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National’s Petition is Cynical Populism
Written By: - Date published: 12:45 pm, April 9th, 2020 - 124 comments
National is trying to steal show political leadership and relevance by launching a petition.
Addendum added
Two Bubbles Bridges’ Big Day Out
Written By: - Date published: 6:05 pm, April 6th, 2020 - 67 comments
Simon ‘Two Bubbles’ Bridges feels he’s entitled to flaunt the rules because he’s, ahem, essential.
Bullet Train Wreck
Written By: - Date published: 10:21 pm, March 25th, 2020 - 23 comments
New York Governor Cuomo was told CoVid-19 was like an approaching freight train. More like a bullet train was his response. Watching the White House daily briefing with Trump dominant it looks like a massive train wreck is on the way in the US.
M.I.A. Joe
Written By: - Date published: 12:48 pm, March 22nd, 2020 - 19 comments
America has a question.
It Is the Thought That Counts
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 am, December 28th, 2019 - 70 comments
Antagonistic personalities are an obstacle to effective politics tackling major present problems.
Why is Jacinda Ardern so popular? (part 2)
Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, November 20th, 2019 - 71 comments
Let’s take a moment to enjoy.
Two Referendums Too Many
Written By: - Date published: 1:32 pm, November 16th, 2019 - 50 comments
The referendums on two contentious issues could cloud and crowd out the General Election.
Why is Jacinda Ardern so popular?
Written By: - Date published: 11:04 am, August 28th, 2019 - 239 comments
Boosting the signal to noise ratio.
An October election in the UK?
Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, June 13th, 2019 - 27 comments
Boris Johnson declared his candidacy today. The Guardian’s Tom Kibasi speculates on his strategy – pick a fight with the EU, make Brexit the issue and call an election. Do a deal with Farage and save Britain from Corbyn. Will it work?
Same old dirty National
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 30th, 2019 - 179 comments
National is still embedded in Dirty Politics.
Kiwi Cultural Cringe is Alive and Well
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, April 22nd, 2019 - 75 comments
New Zealand is too small for high-achievers and star-performers and does not offer enough challenges and rewards.
Don’t Rock The Titanic!
Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, April 19th, 2019 - 31 comments
The pace of politics of transformation is glacial but it is unstoppable.
Reflections on Free Speech and Public Discourse
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 15th, 2019 - 119 comments
Silencing dissonant voices only leads to more and stronger dissonant voices and further radicalisation.
Are We Expecting Too Much Of Our Political Leaders?
Written By: - Date published: 11:12 pm, April 8th, 2019 - 122 comments
Political leaders must have expert knowledge on many topics and near-perfect recall. No naps allowed and no room for error.
The power of compassionate politics
Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, March 20th, 2019 - 205 comments
Jacinda Ardern has shown over the past week that she is one of the country’s best leaders.
Simon Bridges is rooting for the Greens*
Written By: - Date published: 4:12 pm, March 9th, 2019 - 28 comments
Simon Bridges makes a passionate plea for the environment and for a mate.
The NZ National Party is the Wizard of Oz
Written By: - Date published: 2:57 pm, February 16th, 2019 - 32 comments
The National Party is a sad, confused, slightly dazed white old man behind the curtain.
Should We Fear Judith Collins?
Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, February 12th, 2019 - 130 comments
So, it turns out Simon’s a dud. What do the Tories do about it? And can Judith Collins really make a difference?
An Ineffectual Opposition Is Bad News
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 28th, 2018 - 42 comments
An ineffectual Opposition creates a vacuum that will be filled by the Mainstream and Social Media as they will assume the role of unelected and non-representative opposition in effectuo.
The Meka leak
Written By: - Date published: 9:38 am, September 27th, 2018 - 229 comments
The Herald claims to have been leaked a draft copy of the report into Meka Whaitiri. And the indications are that it may have come from a National Party source.
Tilting at Windmills
Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, September 10th, 2018 - 42 comments
The Donald found a real one!
Period. End. Done.
Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, August 26th, 2018 - 42 comments
The Scottish government has just taken a massive step to eradicate period poverty. Why not here?
Turnbull out, Morrison In?
Written By: - Date published: 2:29 pm, August 23rd, 2018 - 100 comments
Turnbull out, Morrison or Dutton in? The Australian Liberal Party self flagellation continues in Canberra. Updates as they roll in, cobbers.
UPDATE: Malcolm Turnbull calls press conference at 1PM AEST (3PM in NZ)
UPDATE: Turnbull to quit tomorrow, if ballot called.
UPDATE: Julie Bishop prepares bid.
UPDATE: Scott Morrison wins, Dutton defeated 45-40.
The Pope’s Letter to All Believers
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, August 22nd, 2018 - 64 comments
The pope missed a great recent chance to state that accused abusers should be walked to the nearest Police station, make written statements, face trial, hopefully jailed, then defrocked, and excommunicated.
New Zealand Is all right, at the end
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, April 28th, 2018 - 27 comments
Democracy’s permanence is not inevitable. Its imagining is not beyond imagining. And New Zealand is one of the shrinking number of democracies who really have it.
What did we want from Marama Davidson?
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, April 10th, 2018 - 68 comments
While there has been some informed commentary on Marama Davidson’s ascension as co-leader of the Green Party, some of the more right-wing outfits have failed to understand the dynamics within the party right now. What did Marama promise, and what were Greens expecting of her?
An Orwellian Minister for Open Government
Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, March 27th, 2018 - 257 comments
The Minister for Open Government has been caught organizing a secret meeting, and it has led to the resignation of an RNZ manager who covered for her. Is it time to kick Curran out?
“Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job”
Written By: - Date published: 6:15 am, March 26th, 2018 - 32 comments
Two speakers from yesterday’s March for Our Lives.
Jacinda 3, Simon 0
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 1st, 2018 - 45 comments
Avid watchers of Simon Bridges’ regular breakfast television appearances debating Jacinda Ardern when they were both relatively junior MPs will recall that 9 times out of ten Jacinda wiped the floor with the new Head Tory. Fast forward a few years, and judging by Question Time this week it doesn’t appear that much has changed. […]
Sticking with Bill is the right move for National
Written By: - Date published: 1:37 pm, February 9th, 2018 - 15 comments
National knows what to expect with Bill.
Jim Anderton 1938 – 2018
Written By: - Date published: 6:31 am, January 11th, 2018 - 7 comments
Jim Anderton’s funeral is at 2pm today, and will be livestreamed from youtube.
- Police killing of George Floyd sets off new round of dynamite
by The Spark “The system is broken”—the words of a young black man in Minneapolis watching flames destroy a police precinct demonstrators had torched. Broken? Yes, it is! What else could you say about a system whose police for nine minutes casually knelt on a black man’s neck, watching until ...3 hours ago - Political Roundup: Todd Muller’s torrid start as National leader
The latest opinion poll is out, and it’s more bad news for the National Party, with Roy Morgan putting them on only 26.5% support, against Labour’s 56.5%. You can see the details here: Roy Morgan May opinion poll. Roy Morgan is regarded as less accurate than other polling companies, and the ...10 hours ago - This is not rehabilitation
When miners pillage conservation land, they are typically required to "rehabilitate" it afterwards. Its not much compared to the damage they do, but its something. But apparently even that is now too much to expect. NZG Limited, a company owned by Oravida directors James Blackwell, Julia Jiyan Xu, Stone Shi, ...11 hours ago - America burnsLike everyone else, I've spent too much of the weekend watching the protests in America, and the increasingly brutal response to them. The overwhelming impression is of a nationwide police riot, as people speaking out against a murder and demanding change are beaten, gassed and shot by racist, militarised thugs ...11 hours ago
- Graham Adams: Should we have a Royal Commission of Inquiry into our Covid-19 response?In mid-April, as New Zealand entered its fourth week of alert level 4, the Prime Minister warned us not to make comparisons with other countries over our Covid-19 pandemic response. This extraordinary advice came after Simon Bridges had urged the government to adopt a less-stringent lockdown similar to those in ...13 hours ago
- Wales makes it 16Wales has lowered the voting age to 16: 16 and 17 year olds can now officially vote in Wales for Senedd elections. Votes at 16 & 17 come into force on Monday, as part of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020. Next year’s Senedd elections will ...13 hours ago
- Climate Change: Banking failureThe government announced more changes to the ETS today, including to the emissions budget for 2021 - 2025. The overall budget for that period will stay at 354 million tons of CO2-equivalent. But the ETS component of that - stockpile reduction, free allocation, and credits to be auctioned - budget ...15 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards: Todd Muller’s beige persona might not be a bad thing in the battle against Jacinda ...The new National Party leader, Todd Muller, had been at pains to portray himself as a solid, serious, safe pair of hands, in contrast to the increasingly Trumpian leanings of Simon Bridges, who Muller deposed in a leadership coup last Friday. But after an uneventful, if uninspiring, first press conference, ...18 hours ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 2 June 2020Today’s content National Party Tim Watkin (Pundit): Todd Muller: National’s new Dad who forgot to build the cot Andrea Vance (Stuff): Could middle-of-the road Muller come out a winner? Martin van Beynen (Stuff): Todd Muller’s first week not a complete disaster Bryce Edwards (Guardian): Todd Muller’s beige persona might not be a bad thing ...18 hours ago
- RIP George Floyd
Minneapolis Police StationIf you’ve been keeping an eye on recent events in the United States, you’ll likely understand why there’s so much anger on the streets at the moment. Not only did police officers murder another black man; it is patently obvious that authorities initially attempted to cover up George ...20 hours ago - Todd Muller: National’s new dad who forgot to build the cot
Becoming the leader of a political party is a bit like having a baby. Not so much the screaming and sleepless nights, as the fact that you’ve waited and hope and planned for something and it’s finally here. And when that wonderful gift finally arrives, you want to be ready, ...1 day ago - In the US, an organic crisis?
The US appears to be headed towards what Antonio Gramsci and other Italian political theorists call an “organic crisis of the State.” It involves the simultaneous and compounded fractures of economy, society and politics, which together constitute a tipping point in a nation’s history. Social contradictions are exacerbated, class and ...1 day ago - What Happened to America?
Like the rest of the world, I have been aghast at what I have seen of, and read and heard about, what is happening currently in the United States. It seems incredible that a once great country should be suffering the worst effects and the highest number of deaths worldwide ...2 days ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #22
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week...Climate concerns as Siberia experiences record-breaking heat Heat wave sparks concerns about devastating wildfire season and melting permafrost. Satellite ...
2 days ago - May ’20 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking
Image credit: Writing an Article vs. Writing a Blog Post: What’s the Difference? I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is ... 2 days ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #22A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 24 through Sat, May 30, 2020 Editor's Choice Antarctic Ocean Reveals New Signs of Rapid Melt of Ancient Ice, Clues About Future Sea Level Rise A study of seafloor ripples ...3 days ago
- “It’s Muller Time!”… oh wait, maybe not: Is National’s Election bid doomed (again)?
It’s almost painful to watch. Let’s be honest, maybe a pleasure too, in some quarters, but painful nonetheless. Because the fact is, for a democracy to function properly, any sitting Government does need honest and proper Opposition so that it doesn’t get ahead of itself. That’s what we should ...3 days ago - Coronavirus pandemic leads to profound cutbacks in fossil fuel useThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk A banner on the International Energy Agency website spells it out in bold font: “The global oil industry is experiencing a shock like no other in its history.” As the response to the coronavirus pandemic upends the lives of billions of ...4 days ago
- Whither the Media?The ownership of newspapers and televison channels is in turmoil, and they want to redisorganise public broadcasting. *Three years ago, I expressed concern in a column about the future of the (traditional) media. Nothing has happened since to reduce the concern. It was based on an earlier column which ...4 days ago
- A victory for freedom of information in AustraliaAustralia's High Court has ruled that the "palace letters" between the queen and then-Governor-General John Kerr are public records rather than private papers: Historian Jenny Hocking has won her High Court bid to access the letters exchanged between then governor-general Sir John Kerr and the Queen around the time of ...4 days ago
- Radiation: Views of the Week May 30
SATURDAY MAY 30Six60: Live at Western Springs 2020 (TVNZ 1, 8.45pm). Remember live concerts? The day will come again, friends, when we will be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in an uncomfortable sweaty venue with people we don’t know. It will happen. Sometimes the sound of concerts drifts over to the ...5 days ago - Josephine Varghese: Impressed by Jacinda Ardern’s leadership during the pandemic? Meet K.K. Shaila...New Zealand and its prime minister Jacinda Ardern have received international attention and praise, rightly so, for decisive leadership, clear communication and scientific management of the coronavirus pandemic. Observers point out that the nation has been through multiple crises under Ardern’s leadership – such as the Christchurch terrorist attack and ...5 days ago
- While we were locked down……a lot of things unrelated to the pandemic were happening. Relatively little attention was given to some major events on the global stage, so I thought I would do a quick recap of some of the high (or low) -lights, starting with something familiar. The common theme throughout is human ...5 days ago
- Labour’s MuldoonismLabour's talk of gutting the RMA to push through "shovel ready" projects to boost employment after the pandemic predictably has every half-arsed pipe-dream crawling out of the woodwork demanding special treatment. Today, it's the West Coast inbreds, who are demanding a host of laws be rescinded so they can dig ...5 days ago
- Poisonous Legacy: Why George Floyd Could Be Choked While The Whole World Watched.
5 days ago - Don’t ask, don’t tellSince the government announced its pandemic wage subsidy, there have been regular stories about companies taking it and then sacking or refusing to pay their workers - essentially committing fraud. But how often does this happen? The Minister just doesn't want to know: Government ministers are not receiving up to ...5 days ago
- Holding The Centre."You call that a conservative? Nah, this is a conservative!" New Zealanders are in the market for a quiet and reassuring small-c conservative political centrist. The critical question, however, is which politician is currently playing that role? Who has mastered the art of relaxed, informal and intimate political communication? Who ...5 days ago
- The Limits Of Kindness.I’VE OFTEN WONDERED if South African immigrants passing through towns like Kerikeri and Kaikohe ever wonder how we do it. In their homeland, through the bitter years of Apartheid, keeping the races segregated required pass laws, Alsatian dogs, tear gas, rubber bullets and, all-too-often, live rounds. Not here. Not in ...5 days ago
- Gender-critical material on Redline (Vol 2)Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from July 31, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Sports categories must be by sex, not gender identity Queer theory glossary Woke misogyny and homophobia: a gay critique of trans ideology Another unfortunate experiment? New Zealand’s transgender health policy and ...5 days ago
- All Renewable Energy Plan for EuropeSmart Energy Europe: A Plan to provide 100% of ALL ENERGY using Renewable Energy to Europe Introduction All Energy renewable energy systems are often commented on here at Skeptical Science. Many comments suggest that it will be difficult, expensive or impossible to use renewable energy to power the world. To ...5 days ago
- Chickening out on clean riversThe government released its Action for Healthy Waterways package today, ostensibly with the goal of cleaning up our rivers and making them swimmable within a generation. Doing that, of course, requires confronting the cow in the room: the dairy industry which causes most of the pollution. But while they've imposed ...5 days ago
- Why countries don’t count emissions from goods they import
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I would like to know if New Zealand’s carbon emissions ...6 days ago - Austerity threatens our lives againPublic health specialists perform a vital role protecting us from disease, and they've just literally saved tens of thousands of kiwi lives from the pandemic. But it turns out that they are grossly underfunded and understaffed, and the government isn't doing anything about it: The number of doctors in public ...6 days ago
- This is what failure looks likeRemember KiwiBuild? Previously the government's flagship policy, it was supposed to build thousands of new homes every year for kiwi families. But instead of flooding the market, we've got a pathetic dribble: The Government's former flagship housing policy is so far behind schedule it will take more than 400 years ...6 days ago
- Unions respond to welfare injustice
Don Franks Now Covid-19 restrictions allow gatherings of a hundred, an urgent hui needs calling. A special conference of the Council of Trade Unions. Today, workers face the greatest attack on employment, pay and conditions since the depression, we need a strong united union voice. As it stands now, organised ...6 days ago - The case for red meatGeorge Henderson New Zealand schools have introduced a climate change resource that suggests children “eat less meat and dairy”, even though teachers will not know how much meat or dairy any child in their care has eaten. Opinion pieces in the papers have called for the reduction of meat and ...6 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #21, 202067 Articles Observations & observational methods of global warming & effects Dramatic decline of Arctic sea ice linked to global warming A rising trend of double tropopauses over South Asia in a warming environment: implications for moistening of the lower stratosphere Determining the anthropogenic greenhouse gas contribution to ...6 days ago
- Ian Powell: Too Many DHBs? The Wrong QuestionQuestioning the number of district health boards in New Zealand has got to the extent that “too many DHBs” has become a perceived truth requiring no further elaboration. It is rarely challenged by policy advisers, academics, and journalists. But when one drills down further it becomes clear that the number ...6 days ago
- NZ First’s policy of starving migrantsWhile the government has dealt with the pandemic spectacularly well, it hasn't been perfect. One big flaw in its response has been its treatment of temporary migrants. The government has the power to extend social welfare benefits to temporary migrants during a pandemic, and the Epidemic Response Act clearly expects ...6 days ago
- NZIGAThe emergence of a new National party leader, seemingly out of nowhere, has – not surprisingly – raised a number of questions as to who Todd Mulller actually is and what makes him tick. He has been an MP for some time but seems to have hidden his light under ...6 days ago
- Equality comes to Costa RicaCosta Rica has become the first country in Central America to recognise same-sex marriage: The first same-sex weddings have taken place in Costa Rica, the first Central American country to equalise its marriage legislation. A lesbian couple became the first to tie the knot in a ceremony that took ...7 days ago
- Lining their own pocketsThere's a new twist in the Winston Peters secret donation story. It appears that a significant chunk of NZ First's secret laundered donations goes straight into the pockets of the people administering the scheme: Tens of thousands in donor's funds given to the New Zealand First Foundation were spent paying ...7 days ago
- Political Roundup: Where is Todd Muller taking National?Is Todd Muller the Ned Flanders of the National Party? This is how he’s been characterised by political commentator Gordon Campbell, who suggests the change in leadership is, in Simpsons terms, akin to swapping the scary and cruel Monty Burns for Homer Simpson’s compassionate but conservative neighbour. There’s almost a ...7 days ago
- Muller off to a shaky startWe all know that many so-called journalists and political commentators in New Zealand work directly or indirectly for political parties or for certain political factions. This was obviously the case when pundit for hire Matthew Hooton launched a campaign against then National Party leader, Simon Bridges, over their numerous polling ...1 week ago
- National’s Army Is On The Move.1 week ago
- Climate Change: Still not seriousNew National Party leader Todd Muller has been interviewed about his policies, and has promised to restart offshore fossil fuel exploration if elected: The Bay of Plenty MP rolled former leader Simon Bridges last week, but says the party has not changed its stance on previous promises. "That is ...1 week ago
- Hard News: Lately in cannabisAnyone who keeps an eye on evidence around cannabis and public health will be familiar with the Christchurch Health and Development Study. It's one of two local longitudinal studies frequently cited with respect to cannabis and youth development. But in a new article in the New Zealand Medical Journal, it is ...1 week ago
- Labour betrays its traditions – and the most vulnerable – with two-tier welfare paymentsIn the age of covid we are Jacinda’s team of five million, except for some. There has rarely been a more blatant case of discrimination against beneficiaries than Grant Robertson’s announcement yesterday that people who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus will receive weekly payments of $490 per week for 12 weeks and $250 per week for part time ...1 week ago
- Our response to mosque attacks honours lessons learned 75 years agoIt was 75 years ago this month that Germany surrendered and the Allies celebrated VE (Victory in Europe) Day. Millions of people around the world had been killed and many more injured or captured. It was an end to war not just for Europeans, but their allies too, in countries across Africa. But its impact is ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 26 May 2020Today’s content Redundancy scheme Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Opinion: Unemployment payment scheme shows Govt knows benefits insufficient Rachel Sadler (Newshu): Auckland Action Against Poverty says Government’s Income Relief Payments create ‘two tiers of unemployed’ people Marc Daalder (Newsroom): New benefit leaves out migrants, existing beneficiaries Mike Treen (Daily Blog): A welcome welfare package but the ...1 week ago
- Level 2 days
Well, we are out of lockdown, essentially. I did end up getting the wage subsidy while we were on levels 3 and 4 but I would have been fine if we didn’t. The first day of level 2, the Thursday, the office opened again for the people who weren’t able ...1 week ago - A weird reappointmentA couple of weeks ago, Parliament reappointed Peter Boshier as Chief Ombudsman for another five years. There's nothing weird about the reappointment - it was recommended by the Officers of Parliament Committee, and Boshier is generally recognised as having done a good job in office (though at the same time, ...1 week ago
- Graham Adams: ‘Boring’ Todd Muller sets a trap with a hatWatching Todd Muller make his first speech as the newly minted Leader of the Opposition after Simon Bridges’ defenestration on Friday brought to mind a headmaster addressing a school assembly. He showed no particular desire to ingratiate himself with his audience although the occasional flash of self-deprecating humour indicated a ...1 week ago
- Labour doesn’t care about the already poorThe government has announced another income support scheme for people affected by the economic aftershocks of the pandemic: a $490 a week tax-free payment for the newly unemployed, which you can get even if you have a working partner. Which is great, because its supporting people who need help, but ...1 week ago
- The Green listThe Greens have released their party list, and it contains a few surprises. The one that's getting all the news is that the membership are clearly fans of Chlöe Swarbrick, and she has worked hard to earn that. But they've also favoured incumbent protection over new blood, and in the ...1 week ago
- When scientists get political: Lead fluoride-IQ researcher launches emotional attack on her scientif...
age credit: Science and Politics – Skeptically.org It seems impossible to keep politics out of science. It’s a pity because politics can end up forcing science to produce the results desired by ... 1 week ago- When can COVID-19 be Declared Eliminated from NZ? New Modelling Study
Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Matthew Parry, Dr Ayesha Verrall, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Martin Eichner (author details*) This blog details a recent modelling study we conducted. In it we estimated that it would take between 27 and 33 days of no new detected cases of COVID-19 for there to be ...1 week ago- Honeycreepers in Hawaii
The 2015 Schol Bio paper included a question about a group of birds known as honeycreepers, specifically, the 56 species endemic to the Hawaiian islands. (Or, were endemic: 18, or perhaps 19, are still living; the others are extinct.) Students who’ve already had a look at this paper as part of ...1 week ago- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #21
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Climate Feedback Article Review... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... What a Week’s Disasters Tell Us About Climate and the Pandemic Extreme weather presents an even bigger threat ...1 week ago- Liam Hehir: Rise of the blank slate political leader
Todd Muller has made a good start to his leadership, though it would obviously be pretty stupid to extrapolate too much from the first couple of days. Nevertheless, as a matter of speculation, it is interesting to think what success on his part might say about the preferences of the ...1 week ago- Guest post: So, just who is Todd Muller?
A guest post by Hamish Price.“A leader is a dealer in hope.”— Napoléon BonaparteCatholics have a name for potential successors to a dead pope. Papabile. The small coterie of distinguished cardinals who have what it takes to step up. Todd Muller has always been one.I first met Muller at a National ...1 week ago- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #21
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 17 through Sat, May 23, 2020 Editor's Choice More than 80 killed in India and Bangladesh as Cyclone Amphan heaps misery on coronavirus-hit areas A man salvages items from ...1 week ago- Guest Post: So that’s the leadership sorted. What now for National?
Two poor political polls within the same week had seen National for the first time in over a decade dropping major support in the face of a competent and assured COVID-19 health response from the Coalition government. Step forward the relatively unknown Todd Muller, who by Friday afternoon had secured ...1 week ago- Radiation: Views of the Week
SUNDAY MAY 24The Luminaries (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). There are an awful lot of indeterminate accents in The Luminaries; even lead Eve Hewson seems undecided about being Irish, and she is Irish. Fair play, accents can go badly wrong, so perhaps not over-egging was a consideration. Marton Csokas, always impeccable, and Himesh Patel ...2 weeks ago- Radiation: Views of the Week May 23
SUNDAY MAY 24The Luminaries (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). There are an awful lot of indeterminate accents in The Luminaries; even lead Eve Hewson seems undecided about being Irish, and she is Irish. Fair play, accents can go badly wrong, so perhaps not over-egging was a consideration. Marton Csokas, always impeccable, and Himesh Patel ...2 weeks ago- Bye bye Bridges
Let’s be honest; Simon Bridges was a disaster of a political leader. If he wasn’t attempting to criticise the Government’s perfectly good policy initiatives that the public generally supported, he was fudging his lines after getting caught out in yet another lie. When Jami-Lee Ross said Bridges “is a flawed individual ...2 weeks ago- What the 2020 Budget Forecasts Mean
The media treat budgets as bit of a circus: lots of theatre and soon forgotten. For a serious economist they show how a team of economists is thinking about the wider economy. The 2020 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) was the most difficult forecasting exercise in the history of ...2 weeks ago- Fightback against job losses
Air NZ shed 1,300 workers, Fletchers about to sack 1000. Economists Strateg.Ease predict over 12,400 jobs gone by March next year in central Auckland alone. Here’s Don Franks during the 2008 election campaign when he stood for the Workers Party. He’s talking about fightback strategies, ideas that he believes are ...2 weeks ago- The new leader of the National party!
2 weeks ago- Hard News: Speaking as equals: the rise of Know Your Stuff
Five years ago, Know Your Stuff didn't have a name. They were just a group of people from the festival community who began testing party drugs onsite because they'd seen the consequences of people taking substances they couldn't identify or didn't understand. They didn't want to see people in their ...2 weeks ago- Labour is still underfunding our health system
Last week, an article on Newsroom made it clear how the funder / provider split - a core part of our public service - was used to enable underfunding. The government holds the purse strings, but dumps responsibility for its decisions on providers, so they get the blame for poor ...2 weeks ago- Monitoring and Forecasting the COVID-19 Pandemic in New Zealand Including the Successful Impact of t...
Dr Jaijus Pallippadan-Johny1, Dr John McDermott2, Rodney Jones1 and Michael Duddin1 (1 Wigram Capital Advisors, Auckland; 2Motu Economic and Policy Research, Wellington) In this blog, we introduce our modelling approach to estimating the transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrate the usefulness of ...2 weeks ago- NZ Politics Daily – 22 May 2020
Today’s content National Party leadership vote Tim Watkin (Pundit): Pharaoh Bridges Swamped By Pestilence And Poor Polls Richard Harman (Politik): D-day for Bridges Matthew Hooton (Herald): National’s only leadership choice is Muller (paywalled) Luke Malpass (Stuff): It’s a tough race when you are Mr 29 per cent – Simon Bridges faces extraordinary pressure Sam Sachdeva ...2 weeks ago- Leaders Without Power
The Illusions Of Power: Does Jacinda Ardern, like Abraham Lincoln, wake in the dark watches of the night still enveloped in the terrors of life-and-death decision-making? Maybe – maybe not. She’s a twenty-first century prime minister, not so susceptible, perhaps, to the deep religious feeling and romanticism that was such ...2 weeks ago- Pharaoh Bridges swamped by pestilence and poor polls
Well, that seals it. The supposedly more National sympathetic One News-Colmar Brunton poll has tonight delivered Simon Bridges’ National Party a worst result than the Newshub-Reid Research three days agoi.On tonight’s numbers Labour sits at an “unprecedented” 59 percent, while National has slumped 17 percent to 29 percent. Anything in ...2 weeks ago - When can COVID-19 be Declared Eliminated from NZ? New Modelling Study
- New Zealand First disappointed that Section 70 spouses won’t get relief
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First is disappointed that the removal of the spousal deductions has had to be delayed by the Ministry fo Social Development, due to COVID19 workload pressures. “New Zealand First has always stood for fairness when it comes to superannuation ...12 hours ago - Winston Peters receives petition demanding more protection for nursesRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First On the steps of Parliament today the Leader of New Zealand First, Rt Hon Winston Peters received a petition from registered nurse Anna Maria Coervers, requesting an amendment to the Protection for First Responders Bill which will ensure the legislation also include registered ...12 hours ago
- Week That Was: Getting our economy moving
It's been a busy seven days as we start to rebuild New Zealand together. From delivering extra support for small businesses, to investing in our artists and arts organisations, to cutting red tape on home DIY projects, we're rolling out our plan to get the economy and New Zealand moving ...14 hours ago - Winston Peters: If protests condoned ‘why are we not at level 1?’Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says alert level 2 restrictions have to be discussed during today's Cabinet meeting. Thousands gathered across the country, including at Parliament, yesterday for Black Lives Matter marches where social distancing and mass gathering rules were flouted. Mr Peters said the breaching of Alert Level 2 rules at ...19 hours ago
- Northland rail work to help create regional jobsRt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State Owned Enterprises KiwiRail’s Northland rail upgrade steps up another gear today and will help Northland recover from the impacts of COVID-19, State Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters says. The Government is investing $204.5 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to ...2 days ago
- Green Party statement on the death of George Floyd
“Today and every day we stand in solidarity with George Floyd’s family, friends and community who feel pain and fear about his untimely death at the hands of Minneapolis police”, said Green Party Co-leader and Māori Development spokesperson Marama Davidson. ...2 days ago - Lake Brunner’s Mount Te Kinga to go Predator FreeFletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Hon Eugenie Sage, Minister of Conservation The West Coast forests of Mount Te Kinga at Kotuku Whakaoho/Lake Brunner are the latest predator free project to receive Government funding, announced Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher ...5 days ago
- Green Party welcomes crucial financial support for creativesThe Green Party says new government support for creatives and artists is a vital lifeline for a sector struggling to survive the COVID crisis. ...5 days ago
- Strongest ever water reforms mean swimmable rivers within a generationThe Green Party says major freshwater reforms announced today provide the strongest ever protections of our waterways, to help ensure the next generation can swim in the rivers of Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Greens work to secure inquiry into Wild West student accommodation sectorThe Green Party has begun the process for a Select Committee inquiry into student accommodation, which has been exposed during COVID-19 as an under-regulated sector that straddles students with unfair debt. ...6 days ago
- New Zealand joins global search for COVID-19 vaccineRt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Hon Dr David Clark, Minister of Health Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods, and Health Minister David Clark today announced a COVID-19 vaccine strategy, ...1 week ago
- Budget 2020: Five things to knowBudget 2020 is about rebuilding together, supporting jobs, getting business moving and the books back into the black. It’s an integral part of our COVID-19 economic response, and our plan to grow our economy and get New Zealand moving again. Here’s a quick look at the five top things you ...1 week ago
- Coalition Government approves essential upgrades on Ōhakea Air BaseThe Coalition Government has approved $206 million in essential upgrades at Ōhakea Air Base. Defence Minister Ron Mark said the money would be spent on improving old infrastructure. He said safety issues would be addressed, as well as upgrades to taxiways, accommodation and fresh, storm and waste water systems. "This ...2 weeks ago
- Attributable to the Rt Hon Winston PetersRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First “I am not persisting with this case just for myself, but for all people who have had their privacy breached. Privacy of information is a cornerstone of our country’s democracy. Without it our society truly faces a bleak future. We now ...2 weeks ago
- Forestry Minister Shane Jones moves to protect sawmillsForestry Minister Shane Jones has introduced a Bill to Parliament that he says will "force more transparency, integrity and respect" for the domestic wood-processing sector through the registration of log traders and practice standards. The Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill had its first reading in ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP joins international call to cancel developing countries’ debtGreen MP Golriz Ghahraman is joining over 300 lawmakers from around the world in calling on the big banks and the IMF to forgive the debt of developing countries, in the wake of the COVID crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- Forestry Minister Shane Jones swipes back at billion trees criticsForestry Minister Shane Jones says concerns that carbon foresters are planting pine trees that will never be harvested are the result of "misinformation". "The billion tree strategy is an excellent idea, unfortunately from time to time it's tainted by misinformation spread by the National Party or their grandees, hiding in scattered ...2 weeks ago
- Budget boost for refugee families a win for compassionThe Green Party welcomes funding in the budget to reunite more refugees with their families, ensuring they have the best chance at a new life in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...3 weeks ago
- How Budget 2020 is supporting jobsThis year’s Budget is about rebuilding New Zealand together in the face of COVID-19. Jobs are central to how we’re going to do that.There’s a lot of targeted investment for employment in this year’s Budget, with announcements on creating new jobs, training people for the jobs we have, and supporting ...3 weeks ago
- Winston Peters says China didn’t want NZ to go into lockdownSpeaking to Stuff's Coronavirus NZ podcast, Foreign Minister Winston Peters revealed China tried to dissuade New Zealand from going into lockdown. “Without speaking out of turn, they wanted a discussion as to why we were doing it, because they thought it was an overreaction,” Mr Peters told Stuff’s Coronavirus NZ podcast. He also ...3 weeks ago
- Changes made to Overseas Investment Act to protect New Zealand assetsThe Coalition Government is making changes to the Overseas Investment Act to ensure New Zealand assets don't fall into the hands of foreign ownership in the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Associate Minister of Finance David Parker announced the Act will be amended to bring forward a national interest ...3 weeks ago
- Winston Peters: Trans-Tasman bubble to help tourism industry make swift recoveryA quick start to a trans-Tasman bubble could see the tourism industry make a swift recovery, according to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. "I believe tourism will turn around dramatically faster than people think," Mr Peters told reporters after Thursday's Budget. "Why? Because I think the Tasman bubble is [going ...3 weeks ago
- Rt. Hon Winston Peters: Budget SpeechRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First Please check against delivery https://vimeo.com/418303651 Budget 2020: Jobs, Business and Balance Introduction Acknowledgements to all Cabinet colleagues, and party ministers Tracey Martin, Shane Jones and Ron Mark, Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau and to caucus colleagues. Thank you for your support, your ...3 weeks ago
- Jacinda Ardern’s 2020 Budget SpeechRead Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Budget 2020 Speech. ...3 weeks ago
- Budget 2020: Next steps to end family and sexual violenceThe 2020 Budget includes significant support to stabilise New Zealand’s family violence services, whose work has been shown to be so essential throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. ...3 weeks ago
- Investment in housing gives more people access to the home they deserveThe Green Party says huge new investment in public and transitional housing will get thousands more families into the warm, safe homes they deserve. ...3 weeks ago
- Budget 2020: Huge investment in green nature based jobs jump starts sustainable COVID recoveryThe Green Party says the $1.1 billion environmental investment in this year’s budget to create thousands of green jobs will help jump start a sustainable recovery from the COVID crisis. ...3 weeks ago
- Grant Robertson’s 2020 Budget SpeechRead Minister of Finance Grant Robertson's Budget 2020 Speech. ...3 weeks ago
- Healthy Homes Standards statement of compliance deadline extended
The deadline for landlords to include detailed information in their tenancy agreements about how their property meets the Healthy Homes Standards, so tenants can see the home they are renting is compliant, has been extended from 1 July 2020 to 1 December 2020. The Healthy Homes Standards became law on 1 July 2019. The Standards are ...10 hours ago - Criminal Cases Review Commission board appointments announcedJustice Minister Andrew Little today announced details of further appointments to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. “I am pleased to announce Paula Rose QSO OStJ as Deputy Chief Commissioner for a term of five years commencing on 15 June 2020,” said Andrew Little. “I am also pleased to announce the ...10 hours ago
- Release of initial list of supported training to aid COVID-19 recoveryThe Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) will pay costs of learners of all ages to undertake vocational education and training The fund will target support for areas of study and training that will give learners better employment prospects as New Zealand recovers from COVID-19 Apprentices working in all industries ...11 hours ago
- Emission trading reforms another step to meeting climate targetsThe Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will finally start to cut New Zealand’s greenhouse gas pollution as it was originally intended to, because of changes announced today by the Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw. The changes include a limit on the total emissions allowed within the ETS, rules to ensure ...18 hours ago
- Queen’s Birthday Honours highlights Pacific leadership capability in AotearoaMinister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List provides an abundance of examples that Pacific people’s leadership capability is unquestionable in Aotearoa. “The work and the individuals we acknowledge this year highlights the kind of visionary examples and dedicated community leadership that we need ...2 days ago
- Govt backing horticulture to succeedThe Government is backing a new $27 million project aimed at boosting sustainable horticulture production and New Zealand’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Our horticulture sector has long been one of New Zealand’s export star performers, contributing around $6 billion a year to our economy. During and ...2 days ago
- Applications open for forestry scholarshipsApplications have opened for 2021 Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships, which will support more Māori and women to pursue careers in forestry science, says Forestry Minister Shane Jones. “I’m delighted Te Uru Rākau is offering Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships for the third year running. These ...2 days ago
- Excellent service to nature recognisedThe Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List once again highlights the dedication by many to looking after our native plants and wildlife, including incredible work to restore the populations of critically endangered birds says Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. Anne Richardson of Hororata has been made an Officer of the New ...2 days ago
- Wetlands and waterways gain from 1BT fundingThe Government will invest $10 million from the One Billion Trees Fund for large-scale planting to provide jobs in communities and improve the environment, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Forestry Minister Shane Jones have announced. New, more flexible funding criteria for applications will help up to 10 catchment groups plant ...3 days ago
- New fund for women now openOrganisations that support women are invited to apply to a new $1,000,000 fund as part of the Government’s COVID-19 response. “We know women, and organisations that support women, have been affected by COVID-19. This new money will ensure funding for groups that support women and women’s rights,” said Minister for ...3 days ago
- Govt supports King Country farmers to lift freshwater qualityHealthier waterways are front and centre in a new project involving more than 300 King Country sheep, beef and dairy farmers. The Government is investing $844,000 in King Country River Care, a group that helps farmers to lift freshwater quality and farming practice, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Yesterday ...5 days ago
- Libraries to help with jobs and community recoveryA major funding package for libraries will allow them to play a far greater role in supporting their communities and people seeking jobs as part of the economic recovery from COVID-19. “Budget 2020 contains over $60 million of funding to protect library services and to protect jobs,” says Internal Affairs ...5 days ago
- Support for arts and music sector recoveryA jobseekers programme for the creative sector and four new funds have been set up by the Government to help our arts and music industry recover from the blow of COVID-19. Thousands of jobs will be supported through today’s $175 million package in a crucial economic boost to support the ...5 days ago
- Legislative changes to support the wellbeing of veterans and their familiesMinister for Veterans Ron Mark has welcomed the First Reading of a Bill that will make legislative changes to further improve the veterans’ support system. The Veterans’ Support Amendment Bill No 2, which will amend the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, passed First Reading today. The bill addresses a number of ...5 days ago
- Christ Church Cathedral – Order in CouncilViews sought on Order in Council to help fast track the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Hon Poto Williams, will be seeking public written comment, following Cabinet approving the drafting of an Order in Council aimed at fast-tracking the reinstatement of the ...5 days ago
- New Zealanders’ human rights better protected in new BillThe law setting out New Zealanders’ basic civil and human rights is today one step towards being strengthened following the first reading of a Bill that requires Parliament to take action if a court says a statute undermines those rights. At present, a senior court can issue a ‘declaration of ...5 days ago
- Deep concern at Hong Kong national security legislationForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today reiterated the deep concern of the New Zealand Government following confirmation by China’s National People’s Congress of national security legislation relating to Hong Kong. “New Zealand shares the international community’s significant and long-standing stake in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand ...5 days ago
- Government invests in New Zealand’s cultural recoveryThousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and heritage organisations have been given much-needed support to recover from the impact of COVID-19, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern announced today. “The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic,” Jacinda ...5 days ago
- Better protection for New Zealand assets during COVID-19 crisisKey New Zealand assets will be better protected from being sold to overseas owners in a way contrary to the national interest, with the passage of the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Bill. The Bill, which passed its third reading in Parliament today, also cuts unnecessary red tape to help attract ...5 days ago
- Cleaning up our rivers and lakesSetting higher health standards at swimming spots Requiring urban waterways to be cleaned up and new protections for urban streams Putting controls on higher-risk farm practices such as winter grazing and feed lots Setting stricter controls on nitrogen pollution and new bottom lines on other measures of waterway health Ensuring ...5 days ago
- Record year for diversity on Govt boardsThe Government is on the verge of reaching its target of state sector boards and committees made up of at least 50 percent women, says Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter and Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa. For the first time, the Government stocktake measures the number of Māori, ...6 days ago
- New appointments to the Commerce CommissionThe Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister and Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, has today announced the appointment of Tristan Gilbertson as the new Telecommunications Commissioner and member of the Commerce Commission. “Mr Gilbertson has considerable experience in the telecommunications industry and a strong reputation amongst his peers,” ...6 days ago
- Historic pay equity settlement imminent for teacher aidesThe Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do. “Teacher aides are frontline ...6 days ago
- Govt delivers security for construction subcontractorsSubcontractors will have greater certainty, more cashflow support and job security with new changes to retention payments under the Construction Contracts Act says Minister for Building and Construction, Jenny Salesa. A recent review of the retentions money regime showed that most of the building and construction sector is complying with ...6 days ago
- New Zealand and Singapore reaffirm tiesPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have marked the first anniversary of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership with a virtual Leaders’ Meeting today. The Enhanced Partnership, signed on 17 May 2019, provides the framework for cooperation across the four main areas of trade, defence and ...6 days ago
- JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE ON THE FIRST AN...On 17 May 2019, New Zealand and Singapore established an Enhanced Partnership to elevate our relations. The Enhanced Partnership – based on the four pillars of trade and economics, security and defence, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links – has seen the long-standing relationship between our countries strengthen over the ...6 days ago
- Government investment supports the acquisition of new Interislander ferriesState-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters has welcomed KiwiRail’s announcement that it is seeking a preferred shipyard to build two new rail-enabled ferries for the Cook Strait crossing. “This Government is committed to restoring rail to its rightful place in New Zealand. Bigger, better ships, with new technology are yet another ...6 days ago
- Better protection for seabirdsBetter protection for seabirds is being put in place with a new National Plan of Action to reduce fishing-related captures, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 outlines our commitment to reduce fishing-related captures and associated seabird ...7 days ago
- Milestone in cash flow support to SMEsAlmost $1 billion in interest-free loans for small businesses More than 55,000 businesses have applied; 95% approved Average loan approx. $17,300 90% of applications from firms with ten or fewer staff A wide cross-section of businesses have applied, the most common are the construction industry, accommodation providers, professional firms, and ...7 days ago
- Government protects kids as smoking in cars ban becomes lawThousands of children will have healthier lungs after the Government’s ban on smoking in cars with kids becomes law, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. This comes after the third reading of Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill earlier today. “This law makes it ...1 week ago
- Parliament returns to a safe normalThe special Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) has successfully concluded its role, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said today. The committee was set up on 25 March by the agreement of Parliament to scrutinise the Government and its actions while keeping people safe during levels 4 and 3 of lockdown. ...1 week ago
- Foreign Minister makes four diplomatic appointmentsForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced four diplomatic appointments: New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium, High Commissioners to Nauru and Niue, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “As the world seeks to manage and then recover from COVID-19, our diplomatic and trade networks are more important than ever,” Mr Peters said. “The ...1 week ago
- New Bill to counter violent extremism onlineNew Zealanders will be better protected from online harm through a Bill introduced to Parliament today, says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “The internet brings many benefits to society but can also be used as a weapon to spread harmful and illegal content and that is what this legislation targets,” ...1 week ago
- Mycoplasma bovis eradication reaches two year milestone in good shapeNew Zealand’s world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit ...1 week ago
- New payment to support Kiwis through COVIDFurther support for New Zealanders affected by 1-in-100 year global economic shock 12-week payment will support people searching for new work or retraining Work programme on employment insurance to support workers and businesses The Government today announced a new temporary payment to support New Zealanders who lose their jobs due ...1 week ago
- PGF reset helps regional economiesThe Provincial Growth Fund will play a vital role in New Zealand’s post-COVID-19 recovery by creating jobs in shorter timeframes through at least $600 million being refocused on projects with more immediate economic benefits, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The funding is comprised of repurposed Provincial Growth ...1 week ago
- Government exempts some home improvements from costly consentsGovernment exempts some home improvements from costly consents Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker ...1 week ago
- Concern at introduction of national security legislation for Hong KongForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand Government has reacted with concern at the introduction of legislation in China’s National People’s Congress relating to national security in Hong Kong. “We have a strong interest in seeing confidence maintained in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle under which Hong ...1 week ago
- Samoa Language Week theme is perfect for the post-COVID-19 journeyThe Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, says the theme for the 2020 Samoa Language Week is a perfect fit for helping our Pacific communities cope with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, and to prepare now for the journey ahead as New Zealand focuses on recovery plans and rebuilding New ...2 weeks ago
- Adult kakī/black stilt numbers soarA nearly 40-year programme to protect one of New Zealand’s most critically endangered birds is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī/black stilt recently recorded living in the wild, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. “Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Todd Muller’s torrid start as National leader
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards The latest opinion poll is out, and it’s more bad news for the National Party, with Roy Morgan putting them on only 26.5% support, against Labour’s 56.5%. You can see the details here: Roy Morgan May opinion poll. Roy Morgan is regarded as less accurate than ...6 hours ago - Can you socially distance at a Black Lives Matter rally in Australia and New Zealand? How to protest...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Russo, Associate Professor, Director Cabrini Monash University Department of Nursing Research, Monash University The death of African-American man George Floyd at the hands of police has sparked protests across the United States and inspired many people to reflect on our own ...6 hours ago
- ‘I can’t breathe!’ Australia must look in the mirror to see our own deaths in custodySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney I can’t breathe, please! Let me up, please! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! These words are not the words of George Floyd or Eric Garner. They weren’t uttered on the ...6 hours ago
- Is your super money safe? Here’s how you can dodge cyber fraudSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roberto Musotto, Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre Postdoctoral Fellow, Edith Cowan University Alongside growing concerns over a possible resurgence of the coronavirus during winter, the pandemic is now creating even more victims as cybercriminals aim to capitalise on the economic upheaval. According ...6 hours ago
- Scott Morrison intervenes over Washington police assault of Australian TV crewSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has asked the Australian embassy to investigate the assault by police of an Australian Channel 7 news crew during the Washington demonstrations. The embassy, which is headed by ambassador Arthur Sinodinos, is to ...7 hours ago
- Women are drinking more during the pandemic, and it’s probably got a lot to do with their mental h...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shalini Arunogiri, Addiction Psychiatrist, Senior Lecturer, Monash University COVID-19 has significantly affected our collective mental health. For many people, social disconnection, financial strain, increased obligations in the home and ongoing uncertainty have created distress – and with it, a need for new ...8 hours ago
- RSF condemns attacks on US protest journalists fueled by Trump slursAfter the arrest on live television of a CNN crew covering protests in Minneapolis on May 29, tensions erupted further against media reporting on protests taking place in at least 30 cities across the US, which were continuing as of May 31. The protests were triggered by the killing by Minneapolis ...8 hours ago
- Media companies can now be held responsible for your dodgy comments on social mediaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia Part of growing up is learning to take responsibility for the hurtful things you say. As a person who often says stupid things, I often need reminding. Defamation law reflects that lesson. ...8 hours ago
- PM Jacinda Ardern rejects Todd Muller claim government ‘fractured’ over level 1
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is pushing back at accusations from the opposition that the government is "completely fractured and entirely divergent" in its response to Covid-19. ...9 hours ago - Freshwater reforms to lead to massive emissions reductions
The Government's newly-announced freshwater reforms will lead to tens of millions of tonnes of emissions reductions. ...9 hours ago - Cap finally added to NZ’s cap-and-trade scheme
The decade-in-the-making strengthening of the ETS is finally upon us, but now questions are being raised over whether the scheme will actually make a difference, Marc Daalder reports The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), New Zealand's take on a cap-and-trade carbon market, will finally have the eponymous cap on the number ...9 hours ago - The next global health pandemic could easily erupt in your backyardSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Associate Professor James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University We know the virus that causes COVID-19 is linked to very similar viruses in bats, possibly passed to humans via an intermediate species such ...9 hours ago
- Could corporations control territory in space? Under new US rules, it might be possibleSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cait Storr, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Last weekend, NASA launched US astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time in a decade, in a rocket designed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Under President Donald Trump, the US ...10 hours ago
- Destruction of Juukan Gorge: we need to know the history of artefacts, but it is more important to k...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacinta Koolmatrie, Lecturer in Archaeology, Flinders University A day before Reconciliation Week and the day Australia was meant to be acknowledging and remembering the Stolen Generations, news came of something that seemed to put Australia back a few decades in their journey ...10 hours ago
- Move To Level 1 – With Confidence And Certainty
A move to Level 1 is important for businesses currently either still closed or running at less than optimum levels because of space restrictions. “With no new cases it is understandable that a sense of fear prevails that the businesses may end up going ...10 hours ago - Nothing stops the march of European integration
A proposed new fund marks the first step towards a different kind of European Union ...10 hours ago - Maori can’t be found on Muller’s front-bench list but they are getting priority treatment on a r...
Claims and counter-claims about racism have been triggered by two lists in the past week. Elective surgery was at issue with one list. Election prospects were at issue with the other. Let’s sharpen our scalpels and start with the surgery. Changes are being made in the Wellington region to a ...10 hours ago - Review: Netflix’s Space Force crashes and burns with a laughless first season
Greg Daniels (The Office US) and Steve Carell’s successful return to TV? If only. Sam Brooks reviews the abysmal first season of Netflix’s Space Force.It’s pretty much indisputable: The Office is one of the most beloved television shows of its generation, and perhaps one of the most beloved shows of ...11 hours ago - A dog and its human taste-test Aotearoa’s poshest canine cuisineWith the help of her faithful four-legged assistant, Jean Teng disregards commonsense and ‘only for pet consumption’ labelling to review dog food fit for a king (or at least a cavalier king charles spaniel).Three months ago, I was reviewing fine-dining restaurant The Grove. Today, I’m reviewing vacuum-sealed frozen dog pizza. ...12 hours ago
- Government reveals free trades training for next 2.5 yearsCourses and training in construction, agriculture and community work will be free for the next two-and-a-half years, Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins have announced. ...12 hours ago
- In pictures: The Black Lives Matter solidarity march, AucklandThousands of New Zealanders took to the streets on the Queen’s Birthday holiday yesterday to express solidarity with the US response to the killing of George Floyd. Here’s what went down. Despite it being announced with less than 24 hours’ notice, huge crowds gathered at Auckland’s Aotea Square on Queen’s Birthday ...12 hours ago
- Watch live: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives an updatePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern is giving an update on Covid-19 after today's Cabinet meeting. Watch the media conference here. ...13 hours ago
- NZ Black Lives Matter march distancing breaches ‘irresponsible’ – Police MinisterPolice Minister Stuart Nash is describing the weekend's Black Lives Matter protests as "irresponsible", but any prosecutions appear unlikely. ...13 hours ago
- Violent demonstrations in US show revulsion at police racism is widespread through the community
Is the US inching towards the horrifying race riots of the 1960s? Yes, but with a significant and important qualification. Back then, with real justification, it was African-Americans versus the white establishment represented by crude and unreconstructed police forces whose administrations had barely moved past the civil war era. For ...13 hours ago - Trump just threatened to deploy the US military against Americans. Is he serious?The US president has warned he could to send thousands of ‘heavily armed soldiers’ into the streets. Can he do that, and what will it mean if it happens?What’s all this then? Protests have been raging across the US for almost a week now, after the suffocation of Minneapolis man George ...13 hours ago
- Fury in US comes from long history of racism
The fury in US cities is rooted in a long history of racist policing, violence and inequality The protests that have engulfed American cities in the past week are rooted in decades of frustrations. Racist policing, legal and extra-legal discrimination, exclusion from the major avenues of wealth creation and vicious stereotyping ...14 hours ago - Muller should examine the first few names on the Honours list if he needs further lessons in the pla...Showing National’s new leader what his front bench should look like, if only he shared Labour’s ideas of a politically agreeable gender and ethnic mix, wouldn’t have been the objective of the Queen’s Birthday honours list. The list would have been prepared long before the place of Maori in Todd ...14 hours ago
- A review of Fake Baby, a satire stuffed with tragedies and small kindnessesAmy McDaid works as a neonatal intensive care nurse at Starship. Her first novel is about loss that erodes and the kindness that – eventually – comes after. The accumulation of daily disappointments is a tragedy in itself; a series of pleasures consistently denied, joy deferred and kindness deflected. All the ...15 hours ago
- First CouncilMARK™ Case Study Finds Excellence In Humble Local AuthorityHow does a small provincial and rural council, understated in demeanour, conservative in many areas including financial risk and investment, and humble in its dealings internally and externally, deliver industry best practice in key areas of leadership ...15 hours ago
- Labour switches up strategy for Māori seatsLabour's Māori electorate MPs are returning to the party list this year after a bold play in 2017 saw them sweep all seven seats. ...16 hours ago
- Thousands march in NZ solidarity rallies with Black Lives MatterBy RNZ News Thousands of New Zealanders have joined large numbers of Americans in protesting following the killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd. In Auckland, Aotea Square overflowed yesterday with people before thousands marched down Queen Street towards the US consulate building. Organisers said the aim was simple,”we want to ...16 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – June 2 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content National Party Tim Watkin (Pundit): Todd Muller: National’s new Dad who forgot to build the cot Andrea Vance (Stuff): Could middle-of-the road Muller come out a winner? Martin ...17 hours ago
- Elder Abuse Hits Close To HomeAge Concern New Zealand is raising awareness of elder abuse during Elder Abuse Awareness Week from 15-22 June 2020 which begins on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2020. FACT: 81% of alleged abusers are family members. "We need to face the ...17 hours ago
- Leadership Needed On Climate Change ConsensusKiwis need the same kind of unified, non-partisan leadership for climate change that we achieved dealing the pandemic, says Aotearoa Climate Emergency (ACE) network. “Zero new cases today is excellent,” says Phil Saxby. “We need the same kind ...17 hours ago
- Labour Selects Nursing Leader For East Coast BaysMonina Hernandez Monina Hernandez has been selected to contest East Coast Bays for the Labour Party in the 2020 general election. “I am an infection control nurse specialist and have been an advocate for the general public and health workers during ...18 hours ago
- How New Zealand learned to stop worrying and love government debtDebt has been a bad word in Wellington for decades. All of a sudden the government is planning to spend billions of dollars we don’t have because of Covid-19. Justin Giovannetti on the new appetite for debt, and how it compares with the rest of the world.New Zealand is about ...18 hours ago
- Cabinet to consider alert level 1 move on 8 JunePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Cabinet will consider moving to alert level 1 on 8 June. ...18 hours ago
- SpaceX’s historic launch gives Australia’s booming space industry more room to flySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Steer, Lecturer, ANU Center for International and Public Law; Mission Specialist, ANU Institute for Space, Australian National University At the weekend, Elon Musk’s commercial giant SpaceX launched two NASA astronauts in a spacecraft named Crew Dragon which, from the inside, looked ...19 hours ago
- How Julia Gillard forever changed Australian politics – especially for womenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Blair Williams, Political Scientist, Australian National University The Conversation is running a series of pieces on key figures in Australian political history, examining how they changed the country and political debate. When Julia Gillard was sworn into office as Australia’s first female ...19 hours ago
- The fury in US cities is rooted in a long history of racist policing, violence and inequalitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Deakin University The protests that have engulfed American cities in the past week are rooted in decades of frustrations. Racist policing, legal and extra-legal discrimination, exclusion from the major avenues of wealth creation and vicious stereotyping have long ...19 hours ago
- As coronavirus restrictions ease, here’s how you can navigate public transport as safely as possib...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, La Trobe University As coronavirus restrictions continue to ease, one of the key challenges we face is how to deal with people moving around a lot more. In particular, as more of us start to head back to ...19 hours ago
- The Leadbeater’s possum finally had its day in court. It may change the future of logging in Austr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Dehm, Lecturer, La Trobe University The Federal Court last week ruled that VicForests – a timber company owned by the Victorian government – breached environmental laws when they razed the habitat of the critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum and the vulnerable greater ...19 hours ago
- Life in lockdown has shown us our houses need to work harder for usSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Tucker, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, University of Newcastle As we’ve been living more closely with families and house mates through COVID-19, the more intensive ways we’ve used our houses has perhaps exposed some of their shortcomings. Households have had relative freedom ...19 hours ago
- Why Does The Prime Minister Refuse To Be Accountable?The Prime Minister made a commitment after the 2017 election that New Zealand would have the most accountable and transparent government we have ever seen. However this Labour led government has proven to be one of the most unaccountable and nontransparent ...19 hours ago
- The Bulletin: US police violence and New Zealand protestsGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Thousands of NZers join solidarity protests, increasing questions about alert level move, and Muller pushes hiring bonus policy.Protests have taken place in New Zealand cities in solidarity with the Black Lives matter movement in the US. All up thousands of people ...19 hours ago
- Live updates, June 2: Pressure grows over alert level one timing, mass protest in AucklandFor all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to donations from Spinoff Members. ...20 hours ago
- Business Wrap: Infratil data centres humming
Infratil holds its dividend and forecasts a 30 percent rise in earnings from its fast-growing Canberra-based data centres stake ...20 hours ago - Winston Peters Peters: If protests condoned ‘why are we not at level 1?’Cabinet meets today and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says alert level 2 restrictions have to be discussed. ...20 hours ago
- The missing Paralympian and her medal muddle
The search for our missing Paralympians has unearthed gold - the fascinating story of a Kiwi woman who won silver but came home with bronze. There is nothing straightforward in the life of Heneti Morgan - the Paralympian who was lost, but now found. From a roller skating girl on the ...21 hours ago - Climate risk reporting set to ramp up
The Government is looking to expand a proposal that would require some companies to disclose the risks climate change poses to their business. ...21 hours ago - A word from Kevin, 86, on not having died yet
"Old age," writes Kevin Ireland, 86, ahead of tonight's launch of his latest collection of poems, "is a bastard." Some people set about getting old as another goal to achieve, yet another badge to wear on their hats, but for most of the people I know lasting the distance is ...21 hours ago - Rehabilitated conservation land mine a ‘moonscape’
How rehabilitated does conservation land have to be before a mining company gets its bond back from the Department of Conservation? Farah Hancock reports on one site that has conservationists concerned. A mine on conservation land on the West Coast conditionally signed off as rehabilitated has been described as a desolate ...21 hours ago - Building it up just to tear it down
For a generation rebuilding after war and the Great Depression, modernist architects offered a utopian vision for a new and exciting way of living. So why are we now demolishing their buildings? And will what we build to replace them actually be any better? Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s self-professed favourite ...21 hours ago - Post-Covid graduates must challenge experts
A post-Covid-19 New Zealand needs university courses that produce graduates empowered to question the overconfident ethical pronouncements of experts everywhere, writes Nicholas Agar My one prediction about the post Covid-19 world is that we will see a rush of people claiming to have predicted this pandemic. If only we’d listened to ...21 hours ago - The NBR owner just sold his mansion to live in a motorhomeTodd Scott made millions as a sales genius, and bought New Zealand’s best-known business publication. Then he lost his house. Duncan Greive profiles the country’s most enigmatic owner, and hears some blunt criticisms from the old friend he bought the paper off, Barry Colman.When Sinead Boucher bought Stuff for $1 ...21 hours ago
- Covid-19 checkpoints show the way for the role of iwi in the recoveryThe commitment and coordination demonstrated can inspire us towards a true Te Tiriti partnership, reinforced by human rights, write Meng Foon, the race relations commissioner, and Paul Hunt, the chief human rights commissioner.As we all get used to life at Covid-19 alert level two, we’ve been thinking about the success ...21 hours ago
- Inside Transmission Gully’s PPP mess
Transmission Gully may not be completed for another two years as it redesigns the road’s surface and NZTA and the PPP building it are stuck in a legal standoff. ...21 hours ago - Our dying coastal waters
Efforts to protect our coastal waters from further degradation are piecemeal, slow and amount to a drop in an ocean of problems. How do we bring life back to the sea? The health of our coastal waters is on the rocks – can marine parks save it, or is it ...21 hours ago - In remembering Christo, we remember what art once wasSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Geczy, Senior Lecture, Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney In 1995, after the fall of the Wall, Berlin had started to be rebuilt, but was still in a state of disrepair. There, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, two of the world’s ...1 day ago
- Money for social housing, not home buyers grants, is the key to construction stimulusSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Coates, Program Director, Household Finances, Grattan Institute There’s no doubt Australia’s construction industry is facing tough times. COVID-19 has caused migration to slow to a trickle. Some 2.6 million Australians have either lost their jobs or had their hours cut in ...1 day ago
- Escape from Pretoria review: a film of anti-apartheid nostalgia for apartheidSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Review: Escape from Pretoria, directed by Francis Annan There is something undeniably appealing about prison escape films. Who doesn’t want to watch a bunch of underdogs band together and escape ...1 day ago
- Brunner ZIP 1080 Drop Exposes Ministers Lack Of Understanding...1 day ago
- After Aotea Square, We Must Have Level 1 Tomorrow....1 day ago
- The coronavirus crisis shows why New Zealand urgently needs a commissioner for older peopleSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Breen, Professor of Law, University of Waikato New Zealand is often described as a great place to grow up. We must also ask ourselves whether it is a great place to grow old. The question becomes increasingly urgent as the impact ...1 day ago
- A new trough provides succour only for groups supporting women; another (by worsening an imbalance!)...The government has filled a brand-new trough for redistributing our money to people it regards as worthy. Worthiness – of course – increasingly is being defined by Beehive social engineers by gender and race when it comes to sorting out beneficiaries. The new trough and its $1 million swill (but ...1 day ago
- What Australian birds can teach us about choosing a partner and making it lastSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gisela Kaplan, Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England Love, sex and mate choice are topics that never go out of fashion among humans or, surprisingly, among some Australian birds. For these species, choosing the right partner is a driver ...1 day ago
- Pregnant in a pandemic? If you’re stressed, there’s helpSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Monique Robinson, NHMRC Early Career Fellow, Telethon Kids Institute If you’re pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be feeling a unique type of stress. You might be uncertain about how an infection could affect your unborn baby. That’s over and above ...1 day ago
- Black Lives Matter March For SolidarityBlack Lives Matters Solidarity Auckland Group acknowledge the legitimate grievances that the black community have in the US and stand in solidarity with them. We will stand in Solidarity to demonstrate that #BlackLivesMatter, Monday 1 June at 3.30pm ...2 days ago
- Māori Party Acknowledge Queen’s Birthday Honour Recipients...2 days ago
- Queen’s Honours For Whānau Ora Champions...2 days ago
- Riot or resistance? How media frames unrest in Minneapolis will shape public’s view of protestANALYSIS: By Danielle K. Kilgo of Indiana University A teenager held her phone steady enough to capture the final moments of George Perry Floyd’s life as he apparently suffocated under the weight of a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck. The video went viral. What happened next has played ...2 days ago
- Fire And Emergency Honours’ Recipients Congratulated...2 days ago
- Defence Force Officer Receives Distinguished Service Decoration...2 days ago
- Building equity into the infrastructure-led recovery for Māori and PasifikaThis is a huge opportunity – and a wero – to demonstrate commitments to diversity, write sector engineers Troy Brockbank, Elle Archer, Sifa Pole and Sina Cotter Tait.Aotearoa is awash with discussion on how we might re-imagine our post-Covid future; what could and should our economy and society look like? ...2 days ago
- The tailwind of privilegeNo, there is nothing ‘wrong’ with being white. But it comes with unearned privilege which makes our progress through the world easier. It is a tailwind through every storm, writes Mary Breheny, associate professor of health sciences at Massey University.I have never thought of myself as coordinated or physically adept, ...2 days ago
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