Daily Review 06/09/2017
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5:30 pm, September 6th, 2017 - 29 comments
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- Whither the Media?
The ownership of newspapers and televison channels is in turmoil, and they want to redisorganise public broadcasting. *Three years ago, I expressed concern in a column about the future of the (traditional) media. Nothing has happened since to reduce the concern. It was based on an earlier column which ...20 hours ago - A victory for freedom of information in Australia
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SATURDAY MAY 30Six60: Live at Western Springs 2020 (TVNZ 1, 8.45pm). Remember live concerts? The day will come again, friends, when we will be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in an uncomfortable sweaty venue with people we don’t know. It will happen. Sometimes the sound of concerts drifts over to the ...1 day ago - Josephine Varghese: Impressed by Jacinda Ardern’s leadership during the pandemic? Meet K.K. Shaila...
New Zealand and its prime minister Jacinda Ardern have received international attention and praise, rightly so, for decisive leadership, clear communication and scientific management of the coronavirus pandemic. Observers point out that the nation has been through multiple crises under Ardern’s leadership – such as the Christchurch terrorist attack and ...1 day ago - While we were locked down…
…a lot of things unrelated to the pandemic were happening. Relatively little attention was given to some major events on the global stage, so I thought I would do a quick recap of some of the high (or low) -lights, starting with something familiar. The common theme throughout is human ...1 day ago - Labour’s MuldoonismLabour's talk of gutting the RMA to push through "shovel ready" projects to boost employment after the pandemic predictably has every half-arsed pipe-dream crawling out of the woodwork demanding special treatment. Today, it's the West Coast inbreds, who are demanding a host of laws be rescinded so they can dig ...1 day ago
- Poisonous Legacy: Why George Floyd Could Be Choked While The Whole World Watched.
1 day ago - Don’t ask, don’t tellSince the government announced its pandemic wage subsidy, there have been regular stories about companies taking it and then sacking or refusing to pay their workers - essentially committing fraud. But how often does this happen? The Minister just doesn't want to know: Government ministers are not receiving up to ...1 day ago
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- Muller off to a shaky start
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Dane Giraud from The Free Speech Coalition talks with Redline writer and editor Daphna Whitmore on cancel culture, gender ideology, postmodernism and irrationalism. They look at the free speech implications of issues like the Twitter mob, the Government’s proposed emergency police powers, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Free Speech interview ...1 week ago- Why we need to focus on increased consumption as much as population growth
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Today’s content National Party leadership challenge, Newshub/Reid Research poll Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Todd Muller, Nikki Kaye to challenge for National Party leadership – source 1News: Simon Bridges acknowledges coup attempt within his own party after disastrous poll Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Simon Bridges to face National Party leadership challenge Jamie Ensor (Newshub): MPs will challenge for ...1 week ago- The Virus and The Election
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- Nurses to get more protection, added to ‘First Responders’ legislationDarroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Law and Order Spokesperson An amendment to the ‘Protection of First Responders Bill’ is being tabled which will see emergency department healthcare workers included in the legislation. “During this COVID-19 crisis we have seen reports of violence and specifically increased incidents of spitting towards ...3 weeks ago
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- Govt supports King Country farmers to lift freshwater quality
Healthier waterways are front and centre in a new project involving more than 300 King Country sheep, beef and dairy farmers. The Government is investing $844,000 in King Country River Care, a group that helps farmers to lift freshwater quality and farming practice, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Yesterday ...1 day ago - Support for arts and music sector recoveryA jobseekers programme for the creative sector and four new funds have been set up by the Government to help our arts and music industry recover from the blow of COVID-19. Thousands of jobs will be supported through today’s $175 million package in a crucial economic boost to support the ...1 day ago
- Legislative changes to support the wellbeing of veterans and their familiesMinister for Veterans Ron Mark has welcomed the First Reading of a Bill that will make legislative changes to further improve the veterans’ support system. The Veterans’ Support Amendment Bill No 2, which will amend the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, passed First Reading today. The bill addresses a number of ...1 day ago
- Christ Church Cathedral – Order in CouncilViews sought on Order in Council to help fast track the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Hon Poto Williams, will be seeking public written comment, following Cabinet approving the drafting of an Order in Council aimed at fast-tracking the reinstatement of the ...1 day ago
- New Zealanders’ human rights better protected in new BillThe law setting out New Zealanders’ basic civil and human rights is today one step towards being strengthened following the first reading of a Bill that requires Parliament to take action if a court says a statute undermines those rights. At present, a senior court can issue a ‘declaration of ...2 days ago
- Deep concern at Hong Kong national security legislationForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today reiterated the deep concern of the New Zealand Government following confirmation by China’s National People’s Congress of national security legislation relating to Hong Kong. “New Zealand shares the international community’s significant and long-standing stake in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand ...2 days ago
- Government invests in New Zealand’s cultural recoveryThousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and heritage organisations have been given much-needed support to recover from the impact of COVID-19, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern announced today. “The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic,” Jacinda ...2 days ago
- Better protection for New Zealand assets during COVID-19 crisisKey New Zealand assets will be better protected from being sold to overseas owners in a way contrary to the national interest, with the passage of the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Bill. The Bill, which passed its third reading in Parliament today, also cuts unnecessary red tape to help attract ...2 days ago
- Cleaning up our rivers and lakesSetting higher health standards at swimming spots Requiring urban waterways to be cleaned up and new protections for urban streams Putting controls on higher-risk farm practices such as winter grazing and feed lots Setting stricter controls on nitrogen pollution and new bottom lines on other measures of waterway health Ensuring ...2 days ago
- Record year for diversity on Govt boardsThe Government is on the verge of reaching its target of state sector boards and committees made up of at least 50 percent women, says Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter and Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa. For the first time, the Government stocktake measures the number of Māori, ...2 days ago
- New appointments to the Commerce CommissionThe Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister and Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, has today announced the appointment of Tristan Gilbertson as the new Telecommunications Commissioner and member of the Commerce Commission. “Mr Gilbertson has considerable experience in the telecommunications industry and a strong reputation amongst his peers,” ...2 days ago
- Historic pay equity settlement imminent for teacher aidesThe Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do. “Teacher aides are frontline ...3 days ago
- Govt delivers security for construction subcontractorsSubcontractors will have greater certainty, more cashflow support and job security with new changes to retention payments under the Construction Contracts Act says Minister for Building and Construction, Jenny Salesa. A recent review of the retentions money regime showed that most of the building and construction sector is complying with ...3 days ago
- New Zealand and Singapore reaffirm tiesPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have marked the first anniversary of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership with a virtual Leaders’ Meeting today. The Enhanced Partnership, signed on 17 May 2019, provides the framework for cooperation across the four main areas of trade, defence and ...3 days ago
- JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE ON THE FIRST AN...On 17 May 2019, New Zealand and Singapore established an Enhanced Partnership to elevate our relations. The Enhanced Partnership – based on the four pillars of trade and economics, security and defence, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links – has seen the long-standing relationship between our countries strengthen over the ...3 days ago
- Government investment supports the acquisition of new Interislander ferriesState-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters has welcomed KiwiRail’s announcement that it is seeking a preferred shipyard to build two new rail-enabled ferries for the Cook Strait crossing. “This Government is committed to restoring rail to its rightful place in New Zealand. Bigger, better ships, with new technology are yet another ...3 days ago
- Better protection for seabirdsBetter protection for seabirds is being put in place with a new National Plan of Action to reduce fishing-related captures, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 outlines our commitment to reduce fishing-related captures and associated seabird ...3 days ago
- Milestone in cash flow support to SMEsAlmost $1 billion in interest-free loans for small businesses More than 55,000 businesses have applied; 95% approved Average loan approx. $17,300 90% of applications from firms with ten or fewer staff A wide cross-section of businesses have applied, the most common are the construction industry, accommodation providers, professional firms, and ...3 days ago
- Government protects kids as smoking in cars ban becomes lawThousands of children will have healthier lungs after the Government’s ban on smoking in cars with kids becomes law, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. This comes after the third reading of Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill earlier today. “This law makes it ...4 days ago
- Parliament returns to a safe normalThe special Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) has successfully concluded its role, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said today. The committee was set up on 25 March by the agreement of Parliament to scrutinise the Government and its actions while keeping people safe during levels 4 and 3 of lockdown. ...4 days ago
- Foreign Minister makes four diplomatic appointmentsForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced four diplomatic appointments: New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium, High Commissioners to Nauru and Niue, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “As the world seeks to manage and then recover from COVID-19, our diplomatic and trade networks are more important than ever,” Mr Peters said. “The ...4 days ago
- New Bill to counter violent extremism onlineNew Zealanders will be better protected from online harm through a Bill introduced to Parliament today, says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “The internet brings many benefits to society but can also be used as a weapon to spread harmful and illegal content and that is what this legislation targets,” ...4 days ago
- Mycoplasma bovis eradication reaches two year milestone in good shapeNew Zealand’s world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit ...4 days ago
- New payment to support Kiwis through COVIDFurther support for New Zealanders affected by 1-in-100 year global economic shock 12-week payment will support people searching for new work or retraining Work programme on employment insurance to support workers and businesses The Government today announced a new temporary payment to support New Zealanders who lose their jobs due ...5 days ago
- PGF reset helps regional economiesThe Provincial Growth Fund will play a vital role in New Zealand’s post-COVID-19 recovery by creating jobs in shorter timeframes through at least $600 million being refocused on projects with more immediate economic benefits, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The funding is comprised of repurposed Provincial Growth ...6 days ago
- Government exempts some home improvements from costly consentsGovernment exempts some home improvements from costly consents Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker ...6 days ago
- Concern at introduction of national security legislation for Hong KongForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand Government has reacted with concern at the introduction of legislation in China’s National People’s Congress relating to national security in Hong Kong. “We have a strong interest in seeing confidence maintained in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle under which Hong ...7 days ago
- Samoa Language Week theme is perfect for the post-COVID-19 journeyThe Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, says the theme for the 2020 Samoa Language Week is a perfect fit for helping our Pacific communities cope with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, and to prepare now for the journey ahead as New Zealand focuses on recovery plans and rebuilding New ...1 week ago
- Adult kakī/black stilt numbers soarA nearly 40-year programme to protect one of New Zealand’s most critically endangered birds is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī/black stilt recently recorded living in the wild, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. “Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s ...1 week ago
- Waikato-Tainui settlement story launched on 25th anniversary of Treaty signingThe story of the Waikato-Tainui Treaty process and its enduring impact on the community is being told with a five-part web story launched today on the 25th anniversary of settlement, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “I am grateful to Waikato-Tainui for allowing us to help capture ...1 week ago
- Taita College to benefit from $32 million school redevelopmentTaita College in the Hutt Valley will be redeveloped to upgrade its ageing classrooms and leaky roofs, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “The work is long overdue and will make a lasting difference to the school for generations to come,” Chris Hipkins said. “Too many of our schools are ...1 week ago
- Redeployment for workers in hard-hit regionsThe Government is allocating $36.72 million to projects in regions hard hit economically by COVID-19 to keep people working, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Projects in Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Rotorua and Queenstown will be funded from the Government’s $100 million worker ...1 week ago
- $35m to build financial resilience for New ZealandersA $35m boost to financial capability service providers funded by MSD will help New Zealanders manage their money better both day to day and through periods of financial difficulty, announced Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “It’s always been our position to increase support to key groups experiencing or at risk ...1 week ago
- New District Court Judge appointedDunedin barrister Melinda Broek has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Rotorua, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Broek has iwi affiliations to Ngai Tai. She commenced her employment in 1996 with Scholefield Cockroft Lloyd in Invercargill specialising in family and ...1 week ago
- $206 million investment in upgrades at Ohakea Air Force BaseThe Coalition Government has approved a business case for $206 million in upgrades to critical infrastructure at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, with the first phase starting later this year, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. The investment will be made in three phases over five years, and ...1 week ago
- Review of CAA organisational culture releasedTransport Minister Phil Twyford today released the Ministry of Transport’s review of the organisational culture at the Civil Aviation Authority. Phil Twyford says all employees are entitled to a safe work environment. “I commissioned this independent review due to the concerns I had about the culture within the CAA, and ...1 week ago
- New Board appointed at Stats NZEnsuring that Stats NZ’s direction and strategy best supports government policy decisions will be a key focus for a new Governance Advisory Board announced today by the Minister for Statistics, James Shaw. The new Governance Advisory Board will provide strategic advice to Stats NZ to ensure it is meeting New ...1 week ago
- New Principal Environment JudgeEnvironment Judge David Kirkpatrick of Auckland has been appointed as the Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Judge Kirkpatrick was appointed an Environment Judge in February 2014. From December 2013 to July 2016 he was Chair of the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel. Prior to appointment he ...1 week ago
- Digital connectivity boost for urban maraeA programme to connect marae around the country to the internet has received $1.4 million to expand to include urban marae in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The funding for the Marae Connectivity Programme ...1 week ago
- Govt increases assistance to drought-stricken Hawke’s Bay farmersThe Government will provide $500,000 to the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to help farmers facing one of the worst droughts in living memory, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Hawke's Bay's five local Government leaders asking me to contribute to the Fund. ...2 weeks ago
- Dietary Requirements: Politics, poutine and quarantineDietary Requirements is The Spinoff’s monthly podcast in which we eat, drink and talk about it too, with special thanks to Freedom Farms. This month, we’re joined by The Spinoff’s resident poutine authority (and politics editor) Justin Giovannetti for our second together-but-apart Zoom pod.On this month’s Dietary Requirements, we’re still physically ...2 hours ago
- Channelling the goddesses: Wāhine Māori musicians on reclaiming tradition
There aren’t many women composing for taonga puoro. In fact, there aren’t many people like Te Kahureremoa Taumata and Khali Phillips-Barbara at all.Earlier in the year I was lucky enough to attend the Te Hā annual Māori writers’ hui, where I met (among many inspirational kaituhi Māori) a poet and ...3 hours ago - ‘Stay home, stay safe, be kind’: What NZ can teach the world about covid-19
New Zealand implemented one of the earliest lockdowns and has largely succeeded in eliminating the coronavirus under the leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Some of the country’s success has been attributed to her leadership, trust in science, and clear communication during the crisis. We get an update from Michael ...3 hours ago - A day later, the culture sector and farmers (some, anyway) get a second helping of public funding
Just a day after announcing financial help for the culture community and for farmers, the Beehive brought news of even more money for those groups. In the case of the farmers, mind you, the help is focused on just one region. The Government is investing $844,000 in King Country River ...4 hours ago - James Tapp: Confronting Pākehā Privilege as a white male studentIt’s only been a year and half since I started university, but sometimes that’s enough time to realise more about the world than you could ever imagine. For me, the biggest thing, the one thing intertwined into every part of my life, is privilege. I’m a white male, and if ...4 hours ago
- Remote working could change how, and where, we earn a livingCovid-19 has given rise to a new era of remote working, potentially opening up more income, and regions, to New Zealand’s freelance economy. For many of us, the only obstacle that ever stood in the way of a prosperous life in Dunedin was its tiny job market. Now, thanks to Covid-19 ...4 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Covid19: Deaths and Cases in the last week of May 20204 hours ago
- Perhaps we need Peters to temper the adulation and prevent the landslide re-election of the Ardern g...
Jacinda Ardern and her government have won global admiration for vanquishing the coronavirus. At home their ratings have soared. Polls show more than 80% of those sampled support the way the government handled the pandemic crisis. New Zealanders accept without a blink the virus is universal and ubiquitous, a threat ...4 hours ago - Progressive Regulation Called For On World Vape Day
Today marks World Vape Day, with Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) joining the hundreds of consumers and consumer advocacy organisations worldwide in the celebration that we #LiveLifeSmokeFree. Saturday, 30 May will be celebrated around the globe ...5 hours ago - English is my first language: On being Asian and writing in AotearoaGrowing up Asian in white New Zealand, Joanna Cho tried to find a mirror in books. I went to a proud, decile 10 high school that had few POC. I prided myself on being part of the “white” group. When my boyfriend in Year 9 broke up with me, because his ...5 hours ago
- Live updates, May 30: Trump withdraws US from WHOFor all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this ...6 hours ago
- Short story: The Pack, by Kathryn van Beek
"They'll never believe her": a disturbing story by Kathryn van Beek. Part of his brain tells him to piss in the bed. The other part tells him to get up. He swings his legs out from under the galaxy print duvet and plants his feet in a pool of vomit. ...7 hours ago - Let’s not ignore the other pandemic
Might we be ignoring the other pandemic – slower-moving and less visible than COVID-19 - that afflicts NZ, asks Niki Bezzant Twenty years ago, Professor Jim Mann wrote an editorial in the medical journal The Lancet, entitled: Stemming the Tide of Diabetes. It may have been one of the first times ...8 hours ago - Extra Time: Hale’s vexing wait for NRLW
As the Warriors men's team hit the field running again, Warriors women's captain Georgia Hale remains frustrated, waiting for the NRL women's competition to get the green light. On this week's Extra Time podcast, Hale says its difficult trying to stay focused on training when there's no guarantee the NRLW premiership season will ...9 hours ago - NZ is on the brink of zero active cases. Who else is in the Covid-free club?Yesterday New Zealand recorded zero new cases for the seventh day in a row, and just one person still classified as an ‘active case’. How does that compare with other Covid-stamping countries?As we enter our first long weekend since the end of lockdown, we also prepare to join a small ...9 hours ago
- The Screen Industry Workers Bill is good for our industry – Jennifer Ward-LealandThis week, parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee has been hearing submissions on the Screen Industry Workers Bill. Equity New Zealand president Jennifer Ward-Lealand explains why the actors’ union supports it. The Screen Industry Workers bill rolls back some of the worst aspects of the 2010 Hobbit Law, and we believe ...9 hours ago
- Digital-only local newspapers will struggle to serve the communities that need them mostSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chrisanthi Giotis, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Communication, University of Technology Sydney This week News Corp Australia announced the end of the print editions of 112 suburban and regional mastheads – about one-fifth of all of Australia’s local newspapers. Of those, 36 ...15 hours ago
- Scott Morrison strengthens his policy power, enshrining national cabinet and giving it “laser-like...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has won support for a major restructure of federal-state architecture which scraps the Council of Australian Governments, enshrines the “national cabinet” permanently, and pares down a plethora of ancillary ministerial bodies. The Prime ...17 hours ago
- Labour Party MP Louisa Wall withdraws her nomination for Manurewa
Labour Party MP Louisa Wall has withdrawn her nomination for the Manurewa seat, which she has held since 2011. ...17 hours ago - Trump’s Twitter tantrum may wreck the internetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia US President Donald Trump, who tweeted more than 11,000 times in the first two years of his presidency, is very upset with Twitter. Earlier this week Trump tweeted complaints about mail-in ballots, ...18 hours ago
- Government to repay 470,000 unlawful robodebts in what might be Australia’s biggest-ever financial...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Terry Carney, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Sydney In a near-complete capitulation, the government will refund every alleged overpayment it has collected from welfare recipients under the discredited “robodebt” system of income averaging. Unveiling the automated system in mid-2016 then treasurer ...18 hours ago
- Jokowi deploys army, police to enforce Indonesia’s coronavirus ‘new normal’By Marchio Irfan Gorbiano in Jakarta President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has announced that the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police will be deployed to guard crowded places in preparation for the so-called “new normal”. During a visit to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle MRT station with TNI commander Air Marshal ...19 hours ago
- A week of upsets for both sides of political divideAnalysis: Winston Peters rattles the coalition cage, National's new leader gets the sort of start he didn't want and the government's unemployment relief plan raises some serious questions. ...19 hours ago
- High Court ruling on ‘Palace letters’ case paves way to learn more about The Dismissal – and o...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney The High Court has ruled that Sir John Kerr’s correspondence with the queen comprises “Commonwealth records”. This means access to them is now in Australian hands and can no longer be vetoed by ...19 hours ago
- Whoever invents a coronavirus vaccine will control the patent – and, importantly, who gets to use ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Stoianoff, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney With research laboratories around the world racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine, a unique challenge has emerged: how to balance intellectual property rights with serving the public good. Questions of patent protection ...20 hours ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on JobKeeper, JobMaker, and Eden-MonaroSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan talks with Professor Caroline Fisher (remotely) about the week in politics, including the treasury’s miscalculation on JobKeeper, the prime minister’s promise to “make the boat go faster”, and the limitations of the coronavirus ...20 hours ago
- Really Australia, it’s not that hard: 10 reasons why renewable energy is the futureSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Australia’s latest greenhouse gas figures released today show national emissions fell slightly last year. This was by no means an economy-wide effort – solar and wind energy did most of the heavy lifting. Emissions ...20 hours ago
- After a storm, microplastics in Sydney’s Cooks River increased 40 foldSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hitchcock, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Canberra Each year the ocean is inundated with 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic washed in from land. A big proportion of this plastic is between 0.001 to 5 millimetres, and called “microplastic”. But ...20 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on saving Australia’s tourism and constr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As Australia slowly emerges from isolation, the nation’s economy is reopening, and even looking rather better than expected. But Australia still faces grim months ahead as unemployment numbers grow and the true extent of business ...21 hours ago
- Review: Lady Gaga’s Chromatica sheds conflict for club-ready bangersLady Gaga’s sixth album, Chromatica, sees the popstar stepping back into big pop after the experiment that was Joanne, but at what cost, asks Sam Brooks.Since Lady Gaga’s last album, 2016’s critically shrugged off Joanne, the star has stepped as far away from her meat-dress persona as possible, collecting a ...21 hours ago
- JobStart Policy No Substitute For Tax CutsThe National Party’s JobStart policy — under which businesses could claim $10,000 per new employee, for up to ten new employees — looks great on paper but would fail in practice, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman ...21 hours ago
- Two Cents’ Worth: Rugby’s fight for survival
With million-dollar losses and huge staff cutbacks, there are fears rugby is in its death throes. Two Cents' Worth looks at the economics of our national sport. ...22 hours ago - The coronavirus pandemic is boosting the big tech transformation to warp speedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zac Rogers, Research Lead, Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Governance, Flinders University The coronavirus pandemic has sped up changes that were already happening across society, from remote learning and work to e-health, supply chains and ...22 hours ago
- National pitches $10k hiring bonus scheme
Put on the back foot over a lack of vision, National leader Todd Muller has announced the first policy under his rule - aimed at helping employees get back into work National has unveiled a proposal to provide $10,000 cash payments to businesses who hire additional employees, in what is ...22 hours ago - Review Of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan To RestartThe Department of Conservation (DOC) and Ngāi Tahu in consultation with the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board have agreed to start a new review of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan. The process for reviewing both the ...22 hours ago
- There is no specific crime of catfishing. But is it illegal?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University Twenty-year-old Sydney woman Renae Marsden died by suicide after she was the victim of an elaborate catfishing scam. A recent coronial investigation into her 2013 death found no offence had been committed by ...23 hours ago
- Here’s how much public money each party will get for the electionNational and Labour have once again dominated the Electoral Commission’s broadcast allocation, reports The Spinoff’s minor party correspondent Alex Braae.The pot of money for political parties to spend on election advertising on radio, television and the internet has been divvied up for 2020, with Labour and National securing more than ...23 hours ago
- What the Pace scheme did for meAs part of a $175 million arts package, a new $7.5 million ‘Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers’ programme was announced today, building on ‘the most successful aspects’ of the former Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (Pace) programme, which ran from 2001-2012. Former Pace-recipient Henry Oliver writes on what he ...23 hours ago
- Who charted where: The hits of May 28, 2000, in the US and New ZealandIn the spirit of international cooperation and mutual chair dancing, Sam Brooks and New York City-based culture critic Mark Blankenship are revisiting the top 10 singles from key weeks in their respective countries. This week, Sam and Mark discuss the top 10 singles from the chart dated May 28, 2000 ...23 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – May 29 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 Fresh water reforms, environment, conservation Richard Harman (Politik): Swimming together; the coalition agrees on freshwater reforms Collette Devlin (Stuff): NZ First claims win as Government softens freshwater reforms ...24 hours ago
- Could taking hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus be more harmful than helpful?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew McLachlan, Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, University of Sydney A paper published in The Lancet has cast fresh controversy on the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The study’s authors reported they were ...1 day ago
- The Friday Poem: Dig deep! by Joanna ChoA new poem by Wellington writer Joanna Cho.Dig deep! I have to write a poembut I’m finding it quite hardso I call Jos and he says‘Dig deep!’ He is driving back from basketballin Palmy, where he trains three times a week. I say ‘I just wanted to run some ideas by you’and he ...1 day ago
- Predicting the pandemic’s psychological toll: why suicide modelling is so difficultSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University We’ve recently heard experts raise concerns about a looming mental health crisis, warning COVID-19’s psychological toll on Australians could be like a second wave of the pandemic. Suicide modelling from the University of Sydney’s Brain ...1 day ago
- Government backtracks on wage subsidy audit data, moves to weekly reportingThe government will start publicly releasing wage subsidy audit and repayment data weekly after it was revealed it was only being collected every three months. ...1 day ago
- The Beehive pumps out more millions – some of it for the cultural sector but a bigger lump to clea...Creative Kiwis and cockies are among the beneficiaries of government decisions announced yesterday. The creative crowd was given support amounting to $95 million (or so), announced by Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern, who said thousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and ...1 day ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending May 29The 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 Auē by Becky Manawatu (Makaro Press, $35)Winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, the most ...1 day ago
- Why is there so much furore over China’s Belt and Road Initiative?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Clarke, Associate Professor, National Security College, Australian National University There were certainly questions asked when Victoria first signed a memorandum of understanding to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2018, but it wasn’t until the past week that the ...1 day ago
- Minimum Wage Requirement Indicates Hamilton City Council Is Out Of Touch...1 day ago
- Government launches $175m arts and music recovery packageThe government has announced a $175 million package to boost the arts and creative sector in the wake of Covid-19. ...1 day ago
- Covid-XV: Rugby’s super-genius law change ideas, explainedThe brains trust at World Rugby have conjured up some optional law trials to obviate the risks of coronavirus. Scotty Stevenson is intrigued.The World Rugby Executive Committee yesterday announced that it had “approved 10 optional law trials which are designed to provide national member unions with Covid-19 transmission risk reduction ...1 day ago
- Lax reporting of wage subsidy audits will encourage fraudThe Government’s lax approach to monitoring wrongful wage subsidy claims sends a dangerous message, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “The Government must regularly release figures highlighting how ...1 day ago
- National Strategy For Careers And Employability Is The enduring Solution Grant Robertson Is SeekingIn announcing the Covid Income Relief Payment this week the Hon. Grant Robertson stated the Government is also considering an “enduring solution” to support New Zealanders experiencing job loss beyond the current crisis. The Career Development ...1 day ago
- AJF renews call for media freedom law while welcoming Smethurst movePacific Media Watch The Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom has welcomed the decision by the Australian Federal Police to drop charges against Newscorp journalist Annika Smethurst and has renewed its call for a media freedom law. The announcement, coming more than a year after the raids, underscores the need for unambiguous ...1 day ago
- There Is Enough Time For A Commuter Rail TrialWorkers at Dunedin Railways have rejected Dunedin City Council claims there is not enough time for a feasibility study and commuter rail trial this year. Keep Dunedin Rail Rolling spokesperson Dave Kearns says workers at DRL were bitterly disappointed ...1 day ago
- The Auditor-General’s Strategic Intentions To 2025We’ve published The Auditor-General’s strategic intentions to 2025 . Our strategic intentions describe the outcomes and impacts we are ultimately working towards, and the strategy we have developed to help get us there. Every three years, we publish ...1 day ago
- What a video game about a futuristic Tauranga can tell us about our presentA new first-person photography game set in a dystopian Tauranga under lockdown is the best work of Māori science-fiction this decade, writes Dan Taipua.Umurangi Generation is a first-person photography game set din the shitty future. Designed and developed by Naphtali Faulkner (aka Veselekov) the game has you move about a ...1 day ago
- Queen’s Birthday Holiday Irrelevant“Queen’s Birthday holiday is the most irrelevant public holiday on our calendar. It’s time for a holiday that actually reflects Aotearoa’s unique place in the world” said Lewis Holden, Campaign Chair of New Zealand Republic. New Zealand Republic ...1 day ago
- Reconciliation Week: a time to reflect on strong Indigenous leadership and resiliency in the face of...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement), The University of Queensland National Reconciliation Week is a time of reflection, talking and sharing of histories, cultures and achievements. It is a time to think about our relationships as Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This year’s ...1 day ago
- 4 ways our streets can rescue restaurants, bars and cafes after coronavirusSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University As Australia re-opens, the bars, cafes and restaurants that give life to our streets face a tough ask: stay open and stay afloat with just a fraction of the customers. From June ...1 day ago
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Get the feeling we’re all tuckered out by this ‘eventful’ election campaign. Hard to keep up with it all perhaps? 😕
Zzzz-zzzz. Oh!, sleep well Jacinda. zzz.
Advance voting starts next Monday. The Electoral Commission thinks about 50% of voters will vote early so things might quieten down a bit. National, at least, might stop throwing money around like a drunken sailor.
We are at the business end where it will be won or lost. Dig deep …
Early voting of 50% also means electioneering stops impacting half of voters …
Exactly. So this week is the last point in the campaign to throw out a big promise that will get maximum effect. It’s also probably the last throw of the dice for a scandal or drama that might damage your opponent.
Low vaccination rates have left a lost generation exposed to mumps, measles and rubella
Scary when claims are being made that researchers are coming to NZ to study third world diseases
I’m guessing that lack of access is still the biggest reason for non-vaccination in Auckland.
What do you mean? Lack of access to GPs or cos of cost ( arent they free)?
People can’t get a GP of their own. So badly fucked is our health system a growing sector of our population can’t even get that even if it is free.
Thanks
Loads more barriers as well – people move and don’t transfer pho, so drop off the radar. Language barriers, information barriers (eg do they know it’s free), transport barriers, childcare for other kids, etc etc etc.
So sometimes vaccinations go through the school, but the permission slip gets lost or the kid plays truant that day.
This video covers some alternatives to the vaccine programme. Keep informed, keep safe.
Draco T Bastard That is unacceptable in our country these anti vax people are living in fairy land WTF. Science has proven that vaccines work. Do we have this problem because of under funding of our health systems as well as the anti vax movement.
Actually there are no independent (not funded in some way by the drug company that benefits from sales) studies that support that conclusion.
I sort of think have the basics and stay the hell away from Gardisil, yearly flu shots etc. Waste of money.
You are dead right AWW. Beware the immunization industry.
Ooooo I dunno so much about the veracity of those against , I think the flu virus is an ‘ages and stages’ thing , affecting the very young , the very old , and the immuno-compromised , and mutates every year ,.. old brutes like myself haven’t had the flu for decades, it seems to lessen for a while …Now it is said that AIDS may have been spread by WHO using contaminated vaccines, but there are just as many examples where all manner of diseases have been eradicated or minimized by vaccines, … its a big study…
Im not so sure the sufferers of the Black Death would have been so quick to reject a vaccine or anti biotic’s had there been some available… as that was caused by a bacteria , yersinipestis , and is still treated that way today.
World of Medieval Music – Breve Regnum XVc – Kings & Beggars …
Video for World of Medieval Music – Breve Regnum XVc – Kings & Beggars▶ 6:19
Radio Head – The Bends
I’ve never once paid for a vaccine.
But if MoH or my boss figure it’s cheaper for them to pay for me to get the jab rather than pay for my treatment or sick leave, I’ll take it. Safer than panadol.
You where lucky. It cost me a very mild Aspergers syndrome. Very intelligent, but linguistically and socially out-of-sync. My nephew has full Aspergers, complete with seizures, super intelligent, but at a cost. Vaccines cause brain swelling which some folk are sensitive to. Male Africans are one of the more sensitve groups, but hey.
It cost me a very mild Aspergers syndrome.
Sure it did, just like Muhammad flew to Jerusalem on a winged horse and the Bush administration destroyed the World Trade Centre. For future reference , the very intelligent don’t assert unlikely beliefs as facts.
+111
Can you post some kind of proof?
lol
An anti-vaxxer who thinks Hitler got a raw deal from the historians’ MSM.
http://spaceweather.com/images2017/05sep17/ar2673_strip.jpg
Kaboom x class flare erupts
FAST WARNING ‘PRESTO’ MESSAGE from the SIDC (RWC-Belgium) 2017 Sep 06
12:12:33
An X9.3 flare occurred peaking at 12:02UT.
Awaiting confirmation, this flare most probably originated again from
Catania group 46 (NOAA region 2673).
More details will be provided when available.
Hope it doesn’t knock out the Antigua/Barbuda Seismogram again.
Vanilla prices hitting record highs. (RNZ News)
With RBNZ’s new Governor quoting the NZ economy as PERMISSIVE VANILLA, expect a bust for the NZD! (BIS – Grant Spencer: Banking regulation – where to from here?)
Morgan is arguing access to the debates, as he’s polling higher than ACT.
But our system accepts Act into parliament while dropping the conservative party who got 4+%.
Morgan ain’t arguing that was wrong, that ACT, OR Maori party can get list seats even when a party exists who got more list votes!
So I yes no. Stuff him. Get your reasoning in a line.