Daily review 18/06/2019
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5:30 pm, June 18th, 2019 - 17 comments
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- Labour: From standing for something to standing for nothing
Writing in Stuff, Morgan Godfery argues that Labour has forgotten why it won the 2020 election: Politics is more than just killing a bad run of stories in the latest media cycle. Politics requires stated aims and actions taken to secure them. Politicians are fearful of leaning too ...2 hours ago - Austerity is murderOver in the UK, the radical Tory government is planning more benefit cuts to screw the poor. Meanwhile, there's also a timely reminder of exactly what that means: mass-murder: More than 330,000 excess deaths in Great Britain in recent years can be attributed to spending cuts to public services ...3 hours ago
- Climate Change; Solving the forestry dilemmaFor a long time now the Climate Change Commission has been expressing concerns about the place of forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme. Our net-zero emissions target encourages us to plant trees to soak up our emissions, but if we plant too many, then carbon prices will be too low ...5 hours ago
- Dunedin Spring Snowglobe: 2022 Edition
I hate daylight saving. I really do. It’s the loss of an hour in the morning that just messes with me. But the arrival of daylight saving in mid-September is as good an indication as any that summer is on the way. Alas, the weather has had other ideas… ...6 hours ago - Pressure Towards The Mean: Do We Really Want To Abolish Streaming?
Levelling Down: What will happen when streaming is no more? Will the children of New Zealand emerge from the public education system with the skills and qualifications necessary to foot-it in the modern world? Or, will their education be limited to whatever the least engaged and least talented students allow ...8 hours ago - Political Roundup: 6 October 2022
Items of interest and importance today LOBBYING BY KRIS FAAFOI Thomas Cranmer: Political lobbying in New Zealand David Farrar: From Cabinet straight to lobbying Giles Dexter and Russell Palmer (RNZ): Faafoi rejects criticism over new lobbying boss role No Right Turn: Close this revolving door POLITICAL DONATIONS HIGH COURT TRIAL ...12 hours ago - From the eMail bag: A Review of a paper by Ellis and Palmer
We occasionally receive excellent questions and/or comments by email or via our contact form and have then usually corresponded with the emailer directly. But, some of the questions and answers deserve a broader audience, so we decided to highlight some of them in a series of blog posts. Yet, again, an ...1 day ago - Close this revolving doorStuff reports that former Minister Kris Faafoi has become a lobbyist, planning to distort policy for profit by leveraging the relationships formed as a Minister with public servants and Ministerial colleagues. And in case anyone thinks I'm exaggerating there, its in his slogan: "results through relationships". This is, obviously, corrupt. ...1 day ago
- Bryce Edwards: No confidence in dire local govt electionsThe “No Confidence” vote in local body elections could be as high as 60 per cent by the end of this week. That’s essentially what it is when only 40 per cent of the public choose to vote, which is what is happening at the moment. In fact, voter turnout ...1 day ago
- Gordon Campbell on student debt, policy turns and the Beths
It is an old point to make… But boomers did get a pretty good deal out of their free education and plentiful unionised vacation jobs. Then they got into power and cut taxes on their own incomes, thus going a long way to denying the same privileges to subsequent generations. ...1 day ago - Anti-Liberation Theology.Not Light Viewing: Did the creators of the 1971 television series The Guardians intuitively grasp the political utility of religious extremism, or did somebody they met in a bar tell them? The early 1970s were a dangerous and dubious time. Shadowy figures gathered in great houses and plotted coups. Assassination ...1 day ago
- The “endorsement” you give when you want someone to loseVoting in the local body elections closes at noon on Saturday, and today was the last day to post your votes to be sure they got there in time. So naturally, today was the day Jacinda Ardern chose to finally "endorse" Auckland mayoral candidate Efeso Collins: Prime Minister Jacinda ...2 days ago
- Second Time Around.Cynical Assumptions: British Prime Minister Liz Truss and her Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, appeared to be operating on the cynical assumption that there is insufficient historical memory available to the British political class for anyone to recall that her “supply-side economics” remedy has been applied, off-and-on, and always catastrophically, ...2 days ago
- Missing the forest for the trees.
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- Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Local government elections matterVoter turnout in local body elections is traditionally low and now, more than halfway through this year’s election period, this trend looks likely to continue. Turnout has been below 50 percent since 2004 and in 2019 was 42 percent – around half the turnout for national elections. Voter turnout is ...2 days ago
- Josh Van Veen: Efeso vs. Wayne: A different kind of mayor?The 2022 local elections have failed to excite Aucklanders. Early voting returns suggest turnout won’t be much different to 2019, when only 35.3% of eligible voters cast a ballot. But the contest for mayor is a fascinating case study in political leadership and the role of ideology. For the first ...2 days ago
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- Gordon Campbell on why New Zealand isn’t heavily taxedAllegedly, New Zealand is a highly taxed country with a government prone to big spending. Supposedly, that’s why we need to scrap the top tax rate, in order to attract and retain top talent. National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis said exactly that last week, when trying to defend National’s plan ...3 days ago
- Shifting the windowTOP has always been a pretty progressive party - in 2017 they campaigned on a universal basic income and a (complicated) property tax (as well as arrogance and cat-hating). Their new leadership is now pushing a simpler version: switching taxes from income to land: The Opportunities Party has hung ...3 days ago
- National believes tax cuts to the rich will save us? The man who helped create this myth says such p...
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Evidence shows that relying on offsets to reduce agriculture’s impact on the climate will not work, the Green Party says. ...5 hours ago - Greens back uni strikes and call on Hipkins to bring sector to the tableThe Green Party is calling on the Minister of Education to bring the tertiary education sector together so we can urgently improve the pay and condition of university staff. ...7 hours ago
- Time to ditch your tax plans, Mr. LuxonThe Conservative Party in the UK has ditched its inflationary tax cuts, and the National Party should do the same. ...1 day ago
- Green Party applauds strength of Iranian protestors and communitiesThe Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand applauds the strength of Iranian protestors and the communities supporting them in Iran and around the world, and condemns the violent actions of the Iranian regime. ...2 days ago
- Half a million mental health sessions
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- Greens welcome step forward for Waimana whānauThe Government has finally agreed to meet with the whānau of Te Waimana Kaaku, a step the Green Party says must lead to warm, dry, secure homes being provided on their whenua and papakāinga. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s migrant worker plan an ambulance at the bottom of the cliffOnce again the Government has stopped short of making necessary changes that will end the exploitation of people who travel to Aotearoa to work. ...1 week ago
- Green Party launch child poverty campaignThe Green Party has published an open letter to the Prime Minister calling on the Government to make some small changes to Working for Families so it better meets the needs of low-income families. ...1 week ago
- More medicines for New ZealandersThousands more New Zealanders will soon have access to life-changing medicines, thanks to our Government’s record investments in Pharmac’s medicines budget. ...1 week ago
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- Birth injuries bill celebrated – next step, full coverParents who are injured while giving birth will be better supported by ACC, thanks to months of pressure from the Green Party, parents, community advocacy groups, academics, and medical experts. ...1 week ago
- RSE expansion stops short of what’s neededToday’s expansion of the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) fails to guarantee Pacific people traveling to Aotearoa for work a warm place to live, safe working conditions, and good pay. ...1 week ago
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- Swimmable rivers and healthy lakes could soon be out of reachThe Green Party is calling on the Government to tighten the rules on synthetic fertiliser use and intensive land use, including intensive winter grazing, after new monitoring data revealed almost two-thirds of monitored rivers and streams are in poor health. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party backs School Strike demandsThe Green Party backs the demands of the School Strike for Climate. ...2 weeks ago
- Report shows urgent need to fix wealth inequalityA new report out today provides all evidence the Government needs to start addressing runaway inequality and rebalance Aotearoa to work for everyone. ...2 weeks ago
- No excuses, Minister: we need mandatory pay gap reporting right nowThe message is loud and clear: the Government must introduce mandatory pay gap reporting ...2 weeks ago
- Greens will keep fighting to strengthen democracyThe Green Party once again put electoral reform on the political agenda with the first reading of Golriz Ghahraman’s Strengthening Democracy member’s bill - only for it to be voted down by Labour. ...2 weeks ago
- Moratorium on deep sea mining a step closerFollowing months of pressure from the Green Party and environmental NGO and the public, the Minister for Foreign Affairs today confirmed that she is taking advice on whether the Government should support a moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party welcomes landmark commitments from health sector for ADHD progressGreen Party spokesperson for Mental Health, Chlöe Swarbrick, welcomes commitments from the Minister of Health to six key areas of progress for the ADHD community, which would together represent one of the largest changes for the ADHD community in a generation. ...3 weeks ago
- Govt must reunite Afghan refugees with their familiesThe Green Party is once again calling on the Government to support victims of war, oppression, and violence to reunite with their families and put down roots in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...3 weeks ago
- 55-hectares of Buller land purchased to protect native species
Two blocks of Buller land rich in native species have been purchased by the Crown to be protected in perpetuity as public conservation land, Minister of Conservation Poto Williams announced today. Acquired via the Nature Heritage Fund, one block is in the Punakaiki River valley adjoining the Paparoa National Park ...3 hours ago - Strengthening the relationship with IndiaThe Foreign Minister says an historic visit to Aotearoa New Zealand by the Indian Foreign Minister provides an opportunity to strengthen the relationship in areas like people to people exchanges and climate action. Nanaia Mahuta today welcomed Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with a mihi whakatau ceremony and ...5 hours ago
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- Hundreds to benefit from additional maternal health supportThe Government’s Budget 2022 investment of $10.1 million over four years in maternal mental health will result in better and more widely available care for new and expectant mothers around the country. The funding will be invested to fill gaps in care identified by last year’s maternal mental health stocktake ...7 hours ago
- Planting forests that are good for nature, climate, and the economyPublic consultation opens on how forests are managed through the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF), including: Giving local councils more control over where forests are planted Managing the effects of exotic carbon forestry on nature Improving wildfire management in all forests. Addressing the key findings of the ...10 hours ago
- Trade Minister heads to CPTPP Commission MeetingMinister for Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor will travel to Singapore this week for the Sixth Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission Meeting. “Continuing to build on our export growth is a key part of the Government’s economic plan. Our two way trade with the CPTPP bloc accounts ...1 day ago
- Strong Government books leave New Zealand well placed amid global challengesDeficit half of forecast at $9.7 billion; Deficits as a percentage of GDP running better than during GFC Net debt at 17.2 percent of GDP lower than Australia, UK, US and Canada. Core expenses $2.8 billion lower than forecast. Increased expenditure during year due to COVID-related expenses through unprecedented ...1 day ago
- Ministers outline next phase of Milford Opportunities ProjectThe Milford Opportunities Project is entering its next phase following a productive visit to Piopiotahi to hear directly from tourism operators, iwi and the unit undertaking feasibility planning, says Conservation Minister Poto Williams. In June 2021 Cabinet approved $15 million to fund the next stage of the Milford Opportunities Project, ...1 day ago
- Digital tools to make family violence support widely availableAssociate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has officially launched a suite of new digital tools to support people affected by family violence. “Family violence is a scourge on our society and violent behaviour of any kind is absolutely unacceptable. We are taking the important steps to modernise ...2 days ago
- Plan for big boost in GP training numbersMore support is being given to New Zealand medical graduates training to be GPs, as the Government continues its push to get more doctors into communities. “Growing the number of GPs is vital so we can fill today’s gaps and make sure we’ve got the doctors we need in the ...2 days ago
- 142,000 Kiwis helped by Healthy Homes InitiativeHospitalisations reduced by 19.8 percent School attendance increased by 3 percent Employment increased by 4 percent 100,000 interventions delivered, including insulation, heaters, curtains and repairs Nationwide rollout expected to be complete by the end of the year More than 31,000 children, pregnant people and 111,000 of their family members are ...3 days ago
- Minister of Defence departs for Middle EastMinister of Defence Peeni Henare has today departed for the Middle East where he will visit New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel deployed within the region, including in Operation Gallant Phoenix in Jordan and the Multinational Force and Observers mission on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The Minister will also undertake ...3 days ago
- Government funds work to clean up six contaminated sitesThe Government has announced funding to clean up six contaminated sites to reduce the risk to public health and protect the environment. “These six projects will help protect the public from health risks associated with hazardous materials, so New Zealanders can live in a cleaner, safer environment.” Environment Minister David Parker ...4 days ago
- Government partners with industry to reduce agricultural emissionsNew Zealand’s effort to reduce agricultural emissions has taken a step forward with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Government with agribusiness leaders, in a joint venture as part of the new Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced. The Ministry for Primary Industries signed ...4 days ago
- Vosa Vakaviti sustains generations of FijiansThe enduring strength and sustainability of Vosa Vakaviti is being celebrated by the Fijian community in Aotearoa New Zealand during Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti – Fijian Language Week, which gets underway today. “This year’s theme, ‘Me vakabulabulataki, vakamareqeti, ka vakaqaqacotaki na vosa Vakaviti’, which translates as ‘Nurture, Preserve and Sustain ...4 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Russia’s annexation attemptsNew Zealand condemns unequivocally Russia’s attempts to illegally annex Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. “We do not recognise these illegal attempts to change Ukraine’s borders or territorial sovereignty,” Jacinda Ardern said. “Russia’s sham referenda in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are illegitimate, and have no legal ...5 days ago
- Government provides confidence to those seeking an adventureWith our borders opened and tourists returning, those seeking out adventurous activities can do so more safely due to the steps we’ve taken to improve the health and safety regulatory regime for adventure activities, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood has announced. “We are seeing international visitor numbers begin ...5 days ago
- New hospital opens for Wellington childrenA new children’s hospital that officially opened in Wellington this morning offers the region’s children top-quality health care in one place, Health Minister Andrew Little says. Te Wao Nui has been built with a $53 million contribution from benefactors Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood, with the Government contributing another $53 ...6 days ago
- More single-use plastics banned from tomorrowSingle-use plastic cotton buds, drink stirrers and most plastic meat trays are among single use plastics banned from sale or manufacture from tomorrow. “This is the first group of the most problematic plastic products to be banned in a progressive phase out over the next three years,” Environment Minister David ...6 days ago
- Speech to NZDF Command and Staff CollegeIt’s a pleasure to join you today – and I extend a particular welcome to Marty Donoghue (a member of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control) and Athena Li-Watts (interning with me this week) who are also joining me today. On the face of it, some ...6 days ago
- Milestone of half a million mental health sessions deliveredThe Government’s flagship primary mental health and addiction programme Access and Choice has hit the milestone of delivering more than 500,000 sessions to New Zealanders needing mental health support. Health Minister Andrew Little made the announcement at ADL – Thrive Pae Ora in Cromwell which provides mental wellbeing support services ...6 days ago
- Government continues to future-proof arts, culture and heritage sectorThe Government has announced further support for the recovery and resilience of the arts, culture and heritage sector as part of its COVID Recovery Programme’s Innovation Fund. “We’re continuing to secure the recovery of our arts, culture and heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand by supporting transformational initiatives across the motu,” ...6 days ago
- Government steps up kauri protectionThe Government is delivering on an election commitment to protect kauri in our northern forests through the new National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) for the forest giant and the allocation of $32 million of funding to back the coordinated effort, Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor and Associate Environment Minister (Biodiversity) ...6 days ago
- Russia’s Ukraine referenda a shamAotearoa New Zealand does not recognise the results of the sham referenda in Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says. “These so-called referenda were not free or fair, and they very clearly were not held in accordance with democratic principles,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “Instead, they were hastily organised ...6 days ago
- Govt invests in New Zealand’s wine futurePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially opened New Zealand Wine Centre–Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa in Blenheim today, saying that investments like these give us cause for optimism for the future. Funding of $3.79 million for the Marlborough Research Centre to build a national wine centre was announced in 2020, ...1 week ago
- Appointment of Judges of the Court Martial Appeal CourtAttorney-General David Parker today announced the appointment of Colonel Craig Ruane, Commander Robyn Loversidge, and James Wilding KC as Judges of the Court Martial Appeal Court. The Court Martial Appeal Court is a senior court of record established under the Court Martial Appeals Act 1953. It is summoned by the ...1 week ago
- Government strengthens measures to combat migrant worker exploitationOffence and penalty regime significantly strengthened New infringement offences for non-compliance Public register of individuals and businesses that are found guilty of migrant exploitation New community-led pilot to educate migrants workers and employers of employment rights Implemented reporting tools successfully brings exploitation out of the shadows Take-up of protective visa ...1 week ago
- Livestock exports by sea to ceaseThe passing of a Bill today to end the export of livestock by sea will protect New Zealand’s reputation for world-leading animal welfare standards, Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor said. “The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill future-proofs our economic security amid increasing consumer scrutiny across the board on production practices," Damien ...1 week ago
- Extra measures to increase census turnout in 20233500 census workers on the ground, twice as many as last census More forms to be delivered – 44% compared to 3% in 2018 Prioritisation of Māori and other groups and regions with lower response rates in 2018 Major work to ensure the delivery of a successful census in 2023 ...1 week ago
- Shining the light on screen workersImproved working conditions for workers in the screen industry is now a reality with the Screen Industry Workers Bill passing its third reading today, announced Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood. “It’s fantastic to see the Screen Industry Workers Bill progress through Parliament. The new Act will strengthen protections ...1 week ago
- Mental health resources for young people and schools launchedAssociate Minister of Education (School Operations) Jan Tinetti and Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education) Kelvin Davis have today launched two new resources to support wellbeing, and the teaching and learning of mental health education in schools and kura. “Students who are happy and healthy learn better. These resources ...1 week ago
- Progress continues on future-proofing Auckland’s transport infrastructureTransport Minister Michael Wood has welcomed the latest progress on Auckland’s two most transformational transport projects in a generation – Auckland Light Rail and the Additional Waitematā Harbour Connections. Auckland Light Rail and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have named preferred bidders to move each project to their next phase, ...1 week ago
- Government supports local innovation in homelessness preventionTen successful applicants in round two of the Local Innovation and Partnership Fund (LIPF) Close to $6 million allocated as part of the Homelessness Action Plan (HAP) Māori, Pasefika and rangatahi a strong focus Round three opening later this year with up to $6.8 million available. Government is stepping up ...1 week ago
- More medicines for New Zealanders, thanks to Govt’s Budget boostHealth Minister Andrew Little is welcoming news that two more important medicines are set to be funded, thanks to the Government’s big boost to the country’s medicines budget. “Since coming into Government in 2017, the Labour Government has increased Pharmac’s funding by 43 per cent, including a $71 million boost ...1 week ago
- Government delivers ACC change to support 28,000 parentsThe Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters Bill passes Third Reading – the first amendment to ACC legislation of its kind From 1 October 2022, new ACC cover to benefit approximately 28,000 birthing parents Additional maternal birth injuries added alongside new review provision to ensure cover remains comprehensive Greater clarity ...1 week ago
- Further cuts for East Coast tarakihi limits to rebuild numbers fasterCommercial catch limits for East Coast tarakihi will be reduced further to help the stock rebuild faster. “Tarakihi is a popular fish, and this has led to declining levels over time. Many adjustments have been made and the stock is recovering. I have decided on further commercial catch reductions of ...1 week ago
- New Ambassador to Colombia announcedForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of diplomat Nicci Stilwell as the next Ambassador to Colombia. “Aotearoa New Zealand’s relationship with Colombia is fast growing with strong links across education, climate change and indigenous co-operation,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “Trade is a key part of our relationship with Colombia, ...1 week ago
- 3000 more RSE workers to ease workforce pressuresThe Government continues to respond to global workforce shortages by announcing the largest increase in over a decade to the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE), providing 3000 additional places, Immigration Minister Michael Wood and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor have announced. The new RSE cap will allow access to 19,000 workers ...1 week ago
- Sanctions on more of the Russian political eliteFurther sanctions are being imposed on members of President Putin’s inner circle and other representatives of the Russian political elite, as part of the Governments ongoing response to the war in Ukraine, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “Ukraine has been clear that the most important action we can take to ...1 week ago
- Climate Activists In Court Present Their Case To The Charge Of ‘Willful Damage’
During COP 26, October last year, 3 Extinction Rebellion activists, Brian Wheeldon, Gillian Austin and Caril Cowan stencilled 'Zero emissions 2025' with the Extinction Rebellion logo on the pavement outside the ANZ bank corner of Victoria & ...59 mins ago - Media sector demands more detail over RNZ, TVNZ mega-entity merger
New Zealand's largest media organisations want more detail and more guarantees of independence from the proposed mega public media entity. ...1 hour ago - On our wettest days, stormclouds can dump 30 trillion litres of water across Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock This week, rain has drenched almost all of Australia – even the arid interior. The heaviest falls have hit the continent’s southeast, where the huge deluge has just ...2 hours ago - Why increasing support for Ukraine is critical to Australia’s security as a ‘middle power’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Partlett, Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne Support for Ukraine is normally described in ideological or moral terms as a duty to support democracies in the face of resurgent totalitarianism. This is an important consideration. But since Russia’s declared annexation of ...3 hours ago
- From $76bn to $108bn – that adds up to a hefty lift in the tax take in just five years
Covid’s impact on New Zealand may be diminishing but it still has injected a feverish tone to the debate on the state of the government’s books this week. Labour and the Greens reject Opposition parties’ calls for tax cuts as “unaffordable”. They contend tax cuts would just add to inflationary ...4 hours ago - Government Demonstrates Failure To ListenThe Government’s report back on the misnamed Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) demonstrates a failure to listen that was also highlighted in the recent Mood of the Boardroom survey, says the EMA. Head of Advocacy and Strategy, Alan McDonald, says the Mood ...4 hours ago
- 433 people win a lottery jackpot – impossible? Probability and psychology suggest it’s more lik...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Woodcock, Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock More than a few eyebrows were raised at the weekend when it was reported a staggering 433 people won the jackpot of a government-backed lottery in the Philippines ...4 hours ago
- Māori expertise comes first in shaping ETS for permanent forestry – and policies must be made to ...
Buzz from the Beehive The interests of Māoridom are being given special mention in government proposals for forest management through the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF). According to the announcement from the Beehive, a group of “Māori and other technical forestry experts” will help redesign the settings of ...4 hours ago - New economic index reveals the toll policy uncertainty can have on your investmentsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ihsan Badshah, Senior Lecturer in Finance, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic created a sense of uncertainty and fear across all aspects of life in New Zealand. Along with concerns about health and well-being, many wondered what ...5 hours ago
- MPs' staff training video uploaded in error removedParliament has removed a video of a training session uploaded in error to its official YouTube channel. ...5 hours ago
- A large cockroach thought extinct since the 1930s was just rediscovered on a small island in Austral...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Lo, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney Justin Gilligan/DPE, Author provided In 1887, Australian Museum scientists undertook a pioneering expedition to Lord Howe Island, a tiny patch of land off the east coast of Australia. Among ...5 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bill Shorten on NDIS reform and the Optus falloutSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a landmark reform of the last decade. But while delivering much benefit, it has operational problems and its cost has escalated dramatically – currently around $30 billion annually, ...5 hours ago
- University Workers Deserve Fair Pay Says NZCTUThe New Zealand Council of Trade Unions stands in solidarity with the striking university workers today. The strike, led by the Tertiary Education Union, Public Services Association, and E tū has seen 7000 people taking action. NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff said ...5 hours ago
- Beating Health Care Shortages Requires Fair Pay For Clinical EducatorsFair pay for tertiary education providers is vital in ensuring New Zealand’s future medical workforce receives proper training, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Sarah Dalton says. Her words come on the day of historic strike action by the New ...5 hours ago
- Pollen does more than make you sneeze. It can cause thunderstorm asthma, even if you’re not asthma...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shyamali Dharmage, NHMRC Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Climate change has caused melting icebergs, flooding, and landslides. It can also bring about an increase in pollen levels, prolong the duration of pollen season, and cause more pollen-related health ...7 hours ago
- Gloriavale And Dilworth Leaders Among Those To Be Questioned In Upcoming Abuse In Care Public Hearin...The responses of faith institutions to abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults in their care will be examined by the Royal Commission of Inquiry during a public hearing from 13 to 20 October. The Royal Commission will question ...7 hours ago
- Profiting From Ministerial Relationships Is The Definition Of Political SleazeThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling out Chris Faafoi for shifting chairs from Cabinet to a lobbyist role to literally profit from relationships with Ministers, officials, and political staff. Taxpayers' Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: ...7 hours ago
- Journalists risk prosecution under Australia’s ‘foreign interference’ lawUQ News Journalists may face decades in prison for “foreign interference” offences unless urgent changes are made to Australia’s national security laws, according to a University of Queensland researcher. PhD candidate Sarah Kendall from UQ’s School of Law warned that reporting on issues relating to Australian politics, national security or ...7 hours ago
- PNG daily Post-Courier joins fight against gender-based violenceBy Claudia Tally in Port Moresby The Post-Courier daily newspaper is one of 15 companies in Papua New Guinea that have pledged to fight against gender-based violence (GBV) while promoting gender equality within and outside of the workplace. Signing the National Capital District Commission’s “Zero Tolerance to GBV Pledge” under ...7 hours ago
- Parkop calls for full probe into brutal murders of two Moresby womenBy Claudia Tally in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop wants the city’s police to fully investigate the gruesome murder of two women in Port Moresby late last week. Parkop told the Post-Courier that such “despicable” brutality against womenfolk in the city and throughout the ...7 hours ago
- Quality of iTaukei language under threat, says Fiji scholarBy Rachael Nath of RNZ Pacific Concerns are being raised about the future survival of the iTaukei (Fijian) language as a threat of extinction looms despite its everyday use among its people. A language and culture scholar in Fiji, Dr Paul Geraghty, said a growing generational gap within the iTaukei ...7 hours ago
- NZ university union members to strike tomorrow over pay demandRNZ News Thousands of New Zealand tertiary union members will go on strike at eight universities tomorrow over a cost of living pay demand. The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) said its members were walking off the job for part of the day at the eight universities in the country. Union ...7 hours ago
- Honiara doesn’t want to be forced to choose sides, says Foreign MinisterRNZ Pacific Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele says the country joined an agreement with the United States only after changes to wording relating to China. He said the country did not want to be forced to choose sides, and the Pacific should be seen as a region of peace ...7 hours ago
- Delegates from French Polynesia head to UN decolonisation committeeRNZ Pacific Delegates from French Polynesia have flown to New York for the annual meeting of the UN Decolonisation Committee. The veteran pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru is heading his team while the French Polynesian government has sent the Equipment Minister Rene Temeharo as its spokesperson. The territory was reinscribed on ...7 hours ago
- Graham Adams: Ardern’s authoritarian streak was on full show at the UN
The Prime Minister’s latest call to limit free speech has been widely criticised yet it has been barely reported in New Zealand. GRAHAM ADAMS writes – In the eyes of Jacinda Ardern’s substantial global fan base, she remains a beacon of hope in a dark and chaotic world — ...7 hours ago - Thomas Cranmer: Three Waters and the vexed question of ownershipAt the heart of the Three Waters debate is a question that has been contentious since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi – what does ownership really mean and is it the same as rangatiratanga? This article is the fifth in a series by Thomas Cranmer, the pseudonym ...9 hours ago
- Urgent Action Needed For Newborn Lambs Hammered By Polar BlastsWith more severe whether expected, SAFE is urging farmers to take immediate measures to protect newborn lambs. Heavy snowfall overnight has left countless lambs at the mercy of the freezing conditions. SAFE Head of Investigations Will Appelbe said farming ...9 hours ago
- Survey Shows Public Holds Police In High RegardThe vast majority of New Zealanders hold very favourable views of Police, according to a survey undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. A series of questions, called the Police Module, was added to the 2021 New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey ...9 hours ago
- Collins Pledges To Support Vital Job Creation In Local Film IndustryResponding to Wayne Brown’s call to end funding for economic development agency Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Efeso Collins says he will be a Mayor who values local jobs and economic development, such as those created in the film industry. ...10 hours ago
- Auckland Mayoral Candidate Withdraws In ProtestAuckland Mayoral candidate John Lehmann has withdrawn in protest over of he says is electoral and political interference. John Lehmann has formally withdrawn from the race because of what he says is electoral and political interference by the PM. ...10 hours ago
- Petition To Remove Prescription Charges For Community Service Card HoldersUnited Community Action Network New Zealand (UCANNZ) and Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) have launched a petition to remove prescription charges for low-income households. https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/document/PET_126013/petition-of-nikki-turner-on-behalf-of-united-community ...10 hours ago
- Finance Minister Grant Robertson says National's top tax rate cut does not add upThe finance minister is clear there will not be any major tax reforms for the remainder of this government term as National proposes to cut the top tax rate. ...10 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: We Need A Sunlight Apporach To Poltical DonationsThere will be relief in certain political circles at the acquittal of former MP, Jami-Lee Ross of corruption in the political donations case. Not because of any affection or regard for Ross, but more because the stench of corruption in our political system ...11 hours ago
- Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is coming to Australia. What should we expect from ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meg Keen, Honorary Professor, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU; Director, Pacific Island Program, Lowy Institute, Australian National University Mark Schiefelbein/AP/AAP Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will arrive in Australia on October 6 for talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. ...11 hours ago
- Here’s another type of COVID test to get your head around. But is this new home kit worth the cost...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor, Nursing and Deputy Head (Learning & Teaching), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University Shutterstock A new type of COVID test is set to be available from November for Australians to use at home. It ...11 hours ago
- NZ police need better training in privacy and human rights law – here is what should happenSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Breen, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images The New Zealand Police were recently found to have been routinely and illegally photographing young people and adults in public. Many might have expected this to see an end to the ...11 hours ago
- Megadroughts helped topple ancient empires. We’ve found their traces in Australia’s past, and ex...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Allen, ARC Future Fellow, University of Tasmania Most Australians have known drought in their lifetimes, and have memories of cracked earth and empty streams, paddocks of dust and stories of city reservoirs with only a few weeks’ storage. But our new ...11 hours ago
- Paul Yore: the uncompromising Australian artist riotously tackling queer culture, corporate greed an...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Shiels, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Paul Yore: WORD MADE FLESH, installation view, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne. Photograph: Andrew Curtis Artist Paul Yore works with found and discarded materials, including other people’s abandoned craft projects. Embroidery threads, braid, cross ...11 hours ago
- Musk of the Year
Elon Musk was Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2021. With his release of a peace plan for Russia-Ukraine, you wonder if he’s trying for the double. Not if Ukrainian president Zelensky has any say in the matter. It’s usually sensible to be thinking about a settlement while ...19 hours ago - Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: No confidence in dire local govt elections23 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Travel Warning: Excess Summer Deaths in EuropeAnalysis by Keith Rankin. In many ways the world has moved on from the Covid19 pandemic. And excess mortality from Covid19 mingles with excess mortality from other causes, from heatwaves to other diseases. The summer is useful because it is generally the low season for infectious respiratory illnesses. Covid19 is ...23 hours ago
- Oops – the world price dips for dairy products but low NZ dollar is a compensating factorDairy prices have fallen at the Fonterra GDT auction this week. The average price at the fortnightly sale fell 3.5% to US$3911 ($NZ6830) a tonne, after rising 2% in the previous auction. Prices have generally been falling since hitting a record high in March. But with the NZ dollar now ...1 day ago
- Will the National Anti-Corruption Commission actually stamp out corruption in government?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University Mick Tsikas/AAP Last week, the government introduced into parliament the bill establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). This honours the government’s election commitment to introduce a “powerful, transparent and independent” ...1 day ago
- Labor’s plan to save threatened species is an improvement – but it’s still well short of what ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Australia’s dire and shameful conservation record is well established. The world’s highest number of recent mammal extinctions – 39 since colonisation. Ecosystems ...1 day ago
- Reserve Bank Picks Taxpayer’s Pockets To Boost Commercial Bank ProfitsThe Reserve Bank is digging deeper into taxpayers pockets to increase the profits of investors and commercial bank shareholders with today's lifting of the Official Cash Rate. That OCR rise will see the bank (read taxpayers) paying the commercial ...1 day ago
- Health worker burnout and ‘compassion fatigue’ put patients at risk. How can we help them help u...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sue Dean, Lead Lecturer Practitioner, Nursing, Faculty of Health., Southern Cross University Shutterstock The toll of COVID on our health-care workers has been brutal, with many saying they want to quit their jobs. The World Health Organization says burnout, ...1 day ago
- Faafoi rejects criticism over new lobbying boss roleLess than three months after leaving Parliament, former government minister Kris Faafoi is heading up a new PR and lobbying firm. ...1 day ago
- Quiet Palmerston North mayoral race draws fear of low turnoutDespite hefty issues Palmerston North is facing, turnout in recent local body elections has been poor, a trend showing no sign of improving this year. ...1 day ago
- Poto prefers “Piopiotahi” – does this portend “Milford Sound” being purged from promotions...Buzz from the Beehive What’s in a name? Millions of dollars, when it comes to promoting places like “New Zealand” and “Milford Sound” as international tourist destinations over many years. But whoa. Our international marketing will need overhauling to deal with the confusion generated by political linguistics. Our monitoring of ...1 day ago
- ‘Hybrid warfare’: Nord Stream attacks show how war is evolvingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meredith Primrose Jones, Researcher – Oceania Cyber Security Centre; Researcher – Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, RMIT University It’s not yet clear who carried out the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last week, although ...1 day ago
- AUT Action ShiftsYesterday afternoon, Te Wānanga Aronui O Tamaki Makau Rau | Auckland University of Technology, in a communication to all staff, advised that Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union members covered by yesterday’s strike notice would be ...1 day ago
- Three Found Guilty In SFO Political Donations TrialThree people have today been found guilty under the Crimes Act of using sham donors to make political donations, thereby concealing the identity of the true donor from the public. The Serious Fraud Office charged seven people with obtaining by deception ...1 day ago
- Latest poll: Labour takes the plunge as Official Cash Rate again is lifted to 3.5%As the Reserve Bank raises the Official Cash Rate again to 3.5%, the eighth successive increase,with more to come, in the effort to drive down inflation, the political mood has darkened, too. A glance at the headlines point to the symptoms why this is happening: “Housing market still firmly in ...1 day ago
- PSA Calls On Luxon To Clarify Comments On Plans To Cut Public ServicesThe Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is calling on National Leader Christopher Luxon to provide New Zealanders with clarity about the public services and jobs he intends to cut to fund his $3b plus tax cut package. On the ...1 day ago
- Treasury reports smaller than forecast budget deficit of $9.7 billionA strong economy has filled the government's coffers and delivered a smaller than forecast budget deficit. ...1 day ago
- The dark web down under: what’s driving the rise and rise of NZ’s ‘Tor Market’ for illegal d...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wilkins, Associate Professor of illegal drug research, Massey University Getty Images New Zealand is generally proud of being a world leader, but there’s one claim that might not be universally admired: being home to the longest running English-language market ...1 day ago
- Strong Accounts Should Lead To Long-term InvestmentThe Government accounts today demonstrated the strength of the economic recovery from COVID-19 with expenses down, revenue up, and the forecast OBEGAL deficit nearly halved. Net debt was broadly as forecast, and expenditure on COVID-19 was less than ...1 day ago
- Thomas Cranmer: Three Waters and the Water Services EntitiesWE ARE TOLD the water services entities will be independent bodies run by professional boards – but how independent will these entities really be and who will sit on their boards? This article is the fourth in a series by Thomas Cranmer, the pseudonym adopted by a legal analyst ...1 day ago
- No Good Reason Why Free Mammograms For 70-74 Year Olds Can’t Happen Right NowThe Government has an opportunity to show leadership for women’s health this October by immediately raising the free breast screening age, says Justine Smyth, chair of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ (BCFNZ). This follows the National Party’s commitment ...1 day ago
- Lack Of Mandatory Child Protection Training Contributed To ‘avoidable’ Death Of Malachi SubeczNational child abuse advocacy group, Child Matters, says the licence revocation for the daycare attended by Malachi Subecz reinforces the significance of legislating mandatory child protection training in New Zealand. Five-year-old Malachi Subecz ...1 day ago
- Jami-Lee Ross not guilty in political donations case, businessmen found guiltyFormer National MP Jami-Lee Ross has been found not guilty on fraud charges, but three others charged over donations to the party have been found guilty. ...1 day ago
- Tax rates a factor for attracting candidates for top jobs, Luxon saysNational Party's leader is standing firm on cutting taxes for the highest paid, despite the turmoil caused by a similar plan in the UK. ...1 day ago
- Household Labour Force Survey Estimated Working-age Population: September 2022 QuarterThe household labour force survey estimated working-age population table shows the population benchmarks used to produce household labour force survey estimates for the upcoming labour market statistics release. Visit our website to read this information ...1 day ago
- Graham Adams: Did Pakeha really crush traditional Maori medicine?Jacinda Ardern claimed in Parliament in 2021 that her government was driving “foundational change”. As Exhibits A and B for this project — which would allegedly “make a long-term difference to how we see ourselves” — she cited the Matariki public ...1 day ago
- Gender And Ethnic Pay Gap Equates To $17.6 Billion In Lost EarningsFindings from Strategic Pay’s third annual Pay Equity analysis show the gender pay gap closed slightly this year. However, research shows that gender and ethnic pay gaps, when combined, result in a whopping penalty of $17.6 billion, or 11 percent ...1 day ago
- Chief Ombudsman Says Oranga Tamariki Failed To Do ‘bare Minimum’ For Five-year-old Murder VictimThe Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says Oranga Tamariki failed to take the ‘‘bare minimum’’ action over safety concerns about Malachi Subecz who was later murdered by his carer. "Oranga Tamariki’s own law and policy puts the well-being of ...1 day ago
- Groundbreaking Global Report Says Zero Waste An Essential Part Of Any Climate PlanThe release of a groundbreaking international report, Zero Waste to Zero Emissions: How Waste Reduction is a Climate Gamechanger , says that at the global scale the two main sources of GHGs from the waste sector are methane from organics in landfill ...1 day ago
- What is multi-factor authentication, and how should I be using it?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jongkil Jay Jeong, CyberCRC Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CSRI), Deakin University tsingha25/Shutterstock Data breaches are becoming commonplace in both small and big tech companies. The most recent victim was Australian telecommunications company Optus, resulting ...1 day ago
- ADHD medications have doubled in the last decade – but other treatments can help tooSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Coghill, Financial Markets Foundation Chair of Developmental Mental Health, The University of Melbourne shutterstock A recent detailed analysis of prescribing trends for ADHD medications in Australia found prescriptions for ADHD medications doubled from 2013 to 2020. While this is ...1 day ago
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God Bless Megan Rapinoe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfL-nH2oeNI&ab_channel=TYTSports
The Peter principle personified.
Character references are not what they used to be and psycho-metric evaluations have taken over but these don’t work well with outliers, i.e. individuals who deviate from the norm so much that they’re off the scale. The saying that you can’t manage what you can’t measure does apply in this context. Good fodder for future historians and cartoonists.
It's a curious thing but back in the day I was told psychometrics were best at finding the outliers (or strong indicators), and least reliable with folk who demonstrated fewer outlying traits. Then again, language is treated as a psychometric trait for testing purposes (for profit testing that is), and I repose no particular trust in the likes of TOEFL, the leader in that class. Their current use in HR is probably not quite as robust as horoscopes, which they no doubt displaced.
Body language is where it’s at nowadays, just ask Simon the Prosecutor.
Brexit has made this country as anxious as I have ever known it
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/15/brexit-made-country-angry-as-i-have-ever-known-it
The fix is in.
Surprise surprise…
But according to an article in the Israeli daily Ha’aretz and multiple reports in the Israeli press, it’s more Potemkin village than Trump Heights. No actual town or village has actually been founded at all. It appears to be little more than a PR stunt to curry favor with the President who continues to openly support Netanyahu as the country moves toward new elections in September. No money has been budgeted for the new town. Nor is there specific location. Indeed, there’s no commitment to build a town at all. The decision will be left to the government that takes power after the next election. In the words of Israeli journalist Barak Ravid: “A settlement by the name of “Trump Heights” or “Ramat Trump” doesn’t exist. It my exist in the future but the Israeli cabinet still hasn’t even decided to do it. For now there’s only a sign.“
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/israeli-town-named-after-trump-appears-to-be-fake-news
Bolton and the end-times loons are going to war.
The "evidence" so far is
1. a hole above the waterline in two tankers and a mine attached to one of them. The crew of the tanker said the mine was one reason why they got off the tanker.
2. an Iranian patrol boat arriving afterwards and taking the mine off the tanker.
3. the more evidence is a photo of supposedly the same patrol boat travelling afterward.
Removing a mine off a tanker, which was a danger to it, is the same evidence that occurs when a fire crew put out a fire (as if that proves they started it earlier). And a photo of the fire engine being driven away afterwards is not furhter evidence of guilt of being involved in arson.
This is another WMD farce, to justify another act of war by a nation with a UN veto.
PS How do mines cause a hole above the waterline? The original reports were of "torpedos" in the air. How does a magnetic mine get to be attached to a hull that far above the waterline?
The problem with the Trump regime is that you can't believe anything they say. It's just lies, lies and more lies plus 'fake' news.
If Trump is desperate enough he would arrange for faked pictures of Iranian hostilities as a pretext to go to war with Iran. And enough of the impossibly gullible Yanks will believe it and hail him as a war hero.
I'm not saying this is what is happening, but nothing can be ruled out with this lot.
The only plausible scenario from reports so far, is a lobbing of magnetic mines at these tankers, they either hit, or they fall short and if close enough then jump out of the water onto the hull.
This would explain why some reported something come through the air (another early report was of a torpedo). But we have no coverage of the attacks to note any actual evidence of who did this.
Just the usual suspects, Pompeo … (Tea Party into Congress, funded by Koch forever), wanting to pin it on Iran. Hilarious that a CIA Director got to be Secretary of State. I wonder how, "it would be nice if we could pin something on Iran to get the world onside with our programme" said before the right former colleague might play out. We might well be watching.
are we not lucky that Clinton is not president?
It's quite sad your continual support of one warmonger over another.
How about you start opposing this war, rather than partake in partisan shit-fuckery?
This is quite a revealing arrangement in a number of ways
https://www.rt.com/business/462058-uk-firms-china-stock-market/
For NZ & Chinese people, it would be good for both if we can have a added value win win cultural province to province approach of relationship identities & go about things that way i'd say.