child welfare
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An appropriate apology and an issue that needs fixing
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, June 2nd, 2017 - 103 comments
The Ministry of Social Development illegally penalised a woman who refused to name the rapist father of her child. The case shines a spotlight on an issue that needs fixing.
The Labour lite budget
Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, May 25th, 2017 - 25 comments
From pre announced budget initiatives it is clear that today’s budget will provide National the opportunity to announce watered down insipid versions of current Labour Party policies.
The Greens – Budget for All Mothers
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, May 22nd, 2017 - 33 comments
Some great ideas in The Greens “Budget for All Mothers”. Surely no “data driven” “social investment” party could be opposed?
Future state abuse victims
Written By: - Date published: 1:18 pm, March 5th, 2017 - 9 comments
What to do with the helpless anger generated by such a statement?
Social investment meets the surveillance state
Written By: - Date published: 11:14 pm, March 4th, 2017 - 45 comments
First they came for the budgeting services. Now we know that every social service agency has to provide clients’ private personal data to the Ministry of Social Development or get no funding. Apparently it’s essential to Bill English’s much-touted and little understood “social investment” strategy, which is sounding more like something out of Orwell’s 1984. […]
State care inquiry
Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, February 16th, 2017 - 6 comments
We need one – and an apology. Bill may wonder aloud whether we’ll learn much, but I wonder if he’s more concerned we’ll learn too much…
Marama Fox vs Bill English – who will blink?
Written By: - Date published: 6:49 am, February 16th, 2017 - 167 comments
Marama Fox and Bill English have painted themselves into a bit of a corner, and Fox is threatening to “walk away from the Government”. Key would have handled this better.
Human Rights Commission calls for an inquiry – English says no
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, February 15th, 2017 - 10 comments
Tolley needs to apologise
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, November 30th, 2016 - 34 comments
Kim Hill had an astounding and outstanding interview with Anne Tolley this morning on RNZ. The 7.30 news was delayed 12 minutes as Tolley evaded the fact that thousands of children were abused by the state in the 50s and 60s, and she refused to hold an inquiry into just how many thousands. She also […]
Child abuse and poverty – still with us
Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, November 28th, 2016 - 33 comments
As topics like Trump and the quakes take the limelight, the slow tragedies unfolding in NZ carry on in the background.
RNZ on suppressed child abuse report
Written By: - Date published: 7:59 am, November 24th, 2016 - 21 comments
RNZ this morning describes a 2011 report by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner on historical child abuse in NZ. “It was never published because, she says, the Attorney General Chris Finlayson did not like its recommendations.”
New Zealand’s most shameful secret: ‘We have normalised child poverty’
Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, August 16th, 2016 - 175 comments
Fuck the whole “Brighter Future” New Zealand.
CYF massively underfunded
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, July 26th, 2016 - 28 comments
National pays electoral homage to our vulnerable children. They talk a big game about putting “the needs of our most vulnerable children and families at the centre of decisions”. Their actions tell a different story – of under-funding at CYF and falling numbers of social workers.
Be Like Dad, Keep Mum (in fear).
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, July 10th, 2016 - 62 comments
Temuera Morrison has made a powerful video for the Women’s Refuge annual appeal. He’s making a difference. You can do something the Key Government won’t do. You can make a difference. You can stop keeping mum about domestic violence and you can help fund your local refuge.
Nats overrule Parliament to veto parental leave extension
Written By: - Date published: 3:54 pm, June 16th, 2016 - 102 comments
So – like Canterbury, like Auckland, the democratic process can get stuffed as far as National are concerned.
Postcard from the “brighter” future
Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, March 30th, 2016 - 31 comments
Evidence of growing poverty hitting “mid-decile” schools.
Easter Monday Round Up
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, March 28th, 2016 - 101 comments
Three news items stand out from the long weekend. Actor Robert De Niro being inoculated against anti-vaxxers, ISIS being driven out of Palmyra and the free part of Ireland celebrating the centenary of the Easter Rising. All are milestones of sorts, markers of positive change.
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 27th, 2016 - 76 comments
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Coleman to regulate high sugar industry
Written By: - Date published: 9:37 am, December 1st, 2015 - 32 comments
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said there is a voluntary regime in place for the manufacture and sale of high sugar food but where there is is self regulation it is often ignored.
Because of the danger high sugar foods potentially pose it’s important to have a regulatory body and licensing/education regime to ensure manufacturers and retailers only provide food that has healthy outcomes.
Stuff report on child abuse
Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, November 21st, 2015 - 123 comments
Not exactly light or cheerful Saturday morning reading – but we should all read it anyway. Stuff’s (Katie Kenny & Blair Ensor) excellent special investigation on child abuse in NZ.
Poverty’s Beneficiaries.
Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, November 8th, 2015 - 68 comments
While pondering this post, I was pointed to a post from last year, in which poverty and the cost of breakfast were on the agenda. Stephanie was writing in response to the ignorance of Nikki Kaye who claimed that giving affordable nutritious breakfast to children was easy. While I haven’t taken the time to read all of the comments on the subject, I thought Stephanie proved the point quite aptly that the reality is far different than the hypothetical world of poverty in which Nikki Kaye lives.
Food Bank Charity
Written By: - Date published: 4:45 pm, October 30th, 2015 - 97 comments
Guest post from Kōrero Pono on the politics and ethics of food banks.
CYF Review: Great work if you can get it
Written By: - Date published: 12:21 pm, October 13th, 2015 - 40 comments
Radio New Zealand has reported that Paul Rebstock, chair of the Government appointed committee engaged in the review of Child Youth and Family, is being paid $2,000 a day to perform her job. This is the equivalent to the daily pay of thirteen social workers.
The problem is child poverty not CYF
Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, September 28th, 2015 - 33 comments
The Rebstock Panel inquiry could be read to confirm that Child Youth and Family is unable to perform its job properly because of it is not properly resourced to provide the job. But it is clear that National is loathe to provide it with any more resources. And the elephant in the room is that the Government fails to understand that escalating child poverty is the cause the crisis.
Paid parental leave bill progresses – towards veto
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, September 17th, 2015 - 30 comments
Last night in Parliament Labour MP Sue Moroney’s bill extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks passed its first reading by one vote, with only National and ACT opposed.
Costly government
Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, June 14th, 2015 - 43 comments
This is the true irony of National governments. Their entire platform is one of “fiscal responsibility” and “good economic management” yet time and time again they spend money the way I did when I was a teenager: false economies and short-term wish fulfilment.
Heartless government
Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, June 13th, 2015 - 123 comments
A few stories of recent weeks which show exactly what kind of government we have.
Petition: Raise the age of child protection
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, May 27th, 2015 - 29 comments
Currently, child protection law means a young person leaves CYFS care at 17, but other state support, like housing and student allowances, doesn’t start until age 18.
Human Synergistics, Richard Prebble, and the end of government
Written By: - Date published: 6:08 am, May 17th, 2015 - 64 comments
Back in March 1988 David Lange had a clear idea about what lay ahead for New Zealanders as the long-term consequences of Roger Douglas’ psychopathic worshipping of the metaphysical Invisible Hand gradually materialised.
If you can’t afford children…
Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, April 10th, 2015 - 186 comments
Cutbacks for Children’s commissioner – do we care?
Written By: - Date published: 12:42 pm, April 8th, 2015 - 6 comments
The office of the Children’s Commissioner is cutting back work due to funding pressure. Not that you would know about it, from the almost complete lack of media coverage.
- Team New Zealand perfectly poised to lose 7-6
Peter Burling says that setting this up was a “very delicate process” that required making sure to lose just one race before getting to six points. After two consecutive wins against Team Oracle in Bermuda, Emirates Team New Zealand have ...8 hours ago - Don’t want lurkers tracking you on Snapchat’s Snap Map? You’ve got options
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Alienation, capitalist crisis, Economics, Unemployment, United States – economy, Workers’ rights, World economy A six-part series by Laurence Peterson documenting an example of downward mobility in Post-Meltdown America Part 5: Yuletide Epiphanies The author experiences a mildly excruciating revelation regarding his employer’s client’s attitude towards him Toward the ...10 hours ago - Gender quotas weed out incompetent men – study
Does a new study answer an old debate? Photo: 123rf New research from the London School of Economics has found gender quotas can weed out “mediocre men” from politics and business. The merits of quotas and targets ...11 hours ago - OIA timeliness complaints
Official Information Act requests are supposed to be responded to "as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working days after the day on which the request is received". But as we all know, delays ...12 hours ago - The British used waterboarding in Northern IrelandIts long been known that the British government used torture in Northern Ireland during "the troubles". The Five Techniques were the subject of a case before the European Court of Human Rights, and it has since emerged that (contrary to ...13 hours ago
- Hard News: Blockchain, what is it?
Many people will have heard Blockchain or “distributed ledger technology” and some may have dismissed it as hype – especially when you hear claims that Blockchain is possibly the most important IT invention of our age. But no matter what ...14 hours ago - What Kiwirail is investing their budget money in
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- Climate change: To the courts!There's an interesting case in court today: student Sarah Thomson is challenging the government's climate change target:Sarah Thomson, 26, will have her case against Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett for the perceived failure to set emissions targets that reflect the ...16 hours ago
- Not grovelling after allLast week, after a report in Stuff, I accused the Labour Party of grovelling to the almighty cow by backing away from resource rentals for water. But it turns out they were misreported:“It was reported following my speech to Federated ...16 hours ago
- Growing up at Granddad’s – A Matāriki story
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17 hours ago - Corbyn at Glastonbury
Although this video of Jeremy Corbyn speaking at Glastonbury has already torn up lefty Twitter and Facebook, it deserves all the plugging it can get: The full text is here, and it’s a demonstration of how to communicate progressive values ...19 hours ago - Reviewing the OECD’s economic reviewThe Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the ‘rich countries club’, conducts an economic survey of its members. They just published their latest (2017) edition for New Zealand, which makes for some interesting reading. While the OECD’s reviews reflect its ...20 hours ago
- National Party Congress breakout: How to Deal with a Scandal
This weekend many hundreds of National Party delegates have descended on Wellington for the party’s pre-election congress. Apart from sounding slightly rude, this gathering is designed to pump the troops before the cut and thrust of this year’s, undoubtedly, turgid ...1 day ago - TV Commercials – How Bad Are They?
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- Sunday readsA few pieces that caught my eye this week. Bec Shaw: Fat of the Furious I couldn’t write about what happened at the time because I felt so despairing when Roxane Gay discussed how humiliated the incident made her feel. ...2 days ago
- Sunday reading 25 June 2017
Welcome back to Sunday reading. It’s been a pretty interesting week in New Zealand politics, if you’ve been reading. But that’s not what this is about, so we’re not going to talk about it. Here’s a thought-provoking factoid about technological ...2 days ago - 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #25
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook page during the past week. Editor's Pick From heatwaves to hurricanes, floods to famine: seven climate change hotspots Global warming will not affect everyone equally. Here we look ...2 days ago - Foot in Mouth Award – Nicky Wagner, because disabilities issues are such a drag on a nice day
. . Bennett had it (and probably still does)… . . Key had it; . . … still had it; . . Aaron Gilmore had it; . . Steven Joyce has it; . . Alfred Ngaro has it; . . ...2 days ago - Opinion: I would never listen to any of my employees
By Winston Peters. By my count, it’s been four days since the Prime Minister and his smarmy little yuppie were exposed for what they are: liars, crooks, filthy, cronyistic, career-politician peddlers of self-interested rubbish. One of them is gone and ...2 days ago - Todd Barclay, Bill English and the OUTRAGE that is the Labour PartyThis week has been an interesting week in New Zealand politics. Here at MyThinks we thought we would ask our alt-right correspondent Richard Sevenhouses to pen a few words on his thoughts. Over to you Dick. This week started out ...3 days ago
- National penalising Kiwi homebuyers
The National led government appears to not give a damn that the levels of home ownership in New Zealand are continuing to decline.After much public and media concern about housing, the government through the Reserve Bank changed lending criteria in ...3 days ago - This is why they can’t have nice things
Earlier this year I bought the book Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign for my Dad. Here's how one reviewer opens his account of that account:read more ...3 days ago - Nick Smith lied about combustible panels in NZ
The Grenfell Tower fire, which has caused many more deaths than the 79 currently confirmed, was thought to have started because of a faulty refrigerator. However the cause of the fire spreading so quickly has been identified as substandard combustible cladding, ...3 days ago - Christie’s law based on court incompetency
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- Farewell Gchat. Now we have to Hangout.
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- New Zealand votes against international lawOver fifty years ago, Britain stole the Chagos Islands and forcibly expelled their inhabitants to Mauritius to make way for a US military base. Since then, they've been fighting for justice through the UK courts, and most recently at the ...4 days ago
- Pull the other oneIssues around illegal interception of communications have been prominent in the media over the last few years. There's the Kim Dotcom case, of course, and all the GCSB's shennanigans around driftnetting communications (including those of New Zealanders) from our Pacific ...4 days ago
- East-West questioned in ParliamentThe East-West Link has been in the news a bit recently, such as on TV3’s The Nation on Saturday where Simon Bridges received a grilling about the business case. Cam has also written recently about the economics of the project and ...4 days ago
- French elections: Macron’s hollow ‘majority’by René Gimpel And so it came to pass – the prodigal obtained his majority. Emmanuel Macron, youngest French president and elected to public office for the first time, last year conjured up ex nihilo a political party, ...4 days ago
- The End of a Promising CareerMy twenty years in parliamentary politics taught me that, contrary to the opinions of many, most politicians pursue a political career for other than exclusively self-serving reasons. Most genuinely want to serve their fellow citizens or believe that they can ...4 days ago
- Unpaid, unhappy and over here – Labour’s intern scandal explained
What a mess. The gates of Awataha Marae, where the interns were staying. Photo: Mihingarangi Forbes/RNZ . WHAT WAS THE INTERNSHIP SCHEME? About 85 interns from overseas arrived in New Zealand to join the ...4 days ago - No comparison in substandard housing
The hypocrisy of the right wing concerning substandard accommodation couldn’t be more apparent this week. Happy to try and take the focus off of their Todd Barclay problem, the right wing propagandists are clearly overreacting to Labour’s voluntary overseas student's ...4 days ago - Hard News: Friday Music: Digging ASMRA week ago today on Lorde Listening Day, the singer and producer Chelsea Jade (who has a good new tune out, see below) tweeted that she was "getting ASMR shivers cascading down my skull from ella's voice all through this ...4 days ago
- Keeping up with the Kontentsphere
Has another week passed you by with nary a fleeting glance at the weird and wonderful world of online content? Do you quake with fear at the prospect of rolling up to yet another Friday drinks with no idea what’s ...4 days ago - Bill English must resign
The Todd Barclay debacle highlights just how dishonest many right wing politicians really are. For over a year Bill English and the National party maintained a lie, even reselecting Barclay knowing that he had committed a potential crime.Yesterday, the NZ ...4 days ago - Twitter is ridiculing ‘racist propaganda’ Hobson’s Pledge
Don Brash-led trust is stepping up its campaign to abolish what it claims is Māori favouritism. Straight in the fire. Photo: Twitter / Vincent O'Malley A group targeting what it says is rife “race-based privilege” in New ...4 days ago - London’s new transport strategy
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- Claiming that Listerine alleviates cold symptoms is false: To repeat or not to repeat the myth durin...
With terms such as “post-truth” and “fake news” becoming increasingly prominent in the media and public discourse, the ability to effectively correct inaccurate information has never been more pertinent. Unfortunately, the task of correcting misinformation is far from trivial. In ...4 days ago - The Scalise Shooting: this solves nothing!. . A few days ago; Congressman Steve Scalise, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, was in critical condition on Wednesday night after he and three others were shot as they practiced for a charity baseball ...4 days ago
- Todd Barclay made decision to resign after listening to himself on dictaphone
Barclay says hearing himself “say things” was the “final straw.” Embattled National MP Todd Barclay resigned yesterday over allegations that he had maliciously recorded one of his staffers, Glenys Dickson. The scandal also landed the Prime Minister, Bill English, in ...4 days ago - Social Detox: On addiction, recovery and refusing to be compliant
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- Guest Post: Education Amendment Bill – A Call to Action
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A dive into New Zealand’s B movie past. A still from Death Warmed Up. On Tuesday, 22 people will cram into a small room with the best view in Wellington to watch a film called This ...4 days ago - Keep it Public
The Green Party strongly supports the Tertiary Education Unions call to #KeepitPublic Keep what public? Out quality tertiary education system that National is trying to open up to more private for-profit providers with a new law change. The (Tertiary Education ...4 days ago - There is corruption in New ZealandIts commonly believed that New Zealand is not a corrupt country. But that belief is wrong, according to a new study by Deloitte's:[A]ccounting firm Deloitte's latest bribery and corruption survey has found that about 20 percent of New Zealand companies ...5 days ago
- Oh What a Tangled Web WeWeave…
...5 days ago - Labour grovels to the almighty cowFarmers are destroying our environment, sucking our rivers dry and filling them with cowshit, while poisoning underground aquifers. So naturally, Labour wants to let them off paying for any of that:Labour has dropped its 2014 election policy to charge a ...5 days ago
- Boo hooFaced with the undeniable degradation of its rivers and lakes due to intensive dairy farming, ECan is finally planning to do something about it by imposing nutrient limits. Naturally, farmers hate the idea, claiming that it will put them out ...5 days ago
- The latest Labour muppetryLast week, the Labour Party announced a policy aimed at reducing the number of foreign students in New Zealand. Meanwhile, it turns out they've been using foreign students on their campaign - and mistreating them:A group of 85 Labour Party ...5 days ago
- Unlocking the Western City Centre – Federal St Laneway Stage 3
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- New international student wellbeing strategy offers littleA new government International Student Wellbeing strategy sets lofty objectives for supporting overseas students, but provides little new information about how its broad vision will be achieved. Launched last week by Tertiary Education Minister, Paul Goldsmith, the strategy says the wellbeing of international ...5 days ago
- Another for-profit provider found plagiarisingThe New Zealand Qualifications Agency (NZQA) has told an international school in Auckland that it can no longer enrol new students after finding the institution was passing students with plagiarised assessments. More than 150 international students enrolled at the Imperial College ...5 days ago
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...5 days ago
- Bill English must be upfront about his involvement in Barclay scandal
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- With friends like Hone, who needs enemies?With less than three months until the election, Hone Harawira has delivered another blow to the Māori Party’s flagship policy of Te Ture Whenua Māori reform and the already unstable MANA-Maori Party alliance, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “On The ...2 days ago
- Shifty Bill jumps the sharkBill English's claim today that it has never been established that Todd Barclay's recordings of his staff took place is bizarre and shows a complete lack of honesty and leadership, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. "Todd Barclay told Bill ...3 days ago
- Te Ture Whenua – gone by lunchtime?Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has to front up about yesterday’s mysterious withdrawal of Te Ture Whenua Bill from Parliament’s order paper, says Labour’s Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “Has he lost his way and has decided to run ...3 days ago
- Bill English ignorance of law beggars beliefFor Bill English to claim he and others in the National Party didn’t realise the law may have been broken in the Todd Barclay taping scandal is simply not credible, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “The Prime Minister ...4 days ago
- Government ignored advice on Pacific people’s superannuationThe Government ignored advice from the Ministry of Pacific Peoples that raising the Superannuation age of eligibility would have a ‘disproportionately high impact’ on Pacific people, says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Aupito William Sio. “The Ministry for Pacific ...4 days ago
- Bill English misleads Parliament on Police statementBill English's attempt to restore his damaged credibility over the Todd Barclay affair has backfired after his claim to have "reported" Mr Barclay's actions to Police has proven not to be true, says Labour MP for Wellington Central Grant Robertson. ...4 days ago
- Keep it Public
The Green Party strongly supports the Tertiary Education Unions call to #KeepitPublic Keep what public? Out quality tertiary education system that National is trying to open up to more private for-profit providers with a new law change. The (Tertiary Education ...4 days ago - This ‘technical error’ is hurting big timeJonathan Coleman cannot resort to his ongoing litany that the Ministry of Health’s $38 million budget blunder is an error on paper only, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “He might keep saying it’s a ‘technical error’ but the reality ...5 days ago
- Labour to invest in public transport for Greater ChristchurchLabour will commit $100m in capital investment for public transport in Greater Christchurch, including commuter rail from Rolleston to the CBD, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “As the rebuild progresses, there are huge opportunities for Greater Christchurch, but ...5 days ago
- Green Party will repeal solar taxIt’s ridiculous for an electricity distribution monopoly to apply a charge on solar panels but worse than that, it’s harming our effort to tackle climate change. Hawke’s Bay lines company Unison last year announced a new solar charge for their ...5 days ago
- English fails the character test over BarclayBill English is hoping this scandal will go away, but he is still dodging important questions over his role in covering up for Todd Barclay, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...5 days ago
- Government must apologise for Christchurch schools stuff-upThe Ombudsman’s findings that the Ministry of Education botched the reorganisation of Christchurch schools after the 2011 earthquake are damning for an under-fire National Government, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins. “The Ombudsman has found the reorganisation of schools in ...5 days ago
- Government’s multinational tax measures weakThe Government’s proposals to crack down on multinational tax avoidance, by its own admission only recovering one third of the missing money, means hardworking Kiwis will bear more of the tax burden, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Michael Wood. “The Government ...6 days ago
- World Refugee Day – we can do our bitI’m really proud that yesterday, on World Refugee Day, the Greens launched an ambitious plan to increase the refugee quota to 5000 over the next six years. Of those places, 4,000 will be directly resettled by the government and another ...6 days ago
- PM’s leadership in question over Barclay affairThe Prime Minister must belatedly show some leadership and compel Todd Barclay to front up to the Police, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “Twice today Bill English has been found wanting in this matter. ...6 days ago
- Another memory lapse by Coleman?The Minister of Health ‘couldn’t recall’ whether the Director General of Health Chai Chuah offered his resignation over the Budget funding fiasco involving the country’s District Health Boards, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “In the House today Jonathan Coleman ...6 days ago
- Bill English needs to come clean over BarclayBill English needs to explain why he failed to be upfront with the public over the actions of Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay, following revelations that he knew about the secretly recorded conversations in the MP’s electorate office, says Labour Leader ...7 days ago
- Minister, show some backbone and front up and debateRather than accusing critics of his Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill of telling ‘lies’, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell should show some backbone and front up to a debate on the issue, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “Te ...7 days ago
- Equal pay for mental health workersToday, mental health workers are filing an equal pay claim through their unions. Mental health support workers do important and difficult work in our communities. But because the workforce is largely female, they are not paid enough. It’s wrong for ...1 week ago
- Nats’ HAM-fisted housing crisis denialNational’s decision to knowingly release a flawed Housing Affordability Measure that underestimates the cost of housing is the latest evidence of their housing crisis denial, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...1 week ago
- New Pike footage builds compelling case for mine re-entryNew footage of the Pike River Mine deep inside the operation, revealing no fire damage or signs of an inferno, provides a compelling reason to grant the families of Pike River’s victims their wish to re-enter the drift, says Labour ...1 week ago
- Labour will get tough on slum boarding housesThe next Labour-led Government will legislate a Warrant of Fitness based on tough minimum standards to clean out slum boarding houses, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. “It’s not acceptable for New Zealanders in the 21st Century to be living ...1 week ago
- Green Party tribute to Dame Nganeko Minhinnick
Haere ngā mate ki tua o paerau; te moenga roa o ngā mātua tupuna. Haere, haere, haere. It was with a huge sense of loss that we learned of the death of Dame Nganeko Minhinnick yesterday. The Green Party acknowledges ...1 week ago - Urgent answers needed on DHB fundingJonathan Coleman must come clean and answer questions about what actual funding DHBs received in Budget 2017, says Labour Health Spokesperson David Clark. ...2 weeks ago
- Treasury puts Māori Land Service on red alertA damning Treasury report raises serious questions about the delivery of Te Ururoa Flavell’s proposed Māori Land Service, giving it a ‘red’ rating which indicates major issues with the project, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “Treasury’s Interim Major Projects Monitoring ...2 weeks ago
- Economy stalling after nine years of National’s complacencyThe second successive quarterly fall in per person growth shows the need for a fresh approach to give all New Zealanders a fair share in prosperity, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. ...2 weeks ago
- Kiwi kids deserve much moreAll Kiwi kids deserve so much more than the impoverished picture painted by the shameful rankings provided by the UNICEF Innocenti Report Card, says Labour’s children spokesperson Jacinda Ardern. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ Zone a precursor to a total nuclear weapon banNew Zealand’s nuclear-free zone, legislated by Parliament in 1987, is something we all take pride in. It’s important, however, that we don’t let it thwart its own ultimate purpose – a world free of nuclear weapons. That goal must be ...2 weeks ago
- English must confirm we still stand by our principles on UN resolutionBill English must tell New Zealand whether we remain in support of the UN Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “After Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee’s evasive answers to repeated questions on ...2 weeks ago
- Māori party drop the poi on Māori healthThe Māori Party have dropped the poi when it comes to supporting Ngati Whakaue and Māori interests in Bay of Plenty by allowing an iwi owned and operated service Te Hunga Manaaki to be brushed aside in favour of a ...2 weeks ago
- Labour to invest in Whanganui River infrastructureLabour will work in partnership with the Whanganui Council to repair and redevelop the city’s Port precinct in advance of planned economic development and expansion. To enable Whanganui’s plans, Labour will commit $3m in matching funding for repairing the Whanganui ...2 weeks ago
- Parihaka: an apology
An apology only works for healing if it is sincere and if it is accepted. We teach our children to apologise and to be genuine if they want to be forgiven. On Friday, June 9 at Parihaka, the Crown apologised ...2 weeks ago - Survey shows many international students plan to stay in NZ after studyMost international students in New Zealand at PTEs (private training establishments) who have a plan for themselves after study intend to stay in New Zealand to work. This shows how low-level education has become a backdoor immigration route under National, ...2 weeks ago
- Councils step up as Nats drop the ball on housing crisisPhil Goff’s Mayoral Housing Taskforce is another positive example of councils stepping up where National has failed on housing, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 weeks ago
- Time for a breather on immigrationLabour will introduce moderate, sensible reforms to immigration to reduce the pressure on our cities, while ensuring we get the skilled workers our country needs, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “New Zealand is a country built on immigration. ...2 weeks ago
- Inaction puts Māui dolphins at riskConservation Minister Maggie Barry was at the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York last week, trying to convince the world that the New Zealand Government is doing a good job at protecting our marine environment. Yet last week after ...2 weeks ago
- National unprepared as immigration runs four times faster than forecastNational has been caught asleep at the wheel by record immigration that has outstripped Budget forecasts, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...2 weeks ago
- First home buyers shouldn’t carry the can for National’s failed policiesThe introduction of tighter limits on lending to first home buyers would see them paying the price for the National Party’s failure to recognise or fix the housing crisis, Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson says. “Nine years of denial and ...3 weeks ago
- Motel bill blows out as Nats fail to deliver emergency housingMinister Amy Adams has admitted at select committee that National has now spent $22m on putting homeless families in motels as it fails to deliver the emergency housing places it promised, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...3 weeks ago
- Minister, how out of touch are you?What was going through Jonathan Coleman’s head in the Health Select Committee this morning when he claimed he was unaware that an estimated 533,000 people have missed out on a GP’s visit in the last 12 months due to cost, ...3 weeks ago
- Divided we fallI’m getting pretty sick of the politics of division in this country. The latest example was yesterday’s comments from NZ First leader Winston Peters having a good go in the House at driving up fear and loathing towards people of ...3 weeks ago
- Labour’s Electoral Amendment Bill to enhance democracyDemocracy will be enhanced under Labour’s Private Member’s Bill which will have its First Reading today, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson MP Meka Whaitiri. ...3 weeks ago
- Police underfunded despite rise in crimeAs crime continues to rise dairy owners are scared for their lives and communities reel under a record increase in burglary numbers, it has now been revealed that Police received less than three quarters of their bid in this year’s ...3 weeks ago
- Road pricing years off, public transport investment needed nowWith road pricing still years away, Labour will step up with investment in public transport to ease Auckland’s congestion woes, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...3 weeks ago
- Call to protect Easter Sunday in AucklandAuckland’s Labour MPs are backing the community to protect Easter Sunday by retaining current trading restrictions in the city, says Labour MPs Aupito William Sio and Michael Wood. “The Government’s weak and confusing decision to delegate the decision over Easter ...3 weeks ago
- $2.3 billion shortfall in healthThe funding needed for health to be restored to the level it was seven years ago to keep pace with cost pressures has widened to a massive $2.3 billion, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “We used to have a health ...3 weeks ago
- Government RMA Changes Ominous for Future of Water
Recent changes by government to the Resource Management Act pointed to a grim future for the public’s water and in particular rivers say the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA). ...8 hours ago - Environmental victory for coastal marine speciesIn a significant victory for New Zealand’s coastal wildlife, the High Court has backed a landmark 2016 Environment Court finding that Regional Councils can protect their marine environment using the RMA. Forest & Bird has previously criticised ...8 hours ago
- Helensville -Winston Peters Public MeetingNew Zealand First Party Leader the Rt. Hon Winston Peters will be conducting a public meeting on Sunday 2nd July, at 1.30pm, to be hosted by the New Zealand First Helensville Electorate. The meeting is open to all and will ...11 hours ago
- NZ First’s Campaign for the Regions shows welcome commitmentNew Zealand First’s Campaign for the Regions which was launched yesterday contains a number of commitments Local Government New Zealand welcomes. ...12 hours ago
- The Treasury appoints new Deputy SecretaryTreasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf has announced the appointment of Jon Grayson as the Treasury’s new Deputy Secretary, Financial & Commercial. ...12 hours ago
- Neoliberalism stopped the rise in inequality"The left-wing hullabaloo is wrong, inequality hasn't changed in 20 years", said Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, responding to new research findings by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. ...13 hours ago
- Insurance Council supports thrust of EQC reformsThe Insurance Council of New Zealand supports the thrust of the reforms to the EQC Act announced by the Government today, but seeks a clear expectation that insurers should be responsible for assessing and managing claims for house damage. “The ...13 hours ago
- Foreign Policy conference tackles forced migration, bordersForced migrations of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, the closing and enforcement of immigration borders, and the widespread misery and geopolitical instability that ensues is the focus of the Otago Foreign Policy School that takes place this weekend. ...13 hours ago
- New Documents Confirm EQC Inquiry NeededThat from Christchurch lawyer Dr Duncan Webb after documents released under the Official Information Act show that Southern Response is to step in and take over EQC’s botched repairs of AMI insured houses. ...14 hours ago
- Sugar kills more New Zealanders than drugsJust hours from the Fizz Symposium opening Mika Haka , Auckland Central candidate for The Opportunities Party states: ...14 hours ago
- Five Hundred make Joint Submission on NZ Suicide PlanThe deadline for public submissions on the Ministry of Health’s Suicide Prevention Strategy closed today, and the People’s Mental Health Review has been gathering submissions for a joint submission. ...15 hours ago
- Water Charges – A Political And Policy Can Of WormsINSIGHTS ABOUT THE NEWS - Public and political pressure for a charge on bottled water exports is continuing to mount, however Ministers are still determined to kick the issue out beyond the election. ...16 hours ago
- Five actions to save our oceansFresh from UN talks in New York, a University of Auckland doctoral student has drafted five key actions she says New Zealand must take now to protect our oceans. ...16 hours ago
- Unanimous Cross-Party Support Reached on Students’ WelfareA remit successfully passed by the National Party Conference on Saturdaymarks a full cross-party political consensus on the increase of weekly loan living costs, according to the Aotearoa Students’ Alliance. ...17 hours ago
- New Dingle Foundation Programme Builds ResilienceThe Graeme Dingle Foundation is launching its latest research and evaluation report at Parliament tomorrow, which confirms the effectiveness of its newest programme, MYND Sibling. ...17 hours ago
- Sarah Thomson Sues NZ Government Over Climate Change TodayMy name is Sarah Thomson I’m a 26-year old law student, and I’m taking the Government to court over their failure to act on climate change. The case will be heard in the Wellington High Court over three days from ...17 hours ago
- David Seymour’s End of Life Choice BillRight to Life requests that Members of Parliament support a culture of life, by voting down this contentious bill at its first reading. This was the prudent action of Parliament when defeating Michael Law’s Death with Dignity bill in 1995 ...17 hours ago
- Social Media Accounts of all General Election CandidatesFrom Snapchat to Facebook, a complete list of all the social media accounts of candidates contesting the upcoming General Election ...18 hours ago
- Rally outside High Court supporting climate caseA rally supporting Sarah Thomson's climate change case against the Minister for Climate Change Issues is happening at 9:30 am outside the Wellington High Court today. ...18 hours ago
- Enrolment packs go out to 3.15m votersMore than three million packs will be sent out this week as the Electoral Commission launches its campaign to enrol voters for the 2017 General Election. ...18 hours ago
- New Political Party Offers EmpowermentNew Political Party Offers Empowerment June 23 2017 Kia Koe Party Press Release Tags: Politics, voting and policies. ...1 day ago
- Get a grip, sugar is not the ‘new tobacco’Anti-sugar political campaigners, launching their election campaign tomorrow for a new ‘soda tax’, show their true colours when they make ridiculous claims that ‘ sugar is the new tobacco’ . ...1 day ago
- English puts cart before the horse in tax cut offer“Tax cuts shouldn’t be contingent on healthy growth and incomes, tax cuts are the pathway to healthy growth and incomes,” said Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, responding to Prime Minister Bill English’s speech to ...1 day ago
- Labour’s “About Face” on Rivers Sad for EnvironmentA national trout fishing organisation says the Labour Party’s reversal of its policy on charging commercial users for use of freshwater is a retrograde 180 degree turn around and therefore disappointing. ...2 days ago
- PCE receives Forest & Bird ‘Old Blue’ environmental awardForest & Bird has awarded the outgoing Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment an ‘Old Blue’ for her significant contribution to New Zealand’s environment and wildlife. “Over ten years, Dr Jan Wright’s insightful reports have illuminated ...2 days ago
- Nick Smith re-writes Ngati Paoa historyNick Smith re-writes Ngati Paoa history In an interview on Te Karere yesterday, Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith dismissed Labours alternative plan for Treaty settlement with Ngati Paoa saying “…Ngati Paoa is wanting to do housing on their ...2 days ago
- Antarctica Conference puts the spotlight on climate changeAntarctica Conference puts the spotlight on climate change Media release for immediate use on 25 June 2017 Over 150 leading scientists from New Zealand and around the world are coming together over the next three days to showcase the latest ...2 days ago
- Q+A: Anthony Wilson and Andrew LittleQ+A: Anthony Wilson interviewed by Jessica Mutch | Andrew Little also interviewed by Jessica Mutch ...2 days ago
- Q+A: Prime Minister Bill English interviewed by Corin DannPrime Minister still “unclear” of Todd Barclay employment dispute details Prime Minister Bill English says he is still unclear of exactly what happened between Todd Barclay and the staff member who took an employment dispute against him. ...2 days ago
- Kiwis And Govt Fleeced in Massive Fuijxerox NZ RacketKiwis And Govt Fleeced in Massive Fuijxerox NZ Racket Schools, councils and the government have been fleeced by the $500m fraud at FujiXerox NZ – with the financial fallout on schools and ratepayers likely to be felt in coming months. ...2 days ago
- The Nation: Lisa Owen interviews Hone HarawiraOn The Nation: Lisa Owen interviews Hone Harawira Headlines: Mana Party Hone Harawira has raised the idea of executing Chinese drug dealers, imprisoning them for life or deporting them, as a response to the methamphetamine problem in his area. “We ...3 days ago
- The Nation: Patrick Gower interviews Bill EnglishOn The Nation: Patrick Gower interviews Bill English Headlines: Prime Minister Bill English now says there’s no evidence that his MP Todd Barclay actually did make recordings of his colleague, Glenys Dickson. English says he’s satisfied that the ...3 days ago
- Hamilton student to battle Govt in landmark climate lawsuitFriday, June 23: A law student from Hamilton is preparing to challenge the Government in the High Court on Monday over what she says is a “failure” to properly address climate change. ...3 days ago
- Roy Morgan Poll – National Party consolidates leadIn June New Zealand’s governing National Party has jumped 3.5% to 46.5% after Finance Minister Steven Joyce handed down a New Zealand Budget projecting a string of surpluses over the next few years. National are now well ahead of the ...3 days ago
- Last chance for Lawrence Yule to release expensesNational Party Tukituki Candidate and former Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule, is the only mayor in New Zealand whose travel, entertainment, and slush fund is kept secret from New Zealand ratepayers as head of ratepayer-funded lobby group, Local Government ...4 days ago
- TOP’s Mika on Labour bringing in unpaid overseas studentsOpportunities Party Auckland Central Candidate Mika responds to Labour Party bringing in unpaid overseas students. ...4 days ago
- NZ Cuban friendship group condemns Trumps anti-Cuba policyThe Auckland Cuba Friendship Society has condemned the latest rollback of the Obama presidency’s easing of relations with Cuba as a deepening of the blockade, now in place for 54 years. ...4 days ago
- Bridges’ handout sees taxpayers fork out $600 eachSimon Bridges has announced a second $300,000 non-refundable taxpayer grant to the Tarawera ultramarathon, apparently to attract only 500 international visitors in what must be one of the most ridiculous examples of corporate welfare to date. Jordan ...4 days ago
- LABOUR FOLDS TO FARMING LOBBYIn electoral desperation, the Labour Party yesterday abandoned any attempt to address one of the greatest concerns facing New Zealanders, the ongoing pollution of our waterways. ...4 days ago
- Southland plan gets ministerial go-aheadThe Southland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan has received sign-off by the Minister of Civil Defence Gerry Brownlee. This means it will set the scene for Emergency Management Southland and its partners for the next five years. ...4 days ago
- Shameful $19 Million Clean-up Bill For TaxpayersEnvironment Minister Nick Smith today provided a little good news and far more frustratingly bad news for our shameful national scrap tyre problem. ...4 days ago
- Green Party to run campaign to unseat Nick Smith in NelsonThe Green Party is today announcing that its Nelson candidate, second term local councillor Matt Lawrey, will run to win the electorate and unseat Nick Smith in September’s election. ...4 days ago
- Green Party Run Campaign to Unseat Nick Smith in NelsonThe Green Party is today announcing that its Nelson candidate, second term local councillor Matt Lawrey, will run to win the electorate and unseat Nick Smith in September’s election. ...4 days ago
- Government announces false solution for tyre woesAfter rejecting an industry-designed workable product stewardship scheme for end of life tyres, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today the government would allocate $19 million taxpayer dollars into a false solution instead - most of the ...4 days ago
- More than 1000 place names taken forwardThe New Zealand Geographic Board made decisions on 1109 New Zealand, Antarctic and Undersea place names at its recent meeting on 18 May 2017. ...4 days ago
- Two Reports Show Health & Poverty Gaps WideningTwo reports released last week show need for real concern about widening children’s health & poverty gaps, according to the Closing the Gap organisation. ...4 days ago
- Simple, nation-wide window-washer rules needed – WDCWhangarei District has reiterated that window washers at intersections are a significant problem in the District and that simple, low-cost, nation-wide laws are needed to manage them. Speaking to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee ...5 days ago
- Auditor-General’s report, Border securityThe Auditor-General’s report Border security: Using information to process passengers was presented to the House of Representatives today. This report looks at whether staff working on the frontline at major ports have the information they need to effectively ...5 days ago
- Police Association launches election year policy documentPolice Association launches 2017 election year policy document: Towards a Safer New Zealand ...5 days ago
- New zone plan for Taupō catchmentA new high-level plan to guide Waikato Regional Council’s work to promote a healthy catchment in the crucial Lake Taupō zone has been approved by the integrated catchment management committee today. ...5 days ago
- Breaking: Jesse Mulligan just absolutely owned Bill English on The Project
Tonight on The Project between burger talk and Hanson, Jesse Mulligan addressed a savage monologue to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Here it is, transcribed for your eyes. I saw something on Twitter from the Prime Minister. I know what you’re ...6 hours ago - Social housing candidate has links to Manus detention centre
One of the consortiums shortlisted to buy Housing New Zealand homes in Christchurch has links to a company accused of human rights breaches on Manus Island. ...7 hours ago - Barclay scandal ‘sad situation’ – PMPrime Minister Bill English is dismissing the Todd Barclay controversy as an employment dispute between two people. ...9 hours ago
- Better Call Saul: an end and a new beginning
With season three of Better Call Saul just finished, Jimmy and Kim have their own terrible futures to confront. Simon Wilson revisits his favourite programme (well, one of them). Contains some very cryptic spoilers. It’s like Star Wars in the strip ...11 hours ago - ‘No point asking me all these questions’: Bill English in his own words on the Barclay affair
The Todd Barclay affair has plunged the new prime minister into his first major political maelstrom, leading to claims of contradictory statements. Do they add up? Here’s our trawl of the key remarks.Text messages from Bill English to then Clutha-Southland electorate chairman ...11 hours ago - Māori writing in 2017: Apirana Taylor on the making of his novel about two alcoholic drug addicts
All week this week the Spinoff Review of Books looks at new Māori (and Pasifika) writing. Today: Apirana Taylor backgrounds his new novel set in “the criminal underbelly of New Zealand’s underworld”.I sat down one morning to write a sentence ...13 hours ago - Why is The Block NZ so damn white?
Property porn addict Ghazaleh Golbakhsh takes the premiere of The Block NZ out for a spin. Last night was the premiere of New Zealand’s sixth season of The Block NZ. It’s a franchise which I have previously managed to avoid, despite ...13 hours ago - When PJ falls off the foils, watch out
13 hours ago - The Spinoff Reviews New Zealand #35: Cooked Taro in Wellington
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. This time, Pani Chapman (staff writer Madeleine Chapman’s mum) reviews the best cooked taro in Wellington.I’m always looking out for the best cooked taro in ...14 hours ago - Is Cars 3 the most feminist movie of the year?
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We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Sam Brooks reviews the West Side Story touring blockbuster spectacle.I consider myself a big fan of musicals. I listen to them more than your ...15 hours ago - NZ law student takes government to court over climate policy ‘failure’
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz Hamilton law student Sarah Thomson speaking about her court case against the NZ government. Video: Greenpeace NZ A New Zealand law student is battling the country’s government in court today over an alleged “failure” to properly address ...15 hours ago - Why can’t New Zealand quit supermarket plastic bags?
Nearly half our mayors have signed a letter calling for a compulsory charge on plastic bags, and surveys show strong public support for the idea. Still the government remains staunchly opposed. If other countries can do it, why can’t we, ...16 hours ago - So it’s unanimous: all parties want to act for students, and the minister must respond
The National Party has voted: something needs to be done to improve students’ welfare. A new consensus has been formed, which may change the lives of struggling students across New Zealand, writes Jack CloseThree months ago, I launched a lobby ...17 hours ago - VIDEO: PM ‘gave no advice’ on Barclay recordingsPrime Minister Bill English does not know whether the recording at the centre of the Todd Barclay controversy still exists, he tells Morning Report's Susie Ferguson. ...19 hours ago
- VIDEO: PM on his changeable story over BarclayNational had its pre-election annual conference over the weekend but the Todd Barclay issue refused go away. Watch Bill English live on Morning Report. ...20 hours ago
- LIVE VIDEO: PM on his changable story over BarclayNational had its pre-election annual conference over the weekend but the Todd Barclay issue refused go away. Watch Bill English live on Morning Report. ...20 hours ago
- The Sure Things: Erica Stanford
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20 hours ago - Foreign trampers to pay higher prices
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- NZers in regions should get their fair share – PetersWinston Peters wants 25 percent of royalties and taxes collected by the government from mining, petroleum and water to go back to the region it came from. ...21 hours ago
- Todd Barclay story shadows National Party conferenceThe Todd Barclay story is refusing to die, despite the best efforts of senior government ministers, as the National Party held its election year conference over the weekend. ...22 hours ago
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- PM dangles vague tax cut carrot
1 day ago - Barclay ‘offered to play tape’, PM saysThe Prime Minister has revealed Todd Barclay offered to play him a recording of an electorate staffer when they first spoke of it, and says the MP should co-operate with any investigation. ...2 days ago
- English: Barclay offered to play recording
2 days ago - Barclay affair: What the board knew
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- National President backs Board over Barclay sagaThe President of the National Party says he backs his board as acting with integrity and professionalism throughout Todd Barclay affair. ...2 days ago
- Hughes stonewalls Dickson questions
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- Barclay affair a ‘tap’, not a ‘fatal blow’ for National – Deputy PMThe National Party faithful have been issued a stark warning that if they think this week has been a tough one, then they need to prepare for the next three months. ...3 days ago
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In 1961, the ‘Pill’ became available in New Zealand and women’s lives were changed forever. Being able to control your fertility was now a matter of choice. But not everyone was judged worthy of making that choice. This story was first published ...3 days ago - Life after Cadbury: how can Dunedin forge a new future?
Dunedin can sometimes seem like the neglected afterthought of New Zealand’s main centres, unappreciated by all except those who choose to live in the country’s southernmost big city. Peter Newport reports on what’s coming next for Dunedin after Cadbury shuts ...3 days ago - ‘Many of us have had positive experiences’ – US internAn American intern has denied accusations that a Labour Party internship scheme is treating students poorly. ...3 days ago
- Green Party to contest Nick Smith’s Nelson seatThe Green Party will fight National's Nick Smith for the Nelson seat in this year's election, the first time the party has tried to win a seat since 1999. ...3 days ago
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3 days ago - Complaints made to HRC over leafletsThe Human Rights Commission has received complaints about a series of leaflets including from Hobson's Pledge, a group fronted by Don Brash, which aims to end what it calls 'race-based privilege'. ...3 days ago
- PMC to host visiting Pacific exchange student journalistsArticle by AsiaPacificReport.nz University of the South Pacific’s Linda Filiai filming in the Fiji National Sports Stadium … “once in a lifetime” opportunity. Image: PCF Pacific Media Watch News Desk The Pacific Media Centre will host three student ...3 days ago
- The angel investor breakdown: do you really need millions of dollars?Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and ...3 days ago
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