Open mike 16/12/2024
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6:00 am, December 16th, 2024 - 4 comments
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...10 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...11 hours ago - Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...22 hours ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 day ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...1 day ago
- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 day ago - 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...2 days ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...2 days ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...2 days ago - As Our Power Lessens: Accepted
2024 is now officially my best-ever year for short stories. My 1,850-word dark fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens, has been accepted for the upcoming solstice edition of Eternal Haunted Summer (https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/), thereby making that six published short stories for the calendar year. As always, see the Bibliography page for ...3 days ago - Six years of work wasted – Holidays Act reform now years away
Brooke van Velden has wasted six years of work from businesses, unions, and government by binning planned Holidays Act reforms, said Acting CTU President Rachel Mackintosh in response to today’s announcement from Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety. “The Minister has cynically kicked the can on Holiday Act reform even ...3 days ago - Come Undone?
Words, playing me deja vuLike a radio tune, I swear I've heard beforeChill, is it something real?Or the magic I'm feeding off your fingersWho do you need?Who do you love?When you come undoneSongwriters: John Taylor / Simon Le Bon / Nick Rhodes / Warren Cuccurullo.When this three-way coalition was being ...3 days ago - ‘Tis The Season …
Last week, I was speaking to a doctor in a public health hospital.She was wearing a brown Christmas seasoned shirt littered with pics of candy canes, elves, Xmas trees and mini Santas.And it took me a few minutes into the conversation before the realisation slowly struck me: “It’s Christmas time..!”How ...3 days ago - Friday 13 December
More public service job cuts are on the way, with hundreds more jobs set to be axed at Health NZ, and close to 50 jobs at Te Arawhiti. Winston Peters is saying Nicola Willis’ ferry proposal is now dead in the water and that he is going back to the ...3 days ago
- Govt cancels Tauranga housing expansion
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 12 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below are:The National-ACT-NZ First Government, which has a ‘Going for Housing Growth’ policy designed to massively ...3 days ago - Weekly Roundup 13-December-2024
It’s one of the final Fridays of the year and we are getting into the last couple of weeks before the summer shutdown. We hope everyone’s excited to have a break! Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is ...3 days ago - The Hoon around the week to December 13
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with: on the Government’s inadequate final emissions reduction plan and pro-business climate appointments; on the lightening overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and what might ...3 days ago
- Our Education System Will Be the Battlegrounds for the New Culture War
Luxon is the best negotiator. He’s just negotiated us into a culture war and he doesn’t even know it. Neoliberalism is preventing our school system from serving the population. People — most people — cannot really select the schools their children go to unless they are wealthy enough to pay ...3 days ago - The ferry saga; cracks in the coalition and closing Wellington’s container port
Yesterday, the coalition showed the first real public signs of cracks, as Ministers and the Prime Minister spent the day contradicting each other over the future of the inter-island ferries. The cracks between ACT and New Zealand First have always been there. But what made yesterday’s exchanges different was that ...3 days ago - Chris Penk Personally Intervenes for Holocaust Denier
The general advertising strategy of far-right speakers for the last few years has been to announce they’re coming to New Zealand, wait for their visa to be denied or their venue to cancel on them, and then use that free promotion and outrage generation (sponsored by the Free Speech Union) ...3 days ago - Wulf vs Beowulf: A Review of The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
Oh good. Back to the Tolkien adaptations. Not just any Tolkien adaptation either. The story of Helm Hammerhand, as done in anime style – something a bit different. It’s actually the first animated Tolkien adaptation since Rankin-Bass’ Return of the King in 1980, as well as the first Tolkien adaptation ...3 days ago - Georgescu and the Arrogance of the West
I enjoy reading the views of pundits and people. I like knowing what they think, and why they think it. But sometimes I look at what commentators are saying and where conversations are leading and I despair. How often do we here on the left do the right’s job for ...3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Latest Round Of Ferry Follies
The scorned iRex option would have entered service in 2026. Thanks to Finance Minister Nicola Willis, there will now be a three year delay until 2029 at the earliest. Instead of fit-for-purpose iRex ferries, Willis is likely by then to have saddled us with smaller, less capable, more weather vulnerable ...3 days ago - Rotten to the core
Just a few months ago, Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was one of the final two candidates for the position of police commissioner. Now, he's on leave and facing multiple investigations for unspecified wrongdoing: The second-most powerful police officer in the country is on leave pending separate investigations, the Herald ...3 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #50 2024
Open access notables: Regional Impacts Poorly Constrained by Climate Sensitivity, Swaminathan et al., Earth's Future: Climate risk assessments must account for a wide range of possible futures, so scientists often use simulations made by numerous global climate models to explore potential changes in regional climates and their impacts. Some of ...3 days ago
- About Syria.
I have been thinking about Syria and coverage of the fall of the Assad regime, and to be honest I believe that there is something missing from the picture being painted, at least in NZ. Although I am no expert … Continue reading ...4 days ago - The Two Hundred Million Dollar question
Here we see Napoleon delivering glory in Russia.Here we see Elizabeth Holmes delivering a blood test for anything. Read more ...4 days ago - Luxon & Willis Double Down on Ferries Debacle
The day before today, Nicola Willis told the House that they would have to wait until the ferries announcement for the details about ferries cost etc. It was the same promise Luxon has been making in Parliament over the last weeks and months: the details are coming, the details are ...4 days ago
- Luigi Mangione and Jury Nullification
Luigi Mangione, the shooter of the Ultimate Healthcare CEO, has been caught by the cops after a tip-off from a McDonalds worker. (A timely reminder, perhaps, that there is an official boycott against McDonalds for their profiting from and support of Israel’s occupation in Palestine, and it has been having ...4 days ago - Thursday 12 December
There has been widespread condemnation of the Government’s mishandling of the Cook Strait ferry replacements, including from unions, industry, and political parties. It has also led to public division among the coalition, with Winston Peters and David Seymour at odds regarding cost and privatisation. In other political news, Labour says ...4 days ago
- Foreshadowing HYEFU 2024
By way of prologue, the closest parallel to the current economic situation may be when Ruth Richardson became Minister of Finance in late 1990. The economy had been contracting, although there were signs of a fragile recovery. She was an Austerian and cut public spending savagely. The economy plunged a ...4 days ago - How unusual is current post-El Niño warmth?
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink As I noted a few months back, despite the end of El Niño conditions in May, global temperatures have remained worryingly elevated. This raises the question of whether this reflects unusual El Niño behavior, or a more persistent change in the underlying climate forcings ...4 days ago
- Nicky No Boats
I remember you by, thunderclap in the skyLightning flash, tempers flare'Round the horn if you dareI just spent six months in a leaky boatLucky just to keep afloatSongwriters: Brian Timothy FinnToday, a tale of such ineptitude, unwarranted confidence and underplanning that you will scarcely believe it. I can hear you ...4 days ago - Ferries delayed again, then handed to Peters, who hits out at Seymour
Willis wouldn’t give a cost estimate or confirm new ferries would be ‘rail enabled’ rather than ‘rail-compatible’, but Seymour has let slip the ferries and ‘landside’ development would cost around $1.5 billion. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...4 days ago
- When Should You Consider Retreat? – The Sooner the Better
This is a guest post by Waitematā local board member Dr Alex Bonham, about the Auckland Council’s Shoreline Adaption Plans. Currently consultation is open for the Auckland Central & Ōrākei to Karaka Bay SAPs until December 18th. If the sea bowls through your front door, through the house and ...4 days ago
- Shameless advertising: Two days only — 50% off subscriptions, forever
But wait!! If you would like to pay me LESS, on Friday the discount will be bigger. Subscription benefits include my endless gratitude, warm fuzzy feelings, bragging rights, and a slight spring in your step. ...4 days ago - Toot, toot, here comes Winston
The big question hanging over yesterday’s ferry announcement press conference was why Winston Peters was there at all. Finance Minister Willis went out of her way to tell a press conference yesterday afternoon that the Government had not decided whether to have rail-enabled ferries or even whether KiwiRail should run ...4 days ago
- Channelling Madame Defarge: Of Lampposts and CEOs
The recent shooting of that Health Insurance CEO in the USA has sparked quite the online furor. On one hand, one is confronted with a violent murder… on the other hand, many, many people think the victim was such a monster, he got what was coming to him. The result ...4 days ago - Ranking the New Zealand Prime Ministers since 1893
The New Zealand Listener has a poll of historians ranking Prime Ministers since Seddon (1893-1906): https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/politics/the-real-power-list-nzs-prime-ministers-rated/UEHAIM2NQRDKNPWR3HNKBLKK6Q/#google_vignette Alas, it’s behind a paywall. Bastards. So I thought I’d provide my own list as an exercise: Peter Fraser Richard Seddon Helen Clark Keith Holyoake (second term) M.J. Savage Gordon Coates Norman Kirk ...5 days ago - Wednesday 11 December
The Government has kicked the can down the road on the replacement Interislander ferries, by setting up a company to begin a procurement process, rather than making a decision. But they have made a decision when it comes to greyhound racing, banning the sport over the next 20 months. The ...5 days ago
- It’s got to be good for you
One of my favourite Substackers had an intriguing question to ask this morning:Why was a British baby born after September 1953 significantly more likely to die from disease later in life than a British baby born before September 1953?I gave it a good try but I didn’t get it. Makes ...5 days ago - NZCTU slams Government’s ferry fiasco
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is slamming the Government for failing to show any leadership on infrastructure delivery after they revealed today that they have no plan to replace the Cook Strait ferries a year on from their decision to cancel the iReX project. “Today’s announcement by the Minister of ...5 days ago
- Climate Change: Hope is not a plan
One of the purposes of the Zero Carbon Act was to break the bad old cycle of announcing targets and then doing nothing to meet them. Instead, governments would have regular carbon budgets with relatively short deadlines - meaning any failure would happen on their watch - and be required ...5 days ago
- A bad joke
That's the only way to describe National's announcement today on replacement Cook Strait ferries. A year ago they cancelled iRex, which would have given us two new, rail-enabled ferries in January 2026 for $551 million (plus port costs). Today, they're promising two smaller, non-rail enabled ferries sometime in 2029, and ...5 days ago
- The Long Awaited Kiwirail Interislander Announcement
Complimentary:In July, Nicola Willis promised that her expensive Kiwirail Interislander “independent” advisory committee had finished their work - and an answer was due to the public imminently.That blew out to August, then September, October, November, before Winston Peters announced the government was definitely going to announce the decision on December ...5 days ago - Does Luxon understand Keynesian economics?
Do our journalists? Do LabourDo we? John Maynard KeynesOh, I do so love New Zealand news, our left-leaning, deliberatively disinterested, striving-to-be-unbiased media. They are working so hard for us, doing the mundane jobs that I would hate to do. That’s why deliberatively never used my English degree to become a ...5 days ago - Luigi Mangione’s Pain
This morning I followed a link to Luigi Mangione’s now defunct Substack He is the accused in the murder of US health insurance CEO Brian Thompson.And of course it must be noted that murder is not the right course of action, and there can only be condolences to Thompson’s family.But ...5 days ago - Seymour’s Principles Rejected
Look inside, look inside your tiny mind, now look a bit harder'Cause we're so uninspiredSo sick and tired of all the hatred you harbourSo you say our treaty is not okay; well, I think you're just evilYou're just some racist who can't tie my lacesYour point of view is medievalFuck ...5 days ago - Top 10: Ferries, $2.1 billion in fossil fuel related healthcare costs, Curia’s Problem & M...
1. Fast-Track projects: Speaker rules no private benefit in list (RNZ, Russell Palmer)In a fairly rare move, the Speaker of the House Garry Brownlee (National) overturned the ruling of the Clerk, David Wilson, and Assistant Speaker, Barbara Kuriger (National).The Clerk of the House of Representatives advises the speaker and members ...5 days ago - Does AT misunderstand the government’s new PT targets?
A few weeks ago we revealed that a new policy from the NZTA is pushing for changes to the level of public transport costs covered by fares (and a few other things), which could potentially lead to fare hikes by as much as 70 percent or service cuts. While some ...5 days ago
- When haste makes waste & is risky, dangerous & mean
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 11 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus and Pick ‘n’ Mix are:The National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government is set to announce today it will spend $900 million on new ferries to ...5 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the government’s ongoing ferries disaster
The Interislander ferry Aratere approaching the entrance to Wellington Harbour after crossing Cook Strait on the final ferry sailing of the day, due to large swells. 12 July 2017 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Mark MitchellI wouldn’t have picked Nicola Willis to be a big AC/DC fan, but “Dirty Deeds ...5 days ago
- Sabin 33 #6 – Are solar projects harming biodiversity?
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...6 days ago
- Submission on the NZ Post Deed of Understanding 2024 review
Postal services enable individuals, businesses, and communities to build and maintain social connections, and to participate economically, culturally, and politically. The NZCTU is concerned that the proposed changes in this MBIE consultation on postal services will further undermine the provision of this essential public service and have major social and economic ...6 days ago
- What I saw, sort of, at the emergency eye clinic
In a moment, the latest instalment of Once Again Dave Finds Himself in Hospital Even Though He Looks Quite Fit and Healthy Really, but first, a little bit of an insight into the way Ministers like Chris Penk and Casey Costello use data.Allow me to illustrate, using my own personal ...6 days ago - Bringing the House into disrepute
Last month we all thrilled to see Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke's haka in parliament in response to National's racist, anti-constitutional Treaty "Principles" Bill. Of course, the targets of that haka did not like someone speaking so forcefully and well against them - so they had Maipi-Clarke named and suspended from Parliament for ...6 days ago
- NZCTU urges political parties to vote down extreme anti-worker bill
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting President Rachel Mackintosh is calling on political parties to vote down Brooke van Velden’s Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Bill, as it would undermine the ability of workers to engage in industrial action and may even lead to workers losing pay for ...6 days ago
- Atlas Network? Yawn.
One of the most compelling articles I’ve read about Atlas Network is from The Guardian columnist George Monbiot. His article is titled: “What links Rishi Sunak, Javier Milei and Donald Trump? The shadowy network behind their policies.”It’s an excellent summation outlining the strategies and modus operandi of the Atlas Network, ...6 days ago - Tuesday 10 December
Government has introduced legislation under urgency to allow employers to deduct workers pay for engaging in partial strikes, which will give further power to bosses to intimidate workers and will lead to the escalation of industrial disputes. NZNO workers begin rolling strikes in Auckland today, in their latest round of ...6 days ago
- As renewables rise, the world may be nearing a climate turning point
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Climate pollution caused by burning fossil fuels hit a record 37.4 billion metric tons in 2024, marking a 0.8% rise from the previous year – and dashing hopes that a peak in global emissions might occur this year. That’s according to ...6 days ago
- Govt eyes ‘PPP-lite’ for health centres
Wellington’s Children’s Hospital under construction in 2018, largely funding by a philanthropic donation. Now there are fears of a type of creeping privatisation within the health system, starting with buildings. Photo: Lynn Grieveson Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...6 days ago
- Book Review: The Future Embraced
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called The Future Embraced by Kobus Mentz The Future Embraced is more than a book. It is an accumulation of 50 years of work, 13 years in the making. It takes the tone of a mentor, reflecting the accumulated ...6 days ago
- Dream Scenario
2023, directed by Kristoffer Borgli Dream Scenario is a movie about a mild-mannered (read: kind of pathetic and outright whiny) professor played by a nigh on unrecognisable to me Nicolas Cage who suddenly starts appearing in people’s dreams. At first he’s not doing anything other than just watching, failing to ...6 days ago - How Fed Farmers is driving Willis’s campaign against the banks
The pressure on the retail banks might only be just starting.Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday announced that she was changing the Reserve Bank remit to make it more pro-active in encouraging competition within the retail bank sector.And, Federated Farmers, who have been a major prod in the government’s side over ...6 days ago
- Poll number 4: Dead Govt Walking
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.RNZ reports the latest TVNZ/Verian Poll results:National: 37%, n/c (46 seats)Labour: 29%, n/c (36 seats)Greens: 10%, -2% points (12 seats)ACT: 8%, n/c (10 seats)Te Pāti Māori: 7%, up 3% (9 seats)NZ First: 6%, -1% ...7 days ago - Guest post!
David has, unfortunately, been losing pieces of himself and turns out it’s a bit hard to write a column when the affected parts are your eyeballs and it’s painful to read, so I offered to add to his pain by writing a guest column for him and the fool said ...7 days ago - Climate Change: An alternative plan
The government is supposed to release its second Emissions Reduction Plan any day now, and if its anything like the draft, it will be a pile of false accounting and wishful thinking, which will do nothing to actually reduce emissions. The central problem here is that national is legally required ...7 days ago
- Monday 9 December
The families of two workers killed in the forestry industry are pushing for a boss connected to both deaths to be pushed out of the industry, highlighting the need for corporate manslaughter legislation. Politicians are heading to Tokoroa to attend the Save Our Mill meeting regarding the significant proposed job ...7 days ago
- Climate Change: Sabotaging the Climate Commission
Throughout its term in government National has been annoyed by repeated unwelcome advice from He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission to move faster, do more, or even just do something. But Rod Carr's term as commission chair expired over the weekend, as did those of two other board members. ...7 days ago
- I Put A Spell On You
You know I can't stand itYou're running aroundYou know better, daddyI can't stand it 'cause you put me downOh, noI put a spell on youBecause you're mineSongwriter: Jay Hawkins.Please note that there is a paywall later in this newsletter, so before I begin, a reminder of my current offers and ...7 days ago - A Confession
Hi,I have a confession to make — I have been on holiday. I don’t really do holidays. They fill me with guilt. I need to be making something, or trying to make something. It’s all tied in with my sense of self worth, but we’ll get to that another day.I’ve ...7 days ago - Simeon Brown alienates another National electorate
Brown’s abrupt and ideological rulings have overturned locally driven plans and expectations and angered locals in yet another National electorate. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, December 9 are:Warkworth residents are angry that Transport ...7 days ago
- Monday Wrap Up: Politics News
1. Anti-red tape ministry advises against anti-red tape bill (The Post, Andrea Vance)David Seymour's anti-red tape ministry says his new bill to slash red tape is unnecessary.An interim regulatory impact statement from [The Ministry of Regulation] said while it supports the overall objectives [of Seymour’s bill], it says the legislation ...7 days ago - Simeon Brown’s fanaticism kills Warkworth intersection fix
I grew up in Warkworth, and the infamous Hill Street intersection has been an issue not just my whole life, but for decades before I was even born. My dad told me stories of how, back in the 80s, he’d set up seats overlooking the intersection and sit watching the ...1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell on the fall of Assad, and the new Dylan movie
Hold the champagne. Ugly and brutal as it was, the Assad regime may have been the lesser evil for Syria, the Middle East region and the rest of the world. The last time an extremist Sunni fighting force – called Islamic State (IS) – exerted control over large swathes of ...1 week ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...3 days ago - Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...3 days ago - Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...3 days ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...3 days ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...3 days ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...3 days ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...4 days ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...5 days ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...6 days ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...6 days ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...6 days ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...7 days ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...7 days ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...1 week ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...1 week ago
- Fossil fuel lobbyist appointment to EECA board called out
The Green Party condemns the Government’s appointment of a fossil fuel lobbyist to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority Board. ...1 week ago
- Release: Boot camps must be shut down today
The Prime Minister has committed to shut down his government’s boot camps if there is evidence of harm to children – so he must do that today. ...1 week ago
- Greens echo OECD call for electricity market reform
The Green Party has welcomed the OECD urging the Government to re-examine separating ‘gentailers’ to make a fairer electricity market for New Zealanders. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt breaks Auckland housing promise
Housing Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed National has broken yet another election promise. ...2 weeks ago
- Government smokescreen to downgrade climate ambition
Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet project’s findings on “no additional warming” were released. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Health NZ admits errors led to claimed deficit
Health New Zealand has exaggerated its deficit to justify job cuts. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More cuts to research, science and innovation sector
The Government’s latest round of cuts to research and innovation targets the long-established and successful Marsden Fund. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt guts funding for social sciences and humanities
The Government’s decision to axe all Humanities and Social Science research funding through the Marsden Fund is a massive step backwards. ...2 weeks ago
- You can’t bank on pine trees in a climate crisis
Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis being sneaky with new taxes
Nicola Willis is refusing to rule out putting sneaky new taxes on Kiwi households. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt benefit target even further out of reach
Christopher Luxon has once again failed to read the room and claimed success while life gets harder for everyday Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt continues to punch down
The Government’s new initiative to get people off the benefit won’t address the core drivers of poverty such as low incomes, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of employment opportunities. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour urges ACC to pull investments in Israel’s illegal settlements
Labour is urging ACC to divest from companies identified by the United Nations as complicit in the building and maintenance of Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Further evidence to stop school lunch cuts
A new report provides further proof that David Seymour should not be messing with the free school lunch programme. ...2 weeks ago
- Jamie Arbuckle: Inquiry into Banking Competition
This week was the start of the bank inquiry hearings into banking competition. The inquiry was confirmed in the NZ First/National Coalition agreement. 140 submissions were received on the inquiry, and we will hear from over 60 submitters including all the major banks. ANZ, New Zealand's largest bank, was first ...2 weeks ago
- Casey Costello: What Once Was…
Entering politics is a privilege afforded to very few and, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Being an MP is a call to service. Whatever your politics you have a duty to show up. Whatever your party's policy, you have made a promise to those who ...2 weeks ago
- Casey Costello: International Day of Older Persons
Throughout New Zealand it is difficult to think of a sports club, charity, church group, festival, foundation, or service organisation that does not owe its existence, effectiveness, or success to the contribution of older New Zealanders. October 1st is International Day of Older Persons so please take a moment to consider ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Member’s Bill To Disestablish Auckland Transport
Today New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will restore democratic control over transport management in Auckland City by disestablishing Auckland Transport (AT) and returning control to Auckland Council. The ‘Local Government (Auckland Council) (Disestablishment of Auckland Transport) Amendment Bill’ intends to restore democratic oversight, control, and accountability ...2 weeks ago
- Tanya Unkovich: It’s time to start the debate on palliative care as a ‘right’
There is one topic that is the great human leveller, and that is of death and dying. One day, we will all have to face it, and I am of the belief that being able to pass away with grace and dignity is a vital, basic, human right. How we ...2 weeks ago
- Mark Patterson: Farmers understand we have their backs
Spring is here which means the start of the A&P show season. Those treasured community days where town meets country. There's no rural-urban divide here, just a chance to meet up with family and old friends and celebrate all things that make rural New Zealand so special. I'm embarking on ...2 weeks ago
- Release: A Labour Government will not join AUKUS
New Zealand will not sign up to the nuclear-powered pillar one, or the pillar two of AUKUS under a Labour Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour will build Dunedin Hospital
Labour will build Dunedin Hospital as it was committed to prior to election 2023. ...2 weeks ago
- New plan for reducing family and sexual violence
The launch in Auckland today of the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan for the prevention of family violence and sexual violence featured three government ministers, together to symbolise this government’s commitment to reducing harm from violence. The launch was hosted by Karen Chhour, as Minister for the Prevention of Family ...18 hours ago - Speech – Launch of the Second Te Aorerekura Action Plan
Welcome everyone, thank you for joining us today for the launch of the Second Te Aorerekura Action Plan - Breaking the cycle of violence. My name is Karen Chhour – I am the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence and Minister for Children. This is a big ...18 hours ago
- Low-emission hydrogen plan released
The Government has released a Hydrogen Action Plan which sets out key steps to unlock private sector investment in hydrogen energy and support New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced today.“New Zealand is fortunate to have abundant renewable energy ...2 days ago
- Trade Minister to visit India
Trade Minister Todd McClay will travel to New Delhi on 15 December to continue strengthening New Zealand’s relationship with India. Mr McClay will meet with his counterpart, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. He will also meet with senior members of the Indian business community. “India is an important partner ...2 days ago
- Modernising dietary supplement regulations
The first steps in modernising the regulation of exported dietary supplements have been announced today by Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard, and Trade Minister Todd McClay. “We are using the Therapeutic Products Act Repeal Bill to address some long-term issues for New Zealand companies wanting ...3 days ago
- Therapeutic Products Act repeal bill passed
The Therapeutic Products Act Repeal Bill has been passed by Parliament, clearing the way for better regulation for medicines, medical devices, and natural health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “Repealing the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) was a promise this Government made to the New Zealand public, and ...3 days ago
- Kaitaia Airport resolution takes flight
Tērā te āniwaniwa e tāwhana mai ana i te rangi i runga i Te Waionepū me ngā pā tawhito ko Tūtūtarakihi ko Wharekākāriki – A rainbow arches in the skies above Te Waionepū and the ancient pā of Tūtūarakihi and Wharekākāriki. A vital future for the country’s northernmost airport has ...3 days ago
- New Zealand and Thailand make progress towards strategic partnership
New Zealand and Thailand have set an ambitious timeline to upgrade their relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership’, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. Mr Peters met with his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa in Auckland today. “New Zealand has great ambitions for our partnership with Thailand," Mr Peters says. “There are significant opportunities to do more ...3 days ago
- Government delivers standardised emissions measurement tool
The Government is delivering on our Q4 commitment, restoring certainty and credibility to the agriculture sector by introducing a standardised, science-based method for measuring farm-level greenhouse gas emissions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, today announced. “Our farmers are some of the most carbon efficient food producers in the world, but they ...3 days ago
- New appointments to the Sport NZ board
Four new board members have been appointed to the board of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sport NZ), Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says. “Megan Campbell, John Fiso (ONZM), Kathryn Irving and Ken Laban will collectively bring strong governance experience in the community, sporting and recreational sectors to the ...3 days ago
- Government sets target to reduce persistent poverty
The Government has set a target to lift 15,000 children out of persistent child poverty by 2035, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston has announced. “We are committed to making New Zealand the best place in the world for children and addressing persistent poverty is an important step in realising ...3 days ago
- Next phase of Whangārei Hospital development underway
The next phase of the Whangārei Hospital redevelopment is underway, with Health Minister Dr Shane Reti breaking ground on the new child health centre. Dr Reti says the $35 million unit, Tira Ora, replaces the existing children’s clinic with a modern, fit-for-purpose facility which will provide significantly more capacity and ...3 days ago
- Judicial appointments announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of six lay members of the High Court under the Commerce Act 1986. Lay members assist the Court in cases involving appeals from decisions of the Commerce Commission and in other matters under the Commerce Act. They also play a key role in ...3 days ago
- Three Strikes Bill passes third reading
The Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill which passed its third reading today, makes it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending will not be tolerated, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Reinstating the Three Strikes regime will help keep New Zealanders safer while sending a strong message to those ...3 days ago
- Record wild goat hunting competition removes 12,935 goats
A collaborative effort between hunters, landowners, and conservation organisations has successfully removed 12,935 wild goats during the second annual National Competition, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay announced today. This marks a 22 per cent increase from last year. “This is fantastic result demonstrates the importance and benefit of strong partnerships ...3 days ago
- Government to enable tolling to accelerate investment in roads
The Government has agreed key policy changes to enable tolling of roading infrastructure, helping bring forward critical investment in New Zealand’s transport network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Tolling is a tool used around the world to accelerate investment in roading infrastructure, and the changes the Government is making will allow ...3 days ago
- Sue Brake appointed to Guardians NZ board
Finance industry veteran Sue Brake has been appointed to the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Board, while the chair of the board, John Williamson, has been re-appointed, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. “Sue Brake brings more than two decades of experience in investment management, governance and strategic advice and ...3 days ago
- Supporting safe, secure, responsible use of space
New legislation to manage risks posed by ground-based space infrastructure will be introduced next year, Space Minister Judith Collins says. “Ground-based space infrastructure are the systems on Earth that carry out tracking and control of spacecraft, space surveillance, and the transfer of data to and from spacecraft,” Ms Collins says. ...3 days ago
- Mental health targets provide foundation to build on
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the Government’s five mental health and addiction targets provide a foundation to build on in the first quarter of reporting, but the data highlights there is still plenty of work to do, particularly in key regions. “I am glad to see 80 per cent ...3 days ago
- TIPENE to open in term 1 2025
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that TIPENE is the final charter school to open in term one 2025. “This announcement is another significant step in the Government’s efforts to lift educational achievement in New Zealand,” says Mr Seymour. “Charter schools will make New Zealand’s education system more ...3 days ago
- Invigorating New Zealand’s capital markets
The Government is taking steps to invigorate New Zealand’s capital markets to encourage investment in infrastructure and productive businesses, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Kiwis work incredibly hard but do not see the same level of return for their labour as other advanced nations. The Government is ...3 days ago
- Welcome progress on youth vaping
New Zealand is turning the corner on youth vaping and the Government’s law changes will reinforce that trend, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The ASH survey of youth vaping and smoking released today shows that smoking rates for year 10 students remain very low – they have turned ...3 days ago
- Consultation opens on fisheries sustainability
Catch limits for rock lobster and Pacific bluefin tuna are being reviewed, with consultation opening today, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Catch limits for spiny red rock lobster in CRA 2 (Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty) CRA 7 (Otago), and Pacific bluefin tuna in TOR 1 ...3 days ago
- Gravy train well and truly over for consultants
New data shows the public service is on track to save more than double the Government’s initial target on contractors and consultants. Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis says it shows “the consultant gravy train is well and truly over”. “Taxpayers are not a cash cow for consultants and ...3 days ago
- Speech to Employment and Manufacturers Association on Holidays Act
Good morning everyone, and thank you for the kind introduction, Alan. As always, it is a pleasure to be here, and I appreciate the time you’ve all taken to come out during what is undoubtedly the busiest season of the year for some of you. It has certainly felt ...3 days ago
- Minister response to consultation on Holidays Act replacement
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says she has directed her officials to change the proposed direction of Holidays Act reform. “The Government recently conducted targeted consultation on an exposure draft Bill which built on work that had started under the previous Government. The feedback I have seen ...3 days ago
- Stalking legislation takes first step
Legislation that will make stalking illegal with a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison has been introduced and passed through first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Existing harassment laws haven’t kept pace with trends in this dangerous area. Since I announced this Bill, ...4 days ago
- New tools to be added to Traffic Light System
Legislation that will introduce new non-financial benefit sanctions into the welfare Traffic Light System and require people on Jobseeker Support to reapply every six months has passed its first reading in Parliament today. “The Social Security Amendment Bill expands the welfare Traffic Light System that launched in August with new ...4 days ago
- Changes to encourage more rental homes passed into law
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, delivering on the coalition Government’s commitment to deliver sensible changes to tenancy laws, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The previous Government’s war on landlords ultimately caused worse outcomes for tenants: rents up by $170 per week from 2017 to 2023, ...4 days ago
- Second RMA Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament
The coalition Government’s second RMA Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament this week, will help drive economic growth and increased productivity by making it easier to get things done in New Zealand,” RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. “Our second RMA Amendment Bill is a precursor to full replacement of the ...4 days ago
- NZGIF update
Cecilia Tarrant has announced she has resigned as Chair of New Zealand Green Investment Finance, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “I want to acknowledge the work Ms Tarrant has led over the last six years and thank her for her service.” Ms Tarrant will stand down with effect from ...4 days ago
- Speech to the New Zealand China Council
It is a pleasure to be here this afternoon and thank you to John McKinnon and the New Zealand-China Council for the invitation. New Zealand greatly values its long-standing relationship with China. The connections between our two countries are strong, although recovering after being deeply affected by the impacts of ...4 days ago
- Hairdressers and barbers to receive a regulatory clean shave
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the third sector review, led by the Ministry for Regulation, will cut red tape for the hairdresser and barber industry. “Hairdressers and barbers provide a valuable service in every community. They make up a billion-dollar industry of more than 5000 mostly ...4 days ago
- Aucklanders save $899 million in water charges with Local Water Done Well
The Government has approved the Watercare Charter to keep Auckland’s water services affordable, saving households about $899 million over four years while ensuring improved service quality and record infrastructure investment to unlock housing growth in Auckland says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown.Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says the Watercare Charter which was ...4 days ago
- Fintech innovation to boost consumer competition
The launch of a bespoke pilot programme for financial technology companies will help boost competition for Kiwi consumers and improve choice in the financial and banking sectors, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The Government is relentlessly focused on improving competition so we can lift productivity and improve outcomes ...4 days ago
- Karen Walker and Keven Mealamu join CNZ Board
Fashion designer Karen Walker CNZM and former All Black Keven Mealamu MNZM have been appointed to the Creative New Zealand Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am excited to have these two highly respected individuals join Creative New Zealand, who will undoubtedly add great experience and perspectives to New ...4 days ago
- Health targets encouraging – work continues
New data shows that the Government’s focus on health targets is putting the brakes on the steep decline in delivery seen over the past five years. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says while there is much more work to do, health target results in the three months to 30 September ...4 days ago
- Independent review of ACC announced
ACC Minister Matt Doocey has today announced an independent review of ACC because of concerns about declining rehabilitation rates and increasing costs. “ACC provides critical support to New Zealanders in times of need, but I am concerned that ACC’s performance has been declining for a decade. Rehabilitation rates are down, ...4 days ago
- New research to aid tourism and hospitality sector
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey today announced investment in a suite of new surveys and research which will help fill critical gaps in tourism and hospitality sector data. “Government investment totalling around $3 million will fund essential research including a domestic visitor survey, tourism sentiment survey, new research into ...4 days ago
- Seafood sector a ‘Kiwi success story’
New Zealand’s seafood exports are set to hit a record $2.2 billion in the year to June 2025, and increase to $2.4b the following year, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “Our seafood sector is a Kiwi success story. The sector’s hard work, healthy demand, tight global supply and ...4 days ago
- What’s left on the parliament agenda for 2024?
Get ready for the pre-Christmas push, writes The Bulletin’s Stewart Sowman-Lund. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...2 hours ago - Auckland foodbanks face closure, reducing services as funding to stop
"I'm worried. I know hundreds of thousands of Aucklanders rely on the mission for food," City Missioner Helen Robinson says. ...2 hours ago - Family violence funding review could see services lose out – critics
Labour and the Greens are concerned the government is "pulling away" from existing services, but minister says that's not the case. ...2 hours ago
- Conservation staffer fired after tampering with jobs system
Details of a malicious privacy breach at the Department of Conservation have been released following the Ombudsman’s intervention The post Conservation staffer fired after tampering with jobs system appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago - Polytechnics losing foreign enrolments due to study visa wait times, Te Pūkenga warns
NZ is in a "global market" for international students, Te Pūkenga boss says, and those facing delays will often opt to go to other countries. ...3 hours ago
- To all the TV news we lost in 2024
Bulletins and beloved current affairs programmes fell like flies in an agonising year for screen journalism. You don’t know what you don’t know. The great vanishing of news and current affairs from New Zealand television is a tragedy not simply, or even principally, because of the many hours of compelling ...4 hours ago
- Carbon credits, fish poo and the push to discover the secrets of the sea floor
Shanti Mathias spends a day in the Hauraki Gulf with a group of British scientists investigating the links between carbon and biodiversity in the seafloor mud. The ocean swell is tilting the boat as the metal tube hovers above the water. “A-Frame out,” calls a marine scientist helping to operate ...4 hours ago
- Book of the Year: Delirious, by Damien Wilkins
The best novel of the year is also the best book of any kind of 2024, a moving story of a retired couple who downsize, reluctantly, to a retirement village somewhere or other on the Kāpiti Coast – Kāpiti Island looms and broods in the background of the book – just ...4 hours ago
- NZ swims against Pacific currents at global climate case
NZ’s arguments before the ‘World’s Court’ look progressive but ultimately align with polluters and developed nations, a law lecturer says The post NZ swims against Pacific currents at global climate case appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Much at stake for a New Caledonia on the brink
The New Caledonian riots which began on May 13 this year, triggered by French President Emmanuel Macron’s attempt to change the New Caledonian provincial electoral roll, have left the French territory in economic despair. Around 800 businesses have been destroyed with the loss of more than 20,000 jobs. The economic ...4 hours ago
- NZ forestry holds up as China’s property crisis drags on
Low prices and reliable supply has helped to weather the worst of China’s downturn for NZ forestry The post NZ forestry holds up as China’s property crisis drags on appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- As 2024 ends, central banks take victory lap as interest rate relief buoys sentiment
Inflation returns to within its target band faster than predicted but 2025 could see Trump’s import tariffs derail that The post As 2024 ends, central banks take victory lap as interest rate relief buoys sentiment appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 16 December
The post Daily crossword, Monday 16 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 16 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 16 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- More spending and weaker revenue hits budget bottom line in some years: Chalmers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Wednesday’s mid-year budget update will downgrade company tax receipts by $8.5 billion over the four years to 2027-28, and show “slippage’ in the bottom line in some years of the forward estimates, Treasurer Jim Chalmers ...8 hours ago - Seven foreigners in Fiji suspected alcohol poisoning case now in Lautoka hospital
By Anish Chand in Lautoka Fiji’s Ministry of Health has confirmed all seven foreigners who had consumed a cocktail at the Warwick Resort on the Coral Coast and became sick have now been transferred to Lautoka hospital. The ministry said out of the seven, four were Australians, one American, and ...10 hours ago
- Bali five return to Australia, and don’t have to serve more prison time
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The remaining five members of the Bali Nine – Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj – arrived back in Australia from Indonesia on Sunday. Despite earlier suggestions, and ...12 hours ago
- New Zealand Far-Right Government’s Anti-Democratic “Law And Order” Agenda
The legislation is part of the far-right government’s sweeping “law and order” agenda targeting the most alienated and vulnerable layers of society, including impoverished youth and welfare beneficiaries. Sooner rather than later, the crackdown will extend ...14 hours ago - RNZ Mediawatch: Under the sinking lid from offshore tech companies
By Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter This week, Minister of Racing Winston Peters announced the end of greyhound racing in the interests of animal welfare. Soon after, a law to criminalise killing of redundant racing dogs was passed under urgency in Parliament. The next day, the minister introduced the Racing ...17 hours ago
- Government launches new plan for reducing family and sexual violence
The second Te Aorerekura - the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence - has been launched. ...21 hours ago
- Parliament on the home stretch, but first, a 30-hour sitting week
The bills ...22 hours ago
- An Ode to .. Nicola Willis
The Horror! The Horror!“Now Captain,” says Admiraless Willis,Striding onto the bridgeOf the antique ferry Roi des BelgesAs it winds up the endless brown riverThrough a steaming jungle.“I expect you to follow my commandsTo the letter. Do you understand?”The Captain is silentAs he steers between treacherous sandbars.“We’ve entrusted you with this ...23 hours ago
- Mental Health Bill: ‘No place for compulsory care’ in new law, academic says
The legislation is "completely inconsistent with expert advice and international law and best practice", associate professor says. ...1 day ago
- Why is Israel bombing Syria? – ‘because it can get away with it’, says Bishara
Asia Pacific Report Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, has condemned Israel’s extensive airstrikes on Syrian installations — reportedly 500 times in 72 hours, comparing them to historic Israeli actions justified as “security measures”. He criticised the hypocrisy of Israel’s security pretext endorsed by Western powers. Asked why Israel ...1 day ago
- Ōtaki highway tolls to reach vital services unfair – mayor
Ōtaki and surrounding communities could be split off from vital resources they depend on - or hit in the pocket - if a planned toll goes ahead on State Highway 1, a mayor says. ...2 days ago
- Damascus and Gaza prisoners: Syrians and Palestinians search for ‘disappeared’ loved ones
Democracy Now! AMY GOODMAN: We begin today’s show in Syria, where tens of thousands of people gathered at the Great Mosque of Damascus for the first Friday prayers since longtime authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition fighters. DAMASCUS RESIDENT: [translated] Hopefully this Friday is the Friday of ...2 days ago
- This year’s sports superstars and triumphs – and who’ll be big in 2025
The Paris Olympics, a cricketing marvel, a shooting star in tennis and coaches who pulled off wonders: some of the LockerRoom highlights of a super year for NZ women’s sport.Best individual sports achievementKristy Havill: Lydia Ko’s Olympic gold followed quickly by her Women’s Open win at St Andrews a fortnight ...2 days ago
- The Secret Diary of .. Xmas songs
CHRIS HIPKINSIt was Christmas Eve, babeIn the Beehive bar.An old man said to me,“What’s your name, son?”And then he sank his glassOf cold clear Mountain Dew.I looked him in the eyeAnd sank a glass too.Had a quiet yearWithout a single care.I’ve got a feelingNext year’s much the same.So happy Christmas,Old ...2 days ago
- Our report to you – Newsroom in 2024
We want to thank you for the support you’ve given us to continue delivering groundbreaking, robust and independent journalism of public importance. That support is through your subscriptions and donations – and critically, it’s also through you sharing and championing our work to friends, family and colleagues. We’re grateful.We owe it to you to ...2 days ago
- The Treaty principles bill – bad execution of a good idea?
Comment: To anyone genuinely interested in resolving the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in modern New Zealand, the arrival of the Treaty principles bill must be deeply disappointing.Part circus, part political stunt. Part farce, part tragedy.A ‘phantom’ bill that will never be enacted, Act and Te Pāti Māori politicking ...2 days ago
- The Weekend: The phrase of the year is ‘gingle malt’
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. This is my final weekend editorial for the year and I was struggling to think of how I could sum up the year in a clever, succinct way. At our Spinoff Year in Review event in Auckland on Wednesday, host Anna Rawhiti-Connell ...2 days ago
- I see hundreds of ads for togs so why is it so hard to find a decent pair?
Togs, togs, everywhere and not a pair I want to wear. A few years ago, during another round of Cranium, my dad announced that as he only had a certain number of “good summers left”, he would not be spending them playing board games with his family. He has no ...2 days ago
- ‘I’m very happy about that’: Frankie Stevens on being the voice of Christmas
New Zealand’s ‘Godfather of Christmas’ looks back on his life in TV and music. When The Spinoff reaches Frankie Stevens, he’s in a festive mood. Christmas is barely two weeks away, and he’s riding the high of having emceed his local Waverley Summer Christmas Jam last Sunday while also looking ...2 days ago
- ‘A great song is one you can dance and cry to’: Elliott Dawson’s perfect weekend playlist
Art rock singer-songwriter Elliott Dawson shares his perfect weekend playlist. It’s nighttime in the world of Pōneke-based musician Elliott Dawson, the perfect period for introspection, stargazing and letting the singer serenade you in dim light. “I’m talking about that 20-30 minute period after the sun has gone below the horizon ...2 days ago
- Wasteland: A response to a university restructure
This essay is the joint winner of this year’s Landfall Essay Competition and was first published in Landfall 248: Spring 2024. “What is most distinctive, and perhaps distinctively valuable, about what universities do is precisely what cannot be captured by the metrics societies increasingly use to measure value.” – Stefan ...2 days ago
- A love letter to my five friends
After nearly 50 years of friendship, Venetia Sherson thanks her inner circle. Over a decade ago, when British anthropologist Robin Dunbar deduced humans typically have 150 friends, of whom just five are intimate, I did a head count. My inner circle aced the test. I have five close women friends ...2 days ago
- RSF says global attacks on journalists ‘alarming’, Gaza ‘most dangerous’ and seeks ‘urgent...
Pacific Media Watch The global media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has revealed an “alarming intensification of attacks on journalists” in its 2024 annual roundup — especially in conflict zones such as Gaza. Gaza stands out as the “most dangerous” region in the world, with the highest number of ...2 days ago
- Report card shows some mental health services hit targets, others fall short
There is "still work to do" around getting people timely treatment when they go to ED for mental health. ...2 days ago
- Eugene Doyle: The dismemberment of Syria is a crime
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle What we are witnessing is not just the end of a regime but quite possibly the destruction of the Syrian state. We are being told by the Western media that we should join Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe ...2 days ago
- No plans for scaling back of Whangārei’s hospital redevelopment
Health Minister Shane Reti says stage one is still on budget and on track to be completed by 2031. ...3 days ago
The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
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China phobe Anne-Marie Brady is foaming at the mouth again, it seems some cops on annual leave had a China visit. Police members visit all sorts of societies, it would be more concerning if they went to certain militarised US, British or Australian Police Departments in my view.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/536770/nz-police-officers-china-trip-had-all-the-hallmarks-of-foreign-influence-operation-expert
I belong to a club and have nominated a person for an officials position – since then I have lost faith in this person Can I withdraw my nomination of him? The clubs constitution is 60 plus years old and doesn't cover it – He can still be nominated from the floor at the AGM but I no longer want to endorse him.
Any thoughts?
"Sin in haste, repent at leisure" is the learning from this.
25 Common Snakes in the Middle East.
https://birdwatchinghq.com/snakes-of-the-middle-east/
Jeffrey Sachs writes about the other nest of vipers in the Middle East.
https://consortiumnews.com/2024/12/13/us-israel-destroyed-syria-called-it-peace/