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Who are these angry Aucklanders?
Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, October 3rd, 2021 - 243 comments
This weekend there have been two attempts to undermine the current Auckland Covid lock down. Brian Tamaki’s was not the most ludicrous.
Lockdown decision – which way will it go?
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, September 20th, 2021 - 171 comments
Cabinet meets today to decide on the future of the lockdown levels in Aotearoa and more specifically on Tamaki Makaurau. Which way will it go?
COVID, We Need To Talk About Class
Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, September 14th, 2021 - 27 comments
We’ve never seen a nationwide disease illustrate class and deprivation like the future of the country depended on it. Not like this. This should change us.
Delta Covid – the battle so far
Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, September 14th, 2021 - 65 comments
As Tamaki Makaurau enters week four of lockdown things are at an interesting stage.
Fisheries reform is under way
Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, June 23rd, 2021 - 10 comments
David Parker has shown a deft handling of the Oceans and Fisheries portfolio and in the past week has announced the accelerated roll out of cameras on fishing boats and a suite of actions designed to address the failing health of the Waitemata Harbour.
Public transport, to complement cycling?
Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, June 17th, 2021 - 51 comments
Jenny looks at extending public transport to include cyclists
Fear and loathing in cycleland
Written By: - Date published: 3:52 pm, June 15th, 2021 - 32 comments
I am pleased the right have moved on from overtly racist attacks on minorities. But I am bemused by the current level of vitriol that has been thrown at a group who apart from wearing lycra is doing nothing wrong.
Auckland’s Northern Pathway
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 11th, 2021 - 144 comments
Last week’s announcement of major changes to the New Zealand Upgrade program in my view was welcome.
National’s housing policy
Written By: - Date published: 12:06 pm, April 16th, 2021 - 30 comments
National has released its housing policy and the proposals are predictable. Free up more land, loosen up the RMA, and require Councils in high growth areas to urgently review their district plans.
Well done John Edgar
Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, April 10th, 2021 - 11 comments
I’d thought I’d take a moment to celebrate the life of John Edgar, who passed away a few days ago.
Ports of Auckland – time for change
Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, March 31st, 2021 - 5 comments
Auckland Council has released the Ports of Auckland Independent Health and Safety Report and the recommendations are damning.
Americas Cup is New Zealand’s cup?
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, March 18th, 2021 - 80 comments
It appears that the Government and Auckland Council have spent $250 million on an event the organisers of which are now making plans to go overseas in pursuit of the big corporate dollars.
You have 30 min to get your business in order!
Written By: - Date published: 12:50 pm, March 12th, 2021 - 77 comments
Government should have announced the decision for Auckland to go down to Level 1 first thing this morning.
Life Without Mainstreet
Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, February 15th, 2021 - 36 comments
Are our main cities becoming too big for a single civic promenade, and is the multicellular world of mall dominance just the way things are developing?
Ending discrimination against Māori wards
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, February 14th, 2021 - 27 comments
The Government has introduced under urgency a bill that will change current law that allows for discriminatory attacks on the creation of Māori Wards.
No Right Turn: Climate Change: Legal actions
Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, February 10th, 2021 - 7 comments
Lawyers for Climate Action is threatening to take Auckland Council to court if they reneg on their climate action promises in the upcoming consultation on the Regional Land Transport Plan.
Ihumātao deal imminent
Written By: - Date published: 7:38 am, December 14th, 2020 - 25 comments
Radio New Zealand is reporting that a deal on Ihumātao is imminent and that Cabinet is expected to sign off on the deal today.
The Mayor’s budget proposal and Auckland’s climate change response
Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, December 11th, 2020 - 10 comments
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff’s recently released budget proposal for Auckland Council contains some welcome proposals to address climate change. But of itself this budget will not go near to achieving Auckland’s goal of halving emissions by 50% in 2030.
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.
Will our cities revive?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, September 5th, 2020 - 43 comments
Our cities are the nation’s lungs; they recycle and accelerate external goods and transform them internally into faster circulation. Auckland and Christchurch have had tens of billions invested in them over successive local and central governments, but has this improved our strength or wealth as a country at all?
The Herald’s idea of balance
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, September 2nd, 2020 - 43 comments
The Herald yesterday posted a story suggesting that Aucklanders were split over the second lockdown when the actual reality was the vast majority were supportive. And a subsequent article pointing out how positive the result was does not clear the perception of negative bias.
Labour’s Hefty Carrot-And-Stick For Water
Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, August 31st, 2020 - 16 comments
New Zealand’s local and regional councils have been given until August 31 2020 to sign up to a ginormous fund that would help them improve their water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. The implications for them doing this are significant and could see the end of Council control of the supply of water.
What Now Phil Goff?
Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, August 17th, 2020 - 36 comments
The Chief Executive of Watercare Raveen Jaduram has resigned. With Auckland Council’s recent Council Controlled Organisation review having been concluded and the recommendations released is this the opportunity to require meaningful change of Watercare?
The light rail delay is good
Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, June 25th, 2020 - 16 comments
There is a solid silver lining to the delay in the Auckland light rail to the airport project.
How Covid-19 is smashing councils
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, April 26th, 2020 - 69 comments
Just as most industries in New Zealand are firing thousands of people to cut costs, local government is getting ready to do the same.
It’s time for Auckland to work
Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, March 12th, 2020 - 12 comments
2020 will now be the year that New Zealand will now rely on Auckland to get its shit together.
Postal voting – essentially dead
Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, February 25th, 2020 - 62 comments
Stuff has an article up about last years local body elections in Auckland. As usual the interesting parts are at the end. But I have to reiterate – online voting isn’t the answer. As a programmer, I’d just call it stupid and dangerous.
Pure clear water
Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, February 21st, 2020 - 44 comments
It’s probably time to notice why Jones’ Provincial Growth Fund had to step in and provide several million of funding to patch up the water supply emergency in Northland.
The Government’s $12 billion infrastructure package
Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, January 29th, 2020 - 96 comments
The details of the Government’s $12 billion infrastructure announcement have been released.
Common-wealth Government
Written By: - Date published: 8:14 am, November 18th, 2019 - 16 comments
Advantage is testing an idea out. What will a common accountability framework for the government look like?
Brittle cities
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 29th, 2019 - 10 comments
It is pretty hard to miss a variety of cities around the world going nuts for apparently minor offences.
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #42, 2021
105 articles by 463 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects A simple model of blocking action over a hemisphere Kurgansky Theoretical and Applied Climatology 10.1007/s00704-021-03782-y Mechanisms of European Summer Drying under Climate Change Tuel & Eltahir Alizadeh Journal of Climate Open Access 10.1175/jcli-d-20-0968.1 Observations of climate ...20 hours ago - Vaccinating the Underclass
If we want to minimise the impact of the Covid virus we are going to have to think about social class.New Zealanders do not easily talk about social class: that there are groups in the community who connect together, live different lives and have standards of living very different from ...20 hours ago - Brian Tamaki – Arsehole of the Week
You may find it somewhat amusing to see Brian Tamaki arrested again for organising another Destiny Church protest. After all, his largely nonsensical argument against the Government’s Covid restrictions is one thing, but those tattooed on eyebrows are really something else.However it’s no laughing matter. The self-proclaimed messiah is in ...23 hours ago - Jacinda’s Choice: “Freedom Day”, Or Failure.
Lining Up With The Right: Though Jacinda Ardern hasn’t endorsed the John Key-Act-National preference for 1 December as Auckland's “Freedom Day” in as many words, that is clearly the timeline she is working to. The Prime Minister of New Zealand cannot assure 1.6 million Aucklanders that they will be free ...24 hours ago - Rendering Unto Caesar: In Labour, “L’état c’est Jacinda”.1 day ago
- Gordon Campbell on why New Zealand needs to change its Defence habits
In a flashback to the military displays of days gone by, one of our frigates recently joined a Carrier Strike show of force in the South China Sea, en route to a joint military exercise in Singapore with our traditional allies, called BersamaGold21. Reportedly, Anna Powles, from the Centre of ...1 day ago - Is Funding Euthanasia a Health Priority for Aotearoa New Zealand: Part 2?
Dr Ben Gray* Providing equity of access for assisted dying without equity of access to palliative care is to completely undermine the goals of the End of Life Choice Act. The choice is distorted towards aid in dying and away from palliative care. In this blog I will describe the ...1 day ago - NZ Politics Daily: 22 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Peder Gustafsson, Asia Correspondent, Swedish National Radio “As a Asia-Pacific Correspondent for the Swedish National Radio The newsletter from NZ Politics Daily is one of my best sources for getting information and keeping up with what’s happening in New Zealand. I appreciate the variety and breadth of the information ...1 day ago - The Power Of “No”.Irrational Resistance: With the Delta variant of Covid-19 raging through their communities and pumping up the number of community cases to new and frightening levels, it’s beginning to dawn on the ill-treated and excluded that, for once in their lives, they have the power. If the System is so desperate ...1 day ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Geopolitics behind NZ-UK free trade dealInternational analyst Geoffrey Miller explains why the free trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom is not just about building back butter The new Aukus defence pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States will go down as one of this year’s biggest foreign policy ...1 day ago
- Barbados elects its first president
Barbados will officially become a republic at the end of November, and today they took an important step along the way: electing their first president. To make things easy on themselves in the transition, they simply elected their current Governor-General to the role: Governor General Dame Sandra Mason has ...2 days ago - Labour’s sneaky copyright dealThe big news this morning is that the government has reached an in-principle FTA with the UK, with the usual benefits for farmers (and therefore incentives to increase emissions). The wisdom of making an agreement with a government which literally admitted last week that it makes agreements in bad faith ...2 days ago
- Moving To The Right.2 days ago
- DrawnA ballot for five Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Education and Training (Freedom of Expression) Amendment Bill (James McDowall) Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Bill (Deborah Russell) Financial Professional Services Trading Advice Transparency Bill ...2 days ago
- National's failed firearms bill cost over $390,0002 days ago
- Waitemata Burning: Narrowing Down the Auckland Outbreak
So the Auckland Coronavirus Outbreak has been steadily increasing in case numbers. Not exploding, Melbourne-style, but definitely increasing. The question then becomes… how is this happening, and where is this happening? Well, I’m pleased you asked that. Because I do think we can mine the available data for clues. ...2 days ago - Wishful Thinkng
It should come as no surprise that the government’s critics, on the pandemic and other subjects, are from the political right. For many of them, the touchstone is purely political – if the policy is right-wing, it is “right”, and, if not, then it is by definition wrong. In no ...2 days ago - The critically endangered Māui dolphin is a conservation priority – we shouldn’t let uncertaint...Rochelle Constantine, University of Auckland and Wendi Roe, Massey University The world’s rarest marine dolphin, Māui, is found only along the west coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Based on our surveys over the last two summers, during which we collected small tissue samples for DNA ...2 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 21 October 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Mike Reid, Principal Policy Advisor, Local Government New Zealand “NZ Politics Daily is essential early morning reading in our organisation like LGNZ. To effectively represent our members we need to understand and respond to changes in the political landscape, particularly policy and political changes at the national ...2 days ago
- Fluoridation and child IQ – the problem of counting chickens before they hatch
Image credit: Cherry-picking data – don’t get fooled by misleading statistics It’s easy to find studies that confirm ones own bias on health issues. But cherry-picking such studies is unscientific because one could equally cite studies showing the exact opposite. The problem is ...2 days ago- Kids’ quality of life will depend on today’s climate choices
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections It’s the moral quandary of human-caused climate change: People least responsible for the problem will bear the brunt of its harmful consequences. As a substantial body of scientific research has established, this reality is true of developing countries. They generally are located in already-hot regions ...3 days ago- Purpose-built MIQ: National’s sums don’t add up
. . Parts of National’s document – to open up Aotearoa New Zealand “to the world” – has been recycled from various policy and media releases last year and more recently. Despite demanding that the country open up to the outside world and end lockdowns by 1 December, and ...3 days ago- Member’s Day
Today is a Member's Day, and there's an interesting bill up for debate for once. But they'll have to get through a lot of boring stuff first. First up is Simeon Brown's Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill (No 2), which should go quickly as it has been overtaken by ...3 days ago- Justice for Brazil?
Brazil has been one of the countries worst-hit by the pandemic, with over 21 million confirmed cases and 600,000 deaths. Much of the blame for that can be squarely laid at the feet of its president, Jair Bolsonaro, who put the economy first and let the disease spread unchecked, while ...3 days ago- Freedom Day is coming!
Could 1 December be Freedom Day? ...3 days ago- Gordon Campbell on juggling Covid, and France’s Trump-like populist
It is the age-old Covid problem. How to balance the needs for firms (and schools) to re-open against the need to protect public health. In the past, the balance has been struck by insisting that the best public health outcomes also deliver the best economic (and educational) outcomes. While that ...3 days ago- Ben Santer on ‘separating’ and his ‘small part’ in understanding of climate science
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Separating is hard. I’ve spent most of my scientific career trying to separate observed climate records into human-caused signals and the background noise of natural variability. It’s been challenging and fascinating work. Challenging because so many different human and natural factors affect Earth’s ...3 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 20 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Joe Atkinson, Political Scientist, University of Auckland: “NZPD is an indispensable source for political junkies like me. It sorts the wheat out from the media chaff and saves a lot of time.” Anyone can sign up to NZPD for free at: https://democracyproject.nz/nz-politics-daily/ Today’s content Housing Zane Small (Newshub): How ...3 days ago- Many of New Zealand’s most popular websites use ‘dark patterns’ to manipulate users – is it ...
Cherie Lacey, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Alex Beattie, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington More than half of the most popular New Zealand websites may be unfairly manipulating visitors, according to our latest research into the use of “dark patterns” in sites ...4 days ago- The Picnic Period: A sign of our Covid times
Auckland. For a long been it’s been known to Maori as Tamaki Makaurau, a place of ‘many lovers’. In the past fortnight, though, Auckland has shaken out the rug and grabbed a drink to become Tamaki Pikiniki, a place of many picnics. The humble picnic is now, in many ways, a ...4 days ago- Are Covid vaccines becoming less effective?
A critical debate about Covid-19 vaccines is when does protection wane, by how much, why, and what does this mean for controlling the pandemic and the impacts of infections. Depending on the studies or headlines you read it can be confusing. Some report declining vaccine effectiveness, and others don’t. Some ...4 days ago- Widespread collapse of West Antarctica’s ice sheet is avoidable if we keep global warming below 2...
Dan Lowry, GNS Science; Mario Krapp, GNS Science, and Nick Golledge, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Rising seas are already making storm damage more costly, adding to the impact on about 700 million people who live in low-lying coastal areas at risk of flooding. Scientists expect ...4 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 19 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative “There is a dearth of quality journalism in New Zealand, and so I am grateful to NZ Politics Daily for sifting through our media to discover the gems of reporting and opinion editorials. It is a valuable contribution to ...4 days ago- Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, 1961–2021
This is a re-post from World Weather Attribution With deepest sadness we must share with you the news that Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, dear friend, amazing scientist, co-founder and co-leader of World Weather Attribution, husband and father, and a wonderful human, passed away on 12 October 2021. Geert ...4 days ago- The Entrust election
Auckland is holding elections for EnTrust, its local electricity trust. Entrust is important - it owns electricity and gas-supplier Vector, and so the decisions it makes around energy infrastructure could make a significant difference to greenhouse gas emissions. But the elections have traditionally been ignored, so its run by CitRats ...5 days ago- Argentina returns the favour
In the early 2000s, Argentinian victims of the Dirty War, denied justice due to a local amnesty, sought justice in Spanish courts, who obligingly convicted agents of that country's dictatorship of crimes against humanity under Spain's "universal jurisdiction" law. But Argentina wasn't the only country with a repressive dictatorship which ...5 days ago- Climate Change: A good move, but not enough
The government has announced that it will quadruple climate aid to developing nations, from $300 million to $1.3 billion over four years. This is good: "climate finance" - aid to developing nations to decarbonise and offset the damage caused by rich-country emissions - is going to be a flashpoint at ...5 days ago- Too Much Say, Not Enough Do.
When The Green Party Co-Leader Speaks, Does He Make Any Sound? James Shaw must know that neither New Zealanders, nor the rest of humanity, will ever take the urgent and transformative action that Science now deems necessary to stave-off climate catastrophe.POOR JAMES SHAW: He’s the man this government sends out ...5 days ago- Gordon Campbell on the perils of declaring premature victory
Sure enough, Saturday’s Vaxathon was a barrel of fun and a throwback not merely to the Telethons of the past. It also revived memories of those distant days of early 2020, when we were all carefully wiping down our groceries, not touching our faces, washing our hands for 20 seconds ...5 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 18 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Kim Gillespie, Editor NZME Newspapers Lower North Island & Communities “I find the daily email great for giving me an overview of each morning’s big issues across the media landscape, and really appreciate the huge amount of work that must go in to compiling it each day.” Anyone ...5 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Celebrating and critiquing 25 years of MMP
Over the last week, MMP has been in the spotlight, given that it’s now been 25 years since the first general election was held under this proportional representation system. This has produced some important commentary and storytelling about the introduction of MMP and about the various pros and cons of ...5 days ago- COVID-19 in Aotearoa: what does public health do now?
Dr Belinda Loring, Dr Ruth Cunningham, Dr Polly Atatoa Carr* Public health activities have collectively made an incredible contribution to minimising the impact of COVID-19 in Aotearoa. But the work for public health is not over. As the situation in Auckland heralds a transition point in our approach to the ...5 days ago- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #42
Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, October 10, 2021 through Sat, October 16, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: ‘This is a story that needs to be told’: BBC film tackles Climategate scandal, Why trust science?, ...6 days ago- Is injection technique contributing to the risk of post vaccine myocarditis?
Recent misleading media headlines about vaccines being administered incorrectly in the absence of evidence do little to help public confidence in vaccines. Spoiler alert, vaccines are not being administered incorrectly. The topic of this blog is based on what could be an important scientific question – is one of the ...6 days ago- A Māori health expert reports from the Super Saturday frontlines
Rawiri Jansen, National Hauora Coalition I write this as I charge my car, getting ready to head home at the end of a pretty good Super Saturday. It started with coffee and checking the news feeds as any good day should. Between 9 and 10 am as I drove to ...6 days ago- Weddings and Leopards
Could it be that the Herald is beginning to twig that an unremitting hostility to the government does not go down well with all its readers? The evidence for that is that, in today’s issue, two contributors (Bill Ralston and Steven Joyce) who usually enjoy sticking the knife in, take ...6 days ago- The Chronicles of Kregsmal and Krunch: Volume I
As noted previously, my weekly DND campaign with Annalax and Gertrude has been put on ice. I expect it to return eventually, but for now it is very much on hiatus. The remainder of the group have decided to run an entirely new campaign in the meantime. This ...7 days ago- Super Saturday recap: Patrick Gower doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do
It was Aotearoa’s first national day of action in over ten years, the first since 2010, when Prime Minister John Key tried to inspire us to clean up our nation’s berms. It didn’t work. Today, New Zealand’s berms are worse than ever. But history is not destiny, and other cliches. ...7 days ago- COVID-19 Worried about getting your vaccine or want a simple explanation?
Worried about getting your vaccine? Let me tell you a secret. No-one likes getting a vaccine. People do it because they know they’re better off to. Let me tell you another secret, a weird one: the vaccine doesn’t really “do” anything. Confusing? Let me explain… Vaccines are a face at ...1 week ago- Delta puts workers’ power under the spotlight
by Don Franks Foremost fighting the Delta virus are workers, especially in health, distribution, service and education sectors. Unionised members of these groups are centrally represented by the New Zealand Council of trade unions ( NZCTU). Political journalist Richard Harman recently noted:“Businesses are caught in a legal tangle if they ...1 week ago- Faster transitions to clean energy are also cheaper
This is a re-post from the Citizens' Climate Lobby blog Several clean energy technologies like solar panels have become consistently cheaper year after year as the industries have benefited from learning, experience and economies of scale. Falling solar costs are described by “Swanson’s Law,” much like Moore’s Law described the rapid and consistent ...1 week ago- Abstraction and Reality in Economics
Sometimes high theory loses the human point of the exercise.One of the joys of teaching is you learn from your students. When fifty-odd years ago, I was at the University of Sussex, a student doing our first-year economics course, Jim, came to me, saying he was pulling out because it ...1 week ago- What Happened to the Team?
Last year, in the early stages of the pandemic, the Prime Minister’s “team of five million” performed well; team discipline was maintained and we all worked well together. This year, however, has been a different story; team discipline has weakened, and many people have on numerous occasions behaved badly and ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Another legal victory
Across the world climate change activists have been going to court, seeking to make their governments act to protect future generations. And hot on the heels of victories in the Netherlands and Germany, there's been another one in France: A French court has ordered the government to make up ...1 week ago- Invasion Of The (Covid) Body Snatchers.
1 week ago- Humans are driving animals and plants to the edge. But are we really heading into a mass extinction...
Michael Hannah, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It is now common to refer to the current biodiversity crisis as the sixth mass extinction. But is this true? Are we in the middle of an event on the same scale as the five ancient mass extinctions Earth ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily: 15 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Associate Professor Grant Duncan, Massey University, Auckland “The NZ Politics Daily email is very helpful in giving me a quick overview of current events and opinion. It allows me to pick out important or informative columns that I may otherwise have missed. I recommend NZ Politics Daily to anyone ...1 week ago- Missing From The Anti-Covid Action.
The Invisible Man: Where has the NZ Council of Trade Unions been during the Covid-19 Pandemic? Why hasn’t its current president, Richard Wagstaff (above) become a household name during the pandemic? Up there with Ashley Bloomfield, Michael Baker, Shaun Hendy and Siouxsie Wiles? WHERE HAVE THE UNIONS BEEN during the Covid-19 ...1 week ago- “Go West, Young Virus”
The Auckland Coronavirus Outbreak potters along, not helped by the perception that the Government is disturbingly enthusiastic about “managing the virus” or loosening the border. Health Minister Andrew Little said today he envisages 90% vaccination rates (which we don’t have) eventually leading to 5,000 cases in Auckland a week… ...1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #41, 2021
How to fill a glass and thereby drink— from a fire hose So far this year, New Research has published listings for 3,291 papers concerning climate change from one aspect or another. Each edition includes two dozen or so articles describing freshly and directly observed effects of global waming. These ...1 week ago- Climate Change: UKanians supports cuts
The Guardian reports a study on emissions reduction policy from the UK, which found that UKanians overwhelmingly support stronger action than their government: The UK public backs a carbon tax on polluting industries, higher levies on flying and grants for heat pumps in order to tackle the climate crisis, ...1 week ago- Media Link: “A View from Afar” on PRC-Taiwan tensions.
In this week’s podcast Selwyn Manning and I discuss the upsurge in tensions between the PRC and Taiwan and what are the backgrounds to and implications of them. You can check the conversation out here. ...1 week ago- Labour’s 2023 election manifesto
This morning Health Minister Andrew Little effectively unveiled Labour's 2023 election manifesto: 5,000 cases a week in Auckland alone: Thousands of people will be infected with Covid-19 every week even with vaccination levels at 90 per cent, and hospitals face being overwhelmed once restrictions are eased and borders opened, ...1 week ago- Don't Blame James.
1 week ago- The “Pulpit of Strewth”
Barry Soper is one half of one of one of those right-wing husband-and-wife duos in which the Herald seems to specialise. In today’s issue, he has a piece that doesn’t quite reach the heights (or depths) of a Hoskings-style anti-government hostility, but which does provide an interesting example of the ...1 week ago- Gordon Campbell on the epic fails of Kris Faafoi
Ever since Winston Peters first breathed life into this government in 2018, its own branding has been all about social justice and how we all need to be “kind” to each other. Somehow, Kris Faafoi must have missed the memo. His performance in the immigration portfolio (in particular) has neither ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily: 14 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Mike Treen, Advocate, Unite Union “Please continue your incredible work compiling these news digests. As someone operating in the fields of advocacy for workers and the broader social justice areas it is invaluable to be able to check what is happening in the media relating to the issues I have to deal ...1 week ago- Overconfident Idiots: Why Incompetence Breeds Certainty
This is a re-post from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. Please see this overview to find links to other reposts from Thinking is Power. ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Abandoning ambition
When Labour was first elected to power in 2017, they promised us "[an] ambitious plan to take real action on climate change". Four years and a lot of foot-dragging later, they've finally released that plan. And its not what was promised. Where to begin? Firstly, they've taken the Climate Change ...1 week ago- Many e-cigarette vaping liquids contain toxic chemicals: new Australian research
Alexander Larcombe, Telethon Kids Institute From October 1, it’s been illegal to buy e-liquids containing nicotine without a prescription from a doctor everywhere in Australia, except South Australia. But vaping with nicotine-free e-liquids is not illegal in Australia (though in some jurisdictions the e-cigarette devices themselves are illegal). Vaping ...1 week ago- Young adults worldwide have blunt message for governments: ‘We don’t trust you.’
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Elizabeth Marks describes herself as “a psychologist who works on difficult problems.” Her past research aimed at helping people cope with challenging health conditions, apt training, it appears, for taking on climate change issues. A few years ago, she altered ...1 week ago- Making ‘Second Age’ Hobbits Work: Amazon Series Speculation
Time for a good old-fashioned fandom furore. The Tolkien fandom hasn’t had a proper one of those since the Great Nudity Scandal of October 2020… so it clearly must be time to pontificate from on-high about a television series we still know vanishingly little about. This time the subject ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily: 13 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Lara Greaves, Political scientist, University of Auckland: “I love the NZ Politics Daily emails as they help me to keep on top of current events. It’s incredibly easy to skim through and follow the links. I really appreciate these as it means that I am exposed to a ...1 week ago- The Data and Statistics Bill and the OIA
The government introduced a new Data and Statistics Bill today to modernise and replace the 45-year old Statistics Act. Part of the Bill re-enacts the existing confidentiality regime (with one exception), which while a secrecy clause isn't an especially controversial one. Another part is aimed at removing "outdated" (inconvenient) limits ...2 weeks ago- Graham Adams: The debate over the $55 million media fund erupts again
RNZ’s Mediawatch and a video clip viewed 42,000 times keep the topic of the Public Interest Journalism Fund fizzing. Graham Adams reports. A week ago, the NZ Taxpayers’ Union posted a short video clip of the exchange in Parliament between Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins in which the National ...2 weeks ago - Kids’ quality of life will depend on today’s climate choices
- Green Party sets out more equitable approach to COVID-19 response
The Green Party has warned that the Labour’s plan to move to a new COVID-19 response strategy is rushed and risky, and will leave some people at risk. Meanwhile, the Greens have a safer, more appropriate approach that won’t leave anyone behind. ...1 day ago - Transform arms export regime to strengthen human rights protectionsThe Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is calling on the Government to urgently introduce legislation to better regulate the export of military products and technology that could be used to breach human rights in other countries. ...2 days ago
- Make it a shore thing – Bird of the Year 2021The Green Party is calling on people to go dotty for dotterel and vote for the New Zealand Dotterel/Tūturiwhatu as Bird of the Year 2021. ...3 days ago
- National’s irresponsible COVID plan will cost livesThe National Party’s plan to remove all COVID restrictions on 1 December, regardless of whether or not people are vaccinated, would cost lives, the Green Party says. ...3 days ago
- New research reinforces urgency to end conversion practicesNew research from the University of Waikato showing a link between conversion practices and negative mental health for trans and non-binary people reinforces the urgent need to pass the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill. ...3 days ago
- Te Mātāwaka: Greens call for the Government to listen to Māori health expertsTe Mātāwaka caucus support the call from iwi leaders, and Māori providers for a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 95 percent for Māori, Pasifika and other marginalised communities before further lifting COVID-19 restrictions. ...4 days ago
- Govt must build on foundation of planning rule changes to solve housing crisisFamilies looking for their first home will welcome a bipartisan commitment to increase housing supply, but will be asking what more can be done. ...4 days ago
- Equitable financial support urgently needed to combat COVID outbreakThe Green Party is calling for a broader and more equitable financial support package to slow the COVID-19 outbreak and ensure everyone in Alert Level 3 can make ends meet, following the announcement that Alert Level 3 has been extended for at least two more weeks in Auckland and at ...5 days ago
- Waste strategy needs to learn from natureAnything less than a transformational national waste strategy and waste legislation will not be enough, the Green Party said today. ...1 week ago
- 5 ways you can help New Zealand get vaccinated
Getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and the people we care about from COVID-19. It means we’ll all be able to do more of what we love this summer, while keeping each other safe. ...1 week ago - Te Mātāwaka: Greens support iwi led housing solutionsThe Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka Caucus welcome the Government’s investment into iwi Māori-led housing initiatives. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for expanded protection for renters, overseas voting for COVID-19 billThe Green Party is calling for expanded protections for renters and extended eligibility for overseas voters for the COVID-19 Response Management Measures Legislation Bill, which is currently before select committee. ...2 weeks ago
- One-off residency scheme needs to include working holiday and seasonal workersThe Green Party says the Government needs to extend the one-off residency scheme to all workers, instead of keeping them in limbo with visa extensions every 6 months. ...2 weeks ago
- Camping, concerts, cuddles: Kiwis tell us why they’re vaccinatedRight now, the single most important thing New Zealanders can do in the fight against COVID-19 is get vaccinated. More and more of us are stepping up, with more than two million people now fully vaccinated. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party deeply concerned space launches may be breaching nuclear-free lawsThe Green Party is deeply concerned that space launches by Rocket Lab may be breaching New Zealand’s long-standing nuclear-free position and legislation. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome work on electoral reform, but call for recommendations of previous reviews to be impl...The Green Party welcomes the review of New Zealand’s electoral laws as chance to make elections fairer and more accessible. ...3 weeks ago
- Govt plan risks vulnerable communitiesThe Green Party says the Government’s planned roadmap for Auckland risks the safety of vulnerable communities and children. ...3 weeks ago
- APEC finance ministers focus on inclusive, sustainable COVID recovery
APEC finance ministers will continue to work together to respond to the effects of COVID-19 and ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery while capitalising on the opportunity to build a more resilient future. The New Zealand Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson chaired the virtual APEC Finance ...20 hours ago - Improvements to child and maternity facilities at Timaru Hospital on trackImprovements to child and maternity facilities at Timaru Hospital are well underway, and the next stage of the project will begin next month. Health Minister Andrew Little visited Timaru Hospital today to view progress onsite. “The improvements are part of South Canterbury DHB’s four-year refurbishment project and will create a ...23 hours ago
- Govt responds to independent review into WorkSafeThe Government has clear expectations that WorkSafe must action the recommendations of the independent review into the regulator to improve its management of adventure activities following the tragedy at Whakaari White Island, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) today released the ...1 day ago
- Prevention funding to reduce tamariki in careA new iwi-led prevention programme will receive funding from Oranga Tamariki to help reduce the number of tamariki and rangatahi coming into state care, Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis has announced. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (Te Rūnanga) will receive $25.9m of Oranga Tamariki funding over three years to improve outcomes ...1 day ago
- Transforming New Zealand’s mental health legislationPublic consultation is now open for Aotearoa New Zealand to have a say on the repeal and replacement of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. “’He Ara Oranga, the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction’ made it clear that we needed to replace ...1 day ago
- COVID-19 Protection FrameworkKia ora koutou katoa Today I’m speaking directly to all New Zealanders to share a plan that will help us stay safe from COVID-19 into the future. A future where we want to continue to protect people’s lives, but also to live our lives – as safely as possible. Our ...1 day ago
- Business boost to transition to new COVID frameworkWe know that over the last twenty months the approach New Zealand has taken to COVID and Delta has saved lives and livelihoods. Along with one of the lowest mortality rates in the world, we have also had strong economic growth, low unemployment and one of the lower levels of ...1 day ago
- COVID-19 funding boost to protect maōri communitiesTēnā koutou katoa As you have heard from the Prime Minister, the new protection framework will support us to keep people safe especially our vulnerable communities and minimize the impact COVID-19 has on business and our day to day lives. If you want to protect yourself, your whanau and your ...1 day ago
- New COVID-19 Protection Framework delivers greater freedoms for vaccinated New ZealandersNew COVID-19 Protection Framework provides pathway out of lockdown and ability for businesses and events to re-open to vaccinated New Zealanders Simpler framework to minimise cases and hospitalisations without use of widespread lockdowns Auckland to move into the new framework when 90 percent of eligible population in each of the ...1 day ago
- New fund to accelerate Māori vaccinationsThe Government has established a $120 million fund to accelerate Māori vaccination rates and support communities to prepare for the implementation of the new COVID-19 Protection Framework. The new Māori Communities COVID-19 Fund will directly fund Māori, Iwi, community organisations and providers to deliver local vaccination initiatives for whānau, and ...1 day ago
- Government extends hardship assistance for low income workersIncome limits for Hardship Support through the Ministry of Social Development have been temporarily lifted so more people can recieve assistance. “Cabinet has agreed to make it easier for low income workers to recieve assistance for items such as food and other emergency costs,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “We know the ...1 day ago
- More support for learners with highest needsStudents most in need of extra help in the classroom are the focus of a new review that gets under way today, Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti says. About 50,000-80,000 children and young people are expected to benefit from a Ministry of Education review into Highest Need Learners that will ...1 day ago
- Parts of Waikato to stay at Alert Level 3 for next six daysThe parts of Waikato that have been in Alert Level 3 will remain at that alert level till Wednesday, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Based on the latest public health information, maintaining level 3 in those parts of the Waikato continues to be the most prudent course of ...2 days ago
- Hon Peeni Henare September 2021 Proactive Diary Release...2 days ago
- NZ passes world-first climate reporting legislationNew Zealand has become the first country in the world to pass a law that will ensure financial organisations disclose and ultimately act on climate-related risks and opportunities, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr David Clark and Climate Change Minister James Shaw today announced today. The Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures ...2 days ago
- Prime Minister NZ UK FTA opening remarksTēnā koutou katoa. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. I am delighted to announce today that following a conversation with Prime Minister Johnson last night, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have Agreed in Principle a historic high-quality, comprehensive and inclusive free trade agreement. I’m joined today by the Minister ...2 days ago
- New Zealand secures historic free trade deal with the United KingdomA boost of almost $1 billion to New Zealand GDP, unprecedented access for New Zealand exporters to the UK market UK to eliminate all tariffs on New Zealand exports, with over 97% being removed the day the FTA comes into force NZ exporters to save approx. $37.8 million per year ...2 days ago
- Quarterly benefit numbers show more people in workBenefit figures released today show a year on year fall of 9,807 people receiving a Main Benefit in the September Quarter. “The Government is working hard to tackle COVID-19 and it is clear our strong response to the initial outbreak has created a resilient labour market which is providing opportunities ...2 days ago
- Health reforms bill introduced to ParliamentLegislation central to fixing the health system has been introduced into Parliament by Health Minister Andrew Little. “Rebuilding the public health system is critical to laying the foundations for a better future for all New Zealanders,” Andrew Little said. “We need a system that works for everybody, no matter who ...3 days ago
- NCEA and NZ Scholarship Exams to proceedNCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams will proceed, including in areas where Alert Level 3 has been in place, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health have been working together to ensure exams can be managed in a safe ...3 days ago
- Limited change to onsite learning – for senior secondary students – in Level 3 regionsOnsite learning at schools in Level 3 regions will start from next week for senior secondary school students to prepare for end of year exams, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Secondary schools in these regions will start onsite learning for years 11 to 13 on Tuesday 26 October,” Chris ...3 days ago
- Guaranteed MIQ spots for health workersThe Government is changing the way managed isolation is co-ordinated for health workers, guaranteeing 300 spots a month for the health and disability sector. “Our world-class workforce is vital in rebuilding the health system and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Andrew Little said. “Whether it’s bringing doctors or nurses in ...3 days ago
- Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identitiesMaking it easier for New Zealanders to safely prove who they are digitally and control who has access to that information is one step closer to becoming law, Minister for Digital Economy and Communications, Dr David Clark said. The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill passed its first reading today ...3 days ago
- Red tape cut to boost housing supplyNew building intensification rules will mean up to three homes of up to three storeys can be built on most sites without the need for a resource consent New rules will result in at least 48,200 and as many as 105,500 new homes built in next 5-8 years Bringing forward ...4 days ago
- Nationwide business partnership grows conservation jobsFurther Government support for New Zealand’s longest-standing sustainable business organisation will open up opportunities for dozens of workers impacted by COVID-19 to jump start a nature-based career, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. Partnering to Plant Aotearoa, led by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), is a collaboration with iwi, hapū and ...5 days ago
- New Zealand increases climate aid contributionGovernment commits $1.3 billion over four years to support countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change At least 50 percent of funding will go to the Pacific as it adapts to the impacts of climate change The increase means New Zealand now meets its fair share of global ...5 days ago
- Super Māori turnout for Super SaturdayMāori have put a superb effort into mobilising to get vaccinated over Super Saturday, with thousands rolling up their sleeves to protect themselves, their whānau and communities from COVID-19, Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare says. “It was absolutely outstanding that 21,702 Māori got vaccinated on this one day alone with 10,825 ...6 days ago
- Language assists Tagata Niue to thriveDespite the uncertain times we face with the challenges of COVID-19, our cultural knowledge, values and language remain constant, helping us progress towards goals in life, said the Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. This year, the Niuean community in New Zealand decided on the theme, “Kia tupuolaola e ...6 days ago
- New Zealand Ambassador to France announcedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of Caroline Bilkey as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to France and the OECD. “Aotearoa New Zealand and France have a shared history, and enjoy a strong, collaborative partnership. This includes a strong trade and economic relationship, a shared commitment to support ...1 week ago
- Govt welcomes nurses’ pay settlementThe Government is welcoming news that a new employment agreement for nurses working in public hospitals has been settled. “I am very pleased that the hard work of the Nurses Organisation and District Health Boards has led to a settlement that both can support,” Health Minister Andrew Little said today. ...1 week ago
- Judge of the High Court appointedMāori Land Court Judge Layne Harvey has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Harvey graduated with an LLB from the University of Auckland in 1992 and commenced employment as a law clerk with Simpson Grierson in Auckland that same year. In 1997 ...1 week ago
- Kiwis to have their say on plan to reduce wasteNew Zealanders are invited to have their say on proposals for a new waste strategy and options for new waste legislation. “Reducing waste is one of the issues all New Zealanders – especially younger Kiwis - care deeply about,” Environment Minister David Parker said today “New Zealand is one of ...1 week ago
- Next steps in action plan for indigenous rights kicks offMinister for Māori Development Willie Jackson has today meet with more than 30 national Māori organisations in an online hui, kicking off the process to develop a plan for New Zealand to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration). The previous National Government signed ...1 week ago
- Iwi-led housing solutions build homes for the futureWhai Kāinga, Whai Oranga will open on 20 October, to receive applications for investment through Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Te Puni Kōkiri The $730m fund combines investment from Budget 2021 ($380m) and the Māori Infrastructure Fund ($350m) - the largest investment seen ...1 week ago
- E whakarite ana Te Kāwanatanga i ngā tūāpapa mō tewhakamaumahara ki Te Petihana Reo Māori ka t...I te rā nei, i pānuihia e te Minita mō Manatū Taonga, ko Carmel Sepuloni, rāua ko te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, ko Willie Jackson, ā tērā tau, ka whakanuia rawatia te 50 o ngā tau mai i te whakatakotoranga o te petihana mō te Reo Māori me te huanga mai ...1 week ago
- E whakarite ana Te Kāwanatanga i ngā tūāpapa mō twhakamaumahara ki Te Petihana Reo Māori ka t...I te rā nei, i pānuihia e te Minita mō Manatū Taonga, ko Carmel Sepuloni, rāua ko te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, ko Willie Jackson, ā tērā tau, ka whakanuia rawatia te 50 o ngā tau mai i te whakatakotoranga o te petihana mō te Reo Māori me te huanga mai ...1 week ago
- Government green lights rapid antigen testingSome of the country’s largest businesses have put in an order for 300,000 approved rapid antigen tests for their workforce, after working at pace with the Government on a new scheme unveiled by Associate Minister of Health and Research, Science and Innovation Ayesha Verrall. A coalition of around 25 businesses ...1 week ago
- Government lays foundations as Māori Language Petition commemorations take shape for 2022Taiaha hā! Taiaha hā! - Te kairangi o te reo hoki mai ki taku tikanga, ki taku taumata, ki taku reo, ki taku ao. He reo whai tikanga, he reo whai mana, he reo whai tangata koe. Ki te whāngaihia te reo Māori he ao tēnā, ki te kore he ...1 week ago
- Major contract awarded to power NZ Battery investigationA consortium of specialist firms has been awarded a major contract to advance the New Zealand Battery Project’s feasibility investigation into a pumped hydro storage scheme at Lake Onslow, the Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods has announced. “This contract represents a major milestone as it begins the targeted ...1 week ago
- Additional Funding for Foodbanks and Social AgenciesThe Government has approved $13.55m from the Covid Response and Recovery Fund to support foodbanks and social sector agencies, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni has announced. “Foodbanks and social agencies across Auckland are doing a great job supporting their communities and the Government is today providing them with more ...1 week ago
- http://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/?p=12711
Vaccinating the underclass – writing for Pundit – says if we want to minimise the impact of the Covid virus, we are going to have to think about social class. New Zealanders do not easily talk about social class: ...3 hours ago - Healthy hospitals: The new thinking helping healthcare minimise its climate impact
Hospitals exist to support people’s health, but they’re also large emitters of greenhouse gases. That’s why Southern Cross Healthcare is on a mission to cut waste anywhere it can. The last thing on most people’s minds when they go to hospital, either sick themselves or to visit a loved one, ...4 hours ago - Focus on Politics: Green light or red alert? Lockdowns left in Delta's dust
Podcast - Political Editor Jane Patterson takes the pulse of the health system as the traffic light system promises to cut the brakes that alert levels have put on Delta's spread. ...4 hours ago - Live updates, Labour weekend: Focus on DHB vaccine rates after ‘traffic light’ system revealedWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for the long weekend from October 23 to 25. The Spinoff wouldn’t exist without its members. Join today.What to expect on SaturdayThere is no scheduled press conference today. We’ll share here all the details from the 1pm Ministry of Health update, on Covid cases, ...7 hours ago
- Jacinda – Tell COP26: Go Hard And Go Early On Climate!
Extinction Rebellion’s Open Letter challenges PM to strong climate action On Tuesday 26 October at 1pm in front of Parliament members of Extinction Rebellion will present an Open Letter to Jacinda Ardern, calling for Aotearoa NZ to take a strong role at ...7 hours ago - Meet the candidates trying to break a two-decade domination in Entrust electionsThere’s a ballot paper on your kitchen bench. Your mission, should you accept it, is to vote on who should oversee Auckland’s electricity infrastructure. But given that a single group has dominated this election for almost two decades, is it mission impossible for opponents? In my first year of flatting in ...7 hours ago
- New vaccine certification requirement may become indirect mandate for workers
The new 'traffic light' Covid protection system will support businesses mandating vaccinations for staff, lawyer says The new requirement that close contact businesses have vaccination certificates for greater freedom under the newly announced traffic light system will support employers to mandate vaccinations for staff in certain industries. On Friday the Government ...7 hours ago - Hollie Smith is emerging into the lightFive years in the making, Hollie Smith has braved a relationship break-up, confidence issues and multiple lockdowns to make her new album happen. She talks to Chris Schulz.A few weeks into Auckland’s current lockdown, Hollie Smith spray painted a piece of cardboard lime green. She spent time doing her own ...8 hours ago
- Sargeson Prize for best school student story
"Muscle Memory" by Shima Jack of Logan Park High School is winner of the 2021 Sargeson Prize for best short story, schools division The black and white keys are mountains and valleys. My hands are giant spiders, waltzing. They close the distance between each other, cross over, move ...8 hours ago - NDCs, climate finance and 1.5°C: your Cop26 jargon buster
This story originally appeared in The Guardian and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story As world leaders gather for the environmental conference, here is The Guardian’s summary of the key terminology, assembled by environment correspondent Fiona ...8 hours ago - ‘Up2 on Saturday?’: The texts and phone calls that made the Vaxathon happenNo scripts, new presenters and a comms meltdown moments before it went to air. Here’s how last weekend’s Vaxathon came together. We stare at screens all day and all night. Is this good for us? We’re going to talk about that. Read more Screen Week content here. When the definitive history of New ...8 hours ago
- Supermarket cuts force McCain and Sealord to restructure jobs
Sealord staff 'gutted' as company announces staff restructuring after failed talks with New World and Pak'nSave cost it $5 million in revenues. Two of New Zealand's biggest food producers are preparing to restructure or potentially lay off staff in response to Foodstuffs North Island cuts to their ranges. McCain Foods is pulling ...9 hours ago - PNG’s capital Port Moresby reaches crisis point over covid surge
By Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s biggest referral hospital has reached a crisis point as the covid-19 pandemic positivity rate surged drastically to 85 percent yesterday. Port Moresby General Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi in the National Capital District (NCD) has revealed that three children ...12 hours ago - 129 new covid cases in NZ community – Pacific talanoa series provides infoEpisode 1 one of the Let’s Talanoa series – “Know Your Vax”. Asia Pacific Report newsdesk New Zealand reported a record 129 new community cases of covid-19 today — the day after reaching triple digit figures for the first time. Nine of today’s new cases are in Waikato, with the ...12 hours ago
- We might just be focusing on the wrong supply chains
Around the globe, markets are adjusting. Inflation is looking less and less transitory: the Bank of England’s chief economist reckons that UK inflation will top 5%. It’s all very painful. Big companies are getting a lot of the blame. Take the energy crisis for example. Governments have ...13 hours ago - South Island 'struggling' to get younger population vaccinatedQueenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult says he would have preferred the South Island move to alert level 1 immediately, but the traffic light system provided a way forward. ...17 hours ago
- NZ government unveals its ‘traffic light’ covid-19 protection frameworkThe New Zealand government has announced details of its Covid-19 Protection Framework, involving the roll-out of a “traffic-light” system once all district health boards hit 90 percent full vaccination rates. A vaccine certificate will be central to the new framework. The system will involve three settings – green, orange and ...18 hours ago
- NZ dairy industry linked to illegal Indonesian plantations, says reportAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Illegal palm oil plantations are destroying protected Indonesian rainforests and other habitats — and New Zealand’s industrial dairy sector is a major beneficiary, says a new environmental report. The daming report, released yesterday by Greenpeace Indonesia, “Deceased Estate: Illegal palm oil wiping out Indonesia’s national forest”, ...18 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bridget McKenzie on the need for the Nationals to be noisySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bridget McKenzie is a cabinet minister and Nationals leader in the Senate. But her seniority hasn’t inhibited her being one of her party’s most outspoken advocates demanding protections for the regions before it signs up ...18 hours ago
- APEC Finance Ministers Announce Joint StatementIssued by the 2021 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting Wellington, New Zealand, 22 October 2021 Finance Ministers from the 21 APEC member economies announced a joint statement at the conclusion of their meeting on Friday highlighting the importance ...19 hours ago
- We are filmmakers who work with firearms. This is what is important in on-set safetySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Gist, PhD Candidate, University of South Australia In a tragic accident, Alec Bladwin has fatally fired a prop gun on a film set in America. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP In a horrendous accident, a cinematographer has died and a director has been injured ...19 hours ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the Nationals’ climate conundrum and the integrity deficit in federal p...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professional Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. They canvass the Nationals playing hardball in their efforts to land a deal ...21 hours ago
- A new study sounds like good news about screen time and kids’ health. So does it mean we can all s...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Dean (Research), Charles Sturt University Shutterstock A newly published study in the journal PLoS ONE suggests spending time on screens is unlikely to be directly harmful to young children. The US study attracted global attention, as screen ...21 hours ago
- Covid traffic light framework: the experts respondJacinda Ardern this morning outlined a new approach to NZ’s Covid response, conditional on vaccination levels (read our explainer here). The new system received a mixed reaction among the experts.New Zealand’s most prominent epidemiologist, Michael Baker of the University of Otago in Wellington, saw “some positives” in the new system, ...21 hours ago
- The red light at the end of the tunnel for Auckland
While Friday’s announcement set out the steps Auckland will need to take before coming out of Level 3 lockdown, DHBs can only move as fast as the slowest in the pack After weeks turning into months of lockdown seemingly without end for Auckland, the Prime Minister today indicated for the ...21 hours ago - Traffic light system 'confusing', 'slow', 'rushed', 'risky' ...National and ACT say the government's planned move from alert levels to a traffic light system is confusing and slow, as the Māori Party and Greens urge more protection for the vulnerable. ...21 hours ago
- Cleo Smith has been gone almost a week. Why missing children cases grip the nationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xanthe Mallett, Forensic Criminologist, University of Newcastle The smiling, pigtailed toddler in the gold heart top. A picture of innocence, and sadly the image many people will now recognise – Cleo Smith, the latest Australian child to vanish without a trace. Four-year-old ...21 hours ago
- A cinema of intimacy: the enduring beauty of Wong Kar WaiSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Moran, PHD Candidate, Monash University Wong Kar-Wai’s In The Mood for Love (2000) Mercury Cinema The influence of Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai on global cinema is difficult to overstate. Wong emerged from the creative ferment of the Hong Kong ...22 hours ago
- Week in Politics: Lockdown exit strategy is set outAnalysis - The heat goes on the unvaccinated as the government sets out its plan to end lockdowns. Labour and National surprise everyone with a joint housing initiative, and a "huge deal" free trade agreement with Britain. ...22 hours ago
- Police Do Not Know Source Of 82% Of Criminal WeaponsResearch has revealed that although Police claim that the source of illegal firearms is licensed firearm owners, it cannot find the source of 82% of the firearms it seizes – opening the possibility that they enter the country with drugs and other contraband. ...22 hours ago
- Senior Doctors Need More Than Hollow Words As Australia Comes KnockingThe Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Toi Mata Hauora is calling on the Government to put words into action when it comes to valuing frontline health workers, with Australia poised to bring in thousands of extra clinical staff. The Health Minister ...22 hours ago
- ‘If you want summer, get vaccinated’ – Jacinda Ardern sets the target for re-opening New Zeala...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Plank, Professor in Applied Mathematics, University of Canterbury GettyImages The New Zealand government has bet heavily on vaccination targets and certificates to move the country into the re-opening phase of its COVID-19 response. As part of today’s major announcement, ...22 hours ago
- Freedom date still on table if vaccination target fails
The unanswered questions and variables in the Government’s traffic light system mean it’s still highly possible vaccination targets will be ditched in favour of a freedom date, writes political editor Jo Moir It came as no great surprise when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the country would win freedom when a ...23 hours ago - The Friday Poem: Life Used To Be So Hard, by Sarah LawrenceA new poem by Wellington poet Sarah Lawrence.Life Used To Be So Hard Picture half a house, veins open & splayed out from the rafters. Two cats in the yard, like the song. Plums. Picture history, your imaginary friend, history that crashed its stone through this window when ...23 hours ago
- Making Aotearoa / New Zealand The Best Place To Be A ChildIn the third of Judge Andrew Becroft’s five addresses reflecting on his time as Children’s Commissioner, he examines five ways we can significantly improve wellbeing for children and young people in Aotearoa / New Zealand. “We are fortunate”, ...23 hours ago
- Check out what is missing from climate reporting law – but Govt has ensured the Treaty plays a par...
Latest from the Beehive Press statements and ministerial speeches were flowing into Point of Order’s email in-tray faster than the government’s publicists could post them on the Beehive website this morning. The ... 23 hours ago - Curious Kids: why do we see the ‘sky’ during the day, but the galaxy at night?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Schunker, Lecturer of Physics, University of Newcastle Bruno Gilli/ESO/Wiki Commons, CC BY-SA Why do we see the sky during the day, but the galaxy at night? — Gary, age 9, Auckland Hi Gary! Thank you ...24 hours ago
- Yesterdaze: The patron saint of running red lights
Our behaviour at traffic lights offers a rare insight into the human condition at the best of times. Now Aucklanders are 66 days deep into lockdown, things are starting to get weird - and Brian Tamaki isn't helping. James Elliott on the news of the week. It’s Labour Weekend. As a Level 3-confined ...24 hours ago - Covid traffic light framework: NZ business and advocacy groups respondJacinda Ardern this morning outlined a new framework for NZ’s Covid response, conditional on vaccination levels (read our explainer here). How did that, and the associated business support and hardship assistance announcements, go down?Judith Collins denounced this morning’s big announcements as a betrayal of business and an “utter disgrace”, but ...24 hours ago
- Restrictions on cultural hunting practices are limiting Indigenous people’s access to food during ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stewart Sutherland, Senior Lecturer Indigenous Health, Australian National University Smoke and dust as food is prepared for a traditional Māori feast or Hangi, Rotorua New Zealand. Shutterstock Indigenous people are some of the most food insecure people in Australia and Aotearoa (New ...24 hours ago
- With more Tokelauan speakers in New Zealand than in Tokelau, it remains a unique but endangered lang...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Middleton, Doctoral Candidate, University of Auckland Nukunonu atoll. GettyImages If you didn’t know Tokelau Language Week begins this weekend, you can probably be forgiven. Spoken by fewer than 5,000 people worldwide, Tokelauan has been designated “severely endangered” by UNESCO, its second-most ...1 day ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 22The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 EM-PA-THY: The Human Side of Leadership by Harold Hillman (Bateman, $30)Merry corporate Christmas …2 Power of Habit: ...1 day ago
- Long read: reflections of a volcanologist as a science organisation faces charges in the wake of the...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Kennedy, University of Canterbury Author provided This week, a case review hearing sought to set a trial date – now likely in 2023 – for 13 organisations and individuals facing charges in the wake of the Whakaari White Island eruption ...1 day ago
- Australia’s prison rates are up but crime is down. What’s going on?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia www.shutterstock.com Imprisonment rates in Australia are currently the highest they have been in a century, despite a significant fall in crime, and the Productivity Commission is stepping ...1 day ago
- When native title fails: First Nations people are turning to human rights law to keep access to cult...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shelley Marshall, Associate Professor and Director of the RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre, RMIT University For over six weeks, Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners have been performing continuous cultural ceremony at the edge of Adani’s Carmichael mine in central Queensland. ...1 day ago
- Protection Framework Will Hasten Reopening Of The EconomyBusinessNZ has welcomed the Government’s COVID-19 Protection Framework announced today. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope says the framework provides much needed clarity on moving beyond lockdowns and enabling the reopening of the economy. "It ...1 day ago
- Whakaari White Island Review Must Lead To Increased Funding To Keep People Safe At Work.Today’s release of the Review of WorkSafe New Zealand’s Regulatory Functions in Relation to Activities on Whakaari White Island further underscores the need for the Government to increase funding for the agency tasked with keeping New Zealanders ...1 day ago
- Vax for visas: ‘Overstayers would come out of woodwork’, say Pacific leadersBy Gill Bonnett, RNZ News immigration reporter Pacific leaders say offering “visas for vaccinations’ would be the ultimate incentive for New Zealand overstayers to get the covid-19 jab, as Auckland struggles to stop delta variant infections spreading through the community. It comes as epidemiologists say the government needs to pull ...1 day ago
- Early easing of covid restrictions ‘could be lethal for Māori/Pasifika’RNZ Pacific A Pacific public health expert says a premature transition of covid-19 restrictions in New Zealand could be lethal for Māori and Pasifika communities. The government is under increasing pressure to ease restrictions in Auckland with National saying it would set a six-week deadline for ending lockdowns and that ...1 day ago
- Support Packages Shows Government ListenedGovernment has recognised that businesses feed and employ people, backing employers by doubling the resurgence support payment which will be a huge cashflow benefit, clearing the way for vaccination passports and no jab no job workplaces and providing ...1 day ago
- Ngāi Tahu Led Prevention Programme To Reduce Tamariki In CareA bold new prevention programme designed, developed, and led by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (Te Rūnanga), aims to reduce the number of Māori tamariki and rangatahi entering the Oranga Tamariki system. Minister for Children, Hon Kelvin Davis, today announced ...1 day ago
- Govt Hardship Announcement Ignores Children And Whānau With The Greatest NeedsDesperate children have been excluded from today’s Government announcement on additional hardship assistance, which will do nothing to lift children in deepest need out of poverty, says the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). The Ministry of ...1 day ago
- Government reveals new Covid 'traffic light' system
*This story was first published on RNZ and is republished with permission* The Government has announced details of its Covid-19 Protection Framework, involving the rollout a 'traffic light' system once all DHBs hit 90 percent full vaccination rates. A vaccine certificate will be central to the new framework. The system ...1 day ago - Online Feedback Leads The Way For Speed Review Engagement In Northland And North AucklandThose looking to have their say on making our state highways safer in Northland and north Auckland largely turned to online platforms to make their views known. From May 3 to June 14 Waka Kotahi invited everyone in the community to get in touch ...1 day ago
- How NZ’s new traffic light Covid-19 vaccine target system worksThe new framework for Covid restrictions has been unveiled by the prime minister at the Beehive. Here’s everything you need to know. So is this the end of alert levels?In a word, yes. But not yet. When?Basically, when every district health board in the country reaches 90% double vaccinated. But Auckland ...1 day ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 22 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 Trade Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Geopolitics behind NZ-UK ...1 day ago
- National Maori Authority Welcomes The Governments New COVID19 Approach...1 day ago
- What really happened to Step Dave? It had two stellar seasons and has been remade in multiple countries. So why did Step Dave get cancelled? It appeared to be a show on the rise. Via Zoom, Sia Trokenheim flattens her palm and mimics a line graph going up. It looks like a plane taking off. She’s trying ...1 day ago
- ‘Counting Ourselves’ Advocacy Research Should Be Treated With CautionFamily First NZ says that transgender research coming out of the University of Waikato’s Trans Health Research Lab should be treated with the upmost caution because of their conclusions and policies which are contradicting what experts around the world are ...1 day ago
- Australia’s oldest dinosaur was a peaceful vegetarian, not a fierce predatorSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven W. Salisbury, PhD; Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Anthony Romilio, Author provided Ipswich, about 40 kilometres west of Brisbane, seems an unlikely place to find dinosaur fossils. Yet the area has produced the oldest ...1 day ago
- Mateship might sound blokey, but our research shows women value it more highly than menSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naama Carlin, Lecturer, UNSW Shutterstock Mateship is an intrinsic part of Australian society, routinely discussed as an important national value. In 1999, Prime Minister John Howard even attempted to include mateship in the constitutional preamble. But despite its ubiquity ...1 day ago
- As Melbourne cautiously opens up today, what lies ahead?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute This morning, Melburnians are waking up to the end of the city’s sixth lockdown. Since March 2020, Melbourne has spent more time in lockdown than any other city in the world. It’s been a ...1 day ago
- Forgotten how to party? Safety tips from a drug and alcohol expertSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University Shutterstock Cancelled dance parties, festivals and other events have shaped how Australians use alcohol and other drugs during the pandemic. Now restrictions are easing, some people who have not ...1 day ago
- Glasgow showdown: Pacific Islands demand global leaders bring action, not excuses, to UN summitSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Researcher, Climate Council, and Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University The Pacific Islands are at the frontline of climate change. But as rising seas threaten their very existence, these tiny nation states will not be submerged without a fight. ...1 day ago
- Write what you know: the COVID experience is a rich resource for year 12 English examsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Dutton, Senior Lecturer, Secondary English, Macquarie University Shutterstock Generations of students sitting exams would know what Australian poet Joanne Burns means when she writes of the fear of failure when expressing ideas. they don’t come out of your mouth ...1 day ago
- Vital Signs: slower Chinese economic growth inevitable without internal reformSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Andy Wong/AP China’s economic momentum is slowing. Official figures published this week show GDP growth in the last quarter came in at annual rate of “just” 4.9%. This compares with 7.9% annualised GDP growth for ...1 day ago
- Hidden women of history: how ‘lady swindler’ Alexandrina Askew triumphed over the convict stainSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet McCalman AC, Emeritus Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, The University of Melbourne John Skinner Prout’s 1849 painting of the Cascades Female Factory in Hobart, Van Dieman’s Land, where Alexandrina bore an illegitimate child. Wikimedia Commons In this series, we look at under-acknowledged ...1 day ago
- Live updates, October 22: Life without lockdowns? PM poised to launch alert level replacementWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 22, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz. Help support our Covid coverage – join Members today.8.00am: PM poised to launch alert level replacementJacinda Ardern will today reveal the future of New Zealand’s Covid-19 response, unveiling a replacement framework for the alert ...1 day ago
- The future of Covid-19 restrictionsThe prime minister will unveil a replacement for the alert level system today, but it likely won’t be implemented until vaccination levels rise significantly, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.A shift in how we deal with Covid. New Zealand’s four-tier alert level system has been a constant in the country’s response ...1 day ago
- Yup, Queenstown is doing it tough. But this week I found it bubbling with lifeVisiting Queenstown as the country came out of lockdown last year, George Driver encountered a place ‘filled with bargain prices, eerie streets, fear and hope’. Now, with a third of the country in lockdown and the trans-Tasman bubble long burst, he returns to see if the town still has a ...1 day ago
- Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 22 October
...1 day ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 October1 day ago
- The National-Labour coalition on housing should expect a big election backlashThe cross-party deal shocked every one this week, not least National’s own supporters opposed to development in their leafy inner-city suburbs. Bernard Hickey predicts blowback in local elections in 2022, and ultimately in the 2023 general election.Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.After ...1 day ago
- Oi, Auckland – this weekend is a long weekendIt’s the freakin long weekend, time to have us some ‘fun’.If you didn’t know or care – because time is a relative concept now and we live in a simulation controlled by someone who spilled tea on the keyboard – this weekend is a long weekend, labour weekend in fact. ...1 day ago
- Building supply shortages are biting
Builders and other tradespeople have been struggling with empty shop shelves; weeks, sometimes month-long delays in delivery of essential materials, and soaring costs. The issues are far from over. Try buying a bag of nails these days - they're almost as rare as hens' teeth. And if you do find them, ...1 day ago
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