Open mike 05/06/2020
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- Additional MIQ for ChristchurchAn additional hotel will be added to our network of managed isolation and quarantine facilities, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “I have approved and Cabinet is in the final stages of signing off The Quality Hotel Elms in Christchurch as a new managed isolation facility,” Chris Hipkins said. ...2 days ago
- NZ COVID-19 response earns another major digital investmentMinister for the Digital Economy and Communications Dr David Clark welcomes Amazon’s Web Services’ (AWS) decision to establish a Cloud Region on New Zealand shores, further boosting New Zealand’s growing digital sector, and providing a vote of confidence in the direction of New Zealand’s economic recovery. “Amazon is the second ...3 days ago
- New Zealand invests in cutting edge cancer R&DScaling up the manufacture of CAR T-cell cancer therapy for clinical trials Advancing New Zealand’s biomedical manufacturing capability Supporting future international scientific collaborations Transforming cancer care with targeted, affordable solutions Research, Science and Innovation Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods has announced that the fight against COVID-19 will not stop the ...3 days ago
- Expert group appointed to lead New Zealand’s future health systemAn outstanding group of people with extensive and wide-ranging governance and health experience have been appointed to lead the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “This Government is building a truly national health system to provide consistent, high-quality health services right across the country. This ...3 days ago
- Funding to help clean up contaminated sitesThe Government is supporting the clean-up of contaminated sites in Northland, Dunedin and Southland to reduce risk to people’s health and protect the environment. Environment Minister David Parker said the funding announced today, through the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund, will help us turn previously hazardous sites into safe, usable public ...3 days ago
- Predator Free apprenticeships open up new job opportunitiesThe expansion of a predator free apprenticeship programme is an opportunity for more people to kick-start a conservation career, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Predator Free Apprenticeship Programme is focused on increasing the number of skilled predator control operators in New Zealand through a two-year training programme. “The Trust ...3 days ago
- Further NCEA support confirmed for Auckland studentsThe number of Learning Recognition Credits for senior secondary school students will be increased for Auckland students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. This recognises the extended time these students will spend in Alert Levels 3 and 4. “It means students in Auckland will have a fair opportunity to attain ...3 days ago
- Long-term pathway next step to better mental wellbeing for New ZealandersThe Government is taking a new approach to support people who experience mental distress, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Kia Manawanui Aotearoa – Long-term pathway to mental wellbeing (Kia Manawanui) is the first 10-year plan of its kind that targets the cause of mental distress and also sets out how ...4 days ago
- Keeping our Police safe to keep our communities safeThe Government is committed to keeping our frontline police officers safe, so they in turn can keep New Zealanders safe – with one of the largest investments in frontline safety announced by Police Minister Poto Williams at the Police College today. The $45 million investment includes $15.496 million in ...4 days ago
- Clean Vehicles Bill passes first checkpointThe Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill will help New Zealand drive down transport emissions by cleaning up the light vehicle fleet, Transport Minister Michael Wood says. The Bill passed its first reading today and will establish the legislative framework for key parts of the Government’s Clean Car Package, including ...4 days ago
- Funding boost supports ongoing Māori COVID-19 responseThe Government is responding to the need by whānau Māori and Māori Health providers to support their ongoing work responding to COVID-19 and to continue increasing rates of Māori vaccination, Associate Minister for Health (Māori Health), Peeni Henare and Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. This increased ...4 days ago
- Significant increase to COVID-19 penaltiesPenalties for breaches of COVID-19 orders are set to significantly increase from early November 2021 to better reflect the seriousness of any behaviour that threatens New Zealand’s response to the virus, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Throughout this Delta outbreak we’ve seen the overwhelming majority of people doing ...4 days ago
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill returns to ParliamentThe Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill has returned to Parliament for its second reading in an important step towards giving enforcement agencies greater power to protect New Zealanders from terrorist activity. “The Bill addresses longstanding gaps in our counter terrorism legislation that seek to protect New Zealanders and make us safer,” Justice ...5 days ago
- Joint Statement: New Zealand and Australian Trade MinistersHon Damien O'Connor MP, New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth, and Hon Dan Tehan MP, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, met virtually on Monday 20 September to advance trans-Tasman cooperation under the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER). CER is one of the most ...5 days ago
- Prime Minister’s Post Cabinet Press Conference/COVID-19 Update opening statement***Please check against delivery*** E te tī, e te tā, nau mai rā [To all, I bid you welcome] As you will have seen earlier, today there are 22 new community cases to report; three of which are in Whakatiwai in the Hauraki area, and the remainder in ...5 days ago
- Major milestones for Māori COVID-19 vaccine rollout as new campaign launchesWhānau Ora and Associate Health (Māori Health) Minister Peeni Henare acknowledges two major milestones in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for Māori. “I am very pleased to announce more than 50 percent of eligible Māori have received their first dose and 25 per cent are now fully vaccinated,” ...6 days ago
- Government funding to fight infectious diseases$36 million for research into Covid-19 and other infectious diseases The investment will improve our readiness for future pandemics Research will focus on prevention, control, and management of infectious diseases The Government’s investing in a new Infectious Diseases Research Platform to boost Aotearoa New Zealand’s Covid-19 response and preparedness for ...6 days ago
- Quarantine-free travel with Australia to remain suspended for a further 8 weeksSuspension to be reviewed again mid to late November Decision brought forward to enable access from Australia to first tranche of around 3000 rooms in MIQ Air New Zealand working at pace to put on more flights from Australia from October The suspension of quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia has ...1 week ago
- Extra support for Ethnic Communities to share vaccination informationExtra support is being made available to Ethnic Communities to help them share COVID-19 vaccination information within their communities, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan said. “We know we need to get every eligible person in New Zealand vaccinated. A fund being launched today will allow for ...1 week ago
- School holidays remain unchanged for Auckland regionSchool holidays in Auckland will continue to be held at the same time as the rest of the country, starting from Saturday, 2 October, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “I’ve carefully considered advice on the implications of shifting the dates and concluded that on balance, maintaining the status quo ...1 week ago
- Government continues crackdown on gangs and organised crimeOperation Tauwhiro extended until March 2022 Since it was launched in February, Operation Tauwhiro has resulted in: 987 firearms seized $4.99 million in cash seized 865 people charged with a firearms-related offence Gangs and organised crime groups will continue to be relentlessly targeted with the extension of Police’s successful ...1 week ago
- Speech to Body Positive 'HIV Treatments Update Seminar 2021'E ngā mana E ngā reo E ngā iwi Tēnā koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēnā koutou. He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei I raro I te kaupapa o te rā. Nō reira tēnā koutou katoa Acknowledgements It’s a ...1 week ago
- Power bill changes bring fairness to chargesA key recommendation of an independent panel to make electricity charges fairer across all households will be put in place, the Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has announced. “Phasing out the regulations on ‘low-use’ electricity plans will create a fairer playing field for all New Zealanders and encourage a ...1 week ago
- NZ economy’s strong momentum will support rebound from Delta outbreak; COVID fund replenishedThe economy showed strong momentum in the period leading up to the recent Delta COVID-19 outbreak, which bodes well for a solid economic rebound, Grant Robertson said. GDP rose 2.8 percent in the June quarter, following on from a 1.4 percent increase in the previous March quarter. This was a ...1 week ago
- Projects create benefits into the futureMaking a well-known lake swimmable and helping to halt the decline of the endangered hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins are among a suite of new projects being supported by the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme across the southern South Island, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “It’s no secret that many of our most ...1 week ago
- Opening statement for Whāriki Indigenous Small Business RoundtableKei ngā tōpito e wha o te āo e rere ana te mihi maioha ki a koutou nō tawhiti, nō tata mai e tāpiri ana ki tēnei taumata kōrero mo te ao hokohoko arā mā ngā pākihi mo ngā iwi taketake Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa – Pai Mārire. ...1 week ago
- New members appointed to KāpuiaThe Government is adding four additional members to Kāpuia, the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “I’m looking forward to having Pamela MacNeill, Huia Bramley, Melani Anae and Katherine Dedo join Kāpuia and contribute to this group’s ...1 week ago
- Timeline confirmed for Emissions Reductions PlanCabinet has agreed to begin consulting on the Emissions Reduction Plan in early October and require that the final plan be released by the end of May next year in line with the 2022 Budget, the Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw confirmed today. “Cabinet’s decision allows organisations and communities ...1 week ago
- Pay parity pathway for early learning teachers confirmedPay parity conditions and higher funding rates for education and care services will come into force on 1 January, 2022, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government signalled this work in Budget 2021. “From 1 January, 2022, centres opting into the scheme will receive government funding and be ...1 week ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Conference 2021Kia Ora tatau katoa. Ka tuku mihi ki nga nēhi, He pou Hauora o Aotearoa, E ora ai tatou. Whakatau mai I runga i te kaupapa o te ra Te NZNO conference. Tena koutou tena koutou Tena tatou katoa Good morning, and thank you inviting me ...2 weeks ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Is the Wage Subsidy still transferring massive wealth to the ric...
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Over $15 billion dollars has been transferred to businesses by the Government via the Wage Subsidy Scheme since Covid hit in 2020. The scheme has turned out to be effective at both keeping businesses afloat and enriching the already wealthy. Now ...13 hours ago - Scotty Stevenson: Love, rugby, and the story of my family
Ahead of tonight’s hundredth Test between the New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa’s Springboks, Scotty Stevenson reaches deep into his own family history, within which the two nations and their personalities are deeply entwined. This essay was first published in Dylan Cleaver’s newsletter The Bounce. Subscribe here.There will be ...13 hours ago - China’s problems in property are a difficulty for everyone
As China’s most indebted property developer Evergrande hovers on the brink, the question is where the government will draw the line on support for the firm – and for the financial system. Markets are nervous but the consensus seems to be that while an example may be made of ...16 hours ago - Live updates, September 25: Is Auckland’s delta outbreak coming under control?Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for Saturday September 25, by Toby Manhire. Get in touch on info@thespinoff.co.nzThanks for your company today. All our coverage of the Covid response is made possible thanks to Members’ contributions. Help keep the show on the road by joining today.The day (and night) aheadThere ...17 hours ago
- How build-to-rent can help ease New Zealand’s housing woesA glimpse into a brighter future for New Zealand’s lifelong renters.While New Zealand’s build-to-rent market remains in its infancy, a leader in property development believes a significant opportunity exists with the emerging asset class to provide better quality rentals on terms friendly to both tenants and landlords.New Ground Capital managing ...17 hours ago
- Just how far can kindness travel?
Are Kiwis capable of caring about people in low-income countries when we have pressing social problems in our own backyard? The University of Auckland's Dr Nikki Turner speaks to UNICEF Aotearoa about the impacts of the pandemic, and why vaccination coverage is critical wherever you live. Doctor Nikki Turner is a fast ...18 hours ago - Short story: The Big Game, by AP Gaskell
Ahead of tonight's All Blacks vs Springboks match, we reprint the greatest rugby short story of all times, from 1947 The football match at Carisbrook was over. Dusk was already falling, and during the last part of the game the flight of the ball and even the movements of ...18 hours ago - Dodgy tickets, huge mark-ups – what is Viagogo really up to?Offshore touts are trying to flog off expensive tickets to concerts all over New Zealand. And sometimes those tickets may not even exist. What can be done to stop it?Adam Webb is hovering over his keyboard, frantically searching for information. He has multiple internet tabs open and fake credit cards ...19 hours ago
- Learning to teach teens in a pandemicFrom refereeing shots at the rubbish bin to instructing from his mum’s lounge, a new teacher looks back on his first year.Between the wild passions and imbalances of puberty, the so often uninspired curriculum, the leaky (if not mouldy) buildings and toxic political discourse that pollutes education, learning to teach ...19 hours ago
- New Tall Fern Taia has Dad close at hand
A huge few weeks for basketballer Ashley Taia will be capped off by wearing the Tall Ferns singlet for the first time in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup. Ashley Taia knows her “biggest fan” – her late dad – will be watching over her when she makes her debut for the Tall ...19 hours ago - View from The Hill: Barnaby Joyce falls (sort of) into step for the ‘net zero’ marchSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Lukas Coch/AAP The Coalition brigade is assembling, readying for the final march to a place it once regarded as enemy territory and poisoned ground, too dangerous to approach. Josh Frydenberg waved the flag ...1 day ago
- Travellers grounded after surprise Covid rule change
Air New Zealand and people hoping to fly back into Auckland this morning were blindsided - and stranded - by a new rule that came in at midnight last night After six weeks down in Queenstown waiting out Auckland’s lockdown, it was finally time for John Gosney to come ...1 day ago - Mayor Meets With Ministers Over Three Waters Reform Proposal
This week Mayor Rehette Stoltz met with Ministers, including the Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta to discuss the Three Waters reform proposal. Government is proposing to move the management of the three waters away from individual Councils ...1 day ago - New Zealand Red Meat Sector Welcomes Chinese Taipei’s CPTPP Membership ApplicationThe Meat Industry Association (MIA) and Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) welcome Chinese Taipei’s formal application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Sam McIvor, chief executive of Beef + Lamb NZ said the ...1 day ago
- NZ kiwifruit reportedly tests positive for Covid in China
A Covid scare with Kiwi produce imported into China could have repercussions for New Zealand exporters Chinese officials say a batch of New Zealand kiwifruit imported into the country has tested positive for Covid-19, in news which could concern Kiwi exporters wary of any clampdown. The CCP-owned Global Times reported ...1 day ago - Week in Politics: Auckland moves down, doubt cast on elimination strategy
Analysis - Critics accuse the government of giving up on its elimination strategy and Speaker Trevor Mallard's move to stop unvaccinated people entering Parliament's precinct raises debate. ...1 day ago - The Friday Poem: Young Adult Success Stories, by Erik KennedyA new poem from Christchurch poet Erik Kennedy.Young Adult Success StoriesThis fantastic article outlines how, at the tender age of twenty-two, Brad got seed money for his underwear delivery start-up and bought a Bugatti. What an amazing tale of industry and sticktoitiveness. How did he do it? Ah, yes, it’s ...1 day ago
- Most 2019 Budget mental health intiatives on track – reviewDeputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said a stocktake of the $1.9 billion mental health package found strong progress had been made since its announcement. ...1 day ago
- Wenda blames nurse’s death on Indonesian military crackdown for Papuan mining, palm oilAsia Pacific Report newsdesk The United Liberation Movement of West Papua has blamed the Indonesian military over the attack at a hospital in Kiwirok, near the Papua New Guinean border, in which a nurse was killed. Interim president Benny Wenda of the ULMWP has issued a statement in response to ...1 day ago
- Taliban ‘journalism rules’ open way to censorship, persecution, warns RSFAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it is very disturbed by the “11 journalism rules” that the Taliban announced at a meeting with news media on September 19. The rules that Afghan journalists will now have to implement are vaguely worded, dangerous and liable to be used ...1 day ago
- Covid deaths soar in New Caledonian crisis – 16 in one dayRNZ Pacific New Caledonia recorded 16 covid-19 deaths yesterday — the highest single day total since the delta strain of the virus arrived in the territory less than three weeks ago. A spokesperson for the territorial government, Gilbert Tyuienon, said the archipelago “is going through a crisis never seen in ...1 day ago
- Auckland mayor Goff makes ‘roll up your sleeves – take covid jab’ pleaAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has appealed to the 1.7 million people in the city to “roll up your sleeves” and get vaccinated immediately to help New Zealand cope better with the covid-19 pandemic. Writing in The New Zealand Herald today to back the newspaper’s 90% Project ...1 day ago
- New Amazon data centres risk unbalancing NZ's fragile electricity network
At risk of being churlish, we say Amazon Web Services must invest not just in jobs but also in utility-scale renewable energy ...1 day ago - ‘Don’t be a dick’: Nigel Latta’s advice for surviving Covid while stuck at homeProperty investors at this year’s virtual Property Conference probed the psychologist on all things Covid and working from home. Reweti Kohere listened in as the keynote speaker responded with some home truths.Working from home is a thing now, an acceptable way these days to clock in and out of one’s ...1 day ago
- Court Ruling A Victory For Common SenseGreat news and a victory for common sense and for people seeking abortion services. That's the response from Family Planning to a High Court decision today where a group of health professionals opposed to abortion have lost a court case over whether their ...1 day ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on AUKUS fallout and the government moving to net zeroSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professional Fellow Michelle Grattan alongside University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. This week the pair discuss the announcement of the AUKUS, in particular the reaction ...1 day ago
- Mahuta spurns call from civic leaders to go with the flow – and go slow – with contentious Three...
A press statement we received from Nanaia Mahuta, speaking as Minister of Foreign Affairs, dealt with the findings of an independent review into New Zealand’s export controls system, which regulates the export of goods to foreign militaries, police forces or paramilitaries. Produced by David Smol, a former Chief Executive of ...1 day ago - Covid-19 briefing: Upper Hauraki to move to alert level 2The Upper Hauraki area will join most of New Zealand in alert level 2 after no further positive results, the deputy prime minister has confirmed. Watch the government's latest Covid-19 briefing here. ...1 day ago
- Meet the Pacific social services helping keep the team of five million safeWhen the latest lockdown became much more than a health crisis for many South Auckland families, it was their local, Pacific-led social services that stepped up to help. Patricia Tosogu is beaming with relief as she stands in the doorway of her new temporary home in Ōtāhuhu, while the sounds ...1 day ago
- Two governments claim to run Myanmar. So, who gets the country’s seat at the UN?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, University of South Australia As world leaders have gathered for the UN General Assembly in New York this week, there has been uncertainty over who should be representing Myanmar. Since a coup on February 1, Myanmar’s military ...1 day ago
- Building trust with migrant and refugee communities is crucial for public health measures to workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Devaki Monani, Lecturer, Social Work, Charles Darwin University Shutterstock During COVID-19 we’ve seen racism and discrimination against migrant and refugee communities erode trust between them and authorities.So as the Delta variant spreads, we must find ways ...1 day ago
- Our air defences are down – only some RNZAF aircraft can reach for the sky as Orions are retired
There are sad faces around Whenuapai today as the RNZAF retires the first of its five Lockheed Orions. The aircraft is flying to Woodbourne for breaking and parting – essentially for spares. The Orions came into service in 1966 and have become a familiar presence in the south Pacific, saving ...1 day ago- Bernard Hickey: Fashion’s greenwashing problem and how to see through it
It’s getting increasingly tough to buy clothing that isn’t the result of practices that exploit both workers and the environment. Bernard Hickey talks to the founder of a local tech start-up that wants to help consumers all over the world make better choices.Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, ...1 day ago- The Spinoff Covid tracker: 20 live graphs that tell the story of delta in Aotearoa
Everything you need to know about how the Covid-19 pandemic is tracking in New Zealand, through regularly updated data visualisations.The Spinoff Covid tracker brings together all the relevant Covid data – cases, tests, vaccination and mobility – in one place.The aim of this page is to show the numbers in ...1 day ago- Watch live: Grant Robertson and Dr Caroline McElnay give an update on the current Covid-19 outbreak
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay are providing an update on the current Covid-19 outbreak. ...1 day ago- Facebook livestreams of PM’s 1pm update swarmed by anti-vax misinformation
The benefits of reaching the wider audience outweigh the risk of damage, says Ardern.The daily 1pm updates have become the central set-piece of New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 crisis. Among the popular live streams of these Beehive briefings is that on the prime minister’s own Facebook page. Yesterday’s, for ...1 day ago- Carterton District Council Responds To Three Waters Reform Proposal
Carterton District Council is preparing to submit its response to the Government’s Three Waters Reform proposals on 1 October. Chief executive Geoff Hamilton has written a draft letter to be sent to the Department of Internal Affairs on behalf of the ...1 day ago- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending September 24
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.Auckland only had one day back in action before we came nagging for sales figures, which seems a ...1 day ago- $62 Million Dubai Pavilion Is Insulting Extravagance
NZTE’s $62 million pavilion unveiled today in Dubai is an unseemly extravagance during a pandemic, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “NZTE has completely misread the room by proceeding with the Dubai ...2 days ago- Soft Penalty For Council Fraudsters Shows Law Change Needed
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for increased penalties for defrauding public bodies after two men stole $178,365 from Hurunui District Council using false invoices . “Stealing $178,000 from ratepayers ought to land you in jail, not home ...2 days ago- Government proposes tougher safety rules for adventure activity operators
The government wants to bring in tougher safety rules for adventure activity operators, in response to the deadly 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption. ...2 days ago- Letter to the Editor – MIQ
Dear Government Stop thanking me for doing my bit as an Aucklander. Why wouldn’t I? Stop celebrating the vaccination statistics when we could have been ahead of the game if you had just agreed to pay the asking price for the Pfizer vaccine way back ...2 days ago- Keith Rankin Data Analysis – Table of Excess Deaths from Covid19
Data and Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. The table below uses raw-death data published downloaded from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/excess-mortality-raw-death-count to predict what death numbers would have occurred in 2020 and 2021 had there been no Covid19 pandemic. The actual death numbers are compared with the predicted (counterfactual) numbers to calculated excess ...2 days ago- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 24 2021
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content Modelling dispute, Govt Covid strategy RNZ: Modeller stands ...2 days ago- Late Pay Parity Red Tape Could See Teachers Miss Out On Pay Rise
70% of surveyed providers won’t opt in to the government’s Pay Parity offer after months of waiting, meaning teachers could miss out on the pay increase promised by the Minister of Education. “Providers were promised Pay Parity progress and ...2 days ago- Medical Groups Should Canvass Members On ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban
Family First NZ is calling on the NZMA and the Pediatric Society to canvass its members after more than a quarter of doctors in the UK said that they did not support the British Medical Association (BMA) lobbying to ban ‘conversion therapy’. Both ...2 days ago- Super Fund money in blacklisted China firms criticised
Pension funds and institutional investors' talk about responsible investing is not being backed up when it comes to China, an international NGO says A new report has raised concerns about the Super Fund’s investments in Chinese companies blacklisted for their role in human rights abuses, saying pension funds should not ...2 days ago- Beyond 90% – the graphs that tell the story of our vaccination challenges
A vaccination rate of nine out of every 10 eligible New Zealanders is a great headline number. But it can also be deceptive. The Spinoff’s head of data Harkanwal Singh explains.This work is only possible thanks to Spinoff Members. To support more important data journalism on the Spinoff, join now. Today ...2 days ago- Surge In Imports Results In Record Monthly Trade Deficit
Imports increased $1.8 billion in August 2021 compared with August 2020, resulting in a record monthly trade deficit of $2.1 billion, Stats NZ said today. Exports were little changed, down $42 million. "This is a larger deficit than normal because ...2 days ago- New Zealand to donate more Covid-19 vaccines to the Pacific
New Zealand is donating more Covid-19 vaccines to the Pacific and to the Covax initiative which supports global equitable access to vaccines. ...2 days ago- New Zealand Government Eases COVID-19 Lockdown In Auckland
Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 23 September 2021, original url https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/09/23/auck-s23.html On Wednesday the lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, was eased from “alert level 4” to “level 3,” despite new cases of the highly infectious ...2 days ago- Surge In Imports Results In Record Monthly Trade Deficit
Imports increased $1.8 billion in August 2021 compared with August 2020, resulting in a record monthly trade deficit of $2.1 billion, Stats NZ said today. Exports were little changed, down $42 million. "This is a larger deficit than normal because ...2 days ago- Mayor: Reports, Public Opinion Cast Further Doubt On Three Waters Reform
Two new reports received by Timaru District Council show that case for Three Waters Reform isn’t as compelling as the Government claims, and a significant majority of the community polled also aren’t convinced. Councillors considering their official ...2 days ago- Government agreed to subsidise MIQ costs for international sports stars
The government agreed to subsidise international sports stars' managed isolation and quarantine bills last year - paying hundreds of thousands of dollars per team. ...2 days ago- Angela Merkel’s career shows why we need more scientists in politics
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Johnston, Professor and Dean of Science, UNSW For 16 years, German chancellor Angela Merkel has guided her country through wave after wave of uncertainty, from the 2008 global financial crisis to Brexit, the imperative to drop fossil fuels, and of course ...2 days ago- On the eve of an AFLM grand final like no other, can the shadow of the pandemic make us strive for s...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Klugman, Research Fellow, Institute for Health & Sport, member of the Community, Identity and Displacement Research Network, and Co-convenor of the Olympic Research Network, Victoria University On the last Saturday of September every year many of the inhabitants of Melbourne, and ...2 days ago- Tom Wills’ story is the AFL’s opportunity for truth telling about its ugly history
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jess Coyle, Lecturer, Sports Management, Western Sydney University This article discusses colonial violence against First Nations peoples. There is reference to people who are now deceased. There has been a new revelation by researcher Gary Fearon that cricketer and founding father ...2 days ago- German election: the race to replace Angela Merkel and why it matters to New Zealand
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Doidge, Senior Research Fellow, University of Canterbury Shutterstock From a distance, the big news about Germany’s coming election on September 26 is the end of Angela Merkel’s reign after 16 years of leadership in Germany and Europe. Closer up, ...2 days ago- New preliminary evidence suggests coronavirus jumped from animals to humans multiple times
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hamish McCallum, Director, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University The origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, has been hotly debated. This debate has caused substantial difficulties in the Australia-China relationship, with a call by ...2 days ago- Live updates, September 24: TPM modelling criticised for causing ‘unnecessary fear’
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 23, by Alice Neville. 8.00am: TPM modelling criticised for stoking ‘unnecessary fear’Economic modeller Rodney Jones has continued his criticism of Te Pūnaha Matatini’s modelling of the future of New Zealand’s Covid response, which was presented by Shaun Hendy at yesterday’s 1pm government briefing. ...2 days ago- The sun’s shining and snakes are emerging, but they’re not out to get you. Here’s what they’...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy N. W. Jackson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Venom Research Unit, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock It’s early spring in southern Australia and the sun is, gloriously, out. You decide to head to your local patch of greenery – by ...2 days ago- Vital Signs: a simple way to cut carbon emissions — don’t let polluters hide
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Shutterstock World leaders and about 30,000 others from assorted interest groups will converge on Glasgow in November for the United Nations’ 26th annual climate summit, COP26 (“Conference of the Parties”). It will be five ...2 days ago- Hidden women of history: Annie Lock was a bolshie, outspoken Australian missionary, full of contradi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Bishop, Postdoctoral Fellow, Macquarie University Missionary Annie Lock with Enbarda (Betsy) left, and Dolly Cumming, both children from the Alice Springs area in Central Australia. Photo taken in Darwin. National Archives of Australia Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander readers are ...2 days ago- What our vaccinated future could look like
Nearly everyone needs a jab to avoid more level four lockdowns, according to the government’s latest research, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.Vaccinations alone won’t be enough to control delta. Jacinda Ardern made the case for near universal vaccination rates yesterday as she unveiled new modelling from Te Pūnaha Matatini that ...2 days ago- NZ gives vaccine to islands – but needs help reaching its own Pacific peoples
The 712,000 doses are belated but welcome fulfilment of NZ's commitment to more vulnerable neighbouring nations, writes Jonathan Milne. Now NZ must address its own vaccine inequities. Analysis: When Pacific island nations distribute the vaccine to teenagers, the messaging is a little different to that in New Zealand. No, the vaccine will not change ...2 days ago- Covid-19 vaccination campaign needs to move away from 'one-size-fits-all' approach
Businesses are launching their own vaccination campaigns to reach people they say are being overlooked by the government's messaging. ...2 days ago- Covid-19 vaccination programme moving away from 'one-size-fits-all' approach
Businesses are launching their own vaccination campaigns to reach people they say are being overlooked by the government's messaging. ...2 days ago- Five prickly questions: The legal minefield around work and vaccines
Businesses are struggling with what to do around Covid vaccinations in the workforce, with oft-conflicting legislation and little clarity from Government. ...2 days ago- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 24 September
2 days ago- Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 24 September
2 days ago- What is rapid testing and when is it coming to New Zealand?
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Torture, well I suppose you have to expect it when you expose war crimes. This is ugly use of power by the US government
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/05/14/american-sheldon-adelsons-us-spy-julian-assange/
and it's looking more and more like those show trials they put on the third world or the former soviet union.
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/05/29/british-court-assanges-physical-deterioration/
Mind you, if they keep treating him like crap they may get their wish, and he will die.
Just remember don't speak out, stay at home and do nothing, obey your masters they know best. Nothing to see here, scroll on.
Thanks for posting, Adam.
An informative read, first thing in the morning, but an important one.
I can only think of this as the true state of American politics and interference being exposed. Disturbingly, it also exposes the true state of the 'free' press and journalism, in how it has been reported.
Or just speaking out can be quite dangerous for some
https://prachatai.com/english/node/8561
So it goes
Thanks for posting, Adam.
An informative read, first thing in the morning, but an important one.
I can only think of this as the true state of American politics and interference being exposed. Disturbingly, it also exposes the true state of the 'free' press and journalism, in how it has been reported.
Damn. Can someone delete this? Meant to reply to adam on 1.
I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, first thing in the morning, either.
… if it was only the morning…
Poor Dunc. He was blubbering into his microphone again this morning about the state of the National Party.
And look, he's taken to quoting David Farrar's new paywalled polling and research data. That is a cosy relationship.
Remember, Farrar is in the Simon Bridges camp and will have been devastated by the change of leadership.
He and Garner have thrown in the towel and are now actively reducing public expectation for National’s performance in September.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/opinion-how-is-mr-nothing-to-see-here-todd-muller-going-to-beat-jacinda-ardern.html
That is a really poor piece of writing. I wouldn't publish it in a school magazine. It's not even writing, it's a talkback call full of cliches.
Basic factual errors too. In no way is Muller "liberal". His voting record is 100% conservative. But Duncan Garner is too lazy and/or stupid to check or care.
That's what I thought Observer, I feel dumber after reading that. He got to mention that Labour are useless though, but yes what an utterly pointless piece, glad I didn't pay for that!
Old goat puts "sanctity of contracts" above wellbeing of small businesses in a global emergency. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/418254/new-zealand-first-flexes-coalition-muscles-over-commercial-rent-deal
On undermining govt. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/418328/week-in-politics-ardern-under-pressure-as-peters-fuels-opposition-attacks
This government needs hard political critique because it's not getting any from the Opposition.
Winston is pretty good at it.
Winston is treading a very fine line. He and Jones have had a pretty cushy number as a part of this government, but the patience of the government and the voters may wear a bit thin if he's not careful. Maybe it's time to call his bluff. Get with it or get out.
Meh.
It's just election season.
At 2.3% even old Lazarus the Liquid-Pickled Lizard is staring deep into the FInal Goodbye.
They'll try anything now.
and Smoked …
Haha. Very good.
Police haven't been making too flash a job of recording armed response callout info apparently. Apparently there aren't going to be cameras on fishing boats as a matter of course for a fair old while. Just as well we have a dynamic, inspiring minister of police and an honest reliable minister of fisheries to get this shit sorted.
Not much of a 'trial' when they refuse to collect data. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/418308/armed-response-teams-trial-bizarre-holes-in-callout-data
Might have been too busy changing their undies.
Pretty chilling – and not recording guns at traffic stops. Well what's the new commissioner going to do? This just reinforces the "police are out of control & don't think they have to answer to anyone"
Completely unacceptable..and not terribly 'kind'…luckily it happened in neighbourhoods that the nations Media and Politicians are collectively pretending can't really be helped..meantime..lets all look over at American racism and inequality as practiced by the police with the silent co operation of the political class..and tut loudly..incidentaly ..the Waikato Police have a nice image on their fb geared up and armed..time better spent doing the paperwork maybe
Latest UMR not good for Muller…
In the NZ Herald report on the poll, this is the bit that really tells:
"It is understood National's caucus is yet to be shown any of the National Party's internal polling by Curia since the leadership change. Two sets of polling will have been delivered since Muller took over on May 22."
Simon has taught you well, Todd.
Get polled, get rolled.
The armed response teams were disciplined enough to carry firearms all the time, but couldn't be arsed doing their basic paperwork.
What's the point of having a rigid pseudo-military hierarchy if you can't even make them use an app?
This isn't precision-like Germany you know. This is cowboy NZ, yeehah, chase 'em boy – faster.
14 – 0 – 1
Last community transmission was way back in late April.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/121727981/coronavirus-is-new-zealands-covid19-elimination-date-june-15
This strikes me as being very premature and very dumb .Not only assuming that international tourism will bounce back to pre Covid levels, but can also acommodate new tourism ventures
Really, time to take stock and get real .
"The party's leader, Todd Muller, pitched the policy at Coronet Peak in Queenstown, on Friday afternoon, saying tourism operators needed "direct cash support" and confidence the industry would rebound.
"Once the border re-opens we need to be ready to invite visitors back," he said, in a press statement.
The cash would not be provided to businesses to cover their usual costs, but would fund up to 70 per cent of new projects that would drive new demand for tourism."
What a weird policy? It looks like a straight cash giveaway to "wealthy people with a minimal business plan" to start developing something " model farm stays perhaps" and then when the tourists don't eventuate it can go bust and all the new assets pass into the hands of the provider of the business plan.
What rubbish – nor does it do anything to preserve existing tourist infrastructure. And when the overall tourist economic impact figures start coming in we may well find that a lot of the industry just simply wasn't worth having.
I also think that Nact are seriously overestimating the public appetite for admitting anybody that may be carrying covid.So the border is going to remain pretty shut for quite a while I expect.
Do I feel a lavender farm coming upon me???
What rubbish – nor does it do anything to preserve existing tourist infrastructure. And when the overall tourist economic impact figures start coming in we may well find that a lot of the industry just simply wasn't worth having.
This Radionz link seems to fit your concerns here RBCV. This chap explains in easy to understand language, the problems he is having over high rent, and intransigent landlord, which explains what many are experiencing. He said he couldn't achieve a fairer lease, it seems you had to take what you were given. This is actually an Act of God that no-one could envisage and though there are many trying to prove Chinese activity, it still is a completely unexpected worldwide event.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018749399/struggling-business-doubts-rent-arbitration-scheme-will-help
Yes, that is one of the biggest – if not the biggest issue of the businesses that will go out of business. They can't get out of their leases. And they don't need 'rent arbitration' they need a legal way to break their lease or dissolve it before they loose everything they own to a landlord who can't be bothered working with their tenants because they don't have to. How many bankrupted ex business people does the country need and can afford?
And will often have a personal guarantee, which is where the bankruptcy comes from – we need to ban those because they pierce the corporate veil.
"Do I feel a lavender farm coming upon me???"
That made me laugh!
The 'not so pretty communist' intends to throw other people's money at an exploitative sunset industry. Will Muller be able to get that past Winston if the unimaginable happens at election time since it hasn't got anything to do with horse racing of fishing?
That's a very cynical (funny) comment about Winston aom!
Sports Sponsorship and the pandemic.
It seems that some people do not quite get that New Zealand appears to have dodged a bullet through the expert management of the pandemic. They seem to think that everything will be back to normal before we know it.
It will be interesting to see how many prominent sponsors of sporting events who immediately laid off staff or who took the various subsidies available, will jump straight back into dealing out sponsorship for these sporting clubs and events.
The pandemic has really exposed the low quality of a large number of our upper private sector managers. Hands out for subsidies while they keep their own income up then utterly unrealistic decisions about the way forward.
Sorry
The link
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121734810/national-promises-100m-tourism-accelerator-fund-for-businesses-willing-to-grow-out-of-covid19-recession
Some fortunate proximity for NZ …
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/csl-pledges-manufacture-uq-covid-19-vaccine-if-successful-20200605-p54zs4.html
'CSL said it would use its allocation to supply Australians in the first instance and then look to its regional neighbours.
Biotech giant CSL will produce the first batches of the University of Queensland's COVID-19 vaccine if it is shown to work, with the company throwing funding support behind the vaccine's development and saying millions of doses could be available by 2021.'
Coordinated fuckery.
http://archive.li/7iy3O (wapo)
A wave of social media posts and images have claimed that pallets of bricks have been appearing near the locations of protests in cities all over the United States. This sparked rampant speculation that the bricks are part of a coordinated effort to incite violence as a way to entrap protesters and instigate chaos.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/investigating-bricks-at-protests
Washington (CNN)The White House posted and then deleted a tweet on Wednesday that falsely suggested a synagogue's rock-filled anti-terrorism barrier had been placed on the street by domestic terrorists.
The tweet featured a compilation of video clips from around the country in which people expressed suspicion of the presence of bricks or other objects on the streets. The tweet claimed that "Antifa and professional anarchists are invading our communities, staging bricks and weapons to instigate violence. These are acts of domestic terror."
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/03/politics/fact-check-white-house-rocks-bricks-antifa-synagogue-chabad/index.html
There was a bunch of "I've heard the rioters are carjacking white women" tweets for the last few days.
I hope the black women are claiming racism. I think only humour and ridicule can make any impact on the 'duh' mindset. There must be more Homers out there than I thought possible.
Perhaps this really is how USA people are:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJO2hRyefNs
check out Portlandia if you can, "put a bird on it" & "bicycle rights" & "where's my free range chicken come from?" & so many more…
piles of bricks are due to construction shutdowns for COVID
Racism is a tool of division. Remember the divide and conquer strategy of ancient battles?