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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?
Britain’s tin-ear ’tilt’ to the Indo-Pacific
Written By: - Date published: 5:39 pm, March 18th, 2021 - 14 comments
In its new integrated defence and foreign policy strategy, Britain intends to raise its nuclear warheads on Trident from 180 to 240. What a waste. It also intends to “tilt” to the Indo-Pacific, sending the New HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier here later in the year to give a message to China. It should read its history.
Vaccine Diplomacy
Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, March 15th, 2021 - 19 comments
Vaccines have had a place in diplomacy since the Cold War. The country that can manufacture and distribute lifesaving injections to others less fortunate sees a return on its investment in the form of soft power. Today the country moving fastest towards consolidating these gains may be China.
Biden can reset with China
Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, March 5th, 2021 - 43 comments
New Zealand should resist China’s authoritarian ways, and U.S. President Biden should too. But it’s all in how he does it.
We must resist US pressure on China that could lead to war
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, February 20th, 2021 - 41 comments
In February 2002 I was at a union-NDP conference in Ottawa watching US television in my hotel room. Back home I reported on the conference to the Labour Party caucus and stated as an aside that the US was going to war with Iraq. Helen Clark stood up straightaway and said “we won’t be going with them.” Jacinda Ardern needs to do the same now.
We Must Resist China
Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, February 11th, 2021 - 81 comments
New Zealand should continue to protest against China’s massive oppression of Uighur peoples. It’s what a country with a conscience ought to do.
Uyghur allegation escalation?
Written By: - Date published: 6:25 pm, February 6th, 2021 - 67 comments
Radio New Zealand carried a long story this week from the BBC of rape allegations in Xinjiang based on accounts from two Uyghur women Tursunay Ziawudun and Gulzira Auelkhan. Independent analyst Bernhard at Moonofalabama asks the question “Why do these Uyghur witnesses stories constantly change?
Reasons to abandon NZ’s Five-Eyed Folly
Written By: - Date published: 2:35 pm, February 4th, 2021 - 29 comments
Wayne Brown’s recent suggestion “Is it time to sell our seat on FiveEyes?” is from someone well placed by experience to form an educated opinion. “Trade sanctions of the type Australia is facing are a weapon used by both USA and China. So let’s have a debate on whether we need Five Eyes, or whether it’s time for us to trade on independently.”
Twelve months of living with Covid
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, February 1st, 2021 - 21 comments
One year on from the declaration by the WTO that Covid was a public health emergency and with the benefit of hindsight it is interesting to see who heeded the scientific advice and how it worked out.
Hong Kong arrests uncovering an ‘ugly plot?’
Written By: - Date published: 6:15 pm, January 25th, 2021 - 6 comments
Retired Hong Kong Final Court of Appeal Judge Henry Litton raises some important questions about the motivations of the 53 would-be legislators recently arrested in Hong Kong. Five Eyes countries including New Zealand were quick to condemn the arrests, but Litton states their aim was to implement a wider plot called “10-steps to mutual destruction,” and to use their powers as legislators to create chaos.
Are Revolutions A Good Idea?
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, January 23rd, 2021 - 24 comments
Revolt? Revolution? Pain in the ass? Depends, like comedy, on timing. And which side of history you end up on.
- Barbados elects its first president
Barbados will officially become a republic at the end of November, and today they took an important step along the way: electing their first president. To make things easy on themselves in the transition, they simply elected their current Governor-General to the role: Governor General Dame Sandra Mason has ...13 hours ago - Labour’s sneaky copyright dealThe big news this morning is that the government has reached an in-principle FTA with the UK, with the usual benefits for farmers (and therefore incentives to increase emissions). The wisdom of making an agreement with a government which literally admitted last week that it makes agreements in bad faith ...15 hours ago
- Moving To The Right.
15 hours ago - DrawnA ballot for five Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Education and Training (Freedom of Expression) Amendment Bill (James McDowall) Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Bill (Deborah Russell) Financial Professional Services Trading Advice Transparency Bill ...16 hours ago
- National's failed firearms bill cost over $390,000
16 hours ago - Waitemata Burning: Narrowing Down the Auckland Outbreak
So the Auckland Coronavirus Outbreak has been steadily increasing in case numbers. Not exploding, Melbourne-style, but definitely increasing. The question then becomes… how is this happening, and where is this happening? Well, I’m pleased you asked that. Because I do think we can mine the available data for clues. ...16 hours ago - Wishful Thinkng
It should come as no surprise that the government’s critics, on the pandemic and other subjects, are from the political right. For many of them, the touchstone is purely political – if the policy is right-wing, it is “right”, and, if not, then it is by definition wrong. In no ...17 hours ago - The critically endangered Māui dolphin is a conservation priority – we shouldn’t let uncertaint...Rochelle Constantine, University of Auckland and Wendi Roe, Massey University The world’s rarest marine dolphin, Māui, is found only along the west coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Based on our surveys over the last two summers, during which we collected small tissue samples for DNA ...18 hours ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 21 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Mike Reid, Principal Policy Advisor, Local Government New Zealand “NZ Politics Daily is essential early morning reading in our organisation like LGNZ. To effectively represent our members we need to understand and respond to changes in the political landscape, particularly policy and political changes at the national ...19 hours ago - Fluoridation and child IQ – the problem of counting chickens before they hatch
Image credit: Cherry-picking data – don’t get fooled by misleading statistics It’s easy to find studies that confirm ones own bias on health issues. But cherry-picking such studies is unscientific because one could equally cite studies showing the exact opposite. The problem is ...19 hours ago- Kids’ quality of life will depend on today’s climate choices
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections It’s the moral quandary of human-caused climate change: People least responsible for the problem will bear the brunt of its harmful consequences. As a substantial body of scientific research has established, this reality is true of developing countries. They generally are located in already-hot regions ...1 day ago- Purpose-built MIQ: National’s sums don’t add up
. . Parts of National’s document – to open up Aotearoa New Zealand “to the world” – has been recycled from various policy and media releases last year and more recently. Despite demanding that the country open up to the outside world and end lockdowns by 1 December, and ...1 day ago- Member’s Day
Today is a Member's Day, and there's an interesting bill up for debate for once. But they'll have to get through a lot of boring stuff first. First up is Simeon Brown's Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill (No 2), which should go quickly as it has been overtaken by ...2 days ago- Justice for Brazil?
Brazil has been one of the countries worst-hit by the pandemic, with over 21 million confirmed cases and 600,000 deaths. Much of the blame for that can be squarely laid at the feet of its president, Jair Bolsonaro, who put the economy first and let the disease spread unchecked, while ...2 days ago- Freedom Day is coming!
Could 1 December be Freedom Day? ...2 days ago- Gordon Campbell on juggling Covid, and France’s Trump-like populist
It is the age-old Covid problem. How to balance the needs for firms (and schools) to re-open against the need to protect public health. In the past, the balance has been struck by insisting that the best public health outcomes also deliver the best economic (and educational) outcomes. While that ...2 days ago- Ben Santer on ‘separating’ and his ‘small part’ in understanding of climate science
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Separating is hard. I’ve spent most of my scientific career trying to separate observed climate records into human-caused signals and the background noise of natural variability. It’s been challenging and fascinating work. Challenging because so many different human and natural factors affect Earth’s ...2 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 20 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Joe Atkinson, Political Scientist, University of Auckland: “NZPD is an indispensable source for political junkies like me. It sorts the wheat out from the media chaff and saves a lot of time.” Anyone can sign up to NZPD for free at: https://democracyproject.nz/nz-politics-daily/ Today’s content Housing Zane Small (Newshub): How ...2 days ago- The Picnic Period: A sign of our Covid times
Auckland. For a long been it’s been known to Maori as Tamaki Makaurau, a place of ‘many lovers’. In the past fortnight, though, Auckland has shaken out the rug and grabbed a drink to become Tamaki Pikiniki, a place of many picnics. The humble picnic is now, in many ways, a ...3 days ago- Are Covid vaccines becoming less effective?
A critical debate about Covid-19 vaccines is when does protection wane, by how much, why, and what does this mean for controlling the pandemic and the impacts of infections. Depending on the studies or headlines you read it can be confusing. Some report declining vaccine effectiveness, and others don’t. Some ...3 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 19 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative “There is a dearth of quality journalism in New Zealand, and so I am grateful to NZ Politics Daily for sifting through our media to discover the gems of reporting and opinion editorials. It is a valuable contribution to ...3 days ago- Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, 1961–2021
This is a re-post from World Weather Attribution With deepest sadness we must share with you the news that Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, dear friend, amazing scientist, co-founder and co-leader of World Weather Attribution, husband and father, and a wonderful human, passed away on 12 October 2021. Geert ...3 days ago- The Entrust election
Auckland is holding elections for EnTrust, its local electricity trust. Entrust is important - it owns electricity and gas-supplier Vector, and so the decisions it makes around energy infrastructure could make a significant difference to greenhouse gas emissions. But the elections have traditionally been ignored, so its run by CitRats ...4 days ago- Argentina returns the favour
In the early 2000s, Argentinian victims of the Dirty War, denied justice due to a local amnesty, sought justice in Spanish courts, who obligingly convicted agents of that country's dictatorship of crimes against humanity under Spain's "universal jurisdiction" law. But Argentina wasn't the only country with a repressive dictatorship which ...4 days ago- Climate Change: A good move, but not enough
The government has announced that it will quadruple climate aid to developing nations, from $300 million to $1.3 billion over four years. This is good: "climate finance" - aid to developing nations to decarbonise and offset the damage caused by rich-country emissions - is going to be a flashpoint at ...4 days ago- Too Much Say, Not Enough Do.
When The Green Party Co-Leader Speaks, Does He Make Any Sound? James Shaw must know that neither New Zealanders, nor the rest of humanity, will ever take the urgent and transformative action that Science now deems necessary to stave-off climate catastrophe.POOR JAMES SHAW: He’s the man this government sends out ...4 days ago- Gordon Campbell on the perils of declaring premature victory
Sure enough, Saturday’s Vaxathon was a barrel of fun and a throwback not merely to the Telethons of the past. It also revived memories of those distant days of early 2020, when we were all carefully wiping down our groceries, not touching our faces, washing our hands for 20 seconds ...4 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 18 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Kim Gillespie, Editor NZME Newspapers Lower North Island & Communities “I find the daily email great for giving me an overview of each morning’s big issues across the media landscape, and really appreciate the huge amount of work that must go in to compiling it each day.” Anyone ...4 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Celebrating and critiquing 25 years of MMP
Over the last week, MMP has been in the spotlight, given that it’s now been 25 years since the first general election was held under this proportional representation system. This has produced some important commentary and storytelling about the introduction of MMP and about the various pros and cons of ...4 days ago- COVID-19 in Aotearoa: what does public health do now?
Dr Belinda Loring, Dr Ruth Cunningham, Dr Polly Atatoa Carr* Public health activities have collectively made an incredible contribution to minimising the impact of COVID-19 in Aotearoa. But the work for public health is not over. As the situation in Auckland heralds a transition point in our approach to the ...4 days ago- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #42
Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, October 10, 2021 through Sat, October 16, 2021 The following articles sparked above average interest during the week: ‘This is a story that needs to be told’: BBC film tackles Climategate scandal, Why trust science?, ...4 days ago- Is injection technique contributing to the risk of post vaccine myocarditis?
Recent misleading media headlines about vaccines being administered incorrectly in the absence of evidence do little to help public confidence in vaccines. Spoiler alert, vaccines are not being administered incorrectly. The topic of this blog is based on what could be an important scientific question – is one of the ...4 days ago- A Māori health expert reports from the Super Saturday frontlines
Rawiri Jansen, National Hauora Coalition I write this as I charge my car, getting ready to head home at the end of a pretty good Super Saturday. It started with coffee and checking the news feeds as any good day should. Between 9 and 10 am as I drove to ...5 days ago- Weddings and Leopards
Could it be that the Herald is beginning to twig that an unremitting hostility to the government does not go down well with all its readers? The evidence for that is that, in today’s issue, two contributors (Bill Ralston and Steven Joyce) who usually enjoy sticking the knife in, take ...5 days ago- The Chronicles of Kregsmal and Krunch: Volume I
As noted previously, my weekly DND campaign with Annalax and Gertrude has been put on ice. I expect it to return eventually, but for now it is very much on hiatus. The remainder of the group have decided to run an entirely new campaign in the meantime. This ...5 days ago- Super Saturday recap: Patrick Gower doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do
It was Aotearoa’s first national day of action in over ten years, the first since 2010, when Prime Minister John Key tried to inspire us to clean up our nation’s berms. It didn’t work. Today, New Zealand’s berms are worse than ever. But history is not destiny, and other cliches. ...5 days ago- COVID-19 Worried about getting your vaccine or want a simple explanation?
Worried about getting your vaccine? Let me tell you a secret. No-one likes getting a vaccine. People do it because they know they’re better off to. Let me tell you another secret, a weird one: the vaccine doesn’t really “do” anything. Confusing? Let me explain… Vaccines are a face at ...6 days ago- Delta puts workers’ power under the spotlight
by Don Franks Foremost fighting the Delta virus are workers, especially in health, distribution, service and education sectors. Unionised members of these groups are centrally represented by the New Zealand Council of trade unions ( NZCTU). Political journalist Richard Harman recently noted:“Businesses are caught in a legal tangle if they ...6 days ago- Faster transitions to clean energy are also cheaper
This is a re-post from the Citizens' Climate Lobby blog Several clean energy technologies like solar panels have become consistently cheaper year after year as the industries have benefited from learning, experience and economies of scale. Falling solar costs are described by “Swanson’s Law,” much like Moore’s Law described the rapid and consistent ...6 days ago- Abstraction and Reality in Economics
Sometimes high theory loses the human point of the exercise.One of the joys of teaching is you learn from your students. When fifty-odd years ago, I was at the University of Sussex, a student doing our first-year economics course, Jim, came to me, saying he was pulling out because it ...6 days ago- What Happened to the Team?
Last year, in the early stages of the pandemic, the Prime Minister’s “team of five million” performed well; team discipline was maintained and we all worked well together. This year, however, has been a different story; team discipline has weakened, and many people have on numerous occasions behaved badly and ...7 days ago- Climate Change: Another legal victory
Across the world climate change activists have been going to court, seeking to make their governments act to protect future generations. And hot on the heels of victories in the Netherlands and Germany, there's been another one in France: A French court has ordered the government to make up ...7 days ago- Invasion Of The (Covid) Body Snatchers.
7 days ago- Humans are driving animals and plants to the edge. But are we really heading into a mass extinction...
Michael Hannah, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It is now common to refer to the current biodiversity crisis as the sixth mass extinction. But is this true? Are we in the middle of an event on the same scale as the five ancient mass extinctions Earth ...7 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 15 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Associate Professor Grant Duncan, Massey University, Auckland “The NZ Politics Daily email is very helpful in giving me a quick overview of current events and opinion. It allows me to pick out important or informative columns that I may otherwise have missed. I recommend NZ Politics Daily to anyone ...7 days ago- Missing From The Anti-Covid Action.
The Invisible Man: Where has the NZ Council of Trade Unions been during the Covid-19 Pandemic? Why hasn’t its current president, Richard Wagstaff (above) become a household name during the pandemic? Up there with Ashley Bloomfield, Michael Baker, Shaun Hendy and Siouxsie Wiles? WHERE HAVE THE UNIONS BEEN during the Covid-19 ...7 days ago- “Go West, Young Virus”
The Auckland Coronavirus Outbreak potters along, not helped by the perception that the Government is disturbingly enthusiastic about “managing the virus” or loosening the border. Health Minister Andrew Little said today he envisages 90% vaccination rates (which we don’t have) eventually leading to 5,000 cases in Auckland a week… ...1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #41, 2021
How to fill a glass and thereby drink— from a fire hose So far this year, New Research has published listings for 3,291 papers concerning climate change from one aspect or another. Each edition includes two dozen or so articles describing freshly and directly observed effects of global waming. These ...1 week ago- Climate Change: UKanians supports cuts
The Guardian reports a study on emissions reduction policy from the UK, which found that UKanians overwhelmingly support stronger action than their government: The UK public backs a carbon tax on polluting industries, higher levies on flying and grants for heat pumps in order to tackle the climate crisis, ...1 week ago- Media Link: “A View from Afar” on PRC-Taiwan tensions.
In this week’s podcast Selwyn Manning and I discuss the upsurge in tensions between the PRC and Taiwan and what are the backgrounds to and implications of them. You can check the conversation out here. ...1 week ago- Labour’s 2023 election manifesto
This morning Health Minister Andrew Little effectively unveiled Labour's 2023 election manifesto: 5,000 cases a week in Auckland alone: Thousands of people will be infected with Covid-19 every week even with vaccination levels at 90 per cent, and hospitals face being overwhelmed once restrictions are eased and borders opened, ...1 week ago- Don't Blame James.
1 week ago- The “Pulpit of Strewth”
Barry Soper is one half of one of one of those right-wing husband-and-wife duos in which the Herald seems to specialise. In today’s issue, he has a piece that doesn’t quite reach the heights (or depths) of a Hoskings-style anti-government hostility, but which does provide an interesting example of the ...1 week ago- Gordon Campbell on the epic fails of Kris Faafoi
Ever since Winston Peters first breathed life into this government in 2018, its own branding has been all about social justice and how we all need to be “kind” to each other. Somehow, Kris Faafoi must have missed the memo. His performance in the immigration portfolio (in particular) has neither ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily: 14 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Mike Treen, Advocate, Unite Union “Please continue your incredible work compiling these news digests. As someone operating in the fields of advocacy for workers and the broader social justice areas it is invaluable to be able to check what is happening in the media relating to the issues I have to deal ...1 week ago- Overconfident Idiots: Why Incompetence Breeds Certainty
This is a re-post from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. Please see this overview to find links to other reposts from Thinking is Power. ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Abandoning ambition
When Labour was first elected to power in 2017, they promised us "[an] ambitious plan to take real action on climate change". Four years and a lot of foot-dragging later, they've finally released that plan. And its not what was promised. Where to begin? Firstly, they've taken the Climate Change ...1 week ago- Many e-cigarette vaping liquids contain toxic chemicals: new Australian research
Alexander Larcombe, Telethon Kids Institute From October 1, it’s been illegal to buy e-liquids containing nicotine without a prescription from a doctor everywhere in Australia, except South Australia. But vaping with nicotine-free e-liquids is not illegal in Australia (though in some jurisdictions the e-cigarette devices themselves are illegal). Vaping ...1 week ago- Young adults worldwide have blunt message for governments: ‘We don’t trust you.’
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Elizabeth Marks describes herself as “a psychologist who works on difficult problems.” Her past research aimed at helping people cope with challenging health conditions, apt training, it appears, for taking on climate change issues. A few years ago, she altered ...1 week ago- Making ‘Second Age’ Hobbits Work: Amazon Series Speculation
Time for a good old-fashioned fandom furore. The Tolkien fandom hasn’t had a proper one of those since the Great Nudity Scandal of October 2020… so it clearly must be time to pontificate from on-high about a television series we still know vanishingly little about. This time the subject ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily: 13 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Lara Greaves, Political scientist, University of Auckland: “I love the NZ Politics Daily emails as they help me to keep on top of current events. It’s incredibly easy to skim through and follow the links. I really appreciate these as it means that I am exposed to a ...1 week ago- The Data and Statistics Bill and the OIA
The government introduced a new Data and Statistics Bill today to modernise and replace the 45-year old Statistics Act. Part of the Bill re-enacts the existing confidentiality regime (with one exception), which while a secrecy clause isn't an especially controversial one. Another part is aimed at removing "outdated" (inconvenient) limits ...1 week ago- Graham Adams: The debate over the $55 million media fund erupts again
RNZ’s Mediawatch and a video clip viewed 42,000 times keep the topic of the Public Interest Journalism Fund fizzing. Graham Adams reports. A week ago, the NZ Taxpayers’ Union posted a short video clip of the exchange in Parliament between Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins in which the National ...1 week ago- Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study
Scott Montgomery, UCL For most of the time since the first description of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1868, the causes of this disabling disease have remained uncertain. Genes have been identified as important, which is why having other family members with MS is associated with a greater risk of developing ...1 week ago- Hit hard by the pandemic, researchers expect its impacts to linger for years
Sora Park, University of Canberra; Jennie Scarvell, University of Canberra, and Linda Botterill, University of Canberra The impacts of COVID-19 on Australian university researchers are likely to have consequences for research productivity and quality for many years to come. According to an online survey of academics at the University ...1 week ago- Covid and free speech
by Don Franks Some commentators have likened the struggle against Covid 19 to the world war experience. To those of us not alive in those times, that comparison can only be academic. What the anti virus battle reminds me of much more is an industrial strike. In my twenties and ...1 week ago- “Angry Blowhards”
In today’s Herald, their excellent columnist, Simon Wilson, takes to task those “shouty” people whom he further describes as “angry blowhards”. They are those whose prime reaction to the pandemic is anger – an anger they seamlessly (and perhaps unwittingly) transfer from the virus to the government. The basis for ...1 week ago- Looking Forward To 2022.
1 week ago- Gordon Campbell on Covid mandates, and the Covid pill
The cliché about “living with Covid” will not mean life as we’ve known it, Jim. Vaccination is fast becoming a condition of employment, and also a requirement to participate in aspects of social life, such as travel, attending bars, cafes, and concerts etc. These protective measures enjoy a high level ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily: 12 October 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Prof Alan Bollard, Professor of Practice at the School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington; Chair of the Infrastructure Commission: “NZ Politics Daily” provides a great public service – a quick and unbiased way to check policy announcements and analysis every morning.” Anyone can sign up to NZPD ...1 week ago- Legal Beagle: A submission on the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2)
I have made a submission on the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2).In preparing it, I looked at the Hansard for the first reading debate, and got name-dropped as someone likely to make a submission. So, of course I did. I focus on a small bit of the ...1 week ago- Hard News: More tales from the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme
You may have read last week that two years after the publication of regulations for medicinal cannabis – and three years after the enabling legislation – two local products from a local manufacturer have finally met the minimum quality standards for prescription. You may also be interested to know that ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Real action requires government
Over the weekend someone pointed me at a journal article on "The Poverty of Theory: Public Problems, Instrument Choice, and the Climate Emergency". Its a US law journal article, so is a) very long; and b) half footnotes (different disciplines have different norms), but the core idea is that the ...2 weeks ago- Climate Change: Not doing our bit
Last month the US and EU announced they would push an agreement to cut methane emissions by 30% (from 2020 levels) by 2030 at the upcoming climate change conference in Glasgow. The good news is that New Zealand is looking at joining it. The bad news is that that won't ...2 weeks ago- Delta’s Week Of Doom.
Classic Shot: Are the Prime Minister’s formidable communication skills equal to the task of getting her government’s anti-Covid campaign back on track?IF JACINDA ARDERN thought last week was bad, the week ahead promises to be even worse. Sixty community cases of Covid-19, one of the highest daily totals so far ...2 weeks ago - Kids’ quality of life will depend on today’s climate choices
- Transform arms export regime to strengthen human rights protections
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is calling on the Government to urgently introduce legislation to better regulate the export of military products and technology that could be used to breach human rights in other countries. ...19 hours ago - Make it a shore thing – Bird of the Year 2021The Green Party is calling on people to go dotty for dotterel and vote for the New Zealand Dotterel/Tūturiwhatu as Bird of the Year 2021. ...2 days ago
- National’s irresponsible COVID plan will cost livesThe National Party’s plan to remove all COVID restrictions on 1 December, regardless of whether or not people are vaccinated, would cost lives, the Green Party says. ...2 days ago
- New research reinforces urgency to end conversion practicesNew research from the University of Waikato showing a link between conversion practices and negative mental health for trans and non-binary people reinforces the urgent need to pass the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill. ...2 days ago
- Te Mātāwaka: Greens call for the Government to listen to Māori health expertsTe Mātāwaka caucus support the call from iwi leaders, and Māori providers for a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 95 percent for Māori, Pasifika and other marginalised communities before further lifting COVID-19 restrictions. ...3 days ago
- Govt must build on foundation of planning rule changes to solve housing crisisFamilies looking for their first home will welcome a bipartisan commitment to increase housing supply, but will be asking what more can be done. ...3 days ago
- Equitable financial support urgently needed to combat COVID outbreakThe Green Party is calling for a broader and more equitable financial support package to slow the COVID-19 outbreak and ensure everyone in Alert Level 3 can make ends meet, following the announcement that Alert Level 3 has been extended for at least two more weeks in Auckland and at ...3 days ago
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- 5 ways you can help New Zealand get vaccinated
Getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and the people we care about from COVID-19. It means we’ll all be able to do more of what we love this summer, while keeping each other safe. ...1 week ago - Te Mātāwaka: Greens support iwi led housing solutionsThe Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka Caucus welcome the Government’s investment into iwi Māori-led housing initiatives. ...1 week ago
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- Camping, concerts, cuddles: Kiwis tell us why they’re vaccinatedRight now, the single most important thing New Zealanders can do in the fight against COVID-19 is get vaccinated. More and more of us are stepping up, with more than two million people now fully vaccinated. ...1 week ago
- Green Party deeply concerned space launches may be breaching nuclear-free lawsThe Green Party is deeply concerned that space launches by Rocket Lab may be breaching New Zealand’s long-standing nuclear-free position and legislation. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome work on electoral reform, but call for recommendations of previous reviews to be impl...The Green Party welcomes the review of New Zealand’s electoral laws as chance to make elections fairer and more accessible. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt plan risks vulnerable communitiesThe Green Party says the Government’s planned roadmap for Auckland risks the safety of vulnerable communities and children. ...2 weeks ago
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- Parts of Waikato to stay at Alert Level 3 for next six days
The parts of Waikato that have been in Alert Level 3 will remain at that alert level till Wednesday, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Based on the latest public health information, maintaining level 3 in those parts of the Waikato continues to be the most prudent course of ...9 hours ago - Hon Peeni Henare September 2021 Proactive Diary Release...10 hours ago
- NZ passes world-first climate reporting legislationNew Zealand has become the first country in the world to pass a law that will ensure financial organisations disclose and ultimately act on climate-related risks and opportunities, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr David Clark and Climate Change Minister James Shaw today announced today. The Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures ...12 hours ago
- Prime Minister NZ UK FTA opening remarksTēnā koutou katoa. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. I am delighted to announce today that following a conversation with Prime Minister Johnson last night, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have Agreed in Principle a historic high-quality, comprehensive and inclusive free trade agreement. I’m joined today by the Minister ...17 hours ago
- New Zealand secures historic free trade deal with the United KingdomA boost of almost $1 billion to New Zealand GDP, unprecedented access for New Zealand exporters to the UK market UK to eliminate all tariffs on New Zealand exports, with over 97% being removed the day the FTA comes into force NZ exporters to save approx. $37.8 million per year ...17 hours ago
- Quarterly benefit numbers show more people in workBenefit figures released today show a year on year fall of 9,807 people receiving a Main Benefit in the September Quarter. “The Government is working hard to tackle COVID-19 and it is clear our strong response to the initial outbreak has created a resilient labour market which is providing opportunities ...17 hours ago
- Health reforms bill introduced to ParliamentLegislation central to fixing the health system has been introduced into Parliament by Health Minister Andrew Little. “Rebuilding the public health system is critical to laying the foundations for a better future for all New Zealanders,” Andrew Little said. “We need a system that works for everybody, no matter who ...2 days ago
- NCEA and NZ Scholarship Exams to proceedNCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams will proceed, including in areas where Alert Level 3 has been in place, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health have been working together to ensure exams can be managed in a safe ...2 days ago
- Limited change to onsite learning – for senior secondary students – in Level 3 regionsOnsite learning at schools in Level 3 regions will start from next week for senior secondary school students to prepare for end of year exams, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Secondary schools in these regions will start onsite learning for years 11 to 13 on Tuesday 26 October,” Chris ...2 days ago
- Guaranteed MIQ spots for health workersThe Government is changing the way managed isolation is co-ordinated for health workers, guaranteeing 300 spots a month for the health and disability sector. “Our world-class workforce is vital in rebuilding the health system and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Andrew Little said. “Whether it’s bringing doctors or nurses in ...2 days ago
- Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identitiesMaking it easier for New Zealanders to safely prove who they are digitally and control who has access to that information is one step closer to becoming law, Minister for Digital Economy and Communications, Dr David Clark said. The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill passed its first reading today ...2 days ago
- Red tape cut to boost housing supplyNew building intensification rules will mean up to three homes of up to three storeys can be built on most sites without the need for a resource consent New rules will result in at least 48,200 and as many as 105,500 new homes built in next 5-8 years Bringing forward ...3 days ago
- Nationwide business partnership grows conservation jobsFurther Government support for New Zealand’s longest-standing sustainable business organisation will open up opportunities for dozens of workers impacted by COVID-19 to jump start a nature-based career, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. Partnering to Plant Aotearoa, led by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), is a collaboration with iwi, hapū and ...4 days ago
- New Zealand increases climate aid contributionGovernment commits $1.3 billion over four years to support countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change At least 50 percent of funding will go to the Pacific as it adapts to the impacts of climate change The increase means New Zealand now meets its fair share of global ...4 days ago
- Super Māori turnout for Super SaturdayMāori have put a superb effort into mobilising to get vaccinated over Super Saturday, with thousands rolling up their sleeves to protect themselves, their whānau and communities from COVID-19, Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare says. “It was absolutely outstanding that 21,702 Māori got vaccinated on this one day alone with 10,825 ...4 days ago
- Language assists Tagata Niue to thriveDespite the uncertain times we face with the challenges of COVID-19, our cultural knowledge, values and language remain constant, helping us progress towards goals in life, said the Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. This year, the Niuean community in New Zealand decided on the theme, “Kia tupuolaola e ...5 days ago
- New Zealand Ambassador to France announcedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of Caroline Bilkey as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to France and the OECD. “Aotearoa New Zealand and France have a shared history, and enjoy a strong, collaborative partnership. This includes a strong trade and economic relationship, a shared commitment to support ...6 days ago
- Govt welcomes nurses’ pay settlementThe Government is welcoming news that a new employment agreement for nurses working in public hospitals has been settled. “I am very pleased that the hard work of the Nurses Organisation and District Health Boards has led to a settlement that both can support,” Health Minister Andrew Little said today. ...7 days ago
- Judge of the High Court appointedMāori Land Court Judge Layne Harvey has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Harvey graduated with an LLB from the University of Auckland in 1992 and commenced employment as a law clerk with Simpson Grierson in Auckland that same year. In 1997 ...7 days ago
- Kiwis to have their say on plan to reduce wasteNew Zealanders are invited to have their say on proposals for a new waste strategy and options for new waste legislation. “Reducing waste is one of the issues all New Zealanders – especially younger Kiwis - care deeply about,” Environment Minister David Parker said today “New Zealand is one of ...7 days ago
- Next steps in action plan for indigenous rights kicks offMinister for Māori Development Willie Jackson has today meet with more than 30 national Māori organisations in an online hui, kicking off the process to develop a plan for New Zealand to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration). The previous National Government signed ...1 week ago
- Iwi-led housing solutions build homes for the futureWhai Kāinga, Whai Oranga will open on 20 October, to receive applications for investment through Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Te Puni Kōkiri The $730m fund combines investment from Budget 2021 ($380m) and the Māori Infrastructure Fund ($350m) - the largest investment seen ...1 week ago
- E whakarite ana Te Kāwanatanga i ngā tūāpapa mō twhakamaumahara ki Te Petihana Reo Māori ka t...I te rā nei, i pānuihia e te Minita mō Manatū Taonga, ko Carmel Sepuloni, rāua ko te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, ko Willie Jackson, ā tērā tau, ka whakanuia rawatia te 50 o ngā tau mai i te whakatakotoranga o te petihana mō te Reo Māori me te huanga mai ...1 week ago
- E whakarite ana Te Kāwanatanga i ngā tūāpapa mō tewhakamaumahara ki Te Petihana Reo Māori ka t...I te rā nei, i pānuihia e te Minita mō Manatū Taonga, ko Carmel Sepuloni, rāua ko te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, ko Willie Jackson, ā tērā tau, ka whakanuia rawatia te 50 o ngā tau mai i te whakatakotoranga o te petihana mō te Reo Māori me te huanga mai ...1 week ago
- Government green lights rapid antigen testingSome of the country’s largest businesses have put in an order for 300,000 approved rapid antigen tests for their workforce, after working at pace with the Government on a new scheme unveiled by Associate Minister of Health and Research, Science and Innovation Ayesha Verrall. A coalition of around 25 businesses ...1 week ago
- Government lays foundations as Māori Language Petition commemorations take shape for 2022Taiaha hā! Taiaha hā! - Te kairangi o te reo hoki mai ki taku tikanga, ki taku taumata, ki taku reo, ki taku ao. He reo whai tikanga, he reo whai mana, he reo whai tangata koe. Ki te whāngaihia te reo Māori he ao tēnā, ki te kore he ...1 week ago
- Major contract awarded to power NZ Battery investigationA consortium of specialist firms has been awarded a major contract to advance the New Zealand Battery Project’s feasibility investigation into a pumped hydro storage scheme at Lake Onslow, the Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods has announced. “This contract represents a major milestone as it begins the targeted ...1 week ago
- Additional Funding for Foodbanks and Social AgenciesThe Government has approved $13.55m from the Covid Response and Recovery Fund to support foodbanks and social sector agencies, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni has announced. “Foodbanks and social agencies across Auckland are doing a great job supporting their communities and the Government is today providing them with more ...1 week ago
- Generating a new generation of guardiansThe Government is supporting a Whakatōhea-led project undertaking landscape scale restoration in forests and around vulnerable rivers within the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. “The Whakatōhea Tiaki Taiao project will employ four people to undertake pest and weed control, ecosystem restoration and monitoring over three ...1 week ago
- Parts of Waikato, Northland staying at Alert Level 3The parts of Waikato that have been in Alert Level 3 and Northland will remain in Alert Level 3 for a few more days, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. Auckland remains at Alert Level 3, Step 1. “Based on the latest public health information, ministers have decided that ...1 week ago
- New courthouses for Tauranga and WhanganuiThe Government is moving ahead with new courthouses in Tauranga and Whanganui, which the Justice Minister says provide an opportunity to redesign court facilities that help put victims at the heart of the justice system. “These courthouses are part of the 10-year infrastructure investment plan to restore and modernise Ministry ...1 week ago
- Speech on the launch of the consultation on the development of the Emissions Reduction PlanTēnā koutou katoa. Ngā mihi o te ata. Earlier this month Save the Children wrote to me with their most up to date analysis on the impact of climate change. What they said was that children born in Aotearoa today will experience up to five times as many heatwaves and ...1 week ago
- Opportunity to shape NZ’s first Emissions Reduction PlanThe Government is inviting New Zealanders to inform the country’s first Emissions Reduction Plan with the release of a consultation document containing a range of policy ideas to decrease the country’s emissions, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Climate Change Minister James Shaw announced today. The Emissions Reduction Plan will set ...1 week ago
- Convention on Biological Diversity COP 15, Virtual High-Level SegmentKia ora koutou katoa. I want to thank China for hosting this critically important Conference of the Parties. We are all here for the same reason. Biodiversity loss, and the ongoing degradation of nature, are accelerating at an unprecedented rate. These losses are causing irreparable harm to our planet’s ability ...1 week ago
- Government books show resilient and strong economyThe end of year audited Crown accounts released today show the Government’s health led approach to the COVID-19 pandemic has protected New Zealand’s economy. “On almost every indicator the accounts show that the New Zealand economy has performed better than forecast, even as recently as the Budget in May. It ...1 week ago
- Health system is ready for assisted-dying lawThe health system is ready for the implementation of the End of Life Choice Act when it takes effect next month, making assisted dying legal in New Zealand, Health Minister Andrew Little said today. The law received 65.1 per cent support in a public referendum held alongside last year’s general ...1 week ago
- Taking a lead in threat to curious keaReducing lead poisoning of kea, the world’s only alpine parrot and one-time New Zealand bird of the year winner, is the goal of a two year project being backed by the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. “Lead poisoning is a serious threat to this ...1 week ago
- Government provides certainty to working holiday and seasonal visa holders and employers for summerThe Government will extend Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visas for six months to provide more certainty to employers and visa holders over the coming summer period, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced. “This offers employers and visa holders the certainty they’ve been asking for going ...1 week ago
- Lower card fees good for businesses, consumersThe Bill to help lower the cost of the fees retailers get charged for offering contactless and debit payment options is another step closer to becoming law, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr David Clark said today. “COVID-19 has changed the way we spend our money, with online and contactless ...1 week ago
- Mandatory vaccination for two workforcesHigh-risk workers in the health and disability sector to be fully vaccinated by 1 December, 2021, and to receive their first dose by 30 October School and early learning staff and support people who have contact with children and students to be fully vaccinated by 1 January, 2022, and to ...2 weeks ago
- Grattan on Friday: Can Barnaby Joyce sell his supporters the net zero he’s previously trashed?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Barnaby Joyce will probably never again have so much power as he does at this moment, in his trading with Scott Morrison over support for the net zero by 2050 target. Yet it’s a negotiation ...5 hours ago - Keith Rankin Analysis – Immunity Debt, a case of Community DebtAnalysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. A commentary from Melbourne – Megan Gold, Melbourne embraced zero-Covid, now isolated as world bounces back, NZ Herald 16 Oct, originally published in the UK Daily Telegraph – notes that “even high vaccine uptake may not protect the most vulnerable from Covid; let alone ...8 hours ago
- Alert level 3 restrictions for parts of Waikato to remain in place
Alert level 3 restrictions will remain in place in parts of Waikato until at least Wednesday 27 October. ...8 hours ago - How the hyper-violent Squid Game has crept into digital content targeting young childrenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Cinema and Screen Studies, Swinburne University of Technology Noh Juhan | Netflix The dystopian South Korean horror series Squid Game has become Netflix’s most watched TV series, but it is quickly becoming as controversial as ...9 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Phil Honeywood on the challenges of getting international students b...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra COVID-19 has meant international students have been unable to arrive in Australia to commence their studies, devastating one of our most profitable sectors. We’re joined in this podcast by Phil Honeywood, CEO of the ...11 hours ago
- NZ – UK Free Trade Agreement
“Well done to the NZ Team on achieving a Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom. The UK have enjoyed our open market so this will put our exporters on a similar footing with the UK said Chamber CEO, Michael Barnett. I understand that ...11 hours ago - Fixing Australia’s shocking record of Indigenous heritage destruction: Juukan inquiry offers a way...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Kemp, Professor and Director, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland On May 24 last year, mining giant Rio Tinto legally destroyed ancient and sacred Aboriginal rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia to expand an iron ...12 hours ago
- NZNO Warns Government: “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!”The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says Aotearoa New Zealand is dangerously underprepared for what seems an inevitable tsunami of community Covid cases that could completely break our health system, and that nurses must be part all proposed ...12 hours ago
- The PM has a chat with Boris and then delivers good news – about a trade deal with UK – to take ...
Latest from the Beehive New Zealand’s trade negotiators have scored a coup in a new free trade deal with the UK. Their success gave the PM something to cheer about today, taking our minds off Covid-19 and all its grim impacts on the way we live. She declared: I am ...12 hours ago - Using IRD Officials As Snoops Risks The Integrity Of The Tax SystemThe Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Revenue Minister David Parker’s use of little-known powers recently granted to the IRD to undertake a fishing expedition of wealthy New Zealanders. Responding to the reports of letters being issued to wealthy New Zealanders, ...12 hours ago
- Gloss is the shiny, shoulder-padded unicorn of local drama
The 80s were hard for New Zealand, but at least we had Gloss. We stare at screens all day and all night. Is this good for us? We’re going to talk about that. Read more Screen Week content here. Roughly 10 minutes into the first episode of TVNZ’s 80s drama Gloss a character ...13 hours ago - PODCAST – Supply-Chains, Geo-Economic Resets, Post-Pandemic Security – Buchanan and ManningA View from Afar – In this podcast, Paul G. Buchanan and Selwyn Manning analyse how supply-chain bottlenecks, a global economic reset, and post-pandemic security are about to trigger a new era in geo-economics. Wherever you are around the world, if you haven’t yet experienced the impact of supply-chain ...13 hours ago
- We won’t think too badly about the deficit in the govt’s books (perhaps) if we are reminded how ...Finance Minister Grant Robertson is not averse to talking up how well the NZ economy is performing. In fact he positively revels in it. And, of course, the inference to be drawn by anyone who listens to his rhetoric is that we have a superbly talented Minister to guide the ...13 hours ago
- EPA Achieves Major Milestones In Challenging YearNew Zealand’s environmental regulator has forged ahead with progress on all of its major initiatives in the past year, despite the cloud of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A transformation of chemical management, and significant changes ...13 hours ago
- Voices Of The Future An Incredible Experience, Say Alumni OrganisersWith a record number of economies attending APEC Voices of the Future 2021, five New Zealand alumni of the event are helping to organise the unique summit. The largest turn-out in the event’s 23-year history will see the former Kiwi delegates hosting ...13 hours ago
- COVID tests have made pathology companies big profits, but rapid tests are set to shake up the marke...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Baer Arnold, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock Throughout the pandemic, Australians with a sniffle or other cold and flu symptoms have been encouraged to get a PCR test – a swab of their throat and ...13 hours ago
- Maori Health Authority must engage with “relevant” groups under new Bill – but guess who gets...
As we expected when we last reported news from the Beehive, Health Minister Andrew Little has introduced his health reform bill to Parliament to abolish the country’s district health boards and centralise the provision of health services. Most notably, the Bill segregates the country’s health services by establishing a Māori ...13 hours ago - Have Your Say: Proposed Changes To Ban Live Exports Under The Animal Welfare Act 1999The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill proposes to amend the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to ban the export of livestock (cattle, deer, sheep, and goats) by sea. On 14 April 2021, Cabinet announced its decision to ban the export of livestock by sea, with ...14 hours ago
- UK-New Zealand free trade agreement 'substantial and comprehensive'News of a free trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom has been welcomed by the business sector and opposition parties alike. ...14 hours ago
- Don’t underestimate rabbits: these powerful pests threaten more native wildlife than cats or foxesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pat Taggart, Adjunct Fellow, UNSW Shutterstock In inland Australia, rabbits have taken a severe toll on native wildlife since they were introduced in 1859. They may be small, but today rabbits are a key threat to 322 species of Australia’s ...14 hours ago
- As international students start trickling back, the new year will be crunch timeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ziguras, Professor of Global Studies, RMIT University Shutterstock It’s looking much more likely that international students will be able to return for the first semester next year, with international travel for Australians opening up from November 1. From that ...14 hours ago
- Charlotte said yes: How we got a French screen icon to star in our NZ filmCharlotte Rampling, acting royalty, is starring in the new local film Juniper. Writer and director Michael J Saville tells how he travelled to Paris to convince her to take the part. I can’t afford it, but I just bought a $400 jacket (I never buy expensive clothing). Why? Because I ...14 hours ago
- Building A Stronger Public Accountability System For New Zealanders...14 hours ago
- Investigation Of Recent Absconding Incident Will Continue To Strengthen MIQ SystemAn investigation report into the absconding incident at the Novotel & Ibis Ellerslie MIQ facility on 2 September 2021 has been released today. Joint Head of MIQ, Brigadier Rose King said a number of recommendations have been made, which she ...14 hours ago
- Despite lockdowns, 1,142 Australians, including 66 kids, died on our roads in the past year. Here’...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Mclaughlin, PhD Candidate, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle Despite lengthy lockdowns, new data show that 1,142 Australians, including 66 children, died on Australian roads in the past year. Road traffic deaths remain the number one killer ...14 hours ago
- UK FTA ‘Back To The Future’Today’s announcement of a comprehensive new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom will offer some welcome variation in market access to New Zealand exporters, say the EMA. "It’s great news for many of our export members, particularly ...14 hours ago
- Free Speech Union Welcomes Legislation To Defend Freedom Of Expression On University CampusesThe Free Speech Union welcomes the introduction of the Education (Freedom of Expression) Amendment Bill drawn from the ballot this afternoon in the name of Dr. James McDowall. This Bill will strengthen free speech on university campus, and ensures tertiary ...14 hours ago
- New Zealand’s mass vaccination event lifts uptake but highlights dangerous inequities as the count...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Whitehead, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Waikato Jacinda Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford visit a pop-up vaccination clinic on ‘Super Saturday’. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images New Zealand’s mass vaccination event last Saturday, when more than 130,000 people turned up to get their first ...15 hours ago
- Why Australian unions should welcome the new Agricultural VisaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giacomo Bianchino, Ph.d Candidate, Graduate Teaching Fellow, Lehman College, CUNY F Armstrong Photography/Shutterstock Unions have been quick to condemn Australia’s new Agricultural Visa, which will give approved employers access to “skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled” workers from ASEAN nations and the ...16 hours ago
- Delivering Low Carbon InfrastructureInfrastructure is the backbone of a healthy economy; reliable infrastructure enables trade and delivers the utilities essential to business. It also provides the social assets essential for community wellbeing, such as schools, hospitals, and civic amenities. ...16 hours ago
- Facebook wants AI to find your keys and understand your conversationsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jumana Abu-Khalaf, Research Fellow in Computing and Security, Edith Cowan University Facebook Facebook has announced a research project that aims to push the “frontier of first-person perception”, and in the process help you remember where your left your keys. ...16 hours ago
- Maori Authority Chair Welcomes Deal With The UK – It’s An Opportunity For Our Young People To Th...The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has said the UK Free Trade Agreement deal will be a significant opportunity for Maori. Tukaki who has been involved alongside other Maori leaders in providing feedback and support to ...16 hours ago
- Keep calm and watch this wholesome Vaxathon supercutMissed Saturday’s eight-hour Vaxathon but want to see the highlights? We’ve got you covered. Last weekend saw a historic live television broadcast like no other. During Super Saturday, the nationwide drive to increase Covid-19 vaccinations, the live televised Vaxathon did a conga around the country, taking us everywhere from Kaitaia to ...16 hours ago
- Citizen Group Condemns Another Secret Trade DealIt’s Our Future has condemned today’s announcement of an agreement-in-principle between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “When Labour came into Government we were told there was going to be a new approach to how we did these deals, however ...17 hours ago
- Household Spending Outpaces Income In The June 2021 QuarterHouseholds continued to spend more than their income in the June 2021 quarter, with negative saving of $225 million following a revised March 2021 negative saving of $239 million, Stats NZ said today. “After high levels of saving through 2020, impacted ...17 hours ago
- Employment Indicators Weekly As At 18 October 2021Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than 7 days, while the 20-day series covers jobs with pay periods of 14 days or fewer. The 34-day series includes all jobs regardless of their pay period. The 34-day series ...17 hours ago
- Dame Cindy Kiro sworn in as Governor-GeneralDame Cindy Kiro has been sworn in as the new Governor-General in a ceremony at Parliament this morning. ...17 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: Labour Snookers National AgainThe Labour-led Government must be rubbing its hands with glee after the announcement earlier this week of its housing deal with the National Party. In one fell swoop it has effectively both taken increasing housing availability and affordability – ...17 hours ago
- Dame Cindy Kiro's Swearing-In SpeechHe tui, he kiwi, he kahu, he piwakawaka – nga manu o te ngahere i Te Wao Nui A Tane Nga hua o te moana, nga awa, nga maunga hoki o nga mea miharo o te Ao! I am honoured to be appointed the 22nd Governor-General of Aotearoa New ...18 hours ago
- UK free trade deal to eliminate tariffs for all New Zealand exportsNew Zealand has agreed in principle to the United Kingdom's second free trade deal since Brexit, eventually eliminating tariffs on all New Zealand exports to the country. ...18 hours ago
- UK And New Zealand Agree Historic Trade DealA comprehensive trade agreement between the United Kingdom and New Zealand will cutred tape for businesses, end tariffs on goods exports and create new opportunities for tech and services companies, while making it easier for professionals to live and ...18 hours ago
- Jacinda Ardern hails ‘historic and substantial’ free trade deal with UKThe agreement will see NZ drop all duties next year, while Britain will take 15 years to completely lift tariffs on NZ exports. Leaders also pledged an extension to working holiday arrangements. Justin Giovannetti reports from parliament.Tariffs on exports of New Zealand cheese, beef and lamb to the United Kingdom ...18 hours ago
- Groundbreaking NZ-UK free trade deal is just the start
Never mind the promised $1 billion bump to GDP in today's agreement with the UK, the removal of tariffs and improved working holidays will be worth even more, says a former NZ negotiator UK to eliminate all tariffs on NZ exports, with 97 percent removed on day one NZ exporters to ...18 hours ago - Exclusive New Poll Reveals Opposition To Shaw’s Glasgow TripThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has today released independent Curia public polling on Climate Change Minister James Shaw’s upcoming attendance at the Glasgow climate conference. The Minister, accompanied by 14 staff, will fly to Glasgow where daily ...18 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 21 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content National Party Covid-19 strategy, reopening plan Marc ...19 hours ago
- I will never, ever fix my smashed phone screen – and I’m not alone Josie Adams refuses to fix the cracks in her phone screen even though they’re slicing her fingers to ribbons. In the latest instalment of IRL, she goes on a quest to meet others like her and discover their shared psychology. We stare at screens all day and all night. Is this ...19 hours ago
- While Barbados Elects Its First President, New Zealand Appoints Another Representative Of A Foreign ..."The swearing-in today of another representative of the Queen, Dame Cindy Kiro, starkly contrasts with the election earlier today in Barbados of Dame Sandra Mason as the first president of that country" said Lewis Holden, campaign chair of ...19 hours ago
- Multi-million dollar mānuka honey industry faces mandatory tests
Trademarks commissioner deciding on new certification requirements for multi-million dollar export sector ...19 hours ago - Lockdowns led to 'exponential demand for support' from Māori in South IslandA new tranche of funding is being released to Māori providers and agencies to address the urgent needs of whānau in the South Island. ...20 hours ago
- Gun-toting robo-dogs look like a dystopian nightmare. That’s why they offer a powerful moral lesso...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Baron, Associate professor, Australian Catholic University Sam Baron, Author provided US-based military robot manufacturer Ghost Robotics has strapped a sniper rifle to a robotic dog, in the latest step towards autonomous weaponry. Some people have reacted with moral ...20 hours ago
- Why do some people delay getting vaccinated or pretend COVID doesn’t exist? Paradoxically, denial ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ross G. Menzies, Professor, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney Vaccines save lives, and have been doing so since the development of the smallpox vaccine more than 200 years ago. However, for vaccines to keep entire communities safe they need ...20 hours ago
- Australia is undermining the Paris Agreement, no matter what Morrison says – we need new laws to s...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Christoff, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor, Melbourne Climate Futures initiative, The University of Melbourne Prime Minister Scott Morrison is poised to take a 2050 net-zero emissions target to Glasgow. While this may seem like a milestone, Australia is still failing ...20 hours ago
- COVID has increased anxiety and depression rates among university students. And they were already hi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tuck, PhD Student, Monash University Shutterstock Before COVID, university and vocational education students were at high risk of developing mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. This is because they already experience much higher levels of psychological distress than ...20 hours ago
- A global battle for low-skilled workers looms after COVID. Australia needs to be part of itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Graycar, Visiting Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University branislavpudar/Shutterstock Australia has been built on immigration. In recent years it has been skilled migration, and that will continue to be important to us, especially as we recover ...20 hours ago
- With Devotion, Hannah Kent gives us empathically drafted portraits of love in all its formsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Webb, Dean, Graduate Research, University of Canberra Berthold Woltze/Wikimedia Commons Review: Devotion by Hannah Kent, Picador I came across Hannah Kent some years ago, hearing from colleagues at another university that she was a particularly impressive student, and I ...20 hours ago
- Live updates, October 21: Andrew Little defends hospital capacity – againWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 21, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz. Help support our Covid coverage – join Members today.8.05am: Andrew Little defends hospital capacity – againThe health minister has once again defended the capacity of our ICU system to cope with a rise in ...20 hours ago
- Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s millions of tiny bits of plastic above our headsMicroplastics aren’t just swirling around our oceans, they’re also floating around in the air and that could be influencing how our climate is changing. Mirjam Guesgen reports.Tiny chunks of plastic smaller than the width of a sunflower seed are in our skies and they may be helping cool the climate, ...20 hours ago
- Microplastics are in the air we breathe and in Earth’s atmosphere, and they affect the climateSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Revell, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Physics, University of Canterbury Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Microplastics are found in the most remote places on land and in the ocean as well as in our food. Now several studies ...21 hours ago
- Schools to reopen in level threeSenior students will be heading back to class next week after two months of online schooling in Auckland, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.Auckland schools will reopen for senior students. Chris Hipkins, the education minister, unveiled plans yesterday allowing students in years 11, 12 and 13 to return to class in ...21 hours ago
- Bipartisan Housing Policy Falls ShortNew Conservative is glad to see a bipartisan approach to housing policy. Unfortunately, however, the policy shows how out of touch both Labour and National are with the practicalities of suburban housing planning, and the consultative process that local ...21 hours ago
- Newsroom heading to COP26 – can you help fund our climate reporting?
Reader support has helped Newsroom achieve great impact journalism in our short history - today we launch a campaign to sharpen our focus and bolster our resources tackling the climate crisis The climate crisis is a real and serious threat to life as we know it. Scientists are warning of a future ...21 hours ago - Auckland and Northland hotels to allow only fully vaccinated guests
A hotel and restaurant operator with properties in Auckland and the Bay of Islands has decided it will take only guests who are fully vaccinated from November. The Hotel Britomart, including its restaurant Kingi, is introducing a vaccine mandate ahead of any government licence to do so. The hotel's owner ...22 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 21 October
...23 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 21 October23 hours ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: What the data is telling us about New Zealand’s delta outbreakNine weeks on, the Auckland outbreak has hit record levels, and continues to grow. The numbers tell a compelling story, writes Siouxsie Wiles. Data visualisations by Harkanwal Singh.The Spinoff’s ongoing coverage of Covid-19 relies on support from readers via Spinoff Members. Help us stay on the story by joining here. This ...23 hours ago
- One chance to avoid a needless bonfire of Auckland businessDeep into a delta lockdown, businesses in New Zealand’s biggest city urgently need a new form of support, writes Richard Meade.The government has pledged to announce tomorrow long-overdue economic support measures to relieve the burden on Auckland’s people-facing businesses. These businesses have taken a massive eight week – and counting ...23 hours ago
- How to open a positive conversation with your vaccine hesitant friendLoving, meaningful and understanding engagement can mean resisting the temptation to bombard with data, writes Dr Elspeth Frascatore, founder of Doctors Stand Up For Vaccination.Vaccine hesitancy. It’s a phenomenon that has uncomfortably co-existed with vaccines for hundreds of years. Vaccines have been in existence since 17th century China, when Buddhist ...23 hours ago
- Book of the Week: Margaret Wilson's revenge
Phillida Bunkle examines hidden agendas in the memoirs of Margaret Wilson “History will be kind to me – for I will write it”: Sir WinstonChurchill Margaret Wilson's apparently boring book Activism, Feminism, Politics and Parliament is actually a story of friendship betrayed and cool revenge. Wilson was said to be ...23 hours ago - The travel barriers before you even get to Customs
Flight in the age of Covid will never be the same. Think socially distanced planes, vaccine passports and sky high air fares. The ubiquity and affordability of air travel is one of the major developments of the past century, but the devastation Covid-19 has wreaked on the industry may have ...23 hours ago - Educators' frustrating wait for vaccine mandate details
As the deadline for education workers to get the vaccine approaches, principals and teachers want clarity from the Government on what this will mean for the sector Schools are set to be one of the crucial battlegrounds for vaccination. With children under the age of 12 still unable to ...23 hours ago - What our child protection system should be doing
Reorienting Oranga Tamariki towards prevention, rather than reaction to harm, is a step in the right direction. But there is still a long way to go in addressing the organisation’s fragmentation, argues Emily Keddell. Is a child protection agency more like a police force, or more like a support service? Is ...23 hours ago - Kevin Rudd on China: 'A thousand-pound gorilla in the front living room'
Former Australian PM has harsh words for China's wolf warrior diplomacy – and his country's response. ...23 hours ago - Olympic champ takes the tiller of women's sailing
Olympic gold medallist Jenny Armstrong is now plotting the course of women’s sailing in New Zealand - and she's already leading by example, Suzanne McFadden discovers. As a kid sailing her P class dinghy on the upper reaches of the Otago Harbour, Jenny Armstrong wanted nothing more than to beat ...23 hours ago - Covid: It's unlikely the Govt has lost the plot
Has this month's Covid management been panic, shambles or shrewd political and economic calculation? ...23 hours ago - Government shuts down move to refer Christian Porter’s secret funds to privileges inquirySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government has blocked an inquiry into whether Christian Porter breached parliamentary privilege in refusing to reveal who donated to his legal costs. This was despite Speaker Tony Smith giving the Labor motion for the ...1 day ago
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