loan sharks
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Poverty and the need to belong
Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, October 25th, 2014 - 37 comments
I’ve read a couple of thought-provoking accounts of poverty lately. There are common themes – issues that the political right, which can only see “the poor” as separate from “us”, will never understand and acknowledge.
Nats stand up for loan sharks
Written By: - Date published: 10:15 am, July 22nd, 2010 - 86 comments
Disgraceful to see that National and Act have voted down Carol Beaumont’s moderate and sensible bill to take action against loan sharks.
All we got from National was weak spin and misdirection, while they sat there and committed to doing nothing. The result will be more Kiwis getting ripped off and abused.
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- Karangahape Road upgrades are streets aheadThe upgrades to Karangahape Road makes the iconic street more pedestrian and cycle-friendly, attractive and environmentally sustainable, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said at the formal celebration of the completion of the Karangahape Road Enhancements project. The project included widening footpaths supporting a better outdoor dining ...2 days ago
- Speech to APEC business eventE ngā tumu herenga waka, ākina ā ngaru, ākina ā tai ka whakatere ngā waka ki te whakapapa pounamu, otirā, ki Tamaki o ngā waka Tena koutou katoa… To the great leaders assembled, who guided your waka through turbulent times, challenging waters and you continue to navigate your respective waka ...2 days ago
- Pause on Quarantine Free Travel with Victoria extendedFollowing an assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria will continue for a further seven days, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. There are now 93 cases associated with the outbreak in greater Melbourne, spread over four clusters. Contact tracing efforts ...3 days ago
- Supplier Diversity Aotearoa Summit: Navigate 2021*** Check with delivery *** A mihi to all who have contributed to making today a success – starting with you! As you have explored and navigated government procurement today you will hopefully have reflected on the journey of our people so far – and how you can make a ...3 days ago
- Pukemiro School to closePukemiro Primary School near Huntly will close following years of declining roll numbers, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “I’ve consulted with the School Commissioner, and this decision acknowledges the fact that the few remaining students from last term are now settled at other nearby schools. “I want to thank ...3 days ago
- Govt acts to protect NZers from harmful contentNew Zealanders will be better protected from harmful or illegal content as a result of work to design a modern, flexible and coherent regulatory framework, Minister of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti announced today. New Zealand currently has a content regulatory system that is comprised of six different arrangements covering some ...3 days ago
- Consultation on exemption of new builds from proposed tax rulesThe Government has today confirmed new builds will be exempt from planned changes to the tax treatment of residential investment property. Public consultation is now open on details of the proposals, which stop interest deductions being claimed for residential investment properties other than new builds. “The Government’s goal is to ...3 days ago
- Speech for Predator Free 2050 ConferenceIntroduction E ngā mana E ngā reo E ngā iwi Tēnā koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēnā koutou He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei i raro i te kaupapa o te rā Ko Ayesha Verrall toku ingoa No ...3 days ago
- New stock exchange to help grow small businessesA new share trading market, designed as a gateway to the NZX for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has been granted a licence by the Government. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, David Clark said Catalist Markets Ltd will provide a simpler and more affordable ‘stepping stone’ for SMEs to raise capital. “This ...3 days ago
- Visa extensions provide certainty to employers and 10,000 visa holdersChanges to onshore visas will provide employers and visa holders with more certainty, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced. Around 10,000 Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visas due to expire between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 will be extended for another six months to ...3 days ago
- Border class exceptions approved for more farm workers and vetsThe Government has approved border class exceptions for an additional 200 dairy workers and 50 veterinarians to enter New Zealand, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “It is clear from conversations with the dairy and veterinarian sectors that they are facing workforce pressures. These border exceptions will go a long ...3 days ago
- More freezers and South Island hub to support vaccine roll-outA South Island hub and 17 new ultra-low temperature freezers will help further prepare New Zealand for the ramp up of the vaccination programme in the second half of this year, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. The new freezers arrived in New Zealand on 27 May. They’re currently being ...4 days ago
- Speech at the release of Climate Change Commission's final adviceGood morning – and thank you Prime Minister. Over the last three and half years we have been putting in place the foundations for a low-carbon Aotearoa that will be a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and prosperity for decades to come. In that future, many of our everyday tasks ...4 days ago
- Achievable blueprint for addressing climate change releasedReport says Government making good progress on emissions reduction, but more action required Meeting climate targets achievable and affordable with existing technology Economic cost of delaying action higher than taking action now Benefits from climate action include health improvements and lower energy bills All Ministers to help meet climate targets ...4 days ago
- Speech to release of Climate Commission final reportA few years ago in a speech in Auckland, I compared climate change to the nuclear free movement of roughly four decades ago. And I did so for a few reasons. Firstly, because the movement of the 1980s represented a life or death situation for the Pacific, and so does ...4 days ago
- Appointment of Judge of the High CourtAuckland Barrister Michael Robinson has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Robinson graduated with a BA and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1996, and commenced practice as a solicitor with Brookfields in Auckland. In 1998 he travelled to London ...4 days ago
- Government takes action to improve protections for subcontractorsThe Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Bill – which provides greater financial protection for subcontractors, has passed its first reading today. The Bill amends the retention provisions in the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA) to provide increased confidence and transparency for subcontractors that retention money they are owed is safe. ...5 days ago
- 1 million more Pfizer doses to arrive in JulyPfizer has scheduled delivery of an estimated 1 million doses of vaccine to New Zealand during July, COVID1-9 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “These consignments will double the total number of Pfizer doses we have received this year to more than 1,900,000 – enough to fully vaccinate almost 1 ...5 days ago
- Long-term home of the Independent Children’s Monitor identifiedThe Independent Children’s Monitor (Te Mana Whakamaru Tamariki Motuhake), which is currently located within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), will become its own departmental agency within Government. “Following the recommendations of several reviews, Cabinet agreed in 2019 to build a significantly expanded independent monitor for children in care,” Carmel ...5 days ago
- Racing Integrity Board members announcedThe new Racing Integrity Board will be up and running from July 1 to ensure high standards of animal welfare, integrity and professionalism in the racing industry. Racing Minister Grant Robertson today announced the appointments to the new Board: Sir Bruce Robertson KNZM – Chair Kristy McDonald ONZM QC Penelope ...5 days ago
- Govt crackdown on organised crime continuesA major operation against multiple organised crime groups with international links will make a significant dent in drug harm and violent offending linked to organised crime networks, Police Minister Poto Williams says. “I want to take an opportunity to congratulate the Police for their role in Operation Trojan Shield. This ...5 days ago
- Farm planning framework supports farmers into the futureA new framework, agreed between Government and industry, will make it easier for farmers and growers to integrate future greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater regulatory requirements into their farm planning, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. “The Good Farm Planning Principles Guide out today, provides guidance for how farmers can organise ...5 days ago
- Enhanced Task Force Green Approved for CanterburyThe Government has activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) in response to the Canterbury floods. The Minister of Social Development and Employment, Hon Carmel Sepuloni says $500,000 will be made available to help with the clean-up. The flooding in Canterbury has been a significant and adverse event damaging farmland, homes, roads ...5 days ago
- Connecting rangatahi to the soilA Jobs for Nature project to raise 480,000 native plants in nurseries across South Auckland will provide work for communities disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19, Acting Conservation Minister Ayesha Verrall says. The Mana in Kaimahi project is being run by Te Whāngai Trust Board and will establish ...5 days ago
- Roll out of high-resolution elevation mapping beginsThe first tranche of mapping data from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)-LiDAR project is now available to the public from Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. LiDAR data, which creates 3D baseline elevation information, will deliver multiple uses over the coming decades to councils and regional industries. “This mapping ...6 days ago
- Champions of Pacific education rewarded in Queen’s Birthday HonoursMinister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio said the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours list show that across Aotearoa New Zealand there were many champions of Pacific education. “Education is so vital to the success of Pacific people that it’s truly fitting that a number of educators have been honoured this ...6 days ago
- PM congratulates Queen’s Birthday Honours recipientsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has added her congratulations to the New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to their communities and the country in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List. “This group represents decades of services across many areas, and those honoured highlight how many New Zealanders are going above and ...6 days ago
- Change of status for Rangiriri kuraA change of status for Te Kura o Rangiriri sees it become a designated character school within the Māori-medium network, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis announced today. “This kura has been providing Māori immersion learning since 2003 in the historic town of Rangiriri, so I’m delighted that it is ...7 days ago
- APEC trade ministers’ unite on COVID-19 vaccine steps and rejuvenating the WTOAPEC trade ministers today committed to speeding up the cross-border flow of vaccines and related goods to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed the completion of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting chaired by Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor early this morning. “As we face the ...1 week ago
- Further consultation for Melville schoolsFormal consultation is set to begin on specific options for the future of schooling in South West Hamilton, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. “Recent engagement has shown that the schools and community want a change to Year 7-13 schooling for the area. “I am now asking the Boards of Melville ...1 week ago
- Primary schoolkids dig trees for Arbor DayA new Arbor Day initiative announced by Forestry Minister Stuart Nash will see thousands of primary school children get the chance to plant native trees in their communities. The initiative is open to more than 2,400 primary schools. It is a partnership between Te Uru Rākau/NZ Forest Service and the ...1 week ago
- NZ Upgrade Programme kept on trackThe Government is increasing its investment in the New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP) to support New Zealand’s economic recovery. Over two thirds of the projects will proceed as announced despite increased costs due to COVID, with modifications being made to others. “NZUP is already supporting over 1,000 jobs with 13 ...1 week ago
- New Northern Pathway gets green lightThe Government is committed to the Northern Pathway with its preferred option being a separate structure for walking and cycling alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. Geotechnical investigations and testing has determined that building a structure connected to the Auckland Harbour Bridge is not possible ...1 week ago
- Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria to continue, planning underway for managed return flightsFollowing the Victorian Government’s decision to extend their lockdown restrictions, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria will also be extended for a further six days, with a further review due on Wednesday 9 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. I acknowledge this extension will cause further inconvenience ...1 week ago
- Housing supply to be sped up in major changes to New Zealand’s building lawsNew building laws passed today will support housing supply and affordability, improve trust and confidence in the building sector and support the use of new, innovative and efficient building methods, Building and Construction Minister Poto Williams announced today. The changes passed in Parliament today are the first phase of a ...1 week ago
- The Sunday Essay: What it means to miss Hong Kong
On leaving one home for another, and lamenting a loss. By Sharon Lam. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New ZealandOriginal illustrations by Renée Jacobi.I have left Hong Kong many times. The day of departure was always the same, arriving at the check-in counter praying ...33 mins ago - Drag Race Down Under power rankings: Welcome to the talent-free talent showThis week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under yanks a challenge from All Stars, with middling results.It may not always have been clear from my recaps, but I’ve generally enjoyed this season of Drag Race. Putting aside the issues with casting, this has been a refreshing set of queens ...8 hours ago
- Not enough GPs: Our Health Minister is on the case but we will have to wait to hear what he intends...
The latest Beehive news of most interest to business people is the detail of Trade Minister Damien O’Connor’s trip to London, Paris and Brussels to try to hasten progress on free trade negotiations. But the matter of concern to everybody – at least, it’s a matter that is likely to ...17 hours ago - The story of March 15 needs to be told on the big screen. But not like thisA film on the Christchurch mosque attacks that has Jacinda at its centre is not the film the moment demands. The director and producers have the skills to make the right movie. The question is whether or not they have the courage to do it, writes Anjum Rahman.The director and ...21 hours ago
- Review: Netflix’s Sweet Tooth is a slower, gentler sort of apocalypse thrillerThe New Zealand-shot show about a hybrid-human child journeying through a post-pandemic world hits some familiar plot beats – but its optimistic sweetness is all its own, writes Casey Lucas.The first responses to the trailer for new Netflix series Sweet Tooth often tended to include a dubious note: Do we ...22 hours ago
- Hey Boba, Hi tea: A comic explainer on the joy of bubble teaDon’t know your 50% sugar hazelnut milk teas from your double Oreo cake cream with cheese foam? Liliana Mañetto Quick takes us on a tour of the wonderful world of bubble tea with a love letter to Wellington’s Hi Tea. ...22 hours ago
- Learning to live by the maramataka: Pipiri – Māori New YearNau mai haere ki ngā whetū o te tau hou, kia Matariki me Pūanga. Click here to learn how to set the maramataka dial, and you’re on your way to setting the New Year dates!The bright tohu stars Matariki (Pleiades) and Pūanga (Rigel) will soon rise to indicate the New ...23 hours ago
- Short story: The flying rats, by Michaela Keeble
"This must be how it feels to play professional sport": a story of colonialism and netball by Wellington writer Michaela Keeble We play netball every Wednesday in the lower grades of Wellington’s lunchtime league. We have a name but no team uniform, unless you count saggy leggings and stained t-shirts ...23 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Saturday 12 June
...1 day ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 12 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...1 day ago - Universities must 'indigenise' to meet Māori agendas
The University of Auckland's Te Kawehau Hoskins writes on the challenge faced by universities to ‘indigenise’ in order to be relevant for contemporary Māori agendas Our people have always valued higher learning and operated sophisticated systems of formal learning prior to, and beyond contact with the outside world. Māori were keenly ...1 day ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Saturday 12 June
...1 day ago - How Heath Franklin became ChopperThe Australian comedy character has been a mainstay of New Zealand screens and stages for more than a decade – but who is the man under the mo’? Alex Casey meets him. We haven’t even started the interview and he’s already said he will throw my phone in a nearby cup ...1 day ago
- Mr O'Connor goes to London (and Brussels)
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor is about to make the first overseas trip by a minister since the Covid-19 pandemic - will his effort be justified by gains in free trade talks with the UK and EU? Let it not be said that Damien O’Connor is unwilling to ...1 day ago - 51 new covid cases confirmed in Fiji with fast-growing Nadi cluster
RNZ Pacific Fifty-one cases of covid-19 have been confirmed in Fiji tonight, with 35 of them from the fastest-growing cluster at Nadi. This takes the total number of infections since the outbreak started in April to 900, with 684 active cases currently in isolation. The Health Ministry said two cases ...1 day ago - Former USP academic and author of Fiji coup books Robbie Robertson diesPacific Media Watch newsdesk Retired politics professor and historian Robert “Robbie” Robertson, 69, co-author of the book Shattered Coups about the 1987 coups led by then Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, has died in Melbourne, his family has confirmed. Dr Robertson wrote the book with his partner Akosita Tamanisau, then a Fiji ...1 day ago
- ‘It gives us nightmares,’ says PNG police officer dealing with domestic violenceAsia Pacific Report newsdesk “We take the pain and problems of victims home and it gives us nightmares many times.” A police woman serving at the Family Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU) of the Papua New Guinea’s Waigani police station in the capital Port Moresby has shared her experience of how ...1 day ago
- Five police officers among 39 new covid cases in Fiji as strategy unveiledBy Lice Movono, RNZ Pacific correspondent in Suva Five police officers are among 39 new cases of covid-19 in Fiji while the government announced late last night that 32 of the latest cases are from existing clusters. Another 11 cases were reported from the country’s main hospital in the capital ...1 day ago
- Media Council condemns ‘mob rule’ to intimidate female students, media at UPNGPacific Media Watch newsdesk The Media Council of Papua New Guinea has condemned an attack by male students at the University of Papua New Guinea on a media team covering a protest staged by female students on Tuesday, reports the PNG Post-Courier. The council said that the actions of these ...1 day ago
- Protect women accused of ‘sorcery’ and punish attackers, watchdog tells PNGAsia Pacific Report newsdesk The Papua New Guinean government should protect women accused of practicing “sorcery” from violence and hold the attackers to account, says the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. At least five women have been attacked in the past three months since March 2021 — one of whom ...1 day ago
- 97% of Indigenous people report seeing negative social media content weekly. Here’s how platforms ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Kennedy, Senior Lecturer In Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University Bullying and harassment are having devastating effects on young Indigenous people and their communities. Getty images Social media offers many benefits to Indigenous peoples, such as ways to establish and navigate identity, build ...1 day ago
- Do vegan diets make kids shorter and weaker?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of South Australia Shutterstock Research Checks interrogate newly published studies and how they’re reported in the media. The analysis is undertaken by one or more academics not involved with the ...1 day ago
- Bryce Edwards: Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for Labour
Opinion - Labour has stalled on its promise to rewrite the Official Information Act, a vital piece of machinery for democracy that is in terrible disrepair, Bryce Edwards writes. ...1 day ago - 97% of Indigenous people report seeing negative content weekly. Here’s how platforms can helpSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Kennedy, Senior Lecturer In Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University Bullying and harassment are having devastating effects on young Indigenous people and their communities. Getty images Social media offers many benefits to Indigenous peoples, such as ways to establish and navigate identity, build ...1 day ago
- Don't worry, NZ won't run out of vaccines next week
The saga of Matthew Hooton's latest NZ Herald column shows the trouble caused by poor fact-checking in Government and media alike, Marc Daalder writes On Thursday morning, the New Zealand Herald published a bombshell claim that Government data indicated the country was on the verge of running out of Covid-19 vaccines. No one was ...2 days ago - VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the G7 summit and the Biloela Tamil familySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Paddy Nixon discuss the week in politics. This week Michelle and Paddy discuss the G7 summit which is set to ...2 days ago
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is the most fun PS5 game yetGaming’s favourite furry-and-robot duo roars back into action with one of the best looking video games of all time, writes Sam Brooks.One of the saddest pivots in the last generation of gaming has been the slow move from gorgeous, family-friendly platformers towards action-oriented shoot-em-ups. There is pure joy to the ...2 days ago
- Matt Canavan suggested the cold snap means global warming isn’t real. We bust this and 2 other cli...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nerilie Abram, Professor; ARC Future Fellow; Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Deputy Director for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, Australian National University Steven Saphore/AAP Senator Matt Canavan sent many eyeballs rolling yesterday ...2 days ago
- The most endangered seals in the world once called Australia homeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Patrick Rule, Research Fellow, Monash University Peter Trusler, Author provided Monk seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals alive today, with just over 2,000 individuals remaining in the wild. These seals live in warm waters, specifically the ...2 days ago
- 80% Of Surveyed ECE Centres Say Pay Parity Deal Is Unaffordable
A survey of early childhood providers shows 80% can’t opt-in to the proposed six step teacher Pay Parity proposed by the Government. Only 40% of those surveyed are planning to opt-in to the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement pay scale the ...2 days ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending June 11The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz (Allen & Unwin, $33)The debut (crime, romance, feminist, political) ...2 days ago
- Commission Report Loses Sight Of Sustainable AgricultureThe Climate Change Commission's report, Inaia tonu nei, has addressed the need to make radical changes in transport, electricity and waste minimisation to prevent serious climate problems for the future. [1] However the report fails to consider ...2 days ago
- Taxpayers Should Not Pay For Hollywood PropagandaThe Taxpayers’ Union is condemning the prospect of taxpayer funding for a new film about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s response to the Christchurch mosque shootings. It is reported that the production team intends to apply for a Screen ...2 days ago
- The Friday Poem: Best recessed wall niche ideas, by Liz BreslinA poem from Liz Breslin’s new collection, In bed with the feminists.Best recessed wall niche ideasthe image is of a theta, a five, a plus + a threea theta is a world, split, is love over death, is the eighth letter, is the cracked her crypthand with h o p ...2 days ago
- Precedent Setting Hate Speech CaseThe Office of Human Rights Proceedings (OHRP) is bringing a case against the Attorney-General arguing current hate speech provisions under the Human Rights Act fail to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation. The gap was exposed in 2017 when a West ...2 days ago
- Auckland is the world’s ‘most liveable city’? Many Māori might disagreeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Henry, Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology www.shutterstock.com While I am always happy to celebrate any accolades my country and city might garner on the international stage, seeing Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau awarded the top ranking in a recent “most liveable ...2 days ago
- From The River To The SeaAlternative Jewish Voices has been thinking about that phrase, "from the river to the sea." Several weeks ago, Wellington had a series of big, many-lingual demonstrations seeking justice and safety for Palestinians. One was on the steps ...2 days ago
- Fishing And Shooting Public Overwhelmingly Opposed To Government InterferenceThe trout fishing and duck shooting public are overwhelmingly opposed to a proposal to inject Government appointees into Fish and Game. That is the interim result from an on-going survey by the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA) of ...2 days ago
- APEC leaders learn about waka and Aucklanders hear it cost $30m to encourage walking and cycling o...We confess to being bemused by some of the latest Beehive announcements and pronouncements. Auckland became a harbour of waka, in the PM’s remarks to APEC leaders who – we suspect – might not know what a waka looks like. Then there are moves afoot to protect us – from ...2 days ago
- ‘The parallels were freaky’: Toa Fraser on making Sweet Tooth in New Zealand during a pandemicThe director talks to David Farrier about filming Sweet Tooth in New Zealand as Covid took hold around the world, his mid- career pivot into TV, and why he chose to go public with his Parkinson’s diagnosis. This interview originally appeared on David Farrier’s newsletter Webworm.Right now, my love is ...2 days ago
- ‘Waiting to stab me’: new research reveals the threats and daily trauma judges face in their job...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin O’Sullivan, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, UNSW Shutterstock As a judicial officer, being subject to death threats not only for you but your family is a concern […] you are expected to simply soldier on and go to work the ...2 days ago
- The Most Open And Transparent Government Should Not Take A Year To Supply Official InformationThe fact that it took Radio New Zealand a year to get a response to an Official Information Act request about a heated bureaucratic turf war between the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries ...2 days ago
- Scorching takes on ‘Solar Power’: Lorde’s new single, reviewedA new Lorde single, heralding a new Lorde album, both called ‘Solar Power’. Sand between our toes, we listen to the tune and watch the video.It’s been a long wait: a full four years since Melodrama. But Lorde fans were rewarded for their patience this morning with a blast of ...2 days ago
- All you need to know about the new stock exchange for smaller NZ businessesA new stock exchange designed for SMEs – small and medium-sized enterprises – will open for trading in late June. Here’s how it will work.What’s all this then?A new stock exchange designed to provide New Zealand SMEs with a portal to become publicly listed is launching on June 21. Called ...2 days ago
- The Experts' Reaction Was Mute As No Rail Freight Over Truck Freight Mentioned Yet Globally Mos...‘Climate Commission’s Final Advice Calls For Step-up On Climate Action – Expert Reaction’ OUR REVIEW Considering the mass of experts assembled here to review with expert views on the Climate commissions final report to government it was another ...2 days ago
- Govt accused of double standards over health of state housesThe government has been accused of having one rule for private landlords and another for itself when it comes to meeting its own healthy homes standards. ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for ...Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. In promising to be New Zealand’s most open and transparent government ever, Labour has one key challenge: reform the Official Information Act. This vital piece of machinery for democracy is in terrible disrepair, and the Government has promised to rewrite it ...2 days ago
- The Bulletin: Pay talks set to resume after nurse strikeGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin for Friday June 11. Apologies for the delay, my alarm did not go off. Really! In today’s edition: The fallout from the nurses strike, Nick Smith leaves parliament with an apology and a protest targeting cyclists is slammed. Nurses and DHBs are ...2 days ago
- Government Work Load & Policy ImplementationWhen we think about government and its reason for being, we mainly think about development and maintenance of law & order and development and maintenance of infrastructure. So how does this all happen? Government makes decisions based on the will of the ...2 days ago
- Live updates, June 11: Rose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in new filmWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for June 11, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 8.20am: Rose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in new film Australian actress Rose Byrne is reportedly lined up to play our prime minister in a new ...2 days ago
- Proceed to your nearest (virtual) exit: gaming technology is teaching us how people respond to emerg...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruggiero Lovreglio, Senior Lecturer, Massey University Shutterstock Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) aren’t just for gaming anymore, they’re also proving to be useful tools for disaster safety research. In fact, they could save lives. Around the world, ...2 days ago
- Here’s how pharmacies could boost Australia’s COVID vaccine rolloutSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Jackson, Researcher, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Under Australia’s original COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan, community pharmacies were meant to be involved in administering vaccines from phase 2a. Phase 2a includes all adults over 50, among other priority ...2 days ago
- Tracking the transition: The ‘forgotten’ emissions undoing the work of Australia’s renewable e...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Saddler, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock World leaders including Prime Minister Scott Morrison will gather in the UK this weekend for the G7 summit. In a speech on Wednesday ahead of ...2 days ago
- Australian universities need to be more age-friendly — what does that look like in practice?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jed Montayre, Senior Lecturer (Nursing), Western Sydney University Shutterstock Longevity and healthy ageing programs worldwide have embraced the slogan “adding life to years”. Ageing well is driven by a combination of factors, including lifelong education and civic participation. That points ...2 days ago
- Our own Nomadland: the Australians caught in a COVID blind spotSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Davies, Professor of Human Geography, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock Australians have been told to stay home during lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While evidence of the efficacy of this approach as a public health strategy ...2 days ago
- Vital Signs: It’s not the Reserve Bank’s job to worry about housing pricesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Once again folks are pointing to the potential danger of Australia’s low interest rates. This week a poll of so-called “market economists” by ratings agency Fitch had only 12% of respondents in favour of the Reserve ...2 days ago
- Friday essay: a rare bird — how Europeans got the black swan so wrongSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Haworth, Senior Research Officer, Monash University Bernard Spragg/flickr The black swan is an Australian icon. The official emblem of Western Australia, depicted in the state flag and coat-of-arms, it decorates several public buildings. The bird is also the namesake ...2 days ago
- I really, really tried to like Meghan Markle’s book for childrenBut I failed, writes Catherine Woulfe, fresh from reading The Bench.When a book is published entirely because of who the writer is – and when that writer happens to be Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex – I think any reviewer should have to state their allegiances at the outset.So: I really like ...2 days ago
- Bare land included in $1bn tax crackdown on housing speculators
Treasury hikes long-run revenue forecasts to account for increased tax liability on residential property. ...2 days ago - Catalist launches share trading and capital raising market
The new market is aimed at companies valued at between $6 million and $60m, who are too small to list on the NZX. A new share trading and capital raising market has been launched aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Catalist has just received the necessary official approvals to allow public involvement. ...2 days ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 11 June
...2 days ago - Ambitious waste targets call for major infrastructure changes
The Climate Change Commission’s final report to the Government calls for far greater reductions in waste and landfill emissions than the earlier draft Major changes to New Zealand’s waste infrastructure will be needed to meet the Climate Change Commission's report, released on Wednesday. The report recommends decreasing methane emissions from ...2 days ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 11 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...2 days ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Friday 11 June
...2 days ago - Tackling commuting a 21st Century battle cry
Considerable attention has been paid to the injustices surrounding work, but what about the injustices of workers’ commutes? Dr David Jenkins asks if it's time to rethink urban development and reform commuting. At the beginning of the 19th Century, workers in newly industrialising towns and cities travelled, on average, 50m to ...2 days ago - Changing South: Children's teeth a national crisis
Why are children as young as two having all their teeth taken out? Frank Film investigates the causes behind our national crisis in dental health. Clearance. The word brings to mind everything-must-go sales. Or clear-felling land. But in the world of dentistry “clearance” has a very different meaning. “Dental clearances ...2 days ago - New Zealand’s first ‘new wave’ mental health unit
The new Tiaho Mai mental health inpatient unit at Middlemore Hospital is the benchmark facility in the country. Newly released design guidelines for future builds will hopefully ensure its successes are replicated elsewhere, reports Oliver Lewis in part four of a series on mental health units in New Zealand. At the apex of the ...2 days ago - The Kiwi woman who changed basketball
For over four decades, Barbara Wheadon has helped to shape basketball - here and internationally - in her many roles, and has been recognised with the sport's highest honour. There aren't many who've impacted the sport of basketball in New Zealand, and around the world, like Barbara Wheadon. A leader, player, volunteer and ...2 days ago - Pain ahead to get Aucklanders out of cars
Aucklanders should prepare for upheaval as politicians back faster changes to transport options in the city to meet steep targets for cuts to transport emissions Auckland Council is backing faster moves to cut the use of private vehicles and expand funding for better public transport services in light of the big Climate ...2 days ago - The great Ellerslie mail theft mysteryFrustrated residents say the disappearance of post from a leafy Auckland suburb is ‘out of control’. But who’s responsible?One says they ditched their mailbox for a PO box after two years of tampering. Another is scared to go out at night in case they come face-to-face with the perpetrator. A ...2 days ago
- Bernard Hickey: As politicians dither on climate, business must forge aheadWith government continuing to drag its heels on getting to carbon zero, businesses will have to forge ahead on their own to slash emissions – because fudging and prevarication are no longer an option, writes Bernard Hickey.Follow When the Facts Change, Bernard Hickey’s essential weekly guide to the intersection of ...2 days ago
- Rod Oram: Commission's agricultural myopia fails NZ
By accepting the agriculture sector's arguments hook, line and sinker, the Climate Change Commission has missed a big chance and failed the nation, writes Rod Oram ...2 days ago - Bloomfield opposed nationwide masks mandate
Cabinet documents relating to the Valentine's Day cluster reveal Ashley Bloomfield argued against requiring New Zealanders to wear masks on public transport outside of Auckland at Level 1. ...2 days ago - Ngāpuhi to decide on women's speaking rights
All female political leaders could be granted speaking rights and Te Tii could once again host the PM at next year’s Waitangi. ...2 days ago - The day is coming when you will not need a bank account
Traditional financiers joined crowds at Miami's Bitcoin 2021 convention. Now NZ's Reserve Bank is among those investigate its own digital currencies ...2 days ago
- The Many Faces Of Racial Terror.
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