Brexit
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What the recent elections tell us about British society
Written By: - Date published: 11:31 pm, May 17th, 2021 - 35 comments
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s Blog In a nation that has suffered over 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, one may be somewhat taken aback to see the latest YouGov Poll where The Conservative Party enjoy a 15% lead over the Labour Opposition. 17 months after the Conservatives won the 2019 General Election, it would be easy to […]
Boris wants more bombs
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, March 19th, 2021 - 50 comments
Boris Johnson has announced that the United Kingdom will increase its stockpile of nuclear weapons and open up the possibility of using weapons against non nuclear nations, despite being a signatory to various treaties that prohibit both actions being taken.
Brexit revisited
Written By: - Date published: 7:19 am, December 13th, 2020 - 19 comments
With Brexit looming there is talk of unfinished customs software and the possibility of chaos around ports, the UK’s food supply being compromised, and potential skirmishes with France at fishing spots. And Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron are refusing to talk to Boris Johnson. Hang on England, this is going to get wild.
This result could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, February 10th, 2020 - 13 comments
Originally posted onNick Kelly’s blog
Nick is a Director of Piko Consulting and works as a Political Adviser in The House of Lords.
Listening to the results being reported while driving on that California freeway, I recall thinking ‘this result could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom’. On hearing that both Northern Ireland and Scotland had voted to stay part of the EU, in contrast to the rest of the country, it was hard to imagine that this would not become a significant issue.
Why UK Labour lost? Part 9: What the party needs to do now.
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, January 17th, 2020 - 12 comments
Originally post on Nick Kelly’s blog
The broader context of this defeat is that over the last century, UK Labour has won 8 out of the last 28 general elections. Overall the Labour Party is not a successful electoral force in the UK. What makes the 2019 loss harder, is that the party lost sections of its historical base in the North of England and the Midlands.
Why UK Labour lost? Part 6: New Labour & Blairism
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, January 15th, 2020 - 10 comments
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
Fact is that the world has moved on from the 1980s and 90s. Politics certainly has. The types of 3rd way or centre/centre right positions that Blair and Campbell think will win just won’t anymore.
Why UK Labour lost? Part 4: Ooooh Jeremy Corbyn
Written By: - Date published: 3:13 am, January 14th, 2020 - 12 comments
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
Why UK Labour lost? Part 3: Its Brexit innit
Written By: - Date published: 6:14 am, January 13th, 2020 - 28 comments
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
Why the Tories won the UK election?
Written By: - Date published: 2:29 am, December 30th, 2019 - 9 comments
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
Listening to left wing dissent
Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, December 16th, 2019 - 178 comments
What stands out for me are the voices of the people who are saying actually, there were solid reasons for abandoning Labour, this is why I did. There’s something important here about really listening to dissent and being willing to engage with views that don’t make sense in the context of our own personal ideologies.
Brexit – sorry its not getting done anytime soon.
Written By: - Date published: 11:23 am, December 12th, 2019 - 5 comments
Can the Conservatives get brexit done by January 31st as they are promising in the election? The short answer is no. The slogan is catchy, and taps into public sentiment. But it is also pure unadulterated bullshit. If the Conservatives do form the next government these words will haunt them, especially Boris Johnson.
The Missing Millions
Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, December 12th, 2019 - 18 comments
Millions of people and an entire region of the UK left out of polling calculations….
Bouganville and Brexit
Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, December 12th, 2019 - 2 comments
The island of Bouganville has just had a vote towards independence from Papua New Guinea. The result has interesting similarities with the Brexit vote.
The NHS and privatisation
Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, December 10th, 2019 - 18 comments
The NHS is well loved by the British public. It is seen as something which makes British society decent and civilised. That the NHS is now stretched and badly underfunded is seen as a national outrage. Fears of even further privatisation of the NHS due to a US trade deal has unsurprisingly made the NHS the number one election issue.
Northern Ireland’s precarious peace
Written By: - Date published: 12:37 pm, December 9th, 2019 - Comments Off on Northern Ireland’s precarious peace
On Friday, UK leader of the opposition revealed a leaked Treasury Paper which undermines the Prime Ministers claims that there will be no checks on goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. My earlier post on each of the party’s Brexit positions pointed out how critical Northern Ireland has been in the Brexit debate.
Scotland – does independence loom?
Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, December 6th, 2019 - 14 comments
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog Scotland matters in the 2019 UK general election. Yet much of the electorate have little understanding of the place, it’s politics or what could happen after the December 12 election. Scotland could well decide the outcome of the 2019 UK Election. It did in 2017. At the last election fierce […]
Youth and the aspirational centre
Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, December 5th, 2019 - 12 comments
In 2017 UK general election, it was predicted that the Conservatives would win by a landslide. Why? Well the polls said so. The polls made various assumptions about turnout and which constituencies were marginal and likely to turn. Also commentators assumed that Labour under Corbyn had moved too far left, and could not win the centre ground and win. All of this commentary and analysis proved to be bullshit.
Immigration: we can’t keep succumbing to fear tactics
Written By: - Date published: 11:54 am, December 2nd, 2019 - 18 comments
The folly of electoral pacts
Written By: - Date published: 2:15 am, November 30th, 2019 - 2 comments
Originally posted Nick Kelly’s blog One feature of the UK election has been various electoral alliances or deals done. This has mostly occurred around the issue of Brexit. Early on in the campaign I wrote about Trump’s intervention in the UK election, specifically him calling on The Brexit Party and The Conservatives to do a deal. […]
Economists support Labour forming the next UK government
Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, November 27th, 2019 - 24 comments
One hundred and sixty three British economists have signed a letter to the Financial Times to say they believe that Labour should form the next government. The UK economy needs reform. For too long it has prioritised consumption over investment, short-term financial returns over long-term innovation, rising asset values over rising wages, and deficit reduction […]
The 2008 financial crisis casts a long shadow over UK politics
Written By: - Date published: 3:58 am, November 16th, 2019 - 2 comments
Nick Kelly on why the 2008 Global Financial Crisis is still having a dramatic effect on United Kingdom Politics.
Compassionless Conservatives?
Written By: - Date published: 5:32 am, November 14th, 2019 - 6 comments
Nick Kelly summaries the lack of compassion shown by Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg during this weeks UK election campaign.
The Liberal Democrats
Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, November 10th, 2019 - 13 comments
Nick Kelly on the Liberal Democrats’ prospects in the upcoming UK elections.
UK Elections: Parties positions on Brexit
Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, November 9th, 2019 - 6 comments
Nick Kelly gives a summary of each major United Kingdom political party.
Farage – thorn in the side of the UK Conservatives
Written By: - Date published: 1:01 pm, November 5th, 2019 - 4 comments
Nick Kelly is a former NZ trade union leader and NZ Labour activist. He is a co director of Piko Consulting, and currently lives in London expanding Piko into the UK. The below was originally published on Nick Kelly’s blog
The UK General Election
Written By: - Date published: 8:07 am, November 4th, 2019 - 10 comments
Nick Kelly is a form NZ trade unionist and NZ Labour activist. He is a co director of Piko Consulting, and currently lives in London expanding Piko into the UK. The below was originally published on Nick Kelly’s blog
Snap election Britain
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, October 30th, 2019 - 55 comments
The UK will learn its political fate on Friday 13 December. MPs have voted in a one-line Bill to have an election on Thursday 12 November, in the middle of winter. BoJo’s got his way if not quite the way he wanted. All bets are off.
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #43, 2021
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- NZ Politics Daily: 28 October 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Prof John Halligan, Emeritus Professor of Public Administration and Governance, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Australia “The emails from ‘NZ Politics Daily’ provides an indispensable service for an expat trying to keep abreast of events in New Zealand. As a comparative specialist I’m unaware of anything comparable in ...16 hours ago
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- “Close to useless”
A while ago I pointed out how some government agencies are juking the OIA stats, abusing the power to extend requests to make it look like they are answering requests in a timely manner, when the reality is anything but. I didn't do the followup of trawling through estimates hearings ...1 day ago - Vaccine mandates and human rightsYesterday the government announced a new vaccine mandate, requiring workers in high-contact industries to be vaccinated and allowing them to be fired if they refuse. This is obviously a prima facie breach of the BORA rights to refuse medical treatment, and to be free from discrimination (on health and potentially ...1 day ago
- The cost of Tiwai PointTwo years ago, foreign polluters Rio Tinto blackmailed Aotearoa into giving them lower electricity prices again. And they got away with it, getting themselves a rate nearly ten times lower than what us plebs pay. So how much does that cost us? $200 a year per household, according to the ...1 day ago
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- Gordon Campbell on our weird ways of funding care for the dying
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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 ...1 week ago- Many of New Zealand’s most popular websites use ‘dark patterns’ to manipulate users – is it ...
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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 ...1 week 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks 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?, ...2 weeks 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 ...2 weeks ago - Kids’ quality of life will depend on today’s climate choices
- Fossil fuels divestment must be urgent priority in new investment framework
The Green Party welcomes the announcement of a new investment framework for Crown Financial Institutions (CFIs) and says the first order of business must be to divest from fossil fuels. ...13 hours ago - Green advocacy tilts balance in favour of small businessesThe Green Party’s amendment to the COVID-19 Response (Management Measures) Legislation Bill has been adopted by the Government today. ...1 day ago
- Guaranteeing safe and affordable water for all New Zealanders
Everyone should be able to get safe drinking water from their tap, and swim at their local beach without worrying about contaminated water. We’re taking action to make this a reality for all New Zealanders. ...1 day ago - Press pause on Three Waters reformsThe Green Party says the Government should hit the pause button on its three waters reform so it can fully address the concerns that have been raised by communities and councils all over the country. ...1 day ago
- Sector calls for major changes to ACC operationsThe Green Party has written to the new chair of the board of ACC, with 27 organisations and individuals, calling for major internal changes to the way ACC operates. ...1 day ago
- Boosting support for hard-hit businessesOur response to COVID-19 over the past 20 months means we’re in a stronger position than many other countries, but we know it’s been tough for businesses – especially those in Auckland. That’s why we’re boosting support for businesses affected by COVID restrictions as we move into the new COVID ...3 days ago
- Funding to test drugs at festivals a lifesaverNew funding for drug-checking services at festivals is a Green Party win that will save lives. However the Government needs to go further, faster and expand these lifesaving services. ...5 days ago
- Green Party sets out more equitable approach to COVID-19 responseThe Green Party has warned that the Labour’s plan to move to a new COVID-19 response strategy is rushed and risky, and will leave some people at risk. Meanwhile, the Greens have a safer, more appropriate approach that won’t leave anyone behind. ...7 days ago
- Transform arms export regime to strengthen human rights protectionsThe 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. ...1 week 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. ...1 week 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. ...1 week 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. ...1 week 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. ...1 week 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. ...1 week 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 ...1 week ago
- Waste strategy needs to learn from natureAnything less than a transformational national waste strategy and waste legislation will not be enough, the Green Party said today. ...2 weeks ago
- 5 ways you can help New Zealand get vaccinatedGetting 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. ...2 weeks 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. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for expanded protection for renters, overseas voting for COVID-19 billThe Green Party is calling for expanded protections for renters and extended eligibility for overseas voters for the COVID-19 Response Management Measures Legislation Bill, which is currently before select committee. ...2 weeks ago
- One-off residency scheme needs to include working holiday and seasonal workersThe Green Party says the Government needs to extend the one-off residency scheme to all workers, instead of keeping them in limbo with visa extensions every 6 months. ...2 weeks ago
- 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. ...2 weeks ago
- Support measures for COVID-19 related commercial rent issues pass into law
Temporary law changes have been passed in Parliament enabling landlords and commercial tenants to agree a fair proportion of rent relief where a business has suffered losses due to the impacts of COVID-19. “The provisions passed into law in the COVID-19 Response (Management Measures) Legislation Bill strike a balanced response ...7 hours ago - Over 2,600 new police officers on the frontlineThe Government’s record investment in Police has resulted in 2,695 new police officers on the frontline with the graduation of 36 new officers from Wing 347 today, Police Minister Poto Williams says. “Police work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe, whilst also being vital to our COVID-19 ...10 hours ago
- Ethnic Communities get vaccination funding boostA new Vaccine Uptake Fund to provide support for activities aimed at increasing vaccination in our harder-to-reach ethnic communities Ethnic Communities Communications Fund doubled to support 71 initiatives aimed at boosting vaccination rates by eliminating the barriers and countering misinformation faced by our ethnic communities A new Vaccine Uptake Fund ...11 hours ago
- Government accelerates efforts to support disabled peoples vaccination experiencesLaunch of ‘The Manaakitanga Journey’ tool to help disabled people get vaccinated against COVID-19 A one-stop shop online containing COVID-19 information, with accessible format considerations, and locations of Super Accessible Vaccination sites. A new tool that supports disabled people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 was launched today as the country ...11 hours ago
- First step in managed isolation changes; expanding QFT with PacificHalving of time overseas arrivals spend in MIQ facility to seven days followed by home isolation until they return a negative day 9 test, from 14 November Expanded quarantine free travel for eligible one-way travellers from some Pacific nations, from 8 November Phased easing of border restrictions will see home ...11 hours ago
- Mental Health Act Amendment Bill passes third readingThe Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, an important step to ensure patient safety until the whole Act can be replaced, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Today’s amendments eliminate indefinite treatment orders, which have been criticised as a serious breach of human rights,” ...12 hours ago
- ‘Humble’ onion to undergo extreme makeoverThe ‘humble’ onion is about to undergo an extreme makeover, with the Government investing $2.83 million in a programme to enhance the competitive advantage of New Zealand’s onion industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. Onions New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) ...12 hours ago
- 30-year-old RSI system to moderniseWide-ranging consultation on the future of New Zealand’s research system kicks off with Green Paper First step of multi-year system re-design All researchers and stakeholder voices encouraged to join conversation The Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper, has today been launched by Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan ...13 hours ago
- Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper Launch – Minister VerrallTēnā koutou e ngā mātāwaka. Tēnā koutou e te hau kāinga Te Ātiawa, tēnā koutou. Ko Ayesha Verrall ahau, Minita o te Karauna. Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ata. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa. Acknowledgements I would like to start by acknowledging ...13 hours ago
- Kiwi sustainable housing project featured at COP26A new low carbon housing initiative launched today by Kāinga Ora is one of only 17 worldwide initiatives to be showcased in the COP26 ‘Build Better Now’ virtual pavilion at UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Housing Minister Megan Woods announced. Ngā Kāinga Anamata has been identified by the United ...14 hours ago
- Tunes that captured kids’ hearts now available onlineA much loved school resource is now available for the next generation – a project that is being welcomed by Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti. Kiwi Kidsongs were distributed to schools every year for almost 20 years until 2010 and now 50 of the classics including Fish and Chips ...14 hours ago
- Clean energy upgrade for public sectorMore state sector organisations will be supported to switch to clean energy as part the Government’s plan for a carbon neutral public sector by 2025. The Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw has allocated another $13.2 million from the Government’s $220 million State Sector Decarbonisation Fund to purchase electric vehicles and ...15 hours ago
- New investment framework aligns with Govt’s 2050 carbon neutrality goalA new framework will align investment decisions by the Crown Financial Institutions (CFIs) to reflect the Government’s goal of a carbon neutral New Zealand by 2050. The Crown Responsible Investment Framework has been issued to the NZ Super Fund, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Government Superannuation Fund and the National ...15 hours ago
- Strategy to improve outcomes for women in prisonA new strategy developed together with women who have had direct experience with the justice system will help guide Corrections in improving the treatment of women in prison. The strategy - Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou - will set a new direction for Corrections in its ...15 hours ago
- Prime Minister attends East Asia SummitPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended overnight the 16th East Asia Summit hosted virtually by Brunei Darussalam. The East Asia Summit is a key forum for leaders to discuss pressing issues facing the region and provides a platform to manage strategic risks through cooperation and collaboration. “Our region continues to manage a ...22 hours ago
- Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill passes first reading – Ka tutuki te pānuitanga tuatahi o te P...The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill passed its first reading in Parliament and a special Select Committee has been set up to consider the Bill and hear public submissions, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “We are fixing a public health system that has, for far too long, failed Māori and ...1 day ago
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – what next for the nuclear “grand bargain?” – Speech t...(Check against delivery) Kia ora tatou It’s my great pleasure to be here today at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. I welcome this opportunity to share with you the Government’s thinking on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT. Forged in the depths of the ...1 day ago
- Government helps sharpen the competitive edge of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industryThe Government is backing an innovative research and development programme to help accelerate the establishment of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry and boost export potential, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) is contributing nearly $760,000 to the $1.9 million, three-year programme ...1 day ago
- Restrictions eased in parts of Waikato at Alert Level 3; Northland to remain at Alert Level 2Restrictions in the Waikato will be eased slightly from midnight tonight, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “From 11.59pm tonight, people in the parts of Waikato at Alert Level 3 will be able to meet for outdoor gatherings between two households, with a maximum of 10 people,” Chis Hipkins ...1 day ago
- COVID-19 rent relief support measures refinedThe Government has landed on a balanced package of changes to improve rent relief measures for both landlords and tenants hit by COVID-19 restrictions, the Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi says. “Businesses in the Auckland region, and elsewhere under COVID Alert Level Three, have been doing it tough, and ...1 day ago
- Govt considers regulatory safeguards for three waters servicesPublic feedback is being sought on the regulatory safeguards required to ensure consumers and communities receive three waters services that meet their needs, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Dr David Clark announced today. “The future three waters system needs to promote consumer interests and ensure infrastructure is delivered in a ...1 day ago
- Appointment of new Te Pou Tupua welcomedEnvironment Minister David Parker and Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui chairperson Sheena Maru have welcomed the appointment of Keria Ponga and Turama Hawira as Te Pou Tupua. In a joint statement Sheena Maru and David Parker said: Today, Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui chairperson Sheena Maru Minister and Environment David ...1 day ago
- Don't freak out, ShakeOutMinister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan is challenging more people to join the almost 650,000 who have already signed up to take part in the nation-wide ShakeOut drill, happening tomorrow. “ShakeOut, New Zealand’s annual national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi, is a great opportunity for all of us to put ...2 days ago
- Government to protect vital public water services for future generationsLocal Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta today confirmed the Government will create four publicly owned water entities to ensure every New Zealander has access to affordable, long-lasting drinking, waste and storm water infrastructure without ballooning costs to households and families. “The case for change is too compelling to ignore. It is ...2 days ago
- Annual MFAT- NGO HuiTēnā koutou katoa, Talofa Lava and Warm Pacific Greetings to one and all— and in recognition of Tokelauan Language Week this week, Fakatalofa atu ki te koutou uma. Malo ni. Thank you for inviting me to join with you at the 2021 MFAT–NGO Hui. It’s a privilege for me to ...2 days ago
- Opening Address – Council for International Development and MFAT NGO HuiTuia te rangi e tu iho nei, Tuia te papa e takoto nei, Tuia te here tangata ki te here wairua kia rongo te pō, kia rongo te āo – Tīhei Mauri Ora! Kei ngā iti, kei ngā rahi i whakapau kaha ki te whakahaere i ngā mahi atawhai mo ...2 days ago
- Govt backs business to vaccinate workforcesVaccination will be required for all workers at businesses where customers need to show COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates, such as hospitality and close-contact businesses. New law to introduce a clearer and simplified risk assessment process for employers to follow when deciding whether they can require vaccination for different types of work. ...2 days ago
- Winners of the 2021 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence AwardsFrimley Primary School in Hawke’s Bay is the Supreme Award winner of the 2021 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The past year has been a real test for teachers, schools and local communities. But out of the challenge of ...2 days ago
- Government provides greater assurance to homeownersThe Government has provided greater assurance for homeowners with the introduction of a new code of ethics for Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs), Building and Construction Minister Poto Williams announced today. The Code of Ethics, which comes into force in October 2022, sets behavioural standards for LBPs to give both ...2 days ago
- Primary sector returns strengthen export-led recoveryFarmers’ hard work in leading New Zealand’s export-led recovery from COVID-19 is being rewarded with high prices forecast for milk and very strong returns for meat, says Trade and Export Growth and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Fonterra announced today a record predicted milk price of $7.90 to $8.90 for the ...2 days ago
- Supporting economic resilience in the Indo-Pacific – Speech to the Asia Forum(Check against delivery) Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, kia ora koutou katoa Thank you Farib. It is a great pleasure to be invited to speak at this event. I want to acknowledge the on-going work of the Asia Forum. Over many years – decades, in fact – you have been ...3 days ago
- RSI ‘state of the nation’ report publishedNew Zealand’s FCR cited research ratio is twice the world average Investment in R&D is increasing Case studies underscore how a science based COVID-19 response helped save lives In 2019, Māori and Pacific people represented 5 per cent of PhD graduates. The latest research, science and innovation system report card ...3 days ago
- Funding to translate science into real life solutionsThe Government is investing in ‘Te Tītoki Mataora’ the MedTech Research Translator, to deliver new medical tools - and meet both the demands of a global pandemic and of a growing and aging population. “COVID-19 has shown that we need to build a more resilient, productive, innovative and economically-sustainable health ...3 days ago
- Tokelau champions language and cultureCOVID-19 continues to be a powerful reminder of the importance of language and culture to the wellbeing of our Pacific communities, said the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. “Our Tokelau community in Aotearoa has responded strongly to the challenges of the global pandemic by getting vaccinated and supporting ...4 days ago
- Festival drug-checking services get a boostThe Government is financially supporting drug-checking services to help keep young people safe at this summer’s large festivals and events, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “This is not about condoning drug use, but about keeping people safe,” Andrew Little said. “There is clear evidence that having drug-checking services at festivals ...5 days ago
- Expanded vaccination order for health and disability, education and prison workersA newly-signed Order means most people working in three key sectors will very soon need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the sake of themselves, their workmates and their communities, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed. The extended COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2021 comes into effect ...5 days ago
- APEC finance ministers focus on inclusive, sustainable COVID recoveryAPEC finance ministers will continue to work together to respond to the effects of COVID-19 and ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery while capitalising on the opportunity to build a more resilient future. The New Zealand Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson chaired the virtual APEC Finance ...6 days ago
- Improvements to child and maternity facilities at Timaru Hospital on trackImprovements to child and maternity facilities at Timaru Hospital are well underway, and the next stage of the project will begin next month. Health Minister Andrew Little visited Timaru Hospital today to view progress onsite. “The improvements are part of South Canterbury DHB’s four-year refurbishment project and will create a ...6 days ago
- Govt responds to independent review into WorkSafeThe Government has clear expectations that WorkSafe must action the recommendations of the independent review into the regulator to improve its management of adventure activities following the tragedy at Whakaari White Island, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) today released the ...7 days ago
- Prevention funding to reduce tamariki in careA new iwi-led prevention programme will receive funding from Oranga Tamariki to help reduce the number of tamariki and rangatahi coming into state care, Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis has announced. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (Te Rūnanga) will receive $25.9m of Oranga Tamariki funding over three years to improve outcomes ...7 days ago
- Speed of govt's move towards Pzifer's paediatric vaccines under scrutiny
New Zealand does not yet have a confirmed delivery for paediatric vaccines and the opposition is calling for more urgency. ...7 hours ago - Speed of govt's move towards Pfizer's paediatric vaccines under scrutinyNew Zealand does not yet have a confirmed delivery for paediatric vaccines and the opposition is calling for more urgency. ...7 hours ago
- Drying land and heating seas: why nature in Australia’s southwest is on the climate frontline
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jatin Kala, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA felllow, Murdoch University Supplied, Author provided In a few days world leaders will descend on Glasgow for the United Nations climate change talks. Much depends on it. We know climate change is already ...7 hours ago - Fewer than half of Australia’s 150 biggest companies have committed to zero emissions by 2050Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renzo Mori Junior, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development, RMIT University Shutterstock Corporate Australia has of late become a strong voice for more action on climate change. Earlier this month the Business Council of Australia, which represents the nation’s 100 biggest companies, ...7 hours ago
- Unvaccinated travel makes mockery of Delta misery
Double-jabbed Kiwis are right to ask how it’s fair those with travel exemptions can enter Auckland without vaccine protection and return home with Covid in tow. If the Prime Minister is serious about different treatment for the unvaccinated, she should start with the Auckland border, writes political editor Jo Moir. ...7 hours ago - Vaccine requirements for travel: 'You can see the complexity'The government is considering requiring some travellers to be vaccinated to fly between regions, but warns there are complications to account for. ...8 hours ago
- The micro tools to help you study on the job
Technology is rapidly changing our everyday lives. Two new courses at Tech Futures Lab allow you to keep up with the developments affecting your work, without taking time away from your job. Technology can be intimidating. Words like “blockchain” and “augmented reality” and concepts like big data and the Internet of ...8 hours ago - Good Policy And Policy For Good: Public Investment Funds Are Going Net Zero
Mindful Money welcomes the announcement today by the Government and the Crown Financial Institutions (CFIs) to reflect the goal of a carbon neutral New Zealand by 2050. Mindful Money founder and CEO, Barry Coates commented: “This decision to align ...8 hours ago - With Labor gaining in polls, is too much Barnaby Joyce hurting the Coalition?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne AAP/Mick Tsikas A federal Resolve poll for Nine newspapers, conducted October 21-24 from a sample of 1,603, gave the Coalition 37% of the primary vote (down two ...9 hours ago
- Christchurch suburb’s high vax rate a silver lining
Christchurch’s Covid cases live in a highly vaccinated suburb of the city, a councillor says. David Williams reports By city councillor Aaron Keown’s telling, Bishopdale is pretty much average for Christchurch. But in ways that have become much more relevant today, the suburb in the city’s north-west, not far from ...9 hours ago - Slowly opening the door to MIQ
While the Government’s announcement of changes to MIQ today provides hope to overseas Kiwis trying to return home, the amount of freed up space will ultimately depend on the current outbreak’s rate of growth The MIQ system has been the focal point of no small amount of controversy since ...9 hours ago - Handout For Big Onion Undermines Free TradeResponding to the Government's $2.8 million handout to onion growers , New Zealand Taxpayers' Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, "This is an eye-watering display of protectionist subservience to New Zealand's influential onion lobby." "It ...9 hours ago
- The pou tokomanawa in the whare: Bringing te reo to life in the places we liveReclaiming te reo Māori is always hard, but the hardest work – and the most important – takes place within the home, writes Te Kuru Dewes, co-host of The Spinoff’s new te ao Māori podcast Nē? Te reo Māori is everywhere. While that riles up certain types who haunt comments ...9 hours ago
- If governments fail to act, can the courts save our planet?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By George Newhouse, Adjunct Professor of Law, Macquarie University Talei Elu The climate crisis threatens all life on our planet. Even the people who a few years ago were shouting from the rooftops that it was all a hoax have suddenly ...9 hours ago
- Stays in MIQ to be halved under NZ’s new system – 89 community casesRNZ News The New Zealand government revealed changes to MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) today, with stays halving from 14 to seven days, followed by isolation at home for three days. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield gave today’s update on the government’s response ...10 hours ago
- PM on Christchurch cases: 'We're always on high alert'Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Christchurch is not out of the woods yet, but the advice is that the new cases in the city can be managed under alert level 2 settings. ...10 hours ago
- The Chungking Legation: Australia’s first diplomatic mission to China, 80 years agoSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Bagnall, Senior Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania Frederic Eggleston presented his credentials to Chinese President Lin Sen (林森) at an official reception in Chungking on 28 October 1941 Sydney Morning Herald, November 12 1941 Gough Whitlam’s visit to China in ...10 hours ago
- The Problems, Progress, And Potential Of Performance ReportingOur paper The problems, progress, and potential of performance reporting was presented to the House of Representatives today. This paper builds on our recent research about the future of public accountability. It considers performance reporting in its entirety ...10 hours ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: FluTracking data is a huge help in tracking Covid. Here’s how you can helpComparing reports of flu symptoms with Covid testing rates provides a critical insight, explains Siouxsie Wiles.For almost two years, my family and I have been taking part in the FluTracking project. This fantastic initiative started in Australia in 2006 to use the power of the internet to track flu and ...10 hours ago
- COVID vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds are inching closer. Here’s what we know so farSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vasso Apostolopoulos, Professor of Immunology and Associate Provost, Research Partnerships, Victoria University Shutterstock Australian children aged five to 11 could begin receiving the Pfizer vaccine by the end of November, with the nation’s regulator currently reviewing the health and safety ...11 hours ago
- Early childhood educators feel burnt out and undervalued. Here’s what we can do to helpSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Levickis, Senior Research Fellow, REEaCh (Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood) Hub, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Australian early childhood educators feel burnt out and undervalued. Our research reports on more than 200 educators’ experiences during the COVID-19 ...11 hours ago
- NZ has yet to announce climate-warming pledge for Glasgow summit but RBNZ is developing guidance for...
The clock is ticking on global warming, the Dominion-Post warned this week ahead of the Climate Change Summit in Glasgow. The opening paragraph of the report was ominous: “Even after countries — excluding NZ — unveiled ambitious new pledges to cut emissions, it’s still not enough to achieve the global ...11 hours ago - Rising To The Challenge: A Ministry Of Green Works For AotearoaTwo of the biggest crises of our times - housing and climate change - could be the target of a new Ministry of Green Works that would integrate important responsibilities related to safeguarding Aotearoa’s future, according to a report released today ...11 hours ago
- Serious Concerns About Cruel And Inhuman Treatment At Forensic FacilityChief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says he is seriously concerned about the use of seclusion at forensic units in the Wellington region. He also says more must be done for an intellectually disabled client who has been living in effective seclusion for years. ...11 hours ago
- Covid-19 briefing: Stays in MIQ to be halved under new systemThe government is revealing changes to MIQ today, with stays halving from 14 to seven days, followed by isolation at home for three days. Watch the latest briefing here. ...11 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Covid19: Revaccinate Now, and address Influenza tooAnalysis Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. In its pandemic response, the New Zealand government has consistently been tardy, and then found itself playing catch-up, having to ‘go hard’ (indeed a ‘world-leading’ hardest) on account of its lack of preparedness. Further, having gone hard, there has always been an ambivalence about when ...11 hours ago
- Law Change Recognises Vaccinations Received Overseas By Border WorkersThree of the vaccines commonly administered overseas are now recognised by the Vaccinations Order that requires people working at New Zealand’s borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This follows a change to the legislation, which took effect at ...11 hours ago
- Watch live: Government Covid-19 briefing on MIQ, Christchurch casesThe government is set to reveal changes to MIQ today, and it comes after two new community cases of Covid-19 have been found in Christchurch. ...12 hours ago
- Working with us, not for us: strategies for being a better ally to First Nations peopleSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Matthews, Associate Professor of Medical Ethics, Bond University Shutterstock We write this article together – Kelly, a First Nations woman living on Kombumerri Country, and Richard, a Canadian white male settler living on the lands of the Minjungbal people ...12 hours ago
- Much ado about water, a bill to shake up the health system and an investment in pot (strictly for me...
The PM was strutting the international stage (virtually), the Minister of Agriculture turned to pot, the Minister for Emergency Management was limbering up for a shake-up, and the Minister for the Environment ... 12 hours ago - The case for a $250 payment for everyone who gets vaccinatedAct has a policy that is not nearly so radical as it appears: $250 to everyone who gets double vaccinated. Duncan Greive argues that to get to 90%, it’s worth a shot. It’s a truly jaw-dropping goal, as audacious as it is admirable: 90% vaccination rates across 20 DHBs. Audacious because ...13 hours ago
- Some Auckland local leaders still unvaccinated
A clutch of local board members remain unvaccinated in Auckland, and could soon be affected by a council vaccination mandate Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says there are "four or five" members of the city's 21 local boards who are not vaccinated - and if the council decides to make vaccinations mandatory for ...13 hours ago - Māori co-governance and Three Waters boundaries a 'historic' step
The decision to align the new water authorities with generations-old iwi boundaries Lost amid the shoutings ... Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Corey Hebberd / Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau GM Ngai Tahu Judith Collins/Westland mayor Lianne Dalziel Corey ...13 hours ago - Launch Of New Strategy For Women + Response To Release Of Independent Inspectorate ReportsThe Department of Corrections has today launched Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou, the organisation’s new women’s strategy for 2021-2025. The strategy was developed in consultation with a range of predominantly wāhine Māori, including ...13 hours ago
- Office Of The Inspectorate Releases Three Reports About Women In PrisonThe Office of the Inspectorate today released three reports which aim to focus and strengthen Department of Corrections’ efforts to make significant and lasting changes in its women’s prison network. “These reports examine the challenges that women ...14 hours ago
- West Papuans flee from ‘liberation’ conflict into remote PNG regionSPECIAL REPORT: By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific journalist Armed conflict in West Papua has caused an exodus of displaced people into one of the most remote parts of neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The latest flashpoint in the conflict is in the Indonesian-administered Bintang Mountains regency, where state forces are pursuing ...14 hours ago
- Inspectorate Report: Humiliation And Degradation Of Women PrisonersThe Prison Inspectorate has issued its Special Investigation: Report into the Management of Three Wāhine at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility [ARWCF]. The investigation was triggered by a complaint on behalf of three of our clients who were being held ...14 hours ago
- SPCA Targets Early Learners To Help Break Animal Cruelty CycleSPCA has launched its first ever resources for Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers and new entrant primary school teachers, in a bid to help more young Kiwis learn empathy towards animals and improve animal welfare. It’s no secret that animal ...14 hours ago
- Future Pathways Consultation Important To Aotearoa New Zealand’s Future...14 hours ago
- Outgoing Children’s Commissioner Says We Must Do MoreChild Poverty Action Group welcomes Judge Andrew Becroft’s impassioned speech yesterday in which he calls for a Michael Joseph Savage approach to eliminate child poverty. CPAG has appreciated his efforts to engage on all the complex dimension ...14 hours ago
- Some things need to burn: A review of Taranaki horror novel ButcherbirdIt’s the most distinctive cover of the year – a novel wrapped in screaming, electric green. Alexander Stronach finds the ghost story inside is just as intense. While I was reading Butcherbird, an old friend back in Malaysia found out about the Bain case. Apparently the true crime channels all caught ...14 hours ago
- University Of Canterbury To Be Carbon Neutral Sooner With $2.16m Funding BoostThe Minister for Climate Change James Shaw has today announced $2.16 million in additional funding to help the University of Canterbury become carbon net neutral by 2030. This will help the University of Canterbury (UC) expand the scope of a boiler ...15 hours ago
- Three Waters Proposal Should Be Flushed Down The DrainRatepayers and water users are being forced by the government to provide a guaranteed gold plated return to wealthy bank shareholders and New Zealand and overseas investors who will be salivating at the prospect. The spurious reasoning rolled out to try ...15 hours ago
- National, ACT promise to return water assets to councilsOpposition parties would return water infrastructure to councils, they say, and they doubt the proposed working groups will address concerns about governance, ownership and accountability. ...15 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 28 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 Three Waters, local government Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Three ...15 hours ago
- Australia aims to stymie China with $US1.6bn telecoms purchase in the Pacific
Australia is to buy the mobile phone networks of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu from Digicel Group based in Jamaica. Telstra Corp, the country’s biggest telecom operator, will pay $US1.6 billion for the deal backed by $US1.3 billion from the Government’s export finance agency. Commentators describe ...15 hours ago - Aue! It’s a new te ao Māori podcast from The SpinoffToday we launch Ne?, a new podcast by Māori, for Māori – and a dream that’s finally come true for co-host Leonie Hayden.Follow Nē? on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider. “Nē” is such a versatile, complex expression. It’s both a statement and a question, which variously means “really?”, ...16 hours ago
- Resource Management Amendment Bill – Don’t Bet Your House On It YetRecently, the Government announced it was introducing new legislation intending to increase housing supply in Auckland, greater Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, and Christchurch. The Bill proposes a new streamlined process, Intensification Streamlined ...16 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: Words Count MinisterJust three weeks ago the Minister of Local Government received the interim report of the Future for Local Government Review which the government had earlier commissioned. Predictably, she welcomed the report the way Ministers usually do, with the standard ...16 hours ago
- Why are birds’ eggs colourful? New research shows it’s linked to the shape of their nestsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kiara L’Herpiniere, PhD Candidate, Wildlife Biologist, Macquarie University Author provided Of all the vertebrates on Earth – that is, animals with backbones – birds are the only ones that lay colourful eggs. Scientists are still unsure why, but new research brings ...16 hours ago
- The bryozoan mystery: a new look at an old fossil reveals the origin of these tiny coral-like creatu...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn A Brock, Honorary Professor, Macquarie University Christian Schwarz, CC BY-NC Most groups of modern animals had their beginnings more than half a billion years ago in an amazing evolutionary event known as the Cambrian Explosion. This wasn’t the ...16 hours ago
- Accountability is under threat. Parliament must urgently reset the balanceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Tiernan, Adjunct Professor of Politics. Griffith Business School, Griffith University All Australians have a stake in our nation’s good governance. The past week has provided plenty of reasons to be concerned about the Morrison government’s disregard of core tenets of Australian ...16 hours ago
- Your unvaccinated friend is roughly 20 times more likely to give you COVIDSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Baker, Research Fellow in Statistics for Biosecurity Risk, The University of Melbourne As lockdowns ease in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, and people return to work and socialising, many of us will be mixing more with others, even though ...16 hours ago
- Scott Morrison’s deal with the Nationals must not ignore land stewardship – an attractive, low-h...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Martin, Director, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, University of New England Shutterstock The Nationals this week finally agreed to a plan of net-zero emissions by 2050. Farmers say they’ve done much of the heavy lifting on Australia’s emissions ...17 hours ago
- 40% of Australia’s unvaccinated population will soon be kids under 5. Childcare will be the next C...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Hurley, Policy Fellow, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University Shutterstock Once five to 11 year olds have access to COVID vaccines, children up to four years old will make up about 40% of Australia’s unvaccinated population. This will make Australia’s early ...17 hours ago
- Building more houses quickly is harder than it looks. Australia hasn’t done it in decadesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Gharaie, Associate Professor of Project Management, RMIT University Rich Kareckas/AP Thanks to HomeBuilder and the housing price boom, house building is experiencing its hottest year on the record. Over the space of a year the number of houses (not ...17 hours ago
- The Green Knight review: a wonderfully unsettling cinematic reimagining of the medieval story of Sir...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sabina Rahman, Sessional Academic in English Literature, Macquarie University A24/Eric Zachanowich Review: The Green Knight, directed by David Lowery. Nothing about The Green Knight, the new film from director David Lowery, is comfortable. From its opening scene, where Gawain ...17 hours ago
- The countdown is on to reinvent our outdated, unfit Mental Health ActThe next months present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to remake mental health legislation, and it could define the Ardern government’s legacy on this crucial issue, writes Anthony O’Brien, an expert in mental health nursing.Last weekend, four years after promising to reform the Mental Health Act, the government called for public consultations ...17 hours ago
- Why everybody hates Three WatersThe government is moving forward with its programme to take over the country’s water assets amid howls of protest, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.Three Waters, four entities and a political hornets’ nest. The government’s decision to push ahead with its Three Waters programme and take control of the country’s water ...17 hours ago
- Live updates, October 28: Pair of Covid-19 cases confirmed in ChristchurchWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 28, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz. Help support our Covid coverage – join Members today.7.10am: Pair of Covid-19 cases confirmed in ChristchurchTwo people in a Christchurch household have tested positive for Covid-19.In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the ...18 hours ago
- Watchdog to protect homes and businesses from big new water providers
Government consults on a Water Commissioner to regulate the prices and provision of big and unresponsive drinking water and wastewater services Analysis: A paper published this week expresses some of the worries about the Government's four big new regional water authorities more succinctly than any tub-thumbing mayor: as monopoly providers, there's ...18 hours ago - Oxfam: Loss And Damage Report Reveals Significant Gap In NZ Climate Support For The PacificOxfam Aotearoa along with Oxfam Australia, and Oxfam in the Pacific have released a new report titled Breaking through red lines . Oxfam says that the report draws attention to gaps in the latest funds announced for overseas climate action by the ...18 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 28 October19 hours ago
- Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 28 October
...19 hours ago - I love you, Tāmaki MakaurauAn appreciation of the city that’s forever changing, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell.I secured my first job in Tāmaki Makaurau surrounded by human horse costumes, the Duchess of Malfi’s cloak and Caligula’s fur. My ticket to the city was granted after making three people laugh during an interview conducted in Auckland Theatre ...20 hours ago
- My journey down the anti-vax rabbit hole – and back out againA first person account of fear, misinformation, and the light at the end of the tunnel. As told to Dylan Reeve for IRL.It was supposed to be the most joyous time of my life. Pregnant with my first child 10 years ago, I planned a home birth. Since moving to a ...20 hours ago
- COP26: What business needs to know
Business should pay close attention to the COP26 talks or face being blocked from the table, argues Sara Walton Without climate innovation, business risks being left behind. Climate risk is now not just about the impacts a business will experience from climate change, but also about the risks that not ...20 hours ago - The mum who gave all for her son to play basketball
A young single mum, Tiana Griffin worked four jobs to help her son, Akiva, reach his dream of playing US college basketball. But, as she explains to Shontelle Matano, he's been her ‘saving grace’. On Friday and Saturday nights, 15-year-old Akiva McBirney-Griffin would babysit his brother, Tamatoa, and sister, Ke’iki. ...20 hours ago - The young barrister taking on the Family Court
The fallout from child uplift practices carried out by Oranga Tamariki and signed off by the Family Court continues to be felt in homes and courtrooms throughout the country. But in one extraordinary case, a young lawyer is taking on the power of the Family Court as she attempts to ...20 hours ago - Can Fonterra finally focus on adding value to milk? Please
Fonterra has been talking up value-add as a way to add value for shareholders for a decade, to little effect. Could this time be any different? Business editor Nikki Mandow pores over a decade of Fonterra annual reports. “We have clear aspirations,” trumpets Fonterra in its 2016 annual report, alongside a soft-focus photo of ...20 hours ago - Book of the Week: She's on fire
Kiran Dass is blown away by a new eco-thriller Kirsten McDougall’s novel She’s a Killer is such an engrossing page-turner that 200-odd pages passed me by in a flurry before I even realised. And the action hadn’t even started yet. It’s no mean feat to sustain a reader’s attention over ...20 hours ago - Saints, sinners and omissions
Tearfund's annual name-and-shame of unethical fashion chains leaves out some important factors - such as clothing that's manufactured in New Zealand Every year the charity Tearfund puts out its list of saints and sinners in the fast fashion industry. It grades big companies in the rag trade on their ...20 hours ago - Stranded South Islanders charter green flight to Australia
Confusing border rules that clash with airlines’ commercial realities have left Kiwis and Australians stranded in New Zealand. ...20 hours ago - The biggest threat to reefs in our lifetime
Ocean acidification is the biggest problem for coralline algae when assessed against all others. Now is the time for COP26 leaders to be courageous on the issue, argues Dr Christopher Cornwall. Comment: With dire predictions of the impacts of climate change on humankind and Earth’s atmosphere, it’s easy to overlook ...20 hours ago - Trucking bosses left to own devices on vaccine mandate
Calls to prioritise truck drivers for vaccination went unanswered - trucking lobby. ...20 hours ago
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