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Comrade David signals radical rewrite of Act’s living wage policy
Written By: - Date published: 7:36 am, November 25th, 2020 - 44 comments
Comrade David Seymour has signalled that Act may argue for a minimum wage of $50 per hour.
South Australia’s new Covid strain
Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, November 19th, 2020 - 16 comments
During a week in which two Covid vaccines have been announced there is disturbing news coming out of Australia where a new more potent strain of the virus has appeared in South Australia.
Trump’s chances of winning the Presidential Election through legal action
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, November 18th, 2020 - 19 comments
To win the Presidential Election Donald Trump has to win multiple legal challenges in multiple states. So far his cases have not gone very well.
They Are Not Morons
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, November 17th, 2020 - 76 comments
Donald Trump will be back for another go at the Presidency in 2024. Progressives should underestimate the possibility of his winning. Unless the remaining centre-left generates strategies that are executed so well that people feel the difference good politics makes, the elements of populism arising again will stay ready like the elements of a bomb.
The million MAGA muppet march
Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, November 16th, 2020 - 37 comments
America is in some trouble. Covid19 is surging. The third wave is hitting hard. Suddenly 100,000 daily new infections is not a scary possibility, 200,000 is. And a group of Americans have been persuaded that Trump has had the election stolen off him.
Covid and contact tracing
Written By: - Date published: 4:46 pm, November 12th, 2020 - 32 comments
News of a new community case in Auckland, and the need for us all to be taking precautions and keeping track of our movements and contacts.
Some men just want to see the World burn
Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, November 12th, 2020 - 58 comments
Normally when you lose an election you say nice things about the winner and make way for them. But is Trump doing this in the US of A? No sirree. From refusing Biden transition resources to instructing officials not to cooperate with Biden’s team to mass sackings of Defense officials to various failed cases Trump is obstructing the transition every step of the way.
COVID19 Vaccine and New Zealand’s K-Shaped Recovery
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, November 11th, 2020 - 36 comments
IF the discovery of a potential Covid vaccine looks like a new dawn, let’s not forget that this is the accelerating point of the K-shaped recovery New Zealand have been dreading. Our already rich are on the line heading upwards. They are getting richer because of a range of our Government policies.
What should the left make of the US election result?
Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, November 10th, 2020 - 76 comments
Now the dust is settling on the US election result the one question I have is why was it even close?
Lawyers, guns and money
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, November 9th, 2020 - 51 comments
Over in the United States of America the country is descending into chaos. But so far the farcical type of chaos as opposed to the violent type of chaos and this is a good thing.
Donald Trump’s letter to Joe Biden
Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, November 8th, 2020 - 19 comments
It is customary for outgoing Presidents to leave for the incoming President a short letter of introduction. The Standard has managed to obtain a early draft copy of Donald Trump’s letter to Joe Biden drafted while he was playing golf.
If Biden wins, then what?
Written By: - Date published: 11:29 am, November 7th, 2020 - 39 comments
I hope that I am not tempting fate by saying this but a Biden presidency seems almost inevitable. But presuming he prevails the transition is going to be one of the most difficult and most important in America’s history.
Blood sucking leeches blame young for blood supply crisis
Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, November 3rd, 2020 - 118 comments
The Property Investor Federation’s executive officer has expressed the opinion that every time a first home buyer buys a house it makes the housing crisis worse.
Labour’s cabinet
Written By: - Date published: 1:48 pm, November 2nd, 2020 - 78 comments
Some details of the new Cabinet announced today by Jacinda Ardern.
UK Labour suspends Corbyn for stating the obvious about anti-semitism in the Party
Written By: - Date published: 7:36 pm, October 30th, 2020 - 35 comments
Following a report into anti-semitism in the UK Labour party, Corbyn said it exists in the Party but it is over-stated and the campaign against it is politically-motivated by opponents inside and outside the Party. He was instantly suspended from the party and had the whip removed by leader Sir Keir Starmer, which seems excessive and will cause further discord. Corbyn is not an anti-Semite.
The reeferendum fails
Written By: - Date published: 2:46 pm, October 30th, 2020 - 207 comments
The referendum seeking to decriminalise cannabis appears to have failed narrowly although special votes are still to be counted.
Could the real Labour Party please stand up
Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, October 29th, 2020 - 35 comments
We need to get the Labour government to focus on decreasing inequality and poverty in all its forms and effects. The new government needs to show that Labour has changed the country for good. Otherwise there’s no reason to vote for them in 2023.
Aotearoa New Zealand is a hell hole paradise dystopian democracy
Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, October 29th, 2020 - 55 comments
Fox News has seized upon a four month old video of Jacinda Ardern to suggest that New Zealand has a terrifying new response to the disease and are throwing people into quarantine camps.
Justice Coney Barrett appears to be a climate change denier
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, October 28th, 2020 - 10 comments
Newly appointed Republican and Trump supported Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is not convinced that humans are changing the world’s climate. Meanwhile China and Japan are convinced and have announced dates by which time they intend to be carbon neutral.
Melbourne gets on top of Covid
Written By: - Date published: 8:36 am, October 27th, 2020 - 15 comments
Yesterday the city of Melbourne recorded its first day of no new reported covid infections in nearly five months. At the same time in America the White House has effectively said that control is too difficult and that it is giving up.
Labour day
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, October 26th, 2020 - 41 comments
Enjoying your weekend? Thank a unionist!
What should Labour do in the next three years?
Written By: - Date published: 10:01 am, October 25th, 2020 - 74 comments
With the hand brake gone and the Government’s policy platform already complete what should the Labour Government set out to achieve this term?
Kelvin for DPM
Written By: - Date published: 9:13 am, October 25th, 2020 - 16 comments
Some thoughts on who the country’s Deputy Prime Minister should be.
Rangitata and the Future of the National Party
Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, October 24th, 2020 - 42 comments
As National reels from the disastrous 2020 election result could a policy based on high tech agriculture represent a way back?
The Trump Biden debate
Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, October 23rd, 2020 - 21 comments
Discussion post for this afternoon’s live US Presidential debate.
Why Can’t The Ministry of Works Just Build Houses Like 1935?
Written By: - Date published: 7:34 am, October 23rd, 2020 - 32 comments
We don’t have a government like the Labour government that formed in 1935.
Some consequences of Chloe Swarbrick’s win
Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, October 22nd, 2020 - 41 comments
What are the lessons to be learned from Chloe Swarbrick’s election night win of Auckland Central.
Later Jami-Lee
Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, October 19th, 2020 - 43 comments
It appears that this election will be the swan song of Jami-Lee Ross’s political career with his final political act being eviscerated publicly by Tova O’Brien in an interview.
O Winston I love you
Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, October 18th, 2020 - 50 comments
Some reasons for us to miss Winston’s exit from politics.
Jacinda or Judith?
Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, October 16th, 2020 - 65 comments
With election day tomorrow those who have not voted already need to decide, do they want Jacinda Ardern or Judith Collins to be the next Prime Minister.
Latest Colmar Brunton – Labour Greens ascendant
Written By: - Date published: 6:08 pm, October 15th, 2020 - 62 comments
Labour is coming off strastopheric polling but the Greens are looking safer. And National is still on the decline.
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47, 2020
"Don't make us stop the car." Climate change of a different kind: Examining the climate effects of a regional nuclear weapons exchange using a multiscale atmospheric modeling approach, investigated by Wegman, Lundquist et al. There's good news: the main proximate cause of the resulting global mess might last only about 4 ...5 hours ago - Taking the piss
While the borders are closed, employers can still get visas for "essential" workers. But some of the jobs deemed "essential" don't seem to be: Applications were approved for 633 different jobs ranging from low skilled roles including taxi driver, cafe worker and cleaner, through to highly skilled jobs such ...10 hours ago - A Parliament that sounds like AotearoaI'm watching the swearing in of MPs today on Parliament TV, and pleased to hear the linguistic diversity in our Parliament. In addition to a good number of MPs doing their oaths or affirmations in Te Reo, there's also been Samoan, Tongan, Dutch, Korean, plus (as best as I can ...11 hours ago
- Changing stuff…
By Professor Peter Dearden, Director Genomics Aotearoa Science is an excellent way of allowing us to question test and understand the world we live in. But that knowledge also provides us with something else; the ability to change things, to solve problems, and to make life on earth a bit ...12 hours ago - Letter to the Reserve Bank
This is how you fix something. ...12 hours ago - Gas-powered cars: Beginning of the end in California?This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bruce Lieberman Can California really do it? Can it completely ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in 15 years – 15 years – and lead the country toward a fossil fuel-free future? Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom says so. In a ...14 hours ago
- The COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ: A brief photo-essay with 10 photosLuke Pilkinton-Ching, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Nick Wilson In this photo-essay of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ, each photo is accompanied by a brief comment on the pandemic impact or response. In some instances these images reflect success factors such as the relatively early introduction of border controls and the ...17 hours ago
- A Phuulish Fellow Turns Five Years Old
On 25th November, 2015, this humble blog made its debut. Five years to the day later… it has evolved into something I could not have predicted. In the early days, of course, it was primarily about my own writing, and thoughts on the wider fantasy genre. Since then ...21 hours ago - Aches on a plane – new findings on in-flight Covid transmissionOne of the good things about New Zealand pursuing an elimination strategy for Covid-19 (aside from the obvious) is that we are able to help answer some of the questions there are about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmits between people. Take air travel. As many people in the US start ...1 day ago
- Reading the roomIt looks like the government has finally read the room on the housing crisis, with Finance Minister grant Robertson writing to the Reserve Bank to tell them to start looking at controlling house prices: Finance Minister Grant Robertson has told Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr that it’s time to ...1 day ago
- Why the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is now a global game changerMichael Head, University of Southampton In the long dark tunnel that has been 2020, November stands out as the month that light appeared. Some might see it as a bright light, others as a faint light – but it is unmistakably a light. On November 9, Pfizer announced the interim ...2 days ago
- Graeme Edgeler: The Vague promise of a better tomorrow: Why a three-year Parliamentary term is good ...
New Zealand is not the only country with a three-year term of Parliament, but there aren’t many others. Most countries have longer terms, with theoretically less of a democratic check on political power. Most other countries also have some combination of: a bicameral legislature, a supreme constitution, strong judicial review ...2 days ago - “Goodfellas”: The Neoliberal National Party Shows Its Ugly Face.
Unaccountable? A reasonable National Party member might have anticipated that a president who led his party to the second-worst defeat in its history would feel obliged to fall upon his sword in recognition of the scale of his failure. Such a member would have been disappointed. Peter Goodfellow (above) was ...2 days ago - Big Eye Wide, But ShutA few days ago the US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the decommissioning of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. This story has been the subject of items in the mass media around the globe, and also in New Zealand. Cables supporting the massive horns and radio receivers above ...2 days ago
- From revolution to narcissism
For much of the 20th century the progressive movement was focused on real and crucial issues. What is called progressive now is a farce. ...2 days ago - The Church of Woke...2 days ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #47Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Warm Arctic, Cold Continents? It Sounds Counterintuitive, but Research Suggests it’s a Thing Scientists suspect that rapid warming in the ...2 days ago
- Ardern’s crocodile tears won’t fix the housing crisisPeople are getting very grumpy at the government's refusal to act on the housing crisis. Jacinda Ardern's response? To tell everyone she cares,/A>: Jacinda Ardern says one of the things that sets her Government apart from the National Party is Labour's concern over skyrocketing house prices. The median house ...3 days ago
- Victoria University of Wellington Alumni post-election panel discussionThe landmark 2020 New Zealand general election is going to be discussed and analysed for many years to come. for an early attempt at making sense of the results, VUW hosted a panel discussion on 4 November for Alumni to watch and participate in. The panel was chaired by Bryce ...3 days ago
- Modernity Bias: Daniel Greene’s Top Fantasy CharactersYouTuber Daniel Greene has put out a list of his personal favourite fantasy characters: It’s a decent enough list, for the most part (confession time – I have never read a Sanderson book). And it’s a purely subjective question anyway, what with different people having different preferences. ...3 days ago
- SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are about to ruin stargazing for everyoneSamantha Lawler, University of Regina I walk outside my rural Saskatchewan house before dawn and look up, expecting to have my breath taken away by the sheer number of stars overhead. I’m a professional astronomer, but I still appreciate naked-eye stargazing as much as an eager child. This is the ...4 days ago
- Hitler’s Playbook
No one can now doubt that Donald Trump is making a determined and sustained attempt to overturn the result of a democratic election and to defy the will of the people. He is clearly determined to hold on to power, whatever the verdict delivered by the ballot box – even ...4 days ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #472020A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 15, 2020 through Sat, Nov 21, 2020 Editor's Choice The 'market' won't save us from climate disaster. We must rethink our system Expecting the free market to fix global warming ...4 days ago
- Capital Vol. 3 lectures: The Falling Rate of Profit
– Transforming Industry to Empire
This is the fifth lecture in the lecture series by Andy Higginbottom on superexploitation. Part one of the lecture series is here, part two is here, part three is here and part four here. (Unfortunately the first minute of the lecture where the content of the lecture is outlined was not recorded.) ...4 days ago - Ken Can’t Count: No, the New Zealand Election Wasn’t Rigged
As tempting as it may be to snigger at unsubstantiated allegations of United States election fraud… New Zealand can’t be smug. Every country has its dingbats, and 2020 has shown that we are no exception. I mention this, because over the past month or so, a committed little collection ...4 days ago - Meeting The Overwhelming Quantum Of Need: A Modest Proposal For Ending New Zealand’s Housing Crisi...Deja Vu: Architectural drawing of the planned mass housing development planned for Auckland in the mid-1940s. IT COULD BE DONE. This government could make a serious attempt to house the 20,000 people waiting for social housing before the next election. It would, however, require them to do something they have, ...4 days ago
- How to choose the right Christmas gift: tips from psychological researchAdrian R. Camilleri, University of Technology Sydney Christmas is a time of celebration, relaxation and gift giving. But choosing gifts can also make it a time of stress and anxiety. The wrong gift can actually do more harm than good. Here is some advice, based on decades of research, on ...5 days ago
- Fleeing to the Dawn: Published2020 has been rather quiet on the short story front, but I have found a home for another of my pieces. A 1700-word fantasy (arguably getting into vignette territory), titled Fleeing to the Dawn, is now out as part of the Autumn 2020 edition of Shorts Magazine. The ...5 days ago
- Observations of past climate change help rule out natural causes of current climate changeThis post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "climate is changing now because climate has always changed". It was written by Scott Knapp as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. The total rate of global ...5 days ago
- As Safe As Houses?
Stein’s law says that if something cannot go on forever, it wont. But does a speculative bubble matter? The cryptocurrency bubble can be left to itself (tax evasion and criminal transactions aside). Why shouldn’t we do the same for housing? There are two general reasons why we should be concerned ...5 days ago - Good riddanceAustralian polluter Beach Energy has announced that it is cancelling plans to drill off Dunedin next year. The exploration permit in question, 38264, has a "drill or drop" requirement and has to drill an exploratory well by October 2021. But more importantly, it expires in November 2021. PEPANZ, the polluter ...5 days ago
- Repairing a hole in the wall with the diffusion equationLast week child number 1 managed to put a hole in a plasterboard (‘gib’) wall. I wasn’t in the room at the time, but I believe it had something to do starting at one end of the house, running down the corridor, through the bedroom doorway, doing a forward flip ...6 days ago
- Andy Asquith, Andrew Cardow, and Karen Webster: What ever happened to local government?We would like to congratulate Nanaia Mahuta on her promotion to the role of Foreign Minister – an important historic move. We are delighted both to see some stability in the local government portfolio holder and to see it held by someone senior in the cabinet rankings. For once we ...6 days ago
- The Political Economy Of Pride And Prejudice.For The Few, Not The Many: In the face of this widening gulf between the rich and the poor, successive New Zealand governments have opted for the same role that Jane Austen chose to play while her beloved England busied itself defeating Napoleon Bonaparte and the revolutionary egalitarian impulses he ...6 days ago
- What is causing the increase in atmospheric CO2?This post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "CO2 increase is natural, not human-caused". It was written by Erika Harrington as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. Atmospheric CO2 has increased by more ...6 days ago
- Obvious questions for the NZDFToday the Brereton report on war crimes by the Australian SAS was released, finding that Australian SAS troops had murdered 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners of war, with various actions taken to cover up the crimes. A special prosecutor will be appointed, and 25 soldiers have been referred for prosecution. ...6 days ago
- Matariki, history and ethnicity research honouredEvery year Royal Society Te Apārangi celebrates the achievements of researchers, scholars, and kairangahau who have achieved excellence in their disciplines throughout Aotearoa. This year separate ceremonies were held in the three main centres. In the first of two posts, we highlight the Māori and Pasifika recipients from the ...6 days ago
- Keeping Rates LowFor decades, the Wellington City Council has been Keeping rates Low, skimping on infrastructure maintenance to pander to elderly property-owners. The result? Shit on the streets: Wastewater crews are working to fix a drain that is causing human faeces to pour onto a street in central Wellington. Wellington Water ...6 days ago
- Reconnecting with taha Māori on the shores of Lake TaupōIn one day with her kaumatua (elder) on the southern shores of Lake Taupō, Yvonne Taura (Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) found her future career ambition was to raise awareness in restoring New Zealand’s wetlands back to health. In 2002 and in the middle of an ...6 days ago
- Enhancing the lives of tāngata whenuaFiona Wiremu (Ngāi Tūhoe | Ngāti Ranginui) is driven to do all she can to enhance the lives of tāngata whenua and that’s evident in the multiple research areas she covers. These include mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) such as te reo Māori, culture and identity, Whai Rawa (Māori Economies), Te ...7 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #46, 2020If you learn something, say something The American Meteorological Society publication The Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences is encouraging authors to think about a wider readership's needs when submitting papers: The American Meteorological Society (AMS) mission statement specifically calls for advancing “the atmospheric and related sciences . . . for ...7 days ago
- It always pays to check before you shareBack in 2008, Dr Anthony Fauci (yes, that Dr Fauci) co-authored a paper that examined the interplay between influenza infection and secondary bacterial infection in mortality from the “Spanish flu¹” pandemic of 1918-19. He and his colleagues examined tissue samples taken during autopsies at the time of the pandemic, using ...7 days ago
- The Hollow Persons (With Apologies To T.S. Eliot)Let’s do this Let’s keep moving IWe are the hollow personsInflated with hot airHanging togetherFor fear of hanging separately. Cut!Our empty promises, whenFirst we make them,Are far from empty.We are inflamed by the thrillOf passionate sounds,Like Boomers watching porn,Mistaking the image for the deed.Policy ...7 days ago
- The harmful impacts of climate change outweigh any benefitsThis post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "global warming is good". It was written by Sophia Whitaker as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. The Pros and the Cons Our current ...7 days ago
- Southern Gothic Politics: The Bluing of Otago-Southland
The New Zealand Labour Party seems pretty happy with the October 2020 election. And on the whole, it is right to be happy. Single party majority governments don’t grow on trees under proportional representation. However, buried within the results are some… less encouraging signs for Labour (or alternatively, more ...1 week ago - Climate Change: The problem of air travelUntil the pandemic, air travel was one of the fastest growing causes of greenhouse gas emissions. And its obscenely unequal, with just 1% of the world's population causing 50% of the problem: Frequent-flying “‘super emitters” who represent just 1% of the world’s population caused half of aviation’s carbon emissions ...1 week ago
- Branko Marcetic: If Labour rests on its Covid-defeating laurels then its headed for a big fallJacinda Ardern’s Labour Party has received a historic landslide victory based on its competent handling of Covid, but the new government already shows worrying signs of complacency. Branko Marcetic argues that Labour can’t expect Covid issues to keep its popularity up and if it is to survive in power it ...1 week ago
- The obvious questionStuff reports that housing speculators aren't paying their taxes: Speculators are making millions in an overheated housing market but as many as one in four didn’t pay the tax they owed on properties flipped last year, IRD figures reveal. Of the 1701 property sales subject to the bright-line test ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: Time to phase out fossil vehiclesBack in February, the UK announced that it was bringing forward its fossil-fuel vehicle phase out from 2040 to 2035. Now, they're about to bring it forward again, to 2030. Which has caused Climate Change Minister James Shaw to suggest that we follow them: Climate Change Minister James Shaw ...1 week ago
- What would happen if we cut down the Amazon rainforest?Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz What would happen if we cut down the ...1 week ago
- How we know human CO2 emissions have disrupted the carbon cycleThis post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "Human CO2 emissions is tiny compared to natural CO2 emissions". It was written by Ziheng Sun as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. Nature ...1 week ago
- Secondhand clothing sales are booming – and may help solve the sustainability crisis in the fashio...Hyejune Park and Cosette Marie Joyner Armstrong, Oklahoma State University A massive force is reshaping the fashion industry: secondhand clothing. According to a new report, the U.S. secondhand clothing market is projected to more than triple in value in the next 10 years – from US$28 billion in 2019 to ...1 week ago
- To advance, workers must break the law: a reply to John Kerrby Don Franks In response to my piece NZ union structure past its use by date John Kerr wrote: Bit of a cop out of an article: some penetrating analysis of what’s wrong (echoed in other pieces by Trotter et al) but no concrete suggestions around possible solutions… I agree ...1 week ago
- This is not a solutionAnger over the housing crisis and the betrayal of the kiwi dream has reached high enough levels that the Prime Minister feels she has to (be seen to) do something about it. Her solution? Subsidising property sellers: While facing questions this morning, Ardern revealed the Government was looking into ...1 week ago
- New data privacy rules are coming in NZ — businesses and other organisations will have to lift the...Anca C. Yallop, Auckland University of Technology Most people these days are aware that what they share online is both valuable and vulnerable. Data privacy has become a major concern for consumers and corporations alike. The issue will come to a head when New Zealand’s Privacy Act 2020 comes into ...1 week ago
- A witch-hunt devastates the Auckland art worldNina Power is a left-wing, Marxist influenced artist. Her work often takes a class-based analysis and explores women’s oppression. She recently became the target of a vicious attack and was slanderously was called a Nazi after she wrote an essay that was part of an exhibition of 400 flags. The ...1 week ago
- Even the banks can see which way the wind is blowingJacinda Ardern has famously ruled out taxing wealth in any way, saying "not as long as I'm Prime Minister". Meanwhile, Westpac is saying that its inevitable: Rising public anger about growing inequality is likely to force the imposition of a capital gains or wealth tax in the next few ...1 week ago
- Moderna follows Pfizer with exciting vaccine news – how to read these dramatic developmentsSimon Kolstoe, University of Portsmouth It is very exciting to hear another positive story about vaccine trial results – a good vaccine is the most likely way of ending the pandemic. Last week, interim results from Pfizer suggested its vaccine reduces cases of COVID-19 with 90% efficacy. Now Moderna has ...1 week ago
- If Only We Had A Minister Of Broadcasting Worthy Of The Title.Worryingly Uninterested: Given Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi’s evident uninterest in the classic Reithian principles of public broadcasting – i.e. to educate, elevate and entertain the people – any review of his motivations for rolling-up TVNZ and RNZ into a single, state-owned broadcasting entity, leaves one fearing the worst.MORE OR LESS ...1 week ago
- Time to Stop Dodging Bullets? NZ’s Eight Recent Border Control FailuresProf Nick Wilson, Dr Leah Grout, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Prof Michael Baker There have been eight distinct border control failures in Aotearoa/NZ relating to the pandemic virus that causes COVID-19, since early August 2020, equivalent to one every two weeks. In this blog we briefly detail these failures and ...1 week ago
- Human Fingerprints on Climate Change Rule Out Natural CyclesThis post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "global warming is caused by natural cycles". It was written by Kay Huang as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. Global warming refers to ...1 week ago
- A cringe, not a crouchOver the weekend, Stuff's Henry Cooke identified the big problem with Labour: they're stuck permanently in defensive mode. And so they are unwilling to take political "risks" over things like housing, even when people are clamouring for action. Cooke's suggestion is that Labour needs to get out of its "defensive ...1 week ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #46Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Seeing Clouds Clearly: Are They Cooling Us Down or Heating Us Up? Though scientists know that clouds are critical to the climate system, ...1 week ago
- Can animals and plants adapt to global warming?This post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "animals can adapt to global warming". It was written by Finley Hay-Chapman as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. There have been five “big” mass extinction events in ...1 week ago
- A School in Good HeartA year ago, my wife and I attended the Senior Academic Prizegiving at my old school, Tauranga Boys College. I recall writing at that time a piece in which I registered how impressed we were at the evidence provided by the ceremony of a school in good heart, excellently led, ...1 week ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #462020A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 8, 2020 through Sat, Nov 14, 2020 Editor's Choice Two U.S. Oil Companies Join Their European Counterparts in Making Net-Zero Pledges Occidental Petroleum and ConocoPhillips define their net-zero goals differently, ...2 weeks ago
- Pfizer will save us from COVID!
What, this Pfizer?A team of Pfizer doctors reached the Nigerian camp just as the outbreak, which killed at least 11,000 people, was peaking. They set themselves up within metres of a medical station run by the aid group Médecins Sans Frontières, which was dispensing proven treatments to ease the epidemic.From ...2 weeks ago - Will the Coronavirus Evolve to Be Less Deadly?Wendy Orent No lethal pandemic lasts forever. The 1918 flu, for example, crisscrossed the globe and claimed tens of millions of lives, yet by 1920, the virus that caused it had become significantly less deadly, causing only ordinary seasonal flu. Some pandemics have lasted longer, like the Black Death, which ...2 weeks ago
- How much does animal agriculture and eating meat contribute to global warming?This post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "Animal agriculture account for 51% of CO2 emissions". It was written by Zack Chester as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. The three largest contributors to ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand union structure past its use by date
by Don Franks Christmas 2020 in New Zealand will for many folks be a ghastly memory of hunger and homelessness. Rumblings of protest are growing louder and more frequent. A November 6th letter to the government signed by 60 community groups shows the depth of concern. Signatories include long-standing mainstream ...2 weeks ago - Suffer the Children
Are we reducing child poverty by as much as is needed to reach the targets set by the government under the Child Poverty Reduction Act? The current indicators about the level of poverty are not very promising, but on average they really only apply for December 2018 (that is the ...2 weeks ago - You cannot believe your eyes. (The Queen’s Gambit’s visual effects are astounding.)
Like, I guess, millions of other viewers, I throughly enjoyed the Netflix 7 hour series The Queen’s Gambit. Not only was it perfectly cast and acted. The writing, the music, the costumes and sets were all amazing. The visual effects, by a company called Chicken Bone FX, were absolutely astounding. ...2 weeks ago - Tolkien’s Mad Frenchmen: Idiosophical AnalysisJoe over at https://www.idiosophy.com/ has been having some fun with the Oxford English Dictionary’s online text visualisation tool: https://oed-text-visualizer.oxfordlanguages.com/ Basically, one can input text into the tool, and it will tell you the percentage of words of Germanic or French origin. Joe has been trying out an ...2 weeks ago
- Sedition from within.
The refusal of Donald Trump and his supporters in the media and Republican Party to acknowledge his defeat in the presidential election has taken an ominous turn. What at first could be discounted as the childish petulance of a sore loser is now morphing into the makings of a constitutional ...2 weeks ago - No accountability means no confidence IIA little over a month ago, we saw two Independent Police Conduct Authority reports on egregious police behaviour which seemed criminal (and certainly would have been if you or I had done the same things). In one, a police officer trespassed on a man's property, then assaulted him with pepper ...2 weeks ago
- “We can do better”: Kelvin Davis talks tackling racism in education
"Racism exists – we feel little and bad." Those were the unprompted words of one student during an interview for the Education Matters to Me report produced by the Children’s Commissioner in 2018. ...14 hours ago - Green Party respond to Government review of housing settings
It is a positive step that the Government is looking at options to take the heat out of the housing market, and has written to the Reserve Bank to that effect, but they must be open to using all the tools available to them, Green Party Co-leader and spokesperson on ...1 day ago - Speeding up recovery: fast-tracking projects to boost jobs, build housesWe’ve announced three additional projects to go through the fast-track resource consenting process. Read below for a quick rundown of what these projects are, what the fast-tracking process means, and why the Government is using fast-tracking as one way to create jobs sooner and accelerate our economic recovery from COVID-19. ...2 days ago
- Reports of prisoner abuse show need for prisons rethink and independent oversightReports of an asthmatic woman being bombed in her cell with pepper spray, being forced to lie face down on the ground to be fed, and having to show used sanitary items to guards to receive more, shows obscene human rights violations that need addressing, Green Party Corrections and Human ...2 days ago
- Green Party announce portfolio reshuffle with talented and energised caucus teamThe Green Party Co-leaders have announced their portfolio reshuffle for the 53rd Parliament. “The Green Party caucus offers a breadth of talent and energy to the Parliament this term. In ten MPs you have a small business owner, a human rights lawyer, an academic, a climate negotiator, a transport planner, ...3 days ago
- Nearly 50 percent increase in Kiwi apprenticesAs we recover and rebuild from COVID-19, we’re investing in major shovel-ready and long-term infrastructure projects up and down the country – creating thousands of jobs in the trades nationwide. ...5 days ago
- Celebrating World Children's DayThis World Children’s Day, we’re taking a look at all the ways we’re working to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. ...5 days ago
- Report of alleged war crimes by Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan a distressing reminder of th...The Green Party strongly condemns the revelation of alleged war crimes by the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan, with an alleged unlawful killing of 39 people by 25 Special Forces personnel. ...5 days ago
- SPEECH: 10th Anniversary of Pike River tragedyTēnei te mihi ki a tātau katoa e huihui nei i tēnei rā I greet us all who are gathered here today ...6 days ago
- Greens commit to ensuring strong oceans protection this termThe Green Party will work with Labour this term to ensure better protections for our oceans, Green MP Eugenie Sage said today. ...1 week ago
- Kiwis deserve fair prices at the supermarket2020 has been a tough year. Not only has COVID-19 presented unique challenges to the way we work, play and socialise, for many Kiwis the pandemic has also meant more of a strain on the back pocket. ...1 week ago
- Auckland COVID-19 case shows need for extended sick leave before busy Christmas periodThe case of an Auckland city worker heading to work with COVID-19 symptoms shows the need for urgent extended sick leave, Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Jan Logie said today. ...1 week ago
- Meet our new MPsWondering who our new Labour MPs are? We asked our 23 new Caucus members to share a little about themselves and the experience they will be bringing to Parliament... ...2 weeks ago
- Reserve Bank policies will inevitably heat housing market, Government must implement tax reform to c...The Government must use levers to prevent further over-heating of the housing market, which will result from the Reserve Bank pumping another $28 billion into the economy in the form of cheap loans to banks. ...2 weeks ago
- Successful prosecution of Talley’s deep-water fishing division shows need for more marine protecte...Today’s ruling that Talley’s deep-water fishing division, Amaltal, is guilty of bottom trawling in the Hikurangi Marine Reserve demonstrates the need for increased fisheries enforcement and strong marine protected areas off our coasts, Green MP Eugenie Sage said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party backs calls by New Zealand charities to lift the benefit by ChristmasThe Green Party supports calls by 40 welfare and poverty organisations to increase income support payments to help lift families out of poverty before Christmas. ...2 weeks ago
- Ministers sworn in to GovernmentToday the Governor-General swore in the new Executive. ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party responds to final election results from specialsGreen Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today: “The final results are in and we’re incredibly excited to confirm our outstanding success this election. ...3 weeks ago
- Keynote address to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand conference
Speech to the CAANZ conference - November 19, 2020 Thank you, Greg, (Greg Haddon, MC) for the welcome. I’d like to acknowledge John Cuthbertson from CAANZ, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue Naomi Ferguson, former fellow MP and former Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, other guest speakers and CAANZ members. I ...10 hours ago - Expert independent advisory group appointed to strengthen the future of Māori broadcastingA panel of seven experts are adding their support to help shape the future of Māori broadcasting, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson has announced today. “Today I will meet with some of the most experienced Māori broadcasters, commentators and practitioners in the field. They have practical insights on the ...17 hours ago
- Government to review housing settingsNew Zealand’s stronger-than-expected economic performance has flowed through to housing demand, so the Government will review housing settings to improve access to the market, the Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “Our focus is on improving access to the housing market for first home buyers and ensuring house price growth ...1 day ago
- Crown accounts reflect Govt’s careful economic managementThe better-than-expected Crown accounts released today show the Government’s careful management of the COVID-19 health crisis was the right approach to support the economy. As expected, the Crown accounts for the year to June 2020 show the operating balance before gains and losses, or OBEGAL, was in deficit. However that ...1 day ago
- Community launch marks next step in addressing racism in educationThe launch of Te Hurihanganui in Porirua today is another important milestone in the work needed to address racism in the education system and improve outcomes for Māori learners and their whānau, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis says. Budget 2019 included $42 million over three years to put Te Hurihanganui ...1 day ago
- Government to consider recommendations on DNA use in criminal investigationsThe Minister of Justice has received the Law Commission’s recommending changes to the law governing the way DNA is used in criminal investigations. The report, called The Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations – Te Whahamahi I te Ira Tangata I ngā Mātai Taihara, recommends new legislation to address how ...2 days ago
- Speech to Wakatū Nelson regional hui on tradeFirst, I want to express my thanks to Te Taumata for this hui and for all the fantastic work you are doing for Māori in the trade space. In the short time that you’ve been operating you’ve already contributed an enormous amount to the conversation, and developed impressive networks. I ...2 days ago
- Speech to Primary Industries SummitThank you for the opportunity to speak to you today about the significant contribution the food and fibres sector makes to New Zealand and how this Government is supporting that effort. I’d like to start by acknowledging our co-Chairs, Terry Copeland and Mavis Mullins, my colleague, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, ...2 days ago
- Fast track referrals will speed up recovery and boost jobs and home buildingThe Government is taking action to increase jobs, speed up the economic recovery and build houses by putting three more projects through its fast track approval process. “It’s great to see that the fast-track consenting process is working. Today we have referred a mix of potential projects that, if approved, ...2 days ago
- Papakāinga provides critically needed homes in HastingsA papakāinga opened today by the Minister for Māori Development the Hon Willie Jackson will provide whānau with much needed affordable rental homes in Hastings. The four home papakāinga in Waiōhiki is the first project to be completed under the ‘Hastings Place Based’ initiative. This initiative is a Government, Hastings ...4 days ago
- New Zealand ready to host APEC virtuallyPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern took over the leadership of APEC earlier today, when she joined leaders from the 21 APEC economies virtually for the forum’s final 2020 meeting. “We look forward to hosting a fully virtual APEC 2021 next year. While this isn’t an in-person meeting, it will be one ...5 days ago
- Revival of Māori HorticulturistsThe rapid revival of Māori horticulture was unmistakeable at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards, with 2020 marking the first time this iconic Māori farming event was dedicated to horticulture enterprises. Congratulating finalists at the Awards, Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson said growing large-scale māra kai is part of Māori DNA. ...5 days ago
- Emergency benefit to help temporary visa holdersFrom 1 December, people on temporary work, student or visitor visas who can’t return home and or support themselves may get an Emergency Benefit from the Ministry of Social Development, Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced today. Previously, temporary visa holders in hardship because of COVID-19 have had ...5 days ago
- School sustainability projects to help boost regional economiesForty one schools from the Far North to Southland will receive funding for projects that will reduce schools’ emissions and save them money, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This is the second round of the Sustainability Contestable Fund, and work will begin immediately. The first round announced in April ...5 days ago
- Farmer-led projects to improve water health in Canterbury and OtagoMore than $6 million will be spent on helping farmers improve the health of rivers, wetlands, and habitat biodiversity in Canterbury and Otago, as well as improving long-term land management practices, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Four farmer-led catchment group Jobs for Nature projects have between allocated between $176,000 and ...5 days ago
- Tupu Aotearoa continues expansion to Pacific communities in Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman & Northl...Pacific communities in Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman and Northland will benefit from the expansion of the Tupu Aotearoa programme announced today by the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. The programme provides sustainable employment and education pathways and will be delivered in partnership with three providers in Northland and two ...6 days ago
- New primary school and classrooms for 1,200 students in South IslandEducation Minister Chris Hipkins unveiled major school building projects across the South Island during a visit to Waimea College in Nelson today. It’s part of the Government’s latest investment of $164 million to build new classrooms and upgrade schools around the country. “Investments like this gives the construction industry certainty ...6 days ago
- Minister of Māori Development pays tribute to Rudy TaylorToday the Minister of Māori Development, alongside other Government Ministers and MP’s said their final farewells to Nga Puhi Leader Rudy Taylor. “Rudy dedicated his life to the betterment of Māori, and his strong approach was always from the ground up, grassroots, sincere and unfaltering” “Over the past few ...6 days ago
- Prime Minister to attend APEC Leaders’ SummitPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern will attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and associated events virtually today and tomorrow. “In a world where we cannot travel due to COVID-19, continuing close collaboration with our regional partners is key to accelerating New Zealand’s economic recovery,” Jacinda Ardern said. “There is wide ...6 days ago
- Speech to Infrastructure NZ SymposiumTena Koutou, Tena Koutou and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. This is a critical time for New Zealand as we respond to the damage wreaked by the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital that investment in our economic recovery is well thought through, and makes ...6 days ago
- Pike River 10 Year Anniversary Commemorative ServiceTēnei te mihi ki a tātau katoa e huihui nei i tēnei rā Ki a koutou ngā whānau o te hunga kua riro i kōnei – he mihi aroha ki a koutou Ki te hapori whānui – tēnā koutou Ki ngā tāngata whenua – tēnā koutou Ki ngā mate, e ...6 days ago
- Huge investment in new and upgraded classrooms to boost construction jobsAround 7,500 students are set to benefit from the Government’s latest investment of $164 million to build new classrooms and upgrade schools around the country. “The election delivered a clear mandate to accelerate our economic recovery and build back better. That’s why we are prioritising construction projects in schools so more ...6 days ago
- Keeping Pike River Mine promises 10 years onTen years after the Pike River Mine tragedy in which 29 men lost their lives while at work, a commemorative service at Parliament has honoured them and their legacy of ensuring all New Zealand workplaces are safe. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended the event, along with representatives of the Pike ...6 days ago
- Additional testing to strengthen border and increase safety of workersNew testing measures are being put in place to increase the safety of border workers and further strengthen New Zealand’s barriers against COVID-19, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “These strengthened rules – to apply to all international airports and ports – build on the mandatory testing orders we’ve ...6 days ago
- More public housing delivered in AucklandThe Government’s investment in public housing is delivering more warm, dry homes with today’s official opening of 82 new apartments in New Lynn by the Housing Minister Megan Woods. The Thom Street development replaces 16 houses built in the 1940s, with brand new fit-for-purpose public housing that is in high ...7 days ago
- Agreement advanced to purchase up to 5 million COVID-19 vaccinesThe Government has confirmed an in-principle agreement to purchase up to 5 million COVID-19 vaccines – enough for 5 million people – from Janssen Pharmaceutica, subject to the vaccine successfully completing clinical trials and passing regulatory approvals in New Zealand, says Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods. “This agreement ...7 days ago
- Jobs for Nature funding will leave a conservation legacy for Waikanae awaNinety-two jobs will be created to help environmental restoration in the Waikanae River catchment through $8.5 million of Jobs for Nature funding, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan announced today. “The new funding will give a four-year boost to the restoration of the Waikanae awa, and is specifically focussed on restoration through ...7 days ago
- New Dunedin Hospital project progresses to next stageAs the new Dunedin Hospital project progresses, the Government is changing the oversight group to provide more technical input, ensure continued local representation, and to make sure lessons learnt from Dunedin benefit other health infrastructure projects around the country. Concept design approval and the release of a tender for early ...7 days ago
- Jump in apprentice and trainee numbersThe number of New Zealanders taking up apprenticeships has increased nearly 50 percent, and the number of female apprentices has more than doubled. This comes as a Government campaign to raise the profile of vocational education and training (VET) begins. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced ...1 week ago
- ReBuilding Nations Symposium 2020 (Infrastructure NZ Conference opening session)Tena koutou katoa and thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. Can I acknowledge Ngarimu Blair, Ngati Whatua, and Mayor Phil Goff for the welcome. Before I start with my substantive comments, I do want to acknowledge the hard work it has taken by everyone to ensure ...1 week ago
- New Zealand's biosecurity champions honouredBiosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor has paid tribute to the winners of the 2020 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards. “These are the people and organisations who go above and beyond to protect Aotearoa from pests and disease to ensure our unique way of life is sustained for future generations,” Damien O’Connor says. ...1 week ago
- Tourism Industry Aotearoa Conferencespeech to Tourism Industry Aotearoa annual summit Te Papa, Wellington Introduction Nau mai, haere mai Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, Ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou. Thank you Tourism Industry Aotearoa for hosting today’s Summit. In particular, my acknowledgements to TIA Chair Gráinne Troute and Chief Executive Chris Roberts. You ...1 week ago
- Supermarkets announced as Government’s second market studyThe Government has today launched a market study to ensure New Zealanders are paying a fair price for groceries. “Supermarkets are an integral part of our communities and economy, so it’s important to ensure that Kiwis are getting a fair deal at the checkout,” Minister of Commerce and Consumer ...1 week ago
- Masks to be worn on Auckland public transport and all domestic flightsMasks will need to be worn on all public transport in Auckland and in and out of Auckland and on domestic flights throughout the country from this Thursday, Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins said today. “I will be issuing an Order under the COVID-19 Response Act requiring the wearing ...1 week ago
- New Zealand signs Regional Comprehensive Economic PartnershipIncrease to New Zealand’s GDP by around $2 billion each year Increase opportunities for NZ exporters to access regional markets Cuts red tape and offers one set of trade rules across the Asia Pacific region New government procurement, competition policy and electronic commerce offers NZ exporters increased business opportunities Prime ...1 week ago
- Minister acknowledges students as exams beginEducation Minister Chris Hipkins has recognised the extraordinary challenges students have faced this year, ahead of NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams which begin on Monday. “I want to congratulate students for their hard work during a year of unprecedented disruption, and I wish students all the best as ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister meets with key ASEAN and East Asia Summit partnersPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern today attended the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit and discussed with Leaders a range of shared challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, including: The ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic; The importance of working collectively to accelerate economic recovery; and Exploring further opportunities for partners to work more ...2 weeks ago
- Veterans Affairs Summit held in KoreaA Ministerial Summit on Veterans’ Affairs was held in the Republic of Korea this week. Ministers with veteran responsibilities were invited from all 22 countries that had been part of the United Nations Forces during the Korean War (1950 – 1953). The Summit marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak ...2 weeks ago
- Clear direction set for the education system, skills prioritisedThe Government has released a set of priorities for early learning through to tertiary education and lifelong learning to build a stronger, fairer education system that delivers for all New Zealanders. “The election delivered a clear mandate from New Zealanders to accelerate our plan to reduce inequalities and make more ...2 weeks ago
- A Progressive AgendaSpeech to the Climate Change + Business Conference, November 12, 2020 Tena koutou katoa Thank you for inviting me to speak here today. It is great to see us all come together for a common cause: to redefine our future in the face of unprecedented times. Covid-19 and climate change are ...2 weeks ago
- Officials’ engagement with China especially important in tense times: Morrison
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has encouraged federal public servants to engage with their Chinese counterparts, saying these are important connections particularly given the tensions in the bilateral relationship. Answering a question during a virtual forum on Wednesday ...50 mins ago - Stop funding military repression in Papua, plead TAPOL speakersPacific Media Centre Newsdesk Campaigners at a TAPOL-hosted global webinar have called on the people of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and other countries to stop funding military training for Indonesian security forces who are “killing innocent West Papuans”. Rosa Moiwend, a member of the War Resisters International, ...3 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: two views on increasing the super contributionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The increase in the compulsory superannuation contribution, legislated to rise next July from 9.5% to 10%, is being fiercely debated following the release of the retirement income report. In this podcast we hear the views ...3 hours ago
- Victoria is boosting disability support in schools by A$1.6 billion. Here are 4 ways to make the mos...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Armstrong, Senior Lecturer in Special and Inclusive Education, RMIT University The Victorian government has announced an investment of nearly A$1.6 billion for public schools to ensure students with disability are supported in the classroom. The money will double the number of ...6 hours ago
- Humans are polluting the environment with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and I’m finding them ever...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Power, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Many of us are aware of the enormous threat of antibiotic- (or “antimicrobial”) resistant bacteria on human health. But few realise just how pervasive these superbugs are — antimicrobial-resistant bacteria ...6 hours ago
- Wikipedia Homepage Exposure For New MPs
The new Parliament will have its first sitting day on Wednesday and Aotearoa will welcome 42 new MPs. Wikipedia will mark this event by featuring 19 of those new MPs on its homepage ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page ) from 1pm on Wednesday ...7 hours ago - We asked over 2,000 Australian parents how they fared in lockdown. Here’s what they saidSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Subhadra Evans, Senior lecturer, Psychology, Deakin University Parents have faced unprecedented stress during the pandemic as they care for children while juggling paid work from home. However, very little research so far has focused on family well-being during the pandemic. So we ...7 hours ago
- Review: Netflix’s Hillbilly Elegy is an ugly, empty holler of a film
What happens if you take a personal memoir and strip it of everything that made it unique? You get Hillbilly Elegy.The opening line of J.D Vance’s 2016 sleeper hit memoir Hillbilly Elegy is “I find the existence of the book you hold in your hands somewhat absurd.” While that’s a ...7 hours ago - Grainne Moss clings on as Crown admits structural racism
Grainne Moss admits the Crown has failed to stamp out structural racism within its state care systems - but claims she's going nowhere as Māori ministers are at odds over her future Beleaguered Oranga Tamariki chief executive Grainne Moss has delivered an historic apology for structural racism within the child protection ...7 hours ago - The tricky timing of constitutional change
After musing about extending the Parliamentary term to four years, the Government now has to decide whether to take the matter any further, and if so, by what means. ...7 hours ago - Ethical fashion is confusing — even shoppers with good intentions get overwhelmedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harriette Richards, Honorary (Fellow) Cultural Studies, University of Melbourne As Australian consumers step out of their loungewear post-lockdown, many might be looking to buy new clothes for themselves or as gifts. Whether you’re buying sweatpants or sequins, online or in-store, ethical fashion ...8 hours ago
- New Police Minister Must Face Toughest Political TestThe new Police Minister Poto Williams is preparing for a test that will define her political career; a Royal Commission that could conclude there were fundamental failings in the Police Department and could expose attempts at misdirection over those failings. ...8 hours ago
- NZ urgently needs to find workers to avoid a picking season disasterThe Covid border restrictions might be saving lives but they’re also threatening the livelihoods of New Zealand farmers, unless a way can be found to allow Pacific Island seasonal workers to return and pick the crops, writes AUT business lecturer Swati NagarSince its inception in 2007, the Recognised Seasonal Employer ...8 hours ago
- New Conservative deputy quits one week in, deepening leadership tumultThe fallout continues from the post-election leadership change in the New Conservatives, with deputy leader and firearms spokesperson Victoria O’Brien quitting after less than a week in the job. Alex Braae reports.On Thursday last week, new New Conservative leader Elliot Ikilei was hailing the rise of his deputy Victoria O’Brien. ...9 hours ago
- Yes santa is completely made up, but he can’t be… y’know… brownWhy does the idea of a brown santa get people so riled up? Comedian Janaye Henry gets in the Christmas spirit.There are cultural traditions that are passed down lovingly from generation to generation, that teach us about who we are and celebrate our unique way of life, and then there ...10 hours ago
- At Home Or At Work, Violence Is Never OK – Ratify ILO Convention 190New Zealand has the highest rate of domestic violence per capita in the developed world, and the second highest rate of workplace bullying. The Public Service Association says this plague of violence - physical, verbal and emotional - must be addressed ...10 hours ago
- Davis launches transformative programme to shake racism (and colonialism) out of our education syste...
The Maori component of the PM’s ministerial team was busy yesterday, delivering speeches and/or making announcements of concern particularly to around 15% of the country’s population. Rino Tirikatane, Associate Minister of Trade and Export Growth, talked trade to a Wakatū Nelson regional hui. The event was organised by Te ...10 hours ago - NZ needs a plan to help migrant workers pick fruit and veg, or prices will soar and farms go bustSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Swati Nagar, Lecturer, International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Auckland University of Technology The COVID border restrictions might be saving lives but they’re also threatening the livelihoods of New Zealand farmers, unless a way can be found to allow Pacific Island seasonal workers ...11 hours ago
- Thailand at a critical juncture with pro-democracy protesters again set to clash with policeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavan Butler, Honorary Associate in Political Economy, University of Sydney Throughout 2020, there have been vocal and highly visible protests in Thailand against the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the 2014 coup against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. He then became ...12 hours ago
- A new curriculum for a new normalEvery year high school biology teachers gather to learn the latest in science. This year there’s a lot to catch up on, Maurice Wilkins Centre organisers Rachel Heeney and Dave Grattan tell The Spinoff.Last year, terms like “elimination strategy”, “flatten the curve” and “sustained transmission” were foreign to the majority ...12 hours ago
- Heads Should Roll Over IRD’s Undermining Of KiwisaverThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for the sacking of Inland Revenue bosses responsible for costly delays in transferring Kiwisaver contributions to fund managers, saying the poor performance ‘undermines’ Kiwisaver. Union spokesman ...12 hours ago
- Ardern and Biden keen to work together as US restores its relationships with world agenciesPM Jacinda Adern’s cordial exchange with President-elect Joe Biden went far better than anyone dared hope. Both sides were pleased. As one US official said, they are certainly kindred spirits. Biden wants to “reinvigorate” the US-NZ relationship which, considering the heights it reached under former Foreign Minister Winston Peters, means ...13 hours ago
- Why couldn’t it happen here?Donald Trump has grudgingly accepted that preparations for a White House transition should commence, after weeks of crying fraud, mounting spurious legal challenges and attempting, in effect, a coup d’état. However hapless and distant it might seem, is there the potential for a similar breakdown in New Zealand? Duncan Greive ...13 hours ago
- Vital Firearm Licensing Answers ExpectedFirearm owners targeted by last year’s law changes expect the Royal Commission’s report into the Christchurch Mosque shootings will deliver answers on a vital matter avoided by the Police and Government for nearly two years; how Tarrant got his licence ...14 hours ago
- New Zealand Government, Media Downplay Australian War Crimes In AfghanistanTom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 24 November 2020, original url: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/11/24/nzaf-n24.html An official report documenting war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan, including the killing of at least 39 civilians and prisoners, released on November ...14 hours ago
- New Zealand's Financial System Supported By Health, Fiscal And Monetary Policy ResponsesTēnā koutou katoa, welcome all. The Reserve Bank – Te Pūtea Matua has used its monetary policy and regulatory tools in unison to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 to achieve the best outcomes for the economy and financial stability. ...15 hours ago
- Royal Commission Report Delay Unacceptable“The Government’s decision to delay the release of the Royal Commission report into the Christchurch terror attacks is unacceptable”, says ACT’s Firearms Reform Spokesperson Nicole McKee. “The report has been finished and will be delivered ...15 hours ago
- Language, and more: The challenges for kura Māori students arriving at universityRaiha Cook grew up attending kura Māori, but when she decided to study at the University of Otago she found the move from te ao Māori to European-style learning difficult. Now she’s researching that transition to help make it easier for students to feel safe at mainstream universities.Set in the ...15 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – November 25 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Housing Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Why Grant Robertson’s letter to Adrian Orr is a big deal and what happens next Spinoff: Grant Robertson v Adrian Orr: those letters, decoded Richard Harman: Robertson considering crackdown ...15 hours ago
- Bad reactions to the COVID vaccine will be rare, but Australians deserve a proper compensation schem...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Senior Lecturer, University of Western Australia This week brings more good news on the vaccination front, with reports that yet another COVID-19 vaccine trial has produced encouraging results. According to the federal government, Australia is “on track” to administer the ...16 hours ago
- One of Australia’s most famous beaches is disappearing, and storms aren’t to blame. So what’s ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Murray, Research Fellow (Coastal Management), Griffith University Storms or tropical cyclones usually get the blame when Australia’s beaches suffer severe erosion. But on the New South Wales north coast at Byron Bay, another force is at play. Over the past six ...16 hours ago
- When health workers came up against COVID it laid bare gaps in their trainingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jed Montayre, Senior Lecturer (Nursing), Western Sydney University COVID-19 turned 2020 on its head for all healthcare workers, particularly those at the front line of the pandemic response. Unexpectedly, the need to control the spread of the coronavirus has consumed healthcare systems. ...16 hours ago
- So you think economic downturns cost lives? Our findings show they don’tSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kadir Atalay, Associate Professor in Economics, University of Sydney Throughout the coronavirus recession we’ve been told there’s a balancing act when it comes to lives. On one hand, lockdowns save lives by limiting the spread of coronavirus. On the other, they are ...16 hours ago
- I studied 5,000 phone images: objects were more popular than people, but women took way more selfiesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Media, Queensland University of Technology Though we take a staggering number of photos each year (an estimated 1.43 trillion in 2020), we share relatively few of these and are using our cameras in different ...16 hours ago
- Live updates, November 25: Six businesses visited by Air NZ Covid-19 case revealedWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for November 25. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.30am: Resene shop closes, other sites of interest visited by Air NZ crew member revealedThis story came out about 9pm last night, but in case you missed it:Auckland Regional Public Health Service has announced further information about sites ...17 hours ago
- Pacific tourism is desperate for a vaccine and travel freedoms, but the industry must learn from thi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Apisalome Movono, Senior Lecturer in Development Studies, Massey University News of successful COVID-19 vaccine trials has raised hopes in the Pacific that the hard-hit tourism industry will begin to re-open in 2021. Even before the vaccine announcements, there was excitement in the ...17 hours ago
- Oranga Tamariki chief expected to quit
There are strong signals the chief executive of the children's ministry's time in charge is over, just days after another damning report on its 'unfixable' failings. The head of Oranga Tamariki, Grainne Moss, is believed to be leaving the role after a year of widespread controversy and public inquiries into her ...17 hours ago - The Bulletin: Pepper spray, solitary confinement incidents show prison cultureGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Shocking incidents show prison culture, exchange of letters over monetary policy more exciting than it sounds, and Auckland locations close over Covid warning.A shocking story from Auckland Women’s Prison that raises questions about whether prisoners are being treated humanely. Radio NZ’s ...17 hours ago
- Orr defends approach tackling inflation amid runaway house prices
The Reserve Bank Governor says his anti-inflation focus is already doing what the government seeks, while an economist says adding house prices into the Reserve Bank's tool box may not make much of a difference. ...18 hours ago - Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr defends approach tackling inflation amid runaway house pricesAdrian Orr says his anti-inflation focus is already doing what the government seeks, while an economist says adding house prices into the Reserve Bank's tool box may not make much of a difference. ...18 hours ago
- Show me the money! Okay here it is
Auckland novelist Kirsten McKenzie on making pretty bloody good money as a self-published author New Zealand authors very rarely talk about writing their income as anything near a liveable wage. Advances are small, the standard 10 percent royalty rate doesn't add up to much for a run of 3000 book sales, ...19 hours ago - Smokefree NZ – if not now, when?
Now is the time to demonstrate that the leadership seen during the pandemic can also be shown to address the other great public health challenges facing Aotearoa, write the University of Otago's Richard Edwards, Janet Hoek and Andrew Waa For most people, 2020 was a year of considerable challenges as the ...19 hours ago - 'You're a Kiwi if you call NZ home'
Dr Bronwyn Wood reflects on what 'being a Kiwi' in an increasingly multicultural New Zealand means today Being a Kiwi is often associated with eating Pavlova, wearing gumboots and watching the All Blacks play rugby. But given the rapid growth in immigration in the past 20 years – to the ...19 hours ago - We are locked in our cars, but there's a way out
The car lobby has used the same dodgy and manipulative techniques as the tobacco lobby to keep people dependent on their product ...19 hours ago - NZ needs a 'digital twin' to help plan its infrastructure
Imagine walking through a virtual model of the whole of New Zealand? That's the call from prominent engineering firm Beca – and now the government needs to step up. Groundbreaking interactive tools to help communities plan south Auckland parks or the Dunedin waterfront renewal are providing models for a much ...19 hours ago - Kiwi dollar pushes through US 70c
As the Government seeks help from the Reserve Bank on the housing market, the prospect of interest rates going negative recedes further and the value of the kiwi dollar continues climbing ...19 hours ago - Can we take the Dutch approach to flooding?
As flood waters subsided in Napier, Dutch Water Ambassador Henk Ovink spoke with Newsroom about adapting for climate change and the value of our freshwater resources. ...19 hours ago - The battle for a prized piece of ocean
Aquaculture company NZ King Salmon sees open ocean farming as the way to significantly increase its production, but its plans are running into a strong tide of opposition For anyone with a connection to the Marlborough Sounds, the news of plans for another NZ King Salmon farm is cause for concern. The company ...19 hours ago - From Here to Maternity: Who loves ya, baby?
When athletes fall pregnant while they're still at the height of their careers, who helps take care of them? Are sports looking after their mum athletes - or are they doing it solo? Suzanne McFadden finds out in part three of our series From Here to Maternity. In the past few ...19 hours ago - Govt puts target on RBNZ's back with housing call
The Government pushes the Reserve Bank to focus on house prices - will it play ball, and will that really make a difference? ...19 hours ago - Is our mental health approach in need of a rewrite?In the final episode of the first season of Conversations That Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take, we discuss and dissect the way that Aotearoa talks about mental wellbeing.Content warning: this episode contains extensive discussions of mental health, including brief mentions of suicide and abuse.It goes without saying that New ...19 hours ago
- Grant Robertson v Adrian Orr: those letters, decodedThe New Zealand housing crisis, and how to tackle it, took epistolary form yesterday in letters from the finance minister and the Reserve Bank governor. We read between the lines.Yesterday the finance minister, Grant Robertson, penned a letter to the governor of the Reserve Bank, Adrian Orr, on the subject ...19 hours ago
- No, C-section babies don’t do worse at school – now quit the birth shamingA new study of NZ children has found no link between birth type and test scores. That’s no surprise, says Emily Writes, so why do many new mums still have to put up with being judged?While pregnant with my first baby and attending antenatal classes, I was introduced to a ...19 hours ago
- RCEP – new deal, new rules
Is the RCEP trade deal just another acronym to learn or will it offer New Zealand some real gains? New Zealand has signed on to the world's largest trade deal - which sounds great as a headline - but exactly how we’ll benefit is less clear. This month, 15 countries - ...19 hours ago - ‘Virtual’ ALP national conference will maximise stage managementSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Labor party will hold its national conference “virtually”, before Easter next year, Anthony Albanese has announced. The conference had been due to happen in Canberra next month but was put off due to COVID. ...1 day ago
- Opening of Parliament: Blow-by-blow run-down of the eventsThe House - We've had an election, we have a government, and on Wednesday we complete the set with a Parliament. Here's what happens this week. ...1 day ago
- Can Reserve Bank dampen an inflamed housing market?Analysis - The government is asking the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) to change from arsonist to firefighter in the housing market, RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford writes. ...1 day ago
- AstraZeneca’s results signal more good vaccine news — but efficacy is only the beginning of the ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Wood, Associate Professor, Discipline of Childhood and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney AstraZeneca has become the latest pharmaceutical company to reveal promising results in clinical trials, for its viral vector vaccine developed with the University of Oxford. In a group given ...1 day ago
- Solidarity groups rally in support of Mā’ohi independence leader TemaruCOMMENT: By Ena Manuireva and Tony Fala in AucklandTomorrow – November 25 – is D-Day for Tahitian pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru’s trial in New Caledonia and advocates and activists across the Pacific are rallying in his support against the “colonial actions” taken by the French administration. Temaru requested this postponed ...1 day ago
- Blogger Boso to file legal challenge to Sogavare over Facebook banBy Robert Iroga in Honiara A legal challenge will be filed in the High Court this week in a bid to block the Solomon Islands government’s decision to temporarily ban Facebook from the country. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced yesterday in Parliament that his government would push ahead with the ...1 day ago
- A hard day to be wahine MāoriLeonie Hayden gets in her feelings about a shitty day for Māori women.There are days in my job where I feel nothing but hopeful. Like when I think about the work being done by Nuku100, telling the stories of 100 indigenous women. Or I get to wānanga with Donna Kerridge ...1 day ago
- Hating on the Woodville Pizza guy won’t fix a problem that was entirely foreseeableSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma Beale, PhD Candidate, Flinders University Over the course of a single week South Australia was plunged into one of the world’s strictest, and briefest, lockdowns. The drama, estimated to have cost the state’s economy A$100 million, came down to pizza – ...1 day ago
- Saying more with less: 4 ways grammatical metaphor improves academic writingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinh To, Lecturer in English Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Tasmania Young children often write as they speak. But the way we speak and the way we write isn’t quite the same. When we speak, we often use many clauses (which include ...1 day ago
- Ngāti Ruanui: Oranga Tamariki Not Delivering On Iwi PartnershipTe Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui, having cautiously entered into a partnership with Oranga Tamariki to return tamariki to their whānau, are raising serious concerns of the stonewalling by Oranga Tamariki. Despite establishing a section 396 accreditation ...1 day ago
- Grant Robertson today moved to ‘reset the clock’ on housing. Can it work?The government has conceded that soaring house prices are increasing inequality and poverty, and the finance minister wants the Reserve Bank to do something about it. Justin Giovannetti writes from parliament.There’s been an invisible wall down the centre of Bowen Street in Wellington for a generation. On one side is ...1 day ago
- Minister Michael Wood not ruling out matching minimum wage with living wageThe workplace relations minister is not ruling out lifting the minimum wage in line with the living wage. ...1 day ago
- Reserve Bank Response To Letter From Minister Of FinanceThe Reserve Bank – Te Pūtea Matua has responded to the letter from Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, sent on 24 November 2020. A copy of the letter is available on our website. More information: Copy of letter from Governor Adrian Orr ...1 day ago
- News of the collapse of the Grocon empire is greatly exaggeratedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide Grocon, the Australian construction empire that grew from the family concreting business started by Luigi Grollo in Melbourne in 1948, is on its last legs. But Grocon, the privately held property development empire ...1 day ago
- NSW law reform report misses chance to institute ‘yes means yes’ in sexual consent casesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Crowe, Professor of Law, Bond University The New South Wales Law Reform Commission has released its recommendations for reform of the state’s sexual consent laws. After a process lasting more than two-and-a-half years, the report is a disappointment to survivors and ...1 day ago
- My favourite detective: Sam Spade, as hard as nails and the smartest guy in the roomSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Sparkes, Senior Lecturer (Media Studies and Production), University of Southern Queensland In a new series, writers pay tribute to fictional detectives on page and on screen. Hard-boiled doesn’t come close to describing Sam Spade. He’s the original Private Investigator on ...1 day ago
- Worried about COVID risk on a flight? Here’s what you can do to protect yourself — and how airli...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ramon Zenel Shaban, Clinical Chair and Professor of Infection Prevention and Disease Control at the University of Sydney, University of Sydney Airline travel health advice has so far mostly focused on how to stay hydrated and avoid deep vein thrombosis. What passengers ...1 day ago
- Compton Calls For Royal Commission On Local GovernmentCouncillor Gwynn Compton has written to parties from across Parliament calling on them to work together to establish a Royal Commission on Local Government in order to overhaul the sector so it is fit for purpose as it struggles to deal with numerous ...1 day ago
- Believe the hype: What the hell is Hyperfibre?This month Chorus launched its new Hyperfibre service across most of the country. How fast does it go? And what does it mean for New Zealand’s digital future? The Spinoff spoke to Kurt Rodgers, Chorus network strategist, to find out. OK, ‘Hyperfibre’. What is it? Simply put, Hyperfibre is ultra-fast – like, ...1 day ago
- When you’re tired of talking, writing and living racismMāori journalists are used to receiving racist messages. Sometimes you get one that just hits different, writes Te Aniwa Hurihanganui for RNZ.Content warning: contains violent racist language.I shouldn’t have been checking my work emails. It was a Saturday night and I was in my favourite place, my grandparents’ house, where ...1 day ago
- Local Govt Workers’ Union Supports Repeal Of Racist Māori Ward LegislationThe Public Service Association supports Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s plans to repeal racist provisions in the Local Electoral Act that obstruct the creation of Māori wards. The Minister’s plans acquired new significance this week when ...1 day ago
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