Has anyone here heard a mention of this on Radio New Zealand?
Alena Douhan, the UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, published her preliminary report on February 12 on the impact of US and European sanctions on Venezuela.
The report laid bare how a years-long campaign of economic warfare has asphyxiated Venezuela’s economy, crushing the government’s ability to provide basic services both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The [Venezuelan] government’s revenue was reported to shrink by 99%, with the country currently living on 1% of its pre-sanctions income,” Douhan found, impeding “the ability of Venezuela to respond to the Covid-19 emergency.”
Douhan thus urged
the governments of the United Kingdom, Portugal and the United States and corresponding banks to unfreeze assets of the Venezuela Central Bank to purchase medicine, vaccines, food, medical and other equipment.
The campaign to overthrow the Venezuelan government, Douhan added, “violates the principle of sovereign equality of states and constitutes an intervention in domestic affairs of Venezuela that also affects its regional relations.”
Douhan’s report follows a Center for Economy and Policy Research (CEPR) paper that estimated that sanctions were responsible for over 40,000 deaths in Venezuela in 2017–18 (FAIR.org, 6/14/19). Though sanctions were not the only factor driving economic hardship, CEPR found that they
exacerbated Venezuela’s economic crisis and made it nearly impossible to stabilize the economy, contributing further to excess deaths. All of these impacts disproportionately harmed the poorest and most vulnerable Venezuelans.
Like the CEPR study, Douhan’s report has been categorically ignored across establishment media.
we don't care about poverty and poverty related illnesses and death in this country. Why should we worry about that in some foreign country. And we here don't even have the excuse of 'sanctions', we are quite happy to do so little of help to our poor that we have '
generational poverty' starting with babies being dumbed right after birth into emergency housing. And that was yesterdays news, no pun intended.
Stunning silence is the one thing poor people get in spades from the ruling class. Silence, and every now and then a kind and gentle handout to appease the beautiful minds of the do nothing much classes that rule us.
Morrissey you don't understand. The 11 minutes of overseas news on Midday Report has to be entirely taken up with news from the USA, the royal family or with a surfing dog in Holland. There is simply no room for the kind of hard news you are craving.
I heard the head of RNZ interviewed last year and he said that in his opinion it was news from the USA that listeners wanted. Sad but true.
The shame here is how bad/biased the Guardian’s reporting on Venezuela has become-this is a paper that used to report the facts from Latin America fearlessly.
There is no reason why RadioNZ should consider that public whims should come before general information being advised that all the public in a global political situation need to know about. The public of NZ is being let down by an airhead type that thinks in terms of private media and competitive ratings. Has this benighted system of neolib brought this on us? Does he have to show he is 'appealing' to all NZs? Some of us are into being properly informed, not being drowned in hyperbole, celebrity culture and the current outrage.
Since before the Vietnam war bombing white people has been out of fashion. Bombing and/or starving brown people into accepting US puppet rulers is fine, however.
Why would he be intrigued? NZ ruling class and enforcer class obviously like his product and he will sell to whom ever wants it.
Maybe the citizenry of NZ should be intrigued why the government is spending all this money of facial recognition and other surveillance method instead of spending the money on healthcare, mental healthcare, hosuing -general, housing – emergency, housing – family friendly, and maybe fix a roof on school or three.
But Peter Thiel is certainly not intrigued by selling his product.
I had the same thoughts myself, going to the local WINZ office, 3 security staff on the door to an office of vacant desks and a long queue before the single receptionist.
Yeah, nah… why would the wider population care? We are being told on a daily basis to be lucky to live here in this fine place of healthcare, welfare and housing crisis. Look at other countries, they are far worse off we are told. Do we actually know this? Who cares, in a country where the press is dancing to the tune of the piper and actual reporting on real events is sparse and has to be "researched", people just go into introvert. Can't be bothered. This is how absolute rule can be facilitated. Just fatigue everybody with ever more horror stories.
well Sabine, I tend not to write novella length posts, so will offer that Thiel trousered around 30 million via a buy back option, after investing just 7 million in the NZVIF.
“The partnering of Thiel's Valar Ventures and the Government-owned New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) was launched by Minister Steven Joyce nine months after Thiel took his oath of citizenship at the New Zealand consulate in Santa Monica.” –NZ Herald 4.2.17
He got citizenship by dubious means, was a supporter of Trump and various internet billionaires, plus he does business with the NZ State Forces including Security and Police–quite a roll of dishonour in my view–but apart from the occasional media piece he remains seemingly under most people’s radar–he gets away with it…so far.
• Newly-disclosed links between Peter Thiel's Palantir Technologies and New Zealand intelligence agencies played no part in him being awarded of citizenship, the Government says.
…
• Officials recommended then-Minister Nathan Guy approve the application, despite Thiel's neither living in New Zealand nor intending to do so, arguing his entrepreneurial skill and philanthropic deeds meant his case was exceptional.
• Guy, who said after news Thiel's citizenship broke "I don't recall this specific application", this week refused an interview about the case.
• A spokesman for Guy said the Minister had since reviewed the application file and now said he was unaware of links between Palantir and New Zealand intelligence agencies at the time he approved the application.
Oh yeah. His company Palantir Technologies played no role in Thiel being awarded citizenship. We all know that. 🙄
I hope that's not overly optimistic. The impression you get from any provincial town in NZ – and there's a lot of them – is that the prevailing view isn't far away from the complainant's.
Maybe, but those things aren't necessarily driven by the prevailing view of the population. The iwi/kiwi nonsense almost delivered Don Brash as PM in 2005, for example.
Wee Kaikoura's council two years ago voted to have a Māori ward but a call for a referendum ended in a 86% vote against. It is reported that a large committed campaign by Hobson's Choice aka Brash and iwi/kiwi fifteen years later, persuaded the locals, whereas the local councillors were themselves counselled not to be involved in the debate as it might be seen as influencing the vote (ref p 4 The Marlborough Express Friday March 12).
Brash and his mates have been very busy. Their aim is to keep half-baked ideas of 'fairness' and 'equality' sounding good and believed by the majority. Extremely dangerous because what they say seems so reasonable to the average person.
You are not being confused over this ? and if any one is offended by my words… is not an apology, all it does is transfers offensive phase from the message sender to being a problem for the recipient.
From listening I cannot hear an apology, and on reflection should have chosen a better frame of words, so another word that means garbage is ok
Jimmy my 2nd link was to this – And "From listening I cannot hear an apology, "..and on reflection should have chosen a better frame of words,.." so another word that means garbage is ok" ?
Could a caption contest be held for what Andre posted on Open Mike yesterday Andre@11.
I need some light hearted relief due to a couple of news items in the last 2 days which I am livid and sickened about. The government are not fully acknowledging that they need to take immediate action due to the harm being caused. Homeless mothers/fathers of newborns who require additional support and ACC not covering PTSD due to a non physical injury of the highest magnitude.
How come Alex Beresford only reads the weather on UK Breakfast??????
This is the sort of television we need. Someone who confronts people like Morgan and our own version of it Hosking. These men are allowed to get away with this crap day in day out and they go unchallenged. Then when someone (Alex) stands up to them in a very restrained but intelligent way. they can't take the heat, so they leave the kitchen. What baby behaviour.
There is another great clip of Beresford talking about how what Meghan relayed was very personal to him as someone in a work setting actually asked him if he was concerned about what colour cocoa his baby might be…………….
For those of you who just dismiss this stuff with Megan Harry and the royal family as unimportant, not a real issue, thing again. The Interview, will be a significant turning point.
There is the family side of it which only the family can sort out. Then there is the men in grey suits or institution which the family also need to sort out.
I do think Harry and Meghan have a lot to offer with their outspokeness on how they view the situation. What the institution does has a direct affect on all of the royals working or not.
I read the article. Hang on, what? The problem was that KFC were selling vegan burgers in other restaurants, but this person walked into one that wasn't?
KFC genuinely sells vegan food?
That feels… dirty. I mean, bless 'em for thinking outside the box, but it still feels wrong…
All around the country business leaders are talking up expensive projects apparently based on projections from last century. Someone needs to rein in these magnificent beasts (mostly stallions). The country is built on a firm foundation of borrowed money on over-priced assets, and hapless dairy cows with the population being milked for its water, and NZ will be the ass holding the shovel when things go wrong at the same time and we get the cascade effect.
'In the Infratil annual report for 2020, the company reported that the WIAL airport masterplan requires an investment of $1 billion over the next decade; and also reported that prior to the covid-19 lockdown:
” Aeronautical prices for the FY20-24 years were determined following constructive consultation with the airlines, overseen by the Commerce Commission. The substantial investment forecast was not a sticking point as, at that time, all parties appreciated the necessity” [Annual report page 43]'
Thinking hats on: * 82.3% agree or strongly agree the Kāpiti Coast Airport is vital for Civil Defence in case of a major earthquake in the Wellington region,
* 80.7% agree Kāpiti Coast Airport is a vital lifeline for medical emergencies.
“Our community is in a David vs Goliath battle – we’re up against international finance and interests, and property developers who appear more interested in profits than people, and seem bent on cutting up our community’s airport for personal profit. Kāpiti does not want to lose its Airport; collectively, we all agree it’s an important asset, any way you look at it.
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Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni has today announced the opening of the first round of Ngā Puninga Toi ā-Ahurea me ngā Kaupapa Cultural Installations and Events. “Creating jobs and helping the arts sector rebuild and recover continues to be a key part of the Government’s COVID-19 response,” Carmel ...
Interim legislation that is already proving to keep people safer from drugs will be made permanent, Health Minister Andrew Little says. Research by Victoria University, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, shows that the Government’s decision in December to make it legal for drug-checking services to operate at festivals ...
Public consultation launched on ways to improve behaviour and reduce damage Tighter rules proposed for either camping vehicles or camping locations Increased penalties proposed, such as $1,000 fines or vehicle confiscation Rental companies may be required to collect fines from campers who hire vehicles Public feedback is sought on proposals ...
The Government is continuing to support Air New Zealand while aviation markets stabilise and the world moves towards more normal border operations. The Crown loan facility made available to Air New Zealand in March 2020 has been extended to a debt facility of up to $1.5 billion (an additional $600 ...
Christchurch’s Richmond suburb will soon have a new community hub, following the gifting of a red-zoned property by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to the Richmond Community Gardens Trust. The Minister for Land Information, Damien O’Connor said that LINZ, on behalf of the Crown, will gift a Vogel Street house ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the reopening of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ (MPP) Languages Funding in 2021 will make sure there is a future for Pacific languages. “Language is the key to the wellbeing for Pacific people. It affirms our identity as Pasifika and ...
It is a pleasure to be here tonight. Thank you Cameron for the introduction and thank you for ERANZ for also hosting this event. Last week in fact, we had one of the largest gatherings in our sector, Downstream 2021. I have heard from my officials that the discussion on ...
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has today announced the 16 projects that will together get $3.9 million through the 2021 round of Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund, further strengthening the Government’s commitment to Māori knowledge in science and innovation. “We received 78 proposals - the highest ...
The Government is delivering on a key election commitment to tackle climate change, by banning new low and medium temperature coal-fired boilers and partnering with the private sector to help it transition away from fossil fuels. This is the first major announcement to follow the release of the Climate Commission’s ...
Six projects, collectively valued at over $70 million are delivering new schools, classrooms and refurbished buildings across Central Otago and are helping to ease the pressure of growing rolls in the area, says Education Minister Chris Hipkins. The National Education Growth Plan is making sure that sufficient capacity in the ...
Two more schools are now complete as part of the Christchurch Schools Rebuild Programme, with work about to get under way on another, says Education Minister Chris Hipkins. Te Ara Koropiko – West Spreydon School will welcome students to their new buildings for the start of Term 2. The newly ...
The Government is acting to ensure decisions on responding to the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic are informed by the best available scientific evidence and strategic public health advice. “New Zealand has worked towards an elimination strategy which has been successful in keeping our people safe and our economy ...
Six Māori scholars have been awarded Ngārimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial scholarships for 2021, Associate Education Minister and Ngārimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The prestigious Manakura Award was also presented for the first time since 2018. “These awards are a tribute to the heroes of the 28th ...
New Zealand’s aerospace industry is getting a boost through the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), to grow the capability of the sector and potentially lead to joint space missions, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has announced. 12 New Zealand organisations have been chosen to work with world-leading experts at ...
The Government is backing more initiatives to boost New Zealand’s food and fibre sector workforce, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “The Government and the food and fibres sector have been working hard to fill critical workforce needs. We've committed to getting 10,000 more Kiwis into the sector over the ...
Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the Social Security (Subsequent Child Policy Removal) Amendment Bill in the House this evening. “Tonight’s first reading is another step on the way to removing excessive sanctions and obligations for people receiving a Main Benefit,” says ...
The Government has taken a significant step towards delivering on its commitment to improve the legislation around mental health as recommended by He Ara Oranga – the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment ...
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has welcomed the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Bill passing its third reading today. “After nearly 100 years of a system that was not fit for Māori and did not reflect the partnership we have come to expect between Māori and the Crown, ...
New Zealand’s successful management of COVID means quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will start on Monday 19 April, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed the conditions for starting to open up quarantine free travel with Australia have ...
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little welcomed ngā uri o Ngāti Hinerangi to Parliament today to witness the third reading of their Treaty settlement legislation, the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill. “I want to acknowledge ngā uri o Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown negotiations teams for working tirelessly ...
Minister of Police Poto Williams has announced the members of the Ministers Arms Advisory Group, established to ensure balanced advice to Government on firearms that is independent of Police. “The Ministers Arms Advisory Group is an important part of delivering on the Government’s commitment to ensure we maintain the balance ...
Kiri Allan, Minister of Conservation and Emergency Management will undertake a leave of absence while she undergoes medical treatment for cervical cancer, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “I consider Kiri not just a colleague, but a friend. This news has been devastating. But I also know that Kiri is ...
Excellent progress has been made at the new prison development at Waikeria, which will boost mental health services and improve rehabilitation opportunities for people in prison, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. Kelvin Davis was onsite at the new build to meet with staff and see the construction first-hand, following a ...
To reduce the trauma of road crashes caused by drug impaired drivers, an Independent Expert Panel on Drug Driving has proposed criminal limits and blood infringement thresholds for 25 impairing drugs, Minister of Police Poto Williams and Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill ...
Temporary COVID-19 immigration powers will be extended to May 2023, providing continued flexibility to support migrants, manage the border, and help industries facing labour shortages, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Over the past year, we have had to make rapid decisions to vary visa conditions, extend expiry dates, and ...
Temporary COVID-19 immigration powers will be extended to May 2023, providing continued flexibility to support migrants, manage the border, and help industries facing labour shortages, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Over the past year, we have had to make rapid decisions to vary visa conditions, extend expiry dates, and ...
The Government is expanding its Pregnancy and Parenting Programme so more women and whānau can access specialist support to minimise harm from alcohol and other drugs, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “We know these supports help improve wellbeing and have helped to reduce addiction, reduced risk for children, and helped ...
*** Please check against delivery *** It’s an honour to be here in Rūātoki today, a rohe with such a proud and dynamic history of resilience, excellence and mana. Tūhoe moumou kai, moumou taonga, moumou tangata ki te pō. The Ahuwhenua Trophy competition is the legacy of a seed planted ...
The economic recovery from COVID-19 continues to be reflected in the Government’s books, which are again better than expected. The Crown accounts for the eight months to the end of February 2021 showed both OBEGAL and the operating balance remain better than forecast in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison will hold twice-weekly meetings of the national cabinet for the “foreseeable future”, as the government battles to get its slow and problem-laden vaccine rollout back on course. The Prime Minister says he has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A wronged woman with a razor-sharp mind and meticulous records is a dangerous creature. Especially when delivering a counter punch to a prime minister who’d denounced her in the bully pit of parliament when he ...
Analysis by Bryce Edwards Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. How seriously does the Māori Party take issues of corruption and the untoward influence of big money in politics? Not very, based on how it’s handling a political finance scandal in which three large donations were kept hidden from the public. ...
Government ministers are confident no taxpayer money was caught up in donations to the Māori Party that have been referred to police for not being declared in time. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Triccas, Professor of Medical Microbiology, University of Sydney As AstraZeneca is no longer the preferred vaccine for Australian adults under 50, attention is turning to what other COVID-19 vaccine options are in our arsenal. The federal government has ordered 40 million ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Scully, Senior Meteorologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Across most of Australia this week, people have woken up and thought “Goodness, it’s cold.” Summer doonas are being changed to winter doonas. Heaters are being switched on. Ugg boots are being dug out ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Scully, Senior Meteorologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Across most of Australia this week, people have woken up and thought “Goodness, it’s cold.” Summer doonas are being changed to winter doonas. Heaters are being switched on. Ugg boots are being dug out ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Palmer, Professor, RMIT University Review: Small Business, published by M.33, Melbourne, 2021 David Wadelton understands that photography is a form of time travel. Small Business, his new book of photographs, transports us to Melbourne’s vanishing architecture of interior workplaces created by ...
The Council of Trade Unions wants the government to do more to improve working lives for New Zealanders. CTU President Richard Wagstaff will tonight address Minister of Workplace Relations Michael Wood, other Labour and Green Party Members of Parliament, ...
Comedian Janaye Henry is on a theatre tour of Aotearoa teaching teens about sex, and is writing us a non-Tourism NZ-approved diary of her travels. This week she’s in Ōtepoti Dunedin.I arrived in Ōtepoti Dunedin wide-eyed and itching to explore. My roommate was itchy too, although it wasn’t until the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University It’s tempting to think home prices are soaring because there aren’t enough homes. But that can’t explain the sudden takeoff from about the year 2000, the sudden takeoff from about ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael O’Neil, Executive Director, SA Centre for Economic Studies, University of Adelaide Wiping off Whyalla has become something of a macabre sport. All manner of things have been said to be about to destroy the steelworks town, including (briefly) the 2012-2014 carbon ...
Jonthan Cotton speaks to the people behind a programme teaching modern authentic leadership about what makes a great leader in 2021. When it comes to making change, humankind has historically looked to its most exceptional and extroverted people to lead us through its most challenging problems. Plato had a few opinions ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Quigley, Associate Professor of Earthquake Science, The University of Melbourne Timor-Leste is reeling after heavy rain caused severe floods and landslides over the Easter weekend, killing at least 42 people. Rates of COVID-19 in Timor-Leste are also on the rise. Together, ...
Whoopee – another first for our nation. According to the headline on a Beehive press statement, NZ becomes first in world for climate reporting. This drew attention to the announcement that New Zealand has become the first country in the world to introduce a law that requires the financial sector ...
Everyone has their own take on the best era for culture. Some think music was better in the ’70s, or theatre was better in the ’90s – but when did gaming peak? Exactly 20 years ago, argues Sam Brooks.Gaming is bigger than it’s ever been right now. Through the device ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Walker, Vice-chancellor’s fellow, La Trobe University When China’s ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, summoned journalists to the Chinese embassy last week, this was not an occasion for polite exchanges on a troubled relationship between Beijing and Canberra. Cheng was intent on ...
“The Speaker’s attempt to pitch a new Parliamentary palace as a ‘ wooden office block ’ will not fly with taxpayers,” says Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke. “Fundamentally, you can’t trust politicians with property projects. ...
Does New Zealand have a contemporary foreign policy, let alone a defence policy? Some of our nearest and dearest are beginning to wonder. Ambassadors in Wellington are among the world’s most discreet but word is beginning to trickle out. What is the government up to? Why does it move at ...
Six dogs have suffered broken legs at New Zealand greyhound races in the past two weeks. On Sunday, in a video broadcast by the TAB, in Race 3 at Auckland, greyhound All Day Long suffered a harrowing fall and broken leg. On the same day, at the same ...
The latest inventory of New Zealand's climate pollution shows, yet again, that the Government must take urgent action to make farming part of the climate solution, says Greenpeace. The Ministry for the Environment today released its 2019 inventory ...
Māori activist Mike Smith’s chainsaw attack on the lone pine tree atop Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill was one of the most memorable New Zealand news stories of the 1990s. In this episode of The Single Object, he explains why he did it.Late one October night in 1994, nearby residents ...
The latest cohort of school students took to the streets last week to demand climate change action. In Wellington, several thousand strikers marched to Parliament.Izzy Cook, one of the organisers, said they had their own list of demands.“Investing in a just transition to a sustainable future, reducing agricultural ...
In the latest episode of The Spinoff’s media podcast The Fold, Duncan Greive is joined by broadcasting and media minister Kris Fa’afoi to talk about the media transition and what a ‘sexy’ new public media entity might look like. Kris Faafoi is one of those rare ministers who has actually ...
Despite Aotearoa gaining international praise for its COVID-19 response, two independent reports commissioned by Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust have found that Māori vulnerability and resilience to these large-scale crises remain largely unchanged for the past ...
The health minister’s stonewalling of any attempt to fix our woeful drug laws doesn’t only fly in the face of overseas trends, but what’s currently happening in and around our own parliament.Yesterday, more than two dozen health and social service organisations, including the NZMA, the Public Health Association and the ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily. Today’s contentMaori Party referred to Police over donations Henry Cooke (Stuff): Māori Party referred to police over ...
Covid-19 lockdowns resulted in a rise in online gambling. Kiwibank has given customers the option to block gambling transactions if they need help. A year ago, when an entire country went home and stayed home for lockdown, most of us were grappling with some kind of anxiety: about health, money, or ...
Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage Laura IesueFrom Miami, Florida On March 29, 2020, Guatemala’s President Giammattei implemented an eight-day, country-wide curfew to stop the spread of COVID-19.[1] Ultimately, this lockdown would continue until October 1, 2020, as the virus continued to travel across communities.[2] While ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for April 13, bringing you the latest news throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nzThe Spinoff can’t exist without our members. If you want to help us stay curious and keep our team across New Zealand’s breaking stories, please donate today. 7.50am: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Gleeson, Associate Professor in Public Health, La Trobe University COVAX, the global initiative to coordinate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in an equitable way, is crucial for bringing the pandemic under control. But COVAX’s aim of delivering 2 billion doses to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luise Kazda, PhD candidate, University of Sydney During my daughter’s challenging first year of school, we discovered how much effort it took her to sit and learn. She was the youngest in her class, placing her at higher risk of being diagnosed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cheryl Durrant, Adjunct Associate Professor, UNSW Climate change is a hot topic in Australian security circles, as it poses an emerging threat to our national resilience and way of life. As a new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) last ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Stanford, Economist and Director, Centre for Future Work, Australia Institute; Honorary Professor of Political Economy, University of Sydney Fewer than 2% of Australian employees work for the minimum wage (now $19.84 an hour). But the federal Fair Work Commission’s annual decision ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Waling, ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow in Sex & Sexuality, La Trobe University The Netflix drama The One centres around a geneticist who invents a new matchmaking service. It uses DNA to help people find their romantic and sexual match: their ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Parties under pressure over undeclared donations, more emerges on exports to murderous militaries, and National refusing to back Climate Commission draft plans.Both the Māori Party and National are in trouble over donations that weren’t declared in time, but one of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Duffy, Lecturer in Applied Geoscience, The University of Melbourne Most people know that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain but I want to know for how long it has been the tallest, and for how long in the future it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Breen, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Recent media coverage of women not being able to get treatment for birth injuries highlights yet another example of gender bias in healthcare in New Zealand. Following a policy review, the Accident Compensation Corporation ...
News highlights: Majority of experts expect rents to increase due to higher investor costs 57% disagree with extending the bright-line test All experts predict the OCR to hold at 0.25% in April Experts are concerned that tenants will cop higher rents ...
When local authorities tighten gambling regulations, player losses at the pokie machines are reduced. Around 10 percent of the New Zealand population is impacted by problem gambling. Those impacts include poor health, psychological distress, financial ...
From humble beginnings in Siberia, Taupo teenager Annabel Francis has taken the New Zealand showjumping world by storm and is on the verge of her first Olympics. There’s a couple of things which make Annabel Francis stand out in her world of showjumping. The first is physical. As her coach, ...
The government's move to make it mandatory for all testing of border workers to be recorded in a central register is being derided as months too late. ...
The future of Samoa’s next government remains in the balance as the final election votes are counted, with a weeks-long wait for a definitive result - or a legal challenge - among the possible outcomes After 39 years of one-party rule, Samoan voters may - just - have finally looked ...
Eden Park thanks Auckland councillors for their supposed 'support' for concerts at the venue, offering them free hospitality to watch the first concert. But the invite hasn't gone down well with some, as Matthew Scott reports.An offer of a free ticket for councillors to the first concert at Eden ...
We resume our series on Charlotte Grimshaw's memoir. Today: ReadingRoom literary editor Steve Braunias on navigating a friendship The fact that I'm friends with Charlotte Grimshaw as well as her parents Karl and Kay Stead, who she lovingly, persistently and ferociously hauls over the coals in her new memoir The ...
WATCH: Silver Ferns manager Esther Molloy talks about the stem cell transplant that saved her young daughter's life. Esther Molloy's dedication to the Silver Ferns is second only to her devotion to her family. And she knows the Silver Ferns always have Team Molloy's back, especially through the very tough times. ...
As QAnon adherents and Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, officials in New Zealand kept a close eye on how our alt-right community was responding and sharing content Government officials closely monitored the online activity of New Zealand's alt-right community as their American counterparts stormed the US Capitol building, as ...
Basic information on is missing, our screening programmes aren't up to scratch, and people are dying unnecessarily. Dr Peter Saxton lays out the problems with sexual health in this country. Sexual health has been making headlines. The spotlight has been on human papillomavirus (HPV), our most common sexually transmitted infection ...
Vaccinations are up and running, but are they happening fast enough, why haven’t all frontline workers had their first shot, and what about the stats? Justin Giovannetti outlines the concerns being aired.While New Zealand’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is under way, it’s already hitting some bumps on the road to July ...
News of the travel suspension on flights from India resurrects uncomfortable memories for Melanie Sharma-Barrow – and other women of Indian descent like her, she writes.Twenty-two years ago, at university, I studied “citizenship and ideology”, a course exploring how ideology feeds the principles underpinning citizenship. When I learned about the ...
No one would argue against a Child Protection Act - but is a register for child sex abusers actually protecting children? Urgent changes to the law on the child sex offender register mean that hundreds of convicted offenders are back on the list. But one justice rights advocate says it doesn't ...
COMMENT: The Royals have repeatedly indicated NZ’s constitutional future is a matter for NZ to decide. They are not afraid of the conversation – but we are. The Public Trust Office constantly reminds us of the importance of leaving our affairs in order. Can the same be said of New Zealand, as ...
While some Green MPs are enjoying their newfound political freedom, co-leader Marama Davidson is fighting the restraints that come with holding ministerial office. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Nott, Professor of Physical Geography, James Cook University Tropical Cyclone Seroja battered parts of Western Australia’s coast on Sunday night, badly damaging buildings and leaving thousands of people without power. While the full extent of the damage caused by the Category ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tamasailau Suaalii Sauni, Associate Professor in Criminology Programme, University of Auckland Samoan politics is on a knife edge. After the country voted in general elections on April 9, counting so far has resulted in a dead heat between the two major parties. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Wellington, Senior Lecturer, Art History and Visual Culture, Australian National University In this series we pay tribute to the art we wish could visit — and hope to see once travel restrictions are lifted. If you are a country house fanatic ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane E Frawley, NHMRC Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney The federal government’s recommendation last week that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now the preferred vaccine for adults under 50 has shaken public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The Australian Technical ...
Health Minister Andrew Little has shot down calls for a swift overhaul of drug laws, saying any major change would first have to go back to a referendum. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bela Stantic, Professor, Director of Big data and smart analytics lab – IIIS, Griffith University Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout has hit yet another crossroads. Public confidence has wavered following the federal government’s announcement last week that the Pfizer vaccine was the preferred ...
“It’s unacceptable the Government won’t play hardball with unions and force those employees unwilling to get a COVID vaccine to vacate MIQ premises for another 18 days,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Stop pussyfooting about and take the ...
A year after MIQ was established, 86 percent of workers there have been vaccinated, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, while also signalling a state memorial service for Prince Philip. ...
New Zealand’s Ministerial engagement in the Trans Tasman GE Food Standards approval process has been silenced. The Conran review of the Council of Australian Governments COAG fora has recommended the dismantling of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is about to give an update following a Cabinet meeting this afternoon as more cases emerge from an Auckland managed isolation facility. ...
Our Beehive bulletin Has anyone been keeping tabs on the number of race-based “partnerships” established by the Ardern government? Another one popped up today, proudly announced by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. It’s an “innovative’ as well as new Youth Justice residence “designed in partnership with Māori” to provide “prevention, healing, ...
Has anyone here heard a mention of this on Radio New Zealand?
we don't care about poverty and poverty related illnesses and death in this country. Why should we worry about that in some foreign country. And we here don't even have the excuse of 'sanctions', we are quite happy to do so little of help to our poor that we have '
generational poverty' starting with babies being dumbed right after birth into emergency housing. And that was yesterdays news, no pun intended.
Stunning silence is the one thing poor people get in spades from the ruling class. Silence, and every now and then a kind and gentle handout to appease the beautiful minds of the do nothing much classes that rule us.
Morrissey you don't understand. The 11 minutes of overseas news on Midday Report has to be entirely taken up with news from the USA, the royal family or with a surfing dog in Holland. There is simply no room for the kind of hard news you are craving.
I heard the head of RNZ interviewed last year and he said that in his opinion it was news from the USA that listeners wanted. Sad but true.
The shame here is how bad/biased the Guardian’s reporting on Venezuela has become-this is a paper that used to report the facts from Latin America fearlessly.
some people are just looking for yet another empty meaningless infantile distraction to occupy their lives for 10 seconds
There is no reason why RadioNZ should consider that public whims should come before general information being advised that all the public in a global political situation need to know about. The public of NZ is being let down by an airhead type that thinks in terms of private media and competitive ratings. Has this benighted system of neolib brought this on us? Does he have to show he is 'appealing' to all NZs? Some of us are into being properly informed, not being drowned in hyperbole, celebrity culture and the current outrage.
Decent docos that address real overseas issues can be found on the ABC here:
https://www.abc.net.au/foreign/?fbclid=IwAR2laMpG-z12hUyXVlAVjSh-fJb5fuIFMeL0yspC2TDZ2QJJtifldqY_5a4
TVNZ is too busy making money to get involved in this kind of thing.
83, though I'm probably out of date. US overthrows or attempted regime change. Many of which were democratic Governments.
United States involvement in regime change – Wikipedia
Since before the Vietnam war bombing white people has been out of fashion. Bombing and/or starving brown people into accepting US puppet rulers is fine, however.
Citizen Thiel again…a funder for Clearview AI, involved with NZ Police facial recognition software.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-police-trialled-facial-recognition-tech-without-clearance/M6SAWXF4VK4EEZWQHMXU2XTIUI/
Peter Thiel and his Palantir company have provided assistance for NZ Defence, NZSIS, and GCSB going back to 2012.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/billionaire-peter-thiels-secret-kiwi-spy-links-revealed/QPTG57ETG37EZM6RW72CGBYQK4/
A fine upstanding representative of US Imperialism in Aotearoa. He may be intrigued why he gets such a free pass in this country.
Why would he be intrigued? NZ ruling class and enforcer class obviously like his product and he will sell to whom ever wants it.
Maybe the citizenry of NZ should be intrigued why the government is spending all this money of facial recognition and other surveillance method instead of spending the money on healthcare, mental healthcare, hosuing -general, housing – emergency, housing – family friendly, and maybe fix a roof on school or three.
But Peter Thiel is certainly not intrigued by selling his product.
I had the same thoughts myself, going to the local WINZ office, 3 security staff on the door to an office of vacant desks and a long queue before the single receptionist.
Yeah, nah… why would the wider population care? We are being told on a daily basis to be lucky to live here in this fine place of healthcare, welfare and housing crisis. Look at other countries, they are far worse off we are told. Do we actually know this? Who cares, in a country where the press is dancing to the tune of the piper and actual reporting on real events is sparse and has to be "researched", people just go into introvert. Can't be bothered. This is how absolute rule can be facilitated. Just fatigue everybody with ever more horror stories.
well Sabine, I tend not to write novella length posts, so will offer that Thiel trousered around 30 million via a buy back option, after investing just 7 million in the NZVIF.
“The partnering of Thiel's Valar Ventures and the Government-owned New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) was launched by Minister Steven Joyce nine months after Thiel took his oath of citizenship at the New Zealand consulate in Santa Monica.” –NZ Herald 4.2.17
He got citizenship by dubious means, was a supporter of Trump and various internet billionaires, plus he does business with the NZ State Forces including Security and Police–quite a roll of dishonour in my view–but apart from the occasional media piece he remains seemingly under most people’s radar–he gets away with it…so far.
Oh yeah. His company Palantir Technologies played no role in Thiel being awarded citizenship. We all know that. 🙄
Add to the above:
Was his active support of the Trump regime one of those "philanthropic deeds"?
Just another example of NZ's racist underbelly? Or is the underbelly so large it’s who we are?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/te-reo-maori/124504772/complaint-about-stuffs-use-of-kia-ora-aotearoa-thrown-out-by-media-council
I don't think so. Just a very loud minority.
I suggested they answer the complaints in Maori.
I hope that's not overly optimistic. The impression you get from any provincial town in NZ – and there's a lot of them – is that the prevailing view isn't far away from the complainant's.
I suspect that if the majority were racist, treaty settlements and Maori language in schools, wouldn't have got very far.
Maybe, but those things aren't necessarily driven by the prevailing view of the population. The iwi/kiwi nonsense almost delivered Don Brash as PM in 2005, for example.
Wee Kaikoura's council two years ago voted to have a Māori ward but a call for a referendum ended in a 86% vote against. It is reported that a large committed campaign by Hobson's Choice aka Brash and iwi/kiwi fifteen years later, persuaded the locals, whereas the local councillors were themselves counselled not to be involved in the debate as it might be seen as influencing the vote (ref p 4 The Marlborough Express Friday March 12).
The cows around most provincial towns have learned more in past decades than the human population Chris.
Brash and his mates have been very busy. Their aim is to keep half-baked ideas of 'fairness' and 'equality' sounding good and believed by the majority. Extremely dangerous because what they say seems so reasonable to the average person.
Queensland's gonna Queensland. This from the state which brought you Pauline Hanson and Fraser Anning.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/03/australian-reporter-jordan-fabris-who-hounded-501-deportees-in-disgusting-story-responds-to-kiwi-backlash.html
Yes many people up in arms about Dutton referring to them as "trash". Hipkins also referred to them as "garbage" but he has apologised.
You are not being confused over this ? and if any one is offended by my words… is not an apology, all it does is transfers offensive phase from the message sender to being a problem for the recipient.
From listening I cannot hear an apology, and on reflection should have chosen a better frame of words, so another word that means garbage is ok
newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/03/chris-hipkins-quickly-backtracks-after-saying-australia-is-exporting-its-garbage-to-new-zealand.html
"But, sir, Chippie said…"
Herodotus…your clip appears to be when Hipkins was speaking about Pacific Island people apparently not spending their money in Queenstown.
This is Hipkins about the 501's from Australia.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/03/chris-hipkins-quickly-backtracks-after-saying-australia-is-exporting-its-garbage-to-new-zealand.html
Jimmy my 2nd link was to this – And "From listening I cannot hear an apology, "..and on reflection should have chosen a better frame of words,.." so another word that means garbage is ok" ?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/438183/australia-501-deportees-trash-says-dutton
No I must agree it was hardly an apology. The headline sensationally says he backtracks.
I was worried that I had entered a stage of my life where I was missing the obvious 😉perhaps I have but only others can see that ha 😂
have a good day jimmy
Could a caption contest be held for what Andre posted on Open Mike yesterday Andre@11.
I need some light hearted relief due to a couple of news items in the last 2 days which I am livid and sickened about. The government are not fully acknowledging that they need to take immediate action due to the harm being caused. Homeless mothers/fathers of newborns who require additional support and ACC not covering PTSD due to a non physical injury of the highest magnitude.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/mar/09/piers-morgan-storms-off-set-of-good-morning-britain-in-meghan-row-alex-beresford
How come Alex Beresford only reads the weather on UK Breakfast??????
This is the sort of television we need. Someone who confronts people like Morgan and our own version of it Hosking. These men are allowed to get away with this crap day in day out and they go unchallenged. Then when someone (Alex) stands up to them in a very restrained but intelligent way. they can't take the heat, so they leave the kitchen. What baby behaviour.
There is another great clip of Beresford talking about how what Meghan relayed was very personal to him as someone in a work setting actually asked him if he was concerned about what colour cocoa his baby might be…………….
For those of you who just dismiss this stuff with Megan Harry and the royal family as unimportant, not a real issue, thing again. The Interview, will be a significant turning point.
There is the family side of it which only the family can sort out. Then there is the men in grey suits or institution which the family also need to sort out.
I do think Harry and Meghan have a lot to offer with their outspokeness on how they view the situation. What the institution does has a direct affect on all of the royals working or not.
This article is good for a chuckle from England.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/woman-feels-discriminated-over-lack-of-meat-free-meals-at-kfc/VPTBUZG7LOTWYDKRYKNPXJNZ6U/
And then they ended up having fish & chips!! This is classic.
Meat is murder.
Oh well…they ended up having fish!
I read the article. Hang on, what? The problem was that KFC were selling vegan burgers in other restaurants, but this person walked into one that wasn't?
KFC genuinely sells vegan food?
That feels… dirty. I mean, bless 'em for thinking outside the box, but it still feels wrong…
All around the country business leaders are talking up expensive projects apparently based on projections from last century. Someone needs to rein in these magnificent beasts (mostly stallions). The country is built on a firm foundation of borrowed money on over-priced assets, and hapless dairy cows with the population being milked for its water, and NZ will be the ass holding the shovel when things go wrong at the same time and we get the cascade effect.
From Wellington: http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=134770
The mystery of $75m for the airport March 11, 2021
'In the Infratil annual report for 2020, the company reported that the WIAL airport masterplan requires an investment of $1 billion over the next decade; and also reported that prior to the covid-19 lockdown:
and, while we are in the air: http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=134739
Poll shows 85% of residents oppose closure of Kāpiti Airport March 10, 2021
Thinking hats on:
* 82.3% agree or strongly agree the Kāpiti Coast Airport is vital for Civil Defence in case of a major earthquake in the Wellington region,
* 80.7% agree Kāpiti Coast Airport is a vital lifeline for medical emergencies.
“Our community is in a David vs Goliath battle – we’re up against international finance and interests, and property developers who appear more interested in profits than people, and seem bent on cutting up our community’s airport for personal profit. Kāpiti does not want to lose its Airport; collectively, we all agree it’s an important asset, any way you look at it.
Some more detail and figures concerning Kapiti Airport.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/122446517/what-is-an-airport-worth-the-economic-cost-if-the-planes-stop-flying