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Guest post – let the outrage continue!
Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, May 13th, 2021 - 29 comments
Outrage at suggestions that nurses, teachers, social workers, and doctors were not worthy of a pay rise this year has been swift.
Government backs away from public service wage announcement
Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, May 12th, 2021 - 34 comments
Some good news from yesterday. The Government has decided to walk back earlier comments suggesting a wage freeze for teachers and nurses.
Onya Michael
Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, May 8th, 2021 - 34 comments
Yesterday Minister of Labour Michael Wood led the announcement of a policy that conceivably could do more to address the decline in workers wages and conditions over the past 40 years than anything else tried recently.
The Public Service pay freeze
Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, May 8th, 2021 - 18 comments
Mindboggling.
Branko Marcetic: Labour’s public sector pay freeze isn’t just a betrayal of frontline workers – it’s a rejection of mainstream economic thinking
Written By: - Date published: 6:04 am, May 8th, 2021 - 24 comments
Consistent with how they’ve governed so far, Ardern and Robertson are happy to demand workers sacrifice for the greater good — but asking the rich to do the same is a red line they simply won’t cross.
About the public service pay freeze
Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, May 6th, 2021 - 45 comments
A few of us on the left have issues with the public service wage freeze announced yesterday. By setting the salary level so low, at $60,000 per annum, the threat is that previous gains for teachers and nurses will be undermined.
National’s very bad day
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, April 22nd, 2021 - 86 comments
Yesterday was a day where National focussed on dog whistle racism, supported religious extremists and moaned about workers receiving a modest increase in the minimum wage.
So! You want a “plan”?
Written By: - Date published: 4:36 pm, March 11th, 2021 - 50 comments
Expecting a bit much aren’t you? We haven’t had that since Muldoon. At least he had them. The kind of people now asking for a plan were those who complained about governments that “interfered with the sacred ‘free market’” and screamed about “central planning”, “picking winners”, “protectionism” etc. They prefer just getting cheap labour to give the illusion of economic growth. And build a cycleway!
How can NZ incomes be lifted to match housing costs?
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, December 12th, 2020 - 68 comments
Not a vague let’s raise wages and benefits explanation, but an in-depth, number crunching, evidence-driven explanation. Where is it?
Vote Labour To Support Your Job
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, September 24th, 2020 - 100 comments
This is a backpocket election – and that’s where most of Labour’s effort is going as it rightly should.
Greens: expanding living wage beyond public service with Fair Pay Agreements
Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, September 17th, 2020 - 16 comments
The Green Party welcome Labour’s commitment to extend the living wage to Government contractors, but will push for Fair Pay Agreements across industries in the next Government so more New Zealanders can earn a dignified income.
Local Government: crucial and undervalued
Written By: - Date published: 12:27 am, July 11th, 2020 - 4 comments
On the day of the council vote, we organised for the effected Citi-Ops workers to sit in the public gallery in the Council rooms wearing their High Viz’s and work gear. I was one of three speakers for the union, expressing opposition to axing these jobs. The Council debated the issue for about 30 minutes. Those councillors in favour of making the workers redundant argued that they should not interfere with management decisions. Those against the decision felt that management did not have the mandate to make this decision. The vote ended up being 7-7, so Green Party Mayor Celia Wade-Brown used her casting vote to uphold management’s decision to outsource these workers jobs. The Citi Operations staff were sitting in the room, so Celia and the councillors were looking at these workers as they made them redundant.
Wellington buses now: how a local authority harmed public transport
Written By: - Date published: 7:27 am, July 6th, 2020 - 15 comments
Sure to form, Paul Swain along with Regional Council Chair and another former Labour MP Fran Wilde proposed tearing down the trolleybus wire and increasing the city’s carbon emission. This was to then promptly followed by re-tendering all the bus routes having redesigned all the bus network so that bus companies could then compete over routes and undercut each other. At one council meeting in mid-2016 Swain was questioned about the possibility of protecting drivers jobs and employment conditions. After a few questions, he lost patience, slammed in hand on the table and ended the meeting. This was the extent to which Swain and the Greater Wellington Regional Council considered supporting bus drivers during this process.
Is National Just Inconsistent or Incompetent?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 1st, 2020 - 65 comments
National’s new job-creation scheme appears to be inconsistent with their desire to fully re-instate the 90-day trial period.
The Green Party’s proposal on essential workers’ pay
Written By: - Date published: 12:19 pm, May 6th, 2020 - 45 comments
Low-wage essential workers are getting New Zealand through this crisis and continue to do so. They went to work when the rest of us were told to stay away – and people would be horrified to hear many of them barely earn enough to live on.
Rebuild better post COVID
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 2nd, 2020 - 46 comments
A Guest blog from E tū Assistant National Secretary, Annie Newman. “Democracy creates a space for the market, civil society and the government but it doesn’t guarantee a balance between these spheres. That is government’s role. Right now, there is an opportunity for our government to do more than protect the future of business; it can address the imbalance in our democracy where the market dominates the agenda.”
Are the Vultures Already Circling Above?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 14th, 2020 - 116 comments
We cannot go back to business as usual after the lockdown but can we shape the way things will be for the greater good?
Holding the Government to Account or Concern Trolling?
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, March 31st, 2020 - 35 comments
When Opposition Spokespersons behave like concern trolls, we have a problem.
What the Government has done for beneficiaries
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, March 7th, 2020 - 43 comments
In Parliament this week Carmel Sepuloni outlined action being taken by the Government to implement the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group designed to improve the plight of beneficiaries.
UBI: what is it good for?
Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, February 27th, 2020 - 122 comments
Please don’t let economists, lefties, the right, or TOP design a UBI until we start talking about bolting welfare on. Here’s why.
National’s big economic policy announcement
Written By: - Date published: 1:42 pm, February 17th, 2020 - 83 comments
Simon Bridges has claimed that the average wage earner in the country pays almost 33c in the dollar in taxes. Spoiler alert, they do not.
Labour raise the minimum wage
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, December 19th, 2019 - 32 comments
“Around a quarter of million workers will be better off next year”
Why unions won’t give up on Fair Pay Agreements
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, October 18th, 2019 - 40 comments
The CTU has launched a campaign to raise awareness about a discussion paper released by the Government on fair pay agreements amongst media comment that government support may not be secure.
What happened to Hisco?
Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, June 23rd, 2019 - 75 comments
Stuff has published details of a sweetheart deal where David Hisco bought the ANZ owned property they were living in for a greatly reduced price. But was this good investigative work or a leak from within ANZ?
Results matter
Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, June 21st, 2019 - 29 comments
Everyone knows that getting employers to increase rates of pay and improve conditions of work takes real pressure and the only real way working people can exert pressure, in the unbalanced relationship that exists between individual employees and employers, is by acting together; collectively. And that’s what we’ve been doing week in, week out and getting real results.
The Teachers’ strike
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, June 6th, 2019 - 77 comments
Teaching is approaching a crisis point. Sure it has taken 9 years of the last Government’s rule to wreck the system. But this Government is expected to repair quickly the damage that the last Government caused.
May Day
Written By: - Date published: 11:49 am, May 1st, 2019 - 9 comments
Press release from the NZCTU celebrating May day and noting imminent changes to employment laws.
The benefits of a Labour led Government
Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, April 1st, 2019 - 67 comments
Today marks the day that the largest ever increase in the minimum wage will occur.
Herald and Du Plessis-Allan present compelling argument in favour of industry wide bargaining
Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, February 4th, 2019 - 26 comments
Heather Du Plessis-Allan has written as compelling an article in favour of the the Government’s proposed industry wide negotiations as you could ever think possible.
Westpac becomes accredited living wage employer
Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, February 1st, 2019 - 33 comments
Westpac Bank has agreed to become an accredited living wage employer which means that its contractors as well as its staff are to be paid a living wage.
Fair Pay Agreements
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, January 31st, 2019 - 36 comments
The Working Group on Wage Bargaining reform has reported back. Good news for the working poor, bad news for the filthy rich.
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After the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attack, the New Zealand Government set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into matters surrounding the tragedy. The Commission came back with recommendations, including a tightening of laws regarding Hate Speech. The Ardern Government has indicated support for such proposals, but has yet ...2 weeks ago - Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin: can they be more than ‘space’ joyrides for millionaires?Ian Whittaker, Nottingham Trent University and Gareth Dorrian, University of Birmingham Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson and his team successfully flew to the “edge of space” on the Unity 22 mission aboard a Virgin Galactic plane on July 12. The event was hailed as the start of space tourism, narrowly beating ...2 weeks ago
- Exporting their social licenceOne of the slogans of Friday's ugly farmer protests was "no farms, no food". But the truth is that most of what farmers grow is exported, and kiwis are increasingly being priced out of eating it at all: If you feel like red meat is more expensive than it ...2 weeks ago
- Graham Adams: Ardern’s nightmarish weekendCriticism of the government funding gangs and the media followed hard on the heels of nationwide protests by farmers It should have been a weekend of media adulation to further burnish the Prime Minister’s international reputation as a consensus-builder. Late on Friday night, Jacinda Ardern hosted a virtual Asia-Pacific ...2 weeks ago
- Why climate change is forcing conservationists to be more ambitious: by moving threatened species to...Sarah Elizabeth Dalrymple, Liverpool John Moores University As climate change brings record droughts and floods, extended fire seasons continue to make headlines, and the role of humans in this terrible situation is now undisputed, institutional change has been slow and unsteady. In particular, conservationists have been wary of pointing to ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party welcomes conversion therapy prohibition bill
The Green Party welcomes the announcement by Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi to introduce a bill to prohibit conversion therapy used against Rainbow communities. ...12 hours ago - Green Party welcomes Commerce Commission’s draft findings, cautions against wait and hope solution...The Green Party welcomes the findings of the Commerce Commission’s report on competition in the retail grocery sector, which takes aim at the duopoly formed by Woolworths NZ and Foodstuffs. ...1 day ago
- Building back better
It’s a three-week recess in Parliament – so, no bills are going through the House and no select committees are meeting. But the hard work of our ministers continues, and many of our MPs are back in their electorates, taking the opportunity to meet with local communities and businesses about ...1 week ago - Greens call for a Warrant of Fitness for rental homesThe Green Party is launching a petition today calling on the Government’s Healthy Homes Standards to be backed up with a proper Warrant of Fitness (WoF) for rental homes. ...1 week ago
- Securing our recovery: By the numbersOur plan to secure New Zealand’s recovery from COVID-19 is working, with the past three months seeing the second-highest number of people moved off a main benefit into work since records began. ...2 weeks ago
- More Kiwis in work through recovery planThe latest statistics show the Government’s focus on jobs is working. The net number of people on a main benefit dropped by around 11,190 people during the past three months, with around 31,240 people moving off a benefit into work. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party appoints new Chief of StaffThe Green Party has appointed a new Parliamentary Chief of Staff, Robin Campbell. ...2 weeks ago
- New record number of homes consented
In the year ended June 2021, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 44,299, up 18 percent from the June 2020 year. In June 2021, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings consented rose 3.8 percent. In June 2021, 4,310 new dwellings were consented, an increase of 3.8 per ...10 hours ago - Communities backed to tackle wilding pinesTwelve community projects across New Zealand will receive a share of $2 million to carry out wilding pine control, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor announced as part of Biosecurity Week. “Wilding pines are a serious problem that threaten many of the unique landscapes that New Zealanders value. Community groups and trusts ...11 hours ago
- Health Minister Andrew Little responding to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation's rejection of ...I was advised last night that the result of the ballot of Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation members have rejected the latest proposal to settle their collective agreement. Let me be clear: the proposal was one they put to the Government. The Nurses Organisation rejected their ...12 hours ago
- Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation introduced to ParliamentLegislation has been introduced to Parliament to protect against practices intended to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Introducing the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, Minister of Justice, Kris Faafoi, said the measures proposed were aimed at ending conversion practices which don’t work, are widely ...12 hours ago
- New school site for booming West AucklandThe Government will build on a new school site in West Auckland to cope with rapid population growth in the area, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. The Ministry is working with existing local schools to determine how the 1.5-hectare site at 279 Hobsonville Point Road will be used to support ...16 hours ago
- Trans-Tasman travel window to close at midnight tomorrowA further 500 MIQ rooms released for managed returnees from NSW Further Government actions announced today are balanced to provide more certainty for Kiwis wanting to return from Australia, while continuing to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, acting Minister for COVID-19 Response Ayesha Verrall says. The actions were foreshadowed last ...1 day ago
- Govt investing millions in Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti schoolsNapier Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools are among those set to benefit from a $16.5 million investment in the Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti region, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced today. The Government has set aside money in Budget 2021 to accelerate five projects in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North ...1 day ago
- Game changing Jobs for Nature investment for NorthlandConservation Minister Kiri Allan has announced Jobs for Nature funding for a portfolio of projects that will create ‘game changing’ gains for nature and communities across Northland/Te Tai Tokerau as part of the Government’s acceleration of the economic recovery from COVID. “This portfolio of 12 projects will see over $20 ...1 day ago
- Third COVID-19 vaccine receives provisional approvalNew Zealand’s regulatory authority Medsafe has granted provisional approval of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 18 years of age and older, Acting Minister for COVID-19 Response Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. New Zealand secured 7.6 million doses (enough for 3.8 million people) of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through an ...1 day ago
- Bowel-cancer screening programme is saving livesMore than 1000 New Zealanders have had bowel cancer – New Zealand’s second-most-common cause of death from cancer - detected under the Government’s National Bowel Screening Programme, Health Minister Andrew Little said today. More than 1200 New Zealanders died from bowel cancer in 2017. The screening programme aims to save ...2 days ago
- Govt welcomes draft report on the retail grocery sectorThe Commerce Commission’s draft report into the retail grocery sector is being welcomed by Government as a major milestone. “I asked the Commerce Commission to look at whether this sector is as competitive as it could be and today it has released its draft report for consultation,” Commerce and Consumer ...2 days ago
- Christchurch’s Youth Hub ‘set to go’ thanks to further Government fundingConstruction of New Zealand’s first, purpose-built centre for youth well-being is ready to get underway thanks to an extra $2.5 million of COVID-19 response funding, Housing Minister and Associate Minister of Finance, Megan Woods announced today. “The Christchurch Youth Hub is about bringing together all the things young people need ...2 days ago
- Next step to protect Milford Sound PiopiotahiExpert group lays out plan to better protect iconic UNESCO World Heritage site Milford Sound Piopiotahi and its surrounds Funding confirmed for dedicated unit and Establishment Board to assess the recommendations and provide oversight of the process from here Milford Opportunities Project a test case for transformational change in tourism ...2 days ago
- Funding for projects to reduce waste from construction and demolitionThe Government has announced funding for projects in Auckland and the lower North Island to help reduce construction and demolition waste. “Construction is the main source of waste sent to landfill, and much of this could be reduced, reused and recovered,” Environment Minister David Parker said. “The Government is funding ...2 days ago
- Speech at the launch of the National Hepatitis C Action PlanTēnā koutou katoa. Thank you Anglesea Pharmacy and Te Manawa Taki for hosting this event. As a doctor, I saw first hand the impact of hepatitis C. I met Moana in 2019; she came to the infectious diseases outpatient clinic at Wellington Hospital having tested positive for hepatitis C. Like ...3 days ago
- Plan to eliminate hepatitis C as a major health threat by 2030A plan to eliminate hepatitis C in New Zealand, reducing liver cancer and the need for liver transplants, has been released today by Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. “Around 45,000 New Zealanders have hepatitis C, but only around half know they have it,” said Ayesha Verrall. “Symptoms often ...3 days ago
- School upgrades and new classrooms for West Coast, Tasman and CanterburyA funding injection from Budget 2021 to complete four shovel ready projects and new classrooms at six schools and kura will provide a real boost to local communities, Minister Dr Megan Woods announced today. “This Government has committed to providing quality fit for purpose learning environments and 100,000 new student ...3 days ago
- Warmer Kiwi Homes smashes annual targetThe Government's highly successful insulation and heating programme, Warmer Kiwi Homes, is celebrating a key milestone with the completion of more than 38,000 insulation and efficient heater installs in the year to the end of June, smashing its target of 25,000 installs for the year. “The Warmer Kiwi Homes scheme ...3 days ago
- Exemption granted for Wallabies to enter NZBledisloe Cup rugby will be played in New Zealand after the Australian rugby team received an economic exemption to enter New Zealand. Travel between Australia and New Zealand was suspended on Friday for at least eight weeks following the worsening of the COVID outbreak across the Tasman. New Zealanders have ...3 days ago
- Minister of Foreign Affairs makes three diplomatic appointmentsForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced three New Zealand Head of Mission appointments. They are: Mike Walsh as Ambassador to Iran Michael Upton as Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union Kevin Burnett as Ambassador to Indonesia Iran “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long-standing and constructive relationship with Iran, despite a ...3 days ago
- Enhanced Task Force Green Approved for West Coast and MarlboroughThe Government has activated Enhanced Task Force Green (ETFG) in response to the West Coast and Marlborough floods, Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “To assist with the clean-up, up to $500,000 will be made available to support the recovery in Buller and Marlborough which has experienced ...4 days ago
- Govt support for upgrade of Eden Park players facilitiesMinister for Sport and Recreation Hon Grant Robertson has announced funding to upgrade the players facilities at Eden Park ahead of upcoming Women’s World Cup events. Eden Park is a confirmed venue for the Rugby World Cup 2021, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, and a proposed venue for matches of ...4 days ago
- More jobs and quicker public transport motoring towards West AucklandWork to improve public transport for West Aucklanders and support the region’s economic recovery by creating hundreds of jobs has officially kicked off, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff this morning marked the start of construction on the Northwestern Bus Improvements project. It ...4 days ago
- Government backs critical health researchResearch into some of New Zealanders’ biggest health concerns including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease is getting crucial support in the latest round of health research funding, Health Minister Andrew Little announced today. The funding, awarded through the Health Research Council of New Zealand, covers 31 General Project grants ($36.64 ...4 days ago
- New Bay of Islands hospital facilities to bring services closer to homePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little have joined a ceremony to bless the site and workers for Phase Two of the redevelopment of the Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa today. The new building will house outpatients and primary care facilities, as well as expanded renal care ...4 days ago
- Raukokore re-imagined with ‘smart’ relocatable rent to own housingIwi, Crown Partnership Relocatable, fully insulated housing, connected to a new solar plant Provides a pathway to home ownership New housing in the remote eastern Bay of Plenty community of Raukokore shows how iwi and Crown agencies can work together effectively to provide warm, dry, energy efficient homes in a ...4 days ago
- Cabinet accepts Turkish authorities’ request for the managed return of three NZ citizensCabinet has agreed to the managed return of a New Zealand citizen and her two young children from Turkey, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The three have been in immigration detention in Turkey since crossing the border from Syria earlier this year. Turkey has requested that New Zealand repatriate ...4 days ago
- Govt delivers more classrooms so children can focus on learningExtra Government investment in classrooms and school building projects will enable students and teachers to focus on education rather than overcrowding as school rolls grow across the country, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis say. The pair visited Ruakākā School in Whangārei today to announce $100 ...5 days ago
- New station a platform for AirportLink to take offEvery Aucklander with access to the rail network will now have a quick and convenient trip to the airport, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said during the official opening of the new Puhinui Interchange today. The new interchange links the rail platform with a new bus ...7 days ago
- 10 days sick leave for employees deliveredLegislation doubling employees’ minimum sick leave entitlement to 10 days comes into effect today, bringing benefits to both businesses and employees, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Our Government is delivering on a key manifesto commitment to help Kiwis and workplaces stay healthy,” Michael Wood said. “COVID-19 ...7 days ago
- Prime Minister congratulates Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on Election WinPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern tonight congratulated Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on her victory in the Samoa’s general election. “New Zealand has a special relationship with Samoa, anchored in the Treaty of Friendship. We look forward to working with Samoa’s new government in the spirit of partnership that characterises this ...1 week ago
- Quarantine Free Travel with Australia suspendedQuarantine Free Travel from all Australian states and territories to New Zealand is being suspended as the Covid situation there worsens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. From 11.59pm today Australians will no longer be able to enter New Zealand quarantine-free. This will be ...1 week ago
- Growing conservation efforts in GisborneA big injection of Jobs for Nature funding will create much-needed jobs and financial security for families in TeTairāwhiti, and has exciting prospects for conservation in the region, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The projects target local communities most affected by the economic consequences of COVID 19 and are designed ...1 week ago
- Flood recovery given further assistanceThe Government is contributing a further $1 million to help the flood battered Buller community, Acting Emergency Management Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Buller is a small community which has found itself suddenly facing significant and ongoing welfare costs. While many emergency welfare costs are reimbursed by Government, this money ...1 week ago
- Funding for five projects to reduce food wasteThe Government is funding five projects to help address the growing problem of food waste, Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “New Zealand households throw away nearly 300,000 tonnes of food every year, half of which could still be eaten. By supporting these initiatives, we’re taking steps to reduce this ...1 week ago
- Temporary Accommodation Service activated for West Coast flooding eventThe Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated today - meaning residents on the West Coast of the South Island and in the Marlborough region hit by flooding over the weekend can now access help finding temporary accommodation, announced Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing) Poto Williams in Westport today. ...1 week ago
- Pause to Quarantine Free Travel from South Australia to New ZealandQuarantine Free Travel from South Australia to New Zealand will be paused from 11.59am (NZT) tonight, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced. However, people currently in the state who ordinarily live in New Zealand will be able to return on “managed return” flights starting with the next available flight, ...1 week ago
- New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity by Chinese state-sponsored actorsNew Zealand has established links between Chinese state-sponsored actors known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT40) and malicious cyber activity in New Zealand. “The GCSB has worked through a robust technical attribution process in relation to this activity. New Zealand is today joining other countries in strongly condemning this malicious ...2 weeks ago
- Remarks to Diplomatic CorpsIt is a pleasure to be with you all this evening. Some of you may have been surprised when you received an invitation from the Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, and I would forgive you if you were. New Zealand is unique in having established a Ministerial portfolio ...2 weeks ago
- Early Pfizer shipment boosts vaccine scheduleThe largest shipment of the Pfizer vaccine to date has arrived into New Zealand two days ahead of schedule, and doses are already being delivered to vaccination centres around the country, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. “The shipment of more than 370,000 doses reached New Zealand yesterday, following a ...2 weeks ago
- Vaccination rate needs to hit 70% to trigger easing of restrictions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Seven in ten people aged 16 and over will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID restrictions to begin to be eased, under targets agreed in principle by national cabinet on Friday. Further relaxation and ...20 mins ago - The Tokyo Lowdown: Day 7 glory
In one of NZ's great Olympic days - three medals on the rowing course - the fairytale of Emma Twigg stands out. LockerRoom's daily wrap of our Kiwi sportswomen continues. Performances of the day Emma Twigg can now finally believe. Many times during her 18-year Olympic journey, the single ...5 hours ago - Week in Politics: Return of Suhayra Aden stirs up debate
Analysis - Harsh words from Judith Collins as it is announced Suhayra Aden can return to New Zealand, another big vaccine delivery clears the way for the programme to ramp up. ...6 hours ago - India’s vaccine rollout is ignoring the many inequities in its societySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rajib Dasgupta, Chairperson, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University Some 6 months after India began what is said to be the largest COVID-19 vaccination drive in the world, equitable distribution has been a challenge. A recent instance ...6 hours ago
- We must include more women in physics — it would help the whole of humanitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathy Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist Prajval Shastri, Author provided All around the world, there is an extreme gender imbalance in physics, in both academia and industry. Examples are all too easy to find. In Burkina ...7 hours ago
- No wonder people are confused. Most official COVID vaccine advice is way too complexSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Marie Muscat, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Sydney from www.shutterstock.com As Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow, the message has shifted to urgently “get the jab”. And people’s motivation to get vaccinated is increasing. But with ever-changing advice, many ...7 hours ago
- Curious Kids: do penguins fly underwater?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Belinda Cannell, Research fellow, Research Associate, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock Do penguins fly underwater? – Rhys, age 7, Perth. Indeed they do. They can’t fly through the air but they can fly underwater. In ...7 hours ago
- 3 things we need to get right to ensure online professional development worksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Filia Garivaldis, Senior Lecturer, BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash University Shutterstock One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed is the need for employee training and skills development. Although lockdowns have reduced access to offices and increased job insecurity, they have provided ...7 hours ago
- Vital Signs: Uber’s impact on traffic accidents is a lesson in calculating social benefitSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Twinsterphoto/Sutterstock Uber has been great for some people and bad for others. It has been good for its founders and investors. It has been good for riders who get a convenient and well-priced new ...7 hours ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on changes in opposition policySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan discusses the week in politics with University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher. This week the pair discuss the extension of the Sydney lockdown, and the anti-lockdown protests which took place over the ...7 hours ago
- HRC To Play A Role In Law Banning Conversion Practices
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata / The Human Rights Commission welcomes the Government’s introduction of the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill. The proposed legislation would criminalise conversion practices . If passed, it would also create a civil ...8 hours ago - Gamblers bet more when in the dark: feedback can curb their online lossesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Newell, Professor of Cognitive Psychology, UNSW Online wagering is the fastest-growing segment of gambling in Australia. It’s a trend of particular concern because losing money through online brokering and betting apps is associated with higher rates of gambling-related harm than other ...8 hours ago
- Conversion therapy 'widely discredited by science' – FaafoiConversion therapy can cause serious harm, says Justice Minister Kris Faafoi, who is introducing the government's planned law to ban the practice. ...8 hours ago
- Not all the millions offered by the Ardern govt have been accepted – let’s see how it fares with...
Several million dollars have been dished out for projects to build schools, control wilding pine control and what-have-you. Nurses – on the other hand – have turned down the money they were offered. In their case, Health Minister Andrew Little is obviously bemused and frustrated. He was advised last ...9 hours ago - The power of no: Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Black women’s resistanceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathomi Gatwiri, Senior lecturer, Southern Cross University Simone Biles, the US gymnast widely considered “the greatest of all time”, withdrew from the Olympic finals this week, saying: I have to focus on my mental health […] We have to protect our ...9 hours ago
- The discovery of Indigenous children’s bodies in Canada is horrific, but Australia has similar tra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lilly Brown, Lecturer, The University of Melbourne Content warning: This article contains distressing information on Stolen Generations and residential schools. When I read that the bodies of 215 children had been found in unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops ...9 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending July 30
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 In Our Own Backyard by Anne Kayes (Bateman, $22) From Kete Books: “It’s March 2020 and Liza, her ...9 hours ago - Rapid antigen testing isn’t perfect. But it could be a useful part of Australia’s COVID responseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Williamson, Professor of Microbiology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Shutterstock Since the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 testing in Australia has been performed using highly sensitive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. But this conventional model of ...9 hours ago
- Muller takes more time away
Former National leader Todd Muller, forced to retire by leader Judith Collins and the party caucus, will remain on leave for three more weeks to care for his wife Outgoing National MP Todd Muller will not return to Parliament as planned on Tuesday after taking five weeks leave. The MP ...9 hours ago - Yesterdaze: A gold in synchronised snarking
James Elliott hands out red cards to runners in the reckons relay as he does his best not to put his hand into a power saw The sensation you get when you see that Mike Hosking is trending on Twitter is a lot like the feeling some people get when they ...9 hours ago - Demand at South Auckland mass vaccine event takes organisers by surpriseNew Zealand’s first mass vaccination event proved more popular than expected this morning, with many waiting up to an hour for their jab due to higher than anticipated demand. Justin Latif reports. Shortly after New Zealand’s first vaccination event commenced, reports began filtering in of long wait times for people ...9 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: To Get Here, by Lynn DavidsonA new poem by 2021 Randell Cottage Creative NZ Writer in Residence Lynn Davidson.To get hereI drove through the Kaimanawas (which is the old forest,survivor of brutal winters/ or the wild horses streaming over tussock/or the mountain range) And which translates as treasure or eat the wildor heart-eater or ...10 hours ago
- Everything we learned from Lorde’s recent publicity blitzShe’s Lorde of onion rings and chicken wings, but what else have we learned about the award-winning singer from her run of media appearances?With the impending release of a new album and an upcoming global tour, Lorde has climbed aboard the promotional train, destination everywhere. We watched her get day ...10 hours ago
- COVID has changed policing — but now policing needs to change to respond better to COVIDSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vicki Sentas, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Law, UNSW With rolling lockdowns now part of how Australians live in the pandemic age, important questions arise about corresponding changes in policing. Constantly changing public health orders bring not only confusion but expansive police authority to ...10 hours ago
- Conversion therapy law: Government reveals all the detailsThe government has revealed all the details of its ban on conversion therapy, with a penalty of up to five years in prison for serious harm caused by putting someone through it. ...11 hours ago
- Govt To Jail Parents For Affirming Daughter As Girl, Son As BoyFamily First NZ says that the proposed ‘conversion therapy’ ban will be yet another attack on parents’ rights, is fundamentally flawed and unfair, and has been opposed by the Ministry of Health, a government select committee, and by the ...11 hours ago
- There’s no escape from climate change – and NZ should brace for the tariffs imposed by our tradi...
When a magazine as authoritative as The Economist heads up its lead “No Safe Place” , even climate change deniers should sit up and take notice. The Economist” says the most terrible thing about the spectacular scenes of destruction that have played out around the world over recent weeks ...11 hours ago - All sports interviews should be like thisRuby Tui and Michaela Blyde aren’t just brilliant rugby sevens players: the pair look unassailable in the race for ‘best interview at the Tokyo Olympics’ gold.In a world of anodyne, cliche-replete sports interviews, Ruby Tui and Michaela Blyde of the Black Ferns sevens are a coruscating beam of light. Having ...11 hours ago
- Health Minister Andrew Little responds after nurses reject pay offerThe Health Minister is speaking to media after nurses rejected the government's latest pay offer, meaning planned strikes would go ahead. ...11 hours ago
- The Salvation Army Supports Proposed Conversion Practices Prohibition BillThe Salvation Army is supporting the proposed Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, which will outlaw this unethical practice. The Salvation Army continues to oppose vilification of, or discrimination against, anyone on the grounds of sexuality ...12 hours ago
- New Home Consents Continue To Break RecordsA record 44,299 new homes were consented in the year ended June 2021, Stats NZ said today. “The annual number of new homes consented rose again in the June 2021 year, the fourth consecutive month of rises,” construction statistics manager Michael ...13 hours ago
- Te Tiriti O Waitangi And Māori Equity Front And Centre In New Te Pūkenga ReportBoosted outcomes for Māori and te whakatinanatanga o Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice) are key outcomes of Te Pae Tawhiti Insights Report released today. Te Pae Tawhiti is the biggest piece of Te Tiriti o Waitangi self-reflective ...13 hours ago
- What the hell has happened to the McFlurry®?Emily Writes has had enough of the lies – an unflurried McFlurry® is no McFlurry® at all.This post was first published on Emily Writes Weekly.At some point it changed. And we just accepted it. We didn’t rise up in the streets and demand our McFlurrys be flurried. And now it’s too ...14 hours ago
- EnviroWaste Partners With NZ Food Network To Feed Hungry KiwisEnviroWaste has joined NZ Food Network (NZFN) to put more food on the table for the thousands of Kiwi households experiencing food insecurity. The new partnership will see EnviroWaste working with its large food production clients to ...14 hours ago
- Offshore And Returning Kiwi Remain Keen To Contribute To New Zealand’s Prosperity Says Kea ReportThe Kea Future Aspirations survey of offshore and recently returned community members, released today, shows that a significant number of our offshore Kiwi still hope to return to New Zealand despite growing post-covid momentum in key markets. This report ...14 hours ago
- The cutting-edge tech helping NZ athletes shave seconds from their timesWhen our Olympic athletes train for their events, it’s no longer enough to have a coach standing on the sidelines keeping an eye on what’s going on. These days, performance monitoring tech is now a staple in every top New Zealand athlete’s training regime. Mirjam Guesgen reports.With the powerful pull ...14 hours ago
- Community concern a ‘risk’ to dramatic expansion of school zones and buildings
Today, 6yo Gus Milne wants to talk to the PM about learning to cook in his new class kitchen; his dad would like to talk about the millions invested in school infrastructure ...15 hours ago - How a perfect storm of events is turning Myanmar into a ‘super-spreader’ COVID stateSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, University of South Australia Myanmar is facing a catastrophic health crisis that could have ramifications not just for the country’s long-suffering people, but across the region as well. The country is experiencing a major spike in COVID cases ...15 hours ago
- If Australia is serious about fixing the culture at parliament, this is the code of conduct we needSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Blair Williams, Research Fellow, Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL), Australian National University Lukas Coch/AAP Australia has been rocked by serious allegations of sexual assault and harassment that have poured out of parliament house this year. In February, former ...15 hours ago
- Australia shouldn’t ‘open up’ before we vaccinate at least 80% of the population. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute Shutterstock Earlier this month National Cabinet released a four-phase COVID response plan. It wasn’t so much a plan – it had no dates and no thresholds – but more a back-of-the-napkin thought bubble. ...15 hours ago
- Pest plants and animals cost Australia around $25 billion a year – and it will get worseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University AAP Shamefully, Australia has one of the highest extinction rates in the world. And ...15 hours ago
- Climate change is causing tuna to migrate, which could spell catastrophe for the small islands that ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Seto, Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Small Pacific Island states depend on their commercial fisheries for food supplies and economic health. But our new research shows climate change will dramatically alter tuna stocks in the tropical Pacific, with potentially severe consequences ...15 hours ago
- Should the University of Melbourne host the Menzies Institute? The answer hinges on academic freedomSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katharine Gelber, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, The University of Queensland The University of Melbourne will open the Robert Menzies Institute, in honour of Australia’s longest-serving prime minister, in September this year. The presence of board members with close ties to ...15 hours ago
- A COVID ‘ring of steel’ around Sydney would play havoc with Australia’s supply chainsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flavio Romero Macau, Associate dean, Edith Cowan University Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock If a “ring of steel” was actually placed around Sydney, as suggested by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, the rest of Australia would suffer in ways that aren’t immediately apparent. Completely ...15 hours ago
- Friday essay: how ‘Afghan’ coats left Kabul for the fashion world and became a hippie must-haveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Bonyhady, Emeritus professor, Australian National University Masking Afghan coats for sale in Herat, 1974. Shutterstock The London launch of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in May 1967 was a musical and fashion landmark. While the clothes worn by all ...15 hours ago
- Live updates, July 30: Nurses resume pay talks after rejecting latest government offerWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for July 30, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz8.00am: Pay talks resume as nurses reject latest offerThe government’s latest pay offer to nurses has been rejected, with planned strikes in August and September once again on ...15 hours ago
- The incredible legacy of Merata Mita’s Patu!As part of an exhibition on the 1981 Springbok tour protest, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision has restored and remastered Patu!, the masterwork of wahine Māori filmmaker Merata Mita and her artistic collaborators. Dan Taipua looks back at the legacy of this cinematic taonga.Patu! is a documentary from a different ...15 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Supermarket duopoly laid bare, faces forced competitionGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Supermarket duopoly laid bare, one industrial action ends while another restarts, and window closing for quarantine-free travel from Australia.A couple of years ago former Spinoff staffer Henry Oliver made a very astute observation about the NBR Rich List, and I want ...16 hours ago
- Conversion therapy legislation to cover religious groupsThe government's ban on conversion therapy will cover religious groups, but they will still be able to freely express their beliefs. ...18 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 30 July
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...18 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 30 July
...18 hours ago - This week's best-selling books
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias FICTION 1 Loop Tracks by Sue Orr (Victoria University Press, $35) "Secrets and shame, family and lovers, Loop Tracks scoops all this and more into its orbit, creating a ...18 hours ago - Bernard Hickey: A long white tunnel back to the futureOur provincial cities had thriving public transport systems until they were wrecked in the early 1990s. Bernard Hickey visits Whanganui’s extraordinary Durie Hill Elevator to find out how (and why) we should look to the past to get to carbon zero.Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or ...18 hours ago
- New Zealand’s best real estate agent ads, reviewed and rankedIn a hot and overcrowded housing market, real estate agents are having to get creative with their promotion to attract customers and beat their rivals. Michael Andrew ranked some of the most compelling and eccentric ads out there.They’re in every newspaper. They’re on every building. They’re on every bus, bus ...18 hours ago
- NZ's blindspot on dairy emissions
Big Dairy worldwide is contemplating faster cuts to its emissions but Fonterra, the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Government don't seem to want to discuss doing anything more ...18 hours ago - Faafoi reviews rights of youth stuck in residency visa queue
Immigrant youth trapped without the ability to work or study have been promised an imminent resolution ...18 hours ago - Govt forgos $6m with green buildings policy
The Government's decision to enact a less ambitious policy for reducing emissions from buildings could see it lose out on emissions reductions and energy savings, Marc Daalder reports A 2018 cost-benefit analysis of options to reduce emissions in buildings showed the most ambitious policies would have net benefits of $18.5 million ...18 hours ago - Commission calls out Pak'nSave's six-month 'specials'
The Commerce Commission's investigation of competition in the grocery market found many items at supermarkets are on sale for half or three quarters of the year. ...18 hours ago - Dom Harvey, music radio and the times they are a-Changin'
A top, controversial DJ hangs up his earphones as an industry struggles with how to limit offence, and his station's owner prepares to release a lawyer's inquiry into its culture and misconduct. MEDIAROOM: Dom Harvey and his repertoire of pranks, jokes, personal comments and controversies leave the airwaves Friday morning after 20 years ...18 hours ago - Photographer bridging the urban-rural divide
After travelling the country in search of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farms, a photographer is bringing her work to Auckland to show what it means to be stewards of the land Queen Street has been a bit of a Mecca for farmers lately. This month’s Groundswell protest saw a troupe of ...18 hours ago - First Kiwi Olympic gymnast still does the splits at 75
As Maddie Davidson becomes our first female Olympic trampolinist, Dido Götz recalls competing in NZ's first gymnastics team at an Olympics - also in Tokyo, but 57 years earlier Dido Götz puts on the elegant felt hat and black blazer with the silver fern, and hangs the well-worn travelling bag over ...18 hours ago - Opting out of employer responsibility – the case against Uber
Unions are heading to the Employment Court taking action over Uber's drivers - asking the question when a 'contractor' is really a 'worker', and should be offered worker benefits Earlier this year, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision, affirming that Uber drivers were not, as previously ...18 hours ago - Outrage over Indonesian officers for stomping on disabled Papuan teen’s headWarning: Content may be distressing to some viewers. The video of the assault on the Papuan deaf teenager. Video: Benar News SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya Shocking video footage showing a brutal and inhumane assault on a deaf Papuan teenager named Steven has emerged from the Merauke region of Papua ...22 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Albanese lightens his boat, ahead of the battle of the ‘grey men’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Anthony Albanese this week sent a clear message – he intends to use John Howard’s 1996 model as his strategic guide to the election. With this in mind, it was predictable the opposition leader would ...23 hours ago
- The Tokyo Lowdown: Day 6
Can the new Olympic champion rowing pair bring home a pair of golds from Tokyo? Are we about to see one of NZ's greatest Olympic days? LockerRoom's daily wrap of our Kiwi sportswomen continues. Performances of the day There’s no more rewarding way to overcome the disappointment of being ...1 day ago - Fiji’s other crisis – away from the covid emergency, political dissent can still get you arreste...ANALYSIS: By Dominic O’Sullivan, Charles Sturt University The arrest of nine Fijian opposition politicians, including party leaders and two former prime ministers, once again exposes Fijian democracy’s fragility. The intimidation doesn’t bode well for the parliamentary elections due next year (or early 2023). The political crisis has been overshadowed by ...1 day ago
- Fiji covid-19 patient being flown to NZ for treatment in about-turnRNZ Pacific A covid-19 positive patient is being flown to New Zealand from Fiji today despite an earlier decision by the Ministry of Health to decline the transfer. The infected patient from Fiji is being flown to Auckland for hospital treatment. It is reported the person involved is a high-profile ...1 day ago
- Fiji Olympic Gold … never to be missed even for Fiji’s youngest sevens fansCOMMENT: By Shailendra Singh in Suva This poignant photo by Max Vosailagi captures Fiji’s fixation with rugby sevens, with winning a second Olympic Gold last night by beating New Zealand 27-12 in the men’s final. Two young boys, glued to what is apparently a TV screen through a neighbourhood front ...1 day ago
- Fiji dedicates Olympic sevens win to struggling people back homeRNZ Pacific Fiji has dedicated its Olympic rugby sevens win to the people back home who are struggling amidst the country’s covid-19 health crisis. Fiji defeated New Zealand 27-12 in the men’s sevens final in Tokyo to defend the title they won in Rio five years ago. Captain Jerry Tuwai ...1 day ago
- PNG landowner group accused of ‘hijack’ over validation in PorgeraAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Allegations of “hijacking and manipulation” of a Papua New Guinea national government sanctioned validation exercise at the Porgera mine in Enga province have been raised, reports the PNG Post-Courier. Tieni Wuape clan leader from the Special Mining Lease (SML) Janet Yuwi told the Post-Courier that a ...1 day ago
- Māori Party calls for indigenous debate to address NZ racism, white privilegeAsia Pacific Report newsdesk The co-leader of New Zealand’s minority Māori Party has launched a blistering attack on white privilege and the opposition National Party which it accuses of “igniting racism” in the framing of a debate about radical political change. In a provocative introduction to her weekly column in ...1 day ago
- Should pregnant women have a COVID vaccine? The evidence says it’s safe and effectiveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University Shutterstock Having a baby brings enough stress and uncertainty without having to deal with a pandemic. Added to that is the difficult decision to ...1 day ago
- Is the truth out there? How the Harvard-based Galileo Project will search the skies for alien techno...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ray Norris, Professor, School of Science, Western Sydney University ESO Can we find alien technology? That is the ambitious goal of the Galileo Project, launched this week by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb with substantial private financial backing. The project ...1 day ago
- Business is Boring: How Tractor Ventures gives startups a new way to raise capitalJodie Imam and Lance Hodges of Tractor Ventures join Simon Pound to talk about the growing startup industry and how they’re helping fund it.Follow Business is Boring on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.Startup founders have a few very well known ways to get funding, and most of ...1 day ago
- NZ supermarket giants warned: Change your ways or face break-upNew Zealand’s two grocery giants have been warned by the government’s guardian of free markets to allow significantly more competition into the sector – or parliament will be told to break you up. Justin Giovannetti reports.The conclusion that New Zealand’s grocery bills are among the world’s most expensive won’t come ...1 day ago
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