Daily Review 21/04/2016
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6:00 pm, April 21st, 2016 - 40 comments
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- Govt must listen to child sector experts on Oranga Tamariki oversightThe Green Party is calling on the Government to withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation which strips away independence and fails to put children at the heart. ...3 weeks ago
- Imports of Russian gold banned
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor have announced that Aotearoa New Zealand will ban the import of Russian gold. “Today’s decision further signals Aotearoa New Zealand’s condemnation of Russia’s flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “It underscores our intention of ensuring ...5 hours ago - New Public Health services to improve health for all KiwisThe rollout of the new nationwide health system continued today with the launch of the country’s first national public health system to fight disease and promote healthy lives. The Public Health Agency will lead and co-ordinate population and public health policy, strategy and regulation, while the national Public Health ...5 hours ago
- Prime Minister to lead trade mission to AustraliaPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern will lead a trade mission including over 30 New Zealand businesses to Melbourne and Sydney this week as part of the Government’s reconnection strategy to support export growth and the return of tourists post COVID-19. While in Sydney, Jacinda Ardern will also give an address to ...9 hours ago
- Applications now open for new work visa holders from offshoreFinal stage of Accredited Employer Work Visa goes live today Offshore migrants can apply to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer Partners and dependents of work visa applicants can also apply for visas from today New Zealand has taken another significant step forward in our Reconnecting plan ...10 hours ago
- Better and fairer access to legal assistanceRaising eligibility thresholds will provide a helping hand to more than 90,000 New Zealanders currently denied access to legal aid, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Government is committed to driving through legislative changes to strengthen our legal aid system. “Enshrining changes in legislation and regulations is necessary to give ...12 hours ago
- Diplosphere Conference 2022Mihi Manawa maiea te pūtanga o Matariki Manawa maiea te ariki o te rangi Manawa maiea te mātahi o te tau! Thank you for the invitation to join you today. Unfortunately I can’t be there in person but I'm pleased that this is an opportunity for young Māori and ...13 hours ago
- Strengthening NZ-UK people, science and trade connectionsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern met UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London overnight, and together took a number of steps to strengthen the already close ties between our two countries, and promote our common interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. “The UK is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest and closest friends and ...2 days ago
- Joint Statement – Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Boris JohnsonBuilding a more secure, sustainable and prosperous future together: Joint Statement – Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Boris Johnson 1. New Zealand and the United Kingdom are old friends and close partners. Our relationship rests on a bedrock of history, shared values, and deep people-to-people links, extending across almost all ...2 days ago
- PM’s Chatham HouseDirector Sir Robin Niblett, distinguished guests. What an honour it is to be back in London, and to be here at Chatham house. This visit represents much for me. The reopening of borders and resumption of travel after a difficult few years. The chance to bring life to the UK ...2 days ago
- Otago Foreign Policy School, opening addressManawa maiea te pūtanga o Matariki Manawa maiea te ariki o te rangi Manawa maiea te mātahi o te tau! Introduction I’m pleased to join you for my second address at the 56th Annual Otago Foreign Policy School. The topic for this year is Space. Given that we are in ...3 days ago
- Government launches new Ministry of Disabled PeopleNew Ministry will officially be called Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People Public Service Commission have appointed Geraldine Woods as Interim Chief Executive Office for Disability Issues to be folded into the new Ministry In what is a milestone day, the Government has launched Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Whaikaha ...3 days ago
- Further Investment to support rangatahi to overcome barriers to employmentNine new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes have been approved funding. These programmes will provide work-readiness, training and employment initiatives for over 820 rangatahi NEETS (not in education, employment or training), across Aotearoa New Zealand. "He Poutama Rangatahi has proven to be a very successful initiative which supports rangatahi to overcome ...3 days ago
- Crown appointments to Ihumātao Steering CommitteeMinister for Māori Development Willie Jackson today announced the appointment of Crown representatives, Dr Charlotte Severne and Mr Bernie O’Donnell, to the Steering Committee that will determine the future of the Ihumātao land. “I’m pleased to have made the Crown appointments. Both Dr Severne and Mr O’Donnell have extensive ...3 days ago
- Health Minister Andrew Little's address to first joint meeting of the boards of Te Whatu Ora &#...I begin by thanking each of you for accepting appointment to these boards. You’ve each been on the Ministerial committee that established Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora - the Māori Health Authority and I express my appreciation for the enormous task you collectively ...3 days ago
- Hong Kong National Security LawAotearoa New Zealand has reiterated its concerns over the continued erosion of rights, freedom and autonomy in Hong Kong. On the second anniversary of the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says developments in Hong Kong remain a cause for worry. “Two years ...3 days ago
- Europol Agreement will assist New Zealand law enforcement in tackling serious crimeThe Europol Agreement signed is a significant milestone for New Zealand and the European Union’s relationship, and reflects our shared principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today. The Prime Minister attended a signature ceremony in Brussels, as part of ...3 days ago
- New era for better health in Aotearoa New Zealand· New nationwide public health system · 20 district health boards disestablished and deficits wiped · 82,000 health employees directly employed by Health New Zealand · $24 billion health budget this year – up 43% since Labour took office in 2017 – in addition to separate funding for the new ...3 days ago
- New chairs appointed to the Teaching Council and Te KuraEducation Minister Chris Hipkins has announced appointments to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Board of Trustees of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura). “Robyn Baker ONZM has been appointed as the chair of the Teaching Council. She has considerable governance experience and is a ...4 days ago
- Joint media release on the occasion of the meeting between European Commission President von der Ley...European Commission President von der Leyen and Prime Minister of New Zealand Ardern met in Brussels on 30 June 2022. The encounter provided an opportunity to reaffirm that the European Union and Aotearoa New Zealand are longstanding partners with shared democratic values and interests, aligned positions on key international and ...4 days ago
- New Zealand secures major free trade deal with European UnionExport revenue to the EU to grow by up to $1.8 billion annually on full implementation. Duty-free access on 97% of New Zealand’s current exports to the EU; with over 91% being removed the day the FTA comes into force. NZ exporters set to save approx. $110 million per annum ...4 days ago
- Biggest Year for Clean Cars on Record57,000 EVs and Hybrid registered in first year of clean car scheme, 56% increase on previous year EVs and Non Plug-in Hybrids made up 20% of new passenger car sales in March/April 2022 The Government’s Clean Car Discount Scheme has been a success, with more than 57,000 light-electric and ...4 days ago
- Police Wing 355 includes the highest ever proportion of Wāhine MāoriPolice Minister Chris Hipkins congratulates the newest Police wing – wing 355 – which graduated today in Porirua. “These 70 new constables heading for the frontline bring the total number of new officers since Labour took office to 3,303 and is the latest mark of our commitment to the Police ...4 days ago
- New RBNZ board takes up role from 1 JulyMembers with a range of governance, financial and technical skills have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Board as part of the shift to strengthen the Bank’s decision-making and accountability arrangements. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021 comes into force on 1 July 2022, with the establishment of ...4 days ago
- New measures to help manage COVID-19 as country stays at OrangeNew Zealand to remain at Orange as case numbers start to creep up 50 child-size masks made available to every year 4-7 student in New Zealand 20,000-30,000 masks provided a week to all other students and school staff Extra funding to schools and early childhood services to supports better ...4 days ago
- NZ to join International Court of Justice case against RussiaAotearoa New Zealand will join Ukraine’s case against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which challenges Russia’s spurious attempt to justify its invasion under international law. Ukraine filed a case at the ICJ in February arguing Russia has falsely claimed genocide had occurred in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as ...4 days ago
- New advisory group provides enduring Māori expertise for Te Aorerekura deliveryThe Government has taken another step forward in its work to eliminate family violence and sexual violence with the announcement today of a new Tangata Whenua Ministerial Advisory Group. A team of 11 experts in whānau Māori wellbeing will provide the Government independent advice on shaping family violence and sexual ...5 days ago
- Making work better for Kiwi womenTe Mahere Whai Mahi Wāhine: Women’s Employment Action Plan was launched today by Minister for Women Jan Tinetti – with the goal of ensuring New Zealand is a great place for women to work. “This Government is committed to improving women’s working lives. The current reality is that women have ...5 days ago
- Good Employer Awards celebrate food and fibre sectorThe food and fibre sector acknowledged its people and leadership at last night’s 2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, a time to celebrate their passion towards supporting employees by putting their health, welfare and wellbeing first,” Acting Minister of Agriculture Meka Whairiti said. “Award winners were selected from an extraordinary ...5 days ago
- PM's comments to NATO sessionKia ora koutou katoa. It is a rare thing to have New Zealand represented at a NATO Summit. While we have worked together in theatres such as Afghanistan, and have been partners for just on a decade, today represents an important moment for our Pacific nation. New Zealand is ...5 days ago
- Veterans Minister announces new focus on mental health for veterans and their whānauTe Arataki mō te Hauora Ngākau mō ngā Mōrehu a Tū me ō rātou Whānau, The Veteran, Family and Whānau Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy Framework “We ask a lot of those who serve in the military – and we ask a lot of the families and whānau who support ...5 days ago
- Minister to advocate for Small Island StatesAssociate Minister of Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio has been appointed by the United Nations and Commonwealth as Aotearoa New Zealand’s advocacy champion for Small Island States. “Aotearoa New Zealand as a Pacific country is particularly focused on the interests of Pacific Small Island Developing States in our region. “This is a ...5 days ago
- Increased support for households to pay local council ratesAn estimated 100,000 low income households will be eligible for increased support to pay their council rates, with changes to the rates rebate scheme taking effect from 1 July. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced increases to both the maximum value of the rates rebate, and the income threshold ...5 days ago
- He Oranga Poutama expanded into four new regionsA long-standing physical activity programme that focuses on outcomes for Maori has been expanded to four new regions with Government investment almost doubled to increase its reach. He Oranga Poutama is managed by a combination of hapū, iwi, hauora and regional providers. An increase in funding from $1.8 million ...5 days ago
- Wellington’s rapid transit option progresses to next stageThe Government is progressing a preferred option for LGWM which will see Wellington’s transport links strengthened with light rail from Wellington Station to Island Bay, a new tunnel through Mt Victoria for public transport, and walking and cycling, and upgrades to improve traffic flow at the Basin Reserve. “Where previous ...6 days ago
- Keynote remarks: Tech 4 Democracy Summit, MadridTo Provost Muniz, to the Organisers at the Instituto de Empresa buenas tardes and as we would say in New Zealand, kia ora kotou katoa. To colleagues from the State Department, from Academia, and Civil Society Groups, to all our distinguished guests - kia ora tatou katoa. It’s a pleasure ...6 days ago
- On June 28, 2022, a meeting took place in Madrid between the President of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who was visiting Spain to participate in the Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as one ...6 days ago
- More young Kiwis able to travel and work in SpainA six-fold increase in the Aotearoa New Zealand-Spain working holiday scheme gives a huge boost to the number of young people who can live and work in each other’s countries, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Jacinda Ardern and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón made the Working Holiday/Youth Mobility Scheme announcement ...6 days ago
- Supporting local government candidatesA significant barrier has been removed for people who want to stand in local government elections, with a change to the requirement to publish personal details in election advertising. The Associate Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty has taken the Local Electoral (Advertising) Amendment Bill through its final stages in Parliament ...6 days ago
- Govt passes law to protect consumers in banking and insurance sectorNew financial conduct scheme will ensure customers are treated fairly Banks, insurers and non-bank deposit takers to be licensed by the FMA in relation to their general conduct Sales incentives based on volume or value targets like bonuses for selling a certain number of financial products banned The Government ...6 days ago
- New law paves way for greater supermarket competitionLegislation that bans major supermarkets from blocking their competitors’ access to land to set up new stores paves the way for greater competition in the sector, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Dr David Clark said. The new law is the first in a suite of measures the Government is ...6 days ago
- No more excuses: restoring nature is not a silver bullet for global warming, we must cut emissions o...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne Nico Smit/Unsplash, CC BY Restoring degraded environments, such as by planting trees, is often touted as a solution to the climate crisis. But our new research shows this, ...4 hours ago - New Zealand to ban Russia gold imports
New Zealand is banning all imports of Russian gold, after similar bans by G7 countries and Australia. ...4 hours ago - Jacinda Ardern plays down prospect of quick 501s solutionPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern does not expect a resolution on 501 deportations from her trip to Australia this week, saying it will take time to work through. ...5 hours ago
- Thousands of giant crabs amass off Australia’s coast. Scientists need your help to understand the ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elodie Camprasse, Research fellow in spider crab ecology, Deakin University Julian Finn/Museums Victoria Am I not pretty enough? This article is part of The Conversation’s series introducing you to little-known Australian animals that need our help. Every winter in ...5 hours ago
- Free period care products in Queensland schools is just a first step. Remote communities need access...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nina Lansbury, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland In Australia, most states have introduced initiatives to provide people who menstruate with free period care products in public schools. The Queensland government’s recent announcement of free period care ...6 hours ago
- The lessons NZ can learn from Australia to guide energy policy and keep prices down
As consumers receive their winter power bills, many are puzzled and some are incensed that they are so high. There is a simple answer: wholesale prices are elevated (they have been very high for some time and reached $215 a megawatt/hour last week). And there’s a not-so-simple answer: The latter ...7 hours ago - MBIE Advises Seismically Vulnerable Buildings Can Remain Occupied
New guidance published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) today advises most seismically vulnerable buildings are not imminently dangerous and can remain occupied while seismic remediation work is planned, funded and undertaken. ...8 hours ago - Mahuta addresses Diplosphere: ours is a liberal democracy, she says, and other nations can learn fro...
Buzz from the Beehive Measures to raise eligibility thresholds to help more than 90,000 New Zealanders that currently are denied access to legal aid were announced today Changes to the Legal Services Regulations 2011 and the Legal Services Act 2011 will give effect to $148.7 million of funding in Budget 2022. The ...8 hours ago - Why we talk about computers having brains (and why the metaphor is all wrong)Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tomas Fitzgerald, Lecturer in Law, Curtin University A brainy machine? Shakey, the world’s first AI-based robot. SRI International It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that the machines are taking over. What is less clear is whether the machines know that. Recent claims ...8 hours ago
- To stop risky developments in floodplains, we have to tackle the profit motive – and our false sen...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brian Robert Cook, Associate professor, The University of Melbourne In the aftermath of destructive floods, we often seek out someone to blame. Common targets are the “negligent local council”, the “greedy developer”, “the builder cutting corners”, and the “foolish home owner.” Unfortunately, ...9 hours ago
- An ever innovative director, Peter Brook reminded us how high the stakes of theatre can beSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Rae, Associate Professor, English and Theatre Studies, The University of Melbourne Julio Donoso/Sygma via Getty Images I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else ...9 hours ago
- Crombie Lockwood Announces New Partnership With Trees For SurvivalCrombie Lockwood today announced a new partnership with Trees for Survival. Trees for Survival is a charitable trust which works with over 150 schools and local communities across New Zealand to grow and plant native trees along waterways and on erosion ...12 hours ago
- PM's Australian trade mission to focus on business reconnection, climate change progressLabour shortages, supply chain disruption and climate change are expected to be among the topics of discussion on the Prime Minister's Australian trade mission. ...12 hours ago
- NZCTU Joins Pay Equity Campaign For #NotAnotherWinterThe New Zealand Council of Trade Unions is pleased to support the #NotAnotherWinter campaign, which calls on the Government to take urgent action on pay transparency. The campaign, which was launched by Mind the Gap this week, calls on the Government ...12 hours ago
- The Job Check Process – Is It Really A Trojan Horse?Aaron Martin, Principal immigration lawyer, New Zealand Immigration Law The Job Check has been introduced to ensure that there are no suitable New Zealanders who can do a job before it is offered to a migrant worker. But it comes with a requirement ...13 hours ago
- Make Up Your Minds So NZ Competes For Workers Or Lose Out“New Zealand needs to make up its mind if it is open for business and remove any barriers to make it easy for people with the skills we need to come here to keep our schools, hospitals, hospitality and tourism ventures running,” says a frustrated ...13 hours ago
- Responsible Campers To Seek Law ChangeResponsible Campers Association has today announced they will seek a change to the law that allows defecation in public if a person believes they would not be observed doing so. Spokesman for the group, Bob Osborne explains; “At the moment section ...13 hours ago
- Not if, but when: unless Papua New Guinea prepares now, the next big earthquake could wreak havoc in...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phil R. Cummins, Professor, Geoscience Australia Brendan Esposito/AAP Earthquakes can be especially devastating for developing countries, where competing priorities can stymie resource allocation towards earthquake resilience. Even in tectonically active areas, where tectonic plates meet and scrape against one another, ...15 hours ago
- Are we learning the wrong lessons from history?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University ‘Peace for our time’: British prime minister Neville Chamberlain displaying the Anglo-German declaration, known as the Munich Agreement, in September 1938. Wikimedia, CC BY-SA Can historians influence ...15 hours ago
- Flu may be back, but COVID is far from over. How do they compare?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Glasziou, Professor of Medicine, Bond University Engin Akyurt/Unsplash Since Australia’s first Omicron wave after borders opened late last year, the pandemic has largely faded from the news and public perception. Gone are the daily briefings with updates on the ...15 hours ago
- Research reveals fire is pushing 88% of Australia’s threatened land mammals closer to extinctionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julianna Santos, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne David Mariuz/AAP About 100 of Australia’s unique land mammals face extinction. Of the many threats contributing to the crisis, certain fire regimes are among the most pervasive. In a new paper, we ...15 hours ago
- Recognising Indigenous knowledges is not just culturally sound, it’s good scienceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maryanne Macdonald, Lecturer, Indigenous Education, Edith Cowan University Floods, fires and droughts in Australia devastate lives, destroy wildlife and damage property. These disasters also cost billions of dollars through loss of agricultural and economic productivity, environmental vitality and costs to mental health. ...15 hours ago
- If unis stick with online assessment after COVID, they’ll have do more to stop cheatingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meena Jha, Course Coordinator, Information Communications Technology (ICT), CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock While face-to-face classes are back after the COVID disruptions of the past two years, our research suggests at least some Australian universities intend to continue with fully online assessment. ...15 hours ago
- Cryptocurrencies are great for gambling – but lousy at liberating our money from big central banksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Shutterstock The dream that decentralised finance – or “DeFi” – can free the monetary system from the clutches of governments and banks has helped launch 20,000 ...15 hours ago
- Regional towns are at risk of being wiped out by the move to net-zero. Here’s their best chance fo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Esther Suckling, Research Associate, Grattan Institute Mackay Regional Council Australia’s mining and heavy industry sectors are on the cusp of a revolution as the world shifts to net-zero. Demand for traditional industrial commodities – coal, oil, and gas – is ...15 hours ago
- Rediscovering the art of Tracker Nat: ‘the Namatjira of carving’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Jorgensen, Senior lecturer in art history, The University of Western Australia Tracker Nat, holding his hat on the far left, with Paul Hasluck standing next to him, holding Nat’s shield in this picture from 1958. National Archives of Australia. NAA: ...15 hours ago
- PM Jacinda Ardern on trade mission in Australia ahead of bilateral talksThe Prime Minister is returning to Australia for a trade mission to complete the third leg of Aotearoa's reconnection strategy. ...16 hours ago
- What’s causing Sydney’s monster flood crisis – and 3 ways to stop it from happening againSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Dominey-Howes, Honorary Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Mick Tsikas/AAP Again, thousands of residents in Western Sydney face a life-threatening flood disaster. At the time of writing, evacuation orders spanned southwest and northwest Sydney and ...24 hours ago
- Controversial Roe v Wade ruling triggers intense NZ media reactionBy Hayden Donnell, RNZ Mediawatch producer Some said the US Supreme Court’s controversial ruling on abortion was none of our business, because we don’t have the same legal or political set-up, let alone its religious cleavages and cultural conflicts. Opinion leaders in our media didn’t agree — and provoked a ...1 day ago
- ‘Vote wisely – not with cargo cult mentality’ PNG election eve warningBy Theckla Gunga of Inside PNG Papua New Guineans, your future is in your hands, vote wisely. As the campaign trail wound up its last hours at the weekend, voters were being urged to keep their future in mind when choosing and voting this election starting tomorrow. Alvin Gia Huk, ...1 day ago
- Māori authority welcomes NZ health system reform as important first stepBy Stephen Forbes, Local Democracy Reporter Manukau Urban Māori Authority (MUMA) is welcoming the government’s health reforms as an important first step to improving Māori and Pasifika health in south Auckland. But some in the health sector say the jury is still out on what will be achieved in Counties ...1 day ago
- Kiwi author's potato tale gets royal treatmentA New Zealand author says she had no idea in advance that her children's book was being presented to royalty. ...1 day ago
- Agreement over New Zealand's free trade deal with European Union goes down to the wirePower Play - The Prime Minister travelled to Brussels with two speeches prepared - one detailed a historic trade deal, the other why she would leave Brussels without one. ...2 days ago
- Luana Scowcroft Launches Council Bid With Appeal For Future GenerationsGreen Party candidate for Wellington's Motukairangi-Eastern Ward Luana Scowcroft is launching her campaign at Hataitai Centre (the former Hataitai Bowling Club) at 7pm tonight, Saturday July 2nd. Luana says that council's short-term thinking, and ...2 days ago
- EU FTA & Tiriti O Waitangi: “More Of The Same”The government has just announced the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the European Union. One Māori entity operating in the trade space, Ngā Toki Whakarururanga, is not celebrating. “We are aware that New Zealand negotiators genuinely sought ...2 days ago
- Jackson takes another small step towards action at Ihumātao while Mahuta aims for the heavens with ...Buzz from the Beehive Down here on Earth – more particularly, in Ihumātao – progress on doing whatever is going to be done to that disputed patch of land has been glacial. Newsroom drew attention to the dawdling in an article in April which noted that Māori Development Minister Willie ...2 days ago
- Ardern and Johnson agree to visa changes to benefit New Zealanders under 35Young New Zealanders will be able to spend more time living and working in the United Kingdom under changes to a popular visa. ...3 days ago
- Titanic power struggle tipped for PNG’s ‘game changer’ electionPNG Post-Courier Today is officially the last day of campaigning in Papua New Guinea’s 2022 National General Election. Count tomorrow until Monday as rest days, but in politically charged PNG, anything is possible, including illegal last-minute clandestine campaigning. Polling is set to begin Tuesday, July 4, when millions will exercise ...3 days ago
- Greenpeace condemns NZ silence on Pacific deep sea mining risksAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Greenpeace Aotearoa has condemned New Zealand for “standing by” while “deep wounds are inflicted on its Pacific neighbours” by silence over deep sea mining. Greenpeace’s seabed mining campaigner James Hita made the critical statement today after a dramatic shift at the UN Oceans conference in Lisbon ...3 days ago
- Plenty of numbers amplify the Beehive’s braying but farmers find fault with EU trade deal and RBNZ...Buzz from the Beehive
Numbers, quotas and ratios have been high in ministerial considerations over the past 24 hours or so. Export revenue to the EU will grow by up to $1.8 ... 3 days ago - China, Russia and climate change: why Australia’s place at the NATO Summit was so importantSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Harris Rimmer, Professor and Director of the Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese admitted at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Public Forum that some Australians may not understand why he’s at a NATO meeting ...3 days ago
- The United States was founded on allegiance to laws, not leaders. The Jan 6 rioters turned that on i...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Senior Research Fellow, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney When colonial Americans declared their independence on July 4 1776, they rejected more than British rule. They explicitly denounced the British form of government and the unlegislated norms, traditions and conventions ...3 days ago
- VIDEO: Health Minister Mark Butler’s audit of Australia’s COVID vaccine suppliesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Emma Larouche, from the University of Canberra’s Media and Communications team discuss the week in politics. They canvass the crossbenchers’ stoush with the Prime Minister over ...3 days ago
- Mahuta criticises China as Hong Kong marks two years under security law"Aotearoa New Zealand remains concerned by the steady erosion of rights, freedoms, and autonomy that has occurred in Hong Kong as a result," the foreign minister said. ...3 days ago
- More Than 200,000 People Apply For Residence Through 2021 Resident VisaWith one month to go until the closure of the 2021 Resident Visa, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) encourages those who are eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa to submit their applications before the category closes at 11:59pm on 31 July 2022. INZ has ...3 days ago
- Week in Politics: Luxon moves National out of a political danger zoneAnalysis - National's Christopher Luxon moves to defuse a potentially vote-losing disaster, the Health Minister's problems keep piling up and the PM speaks at a NATO summit and unveils an historic free trade agreement with the EU. ...3 days ago
- Ardern heralds Europol Agreement as 'milestone' of co-operationThe government's signing of an Europol Agreement significant reflects shared principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. ...3 days ago
- Plastic Free July: recycling is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. It’s time to teach kids ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Tolbert, Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education, University of Canterbury GettyImages Plastic Free July has rolled around again and we’ll all be hearing about reducing plastic use in our daily lives. Much of the messaging is targeted toward young ...3 days ago
- Ethnic Women Enter Politics Despite BarriersCost, sexism and racism are barriers to ethnic women entering Aotearoa New Zealand politics, a University of Auckland researcher says A University of Auckland researcher shedding light on the unseen and unheard stories of ethnic women in New Zealand politics ...3 days ago
- When we talk about the teacher shortage, don’t forget those who teach English as an additional lan...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roderick Neilsen, Associate Professor TESOL/Languages Education, Deakin University Burned-out teachers in Australian primary and secondary schools are quitting in droves, while the majority of surveyed teachers are thinking about it. There are similar fears about Australia’s early childhood educators. However, there ...3 days ago
- Unions Lodge Pay Equity Claim For Care And Support WorkersUnions representing care and support workers are lodging a pay equity claim today to raise pay rates for a majority female workforce that has always been undervalued. The pay equity claim is a crucial step in stemming the crisis the care and support ...3 days ago
- Hip flexors get weak when we sit too much – but simple stretches and strengthening exercises can l...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lavender, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia Shutterstock I am sure you’ve been told you should stand up and move away from your work stations or use a standing desk where possible. One of the ...3 days ago
- NZCTU Welcomes Labour Protection Advances Through The NZ/EU FTAThe New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has today welcomed the Free Trade Agreement established between New Zealand and the European Union says President Richard Wagstaff. "The Agreement includes a number of welcome steps to make trade more ...3 days ago
- IHC: Flawed System Funding Community Programmes For Disabled Adults Must GoNew Zealand is once again calling on the Government to overhaul an outdated system that determines what community programmes disabled adults have access to based on flawed assessments they were given as children. A case note published this week from ...3 days ago
- Meat and dairy industries very disappointed with New Zealand European Union trade dealThe meat and dairy industries are very disappointed with the outcome of the free trade deal struck between New Zealand and the European Union saying it falls far below their expectations. ...3 days ago
- National gives EU free trade agreement a six out of 10The Prime Minister will need to explain to farmers why there were not more gains in meat and dairy in the trade agreement with the EU, the opposition says. ...3 days ago
- New Zealand’s Silence On Deep Sea Mining Risks Deep Wounds To Pacific RelationsIn a dramatic shift at the United Nations oceans conference in Lisbon this week, a series of Pacific Governments have formed an alliance to oppose deep sea mining in international waters but Greenpeace says the continued silence from the New Zealand ...3 days ago
- Need To Do More To Reduce Plastic Pollution In WaterNew Zealanders are amongst the highest generators of plastic waste in the world and on top of this there is now concern about the level of microplastics in our water. As Plastic-free July gets underway, Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe ...3 days ago
- Government: Cut The Spin And Give A Truthful Assessment Of The EU Deal“When will governments and trade negotiators realise they have more credibility if they tell the truth about free trade agreements (FTA) like the new deal with the European Union (EU), instead of their fancifully positive spin?”, asks Jane Kelsey, ...4 days ago
- Leading Expert Makes Urgent Call For Change Following Malachi Subecz Child Abuse SentencingNational child abuse advocacy group - Child Matters - says yesterday’s revelation that authorities were never alerted to the extent of Malachi Subecz’s horrific injuries is a stark reminder that government legislation must change – and now. ...4 days ago
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It’s an impressive return on $100,000 investment. How wealthy do you need to be to qualify for ‘aid money’ from the NZ tax-payer?
You are aware that Hagaman’s company operates the hotel. He doesn’t own it and he didn’t have the aid money passed to him. That went to the owners to carry out the expansion.
But of course you know that. You just ignore it because you are following your little leader Andy in his smear campaign.
Was the multi million dollar refurbishment publicly known when the contract was signed?
If not, could it possibly have been discussed at a Cabinet Club meeting, thereby giving a certain hotel chain an opportunity to adjust their tender to be more competitive?
So do you know the details of the funding or how much the company is paid to manage the resort. Please tell.
“how much the company is paid to manage the resort”
I haven’t the faintest idea. Why should I?
Sabine posted a great long spiel on the subject where she kept repeating that it was $7.5 million. When I asked the source of this number, which she had repeated 4 times she never gave me a sensible reply.
Perhaps she will tell you whether there is any truth in that figure or whether she just made it up. I suspect the latter.
Here is what she had to say. It is followed by my request for a link and then a very long reply by Sabine which had nothing to do with the question.
Little is too stupid to be PM.
Hooray! Basic Mind is back.
Lol, is that some kind of bot? I love how it just comes out of nowhere. If that isn’t a flaming troll line I don’t know what is 🙄
“…the left underestimate Key to its peril” & if Little gets under your skin he must be doing something right!
“Little gets under your skin”.
So does melanoma. Now what is the “something right” about that?
You guys are spinning a lot lately. Whats up?
Very exercised over this matter aren’t they. They remind me of when I was a kid… caught out doing something I wasn’t allowed to do. The screams of denial could be heard far and wide.
Yeah the reaction to Little’s call for the AG to take a look at a story that broke on RadioNZ seems way out of proportion. What’s going on?
Obviously a sensitive subject. It has happened for a while. The right clearly believe that the best form of defence is attack.
If Little is the melanoma that puts paid to NZ’s political Right, then there is something very, very right about him
The prognosis for melanoma is actually really good when detected and treated early before it has spread to other tissues or organs. When ignoring the signs the prognosis rapidly drops off to a near-death sentence. Need I say more?
Judging from the present and many past PMs stupidity is hardly a deal breaker to becoming PM.
Bother we had a school group going down to that…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/79192287/person-infected-with-measles-attended-kapa-haka-regionals-in-hamilton
..I hope they were all up to date with their immunisations.
That’s a great graph. It should be disseminated far and wide!!!
Gosh, even the Nat.rwnj simpletons will be able to understand it.
Not so sure Anne – unless Andrew Little is very sure he has evidence of some wrongdoing he’s buying into a very public legal fight with Earl Hagaman for defamation.
In this article, Little is calling out the government not Hagaman. Has he defamed Hagaman in some way too?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/79163924/Labour-leader-Andrew-Little-defends-suspicion-over-Niue-resort-contract
The blue visual above… if it was my name and I’d done nothing wrong I’d be none too pleased with the inference.
What inference? It’s a timeline of events isn’t it?
Read the headline of the graphic. Little is clearly commenting on National. The inference is that National will give contracts to its donors.
The Nat machine has no problems with calling out any beneficiary who happens to stray / get dragged into into the political arena and cause them the slightest embarrassment. For example the two women that Bennet named and Selwyn Clarke.
But they take a different view when it’s one of their star donors getting the same scrutiny.
Mr Hagaman should step back for a moment and consider the societal and political environment that his donations are facilitating.
+1.
No that’s your spin line to deflect away from the issue, he referred to the govt….come on you can do better than that.
Oh they understand it ,its just that they see no problem with it.
Yes. There was a bit of sarcasm for their benefit in my comment.
I’m reminded of the screaming and howling by the right wing over Dirty Politics. Methinks they’re trying the same trick on again but not sure it will work this time because its all about money. And $7.5 million of it is OUR money!!
Food for thought….
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/politicians-should-be-psychologically-assessed-says-hr-expert-20150621-ghtsji.html
They seem to think that they can test whether someone is a fool or not 😆
Leading psychologist is an oxymoron.
LOL
Anybody else having trouble accessing certain posts? Tonight when I clicked on the Oravida post, a red flag popped up on the tab and the page was blank. This has been happening to the Open Mic post too. As an avid reader of The Standard I hate to miss anything!
Cheers.
I got a page saying that there was some maintenance going on. Maybe Lynn is tinkering.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/21/britain-corporate-fatcat-party-till-we-turn-music-off
because we let them
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/20/eu-dropped-climate-policies-after-bp-threat-oil-industry-exodus
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/20/india-drought-affecting-330-million-people-weak-monsoons
Methinks Hagaman’s do protest too much
Earl is probably doing as told to help the DP machine, dogs n fleas comes to mind.
Hagamans, not Hagaman’s