chris bishop
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Banning Rambo weapons not a knee-jerk
Written By: - Date published: 5:35 am, March 21st, 2019 - 185 comments
Passing stringent gun controls is far from a knee-jerk reaction to the Christchurch massacre – our politicians of all stripes have procrastinated over this ever since the 1990 Aramoana massacre. We already have the 13 recommendations of the 2017 Law & Order committee that were rejected. Let us at the very least now accept those.
- We need more state houses
How bad is the housing crisis? This bad: For the first time over 20,000 households are on the Government’s waitlist for public housing. By the end of August 20,385 eligible households were on the waitlist for state or social housing, with over 18,000 ranked as “priority A” – the ...7 hours ago - A Leap Of Faith – In Labour's Direction Of Travel.
Impressive Political Maturity: If conservative New Zealanders require further convincing about the steps required to fulfil this country’s commitment to fighting climate change, then convince them. That won’t happen if all the Greens do is shout at them, and/or damn them as enemies of the planet. It might happen, however, ...10 hours ago - A contempt of Parliament?Back in July, Professor Anne-Marie Brady warned Parliament about foreign interference in New Zealand elections. Now, her employer is attempting to punish her for it: Canterbury University China expert Professor Anne-Marie Brady has been gagged by her employer while a review into her research proceeds. The review conducted by ...11 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – The Green Party’s fraught decision
The Greens are at a crossroads. The direction they take in the next few days may have significant consequences, not just for the country and the shape of the Government, but also for the future of the Greens themselves. Currently, the Labour and Green negotiating teams are behind closed doors ...14 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #43, 2020
Hint from the past: "you're getting warmer" Even though we're accidentally experimenting with our climate we really oughtn't take that risk. Still, it would be nice to safely run global-scale manipulations of climate. We could further confirm our grasp on extending some fairly simple physical principles from theory to prediction and observation. ...1 day ago - Where Does the Media Stand on the Political Spectrum?
A recent study suggests most are near the centre. It is a standard trope of the American Right that the US media has a leftwing bias. This of course, depends on where the centre is located. I have heard, for instance, the New Zealand left arguing that the New ...1 day ago - The Labour Party is still rorting usBack in September, we learned that the Labour Party was rorting its Parliamentary expenses to steal from the public again, renting office space at a below-market rate from a union for $1500 a year, then subletting it to Parliamentary Services as an electorate office at a (significantly higher) below-market rate ...1 day ago
- A new study suggests coronavirus antibodies fade over time – but how concerned should we be?
Sheena Cruickshank, University of Manchester Newly released research suggests that levels of antibodies against the coronavirus have declined across the UK population since testing began. Having randomly sampled 365,000 people across the country, the React2 study – which is yet to be peer-reviewed – estimates that 6% of the ...1 day ago - How to Systematically Reduce the Border Failure Risk for COVID-19 in Aotearoa/NZProf Nick Wilson*, Dr Jennifer Summers, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Prof Michael Baker With the 2020 election over and with a newly elected government, it is an excellent time for a systematic review by NZ health authorities to identify optimal methods for reducing the risk of future COVID-19 outbreaks in Aotearoa/NZ. ...1 day ago
- Did atomic bomb tests damage our upper atmosphere?Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I recently read an article stating the atomic bomb ...1 day ago
- Building a norm against nuclear weaponsBack in 2017, the UN General Assembly approved the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and New Zealand was one of the first countries to sign. Now, a 50th ratification is finally going to bring it into force: Campaigners have hailed a "new chapter" after a key step ...2 days ago
- Change wins in ChileThis time last year, Chile was in rebellion against its government. Protests against a train fare increase turned into protests against inequality, and then, when the right-wing government deployed the military to crush them, into protests against the government and the dictator-imposed constitution. And the protestors won: half the cabinet ...2 days ago
- Speaker: Rewarding competence
If you were listening to New Zealand’s punditocracy in the days since Labour won the general election with a record-setting outright majority, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Labour had actually lost.Last time around pundits could barely deal with the fact that the National government had lost its majority, and ...3 days ago - NZ Politics Daily – 27 October 2020Today’s content Labour Party and new Labour Government Andrea Vance (Stuff): ‘Labour Connect’ the data analysis tool that boosted Jacinda Ardern’s campaign Heather du Plessis-Allan (Herald): Time for Govt to take some risks (paywalled) Audrey Young (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on her big win and big plans (paywalled) Audrey Young: What Kelvin Davis wants for Māori from ...3 days ago
- Thirty Years Ago Today: Musings on the Fourth Labour Government
The New Zealand media and the New Zealand public are still chattering about what Jacinda Ardern will do with her brand-spanking-new single party majority Government. The consensus – apart from a few wishful-thinkers – is “probably not much.” This is the era of “incrementalism”, which during the Helen Clark ...3 days ago - Water on the Moon?The space news this week is largely focused on an announcement from NASA regarding the discovery of water on the Moon. Not liquid water – the lunar surface is far too cold for that – but apparently ice deposits in the surface layers in near-polar regions, and perhaps deeper ...3 days ago
- Yes Minister.
What it is like to be a new Minister Good morning Minister? Congratulations, you are minister for the very important department of state which I run as Chief Excutive. Have they fixed you up with all the accoutrements of office: the chauffeured limousine, your own car, state supplied accommodation ...3 days ago - The Debunking Handbook 2020: Debunk often and properlyThis blog post is part 4 of a series of excerpts from The Debunking Handbook 2020 which can be downloaded here. The list of references is available here. Debunk often and properly If you cannot preempt, you must debunk. For debunking to be effective, it is important to provide detailed ...3 days ago
- The Debunking Handbook 2020: ReferencesThis is the list of references for The Debunking Handbook 2020Lewandowsky, S., Cook, J., Ecker, U. K. H., Albarracín, D., Amazeen, M. A., Kendeou, P., Lombardi, D., Newman, E. J., Pennycook, G., Porter, E. Rand, D. G., Rapp, D. N., Reifler, J., Roozenbeek, J., Schmid, P., Seifert, C. M., Sinatra, ...3 days ago
- When the dictator wears capes.
Today Chileans voted overwhelmingly to elect a constitutional assembly and redraft the 1980 Constitution promulgated by the dictatorship of Agusto Pinochet. I regret that my old friend Bob Barros, whose death I wrote about a while ago, is not around to see this moment because he was the first person ...3 days ago - Everyone I don’t like is Hitler, or, how i got banned by Facebook
I do not really use Facebook anymore. I used to. For several years now, however, my drug of choice has been Twitter. It is equally pointless but is more agreeable better than Zuckerberg's monster is for me.I haven't deactivated my account because I still use FB as a means of ...3 days ago - Gal Gadot, The Orient and Identity Politics
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh (14/10/2020) A row has recently erupted over the casting of the Israeli actress Gal Gadot as Cleopatra in an upcoming film. Part of the objections to her playing the role are based on the fact that she is not only Israeli, but a Zionist to boot, ...3 days ago - Getting Our Priorities Right
Much of the political debate over the past few months – as we have grappled with the coronavirus pandemic – has centred on the question of whether it is the interests of business or the health of the community that should take priority in policy terms. Much has been made ...3 days ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #43Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Quote of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review Story of the Week... Alarm as Arctic sea ice not yet freezing at latest date on record Delayed freeze in Laptev Sea could have ...4 days ago
- 2020 – Post mortem or Prologue?
. . A narcissistic, third-rate, Bond-villain code-named “Trump” takes control of the United States; a global pandemic brings human civilisation to a near stand-still; Whakaari/White Island erupts creating a hellish tragedy; Level 4 and 3 Lockdowns result in deserted streets straight out of The Quiet Earth; a new “Fortress ...4 days ago - Media Link: Some Bolivian and NZ post-election analysis on “A View from Afar.”This last week’s podcast featuring Selwyn Manning and I focused on post-election analysis in two small states, one land locked and the other surrounded by water. Check it out here. ...4 days ago
- Analysis of an Election – Aaaarghghgh! What happened????
With a week or so gone since the catastrophic election result for the National Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, MyThinks have set the team to work to come up with their hot takes on what has caused the previous all powerful party of government to collapse under the weight of ...4 days ago - A response to Judith ButlerFeminist Ani O’Brien takes a critical look at Judith Butler and the Kim Hill interview (17/10/20): It has been a while since I have done a bit-by-bit response piece, but this weekend Radio New Zealand journalist Kim Hill interviewed Professor Judith Butler on the conflict between trans activists and “TERFs” and I have ...4 days ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #43A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Oct 18, 2020 through Sat, Oct 24, 2020 Editor's Choice A second Trump term would mean severe and irreversible changes in the climate No joke: It would be disastrous on the ...5 days ago
- National’s electoral slaughter
5 days ago - The Ideal and the Reality for a New MP
Being an MP is not quite what you think. Hello Mr Orange Man, I’ve really depended on you during the election over the last few weeks. Thankyou for helping me to get elected to parliament. So what are you doing here, meeting me in parliament, now I have ...6 days ago - COVID-19: backing our front rowNew Zealand has been called out as an outstanding player in managing COVID-19. We’ve done well,[1] but we’re far from perfect. We could do a lot better at backing our front row. Epidemiologists advise nations not to play “wait and see”. If By the time they do see, it’s all ...6 days ago
- Fleeing to the Dawn – accepted
Good bit of news on the short story front: my 1700 word fantasy piece, Fleeing to the Dawn, has been accepted for the Autumn 2020 edition of Shorts Magazine: http://shortsmagazine.com/ This one was a case of a previously unsuccessful story being dusted off and polished up. It is ...6 days ago - The Debunking Handbook 2020: The elusive backfire effectsThis blog post is part 3 of a series of excerpts from The Debunking Handbook 2020 which can be downloaded here. The list of references is available here. The elusive backfire effects Ten years ago, scholars and practitioners were concerned that corrections may “backfire”; that is, ironically strengthen misconceptions rather ...6 days ago
- Prosecute ICEWe knew that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement was a moral void: they run concentration camps, and forcibly separate children from their parents. And now they're outright torturing people: US immigration officers allegedly tortured Cameroonian asylum seekers to force them to sign their own deportation orders, in what lawyers ...6 days ago
- Fly on the wall of the first National caucus since electionOver the past several months, the team at MyThinks have been involved in a vast insect training programme. We have been working to teach our six-legged friends to become the finest of political reporters. This week we sent our deputy political diptera into the National Party caucus room for their ...7 days ago
- The Twilight Of Boomer Power.7 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 23 October 2020Today’s content Labour government Peter Dunne (Newsroom): At the highwater mark with little wriggle room RNZ: Caucus: Explaining The Red Tide: Kiwis hug Jacinda back as Labour breaks records Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): It’s Time For Some “Earnest Struggle” Chris Trotter: “Change That Sticks.” Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): The Twilight Of Boomer Power Brent Edwards ...7 days ago
- “Change That Sticks.”Implementing Change With Us - Not Imposing It On Us: Jacinda Ardern, like Mickey Savage before her, understands what her more revolutionary critics do not: that the only sort of socialism that endures is democratic socialism – socialism by popular demand and with popular consent.AFTER THE BIGGEST WIN in nearly ...7 days ago
- Science at the movies: The new comet impact filmDisaster movies forever capture the public attention… but did you ever stop to think that the word disaster actually means bad star? That is, ‘dis’ implies a pejorative (as in disease, or disgust, or disrespect), while ‘aster’ comes from the Latin astrum, similarly the Greek astron. Asteroids are called that ...1 week ago
- The Adventures of Annalax: Volume XI
Yes, dinosaurs. Annalax would think of them as giant horned lizards. They were also terrified of us, what with Magni still being covered in spider goo, and hence smelling like a Leng Spider. The ... 1 week ago - PrioritiesMuch of the political debate over the past few months – as we have grappled with the coronavirus pandemic – has centred on the question of whether it is the interests of business or the health of the community that should take priority in policy terms. Much has been made ...1 week ago
- Farmers earning their reputation againNew Zealand farmers routinely complain about the public viewing them as environmental vandals. At the same time, they're opposing basic environmental regulation: Federated Farmers has asked that a wide-ranging plan change setting water use rules for South Canterbury remove all references to the protection of “indigenous fish”. [...] ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 22 October 2020Labour-Greens talks, Labour govt Henry Cooke (Stuff): There is no evidence National voters backed Labour to keep the Greens out Audrey Young (Herald): Labour holds all the cards as Ardern’s talks with Greens get underway RNZ: Greens better off independent – Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Greens would be ...1 week ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Stardust across the Middle East: How Arab media reported on NZ’s electionNews is not in short supply in the Middle East, and on Saturday, Arab media remained focused heavily on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nevertheless, the New Zealand election – and especially Jacinda Ardern’s personal success – received significant attention from Arabic-language TV news channels, newspapers and ...1 week ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Stardust across the Middle East – how Arab media covered the New Zealand electionNews is not in short supply in the Middle East, and at the weekend, Arabic-language media remained firmly focused on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nevertheless, the New Zealand election – and above all Jacinda Ardern’s personal success – still received significant attention from Arabic-language TV news ...1 week ago
- It's Time For Some “Earnest Struggle”.1 week ago
- Party Like It’s 1936: Songs for the Philologists
It’s the most obscure Tolkien book of all… so obscure that only fourteen copies exist: Songs for the Philologists, a 1936 collection of thirty humorous verses, by Tolkien (who wrote thirteen), E.V. Gordon, and ... 1 week ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – National’s catastrophic collapse and fraught rebuildThe National Party’s defeat has been so comprehensive that few in the party seem optimistic they will recover anytime soon. Falling from 47% in 2017 to just 27% (which might drop as low as 25% once special votes are counted), is one of the most severe collapses in New Zealand’s ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #42, 2020Dust-up at the Denial Corral, in "journal time" Way back in 2017 the Institute of Physics publication Environmental Research Letters (ERL) published a featured article, Assessing ExxonMobil's climate change communications (1977–2014), by Supran & Oreskes. The article reverberated widely as it exposed a documented a pattern of behavior arguably described as perfidious. The authors ...1 week ago
- Now’s the time – expand ACC
Having ruled out Capital Gains Tax and Wealth Tax, the incoming Labour government must be looking for some significant progressive policies that they haven’t already ruled out. Expanding the ACC scheme fits that brief, and the Green Party have conveniently already proposed doing so. But, how to fund it? The accident/illness ...1 week ago - Managing to the targetNew Zealand's health system is chronicly underfunded, and so almost all DHBs run deficits. Last month, just before he bailed out Canterbury DHB, Health Minister Chris Hipkins was repeating the mantra that DHBs must live within their means and "have a credible plan to return to financial sustainability". But yesterday, ...1 week ago
- Solarise all the things!If we are to avoid dangerous levels of climate change, we need to decarbonise the economy and shift our energy supply completely to renewables. The good news is that the International Energy Agency thinks that that is going to happen. The reason? Interest rates have dropped. And this means that ...1 week ago
- New Zealand weighs up a nation-sized batteryIan Mason and Robert McLachlan Climate change was a small but perceptible part of the recent election. On climate change, Labour pointed proudly to their record of legislating for net zero emissions by 2050 (nicknamed the ‘Zero Carbon Act’), establishing a Climate Change Commission to set carbon budgets and advise ...1 week ago
- WHO reform: a call for an early-warning protocol for infectious diseasesPeter Gluckman and Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato The World Health Organization (WHO) has come in for its share of criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some faults are the responsibility of the WHO, others were caused by member states, which did not always act as quickly ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 21 October 2020Today’s content Election Jack Vowles (The Conversation): The 2020 NZ election saw record vote volatility — what does that mean for the next Labour government? Jason Walls and Chris Knox (Herald): 20 fascinating facts about the 2020 election you might have missed Stuff: Labour Day: A vote-by-vote analysis of New Zealand’s historic shift ...1 week ago
- Do Landslides Change the Landscape in the Long Run?
It was easy for election night commentators to use the ‘landslide’ trope to describe Labour’s winning of the 2020 election. But the historical record suggests that such landslides may not last long. In 1935, the First (Savage-Fraser) Labour Government won 53 seats in a parliament of 80; National ...1 week ago - The Debunking Handbook 2020: Prevent misinformation from sticking if you canThis blog post is part 2 of a series of excerpts from The Debunking Handbook 2020 which can be downloaded here. The list of references is available here. Prevent misinformation from sticking if you can Because misinformation is sticky, it’s best preempted. This can be achieved by explaining misleading or ...1 week ago
- Graeme Edgeler: Mandates are not mandatory, but they are also not meaninglessThere’s a lot of talk about what the Labour Government’s new mandate is. For a discussion of exactly what that might mean, Graeme Edgeler explores the murky logic of what they can and can’t do, pointing out that ultimately voters decide if this mandate was properly used in three years. ...1 week ago
- Hyping it up over fluoridation
In my time as a scientific researcher, honest scientists used to condemn colleagues who over-hyped their science. To our mind there should have been a special place in hell for scientists who misrepresented their ... 1 week ago - Don’t fall for the Covid contrariansAs life in Aotearoa gets back to some kind of normal after our latest Covid-19 outbreak, cases in the northern hemisphere are on the rise again and that puts us all at risk. Because no one is safe until we are all safe. This is a tricky virus. We now ...1 week ago
- Liam Hehir: Online abuse and the standard you walk byThere’s a lot of nastiness in the online public sphere, much of it tribal, petty and personal. Political commentator and Twitter enthusiast Liam Hehir has seen too much of it, and explains why he’s going to actively stand up against it. I did a radio interview a little while ...1 week ago
- Tanzania: elections, neoliberalism and economic diplomacyPolitics in New Zealand is the main focus of Redline, along with supporting liberation movements and anti-imperialist struggles. We have had little material from the African continent, so are pleased to print this submission from a Tanzanian writer on their pending elections. Tanzania will be going to the polls on ...1 week ago
- Governing For All Of Us.1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 20 October 2020Today’s content Coalition negotiations, shape of government Gordon Campbell: On why the Greens shouldn’t join the government Andrew Geddis (Pundit): What Sort Of Relationship Might Labour And The Greens Agree On? Audrey Young (Herald): Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds preparatory talks with Greens but coalition looking unlikely Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Jacinda Ardern tight-lipped after ...1 week ago
- What sort of relationship might Labour and the Greens agree on?
Even without knowing the final election result (because, don’t forget there’s about 500,000 special votes still to count and they very likely will change Saturday’s results), we can say two things for certain about the next government. Jacinda Ardern will be its Prime Minister. And Labour will be at its core. But ...1 week ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Leftwing euphoria meets realityThe political left has been euphoric since Saturday’s night historic landslide victory for Labour. But political commentators from across the spectrum are united in warning that the new Government isn’t about to be transformative. Instead, we will see more of a status quo administration grappling with a crisis, with very ...1 week ago
- Yes, a mandate for sure… but issues for NZ will be far, far more difficult now
With the NZ General Election and Referendums over for 2020, Jacinda Ardern is to form a Government over the next few weeks, “there are some areas we do want to crack on with, that we will need to expedite”, and talks will begin to form around what the voters ...1 week ago - Labour Party landslide – 2020 Election in reviewJacinda Ardern - Prime Minister of New ZealandThe 2020 General Election has been one of the most interesting in New Zealand’s political history. Not only did we have voters provide the Labour Party with a stratospheric 49.1% mandate to govern, the results also delivered National with a crushing 26.8% defeat ...1 week ago
- Be careful what you wish for: Labour's difficult triumph
Labour’s overwhelming victory at the election has been greeted with rousing cheers on the left of New Zealand politics and the start of transformational demands. It’s a multi-generational win for Labour, out-polling the Kirk, Lange and Clark victories. You have to go back to 1938 for a bigger percentage (55.8%) ...1 week ago - A Skeptical Science member's path to an experiment on carbon sequestrationDuring what now seems like another era entirely- back in February of this long year- Skeptical Science regular RedBaron (aka Scott Strough) mentioned in a discussion thread here that he'd been working on an idea for no-till cultivation of vegetables, was seeking to quantify what appeared to be promising results. Scott ...1 week ago
- Jacinda Will Keep Us Moving – To The Same Place.Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes? Not Likely: Though few New Zealanders would express it in such a fashion: Jacinda’s and Labour’s general handling of the Covid-19 crisis proved both to be highly effective defenders of the capitalist status quo. She, and they, kept the lights on. And that, in the absence of an alternative ...1 week ago
- The Greens and LabourWith an absolute majority, Labour can govern in its own right, and doesn't need partners. But while unnecessary, they're a nice-to-have, both as backup and for PR reasons. Ardern has talked about "consensus", and there are obvious benefits for her of having government policy endorsed by as many parties as ...1 week ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #42Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Earth has warmest September on record, and 2020 may clinch hottest year Record warmth in Europe and Asia overwhelms a ...2 weeks ago
- Josh Van Veen: The Vindication of Winston PetersAn egalitarian spirit is currently being revived in New Zealand, and we should thank Winston Peters for keeping alive that spirit. Josh Van Veen, who once worked with the NZ First leader, pays his tribute. With New Zealand First receiving less than 3% of the vote, critics are happily ...2 weeks ago
- WATCH LIVE: Election Night 2020
...2 weeks ago - Election Night Speech – Marama Davidson
Kia ora tātou kātoa. Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou Te Roopu Kakariki, ngā kaitautoko, e aroha ana I te kaupapa mo te taiao me te mokopuna. No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. I am so proud to be standing here tonight, at the end of an ...2 weeks ago - Election Night Speech – James ShawOn Election Night three years ago I stood up in front of you to say, “We are still here!” Well, tonight, not only are we still here, we are the first support party in MMP history to have started and finished a term in government above the 5% threshold. We ...2 weeks ago
- Greens only party with plan to meet scale of climate challengeA new report showing that the effects of climate change are already being felt in Aotearoa New Zealand shows the importance of the Green Party pushing for urgent action in the next Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party commits to stronger urban tree protection and no new mines on public conservation landThe Green Party is the only party in Parliament which is explicitly committing to protecting public conservation land and the indigenous plants and wildlife which live there, from destructive mining. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens close campaign with COVID-19 recovery pitchThe Green Party says a Green-Labour partnership next term is the only way to ensure that we build back better than before, whilst addressing the other crises of biodiversity, climate change and poverty. ...2 weeks ago
- Vote still undecided? Watch this.As of today, over 1.4 million New Zealanders have already cast their votes in this year’s election. While this shows that a huge number of people have already made up their minds about who they want to lead our country, there are many who are still undecided. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour's 2020 Election ManifestoThe Labour Party understands how important continuity, stability and clarity are for New Zealanders in these uncertain times. That’s why, in our 2020 Election Manifesto, we’re setting out how we will continue to invest in people, jobs, small businesses, infrastructure, and global trade, to set New Zealand up for the ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party releases tourism policyToday the Green Party’s conservation spokesperson Eugenie Sage went kayaking on Akaroa Harbour to highlight the greater protection achieved for Hector’s and Maui dolphins this term and the Greens’ election commitment to supporting sustainable tourism. ...2 weeks ago
- National’s false ‘wealth tax’ claims: The “last roll of the misinformation dice”“Collins has warned voters to expect a wealth tax. This is despite the fact Labour has ruled this out a number of times.” – Jason Walls, NZ Herald. “The Labour Party has ruled out implementing the Green Party's wealth tax.” – Henry Cooke, Stuff. “Labour has time and time again ...2 weeks ago
- Week that was: Counting down to Election DayIt’s getting incredibly close to Election Day now – and over a million people have already cast their vote! ...3 weeks ago
- Jacinda Ardern's Wellington Rally SpeechJacinda Ardern delivers a rally speech at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre. ...3 weeks ago
- Grant Robertson's Wellington Rally SpeechGrant Robertson delivers a rally speech at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre. ...3 weeks ago
- Building a vibrant creative sector The Green Party will push for better conditions, more certainty, and greater opportunities for New Zealand’s artists and creatives as part of the next Government, Co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw said today. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens promise continued action to reduce mental health waiting timesThe Green Party is committed to reduce the waiting times people in mental distress have to put up with before they receive attention and get treatment. ...3 weeks ago
- Fast-tracked Northland water project will accelerate economic recovery
The Government has welcomed the decision to approve a new water storage reservoir in Northland, the first of a number of infrastructure projects earmarked for a speedy consenting process that aims to accelerate New Zealand’s economic recovery from Covid-19. The Matawii Water Storage Reservoir will provide drinking water for Kaikohe, ...1 day ago - Tokelau Language Week reminds us to stay united and strongStaying strong in the face of challenges and being true to our heritage and languages are key to preserving our cultural identity and wellbeing, is the focus of the 2020 Tokelau Language Week. Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, says this year’s theme, ‘Apoapo tau foe, i nā tāfea ...6 days ago
- NZ announces a third P-3 deployment in support of UN sanctionsThe Government has deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea, announced Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark. “New Zealand has long supported ...1 week ago
- Pacific trade and development agreement a realityPacific regional trade and development agreement PACER Plus will enter into force in 60 days now that the required eight countries have ratified it. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker welcomed the announcement that the Cook Islands is the eighth nation to ratify this landmark agreement. “The agreement represents ...2 weeks ago
- Securing a pipeline of teachersThe Government is changing its approach to teacher recruitment as COVID-19 travel restrictions continue, by boosting a range of initiatives to get more Kiwis into teaching. “When we came into Government, we were faced with a teacher supply crisis,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Over the past three years, we ...2 weeks ago
- Border exceptions for a small number of international students with visasThe Government has established a new category that will allow 250 international PhD and postgraduate students to enter New Zealand and continue their studies, in the latest set of border exceptions. “The health, safety and wellbeing of people in New Zealand remains the Government’s top priority. Tight border restrictions remain ...2 weeks ago
- First COVID-19 vaccine purchase agreement signedThe Government has signed an agreement to purchase 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccines – enough for 750,000 people – from Pfizer and BioNTech, subject to the vaccine successfully completing all clinical trials and passing regulatory approvals in New Zealand, say Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods and Health Minister Chris Hipkins. ...2 weeks ago
- International statement – End-to-end encryption and public safetyWe, the undersigned, support strong encryption, which plays a crucial role in protecting personal data, privacy, intellectual property, trade secrets and cyber security. It also serves a vital purpose in repressive states to protect journalists, human rights defenders and other vulnerable people, as stated in the 2017 resolution of the ...2 weeks ago
- Ministry of Defence Biodefence Assessment releasedThe Ministry of Defence has today released a Defence Assessment examining Defence’s role across the spectrum of biological hazards and threats facing New Zealand. Biodefence: Preparing for a New Era of Biological Hazards and Threats looks at how the NZDF supports other agencies’ biodefence activities, and considers the context of ...2 weeks ago
- New Approaches to Economic Challenges: Confronting Planetary Emergencies: OECD 9 October 2020New Approaches to Economic Challenges: Confronting Planetary Emergencies: OECD 9 October 2020 Hon David Parker’s response following Thomas Piketty and Esther Duflo. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, wherever in the world you might be. I first acknowledge the excellent thought provoking speeches of Thomas Piketty and Esther ...3 weeks ago
- Colourful opal fossils point to a diverse group of giant dinosaurs that shared Australia’s terrain
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Frauenfelder, PhD Candidate in Palaeontology, University of New England North-central New South Wales today is known for its arid, drought-prone climate. During the Cretaceous period, however, it was a lush coastal floodplain with a high diversity of vertebrates including dinosaurs, crocodiles, ...37 mins ago - Genome and satellite technology reveal recovery rates and impacts of climate change on southern righ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Carroll, Rutherford Discovery Fellow, University of Auckland After close to a decade of globe-spanning effort, the genome of the southern right whale has been released this week, giving us deeper insights into the histories and recovery of whale populations across the ...2 hours ago
- We put forward a way to govern ASIC better. The government said noSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Professor of Finance, University of Melbourne The current governance/management crisis at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, ASIC has seen a deputy chairman resign and the chairman step aside under a cloud. It might have arisen simply because of lax ...3 hours ago
- Fuel50 is changing HR software to fit the new ways we workBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he’s joined by Jo Mills, co-founder of Fuel50.The world of work has changed a lot recently ...3 hours ago
- Men score higher on financial knowledge than women, but why?
A new survey from the CFFC has highlighted the gender gap when it comes to financial literacy, with some of the lowest scores among women with children and over 35.While much has been said about the wage gap between men and women in recent years, it’s isn’t the only gender ...5 hours ago - How witchcraft became a multi-billion dollar industrySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lenoir-Jourdan, PhD candidate and author, Deakin University Yoko Ono once noted: “people respect wizards. But a witch, my god, we have to burn them”. Witches were maligned for centuries because of their perceived dark power and influence — but could this ...5 hours ago
- Fear of going out? Here’s how Melburnians can manage anxiety when returning to ‘normal’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jill Newby, Associate Professor and MRFF Career Development Fellow, UNSW Many Melburnians are joyous at the prospect of a return to socialising, as the city regains some old freedoms this week following significantly eased coronavirus restrictions. Social media is teeming with images ...5 hours ago
- Living with the train wreck: how research can harness the power of visual storytellingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angela Fitzgerald, Associate Professor of Science Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Southern Queensland Mesmerised by the cats of YouTube? Tumbled down the rabbit holes that are Insta Stories? Horrified by the US presidential debate, but kept watching regardless? You are not alone. ...5 hours ago
- Debt to the future: The cost of recoveryJonathan Cotton looks at where the government is getting all the money to pay for the Covid-19 recovery, and where that debt is taking us. New Zealand is borrowing huge amounts of money to get us through the Covid-19 crisis. But borrowing what? From whom? And how will we pay it ...6 hours ago
- $40 Million COVID-19 Fund Opens
Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs has announced a new lottery fund worth $40 million has opened, focusing on community and social initiatives following COVID-19. Clare Toufexis, General Manager Hāpai Hapori says “the fund will support ...6 hours ago - Australia must do more to ensure Myanmar is preventing genocide against the RohingyaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Gerry, Professor and Queen’s Counsel, Deakin University In January, the International Court of Justice ruled unanimously that Myanmar must take all measures to prevent acts of genocide against the Rohingya minority by its military and police forces. Since then, Amnesty International ...6 hours ago
- Blueprint For Human Rights Or Left-wing Wish List?The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has released its ‘ Ko Ō Tika, ko Tō Reo/ Your Rights, Your Voice ’ report urging the new Government to implement all its alleged promises relating to human rights. The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union immediately ...7 hours ago
- Sensitive Expenditure: Auditor-General's Good Practice Guide UpdatedWe’ve updated our good practice guide on controlling sensitive expenditure . Our guide provides practical guidance on specific types of sensitive expenditure, outlines the principles for making decisions about sensitive expenditure, and emphasises the ...7 hours ago
- Why is the government denying small business recycling initiatives?The country’s biggest bulk wine supplier has begun turning gigantic flexibags into plastic fenceposts. But the fencepost manufacturer protests that a lack of government funding is barring the way from doing so much more, reports Phil Pennington for RNZ.Multinational giant Hillebrand spent months trying to find a recycler to complete ...7 hours ago
- Public Need To Know When Broadcasting Standards For Alcohol Have Been BreachedAlcohol Healthwatch welcomes the decision from the Broadcasting Standards Authority to uphold our complaint regarding a MediaWorks radio station broadcast that advocated excessive alcohol consumption. Whilst MediaWorks conceded the broadcast in April ...7 hours ago
- Green Party continues talks with Labour Party on possible deal
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw say they expect to have an announcement about how they would work with Labour on Sunday. ...8 hours ago - SAFE Says New Analysis Of Live Export Ships Shows There Is Still A High Risk To AnimalsNew analysis from The Guardian has found that live export ships are twice as likely to be lost at sea as cargo vessels. SAFE Campaigns Manager Bianka Atlas said the growing evidence supports what SAFE has been saying for years. "It is clear ...8 hours ago
- Live: Green Party continues talks with Labour Party on possible dealGreen Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw say they expect to have an announcement about how they would work with Labour on Sunday. ...8 hours ago
- A Socialist Program Against The New Zealand Labour Government's Right-wing AgendaPublic webinar: For a socialist program against the New Zealand Labour government's right-wing agenda ...8 hours ago
- When will we know the cannabis and assisted dying referendum results?And what do the results in the general election tell us about how they might go? Toby Manhire weighs it all up.When do the results come through?The latest instalment in the time-transcending New Zealand election campaign comes this Friday, October 30 at 2pm when the Electoral Commission will reveal the ...8 hours ago
- Port Moresby evicts 400 squatters to make way for new capital highwayBy Miriam Zarriga and Clifford Faiparik About 400 squatters in Papua New Guinea watched helplessly as excavators demolished their homes and properties to make way for the construction of a K100 million four-lane road outside the capital of Port Moresby. Police were present to ensure that the court-ordered eviction at ...9 hours ago
- After we learn the Greens’ role in the new government, the focus should turn to who gets jobs such...
Media attention since the general election has focused largely on the shape of any formal relationship between Labour and the Greens in the formation of the next government. But the need for party leaders to negotiate, talk or whatever with other party leaders to forge a government partnership is ...9 hours ago - A letter from the actually not-so-bad futureUnfortunately, this is an imaginary letter written by nomadic, wild-living Miriam Lancewood to be read at Wellington’s Verb Festival next week. Verb opens on Thursday, October 29 and will run until Sunday, November 8. For the showcase event on Friday night, nine writers were asked to write letters with this ...9 hours ago
- LIVE: Paul Buchanan + Selwyn Manning on US and ASEAN Move to Contain ChinaHi I’m Selwyn Manning and you are watching A View from Afar. As always, we are joined by political scientist and former Pentagon analyst… Paul Buchanan… and this week we will discuss: How United States Secretary of Defense, Mike Pompeo, has this week been traveling around South East Asia. ...9 hours ago
- General Practice Being Short-changed By Health Funding AgenciesGenPro, the General Practice Owners Association, whose objectives include supporting the sustainability and viability of members businesses and the services they provide, has today published a guide for its members in response to claims that already stretched ...9 hours ago
- It’s The Race That Stops Two NationsEvery year the Melbourne Cup brings workplaces across Aotearoa to a standstill to take in the spectacle, and while there may not be any fashion in the field this year, there will be no shortage of action. The office sweepstake is a Kiwi favourite, bringing ...10 hours ago
- Uncertainty around billions in Defence Force spendingMilitary analysts think Labour's victory at the general election will put some Defence Force changes and purchases on the backburner. ...11 hours ago
- 'Stressed' vets desperate for help from 200 foreign workersThe government has no plans to change border exemptions for vets despite pleas from the Veterinary Association that vets are burning out and animal welfare is at stake. ...11 hours ago
- Prioritising Māori perspectives could make Aotearoa thriveThe fourth episode of Conversations That Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take takes a look at the role that mātauranga Māori could – or should – play in shaping the future of our country.The principle of cooperation is a crucial one in te ao Māori – as the oft-deployed and co-opted whakataukī states, ...11 hours ago
- Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi replaces John Tamihere as co-leaderThe Māori Party has confirmed Rawiri Waititi as its new co-leader, pending special votes confirming his win in the Waiariki electorate seat. ...11 hours ago
- The campaign promises Labour didn’t talk aboutNot everything Labour plans to do over the next three years was announced during the campaign. Two promises that didn’t get any public announcement: reopening the door to refugees and a review of how political parties can raise money.Labour just won its most resounding victory in a half-century with a ...12 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: Where Have The Liberals Gone?The 53rd New Zealand Parliament elected recently is without doubt the most representative in our history. It contains more women than ever before – well over half the expanded Labour Caucus are women; there are more Maori and Pasifika represented; and MPs from ...12 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 29 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content National Party Tim Murphy (Newsroom): National MPs need to avoid their own spin Claire Trevett (Herald): The case for Judith Collins to make Deputy Shane Reti and put Simon Bridges ...12 hours ago
- Waitomo District Council Undermining Free Speech, Democracy“Waitomo District Council is undermining freedom of expression and local democracy. Its new rules mean those elected by the people to hold the council bureaucracy accountable are gagged by the council bureaucracy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “The code ...13 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Green Party’s fraught decisionAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The Greens are at a crossroads. The direction they take in the next few days may have significant consequences, not just for the country and the shape of the Government, but also for the future of the Greens themselves. Currently, ...13 hours ago
- Time To Abolish Human Rights Commission“The Human Rights Commission’s left-wing manifesto is clear evidence that the organisation must be abolished,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “The Commission is a hard-left organisation masquerading as a government department. “Its new manifesto ...13 hours ago
- Govt Must Provide Farmers Clarity On Freshwater Rules“The Government must immediately provide clarity to farmers about the enforcement of its new freshwater rules,” says ACT’s Primary Industries Spokesperson Mark Cameron. “The new rules require all paddocks to be resown by 1 October or 1 November ...13 hours ago
- Live updates, October 29: Experts propose flexible quarantine solutionWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 29. All the latest New Zealand news, updated throughout the day. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.45am: Experts propose flexible quarantine solutionA group of top epidemiologists are suggesting New Zealand’s quarantine system could become more flexible, in order to catch us up with other ...14 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Idiots abroad infuriated by NZ’s Covid responseGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Assessing some of the bizarre recent international interventions on NZ’s Covid policy, documents reveal what ministers knew about border staff testing, and Gerry Brownlee under pressure for deputy spot.Apologies in advance, because I don’t normally make a habit of using ...14 hours ago
- Embarrassing Sponsors For TRC Enviro Awards“The regional council’s annual environment awards tonight at the Devon Hotel are once again sponsored by some of the region’s worst environmental polluters,” says Climate Justice Taranaki spokesperson Elin Arbez. Climate Justice will be demonstrating ...15 hours ago
- Business & Investing: QEX shares hit by China theft
A theft in Shanghai hits the share price of local logistics company QEX, plus renewed pressure on the Reserve Bank to reinstate loan restrictions after September's housing lending boom ...15 hours ago - Australians have low trust in artificial intelligence and want it to be better regulatedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Curtis, Research fellow, The University of Queensland Every day we are likely to interact with some form of artificial intelligence (AI). It works behind the scenes in everything from social media and traffic navigation apps to product recommendations and virtual assistants. ...15 hours ago
- Explainer: why is Victoria fast-tracking reforms to sexual violence ‘gag laws’ and to what effec...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Burgin, Lecturer in Law, Swinburne University of Technology Changes to a Victorian law back in February made it an offence to publicly identify victim-survivors of sexual violence. These changes removed the capacity for survivors to give permission for their names or ...15 hours ago
- Who exactly is Trump’s ‘base’? Why white, working-class voters could be key to the US electionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon O’Connor, Associate Professor in American Politics at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney US President Donald Trump’s path to re-election requires maximising the support of his oft-mentioned “base” — white voters without college degrees — in the key battleground ...15 hours ago
- A Biden presidency might be better for NZ, but the big foreign policy challenges won’t disappear w...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The presidency of Donald Trump has been challenging for New Zealand’s foreign policy. Our commitment to multilateral solutions to global problems has run into a new isolationism in the United States. Infamously, Trump quit ...15 hours ago
- Social activity can be good for mental health, but whether you benefit depends on how many friends y...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ziggi Ivan Santini, Postdoctoral associate, University of Southern Denmark We know having friends is generally good for your happiness and mental well-being. Likewise, keeping socially active and engaging in formal social activities like volunteering has been linked to better mental health. But ...15 hours ago
- School chaplains may be cheaper than psychologists. But we don’t have enough evidence of their imp...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Martin, Asst Professor Population Health, University of Western Australia The Australian government committed more than A$247 million over 2019-22 to continue funding chaplains in Australian schools. The National School Chaplaincy Program aims to “support the well-being of students through pastoral care ...15 hours ago
- Will the population freeze allow our big cities to catch up on infrastructure?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glen Searle, Honorary Associate Professor in Planning, University of Queensland, University of Sydney The 2020 federal budget forecasts Australia’s population growth will slow to almost zero over several years because of COVID-19 and related restrictions. This leads to the question: will this ...15 hours ago
- Rather than recalling unsafe products, why not ensure they’re safe in the first place?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Nottage, Professor, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney The death of Brittney Conway, the three-year-old Gold Coast girl killed by swallowing a button battery, has again drawn attention to deaths and injuries caused by consumer goods – and to a longstanding ...15 hours ago
- Pumped hydro isn’t our energy future, it’s our pastSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University It’s now beyond dispute that — for new electricity generation — solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy are cheaper than anything else: cheaper than new coal fired power stations, cheaper than ...15 hours ago
- Why NZ should care about the US election
Climate, multilateralism and rule-of-law have all been key issues during this US election. Laura Walters talks to former ambassador David Huebner about why he believes these things matter to New Zealand International coverage of the United States presidential election has been dominated by personality, rather than policy. The shouty debates make ...15 hours ago - MPs call for sanctuary for young Hongkongers
Parliamentarians are urging the Prime Minister to throw a lifeline to vulnerable Hong Kong activists. ...15 hours ago - DoC reviews ‘nonsense’ media permits
The department demands the news media gets approval to film on public conservation land, if unaccompanied. David Williams reports A third of the country might be off-limits to camera-wielding media who don’t have an official escort or permission, if a Department of Conservation policy is rigorously enforced. DoC introduced a ...15 hours ago - Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi to replace John Tamihere as co-leaderThe Māori Party has confirmed Rawiri Waititi as its new co-leader, pending special votes confirming his win in the Waiariki electorate seat. ...16 hours ago
- The device that virtually transports you
Jacob Young has created a prototype device which transports callers to another user's location virtually - with a cell phone 2020 has been a boom year for online video communication platforms such as Zoom, Skype or Houseparty. But as these platforms became regular fixtures in our lives this year, a ...16 hours ago - Books of the Week: The colonisers and the colonised
Lydia Wevers reviews two best-selling historical novels History is supposed to make you uncomfortable. What is colonisation but a Trumpian property grab, awash with speculators whose scruples are pretty much still-born? Cristina Sanders's novel Jerningham is set in the earliest years of Wellington. She focuses on an imaginary colonist, ...16 hours ago - The foreign policy challenges for Ardern’s second term
Foreign affairs never features heavily in elections - but it will come to the fore over the next three years. ...16 hours ago - Women aren't little men: developing female athletes
In the first of a series on the development of female athletes in New Zealand, Ashley Stanley looks at our two biggest codes and their plans to nurture sportswomen from the grassroots to elite. The Silver Ferns' turnaround in 11 months has to be one of the great success tales ...16 hours ago - Inquiry into local china expert divides colleagues
A fight has broken out among local and overseas academics over an internal review into the work of University of Canterbury Professor Anne-Marie Brady. Brady is being investigated for her paper that claims New Zealand universities and businesses maybe helping China’s military ambitions. Academics named in the paper have complained ...16 hours ago - Just Fix the F***ing Housing Problem. Please!
It is far, far, past time for politicians to mandate the changes that will help Kiwis live in secure, affordable homes. Just do it, pleads Jess Berentson-Shaw. Imagine that all of us had a home in New Zealand. A home where the pictures on the walls were yours to put ...16 hours ago - I used to think all landlords were rich – until I became one by accidentLandlords are often denounced as wealthy, cost-cutting investors by the tenants who rent their houses. However, as Ayla Miller writes, it’s not as simple when you’re suddenly handed the keys as an owner.Inheriting a house at 27, when I never dreamt of home ownership, almost seemed like a waste. There ...16 hours ago
- Complicity with Trump’s inhumanity should be disqualifying, even if you’re from MatamataIf New Zealand has any moral fibre it should oppose Chris Liddell’s nomination for the top job at the OECD, argues Natasha Lampard.He is one the most trusted and longest-serving lieutenants in the Trump administration. As assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, he has ...16 hours ago
- Climate change will shape Jacinda Ardern's legacy
In the decades to come, will New Zealanders will look back on Jacinda Ardern as someone who seized the chance to act on climate or frittered away the opportunity before it was too late? ...16 hours ago - The downfall of Eric Watson
New Zealand businessman Eric Watson is currently in a London jail, felled by a man with deeper pockets and a big score to settle. How did it come to this? “It’s hard to think of anyone in New Zealand who’s had a worse year than him.” Herald investigative reporter ...16 hours ago - Reaching wahine where they are: The push to improve Māori breast cancer careEmma Espiner talks to Dr Maxine Ronald, the only wahine Māori consultant breast cancer surgeon in the world, about inequities in breast cancer outcomes for Māori.We were sitting in the clinic room, waiting for the last patient of the day. When she came in I recognised the Māori woman who ...1 day ago
- Meet Australia’s new High Court judges: a legal scholar’s take on the Morrison government’s ap...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kcasey McLoughlin, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Newcastle The Morrison government has made its first appointments to the High Court. In doing so it has gone for continuity, both in terms of geography and gender. The news Justices Jacqueline Gleeson and ...1 day ago
- Borat’s wet firecracker of an October surprise won’t hurt Trump but succeeds as feminist satireSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Cothren, PhD Candidate, Flinders University It’s January 20th, 2021. Inauguration day. A triumphant Joe Biden salutes the National Mall crowd (way bigger than the last guy’s) and dedicates his victory to Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat, the satirical mastermind who delivered ...1 day ago
- ULMWP accuses Jakarta over ‘martial law’ after police fire on studentsPacific Media Watch Newsdesk The United Liberation Movement if West Papua (ULMWP) has accused the Indonesian government of imposing martial law on the Melanesian region of West Papua and brutally supressing protests in a crackdown. “Students have been shot with live rounds, tear gassed and beaten with bamboo sticks by ...1 day ago
- Man pleads not guilty in NZ First Foundation caseOne of the people charged over the investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation has pleaded not guilty and will go to trial. ...1 day ago
- Heading back to the playground? 10 tips to keep your family and others COVID-safeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor, Nursing and Deputy Head (Learning & Teaching), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University In some Australian states, kids have been back on slides, swings and monkey bars for months. But in Victoria, many families are only ...1 day ago
- Labour and Greens still on track to take deal to membership by FridayThe Green Party co-leaders say talks with Labour are in the closing stages and they expect to take a deal to their membership by Friday. ...1 day ago
- Waitomo District Council's Media Policy Damages DemocracyThe Free Speech Coalition says that attempts to prevent open dialogue between elected officials and the media and public amount to a gagging on local democracy and accountability. Responding to the report by Stuff on Waitomo District Council adopting a new code ...1 day ago
- The steep and narrow path to Parliament
It has always been difficult for small parties to win seats in Parliament, but the efforts of both Labour and National have made it even harder over time. ...1 day ago - Drax Project are set be the sound of the Kiwi summer, againDrax Project are back from LA, and finalists in next month’s Aotearoa Music Awards for single of the year. Sherry Zhang catches up with the band as they get ready to release their new single ‘Firefly’. In a corner of the lounge at Universal Music’s Auckland offices sits an oversized ...1 day ago
- Gene Editing A Hot DebateIndustry lobbying for deregulation of gene editing (GE) is reigniting the public concern for protecting New Zealand's agricultural export reputation and environment. Dr. Jon Hickford recently chaired a forum with speakers from industry and Crown Research ...1 day ago
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