Macho chest-beating won’t tame the gangs, but Poto Williams’ “softly, softly” approach just ...Misdirection: New Zealanders see burly gang members, decked out in their patches, sitting astride their deafening motorcycles, cruising six abreast down the motorway as frightened civilians scramble to get out of their way, and they think these guys are the problem. Fact is, these guys represent little more than the misdirection ...2 weeks ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Why is New Zealand’s defence minister visiting South Korea?New Zealand’s defence minister, Peeni Henare, has had a very busy first half of the year. In January, Henare was the face of New Zealand’s relief effort to Tonga, following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano. Then, from March onwards, Henare was often involved in Jacinda Ardern’s announcements ...2 weeks ago
- 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #23Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 5, 2022 through Sat, June 11, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): The Future of Energy Storage, Are climate models wrong? (Naomi ...2 weeks ago
- Intersectional? Or sectarian?
James Heartfield wrote this article on intersectionalism and its flaws nine years ago. He noted on Twitter: “Looking back, these problems got worse, not better.” Published 17 November 2013. Is self-styled revolutionary Russell Brand really just a ‘Brocialist’? Is Lily Allen’s feminist pop-video racist? Is lesbian activist Julie Bindel a ...2 weeks ago - Bryce Edwards: NZ First’s court trial shows the need for political finance reformThe New Zealand First donations scandal trial began in the High Court this week. And it’s already showing why the political finance laws in this country need a significant overhaul. The trial is the outcome of a high-profile scandal that unfolded in the 2020 election year, when documents were made ...2 weeks ago
- NZME and TrumpThe televised hearings into the storming of the Capitol are revealing to the American public a truth that was obvious to some of us from the outset – that the Trumpian “big lie” about a “stolen” election was part of a determined attempt at a coup that would have been ...2 weeks ago
- Will We Be Thinking Big Again Soon?
When in 1980 I introduced the term ‘Think Big’ to characterise the major (mainly energy) projects, I was concerned about the wider issue of state-led development strategies. From that perspective, the 1980s program was not our first ‘think big’. That goes back to Vogel in 1870, who wanted to develop ...2 weeks ago - One country at a timeMalaysia will abolish the death penalty: The government has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, giving judges discretion in sentencing. Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the decision was reached following the presentation of a report on substitute sentences for the mandatory death penalty, which he presented ...2 weeks ago
- Deeply conflictedThe Petitions Committee has reported back on a petition to introduce a capital gains tax on residential property, with a response that basicly boils down to "fuck off, we're not interested". Which is sadly unsurprising. According to the current Register of Members' Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests, the eight members ...2 weeks ago
- Our Least Worse Option.We Can Be Heroes: Ukrainian newly-weds pose for the cameras before heading-off to the front-lines. The Russo-Ukrainian War has presented young people with the inescapable reality of heroism. They see Volodymyr Zelensky in his olive-drab T-shirts; they see men and women their own age stepping-up to do their bit. They have ...2 weeks ago
- SchadenfreudeI'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed the irony of Boris Johnson's desperate attempts to cling onto power.I recall, almost immediately after Jermey Corbyn was elected, a bunch of memes based on the WW2 film Downfall, associating the mild manner Jermey Corbyn with Hitler in his final, ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #23 2022Terms and conditions may change For myriad reasons we'd like to think and know that dumping our outmoded and dangerous fossil fuel energy sources may be difficult and may require a lot of investment but that when we're done, it'll be back to business as usual in terms of what ...2 weeks ago
- There needs to be accountability for thisYesterday the Supreme Court quashed Alan Hall's conviction for murder, declaring it was a miscarriage of justice. In doing so, the Chief Justice found that "such departures from accepted standards must either be the result of extreme incompetence or of a deliberate and wrongful strategy to secure conviction" - effectively, ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: The problem of “blindly following” the US against ChinaNew Zealand may have finally jumped off its foreign policy tightrope act between China and the US. Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern effectively chose sides, leaping into the arms of the US, at the expense of the country’s crucial relationship with China. That’s the growing consensus amongst observers of ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on Sinai, where it suits us to waive international treatiesFarmers are currently enjoying the highest prices and payouts in the history of this country. They will never be better placed to acknowledge that their wealth comes on the back of climate-changing emissions and causes serious amounts of water and soil pollution. Costs which everyone else is having to shoulder. ...2 weeks ago
- DrawnA ballot for two member's bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Electoral (Right to Switch Rolls Freely) Amendment Bill (Rawiri Waititi) Customs and Excise (Child Sex Offender Register Information Sharing) Amendment Bill (Erica Stanford) The first is also covered in Golriz Ghahraman's ...2 weeks ago
- Musing on Celebrimbor Images
It never rains but it pours. A day after we get the mysterious landscape of TirHarad, we finally get Empire Magazine’s image of the Amazon Celebrimbor, as played by Charles Edwards: Now, I would be lying if I said that this Celebrimbor looks in any way like the ...2 weeks ago - The “R” wordThe world is currently going through a surge of inflation - some of it due to the ongoing breakdown in the global supply chain, some of it due to disruptions to oil and food supply due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but much of it due to pure corporate profiteering. ...2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: A scam from start to finishThe He Waka Eke Noa report has finally been released, and it shows that the entire project was a scam from start to finish. The scam starts with the title, which translates as "we are all in this together". But the whole purpose of the policy is to ensure that ...2 weeks ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day, and first up is the second reading of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill. Like the recent Rotorua bill, this is going to be controversial, as it ditches the principle of fully-elected local bodies in favour of iwi appointments (and disproportionate ones at ...2 weeks ago
- More Empire Magazine Stills
As per Fellowship of Fans, we now have a couple more images from The Rings of Power, this time what appears to be some items from the upcoming Empire Magazine article.
This first ... 2 weeks ago - Nina Power on men & women, art, free speech and cancel cultureIn this Free Speech podcast Daphna Whitmore speaks to Nina Power – an English social critic, philosopher, and author of the new book “What Do Men Want”. Nina was previously a senior lecturer in Philosophy at Roehampton University in Britain. She writes for Telegraph, Art Review, and The Spectator and ...2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: Taking the challenge seriouslyBack in 2017, then-opposition leader Jacinda Ardern declared climate change to be "my generation's nuclear-free moment". Since then the government she leads has passed the Zero Carbon Act, legislating a net-zero (except for methane) 2050 target and strengthening our interim 2030 target. But that target has been rated as "insufficient" ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on why nurses are our prime export to AustraliaThat giant sucking noise is the sound of the jobs of our nurses, doctors, and midwives being vacuumed up by medical recruiters from New South Wales. The conservative Perrottet NSW state government has just announced ambitious aims to recruit more than 10,000 nurses, doctors and other staff as part of ...2 weeks ago
- The Affable Snake: Tony Simpson Remembers Stan Rodger (1940-2022)2 weeks ago
- Driving with electricity is much cheaper than with gasolineThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The rising cost of gasoline and diesel is both a frequent headline and an ongoing financial drain for many, let alone a major issue in the upcoming November midterm elections. But unlike previous gas crunches, some consumers now have options ...2 weeks ago
- Off With Her Head? – Queen’s Birthday Musings
New Zealand’s motley collection of Public Holidays tell a story about who we are as a people. New Year’s, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, Queen’s Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas. We’ve ... 2 weeks ago - The only rule of Empire is make sure you’re in it – but we should acknowledge what it truly mean...
In one of his interviews with the UK’s BBC News, President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed some dismay at the West’s toleration of sanctioning Russia on the one hand, while with the other still taking considerable income and influence from Russia via a range of sources, such as fuel (gas ...2 weeks ago - The Year Of Jubilee.Apres moi ...? Queen Elizabeth II, photographed nearly 70 years ago at her coronation. A remarkable monarch, but she is faltering. Unable to attend so many of the Jubilee’s dazzling spectacles, the Queen’s frailty attests to the unalterable fact of human mortality. Unlike palaces and castles, human-beings cannot be strengthened ...2 weeks ago
- Summer Is Coming.A Sun-Hardened Road To Victory: The point of maximum danger will come if/when a day arrives when the Russian forces in Ukraine lose all offensive capability and begin to fall back under Ukrainian pressure. That moment is likely to come when the state-of-the-art weaponry currently being dispatched from the United ...3 weeks ago
- Migrant healthcare workers need fair pay as well as residency
Migrant nurses, aged-care and support workers need fair pay as well as equitable pathways to residency, not half-baked measures from National. ...11 hours ago - Support workers deserve better payCare and support workers deserve much better than the pay rates Labour is pushing through Parliament today. ...1 day ago
- Pay equity for kaiārahi i te reo celebratedRecognising te reo and tikanga Māori in schools starts with pay equity, says the Green Party. ...1 day ago
- Nurses could face pay cut under NationalA National Government would leave nurses behind, the Green Party says. ...1 day ago
- Celebrating our first Matariki public holiday
We’re proud to have delivered on our election commitment to establish a public holiday to celebrate Matariki. For the first time this year, New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own. ...2 days ago - Stronger action needed to stop illegal loggingProposed new legislation to reduce the risk that timber imported into Aotearoa New Zealand is sourced from illegal logging is a positive first step but it should go further, the Green Party says. ...2 days ago
- Oranga Tamariki oversight bill must be withdrawnThe Government must withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation in the face of overwhelming opposition, the Green Party says. ...2 days ago
- Greens call on new Minister to make up for the refugee support not provided during pandemicOn World Refugee Day, the Green Party is calling on the new Minister for Immigration, Michael Wood to make up for the support that was not provided to people forced to leave their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...4 days ago
- Govt must expand meth rehabilitation programme nationwide...6 days ago
- Major milestone in our school upgrade programmeThis week, we’ve marked a major milestone in our school upgrade programme. We've supported 4,500 projects across the country for schools to upgrade classrooms, sports facilities, playgrounds and more, so Kiwi kids have the best possible environments to learn in. ...6 days ago
- How much do you know about Matariki?We’ve delivered on our election commitment to make Matariki a public holiday. For the first time this year, all New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own with family and friends. Try our quiz below, then challenge your whānau! To celebrate, we’ve ...6 days ago
- Testing removal means domestic protections neededThe Green Party says the removal of pre-departure testing for arrivals into New Zealand means the Government must step up domestic measures to protect communities most at risk. ...1 week ago
- RSE overhaul needed to centre workers’ rightsThe long overdue resumption of the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota must be followed by an overhaul of the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme, says the Green Party. ...1 week ago
- Lessons must be learned from Delta responseLessons must be learned from the Government's response to the Delta outbreak, which the Ministry of Health confirmed today left Māori, Pacific, and disabled communities at greater risk. ...1 week ago
- Govt must listen to child sector experts on Oranga Tamariki oversightThe Green Party is calling on the Government to withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation which strips away independence and fails to put children at the heart. ...1 week ago
- Petition calls on Auckland Mayor to pedestrianise Queen StreetGreen MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick, in partnership with the City Centre Residents’ Group, has today launched a petition calling on the Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff to pedestrianise Queen Street. ...1 week ago
- New Zealand is open for business and in high demandAs New Zealand reconnects with the world, we’re making the most of every opportunity to show we’re a great place to visit, trade with and invest in as part of our plan to grow our economy and build a secure future for all Kiwis. Just this week we saw further ...2 weeks ago
- Safe and affordable water for all2 weeks ago
- Agricultural emissions proposal falls shortThe He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions pricing proposal leaves more questions than answers, the Green Party says. ...2 weeks ago
- Minister to attend second United Nations Ocean Conference in Portugal
Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker will represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the second United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, which runs from 27 June to 1 July. The Conference will take stock of progress and aims to galvanise further action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, to "conserve and sustainably use ...10 hours ago - Government supports innovative dairy sheep sector to scale upThe Government is boosting its partnership with New Zealand’s dairy sheep sector to help it lift its value and volume, and become an established primary industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “Globally, the premium alternative dairy category is growing by about 20 percent a year. With New Zealand food ...14 hours ago
- Government supports Buller flood recovery and longer term resilienceThe Government is continuing to support the Buller district to recover from severe flooding over the past year, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today during a visit with the local leadership. An extra $10 million has been announced to fund an infrastructure recovery programme, bringing the total ...14 hours ago
- Government outlines plans for future COVID-19 variants“The Government has undertaken preparatory work to combat new and more dangerous variants of COVID-19,” COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall set out today. “This is about being ready to adapt our response, especially knowing that new variants will likely continue to appear. “We have undertaken a piece of work ...1 day ago
- Next steps for NZ UK free trade agreementThe Government’s strong trade agenda is underscored today with the introduction of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill to the House, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “I’m very pleased with the quick progress of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill being introduced ...1 day ago
- Five new members join education Youth Advisory GroupA ministerial advisory group that provides young people with an opportunity to help shape the education system has five new members, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins said today. “I am delighted to announce that Harshinni Nayyar, Te Atamihi Papa, Humaira Khan, Eniselini Ali and Malakai Tahaafe will join the seven ...2 days ago
- Address to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons First Meeting of States PartyAustria Centre, Vienna [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] E ngā mana, e ngā reo Tēnā koutou katoa Thank you, Mr President. I extend my warm congratulations to you on the assumption of the Presidency of this inaugural meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. You ...2 days ago
- Govt makes sure support workers have right to take pay-equity claimThe Government is taking action to make sure homecare and support workers have the right to take a pay-equity claim, while at the same time protecting their current working conditions and delivering a pay rise. “In 2016, homecare and support workers – who look after people in their own homes ...2 days ago
- Targeted second COVID-19 booster a step closerA law change passed today streamlines the process for allowing COVID-19 boosters to be given without requiring a prescription. Health Minister Andrew Little said the changes made to the Medicines Act were a more enduring way to manage the administration of vaccine boosters from now on. “The Ministry of Health’s ...2 days ago
- Commerce Commission empowered to crackdown on covenantsNew powers will be given to the Commerce Commission allowing it to require supermarkets to hand over information regarding contracts, arrangements and land covenants which make it difficult for competing retailers to set up shop. “The Government and New Zealanders have been very clear that the grocery sector is not ...2 days ago
- Plasterboard taskforce set up to ease shortagesMinisterial taskforce of industry experts will give advice and troubleshoot plasterboard shortages Letter of expectation sent to Fletcher Building on trademark protections A renewed focus on competition in the construction sector The Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods has set up a Ministerial taskforce with key construction, building ...3 days ago
- First Matariki public holiday celebrated with a unique broadcasting collaborationMinister for Māori Development Willie Jackson and Minister for Māori Crown Relations Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis announced today the inaugural Matariki public holiday will be marked by a pre-dawn hautapu ceremony at Te Papa Tongarewa, and will be a part of a five-hour broadcast carried by all major broadcasters in ...3 days ago
- Health volunteers recognised at ParliamentVolunteers from all over the country are being recognised in this year’s Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, just announced at an event in Parliament’s Grand Hall. “These awards celebrate and recognise the thousands of dedicated health and disability sector volunteers who give many hours of their time to help other ...3 days ago
- Trade Minister to travel to Europe, Canada and Australia to advance economic recoveryNew Zealand’s trade agenda continues to build positive momentum as Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor travels to Europe, Canada and Australia to advance New Zealand’s economic interests. “Our trade agenda has excellent momentum, and is a key part of the Government’s wider plan to help provide economic security for ...3 days ago
- Prime Minister to travel to Europe and AustraliaPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern will leave this weekend to travel to Europe and Australia for a range of trade, tourism and foreign policy events. “This is the third leg of our reconnecting plan as we continue to promote Aotearoa New Zealand’s trade and tourism interests. We’re letting the world know ...3 days ago
- Remarks to ICAN Nuclear Ban Forum session “The Ban is the Plan and this is Why”[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Nga mihi ki a koutou. Let me start by acknowledging the nuclear survivors, the people who lost their lives to nuclear war or testing, and all the peoples driven off their lands by nuclear testing, whose lands and waters were poisoned, and who suffer the inter-generational health ...4 days ago
- New Zealand leadership contributes to significant progress at the WTONew Zealand’s leadership has contributed to a number of significant outcomes and progress at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which concluded in the early hours of Friday morning after a week of intense negotiations between its 164 members. A major outcome is a new ...5 days ago
- Meth addiction service launched in Eastern Bay of PlentyThe Government has delivered on its commitment to roll out the free methamphetamine harm reduction programme Te Ara Oranga to the eastern Bay of Plenty, with services now available in Murupara. “We’re building a whole new mental health system, and that includes expanding successful programmes like Te Ara Oranga,” Health ...6 days ago
- Creatives in Schools Round 4 open for applicationsKura and schools around New Zealand can start applying for Round 4 of the Creatives in Schools programme, Minister for Education Chris Hipkins and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said today. Both ministers were at Auckland’s Rosehill Intermediate to meet with the ākonga, teachers and the professional ...6 days ago
- Opening speech for MEETINGS 2022It is my pleasure to be here at MEETINGS 2022. I want to start by thanking Lisa and Steve from Business Events Industry Aotearoa and everyone that has been involved in organising and hosting this event. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to welcome you all here. It is ...1 week ago
- Reconnecting across the Tasman: Australia – Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Minister ConsultationsAotearoa New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, met in Wellington today for the biannual Australia - Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations. Minister Mahuta welcomed Minister Wong for her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand ...1 week ago
- Global challenges reflected in March quarter GDPThe volatile global situation has been reflected in today’s quarterly GDP figures, although strong annual growth shows New Zealand is still well positioned to deal with the challenging global environment, Grant Robertson said. GDP fell 0.2 percent in the March quarter, as the global economic trends caused exports to fall ...1 week ago
- One million New Zealanders vaccinated against fluMore than a million New Zealanders have already received their flu vaccine in time for winter, but we need lots more to get vaccinated to help relieve pressure on the health system, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Getting to one million doses by June is a significant milestone and sits ...1 week ago
- NZ Principals Federation MOOT SPEECH -Friday 10 June 2022 It’s a pleasure to be here today in person “ka nohi ke te ka nohi, face to face as we look back on a very challenging two years when you as Principals, as leaders in education, have pivoted, and done what you needed to do, under challenging circumstances for your ...1 week ago
- Provincial Growth Fund already delivering jobs and economic boost to the regionsThe Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is successfully creating jobs and boosting regional economic growth, an independent evaluation report confirms. Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced the results of the report during a visit to the Mihiroa Marae in Hastings, which recently completed renovation work funded through the PGF. ...1 week ago
- Pre-departure tests removed from June 20Travellers to New Zealand will no longer need a COVID-19 pre-departure test from 11.59pm Monday 20 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “We’ve taken a careful and staged approach to reopening our borders to ensure we aren’t overwhelmed with an influx of COVID-19 cases. Our strategy has ...1 week ago
- Foreign Minister to attend CHOGMForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Rwanda this week to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali. “This is the first CHOGM meeting since 2018 and I am delighted to be representing Aotearoa New Zealand,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “Reconnecting New Zealand with the ...1 week ago
- Joint Statement: Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) at MC12We, the Ministers for trade from Costa Rica, Fiji, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, welcome the meeting of Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) partners on 15 June 2022, in Geneva to discuss progress on negotiations for the ACCTS. Our meeting was chaired by Hon Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s Minister for ...1 week ago
- New Chief Censor appointedInternal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti has today announced Caroline Flora as the new Chief Censor of Film and Literature, for a three-year term from 20 July. Ms Flora is a senior public servant who has recently held the role of Associate Deputy‑Director General System Strategy and Performance at the Ministry ...1 week ago
- Government tackles elder abuseEleven projects are being funded as part of the Government’s efforts to prevent elder abuse, Minister for Seniors Dr Ayesha Verrall announced as part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “Sadly one in 10 older people experience elder abuse in New Zealand, that is simply unacceptable,” Ayesha Verrall said. “Our ...1 week ago
- New connectivity funding for more rural homes and businessesMore New Zealand homes, businesses and communities will soon benefit from fast and reliable connectivity, regardless of where they live, study and work,” Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, David Clark said today. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us time and again how critical a reliable connection is for ...1 week ago
- Phil Twyford to attend Nuclear Ban Treaty meetingDisarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford will lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) First Meeting of States Parties in Austria later this month, following a visit to the Netherlands. The Nuclear Ban Treaty is the first global treaty to make nuclear ...1 week ago
- Australian Foreign Minister to visit for talksForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will this week welcome Australian Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong on her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand as Foreign Minister. “I am delighted to be able to welcome Senator Wong to Wellington for our first in-person bilateral foreign policy consultations, scheduled for ...1 week ago
- Government’s School Investment Package supports 4,500 projectsState schools have made thousands of site, infrastructure and classroom improvements, as well as upgrades to school sports facilities and playgrounds over the past two and a half years through a major government work programme, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. The School Investment Package announced in December 2019 gave ...1 week ago
- PM Ardern shares warm meeting with Samoa PMPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern had a warm and productive meeting with Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa in Wellington, today. The Prime Ministers reflected on the close and enduring relationship the two countries have shared in the 60 years since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, and since Samoa ...1 week ago
- Govt acting to increase supermarket competition“Food price data shows New Zealanders pay too much for the basics and today’s figures provide more evidence of why we need to change the supermarket industry, and fast," Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark says. Stats NZ figures show food prices were 6.8% higher in May 2022 compared ...1 week ago
- New standalone integrity entity for sportAn independent body to strengthen and protect the integrity of the sport and recreation system is to be established. “There have been a number of reports over the years into various sports where the athletes, from elite level to grassroots, have been let down by the system in one way ...1 week ago
- New baby unit opened at Waitakere HospitalParents of babies needing special care can now stay overnight at Waitakere Hospital, thanks to a new Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), Health Minister Andrew Little said today. The new SCBU, which can care for 18 babies at a time and includes dedicated facilities for parents, was opened today by ...1 week ago
- Joint Statement: New Zealand teams up with Ecuador, Kenya, and the EU to forge cooperation on trade ...The Trade Ministers of the European Union, Ecuador, Kenya and New Zealand have agreed to work jointly to forge an inclusive Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate. This reflects their shared commitment to bringing the fight against climate change to the forefront of trade policy. The Ministers want to enhance ...1 week ago
- Government open to explore a joined up public sector pay negotiation processThe Government is interested in exploring with public sector unions a pay adjustment proposal, the Minister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins said today. This follows the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions writing to the Government proposing to enter into a process for a pay adjustment across the public ...1 week ago
- Grattan on Friday: Anthony Albanese has a lot on the go in the ‘back office’ of government
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Anthony Albanese will be on the international road again next week. He’ll be at the NATO summit in Madrid, where the war in Ukraine will obviously dominate the discussions, which will also canvass China and ...2 hours ago - Parliament precinct officially reopens after repairs following occupation riots
Parliament's grounds have reopened to the public, following work to fix damage caused by anti-mandate riots. ...3 hours ago - Crown calls NZ First Foundation deed 'a sham' as it closes donations caseThe Crown has described the New Zealand First Foundation's founding document "a sham", as it closes its case against two men accused of mishandling political donations. ...5 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t wan...Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t want this changed Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The ...5 hours ago
- Kris Faafoi gives final speech to ParliamentAfter 12 years as an MP, a standing ovation and waiata have marked outgoing cabinet minister Kris Faafoi's final speech in Parliament. ...7 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Indications for New Zealand from Late-Covid Mortality in the Norther...Analysis by Keith Rankin. The charts below are all to the same scale. Strictly speaking, they show seasonal mortality rather than excess mortality. The zero percent baseline represents low-season mortality rather than average mortality. France Chart by Keith Rankin. French mortality data shows a big covid ‘spike’ in March 2020, ...8 hours ago
- RNZ-TVNZ mega-entity named 'Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media' in draft legislationDraft legislation which would see state broadcasters RNZ and TVNZ subsumed into a new entity would take effect from 1 March next year. ...9 hours ago
- Why this new climate case against the high-polluting Scarborough gas project is so significantSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne A major new climate case to stop Woodside’s controversial Scarborough gas project going ahead has been filed by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) in the federal court this week. ACF lawyers argue ...10 hours ago
- Australia just flew its own ‘vomit comet’. It’s a big deal for zero-gravity space researchSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gail Iles, Senior Lecturer in Physics, RMIT University Steve Gale (pilot) and Gail Iles (right) next to the Marchetti jet. Kieran Blair, Author provided Last Saturday, a two-seater SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jet took off from Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne with an expert ...10 hours ago
- Farmers start new dairy season on an encouraging note as Fonterra signals another record milk price
New Zealand’s dairy industry, which is proving again it is the backbone of the country’s export industries, has been given fresh encouragement with the big co-op Fonterra signalling a record milk price for the season that has just opened. It comes as the payout for the just-finished season stands as ...10 hours ago - How we are suckling the sheep-milk industry – Govt invests $7.97m in partnership which involves s...
Buzz from the Beehive Damien O’Connor scored twice – he issued one statement as Minister of Trade and another as Minister of Agriculture – while rookie Emergency Relief Minister Kieran McNulty broke his duck, announcing flood relief for the West Coast. Covid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall put more runs on ...10 hours ago - Politics with Michelle Grattan: Greg Barns on the battle to free Julian AssangeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is facing extradition to the United States after this was given the green light by the British Government. Assange faces charges of espionage over the publication of classified information ...10 hours ago
- New Zealand needs a new gang strategy – political consensus would be a good startSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images The concern about gangs and gang-related violence in New Zealand continues to be highly politicised. Government ministers are under constant media scrutiny and political pressure, with both sides trying to ...10 hours ago
- THREE WATERS: Select Committee Restrictions Another Limit On Local Voice
The New Zealand Parliament has significantly limited people’s ability to take part in the only public consultation on Three Waters reform by refusing to accept email submissions. Instead of enabling people to submit via one of the simplest and ...11 hours ago - Curriculum Change Process Rushed And DisrespectfulShortages of nursing and social work staff in Aotearoa can only be met with strong training programmes. However, current moves to consolidate the curriculum in the new network of vocational education provision – Te Pūkenga - will fall short of ...11 hours ago
- PODCAST: Buchanan + Manning ON The NATO Leaders’ SummitA View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning examine in detail what to expect from the NATO leaders’ summit, which includes addresses from the prime ministers of Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Why is NATO including addresses of NATO partners in this ...11 hours ago
- How Rising festival brought us dance in times of plagueSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angela Conquet, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Abby Murray/Rising Three years in the making, Rising’s much-anticipated first edition brought to Melbourne’s festival-deprived audiences a rich program featuring 225 events. With former Chunky Move founder and choreographer Gideon Obarzanek ...11 hours ago
- New HRMI Research: NZ Failing Its Human Rights CommitmentsThe Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) has released new data indicating that New Zealand is falling seriously short when it comes to meeting human rights commitments across a number of areas. Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand ...12 hours ago
- Security Breach Endangers Auckland Firearms Owners – COLFOCOLFO appreciates Police clarification that criminals had in their hands a list that may have contained details of at least 5,602 licensed firearms owners. Once the Police investigation is completed COLFO will ask members if they want a call ...13 hours ago
- Why was the Brittany Higgins trial delayed, and what is ‘contempt of court’? A legal expert’s ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia The judge in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the staffer alleged to have raped Brittany Higgins, ruled on Tuesday, “regrettably and with gritted teeth”, that his trial will need ...13 hours ago
- Women are at greater risk of stroke, the more miscarriages or stillbirths they’ve hadSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gita Mishra, Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland Shutterstock New research shows women who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth, have an increased risk of stroke – when blood can’t get to the brain, ...13 hours ago
- Lack Of Commuter Rail Funding Inexcusable As Nearly Half Of Capital Connection Services DisruptedWith nearly half of scheduled Capital Connection services since Monday 13 June having been bus replaced, delayed, or operating at reduced capacity due to mechanical issues, Kāpiti Coast commuter rail campaigner Gwynn Compton has called out the Government’s ...14 hours ago
- MIA Kelvin Thinks It’s A Joke – Act Party“The Corrections Association (CANZ) has made pens with the phrase “Where’s Kelvin” printed on them and the response from Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis is that he wants one so he can frame it,” says ACT’s Corrections spokesperson ...14 hours ago
- Industry Groups Back Groundswell NZ Call For Warming-based Accounting...14 hours ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 20 June 2022The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...14 hours ago
- National Party board president Peter Goodfellow resignsGoodfellow, who has been the party's president for 13 years, says a new president will be selected at the annual conference in August. ...15 hours ago
- Thousands Protest Against Proposed Fisheries LegislationMore than 5,500 people felt so aggrieved by the controversial parts of the Fisheries Amendment Bill, they wrote unique submissions opposing it. The bill has massive implications for fisheries sustainability in New Zealand The new legislation would force through ...16 hours ago
- COVID deaths are now barely mentioned in the media. That changes the very nature of griefSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Wayland, Senior Lecturer Social Work, University of New England Shutterstock About a year ago, many of us were in lockdown. State premiers fronted the media every day to reveal how many people had tested positive for COVID and how ...17 hours ago
- 4 ways to understand why Australia is so cold right now despite global warmingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO Shutterstock It’s an offhand joke a lot of us make – it’s freezing, can we get a bit more of that global warming right about now? But how should we really conceive our ...17 hours ago
- Female finance leaders outperform their male peers, so why so few of them in academia and beyond?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Adams, Professor of Finance, University of Oxford Shutterstock The gender diversity of thought leadership in finance is lower than in most other academic fields, our research shows. Finance ranks 132nd out of 175 fields with a representation of only ...17 hours ago
- Why capping food prices won’t work – and will actually make things worseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phil Lewis, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra Australian shoppers are facing a crisis in the fresh-food aisles. Iceberg lettuces that cost $2.80 a year ago have doubled, or tripled, in price. Brussel sprouts that cost $4 to $6 a kilogram are ...17 hours ago
- Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is super-spangly, explosive, narratively unhinged – and an artistic triumphSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Isaacs, Associate Professor, Film Studies, University of Sydney © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. A new Baz Luhrmann film caused a stir this year at Cannes – again. In 2001, Moulin Rouge opened the grandest of ...17 hours ago
- Russia’s Ukraine invasion won’t be over soon – and Putin is counting on the West’s short att...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sussex, Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University As Russia’s war in Ukraine becomes a quagmire of attrition, Western leaders are slowly coming to two realisations about Vladimir Putin’s intentions. First, Russia’s war against Ukraine won’t be over soon, ...17 hours ago
- Head of Foreign Affairs Kathryn Campbell ousted in public service shake-upSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kathryn Campbell, has been replaced in a shake-up of federal departmental heads announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The new secretary will be Jan ...1 day ago
- Nigel Simpson Is Standing For Mayor Of NapierCurrent City Councillor with local government management experience, stretching beyond thirty years, says enough is enough, it’s time for change in our city’s elected leadership and culture. Napier [City] has a proud and prominent history, ...1 day ago
- Hipkins urged to apologise to all pregnant women ignored by MIQ as new case emergesAs Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments about her MIQ application, it can be revealed the government dropped a similar case days before a scheduled court hearing. ...1 day ago
- New Zealand Food Network Launches Volunteer Programme At New Selwyn PremisesThe New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) celebrated National Volunteer Week 2022 with the launch of its new Selwyn Operation. Earlier this week, the NZFN and Volunteering Canterbury hosted the first volunteer group at the new warehouse facility, which ...1 day ago
- Hipkins called to apologise to all pregnant women ignored by MIQ as new case emergesAs Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments about her MIQ application, it can be revealed the government dropped a similar case days before a scheduled court hearing. ...1 day ago
- When all that money is being pumped into health (as the PM insists), we may wonder why the system is...Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon has shown he is a fast learner. Where earlier he often ended on the receiving end in exchanges with the Prime Minister in Parliament, now it is the Prime Minister who who can be seen back-pedalling, Take, for example, pressures in the health system which are ...1 day ago
- [email protected] Thurs Buchanan + Manning: The NATO Summit + A Response to Failing Economic GlobalisationA View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will approach this episode in two parts. First we will detail what to expect from the NATO leaders’ summit, which includes addresses from the prime ministers of Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Why is NATO ...1 day ago
- Three Waters Reform: It’s Now Time To Make A SubmissionMatters relating to governance, ownership, and accountability are all part of the Water Services Entities Bill, which represents the next stage in the Government’s Three Waters reform programme. Nelson City Council is working on a submission to ...1 day ago
- Brands are leaning on ‘recycled’ clothes to meet sustainability goals. How are they made? And wh...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timo Rissanen, Associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock Today we make more clothing than ever before. And the driver for this is primarily economic, rather than human need. Over the past decade, the term “circular economy” has entered the fashion ...1 day ago
- Flexing the state’s muscle: Māori ministers are admiring as the media are mobilised to inform th...Buzz from the Beehive The state is flexing its muscle in the building and supermarket industries. In the building industry the intervention can be criticised as long overdue and unlikely to do much good any time soon to remedy a crippling shortage of plasterboard. A Ministerial taskforce has been set ...1 day ago
- A 30 Year Plan: An Open Letter To Minister Of EducationTēnā koe Chris, On behalf of the schools in our care we are writing to you to express our thoughts and concerns as the Principals of Invercargill Primary Schools. Since the inception of Tomorrow’s Schools, over thirty years ago, education in ...1 day ago
- Renewed Settlement For Care And Support Workers Still Leaves Sector In Crisis, Unions SayUnions representing thousands of care and support workers across Aotearoa New Zealand say the renewed care and support legislation that sets workers’ pay rates will leave workers and the sector in crisis for longer. The legislation to amend the Support ...1 day ago
- Passengers Last Consideration By AT And Auckland CouncilWhile the country prepares to celebrate the first Matariki holiday weekend, incompetent mis-management by Auckland Transport will see the popular Britomart to Onehunga train services permanently ruined. “Through silence, zero public consultation and general ...1 day ago
- Grape growers are adapting to climate shifts early – and their knowledge can help other farmersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bill Skinner, Postdoctoral research associate, University of Adelaide Shutterstock It’s commonly assumed Australia’s farmers and cities are divided over climate issues. This is not true. After all, farmers are on the front line and face the realities of our shifting ...1 day ago
- How digital tech can help people with asthma manage their meds and reduce the risk of attacksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Chan, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, University of Auckland Getty Images Modern medical science has made remarkable progress in the treatment of asthma. Inhalers containing steroids are particularly effective in preventing an asthma attack. But getting people to take these ...1 day ago
- Over 67,000 People And Their Property Endangered By Police Negligence – COLFOConfirmation today that a register of firearm owners stolen from Auckland Police station covers 2003-2018, means over 67,000 firearm owners and their private addresses may have been in the hands of criminals. The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners ...1 day ago
- Has US-style politicisation of the courts come to Australia?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harry Hobbs, Senior lecturer, University of Technology Sydney Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray responding to news that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. J. Scott Applewhite/AP In the landmark 1973 decision of Roe v ...1 day ago
- Bellis apology doesn't mean MIQ unjustified – HipkinsFormer Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says his apology to Charlotte Bellis does not extend to MIQ generally. ...1 day ago
- NZNO Says Care For Elders Severely Compromised Without Minimum Safe Staffing StandardsThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says the Aged Care sector is in dire straits without mandated minimum safe staffing levels. In 2020, between 200 and 300 Section 31 notices were submitted to the Ministry ...1 day ago
- As Netball Australia eyes betting sponsorship, women and girls are at increased risk of gambling har...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Thomas, Professor of Public Health, Deakin University Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said last week she would consider accepting gambling sponsorship to help with Netball Australia’s debts. Gambling sponsorships were “lucrative” for sports, she reasoned, adding netball had to “put itself ...1 day ago
- How does this keep happening? After so many child protection inquiries and reform efforts, it’s ti...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Cullin, Lecturer in Social Work, The University of Queensland Shutterstock An extensive ABC investigation has revealed confronting stories about children being sexually abused in state care, and other failings of Australia’s child protection systems.This ...2 days ago
- PNG election misinformation ‘worse than ever’, says journalist
RNZ Pacific As the Papua New Guinea elections approach next month there are increasing worries about the spreading of false information. The poll begins on July 2 and is set to conclude three weeks later on July 22. RNZ Pacific’s PNG correspondent Scott Waide said that while misinformation during elections ...2 days ago- Justice Minister says 'prevention and intervention' crucial to dealing with violent crime
Justice Minister Kiri Allan says the government will focus on prevention and intervention when looking to reduce the rates of violent crime. ...2 days ago- Have Your Say On The Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill
The Chairperson of the Primary Production Committee is now calling for public submissions on the Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill. The bill would amend the Forests Act 1949 to establish a legal harvest system. This system aims to provide ...2 days ago- Forest Bill Fails To Stop Import Of Products From Deforestation Or Human Rights Abuses
Proposed new wood products legislation does not address critical issues of deforestation and human rights abuses associated with products imported into Aotearoa, says Greenpeace. The government’s Forest (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill passed its first ...2 days ago- Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments on MIQ application
Hipkins said he has written to the New Zealand journalist apologising for errors in comments he made earlier this year and for the inclusion of personal information. ...2 days ago- Hamilton Opens Consultation On Government's Three Waters Reform
From today Hamiltonians can formally give their views to their council on draft Government legislation which will change the way water services are delivered in New Zealand. Nationwide public consultation on the draft Water Services Entities ...2 days ago- National says fast-tracking nurses' and midwives' residency would ease health system strai...
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says its plan to add nurses and midwives to the fast tracking residency scheme would help the current strain on the health system. ...2 days ago- Levelling up: why Netflix and TikTok are turning to gaming to secure their future
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Birt, Associate Professor of Computer Games and Associate Dean Engagement, Bond University CC BY-SA The streaming wars are heating up. In March, Disney delayed the release date of Obi-Wan Kenobi to May 27 to coincide with the launch of Netflix’s ...2 days ago- From ScoMo to Albo: how a new cast of characters poses a challenge for cartoonists
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Phiddian, Professor of English, Flinders University Anthony Albanese, as depicted by cartoonist David Pope. Canberra Times There are three, not entirely compatible, things to say about how cartoonists are coping with the recent change of government in Canberra. First, there is ...2 days ago- Why does everyone seem to have food intolerances these days?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia Shutterstock Most of you will have noticed hosting a dinner party is harder than it used to be. One friend is gluten-free, another is dairy-free, ...2 days ago- After decades of loss, the world’s largest mangrove forests are set for a comeback
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Brown, Postdoctoral research associate, Charles Darwin University Getty Mangroves ring the shores of many of Indonesia’s more than 17,000 islands. But in the most populated areas, the world’s largest mangrove forests have been steadily whittled away, and with them, the ...2 days ago- The national electricity market is a failed 1990s experiment. It’s time the grid returned to publi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Dean Lewins/AAP A crisis, as the saying has it, combines danger and opportunity. The dangers of the current electricity crisis are obvious. The opportunity it presents is to end to the ...2 days ago- To give schools real choice about secular school chaplains, latest change needs to go further
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Beck, Associate Professor of Constitutional Law, Monash University New federal Education Minister Jason Clare has announced a change to the National School Chaplaincy Program to allow schools to “choose” between having a religious chaplain and having a professionally qualified well-being worker. ...2 days ago- World Trade Organization steps back from the brink of irrelevance – but it’s not fixed yet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Markus Wagner, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the UOW Transnational Law and Policy Centre, University of Wollongong India’s minister of commerce Piyush Goyal and WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala celebrate the end of the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference. Fabrice Coffrini/Pool/Keystone via ...2 days ago- The 5 best films from the 2022 Sydney Film Festival
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Sydney Film Festival Back to June again, after the disruption of the last couple of years, and the twin festivals of light – Vivid and the Sydney Film Festival ...2 days ago- Matariki falls during a quiet retail season – but businesses should be wary of cashing in
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mike Lee, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Auckland GettyImages Aotearoa New Zealand will enjoy a new official public holiday on June 24, with the country marking Matariki – the start of the Māori New Year. But with it comes the ...2 days ago- Three waters: If not four entities, then what?
With opponents of the government's three waters reforms saying they're dangerous, wasteful and unpopular, what's their alternative? ...2 days ago- Fritch slams Tahiti pro-independence wins for Paris as ‘catastrophic’
RNZ Pacific French Polynesia’s President Édouard Fritch has described the election of three candidates of the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party to the French National Assembly as “catastrophic”. They won all three seats in a run-off against candidates of his ruling Tapura Huiraatira party, which holds two-thirds of all seats in ...2 days ago- Namah challenges among frontrunners for PNG’s next prime minister
PNG Post-Courier Three major parties have emerged as frontrunners to form the next government in Papua New Guinea with their party leaders eager to be next Prime Minister. These are current coalition leader PANGU, headed by incumbent Prime Minister James Marape, opposition leader Belden Namah’s PNG Party and the People’s ...2 days ago- IFJ calls on Canberra to act against Assange extradition order to US
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Following the United Kingdom’s decision to extradite Julian Assange to face trial in the United States, the International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) Australian affiliate, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has called on the Australian government to take swift steps to lobby for the dismissal ...2 days ago- UK government orders extradition of Julian Assange to US, but that isn’t end of the matter
ANALYSIS: By Holly Cullen, The University of Western Australia and Amy Maguire, University of Newcastle Last week on June 17 2022, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel issued a statement confirming she had approved the US government’s request to extradite Julian Assange. The Australian founder of WikiLeaks faces 18 criminal charges ...2 days ago - PNG election misinformation ‘worse than ever’, says journalist
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