Andrew Little
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Why does Criminal Justice have to be so politicised?
Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, February 25th, 2018 - 67 comments
Judith Collins has indicated that the chances of a mature debate about Criminal Justice are slim.
Little proposes radical shake up of the Criminal Justice system
Written By: - Date published: 11:39 am, February 24th, 2018 - 152 comments
Andrew Little has called for a complete change the way criminal justice works. But National’s initial response suggests that the prospects of a mature discussion on the issue are slim.
Labour to reform abortion law
Written By: - Date published: 6:36 am, February 17th, 2018 - 328 comments
Justice Minister Andrew Little has given the go ahead to change NZ’s archaic abortion legislation.
Jacinda to attend Waitangi day ceremony at Waitangi
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, January 23rd, 2018 - 29 comments
Jacinda Ardern has announced that she will spend five days at Waitangi leading up to Waitangi day to make full use of the time when people are gathered there to meet together as a government that wants to form open transparent relationships.
What will 2018 hold for Labour?
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, January 10th, 2018 - 201 comments
What does Labour do this year to make sure this Government is a success and its achievements something that progressives can be proud of?
Progress from the Labour led government
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, November 30th, 2017 - 44 comments
Just over one month in the new Labour led Government and it is time to measure progress.
Labour accelerates action on Pike River re-entry
Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, November 21st, 2017 - 182 comments
National is trying to spin that Labour has adopted its position on re-entry of the Pike River mine. But the Pike River families are having nothing of this.
Justice for Teina Pora
Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, November 8th, 2017 - 13 comments
Andrew Little has announced that the Government will increase the payout to Teina Pora by adjusting for inflation and by paying costs on Pora’s successful judicial review of the previous Government’s decision.
Three strikes law to go
Written By: - Date published: 3:04 pm, November 1st, 2017 - 147 comments
Andrew Little has announced that Act’s three strikes for offenders legislation is going to be repealed.
The Ardern effect – and why this leadership change was different
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 3rd, 2017 - 60 comments
With donations and volunteers flooding in, I think it’s fair to say that reaction to Jacinda Ardern has exceeded all expectations. Why was this leadership change different? Two reasons…
Solidarity forever
Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, August 2nd, 2017 - 65 comments
Andrew Little has stood aside for Jacinda Ardern because he thought the Labour movement needed fresh legs. Time to acknowledge him and support her.
Ok, I’m pissed off with the Labour caucus again. Time to switch
Written By: - Date published: 10:44 am, August 1st, 2017 - 129 comments
I think that Andrew Little standing down was a mistake. I can’t think of anyone in the Labour caucus capable of doing anything much between now and the election. Labour should have just stayed the course and worked harder to get rid of National out of government.
Labour leadership meeting
Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, August 1st, 2017 - 169 comments
At 10:30 this morning there is a Labour caucus meeting where the subject of the leadership will be discussed. If Andrew Little decides to step down rumours suggest that a Jacinda Ardern / Kelvin Davis ticket is being considered.
Labour’s new employment relations package
Written By: - Date published: 4:05 pm, June 29th, 2017 - 107 comments
Labour: “After nine years of National, working people’s share of the economy is falling. Less than 40 per cent of economic growth under National has gone into working people’s wages. If working people’s slice of the economy hadn’t shrunk under National, workers’ pay packets would have been $23 billion larger.”
Labour excels in the UK
Written By: - Date published: 4:04 pm, June 9th, 2017 - 132 comments
Labour’s performance in the United Kingdom is phenomenal compared to expectations from even three weeks ago. What are the lessons for New Zealand Labour?
Andrew Little – Last Labour PM of NZ?
Written By: - Date published: 4:48 pm, June 3rd, 2017 - 136 comments
A wee bit of speculation for a long week-end.
Government was advised the Accommodation Supplement increase will not work
Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, May 29th, 2017 - 70 comments
Radio New Zealand has reported that the Government ignored two year old treasury advice to implement the increase in the accommodation supplement.
Little replies to property specualtors
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, May 19th, 2017 - 60 comments
Good piece by Andrew Little where he addresses the arguments of the property speculators. “It’s common sense. Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidising speculators and helping them outbid home buyers.”
Property speculator panic
Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, May 15th, 2017 - 128 comments
Labour has set the cat among the property speculator pigeons, and they don’t like it at all.
The looming battle over property
Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, May 15th, 2017 - 122 comments
Housing may be the issue that decides this year’s election. And if Labour wins Andrew Little will have a major crisis to deal with, one that he has to solve.
Andrew Little’s speech – the next four and a half months are a fight for a better New Zealand
Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, May 14th, 2017 - 93 comments
The text of Andrew Little’s speech delivered today to the Labour Party congress.
Little on immigration
Written By: - Date published: 2:09 pm, May 8th, 2017 - 34 comments
A good piece by Andrew Little in The Herald, setting out Labour’s position on immigration (with policy to come).
Labour’s leadership team
Written By: - Date published: 9:09 am, April 15th, 2017 - 54 comments
Big turnouts for Labour meetings. Some commentators just can’t quite get to grips with how well the new leadership team is working.
Good on you Andrew Little
Written By: - Date published: 9:46 am, April 13th, 2017 - 62 comments
Andrew Little questioned the actions of this government, as he should, and has fronted up and taken personal responsibility for offense taken by other parties, as he should. He has endured a costly and draining leagal process with a result widely hailed as a victory for democracy. But apparently that isn’t enough, so here we go again.
Little’s court win good for democracy
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, April 12th, 2017 - 111 comments
The defamation case against Andrew Little has been an unwelcome distraction while he should have been free to do his job as leader of the largest opposition party. The consensus is that the process delivered a qualified win for Little, and a clear win for democracy.
A basic primer on the law of defamation
Written By: - Date published: 5:58 pm, April 10th, 2017 - 133 comments
There has been some very confused reporting on the fate of Andrew Little in the Hagaman defamation trial.
National’s response to the Syria attack
Written By: - Date published: 8:06 am, April 8th, 2017 - 56 comments
Unlike the Australian and United Kingdom Governments’ response to the American attack has been muted and confused. Is this just the nature of anything that Bill English says or is it an attempt to assess public opinion before responding?
Labour’s leadership team
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, April 6th, 2017 - 40 comments
Labour’s new tactic of featuring a leadership team seems to be working well.
What does National do about English?
Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, March 27th, 2017 - 51 comments
John Key has claimed that the transfer of power from himself to Bill English was flawless and designed to ensure continuation of National’s rule. Based on the last couple of opinion poll results he should reconsider his optimism.
Andrew Little’s speech on housing
Written By: - Date published: 8:40 pm, March 16th, 2017 - 47 comments
Excellent speech from Andrew Little in Parliament yesterday, on the government’s willful blindness to the housing crisis.
- NZ Politics Daily: 8 April 2021
Vaccinations and leaked figures Jason Walls (Herald): ‘Leaked’ document shows NZ vaccine rollout is ‘miles’ behind schedule, says National Party Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Government has vaccinated a third of its original target – leaked report Rachel Sadler (Newshub): How New Zealand’s vaccine programme will ramp up, why targets aren’t being hit Kate Newton (Stuff): What does data tell us about ...1 week ago - “doing my own research” & the scientific method
This evening I was engaging in polite conversation (well, I was polite, anyway) on an RNZ Facebook post about – you guessed it! – the covid19 vaccination program. One of those present offered up a link to a blog post by Joseph Mercola to support a claim he was making ...1 week ago - Gender ideology – a summing up part 1
by Jordan Levi (Contributed) I don’t remember when I first came across the concept of gender identity, but it was definitely before Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner) came out as transgender because I’m sure that would’ve confused me way more if it was my first acquaintance with the phenomenon. The ...1 week ago - Those blind allegiances to Mammon – Profit over People, or a society where everyone has real chanc...
The fact that the much vaunted “most advanced, richest Nation on the planet, ever”, that being America, ran into a brick wall in its responses to the problems across the world of late is because, at its heart, of the economic system that we’ve all been largely forced to ...1 week ago - I now pronounce you denewedThe EPA has commenced the 2021 “denewing” of new organisms. Their New Organisms team explain what this means, and ask you to put forward your proposals. The places we inhabit are shared with thousands of different kinds of organisms. They’re in the trees, flying in the sky, in our yoghurt, ...2 weeks ago
- COVID vaccine safety – adverse events vs. adverse reactionsAs we roll out the COVID-19 vaccine across NZ there will inevitably be people who experience adverse events after getting their jab. Here are some super important things to keep in mind about adverse events following immunisation. Terminology – words matter Any event that is undesirable and follows administration of ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #14, 2021
Nature Climate Change celebrates 10 years of obfuscation The Nature Publishing Group is distinguished not only by what we're told (most of us must take somebody's word for it) are exceptionally high quality research publications but also by what some might term an outlier, extremist policy on locked-down content. In many ...2 weeks ago - One way of fixing it
How can we stop the Ministry of Health censoring and sanitising vital mental health statistics to make themselves (and Ministers) look good? Legislate for annual reporting: Green Party mental health spokeswoman Chlöe Swarbrick says the Ministry of Health should be legally required to produce a wide range of mental ...2 weeks ago - Futures snacksHere’s a few short interesting developments or discussions I’ve seen recently. Loosely bundled together in a theme of “values.” Irregular labour Is the private sector the best provider and facilitator of “gig work”? That’s challenged in a New Yorker profile of Wingham Rowan, an English social entrepreneur. For many years ...2 weeks ago
- Self-interested arse coveringIn 1997 the Law Commission reviewed the OIA. In the process, they identified a problem: decisions to transfer a request could not be investigated by the Ombudsman under the Act. They also identified a workaround: transfer decisions by agencies subject to the Ombudsmen Act could be investigated under that Act, ...2 weeks ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day, though with no particularly controversial bills up, it is likely to be a pretty boring one. First up is Maureen Pugh's Adverse Weather-affected Timber Recovery on Conservation Lands Bill, an attempt to sidestep the Forests (West Coast Accord) Act 2000 and allow the effective mining ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – An overwhelming vote of no confidence in Labour’s mental heal...The area of mental health has been a key strength for Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Government over the last few years. They campaigned strongly in 2017 on fixing up the dysfunctional system, and initially they made some vital strides forward in reforming the sector. An in-depth inquiry was instigated ...2 weeks ago
- Recreation Transition: low-carbon recreation in the mountainsBy Jamie Stewart, Federated Mountain Clubs Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC), founded in 1931, represents 96 clubs, 22,000 members and 300,000 people that regularly recreate in the New Zealand backcountry. This article first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Backcountry magazine and is reproduced with permission. (Read the original article). ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 7 April 2021Travel bubble announced with Australia Luke Malpass (Stuff): Trans-Tasman bubble brings palpable relief to Parliament Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern manages expectations over transtasman bubble (paywalled) Herald: Editorial: Bubble a significant and welcome step Jo Moir (Newshub): The public handbrake on an Aussie bubble Hannah Martin (Stuff): Public health experts welcome ‘cautious’ trans-Tasman travel bubble Tess McClure (The Guardian): Trans-Tasman travel bubble between New Zealand ...2 weeks ago
- We should not subsidise a criminal industryFishing is a criminal and environmentally destructive industry which ignores the law while corrupting our democracy. Last year, their addiction to foreign slave-labour saw them bring Covid into the country. So naturally, they're expecting us to pay for an advertising campaign to recruit more people: Taxpayers are being asked ...2 weeks ago
- Hostile to transparencyStuff had an appalling story on Sunday about the Ministry of Health's attempts to hide unflattering mental health statistics and sanitise a regular report. The report came out last week, and showed a massive increase in the use of "seclusion", a practice which has been condemned by the UN Committee ...2 weeks ago
- Send it back to Australia IIAnother unpleasant surprise at Tiwai Point: in addition to the declared stockpiles of toxic waste, they may have tens of thousands of tons secretly buried in the early 1990's to avoid the RMA: Investigators are looking into claims highly toxic waste has been buried in unmapped sites at Tiwai ...2 weeks ago
- Afraid of a trans-Tasman bubbleThis morning the government is deciding on the start-date for a trans-Tasman travel bubble. Note the way that that's phrased: the existence of such a bubble is taken as a given, and the only question is how to implement it. Obviously, we're going to have to re-open the borders eventually, ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 6 April 2021Mental health crisis Kyle MacDonald (Herald): Jacinda Ardern has failed us on mental health – and it’s only going to get worse(paywalled) Henry Cooke (Stuff): ‘A lot of data and negative statistics’: Inside the battle behind dramatic edits and huge delays to a Government mental health report Tess McClure (The Guardian): New Zealand mental health crisis has worsened ...2 weeks ago
- Insufficiently Qualified To Object: Why Labour Ministers Can Be Lied To With Impunity.
Qualified To Give - And Take - Advice: Most Labour MPs are self-conscious members of the meritocracy, meaning they have succeeded where the vast majority of their fellow citizens have failed. The primary political obligation, understood by all members of the First Labour Government, was to listen to the people. ...2 weeks ago - Suez Canal shutdown shows the vulnerability of the global economy to extreme eventsThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters, PhD A critical global shipping node – Egypt’s Suez Canal – was reopened on Monday, March 29, six days after being shut down when the 400-meter-long container ship Ever Given became lodged in the canal. A statement by the Suez ...2 weeks ago
- “Red, Red Whines” (With Apologies To Neil Diamond and UB40)Red, red whines.That’s all you’ll hear.Not like those glory daysWhen we would cheer. Red, red whines.If it were up to us,We'd make a proper jobOf transforming the world. We would beMore than kind.Offer so much more than spin.Makes us sadWhen we findThere’s so much you won’t begin. Red, red whines.Now ...2 weeks ago
- A Bigger Impact: Class Still Trumps Race – At least In The UK.Worlds Apart: According to the report of the British Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: “family structure and social class had a bigger impact than race on how people’s lives turned out”. These are not the sort of findings that New Zealand fighters against "White Supremacy" and "Colonisation" are eager ...2 weeks ago
- Chocolate’s secret ingredient is the fermenting microbes that make it taste so goodCaitlin Clark, Colorado State University Whether baked as chips into a cookie, melted into a sweet warm drink or molded into the shape of a smiling bunny, chocolate is one of the world’s most universally consumed foods. Even the biggest chocolate lovers, though, might not recognize what this ancient food ...2 weeks ago
- The Game Is Afoot: Ranking Sherlock Holmes Stories
Since December 2020, I have been working my way through Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s corpus of Sherlock Holmes stories, in order of publication.
As of today I have managed to finish this adventure ... 2 weeks ago - 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #13Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 28, 2021 through Sat, Apr 3, 2021 The three apparently most popular posts on our Facebook page this week were John Cook's 23 Ways to Mislead (and how to spot them), Stanton Glantz' blog post ...2 weeks ago
- Bloodlines.2 weeks ago
- Minimum Wage? Property Investors? Don’t Touch Our Profits
It has never ceased to surprise me that those who profit at the expense of others are so unaware of the harm suffered by those they exploit, and are so convinced that they have a right to do the exploiting and that their profit is a proper and justifiable reward ...2 weeks ago - Taxing Questions About Taxing Housing
The government’s recent housing package may work; will it do enough?Trick Question: Does New Zealand have a capital gains tax on housing? If you ask the Prime Minister she will say not. It is true that her government is increasing the scope of the ‘bright-line test’ on non-family homes to ...2 weeks ago - Clock is running on our reliance on vegetation as a steady 'carbon sink'This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Kristen Pope Trees and other plants have been critical in helping to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. But newly published scientific findings suggest the clock may be running on vegetation’s forever continuing at the same carbon sink efficiency rate currently ...2 weeks ago
- In celebration of: Mr David Seymour
Today is the goodest of Fridays. What better way to celebrate a day off work when everything is closed to honour one of the greatest minds ever to nestle his parliamentary buttocks one of those gigantic green seats in the debating chamber. Ladies and gentlement I give you… Mr David ...2 weeks ago - Legal Beagle: A submission on the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Cla...
Below, for those interested, I copy my submission on the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Classification of Publications and Prevention of Online Harm) Amendment Bill.This is the government bill aiming to create a mandatory Internet filter. The bill is largely unnecessary, but in parts not as bad as people ...2 weeks ago - Five ways fish are more like humans than you realiseMatt Parker, University of Portsmouth You’ve probably heard that fish have a three-second memory, or that they’re incapable of feeling pain. Neither of these statements is true, but it’s telling that these misconceptions don’t crop up for other vertebrates. Perhaps it’s because fish appear so different from us. They don’t ...2 weeks ago
- This is on ArdernSo, corporate pillager Ron Brierley has plead guilty to possession of child pornography, and there are obvious calls for him to be stripped of his feudal honour (awarded in the 80's for services to his own banak balance). When faced with such calls in the past, the government has hidden ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand The Way THEY Deserve It.Rage, Rage, And The Crying Of The Right: Retributive populism is founded on the principle that the past was better than the present: and that unless there is a strong and unapologetic reassertion of the values and policies that dignified the past, then the nation’s steady decline will persist into ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – The Missing part of the Govt housing package – state buildsJacinda Ardern can essentially say “kia kaha” as much as she wants to those at the bottom of the housing market, but it won’t help their plight. Eventually her government is going to have to take state housing seriously as a tool for helping solve the housing crisis – especially ...2 weeks ago
- March ’21 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking
Image credit: What is the best way to get free traffic to my blog? I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog ... 2 weeks ago - 2021 Reading Log: March (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for March: The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleThe Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleThe Valley of Fear, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Another quiet month ... 2 weeks ago - NZ Politics Daily: 1 April 2021Housing crisis John Bishop (Stuff): Are speculators really the problem? Isn’t it the lack of houses? Daniel Dunkley (Stuff): Here’s why rental controls aren’t the answer Hannah Kronast (Newshub): Government could implement rental hike caps if necessary but it’s unlikely to be anytime soon – expert Brian Fallow (Herald): Who’ll feel the property pinch from Govt’s tax changes? (paywalled) Ashley Church ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12, 2021Short sharp slap In the world of child psychology it's agreed that smacking youngsters isn't productive even as a slap certainly fixes attention. Our planet is notionally governed by proclaimed adults however and perhaps the psychology is different in this context. Perhaps an unmistakable signal will help to change attitudes. In ...2 weeks ago
- Long-lost and Psychedelic: Khraniteli, the Soviet Fellowship of the Ring (1991)
It might just be me, but there are few things more exciting than the rediscovery of art previously thought lost. Even if it isn’t particularly great art, there is still the thrill of notching up a victory for human knowledge against the inevitable sands of time. There is a ...3 weeks ago - the strange case of the headless sea slugAutotomy. There’s a word you don’t see every day – but those familiar with lizards may well have seen the result. For autotomy is the scientific name for what I suppose we could also call “self-amputation”: the process whereby an animal deliberately sheds a part of its body (a tail, ...3 weeks ago
- A Potemkin reviewNitrates are a serious public health threat, posing a risk of death for babies and a long-term risk of bowel cancer for adults. Farmers are currently spewing them into the water table via fertiliser and dirty dairying, poisoning drinking water across Canterbury and threatening the drinking water of our second-largest ...3 weeks ago
- Biden's executive orders on climate have broad public supportThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gary Yohe, Henry Jacoby, Ben Santer, and Richard Richels Governing from the White House by executive actions – whether by executive orders or variations thereon – has its pluses and minuses. Executive orders, for instance, can help get past rigid partisan opposition and ...3 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 31 March 2021Housing crisis Claire Robinson (The Guardian): Backlash to Labour’s housing policy has exposed signs of internal party disarray Graham Adams (Democracy Project): Housing – Ardern’s divide-and-rule tactics Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): National’s failure on housing risks making the party irrelevant Henry Cooke (Stuff): Public housing waitlist hits new record of 22,803 as new builds slow in January Zane Small (Newshub): Have rents ‘tended to ...3 weeks ago
- Hiding In Plain Sight.Massey's Cossacks: New Zealand's employer class didn't need the services of a Pinkerton Detective Agency – strike-breakers par excellence in the service of US industrial titans like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Not when the strapping sons of Waikato and Wairarapa cockies could be quietly trained and organised by ...3 weeks ago
- Think of the Kiwis: Boycotting Cadbury’s Chocolate
It’s an interesting one. Earlier this year, Cadbury’s Chocolate managed to get itself offside with religious fundamentalists over an advertisement showing gay men eating a creme egg: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/religious-group-calls-cadbury-boycott-19695916 Now, a cynic might suggest that ... 3 weeks ago - The secret life of puddles: their value to nature is subtle, but hugely importantGregory Moore, The University of Melbourne It’s official: Australians endured the coldest, wettest summer in at least five years thanks to La Niña, a climate phenomenon over the Pacific Ocean. Before we knew it, autumn rolled in bringing more rain. Tragically, it led to widespread flooding across New South Wales, ...3 weeks ago
- MFAT has no conscienceRNZ reports that hot on the heels of approving weapons exports to saudi Arabia, MFAT was also approving weapons exports to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia's partner in committing war crimes in Yemen: New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) approved export permits for military equipment ...3 weeks ago
- Ireland: People Before Profit Party society at university in Galway calls for ‘no-platforming’ o...
by Orla Ní Chomhraí In 1946 George Orwell wrote: “Fifteen years ago, when one defended the freedom of the intellect, one had to defend it against Conservatives, against Catholics, and to some extent — for they were not of great importance in England — against Fascists. Today one has to ...3 weeks ago - Problematique: Immoral casting of a cis actor is violent, dangerous and evil but brings new awakenin...SATIRE by Remy Beethey/them, demigender, queer, white priv. In a stunning and brave turn the Court Theatre in Christchurch has decided to completely change how it casts plays. The awakening came when Christchurch’s Court Theatre got called out by queer activist, agender Rosemary Mitford-Taylor after casting a cis actor to play ...3 weeks ago
- Graham Adams: Housing – Ardern’s divide-and-rule tacticsThe government shifts blame for its own failings onto landlords South Auckland councillor Efeso Collins remarked early this month that Jacinda Ardern had abandoned the collegiality of “the team of five million” and entered her “post-kindness phase” after she blamed South Aucklanders for sparking an unpopular week-long lockdown. Casting ...3 weeks ago
- To ensure success of the trans-Tasman travel “green zone”, we need to reduce system failures at ...Dr Leah Grout, Dr Jennifer Summers, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Nick Wilson While succeeding very well with its elimination strategy, NZ still does not have optimal border control. We find since July 2020 there have been 13 identified border failures and at least 6 internal MIQ facility ...3 weeks ago
- Where are all the four-leaf clovers? And what does that have to do with learning to code?By Monica Vallender, Master’s student with AgResearch Invermay and the University of Otago. A few months ago, while home for the Christmas break, my mother – out of the blue – turned to me and asked, “what made you actually decide you wanted to go to university and study science?” ...3 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 30 March 2021Housing: Crisis and government announcements Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Pride and Property, an Austentatious tale Sasha Borissenko (Herald): What property does the PM and our MPs own? (paywalled) Chris Trotter (Interest): Has Labour embraced ‘Muldoonism’? Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Pride and Property, an Austentatious tale Geof Nightingale (BusinessDesk): Housing: Of loopholes and unwelcome new rules Steven Cowan: Market madness and non solutions to the housing ...3 weeks ago
- Challenging climate change in the courtsOne of the innovations of the Zero Carbon Act was a clause specifically allowing public bodies (or bodies performing public functions) to consider climate change targets and reduction plans in their decision-making. It was phrased as a "permissive consideration": they didn't have to. But as we've seen from the Thames-Coromandel ...3 weeks ago
- New Zealand needs urgent action to tackle the frightening rise and cost of type 2 diabetesJim Mann, University of Otago Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in New Zealand and will get much worse unless action is taken now, according to a new report on the economic and social cost of the disease. Already 228,000 New Zealanders (4.7% of the population) have type 2 ...3 weeks ago
- Another climate strikeSchool Strike 4 Climate has announced another climate strike for April 9th, and invited everyone to join them in standing up against climate change. As before there will be events all over the country, and you can find yours on their strike map. Personally, I'm nervous about protesting during a ...3 weeks ago
- Shorter stays in the ED thanks to COVID-19Early last year the expected influx of patients with COVID-19 to emergency departments (ED) in New Zealand required rapid preparation. Many questions needed answering quickly – such as, where will we put all the patients? How will we separate highly likely COVID-19 patients from less likely COVID-19 patients? How will we allocate ...3 weeks ago
- Infiltrating extremism.
Preamble When I got my Ph.D. I was given an extraordinary opportunity to create a Latin American Studies program for US intelligence officers. My then father-in-law (a retired FBI agent and Legal Attache) knew a retired CIA guy who had links to the Naval Postgraduate School, where the program was ...3 weeks ago - The Adventures of Annalax: Volume XX
Session forty-one. We came across a larger town, without much in the ways of shops (bloody backwoods Imperio). On the other hand, they were more than willing to take part in an archery competition against Elknel… which Annalax obligingly rigged in favour of his fellow Drow (a few ...3 weeks ago - Has Labour Embraced “Muldoonism”?The Spectre Haunting The New Zealand Initiative: “The worst of Muldoonism is back in New Zealand politics. It is a morass of ad hoc interventions and spiralling public debt. We know how that ended last time.” The New Zealand Initiative – like the Business Roundtable, from whose forehead it burst ...3 weeks ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 29 March 2021Housing Bryce Edwards (Democracy Project): Political Roundup – Housing announcement a blow for those at the bottom Hayden Donnell (RNZ) Investor-economist alliance dominates media’s housing response Jack Tame (Newstalk ZB): Housing changes are a gamble Greg Jericho (The Guardian): New Zealand’s housing market is even worse than Australia. But at least their government is taking action Peter Wilson (RNZ): Week in Politics: Property speculators ...3 weeks ago
- Continued investment in Central Otago schools supports roll growth
Six projects, collectively valued at over $70 million are delivering new schools, classrooms and refurbished buildings across Central Otago and are helping to ease the pressure of growing rolls in the area, says Education Minister Chris Hipkins. The National Education Growth Plan is making sure that sufficient capacity in the ...1 week ago - Two more Christchurch schools completeTwo more schools are now complete as part of the Christchurch Schools Rebuild Programme, with work about to get under way on another, says Education Minister Chris Hipkins. Te Ara Koropiko – West Spreydon School will welcome students to their new buildings for the start of Term 2. The newly ...1 week ago
- Independent experts to advise Government on post-vaccination futureThe Government is acting to ensure decisions on responding to the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic are informed by the best available scientific evidence and strategic public health advice. “New Zealand has worked towards an elimination strategy which has been successful in keeping our people safe and our economy ...1 week ago
- Supporting Māori success with Ngārimu AwardsSix Māori scholars have been awarded Ngārimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial scholarships for 2021, Associate Education Minister and Ngārimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The prestigious Manakura Award was also presented for the first time since 2018. “These awards are a tribute to the heroes of the 28th ...2 weeks ago
- Global partnerships propel space tech researchNew Zealand’s aerospace industry is getting a boost through the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), to grow the capability of the sector and potentially lead to joint space missions, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has announced. 12 New Zealand organisations have been chosen to work with world-leading experts at ...2 weeks ago
- Government backs more initiatives to boost food and fibre workforceThe Government is backing more initiatives to boost New Zealand’s food and fibre sector workforce, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “The Government and the food and fibres sector have been working hard to fill critical workforce needs. We've committed to getting 10,000 more Kiwis into the sector over the ...2 weeks ago
- Minister welcomes Bill to remove Subsequent Child PolicyMinister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the Social Security (Subsequent Child Policy Removal) Amendment Bill in the House this evening. “Tonight’s first reading is another step on the way to removing excessive sanctions and obligations for people receiving a Main Benefit,” says ...2 weeks ago
- Mental Health Amendment Bill passes first readingThe Government has taken a significant step towards delivering on its commitment to improve the legislation around mental health as recommended by He Ara Oranga – the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment ...2 weeks ago
- Whenua Māori Rating Amendment Bill passes third readingLocal Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has welcomed the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Bill passing its third reading today. “After nearly 100 years of a system that was not fit for Māori and did not reflect the partnership we have come to expect between Māori and the Crown, ...2 weeks ago
- Trans-Tasman bubble to start 19 AprilNew Zealand’s successful management of COVID means quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will start on Monday 19 April, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed the conditions for starting to open up quarantine free travel with Australia have ...2 weeks ago
- Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill passes Third ReadingMinister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little welcomed ngā uri o Ngāti Hinerangi to Parliament today to witness the third reading of their Treaty settlement legislation, the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill. “I want to acknowledge ngā uri o Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown negotiations teams for working tirelessly ...2 weeks ago
- Independent group announced to advise on firearms mattersMinister of Police Poto Williams has announced the members of the Ministers Arms Advisory Group, established to ensure balanced advice to Government on firearms that is independent of Police. “The Ministers Arms Advisory Group is an important part of delivering on the Government’s commitment to ensure we maintain the balance ...2 weeks ago
- Kiri Allan to take leave of absenceKiri Allan, Minister of Conservation and Emergency Management will undertake a leave of absence while she undergoes medical treatment for cervical cancer, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “I consider Kiri not just a colleague, but a friend. This news has been devastating. But I also know that Kiri is ...2 weeks ago
- Excellent progress at new Waikeria prison buildExcellent progress has been made at the new prison development at Waikeria, which will boost mental health services and improve rehabilitation opportunities for people in prison, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. Kelvin Davis was onsite at the new build to meet with staff and see the construction first-hand, following a ...2 weeks ago
- Expert panel proposes criminal limits for drug drivingTo reduce the trauma of road crashes caused by drug impaired drivers, an Independent Expert Panel on Drug Driving has proposed criminal limits and blood infringement thresholds for 25 impairing drugs, Minister of Police Poto Williams and Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill ...2 weeks ago
- Covid-19 immigration powers to be extendedTemporary COVID-19 immigration powers will be extended to May 2023, providing continued flexibility to support migrants, manage the border, and help industries facing labour shortages, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Over the past year, we have had to make rapid decisions to vary visa conditions, extend expiry dates, and ...2 weeks ago
- Covid-19 imgration powers to be extendedTemporary COVID-19 immigration powers will be extended to May 2023, providing continued flexibility to support migrants, manage the border, and help industries facing labour shortages, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Over the past year, we have had to make rapid decisions to vary visa conditions, extend expiry dates, and ...2 weeks ago
- More support for mums and whānau struggling with alcohol and other drugsThe Government is expanding its Pregnancy and Parenting Programme so more women and whānau can access specialist support to minimise harm from alcohol and other drugs, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “We know these supports help improve wellbeing and have helped to reduce addiction, reduced risk for children, and helped ...2 weeks ago
- Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition Field Day – Tātaiwhetū Trust at Tauarau Marae, Rūātoki*** Please check against delivery *** It’s an honour to be here in Rūātoki today, a rohe with such a proud and dynamic history of resilience, excellence and mana. Tūhoe moumou kai, moumou taonga, moumou tangata ki te pō. The Ahuwhenua Trophy competition is the legacy of a seed planted ...2 weeks ago
- Crown accounts again better than forecastThe economic recovery from COVID-19 continues to be reflected in the Government’s books, which are again better than expected. The Crown accounts for the eight months to the end of February 2021 showed both OBEGAL and the operating balance remain better than forecast in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal ...2 weeks ago
- FIFA Women’s World Cup to open in New ZealandSport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson and Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash have welcomed confirmation New Zealand will host the opening ceremony and match, and one of the semi-finals, of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. Grant Robertson says matches will be held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin, ...2 weeks ago
- 1 April changes raise incomes for 1.4 million New ZealandersChanges to the minimum wage, main benefit levels and superannuation rates that come into force today will raise the incomes for around 1.4 million New Zealanders. “This Government is committed to raising the incomes for all New Zealanders as part of laying the foundations for a better future,” Minister for ...2 weeks ago
- New Dunedin Hospital – Whakatuputupu approved for fast track consenting processThe New Dunedin Hospital – Whakatuputupu has been approved for consideration under the fast track consenting legislation. The decision by Environment Minister David Parker signifies the importance of the project to the health of the people of Otago-Southland and to the economy of the region. “This project ticks all the ...2 weeks ago
- Next steps for Auckland light railTransport Minister Michael Wood is getting Auckland light rail back on track with the announcement of an establishment unit to progress this important city-shaping project and engage with Aucklanders. Michael Wood said the previous process didn’t involve Aucklanders enough. ...3 weeks ago
- Tourism fund to prioritise hard-hit regionsThe Minister of Tourism is to re-open a government fund that supports councils to build infrastructure for visitors, with a specific focus on regions hardest hit by the loss of overseas tourists. “Round Five of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund will open for applications next month,” said Stuart Nash. It ...3 weeks ago
- Governance Group to lead next phase of work on a potential new public media entityA Governance Group of eight experts has been appointed to lead the next phase of work on a potential new public media entity, Minister for Broadcasting and Media Kris Faafoi announced today. “The Governance Group will oversee the development of a business case to consider the viability of a new ...3 weeks ago
- New funding to keep tamariki and rangatahi Māori activeMinister for Māori Development Willie Jackson today helped launch a new fund to provide direct financial support for tamariki and rangatahi Māori throughout the South Island who is experiencing financial hardship and missing out on physical activity opportunities. “Through Te Kīwai Fund, we can offer more opportunities for Māori to ...3 weeks ago
- Single tāne, sole parent dads supported into papakāinga housingSix whānau in Pāpāmoa receive the keys to their brand-new rental homes today, in stage four of a papakāinga project providing safe and affordable housing in the regions. Minister for Māori Development, Willie Jackson congratulates Mangatawa Pāpāmoa Blocks Incorporated on the opening of three affordable rentals and three social housing ...3 weeks ago
- Speech to Disarmament and Security CentreKia ora tatou. It’s great to be here today and to get a conversation going on the disarmament issues of greatest interest to you, and to the Government. I’m thrilled to be standing here as a dedicated Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, which I hope reinforces for you all ...3 weeks ago
- Govt offers more mental health and addiction support in Hawke’s BayThe Government has announced a new support service for people in Hawke’s Bay who are experiencing, or at risk of, mental health and addiction crisis, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Providing better services for people experiencing mental health or addiction issues is a priority for this government. When people are ...3 weeks ago
- Te whakauka i te ao toi, te ahurea me ngā taongaNā te Minita Manatū Taonga, a Carmel Sepuloni ngā kōrero i tuku i tēnei rangi mō te wāhanga tuatahi o te tononga pūtea Hinonga Toi, tētahi tahua pūtea hei tautoko i ngā whakaaro taikaha o te ao toi. Ko te hōtaka hinonga nei e tukua atu ana mā ētahi hui ...3 weeks ago
- Future-proofing arts, culture and heritage sector to adapt and thriveMinister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni today announced the details of the first round of the Cultural Sector Innovation Fund, which includes a new approach to supporting bold ideas. The Innovation Fund will be delivered through a nationwide series of events called Te Urungi: Innovating Aotearoa. This will ...3 weeks ago
- Increased support for youth impacted by COVID-19Around 4,000 young New Zealanders negatively impacted by COVID-19 will get support to stay engaged or re-engage in their education journey, Minister for Youth Priyanca Radhakrishnan announced today. The Ākonga Youth Development Community Fund – Strengthening Ākonga Resilience to Achieve Better Outcomes was set up in November last year as ...3 weeks ago
- STEM success sees growth in Toloa programmeMore Pasifika are embracing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities, paving a pathway to educational success, says Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. Now in its sixth year, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) Toloa Programme is achieving its goal of helping Pacific Aotearoa to thrive. “Our aim ...3 weeks ago
- 2021 Waitangi Tribunal Members’ Conference Speech*** please check against delivery *** Commitment resolute during a challenging time Tēnā rā koutou katoa, it is my honour to be here today to address members of the Waitangi Tribunal. Since my fellow colleague, Minister Nanaia Mahuta, stood before you three years ago no one would have imagined a ...3 weeks ago
- Speech to the Palmerston North Housing Forum 2021Tena koutou te hau kainga Rangitāne tena koutou Nga mate huhua o te waa, haere haere haere atu ra Hoki mai kia tatou te kanohi ora e tau nei, Tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te Rā. No reira, tēnā koutou, ...3 weeks ago
- Speech to Palmerston North Housing Forum 2021Tena koutou te hau kainga Rangitāne tena koutou Nga mate huhua o te waa, haere haere haere atu ra Hoki mai kia tatou te kanohi ora e tau nei, Tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te Rā. No reira, tēnā ...3 weeks ago
- Government supports new programme to lead New Zealand’s plant protein sector developmentThe Government is partnering with Leaft Foods on a $20 million research and development programme that could put New Zealand on the map as a leading leaf protein concentrate producer. Through its Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund, the Ministry for Primary Industries is contributing $8 million to the five-year ...3 weeks ago
- Government backs waste tyre initiativeA manufacturing plant upgrade that uses waste tyres as fuel will have a big impact on one of New Zealand’s waste problems. Environment Minister David Parker today officially opens the plant at Golden Bay Cement in Whangarei, which uses old tyres to fuel Golden Bay Cement's kiln. The Government has ...3 weeks ago
- Boosting Māori and Pasifika midwifery workforceA new initiative that aims to retain and attract more Māori and Pasifika midwives into the profession has been launched. Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall made the announcement at the Auckland University of Technology campus today. “There is undoubtedly pressure on midwives around the country. For too long ...3 weeks ago
- Newsroom's daily sudoku, Friday 16 April
...2 days ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 16 April
...2 days ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 16 April
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...2 days ago - Beware the great suburban backlash of 2022
A suburban ratepayers revolt against the rates and debt hikes needed for affordable apartments and pedestrian-friendly CBDs could wreck the government’s carbon zero and housing affordability plans before they’re off the drawing boards.In the latest episode of When the Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks to Wellington city councillor Tamatha Paul ...2 days ago - Post-Covid Hospitality Industry Must Clean Up Its Act – Unite Union
If the hospitality industry wants public and government support for a pandemic recovery, it must clean up its employment act according to Unite Union. What was already a bad situation became much worse as zero hour contracts, illegal pay cuts, cancelled ...2 days ago - Bubbles nearly as good as the trans-Tasman bubble, rankedThis time next week, we will be a bubble of 30 million. That’s a big bubble. But is it the best? We rank other impressive bubbles through the ages.The trans-Tasman bubble is a big one, but we’re determined not to pop it. This could be the best bubble we’ve seen ...2 days ago
- Rod Oram: Saving our land from ourselves
The latest study on how we are using and abusing our urban and rural land is confronting reading. Rod Oram argues we must wise up now or suffer the consequences. ...2 days ago - A night train could help break public sector's addiction to air travel
When even the Energy Efficiency Authority's emissions are dominated by air travel, it doesn't bode well. So there's a push to bring back the night train. ...2 days ago - Mask mistake puts border staff at risk
Airport border workers are being sent to the Covid front line wearing the wrong masks. They just don't know it. ...2 days ago - There's no such thing as a cheap lunch, as prices begin to rise
You're paying 4.8% more for lunch this year, new stats show. Fruit, ready-to-eat meals, cars, petrol and rents – prices are beginning to rise. ...2 days ago - Up to three years in prison for hate speech under reforms
Hate speech offences will be moved to the crimes act and could be penalised with three years' imprisonment, according to a Cabinet paper on the long-awaited reforms. ...2 days ago - Mixed media – how the RNZ and TVNZ merger might work
The biggest shift in public broadcasting is being mulled over by a government-appointed group. But is such a unification desirable, or even necessary? In January 2020, RNZ Concert listeners were shellshocked to learn of plans to shift the classical music station to an AM frequency, and use its existing frequency ...2 days ago - Grattan on Friday: Christine Holgate gets her own bully pulpit – and uses it to effect
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan, juggling a couple of committee engagements, hadn’t planned to attend Tuesday’s hearing at which former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate appeared. But party elder Ron Boswell was insistent, telling Canavan ...2 days ago - Incomplete strategy and niche contributions — Australia leaves Afghanistan after 20 yearsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared Australia will withdraw its remaining 80 troops from Afghanistan by September, marking the end of its longest involvement in a war. This follows President Joe ...2 days ago
- Covid-19 committee carry-on catches Labour lacking
Power Play - Some of Labour's backbenchers did little to cover themselves with glory this week with their behaviour - a red flag for the still fresh majority government. ...2 days ago - Politics with Michelle Grattan: Matt Canavan on Holgate, Di Bartolomeo, and John AndersenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate has given evidence to a Senate inquiry into her dramatic exit from Australia Post. Holgate left her position last year, when the prime minister denounced her in parliament for ...2 days ago
- There’s a mental health emergency happening in South Australia. We need a radical overhaulSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Musker, Senior Research Fellow, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute While all eyes are on Australia’s severely faltering vaccine rollout, in South Australia the public health system is in a state of turmoil. Former Central Adelaide Local Health Network mental ...2 days ago
- As the US plans its Afghan troop withdrawal, what was it all for?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Senior Advisor, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney Unlike most US presidents, Joe Biden did not come to the White House with many fixed ideological positions. He did, however, come with fixed values. Chief among them is understanding how US ...2 days ago
- Smokefree 2025: Incremental age limit among proposalsPeople now under 18 could be banned from ever buying cigarettes, while the older generation will be able to smoke to the grave, as part of a proposal to cut off supply to new smokers and phase out tobacco sales. ...3 days ago
- MIQ security guard's testing hiatus: Ardern maintains company, guard to blamePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has conceded her language was "a bit blunt" when she called an MIQ guard a liar, but maintains he and his employer bear some responsibility for the latest testing failure. ...3 days ago
- Does She Know She's PM?“The Prime Minister should take some personal responsibility when things go wrong, instead of throwing members of the public under a bus." says ACT Leader David Seymour. “The Government has extreme powers to keep us safe from COVID, but the ...3 days ago
- Japan is facing a fourth COVID wave and sluggish vaccine rollout. Will it be ready for the Olympics?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Mark, Professor, Faculty of International Studies, Kyoritsu Women’s University As a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic worsens in Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga faces a formidable challenge to successfully host the increasingly beleaguered Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, with less ...3 days ago
- Australian troops to leave Afghanistan by SeptemberSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia will pull its remaining 80 troops from Afghanistan by September, marking the end of its longest involvement in a war. This is in line with the announcement by United States President Joe Biden of ...3 days ago
- Business is Boring: The social enterprise helping create more social enterprisesIn this week’s episode, Simon Pound talks to Louise Aitken, CEO of the Ākina Foundation, about how they’re helping social enterprises grow.Social enterprises are some of my favourite things in business. The idea that a business could be about more than just shareholder value, that it is part of a ...3 days ago
- Floods can worsen inequality. Here are 4 ways we can ensure people with disabilities aren’t left b...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodie Bailie, Research Fellow, The University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney Disasters like flooding can worsen social inequalities around health and housing. For people with disability, however, the effect can be especially profound. Research led by the University of Sydney’s ...3 days ago
- PODCAST: Buchanan and Manning on Why Regional Powers are Provoking Flash-Points to WarA View from Afar: In this week’s podcast Selwyn Manning and Paul Buchanan debate: Why regional powers including Russia, Israel, Iran are willing to provoke flash-points that risk triggering a wider war. Background: In recent weeks, Israel is suspected of espionage destroying an Iranian reactor. Iran has threatened retaliation. And ...3 days ago
- How safe are your data when you book a COVID vaccine?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joan Henderson, Senior Research Fellow (Hon). Editor, Health Information Management Journal (HIMJ), University of Sydney The Australian government has appointed the commercial company HealthEngine to establish a national booking system for COVID-19 vaccinations. Selected through a Department of Health limited select tender ...3 days ago
- Brittany Higgins’ memoir will join a powerful Australian collection reclaiming women’s stories o...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, PhD Candidate, Flinders University Brittany Higgins has signed a book deal with Penguin Random House Australia. Not just any book — a memoir. Higgins says her book will be a chance to tell “a firsthand account of what it was ...3 days ago
- Bringing Moana Pasifika into Super Rugby makes sense – but it won’t be easyThere’s been jubilation at the news that the Pacific Island team is to join next year’s Super Rugby contest. But adding another New Zealand-based team won’t be quite as straightforward as it seems, warns Jamie Wall.Things got a little emotional yesterday at NZ Rugby’s Auckland HQ when Sir Bryan Williams, ...3 days ago
- Report Lays Bare The Dire Consequences Of Govt’s Lax Approach To Dairying – GreenpeaceA Ministry for the Environment report released today shows the widespread scale of destruction caused by intensive dairying, says Greenpeace. The report, Our Land 2021 , details the decline of soil and freshwater health, and examines the climate ...3 days ago
- Did somebody say workers’ rights? Three big questions about Menulog’s employment planSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Barratt, Lecturer, Centre for Work + Wellbeing, Edith Cowan University Menulog, Australia’s second-largest food ordering and delivery platform, has declared it will break with the standard “gig platform” business model and engage some of its couriers as employees, not independent contractors. ...3 days ago
- If bullying can happen to Christine Holgate at the highest level, then what happens to other women a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nareen Young, Industry Professor, Jumbunna Institute of Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney The spotlight is once again on bullying and unfair treatment at work. Former Australia Post CEO, Christine Holgate, this week said she had been “bullied out of my ...3 days ago
- Govt’s Smokefree Plan Overlooks Vaping AlternativeThe Government’s discussion document on ‘Proposals For A Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan’ alarmingly reveals there’s little intention to elevate vaping as a much safer and cheaper alternative to smoking, says a leading tobacco harm reduction ...3 days ago
- Prisoners with a flair for kapa haka are among the beneficiaries of the govt’s latest efforts to p...
Our Beehive bulletin Enhancing the wellbeing of people banged up in our prisons was the subject of one Beehive announcement yesterday. Enhancing the wellbeing of farm animals was the subject of another. And enhancing the wellbeing of all of us by protecting us from terrorists was the subject of a ...3 days ago - LAW COMMISSION PROPOSES CHANGES TO SUCCESSION LAWTe Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission is proposing changes to succession law, which addresses who inherits a person’s property when they die. In an issues paper and a consultation website released today, the Commission has identified some ...3 days ago
- Why the late 90s and early 00s was NZ’s golden age of reality TVFrom Flatmates to Popstars to Celebrity Treasure Island, New Zealand reality television was at its best when nobody really knew what they were doing. José Barbosa looks back wistfully and wonders: can we ever get that magic back?I don’t know about you, but I remember the late 90s and early ...3 days ago
- A beginner’s guide to the minimum wageOur beginner’s guides are quick and simple explainers on everyday money topics hitting headlines right now. This week, we take a look at the new $20 minimum wage.What is the minimum wage and where did it come from?The minimum wage is the lowest amount of money employers can legally pay ...3 days ago
- Internet Safety Company Welcomes Move To Empower Users To Protect ThemselvesInternet safety company Safe Surfer has commended Kiwibank for being the first bank to introduce a feature that lets customers block payments to gambling sites. Safe Surfer CEO and co-founder Rory Birkbeck says Kiwibank’s move to let ...3 days ago
- New report warns that we’re building over our food basketThe 2021 Our Land report has raised serious warnings about our most productive food-growing land being turned over to housing. Alex Braae explains.What’s all this then?The environment ministry and Stats NZ have produced a new report called Our Land, which outlines exactly what New Zealand’s land is being used for, ...3 days ago
- MFE Enviro Report Says Food Production Must ChangeThe Ministry for the Environment’s latest environmental report presents a damning indictment of the way food is produced in New Zealand. “The Ministry for the Environment has told the country in plain terms the way we farm is eroding the foundations of ...3 days ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 15 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily. Today’s content Live animal export ban Stuff: Editorial – The tide goes out on animal exports Luke Malpass ...3 days ago
- More Tar, More Tax: Reduced-nicotine Proposal Will Make People Smoke More...3 days ago
- Christchurch terrorist holds off on fresh legal challenge in court
*This story first appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. The man convicted of the Christchurch mosque shootings has held off from initiating a judicial review of his prison conditions, and designation as a terrorist entity. He was due to represent himself in a fresh legal challenge at ...3 days ago - O’Connor opts for a ban on exports of live beasts (rather than tighter regulations) to demonstrate...
Commodities are leading the global economic recovery. International demand for grains, dairy and forestry products is extremely strong – driven primarily by increased demand from China, ANZ Bank economists say in their latest NZ Agri Focus. Dairy markets shot up in March, driven by strong buying from China, among challenging ...3 days ago - A system that can be hacked by lying is not a good systemYesterday Jacinda Ardern angrily declared that an MIQ worker had lied. That should not be a sufficiently sophisticated technique to get around our border defences, argues Duncan Greive.It emerged yesterday that “case B” in the small yet still concerning cluster of Covid-19 cases related to the Grand Millennium Hotel in ...3 days ago
- Comic of the Month: School Demons by Indira NevilleThe Spinoff, in conjunction with Daylight Creative and Copyright Licensing New Zealand, is proud to announce a new monthly slot for great one-off comics by a rotating cast of New Zealand comic creators. Below, Toby Morris introduces the series and our first artist, Indira Neville.I’m a huge believer in comics. ...3 days ago
- Dunne Speaks: National Does Not Need Another Kamikaze LeaderThe absolute last thing the National Party should be considering right now is another change in leadership – its third in less than a year were it to happen in the next few months. National has far more pressing tasks at hand. To have any prospect of ...3 days ago
- It’s not how big your laser is, it’s how you use it: space law is an important part of the fight...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Freeland, Professorial Fellow, Bond University / Emeritus Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University, Western Sydney University Space is getting crowded. More than 100 million tiny pieces of debris are spinning in Earth orbit, along with tens of thousands of bigger ...3 days ago
- Indigenous deaths in custody: inquests can be sites of justice or administrative violenceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Whittaker, Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and/or images of deceased people. Five Aboriginal people have died in custody in the last month in Australia. It’s been 30 ...3 days ago
- 3 mRNA vaccines researchers are working on (that aren’t COVID)Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archa Fox, Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, University of Western Australia The world’s first mRNA vaccines — the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna — have made it in record time from the laboratory, through successful clinical trials, regulatory approval and ...3 days ago
- ‘Failure is not an option’: after a lost decade on climate action, the 2020s offer one last chan...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University In May 2011, almost precisely a decade ago, the government-appointed Climate Commission released its inaugural report. Titled The Critical Decade, the report’s final section warned that to keep global ...3 days ago
- Sydney’s disastrous flood wasn’t unprecedented, and we can expect more major floods in just 10 y...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Hubble, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Last month’s flood in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River region of western Sydney peaked at a staggering 12.9 metres, with water engulfing road signs and reaching the tops of many houses. There hasn’t been a major flood ...3 days ago
- The government keeps shelving plans to bring international students back to Australia. It owes them ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ziguras, Professor of Global Studies, RMIT University Victorian universities recently re-proposed a previously conceived plan to get international students back under a similar model used to fly in tennis players for the Australian Open. Under the proposal, universities would help pay ...3 days ago
- ‘Smell like a woman, not a rose’: Chanel No. 5 100 years on, an iconic fragrance born from an or...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology When Marilyn Monroe was asked, “What do you wear to bed?”, she famously replied, “Just a few drops of No. 5″. Monroe was perhaps the most famous fan of the ...3 days ago
- Live updates, April 14: Hipkins won’t put all MIQ workers ‘under suspicion’ over missed Covid ...Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for April 14, bringing you the latest news throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 8.00am: Hipkins won’t put all MIQ workers ‘under suspicion’ despite Case B ‘lying’ to employer There are no plans to increase monitoring of border workers after a security ...3 days ago
- The Bulletin: Calls made for return of Epidemic Response CommitteeGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Calls made for return of Epidemic Response Committee, Māori wards coming in around the country, and police admit to illegal intelligence gathering tactics.Serious flaws in the government’s Covid response have been exposed on a day of sustained pressure at parliament. Hundreds ...3 days ago
- Govt ‘Hand-Wringing Soft’ On Crims Who Bash Police, Ambos, Corrections OfficersThe Labour and Green government had a chance to introduce harsher penalties for people who assault our first responders, but voted it down and have shown once again just how out of touch and soft on crime they really are, says Darroch Ball co-leader ...3 days ago
- Ëlarm Trial Shouldn't Have Taken Ten MonthsACT Leader David Seymour has welcomed the Government’s decision to trial Datamine’s ëlarm with border workers. “ We’ve been urging the Government to adopt ëlarm for 314 days now ,” says Mr Seymour. “It shouldn’t have taken ten months for ...3 days ago
- Urgent Press Release Regarding Terrorist Seeking Judicial Review: FIANZThe Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) is not surprised by the recent developments regarding the terrorist seeking a judicial review. The terrorist is following the same pattern as previous convicted terrorists in Europe and Canada. ...3 days ago
- OCR unchanged, maybe for another year
Business & Investing: With the Official Cash Rate left at 0.25 percent, market watchers look to the RBNZ's May update, Plus: 2 Degrees goes with Ericsson over Huawei for 5G ...3 days ago - Has the ANZAC high-trust model come back to bite us?
The speed of the UK's vaccine roll-out contrasts starkly with the slow and hesitant roll-outs in New Zealand and Australia. Do our high-trust strategies signal a long wait until we're open for business? With the arrival of effective vaccines against Covid-19 we can ask a Churchillian question. Do the vaccines signal the ...3 days ago - Jess McAllen: The scavenger hunt for life-saving data
Delayed, anaemic government reporting on mental health has seen key missing information end up in strange and inaccessible places. Jess McAllen has some simple answers to what are becoming unnecessarily complex problems. Accessing services is hard enough, we don’t need finding information about them to be a scavenger hunt. In 2016, sitting in ...3 days ago - Megan Woods on housing: 'The market hasn't delivered'
The Housing Minister on the mistakes of KiwiBuild, filling the infrastructure gap, and helping renters. ...3 days ago - Book of the Week: The book of the year, probably
We conclude our week-long look at Charlotte Grimshaw's sensational memoir with a review by Philip Matthews At Home with CK Stead has become something of a journalistic genre, and why not? Who wouldn’t want to encounter the writer in his natural habitat, where, it is usually assumed, an enviable balance ...3 days ago - Emma Gilmour waits for extreme rallying call
One of the world's fastest female rally drivers, Emma Gilmour is biding her time to race in the radical new Extreme E series by competing in the NZ Rally Championship. As a kid, Emma Gilmour would hold on tight in the back seat of the family car while her mechanic ...3 days ago - Abused wife condemned by judge, then wrongly convicted of perjury
Things went from bad to worse for a survivor of domestic violence who tried to get a court-ordered sharing of marital assets. She lost, was then charged with the crime of perjury, sentenced to home detention, and later bankrupted. Bonnie Sumner and Melanie Reid report. A woman alleging abuse by her ...3 days ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 15 April
...3 days ago - All the news that's easy to print
While we're overdosing on the death of the Duke, we're being starved of news of a possible changing of the guard in our backyard, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell Samoa may have its first female Prime Minister, but do not let that distract you from the news that Prince Philip designed his ...3 days ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 15 April
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...3 days ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Thursday 15 April
...3 days ago - A plea to better protect native fish
Three incidents in quick succession show fish aren’t being properly protected, Forest & Bird argues. David Williams reports. Some images are seared into your memory. For Napier City Council’s Cameron Burton, his confronting moment happened on February 5 while responding to a hydrochloric acid spill into the stormwater system and ...3 days ago - A day that laid bare the need for scrutiny of our Covid-19 responseA sobering series of stumbles yesterday showed the country’s Covid-19 response, lauded around the world for its performance, is showing cracks as it enters its second year. Political editor Justin Giovannetti writes from parliament.The opposition was left demanding more oversight of the country’s Covid-19 response through the re-establishment of the ...3 days ago
- The rise and fall of the pine on One Tree HillThe 1994 chainsaw attack on the pine tree atop Auckland’s Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill wasn’t a simple act of vandalism, as many assumed at the time – it was an act of protest informed by centuries of history.“It is people who have interests, rights and dignity; not trees.” This ...3 days ago
- Live animal exports have always been a problemNew Zealand is set to become the first country in the world to introduce a comprehensive ban on live animal exports by sea. There are good reasons behind the decision, writes Mirjam Guesgen.It’s hot and sticky. Temperatures reach those of summer highs and humidity levels hang in the 80s. Animals ...3 days ago
- National's six months in a leaky boat
The National Party is six months into its rebuild following a disastrous election result and once again leaking and leadership rumours are making headlines. ...3 days ago
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