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National refuses to rule out coalition with Destiny
Written By: - Date published: 7:31 am, June 11th, 2019 - 124 comments
On the day that Brian Tamaki engaged in some rabid right wing dog whistling and talked about a clash of cultures Simon Bridges has refused to rule out working with Destiny Church’s Coalition New Zealand party.
Will National do a deal with the Coalition NZ Party?
Written By: - Date published: 4:11 pm, May 27th, 2019 - 36 comments
Simon Bridges has refused to rule out doing a deal with Destiny Church’s Coalition New Zealand Party.
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Cash for access to politicians continues
Should anyone have trust in politicians, given the manner in which they solicit money from the wealthy? Probably not, since virtually every party in Parliament in recent times has been found to be involved in flaunting the law or accepting dodgy donations from the rich. News reports of questionable donations ...11 hours ago - Inaction speaks louder than words
One of the good things the government has done is implement a proactive release policy, requiring most cabinet papers to be published within 30 working days of a decision being made. Its not a perfect policy (note "most", but also they get to redact them however they want, without oversight), ...13 hours ago - Graham Adams: The dangers of putting media on the government’s payrollAccusations by a journalist that the Prime Minister leads an unusually secretive government don’t tell the whole story about its desire to control information. Graham Adams takes a closer look at the guidelines for the new $55 million journalism fund. Despite widespread cynicism about the Government’s ability to fulfil its ...14 hours ago
- David Seymour caught telling lies
Act Party Leader David SeymourIt really bothers me when the NZ Herald reports the claims of certain right wing politicians as the truth without any fact checking. Not only do they encourage dishonest politicians to continue to lie, they also degrade the standard of reporting we get in New Zealand.Of ...14 hours ago - To Speak, Or Not To Speak? That Is The Question.
Speaking Rights: The spectacle of the nation’s prime minister being denied the right to speak to her fellow citizens, personally, on New Zealand’s national day would generate massive antagonism among Pakeha of both sexes. A refusal to be guided by the customs of Ngāpuhi, on the other hand, would be ...15 hours ago - We discovered what’s killing the world’s rarest penguin – and it could help us make a vaccine
Vartul Sangal, Northumbria University, Newcastle Yellow-eyed penguins are the most endangered penguin species in the world, with just 4,000 left in the wild. Found only in New Zealand and its outlying islands, these birds can grow up to 79cm tall and weigh 8.5kg, which is similar to a one-year-old ...16 hours ago - Opponents of fluoridation all at sea with new legislation
Image credit: Why Ideology and Science Don’t Mix Opponents of community water fluoridation (CWF) should be supporting the proposed fluoridation legislation instead of organising opposition to it. Think about it. If Fluoride Free NZ (FFNZ) was honest in its claim that they are ...18 hours ago- Smokefree 2025
The Government’s proposed approach for achieving SmokeFree 2025 is a bit over-the-top. The proposals would restrict tobacco sales to a smaller number of to-be-licenced R18 outlets, which could then be subject to a sinking lid; impose an annual one-year increase in the purchase age for tobacco until full prohibition were ...22 hours ago- Update on Long-COVID
Prof John D. Potter* This blog post updates an earlier post on Long-COVID and reports that estimates of prevalence are still wide at about 15 to 65% of those initially infected with the pandemic virus, SARS-CoV-2. As things stand now across the world, we do not yet have systems in ...23 hours ago- A long-overdue apology
The New Zealand government is going to formally apologise for the "dawn raids" which targeted Pacific peoples in the 1970's. Good. Terrorising people on the basis of their race was wrong and something which should be a lasting shame to New Zealand. But there's another wrong they need to apologise ...2 days ago- Climate Change: The return of feebate
The government has resurrected its feebate policy to lower transport emissions, taxing dirty vehicles to subsidise clean ones. Good. We've known for a long time that passive measures such as fuel economy ratings and up-front labelling of lifetime costs weren't enough, and neither was the ETS (which adds just a ...2 days ago- National wants to convert farms into pine forests
It really hasn’t been a good time on the opposition benches lately. Not only have we had the various National Party scandals to ensure a decline in their public support, they’ve also entirely misread the room when it comes to the Climate Change Commission’s final report and the Government’s Clean ...2 days ago- Government for sale again
When the National Party ran a "Cabinet Club", selling personal access to Cabinet Ministers in exchange for large donations, I called it Government for Sale. Now the Labour party is doing the same thing: The Labour Party is selling tickets to a “business conference" featuring the prime minister and ...2 days ago- Nobody Owns The Christchurch Tragedy.
Mass Outpourings Of Love And Solidarity: In excess of 20,000 Wellingtonians gathered at the basin Reserve in mid-March 2019 to reaffirm Prime Minister Ardern's "They are Us" response to the Christchurch Mosque Shootings. The opponents of the "They Are Us" movie project would rather the world was not reminded of ...2 days ago- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24
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You’ve really got to wonder what possessed MP Simon Bridges to blatantly lie about gang violence he claimed to have witnessed yesterday.Perhaps he was just a bit desperate for some attention being that the headlines haven’t be very flattering for the National Party lately.His belief that misleading the public and ...3 days ago- How Are We Progressing with the War on Poverty?
Child Poverty Levels Are only Slowly Coming Down, What Next?Having settled on its macroeconomic settings, the Government then has to decide what to do with its revenue. In the 2021 Budget; it was largely committed to rolling forward existing spending, together with meeting some necessary commitments like dealing with covid ...4 days ago- They Are Us film should be made
Rose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in controversial movie ‘They Are Us’Framing is always an important aspect of media reports, especially when it comes to politics. In fact the way a story is framed can often determine whether a topic gains popular support or receives widespread public outrage.That’s been the ...4 days ago- The police lied to Parliament
Earlier today I blogged about the Ombudsman's final opinion on an OIA request for the police's "emissions-free fleet" strategy, in which the Ombudsman found that there never was such a strategy, and that the police repeatedly lied in an effort to hide that fact. But it turns out that I'm ...4 days ago- Spanish and Ukranian translations of The Debunking Handbook 2020
Since its publication last October, The Debunking Handbook 2020 has already been translated into 11 languages. Some of the translations have been created by volunteers who also help with Skeptical Science translations while others have been provided by outside or mixed teams. The Spanish translation was created by ...4 days ago- Tolkien and Anime: A Helm Hammerhand Adaptation
Now this is something I truly was not expecting. Warner Brothers is producing an Anime Movie of the story of Helm Hammerhand, titled The War of the Rohirrim:https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lord-of-the-rings-anime-movie-in-the-works-from-new-line-warner-animation-group-1234965985/ My first instinct was to check the date. No, not 1st April. This is for real: a Tolkien story – one ...4 days ago- There was never an “emissions-free fleet” strategy
Last month, I did a post about my efforts to excavate the Police's "emissions-free fleet" strategy, and how my OIA request had been extended "for consultations", whizzed past its extended deadline, then refused as it would "soon be publicly available". My complaint to the Ombudsman gained an attempted explanation from ...5 days ago- As more climate migrants cross borders seeking refuge, laws will need to adapt
Katharine M. Donato, Georgetown University; Amanda Carrico, University of Colorado Boulder; and Jonathan M. Gilligan, Vanderbilt University Climate change is upending people’s lives around the world, but when droughts, floods or sea level rise force them to leave their countries, people often find closed borders and little assistance. Part ...5 days ago- Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s relationship with Saudi Arabia faces increasing scrutiny
While New Zealand’s problematic but lucrative relationship with China gets lots of attention, there’s another important and similar relationship with Saudi Arabia that gets less attention. International analyst Geoffrey Miller explains why Riyadh is too important for Wellington to ignore. New Zealand’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Barney Riley, ...5 days ago- The Irish lough that offers a window into the deep sea
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Elias Garcia-Pelegrin, University of Cambridge Magic tricks can teach us about how the brain works. Magic capitalises on very specific blind spots in people’s attention and perception so the techniques that magicians use to trick audiences are particularly interesting to psychologists like me. Misdirection, for example, relies on the ...2 weeks ago- How well your immune system works can depend on the time of day
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- Speech to inaugural Countering Terrorism HuiE aku nui, e aku rahi, Te whaka-kanohi mai o rātou mā, Ru-ruku-tia i runga i te ngākau whakapono, Ru-ruku-tia i runga i te ngākau aroha, Waitaha, Ngāti Mamoe, Ngai Tahu, nāu rā te reo pohiri. Tena tātou katoa. Ki te kotahi te kakaho ka whati, ki te kapuia, e ...18 hours ago
- Campaign shines a light on elder abuseA new campaign is shining a spotlight on elder abuse, and urging people to protect older New Zealanders. Launched on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Office for Seniors’ campaign encourages friends, whānau and neighbours to look for the signs of abuse, which is often hidden in plain sight. “Research suggests ...20 hours ago
- Farewelling sports administrator and philanthropist Sir Eion EdgarSport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson today expressed his sorrow at the passing of Sir Eion Edgar – a leading sports administrator and celebrated philanthropist who has made a significant impact both within and beyond the sport sector. “Sir Eion’s energy, drive and generosity has been truly immense. He leaves ...2 days ago
- Government to apologise for Dawn RaidsThe Government will make a formal apology for the wrongs committed during the Dawn Raids of the 1970’s. Between 1974 and 1976, a series of rigorous immigration enforcement policies were carried out that resulted in targeted raids on the homes of Pacific families. The raids to find, convict and deport overstayers ...2 days ago
- Humanitarian support for Bangladesh and MyanmarForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced that New Zealand is providing NZ $8.25 million in humanitarian assistance to support refugees and their host populations in Bangladesh and to support humanitarian need of internally displaced and conflict affected people in Myanmar. “Nearly four years after 900,000 Rohingya crossed the border ...2 days ago
- Poroporoaki: Dame Georgina Kamiria KirbyE Te Kōkō Tangiwai, Te Tuhi Mareikura, Te Kākākura Pokai kua riro i a matou. He toka tū moana ākinga ā tai, ākinga ā hau, ākinga ā ngaru tūātea. Haere atu rā ki te mūrau a te tini, ki te wenerau a te mano. E tae koe ki ngā rire ...2 days ago
- Feedback sought on future of housing and urban developmentNew Zealanders are encouraged to have their say on a long-term vision for housing and urban development to guide future work, the Housing Minister Megan Woods has announced. Consultation starts today on a Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD), which will support the long-term direction of Aotearoa ...2 days ago
- Clean car package to drive down emissionsNew rebates for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles start July 1 with up to $8,625 for new vehicles and $3,450 for used. Electric vehicle chargers now available every 75km along most state highways to give Kiwis confidence. Low Emission Transport Fund will have nearly four times the funding by 2023 ...3 days ago
- Progress towards simpler process for changing sex on birth certificatesThe Government is taking the next step to support transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, by progressing the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill, Minister of Internal Affairs, Jan Tinetti announced today. “This Government understands that self-identification is a significant issue for transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, and ...3 days ago
- Crown speeds up engagement with takutai moana applicantsThe Crown is taking a new approach to takutai moana applications to give all applicants an opportunity to engage with the Crown and better support the Māori-Crown relationship, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says. Following discussions with applicant groups, the Crown has reviewed the existing takutai moana application ...4 days ago
- Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court opensThe Minister of Justice, Kris Faafoi, and the Minister for Courts, Aupito William Sio, have welcomed the opening of a new Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court in Hamilton. The AODT Court (Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua) addresses situations where substance abuse and offending are intertwined. “New Zealanders have told ...4 days ago
- EU and UK FTAs top of list for first ministerial trip since COVID-19Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor today announced details of his planned visit to the United Kingdom and European Union next week, where he will hold trade and agriculture discussions to further New Zealand’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The visit will add political weight to ongoing negotiations with both the EU ...4 days ago
- Arihia Bennett to chair Royal Commission Ministerial Advisory GroupTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett MNZM has been appointed chair of the newly appointed Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “Twenty-eight people from diverse backgrounds across Aotearoa have been selected for the ...4 days ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Medical Association General Practitioners' Conference, RotoruaKi ngā pou maha o te whare hauora o Aotearoa, kei te mihiTo the pillars of our health system I acknowledge/thank you Ki te ope hapai hauora o roto o tēnei rūma, kei te mihi To our health force here in the room today, I acknowledge/thank you He taura tangata, ...5 days ago
- Karangahape Road upgrades are streets aheadThe upgrades to Karangahape Road makes the iconic street more pedestrian and cycle-friendly, attractive and environmentally sustainable, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said at the formal celebration of the completion of the Karangahape Road Enhancements project. The project included widening footpaths supporting a better outdoor dining ...5 days ago
- Speech to APEC business eventE ngā tumu herenga waka, ākina ā ngaru, ākina ā tai ka whakatere ngā waka ki te whakapapa pounamu, otirā, ki Tamaki o ngā waka Tena koutou katoa… To the great leaders assembled, who guided your waka through turbulent times, challenging waters and you continue to navigate your respective waka ...5 days ago
- Pause on Quarantine Free Travel with Victoria extendedFollowing an assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria will continue for a further seven days, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. There are now 93 cases associated with the outbreak in greater Melbourne, spread over four clusters. Contact tracing efforts ...5 days ago
- Supplier Diversity Aotearoa Summit: Navigate 2021*** Check with delivery *** A mihi to all who have contributed to making today a success – starting with you! As you have explored and navigated government procurement today you will hopefully have reflected on the journey of our people so far – and how you can make a ...6 days ago
- Pukemiro School to closePukemiro Primary School near Huntly will close following years of declining roll numbers, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “I’ve consulted with the School Commissioner, and this decision acknowledges the fact that the few remaining students from last term are now settled at other nearby schools. “I want to thank ...6 days ago
- Govt acts to protect NZers from harmful contentNew Zealanders will be better protected from harmful or illegal content as a result of work to design a modern, flexible and coherent regulatory framework, Minister of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti announced today. New Zealand currently has a content regulatory system that is comprised of six different arrangements covering some ...6 days ago
- Consultation on exemption of new builds from proposed tax rulesThe Government has today confirmed new builds will be exempt from planned changes to the tax treatment of residential investment property. Public consultation is now open on details of the proposals, which stop interest deductions being claimed for residential investment properties other than new builds. “The Government’s goal is to ...6 days ago
- Speech for Predator Free 2050 ConferenceIntroduction E ngā mana E ngā reo E ngā iwi Tēnā koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēnā koutou He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei i raro i te kaupapa o te rā Ko Ayesha Verrall toku ingoa No ...6 days ago
- New stock exchange to help grow small businessesA new share trading market, designed as a gateway to the NZX for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has been granted a licence by the Government. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, David Clark said Catalist Markets Ltd will provide a simpler and more affordable ‘stepping stone’ for SMEs to raise capital. “This ...6 days ago
- Visa extensions provide certainty to employers and 10,000 visa holdersChanges to onshore visas will provide employers and visa holders with more certainty, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced. Around 10,000 Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visas due to expire between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 will be extended for another six months to ...6 days ago
- Border class exceptions approved for more farm workers and vetsThe Government has approved border class exceptions for an additional 200 dairy workers and 50 veterinarians to enter New Zealand, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “It is clear from conversations with the dairy and veterinarian sectors that they are facing workforce pressures. These border exceptions will go a long ...6 days ago
- More freezers and South Island hub to support vaccine roll-outA South Island hub and 17 new ultra-low temperature freezers will help further prepare New Zealand for the ramp up of the vaccination programme in the second half of this year, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. The new freezers arrived in New Zealand on 27 May. They’re currently being ...7 days ago
- Speech at the release of Climate Change Commission's final adviceGood morning – and thank you Prime Minister. Over the last three and half years we have been putting in place the foundations for a low-carbon Aotearoa that will be a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and prosperity for decades to come. In that future, many of our everyday tasks ...7 days ago
- Achievable blueprint for addressing climate change releasedReport says Government making good progress on emissions reduction, but more action required Meeting climate targets achievable and affordable with existing technology Economic cost of delaying action higher than taking action now Benefits from climate action include health improvements and lower energy bills All Ministers to help meet climate targets ...7 days ago
- Speech to release of Climate Commission final reportA few years ago in a speech in Auckland, I compared climate change to the nuclear free movement of roughly four decades ago. And I did so for a few reasons. Firstly, because the movement of the 1980s represented a life or death situation for the Pacific, and so does ...7 days ago
- Appointment of Judge of the High CourtAuckland Barrister Michael Robinson has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Robinson graduated with a BA and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1996, and commenced practice as a solicitor with Brookfields in Auckland. In 1998 he travelled to London ...7 days ago
- Government takes action to improve protections for subcontractorsThe Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Bill – which provides greater financial protection for subcontractors, has passed its first reading today. The Bill amends the retention provisions in the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA) to provide increased confidence and transparency for subcontractors that retention money they are owed is safe. ...1 week ago
- 1 million more Pfizer doses to arrive in JulyPfizer has scheduled delivery of an estimated 1 million doses of vaccine to New Zealand during July, COVID1-9 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “These consignments will double the total number of Pfizer doses we have received this year to more than 1,900,000 – enough to fully vaccinate almost 1 ...1 week ago
- Long-term home of the Independent Children’s Monitor identifiedThe Independent Children’s Monitor (Te Mana Whakamaru Tamariki Motuhake), which is currently located within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), will become its own departmental agency within Government. “Following the recommendations of several reviews, Cabinet agreed in 2019 to build a significantly expanded independent monitor for children in care,” Carmel ...1 week ago
- Racing Integrity Board members announcedThe new Racing Integrity Board will be up and running from July 1 to ensure high standards of animal welfare, integrity and professionalism in the racing industry. Racing Minister Grant Robertson today announced the appointments to the new Board: Sir Bruce Robertson KNZM – Chair Kristy McDonald ONZM QC Penelope ...1 week ago
- Govt crackdown on organised crime continuesA major operation against multiple organised crime groups with international links will make a significant dent in drug harm and violent offending linked to organised crime networks, Police Minister Poto Williams says. “I want to take an opportunity to congratulate the Police for their role in Operation Trojan Shield. This ...1 week ago
- Farm planning framework supports farmers into the futureA new framework, agreed between Government and industry, will make it easier for farmers and growers to integrate future greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater regulatory requirements into their farm planning, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. “The Good Farm Planning Principles Guide out today, provides guidance for how farmers can organise ...1 week ago
- Enhanced Task Force Green Approved for CanterburyThe Government has activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) in response to the Canterbury floods. The Minister of Social Development and Employment, Hon Carmel Sepuloni says $500,000 will be made available to help with the clean-up. The flooding in Canterbury has been a significant and adverse event damaging farmland, homes, roads ...1 week ago
- Boris Johnson overstates Morrison’s climate ambition, as Australia-UK trade agreement reached
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra British Prime Minister Boris Johnson put Scott Morrison on the spot when he told their joint news conference he thought the Australian PM had “declared for net zero by 2050”. When Johnson made the statement ...4 hours ago - Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Cash for access to politicians continuesAnalysis by Bryce Edwards. Should anyone have trust in politicians, given the manner in which they solicit money from the wealthy? Probably not, since virtually every party in Parliament in recent times has been found to be involved in flaunting the law or accepting dodgy donations from the rich. News ...9 hours ago
- Word from The Hill: the Biloela Tamil family, G7 and the upcoming parliamentary fortnightSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As well as Michelle Grattan’s usual interviews with experts and politicians about the news of the day, Politics with Michelle Grattan now includes “Word from The Hill”, where all things political will be ...9 hours ago
- Southern Response earthquake claims settlement package estimated at $313m
The package for some Southern Response policyholders could cost $313 million, if all those eligible apply. ...10 hours ago - The end of JobKeeper wasn’t a blip. It might have cost nearly 100,000 jobsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University MultifacetedGirl/Shutterstock At its peak, more than 3.8 million Australians were on JobKeeper — three in every ten Australian workers. Adding in those workers already employed by government, it ...10 hours ago
- Biloela family to be released into community detention – what happens now?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University Federal immigration minister Alex Hawke has exercised his power to allow the Murugappan family from Biloela to live in the Perth community.The Tamil asylum seeker family was ...11 hours ago
- Why do Tamil asylum seekers need protection — and why does the Australian government say they don...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niro Kandasamy, Lecturer, Australian Catholic University Julian Smith/AAP Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has announced the Murugappans will be moved from detention on Christmas Island, to community detention in Perth. This follows mounting public concern for the Tamil family, particularly ...11 hours ago- The end of JobKeeper wasn’t a blip. It might have cost 100,000 jobs
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University MultifacetedGirl/Shutterstock At its peak, more than 3.8 million Australians were on JobKeeper — three in every ten Australian workers. Adding in those workers already employed by government, it ...11 hours ago- Green space around primary schools may improve students’ academic performance
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Carver, Senior Research Fellow, Behaviour Environment and Cognition Program, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University Shutterstock Greenery around primary schools may improve students’ academic performance, while traffic pollution may be detrimental, our study shows. With increasing ...11 hours ago- US lawmakers are taking a massive swipe at big tech. If it lands, the impact will be felt globally
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katharine Kemp, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW, UNSW Kathy Willens/AP Five antitrust laws proposed in the United States aim to aggressively rein in the market power of “big tech” companies and change the way they do business. ...11 hours ago- Climate explained: could biofuels replace all fossil fuels in New Zealand?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Troy Baisden, Professor (Environmental Sciences), University of Waikato Aleksandar Malivuk/Shutterstock CC BY-ND Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you ...12 hours ago- Prehistoric ‘river boss’ is the largest extinct croc species ever discovered in Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jorgo Ristevski, PhD candidate, The University of Queensland Eleanor Pease, Author provided Say hello to Gunggamarandu maunala, or the “hole-headed river boss” — the biggest extinct croc yet found in Australia, and an important addition to the jigsaw of crocodylian ...12 hours ago- An act of God, or just bad management? Why trees fall, and how to prevent it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne AP The savage storms that swept Victoria last week sent trees crashing down, destroying homes and blocking roads. Under climate change, stronger winds and extreme storms will be more frequent. This ...13 hours ago- Sinuous, sinewy and transcendent: SandSong proves Bangarra is one of Australia’s best dance compan...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Maguire-Rosier, Honorary Associate, Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, School of Literature, Art, and Media, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Bangarra Review: SandSong, directed and choreographed by Stephen Page and Frances Rings, Bangarra Dance ...13 hours ago- The greatest early-noughties hits of Metro’s Felicity Ferret
Gossip Week: It’s been over 10 years since Metro’s iconic gossip columnist Felicity Ferret got the chop. We revisited some of her greatest gossip from the celeb scene of the early 2000s. All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future ...13 hours ago- The cycling civil servant who’s not afraid to get good and mad on Twitter
The battle to get New Zealand to carbon neutrality is being fought in the backrooms of power and more publicly, on social media. Justin Latif spoke with Kāinga Ora’s new director of sustainability, Alec Tang, about how he’s leading the charge in both arenas. Outspoken senior civil servants are few and ...15 hours ago- New finding: jobseekers subject to obligations take longer to find work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruud Gerards, Coordinating Senior Researcher, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market , Maastricht University New Africa/Shutterstock Under so-called mutual obligation rules, the Australian government requires the unemployed to complete activities (including training and applying for a certain number ...16 hours ago- ‘Terror in our society that money can’t pay for’, Polynesian Panthers founder tells NZ
RNZ News A co-founder of the Polynesian Panthers says the government should allow overstayers to remain in New Zealand after it formally apologises for the Dawn Raids later this month. An emotional Minister for Pacific Peoples, ‘Aupito William Sio, also revealed today harrowing details of his own family’s subjection to ...16 hours ago- Lawyer Clooney welcomes dismissal of second libel suit against Maria Ressa
Human rights lawyers Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who lead the international defence legal team, have call on the international community to ensure that all charges against Philippines journalist and editor Maria Ressa are dropped. The legal team of Rappler CEO Ressa welcomed the recent dismissal of the ...16 hours ago- The COVID-19 lab-leak hypothesis is plausible because accidents happen. I should know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Rodrigo, Professor and Head, The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, University of Auckland Chen Jimin/China News Service via Getty Images At the conclusion of the G7 summit yesterday, leaders called for a fresh and transparent investigation ...16 hours ago- Advocacy, apologies, and new beginnings
Josiah Tualamali'i looks back at our history to give context and meaning to the fight to get Pacific people's mana recognised in apology for the Dawn Raids June is one of the few months for my aiga where we do not have a birthday to celebrate. But it is a month where we ...16 hours ago- Silver Collar Greyhound Race Reveals Cruelty And Corruption
Federal Morgan broke his leg in the final race at the "Silver Collar" races at the Auckland Greyhound Racing Club on Sunday 13 June 2021. Federal Morgan was considered a star performer, who’s trainer Lisa Cole made a late withdrawal ...17 hours ago- Verrall draws attention to elder abuse today while the PM apologises for crackdown on Polynesians 40...
We are paying special attention today to comments submitted for publication on the Point of Order blog. The reason: our writers are in the “veteran” category, as journalists, and accordingly feel entitled to make the most of today being World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Fawning comments will be accepted with ...17 hours ago- Little Support For Decriminalising All Drugs – Poll
A new poll has found that there is very little support for the decriminalisation of all drugs such as P (meth), MDMA and cocaine. Support for decriminalising cannabis remains at similar levels to the Yes vote in the recent referendum In the poll of ...17 hours ago- Dawn Raids apology ‘empty’ without action on immigration
What was noticeably missing from the Government's apology announcement was a list of actions it's planning to take to address the intergenerational harms caused by the Dawn Raids. Dylan Asafo on what those actions should look like. It was announced yesterday that the Government will be giving a formal apology for the Dawn ...18 hours ago- Why some people get name suppression – and others don’t
Gossip week: A lawyer who knows a thing or two about media law explains how our confusing name suppression laws work.All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future – read more Gossip Week content here.In many of the suppression ...18 hours ago- Let’s wish O’Connor well, as he dines with UK Minister in quest to secure a free trade deal – ...
Trade minister Damien O’Connor dines with his UK counterpart Liz Truss tomorrow to begin the heavy-lifting on a NZ-UK free trade agreement. The early signs are ominous. Ozzie PM Scott Morrison managed to attend part of the G7 meeting in Cornwell where Australia’s FTA agreement was raised with the UK’s ...18 hours ago- Stop Censoring Victims- SST Call To Courts
A petition has been presented at parliament demanding an end to a court’s ability to amend and censor Victim Impact Statements. “Victim Impact Statements should give an ability for victims to speak about the considerable damage the offender’s ...19 hours ago- Wood is proving adept at steering major initiatives through Cabinet – but winning public approval ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood is winning a reputation for his bold political initiatives. They include, for example, the announcement of a second Auckland harbour bridge crossing (but only for cyclists and walkers, costing an estimated $780m). Then came a “feebate” scheme to hasten the transition to electric vehicles. And earlier ...19 hours ago- Electric vehicle rebate scheme a 'punishment' for ute drivers – Collins
National Party leader Judith Collins says the government's electric car rebate scheme is a tax on ute and heavy vehicle drivers. ...19 hours ago- Under pressure on the Olympics, Japan’s prime minister is saying little and hoping for a political...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donna Weeks, Professor of Political Science, Musashino University Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is probably a little relieved the G7 Summit came when it did. Before departing for the UK at the end of last week, Suga had been subjected to three ...21 hours ago- Is a hybrid COVID strain behind Vietnam’s latest wave? Not exactly
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University We recently heard a new “hybrid variant” of the coronavirus has been detected in Vietnam, amid a spike in cases in the country. The variant was originally described as a ...21 hours ago- DIY habitat: my photos show chainsaw-carved tree hollows make perfect new homes for this mysterious ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Terry, PhD Researcher, Southern Cross University William Terry, Author provided Environmental scientists see flora, fauna and phenomena the rest of us rarely do. In this series, we’ve invited them to share their unique photos from the field. As ...21 hours ago- School catchment zones may be annoying for some parents, but they help ensure equality for everyone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Ho, Associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock The South Australian government in recent months announced it was relaxing its catchment zone policy for secondary schools. This means families can apply for their year 6 or 7 child to ...21 hours ago- New finding: jobseekers subject to mutual obligations take longer to find work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruud Gerards, Coordinating Senior Researcher, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market , Maastricht University New Africa/Shutterstock Under so-called mutual obligation rules, the Australian government requires the unemployed to complete activities (including training and applying for a certain number ...21 hours ago- There are problems in aged care, but more competition isn’t the solution
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ou Yang, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Karen McFarland/Shutterstock The solution to most problems in most markets is more competition. Whether it’s the market for hairdressers, for massage therapists or for general practitioners, usually, the more of them there ...21 hours ago- New documentary recalls how Valerie Taylor played with sharks to prove a point
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gardner, Postdoctoral Research Associate, UNSW Madman Entertainment Review: Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story, directed by Sally Aitken A new documentary Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story shines a light on Valerie Taylor AM, a pioneering ...21 hours ago- Live updates, June 15: Seymour faces pressure over ‘white privilege’ at schools story
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for June 15, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 8.05am: Seymour faces pressure over ‘white privilege’ at schools story For at least a month, Act Party leader David Seymour has been using the example of a ...21 hours ago- A year on from near death and the $1 deal, Stuff is somehow thriving
The stakes were existential when Sinead Boucher offered to buy Stuff for $1 in May of 2020. A year on it has completed a remarkable turnaround, says Duncan Greive. For most of the last decade, Stuff was a paradox: both New Zealand’s largest employer of journalists and a website which seemed ...21 hours ago- The Bulletin: An apology decades in the making
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: An apology decades in the making, spy boss calls for public debate on digital surveillance, and why new cars are so expensive in New Zealand.The government will make a formal apology for the “Dawn Raid” policies of the 1970s, which ...22 hours ago- Infrastructure Commission anticipates project delays in workforce shortage
New data platform show double the number of building workers will be needed to complete the scheduled work in some centres, Harry Lock reports. The Infrastructure Commission says construction projects will still be delivered, but the real question is over what time period. Concerns have been raised over the viability of ...22 hours ago- G7 – the view from the top is fine, if a bit fuzzy
The omens were good for the G7 summit at Carbis Bay in Cornwall. Untypical blazing sunshine and a victory for England’s footballers in the Euro Championships put the hosts in fine fettle (qualified only slightly by the NZ cricketers’ series win). The first and most important objective was achieved: ...22 hours ago- G7 – not so good in the margins
Some say it wouldn’t be a proper G7 summit without a row between the UK and France. In this case, Boris Johnson taking the opportunity to ask France’s President Emmanuel Macron how he would feel if Toulousain could not sell their sausages in Paris. The context for his remark ...22 hours ago- The next Euro crisis has just begun
A loose monetary policy and building inflation risk a post-Covid headache of unseen pain for Europe, writes Dr Oliver Hartwich ...23 hours ago- Mike King Returning His New Zealand Order Of Merit Medal In Wellington On Wednesday 16th June
Mike King will return his New Zealand Order of Merit medal in Wellington, on Wednesday 16 June. He is travelling to the Capital to meet with a young boy who recently lost his brother to suicide, and has been unable to access support services via the Ministry ...23 hours ago- ‘Prove it’: Lake Alice survivor after bombshell
Psychiatrist who gave electric shocks to children in the 1970s “incapable” of responding to Royal Commission. David Williams reports One of the biggest questions at a Royal Commission’s hearings into the torture of children at Lake Alice was answered on the opening day. What came next was the bombshell. The ...23 hours ago- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 15 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...24 hours ago- Dawn Raids apology: 'I do not want my children to be shackled by that pain'
The Government has announced it will formally apologise for the Dawn Raids. Parliament's Pasifika MPs share their reactions and memories with Newsroom At the Auckland Town Hall on June 26, the Government will apologise for a policy Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said caused "deep wounds" for New Zealand's Pasifika communities. ...24 hours ago- NZOC encourages athlete vaccination, but won’t require it
Without clear rules about the need for a vaccine before Tokyo, the New Zealand Olympic Committee can only hope its athletes are vaccinated When the New Zealand Olympic team arrives in Tokyo, 98 percent will have been vaccinated. At least that’s what the New Zealand Olympic Committee expects. But although vaccinations ...24 hours ago- Newsroom daily crossword, Tuesday 15 June
...24 hours ago- Signal lifts female awareness while waiting for Tokyo nod
While gutsy weightlifter Megan Signal waits to hear if she's off to her first Olympics, she's helping aspiring female athletes bridge the knowledge gap around wellness and support. Megan Signal knows more than most what pushing your body to the limit can achieve. The Olympic weightlifting hopeful will soon find out ...24 hours ago- Finishing Auckland and fixing New Zealand
A big bang approach may yet be possible in reforming local councils nationwide - including the so-called super city of Auckland, writes Mark Thomas ...24 hours ago- We won't stop until white saviour film shut down
A proposed film about the March 15 attacks seeks to whitewash the murder of 51 people and the permanent scars left on so many more. It must be shut down, writes Guled Mire. When news emerged last week about the making of a grotesque, white innocence film fetishising Prime Minister Jacinda ...24 hours ago- A dream of peanut butter
The maker of one of New Zealand's great nutty pastes on how his empire began I bought two bags of raw peanuts, took them home, and shook them out onto an oven tray. The warm, satisfying aroma of roasting peanuts took me right back to winter afternoons in Pakuranga. Mum ...24 hours ago- National Party all out of love for returning MP
National MPs have spoken out about Harete Hipango, saying she will be more hinder than help to the embattled party. ...24 hours ago- Dangerous mould found in leaky mental health units
Black mould has been detected in four Auckland mental health units with weathertightness problems. The fungus could reach unsafe levels ‘at any moment’, the DHB has warned. Routine testing is being carried out for stachybotrys, or black mould, in four buildings at the Mason Clinic, the regional forensic psychiatric service run ...24 hours ago- Newsroom's daily sudoku, Tuesday 15 June
...24 hours ago- Emergency housing: Police documents point to increasing concern over crime
Internal police documents show emergency housing has been flagged as an area of increasing concern, but neither they nor the government will reveal the full extent of the problem. ...24 hours ago- Why the same mid-market EV costs over 50% more in New Zealand
A popular electric SUV costs the equivalent of $52,000 in Canada; here in New Zealand, the same model’s price tag is closer to $80,000. Why the huge difference?As part of its wider climate programme the government will start subsidising many new electric vehicles coming into the country with a cheque ...24 hours ago- That was awkward. Jacinda Ardern: Leading with Empathy, reviewed
A new biography of the prime minister was written by two authors trying hard to tell the story of a country without visiting it. The errors are troubling, and so is some of the sourcing, writes Toby Manhire.There are worse problems to have than a queue of people wanting to ...24 hours ago- Ali Mau on being harassed and outed by the gossip pages
Gossip Week: In the late 2000s, Ali Mau couldn’t leave the house without being followed by paparazzi. She tells Alice Webb-Liddall about the impact gossip mags have had on her life, and how the traumatic experience has made her a better journalist.All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at ...24 hours ago- Housing the mentally ill when the roof is caving in
In a time when the country is concentrating on well-being, our mental health facilities are crumbling and overcrowded. One phrase you come across a lot in the health sector is ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’. It’s an easy metaphor, communicating an idea that crops up a lot: trying ...1 day ago- The Kiwi tech company easing chronic pain with brain training
One in five NZers suffer from chronic pain, so a Kiwi company is using EEG technology to help patients retrain their brains ...1 day ago- Damien O'Connor herding towards trade consensus
The trade minister on China, winning consensus and a world beyond FTAs. ...1 day ago- View from The Hill: Biloela family to be released but Hawke has yet to reveal the terms
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Biloela Tamil family will finally be released from detention. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke will announce this on Tuesday, but we have yet to learn the terms of that release. There are several options. These ...1 day ago- Netanyahu leaves behind a complex legacy in Israel. His successor will need to deliver change — an...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ran Porat, Affiliate Researcher, The Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, Monash University zz/Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx/AP Israel’s 36th government was approved today, with a slim majority of 60–59 in the Knesset (parliament). The new prime minister is the leader of ...1 day ago- NZ to formally apologise for Dawn Raids against Pacific Islanders
RNZ News New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will make a formal government apology for the 1970s Dawn Raids against Pacific Islanders on June 26 at a commemoration event in the Auckland Town Hall. She made the announcement today alongside Pacific Peoples Minister ‘Aupito William Sio. Ardern said there was ...1 day ago- Review: The Block NZ is back – and the same as it ever was
After a two year break, The Block NZ is back. Tara Ward watches the first episode of the new season to find out what drama lies ahead. The Block NZ returns to Three tonight, and host Mark Richardson is promising big things. Season nine will be “bigger and tougher than ever”, ...1 day ago- The ocean and a question of legal personhood
Victoria University of Wellington's Petra Butler asks if the ocean should be awarded legal personality akin to New Zealand’s Te Awa o Whanganui or Te Urewera The ocean is a continuous body of saltwater that covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It holds about 1.34 billion cubic kilometres ...2 days ago- Government to formally apologise for Dawn Raids – Jacinda Ardern
The prime minister will deliver an official apology from the government for the 1970s Dawn Raids on 26 June. ...2 days ago- Vape Flavour Petition Dismissed Despite Mounting Evidence
<img src="https://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/2106/28ae42f0e8b371999782.jpeg" width="720" height="720"> Fifteen months after a Parliamentary petition supporting ongoing access to vape flavours closed, and nearly a year after ...2 days ago- On the Dawn Raids and apologies – a Polynesian Panther writes
Jacinda Ardern has announced the government will make a formal apology for the Dawn Raids of the 1970s. It promises to be a critical part of healing the relationship between the state and the Pacific peoples of Aotearoa, writes Dr Melani Anae, who joined the Polynesian Panthers in 1971.On June ...2 days ago- Watch live: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to announce details on Dawn Raids apology
The prime minister is expected to announce a date for an official apology from the government over the 1970s Dawn Raids. ...2 days ago- G7 showed that post-Trump, the world has shifted
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Walker, Vice-chancellor’s fellow, La Trobe University What a difference a year makes in international diplomacy. A year ago, then-US President Donald Trump was obliged to abandon his plans for a G7 summit at the presidential retreat of Camp David outside Washington. ...2 days ago- Consultations begin on proposals to penalise some vehicle owners and to rewrite matters of public re...
Various consultations were triggered in weekend announcements from the Beehive, among them a consultation on government proposals to hasten the public’s purchase of low-emission vehicles to help meet New Zealand’s 2050 carbon neutral target (and – of course – “to create jobs to support the economic recovery”). Among the proposals ...2 days ago - Why do Tamil asylum seekers need protection — and why does the Australian government say they don...
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