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Should our future lie with NATO?
Written By: - Date published: 3:23 pm, June 21st, 2022 - 61 comments
Not content to stay in the North Atlantic, NATO is shortly about to reveal in Madrid its next ten-year plan to contain China. Jacinda Ardern will be there, who knows why. Are we nailing our colours to a flag at half-mast?
China and the Pacific
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, June 5th, 2022 - 223 comments
National and it allies have this week attacked Nanaia Mahuta for not responding to China’s forays in the Pacific. But they do not appreciate the quiet diplomatic work that Labour MPs have been doing in the background or the reasons why the Pacific rejected having a joint security arrangement with China.
India Rises
Written By: - Date published: 10:21 am, May 1st, 2022 - 10 comments
Why is India such a world player right now?
The Natives are Getting Uppity
Written By: - Date published: 8:24 pm, March 29th, 2022 - 33 comments
Jacinda Ardern is “gravely concerned.” Peeni Henare was ‘”caught off-guard.”. Barnaby Joyce feels “intimidated.” Solomon Islands PM Sogavare found it “insulting to be branded as unfit to manage our sovereign affairs.” I think he is right.
Who Pays the Price of Sanctions
Written By: - Date published: 4:32 pm, March 20th, 2022 - 194 comments
New Zealand’s sanctions on Russia have not stopped the war in Ukraine. They may have made our parliamentarians feel better, and Tony Blinken was quick to congratulate us on falling into line with the US “high-impact sanctions.” The language is combative, but the evidence shows sanctions do not work. They can have significant blow-back effects, particularly if not combined with effective diplomacy.
The world in 6 months
Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, March 15th, 2022 - 117 comments
In six months time the world could be in a very precarious position.
Watch China’s next move
Written By: - Date published: 8:03 pm, February 24th, 2022 - 61 comments
Why should we in New Zealand give a damn about Ukraine? My answer is: China.
Big developments in Beijing
Written By: - Date published: 4:44 pm, February 7th, 2022 - 31 comments
The meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping is likely to set the geopolitical direction for the 21st century. If ‘divide and rule’ was the mantra for the US’s hegemonic rule in the 20th century, ‘unite and share’ looks like setting the tone for the 21st. Co-operation rather than competition is the mantra, and “friendship between the two states has no limits.” A truly remarkable turnaround.
Blinken and Blind-Sided?
Written By: - Date published: 2:54 pm, January 16th, 2022 - 17 comments
Russian peacekeepers are already leaving Kazakhstan having nipped the ‘colour revolution’ in the bud. Blinken clearly didn’t have a clue when he said Russians never leave the house. Russian intelligence was superb. Now we wait for Russia’s response to US likely refusal to pull back from its borders. One thing I’d bet on – no invasion of Ukraine.
Even China is struggling with Delta
Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, November 3rd, 2021 - 8 comments
China, which has previously successfully suppressed the Covid virus, is struggling with a delta outbreak. And questions are being asked if suppression is still viable.
China and Real Estate Developers
Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, October 10th, 2021 - 17 comments
Speaking of contagion, China is dealing with an outbreak of real estate market ebola.
China, Australia, and Coal Energy
Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, October 1st, 2021 - 31 comments
China, which previously banned coal imports from Australia, is running out of coal. Will Australia uses the resumption of coal supply as a diplomatic play?
CPTPP V Nuclear Submarines
Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, September 19th, 2021 - 41 comments
In a piece of incredible timing, on the same day as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom announced their defence technology procurement pact and pissed off ally and competitor alike, China formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Porgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
No Nukes!
Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, September 17th, 2021 - 148 comments
Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have publicly announced they have formed a new security grouping that will assist Australia in the construction of nuclear powered submarines.
The Top 20 Biggest U.S. Military Interventions, Best to Worst
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, August 31st, 2021 - 76 comments
With the last flights coming out of Kabul, it’s time to review whether this US attitude to the world is a good idea.
China reports zero local symptomatic Covid-19 cases for first time in weeks
Written By: - Date published: 10:52 am, August 24th, 2021 - 55 comments
You probably won’t see this in our local media, as our pundits today debate whether it is time to ditch our elimination strategy and Australia gives up on it. China is also well ahead on ensuring its vast population is vaccinated as well.
Advice from Oz for the anti-China media
Written By: - Date published: 11:44 am, August 10th, 2021 - 23 comments
There’s so many of them here – Guyon Espiner, Anna Fifield, Lucy Craymer, Sam Sachdeva, Laura Walters, John Daniell, Emile Donovan, Paula Penfold, reef fish with the same few sources. Australian Paul Strutynski provides the textbook in his “Guide for budding foreign policy journalists wanting to work for the Nine Network or Newscorp.”
Are we really ready to escalate to war with China over Taiwan?
Written By: - Date published: 6:47 pm, July 29th, 2021 - 38 comments
“What will the role of New Zealand be should China invade Taiwan?” was by far the most popular question for Jacinda Ardern after she spoke at a NZIIA seminar last week. Promising to be benign, Ardern said we are “very predictable,” cited alleged human rights abuses in Hong Kong, and went on to say we […]
RNZ’s Chinese Spies story doesn’t add up
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 2nd, 2021 - 47 comments
On Monday, RNZ reported that “Chinese Communist Party spies are infiltrating New Zealand universities”. Our guest poster views this thin and anecdotal ‘investigative’ reporting with deep suspicion. Was any of this activity was reported to the proper authorities. Or is it just the usual paranoia / racist dog-whistling or a paid story?
Communist Party of China turns 100
Written By: - Date published: 11:59 pm, June 30th, 2021 - 59 comments
July 1st this year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai in 1921. It is a date worth commemorating as while the Party is not well understood, its positive achievements have been outstanding.
NZ Nuclear-Free Day
Written By: - Date published: 9:32 pm, June 8th, 2021 - 3 comments
June 8 is the anniversary of Aotearoa’s 1987 nuclear-free legislation. NZOnScreen is running a retrospective of our proud history, the Nuclear-free Collection. It is well worth a watch. I particularly liked the movie “Nuclear Reaction,” with Big Norm seeing off the French, Big Dave seeing off the Americans, and Kiwi Keith also clear about where we stood. The nuclear risk is worse now than it has ever been.
The week when Scomo came to visit
Written By: - Date published: 11:12 am, June 6th, 2021 - 5 comments
This week has seen the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to suggest that Australia is adopting a principled stand and New Zealand has sold its soul to China for trade. But the comments by Morrison and Ardern made after their Queenstown meeting suggests the opposite.
New Zealand’s Perverse Economy
Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, May 29th, 2021 - 37 comments
At a forecast farm gate milk price of between NZ$7.25 and NZ$8.75 per kilo of milk solid, Fonterra is going to fill up its milk tankers, drive back to their suppliers with cash and pump it straight back into the farmhouse like we haven’t seen in a decade.
Will we rebuild better?
Written By: - Date published: 7:34 am, May 17th, 2021 - 36 comments
There’s a question Covid19 allows us to ask that we haven’t been able to ask since the end of World War 2: can we all just co-operate to get along – as a species?
Uyghur separatists behind call for Parliamentary motion on genocide
Written By: - Date published: 4:26 pm, May 4th, 2021 - 72 comments
On Morning Report today ‘High Court lawyer’ Sam Vincent called for Parliament to resolve to condemn alleged Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang. He said he spoke on behalf of Uyghur Solidarity Aotearoa committed to taking action on Xinjiang “or as they call it East Turkestan.” If they call it East Turkestan they are likely separatists, with possible links to terrorists. That explains a lot.
US to offer millions in new funds to take on China
Written By: - Date published: 2:57 pm, May 3rd, 2021 - 16 comments
This from SCMP columnist Alex Lo “If they look, swim and quack like US influence operations, they probably are US influence operations, especially when they come with an annual price tag of US$300 million to be authorised by law by the US Congress, of which US10 million has been earmarked especially for Hong Kong.” Lo […]
Australia is picking a fight with China
Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, April 28th, 2021 - 53 comments
I am pleased that Nanaia Mahuta and the Government have distanced ourselves from joining in with five eyes attacks on China. Because when you look at that aggressive rhetoric that is emanating from Australia you have to be worried.
The five eyes beat up
Written By: - Date published: 1:50 pm, April 24th, 2021 - 33 comments
There has been a conservative sourced beat up of Aotearoa New Zealand for not using an intelligence gathering treaty grouping to publicly attack China.
Biden is serious about climate change
Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, April 24th, 2021 - 70 comments
One of the many regretful aspects of the Trump presidency was the United States open hostility to doing anything about climate change. It looks like Joe Biden will do his best to make up for lost time.
Putting Five Eyes in its place
Written By: - Date published: 10:25 pm, April 20th, 2021 - 19 comments
Following her speech to the NZ China Council, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta wanted to be very clear that in speaking out about issues with other countries, New Zealand would not be doing it in concert with Five Eyes partners. She expressed a view that New Zealand did not agree with Five Eyes remit encroaching beyond intelligence, and that this had been communicated to Five Eyes partners. Good.
That’s No Moon – It’s A Space Station
Written By: - Date published: 7:50 pm, March 22nd, 2021 - 9 comments
Did anyone notice Russia and China signing up to a treaty to form a common base on the moon?
- The First Matariki
Today marks Matariki, the first “new” New Zealand public holiday since Waitangi Day was added in 1974. Officially the start of the Maori New Year, this is one of those moveable beasties – much like Easter, the dates will vary from year to year, anywhere from mid-June to ...2 hours ago - SHOCK! HORROR! The New Zealand Economy is in Recession!!!!! Or are we?
The takeaways from the just released data are:1. Any estimate of GDP is subject to error.2. The 0.2 percent decrease in the March 2022 quarter is not precise and will be revised, with the mild likelihood that it will eventually be higher.3. New Zealand has no ‘official' definition of a ...2 hours ago - Matariki: Thoughts and Questions.
11 hours ago - Of Silmarillion Elves, Pavlova, and Motorcycles: Testing an AI
The internet is a wonderful thing sometimes. Yesterday, I ran across an AI program that generates images via prompt: https://huggingface.co/spaces/dalle-mini/dalle-mini So I have been doing the logical thing with it. Getting it to generate Silmarillion characters in bizarre situations. Morgoth playing golf, and so forth. But one thing I ...20 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #25 2022
Stashing renewable energy Do a little internet sleuthing on renewable energy via your favorite search engine and you'll find some honest critique and much more dishonest misinformation (aka disinformation) to the effect that photovoltaic and wind generation are fickle energy supplies, over-abundant in some periods and absent in others. There's ...1 day ago - Bryce Edwards: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t want this changed
The current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The juicy details coming out each day show private wealth being funnelled into some peculiar schemes in an attempt to circumvent the Electoral Act. Yet ...1 day ago - Ideology and Foreign Investment
As in so many other areas of public policy, attitudes towards overseas investment in New Zealand – and anywhere, for that matter – boil down in the end to ideology. For proponents of the “free market”, there is really no issue. The market, in their view, must never be second-guessed; ...1 day ago - Media Link: “A View from Afar” on NATO and BRICS Leader’s summits.
Selwyn Manning and I discussed the upcoming NATO Leader’s summit (to which NZ Prime Minister Ardern is invited), the rival BRICS Leader’s summit and what they could mean for the Ruso-Ukrainian Wa and beyond. ...1 day ago - From “Friend”, To “Threat” – In Just Five Years.New Zealand’s Most Profitable“Friend” Dangerous “Threat”: This country’s “Five Eyes” partners, heedless of the economic consequences for New Zealand, have cajoled and bullied its political class into becoming Sinophobes. They simply do not care that close to 40 percent of this country’s trade is with China. As far as Washington, London, ...1 day ago
- A Tale As Old As Time: Musings on the ‘Corporatisation’ of TolkienI have seen some natter around about how The Rings of Power represents the undue and unholy corporatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien. I won’t point out examples, but anyone who has seen YouTube commentary has a pretty good grasp of what I am talking about – the sentiment that ...2 days ago
- Uncomfortable Comparisons: If Labour’s Harking Back To 2017, Then It’s Not Looking For A Win.2017’s Queenmaker: Five years ago, Winston Peters’ choice ran counter to New Zealand’s informal, No. 8 wire, post-MMP constitution, which, up until 2017, had decreed that the party with the most votes got to supply the next prime minister. Had National not been in power for the previous 9 years, it ...2 days ago
- Treasury is ignoring long covid
I've read some bad stuff about long covid recently, and Marc Daalder's recent Newsroom piece about what endemic covid means for Aotearoa got me wondering about whether the government was thinking about it. Mass-disability due to long covid has obvious implications for health and welfare spending, as well as for ...2 days ago - A perfect exampleLast year, a stranded kiwi criticised the MIQ system. Covid Minister Chris Hipkins responded by doxxing and defaming her. Now, he's been forced to apologise for that: Minister Chris Hipkins has admitted he released incorrect and personal information about journalist Charlotte Bellis, after she criticised the managed isolation system. ...2 days ago
- Gil-galad is an Elven Chad: An Ode to the Leaks
Gil-galad is an Elven Chad Gil-galad is an Elven Chad But Celebrimbor makes them mad Digesting leaks from Amazon Of Isildur and Pharazôn. The hair is short? The knives are keen. The beardless face of Dwarven Queen? With meteor and man-not-named The fandom temper is inflamed. Of Annatar ...3 days ago - Dear striking British workers: F___ You! Love, the Labour Party
From the desk of Keir "Patriotic Duty" Starmer:“We have robust lines. We do not want to see these strikes to go ahead with the resulting disruption to the public. The government have failed to engage in any negotiations.“However, we also must show leadership and to that end, please be reminded ...3 days ago - Why the Ombudsman should not oversee Oranga TamarikiLast week the Social Services and Community Committee reported back on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People's Commission Bill. The bill attracted an unprecedented three minority reports and universal opposition from other parties, but Labour is going to ram it through anyway. Among other things, ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the fate of Julian Assange
Has swapping Scott Morrison for Anthony Albanese made any discernible difference to Australia’s relations with the US, China, the Pacific and New Zealand ? Not so far. For example: Albanese has asked for more time to “consider” his response to New Zealand’s long running complaints about the so called “501” ...3 days ago - What it would take for U.S. to meet its Paris commitmentThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The Biden administration in April 2021 dramatically ratcheted up the country’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions pledge under the Paris target, also known as its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Obama administration in 2014 had announced a commitment to cut U.S. emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels ...4 days ago
- An admission of guiltStuff reports that the National Party opposes greater transparency for political donations because it might have a "chilling effect" on donors: National says officials have underestimated “the aversion of donors to being publicly identified”. The party says only a “small fraction” of donors who currently give between $1,500 and ...4 days ago
- Tauranga: A Predictable Result, With A Warning Attached.Walking On Sunshine: National’s Sam Uffindell cantered home in the Tauranga By-Election, but the Outdoors & Freedom Party’s Sue Grey attracted an ominous level of support.THE RIGHT’S gadfly commentator, Matthew Hooton, summed up the Tauranga by-election in his usual pithy fashion. “Tonight’s result is poor for the National Party, catastrophic for ...4 days ago
- Nurtured by and dedicated to te reo Māori
Te reo Māori is Dr. Anaha Hiini’s life purpose. Raised by his grandparents, Kepa and Maata Hiini, Anaha of Ngāti Tarāwhai, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue descent made a promise at the age of six to his late grandmother, Maata Hiini. “I’ve always had a passion for Māori culture. My first inspiration ...4 days ago - Striving for recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi motivates Dr Carwyn JonesDr Carwyn Jones’ vision is to see Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the law given equal mana. Carwyn who holds a PhD in law and society and currently teaches Ahunga Tikanga (Māori Laws and Philosophy) at Te Wānanga o Raukawa after 15 years at Victoria University of Wellington has devoted ...4 days ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Tale of two summits – why Jacinda Ardern said no to the Commonwealth, but yes to ...Jacinda Ardern’s decision to attend the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Spain – but to skip the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda – symbolises the changes she is making to New Zealand foreign policy. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) starts today in ...5 days ago
- 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 12, 2022 through Sat, June 18, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): White lies: Daily Telegraph’s excitement over bumper snow season skates ...5 days ago
- What is the Medium-Term Future for the New Zealand Economy?
The outlook does not look that promising. Forecasting an economy is a mug’s game. The database on which the forecasts are founded is incomplete, out-of-date, and subject to errors, some of which will be revised after the forecasts are published. (No wonder weather-forecasting is easier.) One often has to adopt ...1 week ago - Ram raids then and now
by Don Franks It seems that almost each day now another ram raid shatters someone’s shop front and loots the premises. Prestigious Queen street is not immune, while attacks on small dairies have long stopped being headline news. Those of us not directly affected are becoming numbed to this form ...1 week ago - Labour: $1 million a year is “too much” for transparencyBack in 2018 the government proposed an OIA review. After a ludicrious attempt to do it in secret, they finally held a public consultation, which made a clear case for reform. They then sat on it for a year, before announcing out of the blue that they planned to rewrite ...1 week ago
- Sciblogs gave scientists a platform before social media took overIt’s hard to believe that when we created Sciblogs in 2009, the iPhone was only two years old, being a ‘Youtuber’ wasn’t really a thing and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok didn’t exist. But Science blogging was a big thing, particularly in the United States, where a number of scientists had ...1 week ago
- Bidding farewell to SciblogsFor 13 years, Sciblogs has been a staple in New Zealand’s science-writing landscape. Our bloggers have written about a vast variety of topics from climate change to covid, and from nanotechnology to household gadgets. But sadly, it’s time to close shop. Sciblogs will be shutting down on 30 June. When ...1 week ago
- Jacinda Ardern’s Radical Reshuffle.Radical Options: By allocating the Broadcasting portfolio to the irrepressible, occasionally truculent, leader of Labour’s Māori caucus, Willie Jackson, the Prime Minister has, at the very least, confirmed that her appointment of Kiri Allan was no one-off. There are many words that could be used to describe Ardern’s placement of ...1 week ago
- Protecting Freedom/Preventing Harm. Can New Zealand’s New Chief Censor Do Both?1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell on the Penny Wong visitGood grief. Has foreign policy commentary really devolved to the point where our diplomatic effort is being measured by how many overseas trips have been taken by our Foreign Minister? Weird, but apparently so. All this week, a series of media policy wonks have been invidiously comparing how many trips ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science tackles 'discourses of climate delay' and 'solutions denial'Where we've been Time flies. This coming summer will mark 15 years of Skeptical Science focusing its effort on "traditional" climate science denial. Leaving aside frivolities, we've devoted most of our effort to combatting "serious" denial falling into a handful of broad categories of fairly crisp misconceptions: "radiative physics is wrong," "geophysics is ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24 2022Mercenary army of bogus skeptics on parade Because they're both squarely centered in the Skeptical Science wheelhouse, this week we're highlighting two articles from our government and NGO section, where we collect high-quality articles not originating in academic research but featuring many of the important attributes of journal publications. Our mission ...1 week ago
- Media Link: AVFA on Latin America.In the latest episode of AVFA Selwyn Manning and I discuss the evolution of Latin American politics and macroeconomic policy since the 1970s as well as US-Latin American relations during that time period. We use recent elections and the 2022 Summit of the Americas as anchor points. ...1 week ago
- Another referendum in Scotland?The Scottish government has announced plans for another independence referendum: Nicola Sturgeon plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence in October next year if her government secures the legal approval to stage it. Angus Robertson, the Scottish government’s constitution secretary, said that provided ample time to pass ...1 week ago
- Something is wrong in TaurangaOn Monday, Stuff reported that queer-supporting students at a Tauranga "Christian" school were subjected to chants of "kill the gays". This morning, a building hosting queer and trans groups was burned down in an apparent arson attack: A building used by Gender Dynamix – an organisation that aims to ...1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell on the price tag for closer US military tiesSo far, the closer military relationship envisaged by Jacinda Ardern and Joseph Biden at their recent White House meeting has been analysed mainly in terms of what this means for our supposedly “independent” foreign policy. Not much attention has been paid to what having more interoperable defence forces might mean ...1 week ago
- The most reliable hurricane models, based on their 2021 performanceThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters For those puzzling over the various hurricane computer forecast models to figure out which one to believe, the best answer is: Don’t believe any of them. Put your trust in the National Hurricane Center, or NHC, forecast. Although an individual ...1 week ago
- Proactive release: The documentsBack in April, Stuff was leaked a consultation copy of a cabinet paper on changes to proactive release policy. The full paper - The next steps in the public release of official information - was eventually released, but in the interim I filed an OIA request seeking information on the ...1 week ago
- Young people care about things that matterThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Scott Denning The excellent Julia Steinberger essay posted at this site in May provides a disturbing window into the psychology of teaching climate change to young people. It’s critically important to talk with youth about hard topics: love and sex, deadly contagion, school shootings, vicious ...1 week ago
- Applying genomics to the taxonomic dilemma of threatened albatrossesBy Imogen Foote (Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington) A lack of consensus among international conservation regimes regarding albatross taxonomy makes management of these ocean roaming birds tricky. My PhD research aims to generate whole genome data for some of our most threatened albatrosses in a first attempt ...1 week ago
- Misusing Tolkien and History: Loconte and Bellicosity
Joseph Loconte has clearly never met a War he didn’t like. A couple of years ago, he was using Tolkien to beat the drum at a time when war with Iran seemed imminent: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/dracones-et-bellum-tolkien-and-the-serpents-a-reply-to-joseph-loconte/ Now? He’s doing it again. This time, via wheeling out Tolkien analogies in the ...2 weeks ago - A durable U.S. climate strategy … or a house of cards?This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Richard Richels, Benjamin Santer, Henry Jacoby, and Gary Yohe Just when it seemed that real progress might be made on climate change, war has pushed climate concerns to the back burner. This shift in focus is understandable. War is affecting millions in ...2 weeks ago
- New look, but can Labour find a new focus?
Well, if that’s “minor” I’d be interested to see what a major reshuffle looks like.Jacinda Ardern has reminded New Zealand of the steel behind the spin in her cabinet refresh announced today. While the Prime Minister stressed that the changes were “triggered” by Kris Faafoi and Trevor Mallard and their ...2 weeks ago - The stench of corruptionA company gives a large amount of money to a political party because they are concerned about law changes which might affect their business model. And lo and behold, the changes are dumped, and a special exemption written into the law to protect them. Its the sort of thing we ...2 weeks ago
- Beating The Gangs.Active Shooters: With more than two dozen gang-related drive-by shootings dominating (entirely justifiably) the headlines of the past few weeks, there would be something amiss with our democracy if at least one major political party did not raise the issues of law and order in the most aggressive fashion. (Photo ...2 weeks ago
- The Recession New Zealand Has To Have?Going Down? Governments also suffer in recessions and depressions – just like their citizens. Slowing economic activity means fewer companies making profits, fewer people in paid employment, fewer dollars being spent, and much less revenue being collected. With its own “income” shrinking, the instinct of most government’s is to sharply ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on the flaws in National’s pet solution to gangs and povertyIn the 50 years since Norm Kirk first promised to take the bikes off the bikies, our politicians have tried again and again to win votes by promising to crack down on gangs. Canterbury University academic Jarrod Gilbert (an expert on New Zealand’s gang culture) recently gave chapter and verse ...2 weeks ago
- Macho chest-beating won’t tame the gangs, but Poto Williams’ “softly, softly” approach just ...Misdirection: New Zealanders see burly gang members, decked out in their patches, sitting astride their deafening motorcycles, cruising six abreast down the motorway as frightened civilians scramble to get out of their way, and they think these guys are the problem. Fact is, these guys represent little more than the misdirection ...2 weeks ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Why is New Zealand’s defence minister visiting South Korea?New Zealand’s defence minister, Peeni Henare, has had a very busy first half of the year. In January, Henare was the face of New Zealand’s relief effort to Tonga, following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano. Then, from March onwards, Henare was often involved in Jacinda Ardern’s announcements ...2 weeks ago
- 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #23Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 5, 2022 through Sat, June 11, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): The Future of Energy Storage, Are climate models wrong? (Naomi ...2 weeks ago
- Intersectional? Or sectarian?
James Heartfield wrote this article on intersectionalism and its flaws nine years ago. He noted on Twitter: “Looking back, these problems got worse, not better.” Published 17 November 2013. Is self-styled revolutionary Russell Brand really just a ‘Brocialist’? Is Lily Allen’s feminist pop-video racist? Is lesbian activist Julie Bindel a ...2 weeks ago - Bryce Edwards: NZ First’s court trial shows the need for political finance reformThe New Zealand First donations scandal trial began in the High Court this week. And it’s already showing why the political finance laws in this country need a significant overhaul. The trial is the outcome of a high-profile scandal that unfolded in the 2020 election year, when documents were made ...2 weeks ago
- NZME and TrumpThe televised hearings into the storming of the Capitol are revealing to the American public a truth that was obvious to some of us from the outset – that the Trumpian “big lie” about a “stolen” election was part of a determined attempt at a coup that would have been ...2 weeks ago
- Will We Be Thinking Big Again Soon?
When in 1980 I introduced the term ‘Think Big’ to characterise the major (mainly energy) projects, I was concerned about the wider issue of state-led development strategies. From that perspective, the 1980s program was not our first ‘think big’. That goes back to Vogel in 1870, who wanted to develop ...2 weeks ago - One country at a timeMalaysia will abolish the death penalty: The government has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, giving judges discretion in sentencing. Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the decision was reached following the presentation of a report on substitute sentences for the mandatory death penalty, which he presented ...2 weeks ago
- Deeply conflictedThe Petitions Committee has reported back on a petition to introduce a capital gains tax on residential property, with a response that basicly boils down to "fuck off, we're not interested". Which is sadly unsurprising. According to the current Register of Members' Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests, the eight members ...2 weeks ago
- Our Least Worse Option.We Can Be Heroes: Ukrainian newly-weds pose for the cameras before heading-off to the front-lines. The Russo-Ukrainian War has presented young people with the inescapable reality of heroism. They see Volodymyr Zelensky in his olive-drab T-shirts; they see men and women their own age stepping-up to do their bit. They have ...2 weeks ago
- SchadenfreudeI'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed the irony of Boris Johnson's desperate attempts to cling onto power.I recall, almost immediately after Jermey Corbyn was elected, a bunch of memes based on the WW2 film Downfall, associating the mild manner Jermey Corbyn with Hitler in his final, ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #23 2022Terms and conditions may change For myriad reasons we'd like to think and know that dumping our outmoded and dangerous fossil fuel energy sources may be difficult and may require a lot of investment but that when we're done, it'll be back to business as usual in terms of what ...2 weeks ago
- There needs to be accountability for thisYesterday the Supreme Court quashed Alan Hall's conviction for murder, declaring it was a miscarriage of justice. In doing so, the Chief Justice found that "such departures from accepted standards must either be the result of extreme incompetence or of a deliberate and wrongful strategy to secure conviction" - effectively, ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards: The problem of “blindly following” the US against ChinaNew Zealand may have finally jumped off its foreign policy tightrope act between China and the US. Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern effectively chose sides, leaping into the arms of the US, at the expense of the country’s crucial relationship with China. That’s the growing consensus amongst observers of ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on Sinai, where it suits us to waive international treatiesFarmers are currently enjoying the highest prices and payouts in the history of this country. They will never be better placed to acknowledge that their wealth comes on the back of climate-changing emissions and causes serious amounts of water and soil pollution. Costs which everyone else is having to shoulder. ...2 weeks ago
- DrawnA ballot for two member's bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Electoral (Right to Switch Rolls Freely) Amendment Bill (Rawiri Waititi) Customs and Excise (Child Sex Offender Register Information Sharing) Amendment Bill (Erica Stanford) The first is also covered in Golriz Ghahraman's ...2 weeks ago
- Musing on Celebrimbor Images
It never rains but it pours. A day after we get the mysterious landscape of TirHarad, we finally get Empire Magazine’s image of the Amazon Celebrimbor, as played by Charles Edwards: Now, I would be lying if I said that this Celebrimbor looks in any way like the ...2 weeks ago - The “R” wordThe world is currently going through a surge of inflation - some of it due to the ongoing breakdown in the global supply chain, some of it due to disruptions to oil and food supply due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but much of it due to pure corporate profiteering. ...2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: A scam from start to finishThe He Waka Eke Noa report has finally been released, and it shows that the entire project was a scam from start to finish. The scam starts with the title, which translates as "we are all in this together". But the whole purpose of the policy is to ensure that ...2 weeks ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day, and first up is the second reading of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill. Like the recent Rotorua bill, this is going to be controversial, as it ditches the principle of fully-elected local bodies in favour of iwi appointments (and disproportionate ones at ...2 weeks ago
- More Empire Magazine Stills
As per Fellowship of Fans, we now have a couple more images from The Rings of Power, this time what appears to be some items from the upcoming Empire Magazine article.
This first ... 2 weeks ago - Nina Power on men & women, art, free speech and cancel cultureIn this Free Speech podcast Daphna Whitmore speaks to Nina Power – an English social critic, philosopher, and author of the new book “What Do Men Want”. Nina was previously a senior lecturer in Philosophy at Roehampton University in Britain. She writes for Telegraph, Art Review, and The Spectator and ...2 weeks ago
- Climate Change: Taking the challenge seriouslyBack in 2017, then-opposition leader Jacinda Ardern declared climate change to be "my generation's nuclear-free moment". Since then the government she leads has passed the Zero Carbon Act, legislating a net-zero (except for methane) 2050 target and strengthening our interim 2030 target. But that target has been rated as "insufficient" ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on why nurses are our prime export to AustraliaThat giant sucking noise is the sound of the jobs of our nurses, doctors, and midwives being vacuumed up by medical recruiters from New South Wales. The conservative Perrottet NSW state government has just announced ambitious aims to recruit more than 10,000 nurses, doctors and other staff as part of ...2 weeks ago
- The Affable Snake: Tony Simpson Remembers Stan Rodger (1940-2022)2 weeks ago
- Driving with electricity is much cheaper than with gasolineThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The rising cost of gasoline and diesel is both a frequent headline and an ongoing financial drain for many, let alone a major issue in the upcoming November midterm elections. But unlike previous gas crunches, some consumers now have options ...3 weeks ago
- Migrant healthcare workers need fair pay as well as residency
Migrant nurses, aged-care and support workers need fair pay as well as equitable pathways to residency, not half-baked measures from National. ...1 day ago - Support workers deserve better payCare and support workers deserve much better than the pay rates Labour is pushing through Parliament today. ...2 days ago
- Pay equity for kaiārahi i te reo celebratedRecognising te reo and tikanga Māori in schools starts with pay equity, says the Green Party. ...2 days ago
- Nurses could face pay cut under NationalA National Government would leave nurses behind, the Green Party says. ...2 days ago
- Celebrating our first Matariki public holiday
We’re proud to have delivered on our election commitment to establish a public holiday to celebrate Matariki. For the first time this year, New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own. ...2 days ago - Stronger action needed to stop illegal loggingProposed new legislation to reduce the risk that timber imported into Aotearoa New Zealand is sourced from illegal logging is a positive first step but it should go further, the Green Party says. ...3 days ago
- Oranga Tamariki oversight bill must be withdrawnThe Government must withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation in the face of overwhelming opposition, the Green Party says. ...3 days ago
- Greens call on new Minister to make up for the refugee support not provided during pandemicOn World Refugee Day, the Green Party is calling on the new Minister for Immigration, Michael Wood to make up for the support that was not provided to people forced to leave their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...5 days ago
- Govt must expand meth rehabilitation programme nationwide...1 week ago
- Major milestone in our school upgrade programmeThis week, we’ve marked a major milestone in our school upgrade programme. We've supported 4,500 projects across the country for schools to upgrade classrooms, sports facilities, playgrounds and more, so Kiwi kids have the best possible environments to learn in. ...1 week ago
- How much do you know about Matariki?We’ve delivered on our election commitment to make Matariki a public holiday. For the first time this year, all New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own with family and friends. Try our quiz below, then challenge your whānau! To celebrate, we’ve ...1 week ago
- Testing removal means domestic protections neededThe Green Party says the removal of pre-departure testing for arrivals into New Zealand means the Government must step up domestic measures to protect communities most at risk. ...1 week ago
- RSE overhaul needed to centre workers’ rightsThe long overdue resumption of the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota must be followed by an overhaul of the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme, says the Green Party. ...1 week ago
- Lessons must be learned from Delta responseLessons must be learned from the Government's response to the Delta outbreak, which the Ministry of Health confirmed today left Māori, Pacific, and disabled communities at greater risk. ...1 week ago
- Govt must listen to child sector experts on Oranga Tamariki oversightThe Green Party is calling on the Government to withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation which strips away independence and fails to put children at the heart. ...1 week ago
- Petition calls on Auckland Mayor to pedestrianise Queen StreetGreen MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick, in partnership with the City Centre Residents’ Group, has today launched a petition calling on the Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff to pedestrianise Queen Street. ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand is open for business and in high demandAs New Zealand reconnects with the world, we’re making the most of every opportunity to show we’re a great place to visit, trade with and invest in as part of our plan to grow our economy and build a secure future for all Kiwis. Just this week we saw further ...2 weeks ago
- Safe and affordable water for all2 weeks ago
- Agricultural emissions proposal falls shortThe He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions pricing proposal leaves more questions than answers, the Green Party says. ...2 weeks ago
- Prime Minister’s Matariki speech 2022
Matariki tohu mate, rātou ki a rātou Matariki tohu ora, tātou ki a tātou Tīhei Matariki Matariki – remembering those who have passed Matariki – celebrating the present and future Salutations to Matariki I want to begin by thanking everyone who is here today, and in particular the Matariki ...12 hours ago - First Matariki holiday marked across New Zealand and the worldOho mai ana te motu i te rangi nei ki te hararei tūmatanui motuhake tuatahi o Aotearoa, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki, me te hono atu a te Pirīmia a Jacinda Ardern ki ngā mahi whakanui a te motu i tētahi huihuinga mō te Hautapu i te ata nei. ...13 hours ago
- Minister to attend second United Nations Ocean Conference in PortugalOceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker will represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the second United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, which runs from 27 June to 1 July. The Conference will take stock of progress and aims to galvanise further action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, to "conserve and sustainably use ...1 day ago
- Government supports innovative dairy sheep sector to scale upThe Government is boosting its partnership with New Zealand’s dairy sheep sector to help it lift its value and volume, and become an established primary industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “Globally, the premium alternative dairy category is growing by about 20 percent a year. With New Zealand food ...1 day ago
- Government supports Buller flood recovery and longer term resilienceThe Government is continuing to support the Buller district to recover from severe flooding over the past year, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today during a visit with the local leadership. An extra $10 million has been announced to fund an infrastructure recovery programme, bringing the total ...1 day ago
- Government outlines plans for future COVID-19 variants“The Government has undertaken preparatory work to combat new and more dangerous variants of COVID-19,” COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall set out today. “This is about being ready to adapt our response, especially knowing that new variants will likely continue to appear. “We have undertaken a piece of work ...2 days ago
- Next steps for NZ UK free trade agreementThe Government’s strong trade agenda is underscored today with the introduction of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill to the House, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “I’m very pleased with the quick progress of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill being introduced ...2 days ago
- Five new members join education Youth Advisory GroupA ministerial advisory group that provides young people with an opportunity to help shape the education system has five new members, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins said today. “I am delighted to announce that Harshinni Nayyar, Te Atamihi Papa, Humaira Khan, Eniselini Ali and Malakai Tahaafe will join the seven ...2 days ago
- Address to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons First Meeting of States PartyAustria Centre, Vienna [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] E ngā mana, e ngā reo Tēnā koutou katoa Thank you, Mr President. I extend my warm congratulations to you on the assumption of the Presidency of this inaugural meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. You ...3 days ago
- Govt makes sure support workers have right to take pay-equity claimThe Government is taking action to make sure homecare and support workers have the right to take a pay-equity claim, while at the same time protecting their current working conditions and delivering a pay rise. “In 2016, homecare and support workers – who look after people in their own homes ...3 days ago
- Targeted second COVID-19 booster a step closerA law change passed today streamlines the process for allowing COVID-19 boosters to be given without requiring a prescription. Health Minister Andrew Little said the changes made to the Medicines Act were a more enduring way to manage the administration of vaccine boosters from now on. “The Ministry of Health’s ...3 days ago
- Commerce Commission empowered to crackdown on covenantsNew powers will be given to the Commerce Commission allowing it to require supermarkets to hand over information regarding contracts, arrangements and land covenants which make it difficult for competing retailers to set up shop. “The Government and New Zealanders have been very clear that the grocery sector is not ...3 days ago
- Plasterboard taskforce set up to ease shortagesMinisterial taskforce of industry experts will give advice and troubleshoot plasterboard shortages Letter of expectation sent to Fletcher Building on trademark protections A renewed focus on competition in the construction sector The Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods has set up a Ministerial taskforce with key construction, building ...3 days ago
- First Matariki public holiday celebrated with a unique broadcasting collaborationMinister for Māori Development Willie Jackson and Minister for Māori Crown Relations Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis announced today the inaugural Matariki public holiday will be marked by a pre-dawn hautapu ceremony at Te Papa Tongarewa, and will be a part of a five-hour broadcast carried by all major broadcasters in ...3 days ago
- Health volunteers recognised at ParliamentVolunteers from all over the country are being recognised in this year’s Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, just announced at an event in Parliament’s Grand Hall. “These awards celebrate and recognise the thousands of dedicated health and disability sector volunteers who give many hours of their time to help other ...4 days ago
- Trade Minister to travel to Europe, Canada and Australia to advance economic recoveryNew Zealand’s trade agenda continues to build positive momentum as Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor travels to Europe, Canada and Australia to advance New Zealand’s economic interests. “Our trade agenda has excellent momentum, and is a key part of the Government’s wider plan to help provide economic security for ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister to travel to Europe and AustraliaPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern will leave this weekend to travel to Europe and Australia for a range of trade, tourism and foreign policy events. “This is the third leg of our reconnecting plan as we continue to promote Aotearoa New Zealand’s trade and tourism interests. We’re letting the world know ...4 days ago
- Remarks to ICAN Nuclear Ban Forum session “The Ban is the Plan and this is Why”[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Nga mihi ki a koutou. Let me start by acknowledging the nuclear survivors, the people who lost their lives to nuclear war or testing, and all the peoples driven off their lands by nuclear testing, whose lands and waters were poisoned, and who suffer the inter-generational health ...5 days ago
- New Zealand leadership contributes to significant progress at the WTONew Zealand’s leadership has contributed to a number of significant outcomes and progress at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which concluded in the early hours of Friday morning after a week of intense negotiations between its 164 members. A major outcome is a new ...6 days ago
- Meth addiction service launched in Eastern Bay of PlentyThe Government has delivered on its commitment to roll out the free methamphetamine harm reduction programme Te Ara Oranga to the eastern Bay of Plenty, with services now available in Murupara. “We’re building a whole new mental health system, and that includes expanding successful programmes like Te Ara Oranga,” Health ...1 week ago
- Creatives in Schools Round 4 open for applicationsKura and schools around New Zealand can start applying for Round 4 of the Creatives in Schools programme, Minister for Education Chris Hipkins and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said today. Both ministers were at Auckland’s Rosehill Intermediate to meet with the ākonga, teachers and the professional ...1 week ago
- Opening speech for MEETINGS 2022It is my pleasure to be here at MEETINGS 2022. I want to start by thanking Lisa and Steve from Business Events Industry Aotearoa and everyone that has been involved in organising and hosting this event. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to welcome you all here. It is ...1 week ago
- Reconnecting across the Tasman: Australia – Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Minister ConsultationsAotearoa New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, met in Wellington today for the biannual Australia - Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations. Minister Mahuta welcomed Minister Wong for her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand ...1 week ago
- Global challenges reflected in March quarter GDPThe volatile global situation has been reflected in today’s quarterly GDP figures, although strong annual growth shows New Zealand is still well positioned to deal with the challenging global environment, Grant Robertson said. GDP fell 0.2 percent in the March quarter, as the global economic trends caused exports to fall ...1 week ago
- One million New Zealanders vaccinated against fluMore than a million New Zealanders have already received their flu vaccine in time for winter, but we need lots more to get vaccinated to help relieve pressure on the health system, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Getting to one million doses by June is a significant milestone and sits ...1 week ago
- NZ Principals Federation MOOT SPEECH -Friday 10 June 2022 It’s a pleasure to be here today in person “ka nohi ke te ka nohi, face to face as we look back on a very challenging two years when you as Principals, as leaders in education, have pivoted, and done what you needed to do, under challenging circumstances for your ...1 week ago
- Provincial Growth Fund already delivering jobs and economic boost to the regionsThe Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is successfully creating jobs and boosting regional economic growth, an independent evaluation report confirms. Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash announced the results of the report during a visit to the Mihiroa Marae in Hastings, which recently completed renovation work funded through the PGF. ...1 week ago
- Pre-departure tests removed from June 20Travellers to New Zealand will no longer need a COVID-19 pre-departure test from 11.59pm Monday 20 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “We’ve taken a careful and staged approach to reopening our borders to ensure we aren’t overwhelmed with an influx of COVID-19 cases. Our strategy has ...1 week ago
- Foreign Minister to attend CHOGMForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Rwanda this week to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali. “This is the first CHOGM meeting since 2018 and I am delighted to be representing Aotearoa New Zealand,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “Reconnecting New Zealand with the ...1 week ago
- Joint Statement: Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) at MC12We, the Ministers for trade from Costa Rica, Fiji, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, welcome the meeting of Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) partners on 15 June 2022, in Geneva to discuss progress on negotiations for the ACCTS. Our meeting was chaired by Hon Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s Minister for ...1 week ago
- New Chief Censor appointedInternal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti has today announced Caroline Flora as the new Chief Censor of Film and Literature, for a three-year term from 20 July. Ms Flora is a senior public servant who has recently held the role of Associate Deputy‑Director General System Strategy and Performance at the Ministry ...1 week ago
- Government tackles elder abuseEleven projects are being funded as part of the Government’s efforts to prevent elder abuse, Minister for Seniors Dr Ayesha Verrall announced as part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. “Sadly one in 10 older people experience elder abuse in New Zealand, that is simply unacceptable,” Ayesha Verrall said. “Our ...1 week ago
- New connectivity funding for more rural homes and businessesMore New Zealand homes, businesses and communities will soon benefit from fast and reliable connectivity, regardless of where they live, study and work,” Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, David Clark said today. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us time and again how critical a reliable connection is for ...1 week ago
- Phil Twyford to attend Nuclear Ban Treaty meetingDisarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford will lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) First Meeting of States Parties in Austria later this month, following a visit to the Netherlands. The Nuclear Ban Treaty is the first global treaty to make nuclear ...1 week ago
- Australian Foreign Minister to visit for talksForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will this week welcome Australian Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong on her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand as Foreign Minister. “I am delighted to be able to welcome Senator Wong to Wellington for our first in-person bilateral foreign policy consultations, scheduled for ...1 week ago
- Government’s School Investment Package supports 4,500 projectsState schools have made thousands of site, infrastructure and classroom improvements, as well as upgrades to school sports facilities and playgrounds over the past two and a half years through a major government work programme, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. The School Investment Package announced in December 2019 gave ...1 week ago
- PM Ardern shares warm meeting with Samoa PMPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern had a warm and productive meeting with Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa in Wellington, today. The Prime Ministers reflected on the close and enduring relationship the two countries have shared in the 60 years since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, and since Samoa ...1 week ago
- Govt acting to increase supermarket competition“Food price data shows New Zealanders pay too much for the basics and today’s figures provide more evidence of why we need to change the supermarket industry, and fast," Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark says. Stats NZ figures show food prices were 6.8% higher in May 2022 compared ...1 week ago
- New standalone integrity entity for sportAn independent body to strengthen and protect the integrity of the sport and recreation system is to be established. “There have been a number of reports over the years into various sports where the athletes, from elite level to grassroots, have been let down by the system in one way ...1 week ago
- New baby unit opened at Waitakere HospitalParents of babies needing special care can now stay overnight at Waitakere Hospital, thanks to a new Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), Health Minister Andrew Little said today. The new SCBU, which can care for 18 babies at a time and includes dedicated facilities for parents, was opened today by ...1 week ago
- The Week in Politics: Another week, another crisis
Analysis - A health 'crisis' is the latest of the government's cascading problems, the Gib board shortage is elevated to ministerial taskforce level and the new police minister gets to work. ...3 hours ago - New Zealand needs a new gang strategy – political consensus would be a good startComment - The concern about gangs and gang-related violence in New Zealand continues to be highly politicised. The problem is these debates often lack history, context or vision. ...4 hours ago
- Our flood predictions are getting worse as the climate changes. We have to understand how hills shap...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Thompson, Associate professor, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock Protecting people from floods requires many technical professionals to make good predictions and decisions. Meteorologists predict the risk of extreme rainfall. Hydrologists translate this rainfall into predictions about what ...5 hours ago - VIDEO: Federal government brings COVID back onto the agendaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Professor Chris Wallace discuss the week in politics. They canvass the Albanese government’s reaction to Sri Lankan people smugglers trying to reactivate their trade. Meanwhile, the Prime ...6 hours ago
- Power Play: Goodfellow's departure an overdue shift in National leadershipThe imminent resignation of National Party President Peter Goodfellow marks a significant shift in the party leadership, after years of triumph and of great turmoil, writes RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson. ...6 hours ago
- The Albanese government has committed to enshrining a First Nations Voice in the Constitution. What ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Deem, Lecturer – Law, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his new government have committed to enshrining a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution. To do so, a majority of Australians in a majority of states ...6 hours ago
- How Operation Phoenix exported violence from Australia to YugoslaviaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Mitchell Lee, PhD Candidate, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The ill-fated nineteen: the only known photo of the Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood members who went to Yugoslavia in 1972. Wikimedia Fifty years ago this month, in June 1972, Yugoslavia’s ...7 hours ago
- How effective is mindfulness for treating mental ill-health? And what about the apps?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas T. Van Dam, Associate professor, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Mindfulness forms part of the trillion-dollar wellness industry, representing 1.5–6% of yearly spending around the world (estimated to be more than US$200 million) on wellness products and services. ...7 hours ago
- How Operation Pheonix exported violence from Australia to YugoslaviaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Mitchell Lee, PhD Candidate, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The ill-fated nineteen: the only known photo of the Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood members who went to Yugoslavia in 1972. Wikimedia Fifty years ago this month, in June 1972, Yugoslavia’s ...7 hours ago
- It’s Matariki (if you hadn’t noticed) but we are being urged to celebrate the occasion and not t...
Buzz from the Beehive Fresh news – since our previous Buzz – comes from Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker. He has announced he will represent New Zealand at the second United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, which runs from 27 June to 1 July. Other ministers presumably have gone home for ...7 hours ago - ‘This is when we came of age’, says Māori leader on Matariki 2022RNZ News Today’s Matariki celebrations signal the maturing of Aotearoa New Zealand, says Māori leader Sir Pou Temara. A ceremony attended by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other dignitaries was held in Wellington to mark the first national public holiday in New Zealand for Matariki. On a still Wellington morning ...7 hours ago
- Boycotts in sport may not advance human rights. But they do harm individual athletesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hans Westerbeek, Professor of International Sport Business, Head of Sport Business Insights Group, Victoria University Organisers of Wimbledon, the main draw of which begins on June 27, have found themselves in a quandary over their controversial decision to ban Russian and Belarusian ...8 hours ago
- Matariki falls during a quiet retail season – but NZ businesses should be wary of cashing inANALYSIS: By Mike Lee, University of Auckland Aotearoa New Zealand will enjoy a new official public holiday on June 24, with the country marking Matariki — the start of the Māori New Year. But with it comes the temptation for businesses to use the day to drive sales. Some Māori ...9 hours ago
- Social justice research network awards trophy to Papuan student advocatePacific Media Centre newsdesk A new Asia Pacific social justice research and publication nonprofit has awarded a diversity communications trophy to a West Papuan postgraduate student who has advocated for the education and welfare of his fellow students. Several dozen Papuan students trying to complete their studies were stranded in ...9 hours ago
- Outgoing PNG minister challenges impartiality of officials in demand for fair pollsBy Claudia Tally in Port Moresby The impartiality of officials who have been appointed to manage polling in the National Capital District during the Papua New Guinea general election next month has been questioned. In a first of its kind meeting in Port Moresby yesterday, candidates, police and the election ...9 hours ago
- PM hails 'first authentically Māori public holiday'Matariki is a step forward towards understanding what makes us unique as a country, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. ...12 hours ago
- We helped track 77 species for up to 60 years to try to reveal the secrets of long life. And some do...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mike Gardner, Flinders University Mike Gardner, Author provided Ever wondered about the secret to a long life? Perhaps understanding the lifespans of other animals with backbones (or “vertebrates”) might help us unlock this mystery. You’ve probably heard turtles live a ...12 hours ago
- We asked the public about being lonely during lockdowns. For many, Zoom calls weren’t enough – a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Patulny, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Wollongong Shutterstock Despite widespread access to social media and videoconferencing technology, many Australians experienced heightened loneliness during COVID lockdowns, and continue to do so. We surveyed more than 2,000 Australians during 2020-21 ...12 hours ago
- How young Black African Australians use social media to challenge anti-Black narratives and reclaim ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathomi Gatwiri, Senior lecturer, Southern Cross University Shutterstock For Black African young people in Australia, social media can be especially fraught – a place they witness footage of anti-Black violence, contend with an “othering” gaze and encounter racist trolling, posts ...12 hours ago
- When RAT-testing for COVID, should you also swab your throat?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor, Nursing and Deputy Head (Learning & Teaching), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University Shutterstock We’re now pretty used to swabbing our nose to test for COVID when we have a scratchy throat or new ...12 hours ago
- The clean energy revolution isn’t just a techno-fix – it’s about capturing hearts and mindsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Leader, Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Shutterstock The Black Summer bushfires devastated parts of the Eurobodalla region in New South Wales. Then earlier this year, the area was hit by floods. As climate ...12 hours ago
- Relax, it’s just a ringlight for kids. Toys like the ‘vlogger set’ prepare them for a digital ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Levido, Research Fellow – Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Recent outrage surrounding a young children’s toy “vlogger” set echoes moral panics of the past, particularly when words such as ...12 hours ago
- Beyond GDP: Jim Chalmers’ historic moment to build a well-being economy for AustraliaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Warwick Smith, Research economist, The University of Melbourne Australia’s new federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, spoke regularly in opposition about a well-being budget and the need to measure more than just the traditional economic indicators. He was even mocked for it by ...12 hours ago
- Art, freedom and drag invasions: the history of New York’s Fire Island as a gay sanctuarySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Sunter, PhD Student, University of Adelaide Cybele O’Brien/ Getty Recently screened at the Sydney Film Festival, Fire Island is a rom-com inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the film breaking traditional conventions to feature gay romance as the ...12 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Anthony Albanese has a lot on the go in the ‘back office’ of governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Anthony Albanese will be on the international road again next week. He’ll be at the NATO summit in Madrid, where the war in Ukraine will obviously dominate the discussions, which will also canvass China and ...21 hours ago
- Parliament precinct officially reopens after repairs following occupation riotsParliament's grounds have reopened to the public, following work to fix damage caused by anti-mandate riots. ...23 hours ago
- Crown calls NZ First Foundation deed 'a sham' as it closes donations caseThe Crown has described the New Zealand First Foundation's founding document "a sham", as it closes its case against two men accused of mishandling political donations. ...1 day ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t wan...Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t want this changed Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The ...1 day ago
- Kris Faafoi gives final speech to ParliamentAfter 12 years as an MP, a standing ovation and waiata have marked outgoing cabinet minister Kris Faafoi's final speech in Parliament. ...1 day ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Indications for New Zealand from Late-Covid Mortality in the Norther...Analysis by Keith Rankin. The charts below are all to the same scale. Strictly speaking, they show seasonal mortality rather than excess mortality. The zero percent baseline represents low-season mortality rather than average mortality. France Chart by Keith Rankin. French mortality data shows a big covid ‘spike’ in March 2020, ...1 day ago
- RNZ-TVNZ mega-entity named 'Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media' in draft legislationDraft legislation which would see state broadcasters RNZ and TVNZ subsumed into a new entity would take effect from 1 March next year. ...1 day ago
- Why this new climate case against the high-polluting Scarborough gas project is so significantSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne A major new climate case to stop Woodside’s controversial Scarborough gas project going ahead has been filed by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) in the federal court this week. ACF lawyers argue ...1 day ago
- Australia just flew its own ‘vomit comet’. It’s a big deal for zero-gravity space researchSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gail Iles, Senior Lecturer in Physics, RMIT University Steve Gale (pilot) and Gail Iles (right) next to the Marchetti jet. Kieran Blair, Author provided Last Saturday, a two-seater SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jet took off from Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne with an expert ...1 day ago
- Farmers start new dairy season on an encouraging note as Fonterra signals another record milk price
New Zealand’s dairy industry, which is proving again it is the backbone of the country’s export industries, has been given fresh encouragement with the big co-op Fonterra signalling a record milk price for the season that has just opened. It comes as the payout for the just-finished season stands as ...1 day ago - How we are suckling the sheep-milk industry – Govt invests $7.97m in partnership which involves s...Buzz from the Beehive Damien O’Connor scored twice – he issued one statement as Minister of Trade and another as Minister of Agriculture – while rookie Emergency Relief Minister Kieran McNulty broke his duck, announcing flood relief for the West Coast. Covid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall put more runs on ...1 day ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Greg Barns on the battle to free Julian AssangeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is facing extradition to the United States after this was given the green light by the British Government. Assange faces charges of espionage over the publication of classified information ...1 day ago
- New Zealand needs a new gang strategy – political consensus would be a good startSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images The concern about gangs and gang-related violence in New Zealand continues to be highly politicised. Government ministers are under constant media scrutiny and political pressure, with both sides trying to ...1 day ago
- THREE WATERS: Select Committee Restrictions Another Limit On Local Voice
The New Zealand Parliament has significantly limited people’s ability to take part in the only public consultation on Three Waters reform by refusing to accept email submissions. Instead of enabling people to submit via one of the simplest and ...1 day ago - Curriculum Change Process Rushed And DisrespectfulShortages of nursing and social work staff in Aotearoa can only be met with strong training programmes. However, current moves to consolidate the curriculum in the new network of vocational education provision – Te Pūkenga - will fall short of ...1 day ago
- PODCAST: Buchanan + Manning ON The NATO Leaders’ SummitA View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning examine in detail what to expect from the NATO leaders’ summit, which includes addresses from the prime ministers of Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Why is NATO including addresses of NATO partners in this ...1 day ago
- How Rising festival brought us dance in times of plagueSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angela Conquet, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Abby Murray/Rising Three years in the making, Rising’s much-anticipated first edition brought to Melbourne’s festival-deprived audiences a rich program featuring 225 events. With former Chunky Move founder and choreographer Gideon Obarzanek ...1 day ago
- New HRMI Research: NZ Failing Its Human Rights CommitmentsThe Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) has released new data indicating that New Zealand is falling seriously short when it comes to meeting human rights commitments across a number of areas. Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand ...1 day ago
- Security Breach Endangers Auckland Firearms Owners – COLFOCOLFO appreciates Police clarification that criminals had in their hands a list that may have contained details of at least 5,602 licensed firearms owners. Once the Police investigation is completed COLFO will ask members if they want a call ...1 day ago
- Why was the Brittany Higgins trial delayed, and what is ‘contempt of court’? A legal expert’s ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia The judge in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the staffer alleged to have raped Brittany Higgins, ruled on Tuesday, “regrettably and with gritted teeth”, that his trial will need ...1 day ago
- Women are at greater risk of stroke, the more miscarriages or stillbirths they’ve hadSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gita Mishra, Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland Shutterstock New research shows women who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth, have an increased risk of stroke – when blood can’t get to the brain, ...1 day ago
- Lack Of Commuter Rail Funding Inexcusable As Nearly Half Of Capital Connection Services DisruptedWith nearly half of scheduled Capital Connection services since Monday 13 June having been bus replaced, delayed, or operating at reduced capacity due to mechanical issues, Kāpiti Coast commuter rail campaigner Gwynn Compton has called out the Government’s ...1 day ago
- MIA Kelvin Thinks It’s A Joke – Act Party“The Corrections Association (CANZ) has made pens with the phrase “Where’s Kelvin” printed on them and the response from Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis is that he wants one so he can frame it,” says ACT’s Corrections spokesperson ...1 day ago
- Industry Groups Back Groundswell NZ Call For Warming-based Accounting...1 day ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 20 June 2022The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...1 day ago
- National Party board president Peter Goodfellow resignsGoodfellow, who has been the party's president for 13 years, says a new president will be selected at the annual conference in August. ...1 day ago
- Thousands Protest Against Proposed Fisheries LegislationMore than 5,500 people felt so aggrieved by the controversial parts of the Fisheries Amendment Bill, they wrote unique submissions opposing it. The bill has massive implications for fisheries sustainability in New Zealand The new legislation would force through ...1 day ago
- COVID deaths are now barely mentioned in the media. That changes the very nature of griefSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Wayland, Senior Lecturer Social Work, University of New England Shutterstock About a year ago, many of us were in lockdown. State premiers fronted the media every day to reveal how many people had tested positive for COVID and how ...2 days ago
- 4 ways to understand why Australia is so cold right now despite global warmingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO Shutterstock It’s an offhand joke a lot of us make – it’s freezing, can we get a bit more of that global warming right about now? But how should we really conceive our ...2 days ago
- Female finance leaders outperform their male peers, so why so few of them in academia and beyond?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Adams, Professor of Finance, University of Oxford Shutterstock The gender diversity of thought leadership in finance is lower than in most other academic fields, our research shows. Finance ranks 132nd out of 175 fields with a representation of only ...2 days ago
- Why capping food prices won’t work – and will actually make things worseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phil Lewis, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra Australian shoppers are facing a crisis in the fresh-food aisles. Iceberg lettuces that cost $2.80 a year ago have doubled, or tripled, in price. Brussel sprouts that cost $4 to $6 a kilogram are ...2 days ago
- Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is super-spangly, explosive, narratively unhinged – and an artistic triumphSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Isaacs, Associate Professor, Film Studies, University of Sydney © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. A new Baz Luhrmann film caused a stir this year at Cannes – again. In 2001, Moulin Rouge opened the grandest of ...2 days ago
- Russia’s Ukraine invasion won’t be over soon – and Putin is counting on the West’s short att...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sussex, Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University As Russia’s war in Ukraine becomes a quagmire of attrition, Western leaders are slowly coming to two realisations about Vladimir Putin’s intentions. First, Russia’s war against Ukraine won’t be over soon, ...2 days ago
- Head of Foreign Affairs Kathryn Campbell ousted in public service shake-upSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kathryn Campbell, has been replaced in a shake-up of federal departmental heads announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The new secretary will be Jan ...2 days ago
- Nigel Simpson Is Standing For Mayor Of NapierCurrent City Councillor with local government management experience, stretching beyond thirty years, says enough is enough, it’s time for change in our city’s elected leadership and culture. Napier [City] has a proud and prominent history, ...2 days ago
- Hipkins urged to apologise to all pregnant women ignored by MIQ as new case emergesAs Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments about her MIQ application, it can be revealed the government dropped a similar case days before a scheduled court hearing. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand Food Network Launches Volunteer Programme At New Selwyn PremisesThe New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) celebrated National Volunteer Week 2022 with the launch of its new Selwyn Operation. Earlier this week, the NZFN and Volunteering Canterbury hosted the first volunteer group at the new warehouse facility, which ...2 days ago
- Hipkins called to apologise to all pregnant women ignored by MIQ as new case emergesAs Chris Hipkins apologises to Charlotte Bellis for comments about her MIQ application, it can be revealed the government dropped a similar case days before a scheduled court hearing. ...2 days ago
- When all that money is being pumped into health (as the PM insists), we may wonder why the system is...Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon has shown he is a fast learner. Where earlier he often ended on the receiving end in exchanges with the Prime Minister in Parliament, now it is the Prime Minister who who can be seen back-pedalling, Take, for example, pressures in the health system which are ...2 days ago
- [email protected] Thurs Buchanan + Manning: The NATO Summit + A Response to Failing Economic GlobalisationA View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will approach this episode in two parts. First we will detail what to expect from the NATO leaders’ summit, which includes addresses from the prime ministers of Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Why is NATO ...2 days ago
- Three Waters Reform: It’s Now Time To Make A SubmissionMatters relating to governance, ownership, and accountability are all part of the Water Services Entities Bill, which represents the next stage in the Government’s Three Waters reform programme. Nelson City Council is working on a submission to ...2 days ago
- Brands are leaning on ‘recycled’ clothes to meet sustainability goals. How are they made? And wh...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timo Rissanen, Associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock Today we make more clothing than ever before. And the driver for this is primarily economic, rather than human need. Over the past decade, the term “circular economy” has entered the fashion ...2 days ago
- Flexing the state’s muscle: Māori ministers are admiring as the media are mobilised to inform th...Buzz from the Beehive The state is flexing its muscle in the building and supermarket industries. In the building industry the intervention can be criticised as long overdue and unlikely to do much good any time soon to remedy a crippling shortage of plasterboard. A Ministerial taskforce has been set ...2 days ago
- A 30 Year Plan: An Open Letter To Minister Of EducationTēnā koe Chris, On behalf of the schools in our care we are writing to you to express our thoughts and concerns as the Principals of Invercargill Primary Schools. Since the inception of Tomorrow’s Schools, over thirty years ago, education in ...2 days ago
- Renewed Settlement For Care And Support Workers Still Leaves Sector In Crisis, Unions SayUnions representing thousands of care and support workers across Aotearoa New Zealand say the renewed care and support legislation that sets workers’ pay rates will leave workers and the sector in crisis for longer. The legislation to amend the Support ...2 days ago
- Passengers Last Consideration By AT And Auckland CouncilWhile the country prepares to celebrate the first Matariki holiday weekend, incompetent mis-management by Auckland Transport will see the popular Britomart to Onehunga train services permanently ruined. “Through silence, zero public consultation and general ...2 days ago
- Grape growers are adapting to climate shifts early – and their knowledge can help other farmersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bill Skinner, Postdoctoral research associate, University of Adelaide Shutterstock It’s commonly assumed Australia’s farmers and cities are divided over climate issues. This is not true. After all, farmers are on the front line and face the realities of our shifting ...2 days ago
- How digital tech can help people with asthma manage their meds and reduce the risk of attacksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Chan, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, University of Auckland Getty Images Modern medical science has made remarkable progress in the treatment of asthma. Inhalers containing steroids are particularly effective in preventing an asthma attack. But getting people to take these ...2 days ago
- Over 67,000 People And Their Property Endangered By Police Negligence – COLFOConfirmation today that a register of firearm owners stolen from Auckland Police station covers 2003-2018, means over 67,000 firearm owners and their private addresses may have been in the hands of criminals. The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners ...2 days ago
- Has US-style politicisation of the courts come to Australia?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harry Hobbs, Senior lecturer, University of Technology Sydney Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray responding to news that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. J. Scott Applewhite/AP In the landmark 1973 decision of Roe v ...2 days ago
- Bellis apology doesn't mean MIQ unjustified – HipkinsFormer Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says his apology to Charlotte Bellis does not extend to MIQ generally. ...2 days ago
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