democracy under attack
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Trump and Russia
Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, July 18th, 2021 - 41 comments
The Guardian has reported on claims of a leaked Russian Government paper which on the face of it confirms Russian support for the Trump 2016 election at the highest level.
Demand the debate
Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, July 13th, 2021 - 52 comments
In two separate leaks it has emerged that Judith Collins privately briefed Don Brash on National’s demand the debate campaign and that Brash wrote to wealthy donors seeking $300,000 for an Iwi Kiwi style billboard response.
America’s Democratic Decline Really Matters
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, July 4th, 2021 - 48 comments
With the United States Supreme Court allowing individual states to choke voting rights into bare consciousness, that country is accelerating its democratic decline. That matters for every democracy including ours.
Openness and transparency
Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, June 8th, 2021 - 117 comments
On the weekend Andrea Vance gave the Government a bit of a serve about its record on openness and transparency. But a deeper dig into the issue suggests that the cause may have nothing to do with the Government’s preferences and everything to do with the volume of information requests made by the opposition.
A very Samoan coup
Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, May 23rd, 2021 - 43 comments
In overnight news the Samoan head of state Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II has suspended the recalling of Parliament due to occur on Monday throwing Samoa’s democracy into turmoil.
Hang Facebook
Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, May 9th, 2021 - 30 comments
The decision by the Oversight Board of Facebook to continue banning Donald Trump is one of the biggest moves against free speech and the modern definition of its limits that the world has seen.
Einstein versus Trump*
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 18th, 2021 - 10 comments
Einstein tried to explain complex things and understand reality; Trump tried to explain it away and distort reality.
The ugly finale of the Trump Presidency
Written By: - Date published: 1:02 am, January 9th, 2021 - 150 comments
Wednesday’s insurrection further tarnishes America’s reputation as a credible democratic nation. Significant changes will be needed before this reputation can be restored and it is hard to be optimistic that the US political system is capable of reforming itself in the way it needs to.
Anatomy of a failed coup
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, January 8th, 2021 - 175 comments
America’s descent into chaos was almost completed yesterday. An amazingly inept display by local police saw a takeover of Congress and a temporary disruption of the confirmation of the clearly expressed view of the majority of Americans.
US democracy is under threat
Written By: - Date published: 11:44 am, January 7th, 2021 - 43 comments
Short post to update on developments in Washington.
Trump’s next 48 hours
Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, January 6th, 2021 - 66 comments
With crucial Senate run off races in Georgia and Congress meeting to receive the declared results of the US election and with Republicans determined to oppose the results at every turn the next couple of days will be very significant for America’s future. Update (lprent): The democratic senators from Georgia are called as victors. A riot pushed by an irresponsible President Trump happened at the Capitol building with people dead. Congress subsequently made a determined proclamation that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are confirmed a the newly elected president and vice-president. As for Donald Trump – goodbye to unstable rubbish..
No extradition for Assange
Written By: - Date published: 12:27 am, January 5th, 2021 - 104 comments
Great news. While unexpected, Nicky Hager who was an expert witness for Assange at the trial, thought this might be a possibility when he spoke to the Fabian Society in November. More details tomorrow.
Update: Bail application to be heard on Wednesday London time.
Trump’s chances of winning the Presidential Election through legal action
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, November 18th, 2020 - 19 comments
To win the Presidential Election Donald Trump has to win multiple legal challenges in multiple states. So far his cases have not gone very well.
US election 2020: the morning after
Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, November 5th, 2020 - 155 comments
General discussion thread for the US election.
Updated at 0651
No Right Turn: The coming US shitshow
Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, September 28th, 2020 - 44 comments
President Trump once again refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the US election.
Assange’s torture and the death of journalism
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 pm, September 6th, 2020 - 60 comments
On the eve of Assange’s extradition hearing in London, award-winning freelancer Jonathan Cook has written a scathing indictment of corporate journalism’s collusion in ignoring his official torture. I posted an example of that here last year, where Richard Harman denied Assange was a journalist at a panel convened at Parliament by the British High Commissioner.
Winston Peters Names Alleged Super Leaker
Written By: - Date published: 4:44 pm, July 22nd, 2020 - 87 comments
Winston Peters has named the person he says leaked his super details. Has ACT joined National in doing Dirty Politics?
Walkergate: MP Quits
Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, July 8th, 2020 - 65 comments
Privacy breaching MP Hamish Walker has announced he will step down at the next election. But who else should go?
Update: Muller tries to divert attention by announcing that National still want a 4 lane highway from Chch to Ashburton. Problem solved!
The four horsemen of the apocalypse
Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, June 4th, 2020 - 16 comments
Ok so this is the worst year I can think of in my lifetime. But apocalyptopia it ain’t.
Covid-19 and a digital democracy
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 pm, March 15th, 2020 - 20 comments
Government has for the last decade been pushing for as many government services as possible to be primarily accessed digitally rather than face-to face. Funnily enough, the one public service they forgot to push to digital is themselves. Now’s the time Trevor.
Corrupt US
Written By: - Date published: 8:21 pm, March 10th, 2020 - 60 comments
That’s not a request by the way. This post is a kind of “confessions of a cynic who allowed optimism to creep up and have a hand in thought processes” post.
Buttigeig 2020?
Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, March 5th, 2020 - 33 comments
Allowing for a Biden victory in the Democratic Party primary process, then come November, voters in the US will be voting on whether Buttiegieg or Trump will be the next President of the USA. That’s what I’m picking, and here’s why…
To Kill Democracy…
Written By: - Date published: 2:12 pm, February 22nd, 2020 - 12 comments
If major Democratic Party donors and ‘big business’ lobbyists wanted to monkeywrench democracy in the US, then here’s how they could go about it.
A Handy Clusterfuck?
Written By: - Date published: 11:36 am, February 5th, 2020 - 46 comments
A party that detests one of its Presidential nominees. A media establishment that’s largely a propaganda arm of that party. And games…stupid games.
Democratisation by Social Media and the Internet Is Just Meaningless Waffle
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, December 24th, 2019 - 22 comments
Social Media and the Internet are literally in our faces 24/7 but our political engagement is diminishing.
The Missing Millions
Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, December 12th, 2019 - 18 comments
Millions of people and an entire region of the UK left out of polling calculations….
‘Donations’ or bribes
Written By: - Date published: 9:58 pm, November 19th, 2019 - 95 comments
It has been ironic at our media frenzy on political ‘donations’. I suspect that our legal structure has been setup for bribing politicians with ‘donations’. Let us just make all politicians and donors guilty until proven innocent of false reporting of ‘donations’. It’d be more interesting than the current farce. Start with Simon Bridges – currently still under investigation by the SFO.
Police London-wide ban on Extinction Rebellion actions ruled unlawful
Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, November 7th, 2019 - 5 comments
“The landmark judgment upholds the peoples’ fundamental right to peaceful protest and prohibits the Police from any such future ban”
Brittle cities
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 29th, 2019 - 10 comments
It is pretty hard to miss a variety of cities around the world going nuts for apparently minor offences.
British Justice tortures Assange
Written By: - Date published: 4:14 am, October 26th, 2019 - 36 comments
Craig Murray reports on the horror of Julian Assange’s treatment by British so-called “justice.” Read it and don’t weep. You can see why Murray resigned from the UK foreign service; their diplomacy is just as bad.
Elizabeth Warren on Facebook and the US presidential election
Written By: - Date published: 7:16 am, October 10th, 2019 - 72 comments
“They’re allowing Trump to spend over $1 million a week right now for ads on their platform—including ones that air the same lies that TV stations won’t.”
- Our right to know is under threat
Its International Right to Know Day, and the Ombudsman is praising the Official Information Act regime. Meanwhile, the current government is chipping away at it faster than any other government in recent history. How? With secrecy clauses. A secrecy clause is any clause in legislation which explicitly or implicitly exempts ...9 hours ago - There can be only one… reason Collins is still in her job
“There can be only one…” Usually that quote from the movie Highlander is about an intense battle for a great prize. Such as, immortality. Or being Leader of the Opposition. Leading the National Party, in the footsteps of political heavyweights such as Keith Holyoake, Sid Holland and Robert Muldoon. That’s ...9 hours ago - The Gadfly
Opinion polls, as opposed to elections, provide the participants with a chance to give effect to a fleeting impression, rather than a considered judgment. The poll will often reflect something that has caught the eye rather than engaged the brain. An opinion poll, in other words, is likely to reward ...11 hours ago - Bright skies named colour of the year – here’s why there’s so much more to the heavens than b...
Daniel Brown, Nottingham Trent University The colour of 2022 will be “bright skies”, according to paint manufacturer Dulux. This mellow light blue may certainly seem familiar. Depending on where and at what time of the day you look at the sky, you might well expect to catch a glimpse ...13 hours ago - NZ Politics Daily: 28 September 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Karl du Fresne, Journalist, former editor of the Dominion NZ Politics Daily delivers so much information and opinion that it’s like trying to drink from a firehose. You just have to cherry-pick it for whatever’s relevant to you. But because the news media are now so fragmented, it’s ...14 hours ago - SkS Analogy 23 – Ferris Wheel Supply Chain
Large-Scale Ocean Circulation Ferris Wheels are large amusement-park rides that carry us high up to provide an unrivaled view of the surroundings. They do no useful work, and are typically driven by one or more electric motors at the base. Around and around they go in a steady, ceaseless motion. ...1 day ago - Off-Key.
Not Helpful: It is no small thing when a former leader steps forward to criticise the present leadership’s handling of a national crisis. Far from generating unity, such interventions can only intensify divisions – especially when the former leader concerned hails from the Opposition party. On top of the fears ...1 day ago - Climate Change: Off to the World Court?Vanuatu is leading a push to take the issue of climate change to the World Court: Vanuatu will ask the International court of justice for an advisory opinion on the rights of present and future generations to be protected from climate change. [...] Ahead of the summit, Vanuatu will ...1 day ago
- Progress in EuropeThere's a lot of votes in Europe today, and the headline after the German election is that the Swiss have voted overwhelmingly for marriage equality in a referendum: Swiss voters have decided by a clear margin to allow same-sex couples to marry, in a referendum that brings the Alpine ...1 day ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 27 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Shamubeel Eaqub, Economist “NZ politics Daily is a great little digest of all the news of the day in one place, including blogs, that provides a wider perspective than just my news subscriptions.” Anyone can sign up to NZPD for free at: https://democracyproject.nz/nz-politics-daily/ Today’s content Govt Covid response, modelling advice ...2 days ago
- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, September 19, 2021 through Sat, September 25, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: The false promise of massive tree-planting campaigns, Can the economy afford NOT to fight climate change?, Will ...2 days ago
- Maui dolphin declines below 50 individualsThe chances of Maui dolphin avoiding extinction have just got even worse. It was bad enough already, but the latest population estimate shows that there are now fewer than 50 Maui dolphins left in the World. Meanwhile, the Ministry for Primary Industries has just increased the quotas for gillnet and ...2 days ago
- Climate Change: Anatomy of a mistakeAt the beginning of the month, the Emissions Trading Scheme turned into a farce, when the government flooded the market with credits in a failed and wasteful attempt to Keep Carbon Prices Low. This cost us a billion dollars while undermining the fundamental purpose of the ETS. So why did ...3 days ago
- To meet America’s Paris pledge, climate policy Avengers must assembleThis is a re-post from the Citizens' Climate Lobby Blog To meet our share of greenhouse gas emissions cuts as part of the Paris target to limit global warming to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels, the United States has committed to cutting emissions by 50–52% below 2005 levels by 2030. ...4 days ago
- Libertarians, Neoliberals, Ordoliberals and Economists.
Not all neoliberals are the same, as a comparison ranging from Don Giovanni to Geneva School ordoliberals shows. Wellington was lucky to get the Wellington Opera Company’s production of Don Giovanni, especially as it missed the NZ Opera Company’s The Marriage of Figaro because of a lockdown. It was staged ...4 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Is the Wage Subsidy still transferring massive wealth to the ri...Over $15 billion has been transferred to businesses by the Government via the Wage Subsidy Scheme since Covid hit in 2020. The scheme has turned out to be effective at both keeping businesses afloat and enriching the already wealthy. Now that the scheme is back in operation, and because it’s ...4 days ago
- Sweden one year on
The response to Covid around the world has been highly politicised. This was evident early on with the hostility towards Sweden for not having mandated lockdowns. In Sweden people were encouraged to work from home if they could, and schools were kept open. As someone on Twitter pointed out: First ...4 days ago - Ideational and ideological in the construction of “isms.”
A lot has been made in recent times about the dark and pernicious side of ideology, particularly its ability to incite hate or dispute obvious fact. In that regard there has been much discussion of political ideologies, particularly national populism such as that practiced by the likes of Viktor Orban, ...4 days ago - NZ Politics Daily: 24 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Ian Powell, Health commentator, former Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists: “When I was Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists I found NZ Politics Daily a highly valuable tool for quickly identifying articles of relevance and developments in the health and ...5 days ago
- Daily Blog Branded Upper-Middle-Class, Pseudo-Left, Imperialists! Who Knew?5 days ago
- Ian Powell: Reputations in tattersOn 19 May 2021 the Democracy Project published an article by me discussing how a ‘very bureaucratic coup’ was successfully undertaken to undermine the district health board with the strongest leadership engagement culture of the 20 DHBs responsible for the provision of health services from community to hospital in New ...5 days ago
- Graham Adams: Going where the media won’tBehind the coverage of David Seymour’s rise in the polls and Maori Language Week lurk inconvenient truths. Graham Adams argues journalists need to be more even-handed to maintain their credibility. In the hullaballoo that followed Curia’s poll results last week, the media focused mainly on the startling fact that ...5 days ago
- Is This What We Want?Heavy Hands: Over the past few days, the centre of Melbourne has witnessed some of the worst political violence in a generation. Police officers have been hospitalised. Rubber bullets have been fired. Hundreds have been arrested. And all because the state government of Victoria is insisting that all construction workers ...5 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38, 202189 articles by 535 contributing authors Observations of climate change, effects Rainfall regime trends at annual and monthly scales in Catalonia (NE Spain) and indications of CO2 emissions effects Lana et al. Theoretical and Applied Climatology Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00704-021-03773-z Trends and Variability of North American Cool-Season Extratropical Cyclones: 1979–2019 ...5 days ago
- MBIE’s muppetry on carbon pricesA while ago I snarked on Twitter about how awful MBIE's carbon price modelling is: in their Energy in New Zealand 2020 report, they made the following assumption: Apart from the Environmental scenario, carbon prices are assumed to increase from NZD$25 per tonne of carbon dioxide in 2019 to ...5 days ago
- Climate Change: Why are we ignoring nitrogen fertiliser?Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is a significant source of greenhouse gas emisisons. According to Emissions Tracker, it was responsible for 1.4 million tons of direct CO2-equivalent emissions in 2019, plus an unspecified amount of indirect emissions due to enabling dairy intensification. This is big enough to matter, and you'd expect there ...5 days ago
- DrawnA ballot for seven Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Protection of Journalists’ Sources Bill (Louisa Wall) Plain Language Bill (Rachel Boyack) Public Finance (Prohibition on Providing Public Funds to Gangs) Amendment Bill (Simeon Brown) Improving Arrangements for Surrogacy Bill ...5 days ago
- Hi-Viz Vengeance On Melbourne’s Streets.Fuck The Jab! Are all these protesting Melbourne construction workers right? No, of course not. Covid-19 is not a figment of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ imagination. Nor can one help speculating, just a little, that mixed-in with all this working-class fury there might also be a pretty large dose of ...5 days ago
- Pinpointing the role of climate change in every storm is impossible – and a luxury most countries ...Friederike Otto, University of Oxford and Luke Harrington, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Tropical Storm Ida recently left a path of devastation across the US, capping a summer beset by wildfires, heatwaves and floods which broke records around the world. The inevitable question after each of ...6 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 23 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Heather Roy, Commentator, former Parliamentarian and Minister “As a political commentator I find the ‘NZ Politics Daily” email extremely useful. It is great having links to up to date topical political issues listed in one place and I’m particularly grateful for the inclusion of blog posts, many ...6 days ago
- The Cost of “Living With The Virus”
I noted in my previous post that the New Zealand media is eagerly pushing the notion that Elimination Has Failed, and that we need to re-open because the Virus is Inevitable. Luke Malpass – the chappie I criticised there – is actually one of the tamer examples. The likes ...6 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Why Australia’s nuclear-sub defence plans are unpopular in NZNew Zealand was said to have been sidelined when the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States was announced a week ago. But very quickly the “Aukus” pact has taken on an unpopularity in this country, with a consensus forming that New Zealand is best ...6 days ago
- Thinking is Power: Don't be fooled… fact check!This is a re-post from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. Please see this overview to find links to other reposts from Thinking is Power. Post ...6 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: What happened to the dream of a peaceful nuclear-free Pacific?Plans by Anglophone countries to ramp up militarisation in the Asia Pacific region have been welcomed by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. But Bryce Edwards argues that what’s actually needed is strong condemnation of this dangerous drive to war and instability. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is ...6 days ago
- Equality under the law?Twelve days ago New Zealand was shocked to learn that a rich Auckland couple had abused "essential worker" paperwork to break lockdown and fly down to Wanaka for a holiday. But despite multiple criminal offences apparently being committed, they still haven't been charged: At least 20 people have been ...6 days ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day, and due to the postponement of a lot of business, it consists entirely of first readings. First up is Ricardo Menéndez March's Human Rights (Disability Assist Dogs Non-Discrimination) Amendment Bill, which should easily go to committee. Second is Mark Cameron's Resource Management (Regional Responsibility for ...6 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 22 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Bernard Hickey, Journalist and commentator “NZ Politics Daily is so useful I think Bryce and his team should charge for it! But it’s great it’s available for all and I hope it gets the financial support it needs. A real-time experiment in whether there is enough of ...7 days ago
- Outdated Views? Andrea Vance On Sean Plunket.Re-Platforming: In the eyes of senior Stuff journalist, Andrea Vance, Sean Plunket’s “dalliances with controversy make it easy to paint him as a two-dimensional character: a right-wing, shock-jock with outdated views on privilege and race.” Dear me! The scorn dripping from those words could fill a large spittoon! Regardless, Plunket’s new ...7 days ago
- Book Review: Saving Us by Katharine HayhoeIn late 2013, my mother went into a hospice for the final time. Her illness had reached a stage where little more could be done. I had to face the fact that she was going to die, and soon, when for the preceding few years of palliative care, there was ...7 days ago
- Legal Beagle: Not too late to make the Counter Terrorism Legislation Bill clearer
The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill was back from Select Committee last week, and got its second reading today.My submission on the original bill is here. As I often am, I was more reticitent in pushing back that other submitters, largely focussed on asking the Justice Committee to assure itself the new ...7 days ago - Don’t plan on orderly transitionsThe nature, scale, and pace of change is central to futures work. But usually more attention is given to identifying what’s happening rather than what needs to happen. Are we living in fast times? Many futures studies focus on how fast the world is changing now. Partly that seems ...1 week ago
- The Siren Song of Negativity: Luke Malpass on EliminationI must say, I was a bit surprised at the New Zealand Government’s decision to shift Auckland out of Level 4 to Level 3. There are still around 20 daily Delta cases in Auckland (14 today) – a fraction of the earlier peak, but a seriously stubborn tail-end of ...1 week ago
- Why you shouldn’t make a habit of doing a ‘just in case’ wee — and don’t tell your kids to...Jennifer King, University of Sydney We’ve all done a quick “just in case” wee before heading out or because we’re passing the bathroom. If you’re a parent, you might have also told the kids to “do a wee now so we don’t have to find a toilet later.” Doing ...1 week ago
- Let them voteA side effect of the pandemic and resulting closed borders: tens of thousands of overseas kiwis could lose the right to vote: Currently, New Zealanders who are overseas must have visited the country once within the last three years to be allowed to vote - or once in the ...1 week ago
- AUKUS has consequencesLast week Australia announced a new security deal with the UK and US which would see it abandon its plans to buy conventional submarines from France and instead acquire nuclear-powered submarines from one of its new partners. France is pretty pissed about this - they were completely blindsided, and the ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 21 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Ros Rice, Executive Officer Community Networks Aotearoa “Community Networks Aotearoa has been subscribed to NZ Politics Daily for some time now, and it is one of the most regularly read items in the office. It enables us to instantly get feedback on media views on topics of the ...1 week ago
- Can the economy afford NOT to fight climate change?This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Those opposing a fast transition to renewable energy and other aggressive action to fight catastrophic climate change often argue that the economic costs would be too great. Now, with the proliferation of extreme hurricanes, droughts, floods, wildfires, and other disasters linked to a ...1 week ago
- Rest of New Zealand won’t move to Level 1 until threat of Christmas in the Park has passed
Christmas in the Park is a seasonal affliction, but can be particularly tricky to wipe out due to its unpredictable timing, usually occurring at a completely different time to Christmas. While Auckland prepares to move to Alert Level 3 on Wednesday, New Zealanders in the fun part of the country ...1 week ago - Expropriate the house hoardersNorth & South has an in-depth piece on the origins of the housing crisis, and like so much else wrong with Aotearoa, the blame can be laid firmly at the feet of the NeoLiberal regimes of the 80's and 90's, who sold state houses, slashed benefits while imposing market rents, ...1 week ago
- A Coalition Of The Waning.The Sunset Of Anglo-Saxon Imperialism: To join this “Coalition of the Waning”: this AUKUS pact composed of the three military aggressors of the Iraq War; would not only be folly – it would be criminal folly.THE FORMATION OF AUKUS, the new military pact linking Australia, the United Kingdom and the ...1 week ago
- “No Debate!” Means No Democracy.To The Lamp-Post With Them! Revolutionaries, along with the counter-revolutionaries they inevitably call into existence, are not disposed to engage in rational political discussion with their opponents. Their objective is not to change minds, but to crush bodies. Tragically, those who rule out the possibility of debate, almost always end ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 20 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Hamish Rutherford, Journalist, New Zealand Herald “I find the NZ Daily Politics an important part of my morning, allowing me to scan and access a wide variety of the material published in New Zealand over the previous 24 hours. It often draws my attention to work I would ...1 week ago
- Covax misses its 2021 delivery target – what’s gone wrong in the fight against vaccine nationali...Rory Horner, University of Manchester The latest supply forecast for Covax – the programme for sharing COVID-19 vaccines around the world – suggests that accelerating vaccination in low-income countries looks unlikely. Covax estimates it will have distributed 1.425 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021, significantly less than ...1 week ago
- Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand could be the big winner of Aukus falloutInternational analyst Geoffrey Miller considers the implications for New Zealand of the new Aukus partnership China’s level of anger at the new Aukus defence pact between Australia, the UK and the US was only to be expected. France’s was not. And Paris’s dramatic recall of its ambassadors to Canberra and ...1 week ago
- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, September 12, 2021 through Sat, September 18, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: Do high levels of CO2 in the past contradict the warming effect of CO2?, What would it ...1 week ago
- One thousand dead New Zealanders per year?
. . . . . References RNZ: Covid-19 debate – When should New Zealand open up its borders? Worldometer: Coronavirus Cases – United States RNZ: US hospitals ration care amid shortages and Covid-19 surge Reuters: Some U.S. hospitals forced to ration care amid staffing shortages, COVID-19 surge NPR: A COVID ...1 week ago - 1pm health update for Saturday, September 18 2021The following is a summary of today’s 1pm health update from the Ministry of Health Today there are 20 new cases of Covid-19 to report in the community, and 6 new cases of the Ebola virus. Please do not concern yourself with the Ebola; this will probably be fine. Of ...1 week ago
- Reading the Covid Tea-Leaves: 18th September
This past month’s blogging has really turned into an extended rant on the subject of the Coronavirus (primarily because I still haven’t got my hands on The Nature of Middle-earth, and there’s little update on the Amazon series). Auckland is still on Level 4, of course, and the rest ...1 week ago - Experts warn exclusion from AUSUK pact could see New Zealand miss out on future catastrophic warsPICTURED: US President Joe Biden deep in thought as he searches his brain for any memory of the person on screen. New Zealand’s exclusion from a tripartite security pact between the United States, Australia and the UK may not come as a surprise to many kiwis, but experts warn that ...2 weeks ago
- Big Challenges for the Government
A short review of the policy issues that Labour is facing and the ministers undertaking them. There is a sense that there are two major issues facing any government. One is policy management and the other is political management – not just of policies. As a result New Zealand’s political ...2 weeks ago - Seymour and CollinsThe Herald continues to hitch its wagon to David Seymour’s coat-tails. They don’t seem to realise that Seymour is almost entirely an (inadvertent) creation of Judith Collins. If it weren’t for the fact that Collins is performing so badly as National leader, Seymour would not be noticed. For those interested ...2 weeks ago
- Keep New Zealand Nuclear-Free – Stay Out of AUKUS!2 weeks ago
- Making the Most of MasksDr Nitasha Rimar, Dr Lucy Telfar Barnard, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Lesley Gray, Prof Michael Baker Masks and vaccination have a central role in minimising the health and economic impact of COVID-19, regardless of the long-term strategy we use against the pandemic. These interventions depend on both good performance and high ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 17 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Simon Bridges, Parliamentarian “NZ Politics Daily is an essential news service for me, enabling me to cut through the constant noise and quickly see what’s going on. Dr Bryce Edwards and NZ politics Daily are a big public good, keeping kiwis, even politicians, better informed.” Anyone can ...2 weeks ago
- The 'team of five million' isn't all of us. Are we doing enough for the others?
The “team of five million” has become a well-worn but still powerful call to arms in the past 18 months as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield have tried to rally a sense of national unity in the fight to save lives in this Covid-19 pandemic. ...2 weeks ago - Covid outreach disaster as online poll sees vaccination bus named ‘the murder wagon’Ashley Bloomfield says he doesn’t want those hesitant about getting the vaccine to “be distracted” by the fact they come out of the murder wagon. The Government is dealing with a Covid outreach debacle today, after the decision to put the naming of New Zealand’s vaccination bus service to a ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37, 2021Go with real guilt, or imaginatively hide? This week's New Research includes a couple of interesting papers exploring the confused, noisy marketplace of ideas, volitions and impulses we call "the human mind," in connection with thinking about climate change and our responsibility for causing harm and remedy. We're all (surely?) ...2 weeks ago
- Overlooked and undervalued, New Zealand’s community caregivers have become the ‘invisible’ ess...Katherine Ravenswood, Auckland University of Technology; Amber Nicholson, Auckland University of Technology, and Fiona Hurd, Auckland University of Technology As Auckland enters its fifth week in level 4 lockdown and the rest of New Zealand stays at level 2, spare a thought for the nation’s invisible network of essential ...2 weeks ago
- Gesta Gertrudis: Volume IV
Time for another Gertrude update. Alas, due to personal issues involving the DM, this will be the last update from this campaign for some time. Until then, Gertrude shall be put on ice. Since Dunedin is no longer in lockdown, both these sessions were in-person. Session Seven/Sixty-Three Technically, ...2 weeks ago - Samoa’s opposition should be sworn inOn Monday, in response to a refusal by HRPP MPs to accept the proper process for being sworn in, Samoa's speaker banned them from parliament. Because they'd also called for a mob, he took the unprecedented step of banning the public too. These decisions were reasonable at the time. MPs ...2 weeks ago
- Racist from top to bottomBack in 2019, the government tweaked drug laws to encourage the use of police discretion. So did it work? well, charges are down, but the burden of prosecution is falling even more disproportionately on Māori: A 2019 change to drug laws has led to far fewer people being charged ...2 weeks ago
- Pattern recognitionGovernment defers introducing tougher winter grazing rules - again, RNZ, 26 August 2021: The government has pushed intensive winter grazing rules back by another six months. Intensive winter grazing is when livestock are feed fodder crops - when done poorly it can create a muddy mess leading to animal ...2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: An excuse, not a justificationYesterday the government announced plans to delay its key Emissions Reduction Plan - currently due by law by 31 December - until next year. Its "justification"? Shaw said consultations on the plan would begin in early October. "It is only right to make sure everyone has the chance to ...2 weeks ago
- Bringing woolly mammoths back from extinction might not be such a bad idea — ethicists explainJulian Koplin, The University of Melbourne and Christopher Gyngell, The University of Melbourne US startup Colossal Biosciences has announced plans to bring woolly mammoths, or animals like them, back from extinction and into the frosty landscape of the Siberian tundra. Colossal has received US$15 million in initial funds to ...2 weeks ago
- Lessons learned from a remote blood pressure lowering trial in AotearoaHelen Eyles, Jacqui Grey, Elaine Umali, Cliona Ni Mhurchu Technologies such as smartphone apps, Wi-Fi-enabled data collection devices, and web-based data management systems offer the opportunity to deliver and assess the impact of clinical trials remotely, something which researchers are becoming increasingly drawn to. However, there are drawbacks, and even ...2 weeks ago
- Government should cover all birth injuries and trauma
The Green Party says expanding coverage for birth injuries is a step in the right direction, but much more still needs to be done to ensure ACC is a person-centred organisation that provides comprehensive support for all birth injuries and birth trauma. ...17 hours ago - 5 reasons to get vaccinated
You’ve probably heard a lot about the COVID-19 vaccine lately – and you might be wondering what the big deal is, or why you should bother getting vaccinated. If that’s the case, here are five reasons to roll up your sleeves. ...4 days ago - Kiwis overseas must be allowed to vote next yearNew Zealanders stranded overseas should be allowed to vote in next year’s local government elections and the 2023 general election, the Green Party said today. ...6 days ago
- Disability-assist dog Bill to have first reading todayAfter being delayed due to lockdown, Ricardo Menéndez March’s Members Bill to ensure that disabled New Zealanders do not face discrimination for having a disability assist dog will have its first reading in Parliament today. ...6 days ago
- Auckland Central MP calls for Government funding to revive the St James Theatre, launches open lette...Green Party MP for Auckland Central, Chlöe Swarbrick, is launching an open letter to the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Hon Kiritapu Allan, asking for the Government to match the Auckland Council’s contribution of $15 million to revive the St James Theatre. ...1 week ago
- Open letter calling for ACC to cover all birth injuries and trauma reaches 10,000 signaturesIn less than 12 hours, more than 10,000 people have signed on the Green Party’s open letter asking for ACC to cover all birth injuries and trauma. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for all birth injuries to be covered by ACC, launch open letterThe Green Party is launching an open letter to the Minister for ACC asking for all birth injuries and trauma to be covered, and the letter has strong support from the sector. ...2 weeks ago
- Our mihi to the ways te reo Māori can unite and inspire through COVIDKia ora e te whānau, and happy Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori! Yes, it’s Māori Language Week. And even though we’ll be celebrating a little differently this year as we work to stamp out mate korona, there are still plenty of opportunities to embrace this taonga and advance our ...2 weeks ago
- Alert Level 2: Everything you need to knowStamping out COVID-19 isn’t easy, but together, we are stronger than the virus. We’ve made good progress, but the job still isn’t done. We need to stay vigilant to stop the spread. Here’s where you can find the essential information you need to stay safe at Alert Level 2. ...3 weeks ago
- Bill to transform drinking water safety passes
The Government today passed legislation that will transform drinking water safety and improve environmental outcomes for our wastewater and stormwater networks. “The Water Services Act gives Taumata Arowai the legal authority to carry out its duties as New Zealand’s dedicated water regulator. This represents a major transformational advance for the ...3 hours ago - Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor to travel to Europe and US to support economic re...Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor will travel to Europe and the United States on Thursday this week to advance New Zealand’s trade and economic interests with key partners, including representing New Zealand at the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Italy. It follows recent engagement between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and ...6 hours ago
- Asia New Zealand Foundation Chair and Board members announcedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of Dame Fran Wilde, DNZM, QSO, as the new Chair to the Board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation – Te Whītau Tūhono. “Dame Fran Wilde has been a trustee since 2019 and I am confident that her experience and deep ...8 hours ago
- Latest KiwiSaver Annual Report shows promising benefits for membersThe latest KiwiSaver Annual Report from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), highlights how Government’s recent policy tweaks have positively benefitted New Zealanders, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Dr David Clark said today. “Fourteen people so far have withdrawn their funds early thanks to a rule modification made in March this year. ...8 hours ago
- Reasons for permitted travel across Alert Level boundary expandedFrom 11:59pm tonight additional reasons for permitted travel will be introduced for movement across the Auckland boundary, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. “As this outbreak has shown Delta is highly transmissible, and in order to be confident of controlling its spread, restrictions at the Alert Level boundary have been ...8 hours ago
- Tenancy measures introduced to further support COVID-19 impacted businesses and tenantsThe Government has introduced changes to help ease the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on both commercial and residential tenancies. As part of the COVID-19 Response Legislation Bill introduced to Parliament, measures are being taken to help businesses resolve disputes over commercial rent, as well as provide greater certainty for landlords ...9 hours ago
- Details of interest deductibility rules releasedThe Government has released the draft legislation outlining the details of the policy limiting the deductibility of interest costs on residential property investments. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the interest limitation proposals, announced in March, aim to stem investor demand for existing residential properties. They do not affect the main ...11 hours ago
- GPS sets long-term direction for housing, urban developmentThe Government has today laid out its long-term vision for housing and urban development in Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring we have the infrastructure and homes needed to nurture thriving communities in the decades to come. The Housing Minister Megan Woods says the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD) ...12 hours ago
- Government welcomes collaboration between Vector and XA move by Vector to form a strategic collaboration with X, (formerly Google X) to work together on the virtualisation of the Auckland electricity grid highlights the type of innovation that can help decarbonise and decentralise the electricity system, says Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods. “The visualisation of New ...14 hours ago
- PM farewells Governor General Dame Patsy ReddyThe Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy completes her five year term as Governor-General of New Zealand today. “Today marks the end of an eventful term of office for Dame Patsy and I want to acknowledge and thank her for her tireless service to New Zealand over the last five years,” ...14 hours ago
- Government delivers on improving health and equity outcomes for womenACC cover for maternal childbirth injuries Government working to improve and strengthen maternity services The Government is laying the foundations for a better future by improving equity and health outcomes for women through amending ACC legislation and an updated Maternity Action Plan. “Amongst a suite of changes, we’re proposing to ...15 hours ago
- Speech at launch of the Dementia Economic Impact ReportE nga mana E nga reo E nga iwi Tēna kotou katoa Ka huri ki nga mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēna koutou. He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei I raro I te kaupapa o te rā. No reira tēna koutou katoa Acknowledgements Thank you ...1 day ago
- Backing world-class innovation in New Zealand$12 million Government investment to support cutting-edge R&D in New Zealand by international businesses Dawn Aerospace and Merlin Labs join Innovative Partnership’s Airspace Integration Trials programme MOU signed with Air New Zealand to conduct a nationwide feasibility study into sustainable aviation fuels The Government is propelling cutting-edge innovation through a ...1 day ago
- One-way quarantine free travel dates confirmed for RSE schemeFrom 4 October RSE workers from Vanuatu can begin arriving into New Zealand From 12 October RSE workers Samoa and Tonga from can begin arriving into New Zealand As part of a programme of work to reopen our borders and reconnect with the world, the Government has announced quarantine free ...1 day ago
- More community grants to support youth mental wellbeingThe Government continues to make more mental health and wellbeing supports available to young people to ensure services are there when and where they need them, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “More than twenty community-led projects have now received a funding boost through The Youth Mental Wellbeing Fund to keep ...1 day ago
- Self-isolation pilot to start with 150 peopleThe goal of safely re-opening our borders and developing new ways for people to travel will start with a self-isolation pilot, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. “As part of the Reconnecting New Zealanders plan announced in August, the self-isolation pilot will look at self-isolation for vaccinated travellers who ...1 day ago
- Poroporoaki: Waka Joseph NathanE Waka e, kei hea ra koe, kua ngaro nei i te iwi e, E kawe nei i ngā rongo, i ngā mahara mōu, i ngā wawata i hua mai i a koe. E Waka e, haere ra, kei te tuahu koe o te ati a toa, Kei poho tonu ...1 day ago
- Canterbury school students get hands-on with food and fibre careersSecondary school students in Canterbury will have the breadth of food and fibre careers showcased to them thanks to a new initiative launched today, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. Secondary School Employer Partnerships (SSEP) Canterbury is a collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries and SmartNZ, a charitable trust that connects ...1 day ago
- Tuvalu language revival and COVID-19Te Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu 2021 - Tuvalu Language Week moves online due to the uncertainty around COVID-19 said the Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. “However it is a timely reminder of the power of embracing both traditional and new ways of doing things. It has been ...3 days ago
- Strengthened reporting will improve abortion and sterilisation servicesAssociate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced new data and reporting regulations which will help improve abortion and sterilisation services in New Zealand, by painting a clearer picture of the need in our communities. “The Government is committed to ensuring everyone who needs to access abortion services can, ...4 days ago
- United Nations General Assembly: 76th General Debate StatementE ngā Mana, e ngā Reo, Rau Rangatira mā o tēnei Whare Nui o te Ao Prestigious people, Speakers of note, Chiefs one and all of this General Assembly Ngā mihi mahana ki o koutou katoa, mai i toku Whenua o Aotearoa Warm greetings to you all from my home ...4 days ago
- APEC 2021 Women and the Economy Forum prioritises women’s economic empowermentMinister for Women Jan Tinetti today chaired the virtual APEC 2021 Women and the Economy Forum, which is working to address outstanding issues for women and girls across the region as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum brought together Ministers and representatives from 21 economies to discuss gender ...4 days ago
- Government invests in restoring iconic South Canterbury river valleysThe Government is investing up to $18.4 million over four years to create jobs and help restore braided river valleys, alpine and pastoral lands in the South Island as part of its Jobs for Nature programme Land Information Minister, Damien O’Connor announced. Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) ...4 days ago
- Upper Hauraki to move to Alert Level 2Upper Hauraki will move to Alert Level 2 from 11:59pm tomorrow, 25 September, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. After positive cases were detected in the Upper Hauraki area on Sunday, extra Alert Level restrictions were put in place to immediately prevent any wider transmission of the virus. “We’ve ...4 days ago
- Report into Aotearoa New Zealand’s export controls system releasedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today welcomed the findings of an independent review into Aotearoa New Zealand’s export controls system, which regulates the export of goods to foreign militaries, police forces or paramilitaries. Produced by David Smol, a former Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the ...4 days ago
- New District Court Judge appointedAttorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Brett Crowley of Wellington as a District Court Judge. He is currently the Wellington Public Defender and started his career as a staff solicitor working in a range of litigation including criminal defence work. He went to the bar in 1999 specialising ...4 days ago
- Mental health stocktake shows strong progressThe first report of the Government’s Implementation Unit has found strong progress has been made since the Mental Health and Addictions Package was announced in 2019. “The report notes most initiatives funded in the Budget 2019 package are on track to deliver what is expected by 2023/24,” Grant Robertson said. ...4 days ago
- Working together to grow the West CoastA project that has been crucial in allowing businesses to continue during the tourism downturn is among a number of initiatives to receive a boost from the Government’s Jobs For Nature programme, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. Sustaining South Westland is an extension of an initiative set up last year ...5 days ago
- Next steps to improve safety in wake of Whakaari White Island tragedyThe Government is moving to improve safety in light of the Whakaari White Island tragedy and has released proposals to reinforce safety standards in registered adventure activities. The package of proposals includes: Strengthening requirements for how operators, landowners and the regulator manage natural hazard risks Improving how risks are monitored, ...5 days ago
- New Zealand donates more COVID-19 vaccines to COVAX and the PacificForeign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Health Minister Aupito William Sio announced today that New Zealand is donating additional Pfizer vaccines to the Pacific and AstraZeneca vaccines to the COVAX Facility, to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. “New Zealand is donating 708,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ...5 days ago
- Speech to the Property Council of New ZealandKia ora koutou katoa Is it a pleasure to be able to speak with you today, and to be able to answer some questions you may have. I would like to acknowledge the organisers of this event, the Property Council. The theme of this year’s conference is City Shapers. Together ...5 days ago
- Additional MIQ for ChristchurchAn additional hotel will be added to our network of managed isolation and quarantine facilities, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “I have approved and Cabinet is in the final stages of signing off The Quality Hotel Elms in Christchurch as a new managed isolation facility,” Chris Hipkins said. ...5 days ago
- NZ COVID-19 response earns another major digital investmentMinister for the Digital Economy and Communications Dr David Clark welcomes Amazon’s Web Services’ (AWS) decision to establish a Cloud Region on New Zealand shores, further boosting New Zealand’s growing digital sector, and providing a vote of confidence in the direction of New Zealand’s economic recovery. “Amazon is the second ...5 days ago
- New Zealand invests in cutting edge cancer R&DScaling up the manufacture of CAR T-cell cancer therapy for clinical trials Advancing New Zealand’s biomedical manufacturing capability Supporting future international scientific collaborations Transforming cancer care with targeted, affordable solutions Research, Science and Innovation Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods has announced that the fight against COVID-19 will not stop the ...5 days ago
- Expert group appointed to lead New Zealand’s future health systemAn outstanding group of people with extensive and wide-ranging governance and health experience have been appointed to lead the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “This Government is building a truly national health system to provide consistent, high-quality health services right across the country. This ...6 days ago
- Funding to help clean up contaminated sitesThe Government is supporting the clean-up of contaminated sites in Northland, Dunedin and Southland to reduce risk to people’s health and protect the environment. Environment Minister David Parker said the funding announced today, through the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund, will help us turn previously hazardous sites into safe, usable public ...6 days ago
- Predator Free apprenticeships open up new job opportunitiesThe expansion of a predator free apprenticeship programme is an opportunity for more people to kick-start a conservation career, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Predator Free Apprenticeship Programme is focused on increasing the number of skilled predator control operators in New Zealand through a two-year training programme. “The Trust ...6 days ago
- Further NCEA support confirmed for Auckland studentsThe number of Learning Recognition Credits for senior secondary school students will be increased for Auckland students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. This recognises the extended time these students will spend in Alert Levels 3 and 4. “It means students in Auckland will have a fair opportunity to attain ...6 days ago
- Long-term pathway next step to better mental wellbeing for New ZealandersThe Government is taking a new approach to support people who experience mental distress, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Kia Manawanui Aotearoa – Long-term pathway to mental wellbeing (Kia Manawanui) is the first 10-year plan of its kind that targets the cause of mental distress and also sets out how ...6 days ago
- Keeping our Police safe to keep our communities safeThe Government is committed to keeping our frontline police officers safe, so they in turn can keep New Zealanders safe – with one of the largest investments in frontline safety announced by Police Minister Poto Williams at the Police College today. The $45 million investment includes $15.496 million in ...7 days ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Coalition free-for-all over 2050 target
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Untitled design As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. In ...3 hours ago - Take care with paracetamol when pregnant — but don’t let pain or fever go uncheckedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Grzeskowiak, Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation Fellow in Medicines Use and Safety – Flinders University & South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Flinders University Shutterstock Pregnancy comes with aches and pains and heightened anxiety about what we put ...3 hours ago
- Word from The Hill: Coalition free-for-all over 2050 targetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Untitled design As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. In ...3 hours ago
- The Nationals signing up to net-zero should be a no-brainer. Instead, they’re holding Australia to...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland AAP Prime Minister Scott Morrison is reportedly developing a plan for Australia to adopt a target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Climate change was a central focus of the ...4 hours ago
- Trade minister finalises trip to US and Europe
Trade Minister Damien O'Connor will leave on Thursday on a trip to the US and Europe to advance New Zealand's trade and economic interests with key partners. ...4 hours ago - The larrikin lives on — as a conservative politicianSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Prime Minister Scott Morrison cheers in the sheds after a NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the North Queensland Cowboys in Sydney, 2019. Craig Golding/AAP Review: ...5 hours ago
- New tenancy clause to provide 'certainty, clarity' for renters, landlords, govt saysThe government is taking steps to help tenants through the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on commercial and residential tenancies but neither landlords nor tenants are pleased. ...6 hours ago
- Auckland Council Cannot Let Local Ratepayers Subsidise Northland’s Water
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling on Auckland Council to firmly ‘opt-out’ of the Government’s proposed “Three Waters” reforms that would see Auckland ratepayers pay more to bring up to standard Northland’s ailing water infrastructure. ...6 hours ago - Interest Deductibility Changes Highlight Government’s Lack Of AmbitionToday’s interest deductibility changes confirm the Government’s lack of ambition in dealing with the housing and rental crisis, Property Council Chief Executive Leonie Freeman says. “Grant Robertson is right when he says ‘tax is neither the cause ...6 hours ago
- New tenancy clause to provide 'certainty, clarity' for renters, landlordsThe government is taking steps to help tenants through the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on commercial and residential tenancies. ...6 hours ago
- Climate explained: what is an ice age and how often do they happen?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Petterson, Professor of Geology, Auckland University of Technology Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images CC BY-ND Climate explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate ...6 hours ago
- Trade minister planning for trip to US, UK, EU from next weekMinister Damien O'Connor is expecting to go on a trade trip in the next week or so, likely stopping in the US, UK, Belgium and possibly more. ...7 hours ago
- Why New Zealanders are vulnerable to genetic discrimination in health and life insuranceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Tiller, Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser – Public Health Genomics, Monash University Shutterstock/gopixa Genetic testing is increasingly used as part of routine healthcare to determine a patient’s risk for some conditions, including certain cancers. But insurers can use ...7 hours ago
- Bill amended to include need for warrant to enter a maraeOfficials will no longer have the power to enter marae without a warrant under the government's Water Services Bill. ...7 hours ago
- Shortland Street is in a race against time
After being shut down for five weeks, Shortland Street is playing a massive game of catch-up. Can the show stay on air? It got close – real close. “There’s usually an eight or nine-week buffer,” says Michael Galvin, the Shortland Street stalwart who has played Dr Chris Warner since day dot. ...7 hours ago - Govt unveils its guide to housing policies and investment – but check out who gets partnerships an...
Border controls have been eased in two government announcements over the past day or so. Megan Woods, meanwhile, has been busy issuing statements variously as minister of Housing, of Research, Science and Innovation, and of Energy and Resources. As Housing Minister she drew attention to the Government Policy Statement on ...7 hours ago - Hear From Us, Not About Us: “There Are No Excuses To Not Listen To Us Now “A new collection of research by and/or for refugee background and migrant communities is the first of its kind in Aotearoa. It has been curated by researchers and advocates in the community and validates community needs. Co-curator of this collection, Dr ...8 hours ago
- Decision expected this week on residence visasThe government has backed itself into a corner on immigration and is set to announce long-awaited residence changes this week, according to the National Party. ...8 hours ago
- Disability advocates fear lockdown is leaving many alone, confused and short of foodThe Covid-19 outbreak poses a unique set of challenges for those in the disability community, and there are concerns social services aren’t doing enough to support them. “Right now, the community is suffering at levels that I’ve never seen before,” says Tania Kingi, who’s worked in the disability sector for ...9 hours ago
- Controller Update: September 2021We’ve published our latest Controller update on our website . This update explains recent events in Parliament’s authorising of public expenditure and our work in monitoring Government spending and providing assurance to Parliament and the public. ...9 hours ago
- PM Jacinda Ardern announces new travel rules for leaving AucklandPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern says they will need to have a negative test within 72 hours before departure. ...9 hours ago
- No Prospect[u]s: NZUSA, TEU And TEAGA Launch Precarious Academic Work SurveyThe New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), Tertiary Education Union (TEU) and representatives from the Tertiary Education Action Group Aotearoa (TEAGA) have launched a joint Precarious Academic Work Survey. The survey is part of the ...9 hours ago
- Unpicking AWS' New Zealand numbersAmazon Web Services says it will build a Region in New Zealand . AWS plans to start operating local cloud data centres by 2024. ...9 hours ago
- Is Covid-19 really compromising our hospitals’ cancer care?Last week two media outlets claimed ‘almost half of new cancers’ went undetected because of the Covid lockdowns last year – and that it could be happening again now. Is it? This story first appeared on RNZ. Listen to the original Mediawatch episode here.Auckland University’s emeritus professor Des Gorman has ...9 hours ago
- Tauranga Commissioners Need To Listen: Say “No” To Mahuta’s Three Water ReformsNot content with giving control to Wellington, Tauranga City Council’s commissioners now appear to be lining up to hand over Tauranga’s fresh, storm, and waste water assets as part of the Government’s proposed Three Water reforms. The Tauranga Ratepayers’ ...9 hours ago
- Auckland’s Cook Islands vaccination event, reviewedVaccination events for Pasifika were held across Auckland last weekend. Tina Tiller shares her experience.Kia orana tatou katoatoa. Tūrou….Tūrou ko au teia ko Tina Tiller E arara aka’meitaki ki te Kuki Airani Covid vaccination teamTo tell you the truth, I got my jabs because my mum booked me in. Bless ...10 hours ago
- Watch live: Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield give an update on the Delta outbreakPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield are giving a briefing on the Delta outbreak. ...10 hours ago
- Child Poverty Action Group Welcomes Moves To Cover Birth Injuries Under ACCThe Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) welcomes the announcement by ACC Minister Carmel Sepuloni that some birth injuries to the mother will be covered under ACC scheme. CPAG says this announcement is an important first step towards wider reform ...11 hours ago
- Online Handover: Killer Robots Petition To ParliamentDue to lockdown restrictions, the event to hand over the Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign to Stop Killer Robots' petition to parliament to the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, Phil Twyford, on Wednesday 29 September will be held online from 1pm ...11 hours ago
- All the locations of interest on an interactive NZ mapView all places of interest on the maps below, and sort by both the dates of potential exposure and the days when added. Plus: a searchable table with all locations. Built by the Spinoff’s head of data, Harkanwal Singh.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid story depends on support from Members. ...12 hours ago
- Lower the drawbridge – the PM is planning to bust out of the NZ bubble to talk trade (among other ...
PM Jacinda Ardern is planning a major visit to Europe next month. Details have yet to be announced but she is expected to visit Paris, Brussels and possibly Berlin. She is heading NZ’s campaign to secure a free trade agreement with the European Union. First visit is likely to be ...12 hours ago - Government Must Rule Out Water Royalties As Official Three Waters Campaign LaunchedThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Nanaia Mahuta to rule out the introduction of water royalties by the four super water entities proposed by her Three Waters reforms. This comes as the Union launches a new briefing paper , submission tool ...12 hours ago
- Use Your Right To Know: Chief OmbudsmanChief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says it is alarming that awareness of the Official Information Act and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act has declined for the second year in a row. Today is International Right to Know Day, and Mr Boshier ...13 hours ago
- New Deputy Chief Censor AppointedThe Classification Office is pleased to announce the appointment of Rupert Ablett-Hampson to the position of Deputy Chief Censor. Mr Ablett-Hampson is appointed for a three year term, replacing Jared Mullen who left the Office in May 2020. “Rupert brings ...13 hours ago
- It’s official: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is the best of the franchiseAs Drag Race UK returns for another year, Sam Brooks reflects on how the Brits bring some much-needed brashness to the franchise. RuPaul’s Drag Race is one of the most important reality show franchises in the world. It’s a platform not just for the art of drag, but for queer voices, ...13 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Vaccination Rates and the Population DenominatorAnalysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. We are learning that, in the absence of high levels of natural immunity to Covid19, New Zealand will need extremely high vaccination rates before it can repudiate its growing ‘hermit kingdom’ status. (It is important to note that the expression ‘hermit kingdom’ dates to ...13 hours ago
- Save The Children Launch Child Rights Education Programme To Empower Kiwi KidsSave the Children is today launching a new education programme for schools that aims to teach Kiwi kids about their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The free online programme has been developed by educators at Save the ...13 hours ago
- ACT proposes abandoning 'eradication' strategyACT leader David Seymour says the government's Covid-19 strategy is no longer viable, and is calling for an end to regional lockdowns. ...14 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 28 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content 1 News Colmar Brunton poll, Parliament 1 ...14 hours ago
- Meet the prehistoric eagle that ruled Australian forests 25 million years agoSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor H. Worthy, Associate Professor, Vertebrate Palaeontology Group, Flinders University Jacob Blokland/Flinders University, Author provided The parched deserts of the South Australian outback were once a rainforest filled with a rich variety of birds and animals. Now, thanks to a ...14 hours ago
- Rapid antigen tests have long been used overseas to detect COVID. Here’s what Australia can learnSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Kinsella, Honorary Clinical Fellow, Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Shutterstock Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt wants COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to be available for home use as soon ...14 hours ago
- Emotional vaccine: 3 ways we can move from ‘languishing’ to ‘flourishing’ in these testing t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Shutterstock/Maksim Shmeljov If you’re feeling uninspired, stagnant and joyless, you’re not alone. A sense of languishing is one of the dominant emotions of 2021 as we navigate life ...14 hours ago
- Celebrating K’gari: why the renaming of Fraser Island is about so much more than a nameSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose Barrowcliffe, Doctoral Candidate, University of the Sunshine Coast On the 19th of September, Butchulla dancers and community representatives came together at Kingfisher Bay Resort to celebrate the renaming of Fraser Island to the K’gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area. The ...14 hours ago
- The hydropower industry is talking the talk. But fine words won’t save our last wild riversSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Shutterstock Technologies to harness the power of water are touted as crucial for a low-emissions future. But over many decades, the hydropower industry has caused serious damage to ...14 hours ago
- Free speech doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want, wherever. Here’s how to explain this to ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Zaphir, Researcher for the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Melbourne has seen days of anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests with hundreds of arrests made. Many protesters hold right-wing and extremist views. Police say people have been ...14 hours ago
- Your household power bills could be 15% cheaper, if Australia’s energy regulator was doing its jobSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Joe Castro/AAP If you’re like most Australians, the single biggest chunk of your energy bill — about 40% — goes to a network services company, which owns and operates the transmission ...14 hours ago
- Nitram review: new film about Port Arthur perpetrator is uncomfortable viewing, but not for the reas...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Senior Teaching Fellow, Bond University Madman Entertainment A film about the perpetrator of Australia’s worst mass shooting was always going to be controversial. After 25 years, Tasmania’s Port Arthur massacre — in which 35 people were killed and ...14 hours ago
- Teeth and claws and tenacity: how rats came to New ZealandIn her new book Invasive Predators in New Zealand: Disaster on Four Small Paws, zoologist Carolyn M. King tells the immigration story of the Norway rat. Editor’s note: The book’s also about mice, mustelids, rabbits, cats and hedgehogs, and it’s terrific. This excerpt has been abridged for length. Norway rats are large, ...14 hours ago
- Grant Robertson answers questions over government's Covid-19 self-isolation trialDeputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson answers questions about privacy issues during monitoring of those involved in a self-isolation trial. ...14 hours ago
- ACC cover for 'dangerous tasks' – and childbirth is one
Those doing working in dangerous environments will welcome a change shifting the onus of proof to ACC, but some industries may be more tentative. Claiming ACC will become easier for employees injured by a work-related process, disease or infection. The law changes, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year, reverse a 2010 ...15 hours ago - 'Asset grab' – entrenched local opposition to Three Waters planMayors around the country are lining up for a fight as the controversial Three Waters reforms approach another deadline. ...15 hours ago
- Live updates, September 28: Childbirth injuries to be covered by ACC Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 28, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Send me thoughts and feelings to stewart@thespinoff.co.nz. Help us keep you informed on Covid-19 – click here to learn how you can join The Spinoff Members.8.00am: Childbirth injuries to be covered by ACC The accident compensation scheme will soon cover injuries ...15 hours ago
- Self-isolation trial to start next monthUp to 150 business people will try home isolation after an overseas trip, as government looks at ways to reopen, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.A first step to reopening the country’s border. A self-isolation pilot, allowing 150 travellers to leave the country on a short business trip and return with ...16 hours ago
- Lockdowns Must StopNew Conservative states the Labour government’s Covid 19 response strategy of ongoing lockdowns must stop. New Zealanders are tired of these continued restrictions on movement and freedom. Businesses are suffering with people digging into their ...16 hours ago
- Business to Govt on vaccinations: 'We are flying blind'
The Government is ignoring pleas from SMEs for clarity around the Covid jab. ...17 hours ago - Baker’s warning on Delta: ‘I’d love to be wrong’
The University of Otago epidemiologist isn’t entirely reassured by Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield. David Williams reports In the whack-a-mole attempt to stamp out the Delta variant there are different views on how the country is faring. The official line, from the Beehive theatrette podium, goes something like this: The ...17 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Tuesday 28 September18 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 28 September18 hours ago
- Find out how much house prices rose in your suburb last year with this fun* toolThe latest property data from CoreLogic NZ shows a now familiar rise in house prices across the motu. (*extremely bleak)Even closed borders, nationwide lockdowns and a global pandemic can’t stop New Zealand house prices from rising. CoreLogic’s latest data update shows an increase in median house prices in every one ...18 hours ago
- I am writing an allegorical novel about alpaca breeders and democracyCritics of public funding for the arts during the Covid crisis have alighted in recent weeks on a grant for a novel about alpaca breeders. We invited its author, Duncan Sarkies, to give us an insight into his work.Here it is, are you ready? An allegorical novel about the collapse ...18 hours ago
- China's trade bid exposes fiscal hole in US strategy
The Asian superpower may not enter trans-Pacific bloc, but it's shown up American deficiencies ...18 hours ago - Pfizer rebuts John Key's vaccine payment claim
Claims of cash for early access are "baseless and incorrect", the drug giant says. ...18 hours ago - Stop the clocks: The politics of nostalgia in the Groundswell farmer protests
In part one of a two-part series on farm politics in NZ, Professor Hugh Campbell explores the declining influence and privilege of farmers across the country. ...18 hours ago - Secret court risks as espionage trial looms
A hearing ahead of the espionage trial of a New Zealand soldier and far-right extremist grappled with upholding open justice and balancing acute national security concerns, Marc Daalder reports Analysis: Chief Judge Kevin Riordan says secret courts aren't compatible with New Zealand's justice system, but now finds himself presiding over one ...18 hours ago - Employers caught in conflicting rights over vaccination
Employers trying to keep their workplaces safe are caught between four different conflicting laws and rights over compulsory vaccination - and they want some government guidance As vaccination rates in Aotearoa creep up, conversation is starting to turn to how employers will manage their unvaccinated employees. Whatever one might ...18 hours ago - Traumatised, and nowhere to get help: An epidemic in our justice system
*Content warning: This story discusses violence and sexual abuse* More than half the inmates in New Zealand’s three women’s prisons are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often due to physical and sexual abuse. It is well-known that untreated PTSD is linked to criminal offending, so why is ...18 hours ago - Key's threat greater than Seymour or Collins
Comment: ACT’s David Seymour is winning poll after poll in recent months but rearranging the deck chairs on the Opposition ship isn’t going to sink the Government, writes political editor Jo Moir. Monday night’s 1News Colmar Brunton poll has National and Labour both down while ACT’s star continues to rise. ...18 hours ago - The sportswriter, by Warwick Roger
In between the two All Blacks-Springboks tests, we reproduce a classic rugby story by Warwick Roger I’d written to Noel Holmes months earlier to ask if I could see him, and in reply I’d had a phone call. His voice was faint and scratchy as he told me that although ...18 hours ago - A brain technique to tame depression
A technique shown to have significant results in people with depression is currently only available through private psychiatrists in New Zealand. This Mental Health Awareness Week, Kate Godfrey puts forward a case for making it widely-available. A brain stimulation technique used widely overseas to treat depression could make a big difference in ...18 hours ago - Girls want to play on their terms
New research shows many young Kiwi women and girls want more flexibility, fun and freedom of uniforms around playing sport, as drop-out rates aren't helped by a pandemic. More young women in New Zealand want to play sport or be active – but under their own terms. Our 12 to 17-year-old girls are ...18 hours ago - With MMP the politicians have to decide what Germany has decided
Voters in the German federal election on Sunday had the opportunity to sweep away the detritus of 16 years of compromises from retiring Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Green party led in the opinion polls by a good margin earlier in the year. Only a few days ago, the Guardian ...24 hours ago - The Good Fight: exhilarating entertainment and a grim warning of what the US could becomeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dennis Altman, Professorial Fellow in Human Security, La Trobe University Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald in The Good Fight. Scott Free Productions, King Size Productions, CBS All Access Our writers nominate the TV series keeping them entertained during a time of COVID. ...1 day ago
- Judith Collins sinks below David Seymour as preferred PMACT leader David Seymour has overtaken National's Judith Collins as preferred prime minister in the latest 1News Colmar Brunton Poll, with both major parties taking a hit. ...1 day ago
- Germans have voted to replace Angela Merkel — here are 7 ways to understand the results so farSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Fitzpatrick, Professor in International History, Flinders University Martin Meissner/AP/AAP On Sunday, Germans went to the polls to decide who will succeed retiring Angela Merkel as chancellor. Read more: From ‘Mädchen’ to ‘Mutti’: as Angela ...1 day ago
- Linda Evangelista says fat freezing made her a recluse. Cryolipolysis can do the opposite to what’...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Dermatologist, Associate Professor, Bond University Linda Evangelista walks down the catwalk wearing Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2008. Photo by Toni Anne Barson Archive/WireImage At the height of her fame in the 1990s, supermodel Linda Evangelista was often quoted as saying ...1 day ago
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