Daily review 10/08/2020
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5:30 pm, August 10th, 2020 - 45 comments
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Daily review is also your post.
This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.
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45 comments on “Daily review 10/08/2020 ”
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- Outliving his usefulness.
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- Public Service Commissioner reappointedMinister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins announced today that Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes CNZM has been reappointed for three years. The Public Service Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. “Mr Hughes’ reappointment reflects the need for strong leadership and continuity to ...1 day ago
- Pōwhiri marks the start of a critical year for APECNew Zealand kicked off its APEC host year today, with a pōwhiri taking place on Wellington’s waterfront with local iwi Te Atiawa, and a number of Government ministers welcoming representatives from the other 20 APEC economies. “APEC is a hugely important international event, and New Zealand is hosting amidst the ...1 day ago
- Speech at APEC 21 Opening Pōwhiri9am, Tuesday 1 DecemberTe Whare Waka o Pōneke, Wellington Central He Mihi Kei aku rangatira no ngātapito e whā o te ao huri noa, tātou e huihui mai nei. Tēnā rā kōutou katoa. He tangiapakura ki ngā tini aituā kei waenganui i a tātou, ka tangi tonu te ngākau ki ...1 day ago
- Government extends business debt relief to October 2021To assist with the ongoing economic recovery from COVID-19, rules allowing affected businesses to put their debt on hold have been extended by 10 months. “New Zealand’s economy is recovering better than we expected, but the impacts of the pandemic are far-reaching and some businesses need continued support to keep ...2 days ago
- Bill introduced to support workers with 10 days sick leaveThe Government is delivering on a key commitment by introducing a Bill to Parliament to expand sick leave entitlements from five days to ten days a year, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today. “COVID-19 has shown how important it is to stay at home when people are ...2 days ago
- Progress on pay equity for DHB staffToday’s initial agreement between DHBs and the PSA on pay equity for clerical and administration staff is an important step toward better, fairer pay for this crucial and largely female workforce, Health Minister Andrew Little says. If ratified, the agreement between the Public Service Association and the country’s 20 District ...2 days ago
- Iconic Milford Track officially reopensOne of New Zealand’s premier hikes and a cornerstone of the Te Anau community, the Milford Track has officially reopened, “From today, hikers booked on the popular Great Walk will be able to complete the walk end-to-end for the first time since early February,” Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. ...2 days ago
- Support for farmers beefed up ahead of La NiñaFurther funding for feed support services and new animal welfare coordinators will help farmers who continue to feel the effects of an extended drought, says Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor. “In March this year, I classified the drought in the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chathams ...4 days ago
- Next steps for Christchurch Hospital campus redevelopmentCanterbury DHB will be better placed to respond to future demand for services and continue to deliver high quality care, with the next stage of the campus redevelopment programme confirmed, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Government has approved $154 million in funding for the construction of a third tower ...5 days ago
- Five Power Defence Arrangements Defence Ministers’ Joint StatementThe Defence Ministers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and United Kingdom reaffirmed their nations’ continued commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), and commended the achievements over the past 49 years as the FPDA moves towards its 50th Anniversary in 2021. The Ministers recognised the FPDA’s significant role ...5 days ago
- Jobs for Nature funding protects health of Hawke’s Bay waterwaysA joint Government and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council project will invest $4.2 million to protect local waterways, enhance biodiversity and employ local people, Environment Minister David Parker announced today. Over two years, the Hāpara Takatū Jobs for Nature project will fence 195km of private land to exclude stock from vulnerable ...5 days ago
- New Year border exception for seasonal workers in the horticulture and wine industries2000 additional RSE workers to enter New Zealand early next year employers must pay these workers at least $22.10 an hour employers will cover costs of managed isolation for the RSE workers RSE workers will be paid the equivalent of 30 hours work a week while in isolation From January ...6 days ago
- Government increases support for New Zealanders to work in seasonal jobsThe Government is offering further financial support for unemployed New Zealanders to take on seasonal work. These new incentives include: Up to $200 per week for accommodation costs $1000 incentive payment for workers who complete jobs of six weeks or longer increasing wet weather payments when people can’t work to ...6 days ago
- Government receives Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mos...Minister for Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti has today received the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques, and will table it in Parliament on Tuesday December 8. “I know this will have been a challenging process for whānau, survivors and witnesses of the terrorist attack ...6 days ago
- New Zealand Government to declare a climate emergencyThe Government will declare a climate emergency next week, Climate Change Minister James Shaw said today. “We are in the midst of a climate crisis that will impact on nearly every ...6 days ago
- Call for urgent action on Pacific conservationA declaration on the urgency of the global biodiversity crisis and the need for immediate, transformative action in the Pacific was agreed at a pan-Pacific conference today. The 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas is taking place this week across the Pacific. Minister of Conservation Kiritapu ...6 days ago
- Speech from the throneE aku hoa i te ara o te whai, Kia kotahi tā tātou takahi i te kō, ko tōku whiwhi kei tō koutou tautoko mai. Ko tāku ki a koutou, hei whakapiki manawa mōku. He horomata rangatira te mahi, e rite ai te whiwhinga a te ringatuku, me te ringakape ...6 days ago
- Keynote address to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand conferenceSpeech to the CAANZ conference - November 19, 2020 Thank you, Greg, (Greg Haddon, MC) for the welcome. I’d like to acknowledge John Cuthbertson from CAANZ, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue Naomi Ferguson, former fellow MP and former Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, other guest speakers and CAANZ members. I ...1 week ago
- Expert independent advisory group appointed to strengthen the future of Māori broadcastingA panel of seven experts are adding their support to help shape the future of Māori broadcasting, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson has announced today. “Today I will meet with some of the most experienced Māori broadcasters, commentators and practitioners in the field. They have practical insights on the ...1 week ago
- Government to review housing settingsNew Zealand’s stronger-than-expected economic performance has flowed through to housing demand, so the Government will review housing settings to improve access to the market, the Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “Our focus is on improving access to the housing market for first home buyers and ensuring house price growth ...1 week ago
- Crown accounts reflect Govt’s careful economic managementThe better-than-expected Crown accounts released today show the Government’s careful management of the COVID-19 health crisis was the right approach to support the economy. As expected, the Crown accounts for the year to June 2020 show the operating balance before gains and losses, or OBEGAL, was in deficit. However that ...1 week ago
- Community launch marks next step in addressing racism in educationThe launch of Te Hurihanganui in Porirua today is another important milestone in the work needed to address racism in the education system and improve outcomes for Māori learners and their whānau, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis says. Budget 2019 included $42 million over three years to put Te Hurihanganui ...1 week ago
- Government to consider recommendations on DNA use in criminal investigationsThe Minister of Justice has received the Law Commission’s recommending changes to the law governing the way DNA is used in criminal investigations. The report, called The Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations – Te Whahamahi I te Ira Tangata I ngā Mātai Taihara, recommends new legislation to address how ...1 week ago
- Speech to Wakatū Nelson regional hui on tradeFirst, I want to express my thanks to Te Taumata for this hui and for all the fantastic work you are doing for Māori in the trade space. In the short time that you’ve been operating you’ve already contributed an enormous amount to the conversation, and developed impressive networks. I ...1 week ago
- Speech to Primary Industries SummitThank you for the opportunity to speak to you today about the significant contribution the food and fibres sector makes to New Zealand and how this Government is supporting that effort. I’d like to start by acknowledging our co-Chairs, Terry Copeland and Mavis Mullins, my colleague, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, ...1 week ago
- Fast track referrals will speed up recovery and boost jobs and home buildingThe Government is taking action to increase jobs, speed up the economic recovery and build houses by putting three more projects through its fast track approval process. “It’s great to see that the fast-track consenting process is working. Today we have referred a mix of potential projects that, if approved, ...1 week ago
- Papakāinga provides critically needed homes in HastingsA papakāinga opened today by the Minister for Māori Development the Hon Willie Jackson will provide whānau with much needed affordable rental homes in Hastings. The four home papakāinga in Waiōhiki is the first project to be completed under the ‘Hastings Place Based’ initiative. This initiative is a Government, Hastings ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand ready to host APEC virtuallyPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern took over the leadership of APEC earlier today, when she joined leaders from the 21 APEC economies virtually for the forum’s final 2020 meeting. “We look forward to hosting a fully virtual APEC 2021 next year. While this isn’t an in-person meeting, it will be one ...2 weeks ago
- Revival of Māori HorticulturistsThe rapid revival of Māori horticulture was unmistakeable at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards, with 2020 marking the first time this iconic Māori farming event was dedicated to horticulture enterprises. Congratulating finalists at the Awards, Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson said growing large-scale māra kai is part of Māori DNA. ...2 weeks ago
- Emergency benefit to help temporary visa holdersFrom 1 December, people on temporary work, student or visitor visas who can’t return home and or support themselves may get an Emergency Benefit from the Ministry of Social Development, Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced today. Previously, temporary visa holders in hardship because of COVID-19 have had ...2 weeks ago
- School sustainability projects to help boost regional economiesForty one schools from the Far North to Southland will receive funding for projects that will reduce schools’ emissions and save them money, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This is the second round of the Sustainability Contestable Fund, and work will begin immediately. The first round announced in April ...2 weeks ago
- Farmer-led projects to improve water health in Canterbury and OtagoMore than $6 million will be spent on helping farmers improve the health of rivers, wetlands, and habitat biodiversity in Canterbury and Otago, as well as improving long-term land management practices, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Four farmer-led catchment group Jobs for Nature projects have between allocated between $176,000 and ...2 weeks ago
- A political party out of step and out of time
The make-up of the diverse new Parliament should be a daily reminder to National just how out of step with the aspirations of modern New Zealand it has become. ...58 mins ago - 4 things about female orgasms researchers actually study
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Chalmers, Senior Lecturer in Pain Sciences, University of South Australia Cardi B’s song WAP and the Netflix show Sex Education place female orgasms on centre stage in popular culture. But female orgasms are also the subject of serious academic research. Here’s ...1 hour ago - Mother of slain officer Matthew Hunt petitions for harsher punishments for those who murder police
The mother of a slain police officer has begged politicians to introduce harsher punishments for those who murder police. ...1 hour ago - West Papuan leaders declare first steps for world’s first ‘green state’Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk West Papuan leaders have begun forming a “provisional government” in defiance of a crackdown by Indonesian security forces and have pledged that the Melanesian region will establish the world’s first “green state”. West Papuan civil society and political movements have opposed Indonesian colonisation of the region ...2 hours ago
- What’s behind China’s bullying of Australia? It sees a soft target — and an essential oneSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chongyi Feng, Associate Professor in China Studies, University of Technology Sydney As the diplomatic fallout continues over the digitally altered war crimes tweet sent by China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, earlier this week, it’s important to note this inflammatory and offensive ...2 hours ago
- Is it wrong to make a film about the Port Arthur massacre? A trauma expert’s perspectiveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Bryant, Professor & Director of Traumatic Stress Clinic, UNSW A film being made about the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which claimed 35 lives, has been criticised by Tasmanian politicians, survivors of the mass shooting, the local community and police. The film, ...2 hours ago
- NZ joins a groundswell in sounding the climate emergency alarm. Can it make any real difference?
Bronwyn Hayward has her reservations about climate emergency declarations. Can today’s win her over?Today New Zealand became the 33rd country to declare a Climate Emergency. Around the world, more than 1,800 cities and local governments have already declared climate emergencies, including 16 New Zealand city and district councils. “Climate Emergency” ...2 hours ago - ‘What I had to say mattered’ — how can we provide justice for sexual assault victims beyond cr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bernadette McSherry, Foundation Director, Melbourne Social Equity Institute and Professor of Law, University of Melbourne Louise Milligan’s new book, Witness, reports how traumatic the criminal justice system can be for victim-survivors of sexual assault. This is not the first time we have ...2 hours ago
- Mahuta plugs the progress of Maori at powhiri for our big APEC year
A rich mix of fresh pronouncements from the Beehive includes the delivery of an election promise to improve the wellbeing of workers with more sick leave. Yes, this may adversely affect the wellbeing of their employers, who will be obliged to do the paying. But this has been partly offset ...3 hours ago - Review: Assassin’s Creeed fails to make colonisation funIn the mood for some good old fashioned pillaging? Then play Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. But if you want to have a good time while doing so, probably look elsewhere.As a New Zealander who hails from a different colonised nation, it should be some weird kind of reverse revenge fantasy to ...3 hours ago
- A Climate Emergency Has Been Declared – Now What?
Parents for Climate Aotearoa commend and congratulate the government for the passing of the climate emergency motion. “This symbolic declaration now needs to be backed up by significant action if we have any hope of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees” ...3 hours ago - ‘WTF?’: newly discovered ghostly circles in the sky can’t be explained by current theories, an...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ray Norris, Professor, School of Science, Western Sydney University In September 2019, my colleague Anna Kapinska gave a presentation showing interesting objects she’d found while browsing our new radio astronomical data. She had started noticing very weird shapes she couldn’t fit easily ...3 hours ago
- Ardern on raising concern with China: 'It was a matter of principle'New Zealand was acting independently when it called out China for using "disinformation", Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. ...3 hours ago
- Former PNG PM O’Neill to stand trial over Israeli generators purchaseBy RNZ Pacific Papua New Guinea’s former Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, has been committed to stand trial for charges of misappropriation and official corruption A Waigani Committal Court magistrate Tracey Ganaii yesterday found there was sufficient evidence on the two charges. They relate to the state purchase of two generators ...4 hours ago
- What it will take for Govt to be carbon neutral by 2025?
Analysis: The Government has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2025. What will it take to meet that goal? Marc Daalder reports Potentially overshadowed by the symbolic - but legally toothless - declaration of a climate emergency was the Government's pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2025. This picks up ...4 hours ago - Mercury Welcomes Government's Electric Vehicle Initiative2 December 2020 – The Government’s commitment to require its agencies to purchase electric vehicles for their fleets is a welcome tangible step towards New Zealand’s decarbonisation ambitions, says Mercury chief executive Vince Hawksworth. “This ...4 hours ago
- Seventy Workers Losing Jobs As Christchurch Loses Clothing Manufacturer Deane ApparelWell-established New Zealand clothing manufacturer Deane Apparel have today confirmed their intention to close their manufacturing plant in Russley, Christchurch, which will lead to around 70 job losses among their predominantly female workforce and ...4 hours ago
- Public Servants Welcome Govt Commitment To Climate ActionThe Public Service Association welcomes the government’s declaration of a climate emergency, and supports the goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the public service itself by 2025. Requiring agencies to buy electric vehicles and achieve a ‘green ...4 hours ago
- Unions Support Declaration Of Climate EmergencyNew Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff today supported the Prime Minister’s Announcement of a climate change emergency, saying it signaled a more urgent move to a Just Transition for people working in carbon-based industries. ...4 hours ago
- Oxfam Reaction To NZ Government’s Declaration Of Climate EmergencyIn response to the New Zealand government’s move to declare a climate emergency, Oxfam New Zealand’s Campaigns Lead Alex Johnston said: “It’s significant to see the New Zealand government formally recognise the urgency of our climate crisis, ...4 hours ago
- Rort Confirmed: Dawn Freshwater Must Pay Back The Full Value Of Her Discounted RentResponding to the Auditor-General’s report on the University of Auckland’s decision to purchase a $5 million mansion in Parnell for its Vice-Chancellor, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “The Auditor-General’s judgment ...5 hours ago
- Home Alone at 30: how one case of parental neglect led to (hilariously) painful outcomesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Sparkes, Senior Lecturer (Media Studies and Production), University of Southern Queensland What was filmmaker John Hughes thinking when he made Home Alone? His previous films were either about awkward teens finding their way in the world (The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s ...5 hours ago
- Māori wards petition delivered to Parliament: 'Not a case of if, but when'Activists have delivered a petition to MPs urging them to get rid of legislation that enables referenda on Māori wards. ...5 hours ago
- It is a climate emergency, now let’s act like itGreenpeace is claiming the Government’s symbolic declaration of climate emergency as a "win for people power", but is challenging Jacinda Ardern and her Government to follow through quickly with policy and action to cut New Zealand’s ...5 hours ago
- Climate emergency declaration by New Zealand government includes commitment to 2025 targetsNew Zealand's government is set to commit to going carbon neutral by 2025 when it declares a climate emergency this afternoon. ...5 hours ago
- The type machine: A review of Tom Sainsbury’s Field GuideBooks editor Catherine Woulfe reads New Zealanders: The Field Guide, by comedian and sometime Paula Bennett impersonator, Tom Sainsbury. We begin as we shall end: with blather.Hi guys! My name is Tom Sainsbury and I am very excited to meet you … through this book. You’re probably thinking, ‘Who the hell ...5 hours ago
- WWF-New Zealand Reaction To Government's Climate Change Emergency Declaration...5 hours ago
- Why that last episode of The Mandalorian was so goodThat Star Wars show just had an episode that was a stone cold killer. According to José Barbosa, you can thank director Dave Filoni’s animation background for that.[Spoilers for episode five of The Mandalorian follow, if you care about that sort of thing]The year 2019 brought many TV streaming joys ...6 hours ago
- Inquiry Into The University Of Auckland’s Decision To Purchase A House In ParnellIn November 2019, the University of Auckland purchased a house in Parnell in Auckland. The University said the house would be used for accommodation by the Vice-Chancellor, business-related operations, and functions. The house cost about $5 million, and ...6 hours ago
- Beware the dragon: What the Australia-China trade war means for NZ
Australia cannot win its trade war with China. The only question is how much it will lose, and what that might mean for New Zealand. In case anyone in New Zealand has missed it, Australia is now under sustained attack from China. That attack takes two forms – trade sanctions ...6 hours ago - ‘Nobody checked on us’: what people with disability told us about their experiences of disasters...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Villeneuve, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Australians with disability are disproportionately affected by disasters such as fire, floods, cyclones and heatwaves. Yet we rarely hear their perspectives and insights on what’s needed to ensure they’re not left stranded when disaster strikes. ...6 hours ago
- 6 things to watch for as Australia crawls out of recessionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janine Dixon, Economist at Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University Our economy has grown in the September quarter (the three months to September) after two quarters of going backwards. Using the literal meaning of recession, we are no longer in one – ...6 hours ago
- Jacinda Ardern: NZ’s declaration of a climate emergencyToday in parliament, Jacinda Ardern will move a notice of motion declaring a climate emergency and a series of other steps including ‘becoming a carbon-neutral government by 2025’. Here is the full text of the motion.To move that this House: declare a climate emergency, following the finding of the Intergovernmental ...7 hours ago
- One weird trick to make enormous profits without paying taxSo is capital gains tax a good idea or…? Depends who you ask, but this Auckland house (Janaye Henry) that just made $140,000 in a year makes a pretty strong case for why it might be good, actually.As your average Auckland house, I’ve got to say 2020 has been pretty ...7 hours ago
- Educators Back Call For Urgent Action On Child Poverty...7 hours ago
- JustSpeak Responds To Call For Sentencing And Parole Change Petition From Diane HuntToday Diane Hunt, mother of police officer Constable Matthew Hunt, delivers a petition to parliament asking for changes to the Sentencing Act 2002 and Parole Act 2002, whereby anyone convicted of murdering a police officer would receive a mandatory ...8 hours ago
- 39,000 strong petition presented to ParliamentTaonga honouring 33 police officers killed in the line of duty presented to Hon Mark Mitchell MP and Hon Poto Williams MP. (Source: Supplied) The mother of slain police officer Constable Matthew Hunt, Diane Hunt, presented a 39,000 strong petition to ...8 hours ago
- Musicians across Pacific stage virtual Wan Musik Wan Sing for West Papua’s freedomCOMMENT: By Luisa Tuilau and Ronny Kareni As West Papua’s Morning Star flag marks its historic 59th anniversary today on December 1, the Wan Musik Wan Sing virtual concert for West Papua has brought together artists from across our solwara with a Song for Freedom that traverses a sonic celebration ...8 hours ago
- Why New Zealand is ideally placed to broker a truce between China and the Five Eyes allianceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato With tension escalating between China and members of the Five Eyes security alliance, most recently over a Chinese tweet that used a doctored image to attack Australia, New Zealand is arguably in a prime ...8 hours ago
- Effects Of COVID-19 On Trade: 1 February–25 November 2020 (provisional)Effects of COVID-19 on trade is a weekly update on New Zealand’s daily goods trade with the world from 1 February 2020. Comparing the values with previous years shows the potential impacts of COVID-19. The data is provisional and should be regarded ...8 hours ago
- Union Calls On Parliament To Declare Debt EmergencyThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling on MPs to declare a “Debt Emergency” to recognise New Zealand's largest ever government deficit and $128 million in weekly borrowing. Spokesman, Jordan Williams, said:“Regardless of the result of today’s ‘Climate ...8 hours ago
- What I learned about Christmas by watching too many Christmas moviesIt’s December. You know what that means? Christmas is here. You know what else that means? Christmas movies are here. Sam Brooks has watched all the Christmas movies on Neon, here’s what he learned from them.‘Tis the jolly season! There’s no better time of year than to turn up the ...8 hours ago
- Children’s Commissioner Is A Pointless Taxpayer-funded LobbyistThe Children’s Commissioner could help young New Zealanders by retiring, says the Taxpayers’ Union in response to the Commissioner’s 2020 Child Poverty Monitor . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “The Children’s Commissioner’s solutions ...9 hours ago
- Give power to Māori and marginalised communities and we’ll get through the climate emergencyToday, our parliament will declare a climate emergency. Three young climate leaders say it’s a grim marker of the scale of human-caused planetary collapse, but we need to ensure the government does not sacrifice the important for the urgent. Historically, emergencies have failed to prioritise equity and fairness when the underlying ...9 hours ago
- Infrastructure Sector’s Top Issues And Priorities For The New Government“The infrastructure sector remains hopeful that the Government can deliver on its vision for New Zealand, but quick action on strategy, planning, skills and funding commitment is required,” says Hamish Glenn, Policy Director at Infrastructure New ...9 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – December 02 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 Climate change Richard Harman: Now the hard part on climate change is about to begin Jamie Morton (Stuff): What does declaring a ‘climate emergency’ actually do? Robert McLachlan (The Conversation): Climate ...10 hours ago
- Inside the Stuff apologyStuff’s Pou Tiaki editor Carmen Parahi rallied her troops for what would become the ‘Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono’ project on a Saturday, and pitched the idea to Stuff’s CEO the very next day. She tells Leonie Hayden about what happened next.On Monday the media-consuming public awoke to a surprise ...10 hours ago
- National Party opposes climate emergency declaration and festival drug check lawNational Party leader Judith Collins says declaring a climate emergency can mislead people, and a law allowing drug checks at festivals over summer is only providing a false sense of security. ...10 hours ago
- Aurecon’s Just Imagine Blog Publishes A New Ebook And Audiobook On SustainabilityAre we lost in our journey towards a sustainable future? Perhaps Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz can help us. Aurecon’s award-winning blog Just Imagine has recently published a new ebook and its first audiobook titled Just Imagine: what lies at the ...11 hours ago
- New rules for money lenders aims to protect all consumersThe government is continuing its crackdown on loan sharks, introducing new rules to protect against unaffordable loans. ...11 hours ago
- False flag: The Mercy Pictures furore and the dangerous power of artThe fallout from the Mercy Pictures exhibition People of Colour continues to inflame the Aotearoa art world. Here, art writer and former gallerist Sarah Hopkinson attempts to understand the often contradictory values that produced Mercy Pictures, and what the tumult means for the future of the industry.In October I attended ...11 hours ago
- COVID has left Australia’s biomedical research sector gasping for airSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gina Ravenscroft, Research Fellow, University of Western Australia While COVID-19 has highlighted the value of medical research, it has unfortunately also seriously disrupted it. Lack of funding is driving members of Australia’s once-vibrant virology research community out of the sector, and forcing ...12 hours ago
- What will Australia’s COVID vaccination program look like? 4 key questions answeredSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Monash University The Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/University of Oxford groups have all recently announced their COVID vaccine candidates have demonstrated high levels of efficacy in phase 3 trials. These developments have focused attention on how ...12 hours ago
- Why there’s a lot more to love about jacarandas than just their purple flowersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Every spring, streets across Australia turn purple with the delicate, falling flowers of jacarandas. This year, they’ll likely be flowering over Christmas. The colour of the flowers is often debated – is it indigo, ...12 hours ago
- A year without NAPLAN has given us a chance to re-evaluate how we gauge school qualitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ilana Finefter-Rosenbluh, Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Monash University This has been a year of schools closing and a rapid switch to online learning. It’s also been a year with no NAPLAN. The cancellation of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy ...12 hours ago
- How Australian vice-chancellors’ pay came to average $1 million and why it’s a problemSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Rowlands, Associate Professor in Education Leadership, Deakin University Australia and the UK experience regular annual outrage over vice-chancellors’ pay. This is unsurprising – in Australia their average pay at the 37 public universities topped A$1 million in 2019. Those at prestigious ...12 hours ago
- What did COVID do to rental markets? Rents fell as owners switched from AirbnbSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Buckle, Research Associate in Housing Studies, University of Sydney COVID-related travel restrictions and the sudden drop in tourism provided an ideal natural experiment to examine the impact of shifts in the supply of short-term rental accommodation. Our research, released today, found ...12 hours ago
- Not all blackened landscapes are bad. We must learn to love the right kindSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Smith, Professor of Archaeology, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University The devastation wrought by last summer’s unprecedented bushfires created blackened landscapes across Australia. New life is sprouting, but with fires burning again in New South Wales and Queensland ...12 hours ago
- Pharmac boss to talk with Crohn's sufferers protesting for drug funding
The head of the Government's drug-buying agency is to talk with Crohn's sufferers, who are petitioning for more drug funding. ...12 hours ago - 10,000 Strong Petition Calls For Government To Give Māori Wards A Fair GoActionStation and Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori will deliver two petitions in support of Māori wards today at midday. The petitions will be presented in a public event to Labour MP Tāmati Coffey. The petitions have been signed by over 10,000 people ...12 hours ago
- Live updates, December 2: New report details child poverty damageWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for December 2. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.30am: New report details child poverty damageOne in five children are living in income poverty, and without significantly increased government intervention that is likely to get worse.That comes from a new report from the Child Poverty Monitor, ...12 hours ago
- China 'surprised' NZ expressed concern over falsified photo of Australian soldierA spokesperson for China's foreign ministry says the official's tweet of a digitally-altered image depicting an Australian soldier has nothing to do with New Zealand. ...13 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Council considers rates hit to cover CovidGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Council considers rates hit to cover Covid, revenue minister fires warning shot over trusts, and some common sense on drug law reform.Auckland Council is set to lose a billion dollars in revenue, and they’re planning on asking ratepayers to pay ...13 hours ago
- Child Poverty Monitor Launch And Technical ReportBold action needed to prevent worsening of child poverty after Covid-19 One in every five children in Aotearoa New Zealand is living in income poverty, with bold action needed to prevent Covid-19 making low income and hardship even worse, according to ...13 hours ago
- Child Poverty Monitor Launch And Technical ReportBold action needed to prevent worsening of child poverty after Covid-19 One in every five children in Aotearoa New Zealand is living in income poverty, with bold action needed to prevent Covid-19 making low income and hardship even worse, according to ...13 hours ago
- Sophie's Choice: The big job ahead of Sky boss
Sky has appointed Sophie Moloney as its new CEO following Martin Stewart’s surprise exit after less than 2 years at the helm. Mark Jennings looks at the implications for the pay TV network. Martin Stewart swept into New Zealand and the Sky TV CEO role bursting with energy and ...13 hours ago - Ministers at odds over need to further Whakaari / White Island investigationMinisters are offering differing views over the need for an independent investigation into the Whakaari/White Island rescue and recovery mission. ...13 hours ago
- Sky TV drops another bombshell
A swift change of CEO at Sky TV, plus New Zealand backs Australia over doctored Chinese photo ...14 hours ago - Phil Twyford takes leave from Parliament as wife diagnosed with cancerLabour Minister Phil Twyford will be on leave from Parliament for the foreseeable future as his wife has been diagnosed with cancer. ...14 hours ago
- Foster couple pursuing legal action
Oranga Tamariki faces further court action over its controversial removal of children from a foster couple, Melanie Reid and Bonnie Sumner report The couple at the centre of Newsroom’s latest video that shows Oranga Tamariki removing their foster children are pursuing legal action against the agency. “We believe they’re in ...14 hours ago - Jehan Casinader is alive and well
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Judith Collins on TV1 news tonight was as usual her snide sarcastic self, curling her lips with venom, again as usual. She is a most unappealing woman.
She reminds me of Ricky Gervais' David Brent from the Office.
Merv the Nat … one of the best election campaign stories you'll ever see:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/senior-national-party-figure-accused-of-using-secret-alter-ego-merv-to-derail-auckland-central-candidate.html
Quite something. Judith is trying to get as far away from this as fast as she can.
She's trying to get so far away from it she even denies she's the leader of the National Party, that's quite barmy.
Collins has aged rapidly the rogue polls are causing sleepless nights.crushed by rogue polls
I didn't wanna say it but she actually doesn't look good, she's grey and drawn, looks very tired.
Lol. When is the Leader of the National Party not the leader of the National Party?
That was in answer to questions last week too, when the whole mess in Auckland Central started to come out. The questions about “Merv” and his talkback shenanigans will be for tomorrow’s news cycle.
National leaders have history. Wasn't John Key known to get in touch with a Herald 'reporter' when he was PM but he wasn't really PM at that moment because he didn't have his PM pants on at the time? Rachel Glucina.
They actually think that type of behaviour is normal.
They have form for it – remember John "Hone" Carter?
She even denied being leader of the National Party …
https://twitter.com/GregPresland/status/1292714855837777920
That does leave me dumbfounded, that she'd say such a thing, she's so bad, is no leader, she couldn't run this country that's for sure.
Catch whether her eyebrows were up?
Her right one is up about 13mm in her photo captioned Leader of the National Party on Greg's tweet.
When confronted by a situation that they're responsible for the first thing that any National Leader will do is deny any responsibility. John Key did it by switching hats and now JCollins has done it by denying that she has any hats.
Shades of Hone Carter.
Can't really see what Merv was worried about. Even if the false rumours about her being a stripper were true, it's still a more noble profession than a currency speculator.
Yea TV1 trying hard to discredit the MOH and the Coalition over the flu jab and backed up by Nat voting Doctors having a moan. But the flu jab was rolled out earlier this year for us oldies because there was a higher than normal demand for the jab, no doubt fueled by the Covid shock that could well have put pressure on supply.
Yes. I had the impression it was a silly attempt to discredit both Bloomfield and Ardern. Anything for a new sensation.
Sure, there were teething troubles to begin with due to the consequences of Covid 19 around the world, but I thought the MoH and the Govt. overcame the problems remarkably quickly. They were right not to create unnecessary panic among the populace at that time. Everyone who needed or wanted a jab got it in the end.
The advantage for the opposition targeting immunisations is that a Green MP is in charge of them. Got to push that vote down!
Yes Anne, as people over 70 with other issues we were offered our 'flu jab really early. It was announced more people were requesting injections so more had been obtained. I understood the numbers were really high this year. Twice as many as usual.
Proof of the pudding and all that. I am on flu tracker and this years flu rates down significantly……….if the roll out of the flu jab was so bad surely we would be seeing significant increases in flu this year…………..
But anyway, maybe someone should ask National more about it? Gerry? Merv?
Merv homeless by chance???
Brainless!!
lol I feel love and Patricia………….maybe homeless and brainless!
Taranaki moving away from oil? Needs to fast, but are they man enough?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/423182/taranaki-s-tui-oil-field-survey-request-shows-split-pipe
For anyone who hasn't heard them before, the original comic genius of the fake talkback caller was the late, great Peter Cook. He would ring in to LBC (London radio) pretending to be Sven, a lonely Norwegian fisherman. Very funny, and fooled many.
Here he is going on (and on) about fish …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPJK2zKtAxQ
I always thought that being sardonic was his strong point, but apparently it was sardines!
hahaha, how long did he manage to do that for?
Imagine now, he'd have been cut off after the first minute.
Erebus-type error?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/423199/talley-s-skipper-fined-for-marine-reserve-fishing-company-denies-responsibility
Liability for a breach of the Marine Reserves Act extends beyond the skipper already charged, a lawyer for the Ministry for Primary Industries says.…
Saunders [Skipper]said earlier he did not know the reserve was there as it was not marked on the on-board paper chart.
Hazlett told the court today that when the mariner went into the reserve, it was not on the electronic chart plotter, but Talley's had since updated plotters in the company's fleet to show the reserve.
"Talley's have subsequently upgraded their systems to include geofencing, whereby alerts are generated when a vessel approaches or enters a restricted or closed area."
All 5 parties in Parliament will be represented by female candidates in Auckland Central this election. National's selection has gone to a final ballot, both women.
Not sure if this is a first in NZ election.
And they've picked Emma Mellow. Not the Manurewa candidate, stabbed in the back by "Merv".
I doubt this story is over.
No surprise. A senior communications manager at ANZ no less. Her chairman JK
The Herald is saying that Merv’s call to Marcus Lush came from Roger Bridge’s phone.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12355382
Maybe he left his phone lying around at a party and someone used it. I'm picking a homeless man who wandered in off Woodhouse Ave or someone falloon on hard times.
Hehe that is really good.
From the link;
So. she thinks she's already the MP for Auckland Central.
Edit: Off to bed with a smile. Thanks Peter.
Peter, liked your humour. Thinking about all the bizarre claims by National in the last few weeks, makes me think they are all pretty nutty. Apologies to nuts.
lol Peter!
Harete's supporters seem nice.
Sorry but find that act truly offensive and should not be promoted regardless of being any party’s billboards
Freedom, the knitted free-speech elf, says such political expression is a fundamental right!
People remove corrupt government.
https://en.as.com/en/2020/08/10/latest_news/1597036705_380246.html
The explosion in Beirut has exposed more than a hole in the ground. It has laid bare the whole corrupt facade of the political system. Big up's to the folks who threw the explosion rubble into the government precinct the last couple of days. But will we get more of the same, but with nicer smiles? Who knows – but good to see a government fall, may there be many more.