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US v China: new Cold War or new Opium War?
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, August 25th, 2020 - 23 comments
The Trump administration has declared war on China, and there is much speculation in the punditry as to whether or not this is a new Cold War similar to that waged post World War 2 against Russia. In my opinion, the 19th century Opium Wars may offer a more appropriate analogy, albeit with a likely different outcome.
Kiwi Cultural Cringe is Alive and Well
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, April 22nd, 2019 - 75 comments
New Zealand is too small for high-achievers and star-performers and does not offer enough challenges and rewards.
Peters to Pence on the Pacific – a return to colonialism?
Written By: - Date published: 9:38 pm, January 14th, 2019 - 120 comments
Winston Peters went to Washington last December to see US VP Mike Pence and invited the US to engage more in the South-West Pacific without informing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Patrick Smellie described this apparent oversight as “deeply worrying.” Even more worrying is what Peters said when he was there.
Censorship again.
Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, October 18th, 2018 - 13 comments
I’m not a great fan of George Monbiot. And Alex Jones is rubbish. But …
Free speech champions?
Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, August 2nd, 2018 - 303 comments
Southern and Molyneux are coming to New Zealand to exercise their freedom of speech by insulting diverse cultures and attacking multiculturalism.
Trump meets Putin
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, July 16th, 2018 - 116 comments
Some things that President Trump won’t do as when meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.
No Iran Israeli War.
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, May 12th, 2018 - 11 comments
In spite of all the sharp intakes of breathe going on across media outlets, there will be no war between Iran and Israel. Here’s why.
Is Karl Marx dead?
Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, May 8th, 2018 - 60 comments
2018 marks several anniversaries of Karl Marx whose significance for the critique of capitalist society is hard to diminish. But what now for his beliefs?
Is New Zealand really as ‘racist as fuck’?
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, April 12th, 2018 - 85 comments
I am inclined to believe that there are at least some New Zealanders who are as “racist as fuck”.
Zimbabwe
Written By: - Date published: 11:37 am, November 20th, 2017 - 24 comments
I suspect I’m in the same boat as most when I say my knowledge of Zimbabwe is neither broad nor particularly deep. But anyway. Here’s some initial thoughts on current developments.
Mugabe hangs on
Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, November 20th, 2017 - 16 comments
Despite expectations to the contrary Robert Mugabe has refused to resign as leader of Zimbabwe.
Indigenous and green politics require changes in perspectives
Written By: - Date published: 12:17 pm, October 3rd, 2017 - 9 comments
One of our key political challenges now is to broaden the understanding of what matters.
Political Statues
Written By: - Date published: 12:16 pm, August 25th, 2017 - 42 comments
America is experiencing difficulties because of the celebration by the right of statutes of their racist heroes. Why does New Zealand not have this problem?
NACT
Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, August 9th, 2017 - 5 comments
“Here’s a new idea for the Tories: Why not ask a simple question every time you propose a course of action: Is this morally just?”
The Trump peace dividend: opportunity for rapprochement
Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, November 12th, 2016 - 76 comments
Walking back the last 5 plus years of escalating military, economic and diplomatic proxy war between Russia and the United States will be difficult. But it has to be done.
Standing Rock update
Written By: - Date published: 3:27 pm, November 3rd, 2016 - 21 comments
The Standing Rock water protection movement continues in the face of increasing state violence.
Jill Stein: a Clinton Presidency could mean nuclear war with Russia
Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, October 16th, 2016 - 219 comments
Hillary Clinton’s no-fly zone policy for Syria as declared in the second presidential election means air war with Russia.
Alert Memo to President Obama: it’s better to Jaw Jaw Jaw than War War War
Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, October 5th, 2016 - 68 comments
Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity advise Obama that the best way to get out of the dangerously escalating hawkish jam that parts of his government have put him in is to meet directly with Putin.
The “Intellectual Yet Idiot” Class – Knowing what’s best for you
Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, September 18th, 2016 - 241 comments
When highly educated people end up being idiots, and uneducated people end up being smarter.
Assange is a hero: Jill Stein US Greens Presidential Candidate
Written By: - Date published: 9:54 am, August 24th, 2016 - 204 comments
Julian Assange is a true hero, says Jill Stein unequivocally, along with other whistleblowers who have had the audacity to challenge the status quo establishment.
The Canary – UK independent news featured on RT’s Sputnik
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, August 21st, 2016 - 36 comments
The Canary: independent UK news media successfully using a democratic, socialist model. And succeeding within the highly commercial world of the MSM.
Syrian flash point just got flash pointier
Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, August 20th, 2016 - 102 comments
The major powers are ramping up the stakes in Syria in a big way.
Why do they hate us?
Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, July 21st, 2016 - 73 comments
658 deaths due to terrorism in Europe and the Americas. 28,031 terrorism deaths in the Middle East and rest of the world.
Military coup underway in Turkey: Erdo-gone?
Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, July 16th, 2016 - 135 comments
The attempted military coup appears to have been quickly and effectively put down by pro-Erdogan forces.
Jeremy Corbyn apologises for Blair and Bush’s Iraq War
Written By: - Date published: 11:11 am, July 7th, 2016 - 42 comments
Jeremy Corbyn’s full response to the Chilcot response. Corbyn says that the Iraq war “was an act of military aggression launched on a false pretext” and that he apologises for it on behalf of Labour, who was in Government at the time.
BREXIT: where it was won and lost
Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, June 25th, 2016 - 78 comments
Scotland, Northern Ireland and London voted to stay in the EU. Every other region voted BREXIT. The Midlands and Yorkshire overwhelmingly so.
Indigenous Perspectives
Written By: - Date published: 1:55 pm, May 29th, 2016 - 30 comments
“It is possible to live in a society with a world view that does not include empire”
– Winona LaDuke
Make the TPP a Conscience Vote
Written By: - Date published: 6:29 pm, May 15th, 2016 - 84 comments
Last week, Andrew Little gave Phil Goff permission to vote with National for the TPP. Bryan Bruce asks if it is time for all MPs to be given a conscience vote on the TPP.
Laundering earnings vs laundering money
Written By: - Date published: 4:49 pm, May 13th, 2016 - 35 comments
When a corporation launders its earnings in a tax haven, it is completely upfront about where the money came from and who it belongs to, which differentiates the activity from “money laundering.”
Arise, Sir Lynton
Written By: - Date published: 10:23 am, May 8th, 2016 - 28 comments
Lynton Crosby on his knees receiving a knighthood for services to conservative politics. To me, this really signals who is running the show, who is still running the show, and what their values are.
Global elite plan their escape from “pleb masses”
Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, March 29th, 2016 - 35 comments
So, Key has now come out and revealed to us how afraid the global oligarch class (and their well paid professional enablers) are. They appear to have no plans to reverse their activites to make things better for us.
- Cycling: head injuries ignored because of entrenched macho culture
Howard Hurst, University of Central Lancashire and Jack Hardwicke, University of Winchester Competitive road cycling is a demanding and unique sport. One where crashing is inevitable – especially at the professional level. While the risk of head injury is relatively low in cycling – approximately 5-13% – compared to contact ...16 mins ago - The coming US shitshow
Today President Trump once again refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the US election. Coincidentally, The Atlantic has a long article on exactly what that means, from voter suppression by armed thugs in the name of "ballot security", to refusing to allow the vote ...17 mins ago - A moral voidThat's the only way to describe the SIS, who - like their British counterparts - decided to look the other way on child abuse: The SIS knew a young woman was being sexually abused by her father but failed to lodge a complaint with the police, effectively allowing the ...58 mins ago
- When will Goldsmith resign?
The National Party’s campaign has gone from bad to worse with a further two large miscalculations being uncovered in their alternative fiscal plan. Firstly, National’s economic spokesperson and list MP, Paul Goldsmith, used May's Budget figures instead of last week's PREFU numbers, and came up with a whopping $4.3 billion ...2 hours ago - The Adventures of Annalax: Part IX
The initial session was a struggle. Annalax and Magni tried sorting out the details with the Isaac twins (the people pursuing the mountain trip). Annalax happened to mention his devotion to Lolth… whom the Isaacs, being ... 3 hours ago - This is bullshitOn March 13, three plainclothes police officers kicked in Breonna Taylor's door under a no-knock warrant targeting another person. When a person inside reasonably assumed they were home invaders and (this being America) started shooting, they shot up the place and everyone around them - killing Taylor. Today, one of ...4 hours ago
- Arctic sea ice is being increasingly melted from below by warming Atlantic waterTom Rippeth, Bangor University Arctic sea ice today (white) is covering a much smaller area than in 1980-2010 (orange line). National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CC BY-SA Each September, scientists like me look out for the point when the Arctic’s meagre summer fizzles out and ...6 hours ago
- The long-term health burden of COVID-19: further justification for NZ’s elimination strategyProf John D. Potter* This blog briefly surveys the emerging scientific evidence on the longer-term burden of symptoms and disease in survivors of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these symptoms point to damage in the brain and heart. These long-term harms add to the wide range of other reasons for ...7 hours ago
- Going High, Going Low: An Assessment Of The First Leaders’ Debate.
Uncrushed: Jacinda Ardern knew exactly what was expected of her in the first Leaders' Debate. Labour’s dominant position, three weeks out from the general election, is constructed out of the admiration and gratitude of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who, more often than not, vote National. Nothing she said ...8 hours ago - The smokefree policies of political parties: Do they care about people who smoke?George Thomson*, Nick Wilson, Janet Hoek, Andrew Waa, Richard Edwards In this time of Covid-19, helping people who smoke to quit their addiction has an even greater importance. Smokers are more vulnerable to many harmful health effects, including severe effects from the virus. Policies that support people who smoke to ...8 hours ago
- The Fog Of Economic Policy Is Starting To Clear…
Bryan Bruce, https://www.facebook.com/www.redsky.tv, 19 September 2020 National’s economic policy of temporary tax cuts yesterday proved, if proof be needed, that they are unapologetic neoliberals. While their claim that with more money in their pockets people will spend more might sound attractive, the reality is that tax cuts always benefit the ...16 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38, 2020
Highlighted article: Carbon pricing and planetary boundaries Engström et al take what might be called a systems approach to evaluating carbon pricing, taking into a account various economic sectors affected by and affecting paying for emissions. The conclusions are overall a rare pleasant surprise— a feature predicated on cooperation. Abstract: ...21 hours ago - Humans ignite almost every wildfire that threatens homesNathan Mietkiewicz, National Ecological Observatory Network and Jennifer Balch, University of Colorado Boulder CC BY-ND Summer and fall are wildfire season across the western U.S. In recent years, wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and exposed tens of millions to harmful ...23 hours ago
- Climate Change: China steps upChina has increased its climate change ambition, and set a target to be carbon-neutral by 2060: China will reach carbon neutrality before 2060 and ensure its greenhouse gas emissions peak in the next decade, Xi Jinping has told the UN general assembly. “China will scale up its intended nationally ...1 day ago
- Humans have dealt with plenty of climate variabilityClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz How much climate variability have humans dealt with since we ...1 day ago
- Indigenous perspectives on unrestricted access to genomic dataBy Genomics Aotearoa researcher Maui Hudson, University of Waikato It is vital that genomics research respects genomic data and genetic heritage from indigenous communities. Genomics research is a rapidly growing field of study, and there is a strong push to make the huge amount of data being produced open ...1 day ago
- Terrible luck: lockdowns on learning and youth job prospectsWhat is bad luck? Bad luck is spilling spaghetti sauce down your shirt right before an important meeting. When the person in front of you gets the last seat on the bus, that’s bad luck. Bad luck is when it’s sunny outside, so you leave the house without a coat, ...1 day ago
- Ian Powell: Does private healthcare threaten public healthcare in New Zealand?
Is the private health system impacting negatively on the public health system? Health commentator Ian Powell evaluates a recent NZ Herald article by Natalie Akoorie (“Public v private healthcare: Moonlighting, skimming, duplication – should NZ do better”), and looks at how the dual system works, and concludes that the answer ...1 day ago - A rabbit-hole election debate: So do you want more avocado orchards?
We live in strange and unusual times. It’s been a century since we’ve endured a global pandemic like this, more than half a century since we’ve had economic woes like this. So maybe we got an opening election debate for the times - because that was a strange and unusual ...2 days ago - LIVE: Jacinda Ardern vs. Judith Collins, First Debate
Tonight, The Civilian will be live-blogging the first of too many debates between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National Party leader Judith Collins, and also the last fifteen minutes of the news. Be sure to tune in from 6:45pm for regular updates, which can be accessed by refreshing this page ...2 days ago - Hundreds of Aucklanders arrested after illegal mass gathering on Harbour BridgeAn enormous drive-in party, shown here, was held this morning on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, where police were forced to intervene. Hundreds of Aucklanders were arrested this morning on public health grounds, after an apparent illegal mass gathering on the city’s Harbour Bridge. Police say hundreds of Aucklanders gathered in their ...2 days ago
- The Looming Fight.Social Distancing Be Damned - It's Jacinda! Shortly after ascending to Labour’s leadership, Jacinda described herself as a “pragmatic idealist”. It was an inspired oxymoron – packing into just two words the essence of the social-democrat’s dilemma. It was good to know that she knew what lay ahead of her. ...2 days ago
- Climate Change: Moving fasterBack in 2017, the UK announced that it would ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2040. Its a basic climate change measure, aimed at reducing emissions by shifting the vehicle fleet to cleaner technologies. Now, in the wake of the pandemic, they're planning to bring it forward ...2 days ago
- The Australian courts have had enough of refugee detentionFor the past decade, Australia has had a racist, anti-refugee policy. Those claiming refugee status are imprisoned without trial and left to rot in the hope they would "voluntarily" return to be tortured and murdered. When the courts have granted them visas, the government has immediately revoked them on racial ...2 days ago
- Friction and the Anti-lock Braking SystemYesterday afternoon I had to call on my car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS). For reasons best known to its driver, a car pulled out of a side road right in front of me while I was driving home after work, and I needed to stop in a hurry. I rather ...2 days ago
- The Inside Word: New Zealand Quarantine
There are a fair few misconceptions about conditions within New Zealand’s Quarantine Hotels. Madeline Grant’s misplaced accusations being one prominent example, though she is not alone. Today, I thought I’d share the inside word, so to speak. A friend of mine has recently returned to New Zealand from overseas, and ...2 days ago - Hard News: ASA: Let’s not talk about this
Last week, major newspapers carried a full-page ad as part of the campaign for a "No" vote to the referendum question about supporting the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill. The ad was authorised by the SAM NZ Coalition, which takes its name from a controversial American anti-cannabis group and includes ...2 days ago - This is not kindNew Zealand has a serious homelessness problem, due to skyrocketing rents and a lack of state houses. One of the ways we stick a band-aid on it is to put people up in motels. Previously, they were charged full commercial rates, saddled with odious debt due to the government's failure ...2 days ago
- Wokies are the establishment
by Ani O’Brien In the absence of a better word with which to refer to the rabid activists who claim progressivism while demanding adherence to an increasingly prescriptive set of political beliefs, I call them “woke”. With its roots in Black American slang, the term originally denoted a person or ...3 days ago - How to strengthen the post-isolation Covid rulesOver the weekend, the Ministry of Health reported a case of Covid-19 in Auckland that is not related to the current Auckland cluster. Before we start to panic, here’s how I think the case happened and how we can strengthen our current border controls. The new Covid-19 case is someone ...3 days ago
- Neuralink and You: A Human-AI SymbiosisBecky Casale Elon Musk reckons his Neuralink brain implant is much more than a medical device–that one day it will drive a symbiosis between humans and artificial intelligence. “Good morning! I’m Dr Benedict Egg and I’ll be supervising your Neuralink insertion today. Do you have any questions?” “Yes, Doc. ...3 days ago
- Liam Hehir: Our obsession with American politicsMany New Zealanders take a strong interest in US politics, with the death of Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg being the latest example. Liam Hehir wonders if it very wise for New Zealanders to get so worked about it. Many politically engaged New Zealanders are now furiously ...3 days ago
- COVID: Back to Level 1
After stamping the Coronavirus out via strict lockdown between March and May, New Zealand went through a good three months without any community cases. Then a local outbreak in Auckland rather buggered things up last month. Auckland’s been in level 3 and level 2.5 for the past six weeks. ...3 days ago - Climate Change: Climate injusticeWho's causing our skyrocketing emissions? As with most of our other problems, It's the rich: The wealthiest 1% of the world’s population were responsible for the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the poorer half of the world from 1990 to 2015, according to new ...3 days ago
- Good riddanceThe border closure and resulting lack of foreign slave-workers is driving the fishing industry out of business: One fishing company is effectively out of business while others are bracing for large financial hits as the deepwater New Zealand industry, unable to get skilled foreign workers into the country, have ...3 days ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #38Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... The tipping points at the heart of the climate crisis Many parts of the Earth’s climate system have been destabilised by ...3 days ago
- Anyone for Collins?
In the absence of national public opinion polls, we have had to make do in recent weeks with other guides to voter intentions. Those guides, such as the Auckland Central poll, the incidence of google enquiries and the responses to Vote Compass questions, have suggested, not unexpectedly, that Labour is ...3 days ago - Crusher’s fiscal malfunctionCrusher Collins - National Party leaderWe all know that the National Party is desperate to gain some traction during this election campaign and have been throwing pretty much everything at the Labour Party in order to try and undermine Jacinda Ardern and what the Coalition Government has achieved. But unfortunately ...3 days ago
Much of the commentariat’s reporting of the most recent GDP figure was misleading and unhelpful. The prize for the stupidest remark about the GDP figure for second quarter 2020 (2020Q2) released on Thursday (17 Sept) goes to Judith Collins, whose response to Grant Robertson’s comments indicated she did not ...4 days ago- Love and Hate as Complementary Revolutionary Acts
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh goloing@gmail.com (19/09/2020) Che Guevara said that a true revolutionary is motivated by love i.e. love of the oppressed, the poor, the children dying from preventable illnesses. This phrase of his is true but has been used by reformists and their more hippy wing have taken advantage ...4 days ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 13, 2020 through Sat, Sep 19, 2020 Editor's Choice Get to Net-Zero by Mid-Century? Even Some Global Oil and Gas Giants Think it Can Be Done A report by a ...4 days ago
- Tax cuts for all!!! (except you, you, and you)
With the National Party this week announcing a new policy of tax cuts to spice up the election campagin. MyThinks went along to the launch and afterwards we spoke to the party’s finance spokesperson Paul “Golden Touch” Goldsmith. MT: Thanks for speaking to us Mr Goldsmith. PG: No. Thank you. ...5 days ago - Great Waves Washing Over New Zealand
Always to islanders danger Is what comes over the seas ‘Landfall in Unknown Seas’ (Allen Curnow)Six economic issues external to New Zealand, which will greatly impact upon us. 1. The Diminishing Global Dominance of the US. Since 1941 America has dominated the world economically and politically. Probably it could ...6 days ago - New Zealand has role to play in resolving crisis on ‘geopolitical fault line’, Helen Clark saysBy Geoffrey Miller New Zealand should continue to champion human rights in Belarus amidst an ongoing crackdown on protests by the country’s regime, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says. Protests in the country often referred to as ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’ erupted after the country’s disputed presidential elections on August 9 ...6 days ago
- Euthanasia referendum: How to cut through the emotionsJacqui Maguire, registered clinical psychologist This podcast episode highlights how difficult it is to have effective conversations about euthanasia due to how polarised people’s views are. I’m a clinical psychologist, with a passion for science communication. In early 2020 I founded the podcast Mind Brew, with an aim to make psychological ...6 days ago
- Why we need cameras on boatsIn case anyone needed further convincing, there's another example today of why we need cameras on fishing boats: reported seabird bycatch doubled during a camera trial: Commercial fishers operating off Auckland's coast around vulnerable seabirds are twice as likely to report accidentally capturing them when cameras are on ...6 days ago
- Graham Adams: The religious right’s campaign to spike the euthanasia referendumIn the leadup to the euthanasia referendum, an array of conservative Christian political organisations is running an expensive campaign to sow doubt about the safety of assisted dying. Graham Adams argues that these religious forces know that Christian arguments aren’t convincing the public, but that it is in the public ...6 days ago
- Opportunistic lootingThe National Party has spent the last six months acting horrified at the cost of supporting people through the pandemic and banging on about how the debt must be repaid. So what was their economic policy released today? Massive tax-cuts for the rich, of course! National has walked back ...6 days ago
- Uncomfortable Choices.Dangerous Times: This will be the choice confronting those coming of age in the 2020s. Embrace Neoliberalism’s belief in racial and sexual equality; adopt its secular and scientific world view; and cultivate the technocratic, multicultural, global outlook required of those who keep the machinery of hyper-capitalism humming. Or, throw your ...6 days ago
- Tony Burton: Covid and benefit paymentsIt would be a great time to reform the benefit system, according to former Deputy Chief Economic Advisor at the Treasury, Tony Burton. He argues the complexity of benefit system means that it’s failing to achieve its difficult three core objectives, which form an “iron triangle”. New Zealand’s benefit ...6 days ago
- Talking tax: How to win support for taxing wealthTax Justice UK, September 2020 Serious tax reform is on the political agenda for the first time in decades due to the coronavirus crisis. As this debate hots up it is important to understand what people think about public spending, wealth and tax. Tax Justice UK, along with Survation and ...6 days ago
- Getting Tough.Not Mucking Around: With upwards of 800 dead from the virus’s resurgence in the Australian state of Victoria, leniency is not on Premier Daniel Andrews’ agenda. The Victorian Police are cracking down hard on the protesters the Australian press has labelled "Covidiots".IMAGES OF POLICE, some in riot gear, others on ...6 days ago
- Media Link: Nuclear strategy, then and now.
Although I had the fortune of being a graduate student of some of the foremost US nuclear strategists of the day (1970s) and later rubbed shoulders with Air Force and Naval officers who were entrusted with parts of the US nuclear arsenal, I seldom get to write or speak about ...7 days ago - The Chinese List.News that Zhenhua Data, an arm of China Zhenhua Electronics Group, a subsidiary of the military-connected China Electronic Information Industry Group (CETC), maintains a list of 800 New Zealanders on a “Overseas Key Information Database” that contains personal information on more than 2.4 million foreign individuals, has caused some consternation ...1 week ago
- Things that grow fast, and things that surprise usMarie Becdelievre January 2020. The number of news article mentioning coronavirus exploded and anxious voices whispered about a global pandemic. Whisper? To me, it was only a whisper. I tend to learn about the world through non-fiction books, conferences, and academic research rather than news and social media, so ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37, 20202,082,476,000,000,000 Viability of greenhouse gas removal via the artificial addition of volcanic ash to the ocean (not open access, unfortunately) walks us through the numbers on a particular means of CO2 removal, addition of volcanic tephra to the ocean. The mechanism is straight chemistry and the cost is fully an order of ...1 week ago
- Barbados to become a republicBarbados is planning to remove the queen as head of state and become a republic in time for the 55th anniversary of its independence in 2021: Barbados has announced its intention to remove the Queen as its head of state and become a republic by November 2021. [...] Reading ...1 week ago
- Party Like It’s 1989: Bait and Switch is a Bad Look, Mr Hipkins
At the 2017 election, the New Zealand Labour Party promised a Fees Free Policy for tertiary students. Basically, it would make the first year of university education free in 2018, with a second year in 2021, and a third in 2024. It also promised to restore Post-Graduate access to the ...1 week ago - Will the tropics eventually become uninhabitable?Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz What is the impact of temperature increases in the tropics? ...1 week ago
- A first-hand look: What it’s like to live in a 2020 California wildfire evacuation zoneThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons It felt like 100 degrees in my in-laws’ Grass Valley, California, kitchen, but at least the lights were on and for the moment we were safely “distanced” from the Jones Fire. We’d just finished dessert, after pizza and a movie ...1 week ago
- COVID-19 is not the only infectious disease New Zealand wants to eliminate, and genome sequencing is...Nigel French, Massey University Genome sequencing — the mapping of the genetic sequences of an organism — has helped track the spread of COVID-19 cases in Auckland, but it also plays an important role in the control of other infectious diseases in New Zealand. One example is Mycoplasma bovis, a ...1 week ago
- A flaw in our electoral transparency regimeA key part of our electoral funding regime is a requirement for some transparency around donations, on the basis that if we can find out who has bought our politicians (typically after we have voted for them) then everything is alright. There are a lot of problems with that regime ...1 week ago
- Don’t Steal This BookOn “In Defense of Looting” Matt Taibibi takes an entertaining look at this generation of woke activists and how they compare with Abbie Hoffman the iconic anti-Vietnam war counter-culture figure of the 1960s On Thursday, August 27th, the same day Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination, National Public Radio ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: Carbon prices must riseWhen Parliament introduced the Emissions Trading Scheme, it was worried that carbon prices might get too high. So it introduced a "fixed price option", allowing polluters to pay the government $25 in the place of surrendering credits. The result was predictable: after we were thrown out of international carbon markets ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: DisclosureThe government will finally be requiring large New Zealand companies to disclose their climate change risks: New Zealand finance companies will be made to report on climate change risk, Climate Change Minister James Shaw has announced. The policy will force around 200 large financial organisations in New Zealand to ...1 week ago
- Tackling the hard issues – trust and relationshipsBy Claire Grant, Genomics Aotearoa Communications Manager Community consultation is becoming an increasingly important aspect of research programmes in New Zealand, and with that comes the art of relationship building. Engagement between scientists and user-groups is certainly nothing new. But as stakeholder involvement becomes more of a requirement for science, ...1 week ago
- Equality Network – September NewsletterRead the Equality Network newsletter here ...1 week ago
- The Left’s Lost Allies.Rebels In A Wrong Cause: The truly frightening thing about Jami-Lee Ross’s and Billy Te Kahika’s success in persuading thousands of New Zealanders that Covid-19 is just another trick, just another way of stealing away their power, is realising just how many of them once marched at the Left’s side. ...1 week ago
- Legal Beagle: Low-Hanging FruitIn a couple of months, the 53rd Parliament will meet in Wellington, and approximately 120 MPs will be sworn in, many of them for the first time.They will all have political goals, some aligning with their party platforms, some not, some complex, and some simple, but they will gain one ...1 week ago
- Closing the Gap thinks that Labour’s proposal to raise the top tax rate is great but………Media Statement For Immediate Release 10th September 2020 The income and wealth inequality lobby group, “Closing the Gap” thinks the Labour proposal a great start says Peter Malcolm, a spokesperson for the group. But they need to be aware of what many of the rich do and of what do ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: No nonsenseACT is pushing a "no-nonsense climate change plan". What does it involve? Repealing the Zero Carbon Act and Emissions Trading Scheme, reversing the fossil-fuel exploration ban, and allowing mining on conservation land. In other words, repealing any policy which might actually reduce emissions. Which is the very definition of nonsensical. ...1 week ago
- My Climate Story: Coming full CircleThis blog post is a follow up to my recap of Al Gore's Climate Reality Leadership Training I recently participated in. One of the exercises we were asked to complete was to write about our respective "Climate Story". This is a slightly updated version to the one I had submitted during ...1 week ago
- A bill to criminalise wage theftWage theft is a problem in New Zealand, with a widespread practice of forcing employees to work without pay, and regular cases of underpayment and exploitation. One reason why its such a widespread problem is impunity: rather than a crime, wage theft is merely a tort, dealt with by the ...1 week ago
- Liam Hehir: What the voting age debate tells us about our disconnected political mediaNew Zealand’s media and online politics often reflect the values of liberal and progressive agendas. According to Liam Hehir, the current proposals to lower the voting age to 16 years – which the media overwhelming supports – is indicative of a wider mismatch with society, which is not good for ...1 week ago
- Why Pay Taxes?My wife and I, through a combination of good luck and good management, have managed to retire in comfortable circumstances. We celebrate our good fortune by making relatively small but regular donations to a range of good causes – to rescue services like the rescue helicopters, St John’s Ambulance and ...1 week ago
- Environment and climate will be decimated by National’s dangerous agriculture policy
The Green Party is slamming National’s agriculture policy as a huge step backwards which puts future generations at risk. ...3 hours ago - Reducing costs for Kiwi farmers
New Zealand’s farmers and growers play a key role in our economy and in our communities. Labour has set out a clear vision to transition to a carbon-neutral economy and today we committed to supporting our farmers and growers to achieve this goal. ...1 day ago - Jacinda Ardern sets out Labour’s plan in first TV debateTonight was the first Leaders’ Debate, broadcast live on TVNZ 1. It was the first time New Zealanders have seen Jacinda Ardern side-by-side Opposition Leader Judith Collins this campaign. ...2 days ago
- Our plan to keep New Zealand movingLast updated 30 July 2020. The whole world is battling with COVID-19, and no country is immune. In New Zealand, our focus is getting the latest resurgence under control and making sure we put in place immediate financial supports to cushion the economic blow. As before, the best economic response is ...2 days ago
- Our AchievementsLed by Jacinda Ardern, our strong, stable government has delivered results and put people first every step of the way. In health, housing, education and more, we've got a strong track record of delivering for New Zealanders. Now, we’re continuing to put people first with our decisive response to COVID-19. ...2 days ago
- Why should I vote for Labour?Labour has a strong track record of making progress on the big issues facing our country. Now, as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19, we’re rolling out our plan to grow our economy, support businesses and communities, and keep New Zealand moving. If you’re still undecided ahead of this year’s ...2 days ago
- Greens call for a bus lane to bypass congestion on Harbour BridgeThe Green Party is calling for Waka Kotahi the NZ Transport Agency to convert a lane over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to bus-only and make buses free to use across the bridge until all lanes are back in operation. ...3 days ago
- Greens to protect Aotearoa’s oceans with marine sanctuaries, bottom trawling and set-netting restr...The Green Party has released its Thriving Oceans Plan, which would dramatically increase marine protected areas and ban bottom trawling on seamounts. ...4 days ago
- Week that was: Jobs, trades training and supporting Kiwi workersIt was another busy week out on the campaign trail, with Labour focused on jobs, training, and supporting Kiwi workers. As we continue to roll out our five-point plan for recovery, we’re investing in our people, businesses, communities and vital services, so we can keep our economy moving as we ...5 days ago
- Labour is backing our regions for recoveryOur regions are a vital part of our economic recovery plan. They’re home to innovative and creative businesses, and the backbone of our export economy - which is why Labour will continue to support our regions to grow as together, we rebuild better. ...5 days ago
- No surprise in National’s latest attempt to slash public servicesNational’s ‘alternative budget’ that includes huge cuts to the government’s operating allowance would risk gutting critical public services, and put health, education and nature at dire risk. ...6 days ago
- Latest figures show stronger economic recoveryData released this week shows that, while New Zealand is not immune to the economic impacts of the global pandemic, our strong health response has meant we’ve been able to get our economy going faster than many other countries. ...7 days ago
- 17 ways to get involved with the 2020 electionThis year’s election is on 17 October - and it’s coming up fast! With one month to go until Election Day, we’ve come up with 17 ways you, your friends and family can get involved in our campaign and help Labour keep New Zealand moving. ...7 days ago
- PREFU shows efforts to keep us all healthy, now we need to revenue raisePREFU has given a good insight into what was required to ensure New Zealanders were largely supported to continue work and remain healthy during COVID-19, but it is clear we need additional revenue raising measures ongoing, Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today. ...1 week ago
- Greens now the only political party sticking up for studentsThe Green Party is disappointed with the Labour Party’s decision to reverse their three free years education policy and back down on their commitment to postgraduate student allowances. ...1 week ago
- Labour are backing teachers and building a stronger, fairer education systemIn the first two years of our term in Government, we gave teachers record pay rises as a way of recognising the lack of adequate adjustments over the previous decade and the significant role they play in the lives of children and young people. We also increased the number of ...1 week ago
- Carmel Sepuloni: Backing families to get aheadInvesting in people has never been so important - and it’s a key part of Labour’s five point economic plan. ...1 week ago
- Labour supports working New ZealandersLabour has a proud history of supporting working New Zealanders, whether through the implementation of the 40hr work week or the introduction of the Working for Families package. ...1 week ago
- Greens will push next term for Government to expand dignified income beyond public service with Fair...The Green Party welcome Labour’s commitment to extend the living wage to Government contractors, but will push for Fair Pay Agreements across industries in the next Government so more New Zealanders can earn a dignified income. ...1 week ago
- Government must walk the talk on commitment to te reo MāoriThe Green Party is urging the Government to act on its commitment to te reo Māori, by making it a core subject up to year 10, and including te reo courses in the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships scheme. ...1 week ago
- Week That Was: Back on the campaign trailWe're officially back to the campaign for the 2020 General Election. The campaign may look a little different this year, but our candidates are still getting out and about in their communities and spreading the word about how another term of Labour will keep New Zealand moving in the right ...2 weeks ago
- Labour’s plan to bring down debt: Your questions answeredYou might have heard a bit of discussion about Government debt lately, as experts weigh in on the COVID-19 economic recovery. If you’re wondering why it’s such a contested topic, or even if you’re unsure of what Government debt actually is, then read on - we’ve got you covered! ...2 weeks ago
- Greens unveil $297m fund to support sustainable food and farmingThe Green Party has released its Farming for the Future Plan, including a $297m fund to support farmers and growers to transition to climate-friendly practices. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour’s plan for tax: Your questions answeredWe believe every New Zealander deserves the chance to make an informed decision on Election Day. We’ve answered some of the most common questions on our 2020 tax policy, including how much money will be raised from our new top tax rate, and how this will be used to control ...2 weeks ago
- Labour’s energy policy shows progress, but more action needed to protect the planetThe Green Party says Labour’s energy policy is a step in the right direction, but the Greens would go further and faster to meaningfully tackle the climate crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- How does tax work?All this tax talk leaving you a bit dazed and confused? Read below to find out more about our progressive tax system and what Labour's policy means for you. ...2 weeks ago
- Grant Robertson: A balanced plan for managing debtThe world is facing its most challenging battle in generations with an insidious and new virus as the enemy. ...2 weeks ago
- Debt: What’s Labour’s plan?We’re committed to managing the Government’s books responsibly and keeping debt under control while supporting our people and our economy through the 1-in-100 year shock caused by COVID-19. ...2 weeks ago
- Tax should close the inequality gap between people who own and people who earn: GreensThe Labour Party has moved towards more progressive income tax, but is not addressing the growing wealth gap and inequality in Aotearoa. Labour’s new revenue policy also doesn’t help pay for the necessary response to the COVID-19 crisis, Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Tax: What’s Labour’s plan?For 98% of New Zealanders, there will be no changes to income tax. Earn less than $180,000? No changes to your income tax. ...2 weeks ago
- 5 ways Labour’s SME policy will help small businessesAre you the owner of a small business? We’ve got one simple message for you: we’ve got your back. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens pleased with Labour’s support for Matariki DayThe Green Party welcomes Labour backing a Matariki public holiday. ...2 weeks ago
- BREAKING: Labour will make Matariki a public holidayAs New Zealanders we are proud of who we are, what we stand for, and the way we weave together different worlds and cultures to create our unique national identity. ...2 weeks ago
- Lobby group advice to keep homes cold until after Election Day dangerousIt is appalling and negligent that landlords are being encouraged to keep their properties cold and damp until after the election, as advised by the NZ Property Investors Federation, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Primary sector exports and jobs up again
Primary sector exports and jobs are up again, demonstrating the sector’s underlying strength amid the COVID-19 global pandemic and US-China trade war, and supporting New Zealand’s economic recovery. Stats NZ today reported New Zealand’s merchandise exports in August were up 8.6% on a year ago, driven by an increase in ...18 mins ago - Clean energy future for more schoolsSchools across Aotearoa New Zealand will be supported by the Government to upgrade to run on clean energy, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. The Minister has allocated $50 million from the Clean Powered Public Service Fund to replace, or convert, coal boilers in schools with clean ...5 hours ago
- Building business strength with digital toolsNew training and tools for digital commerce will give small businesses, especially in the tourism sector, the support they need to adapt and innovate in a COVID world. Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash have announced details of how $20 million digital capability funding set aside ...6 hours ago
- New pest lures to protect natureThe Department of Conservation (DOC) is investing $1.4 million to develop new predator lures that would be game-changers for trapping and surveillance towards a predator-free Aotearoa, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage, announced in Christchurch today. The proposal is to develop long-life lures attractive to a range of predators—rats, mustelids ...6 hours ago
- Support for innovative Pacific education responses to COVID-19 needsSupporting new and creative Pacific education practices as part of our COVID-19 response and recovery is the focus of a new $28.5 million Pacific Education Innovation Fund announced today by Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa. “There is already an incredible amount of innovative and creative work going on in ...1 day ago
- Eligibility expanded for COVID-19 leave supportThe expanded scheme will cover: People who have COVID-19 like symptoms and meet the Ministry of Health’s criteria, and need to self-isolate while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test. People who are directed to self-isolate by a Medical Officer of Health or their delegate or on advice of their ...2 days ago
- Seasonal work visa available to more peopleThe Government is putting in place a range of immigration policy changes to help fill labour shortages in key industries while ensuring New Zealanders, who have lost jobs due to COVID-19, have the chance to find new employment. “Two key sectors we are moving to help are horticulture and wine ...2 days ago
- More border exceptions for critical rolesThe Government has established class exceptions for border entry for a limited number of veterinarians, deep sea fishing crew, as well as agricultural and horticultural machinery operators. “Tight border restrictions remain the backbone of the Government’s border strategy to protect New Zealand against COVID-19 and ensure New Zealand citizens and ...2 days ago
- Crown will not appeal Dodds v Southern Response decisionThe Crown will not appeal the Court of Appeal decision in the Dodds v Southern Response case, Grant Robertson announced today. “Southern Response will be paying the damages awarded by the Court to Mr and Mrs Dodds shortly. The Crown was already meeting their legal costs for this appeal. “The ...2 days ago
- Crucial PGF investments for NorthlandThe Provincial Growth Fund is investing nearly $30 million in a diverse range of projects that will create immediate and long-term jobs and lift economic and social outcomes for Northland and its people. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones made the announcement today in ...2 days ago
- $27million investment in global vaccine facilityThe Coalition Government has committed to invest $27 million in COVID-19 vaccine development through the global COVAX Facility, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. “The COVAX Facility is a key part of our COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy to obtain safe and effective vaccines. It allows us to invest in a high-quality, ...3 days ago
- Government backing Māori landownersThe Government will provide up to $1.69 million through the One Billion Trees programme to Māori landowners to make their whenua more productive through the planting of forests, both native and exotic, and improve economic and environmental outcomes, Forestry Minister Shane Jones has announced. “Around 1.5 million ha of land ...5 days ago
- New tools to make nature more accessiblePeople planning to head outdoors now have a resource that lets them know how accessible an area is for people with varying levels of mobility, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. The Halberg Foundation, Sensibel, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have launched Accessibel, a new tool which helps ...6 days ago
- PGF makes Māori history more accessibleOne of the most significant battle sites of the 1860s Land Wars will receive $2.96 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to improve the site and help tell the New Zealand story to visitors, Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. Nanaia Mahuta ...6 days ago
- Making it official: The journey of te reo Māori | Kia whakapūmautia: Ngā piki me ngā heke o te r...The journey towards recognising Māori as an official language and taonga has been captured as a web series and launched today during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “Te reo Māori is a living language, and understanding its significance, and pathways to ...1 week ago
- Better-than-forecast GDP reflects decision to protect New ZealandToday’s better-than-forecast GDP figures show the expected impact of the decision to act quickly to protect New Zealanders from the global COVID-19 pandemic. GDP fell 12.2% in the June quarter from March, reflecting decisions to close New Zealand’s borders and enter Alert Level 4. “This result was better than the ...1 week ago
- Boost for COVID-19 related Pacific education needsThe Government is investing $39.7 Million over four years to support the educational needs of Pacific learners and families in the regions hardest hit by COVID-19, with Auckland getting an immediate boost, Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa says. “Like all New Zealanders Pacific families want learners to do well ...1 week ago
- More resources for kiwi conservationNew Zealand’s goal of 100,000 kiwi by 2030 is being helped by an extra $19.7 million in funding to accelerate iwi and community efforts to protect kiwi, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced. “$19.7 million of Jobs for Nature funding is being invested in kiwi conservation activities including increased predator ...1 week ago
- Improving access to affordable electricityEnsuring New Zealanders can get the best deal on their electricity takes a step in the right direction today with the South Island launch of the EnergyMate pilot run by the Electricity Retailers’ Association, says Minister of Energy and Resources, Dr Megan Woods. EnergyMate is an industry-led programme providing coaching ...1 week ago
- Government achieves 50 percent women on state boardsMinister for Women Julie Anne Genter announced today that the Government has reached its target of 50 percent on women on state sector board and committees – setting a new record level of women on state sector boards. “This Government is committed to having more women in leadership roles - ...1 week ago
- Record transport investment to help economic recovery and save livesTransport Minister Phil Twyford released today the final Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS) 2021 which outlines the planned $48 billion investment in services and infrastructure over the next decade. “The final GPS supports our Government’s five-point plan for economic recovery by confirming our record investments in transport infrastructure ...1 week ago
- Advancing clean energy technologyThree ambitious and cutting-edge research programmes that will lift New Zealand’s advanced energy technology research capability over seven years, have been supported by Government today, says Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods. The projects will each receive a share of $40.7 million investment from the Strategic Science Investment Fund. ...1 week ago
- Major milestone reached in Pike River Re-entryThe critical area for forensic examination known as Pit Bottom in Stone has been reached in what is a major milestone for the Pike River re-entry project, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little announced. “The infrastructure located in Pit Bottom in Stone is of very significant interest in ...1 week ago
- Economic recovery guides Govt response to retirement income policy reviewThe Government is working on how New Zealand’s retirement income policies and settings can best support Kiwis in light of the COVID-19 economic recovery, with the help of the Retirement Commissioner’s latest review, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said. “The Retirement Commissioner’s three-yearly review into New Zealand’s retirement ...1 week ago
- Iwi community hub opens in MuruparaA new digital hub and development centre in Murupara will be instrumental in growing the region’s productivity, said Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau at the official opening of two community initiatives today. “I’m pleased to be here celebrating a significant milestone for two projects set to make a ...1 week ago
- PREFU shows economy doing better than forecastPREFU shows economy doing better than forecast Unemployment to peak at 7.8%, down from 9.8% forecast in the Budget Year-to-June accounts show tax revenue, debt and OBEGAL better than forecast Global forecast downgraded as COVID-19 second waves and uncertainty grows Balanced plan to support critical public services, manage debt and ...1 week ago
- Spruce-up for Ōtaki community facilitiesThe Kāpiti Coast town of Ōtaki will receive $1.4 million in Government funding for two projects providing scores of jobs for locals while improving community facilities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Māoriland Charitable Trust will receive a $900,000 Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) grant to upgrade the ...1 week ago
- PGF funding for Jobs for Nature programmeThe Provincial Growth Fund will provide $11.88 million to fund fencing and waterway projects nationwide that will improve the environment and create jobs in their communities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. “These projects will create more than 100 jobs nationwide with work starting within the next couple ...1 week ago
- Procurement to promote jobs, Māori and Pasifika businesses and sustainabilityAs part of the COVID-19 recovery, the Government has strengthened its procurement rules to ensure its annual $42 billion spend creates more jobs, uses more sustainable construction practices and results in better outcomes for Māori and Pasifika, Government Ministers announced today. Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford says the $42 ...1 week ago
- Timaru’s Theatre Royal to be upgraded and new heritage facility builtThe Government is supporting a major upgrade of Timaru’s iconic Theatre Royal and the construction of a new connected Heritage Facility museum and exhibition space with $11.6 million from the Government’s Infrastructure Fund, Jacinda Ardern announced today. “We heard the call from the community and the council. The Theatre Royal ...1 week ago
- District Court judge appointedChrissy Montague (formerly Armstrong), barrister of Auckland has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Wellington, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Montague commenced practice in Auckland in 1987 and went into general practice dealing with Wills, Estates, Trusts, Conveyancing, Relationship Property ...1 week ago
- Approval given to Commercial Film and Video Production ProposalA Proposal to provide for the development and operation of commercial film and video production facilities in areas of Christchurch has been given the go ahead. Hon Poto Williams, Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, has approved the Proposal, which was prepared and submitted by Regenerate Christchurch. Minister Williams ...1 week ago
- Supporting a thriving wānanga sector to benefit Māori learnersAs part of the Government’s focus on building closer partnerships with Māori and enhancing the quality of, and access to, Māori medium education, a payment of $8 million will be made to Te Wānanga o Raukawa in partial recognition of its Waitangi Tribunal claim (WAI 2698), Associate Education Minister Kelvin ...1 week ago
- Jobs for Nature boosts efforts to restore Kaimai-MamakuThe Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage has announced a $19 million investment over four years in an important forest restoration project involving a partnership between the Department of Conservation, iwi/hapū, the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Regional Councils, community conservation groups and organisations such as Forest and Bird across the ...1 week ago
- New Zealand first in the world to require climate risk reportingNew Zealand will be the first country in the world to require the financial sector to report on climate risks, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. The changes build on the huge progress this Government has made to tackle the climate crisis. “Today is another step on ...1 week ago
- Economic data highlights impact of Auckland moving out of Level 3Economic activity across the Auckland region and the country bounced back to levels experienced under Alert Level 1 following Auckland’s move out of Alert Level 3, analysis in the Treasury’s latest Weekly Economic Update shows. The analysis of economic data since Auckland’s move out of Level 3 shows: Auckland card ...1 week ago
- PM statement on Cabinet COVID-19 Alert Level reviewTakiri mai te ata, ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea, tihei mauriora! Tātou katoa ngā iwi o Aotearoa, tēnā koutou! Tēnā tātou e whakanuia ana i te wiki nei, te wiki o te reo Māori Greeting to you all from Otepoti, Dunedin. This week is the Māori Language week and ...1 week ago
- More mental wellbeing services for young people in regionsMore mental health and addiction services are available for young New Zealanders in Rotorua and Taupō, Wairarapa, South Canterbury, Dunedin and Southland from next month, Health Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter say. “The Government is serious about making sure New Zealanders struggling with mental health ...1 week ago
- Government joins forces with Central Otago communities to clean up waterwaysThe Manuherekia catchment in Central Otago is the third exemplar catchment to be targeted as part of the Government’s plan to clean up waterways by supporting community-led programmes. Environment Minister David Parker said the Manuherekia catchment is vitally important to the people of Central Otago. “The Manuherekia rises in the ...1 week ago
- Government confirms new Dunedin Hospital designThe Government has agreed on a preferred design for the new Dunedin Hospital featuring two separate buildings, and has provided funding for the next stages of work. Minister of Health Chris Hipkins says Cabinet has approved in principle the detailed business case for the new hospital, giving people in ...1 week ago
- Australia’s just signed up for a shot at 9 COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s what to expect
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Taylor, Early Career Research Leader, Emerging Viruses, Inflammation and Therapeutics Group, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University Australia’s A$123 million contribution to a global vaccine initiative, announced earlier this week, means the country would have access to a wider pool of ...17 mins ago - It’s not only Westpac. What’s behind the biggest fine in Australian corporate historySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Clarke, Professor, UTS Business, University of Technology Sydney Westpac is to pay A$1.3 billion, by far Australia’s biggest-ever corporate fine for breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act. The 93-page statement of agreed facts and admissions prepared by Westpac ...17 mins ago
- Election 2020: Putting the spotlight on Te Tai Tokerau
From Te Rerenga Wairua at the top of the country, right down to Rakiura, we’re taking a look at our seven Māori electorates and the candidates contesting the seats. First up: the electorate of Te Tai Tokerau. Te Tai Tokerau is our northernmost Māori electorate. Its boundary begins on the north ...22 mins ago - Extension Of Support For Foreign Nationals In Hardship
The Foreign Nationals Support Programme | Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri has been extended from 30 September to 30 November 2020. This extension will continue the support available under the Programme since 1 July 2020, to help visitors in New ...26 mins ago - Climate Justice For PreschoolersOn Friday the 25th of September families with children from around Te Whanganui-a-Tara are gathering at parliament at 12:30 pm for a birthday party protest calling for climate justice for preschoolers and everyone else! Father of two James Barber says, ...33 mins ago
- The sum of $4000 remains a puzzle but the beneficent Beehive is braying about the millions is has di...
While announcements on new policy or critiques of opposition policies flow from the Labour Party, the Beehive website in the past day or two has brought news of government spending decisions. This has drawn attention to some of the array of troughs available for oinkers hungering for a financial lift. ...1 hour ago - National Promises Dirty Rivers And More Fuel For Climate Fires – GreenpeaceThursday, 24 Sept: Greenpeace is calling the National Party’s newly announced agriculture policy "tantamount to climate denial" and "a promise for more dirty rivers." The National Party’s policy would delay bringing agriculture ...2 hours ago
- Political Parties Urged To Commit To Digital Inclusion Action PlanInternetNZ is calling on political parties to sign on to its five point plan for digital inclusion ahead of this year’s election. The five point plan sets out the priority areas where Government can best direct its efforts and investments to improve ...2 hours ago
- Guild Calls On The Government To Give Pharmacies Access To Promised Financial SupportThe Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) has significant concerns over community pharmacy’s ability to simply and quickly access the government’s $18 million financial support package. The Guild is calling for urgent government action to support ...2 hours ago
- The true legacy of minor parties in governmentThe Māori Party’s time in government with National proves the impact of minor parties isn’t always measurable by the number of bills they pass or the amount of funding they secure, but also its impact on the political tone, argues Ben Thomas. After Tuesday’s lacklustre leader’s debate, one question hung in ...2 hours ago
- Former National leader Todd Muller opens up about panic attacks days into job
Former National Party leader Todd Muller is talking about the issues that led to him resigning from his role as the head of the opposition - in a bid to encourage others to speak up about mental health. ...2 hours ago - Feds – Suitably Impressed At Week Of Positive Agriculture And Horticulture Policy Announcement...This has been a promising week for farmers. Federated Farmers says it started with an excellent agriculture policy from ACT announced on Monday, followed by Labour’s positive farm plan policy announced by the Prime Minister and Agricultural Minister ...3 hours ago
- Universities can help Australia’s economic recovery, but that’s all at risk if the ‘job-ready ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Buchanan, Professor, Discipline of Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney Our universities actively helped with reconstruction after two world wars and supported recoveries in recent recessions. The Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme of 1944 – 1951 was ...3 hours ago
- LIVE: A View from Afar – Regional Disputes on the Increase: Turkey-Greece + China-TaiwanHi I’m Selwyn Manning and you are watching… A View from Afar. Today we examine how a dispute between Turkey and Greece has its parallel in South East Asia with hostilities intensifying between China and Taiwan. It appears both disputes have origins in forcible partitions, and, of course, a ...3 hours ago
- Two mums, one foodbank and the unlikeliest of friendshipsThe Rawiri Community House, nestled between the Auckland suburbs of Manukau and Manurewa, helps hundreds of families with food and other essential services each week, and it’s kept going thanks to an unlikely friendship forged in the struggle to help those doing it toughest.My interview at the Rawiri Community House ...3 hours ago
- Euthanasia A Threat To Government Funding Of Hospices- An Election IssueA majority support for the referendum on euthanasia could be a threat to palliative care and hospices in New Zealand. Continued government funding of hospices in New Zealand is an important election issue. The Prime Minister claims that we have the ...4 hours ago
- National pledges to ease legislation for farmersThe National Party is promising to dismantle legislation it says is too much of a burden for farmers, including freshwater regulations, the Resource Management Act and the Zero Carbon Act. ...4 hours ago
- National takes on Labour over agriculture policy
The National Party has released its agriculture and horticulture policy, accusing the Government of taking farmers for granted National leader Judith Collins has accused the Government of regulating farmers "into oblivion", as the party released its plan for the country's agricultural and horticultural sectors. The party's document outlines an array ...4 hours ago - Zero Waste Community Unites To Support Plan To Move Away From Single-use Plastic Items.Organisations focused on zero waste and the circular economy have joined forces to support the government’s proposed ban on a range of single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic products, and are encouraging New Zealanders who care about waste issues ...4 hours ago
- The four things New Zealanders need for good healthFrom damp housing to unsafe work, doctors see every day the conditions worsening the health of thousands of New Zealanders. Dr George Laking of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians explains the four things we can do make a change for the better.Physicians are specialist doctors who look after people ...4 hours ago
- Best Policies For Business Post-electionThe EMA has today released its 2020 Election Manifesto detailing what it believes the next Government needs to do to create the economic and social conditions for the country’s post-COVID transformation. EMA’s Head of Advocacy and Strategy ...4 hours ago
- Creative NZ Fights COVID-19 With “indigenised Hypno-soundscapes”The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning the value of the Arts Continuity Grant , a COVID-19 response fund which has so far paid out $16 million in grants to a variety of questionable short-term arts projects. Since March, Creative NZ has ...4 hours ago
- Clean energy coal boiler replacement fund rolls out to more schoolsGovernment funding to switch coal boilers to clean energy is being rolled out to another 18 schools. ...5 hours ago
- Father, daughter team win seats in Bougainville general electionBy The National A father-daughter team will join the Autonomous Bougainville Government House of Representatives after winning their seats in the recent election. Raymond Masono retained his seat as the Atolls MP while daughter Amanda Masono Getsi was declared the winner of the North Region Women’s Representative seat. She told ...5 hours ago
- Māori Party housing policy includes immigration halt, homes on ancestral landThe Māori Party is promising to halt all immigration into New Zealand until housing supply catches up with demand, if it becomes part of the next government. ...5 hours ago
- Oamaru’s Pacific community weighing election opportunitiesOamaru's sizeable Pasifika community - proportionally higher than in Auckland - sees housing, jobs, culturally responsive education and health accessibility as priorities this election. ...5 hours ago
- Recreational Fishers Vote In Favour Of Scallop Dredging BanRecreational groups have come out strongly in support of the need to ban fishing techniques that damage the seabed in coastal marine waters. Increasingly, science shows that damage to the seafloor caused by fishing is having an exponential impact ...6 hours ago
- Wealth tax not a bottom line for Green Party but they will push for it – ShawGreen Party co-leader James Shaw says one of his senior MPs misspoke under pressure when she said a wealth tax was one of the party's bottom lines. ...6 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 24 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Election Audrey Young (Herald): Act’s job is to destroy NZ First vote says National’s Judith Collins Ben Leahy (Herald): Wealth tax ‘a bottom line’ for a Greens-Labour Government: ...6 hours ago
- What the next government must do to save lives from breast cancerOPINION: Covid-19 has created a huge backlog for New Zealanders affected by breast cancer. The next government must improve access to diagnosis and treatment to prevent more deaths, says Breast Cancer Foundation NZ CEO Evangelia Henderson. I always look forward to the contest of ideas that comes with every election, but ...6 hours ago
- Groups Plan To Stop Minerals Forum Next MonthChurch groups, students, climate activists, anti-mining protectors and individuals from across the country have announced they plan to stop this year's Minerals Forum in Hamilton next month to highlight the destruction of mining, drilling and resource ...7 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: The Election Campaign Just Grinds Slowly On And OnWith just over three weeks until the General Election, the release of the first major pre-election opinion poll this week confirmed what was already being reported about this year’s campaign. Although the gap between Labour and National has narrowed ...7 hours ago
- It’s a man’s (pandemic) world: how policies compound the pain for women in the age of COVID-19Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Associate Professor, 50/50 By 2030 Foundation, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra COVID-19 times have brought sober realisations about deep shifts in Australian society. Encroaching steadily over the past half-century, these have been largely submerged from daily ...7 hours ago
- ‘If you call 000 … I will send you back to your country’: how COVID-19 has trapped temporary v...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Pfitzner, Postdoctoral Research fellow with the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, Monash University At the first sign of lockdown due to COVID-19 in Australia and across the globe, there were concerns domestic and family violence would increase in prevalence ...7 hours ago
- I regret stopping breastfeeding. How do I start again?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University Many women find breastfeeding difficult and stop before they planned. Some women are relieved to stop. But others regret it. If you regret stopping, you may be able to ...7 hours ago
- The missing question from New Zealand’s cannabis debate: what about personal freedom and individua...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marta Rychert, Senior Researcher in Drug Policy, Massey University Much of the debate on New Zealand’s referendum on recreational cannabis legalisation has focused on health, the economy, criminal justice and the uncertainties about the impact on youth and adult use. But one ...7 hours ago
- ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’: here’s the lowdown on Australia’s low-emissions roadmapSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewelyn Hughes, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University “Picking winners” has been anathema to Australian policy-making for decades. The federal government’s technology investment roadmap bucks the trend, targeting public investments in specific low-emissions technologies. The ...7 hours ago
- If we want brilliant English, history or geography teachers, why are we making humanities courses so...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn Cox, Associate Professor of Literacy Education, University of New England The government’s university funding reform package passed the lower house in early September and will pass the Senate if the Coalition succeeds in garnering enough crossbench support. The plan would see ...7 hours ago
- Guide to the classics: A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf’s feminist call to armsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Gildersleeve, Associate Professor of English Literature, University of Southern Queensland I sit at my kitchen table to write this essay, as hundreds of thousands of women have done before me. It is not my own room, but such things are still ...7 hours ago
- National MP’s ad under investigation after complaints it’s misleadingTukituki MP Lawrence Yule is defending billboard and newspaper ads claiming he has secured funding for millions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects for Hawke's Bay. ...7 hours ago
- Election Live, September 24: Todd Muller describes ‘waves of anxiety and dread’ Welcome to The Spinoff’s Election Live for September 24, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other NZ news. The essential campaign dates are here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Explore the parties’ pledges at Policy. I’m ...8 hours ago
- Māori don’t exist, according to our political leaders so… talofaJacinda Ardern and Judith Collins showed their true colours in the first leaders' debate, and they were pretty pale, Leonie Hayden writes. ...8 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Who will pick the fruit?Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Horticulture industry facing labour crisis, details of new cases spark concern, and Canterbury candidate under fire for local government record.Fears are growing that fruit will simply rot on the vine this season, because nobody will be there to pick it. Plenty ...9 hours ago
- Business & Investing: More funding for banks
More Reserve Bank funding support could be coming for banks and consumers, plus Kathmandu sees its new Rip Curl brand struggle during pandemic ...9 hours ago - Wealth Tax Demand: Only Jacinda Ardern Can Rule It OutResponding to Green Party MP Julie-Anne Genter's statement that her Party's wealth tax policy is a "bottom line" for a Labour-Greens Government, New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says: "This confirms what ...9 hours ago
- Radical Green-Labour Government Puts Recovery At Risk“A radical Green-Labour government would put our economic recovery at risk,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter today reiterated that a wealth tax would be a bottom line in a future left-wing government. “Grant ...9 hours ago
- The case for trout farming
Anglers have long resisted the idea of commercial trout farming but a select committee recently recommended the Government give the idea “serious consideration”. Clive Barker makes the case for trout farming. The species of fish used for aquaculture were at one time very limited. Carp were the fish used in pond culture ...10 hours ago - Labour-Green emergency housing stoush
A split has emerged between Labour and the Greens over an emergency housing policy both parties supported at the beginning of the year. ...10 hours ago - Where is she now? Farah Palmer
We hear her name every weekend in the country's top women's rugby competition. But former Black Ferns captain Dr Farah Palmer would rather toil quietly behind the scenes, making major strides for women and Māori in rugby. Mana. It’s a well-known word and yet it's true meaning carries so much significance and ...10 hours ago - Election 2020: Māori Party seeks a comeback from Taranaki
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer wants to bring the Māori Party from the edge of oblivion back into Parliament in the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate. ...10 hours ago - What lies beneath: is this the new asbestos?
A mineral linked to a form of lung cancer associated with asbestos has been found in Auckland. As the city enters a new phase of earthwork and construction activity, it is important to ensure erionite deposits are not disturbed. Erionite is a naturally occurring mineral which has been found in rocks around the ...10 hours ago - Why cannabis use doesn’t equal impairment
Are we ready to differentiate previous cannabis use from impairment in the workplace and on the roads? Voters will shortly be able to tick yes or no to proposed legislation that could legalise the use of cannabis, with the result impacting how workplaces deal with impairment. The legalisation introduces a thorny dilemma ...10 hours ago - Why hydrogen is not a cure for emissions
A so-called 'hydrogen economy' assumes we can produce renewable electricity inexhaustibly and continue to lead our resource-depleting lifestyles. Pat Baskett argues that this isn't the future we want. Our energy needs involve complex decisions with profound implications. One, already on the horizon, concerns hydrogen. The cycle of its production and use is ...10 hours ago - Book of the Week: A girl like Ghazaleh
We conclude our week-long focus on an extraordinary book of essays with a review by Meg de Ronde from Amnesty International Do you remember where you were when…? I was 16. It was an ordinary morning, getting dressed in my school uniform. The television, with its heavy curved back, ...10 hours ago - What the pandemic means for our SMEs
Regardless of the outcomes of the pandemic, one silver lining is that small and medium-sized firms are now effectively 'on notice' as to risk. Dr Bridgette Sullivan-Taylor explains. As we re-emerged from our second lockdown, businesses had to again reflect on their resilience in the face of global supply chain vulnerabilities. New Zealand’s ...10 hours ago - The immigration ‘policy hole’
With less than a month to go, the big policy debate of the last election has vanished from the headlines and manifestos of both major parties An issue that was once the ultimate vote-winning populist lever to pull has the major parties reluctant to say what they'll do about it. Labour ...10 hours ago - Kiwi criminals listed in a Chinese govt-linked database
Most of the focus on a CCP-linked database leak in New Zealand has centred on the famous Kiwis on the list - but experts are curious about the less savoury names in the database, as Sam Sachdeva reports China's growing foreign influence efforts around the globe, New Zealand included, are hardly ...10 hours ago - Why are we considering assisted dying in a pandemic?Legalising euthanasia while the world is in the grip of a deadly pandemic would further stretch an already stretched health system, and have implications far beyond that for the disabled community, writes Robyn Hunt.Considering assisted dying in the middle of a deadly world pandemic seems counterintuitive. We are fortunate to ...10 hours ago
- Technology versus privacy in a poorly regulated industry
Law enforcement organisations world-wide are tapping into increasingly sophisticated facial recognition tech - but even one of the firms that develops it is concerned about lack of regulation in the industry There is growing alarm about the use of facial recognition technology - especially when the police don't tell us what ...10 hours ago - The courage to make life betterLabour has made an extraordinary ascent in the polls and is now clinging to a mostly non-threatening brand of centrism. Hayden Donnell counts the cost of that strategy. Cast your mind back to 2016. As Bill English rolled out his budget, Grant Robertson issued what looked like a criticism. In an ...14 hours ago
- Government will reform insolvency system to improve distressed small businesses’ survival chancesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Morrison government will make sweeping changes to the insolvency system to improve the chances of saving small businesses hit by the pandemic. The reforms – which are described as the most significant for three ...15 hours ago
- Making her mark: tattooed man meets his Muse, Judith CollinsWhen Judith Collins met Nik Given, the man with her likeness tattooed on his thigh, she told him: "don't worry about the media, they won't bite you... if they bite you, I'll bite them back". ...19 hours ago
- NBN upgrades explained: how will they make internet speeds faster? And will the regions miss out?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thas Ampalavanapillai Nirmalathas, Group Head – Electronic and Photonic Systems Group and Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne The federal government has announced a A$3.5 billion upgrade to the National Broadband Network (NBN) that will grant two million households ...19 hours ago
- Is fast-tracking funds to Foxtel the best way to support the media during COVID?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Johan Lidberg, Associate Professor, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University According to an ABC report, government funds were fast-tracked to Foxtel during the coronavirus pandemic. This news will raise eyebrows, as the media — like so many industries — tries ...19 hours ago
- Reserve Bank ‘dallies with indolence’ instead of helping government pursue full employment: Paul...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Former prime minister Paul Keating has launched an extraordinary attack on the Reserve Bank, accusing it of having “one of its dalliances with indolence”, and describing it as “the Reverse Bank”. Keating, who was treasurer ...20 hours ago
- Daniel Andrews has flagged a quicker easing of Melbourne’s restrictions. But cases are still in th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary-Louise McLaws, Professor of Epidemiology Healthcare Infection and Infectious Diseases Control, UNSW Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flagged on Wednesday that metropolitan Melbourne’s restrictions could be eased further than initially planned on Monday September 28. The 14-day average of daily new cases has ...20 hours ago
- Our toxic legacy: bushfires release decades of pollutants absorbed by forestsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cynthia Faye Isley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Science, Macquarie University We know forests absorb carbon dioxide, but, like a sponge, they also soak up years of pollutants from human activity. When bushfires strike, these pollutants are re-released into the air with ...21 hours ago
- More neurotic, less agreeable, less conscientious: how job insecurity shapes your personalitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lena Wang, Senior Lecturer in Management, RMIT University With unemployment at its highest rate in three decades, almost a million Australians are experiencing the anxiety of being out of work. Even more are underemployed, and more still holding on to jobs for ...21 hours ago
- NZ’s Largest Union Confirms All-Female Leadership TeamThe Public Service Association is pleased to announce Kerry Davies will co-lead the organisation of 77,000 members, as one of two union National Secretaries. For the first time, the PSA’s top leadership will all be women. Ms Davies has been ...22 hours ago
- Leaders’ debate absent of Māori issues, Ardern and Collins forced to explainJacinda Ardern and Judith Collins have been forced to front-up and explain why not a single mention of Māori interests, issues or rights was made during the leaders debate last night. ...22 hours ago
- First leaders’ debate failed to take on Māori issuesPolitical commentators seemed to be lauding National leader Judith Collins' performance in last night's TVNZ leaders' debate, but social media had entirely different takes. ...22 hours ago
- The finance guys have all the fun
While most eyes were on Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins in the first leaders' debate, Queenstown was hosting quite a different stoush - one that was way more entertaining, writes Nikki Mandow Tuesday September 22, 7pm. In a virtually empty TVNZ studio in Auckland, two female party leaders in dark suits ...22 hours ago - ‘Like trying to find the door in a dark room while hearing your relatives scream for help’: Tasm...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University A desperate rescue effort is underway after hundreds of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) became stranded in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast. Yesterday, more than 250 pilot whales were reported to have ...23 hours ago
- Leading Scientist Does Major Backflip On Methane“It is almost unbelievable that one of the leading Methane scientists in the world, Dr Myles Allen, Professor at Oxford University who was a prominent designer of the GWP (Global Warming Potential), system has done a major back flip demanding the EU ...23 hours ago
- Schitt’s Creek: the TV show has been showered with Emmys but is it worth the hype?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Sparkes, Senior Lecturer (Media Studies and Production), University of Southern Queensland This year’s Emmy Awards saw some surprising and not so surprising moments. Perhaps the most astonishing event was the Canadian-produced comedy Schitt’s Creek winning seven major awards, including best comedy ...23 hours ago
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