sustainability
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Climate Change actions for the middle classes
Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, July 28th, 2017 - 15 comments
It’s time to put our money and resources where our hearts and minds and values are.
Rain doesn’t cause most floods, humans do
Written By: - Date published: 12:11 pm, July 23rd, 2017 - 50 comments
What to do with all the water falling from the sky? Some choices are smarter than others.
The Catholic Church is urging its parishoners to vote
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, July 21st, 2017 - 29 comments
The catholic bishops of Aotearoa have released a pamphlet urging parishoners to vote. And apart from conservative positions on euthenasia and drug liberalisation the policies they support have a decidedly progressive bent.
Regenerative agriculture
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, July 18th, 2017 - 14 comments
Regenerative farmers in NZ are already leading the way on land and water restoration, and how to grow food in a changing climate.
Waimea a good dam?
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, July 14th, 2017 - 54 comments
The proposed Waimea Dam in Nelson is attracting opposition from the Green Party but support from the Labour Party. Is there such a thing as a good dam project?
NRT: National’s new Muldoonism
Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, July 13th, 2017 - 7 comments
I/S at No Right Turn: “at its core, the National Party is an anti-environment party, dedicated to destroying our natural heritage and impoverishing future generations for the profit of their cronies”.
Greens to fast-track airport rail for America’s Cup
Written By: - Date published: 2:36 pm, July 5th, 2017 - 79 comments
The Green Party is announcing today that in Government it will fast-track the building of a new rail line to Auckland airport to be completed in 2021, in time for the next America’s Cup.
Plundering of water
Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, July 5th, 2017 - 71 comments
The company behind the attempted water extraction operation in Ashburton is now trying to build the largest production bottling plant in the southern hemisphere in Waikato.
Bravo Young Nats – endorse zero carbon
Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, July 1st, 2017 - 18 comments
Health professionals support legal challenge against government’s climate policy
Written By: - Date published: 6:19 am, June 28th, 2017 - 4 comments
“Climate change is a medical emergency – and our government’s inaction threatens New Zealanders’ wellbeing, both now and into the future.”
Sarah v Government
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, June 23rd, 2017 - 56 comments
the Government can’t always be trusted to act in the best interests of the people or the planet
The Freshwater Rescue Plan
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, June 10th, 2017 - 12 comments
Seven steps to reclaiming our lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers.
Catherine Delahunty: My Mataura River visit
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, June 6th, 2017 - 8 comments
Green Party Spokesperson for Water, Catherine Delahunty, has been down South as part of the Greens’ Swimmable Rivers Tour. She reports on restoration of the Mataura River, farmers doing the right thing, and the community being further ahead than the government on water.
Book review: Eaarth
Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, May 28th, 2017 - 3 comments
Last Sunday I recycled an old book review. Here’s another one from the vaults, “Eaarth”, by Bill McKibben (of 350.org). It doesn’t pull any punches.
Let’s green the red zone
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, May 22nd, 2017 - 91 comments
A Christchurch community group has come out with an outstanding solution for what to do with red zone land that is currently unusable.
Book review: Here on Earth – An Argument for Hope
Written By: - Date published: 10:01 am, May 21st, 2017 - 11 comments
A brief review of Here on Earth: An Argument for Hope, by Tim Flannery. An argument for hope is exactly what we need, but does Flannery make the case?
Environment Southland won’t talk in public about water quality
Written By: - Date published: 10:24 am, April 28th, 2017 - 14 comments
Discussions of the MfE Our Fresh Water 2017 report to be held in workshop that excludes the public and the media.
David Cunliffe’s final speech
Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, April 23rd, 2017 - 28 comments
The text of David Cunliffe’s final speech delivered to the New Lynn Labour Party earlier this week where he decries neoliberalism and worries about the world’s environmental future.
Green power
Written By: - Date published: 12:34 pm, April 20th, 2017 - 78 comments
Lots to like in The Greens’ new power policy.
Higgins on National’s shit creek
Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, April 16th, 2017 - 100 comments
Higgins: “Water quality should be a massive issue this election. Some friends, who are the kind of dyed-in-the-wool National supporters who call everyone else a loony leftie, now say water quality will guide their vote and it can’t possibly go to National.”…
Monbiot on the embedded economy
Written By: - Date published: 11:54 am, April 14th, 2017 - 10 comments
A model for a sustainable economy. Something to ponder on a wet holiday weekend.
Right-wing American stupidity is now a global crisis
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, March 29th, 2017 - 47 comments
The Trump regime has begun the process of dismantling environmental protections in America, including those designed to limit carbon emissions / climate change.
Global oil and global decline
Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, March 26th, 2017 - 26 comments
Peak oil is being talked again with suggestions that it may be only 5 years away. And Saudi Arabia’s Aramco is thinking of starting to divest itself of its petroleum assets.
This Government’s citizenship priorities
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, March 24th, 2017 - 52 comments
Environmental activist Michael Tavares request for an exceptional circumstances grant of citizenship has been refused by this Government whereas right wing libertarian Peter Thiel’s request for an exceptional circumstances grant of citizenship was granted. Why the difference?
OECD: NZ growth model reaching its environmental limits
Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, March 21st, 2017 - 40 comments
New Zealand is about to reach the limits of growth.
Living Economies Expo
Written By: - Date published: 11:02 am, March 21st, 2017 - 2 comments
“Imagine a country which respects the living planet; whose people enjoy fair land tenure, good housing, good health, wholesome food, a rewarding livelihood, free education, a compassionate justice system, and an adequate income: a country with an inclusive democracy grounded in vibrant communities.”
Sunday Book Club
Written By: - Date published: 8:06 am, March 19th, 2017 - 31 comments
What if our production methods were designed to produce health, beauty, and permanence?
TS Book Club this Sunday
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, March 17th, 2017 - Comments Off on TS Book Club this Sunday
We will be discussing Small is Beautiful – Economics as if People Mattered by E. F. Schumacher.
Nick Smith is a disgrace
Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, March 14th, 2017 - 32 comments
In a functioning democracy Nick Smith’s handling of the Resource Management Bill should result in him losing his ministerial warrant.
Labour: Greens are the first cab off the rank
Written By: - Date published: 7:38 am, March 3rd, 2017 - 19 comments
Andrew Little has confirmed that the Green Party will be first party Labour looks to for a coalition deal after the election.
The Nats’ new ‘swimmable’ rivers aren’t
Written By: - Date published: 3:08 pm, February 28th, 2017 - 14 comments
Under the new standards we have up to a 1 in 6 risk of serious infection at the times that we actually swim in rivers, and Smith is trying to hide this fact by fudging around with year-long averages. David Parker’s analysis yesterday was bang on.
- Victory in Guadeloupe banana workers strike
On July 5, we ran an article on an important strike by banana workers on the island of Guadeloupe, one of France’s colonial possessions in the Caribbean Sea. We can now report the banana workers have won! Below is an ...58 mins ago - ‘The Fire Next Time’: remembering the Detroit 1967 rebellionEarlier this week (July 23) marked the 50th anniversary of the urban rebellion in Detroit, Michigan. This was the era of explosions in the deprived black communities of urban America, opening with the rebellion in the Watts ghetto in ...3 hours ago
- The police actively covered up for the GCSB
When the police issued their report on their investigation into the GCSB's illegal spying on Kim Dotcom, they argued that they could not prosecute because the criminal spies had not known they were breaking the law. That legal test has ...4 hours ago - Access: A short disability history of Aotearoa New Zealand
In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British Crown and the indigenous Māori population of Aotearoa New Zealand. Its principles promised partnership, participation and protection. However, colonialism was largely negative for Māori and two centuries later they ...5 hours ago - Climate change: Doing nothingThat's Herald columnist Brian Fallow's assessment of Paula Bennett's response to the ETS review:Into the fog of uncertainty shrouding the future of the Emissions Trading Scheme, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett has blown the gentlest of puffs. Most of the ...6 hours ago
- A systematic assault on democracyThat's the only way to describe the revelation that British undercover police infiltrated and spied on over a thousand political groups:Undercover police officers who adopted fake identities in deployments lasting several years spied on more than 1,000 political groups, a ...6 hours ago
- Hard News: Friday Music: Sneaky Feelings, Micronism and the gayest of the discoSneaky Feelings announced this week that they'd be reconvening as a full live band for the first time in 22 years – on a Wednesday night in Hamilton. It seemed highly likely that there would be other shows in the ...6 hours ago
- How to vote and keep your info private
Going to vote or enrolling to vote can be scary. Having your details out there can open a can of worms. I wish we lived in a country where everyone was safe and secure enough to be openly enrolled, but ...6 hours ago - Three Waters Infrastructure Part 4 – Green Streets
One the major prerequisites we need to build the houses we need to combat our housing crisis is infrastructure, without it, the development can’t occur. This post is about a highly but often forgotten element of infrastructure Three Waters – Water Supply, Wastewater ...6 hours ago - Verse Chorus Verse: STONEYHUNGA – SWIDT
Spycc and INF give us a track-by-track breakdown of the SWIDT crew's debut album. ‘The Bus Depot’ (Intro) If you've ever caught a bus with the homies, you know at least one of them needs to be clicked ...7 hours ago - Teen Vogue and Anal Sex
Content note: discusses sexual violence, transphobia and anal sex. The tidal wave of critique Teen Vogue set off by writing an anal sex 101 post a few weeks back has just washed up in Aotearoa, with various NZ feminist Facebook ...7 hours ago - My Year with Helen: How Gaylene Preston captured an inglorious moment in UN history
My Year with Helen isn't a story of defeat - it's one of strength. Gaylene Preston tells Katie Parker why. Helen Clark chats to Gaylene Preston during the filming of My Year with Helen. Photo: NZ International ...8 hours ago - Newshub hypocrisy over dirty deals
There can be no question that the mainstream media and how they report helps people chose who to vote for, and to some degree has determined the last few elections in New Zealand.Often referred to as the fourth estate, journalism ...9 hours ago - The Third Main business case – the un-redacted version
The section of track between Westfield and Wiri is one of the most heavily used in the entire country. On top of serving both the Southern and Eastern lines, it is also sees more rail freight pass over it than ...12 hours ago - 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day ago - Secrecy vs accountabilityWhile 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day ago
- Hard News: Synthetics: Maybe this mess will do some goodIn 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day ago - National party delivering misery
1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days ago
- London conference, Sept 19/20: Capital 150 – Marx’s Capital TodayLocation: 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 ...2 days 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 ...3 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 ...3 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 ...3 days ago
- Comment on Councils to consider national cat legislation by Sophie WilliamsBest wishes for success! Show the USA how to do it right. ...3 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 ...3 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 ...4 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 ...4 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 ...4 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 ...4 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 ...4 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 ...4 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 ...4 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. ...4 days ago
- Sins Of Admission: A Response To John Armstrong’s Attack On Metiria Turei.
4 days ago
- Labour to build replacement for Gorge Road
Labour will build a new road to replace the Manawatu Gorge Road as quickly as possible, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...2 hours ago - Government suppresses better transport options for AucklandA newly-revealed un-redacted report into options for Auckland freight movement shows the Government has been actively trying to suppress more efficient and cost-effective options to construct a third rail line, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Michael Wood. “While Auckland’s congestion gets ...5 hours ago
- How to vote and keep your info private
Going to vote or enrolling to vote can be scary. Having your details out there can open a can of worms. I wish we lived in a country where everyone was safe and secure enough to be openly enrolled, but ...6 hours ago - Coleman’s lost control of his MinistryBasic blunders and chronic underfunding revealed in Treasury documents obtained by Labour clearly show Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has lost control of his ministry, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “Every New Zealander deserves affordable access to quality healthcare but ...6 hours ago
- Household Living Costs hit poorer Kiwis hardestStandards 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...3 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 ...4 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 ...5 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 ...5 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. ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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. ...1 week 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 ...1 week 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 ...3 weeks ago
- Road toll for motorcyclists drops
Fewer motorcyclists have been killed on New Zealand roads so far this year than in 2016, the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) says. ...3 hours ago - Brownlee’s challenger Raf Manji pitches for 2026 GamesJuly 27 (BusinessDesk) - Christchurch should bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games both as a way to kickstart the city's stalled post-quakes rebuild and to ensure its nationally strategic potential is restored, says Raf Manji, the Christchurch City ...5 hours ago
- People First NZ backs Human Rights Commission reportPeople First New Zealand Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi welcomes the Human Rights Commission and Donald Beasley Institute report ‘Institutions are places of abuse’ that was released yesterday. Many of our older members grew up and spent significant parts ...6 hours ago
- Kiwis to Join Momentum Against Human TraffickingKiwis to Join Momentum Against Human Trafficking Following Landmark Thai Court Case Hundreds of Kiwis will be joining the momentum in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation following news of Thailand’s largest ever human trafficking trial ...6 hours ago
- ECO welcomes call for climate commissionECO welcomes call for climate commission and carbon budgeting The Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ (ECO) today welcomed the carbon emissions reduction report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and her recommendations ...7 hours ago
- Canadian Indigenous Rights Case Could Block Oil ExplorationFriday, July 28: A David vs Goliath court case in Canada that has seen an indigenous community triumph in the country’s highest court to block oil exploration could have a ripple effect in New Zealand. ...7 hours ago
- Outdoors Party Calls into Question Ospri 1080 ProtocolsThe NZ Outdoors Party is calling on OSPRI to test all animal carcasses found on Waianakarua beach, Otago, following its recent aerial 1080 drop upstream. Both Waitaki District Council and 1080 Paw Patrol have released photographs on Facebook of several ...8 hours ago
- Over $1 million granted for research about childrenOver $1 million has been granted to a mix of academic, public and private researchers from the Superu Children and Families Research Fund. ...9 hours ago
- Call for Climate Commission & Carbon Budgeting WelcomedThe Environment and Conservation Organistions of NZ (ECO) today welcomed the carbon emissions reduction report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and her recommendations to establish a Climate Commission and that New Zealand institute ...10 hours ago
- Ōhāriu deal same old same old – Greg O’Connor“The same tired message to Ōhāriu voters to vote for Peter Dunne will produce the same result,” Labour Party Ōhāriu Candidate Greg O’Connor said today. He was responding to Bill English’s plea to Ōhāriu voters to vote for Peter Dunne. ...10 hours ago
- Call for climate commission and carbon budgeting welcomedCall for climate commission and carbon budgeting welcomed The Environment and Conservation Organistions of NZ (ECO) today welcomed the carbon emissions reduction report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and her recommendations to establish ...22 hours ago
- Govt has listened to tourism industry concernsGovt has listened to tourism industry concerns about work visa changes New Zealand’s fast growing tourism industry is pleased the Government has listened to its concerns about the proposed changes to temporary work visas. Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief ...1 day ago
- 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day ago
- Submissions sought on state sector productivityThe Productivity Commission is seeking submissions on its inquiry into measuring and improving state sector productivity. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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*. ...2 days 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
- Best Songs Ever: Inverting pop’s male gaze and One Direction-influenced lo-fi indie pop
Our regular round-up of new songs and singles, this week featuring Charli XCX, Repulsive Woman, Mick Jagger, Chase and Status and more…SONG OF THE WEEKCharli XCX – ‘Boys’Dreaming of Charli XCX’s perfect productionSometimes a song just nails a sound so simple and so ...2 hours ago - Labour pledges to replace Manawatu Gorge Road
The Labour Party is pledging to build a new road to replace the Manawatu Gorge Road as quickly as possible should it win the September election. ...2 hours ago - Oh! The Places You’ll Go (The Parents Version)
Oh! The Places You’ll Go when you’re a parent. Here’s an uplifting and hilarious poem by Gillian Breckell (based on the original Dr Seuss masterpiece we know and love) to soothe tired mamas. It’s best read with some chocolate or ...3 hours ago - ‘Heaven is Onehunga’: On the 312 bus with SWIDT
Henry Oliver catches the 312 bus to Onehunga with SWIDT, whose debut album Stoneyhunga is out today.“We grew up on here,” says Spycc (Daniel Latu), one of SWIDT’s two MCs says after we pile into the back of the 312 bus ...3 hours ago - The Bakers’ Tale: the immigration glitchWelcome to the Spinoff Auckland serial The Bakers’ Tale, Brian Ng’s story of a couple of guys and a pastry-making business. Episode 2: The immigration glitch.The day begins with the three requisite ingredients: flour, butter, sugar. And water. Mix them ...4 hours ago
- Climate change in Asia-Pacific, advocacy journalism in PJR
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz Powering a people – The Solar Nation of Tokelau. Image: © Documentary by Ulrich Weisbach, Pacifica Productions Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Climate change research ranging from Australia and Indonesia to Fiji and Vietnam feature in ...4 hours ago - Rights, cultural activists among winners of Asia’s Nobel PrizeArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz Then President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation 2015 presentation ceremony at the Main Theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City. Image: Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo ...7 hours ago
- Enough with the shame. Let’s start celebrating fat bodies
Plenty of attention is given to the health implications of obesity, but much less thought is given to how a fat-stigmatising culture damages people – women especially. Why can’t all bodies, not just slim ones, be allowed to feel comfortable ...7 hours ago - Unity Books best-seller chart for the week ending July 28The best-selling books at the two best bookstores which sell books.WELLINGTON UNITY1 The Ministry Of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (Hamish Hamilton, $38)Tedious, fatuous novel longlisted for the 2017 Man Booker award.2 The New Zealand Project by Max Harris (Bridget ...8 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: two poems about spoonsTwo new poems, both to do with spoons, by Dunedin writer Liz Breslin. when life gives you spoons when life gives you spoons, measure sugar, stir the juicewhen life gives you spoons, fix tyreswhen life gives you spoons, play Kadabra, stare them downwhen life ...8 hours ago
- Mayor Goff’s circular firing squad
The public execution of councillor Mike Lee at the Auckland Town Hall didn't go quite as planned. ...12 hours ago - Time to talk about how media use your social posts
A lawyer who co-led research into NZ's views on journalists taking 'newsworthy' social media posts says the real discussion has just begun. ...12 hours ago - Don’t fear the coalition hydra
Perhaps putting more voices into power could deliver NZ the MMP system it asked for, ...12 hours ago - Funding blunder docs reveal rogue Ministry
Jonathan Coleman appears to be struggling to control the Ministry of Health. ...12 hours ago - Politicians told to sit down and cap the carbon
New Zealand's politicians have been told they need to stop putting off the inevitable and reach a cross-party agreement on more effective and legally binding ways to tackle climate change. ...12 hours ago - Simon Bridges ‘vindicated’ over OIA rulingThe Transport Minister says a report clearing him of trying to improperly influence officials gave him "some sense of vindication". ...13 hours ago
- Old hands vs new philosophers: The Super Rugby semifinals coaching battles
It’s only fair that most of the focus ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby finals will be on the players but, as Scotty Stevenson writes, both crucial clashes will also be defined by a battle between the old and new ...13 hours ago - The Spinoff Reviews New Zealand #41: the website of radio station The Rock
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: In celebration of Thane and Dunc’s anniversary party – held tonight at an Auckland strip club – Emily Writes reviews The Rock’s website. Because ...13 hours 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 ...22 hours ago
- Caucus: Dirty(ish) deals, nerdy truths and more MetiriaGuyon Espiner, Lisa Owen and Tim Watkin discuss Bill English's electorate urges, whether the Greens are losing control and the link between NZ First's vote and immigration. ...22 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 ...1 day ago
- Transport Minister avoids criticism over OIA secrecyKiwiRail 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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, ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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, ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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 ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...1 day ago - Auckland’s marshmallow experiment
Auckland's leaders have found the city's hunger for public transport is rather pressing. ...1 day 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. ...1 day 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. ...2 days 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. ...2 days 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. ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days 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 ...2 days ago
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