Daily Review 07/03/2017
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5:30 pm, March 7th, 2017 - 50 comments
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- Expert group appointed to lead New Zealand’s future health systemAn outstanding group of people with extensive and wide-ranging governance and health experience have been appointed to lead the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “This Government is building a truly national health system to provide consistent, high-quality health services right across the country. This ...1 day ago
- Funding to help clean up contaminated sitesThe Government is supporting the clean-up of contaminated sites in Northland, Dunedin and Southland to reduce risk to people’s health and protect the environment. Environment Minister David Parker said the funding announced today, through the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund, will help us turn previously hazardous sites into safe, usable public ...2 days ago
- Predator Free apprenticeships open up new job opportunitiesThe expansion of a predator free apprenticeship programme is an opportunity for more people to kick-start a conservation career, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Predator Free Apprenticeship Programme is focused on increasing the number of skilled predator control operators in New Zealand through a two-year training programme. “The Trust ...2 days ago
- Further NCEA support confirmed for Auckland studentsThe number of Learning Recognition Credits for senior secondary school students will be increased for Auckland students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. This recognises the extended time these students will spend in Alert Levels 3 and 4. “It means students in Auckland will have a fair opportunity to attain ...2 days ago
- Long-term pathway next step to better mental wellbeing for New ZealandersThe Government is taking a new approach to support people who experience mental distress, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Kia Manawanui Aotearoa – Long-term pathway to mental wellbeing (Kia Manawanui) is the first 10-year plan of its kind that targets the cause of mental distress and also sets out how ...2 days ago
- Keeping our Police safe to keep our communities safeThe Government is committed to keeping our frontline police officers safe, so they in turn can keep New Zealanders safe – with one of the largest investments in frontline safety announced by Police Minister Poto Williams at the Police College today. The $45 million investment includes $15.496 million in ...2 days ago
- Clean Vehicles Bill passes first checkpointThe Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill will help New Zealand drive down transport emissions by cleaning up the light vehicle fleet, Transport Minister Michael Wood says. The Bill passed its first reading today and will establish the legislative framework for key parts of the Government’s Clean Car Package, including ...3 days ago
- Funding boost supports ongoing Māori COVID-19 responseThe Government is responding to the need by whānau Māori and Māori Health providers to support their ongoing work responding to COVID-19 and to continue increasing rates of Māori vaccination, Associate Minister for Health (Māori Health), Peeni Henare and Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. This increased ...3 days ago
- Significant increase to COVID-19 penaltiesPenalties for breaches of COVID-19 orders are set to significantly increase from early November 2021 to better reflect the seriousness of any behaviour that threatens New Zealand’s response to the virus, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Throughout this Delta outbreak we’ve seen the overwhelming majority of people doing ...3 days ago
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill returns to ParliamentThe Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill has returned to Parliament for its second reading in an important step towards giving enforcement agencies greater power to protect New Zealanders from terrorist activity. “The Bill addresses longstanding gaps in our counter terrorism legislation that seek to protect New Zealanders and make us safer,” Justice ...3 days ago
- Joint Statement: New Zealand and Australian Trade MinistersHon Damien O'Connor MP, New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth, and Hon Dan Tehan MP, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, met virtually on Monday 20 September to advance trans-Tasman cooperation under the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER). CER is one of the most ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister’s Post Cabinet Press Conference/COVID-19 Update opening statement***Please check against delivery*** E te tī, e te tā, nau mai rā [To all, I bid you welcome] As you will have seen earlier, today there are 22 new community cases to report; three of which are in Whakatiwai in the Hauraki area, and the remainder in ...4 days ago
- Major milestones for Māori COVID-19 vaccine rollout as new campaign launchesWhānau Ora and Associate Health (Māori Health) Minister Peeni Henare acknowledges two major milestones in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for Māori. “I am very pleased to announce more than 50 percent of eligible Māori have received their first dose and 25 per cent are now fully vaccinated,” ...5 days ago
- Government funding to fight infectious diseases$36 million for research into Covid-19 and other infectious diseases The investment will improve our readiness for future pandemics Research will focus on prevention, control, and management of infectious diseases The Government’s investing in a new Infectious Diseases Research Platform to boost Aotearoa New Zealand’s Covid-19 response and preparedness for ...5 days ago
- Quarantine-free travel with Australia to remain suspended for a further 8 weeksSuspension to be reviewed again mid to late November Decision brought forward to enable access from Australia to first tranche of around 3000 rooms in MIQ Air New Zealand working at pace to put on more flights from Australia from October The suspension of quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia has ...1 week ago
- Extra support for Ethnic Communities to share vaccination informationExtra support is being made available to Ethnic Communities to help them share COVID-19 vaccination information within their communities, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan said. “We know we need to get every eligible person in New Zealand vaccinated. A fund being launched today will allow for ...1 week ago
- School holidays remain unchanged for Auckland regionSchool holidays in Auckland will continue to be held at the same time as the rest of the country, starting from Saturday, 2 October, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “I’ve carefully considered advice on the implications of shifting the dates and concluded that on balance, maintaining the status quo ...1 week ago
- Government continues crackdown on gangs and organised crimeOperation Tauwhiro extended until March 2022 Since it was launched in February, Operation Tauwhiro has resulted in: 987 firearms seized $4.99 million in cash seized 865 people charged with a firearms-related offence Gangs and organised crime groups will continue to be relentlessly targeted with the extension of Police’s successful ...1 week ago
- Speech to Body Positive 'HIV Treatments Update Seminar 2021'E ngā mana E ngā reo E ngā iwi Tēnā koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēnā koutou. He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei I raro I te kaupapa o te rā. Nō reira tēnā koutou katoa Acknowledgements It’s a ...1 week ago
- Power bill changes bring fairness to chargesA key recommendation of an independent panel to make electricity charges fairer across all households will be put in place, the Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has announced. “Phasing out the regulations on ‘low-use’ electricity plans will create a fairer playing field for all New Zealanders and encourage a ...1 week ago
- NZ economy’s strong momentum will support rebound from Delta outbreak; COVID fund replenishedThe economy showed strong momentum in the period leading up to the recent Delta COVID-19 outbreak, which bodes well for a solid economic rebound, Grant Robertson said. GDP rose 2.8 percent in the June quarter, following on from a 1.4 percent increase in the previous March quarter. This was a ...1 week ago
- Projects create benefits into the futureMaking a well-known lake swimmable and helping to halt the decline of the endangered hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins are among a suite of new projects being supported by the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme across the southern South Island, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “It’s no secret that many of our most ...1 week ago
- Opening statement for Whāriki Indigenous Small Business RoundtableKei ngā tōpito e wha o te āo e rere ana te mihi maioha ki a koutou nō tawhiti, nō tata mai e tāpiri ana ki tēnei taumata kōrero mo te ao hokohoko arā mā ngā pākihi mo ngā iwi taketake Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa – Pai Mārire. ...1 week ago
- New members appointed to KāpuiaThe Government is adding four additional members to Kāpuia, the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “I’m looking forward to having Pamela MacNeill, Huia Bramley, Melani Anae and Katherine Dedo join Kāpuia and contribute to this group’s ...1 week ago
- Timeline confirmed for Emissions Reductions PlanCabinet has agreed to begin consulting on the Emissions Reduction Plan in early October and require that the final plan be released by the end of May next year in line with the 2022 Budget, the Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw confirmed today. “Cabinet’s decision allows organisations and communities ...1 week ago
- Pay parity pathway for early learning teachers confirmedPay parity conditions and higher funding rates for education and care services will come into force on 1 January, 2022, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government signalled this work in Budget 2021. “From 1 January, 2022, centres opting into the scheme will receive government funding and be ...1 week ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Conference 2021Kia Ora tatau katoa. Ka tuku mihi ki nga nēhi, He pou Hauora o Aotearoa, E ora ai tatou. Whakatau mai I runga i te kaupapa o te ra Te NZNO conference. Tena koutou tena koutou Tena tatou katoa Good morning, and thank you inviting me ...1 week ago
- Government investment in farmer-led catchment groups sweeps past 150 mark171 catchment groups have now been invested in by the Government 31 catchment groups in the Lower North Island are receiving new support More than 5,000 farmers are focussed on restoring freshwater within a generation through involvement in catchment groups Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land ...1 week ago
- Fight to protect kauri on trackThe Government is pitching in to help vital work to protect nationally significant kauri forests in Auckland, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. “Ensuring the survival of these iconic trees for future generations means doing everything we can to prevent the potential spread of kauri dieback disease,” Kiri Allan said. ...1 week ago
- Travellers grounded after surprise Covid rule change
Air New Zealand and people hoping to fly back into Auckland this morning were blindsided - and stranded - by a new rule that came in at midnight last night After six weeks down in Queenstown waiting out Auckland’s lockdown, it was finally time for John Gosney to come ...1 hour ago - Mayor Meets With Ministers Over Three Waters Reform Proposal
This week Mayor Rehette Stoltz met with Ministers, including the Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta to discuss the Three Waters reform proposal. Government is proposing to move the management of the three waters away from individual Councils ...2 hours ago - New Zealand Red Meat Sector Welcomes Chinese Taipei’s CPTPP Membership ApplicationThe Meat Industry Association (MIA) and Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) welcome Chinese Taipei’s formal application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Sam McIvor, chief executive of Beef + Lamb NZ said the ...2 hours ago
- NZ kiwifruit reportedly tests positive for Covid in China
A Covid scare with Kiwi produce imported into China could have repercussions for New Zealand exporters Chinese officials say a batch of New Zealand kiwifruit imported into the country has tested positive for Covid-19, in news which could concern Kiwi exporters wary of any clampdown. The CCP-owned Global Times reported ...3 hours ago - Week in Politics: Auckland moves down, doubt cast on elimination strategy
Analysis - Critics accuse the government of giving up on its elimination strategy and Speaker Trevor Mallard's move to stop unvaccinated people entering Parliament's precinct raises debate. ...3 hours ago - The Friday Poem: Young Adult Success Stories, by Erik Kennedy
A new poem from Christchurch poet Erik Kennedy.Young Adult Success StoriesThis fantastic article outlines how, at the tender age of twenty-two, Brad got seed money for his underwear delivery start-up and bought a Bugatti. What an amazing tale of industry and sticktoitiveness. How did he do it? Ah, yes, it’s ...3 hours ago - Most 2019 Budget mental health intiatives on track – reviewDeputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said a stocktake of the $1.9 billion mental health package found strong progress had been made since its announcement. ...3 hours ago
- Wenda blames nurse’s death on Indonesian military crackdown for Papuan mining, palm oil
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The United Liberation Movement of West Papua has blamed the Indonesian military over the attack at a hospital in Kiwirok, near the Papua New Guinean border, in which a nurse was killed. Interim president Benny Wenda of the ULMWP has issued a statement in response to ...4 hours ago - Taliban ‘journalism rules’ open way to censorship, persecution, warns RSFAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it is very disturbed by the “11 journalism rules” that the Taliban announced at a meeting with news media on September 19. The rules that Afghan journalists will now have to implement are vaguely worded, dangerous and liable to be used ...4 hours ago
- Covid deaths soar in New Caledonian crisis – 16 in one dayRNZ Pacific New Caledonia recorded 16 covid-19 deaths yesterday — the highest single day total since the delta strain of the virus arrived in the territory less than three weeks ago. A spokesperson for the territorial government, Gilbert Tyuienon, said the archipelago “is going through a crisis never seen in ...4 hours ago
- Auckland mayor Goff makes ‘roll up your sleeves – take covid jab’ pleaAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has appealed to the 1.7 million people in the city to “roll up your sleeves” and get vaccinated immediately to help New Zealand cope better with the covid-19 pandemic. Writing in The New Zealand Herald today to back the newspaper’s 90% Project ...4 hours ago
- New Amazon data centres risk unbalancing NZ's fragile electricity network
At risk of being churlish, we say Amazon Web Services must invest not just in jobs but also in utility-scale renewable energy ...4 hours ago - ‘Don’t be a dick’: Nigel Latta’s advice for surviving Covid while stuck at homeProperty investors at this year’s virtual Property Conference probed the psychologist on all things Covid and working from home. Reweti Kohere listened in as the keynote speaker responded with some home truths.Working from home is a thing now, an acceptable way these days to clock in and out of one’s ...4 hours ago
- Court Ruling A Victory For Common SenseGreat news and a victory for common sense and for people seeking abortion services. That's the response from Family Planning to a High Court decision today where a group of health professionals opposed to abortion have lost a court case over whether their ...4 hours ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on AUKUS fallout and the government moving to net zeroSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professional Fellow Michelle Grattan alongside University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. This week the pair discuss the announcement of the AUKUS, in particular the reaction ...4 hours ago
- Mahuta spurns call from civic leaders to go with the flow – and go slow – with contentious Three...
A press statement we received from Nanaia Mahuta, speaking as Minister of Foreign Affairs, dealt with the findings of an independent review into New Zealand’s export controls system, which regulates the export of goods to foreign militaries, police forces or paramilitaries. Produced by David Smol, a former Chief Executive of ...5 hours ago - Covid-19 briefing: Upper Hauraki to move to alert level 2The Upper Hauraki area will join most of New Zealand in alert level 2 after no further positive results, the deputy prime minister has confirmed. Watch the government's latest Covid-19 briefing here. ...5 hours ago
- Meet the Pacific social services helping keep the team of five million safeWhen the latest lockdown became much more than a health crisis for many South Auckland families, it was their local, Pacific-led social services that stepped up to help. Patricia Tosogu is beaming with relief as she stands in the doorway of her new temporary home in Ōtāhuhu, while the sounds ...5 hours ago
- Two governments claim to run Myanmar. So, who gets the country’s seat at the UN?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, University of South Australia As world leaders have gathered for the UN General Assembly in New York this week, there has been uncertainty over who should be representing Myanmar. Since a coup on February 1, Myanmar’s military ...5 hours ago
- Building trust with migrant and refugee communities is crucial for public health measures to workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Devaki Monani, Lecturer, Social Work, Charles Darwin University Shutterstock During COVID-19 we’ve seen racism and discrimination against migrant and refugee communities erode trust between them and authorities.So as the Delta variant spreads, we must find ways ...5 hours ago
- Our air defences are down – only some RNZAF aircraft can reach for the sky as Orions are retired
There are sad faces around Whenuapai today as the RNZAF retires the first of its five Lockheed Orions. The aircraft is flying to Woodbourne for breaking and parting – essentially for spares. The Orions came into service in 1966 and have become a familiar presence in the south Pacific, saving ...5 hours ago- Bernard Hickey: Fashion’s greenwashing problem and how to see through it
It’s getting increasingly tough to buy clothing that isn’t the result of practices that exploit both workers and the environment. Bernard Hickey talks to the founder of a local tech start-up that wants to help consumers all over the world make better choices.Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, ...5 hours ago- The Spinoff Covid tracker: 20 live graphs that tell the story of delta in Aotearoa
Everything you need to know about how the Covid-19 pandemic is tracking in New Zealand, through regularly updated data visualisations.The Spinoff Covid tracker brings together all the relevant Covid data – cases, tests, vaccination and mobility – in one place.The aim of this page is to show the numbers in ...6 hours ago- Watch live: Grant Robertson and Dr Caroline McElnay give an update on the current Covid-19 outbreak
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay are providing an update on the current Covid-19 outbreak. ...6 hours ago- Facebook livestreams of PM’s 1pm update swarmed by anti-vax misinformation
The benefits of reaching the wider audience outweigh the risk of damage, says Ardern.The daily 1pm updates have become the central set-piece of New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 crisis. Among the popular live streams of these Beehive briefings is that on the prime minister’s own Facebook page. Yesterday’s, for ...6 hours ago- Carterton District Council Responds To Three Waters Reform Proposal
Carterton District Council is preparing to submit its response to the Government’s Three Waters Reform proposals on 1 October. Chief executive Geoff Hamilton has written a draft letter to be sent to the Department of Internal Affairs on behalf of the ...6 hours ago- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending September 24
The 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.Auckland only had one day back in action before we came nagging for sales figures, which seems a ...6 hours ago- $62 Million Dubai Pavilion Is Insulting Extravagance
NZTE’s $62 million pavilion unveiled today in Dubai is an unseemly extravagance during a pandemic, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “NZTE has completely misread the room by proceeding with the Dubai ...7 hours ago- Soft Penalty For Council Fraudsters Shows Law Change Needed
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for increased penalties for defrauding public bodies after two men stole $178,365 from Hurunui District Council using false invoices . “Stealing $178,000 from ratepayers ought to land you in jail, not home ...7 hours ago- Government proposes tougher safety rules for adventure activity operators
The government wants to bring in tougher safety rules for adventure activity operators, in response to the deadly 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption. ...7 hours ago- Letter to the Editor – MIQ
Dear Government Stop thanking me for doing my bit as an Aucklander. Why wouldn’t I? Stop celebrating the vaccination statistics when we could have been ahead of the game if you had just agreed to pay the asking price for the Pfizer vaccine way back ...7 hours ago- Keith Rankin Data Analysis – Table of Excess Deaths from Covid19
Data and Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. The table below uses raw-death data published downloaded from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/excess-mortality-raw-death-count to predict what death numbers would have occurred in 2020 and 2021 had there been no Covid19 pandemic. The actual death numbers are compared with the predicted (counterfactual) numbers to calculated excess ...7 hours ago- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 24 2021
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content Modelling dispute, Govt Covid strategy RNZ: Modeller stands ...8 hours ago- Late Pay Parity Red Tape Could See Teachers Miss Out On Pay Rise
70% of surveyed providers won’t opt in to the government’s Pay Parity offer after months of waiting, meaning teachers could miss out on the pay increase promised by the Minister of Education. “Providers were promised Pay Parity progress and ...8 hours ago- Medical Groups Should Canvass Members On ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban
Family First NZ is calling on the NZMA and the Pediatric Society to canvass its members after more than a quarter of doctors in the UK said that they did not support the British Medical Association (BMA) lobbying to ban ‘conversion therapy’. Both ...8 hours ago- Super Fund money in blacklisted China firms criticised
Pension funds and institutional investors' talk about responsible investing is not being backed up when it comes to China, an international NGO says A new report has raised concerns about the Super Fund’s investments in Chinese companies blacklisted for their role in human rights abuses, saying pension funds should not ...8 hours ago- Beyond 90% – the graphs that tell the story of our vaccination challenges
A vaccination rate of nine out of every 10 eligible New Zealanders is a great headline number. But it can also be deceptive. The Spinoff’s head of data Harkanwal Singh explains.This work is only possible thanks to Spinoff Members. To support more important data journalism on the Spinoff, join now. Today ...8 hours ago- Surge In Imports Results In Record Monthly Trade Deficit
Imports increased $1.8 billion in August 2021 compared with August 2020, resulting in a record monthly trade deficit of $2.1 billion, Stats NZ said today. Exports were little changed, down $42 million. "This is a larger deficit than normal because ...8 hours ago- New Zealand to donate more Covid-19 vaccines to the Pacific
New Zealand is donating more Covid-19 vaccines to the Pacific and to the Covax initiative which supports global equitable access to vaccines. ...8 hours ago- New Zealand Government Eases COVID-19 Lockdown In Auckland
Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 23 September 2021, original url https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/09/23/auck-s23.html On Wednesday the lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, was eased from “alert level 4” to “level 3,” despite new cases of the highly infectious ...8 hours ago- Surge In Imports Results In Record Monthly Trade Deficit
Imports increased $1.8 billion in August 2021 compared with August 2020, resulting in a record monthly trade deficit of $2.1 billion, Stats NZ said today. Exports were little changed, down $42 million. "This is a larger deficit than normal because ...8 hours ago- Mayor: Reports, Public Opinion Cast Further Doubt On Three Waters Reform
Two new reports received by Timaru District Council show that case for Three Waters Reform isn’t as compelling as the Government claims, and a significant majority of the community polled also aren’t convinced. Councillors considering their official ...9 hours ago- Government agreed to subsidise MIQ costs for international sports stars
The government agreed to subsidise international sports stars' managed isolation and quarantine bills last year - paying hundreds of thousands of dollars per team. ...10 hours ago- Angela Merkel’s career shows why we need more scientists in politics
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Johnston, Professor and Dean of Science, UNSW For 16 years, German chancellor Angela Merkel has guided her country through wave after wave of uncertainty, from the 2008 global financial crisis to Brexit, the imperative to drop fossil fuels, and of course ...11 hours ago- On the eve of an AFLM grand final like no other, can the shadow of the pandemic make us strive for s...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Klugman, Research Fellow, Institute for Health & Sport, member of the Community, Identity and Displacement Research Network, and Co-convenor of the Olympic Research Network, Victoria University On the last Saturday of September every year many of the inhabitants of Melbourne, and ...11 hours ago- Tom Wills’ story is the AFL’s opportunity for truth telling about its ugly history
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jess Coyle, Lecturer, Sports Management, Western Sydney University This article discusses colonial violence against First Nations peoples. There is reference to people who are now deceased. There has been a new revelation by researcher Gary Fearon that cricketer and founding father ...11 hours ago- German election: the race to replace Angela Merkel and why it matters to New Zealand
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Doidge, Senior Research Fellow, University of Canterbury Shutterstock From a distance, the big news about Germany’s coming election on September 26 is the end of Angela Merkel’s reign after 16 years of leadership in Germany and Europe. Closer up, ...11 hours ago- New preliminary evidence suggests coronavirus jumped from animals to humans multiple times
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hamish McCallum, Director, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University The origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been hotly debated. This debate has caused substantial difficulties in the Australia-China relationship, with a call by ...11 hours ago- Live updates, September 24: TPM modelling criticised for causing ‘unnecessary fear’
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 23, by Alice Neville. 8.00am: TPM modelling criticised for stoking ‘unnecessary fear’Economic modeller Rodney Jones has continued his criticism of Te Pūnaha Matatini’s modelling of the future of New Zealand’s Covid response, which was presented by Shaun Hendy at yesterday’s 1pm government briefing. ...11 hours ago- The sun’s shining and snakes are emerging, but they’re not out to get you. Here’s what they’...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy N. W. Jackson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Venom Research Unit, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock It’s early spring in southern Australia and the sun is, gloriously, out. You decide to head to your local patch of greenery – by ...11 hours ago- Vital Signs: a simple way to cut carbon emissions — don’t let polluters hide
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Shutterstock World leaders and about 30,000 others from assorted interest groups will converge on Glasgow in November for the United Nations’ 26th annual climate summit, COP26 (“Conference of the Parties”). It will be five ...11 hours ago- Hidden women of history: Annie Lock was a bolshie, outspoken Australian missionary, full of contradi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Bishop, Postdoctoral Fellow, Macquarie University Missionary Annie Lock with Enbarda (Betsy) left, and Dolly Cumming, both children from the Alice Springs area in Central Australia. Photo taken in Darwin. National Archives of Australia Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander readers are ...11 hours ago- What our vaccinated future could look like
Nearly everyone needs a jab to avoid more level four lockdowns, according to the government’s latest research, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.Vaccinations alone won’t be enough to control delta. Jacinda Ardern made the case for near universal vaccination rates yesterday as she unveiled new modelling from Te Pūnaha Matatini that ...11 hours ago- NZ gives vaccine to islands – but needs help reaching its own Pacific peoples
The 712,000 doses are belated but welcome fulfilment of NZ's commitment to more vulnerable neighbouring nations, writes Jonathan Milne. Now NZ must address its own vaccine inequities. Analysis: When Pacific island nations distribute the vaccine to teenagers, the messaging is a little different to that in New Zealand. No, the vaccine will not change ...12 hours ago- Covid-19 vaccination programme moving away from 'one-size-fits-all' approach
Businesses are launching their own vaccination campaigns to reach people they say are being overlooked by the government's messaging. ...12 hours ago- Covid-19 vaccination campaign needs to move away from 'one-size-fits-all' approach
Businesses are launching their own vaccination campaigns to reach people they say are being overlooked by the government's messaging. ...12 hours ago- Five prickly questions: The legal minefield around work and vaccines
Businesses are struggling with what to do around Covid vaccinations in the workforce, with oft-conflicting legislation and little clarity from Government. ...13 hours ago- Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 24 September
14 hours ago- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 24 September
14 hours ago- What is rapid testing and when is it coming to New Zealand?
DIY Covid-19 tests are all the rage overseas but how do they work and are they any good? Mirjam Guesgen finds out.What is rapid testing?Rapid tests are also called antigen tests, RATs (rapid antigen test), at-home tests, lateral flow tests, or self tests.Rapid tests look and work a lot like ...14 hours ago- The beacons and black holes of NZ’s big new mental health plan
A new plan for mental health for the next decade makes for welcome reading. But important questions await, writes community mental health expert Dr Kaaren Mathias.This week Kia Manawanui was unveiled: a new 10-year plan for mental health. Kia manawanui means to be resolute, steadfast and committed and this “action ...14 hours ago- Celebrating the cursed slides of Aotearoa
In a month that saw one of Wellington’s most famous slides finally dismantled, The Spinoff writers remember some of the death-defying structures that have made us who we are. There is no childhood experience quite like getting your ass absolutely handed to you by a slide. Many can relate to the ...14 hours ago- This week's best-selling books
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias FICTION 1 The Last Guests by JP Pomare (Hachette, $34.99) “Cain and Lina Phillips narrate most of the novel. He’s an ex-SAS soldier whose failed business isn’t helping a rocky ...14 hours ago- Chlöe Swarbrick cutting through the 1pm spin
Chlöe Swarbrick is fighting for the unheard voices to make it to the 1pm podium. ...14 hours ago- China's difficult bid to join the Pacific trade deal
The University of Auckland's Manqing Cheng takes a look at the Chinese government's considerations on joining the CPTPP despite domestic opposition Comment: China made a bid to join the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) last week despite some domestic opposition. The official application to join the 11-nation free ...14 hours ago- Kiwi physio helped pave the way for women in the NBA
A 'unicorn' when she started with the Golden State Warriors, Kiwi physio Chelsea Lane drove into territory few women had gone before in the NBA. Now she's home to share her skills, she tells Ashley Stanley. Chelsea Lane came back to New Zealand from the United States with more than just ...14 hours ago- Rod Oram: Who I am and what I care about
Columnist Rod Oram prepares for his upcoming trip to Glasgow for the UN summit on climate change by pondering his own life journey and the thinking, people and events that have shaped him ...14 hours ago- New MIQ in Christchurch after Rotorua says no
Te Pāti Māori leads successful opposition to plans for new Covid quarantine facilities in poorly-vaccinated Rotorua Lakes district The good luck needed to land a room in MIQ has long been blamed by the Government on demand versus supply. Responding to allegations back in July that the difficulty travellers have had in ...14 hours ago- Bloomfield wanted 'very high-risk' NZers blocked
A trove of documents reveals new details about the Government's "very high-risk" list. ...14 hours ago- Te Papa casuals want Govt to plug pay loophole
Te Papa casual staff are caught in the cracks of bureaucracy ...14 hours ago- The paths much less travelled
We've used closed borders to explore our own country, but you can love a place to death - there are some places that are not only difficult to get to, but tourism is not encouraged Exploring Aotearoa's wilderness has become the thing to do for many people looking for adventures ...14 hours ago- Grattan on Friday: After the deal on security, Scott Morrison turns to the shift on climate
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra One is tempted to think Scott Morrison’s hero must be Harry Houdini, the great escape artist. Put our prime minister in a corner, and he will talk his way out, or try to. After President ...17 hours ago- Josh Frydenberg prepares ground for Scott Morrison to commit to 2050 climate target
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will prepare the way for Scott Morrison to take a target of net zero emissions by 2050 to Glasgow, when he warns on Friday capital inflow will be at risk if Australia ...17 hours ago- Government denies it has failed Māori on Covid
The government is standing by its Covid response for Māori, despite large disparities in both the number of cases and the vaccine rollout. ...23 hours ago- Auckland Mayor Phil Goff opposes Three Waters proposal, calls for accountability
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I liked this from Jacinda Ardern. The new no nonsense Jacinda who challenges the media:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-you-worried-jacindas-popularity-overtake-yours-terse-andrew-little-ardern-desperately-try-shut-down-reporters-curly-questions
As for the terminology used to head the item… garbage in… garbage out. Little and Ardern called the smart-arse reporter out and they didn’t like it?
Did any smart arsed reporter ask English what he would do if Bennett out-polled him for the PM stakes? NO.
Isn’t that the Gower boy, being the smart arse reporter continually asking the same question? He certainly does get the knives out for some Labour MPs!
I don’t think it’s Gower, he’s a bit dazzled by Jacinda. That was good work though from her.
Must have been Corin Dann, then. TV1 news does seem to be cheerleading for Bling this week.
Not his voice. Possibly Lloyd Burr from mediaworks?
Well Lloyd Burr’s interviews with Ardern today, as on the Newshub site, are very positive about/with Ardern. So, don’t see him as a smart arse trying to pressure her.
It was a post caucus press stand-up so could have been a reporter from one of the newspapers or radio stations. It wasn’t Corin Dann or Paddy Gower. Their voices are well known and recognisable.
Ta. So that’s both Lloyd and Paddy in the positive column so far.
Love her to bits. Easily shut that smart arse down.
Yep – the silly journos will start getting used to that answer, and it will become a non-question after a while – it’ll get boring.
media bias agree Anne in the last 2 elections the tories have had an unfair advantage the media did there lobbying and were an important part of there election team and this needs to stop
Bill English is not on 7 pc that’s the big difference
Bill English is not on 7 pc that’s the big difference Also simply denying what is quite probable ( the ostrich strategy) will not happen is not really and answer
“Labour supports a call from the Māori Party to have the superannuation age lowered for Māori because their live expectancy is lower the non-Māori.”
https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/politics/should-maori-receive-superannuation-lower-age
Good call and lots of evidence to back this up.
Working together??? Start off with some shared values and see how we go eh…
+1
Personally I believe Labour has a lot more in common with MP than NZF …
Voting record in parliament supports that.
I worry that presenting it this way will be vulnerable to “one law for all” style attacks. I think Henare’s comment about investing in Maori health to lift Maori life expectancy is on target, and couple that with early superannuation for those unable to continue in their occupation through disability. Which would hopefully provide the same outcome for Maori that have spent their lives in demanding manual occupations, as well as including non-Maori in the same situation.
Despite Ministers laying red herrings before journos this week, research shows that Maori have shorter life expectancy even after accounting for factors like their health and the type of work they undertake. Rangi the factory worker is a figment of Joyce’s overactive imagination.
Those attacks come what may – cannot and must not adjust for those racists.
The facts are well known.
And why those facts exist are also well known – just one of the unhappy coincidences for most indigenous peoples colonised – lower life expectancy, higher mental health issues including suicide and self harming, higher prison population, lower incomes throughout their working life, less home ownership, over populated on all deprivation statistics and so on and on and on…
That won’t get addressed by this but it is worthwhile pointing it all out imo.
anyway I wrote this a few years ago
http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2011/10/lower-maori-retirement-age.html
also Marty mars bad and unfair treatment from the state a sector that is suppose to help. For example we were more likely to be offered state flats in the bronxs the same areas the gnats have knocked down and built 500k houses for who not our people racist pigs
Women can look forward to longer careers due to their higher life expectancy. Will smokers and drinkers get to retire early as well?
Pity you are so scornful gabby – you could have made a contribution to the discussion instead of your usual sour comment.
Pity you’re so grumpy, marty. You could have thought the thing through a bit less narrowmindedly couldn’t you.
why chuck smokers and drinkers in gabby – were you trying to be provocative or just couldn’t think of much to say and wanted to say it anyway?
Smokers and drinkers don’t live as long marty. It might get a bit tricky working out just how smoky or drinky they are though.
yep sure is funny that one ha ha
“…Māori because their live expectancy is lower the non-Māori”
that isn’t funny though, is it gabby?
‘men because their live expectancy is lower the non-men’
that’s just hilarious is it marty.
Lol no but you are – just say what you want to say, don’t fluff around with the bullshit gabby or are you not that brave
Get a grip marty. Stay off the piss and ciggies and you’ll be fine.
Lol gabby – better luck next time eh
Smokers and drinkers get to die early. Think of all those savings ..
Race-based super is an absolutely terrible idea
I suspect however, that wiser heads within Labour will prevail and this idea will be quickly shut down…
A.
I’m sure it will be shut down with ill-informed and ignorant commentary like yours out there.
I agree.
A.
PS Anyway NZ 1st would never agree to it
With all the big data stuff, surely we can fit retirement age to the background of the retiree?
I think that is exactly what is eventually going to happen dv. After the age of 60 when a person wishes to retire from full time work, they will have to apply to a special agency set up for the task of investigating applicants’ circumstances. If they qualify under a set of reasonable criteria – such as in injuries caused by years of heavy manual labour – then they will be able to begin receiving super at an earlier age.
When (and its only a matter of time before it happens) they reach the age of 67 they will automatically receive the super. That does not mean others cannot start receiving it at 65 but they will have to fulfill the criteria laid down by legislation which could include anything from physical or mental impairment making it impossible for them to be able to continue earning a living.
No one automatically gets super now. Everyone applies for it if they think they are eligible.
The great thing about NZ’s system is that it’s universal. You just need to prove age, ID and years lived in NZ.
There is no need to include some means test. Actually, 60 years for all to apply would be better. Then properly pre-fund the super fund, and use the tax system to take back a high tax from those 60yrs + on a high income.
Means testing involves too much surveillance of individuals, and always results in some people trying to cheat the system, by using false info.
Or better still. Basic income for everyone, cradle to grave.
“use the tax system to take back a high tax from those 60yrs + on a high income.”
High wealth would be better – many of our richest manage their affairs to show hardly any income. Tax their capital and transactions.
wealth tax? Capital gains tax?
Seen several proposals discussed but not really my area. Financial transaction taxes seem hard to avoid. Taxing capital accumulation seems more useful than income to achieve distributional equity.
My accumulated capital already gets taxed: that’s my savings’ interest. But I do not own property, and property owners do not get taxed on their gains from rising house prices.
But I would think you are talking about capital accumulation in all kinds of investments, not just my little savings accounts.
Nothing to do with today, but Danyl MacLauchlan’s dimpost seems to have basically shut up shop. Does everyone else have trouble accessing: https://dimpost.wordpress.com/
Or did my IP/wordpress account just get banned? T^T
Would make sense if he was planning on publishing some of his posts in book format and wanted to pull it from online, but sad all the same if it’s gone.
I think he is “taking a break” from blogging. He intimated it was temporary due to other commitments – or whatever.
Interesting phenomenon. Blogging is a marathon. Danyl was really good at it. But it is not easy to keep it up for ever …
Isn’t he involved somehow with official Green party policy work now? Missed the announcement, just noticed missing site.
“If they qualify under a set of reasonable criteria – such as in injuries caused by years of heavy manual labour – then they will be able to begin receiving super at an earlier age.”
But surely Anne, these injured workers will be on ACC 80% of there present earnings till they are 65 which will be far better than the miserable amount National Supper will pay. What ever the age of retirement ACC will turn off the insurance payments then anyway.
I know this to be true, as I went through this recently with a friend.
No. Those are called “gradual process injuries”, or “age related degeneration” and you are put on the laughably called, “job seekers benefit.
I have several acquaintances who have obvious long term impairment related to jobs such as fishing, machine shop, or building, who are incapable of sustained work.
They all have to go with the WINZ torture monthly, for, what was, the “sickness benefit”, Including applications for jobs they will never get, due to their physical condition and age.
Which is why I am implacably opposed to raising the retirement age, means testing and any form of trying to adjust for individual disability or condition.
It doesn’t work. Universal is effective, fair and well understood.
It also stops the wealthy from getting rid of it. As they get it to.
We already have ample proof that “Austerity” and “tax cuts” are a failure.
The fact is, super, and other forms of welfare are becoming unaffordable because successive Governments have cut tax levels below that required for a functioning country.
US states are instructive, because you can see the effect of less or more socialist policies side by side with similar populations. The recent success of Minnesota where a State Government has raised minimum wages and business and State taxes has resulted in the opposite to the predicted decline. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/opinion/campaign-stops/the-path-to-prosperity-is-blue.html?_r=0 Note, Blue States in the USA are Democrat.
+1. Timeforacuppa has no idea at all about the outcomes of the ACC claims processor manual workers. Needs to be outed as a right wing troll.
The year zero reference has me WTF….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Zero_(political_notion)
edit:
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vault7?src=hash
Lesson number 1 for Bill English.
When contemplating significant changes to Government Policy in relation to superannuation (which affects everyone) best not to come out the blue with a prescriptive change to be set in concrete.
Guaranteed to get everyone’s backs up, highlight previous little known social divisions, and likely to give easy fodder to your political opponents.
What he should have done:
1 Acknowledged that he wasn’t bound by the same pledge as Key.
2 Make a new pledge that he would not make any wholesale changes to the NZ Super scheme without cross party support.
3 State that he supports setting up a cross party inquiry (after the election) into the future of NZ super in which input from all parties and the public would be taken into account.
4 State that any final outcome would not be proposed in Parliament without at least 66% support. This would allow Nat/Labour to figure out a reasonable plan for the future without giving Peters too much power.
Outcome: Frees English from Key’s foolish pledge AND removes it from being a lightening rod for discontent at the 2017 election.
Think before you stink is a wonderful saying.