Obama’s elf
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5:01 pm, February 18th, 2009 - 11 comments
Categories: interweb -
Tags: elf, obama
I’ve tried all day not to post this, now I’m giving in to get a good night’s sleep.
11 comments on “Obama’s elf ”
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- Speech to the India New Zealand Business Council Summit5pm, Wednesday 23 June 2021 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Tuia te Rangi e tĆ« nei Tuia te Papa e takoto nei Tuia te here tangata Ka rongo te pĆ, ka rongo te Ao Tihei Mauri Ora  Introduction Namaskar, tÄnÄ koe and good evening. Thank you for your kind invitation to ...1 day ago
- Financial support for caregivers widenedChildrenâs Minister Kelvin Davis has welcomed changes that will make it easier for caregivers looking after children outside of the state care system to access much-needed financial assistance. The Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill will also allow these caregivers to access further benefits previously unavailable to them. ...1 day ago
- Agencies to have powers to secure maritime domainA Bill introduced to Parliament today aims to prevent serious criminal offending at sea, including transnational offending and organised crime, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced. âAotearoa New Zealand will be better placed to keep our maritime environment secure against threats like drugs trafficking, wildlife trafficking and human trafficking with the ...1 day ago
- Critical support for New Zealandâs budding researchersFellowships to attract and retain talented researchers in the early stages of their career, have been awarded to 30 New Zealanders, Associate Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. âI am pleased to congratulate these researchers, who will be receiving funding through the MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship. ...2 days ago
- Bill to stop taxpayers having to fund oil field decommissionsThe Government is preventing taxpayers picking up the bill for the decommissioning of oil fields, says Energy and Resource Minister Dr Megan Woods. Â âAfter the Crown had to take responsibility for decommissioning the Tui oil field, it became clear to me that the current requirements around decommissioning are inadequate and ...2 days ago
- Quarantine Free Travel from New South Wales to New Zealand to pauseNew Zealandâs Quarantine Free Travel from New South Wales to New Zealand will be paused while the source of infection of new cases announced in Sydney is investigated, says COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. There are 10 new community cases of COVID-19 today in New South Wales, taking the Australian ...2 days ago
- Milestone reached for Iwi Affiliation Population CountsIwi affiliation data released today provides updated population counts for all iwi and addresses gaps in MÄori data originating from the 2018 Census, says Associate Minister of Statistics Meka Whaitiri. âThe release of the 2018 Iwi Affiliation Estimated Counts is a really important step, and I acknowledge the hard work ...2 days ago
- NgÄti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill passes first readingTreaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little welcomed NgÄti Rangitihi to Parliament today to witness the first reading of The NgÄti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill. âI know it took a lot of hard work, time and patience by all parties involved to reach this significant milestone. I am honoured to ...2 days ago
- Speech to the Sustainable Healthcare and Climate Health Conference AotearoaMihi TÄnÄ tÄtou katoa Kei ngÄ pou o te whare hauora ki Aotearoa, kei te mihi. TÄnÄ koutou i tÄ koutou pĆwhiri mai i ahau. E mihi ana ki ngÄ taura tangata e hono ana i a tÄtou katoa, ko te kaupapa o te rÄ tÄrÄ. TÄnÄ koutou, tÄnÄ koutou, ...2 days ago
- Infrastructure Acceleration Fund opening for businessCriteria to access at least $1 billion of the $3.8 billion Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF), announced in March, is now available, and an invitation for expressions of interest will be released on 30 June, Housing Minister Megan Woods has announced. âThis is a key milestone in our plan to accelerate ...2 days ago
- Bringing back the health of Hauraki GulfNew marine protection areas and restrictions on fishing are among a raft of changes being put in place to protect the Hauraki Gulf for future generations. The new strategy, Revitalising the Gulf â Government action on the Sea Change Plan, released today, draws on input from mana whenua, local communities, ...3 days ago
- Speech to AI Forum – Autonomous Weapons SystemsAI Forum New Zealand, Auckland Good evening and thank you so much for joining me this evening. Iâd like to start with a thank you to the AI Forum Executive for getting this event off the ground and for all their work and support to date. The prospect of autonomous ...3 days ago
- New Zealand boosts support to Fiji for COVID-19 impactAotearoa New Zealand is providing additional support to Fiji to mitigate the effects of the current COVID-19 outbreak on vulnerable households, Foreign Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta announced today. âRecognising the increasingly challenging situation in Fiji, Aotearoa will provide an additional package of assistance to support the Government of Fiji and ...3 days ago
- Round 2 of successful energy education fund now open$1.65 million available in Support for Energy Education in Communities funding round two Insights from SEEC to inform future energy hardship programmes Community organisations that can deliver energy education to households in need are being invited to apply for the second funding round of the Support for Energy Education in ...3 days ago
- New Ngarimu scholarships to target vocational trainingAssociate Education Minister Kelvin Davis today announced three new scholarships for students in vocational education and training (VET) are to be added to the suite of prestigious Ngarimu scholarships. âVET learners have less access to study support than university students and this is a way to tautoko their learning dreams ...3 days ago
- Recognising the volunteers who support our health systemNominations have opened today for the 2021 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, as part of National Volunteer Week. âWe know that New Zealanders donate at least 159 million hours of volunteer labour every year,â Minister of Health Andrew Little said in launching this yearâs awards in Wellington. âThese people play ...3 days ago
- Drug Free Sport supported to deal with new doping challengesDrug Free Sport New Zealand will receive a funding boost to respond to some of the emerging doping challenges across international sport. The additional $4.3 million over three years comes from the Sport Recovery Fund announced last year. It will help DFSNZ improve athletesâ understanding of the risks of doping, ...3 days ago
- Government support for South Auckland community hit by tornadoThe Government is contributing $100,000 to a Mayoral Relief Fund to support Auckland communities impacted by the Papatoetoe tornado, Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi says. âMy heart goes out to the family and friends who have lost a loved one, and to those who have been injured. I ...4 days ago
- Celebrating World Refugee DayWorld Refugee Day today is an opportunity to celebrate the proud record New Zealanders have supporting and protecting refugees and acknowledge the contribution these new New Zealanders make to our country, the Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi said. âWorld Refugee Day is also a chance to think about the journey ...5 days ago
- Face to face meeting delivers significant progress on NZ-UK FTANew Zealand and the UK have committed to accelerating their free trade agreement negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement in principle this August, Trade Minister Damien OâConnor announced. âWeâve held constructive and productive discussions towards the conclusion of a high-quality and comprehensive FTA that will support sustainable and inclusive trade, and ...6 days ago
- Government taking action to protect albatrossNew population figures for the critically endangered Antipodean albatross showing a 5 percent decline per year highlights the importance of reducing all threats to these very special birds, Acting Minister of Conservation Dr Ayesha Verrall says. The latest population modelling, carried out by Dragonfly Data Science, shows the Antipodean albatross ...6 days ago
- Adoption laws under reviewNew Zealandâs 66-year-old adoption laws are being reviewed, with public engagement beginning today. Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the Government is seeking views on options for change to our adoption laws and system. âThe Adoption Act has remained largely the same since 1955. We need our adoption laws to reflect ...6 days ago
- Wider roll-out of cameras on boats to support sustainability and protect marine lifeUp to 300 inshore commercial fishing vessels will be fitted with on-board cameras by 2024 as part of the Governmentâs commitment to protect the natural marine environment for future generations. Minister for Oceans and Fisheries David Parker today announced the funding is now in place for the wider roll out ...1 week ago
- Plan for vaccine rollout for general population announcedNew Zealanders over 60 will be offered a vaccination from July 28 and those over 55 from August 11, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The rollout of the vaccine to the general population will be done in age groups as is the approach commonly used overseas, with those over ...1 week ago
- New Zealand introduces Belarus travel bansNew Zealand has imposed travel bans on selected individuals associated with the Lukashenko regime, following ongoing concerns about election fraud and human rights abuses after the 2020 Belarus elections, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced. The ban covers more than fifty individuals, including the President and key members of ...1 week ago
- NZ economy grows driven by households, construction and business investmentThe Governmentâs efforts to secure the recovery have been reflected in the robust rebound of GDP figures released today which show the economy remains resilient despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant Robertson said. GDP increased 1.6 percent in the first three months of 2021. The Treasury had ...1 week ago
- Milestone 250th tower continues to improve rural connectivityThe Government has welcomed the completion of the 250th 4G mobile tower, as part of its push for better rural connectivity. Waikatoâs Wiltsdown, which is roughly 80 kilometres south of Hamilton, is home to the new tower, deployed by the Rural Connectivity Group to enable improved service to 70 homes ...1 week ago
- Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria to lift on TuesdayFollowing a further public health assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealandâs Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria has been extended to 11.59pm on Tuesday 22 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. It has been determined that the risk to public health in New Zealand continues ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister mourns passing of Dr Sir Ian HassallPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern is mourning the passing of Dr Sir Ian Hassall, New Zealandâs first Childrenâs Commissioner and lifelong champion for children and childrenâs health. As a paediatrician Sir Ian contributed to a major world-first cot death study that has been directly credited with reducing cot deaths in New ...1 week ago
- APEC structural reform meeting a successAPEC ministers have agreed working together will be crucial to ensure economies recover from the impact of COVID-19. Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs David Clark, chaired the virtual APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting today which revolved around the overarching theme of promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth ...1 week ago
- Digital hub to boost investment in forestryA new website has been launched at Fieldays to support the forestry sector find the information it needs to plant, grow and manage trees, and to encourage investment across the wider industry. Forestry Minister Stuart Nash says the new Canopy website is tailored for farmers, iwi and other forestry interests, ...1 week ago
- Cardiac arrests in young people â what causes them and can they be prevented or treated? A heart e...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Orchard, Postdoctoral Fellow, Centenary Institute; and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney Wolfgang Rattay/AP/AAP On June 12, 16,000 spectators at Copenhagenâs Parken Stadium and millions of viewers around the world watched in shock as Danish midfielder Christian Eriksenâs heart ...1 hour ago - Politicians criticising women for âoutsourcingâ parenting need a reality check. Here it isSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Associate Professor in Sociology and Co-Director of The Policy Lab, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock During a heated exchange in a Coalition party room meeting about childcare subsidies, a male MP stated working women are âoutsourcing parentingâ. The ...1 hour ago
- 'A mark of shame for the profession': Former Russell McVeagh partner guilty of misconduct
A former Russell McVeagh partner has been found guilty of misconduct over accusations of groping summer clerks, in a ruling the legal professionâs disciplinary tribunal says sends a clear message there is âno place for objectification of women or indeed any personâ within the law. James Gardner-Hopkins, who can for ...4 hours ago - Cramming cities full of electric vehicles means weâre still depending on cars â and thatâs a h...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kurt Iveson, Associate Professor of Urban Geography and Research Lead, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney Shutterstock This week, the NSW government announced almost A$500 million towards boosting the uptake of electric vehicles. In its new electric vehicle strategy, the ...4 hours ago
- If I could go anywhere: the âcathedralâ at Blythburgh that rises from the marshesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miles Pattenden, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry/Gender and Women’s History Research Centre, Australian Catholic University Shutterstock In this series we pay tribute to the art we wish could visit â and hope to see once travel ...4 hours ago
- UNESCO has always been mired in politics and squabbling, but this shouldnât detract from its workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Hill, Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, University of Wollongong Australiaâs Great Barrier Reef made the international headlines this week. It was not good news for the reef, described by David Attenborough as âone of the greatest and ...6 hours ago
- Business is Boring: How to sell a fast-growing company
Scroll Media founder Jane Ormsby joins Simon Pound to talk innovation in the online ad industry and share some tips for selling a business.Follow Business is Boring on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.The internet turned media publishing and advertising upside down, and continues to shake it around. ...6 hours ago - It takes a village: why sending your kid to childcare isnât âoutsourcing parentingâSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurien Beane, Course Coordinator, Queensland Undergraduate Early Childhood, Australian Catholic University Shutterstock A Coalition party room meeting this week debated the A$1.7 billion childcare package announced in the budget, which would increase subsidies for families with more than one child ...6 hours ago
- Locked Gates Over Unformed Legal Roads
"The law is clear that landowners cannot put lock gates over unformed legal roads", says Walking Access Commission chief executive Ric Cullinane. Landowners cannot put gates, locked or unlocked, on unformed legal roads without the permission ...6 hours ago - Robertson relishes responding to patsy questions and enthusing about the economic outlook â but is...
Grant Robertson, perennially exuberant as finance minister when it comes to telling the country how well the government is handling the economy, has been in top form on the subject in Parliament in  recent days. Whether the same  buoyancy is being felt in every sector of the economy could be ...7 hours ago - Survey Of Those Arriving In New Zealand Since The Onset Of COVID-19 Helps Assess Economic ImpactA survey of people arriving in New Zealand since the initial COVID-19 border restrictions has been carried out to find out more about their intentions and needs. This release presents the first findings from the Survey of New Zealand Arrivals, which surveyed ...7 hours ago
- How online bank transfers are being hijacked for harassment and abuseAn unexpected loophole is being used to target and intimidate victims of domestic violence – one that has the banking industry scrambling to fight back. Writing a silly joke or lewd message in the odd online payment is nothing new, and – other than potentially jeopardising your chances of being approved ...7 hours ago
- Will the governmentâs new plan save TÄ«kapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf?The culturally and ecologically significant marine area on Auckland’s doorstep has been in decline for years, but the government has a new strategy to restore it to health.It’s finally happened. After four years of waiting, the much-anticipated plan for the future of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park/Tīkapa Moana/Te Moananui-ā-Toi (the ...7 hours ago
- Mahuta cracks down on crime at sea while Williams counts the cash and assets ($500m) seized from cr...
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta is another member of the Ardern government who believes in the power of the law to eliminate criminal or undesirable behaviour. But she seems to be aware that laws have their limitations:Â a Bill she introduced to Parliament yesterday âaimsâ to prevent serious criminal offending ...8 hours ago - Further Charges Filed Following INZ Construction Sector Compliance WorkImmigration New Zealand (INZ) has filed further charges over the use of unlawful migrant labour in the building and construction sector. Four charges have been laid against an Auckland-based employer under section 350(1)(b) of the Immigration Act ...8 hours ago
- PM Jacinda Ardern announces more support for Ashburton after flooding
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the government is injecting a further $4 million to support flood-affected Canterbury farmers. ...8 hours ago - Registrations Grow For Asia Harm Reduction Forum 2021Interest is building ahead of the 4th Asia Harm Reduction Forum (AHRF). This year, as a virtual event, it promises to be dynamic gathering of global Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) advocates with significant developments to discuss. Registration and participation ...9 hours ago
- Good bye and good riddance to Aucklandâs worst live music venueWhen a concert venue shuts down, it’s usually a bleak day for New Zealand’s entertainment industry. But in the case of the Logan Campbell Centre, Chris Schulz couldn’t be happier.First published on Chris Schulz’s newsletter Boiler Room.At the beginning of 2018, in the middle of an absolutely legendary run of summer ...9 hours ago
- Prison For Directors Who Fail To Report On Climate Risks Unduly Harsh, Says The Institute Of Directo...Directors should not face jail time for failing to comply with proposed new climate-reporting standards, stressed the Institute of Directors (IoD). The IoD appeared before the Economic Development, Science and Innovation select committee today to present its ...9 hours ago
- Chief Human Rights Commissioner Should Stay In His LaneThe Free Speech Union says that Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt wasnât hired to tell artists what work they can and canât produce. He should start defending human rights, not stand against freedom of expression. A spokesperson for the Union, ...10 hours ago
- Eat it, haters. NZ are the champions, the greatest test side in the worldHistorically, Black Caps tragics have not had an easy time of it but today’s result confirmed how dramatically that had changed. Now, finally, is the time for unbridled joy, writes Samuel Flynn-Scott. Drifting in and out of a fitful sleep, I stopped resisting and picked up my phone one last time. ...10 hours ago
- Safer Drinking Water Key Issue For New ZealandersWater New Zealand says events such as the Havelock North contamination crisis and the frequent number of boil water notices in some parts of the country have led to drinking water becoming identified as our number one infrastructure issue. Chief ...11 hours ago
- Taxpayersâ Union Calls Out âcoding Errorâ ExcuseThe Taxpayersâ Union is calling BS on claims that inappropriate spending of parliamentary funds by MP Harete Hipango was the result of a âcoding errorâ. Union spokesperson Jordan Williams says, âA number of our staff used to work at Parliament and would ...11 hours ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 21 June 2021The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...11 hours ago
- We just watched the Blackcaps make cricket historyThe Offspin’s Alex Braae celebrates the Blackcaps’ monumental overnight World Test Championship victory, and the culmination of six days of intense early-morning podcasting.Follow The Offspin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.Six nights of tension. Two years of dominating the international circuit. Eight years of cultural reform and ...11 hours ago
- New Report Reveals New Zealanders' Views On Infrastructure IssuesOver 23,000 New Zealanders have called for action to address the countryâs infrastructure issues in a new report published today by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga. ...12 hours ago
- NZ Needs To Sign Up To International Law Making Workplaces Free From Violence And HarassmentA new international law to keep workplaces free from violence and harassment comes into effect on Friday 25 June. "The International Labour Organisation (an agency of the United Nations) adopted the Violence and Harassment Convention , 2019 (190) ...13 hours ago
- NZâs housing market is broken and weâve got the maps to prove itInspired by a map of the US housing market, analyst Emma Vitz created a graph showing how much people needed to earn to afford a property in their region. It quickly went viral.From the comfort of my 23 square metre apartment that I most definitely do not own, I mapped ...13 hours ago
- Dirty secrets: sediment DNA reveals a 300,000-year timeline of ancient and modern humans living in S...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elena Zavala, PhD Student, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Collection of sediment DNA samples in the Main Chamber of Denisova Cave. Bert Roberts, Author provided In the foothills of the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia lies Denisova Cave. It is the ...14 hours ago
- With Aung San Suu Kyi facing prison, Myanmarâs opposition is leaderless, desperate and ready to fi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, University of South Australia As Aung San Suu Kyi finally faced court last week to defend herself against a litany of politically motivated charges, Myanmar is continuing its downward spiral into state failure. Suu Kyi was arrested following ...14 hours ago
- Stopping, blocking and dampening â how Aussie drugs in the pipeline could treat COVID-19Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vasso Apostolopoulos, Professor of Immunology and Associate Provost, Research Partnerships, Victoria University Shutterstock While widespread vaccination is key in our fight against COVID-19, people who are infected still need better treatment to improve their chance of survival and making a ...14 hours ago
- The governmentâs idea of ânational environment standardsâ would entrench Australiaâs global ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland A growing global push to halt biodiversity decline, most recently agreed at the G7 on Sunday, leaves Australia out in the cold as the federal government walks away ...14 hours ago
- âYouâre the best!â Your belief in your kidsâ academic ability can actually improve their gra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip D. Parker, Professor and Deputy Director, Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University Shutterstock We have all met the parent who thinks their kid is the next Picasso or Einstein regardless of the evidence. But itâs hard ...14 hours ago
- Meat pies, desert, bloody dingoes: new Australian film Buckleyâs Chance brims with dated cultural ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Transmission Films Review: Buckleyâs Chance, directed by Tim Brown. Itâs a classic trope of Australian cinema: a foreigner comes here and discovers a wild, rugged place, replete with ...14 hours ago
- The adaptation era arrivesFor decades, climate change discussions have been dominated by what we can do to stop it, but there is a growing focus on how we live with its consequences.In recent years the conversation about climate change has been growing larger and louder, with everyone from activist investors to right-leaning politicians ...14 hours ago
- Live updates, June 24: Testing in the spotlight as Wellington wakes to alert level twoWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for June 24, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nzWe’re doing our utmost to keep you updated on all the Covid-19 coverage. We can’t do it without the generous support of our members. If you want ...14 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Wellington waits nervously amid move to level twoGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Wellington waits nervously amid move to level two, Todd Muller leaving politics at next election, and banks making major profits amid big lending demand.For the first time ever, Wellington’s Covid restrictions are more stringent than that of the rest of ...15 hours ago
- Soaring power prices drive firms to invest in solar energy
The rising cost of wholesale power is forcing some businesses to consider investing in solar energy, writes Nicholas Pointon. Many firms are facing significant hikes to renew their fixed power contracts, as dry weather, low hydro lake levels and a shortage of natural gas puts upward pressure on prices. Christchurch-based manufacturing firm, ...15 hours ago - Amount earned from managed isolation and quarantine fees far less than expectedOfficials have told the government they are sometimes struggling to identify who needs to pay for their managed isolation stay. ...15 hours ago
- The future of NZ First and its leaderThe Detail - From positions of power to periods in the political wilderness, the party's chances of a return to its glory days seem to rest with long-time leader Winston Peters. ...16 hours ago
- Bringing back Winston
From positions of pivotal power in governments to periods in the political wilderness, NZ First is the enigma of New Zealand politics. The party's chances of a return to its glory days seem to rest, as they always do, with its long-time leader Winston Peters. They're out, but they're not ...16 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 25 June
...16 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Thursday 24 June
...16 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 24 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...16 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 24 June
...16 hours ago - Memory Games: The boxer floored by the haka
Alexis Pritchard - the first New Zealand female boxer to win an Olympic bout, in London 2012 - recalls watching a swimming legend with her grandpa, being overwhelmed by the haka, and her message for boxer David Nyika, in the Memory Games Q&A with LockerRoom writers who've been to the Olympics. ...16 hours ago - Saving the mighty albatross
It's not too late to turn around the decline of our albatross populations, despite the multiple threats they face today. Ariel Micaiah-Heswall looks at how. Albatrosses are an amazing group of animals. They spend an incredible 84 percent of their lives soaring across the ocean, foraging and migrating thousands of ...16 hours ago - Covid outbreak either easy to contain or out of control
On the one hand, the ramifications of the Sydney Covid-19 case who visited Wellington should be easy to handle. On the other, the Delta variant could throw health officials for a loop, Marc Daalder writes. Analysis: New Zealand has dealt with Covid-19 outbreaks before and always succeeded in eliminating the virus. But the ...16 hours ago - How Laurel Hubbardâs road to Tokyo is forcing a rethink on what inclusivity really meansThe trans weightlifter’s inclusion in New Zealand’s Olympic team has generated debate about transgender athletes and sport. But it has led also to a global conversation about how we design our systems to be safe and inclusive, for everyone, writes Laura Walters.Kiwi weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is making global headlines after ...17 hours ago
- We, the children of Centrepoint, are breaking through the silenceAs Centrepoint once again becomes a focus of media attention, Dr Caroline Ansley, a survivor of the North Shore commune, asks why the work of grappling with its legacy continues to fall on those who suffered. The most recent cover article of North & South left a greasy, nauseated feeling in ...17 hours ago
- Wake up ministers â Covid doesn't sleep
âGo hard and go earlyâ has been a winning formula against Covid-19. But as the virus rears its head again, some mistakes are being made too many times, writes political editor Jo Moir. Journalists are familiar with the expression ânews knows no timeâ. The biggest stories and tips often come ...17 hours ago - Wake up ministers – Covid doesn't sleepAs Covid-19 rears its head again, some mistakes are being made too many times, ...17 hours ago
- Job market swings in favour of workers, with record listings
Job seekers are gaining power as closed borders shut migrants out of the employment market ...17 hours ago - Is the America's Cup price really too high?
There's a reason why governments for the past 30 years have funded and basked in national sports successes, writes Peter Dunne, and that's why the America's Cup won't necessarily end up offshore. ...17 hours ago - $5K Surrey-Newsroom writers residency open
Announcing the 2021 Surrey Hotel-Newsroom writers residency Calling all writers wanting the rare chance to sit down in privacy and comfort to work on their latest masterpiece. Applications open today, as of now, this very second, for the prestigious 2021 Surrey Hotel-Newsroom writers residency - with an added bonus of ...17 hours ago - China, Australia and NZ: 'Anxiety and a sense of danger'
Who is to blame for tensions between the Asian superpower and our neighbours, and what does it mean for us? ...17 hours ago - Covid infections in Fiji soar with record 279 cases â four deathsBy Timoci Vula in Suva Fiji has reported its highest daily total of positive covid-19 infections with 279 cases reported as of 8am today as the outbreak continues to soar. The ministry has also reported four deaths attributed to the virus. Health Secretary Dr James Fong announced these figures in ...23 hours ago
- NZâs capital moves to covid alert level 2 after Sydney tourist scareRNZ News The Wellington region moved to alert level 2 at 6pm today after an Australian tourist who visited the New Zealand capital on the weekend tested positive for covid-19 on his return to Sydney. Wellington, Wairarapa and KÄpiti Coast are now at alert level 2 until 11.59pm on Sunday ...23 hours ago
- Fiji records two covid deaths amid record 180 new casesBy Lice Movono, RNZ Pacific correspondent in Suva Fijiâs covid19 case count broke records again yesterday as medical authorities recorded another two deaths at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) in the capital Suva. Two men, a 68-year-old and a 42-year-old are the latest certified covid deaths. The CWM Hospital ...23 hours ago
- Bridging visas for three months granted to Tamil familySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Three members of the Biloela Tamil family have been given bridging visas for three months, which will allow the parents work and study rights. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has granted the visas to Nades and ...23 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sussan Ley and Terri Butler on the Great Barrier Reef being âin da...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The governmentâs response to the UNESCO recommendation that the Great Barrier Reef be listed as âin dangerâ was one of surprise and shock. The recommendation will be considered at UNESCOâs World Heritage Committee meeting next ...1 day ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis â Excess Deaths by Age Cohort: New Zealand and comparator countriesAnalysis by Keith Rankin. New Zealand, concerns for all age groups. Chart by Keith Rankin. The international source for these data calculates the percentage increase (decrease if negative) of deaths compared to ‘expected deaths’. There is a weakness in the data, in that ‘expected deaths’ is simply the average for ...1 day ago
- Vessels in international waters: Agencies to gain powers to stop, search, detainParliament has introduced a bill that gives agencies powers to stop any suspected serious criminal offending on ships in international waters. ...1 day ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: Why the Covid-19 delta strainâs weekend in Wellington is so seriousHow did we get here, why is the alert level change necessary, and could this all have been avoided?After several scares, it’s finally actually happened. The uber-infectious delta variant of Covid-19 has hitched a ride to Aotearoa. It’s come via a visitor from Sydney who took advantage of the trans-Tasman ...1 day ago
- Eight incredible moments from the new series of MatangireiaHeartbreak, scandal and intrigue are never far away in the new conversations with former Māori MPs. Leonie Hayden points to the highlights. Maybe it’s only ever possible to see the true humanity of politicians once they’ve left politics. Take away the campaigning, the party lines, the spin and the relentlessness of ...1 day ago
- Who is Wellingtonâs Next Top Mould-el?Wellington’s most mouldy flat is finally getting the recognition it deserves. A City for People shares the grand prize winner of Wellington’s Next Top Mould-el, plus spot prizes. Mushrooms, perma-soggy floors, and mummified rats: the biodiversity of our capital city’s “character”-filled rental homes has been flooding the inbox of A City ...1 day ago
- Charting New Zealand's vaccine rollout
How many people have been vaccinated in New Zealand? How does that stack up with the rest of the world? Newsroom presents a weekly dashboard of everything you need to know about our country's vaccine rollout. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var e in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+e)||document.querySelector("iframe[src*='"+e+"']");t&&(t.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][e]+"px")}}))}(); In the past week, New Zealand ...1 day ago - The case for a Tasmanian AFL team, from an economistâs point of viewSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney No one did a cost-benefit analysis before accepting Tasmania into the Commonwealth. Should the Australian Football League do the same? Tasmanians have pushed for their own AFL team since the 1980s, ...1 day ago
- What is the âunified protocolâ for PTSD? And how can it help?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Berle, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, University of Technology Sydney ChameleonsEye/www.shutterstock.com Many of us experience at least one potentially traumatic event in our lifetime. These can include accidents, natural disasters, exposure to war and combat, or physical and sexual ...1 day ago
- A lone tree makes it easier for birds and bees to navigate farmland, like a stepping stone between h...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carla Archibald, Research Fellow, Conservation Science, Deakin University Shutterstock Vast, treeless paddocks and fields can be dangerous for wildlife, who encounter them as âroadblocksâ between natural areas nearby. But our new research found even one lone tree in an otherwise ...1 day ago
- What is COVAX-19, the most advanced of Australiaâs remaining local COVID vaccine candidates?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Griffin, Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Queensland David Mariuz/AAP Australiaâs current crop of COVID-19 vaccines consists of a shot by American biotechnology company Pfizer, which we import, and the vaccine by British-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca, the ...1 day ago
- Seymour nettles the PM with questions about EVs, âfeebateâ, the Auckland cycle bridge and the di...Parliament,  mostly a humdrum affair these days, nevertheless has moments which fascinate   long-time aficinados. One such moment came at Question Time yesterday when ACTâs David Seymour  was probing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over  the âfeebateâ scheme which the government is introducing to accelerate the introduction of EVs. The Prime Minister ...1 day ago
- Bus Operator Surprised At Rejection Of Latest Pay OfferNZ Bus says it is surprised at the rejection of its latest pay offer to Wellington bus drivers. The revised offer was developed with help from Greater Wellington Regional Council and recommended to drivers by the Tramways Union. âThe decision is a surprise ...1 day ago
- Maniapoto Deed Of Settlement Ready For Iwi RatificationThe Maniapoto MÄori Trust Board (MMTB) have reached the final step in resolving their historical Treaty of Waitangi claims. Maniapoto whÄnau are now encouraged to support the process by voting on and accepting the Maniapoto Deed of Settlement ...1 day ago
- Why New Zealand is more vulnerable to a new COVID-19 outbreak than ever beforeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hobbs, Senior Lecturer in Public Health, University of Canterbury Sydney’s community outbreak of COVID-19 has been dominated by the delta variant. Bai Xuefei/Xinhua via Getty Images Health authorities have raised the COVID-19 alert to level 2 for Wellington, from 6pm today ...1 day ago
LOL!
The elf thing is always good for silliness. Cf. this digital mock-up of a poster my mate Hemi doctored in 1996 or so: http://feayn.org/~lewis/elf.jpg
L
Ha
that is the best ever thing on the interwebs.
this is also pretty damn funny http://www.mspaintadventures.com/
I don’t often laugh out loud – my wife thinks I’m doing something strange and nasty – thank you
Poor Eric Carmen. First they give a South Park character a name so close to his, and now this. “Boats Against the Current” still nestles somewhere in my vinyl collection.
Lew: That’s gold. Finally something to hurl at pretentious Nirvana fans!!
Captcha: line-item smaller. It’s channelling John Key!!!
Too damn funny. At least you can sleep now…
heh.. I enjoyed that.
That song’s never going to be the same!
NX: That song’s never going to be the same!
Yep, it’s going to be infinitely more enjoyable from today on. Nice one ayb.
Glad you enjoyed it đ
heh – good, but not as good as the Karl Rove animated rap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0JasZkxCkk&feature=related