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Why be a public servant?
Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, July 20th, 2017 - 28 comments
Today thousands of IRD workers face the prospect of losing their jobs while two MOT workers who lost their jobs for whistle blowing are vindicated. Who would be a public servant?
Debt to Income Loan Limits
Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, June 15th, 2017 - 116 comments
The possible introduction of debt to income lending ratios will potentially have an enormous effect on New Zealand’s housing market.
Key’s Blind Trust vs Our Blind Faith
Written By: - Date published: 4:19 pm, April 29th, 2016 - 29 comments
So Key’s lawyer reckons the PM directly requested that trust industry leaders lobby the Revenue Minister. On the other hand, PM DunnoKeyo reckons he did no such thing. That leaves some really big questions …
Who is ultimately responsible for NZ’s massive dairy farm debt?
Written By: - Date published: 1:11 pm, March 12th, 2016 - 82 comments
People talk of excessive borrowing in the dairy sector. Of course, the real problem is that of excessive lending.
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 27th, 2016 - 76 comments
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Nats failing Christchurch and lashing out at Treasury
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, December 1st, 2015 - 128 comments
A Treasury report calls the Christchurch rebuild plan “unachievable”. Gerry Brownlee immediately springs in to action – attacking Treasury. Christchurch deserves better than this…
In face of share market meltdown, Govt’s options limited
Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, August 26th, 2015 - 54 comments
John Key says New Zealand has options in the face of a share market meltdown and is not like Greece (well that’s a relief). Simon Louisson asks how real are John Key’s options? Thanks to this Government’s profligate past spending, including irresponsible tax cuts, our options have narrowed drastically.
National literally want to hide the costs of inaction on climate change
Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, May 20th, 2015 - 134 comments
We the people only learned of Treasury projections on the costs of inaction on climate change (up to $52 billion) because someone screwed up a redacted document. We were never meant to know. And National’s Minister for Climate Change Issues statement on the matter is that Treasury should have done a better job of hiding this vital information from the public.
Polity: Income mobility
Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, November 21st, 2014 - 17 comments
David Farrar seldom seems to actually read the reports fully before he starts inventing meaningless canards. A theoretical equality of opportunity is irrelevant when your parent’s lack of disposable income is the major determinant of your own education and opportunities. We waste the opportunities from peoples abilities because of income inequalities.
Hiding the government’s failure on poverty
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, October 17th, 2014 - 81 comments
Thanks to Radio New Zealand, we now know that National got no real plan to address poverty, but also that they really, really don’t want to be honest about it.
Polity: Mr Angry tries to reheat 2011 campaign
Written By: - Date published: 12:31 pm, August 11th, 2014 - 13 comments
Steven Joyce is asking about how Labour can afford their policies. Half of the money is what National is planning to spend unwisely. The rest is from documented increases in revenue in a fiscal plan. Unlike National’s mythic surplus, these are solid values. They will produce a solid surplus to pay down National’s debt.
NRT: So much for the surplus
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, July 8th, 2014 - 40 comments
As was generally expected by anyone who’d been watching the actual economy rather than just the dairy exports, business profits are lower than expected. And there aren’t the jobs and pay increases in our “rockstar” economy. So consumer spending measured by GST is low as well. Meanwhile the price inflation keeps increasing government costs. So we are already on track for a large deficit next year rather than the government’s much-touted imaginary surplus. You have to ask why we deserve a government that appears to live more in a universe of wishful thinking than reality.
National – pissing debt against a wall.
Written By: - Date published: 3:41 pm, March 11th, 2014 - 77 comments
The deficit was $637 million dollars bigger than expected. In fact it was more than double the expected size. Why? Well mostly because of much smaller tax revenues than previously estimated. So much for the mythic recovery that National’s spinners have been pushing over xmas. We just finished paying off the mountain of debt that National gave me back in the 1970’s and early 80s. Now the shifty party of crony business morons are trying to do it to another generation.
NRT: Treasury, National, and child poverty
Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, February 28th, 2014 - 10 comments
In many ways what is even more irritating about this screwup by treasury is that it isn’t likely to be the children living below the poverty line that has an impact. It is the large numbers of elderly that Treasury has now discovered getting worse off and falling into poverty. After all they have a vote. Whereas children don’t so the future accumulated costs of their poverty aren’t something that this government will concern itself about.
Tale of two Irelands
Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, February 20th, 2014 - 42 comments
Tracey recounts the rise and fall of the `financial genius` John Key’s pet financial hub for NZ to emulate the paragon economies that tried it. Like Ireland – the home of the jobless and deserted housing projects.
Fortunately he was somehow prevented from stuffing NZ in this way. However he did put in some legislation of dubious value to allow NZ to be used as a haven for hot money fleeing taxes…
Polity: Key practices 56% truth inflation
Written By: - Date published: 3:48 pm, February 19th, 2014 - 21 comments
John Key makes up the figures during a session of parliament for the expected unemployment in coming years when he took office. The apparent reason is to make his governments piss-poor performance running the economy look better. Of course there is that problem that Rob Salmond can link to the December 2008 projections from the Treasury which show John Key to be lying (yet again).
Polity: The truth about the gap between the rich and the rest
Written By: - Date published: 1:31 pm, January 24th, 2014 - 60 comments
John Key was careful in his speech. He and his government have helped themselves and their affluent mates while screwing everyone else. It is pretty clear who has been getting the benefits – since 2010 just the households with at least a hundred thousand dollars income. The bigger the household income, the more National helps. John Key – a liar with numbers.
Power profits and the consumer
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 pm, April 22nd, 2013 - 15 comments
New Zealand’s energy pricing over the last twenty years was thoroughly canvassed by Dr Geoff Bertram last year in a paper presented to the Fabian Society as part of its “Light-handed Regulation” series. In the light of the Labour/Greens’ announcement last week about NZ Power his paper is well worth a read.
Inequality: even Treasury cares…
Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, February 16th, 2013 - 62 comments
There’s a book I’ve heard about that I’m hoping helps push the inequality awareness barrow a little further this year.
Charter Schools: A failed idea
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, January 17th, 2013 - 36 comments
Submissions for the Education Amendment Bill 2012 (includes Charter Schools) close on 24 January. The PPTA reminds us that Charter Schools are a failed idea. Even Treasury documents show they are a bad idea.
Asset sales referendum is a go!
Written By: - Date published: 8:32 am, January 4th, 2013 - 92 comments
The Asset Sales petition has the numbers for a referendum, but need to continue to collect signatures til the petition is submitted at the end of the month. Well done! The evidence & the majority of New Zealanders do not support the sales. Keep campaigning!
ImperatorFish: Treasury Report To Prime Minister On Meteorite Activities
Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, July 18th, 2012 - 4 comments
This report has been prepared for the purposes of verifying the Prime Minister’s statement on Tuesday 17 July 2012 that it was unlikely a meteorite would hit the earth that afternoon. Having comprehensively reviewed a number of economics journals that we agree with, we can find no evidence that a meteorite struck the Earth on the afternoon of Tuesday 17 July 2012.
ImperatorFish: Treasury Report On Sunlight Levels
Written By: - Date published: 1:48 pm, June 11th, 2012 - 9 comments
New Zealand has been enjoying a long period of uninterrupted sunlight, and this looks likely to continue until at least 2014. The abundance of light can be attributed to prudent and sensible economic management by government, and the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies.
Retail Deposit Guarantee: When’s the enquiry?
Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, June 1st, 2012 - 14 comments
Labour are pushing for an enquiry into how Treasury oversight of the Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme was so poor that it has cost us hundreds of millions of dollars. Bill English can’t be allowed to hide this under the plus Treasury carpet, so his lack of oversight of Treasury isn’t shown up.
Asset sales: still bad
Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, May 27th, 2012 - 16 comments
Adding to the canon of reasons and commentators on why you don’t sell your assets (particularly to pay for your maintenance) is an excellent article on The Guardian. It is an article exhorting the countries of the Arab Spring to resist Western countries pressure to implement neo-liberal economics in the name of ‘freedom’. It cites […]
A three-legged stool
Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, April 10th, 2012 - 4 comments
Ruth Richardson has forced every subsequent policy to be sized up for ‘fiscal responsibility’. I’d like them to be sized up for ‘social responsibility’ and ‘environmental responsibility’ as well.
Blinglish’s Treasury not so hot
Written By: - Date published: 4:16 pm, March 29th, 2012 - 12 comments
Bill English and Treasury adopted a “see no evil, hear no evil” approach to the Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme. And it’s cost us $2 billion. The Deputy Auditor General has delivered a damning report on a ministry used to judging others, not suffering any oversight itself…
Good for the goose…?
Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, March 21st, 2012 - 7 comments
Treasury has repeatedly proven itself incapable of forecasting its way out of a paper bag but, for some reason, that doesn’t stop it trying to tell everyone else how to do their jobs. Currently, they’re pushing for larger class sizes in the reduced education budget. Someone should ask why the education budget is under pressure but Treasury’s isn’t. Wait, someone did.
TEU: Treasury’s attack on ordinary Kiwis
Written By: - Date published: 4:05 pm, February 3rd, 2012 - 115 comments
Public education is the cornerstone of a good country and a buoyant economy. And New Zealanders have long enjoyed the benefits that come to them individually, to their families, their communities, their country, and the economy from having access to quality public education. But all this now seems under attack from a small group of Treasury officials.
- Ohariu & Epsom: Is it different this time?
This time there's no cup of new and sod all intrigue. Bill English has simply and directly told National Party supporters to vote for someone else. Or rather, to give their electorate vote to United Future in Ohariu and ACT ...7 hours ago - The case for a Zero Carbon Act
Our MPs need to act now for New Zealand's future, writes Generation Zero's James Young-Drew. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright recommends hat NZ follow the UK’s approach. Photo: Nasa Dr Jan Wright has ...8 hours ago - Secrecy vs accountability
While we're on the subject, there's something else in the Ombudsman's report on Simon Bridges' bullying of Kiwirail which is worth discussing: Bridges (or his staff's) views on the "need" to withhold failed budget bids. The Ombudsman quotes these in ...9 hours ago - National vs the OIA: The verdictLast month Transport Minister Simon Bridges was caught trying to bully KiwiRail into unlawfully refusing information. Today, the Ombudsman released their report into the incident - made under the Ombudsmen Act, not the OIA - and it is damning. The ...10 hours ago
- Climate change: Getting there from hereNew Zealand climate change policy is ineffective. The targets are crap, and the policies are disconnected from them anyway. Insofar as the government takes a long view and sets long-term goals, its with the aim of dumping the problem on ...11 hours ago
- Climate change targets should be legally binding.
In her final report before retirement, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is urging politicians to work together to make carbon emission targets legally binding. A flooded home in Edgecumbe Photo: supplied / Tautini Hahipene New ...11 hours ago - Government response to Productivity Commission a missed opportunity
Tertiary Update Vol 20 No 25 The Government’s response to the Productivity Commission is a missed opportunity to reform the tertiary education system to serve the needs of students, staff and local communities. The response suggests that if a National-led government takes power ...11 hours ago - Labour puts future of public tertiary education on ballot paperLabour’s new education manifesto promises to ditch the National-led Government’s plans to change the law so that public funds can be diverted to for-profit education. Launched on Friday, the manifesto commitment offers voters a real choice in the forthcoming election about the ...11 hours ago
- There’s still time to share your tertiary education storyThere is still time to take a stand for public tertiary education by telling your story about how tertiary education has helped you, your whānau, your students or someone you know. National is trying to change the law give Ministers greater ...11 hours ago
- National’s proposed equal pay law fails to address gender pay imbalanceThe National-led Government has tabled a proposed amendment to the Equal Pay Act in Parliament that could deter women from making claims to achieve genuine equal pay. The law does provide a legal framework for claimants to take pay claims to their ...11 hours ago
- Accreditation withdrawn from for-profit provider’s coursesThe New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has withdrawn accreditation for three business programmes at the International College of New Zealand (ICNZ). The withdrawal means the private provider can no longer deliver three business diplomas to students. Recent monitoring by NZQA revealed ...11 hours ago
- National must put Manukau students before profitA private, for-profit provider is set to open in Manukau next month and will compete directly with the local, publicly-owned polytechnic. Aspire2 will open for business in August and aims to profit from around 500 construction, allied and engineering students each year. ...11 hours ago
- Telford transfer confirmedMinisters have confirmed the transfer of Lincoln University’s Telford campus to the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre. Consents necessary to allow Taratahi’s acquisition of the Telford campus were given yesterday by Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy and Associate Minister Louise Upston. The ...11 hours ago
- Our Low Bar for Household Economic Wellbeing Needs a Serious Rethink
Every year the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) using data collected by Statistics New Zealand reports on how New Zealand households are doing economically. We get a raft of data on household income and material wellbeing. Bryan Perry is the ...11 hours ago - More beneficiaries should stand for ParliamentYesterday the media was in full outrage mode, after the revelation that Green co-leader Metiria Turei campaigned for (other) political parties while on a benefit in the early 1990's. The subtext was clear: dirty poor people shouldn't be involved in ...13 hours ago
- The Singles Life: A beginner’s guide to SWIDT
Welcome to weekly series The Singles Life, where known experts Katie Parker and Hussein Moses peruse, ponder and pontificate on the latest and (maybe) greatest in New Zealand music. Haven’t heard of SWIDT? We can barely contain our ...13 hours ago - Auckland Airport’s Growth Plans
The Airport over the last two months have made their plans for what they call Auckland’s Airport of the Future more concrete. The AIAL Masterplan is a few years old so let’s first start with a refresh/recap as it is ...14 hours ago - Dirty dairying may poison ChristchurchLove your Christchurch drinking water? Bad news: the farmers may be poisoning it:Authorities have privately discussed the possibility that aquifers supplying Christchurch's pure drinking water may become contaminated with nitrates from intensive agriculture. The concerns have emerged from recent scientific ...14 hours ago
- Hard News: Synthetics: Maybe this mess will do some good
In Nigeria, they call it Black Mamba, and the papers report it's causing "convulsions, kidney failure and a ‘zombie-like’ state of intoxication that can lead to death." In Mumbai, kids are flocking to "Spice" because it doesn't show up in ...14 hours ago - Privatisation by stealth
Many Kiwi's will remember the terrible condition some of our former state owned assets were in after private owners asset stripped and failed to invest in them properly. It has cost New Zealand billions and billions of dollars to try ...16 hours ago - National party delivering misery
17 hours ago - Trump the Democratic Leader?
Politics, and democratic politics in particular, is a messy business. There are multiple bottom lines to aim at, endless competing claims as to how scarce resources should be reconciled, differing views as to whose interests should take priority, and there ...18 hours ago - Research: Pedestrian Connectivity and Economic Productivity in Auckland’s City Centre
For several decades productivity in New Zealand has lagged behind leading OECD countries. A couple weeks back Peter (Connecting cities: it’s a matter of scale) mentioned Phil McCann’s great paper that convincingly explains New Zealand’s productivity problem (“Economic geography, globalisation, and ...19 hours ago - Gordon Campbell on Act, the centre-right’s ugly duckling
First published on Werewolf National has just endorsed Act leader David Seymour in Epsom, it being that time on the electoral calendar for the ceremonial anointing to take place once again. Act endures, despite its thoroughly fossilized views: it is ...1 day ago - Movie review: The Young Karl Marx
by Daphna Whitmore This movie is two hours of non-stop Marxist banter. Tossing around the ideas of Marx, Engels, Proudon, Bakunin and Weitling, with references to Hegel here and there, it should be as dry as hell, even for a ...1 day ago - Trump pulled out the oil industry playbook and players for Paris
Dr. Benjamin Franta is a doctoral student in history at Stanford University. He has a PhD in applied physics from Harvard University and is a former research fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard ...1 day ago - National wants to sell the national gridack in 2013, after a hugely unpopular plan to part-privatise electricity gentailers, National promised that there would be no more asset sales. Of course, they were lying:NZ First says a leaked January 2017 presentation to Transpower by Swiss Investment Bankers ...1 day ago
- London conference, Sept 19/20: Capital 150 – Marx’s Capital Today
Location: Student Central (formerly ULU), London WC1E 7HY, Malet Street, Conference attendance fee £10. Date/time: Tuesday 19 September (11am-8pm) – Wednesday 20 September 2017 (10am – 4pm) Contact: capital150conference@gmail.com Registration URL: http://bit.ly/2uhukxO King’s College website details here. Tuesday 19 September Crises (11am–1:30pm) Guglielmo Carchedi – The ...1 day ago - Climate change: Fiddling while the planet burnsTwo years ago, the government announced a review of its failed emissions trading system. Today, it announced the results of that review. Unfortunately, the result is essentially to do nothing. Oh, they're looking at auctioning units, so the government can ...2 days ago
- The real Kiwi hero of Dunkirk
At 22, Al Deere became a hero shooting down German planes during the Dunkirk evacuations, inspiring Tom Hardy’s character in the new movie. Warning: this story contains spoilers for Dunkirk. Al Deere (left), who partly inspired Tom Hardy's ...2 days ago - Member’s DayToday is a Member's day, the second to last of the Parliamentary term. And now that we've finally had some interesting bills drawn - death with dignity and medicinal cannabis - the Order Paper is clogged with boring ones. First ...2 days ago
- An honest endorsementMMP requires coalitions. But because some high-profile political journalists hate that idea, they've traditionally been reluctant to endorse the parties they would like to work with, instead signalling via a "cup of tea" in a cafe or something. But not ...2 days ago
- Is Parnell Station Fixable?
A couple of weeks ago Harriet kick-started a pretty big discussion on whether Parnell station is fundamentally flawed in its current location. The post was picked up by The Spinoff and provoked much interest in the comments. In essence, because ...2 days ago - NZ Household income – addressing the gaps
This chart from the Household Incomes Report is worth deeper inspection. Each row adds up to 100%, so, for example, 12% of people 0-17 are in the top quintile (top 20%) of households by income. I want to ...2 days ago - On the unbearable closeness of others
Originally published at Overland. We live in literal times. Far too literal. Hell’s vestibule in Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit was supposed to be a metaphorical, metaphysical place. Now we’ve gone and invented it. A virtual space. An enormous room. We ...2 days ago - The “Majestic Equality” Of The Law – And Its Challengers.
2 days ago - Inequality: stagnation is no success by Max Rashbrooke
People have taken to noting that New Zealand’s level inequality hasn’t changed much in the last 15 years. And it’s true, up to a point. But it leaves out a couple of things. First, it conveniently omits most of that ...2 days ago - Synthetic cannabis: The killer high
There have been eight deaths related to synthetic cannabis in just over a month. People know it's killing them. So why are they smoking it? Photo: Diego Opatowski/RNZ Synthetic cannabis has a distinctive smell, I am told. ...2 days ago - Government doesn’t care about kids teeth
With New Zealand having some of the worst oral health in the world, you would think that the government would be doing all in its power to improve things.Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the case, with children from lower ...2 days ago - About those fake elective surgery stats
The National led government has once again been caught misrepresenting statistics in order to make themselves look good… this time on the numbers of people getting elective surgery.Statistics on elective surgery are Nationals go to when they’re trying to make ...2 days ago - Can value capture help pay for new infrastructure?
When we build new infrastructure that connects places to useful destinations or opens up development opportunities, it lifts the value of properties in the surrounding areas. This is pretty intuitively sensible: Holding all else equal, most people would be willing ...2 days ago - Introducing a Universal Basic Income in New Zealand – Insights from the Finnish Trial?
Finland began a Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot at the start of 2017. Will its findings be useful in informing the policy debate in New Zealand? The idea of a UBI scheme has attracted growing interest in recent years: the ...2 days ago - Gordon Campbell on the real truth deficit in welfare
First published on Werewolf It has been astonishing to see the amount of time and energy being spent on what Greens co-leader Metiria Turei did or didn’t do properly as a beneficiary back in the early 1990s – as compared ...2 days ago - France: “Only the collective strength of the working class can bring change”At the annual fête de Lutte Ouvriere The French revolutionary Lutte Ouvriere produces scores of weekly workplace bulletins. The bulletins are about particular issues in the workplaces while also containing a national editorial. Below is the editorial that appeared ...2 days ago
- Comment on Councils to consider national cat legislation by Sophie WilliamsBest wishes for success! Show the USA how to do it right. ...2 days ago
- Data gaps and social murderToday in Question Time we saw a perfect example of how government dodges accountability: by deliberate ignorance. Asked how many beneficiaries were homeless, the Minister for Social Development made it clear that she didn't know, and asked that it be ...2 days ago
- Streetfilms: NijmegenA great new video from Streetfilms on Nijmegen in the Netherlands and something particularly relevant for our smaller cities like Hamilton, Tauranga and Dunedin This Streetfilm was a pure joy to make, and it really snuck up on me. Nijmegen, ...3 days ago
- Left Voice video on Pepsi workers’ struggle, Buenos Aires3 days ago
- Voter Motivators 2017: Immigration.
3 days ago - People don’t want media to rip-off their Facebook and Twitter posts – study
Public interest or interested public? Photo: 123rf The broadcasting regulator wants the media to rethink how it uses public social media posts without permission. The Broadcasting Standards Authority has published the results of focus group discussions of ...3 days ago - Who is advising the National party?
Traditionally, the National led government and their propagandists have blamed the Labour party for any problems it’s faced over the last nine years. Obviously they’re just passing the buck... but their brain-dead supporters seem to love it.However heading into this ...3 days ago - New Govt Housing Company – Paerata and Drury West Confirmed
On Sunday Bill English announced a co-investment of up to $600m for network infrastructure needed to support more greenfield growth in north and south of Auckland. This will be through a Crown company called Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP), formally Crown Fibre Holdings. ...3 days ago - Gordon Campbell on the Bojo visit
Column – Gordon CFirst published on Werewolf British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson is in town today, just over a year since his political career peaked… and then wobbled off into a grey zone of indecision. Yes, Johnson did front successfully ...3 days ago - Are Markets Free?In a recent Metro article, Matthew Hooten wrote ‘globalisation combined with free markets has been the most successful economic and social system of the world’. I do not propose to discuss whether we can describe as successful a social system ...3 days ago
- Study: our Paris carbon budget may be 40% smaller than thoughtIn the Paris climate treaty, nearly every world country agreed to try and limit global warming to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and preferably closer to 1.5°C. But a new study published in Nature Climate Change notes that the agreement didn’t ...3 days ago
- On welfare and survival
I have been on and off welfare for 13 years now (six of those I was on the student allowance which was still shit and hard to access but at least I was never sanctioned). I am a precarious low ...3 days ago - WINZ staff have a target for throwing people off benefitsSomething we knew all along, but until now could never prove: WINZ staff have a target for throwing people off benefits: Work and Income (WINZ) staff are "more than happy" to break the law to get people off benefits so ...3 days ago
- Two-facedSince National introduced chater schools into New Zealand, Labour has been crystal clear in its opposition, promising repeatedly to abolish and close them. But now it turns out that they didn't really mean it after all:Labour plans to make changes ...3 days ago
- The Beguiled: Another rumination on the insular, impenetrable world of wealthy white girlhood
The Beguiled may be a detour for Sofia Coppola, but somehow all roads lead to the same place. Colin Farrell and Kirsten Dunst in The Beguiled. Photo: NZ International Film Festival When it comes to Sofia ...3 days ago - Councils to consider national cat legislationAs part of the LGNZ’s AGM this week local councils will vote on a remit to improve the management of cats in New Zealand. If successful councils will lobby the Government for development of national legislation to help manage cats. ...3 days ago
- Sins Of Admission: A Response To John Armstrong’s Attack On Metiria Turei.
3 days ago - Shooting the messengerThere is abundant evidence that the British military committed war crimes in Iraq: torture, abuse, the murder of civilians, all of which are crimes under UK and UK military law. But rather than properly investigating those crimes, the Ministry of ...4 days ago
- Must readToday's must-read (though its from last week): Peter Newport's piece in The Spinoff on The Ministry of Transport fraud case: Why the rot goes deeper than Joanne Harrison. Based on information from more MoT whistleblowers, it makes a convincing case ...4 days ago
- What’s your gig? How work is changing
Sometimes giving up on a single job pays off. Illustration: Rachel Neser Contemporary dance performer, choreographer, producer, teacher, administration assistant, life model and koha-funded drinks company owner. Those job titles all apply to Natalie Maria Clark. ...4 days ago - The GCSB perjured themselvesKim Dotcom lost a court case last week over whether he could see the communications the GCSB intercepted from him in order to assess the amount of damages he is owed. But in doing so, we learned something new: that ...4 days ago
- The main stream media is out of touch
4 days ago - Sean Plunket – Asshole of the Week
After this weekend you’ve really got to wonder if The Opportunities Party is trying to be the new Association of Consumers and Taxpayers party?Not content with mansplaining Lizzie Marvelly about her latest Herald column for most of Saturday, Sean Plunket ...4 days ago - National – Kiwi jobseekers are drug addicts
There is no question that the National party likes a high level of immigration into New Zealand because it keeps wages artificially low. The side effect is that increasing competition through unemployment and underemployment means many Kiwi jobseekers miss out ...4 days ago - Battery trains to be approved for Pukekohe
On Wednesday, the council’s Finance Committee is being asked to give urgent funding approval to purchase 17 new battery powered trains, or Independently Powered Electric Multiple Units (IPEMUs) as they’re referred to officially. The council paper and the full business case notes ...4 days ago - Gordon Campbell on why Trump is a good thing
First published on Werewolf At this point, its worth noting there’s one good reason for being grateful that Donald Trump is in the White House – and the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as the White House Communications Director is a ...4 days ago - On the ‘NZ Taxpayers Union Inc’ PR attack machine
Following some discussion on Twitter about this astroturf political attack machine’s activities, I’ve been asked for these. They’re public documents available on the Register of Incorporated Societies … Application to incorporate a society (see names below*) ‘NZ Taxpayers Union Inc’ ...4 days ago - Corbyn’s Labour, British imperialism and the working classBelow is the text of a talk delivered by Dani in Dunedin on Friday, July 21. by Dani Sanmugathasan Good evening! My name is Dani Sanmugathasan, and I am a member of the British Marxist and Leninist organisation called ...4 days ago
- What’s In It for Putin?As Donald Trump starts to sink into that quicksand of his own making that the vexed issue of Russian involvement in his election has now become, one question – among the many others that arise in this context – may ...5 days ago
- Sunday reading 23 July 2017
Welcome back to Sunday reading. Here are a bunch of housing stories starting with one from the Yale professor Robert W Shiller on the supply constraints responsible for the housing crisis in the States. Robert Shiller, “Why Do Cities Become Unaffordable?“, ...5 days ago - 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook page during the past week. Editor's Pick The Planet Is Warming. And It's Okay to Be Afraid Why being fearful can be part of a healthy, heroic response ...5 days ago
- Household Living Costs hit poorer Kiwis hardest
Standards of living for the poorest and most vulnerable New Zealanders are being eroded by rising prices for basic living costs, while National has stood idly by, says Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson. “Statistics New Zealand data released today is ...11 hours ago - The clock is tickingLabour strongly supports the latest report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to have carbon emission targets set in legislation, carbon budgeting and an independent climate commission says Labour’s spokesperson on Climate Change Megan Woods. “Dr Jan Wright’s ...12 hours ago
- Public support keeps Healthy Homes Bill on trackThe strong call from the public for warm, dry, healthy rentals has helped the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill to pass its second reading, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...15 hours ago
- More proof National not delivering for New ZealandersThe Ministry of Social Development’s latest Household Incomes Report is more hard evidence of the growing poverty in New Zealand, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “National claims to be delivering for New Zealanders. This report puts the lie ...2 days ago
- Strong support from medical community for Healthy Homes BillMore than a thousand medical professionals, medical students, and other New Zealanders have shown their support for Labour’s Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...3 days ago
- Labour will fund Buller Health CentreA Labour Government will fully fund the Buller Integrated Family Health Centre in Westport, confirming its commitment to the people of the West Coast and the role of central government to fund essential public services, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David ...3 days ago
- National’s affordable promise for Auckland more smoke and mirrorsThe 26,000 additional houses National plans to build in Auckland on public land over the next decade include fewer than 5,000 affordable homes, while more than 60 per cent will be available for speculators to buy, says Leader of the ...3 days ago
- National out of touch over immigrationNational’s abrupt backflip on their recently-announced changes to immigration shows they never understood the problem and just came up with a confused knee jerk response, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “Regional communities and businesses were quite right to ...3 days ago
- English out of touch on homelessnessBill English’s comments that he doesn’t know why people are complaining about the blowout in the number of homeless families the government is putting up in motels just shows how tired and out of touch National is after nine years, ...4 days ago
- All Kiwis to have same standard of cancer careLabour is promising that all New Zealanders will have access to the same level of cancer care no matter where they live in the country, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “As someone who has survived cancer I ...4 days ago
- Infrastructure announcement too long coming“What took you so long?” is Labour’s response to the Government’s announcement of a new infrastructure investment vehicle. Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford says Labour announced its policy in 2015 to debt-finance infrastructure and service that debt with targeted ...4 days ago
- Time for a breather on immigrationNational has no idea how to house the record number of people entering New Zealand, let alone cope with the pressure on health, education, and transport from this record population growth, says Labour’s Immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway. ...6 days ago
- Labour to invest $4 billion in educationLabour’s Education Manifesto will bring positive change across the education sector and is backed by a massive investment, says Labour’s Education Spokesperson Chris Hipkins. “Labour’s plan will see an extra $4 billion invested over the next four years. It’s organised ...6 days ago
- National’s shame: worst homelessness in the OECDNational’s legacy is a housing crisis that has given New Zealand the worst homeless rate in the developed world, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...7 days ago
- Labour taking action on school donationsLabour will end so-called voluntary school donations for the majority of parents across the country under its $4 billion plan to revitalise the education sector, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “Labour has always been committed to a world-class free education ...7 days ago
- Labour to work with Queenstown to build more housesLabour will work with Queenstown-Lakes District Council, iwi, and the Community Housing Trust to build the modern, affordable housing Queenstown desperately needs, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...1 week ago
- Nats blow the Budget on motels after bowling state housesNational is spending $140,000 a day putting homeless families in motels, the legacy of nine years of selling off and knocking down state houses, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...1 week ago
- New revelations in Joanne Harrison reportThe State Services Commission’s report into the treatment of whistle-blowers by Joanne Harrison has revealed new accusations against the convicted fraudster, says Labour MP Sue Moroney. “The report found that four staff inside the Ministry of Transport who had raised ...1 week ago
- Snafu at Princess MargaretJonathan Coleman has to stop the stalling over a new building for mental health services in Christchurch to replace the quake damaged Princess Margaret Hospital, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “The Government must accept that Christchurch is still recovering ...1 week ago
- Labour’s fiscal plan to build a fairer New ZealandLabour will re-build our housing, health and education while responsibly managing New Zealand’s finances, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “Under Labour’s Fiscal Plan we will deliver big investments in the services we all need and care about, invest ...1 week ago
- Nats show they’re the tax dodgers’ best friendsThe government is taking the knife to IRD at a time when we need a highly skilled department to ensure that multinationals and speculators don’t get away with dodging tax, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Michael Wood. ...1 week ago
- Labour secures the future for NZ SuperA Labour Government will secure the future for New Zealand Superannuation so we can continue to provide superannuation to those retiring at age 65, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “One of the first things a Labour-led Government will ...1 week ago
- Multinationals must pay fair share of taxA Labour Government will crack down on multinational companies that are dodging paying their fair share of tax, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “New Zealanders are missing out by hundreds of millions according to the IRD because multinational companies can ...1 week ago
- ACT’s approach to children backward and ill informedAct’s new deputy leader’s claim that Labour’s support for families could “extend the misery of child poverty and even child abuse” is ill informed and offensive, says Labour’s Deputy Leader Jacinda Ardern. ...2 weeks ago
- Canterbury hatchet job a disgraceThe Government’s glib acceptance of advice that the Canterbury District Health Board doesn’t need more money is a hatchet job and a disgrace, says Labour’s Health Spokesperson David Clark. “To claim that the DHB was using tactics to leverage more ...2 weeks ago
- Quality for Kiwi kids at ECEAfter more than a decade of rapid growth in the number of children participating in Early Childhood Education (ECE), it’s time to take stock and map out a clear plan for the future, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour to boost ECE qualityLabour will ensure kids get the best start in life by boosting funding for Early Childhood Centres to employ 100 per cent qualified and registered teachers, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour will stump up a million dollars for Maniototo HospitalA Labour led Government will make a million dollars available to rebuild the Maniototo Base hospital in Ranfurly, says the Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “This will be a much needed boost for a long overdue rebuild that has ...2 weeks ago
- No vision for the West CoastThe West Coast welcomes any Government investment in our region but the lack of any real alternative vision for the West Coast’s economy is disappointing, says Damien O’Connor Labour’s West Coast-Tasman MP. “The establishment of a Mining Research Unit will ...2 weeks ago
- National’s youth work scheme too little too lateAfter nine years, National’s belated attempt to provide work opportunities for unemployed youth should be seen for what it is, a half-hearted, election gimmick from a party that’s ignored the problem till now, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...2 weeks ago
- Kiwis won’t fall for Joyce’s spinSteven Joyce’s embarrassingly obvious spin on Labour’s Families Package won’t fool anyone, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour prioritises families and public servicesLabour’s Families Package delivers a bigger income boost to more than 70 per cent of families with children than Budget 2017. By not spending $1.5 billion a year on tax cuts, Labour is able to do more for lower and ...2 weeks ago
- Kiwis can’t sleep in your ghost houses, NickThe Government’s housing infrastructure announcement is another Nick Smith special – over-promising with no detail on delivery, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour helps older New Zealanders and low income families with winter heating billsLabour will further boost its commitment to warm, healthy housing with a Winter Energy Payment for superannuitants and people receiving main benefits, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “Everyone deserves a warm, healthy home to live in. But that’s ...2 weeks ago
- Call for climate commission and carbon budgeting welcomed
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- Immigration: Disappointing but there’s hope, says DairyNZImmigration announcement: Disappointing but there’s hope, says DairyNZ DairyNZ is disappointed that today’s announcement by Government has not addressed the concerns raised about migrant staff. However, DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says there ...8 hours ago
- LGNZ welcomes call for independent climate change commissionLGNZ welcomes call for independent climate change commission Local Government New Zealand agrees with the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s statement today that climate change is the “ultimate intergenerational issue” and requires ...9 hours ago
- National’s Proposed New Equal Pay Law DisappointsMedia release: Pay Equity Coalition (Wellington) National’s Proposed New Equal Pay Law Disappoints The Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill tabled yesterday by the Government doesn’t do what the Government promises it would do, says the ...9 hours ago
- Government’s Fiddling With Immigration Doesn’t Help Rural NZCalls from a united primary sector for the government’s latest round of immigration changes to address significant labour shortages in rural areas have obviously fallen on deaf ears. ...10 hours ago
- Democracy – Yeah RightWhen does a job become an occupation? The answer is when you are employed by the NZ Government. Under Section 70 Social Security Act 1964, Government occupational pensions are not subject to direct deduction whereas overseas jobs that have self-funded ...10 hours ago
- Feds Finds Useful Suggestions in PCE Report-- The report released today suggesting New Zealand needs a Climate Change Commission, like the UK’s, has qualified support from Federated Farmers. ...10 hours ago
- Next Parliament must heed call for new climate lawYouth organisation Generation Zero is calling for Parliament to heed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s recommendations to establish a historic new climate change law, which align very closely with the group’s Zero Carbon Act proposal ...10 hours ago
- Thames firm facing up to 100 job lossesThe loss of up to 100 jobs at one of Thames' oldest engineering businesses, A & G Price, has seen the communities and agencies swinging into action quickly to support those affected. ...10 hours ago
- ETS review may reduce forest plantingForest owners and wood processors say they appreciate the government needs to fine tune the Emissions Trading Scheme, but they believe present uncertainty in the ETS might lead to a reduction in forest planting, just when it needs to increase. ...11 hours ago
- EDS strongly supports call for Climate CommissionEDS strongly supports call for Climate Commission The Environmental Defence Society has strongly endorsed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s call for the establishment of a Climate Commission. ...11 hours ago
- Fishing company to pay $122,252 for breaches in NZ WatersA Japanese fishing company must pay $122,252 for breaching employment law while in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), following a Labour Inspectorate investigation. ...11 hours ago
- Conservation organisations welcome PCE callWWF-New Zealand, Forest & Bird and Oxfam New Zealand welcome the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's (PCE) report, ‘Stepping Stones to Paris and Beyond’, released today. The PCE report identifies an historic opportunity for the next New Zealand ...11 hours ago
- Z urges business, cross-party support for Climate ActZ Energy today urged businesses and all political parties to back a recommendation to enshrine carbon reduction targets in law and set carbon budgets to enable clear measurement. ...11 hours ago
- Carbon budgets would provide ‘certainty’ for dairy sectorDairyNZ has welcomed the release today of a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, which recommends New Zealand approach climate change in a similar manner to the United Kingdom. Dr Jan Wright recommends Government set up an independent ...11 hours ago
- Meridian welcomes advocacy for action on climate changeMeridian Energy today welcomed Stepping stones to Paris and beyond: Climate change, progress, and predictability, a report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that outlines opportunities to strengthen New Zealand’s action on climate ...11 hours ago
- How NZ Adapts to Climate Change Needs Stronger PushThe Insurance Council of New Zealand says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s recommendations on long-term planning for climate change fell short in not dealing with how New Zealand should adapt to climate change. ...11 hours ago
- Time to take a historic step for climate change: PCETime to take a historic step for climate change, says Environment Commissioner The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, has issued a rallying call to MPs of all parties: it’s time to come together to tackle climate change. ...12 hours ago
- Pragmatic response to employers call for temporary work visaPragmatic response to employers call for temporary work visas -- The setting of more realistic bands for temporary work visas is a pragmatic response for employers struggling to find staff. ...12 hours ago
- Making Rail Great AgainIt seems politicians lose their grip on economic reality at election time. Already they are pouring out pledges of what they will do if they are in a coalition governing after the Sept 23 poll. ...14 hours ago
- Green Party adopts fake “left” posture ahead of electionNew Zealand’s establishment political parties have recently begun releasing their policy statements ahead of the September 23election. ...15 hours ago
- Immigration Needs Long Term Strategy, Not Knee Jerk ReactionWhile many parties are advocating for higher immigration numbers, there are some valid reasons to curb immigration, not the least of these being that we haven’t got the houses for them to live in. 2 + 2 does not equal ...15 hours ago
- Rising prices for essentials hit beneficiaries the hardestHigher prices for housing and household utilities and food are hitting beneficiaries the hardest, while overall prices are dipping slightly for top earners, Stats NZ said today. ...15 hours ago
- REINZ Welcomes Healthy Homes Bill moving to Next StageReal Estate Institute welcomes Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill moving to next stage The Real Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) welcomes the announcement that the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No. 2) has passed its second reading last night, as the organisation ...15 hours ago
- Submissions sought on state sector productivityThe Productivity Commission is seeking submissions on its inquiry into measuring and improving state sector productivity. ...16 hours ago
- Greens Launch Manawatū – Hawke’s Bay Rail PlanThe Green Party today launched a plan to trial a new twice-daily passenger train from Palmerston North to Napier, while the Manawatū Gorge is closed to road traffic, as well as a commitment to increase funding to reduce fares on ...16 hours ago
- E tū seeks answers over Prices Foundry closureE tū which represents workers at Prices Foundry in Thames says it will be working alongside its members as they deal with the aftermath of yesterday’s closure. ...16 hours ago
- The True Story About Synthetic Cannabis and Drugs“My husband and I see the damage done to youth from synthetic cannabis and drugs first hand. We don’t read about it, we don’t hear about it, we’ve lived with it for over 15 years”, says Conservative Party Candidate for ...17 hours ago
- Shocking History of Chemical Herbicide Use PublishedYears of unremitting and insidious manoeuvres to deflect and suppress community wishes and deliberately fudge, sidestep and evade implementing adopted policy are exposed in a shocking history of the use of chemicals for weed and vegetation control in ...17 hours ago
- Kiwis with Intellectual Disabilities Faced Systemic AbuseThe release of a new report into state abuse shows the mistreatment was systemic, enduring and an everyday reality for New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities who lived in institutions and special schools. ...18 hours ago
- Twyford & Genter 31 July – Peter O’Connor 27 JulyRemiinder - Prof. Peter O’Connor - Resetting the focus and values of New Zealand Education - 27 July - AKL ...1 day ago
- Women will fight hurdles to equal pay26 July 2017 Women in education will fight the Government's attempt to create new hurdles that make it harder for us to achieve fair pay, NZEI Te Riu Roa says. The Government released the text of its Employment (Pay Equity ...1 day ago
- Serious concerns with Nationals proposed new equal pay lawThe Government has today tabled the Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill with the first reading expected next week. CTU Vice President Rachel Mackintosh has serious concerns about the content and direction of this Bill, “we are carefully examining ...1 day ago
- Immigration New Zealand encourages plain English in new awarImmigration New Zealand will be sponsoring this year’s Best Plain English Turnaround Award as part of the WriteMark Plain English Awards. The Awards celebrate New Zealand’s clearest communicators and encourage the use of plain English as a common practice ...1 day ago
- Kiwi school leavers not equipped to engage with AsiaResearch released today by the Asia New Zealand Foundation has found less than 10 percent of school leavers are ‘Asia-ready’ and only 36 percent are ‘in the zone’ when it comes to Asia readiness*. ...1 day ago
- Manurewa Candidate Hohaia: Let’s get legal on homelessnessMāori Party candidate for Manurewa Tasha Hohaia will be supporting the hīkoi for homelessness happening this Saturday in the local community. Hohaia notes “As with all movements that raise awareness though, we need to consider what we can make happen ...2 days ago
- Migration, diversity and the changing face of New ZealandThe changing face of migration in an increasingly diverse society will be the focus of this year’s University of Auckland Winter Lecture series, Nation Transformed: the place of migration in 21st century Aotearoa-New Zealand. Marking 30 years since ...2 days ago
- Emissions Trading Scheme review – Expert reactionThe Government has announced a package of changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) following a review of the system. ...2 days ago
- >Animal Testing Would Not Prevent Synthetic Cannabis DeathsIn relation to the recent deaths in Auckland caused by synthetic cannabis use, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has stated that ‘…the testing regime is now in place, but it is not functional because the Government banned the use of ...2 days ago
- WINZ Needs to Get Off The Couch and Go See Fraudster MP26 JULY 2017 - Taxpayers want to know why WINZ hasn't sat down with Metiria Turei yet and worked out how much she owes the taxpayer or pressed charges? ...2 days ago
- Gold Fever Comes In Many FormsINSIGHTS ABOUT THE NEWS - A “massive find of quality gold” valued in the tens of millions of dollars in NZ might be greeted by some with as much enthusiasm as Team NZ winning the America’s Cup. Instead, the headlines ...2 days ago
- Labour Force Survey Estimated Working-age PopulationThis table provides the working-age population estimate of the usually resident, non-institutionalised, population of New Zealand aged 15 years and over. This estimate is the benchmark figure for the number of people in the labour market each quarter ...2 days ago
- LGNZ Set to Use Ratepayer Money to Lobby for “Cat Tax”LGNZ set to use ratepayer money to lobby for "cat tax" ratepayers don't want ...2 days ago
- New Tools to Help Meet Climate Change TargetsClimate Change Minister Paula Bennett is today announcing a package of changes that the Government will make to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to ensure it puts New Zealand in the best possible position to achieve its ambitious 2030 emissions ...2 days ago
- Voluntary Suspension of Fuji Xerox NZ from AoG ContractsFuji Xerox New Zealand (FXNZ) has agreed a voluntary suspension from all current All-of-Government contracts. ...2 days ago
- Facelift not enough for Wainuiomata High SchoolThe government is announcing that Wainuiomata High School is due for a facelift, but anything less than a total rebuild will not be enough, claims Ginny Andersen, Labour candidate for Hutt South. ...2 days ago
- Rural Recycling Needs Collection, Minister!https://beehive.govt.nz/release/125m-boost-recycling-farm-plastic-waste?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beehive-govt-nz%2Freleases+%28Releases+-+beehive.govt.nz%29 ...2 days ago
- Chris Leitch Calls for Gang Hui in WhangareiThe gangs who were involved in the boxing night in Whangarei on Saturday should be invited back for a series of hui to address the issues that contribute to gang involvement like unemployment, poor education, and a family environment of ...2 days ago
- Research Association NZ Political Polling GuidelinesWith the election only two months away the noise around political polling is getting understandably louder. So Research Association New Zealand (RANZ) is providing a helpful little guide on reading and reporting polls for journalists which you can ...2 days ago
- Only 10% NZ school leavers ‘Asia-ready’ and just one-third ‘in zone’
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz Only 37 percent of New Zealand school leavers believe Asia-related skills and knowledge will be important for the country’s future workforce. Image: Asia NZ Foundation Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Less than 10 percent of school ...5 hours ago - The Real Pod: Matilda Rice would definitely lose to Brodie Kane in a Fight for LifeWith some literal last minute planning, Duncan Greive and Jane Yee are once again joined by producer Madeleine Chapman for a slightly delayed episode of the Real Pod.In a genuine attempt to be more professional, Jane takes one (the only ...8 hours ago
- Transport Minister avoids criticism over OIA secrecy
KiwiRail has been criticised after it appeared to roll over when Transport Minister Simon Bridges' staff asked for a report to be kept secret, while the minister himself has been cleared. ...8 hours ago - A courageous voice against the nuclear threat
The world's response to the threat of nuclear war needs leadership of the highest order, writes Sir Geoffrey Palmer. ...9 hours ago - Kiwis of Snapchat: Bill and Paula have a message for the youth of NZ (WATCH)
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens making the news. Today: Bill English and Paula Bennett have a plan to target the youth vote.Click here for all our Kiwis of ...9 hours ago - BoJo’s NZ visit mere lip service for all involvedBritish Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's short visit to small fry NZ is a political footnote and a sign of the man's ornamental impotence in his role, writes David Townsend. ...10 hours ago
- Immigration law changes set to go aheadThe government will go ahead with a change to immigration rules forcing migrants to exit the country after three years, despite complaints from the dairy industry. ...10 hours ago
- How a dental hygienist gets her kids to brush their damn teeth
Getting your kids to brush their teeth can be a nightmare – an unending, soul-destroying nightmare (*emphasis mine* – Emily Writes, Spinoff Parents editor and hater of brushing my child’s teeth). As part of Oral Health Month, dental hygienist and ...10 hours ago - The leadership industry has infected our health sector and nobody has the cure‘Leadership’ positions are reportedly set to skyrocket under a new DHB restructure plan. But what’s needed isn’t yet more overpaid leaders, writes Andrew Dickson – it’s efficient and effective managers.I was staring blankly at the departure screen at Auckland airport, ...11 hours ago
- Politicians to decide Auditor-General’s fateThe next steps to be taken over whether the Auditor-General is fit to remain in the job will be decided in a Parliamentary Committee this afternoon. ...11 hours ago
- How Burger Burger are giving hospo staff the respect they deserveBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and ...11 hours ago
- Constable Jimmy dies in PNG elections ambush – ‘being a cop’s no mistake’Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz Highlands police colleagues with the body of Constable Glenn Jimmy, shot in an elections ambush at Wabag. Image: EMTV News By Elizah Palme in Wabag, Papua New Guinea Duty called for two police officers and ...11 hours ago
- Book of the week: an essay by Paula Morris on race and literature
Paula Morris responds to the ‘glorious, painful, sharp and funny’ anthology of Māori writing, Black Marks on a White Page.Nobody likes a Māori writer.First of all, nobody knows who we are. Nobody knows the names of any writers, apart from ...13 hours ago - NZ linked to North Korea cyber attacks in report
Analysis raises concerns about "large and active" North Korean presence in NZ - but Govt suggests there is a benign explanation. ...13 hours ago - Where are the stars of Y2K-era New Zealand show Being Eve now?
After watching an episode of the slightly weird teen-oriented show while on painkillers (legitimate medical reasons), Sam Brooks goes on an internet investigation to find out what the cast are doing now.Being Eve was a strange beast of a show, ...14 hours ago - Top of the Lake and high in the mountains: NZFF filmmakers pick their highlights
Philippa Campbell introduces the second series of Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake and Hugh Macdonald gets outdoors in a different way. Part six of our Film Festival filmmaker’s choice series.Producer Philippa Campbell on Top of the Lake: China Girl and her ...15 hours ago - Govt ‘not satisfied’ with synthetic cannabis death handlingPolice and the coroner's office should have told the government about the deaths linked to the drugs much sooner, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says. ...15 hours ago
- The rot goes deep: more blatant ‘political fraud’ for Patrick Gower to investigate
Patrick Gower has slammed Metiria Turei for trying to ‘get attention’ and ‘win votes’ just ‘eight weeks out from an election’. Hayden Donnell lifts the lid on just how deep this rabbit hole goes.Most of the people criticising Metiria Turei ...15 hours ago - Greens’ potential partners keep distance from Turei controversyLabour stresses the party is separate and has its own campaign, while NZ First won't be drawn on whether it would work in a Cabinet with Ms Turei. ...19 hours ago
- Change brewing for tertiary sector
The tertiary education sector is in for a shake-up, but the Government won’t be adopting some of the more radical suggestions from a recent report. ...19 hours ago - US Chief Justice talks ‘confining’ constitutions in NZ
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts didn't talk Trump, but shared his thoughts on written constitutions and the legal challenges facing the US. ...19 hours ago - Scientists build DNA from scratch to alter life’s blueprint
Scientists are using yeast to build DNA from scratch - and alter life's blueprint. ...19 hours ago - Auckland’s marshmallow experiment
Auckland's leaders have found the city's hunger for public transport is rather pressing. ...19 hours ago - Coalition planning gathers pace ahead of election
National has outlined its preferences for dance partners, with no surprises but one example of the oddness of politics. ...20 hours ago - Emma Espiner: Don’t set this haystack on fire
Abolishing the Māori seats would cause more disruption than modern New Zealand has seen, maybe since the Springbok Tour. ...20 hours ago - Winston Peters criticises use of te reo in ParliamentNew Zealand First leader Winston Peters has criticised Te Ururoa Flavell for using te reo Māori in Parliament during question time. ...20 hours ago
- Finally revealed: report shows rail destroys roading for Auckland freight
The business case for greater freight efficiency in South Auckland has finally been released, and it turns out that a new “Third Main” rail line is the best of 10 options. Guess what’s worst? Putting greater reliance on road freight. So ...20 hours ago - Keith Rankin Analysis: What’s happened to Labour Productivity?
Keith Rankin Analysis: What’s happened to Labour Productivity? Productivity plummets despite high annual growth. Graph copyright 2017, Keith Rankin.Labour productivity is an important economic concept, that should equate to living standards. It is rising labour productivity that makes it possible to ...1 day ago - We need a Mother’s Union: how society is failing to support parents
Parenting, in particular motherhood, can be a really tough ride. The Opportunities Party’s Jennie Condie writes about why she’s entered politics to try to make a difference.“How many times have you worked with co-workers you loved but hated the job?”This ...1 day ago - Politics podcast: Metiria Turei’s Winz confession, Labour’s alt-budget and the Māori seatsOur answer to the ‘Black Hands’ podcast is ‘Rainbow Hands’, in which the Gone By Lunchtime team scoff so many M&Ms that their fingers get covered in artificial colouring. Also they discuss politics.With less than two months to polling day, Annabelle ...1 day ago
- No mercy for Indonesian drug dealers, says Widodo in ‘just shoot’ policyArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz Indonesian President Joko Widodo … “no mercy” drug policy announcement mirrors Duterte’s “war on drugs”. Image: Amnesty International By Dames Alexander Sinaga in Jakarta President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered law enforcers to shoot drug ...1 day ago
- Top scientist urges govt action on youth suicideThe Prime Minister's chief science adviser has asked the government to do more to ensure kids can cope with stress in order to reduce the youth suicide rate. ...1 day ago
- Diana, Our Mother: a (mostly) wasted opportunity to explore the life of a hugely complex woman
Last night’s screening of the HBO documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, was reportedly one of Three’s most-watched shows of the year so far. If only its participants had been a bit braver, writes Christopher Stratton.Among my friends, ...1 day ago - Secondary school rugby players to be tested for drugs
For the first time in NZ school sports history, players at this year’s National 1st XV semi-finals will be subject to anti-doping testing, reports Scotty Stevenson.The New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council (NZSSSC) and Drug Free Sport NZ (DFSNZ) have ...1 day ago - Finding feminist heroes in after-school TV anime shows of the early 2000s
New Zealand was spoiled for choice of after school anime shows in the early 2000s. Lucy Zee remembers the female heroes who shaped her childhood.Cartoons rule my life. You name it and I’ve probably watched it, seen the comic, bought ...1 day ago - Making art out of shit jobs: a writer’s story
Whangarei writer Michael Botur describes how the shit jobs he’s had have provided valuable material for his new collection of short stories, Lowlife.It was hard moving to Northland in 2015 and finding income and inspiration in its very small economy. ...2 days ago - Greens co-leader Metiria Turei’s benefit history investigatedGreen Party co-leader Metiria Turei has confirmed the Social Development Ministry is investigating her benefit history. ...2 days ago
- An unapologetic Chainsmokers fangirl counts down her Chainsmokers top 10
Chainsmokers superfan Kate Robertson has campaigned for the bros to come to New Zealand for years. In celebration of today’s news of an Auckland show, she shares her top 10 bangers.Everyone has an opinion on the Chainsmokers. At the height ...2 days ago - ‘We haven’t seen deaths like this in ten years of synthetics’
Another death overnight has been attributed to the ‘synthetic cannabis crisis’ tearing through Auckland and New Zealand at large. But the situation isn’t as clear as it seems, the Drug Foundation’s Ross Bell tells Don Rowe, and hard facts are few ...2 days ago - A look back at the ‘toxically compelling’ 90s teen drama Popular
Now one of the most lauded television producers in the world, Ryan Murphy didn’t start well. Sam Brooks was there in the 90s to witness the hot mess that is Popular.It’s strange to sit in 2017 and see Ryan Murphy ...2 days ago - PM gives nod to Seymour and Dunne for electorate votesPrime Minister Bill English has told his party's voters to support the ACT and United Future leaders in their electorates this election. ...2 days ago
- Why the attacks on National over poverty and inequality are unfounded – mostlyIt is well-known that poverty and inequality have soared under National. Well-known – and unsupported by the evidence. What matters is at the extremities, writes Max RashbrookeYesterday’s Household Incomes Report, the annual record of inequality in New Zealand, is a ...2 days ago
- Bigger than Ben Hur! Introducing Kim Dotcom, the movie
Director Annie Goldson introduces her Dotcom documentary and the one she calls its antithesis; and Julian Boshier talks about working with Wellington band Head Like a Hole for 15 years. Welcome to part five of our Film Festival filmmaker’s choice ...2 days ago - Noelle McCarthy on making a podcast about immigration (and creating a new NZ citizen)
Noelle McCarthy and John Daniell talk about the challenges – eg Winston Peters – they confronted in creating their new series for RNZ, Slice of Heaven.There are few more vexatious issues than immigration. Particularly in the wake of recent political ...2 days ago - Global media freedom summit slams Gulf states, supports Al JazeeraArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz International media freedom conference delegates inside Al Jazeera’s main studio in Doha. The network broadcast messages of support from conference delegates. Image: Joseph M Fernandez/PMC By Dr Joseph M Fernandez in Doha, Qatar The international ...2 days ago
- Greens’ Turei calls for amnesty for beneficiaries who break lawAn amnesty for beneficiaries is needed so they are not threatened with more poverty if they reveal their circumstances, the co-leader says. ...2 days ago
- Review: ‘Attitude’ shows New Zealand lives we rarely see on screenAttitude is nearing 500 episodes over 13 years, and its current mental health series shows that it deserves a far better timeslot than 8.30am Sunday, writes Duncan Greive.New Zealand has been getting more comfortable confronting difficult issues in primetime. Last ...2 days ago
- Govt apologises to Transport Ministry fraud whistleblowersThe government has apologised to staff bundled out of the ministry after speaking out about a manager later convicted for stealing nearly $650,000. ...2 days ago
- A toxic mix of low wage growth and fast-rising rents
The NBR rich list and the official Incomes report show how two New Zealands have diverged. Property owners are rich, while renters with children are poor. ...2 days ago - The risky business of risk in business
Assessing risk is a crucial but often tricky part of investing. If the formula is wrong, the consequences could be dire. ...2 days ago
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