Doesn’t really look like the US led sanctions on Russian are working out to well for the average citizen in Europe, in fact it is shaping up to be an unmitigated disaster for them…while, ironically, at the very same time, and as a direct result of those very same sanctions the Russians are making more money than they could have ever imagined…
….it almost seems like those sanctions were thought up, administered and enforced by a bunch of out of touch half-wits with about as much foresight as a bowl full of brain-dead goldfish…and yet we are told that this very same group of people are apparently the ‘leaders of the free world’…if that is true, then God help us.
As NZs first aerospace summit starts, the mean question is: why is NASA pushing ahead with Artemis after multiple decades out of the game, and the private sector long since taken over?
Same applies to the NZ government contribution to our industry.
To infinity and beyond surely no longer needs the taxpayer to shovel our cash into the engine.
These grand schemes are vanity projects for the deluded and distracted to maintain their grip on fantasy – that all is well, that man has very big brains, and our future is guaranteed via destiny, or divine grace, or some other methane provisioning PR offering.
Yes, humanity can multitask, but in an emergency surely resources should be put towards solving the emergency.
It's like solving flooding on your Te Puke property by booking a flight to Hawaii. You might put in a decent drain and some sandbags for the same price – but the holiday snaps would suffer.
Actually NASA want to put the first woman on the moon. The Artemis rocket exists for two reason. To leverage existing hardward and technology and because NASA is still the only orgnaisation which has an existing launch vehicle and the expertise to carry out lunar missions. For all his hot air Elon Musk's Starship hasn't even orbited the planet yet let alone had a crewed mission – putting his venture firmly in about where NASA was in around 1963.
With the emerging new cold war with China it is important to the United States that they have immediately available a proven launch vehicle capable of taking humans to the moon, and this time sustaining them there, before the Chinese do. Artemis is meant to bridge the gap between now and the possible chimera of private space launch vehicles.
As always, it is the government that will be doing the heavy lifting of proving technology and solving problems of lunar exploration and possible Mars missions on behalf of private corporations.
Agreed. Artemis, though huge and impressive, is looking like it's a big expensive lemon. Despite being essentially an uprated cannaballised space shuttle, NASA just can't get the thing to work.
And it's not even reusable, unlike what Spacex tries to do with their (even bigger) Starship.
Agreed. Misogyny in the first instance. After years of experience many women develop a sixth sense which tells them to avoid right wing parties because they seem to possess the majority of the cases.
From the RoyMorgan points, women are very strong that the country is going in the wrong direction, but still support Labour. That suggests that they support Labour not for its policies but because it has a female leader many women relate to. I don't see that as either a 'smart' thing or a 'misogynist' thing.
The thing we know logically about certain choices in polls is that they only make logical sense if their total probability adds up to 100%. The other thing we see about polls is that the choices selected by people can't possibly add up to 100%.
My take on Roy Morgan: Labour support holding up well. Still too close to call for the main parties. Greens and ACT are both holding steady – with very little individual fluctuation over the year (1-2% up and down around the 10% mark is well within the margin of error).
TPM seems to be very variable throughout the year, especially with the different polls (RM have given significantly higher percentages than other polls over the last two polling cycles). It may be that (as is typical for small percentages) the results just aren't as reliable. It may be that the methodology of some of the pollsters is better at sampling the potential TPM vote. It may be that their support levels are actually fluctuating quite a bit (these tend to firm up more as you get closer to an election).
Labour will be worried by the continued fall in the government confidence rating and the 'heading in the right direction' numbers. Though the slight rise in the consumer confidence one, may give them cause to be hopeful that the trends may turn around.
Based on the trends It looks like the right has hit their polling limits with big suck off of support from Act to National, and a lesser pull of support from Other and Labour to National. But that Luxon honeymoon looks to be over. It is usually all downhill from there. As Labour can testify..
But I'd say that we've hit a steady state over the last few polls. Apart from the Maori party. That will be interesting if it persists.
The increased Maori party support is most likely from Labour and Other rather than the Greens. I have no idea why Ad would think that support goes from Greens to MP. Doesn't make much sense when you look at the demographics of Maori party support over the last 15 years. It is going to be interested in how that plays out.
However I'd think it would be highly unlikely for the Maori party to go into any coalition with Act with the viewpoints expressed over this year. For instance "NZ Māori party rules out right-wing coalition after next election". Not to mention their fate after their coalition with National for 9 years.
Indeed, I'm not sure that MP will want to go into any coalitions. There are some distinct advantages in being out of government for a smallish party while they try to consolidate their vote.
It is a long run to the next election and there is no obvious advantage to either major coalition – except that Labour supported by the Greens are currently the incumbent.
Sure, thems de facts – but only if you don't engage your brain for analysis for longer than a TV news anchor.
You're looking at a single poll rather than the series of polls. Reading anything into a single poll is like conflating random statistical variation into causation.
In this case if you look over the last 2 to 3 polls from Roy Morgan you'll see that the MP has risen by about 4% over that period, and that the greens have declined by about 1% over the same period. MP has a consistent trend upwards above the margins of error. Greens are just bouncing around within the margins of error.
I'd give you the exact numbers, but the RM site isn't working correct right now.
Plus when you look at the whole range of policies between the MP and Greens rather than whatever smallish subset you happen to think is similar (probably just a few social policies), you'll find that there are some quite strong differences between their policies – especially when it involves property, economic growth, ethnicity, legal, and a whole pile of other ones.
Which tends to suggest that just reading a single poll and assigning causation within margins of error or suggesting unspecified similarities in policy is about as useful as reading chicken entrails.
I interpret a lot of the hardline Thatcherism coming out of the current National leadership as an attempt to suck the air out of ACTs sails and get them back to the 5-7% range.
Not sure why Roy Morgan bundles TPM in with Act and National as a potential coalition government in waiting. I'd say it will be a particularly chilly day in hell before we say Act and TPM in any form of working relationship.
Third example this week of the "allyship" towards non-males of the progressive (LGB)TQ+ movement, as data for those who continue to assert it is a beneficial forced teaming.
Excuse or critique if you want. Scroll past if it bores you.
However, still unable to find any of "…TERF’s knowingly initiating violence with counter-protestors.".
(I'm ignoring the fact that it was a meeting – not a protest, so counter-prostestors is a stretch. TBH, the mendacity is pretty much all there is. Got the date right…)
Reading the media report carefully does give some idea that the situation is more nuanced than a simple crime/punishment issue, including age, agreement between Crown and defence as to suitability of sentence, probation report, judge's awareness of usual degree of sentence.
No mention in the article about government tackling youth crime.
I believe is best to allow the court system to operate as it does, as we on the outside are just not privy to the details of the case.
The only person not fully up with the issue seemed to be the defendant who obviously needs other interventions to address his problems with culpability.
As I said, "we on the outside are just not privy to the details of the case." In no way do I want to criticise the operation of justice here, nor should we. especially since trust in our judiciary is crucial to feeling safe, secure and confident hat we are served by an unbiased, considerate and not unduly influenced set of judges. I am also sure they are very aware of the effects of their sentencing. Numbers of the public protesting are not an indication of an incorrect decision, but of other concerns.
You seem to be now free of the idea that government has any direct say in the prosecution or outcomes of this case. The judiciary is independent.
If they ditch yet another PM via internal coup, they're probably finished whatever. Truss will be looking at where inflation and energy prices are going. If she's courageous, she'll go to the polls early with both the promise of tax cuts to attract the rich and energy price freezes to help the poor. Plus a bit of immigrant bashing to keep the red wall voting Tory. She’ll also look brave and principled for seeking a public mandate for her leadership. Could be her best bet.
Programmes included in the university's proposal included Bachelor's degrees in Social Sciences, Conflict Resolution, Japanese Studies, and English and New Media.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
I WAS A CAPTAIN COOK MAN, Grant Robertson was a Robbie Burns man. If you know anything about the great student pubs of Dunedin in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, those allegiances should tell you a lot. While I was at varsity, the “Cook” had a reputation for entertaining more ...
Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi. The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi. The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again.Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares: Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John RowlesMale Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
“You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR:Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisationThe renowned US ...
On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
“‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.Chris Trotter writes –THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
Buzz from the BeehiveOh, dear. We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent. They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1. What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
Labour’s Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the leaders’ debate on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of the pundits rated him the winner against National’s Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New Zealanders start casting their ballots? The problem for Hipkins is that voters are all too ...
Buzz from the BeehiveNot long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
The D&W analysisMichael Grimshaw writes – Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes- Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving.They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
Buzz from the BeehivePoint of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements. There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
Alex Holland writes – In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
The Facts has posted – KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
Labour is in it for you. This election Kiwis will decide what kind of country they want New Zealand to be, who they trust to have their back, and how we can be better, together. This election matters. View our full Manifesto below. ...
The National Party's U-turn on water reform has left local councils high and dry and will drive up Kiwi's rates bills, Labour Party Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says. ...
A re-elected Labour Party will continue to tackle discriminations still faced by members of the Rainbow community in areas ranging from surrogacy and adoption to blood donation. ...
National’s fiscal plan has failed to fill the massive fiscal hole in its dodgy tax scheme, it will mean more cuts to public services, more children being put into poverty and an end to action on climate change. ...
New Zealand First Policy Announcement:Law and Order New Zealand First believes that keeping society safe should be the priority of law-and-order policies. Every New Zealander deserves to feel safe, secure, and have their person and property respected. That is why New Zealand First continues to fix the flaws in ...
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred toaquote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred toaquote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
After years of criticising the Government on law and order, National have embarrassed themselves by conceding they have no new ideas and instead copied Labour’s Police policy announced three weeks ago, Labour Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen says. ...
Labour’s fiscal plan will continue its focus on carefully managing the books while protecting critical public services like health and education and investing to deliver high wage jobs and a low carbon economy. ...
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit.New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit.New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
National’s cuts to funding for beneficiaries will once again leave children and their parents with less, Spokesperson for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni said. ...
The Green Party will double the Best Start payment and make it available for every child under three years of age - and it will be paid for with a fair tax system. ...
Labour will fund more medicines for more New Zealanders by investing over $1 billion of new funding into Pharmac if re-elected, Chris Hipkins announced today. ...
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines.With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines.With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River isacrime scene, and thataproper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River isacrime scene, and thataproper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
New Zealand faces a stark choice this election – vote for Labour to continue to confront the climate emergency with eyes wide open or bury your head in the sand alongside Christopher Luxon. ...
Labour is supercharging its plan to solve the public housing shortfall created by National, promising another 6,000 homes on top of what has already been committed says Labour Housing spokesperson Dr Megan Woods. ...
Labour will back migrant working families by introducing a 10-year multiple-entry parents’ and grandparents’ Super Visa, and make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country ten years or more, Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says. ...
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour coming to the table to ensure an amnesty for overstayers, but only the Greens will ensure immigration settings actually reflect the reality of people who have been failed by our immigration system. ...
The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and replant the native forest it cleared, and protect all the remaining trees on Ngahere Road in Pukekohe after a significant number of native trees were cut ...
Latest Police data shows monthly ram raids have hit a two-year low, laying waste to Christopher Luxon’s false claim that there are two ram raids a day says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen. ...
Free and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents. ...
The next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced. ...
The Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings. ...
Green Party co leader James Shaw visited a home in Auckland today that has been upgraded with a wide range of energy improvements, similar to those that would be supported through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...
The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s presence in New York today at the United Nations General Assembly is a contempt of New Zealand’s “caretaker government” convention. Despite the long-standing caretaker convention, Minister Mahuta is today at the UN to sign a highly contentious “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”, delivering a ...
The Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes EverythingWithin an hour of this speech there is going to be a debate between the political parties that the media, under MMP, still think are the only parties that matter in this campaign. Both of those parties are riddled with inexperience, as evidenced by ...
National and ACT's tax plans don't add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods. ...
The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said. “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today. Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ French Pacific correspondent Defence ministers from several Asian and Pacific states are scheduled to meet in New Caledonia for two days during the first week of December, French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) commander General Yann Latil announced at the weekend. He added that French ...
A new Taxpayers Union – Curia poll in the Tāmaki electorate shows ACT’s Brooke van Velden mounting a strong challenge to incumbent National MP, Simon O’Connor. The two major candidates for the seat are locked in a statistical tie with 35% of ...
The Cabinet Minister was challenged on her party's record on crime, the cost of living, veterans and beneficiaries during a visit to territory normally considered a Labour heartland. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia’s emissions need to decline “on a much steeper trajectory” if it is to meet its declared commitment of a 43% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and ...
“Tonight at the Taxpayer’s Union Tāmaki debate I put forward to voters why I should be the next advocate for their community in Parliament,” says ACT Deputy Leader and Tāmaki candidate Brooke van Velden. “After 63 years being represented ...
The youngest candidate in this year’s election is closing in on the Labour stronghold of Hauraki-Waikato. A Whakaata Māori exclusive poll has revealed that Te Pāti Māori newcomer, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, is just four percentage points behind Labour’s ...
The incumbent MP is just four points ahead of one of the youngest candidates in this year's general election, a poll conducted for Whakaata Māori is revealing. ...
The ACT party candidate is locked in a statistical tie with the incumbent in the previously safe National seat of Tāmaki, a new Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll reveals. ...
Following a poll last week which depicted Chlöe Swarbrick in a battle to hold on to Auckland Central, another seat in the city has been confirmed as balanced on a knife edge. In a battle among the parties of the right in Tāmaki, sitting MP Simon O’Connor leads Brooke van ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University If the Reserve Bank does push up interest rates again, the most likely next date is its next board meeting, on Melbourne Cup Tuesday. The November 7 meeting is especially ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Francis Kelly, Honorary Research Fellow, School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has shared its final report. In this series, we unpack what the commission’s 222 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Sarah Walker/MTC Emerging from one of Australia’s most enduring and significant theatrical partnerships between director Susie Dee and playwright Patricia Cornelius, My Sister Jill is a contemporary homage to George Johnston’s ...
There’s been a strong outpouring on social media after it emerged that polling booths wouldn’t be handing out the orange man “I voted” stickers during this year’s election. And while many have claimed this to be a new decision, the Electoral Commission told The Spinoff the stickers weren’t actually given ...
BioTechNZ has called on the next Government to leverage the use of biotechnology to transform the economy, lift the performance of New Zealand industries, and create high-value jobs. The organisation, whose members all share a desire to maximise the ...
More than 4000 men are diagnosed and over 700 die from prostate cancer every year. That’s more than twice the road toll. Men’s lives matter too. The Prostate Cancer Foundation today welcomed statements by the National Party relating to prostate cancer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma McKibbin, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock In its 2017 final report, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse identified that there was no large-scale national early intervention service in Australia for people worried ...
Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted the need for better regulations on forestry, after woody debris was washed into waterways and caused widespread damage and flooding. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The referendum on the Indigenous Voice to parliament will be held on October 14. A national Essential poll, conducted September 27 to ...
Time to invest in infrastructure for a modern, flourishing, resilient tomorrow. The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils hosted its 34th AGM and Community Awards Dinner on the weekend of the 16th – 17th September 2023 in Wellington. Twenty-four ...
The first day of advance voting yesterday saw 56,557 people cast their ballots, according to the Electoral Commission. That’s a big drop on day one of advance voting in 2020, when 92,434 people took part. Given the exceptional, Covid-impacted circumstances of the last election, however, a more instructive comparison may ...
With New Zealand on track to fall 114 million tonnes short of the 2030 emissions reduction target, and billions of dollars likely needed to pay for it, political parties have debated their climate policies. ...
With New Zealand on track to fall 114 million tonnes short of the 2030 emissions reduction target, and billions of dollars likely needed to pay for it, political parties have debated their climate policies. ...
The science is clear, the effects are profound and the toll of Long Covid and reinfections can’t be ignored, writes Freya Sawbridge. On August 15, mandates ceased for masks in healthcare settings along with isolation for positive cases. That marked the end of the final two pandemic restrictions. Anyone wanting to ...
Jubi News in Jayapura Director Latifah Anum Siregar of the Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP) has emphasised the importance of raising awareness about human rights violations in Papua during a discussion at the launch of five Jubi Documentary films. The event took place at the St. Nicholaus Ambassador of Peace ...
· New Zealand First will put an end to the use of conscience votes in parliament and return democracy to the people. · New Zealand First has always believed that important decisions that change the social fabric of our country forever should not ...
Mike Minogue watched the new documentary on Israel Adesanya and recognised how hard it is to leave bullies behind. It would have been an entirely satisfactory piece of work. Imagine a documentary that unfolds with behind the scenes footage of the once unknown subject’s journey from utter obscurity, all the ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning the Government’s decision to provide corporate welfare to the wood processing sector, both in the form of direct hand-outs and the Government playing bank manager by providing loans when this could easily be left ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Pascoe, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Back to Country, CC BY-NC-ND For saltwater people of Australia’s east and west coasts, humpback whales hold important lore in the form of stories. For the Yuin people of the east ...
The cost of repairing Wellington’s Town Hall has blown out again, with projections now forecast at $250-$330 million, up from a previous estimated completion cost of $182m. The Town Hall has been closed since it was damaged in the 2013 Seddon earthquake. The first cost estimates for repairs were $43 ...
In 2020 the pandemic briefly made the media central to our politics. A debate three years on shows how much that has changed.If you want to know just how far media has fallen as an area of interest for our political class, here are some realities to consider. Act’s ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. ...
National’s Christopher Luxon has defended his decision not to move his schedule around in order to attend a leaders’ debate in Christchurch. With Chris Hipkins testing positive for Covid-19, tonight’s Press debate can’t go ahead. Hipkins had made himself available after he leaves isolation, but Luxon said his schedule was ...
It’s Tuesday, October 3 and welcome along to The Spinoff’s election live updates. We’re now just 11 days out from polling day. I’m Stewart Sowman-Lund. Get in touch with me on [email protected]Learn more about the political parties and what they stand for at Policy.nz The agenda The ...
National is promising longer after-birth hospital stays for mothers, free glucose monitors for children with type-1 diabetes and more psychiatrist and psychologist training places. ...
Sure, it’s not over yet, but it’s time for Labour supporters to face facts: October 14 is not looking promising. Haimona Gray has some tips for how to prepare for the very real possibility of a big gut-punch loss at the polls. The year was 1999. The place was, technically, ...
The stand-off between Weet-Bix manufacturers Sanitarium and The Warehouse has ended, with confirmation today the breakfast cereal will be back in store. Last week, The Warehouse went to the Commerce Commission after being told Weet-Bix would be pulled from its stores nationwide over the weekend. The retailer claimed it was ...
Despite facing consistent financial challenges and relying on taxpayer bailouts - most recently to the tune of $220 million in May's budget - The Waikato Times has revealed a staggering $15.6 million spent on ads, PR, and publications, which includes ...
Greenpeace has welcomed Labour’s support for banning bottom trawling on seamounts but warns the ‘devil is in the detail’, reminding political leaders that meaningful ocean protection means urgently banning the method from where it does the most harm. ...
Nearly 200 FIRST Union members who work at Costco in Auckland are "setting a new standard" for the supermarket and grocery industry after ratifying the store’s first Collective Agreement, which includes starting rates above the living ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 22-year-old consultant with a $30,000 student loan shares where his money goes.Gender: MaleAge: 22Ethnicity: PākehāWork situation: Junior analyst for a multinational consulting firm. I get a yearly salary of $65,000. This is my first ...
Today, Maxim Institute releases our latest discussion paper, “ How AI is changing democracy: nudging, microtargeting, and epistemic bubbles. ” According to the authors, “AI brings many benefits to society that may come to affect nearly every area of ...
As recently as last week, Act leader David Seymour reaffirmed his party’s position on a referendum on co-governance, proposing “that the next government pass legislation defining the Principles of the Treaty, in particularly their effect on democratic institutions. Then ask the people to vote on it becoming law.” Christopher Luxon appeared ...
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has accused Christopher Luxon off "putting up roadblocks to every alternative" after Luxon said he was unavailable for a rescheduled Press Leaders' debate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Livesey, Senior Lecturer of Physics, University of Newcastle Shutterstock Each October, physics is in the news with the awarding of the Nobel Prize. The work acknowledged through this most prestigious award often seems far removed from our everyday lives, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graham Dwyer, Course Director, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology Shutterstock Last year, campers had to evacuate because of floods. This year, they’re evacuating because of fire. Over Victoria’s long weekend, campers and residents ...
Covid-stricken Chris Hipkins has told RNZ he’s “on the mend” and is looking forward to being back on the campaign trail in a few days time. It’s expected Hipkins will leave his self-imposed isolation on Friday after first testing positive for the virus on Sunday. “If you look at what ...
Labour's Megan Woods, National's Simon Watts and the Greens' James Shaw are taking part in a live climate debate on Morning Report. Follow live updates with RNZ's blog here. ...
Sir Peter Gluckman has described New Zealand as a “potentially more fractured society”, and it’s becoming clear access to politicians is now compromised as reports of violence and intimidation grow, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full ...
Labour says it will do more to help new players enter the grocery market, but one of the mid-size existing players thinks the idea is too expensive and unlikely to succeed. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Mussell, Lecturer, Political Science and International Relations, University of Canterbury The promise to “get tough on youth crime” is a New Zealand election perennial. This year, parties on both the left and right have pledged to crack down on young offenders ...
National Party volunteers have stopped campaigning in Auckland's Manurewa because they have allegedly been chased down the street and threatened with abuse, according to candidate Siva Kilari. ...
There's concern at a Cabinet decision, in the shadow of election, to increase its lending to $50m and set up ski field for private ownership Two businessmen have welcomed a Government green light for them to take over Turoa ski field. Speaking from Singapore in a gap between business meetings, ...
New achievement data shows Labour’s shameful legacy in education with around half of Year 10 students falling basic reading, writing and maths tests, National’s Education spokesperson Erica Stanford says. “The 2023 NCEA Literacy and Numeracy ...
Reports of physical and verbal threats against those running for office could lead to fewer opportunities for the public to interact directly with MPs, reports Stewart Sowman-Lund.It’s long been an accepted tenet of New Zealand’s political system that candidates and MPs, particularly during election campaigns, are easily accessible to ...
The electorate formerly known as Dunedin North has almost always voted Labour, and last election the Greens outperformed National. But no matter who represents it, contentious questions about the university and hospital will remain.On a dripping grey Friday several hundred students walked past blossoming trees and the muddy brown ...
China critiques universal human rights in favour of regional variations, suggesting New Zealand is wrong to be critical of human rights concerns in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and China more generallyOpinion: Earlier this year, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) published a forward-looking strategic foreign policy assessment. ...
This year’s election marks the 30th anniversary of the referendum to change to the MMP voting system. Michael Swanson analyses the impact it has had and urges the next government to act on the 2023 Independent Electoral Review and make changes for the better.Comment: In 1993, New Zealand chose ...
It’s been known for over a century that the East Coast was vulnerable to erosion. But over that time decisions have been made that have continued to make it worse and now it’s at a catastrophic turning point that could decide the future of the region. Aaron Smale continues a ...
They’ve shaped online marketing for 20 years, but global concerns over privacy mean third-party cookies are due to be phased out next year. For those who have built their businesses on this low-cost, high-reach technology, it’s a revolution. Join Peter Bale for the third part of our six-episode podcast Digital tomorrow: ...
An author and climate change activist asks, 'Will we act to save ourselves, like the people of Mataura acted?' Mataura was built on the principle that the Mataura River knew its place. It flowed into the north end of town, that long straggle of houses that began somewhere around Cardigan ...
On our election day, Australians are also going to the polls. But their referendum, which has been more divisive and controversial than any election campaign, will be more significant than just a change of government. The fate of 3 percent of Australia's population is in the hands of 25 million as ...
Doesn’t really look like the US led sanctions on Russian are working out to well for the average citizen in Europe, in fact it is shaping up to be an unmitigated disaster for them…while, ironically, at the very same time, and as a direct result of those very same sanctions the Russians are making more money than they could have ever imagined…
….it almost seems like those sanctions were thought up, administered and enforced by a bunch of out of touch half-wits with about as much foresight as a bowl full of brain-dead goldfish…and yet we are told that this very same group of people are apparently the ‘leaders of the free world’…if that is true, then God help us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4kZB96-0pU&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LijOIoaRd40
As NZs first aerospace summit starts, the mean question is: why is NASA pushing ahead with Artemis after multiple decades out of the game, and the private sector long since taken over?
Same applies to the NZ government contribution to our industry.
To infinity and beyond surely no longer needs the taxpayer to shovel our cash into the engine.
These grand schemes are vanity projects for the deluded and distracted to maintain their grip on fantasy – that all is well, that man has very big brains, and our future is guaranteed via destiny, or divine grace, or some other methane provisioning PR offering.
Yes, humanity can multitask, but in an emergency surely resources should be put towards solving the emergency.
It's like solving flooding on your Te Puke property by booking a flight to Hawaii. You might put in a decent drain and some sandbags for the same price – but the holiday snaps would suffer.
Would it be, they want to be the first to put a man on the moon ?.
Actually NASA want to put the first woman on the moon. The Artemis rocket exists for two reason. To leverage existing hardward and technology and because NASA is still the only orgnaisation which has an existing launch vehicle and the expertise to carry out lunar missions. For all his hot air Elon Musk's Starship hasn't even orbited the planet yet let alone had a crewed mission – putting his venture firmly in about where NASA was in around 1963.
With the emerging new cold war with China it is important to the United States that they have immediately available a proven launch vehicle capable of taking humans to the moon, and this time sustaining them there, before the Chinese do. Artemis is meant to bridge the gap between now and the possible chimera of private space launch vehicles.
As always, it is the government that will be doing the heavy lifting of proving technology and solving problems of lunar exploration and possible Mars missions on behalf of private corporations.
Agreed. Artemis, though huge and impressive, is looking like it's a big expensive lemon. Despite being essentially an uprated cannaballised space shuttle, NASA just can't get the thing to work.
And it's not even reusable, unlike what Spacex tries to do with their (even bigger) Starship.
Artemis will cost around 100 billion US dollars over it's lifetime. That equates to about 10% of what the US spends on defense in a single year.
If it then makes sense for the NZ space industry to go for the bountiful $$ of US defence contract payloads, they're way ahead of you.
As long as we understand the implications of painting a giant target on our backs…
The useful a has to show China who's boss is why
Us of a!!!! Bloody little spell checking barstard got me again
I know Roy Morgan is unreliable , however Labour is in a pretty good position despite all the orchestrated BS thrown .
https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9064-nz-national-voting-intention-august-2022-202209050524
Maori Party is sucking votes off the Greens but not Labour.
Nice to see competition on the hard left.
Nice to see competition on the hard left.
Re-education camps for the speculator class? Nationalizing the banks and stolen power companies? Compulsory unions?
It would be nice to see a hard left – if only to shame fatuous abuse of the term.
Even a relatively firm left would be fun.
Are women smarter or is it misogyny that explains the discrepancy in voting intentions by gender in the Roy Morgan findings at #3 above?
Both?
Agreed. Misogyny in the first instance. After years of experience many women develop a sixth sense which tells them to avoid right wing parties because they seem to possess the majority of the cases.
From the RoyMorgan points, women are very strong that the country is going in the wrong direction, but still support Labour. That suggests that they support Labour not for its policies but because it has a female leader many women relate to. I don't see that as either a 'smart' thing or a 'misogynist' thing.
The thing we know logically about certain choices in polls is that they only make logical sense if their total probability adds up to 100%. The other thing we see about polls is that the choices selected by people can't possibly add up to 100%.
Or it could suggest that National would go in an even worse wrong direction.
My take on Roy Morgan: Labour support holding up well. Still too close to call for the main parties. Greens and ACT are both holding steady – with very little individual fluctuation over the year (1-2% up and down around the 10% mark is well within the margin of error).
TPM seems to be very variable throughout the year, especially with the different polls (RM have given significantly higher percentages than other polls over the last two polling cycles). It may be that (as is typical for small percentages) the results just aren't as reliable. It may be that the methodology of some of the pollsters is better at sampling the potential TPM vote. It may be that their support levels are actually fluctuating quite a bit (these tend to firm up more as you get closer to an election).
Labour will be worried by the continued fall in the government confidence rating and the 'heading in the right direction' numbers. Though the slight rise in the consumer confidence one, may give them cause to be hopeful that the trends may turn around.
Based on the trends It looks like the right has hit their polling limits with big suck off of support from Act to National, and a lesser pull of support from Other and Labour to National. But that Luxon honeymoon looks to be over. It is usually all downhill from there. As Labour can testify..
But I'd say that we've hit a steady state over the last few polls. Apart from the Maori party. That will be interesting if it persists.
The increased Maori party support is most likely from Labour and Other rather than the Greens. I have no idea why Ad would think that support goes from Greens to MP. Doesn't make much sense when you look at the demographics of Maori party support over the last 15 years. It is going to be interested in how that plays out.
However I'd think it would be highly unlikely for the Maori party to go into any coalition with Act with the viewpoints expressed over this year. For instance "NZ Māori party rules out right-wing coalition after next election". Not to mention their fate after their coalition with National for 9 years.
Indeed, I'm not sure that MP will want to go into any coalitions. There are some distinct advantages in being out of government for a smallish party while they try to consolidate their vote.
It is a long run to the next election and there is no obvious advantage to either major coalition – except that Labour supported by the Greens are currently the incumbent.
Greens went down, Maori Party went up.
Greens have the closest pro-Maori policies to Maori Party.
Who knows if it lasts.
Sure, thems de facts – but only if you don't engage your brain for analysis for longer than a TV news anchor.
You're looking at a single poll rather than the series of polls. Reading anything into a single poll is like conflating random statistical variation into causation.
In this case if you look over the last 2 to 3 polls from Roy Morgan you'll see that the MP has risen by about 4% over that period, and that the greens have declined by about 1% over the same period. MP has a consistent trend upwards above the margins of error. Greens are just bouncing around within the margins of error.
I'd give you the exact numbers, but the RM site isn't working correct right now.
Plus when you look at the whole range of policies between the MP and Greens rather than whatever smallish subset you happen to think is similar (probably just a few social policies), you'll find that there are some quite strong differences between their policies – especially when it involves property, economic growth, ethnicity, legal, and a whole pile of other ones.
Which tends to suggest that just reading a single poll and assigning causation within margins of error or suggesting unspecified similarities in policy is about as useful as reading chicken entrails.
I interpret a lot of the hardline Thatcherism coming out of the current National leadership as an attempt to suck the air out of ACTs sails and get them back to the 5-7% range.
Not sure why Roy Morgan bundles TPM in with Act and National as a potential coalition government in waiting. I'd say it will be a particularly chilly day in hell before we say Act and TPM in any form of working relationship.
Labour are being saved (to date) by the complete ineptitude of the alternative.
Third example this week of the "allyship" towards non-males of the progressive (LGB)TQ+ movement, as data for those who continue to assert it is a beneficial forced teaming.
Excuse or critique if you want. Scroll past if it bores you.
https://twitter.com/reclaimpridebtn/status/1566833870317785089?s=20&t=NNb4wA-mDij_OfGn9n9PyQ
For those wanting evidence of the type of 'fascism' expected, a full recording of one of the public events from the tour of TERFs:
https://youtu.be/WjDtdb6t7iQ
There are videos of violence and aggression, but unfortunately couldn’t find one showing TERF’s knowingly initiating violence with counter-protestors.
Post if you can.
From Dresden "Pride".
Yes. Plenty of those videos (here's another example of 'allies' at a women's right event),
https://twitter.com/catseesXX/status/1566952585638346752?s=20&t=7n3cvkfsn3v8FcBCN9kO8w
However, still unable to find any of "…TERF’s knowingly initiating violence with counter-protestors.".
(I'm ignoring the fact that it was a meeting – not a protest, so counter-prostestors is a stretch. TBH, the mendacity is pretty much all there is. Got the date right…)
the chairs being chairs
creaking and croaking
being chairs in plain view
is
knowingly
initiating
violence.
not a haiku.
Are there many/any TERF's posting here these days?
I find it very ..confusing.
I would not know, i don't identify as terf.
TERF is slur. It is usually accompanied by threats of sexual violence – just like this illustration.
Chairs, Sabine
Damn, I mean, Cheers!
Nouns are just so abstract nowadays, you have to move fast to catch them, and sit on them to keep them in one place.
Putin’s Dream
In reply to Adrian at 1.
Government: Lets tackle youth crime
Courts: Teen who raped 5 girls gets 9 months home detention
Teenager Jayden Meyer sentenced to nine months' home detention after raping four 15-year-old girls – NZ Herald
Reading the media report carefully does give some idea that the situation is more nuanced than a simple crime/punishment issue, including age, agreement between Crown and defence as to suitability of sentence, probation report, judge's awareness of usual degree of sentence.
No mention in the article about government tackling youth crime.
I believe is best to allow the court system to operate as it does, as we on the outside are just not privy to the details of the case.
The only person not fully up with the issue seemed to be the defendant who obviously needs other interventions to address his problems with culpability.
Good comment Mac
Looks like a few other people disagree with the home D sentence.
Hundreds turn out to protest against teen rapist Jayden Meyer's home detention sentence – NZ Herald
Only 250 at the actual protest, but that means there would be many others around NZ that thinks the judge was useless.
As I said, "we on the outside are just not privy to the details of the case." In no way do I want to criticise the operation of justice here, nor should we. especially since trust in our judiciary is crucial to feeling safe, secure and confident hat we are served by an unbiased, considerate and not unduly influenced set of judges. I am also sure they are very aware of the effects of their sentencing. Numbers of the public protesting are not an indication of an incorrect decision, but of other concerns.
You seem to be now free of the idea that government has any direct say in the prosecution or outcomes of this case. The judiciary is independent.
So Liz Truss is confirmed as the U.K's new P.M.
Finding someone that seems more inept than Bojo….not a problem for the…Tories.
What are the odds that when her poll ratings tank, the Tories get jittery about 2024, and Boris rides to the rescue.
The prospect of Boris, Trump et al. riding to the 'rescue' doesn't bear thinking about. Or does it?
If they ditch yet another PM via internal coup, they're probably finished whatever. Truss will be looking at where inflation and energy prices are going. If she's courageous, she'll go to the polls early with both the promise of tax cuts to attract the rich and energy price freezes to help the poor. Plus a bit of immigrant bashing to keep the red wall voting Tory. She’ll also look brave and principled for seeking a public mandate for her leadership. Could be her best bet.
Depends on early polling . If she gets a decent bounce you might be right. Otherwise it could the NZ National party all over again.
Jonathan Pie in fine form again
https://twitter.com/nytopinion/status/1566773151819653120
Brilliant as always.
Thanks Sacha. I do enjoy some dark, grim comedy.
Anyone know which Departments are getting thr cuts at AUT?
Pronoun reconstruction ,and promulgators of pecksniffery.
Good to see you have a..SOH!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/474165/aut-announces-review-of-staff-roles-and-low-enrolment-courses
It is at the proposal stage.