elections
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- election 2017 (410)
- election 2020 (162)
- election funding (173)
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- electoral systems (170)
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- MMP (130)
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Natwatch election night post
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 pm, October 17th, 2020 - 19 comments
This has been an incredible year for the National Party. Will it implode publicly tonight with a series of attacks on the leadership and campaign by disgruntled MPs or will Judith perform better than expected and minimise the carnage. This post is to follow National’s leadership and MP response to election night results. Stay tuned […]
Key electorates 2020
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, October 17th, 2020 - 20 comments
Discussion for key electorates.
Election day rules 2020
Written By: - Date published: 11:59 pm, October 16th, 2020 - 50 comments
There are some rules around Election day material on a website like ours. These are mandated by the legislation. We will allow comments here during election day. But they will be limited and we expect you to comment lawfully, and moderation will be on our interpretation of the Act. Please read this post before commenting between midnight and 7pm on saturday.
Pollwatch: 2020 Pre-election rush
Written By: - Date published: 10:46 pm, October 16th, 2020 - 10 comments
We’ve had three recent pre-election polls. While we wait for results on election day, let’s have a look at where things might be headed.
This should have been the climate election
Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, October 16th, 2020 - 30 comments
A new Ministry for the Environment report on New Zealand and the climate crisis is sobering. If you haven’t voted, climate is still by far New Zealand’s biggest challenge, and it’s the Greens that have the plan for what to do.
Jacinda or Judith?
Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, October 16th, 2020 - 65 comments
With election day tomorrow those who have not voted already need to decide, do they want Jacinda Ardern or Judith Collins to be the next Prime Minister.
Latest Colmar Brunton – Labour Greens ascendant
Written By: - Date published: 6:08 pm, October 15th, 2020 - 62 comments
Labour is coming off strastopheric polling but the Greens are looking safer. And National is still on the decline.
Legalise it! The Socialist case for Cannabis reform
Written By: - Date published: 1:13 pm, October 15th, 2020 - 18 comments
Maria Hoyle of Socialist Aotearoa argues that from a socialist perspective the legalisation of the possession of cannabis should occur.
About the Greens…
Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, October 15th, 2020 - 74 comments
Here’s the thing about the Greens. They want change. They want change more than they want power. I think that they fully understand that we are out of time on climate, poverty, the environment and now is the time to act boldly.
Backbench National MP proposes radical new tax to address deficit *
Written By: - Date published: 6:23 pm, October 14th, 2020 - 29 comments
* but I am not sure that all of his caucus colleagues would be happy with the proposal.
Greens: will push for more climate action to match the scale of the crisis
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, October 14th, 2020 - 12 comments
“The Green Party welcomes Labour’s commitment to reduce climate emissions in the next term of Government, but would go further and faster to address the true scale of the crisis.”
How not to campaign in an MMP environment
Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, October 13th, 2020 - 30 comments
A recent series of advertisements placed by National MPs in Auckland seeking electorate votes and not seeking party votes show that central control of National’s campaign and discipline are completely lacking.
2020 election campaign – 6 days to go
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, October 12th, 2020 - 52 comments
With six days to go to election day the campaigns have reached interesting stages although the underlying trends and events appear to be good for the left.
Labour Increases Protection for Kauri Dieback
Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, October 10th, 2020 - 10 comments
In an announcement that will probably gain them few extra votes but still warms the cockles, Labour have promised to put Kauri Dieback on the same scale of national disease response as Bovine Tuberculosis and Kiwifruit PSA.
Ngaro goes negative
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, October 10th, 2020 - 43 comments
National list MP Alfred Ngaro has shown that National’s message discipline has broken down completely by going negative and making some outlandish claims against Labour’s Phil Twyford.
Strong team at leaking
Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, October 9th, 2020 - 56 comments
Another day and another story about National MPs leaking against Judith Collins
The importance of party unity
Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, October 7th, 2020 - 83 comments
If a party wants to become Government there are a few characteristics that is has to have. Fiscal competence is one, unity is another. National currently has neither.
National leaks again
Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, October 6th, 2020 - 62 comments
A highly critical email about Judith Collins written by National Maungakiekie MP Denise Lee has been leaked and indicates that National’s Auckland policy was made on the hoof and without reference to the person in caucus with actual responsibility for the subject.
POTUS, Covid and the New Zealand election
Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, October 3rd, 2020 - 122 comments
News that Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid will have a significant effect on the US election as well as our local election. It raises the issue who will you trust to lead the country against this most agile yet deadly virus?
The Votesafe campaign
Written By: - Date published: 11:44 am, October 2nd, 2020 - 35 comments
A well funded organisation has emerged from nowhere and is potentially having a significant effect on one of the referendum topics this year.
Leaders’ debate post
Written By: - Date published: 6:59 pm, September 30th, 2020 - 115 comments
Post for discussion of the latest leaders’ debate scheduled for this evening. Be kind to each other.
Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand Health
Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, September 30th, 2020 - 15 comments
Jacinda Ardern is a contender for winning a Nobel Peace Prize. If she were to get it for anything, it will be for her leadership response to the national health crisis response to COVID19.
National’s alternative budget doesn’t add up
Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, September 26th, 2020 - 23 comments
If ever you needed a symbol of National’s current plight it is the handling of the release of its alternative budget. It has been a complete and utter shambles. A clusterf&*k of epic proportions. Because if there is one part of National’s reputation that needs to be defended at all costs it is the perception that they are competent financial managers and making multiple billion dollar mistakes in your alternative budget at election time is the one thing over all else that will hurt that part of your reputation.
So much for the climate change consensus
Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, September 25th, 2020 - 39 comments
Ten months ago National supported the Zero Carbon Bill and called for a consensus between the major political parties on the overall framework through which climate change issues are addressed. This week National trashed all of that to try and shore up its sagging support.
National’s many and varied Covid border policies
Written By: - Date published: 7:31 am, September 24th, 2020 - 12 comments
On Tuesday National announced the fifth variation of its Covid border policy this year.
The Greens on urban farming
Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, September 24th, 2020 - 25 comments
This is exactly the kind of approach the Green Party would like to encourage – it’s strategic, it’s intergenerational and it recognises the interconnectedness of our people, the environment and local communities.
Last night’s leader debate
Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, September 23rd, 2020 - 129 comments
The leaders of our both main parties committed to neoliberalism is another kind of brutality that we seem reluctant to address.
Colmar Brunton poll: Labour still way ahead
Written By: - Date published: 6:04 pm, September 22nd, 2020 - 90 comments
Judith will not enjoy this poll result.
How low can National go?
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, September 22nd, 2020 - 43 comments
With news of a second mistake in National’s draft budget its campaign is in trouble and support for other right wing parties appears to be surging. Update: Stuff is reporting a further $3.9 billion dollar mistake …
The Auckland Central Poll
Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, September 20th, 2020 - 33 comments
A Reid Research poll has suggested that Helen White is well ahead of Emma Mellow and Chloe Swarbrick and that Labour’s support is still sky high.
National’s lolly scramble tax cuts
Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, September 19th, 2020 - 55 comments
Despite claiming that the PREFU figures were catastrophic and despite stating a month ago that it would not do this National has come out with a policy of temporary tax cuts favouring the rich. They must be desperate.
- Plotting the Auckland Delta Outbreak
A graph of Auckland Delta cases since lockdown began: As one can see, we’ve been good at getting the adult cases under control – the recent daily spikes being disproportionately children. That suggests infections within families, rather than across families. So far, so good anyway, and sufficient to ...2 weeks ago - We managed to toilet train cows (and they learned faster than a toddler). It could help combat clima...
Douglas Elliffe, University of Auckland and Lindsay Matthews, University of Auckland Can we toilet train cattle? Would we want to? The answer to both of these questions is yes — and doing so could help us address issues of water contamination and climate change. Cattle urine is high in ...2 weeks ago - Submission on Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill
. . . . . Other Blogs Boots Theory: End conversion therapy in Aotearoa Boots Theory: Support accurate birth certificates for trans and non-binary people Previous related blogposts First they came… Apartheid in Aotearoa New Zealand – yes, it does exist Fairfax media and Kiwiblog revise incorrect story denigrating trans-people Anti-trans ...2 weeks ago - Talking Up David Seymour
There is no sign in recent issues of the Herald that it has abandoned in any way its underlying strategy and goal of undermining the government in the hope that it can be replaced at the next election by a National government. So why has the Herald continued to blow ...2 weeks ago - How big companies are targeting middle income countries to boost ultra-processed food salesEdwin Kwong, The University of Melbourne; Joanna Williams, Swinburne University of Technology; Phillip Baker, Deakin University; Rob Moodie, The University of Melbourne, and Thiago M Santos, Federal University of Pelotas Ultra-processed foods might not be a familiar term to many people. But it is an emerging, and increasingly dominant ...2 weeks ago
- Ngā āhuatanga ka akona mai ki a tātou e te ao Māori, mō te ao pakihi o āpōpōBen Walker, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Erin Roxburgh-Makea, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Jesse Pirini, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Stephen Cummings, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Mai i te ētita: Nā Piripi Walker i whakamāori ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 14 September 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Claudette Hauiti, Producer/Host at Radio Waatea: “Me tuku mihi ki a koe me tou mahi i te ao pāpaho o Aotearoa. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to critical information sharing. I appreciate the range and depth of articles distributed and especially support your inclusion of Māori ...2 weeks ago - The Microbiologist, the Caretaker Leader, and some Nasty Germs. . (* Fiji’s death troll is likely to be under-reported.) . . . References ODT: Collins calls Dr Siouxsie Wiles ‘a big, fat hypocrite’ Stuff media: Covid-19 – Dr Siouxsie Wiles warns of ‘disinformation’ after claims she was caught breaking lockdown rules ODT: Dr Wiles hits back at ...2 weeks ago
- Free Speech, done Newshub-style. . . . . References Newshub Politics: Twitter – Who can reply? People @NewshubPolitics mentioned can reply – 13.9.21 . . . . = fs = ...2 weeks ago
- Not Understood: Chris Trotter Replies To Susan St John.
Wishful Thinker: While the people from the “leafy suburbs’” salaries, house-prices, social-status and children’s futures depend upon them not understanding either the economic disadvantages of unequal wealth distribution, or the sheer dehumanising agony of grinding poverty, then they will go on not understanding it. Do you not understand, Susan, even ...2 weeks ago - Legal Beagle: Everything was Done; or some answers to some of the questions people have been asking
On 3 September, New Zealand Police shot and killed Ahamed Samsudeen, shortly after he commenced a knife attack in an Auckland supermarket. Considering him to be highly dangerous, he was under close surveillance. His death meant, that in the days following, the Government and the Courts were able to release ...2 weeks ago - Furedi on corporate backing for Cancel Culture
Professor Frank Furedi, British academic, author, and commentator, discusses the speed with which the corporate world has internalised the customs/practices/language of the university- and what can be done about it. ...2 weeks ago - The hottest summer most Americans have ever lived through
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson An 85-year-old record for summer heat set during the Dust Bowl has met its match. In 2021, the contiguous U.S. had its warmest meteorological summer (June-August) on record, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Records going back ...2 weeks ago - Childish bullshit continues in Samoa
Samoa's parliament will sit tomorrow, for the first time since it was sworn in in May. But that first sitting only included FAST party MPs. As for the HRPP, they will not be allowed to attend tomorrow. The context here is that the HRPP - or at least the tyrant ...2 weeks ago - Another one bites the dustAnother offshore energy permit was surrendered on Friday: permit 60094, owned by Todd Energy: The permit covered an area of Māui dolphin habitat, so its surrender is good news on that front too. According to NZPAM's map, there are now only six offshore exploration permits remaining: one owned by ...2 weeks ago
- Passport To Covid Safety.The Badge Of Good Citizenship: Why are foreign governments insisting that people wishing to enter their country must present proof of vaccination and non-infection? Because they are committed to keeping their people safe. Why will our own government soon be requiring us to present a vaccination passport before entering a ...2 weeks ago
- Support accurate birth certificate for trans and non-binary people
Content note: suicide, transphobia I’d wanted to get this done a lot earlier, but we bought a house in the middle of lockdown and that has a tendency to throw every other plan out the window. It’s definitely not perfect and I apologise for anything I’ve missed or messed up ...2 weeks ago - NZ Politics Daily: 13 September 2021NOTE TO SUBSCRIBERS: Today, we’re continuing with the NZ Politics Daily subscriber drive – please see the testimonial below from Andrew Geddis. Unfortunately, just as the subscriber drive kicked off on Friday, our website went down for the first time. So, if anyone tried to subscribe they would have found ...2 weeks ago
- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, September 5, 2021 through Sat, September 11, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: Climate change deniers are as slippery as those who justified the slave trade, People don’t know what ...2 weeks ago
- Liam Hehir: The authenticity of Simon BridgesSimon Bridges may not have exuded authenticity when he was Leader of the Opposition, but his new book, National Identity, is exactly that according to reviewer Liam Hehir. He says “It is not a book about conservatism, but it is an honourably conservative book.” I had no expectation of ...2 weeks ago
- Coronacapitalism: Reverse the Reset
by Kobad Ghandy Kobad Ghandy a well known communist in India examines the world economy and the lockdowns of the past 18 months. How deep the economic difficulties facing capitalism run and how sharp any depression may be is a contested area. Redline has mostly argued that the recessions have ...2 weeks ago - Reposted articles from Thinking is PowerIn early August 2021 we started to repost selected articles 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. This page lists the reposted articles in ...2 weeks ago
- A Beautiful Cage: But Bernard… You Say It Like It’s a Bad Thing
Commentator Bernard Hickey has a pretty astute piece on New Zealand’s predicament in a Coronavirus world: https://thekaka.substack.com/p/dawn-chorus-time-to-stop-kidding The core of Hickey’s argument is that New Zealand can’t re-open its borders, because our health system would be shortly overwhelmed by the virus. Ergo, the borders must remain closed for ...2 weeks ago - Renting in New Zealand, a sick jokeby Don Franks Everything seemed right with the world yesterday. Sun shining and in Wellington level 2 we can emerge from our bubble and visit friends. While enjoying that freedom, I noticed two doors down from where we were, quite a lot of activity. An estate agent was carefully marshalling ...2 weeks ago
- Bile and HostilityMike Hosking is a professional journalist and, as such, he presumably wants to be read – and not only read, but taken seriously and believed. It is surprising, therefore, that he seems not to have grasped a basic principle – that someone whose every utterance is obviously coloured by an ...2 weeks ago
- Implications for mitigating methane emissions in agricultureThis is a re-post from And Then There's Physics Since I was discussing methane in yesterday’s post, I thought I would highlight a paper on [u]nderstanding the implications for mitigating methane emissions in agriculture (H/T Miles King). The reason I found it interesting, is that it uses GWP* (which I try to explain here), rather ...2 weeks ago
- Should I take Ivermectin?
This guide will help you with that big decision ...2 weeks ago - Liberal-Conservatives and Social Democrats: The Future of MāoriMichael Cullen set out his political philosophy in his autobiography. So has Chris Finlayson. His is having significant impact on Māori development. Chris Finlayson was Minister for Treaty Negotiations (and Attorney General) between 2008 and 2017. (Alas, he was Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage for only six of those ...2 weeks ago
- Too many cows in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands has a water quality problem. Too many cows, producing too much shit and piss, which flows into the rivers and poisons them. But they also have a solution: forcing farmers to destock or sell up: Dutch politicians are considering plans to force hundreds of farmers to sell ...2 weeks ago
- Packaging generates a lot of waste – now Maine and Oregon want manufacturers to foot the bill for ...Jessica Heiges, University of California, Berkeley and Kate O’Neill, University of California, Berkeley Most consumers don’t pay much attention to the packaging that their purchases come in, unless it’s hard to open or the item is really over-wrapped. But packaging accounts for about 28% of U.S. municipal solid waste. ...2 weeks ago
- Hard News: Pearl, prescriptions and patient expertsAs I've noted here before, for various reasons, the clinical evidence for cannabis as a teatment for pain and other conditions is not yet compelling. This doesn't mean it won't be, but as the International Association for the Study of Pain put it in a recent position statement, "promising" advances ...2 weeks ago
- Strange And Disturbing Times 2.0Strange And Disturbing: If we are not living through revolutionary times, then what sort of times are we living through? Is there another great historical era that bears comparison with our present period of intellectual and moral ferment? While finding an exact historic parallel is, obviously, an impossibility – no two periods ...2 weeks ago
- The world is desperate for new antibiotics, and New Zealand’s unique fungi are a source of promisi...Siouxsie Wiles, University of Auckland While we’re all rightly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic at the moment, the SARS-CoV-2 virus isn’t the only microbial threat we face. Back in 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that within a decade, antibiotic-resistant bacteria could make routine surgery, organ transplantation and ...2 weeks ago
- Resolving a genetic mash-up: reconstructing an accurate evolutionary history of kākārikiPrioritising species conservation and over-stretched government funding is built upon an accurate understanding of evolutionary relationships and taxonomy. But what if that evolutionary history is wrong? More importantly, what are the consequences for endangered biodiversity as conservation funding and resources are re-assigned? Numerous examples have come to light in recent ...2 weeks ago
- Improving ventilation in schools: a key protection against Covid-19 outbreaks and an enduring legacy...Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Dr Julie Bennett, Dr Jin Russell, Dr Jennifer Summers, Dr Leah Grout, Prof Michael Baker, and Prof Nick Wilson* As much of the country moves down Alert Levels, children are returning to in-person learning with little or no protection against the potential spread of Covid-19 infection in ...2 weeks ago
- Making The Terrorism Suppression Act Fit-For-Purpose.Infamous Day: Tomorrow, 11 September 2021, is the twentieth anniversary of the New York and Washington terrorist attacks. Think of the preliminary steps required to make 9/11 happen. Had they been detected, the tragedy could have been prevented. We need legislation equal to that task. HE WAS PROBABLY the smartest student ...2 weeks ago
- Languishing, burnout and stigma are all among the possible psychological impacts as Delta lingers in...Dougal Sutherland, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington As New Zealand remains under different levels of restriction, the psychological toll of the Delta outbreak may start to show, even as lockdown eases for everyone outside Auckland. We know that stress and isolation associated with a lockdown can ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36, 2021108 articles by 621 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects Arctic amplification of climate change: a review of underlying mechanisms Previdi et al. Environmental Research Letters Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac1c29 (provisional link) Understanding physical drivers of the 2015/16 marine heatwaves in the Northwest Atlantic 10.1038/s41598-021-97012-0 Observations of climate change, ...2 weeks ago
- Cancel this odious debtWriting on Newsroom, Laura Walters makes a case for cancelling student debt: [A]t the moment, loan debt is hurting the economy, holding back everything from small business formation, to new home buying, and even marriage and reproduction. So rather than offering interest-free borrowing, or expecting people to refinance their ...2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: The CCR is a failed, counterproductive policyWriting on Interest, and in the context of carbon farming displacing traditional sheep and beef farming, Keith Woodford says: Given that this year’s cost-containment reserve is already exhausted, there is considerable speculation as to what will happen as soon as the next auction on 1 December. The Government will ...2 weeks ago
- Licensing bonanza in computational life sciences* By Florian Pichlmueller (University of Auckland) and Christina Straub (ESR) . 2min read GPL, MIT, BSD, CC – no they’re not a secret vocabulary, these are in fact acronyms for open source licenses that allow code to be freely used, modified and shared. And there are many more – take ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 9 September 2021Mall terror attack Andrew Geddis (Pundit): Why Not Just Send The Auckland Terrorist Back? Paul Buchanan (Kiwipolitico): The supermarket stabbing spree was not a terrorist act Hanlie Booysen (The Conversation): Social inclusion is important in Aotearoa New Zealand — but so is speaking honestly about terrorism Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Act and Greens agree on ...2 weeks ago
- Submission on Conversion Not-A-Therapy Bill. . . . . References Legislation: Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill Other Blogs Boots Theory: End conversion therapy in Aotearoa . . . Liked what you read? Feel free to share. Have your own thoughts? Leave a comment. (Trolls need not bother.)rolls need not bother.) . = fs ...2 weeks ago
- Equality, Equity & The Great Race Of Life.2 weeks ago
- The Person Who Lies To You The Most…. Is YouThis 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. The difference between Cognitive Dissonance, Motivated Reasoning, and Confirmation Bias Dorothy Martin awoke early ...2 weeks ago
- Graham Adams: David Seymour is cast into hell… alongside Tova O’BrienTweets about giving Maori priority access to vaccines have blown up. Graham Adams assesses the damage. In his epic 14th-century poem Inferno, Dante depicted sinners who questioned established religion or whose heretical views damaged the fabric of society as trapped in burning tombs in the Sixth Circle of Hell, ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – What’s going on in the National Party?What exactly is plaguing the National Party? And would another leadership change help? These are the big and enduring questions that have surrounded the opposition party since they lost power in 2017. For the best answers to these questions, it’s well worth reading the latest piece by Matthew Hooton in ...2 weeks ago
- Musicians are urging us to vaccinate: the Australian federal government should learn from these movi...Andrea Fenton, Swinburne University of Technology A new ad has been released from the LIVE Alliance (Live Industry Venues + Entertainment) a music industry collective, under the guidance of advertising veteran Russel Howcroft. The campaign, Vax the Nation, is set to Powderfinger’s My Happiness. Here, the lyrics take on ...2 weeks ago
- More Labour secrecyThe government introduced a new Civil Aviation Bill to modernise the 30-year-old Civil Aviation Act and 55-year-old Airport Authorities Act today. Which is not normally the sort of bill I would comment on, except that it includes not one, but two new secrecy clauses. The first of these in section ...3 weeks ago
- The supermarket stabbing spree was not a terrorist act.
Blood had not even been mopped up from the floor after the supermarket stabbing spree when the prime minister strode to the parliamentary theatre podium and declared it to be an act of terrorism committed by an individual following an extremist ideology. Within minutes of her pronouncement the media sped ...3 weeks ago - Stupidly counterproductiveLast night the government made it mandatory for businesses to collect contact records. There are obvious concerns here around abuse - for example, the police forcing the production of someone's covid app data under a production order - and these concerns are a disincentive for some people to sign in ...3 weeks ago
- David Seymour – Arsehole of the Week
3 weeks ago - The OIA has a problem with extensionsThe Ombudsman released their latest OIA complaint stats today, and the headline is a rise in overall complaints. But buried in the data is something interesting: extension complaints have increased massively. There were 54 complaints about extensions in the first half of this year, compared to 29 in the previous ...3 weeks ago
- Why not just send the Auckland terrorist back?
In the wake of the LynnMall terror attack, there’s been a lot of questions asked and potential legal “fixes” proposed to the problem of why the terrorist was able to be active in the community. One particular issue, however, has yet to be fully addressed: what to do about the ...3 weeks ago - New research reveals animals are changing their body shapes to cope with climate changeSara Ryding, Deakin University and Matthew Symonds, Deakin University Global warming is a big challenge for warm-blooded animals, which must maintain a constant internal body temperature. As anyone who’s experienced heatstroke can tell you, our bodies become severely stressed when we overheat. Animals are dealing with global warming in ...3 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 8 September 2021Mall terror attack Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): Political Roundup – Could government agencies have averted the development of a terrorist? Marc Daalder (Newsroom): How to stop the next terrorist RNZ: The Detail: Turning around a terrorist Kris Gledhill (The Conversation): Despite deportation and detention attempts, could New Zealand have done more to prevent Friday’s ...3 weeks ago
- With lockdowns easing for the rest of New Zealand, Auckland becomes the elimination frontlineMichael Plank, University of Canterbury and Shaun Hendy, University of Auckland The number of new cases in New Zealand’s Delta outbreak is now on a downward trend and we have a good chance of eliminating it, even as lockdown restrictions ease for most of the country from tomorrow. After ...3 weeks ago
- Geoffrey Miller: How 9/11 changed New Zealand’s foreign policyInternational analyst Geoffrey Miller reflects on the impact that the September 11 attacks had on New Zealand’s foreign policy This week’s anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001 is also an opportunity to recall the impact the tragedy – and the response to it ...3 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Could government agencies have averted the development of a ter...The tragic terrorist attack at an Auckland shopping mall on Friday has led to a lot of debate about how it could have been prevented. It turns out authorities were well aware of Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen’s severe mental health problems and his capacity for violent extremism if not dealt ...3 weeks ago
- Show me the money: a new slogan for the climate movementThis is a repost from Medium by Karl Burkart of OneEarth When climate activists make generic statements like, “It’s time for climate action” or “Governments need to act like it’s a climate crisis”, what specifically do they mean? At this stage of the game, with the UN proclaiming a “Code Red ...3 weeks ago
- Language Matters: Kiwi metaphors of Covid-19Featured image: ‘’Romantic love is sometimes described as a journey: our relationship is at a crossroads, it’s been a bumpy road, we can’t turn back now, we decided to go our separate ways, this relationship isn’t going anywhere.’’ OPINION: If you are anything like me, you have probably been scouring ...3 weeks ago
- E-cigarettes: misconceptions about their dangers may be preventing people from quitting smokingJamie Hartmann-Boyce, University of Oxford When electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) first emerged, they became a popular way for people to quit smoking. But in 2019, a mysterious lung condition emerged that primarily affected young people, particularly those who vaped. This left many questioning the safety of e-cigarettes. The condition was named ...3 weeks ago
- trends in human evolution – the shoulderHumans are the only living hominid that can throw objects accurately & at speed – while some of the other great apes can throw objects, their speed & accuracy is not the best. (In his musing on human evolution, Darwin noted that adaptations allowing this would be at a selective ...3 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 7 SeptemberMall terror attack Clarke Jones (Guardian): I assessed the Auckland terrorist – our approach to extremism has to change Anneke Smith (RNZ): Muslim leader ‘baffled’ Corrections passed up rehabilitation offer for LynnMall terrorist Edward O’Driscoll (Newshub): Community leaders say Corrections shouldn’t have housed supermarket terrorist in mosque Charlotte Cook (RNZ): Terrorist threw faeces, assaulted ...3 weeks ago
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 20 (@L3). . . . . . References Newshub: As it happened: Latest on COVID-19 community outbreak – Sunday, September 5 RNZ: Covid-19 update – 20 new community cases reported in New Zealand today The Border Mail: Truck driver in isolation with COVID, exposure site listed at Henty NZ Herald: Covid ...3 weeks ago
- Hollow Laughter, Mixed With Tears.Guarding The Stable Door: In the absence of the hard evidence only an actual terrorist atrocity can supply, the ability of New Zealand’s national security apparatus to pre-empt such attacks is legally and politically compromised. Indeed, even in the aftermath of an all-too-real terrorist massacre, the judicial and bureaucratic machinery ...3 weeks ago
- Down to Level 2: 2021 Edition (+ Rant about Australian Plague)
New Zealand’s struggle against Delta has been going pretty well. We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’ve only had one death so far, and Lockdown is getting eased. In fact, the country outside Auckland is moving out of Level 3 Lockdown, and into Level 2 (“heightened ...3 weeks ago - Too many cows in CanterburyMore than a decade ago, the then-National government overthrew the elected Canterbury Regional Council (ECan) and imposed a Wellington-appointed dictatorship to steal Canterbury's water for farmers. As part of the PR for this, they promised "ambitious" goals to improve water quality. A decade on, have they met those goals? Of ...3 weeks ago
- NZ is introducing mandatory record keeping to help contact tracers. But is the data protected enoug...Andrew Chen, University of Auckland From 11:59pm on Tuesday September 7, every person in Aotearoa New Zealand over the age of 12 will be required to keep a record of their whereabouts, either by scanning QR codes or signing paper registers many businesses and event organisers will have to ...3 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 6 September 2021Mall terror attack Thomas Manch (Stuff): The terrorist was a ‘highly damaged’ refugee, and efforts to help him failed Sam Hurley (Herald): The terrorist I knew and the attack I had long feared (paywalled) Andrew Geddis (Spinoff): Would harsher terrorism laws have prevented the mall attack? Alexander Gillespie (The Conversation): New Zealand needs to go ...3 weeks ago
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 19 (@L3). . . . . . References RNZ: Covid-19 wrap for day 18 of lockdown Facebook: COVID-19 update – 5 September 2021 (video, @ 25:22) BBC: Coronavirus doctor’s diary – A super-spreading funeral that led to three deaths Fox4: Texas funeral becomes ‘super spreader’ event after 40 ...3 weeks ago
- A Smokefree Aotearoa – could taking the nicotine out of smoked tobacco products help us get there?Nick Wilson, Janet Hoek, Nhung Nghiem, Jennifer Summers, Leah Grout, Richard Edwards* This blog presents key findings from a modelling study where we estimated the impact that denicotinising smoked tobacco products could have on smoking prevalence in Aotearoa New Zealand. A policy requiring that all smoked tobacco products are virtually ...3 weeks ago
- Amanda McLean on trans rights orthodoxy...3 weeks ago
- Government investment in farmer-led catchment groups sweeps past 150 mark
171 catchment groups have now been invested in by the Government 31 catchment groups in the Lower North Island are receiving new support More than 5,000 farmers are focussed on restoring freshwater within a generation through involvement in catchment groups Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land ...2 weeks ago - Fight to protect kauri on trackThe Government is pitching in to help vital work to protect nationally significant kauri forests in Auckland, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. “Ensuring the survival of these iconic trees for future generations means doing everything we can to prevent the potential spread of kauri dieback disease,” Kiri Allan said. ...2 weeks ago
- Joint statement of Mr Bernard Monk; Hon Andrew Little, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry,...[Note: The Parties have agreed on terms to fully and finally settle the proceeding and will jointly issue the below statement.] At the heart of this litigation are the lives of the 29 men tragically lost at the Pike River mine on 19 November 2010 and to whom we pay ...2 weeks ago
- More financial support for businessesToday’s decision to keep Auckland in a higher COVID Alert Level triggers a third round of the Wage Subsidy Scheme which will open for applications at 9am this Friday. “The revenue test period for this payment will be the 14th to the 27th of September. A reminder that this is ...2 weeks ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand provides further humanitarian support for AfghanistanAotearoa New Zealand is providing a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “There is significant humanitarian need in Afghanistan, with the crisis disproportionately affecting women and girls,” said Nanaia Mahuta. The UN has estimated that 80% of the quarter of a million ...2 weeks ago
- Innovative te reo prediction tool announced in Te Wiki o Te Reo MāoriA new Māori language prediction tool will play a key role in tracking our te reo Māori revitalisation efforts, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. He Ara Poutama mō te reo Māori (He Ara Poutama) can forecast the number of conversational and fluent speakers of te reo Māori ...2 weeks ago
- Further Government support for people to access food and essential itemsThe Government is responding to need for support in Auckland and has committed a further $10 million to help people access ongoing food and other essential items, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced today. This latest tranche is targeted at the Auckland region, helping providers and organisations to distribute ...2 weeks ago
- Half a million Pfizer vaccines from DenmarkThe Government has secured an extra half a million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from Denmark that will start arriving in New Zealand within days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “This is the second and larger agreement the Government has entered into to purchase additional vaccines to meet the ...2 weeks ago
- Inland Revenue providing essential COVID support for businessesInland Revenue is seeing increased demand for Resurgence Support Payments and other assistance schemes that it administers, but is processing applications quickly, Revenue Minister David Parker said today. David Parker said the Resurgence Support Payment, the Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme and the Wage Subsidy are available at the same ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand marks 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacksNew Zealand is expressing unity with all victims, families and loved ones affected by the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks, and all terrorist attacks around the world since, including in New Zealand. “Saturday marks twenty years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people ...2 weeks ago
- Speech to SPREP Environment MinistersTalofa Honourable Ulu of Tokelau Faipule Kelihiano Kalolo Tēnā koutou katoa and warm Pacific greetings from Aotearoa to your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. The new science released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on 8 August paints an alarming picture of the projected impacts of climate change on the ...2 weeks ago
- Additional Resurgence Support Payments to support businessBusinesses affected by higher Alert Levels will be able to apply for further Resurgence Support Payments (RSP). “The Government’s RSP was initially intended as a one-off payment to help businesses with their fixed costs, such as rent. Ministers have agreed to provide additional payments to recognise the effects of an ...2 weeks ago
- More Dawn Raids scholarships announcedDetails of the ‘Manaaki New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarships’, a goodwill gesture that follows the Government’s apology for the Dawn Raids of the 1970s, were released today by Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio. “These scholarships that are targeted to the Pacific will support the kaupapa of the Dawn Raids’ ...2 weeks ago
- One-way quarantine-free travel for RSE workers starting in OctoberOne-way quarantine-free travel for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu starts in October New requirement for RSE workers to have received their first vaccination pre-departure, undertake Day 0 and Day 5 tests, and complete a self-isolation period of seven days, pending a negative Day 5 ...2 weeks ago
- Govt boosts Pacific suicide prevention supportApplications have opened for the Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund as the Government acts to boost support amid the COVID delta outbreak. “We know strong and connected families and communities are the most important protective factor against suicide and this $900,000 fund will help to support this work,” Health Minister ...2 weeks ago
- Govt parks the expiry of licenses, WoFs and regosAs a result of the Delta outbreak, driver licences, Warrants of Fitness (WoFs), Certificates of Fitness (CoFs), vehicle licences (‘regos’) and licence endorsements that expired on or after 21 July 2021 will be valid until 30 November 2021, Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced today. “While this extension won’t officially ...2 weeks ago
- COVID-19 community fund to provide support for vulnerable women and girlsMinister for Women Jan Tinetti today announced a $2 million community fund that will provide support for women and girls adversely affected by COVID-19. “We know that women, particularly those who are already vulnerable, are disproportionally affected by the kind of economic disruption caused by COVID-19,” Jan Tinetti said. ...2 weeks ago
- Next phase of support for Fiji’s COVID-19 response announcedA further NZ$12 million of support for Fiji’s COVID-19 response has been announced by Foreign Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta today. The package builds on previous tranches of assistance Aotearoa New Zealand has provided to Fiji, totalling over NZ$50 million. “Fiji remains in a very challenging position in their response to ...2 weeks ago
- Robotic asparagus harvester aimed at addressing industry challengesThe Government is backing a $5 million project to develop a commercial-scale autonomous robotic asparagus harvester, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) is contributing $2.6 million to the project. Project partner Robotics Plus Limited (RPL) will build on a prototype asparagus ...2 weeks ago
- Additional Pfizer vaccines to arrive tomorrowMore than a quarter of a million additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine are on their way from Spain to New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The additional doses will arrive in Auckland on Friday morning to help meet the current surge in demand for vaccination. “It’s been ...2 weeks ago
- Young people to have their voices heard in Youth Parliament 2022The dates and details for Youth Parliament 2022 have been announced today by Minister for Youth Priyanca Radhakrishnan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Youth Parliament is an opportunity for 141 young people from across Aotearoa New Zealand to experience the political process and learn how government works. ...3 weeks ago
- Boosting support for tertiary students affected by COVID-19Students facing a hard time as a result of COVID-19 restrictions will continue to be supported,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government is putting a further $20 million into the Hardship Fund for Learners, which will help around 15,000 students to stay connected to their studies and learning. ...3 weeks ago
- COVID-19: Immediate relief available for Māori and iwi organisationsThe Government has reprioritised up to $5 million to provide immediate relief to vulnerable whānau Māori and communities during the current COVID-19 outbreak Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. The COVID-19 2021 Whānau Recovery Fund will support community-driven, local responses to gaps in access and provision of critical ...3 weeks ago
- New beef genetics programme to deliver cows with smaller environmental hoof-printThe Government is backing a genetics programme to lower the beef sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by delivering cows with a smaller environmental hoof-print, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. Informing New Zealand Beef is a seven-year partnership with Beef + Lamb New Zealand that is expected to result in more ...3 weeks ago
- Appointments to the New Zealand Qualifications AuthorityEducation Minister Chris Hipkins today announced new appointments to the board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Former Associate Minister of Education, Hon Tracey Martin, has been appointed as the new Chair for NZQA, replacing the outgoing Acting and Deputy Chair Professor Neil Quigley after an 11-year tenure on ...3 weeks ago
- Govt supports residential house building by allowing manufacture of building suppliesThe Government has agreed to allow some building product manufacturing to take place in Auckland during Covid lockdown to support continued residential construction activity across New Zealand. “There are supply chain issues that arise from Alert Level 4 as building products that are manufactured domestically are mostly manufactured in Auckland. ...3 weeks ago
- Government invests in scientific research to boost economy, address climate change and enhance wellb...Research, Science and Innovation Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods has today announced the recipients of this year’s Endeavour Fund to help tackle the big issues that New Zealanders care about, like boosting economic performance, climate change, transport infrastructure and wellbeing. In total, 69 new scientific research projects were awarded over ...3 weeks ago
- Transport to drive economic recoveryThe Government is investing a record amount in transport services and infrastructure to get New Zealand moving, reduce emissions and support the economic recovery, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. The 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) was released today which outlines the planned investments Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency ...3 weeks ago
- Government congratulates NZ Paralympic teamThe Government has congratulated New Zealand’s Paralympic Team following an outstanding showing at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. “Our New Zealand Paralympian athletes have once again shown incredible talent, tenacity and determination at the Tokyo Paralympic Games winning 12 medals, with every athlete who represented New Zealand making us so proud,” ...3 weeks ago
- Aotearoa mourns passing of creative icon Billy AppleArts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni has expressed her condolences at the passing of Billy Apple, one of New Zealand’s most influential artists. “Today we’ve lost a giant of New Zealand art. Billy was a creative visionary, an inspiration and a friend to so many,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “Billy ...3 weeks ago
- China's difficult bid to join the Pacific trade deal
The University of Auckland's Manqing Cheng takes a look at the Chinese government's considerations on joining the CPTPP despite domestic opposition Comment: China made a bid to join the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) last week despite some domestic opposition. The official application to join the 11-nation free ...2 days ago - Kiwi physio helped pave the way for women in the NBA
A 'unicorn' when she started with the Golden State Warriors, Kiwi physio Chelsea Lane drove into territory few women had gone before in the NBA. Now she's home to share her skills, she tells Ashley Stanley. Chelsea Lane came back to New Zealand from the United States with more than just ...2 days ago - Rod Oram: Who I am and what I care about
Columnist Rod Oram prepares for his upcoming trip to Glasgow for the UN summit on climate change by pondering his own life journey and the thinking, people and events that have shaped him ...2 days ago - New MIQ in Christchurch after Rotorua says no
Te Pāti Māori leads successful opposition to plans for new Covid quarantine facilities in poorly-vaccinated Rotorua Lakes district The good luck needed to land a room in MIQ has long been blamed by the Government on demand versus supply. Responding to allegations back in July that the difficulty travellers have had in ...2 days ago - Bloomfield wanted 'very high-risk' NZers blocked
A trove of documents reveals new details about the Government's "very high-risk" list. ...2 days ago - Te Papa casuals want Govt to plug pay loophole
Te Papa casual staff are caught in the cracks of bureaucracy ...2 days ago - The paths much less travelled
We've used closed borders to explore our own country, but you can love a place to death - there are some places that are not only difficult to get to, but tourism is not encouraged Exploring Aotearoa's wilderness has become the thing to do for many people looking for adventures ...2 days ago - Grattan on Friday: After the deal on security, Scott Morrison turns to the shift on climate
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra One is tempted to think Scott Morrison’s hero must be Harry Houdini, the great escape artist. Put our prime minister in a corner, and he will talk his way out, or try to. After President ...2 days ago - Josh Frydenberg prepares ground for Scott Morrison to commit to 2050 climate targetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will prepare the way for Scott Morrison to take a target of net zero emissions by 2050 to Glasgow, when he warns on Friday capital inflow will be at risk if Australia ...2 days ago
- Government denies it has failed Māori on Covid
The government is standing by its Covid response for Māori, despite large disparities in both the number of cases and the vaccine rollout. ...2 days ago - Auckland Mayor Phil Goff opposes Three Waters proposal, calls for accountabilityAuckland Mayor Phil Goff has made one thing clear - the government's Three Waters Reform programme would not get his approval under the current settings. ...2 days ago
- When fire hits, do koalas flee or stick to their tree? Answering these and other questions is vitalSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pablo Negret, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Queensland Figures released this week suggest Australia’s koala populations have plummeted by 30% in three years, and fewer than 58,000 now remain in the wild. The statement from the Australian Koala Foundation has ...2 days ago
- Australia is no stranger to earthquakes, yet our planning polices have not adaptedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Maund, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Southeastern Australia was yesterday rocked by a magnitude-5.8 earthquake with its epicentre near Mansfield in Victoria’s northeast. The quake, which was followed by two smaller tremors, was ...2 days ago
- PNG prepares to impose covid lockdown in several provincesRNZ News Papua New Guinea authorities are preparing for a four-week lockdown in at least three provinces at the end of the month. The move has been prompted by a spike in covid-19 infection rates in Eastern Highlands province as well as the two provinces which sit on the border ...2 days ago
- ‘My way or highway’ bill a product of Fiji dictatorship, says PrasadBy Luke Nacei in Suva Fiji’s pposition National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad told Parliament yesterday that the Electoral Registration of Voters (Amendment) Bill was the product of dictatorship, pseudo-democracy and the “my way or the highway” approach to governance in a bid to ensure continuity of FijiFirst rule ...2 days ago
- In spite of relentless media negativity, NZ’s covid story is largely successfulCOMMENTARY: By Glen Johnson On August 17, a 58-year-old man from Auckland became symptomatic and tested positive for covid-19. It was New Zealand’s first community case of the coronavirus in almost six months. Within hours, the nation of five million moved into alert level four, part of its “go hard, ...2 days ago
- Detained West Papuan activist at risk of ‘dying in jail’, UN expert warnsAsia Pacific Report newsdesk A United Nations expert has urged Indonesia to provide proper medical care to a Papuan independence activist to “keep him from dying in prison”, after reports emerged that his health had deteriorated, reports The Jakarta Post. Victor Yeimo, 39, the international spokesman for the West Papua ...2 days ago
- Federation Of Primary Health Welcomes Todays Board Announcements
“Another positive step forward”. That’s how the Chair of New Zealand’s [1] peak body for [2] Primary Care, Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa (FPHANZ) , has reacted to the board announcements from the Government today. Steve Chadwick ...2 days ago - Nurse, Union Voice Absent On New Health Authority BoardsThe New Zealand Nurses Organisaton's (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere, Kerri Nuku, is concerned that the Māori Health Authority (MHA) and Health New Zealand (Health NZ) boards lack representation for nurses, kaimahi hauora, midwives, rongoā practitioners or ...2 days ago
- Hawke's Bay Meth Bust Stunning Proof Of Why Mob Shouldn't Get Public MoneyResponding to the breaking news of a major methamphetamine bust in the Hawke’s Bay , Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Jordan Williams says: “Eight people connected to the Mongrel Mob have just been arrested for selling meth in the same community ...2 days ago
- Business is Boring: The electrician behind 20% of NZ’s new solar installations
Lightforce’s Luke Nutting joined Simon Pound on Business is Boring this week to talk about catching New Zealand up with the rest of the world on solar power.Follow Business is Boring on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.Solar power is pretty amazing – this super abundant, super powerful ...2 days ago - Fires review: new ABC drama helps teach important lessons about the realities of bushfires in Austra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Clode, Associate Professor (adjunct) in Creative Writing, Flinders University Ben King/ABC Bushfires are incredibly difficult to imagine, but once experienced are impossible to forget. They are events that most people would prefer not to think about — at least ...2 days ago
- Whānau Ora Leadership Appointed To Māori Health Authority Board...2 days ago
- Taxpayers Will Support Bill To Stop Public Funding Of Criminal Gang EnterprisesThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is pleased to see Simeon Brown’s members' bill, Public Finance (Prohibition on Providing Public Funds to Gangs) Amendment Bill drawn from the Parliamentary ballot and is calling on the Government to expedite its passage ...2 days ago
- Coalition still well ahead in NSW poll, Newspoll premiers’ ratings, and WA upper house electoral r...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne AAP/Bianca de Marchi A New South Wales state Resolve poll for The Sydney Morning Herald gave the Coalition 41% of the primary vote (down two since July), ...3 days ago
- Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learni...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dilani Gedera, Teaching and Learning Manager, Auckland University of Technology Shutterstock As any university student, lecturer or tutor can attest, the pandemic has turned learning and teaching upside down. So it’s important we understand what happens for students when their ...3 days ago
- Govt welcomes $7.5bn investment – from the private sector – in our digital economy, but minister...
The government has been spending money on ridding parts of the country of predators, cleaning up contaminated sites, helping NCEA students and researching cancer. But ministers of the crown – it’s pleasing to note – are acknowledging big-bucks investments from the private sector, too. Digital Economy and Communications Minister today ...3 days ago - Statement From Rotorua Mayor Steve ChadwickMayor Steve Chadwick says confirmation there will be no additional MIQ facilities in Rotorua is great news. “It’s really good we have been listened to and I thank Minister Hipkins and his Cabinet colleagues for that. “The prospect of more MIQ ...3 days ago
- After AUKUS, Russia sees a potential threat — and an opportunity to market its own submarinesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexey D Muraviev, Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies, Curtin University Alexei Druzhinin/AP The global opinions on the new AUKUS security pact between Australia, the US and the UK have been decidedly mixed. China and France immediately blasted ...3 days ago
- Parliament to consider ban on public funds to gangsTwo member's bills targeting gang money and assets were drawn from the ballot at Parliament today. ...3 days ago
- Can animals sense when an earthquake is about to happen?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Quain, Lecturer, University of Sydney He Gong/Unsplash, CC BY-SA Within minutes of Melbourne being rattled by yesterday’s earthquake, my Victorian friends reported changes in the behaviour of their animals. One friend wrote on social media that her dog ...3 days ago
- The gutsy authenticity of We Are Lady PartsRonia Ibrahim reflects on the fearlessness of We Are Lady Parts, the comedy series about an all women Muslim punk band that hilariously smashes tired tropes. I’m one of those people who you might describe as “prudish” or “conservative” type. “Frick” is an unironic part ...3 days ago
- In the 19th century, a man was busted for pasting photos of women’s heads on naked bodies … soun...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Lake, Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University First Lady Frances Cleveland and the wives of members of Cleveland Cabinet pose for a photo in 1897. Frances B Johnston/Library of Congress A new app can turn anyone into a porn star against their ...3 days ago
- COVID-19 increases the chance of getting an autoimmune condition. Here’s what the science says so ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena Plebanski, Professor of Immunology, RMIT University Shutterstock SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can sometimes cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the person’s own body. This process, known as “autoimmunity”, can damage a number of different organs. ...3 days ago
- Ageism – Not Part Of Our Future!International Day of Older Persons on 1 October each year is a day to celebrate older people – to highlight the value of all older people and to promote dignity and respect. The United Nations 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” will ...3 days ago
- We may never be able to predict earthquakes – but we can already know enough to be preparedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hadi Ghasemi, Senior Seismologist, Geoscience Australia Yesterday’s earthquake in eastern Victoria shook the ground for hundreds of kilometres around and damaged buildings as far away as Melbourne – and took many people by surprise. While Australia doesn’t compare with seismic hotspots like ...3 days ago
- Horowhenua On The Rise With Second CouncilMARK™ ReportLocal Government New Zealand’s CouncilMARK™ programme is giving Horowhenua District Council’s performance a tick of approval in its second independent assessment. LGNZ President Stuart Crosby says Horowhenua ratepayers can be pleased with their ...3 days ago
- Covid-19 briefing: 'It all comes down to vaccination' – PMTools used in the future to fight Covid-19 don't need to be as disruptive as the ones used now, as long as the country achieves a high vaccination rate, says the prime minister. Watch the latest government briefing live here. ...3 days ago
- Instagram can make teens feel bad about their body, but parents can help. Here’s howSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma Sharp, NHMRC Early Career Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Shutterstock Last week Facebook’s internal research revealed Instagram’s toxic effects on some young people’s body image — particularly girls. One study by Facebook of teen Instagram users in the US ...3 days ago
- Mataatua To Be Represented On Māori Health AuthorityFiona Wiremu, Chair of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua is ecstatic that “Mataatua whānau will be better represented on a national scale, as Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Chief Executive Dr Chris Tooley has been elected to the interim Māori Health Authority board”. ...3 days ago
- This overseas voting rule is arbitrary and stupid. It’s time to scrap it entirelyEven before Covid, the idea that spending too long away from New Zealand should lose you the right to vote made little sense. Now’s the ideal time to do away with the rule for good, argues Andrew Geddis.Covid’s arrival, and our collective response to that arrival, emphasises the fundamental importance ...3 days ago
- Modelling: Thousands of deaths without high vaccination rates
The latest research from Te Pūnaha Matatini shows that if vaccination rates aren't high enough, New Zealand will continue to need lockdowns or see thousands of Covid-19 deaths a year, Marc Daalder reports High vaccination rates are crucial to ending the use of lockdowns, expert disease modellers have found. Te ...3 days ago - Watch live: PM, Bloomfield provide an update on Covid-19The Prime Minister and the Director-General of Health are due to address a media briefing on the latest on the Delta outbreak. ...3 days ago
- NZNO Award Of Honour Recognises Invaluable Enrolled Nurse LeaderThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is pleased to announce that the 2021 NZNO Award of Honour (presented every two years) has been awarded to Waikato-based nurse Leonie Metcalfe. The prestigious Award of Honour recognises long-standing NZNO ...3 days ago
- Feds Gives Thumbs Up For Cross-border And Jab EffortsFederated Farmers is giving a shout out to government agencies handling the movement of essential workers across alert level boundaries, and to those DHBs and medical centres reaching out to rural people over COVID vaccinations. "With Auckland ...3 days ago
- Former Minister Taito Phillip Field has died aged 68The former Associate Pacific Islands Affairs Minister, Taito Philip Field, has died at the age of 68. ...3 days ago
- Who the hell comes up with Celebrity Treasure Island’s challenges?Celebs are being forced to dive for puzzle pieces, lug bags of sand through waist-high water, and work their way through mazes made of sharp sticks. Who did this? And why?Richie Barnett and Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck are pictures of concentration. The former rugby league players are facing off, tasked with balancing ...3 days ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 20 September 2021Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than 7 days, while the 20-day series covers jobs with pay periods of 14 days or fewer. The 34-day series includes all jobs regardless of their pay period. The 34-day series ...3 days ago
- NZMA Welcomes Health System Board AppointmentsThe groups chosen to lead New Zealand’s health system into the future are a blend of expertise, wisdom and foresight, the New Zealand Medical Association says. NZMA Chair Dr Alistair Humphrey said he welcomes the news of the Board appointments, and ...3 days ago
- New Report Reveals Government Failing To Cut Building Pollution, Threatening Paris Climate Obligatio...The government is failing to adequately slash the carbon emissions of New Zealand’s builings, thereby threatening its ability to meet international climate change obligations reveals a new assessment report unveiled today (23 September). Just weeks before ...3 days ago
- Māori-led Group Prepares To Occupy Mt Richmond / Ōtāhuhu To Save Hundreds Of Exotic TreesA Māori-led Māngere-Ōtāhuhu community group is preparing to occupy Mt Richmond / Ōtāhuhu after learning that Auckland Council has recently issued a non-notified resource consent to allow Tūpuna Maunga Authority to fell hundreds of exotic trees ...3 days ago
- Power firm warns Govt against against unworkable environmental limits
When NZ needs to build a new wind farm every nine months, now is not the time for ministers to impose 'experimental resets' to the energy market, says Mercury chair. Power company Mercury has hit back at "unworkable environmental limits" and the threat of energy sector reforms, saying they jeopardise further investment ...3 days ago - Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 23 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 Govt Covid strategy Tess McClure (Guardian): ‘Calculated risk’: ...3 days ago
- Sixteen Year Wait For New Māori Health Authority Board Member“We’ve Come a Long Way” National Urban Māori Authority Chair Lady Tureiti Moxon and Awerangi Tamihere of Te Whānau Waipareira, a NUMA member have been named as Board appointments to the Māori Health Authority today. Sixteen years ago, Moxon ...3 days ago
- Government announces team leading new Health NZ and Māori Health AuthorityThe team leading the establishment of the new Health New Zealand and Māori Health Authority have been announced. ...3 days ago
- Walk shorts and dreams: Oh, to be a teacher in the 90sLinda Burgess finds a kindred spirit in Tim Heath’s memoir, The Accidental Teacher.Not far into Tim Heath’s book, I was thinking how much fun he’d be to sit next to at a dinner party. No tensions there: I’d be sitting next to him pretty much agreeing on everything. By this ...3 days ago
- Dunne Speaks: Don't Get Too Excited By The “ute” Tax DelayThis week’s announcement that the introduction of the government’s proposed “ute” tax is being delayed by three months until 1 April next year will have been welcomed in many quarters. Those who joined the recent Groundswell protests ...3 days ago
- Climate Commission Ignored Climate Benefits Of Cutting Synthetic NitrogenA hidden report uncovered by Greenpeace shows that the Climate Change Commission ignored its own internal advice that could cut agricultural climate emissions by a third or more. The internal Climate Commission report, titled ‘Eliminating synthetic ...3 days ago
- Banning unvaccinated people from Parliament grounds could set precedent – expertIn an interview with media outlet Newsroom, Trevor Mallard revealed staff, the public and the media may not be allowed on the Parliamentary precinct if they were unvaccinated. ...3 days ago
- Explainer: what exactly is the Quad and what’s on the agenda for their Washington summit?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Hall, Deputy Director (Research), Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Ryohei Moriya/Yomiuri Shimbun/AP On Friday, the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the US will meet in Washington for the first in-person Quad summit. Hosted by US President Joe ...3 days ago
- Calling the latest gene technologies ‘natural’ is a semantic distraction — they must still be ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Heinemann, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Canterbury Ivan YudinTASS via Getty Images Legislators around the world are being asked to reconsider how to regulate the latest developments in gene technology, genome editing and gene silencing. ...3 days ago
- Ivermectin shows us how hard it is to use old drugs for COVID. Here’s how to do better next timeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Baell, Research Professor in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Shutterstock Many hopes have been pinned on repurposing existing drugs, such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, to treat COVID-19. However, we shouldn’t be too ...3 days ago
- Children learn science in nature play long before they get to school classrooms and labsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University The number of preschools pursuing learning through nature play is growing fast worldwide. However, the effectiveness and impacts of this approach is largely untested, and we recently completed the first large-scale study ...3 days ago
- Australia’s banks got $188 billion in cheap loans from the RBA. Now they’re funding share buybac...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Emeritus Professor of Finance, The University of Melbourne shutter_o/Shutterstock Much has been written about the taxpayer-funded windfalls to some companies provided by the A$90 billion JobKeeper scheme. Their gains have come from grants given to them to offset ...3 days ago
- From poo politics to rubbish disposal: 5 big questions about the International Space Station becomin...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alice Gorman, Associate Professor in Archaeology and Space Studies, Flinders University NASA, CC BY-SA On October 5, an unusual crew will fly to the International Space Station. Director Klim Shipenko and actor Yulia Peresild will spend a week and a ...3 days ago
- We are the 10%Even if a 90% vaccination target can be achieved, hundreds of thousands of people – many of them from our most vulnerable communities – risk being left behind, writes the NZ Drug Foundation’s Sarah HelmThroughout the most recent delta outbreak, it’s been clear that vaccinations will be our collective ticket ...3 days ago
- Live updates, September 23: Former National MP joins board of new national health authorityWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 23, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Say hello at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz.8.00am: Former National MP joins board of new national health authorityA former National MP will help lead the new national health authority, Health New Zealand.The government has this morning announced the “expert group” appointed to ...3 days ago
- James Shaw on the road to GlasgowThe climate change minister says for all his irritations at the pace of change in government, momentum is growing to finally start emission cuts, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.The road to COP26. James Shaw is booked to fly to Glasgow at the end of next month for a United Nations ...3 days ago
- New Zealand PM “Pleased To See” AUKUS Military PactBy Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 22 September 2021, original url: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/09/22/nzau-s22.html The Labour Party-Greens coalition government in New Zealand has cautiously welcomed the AUKUS military pact announced on September 16 by US President Joe Biden and the ...3 days ago
- Labour MPs reject Paul Goldsmith's request for briefing on Covid-19 impact by education officia...Goldsmith says Labour voted down his request to be briefed on actions being taken by schools and the impact Covid-19 is having on exams and those with additional learning needs. ...3 days ago
- Social housing stigma unnerves upmarket hotel developers
Uncertainty clouds a Nelson hotel development because of plans for a big community housing development nearby ...3 days ago - A second death for autonomous sanctions – but hints of another life
The Government again kills off a bill to take action on international violators. ...3 days ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 23 September3 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 23 September3 days ago
- The costs of nimbyismWhen we let housing prices drive people out of cities, it has a ripple effect on all parts of our social and economic fabric, writes economist Rosie Collins.Many well-meaning people stand in the way of more houses for the young, poor, or future generations. That’s not how they would put ...3 days ago
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