Open mike 21/04/2024
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6:00 am, April 21st, 2024 - 27 comments
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- Photo of the Day: GNR
2 hours ago - Choosing landlords and the homeless over first home buyers
The Government may struggle with the political optics of scrapping assistance for first home buyers while also cutting the tax burden on landlords, increasing concerns over the growing generational divide. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government confirmed it will dump first home buyer grants in the Budget next ...3 hours ago - Orr’s warning; three years of austerity
Yesterday, the Reserve Bank confirmed there will be no free card for the economy to get out of jail during the current term of the Government. Regardless of what the Budget next week says, we are in for three years of austerity. Over those three years, we will have to ...4 hours ago - An admirable U-turn
It doesn’t inspire confidence when politicians change their minds. But you must give credit when a bad idea is dropped. Last year, we reported on the determination of British PM Rishi Sunak to lead the world in regulating the dangers of Artificial Intelligence. Perhaps he changed his mind after meeting ...10 hours ago - Climate Adam: Can we really suck up Carbon Dioxide?
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Is carbon dioxide removal - aka "negative emissions" - going to save us from climate change? Or is it just a ...15 hours ago - Public funding for private operators in mental health and housing – and a Bill to erase a bit of t...
Headed for the legislative wastepaper basket… Buzz from the Beehive It looks like this government is just as ready as its predecessor to dip into the public funds it is managing to dispense millions of dollars to finance – and favour – the parties it fancies. Or ...16 hours ago - Why has Einstein Medalist Roy Kerr never been Knighted?
Rob MacCulloch writes – National and Labour and ACT have at various times waxed on about their “vision” of NZ as a high value-added world tech center What subject is tech based upon? Mathematics. A Chicago mathematician just told me that whereas last decade ...20 hours ago - Contestable adviceEric Crampton writes – Danyl McLauchlan over at The Listener on the recent shift toward more contestability in public policy advice in education: Education Minister Erica Stanford, one of National’s highest-ranked MPs, is trying to circumvent the establishment, taking advice from a smaller pool of experts – ...21 hours ago
- How did it get so bad?Ele Ludemann writes – That Kāinga Ora is a mess is no surprise, but the size of the mess is. There have been many reports of unruly tenants given licence to terrorise neighbours, properties bought and left vacant, and the state agency paying above market rates in competition ...21 hours ago
- How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?Bryce Edwards writes – It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result ...21 hours ago
- Gordon Campbell on the privatising of state housing provision, by stealthThe scathing “independent” review of Kāinga Ora barely hit the table before the coalition government had acted on it. The entire Kāinga Ora board will be replaced, and a new chair (Simon Moutter) has been announced. Hmm. No aspersions on Bill English, but the public would have had more confidence ...23 hours ago
- Our House.I'll light the fireYou place the flowers in the vaseThat you bought todayA warm dry home, you’d think that would be bread and butter to politicians. Home ownership and making sure people aren’t left living on the street, that’s as Kiwi as Feijoa and Apple Crumble. Isn’t it?The coalition are ...23 hours ago
- Getting to NoPolitics is about compromise, right? And framing it so the voters see your compromise as the better one. John Key was a skilful exponent of this approach (as was Keith Holyoake in an earlier age), and Chris Luxon isn’t too bad either. But in politics, the process whereby an old ...1 day ago
- At a glance – How does the Medieval Warm Period compare to current global temperatures?On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?
It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result of his non-disclosure could even see ...2 days ago - Get your story straight, buddy
The relentless drone coming out of the Prime Minister and his deputy for a million days now has been that the last government was just hosing money all over the show and now at last the grownups are in charge and shutting that drunken sailor stuff down. There is a word ...2 days ago - A govt plane is headed for New Caledonia – here’s hoping the Kiwis stranded there get better ser...Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to riot-torn New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. Today’s flight will carry around 50 passengers with the most ...2 days ago
- Who is David MacLeod?
Precious declaration saysYours is yours and mine you leave alone nowPrecious declaration saysI believe all hope is dead no longerTick tick tick Boom!Unexploded ordnance. A veritable minefield. A National caucus with a large number of unknowns, candidates who perhaps received little in the way of vetting as the party jumped ...2 days ago - The Four KnightsRex Ahdar writes – The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, likes to trace his political lineage back to the pioneers of parliamentary Maoridom. I will refer to these as the ‘big four’ or better still, the Four Knights. Just as ...2 days ago
- Could Willie Jackson be the populist leader that Labour need?Bryce Edwards writes – Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper ...2 days ago
- Unacceptable
That is the only way to describe an MP "forgetting" to declare $178,000 in donations. The amount of money involved - more than five times the candidate spending cap, and two and a half times the median income - is boggling. How do you just "forget" that amount of money? ...2 days ago - Justice for Gaza!It finally happened: the International Criminal Court prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza: The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court has said he is seeking arrest warrants for senior Hamas and Israeli officials for war crimes and ...2 days ago
- Media Link: AVFA on the implications of US elections.
In this week’s “A View from Afar” podcast Selwyn Manning and spoke about the upcoming US elections and what the possibility of another Trump presidency means for the US role in world affairs. We also spoke about the problems Joe … Continue reading ...2 days ago - Web of Chaos, Secret Dolphins & Monster Truck Madness
Hi,Two years ago I briefly featured in Justin Pemberton’s Web of Chaos documentary, which touched on things like QAnon during the pandemic.I mostly prattled on about how intertwined conspiracy narratives are with Evangelical Christian thinking, something Webworm’s explored in the past.(The doc is available on TVNZ+, if you’re not in ...2 days ago - How Government’s road obsession is ruining Auckland’s transport plans“TL;DR: The reality is that Central Government’s transport policy and direction makes zero sense for Auckland, and if the draft GPS doesn’t change from its original form, then Auckland will be on a collision course with Wellington.” Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is now out for consultation, ...2 days ago
- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Tuesday, May 21The Government is leaving the entire construction sector and the community housing sector in limbo. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government released the long-awaited Bill English-led review of Kāinga Ora yesterday, but delayed key decisions on its build plan and how to help community housing providers (CHPs) build ...2 days ago
- Climate change is affecting mental health literally everywhereThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Farmers who can’t sleep, worrying they’ll lose everything amid increasing drought. Youth struggling with depression over a future that feels hopeless. Indigenous people grief-stricken over devastated ecosystems. For all these people and more, climate change is taking a clear toll ...2 days ago
- The Ambassador and Luxon – eye to eyeNew Zealand’s relationship with China is becoming harder to define, and with that comes a worry that a deteriorating political relationship could spill over into the economic relationship. It is about more than whether New Zealand will join Pillar Two of Aukus, though the Chinese Ambassador, more or less, suggested ...2 days ago
- Fast track to environmental degradation
Been hoping we would see something like this from Sir Geoffrey Palmer. This is excellent.The present Bill goes further than the National Development Act 1979 in stripping away procedures designed to ensure that environmental issues are properly considered. The 1979 approach was not acceptable then and this present approach is ...2 days ago - Leading Labour Off The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
He’s Got The Moxie: Only Willie Jackson possesses the credentials to meld together a new Labour message that is, at one and the same moment, staunchly working-class, union-friendly, and which speaks to the hundreds-of-thousands of urban Māori untethered to the neo-tribal capitalist elites of the Iwi Leaders Forum.IT’S ONE OF THE ...3 days ago - Priority is given to powerlines – govt strikes another blow for the economy while Jones fends off ...Tree-huggers may well accuse the Government of giving them the fingers, after Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced new measures to protect powerlines from trees, rather than measures to protect trees from powerlines. It can be no coincidence, surely, that this has been announced at the same as Fisheries Minister Shane Jones ...3 days ago
- Climate Change: The question we need to be askingOne of National's first actions in government was to dismantle climate change policy, scrapping the clean car discount and overturning the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry, which had given us Aotearoa's biggest-ever emissions reduction. But there's an obvious problem: we needed those emissions reductions to meet our carbon budgets: ...3 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: Could Willie Jackson be the populist leader that Labour need?Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper who could take over the Labour ...3 days ago
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- The Huge Potential Benefits of Charter SchoolsAlwyn Poole writes – In New Zealand we have approximately 460 high schools. The gaps between the schools that produce the best results for students and those at the other end of the spectrum are enormous.In terms of the data for their leavers, the top 30 schools have ...3 days ago
- Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be ...3 days ago
- Thinking About The Property Rights In Resource Decisions As Well As Transaction Costswrites – The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Israel’s Political Split, And The New Caledonia CrisisThe split opening up in Israel’s “War Cabinet” is not just between PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his long-term rival Benny Gantz. It is actually a three-way split, set in motion by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. It was Gallant’s open criticism of Netanyahu that finally flushed Gantz out into the open. ...3 days ago
- After much debate, the Auckland Future Fund was approved. So what should it be used for?On Thursday 17 May, the Mayoral Proposal for Auckland’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034 was passed by Auckland Council, 20 to 1. It is set to be formally adopted by the Governing Body at its June 27th meeting. The entire process took 8 hours, with the vast majority of that time ...3 days ago
- The State of the Planet with Chlöe & Marama.
Pakanga o muaTukua, ka ngaroPuritia taku ringaNgaro ana te ara ki pae rauThere's a battle aheadMany battles are lostBut you'll never see the end of the roadWhile you're travelling with meLate yesterday morning I headed to Wynyard Quarter to see Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick give their pre-budget State of ...3 days ago - It’s up to Willis nowMaybe the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister expected the worst, so they mounted a stout defence of the Budget tax cuts to their party faithful at a party conference over the weekend. In turn, they were greeted with applause, which, though it may have been less than wildly enthusiastic, ...3 days ago
- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #20A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 12, 2024 thru Sat, May 18, 2024. Story of the week “The legislation I signed today [will] keep windmills off our beaches, gas in our tanks, and ...3 days ago
- Bernard’s pick ‘n’ mix 6 @ 6:06am on Sunday, May 19
TL;DR: Here’s six links that stood out to me in the last day in Aotearoa’s political economy to 6:06am on Sunday, May 19:Aotearoa-NZ is the seventh worst in the OECD’s homelessness rankings, just behind the United States and just ahead of Australia. BlackRock thinks rate hikes actually worsen inflation because ...4 days ago - Lords of the flies
4 days ago - Fact Brief – Does breathing contribute to CO2 buildup in the atmosphere?Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does breathing contribute to CO2 ...5 days ago
- Is it time to take the Interislander away from Kiwirail?David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: KiwiRail’s seemingly endless requests for more money is damning. At one point, KiwiRail assured Robertson when he was the Finance Minister that the worst-case scenario would be an extra $300 million before requesting $1.2 billion a few months later. Not what most people ...5 days ago
- Behind Blue Eyes.
No one knows what it's likeTo be the bad manTo be the sad manBehind blue eyesNo one knows what it's likeTo be hatedTo be fatedTo telling only liesHave you ever wondered what life must be like for Mike Hosking? Seeing things in black and white through blue tinted specs? In ...5 days ago - Road food
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two week’s editions.Share More Than A FeildingBike bling, London Read more ...5 days ago - Some Reader Feedback For Your Weekend
Hi,I think we all made it through another week — congratulations. I’ve been digesting the new Arab Strap record, which is astonishing. In other news, I’m going to be doing a Webworm popup in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday July 13. I’ll bring a bunch of merch, and some other ...5 days ago - Thinking About the Property Rights in Resource Decisions As Well As Transaction Costs.
The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am going to explore the Bill from the perspective of its proponents with their ...6 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be shooting the proposal in the foot. ...6 days ago
- Seymour appeals to PPTA to call off meetings on charter schools – but does he seriously believe he...Buzz from the Beehive Associate Education Minister David Seymour is urging the PostPrimary Teachers Association to put learning ahead of ideology. He wants the union leaders to call off their teachers meetings around the country where they hope to muster the strength to undo the government’s plans to establish several ...6 days ago
- Police don’t fight crimeWhat are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...6 days ago
- Two central banksMichael Reddell writes – I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...6 days ago
- TVNZ hīkoi documentary needs a sequel
Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...6 days ago - The missing Green MPDavid Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...6 days ago
- The contest for the future heart and soul of the Labour PartyPeter Dunne writes – It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...6 days ago
- Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the GovtBryce Edwards writes – It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...6 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the psychological horror film PossessionThis is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...6 days ago
- Portrait of a Man.
I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...6 days ago - The Hoon around the week to May 17Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...6 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 17-May-2024We’re at the end of another week. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked if the Herald’s poor journalism will cost lives On Tuesday Matt covered Wayne Brown’s proposal for public transport in the Long ...6 days ago
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- Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live
Photo by Marino Linic on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...7 days ago - The thrilling possibilities of charter schools
You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...7 days ago - This Unreasonable Government.Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...7 days ago
- Supreme Court weighs in on name suppression
Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...7 days ago - Is This A “Merchants” Government?The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...7 days ago
- This is what corruption looks likeWhen National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants: On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...7 days ago
- Take that, Vladimir – and be warned: we have plenty more sanctions (at least, we hope so) in our ...Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point. Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...7 days ago
- More Harm Than Good.How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...7 days ago
- The Ombudsman fails againIn 2020, the Operation Burnham inquiry reported back, finding that NZDF had lied to Ministers and the New Zealand public about its actions in Afghanistan. The inquiry saw a large number of documents declassified and released, which raised another problem: whether they had also lied to the Ombudsman in his ...7 days ago
- No Time To Think: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.“Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...7 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the GovtIt’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...7 days ago
- Release: Time to make stalking a crime
Following a horrific case of stalking that ended in tragedy, Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen has drafted a bill that would add stalking to the Crimes Act. ...18 hours ago - $24 million for free mental health counselling for young kiwis
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give ...20 hours ago - Release: Strong support for disability fundingTwo thirds of Kiwis in a new poll want funding flexibility reinstated for disabled people and carers. ...21 hours ago
- Petition launched to save Māori babies and their right to be with whakapapaTe Pāti Māori have launched a petition to stop the repeal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. This announcement comes prior to the first reading of the Section 7AA repeal bill in Parliament today. “Section 7AA forces the Government to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi with respect ...2 days ago
- Government introduces Bill to roll back Māori Wards
The Green Party has sounded the alarm over the Government’s introduction of legislation to remove Māori Wards and roll back years of progress. ...2 days ago - Release: Pre-Budget Speech: Barbara Edmonds...2 days ago
- Release: Another announcement, still no funding for more public housesThe Government has yet again failed to do the one thing that needs to happen to ensure houses can be built – commit to ongoing funding, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...2 days ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...3 days ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...3 days ago
- Release: Treasury advice show flaws in Fast Track Approvals BillTreasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...3 days ago
- State of the Planet speeches, 2024Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick used this year's State of the Planet to call on the Government to prioritise people and planet as the delivery of the Budget approaches. A full transcript of their speeches can be found below. ...4 days ago
- State of the Planet: Government must be guided by values not moneyGreen Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have used their State of the Planet speeches to challenge the Government to prioritise people and planet over profit as the delivery of the Budget approaches. ...4 days ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ speech: New Zealand in 2040 – A vision worth fighting for...5 days ago
- Release: 4,500 jobs lost – and countingMore than 4,500 jobs are set to go as the National Government continues its deep cuts to services to pay for irresponsible and ill-timed tax cuts. ...6 days ago
- No-cause evictions leave no hope for rentersThe Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Release: National winding back mental health workThe Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...1 week ago
- Government ignorant of evidence in neglect of tamarikiToday’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...1 week ago
- Gang policy setting communities up for failureThe Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...1 week ago
- Statement from police spokesperson Ginny Andersen“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...1 week ago
- Charter schools not a serious solutionWe need serious investment and solutions into our education system, not a vanity project from David Seymour. ...1 week ago
- Release: Ideological charter schools won’t increase achievementThe Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...1 week ago
- Release: Visas needed for Palestinians with family in New ZealandThe Government must show some compassion and create a special visa to allow Palestinians with family in New Zealand to be reunited with them here. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt’s stubbornness will harm Māori childrenGovernment has remained stubborn and is ramming its Bill into the House today, which the Waitangi Tribunal has said will hurt vulnerable children. ...1 week ago
- ‘Lucky dip’ process too casual for hearing critical submissions on Fast Track approvals billTe Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...1 week ago
- New Zealand First Member’s Bill to protect women’s spacesToday New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Support for climate adaptation inquiryLabour supports a Notice of Motion in the House today to move the Finance and Expenditure Committee to conduct an inquiry on climate adaptation. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome cross-party approach to climate adaptationThe Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Sexual violence prevention among hundreds of job cuts at ACCThe National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...2 weeks ago
- Government shows allergy to evidence in benefits crackdownThe Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...2 weeks ago
- Minister of Finance reheats austerity politicsThis morning’s pre-Budget speech from the Minister of Finance offered no “meaningful” news on the Government’s trickle-down economics based plans. ...2 weeks ago
- A win for Wellington – Greens welcome more housingThe Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Backtrack on school lunches a win for Kiwi kidsDavid Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Hon Willie Jackson to debate at the Prestigious Oxford UnionHon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...2 weeks ago
- Members Bill will prevent Māori land confiscationsGreen Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...2 weeks ago
- TIKANGA IS NOT LAW. IT IS CULTURAL INDOCTRINATION.A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National won’t commit to full Nelson Hospital upgradeThe Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for fast track list to be releasedMinisters must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Government invests in 1,500 more social homes
The coalition Government is investing in social housing for New Zealanders who are most in need of a warm dry home, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. Budget 2024 will allocate $140 million in new funding for 1,500 new social housing places to be provided by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), not ...19 hours ago - $24 million boost for Gumboot FridayThousands more young New Zealanders will have better access to mental health services as the Government delivers on its commitment to fund the Gumboot Friday initiative, says Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. “Budget 2024 will provide $24 million over four years to contract the ...24 hours ago
- Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill passes first readingThe Coalition Government’s Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, which will improve tenancy laws and help increase the supply of rental properties, has passed its first reading in Parliament says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The Bill proposes much-needed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that will remove barriers to increasing private ...1 day ago
- Montecassino Commemorative Address, Cassino War CemeteryStanding here in Cassino War Cemetery, among the graves looking up at the beautiful Abbey of Montecassino, it is hard to imagine the utter devastation left behind by the battles which ended here in May 1944. Hundreds of thousands of shells and bombs of every description left nothing but piled ...1 day ago
- First Reading – Repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989I present a legislative statement on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill Mr. Speaker, I move that the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Social Services and Community Committee to consider the Bill. Thank you, Mr. ...2 days ago
- First reading of 7AA’s repeal: progress for childrenThe Bill to repeal Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has had its first reading in Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the care and safety of children in care, says Minister for Children Karen Chhour. “When I became the Minister for Children, I made ...2 days ago
- China Business Summit 2024Kia ora koutou, good morning, and zao shang hao. Thank you Fran for the opportunity to speak at the 2024 China Business Summit – it’s great to be here today. I’d also like to acknowledge: Simon Bridges - CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. His Excellency Ambassador - Wang ...2 days ago
- Assisted depatures from New CaledoniaForeign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. “New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days - and bringing ...2 days ago
- Assisted departures from New CaledoniaForeign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. “New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days - and bringing them ...2 days ago
- Government to rollout roadside drug testingThe Coalition Government will introduce legislation this year that will enable roadside drug testing as part of our commitment to improve road safety and restore law and order, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand. In ...3 days ago
- Minister responds to review of Kāinga OraThe Government has announced a series of immediate actions in response to the independent review of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “Kāinga Ora is a large and important Crown entity, with assets of $45 billion and over $2.5 billion of expenditure each year. It ...3 days ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelvesAssociate Health Minister David Seymour is pleased that Pseudoephedrine can now be purchased by the general public to protect them from winter illness, after the coalition government worked swiftly to change the law and oversaw a fast approval process by Medsafe. “Pharmacies are now putting the medicines back on their ...3 days ago
- New Zealand-China Business SummitTēnā koutou katoa. Da jia hao. Good morning everyone. Prime Minister Luxon, your excellency, a great friend of New Zealand and my friend Ambassador Wang, Mayor of what he tells me is the best city in New Zealand, Wayne Brown, the highly respected Fran O’Sullivan, Champion of the Auckland business ...3 days ago
- New measures to protect powerlines from treesEnergy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...5 days ago
- Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani win top Māori dairy farming awardWairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...5 days ago
- DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...6 days ago
- District Court Judges appointedAttorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...6 days ago
- Unions should put learning ahead of ideologyAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...6 days ago
- Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMACommerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...6 days ago
- Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguardSurf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...6 days ago
- New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationshipNew Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...7 days ago
- New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New CaledoniaNew Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...7 days ago
- New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of StatePrime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...7 days ago
- Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card fundingTransport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...7 days ago
- Further sanctions against RussiaForeign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...7 days ago
- One year on from Loafers LodgeA year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...1 week ago
- Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business ChamberKa nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...1 week ago
- New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaborationNew Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...1 week ago
- Penk travels to Peru for trade meetingsMinister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...1 week ago
- Minister attends global education conferencesMinister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...1 week ago
- Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA ChairMinister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...1 week ago
- Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call FoundationNew Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...1 week ago
- Panel announced for review into disability servicesDistinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...1 week ago
- Minister welcomes Police gang unitToday’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...1 week ago
- New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoricForeign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...1 week ago
- New Chief of Defence Force appointedAir Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...1 week ago
- Government puts children first by repealing 7AALegislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...1 week ago
- Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, ItalyDefence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...1 week ago
- Charter schools to lift educational outcomesThe upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...1 week ago
- COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...1 week ago
- The sudden death of the first home grant
The agency was found to be underperforming and ‘not financially viable’, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Well that didn’t take long. On Tuesday night, Newshub’s Jenna Lynch reported that the government was poised to scrap the first home ...2 hours ago - Budget 2024: A novice's guide and what to expect
With one week to go, this handy-dandy cheat sheet will bring you up to speed on Budget jargon and allow you to impress all your friends. ...2 hours ago - Successful city parks make diverse communities feel safe and welcome − this Minnesota park is an e...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Trudeau, Professor of Geography, Macalester College ‘Meditation,’ by Lei Yixin, near the picnic pavilion in Lake Phalen Regional Park City of Saint Paul, CC BY-ND What makes a city a good place to live? Practical features are important, such as well-maintained ...2 hours ago - First homes grant scrapped: 'It sets you back'A prospective first-home buyer says he is gutted the government has scrapped the First Homes Grants scheme, and fears he'll now miss out on the house he was looking at. ...3 hours ago
- Christchurch homeowner's house featured in social housing postA Christchurch homeowner was shocked to see her house featured in an Instagram post by Housing Minister Chris Bishiop and other National MPs about building more social housing. ...4 hours ago
- Dozens of free budgeting services face closure after missing out on fundingA third of the country's free budgeting services face closure during a cost of living crisis, after missing out on the latest round of government funding. ...4 hours ago
- The real meaning of tax reliefThere’s a reason why National prefers the phrase to the more standard – and accurate – ‘tax cuts’, writes Max Rashbrooke. The American pollster and strategist Frank Luntz is famous – or infamous, depending on your point of view – for coining the phrase “death tax” to describe estate duties. ...4 hours ago
- Jemaine Clement’s new comedy band could be great – but opening night was a disasterReview: Goth 2 A Flame, the new musical comedy act by Jemaine Clement and Jonny Brugh, shares the same magic that made Flight of the Conchords world famous. But their debut performance fell well short. Twenty-eight years ago, Jemaine Clement first performed at Wellington’s BATS Theatre alongside Bret McKenzie in ...4 hours ago
- The swathe of mysterious Belt and Road agreements
NZ’s stance on China’s Belt and Road is purposefully vague, and it’s leading to contradictions between the country’s foreign policy and locally signed agreements The post The swathe of mysterious Belt and Road agreements appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago - Daily crossword, Thursday 23 MayThe post Daily crossword, Thursday 23 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- A brief history of racist lawOver half of Fragile Foundations, a new history of criminal trials in New Zealand before 1907 by former Solicitor-General and Court of Appeal judge David Collins, is devoted specifically to how English criminal law impacted on Māori communities. Prior to 1840 tikanga was the law of the land. Māori who ...4 hours ago
- Govt paid Kāinga Ora reviewers out of urgent housing fundBuried deep in Cabinet papers released with Sir Bill English’s radical review of Kāinga Ora is a two-line table that stood out like the proverbial canine’s family jewels. The table, from the minutes of the Cabinet 100-day Plan Committee’s meeting on December 13, shows approval for a “fiscally neutral adjustment” ...4 hours ago
- Government accidentally killed off loan sharks, review findsLending provisions introduced in 2020 wanted to cut the number of ‘high-cost’ loans by 40 percent, but none were issued last year. The post Government accidentally killed off loan sharks, review finds appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Pacific Island delegations are not junketsOpinion: Overseas MP delegations provide a rare chance for engagement on subjects often missing on the official agenda The post Pacific Island delegations are not junkets appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 23 MayLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,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, Thursday 23 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- The deal with charter schoolsBy the time term one starts next year up to 35 state schools will be open as charter schools, six years after the model was abolished the first time around. They have just six months to get ready for the change but even the old charter schools haven’t decided whether ...4 hours ago
- Failed entrepreneur resurfaces with bold business claimsA property development in Waimate, a global parallel import syndicate, a silo, and a resin factory. The disgraced entrepreneur Evan Price is back. The post Failed entrepreneur resurfaces with bold business claims appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Too many public servants isn’t the problemOpinion: Did we really have too many public servants loitering in the back office? The Government will have felt justified in trimming back the numbers, especially those whose evidence it no longer wished to consider or whose findings it no longer wished to hear. It may have even led to ...4 hours ago
- Vanuatu minister calls for referendum voters in spite of Nouméa crisisBy Tensly Sumbe Vanuatu’s Elections Minister Johnny Koanapo is urging every Ni-Vanuatu person living in New Caledonia to take part in the upcoming vote for the national referendum next Wednesday. He highlighted that the current situation in New Caledonia presented exceptional circumstances that could impact on people’s participation on polling ...7 hours ago
- Solidarity action group calls on NZ to support Kanak, Papuan independenceAsia Pacific Report A New Zealand solidarity action group has called on the New Zealand government to back indigenous independence calls in the Pacific and press both France to grant Kanaks sovereignty and Indonesia to end its rule in West Papua. Catherine Delahunty, a former Green Party MP and spokesperson ...8 hours ago
- Journalists challenge PNG government over ‘media control’ policyBy Stephen Wright of BenarNews The Papua New Guinea government’s push for news organisations to become its cheer-leading squad is under further scrutiny this week as Parliament hears testimony from journalists and top officials. The effort to wield influence over the news, first announced last year as a “media development ...10 hours ago
- Stringent criteria blamed for lower than expected uptake of first home buyer grants"A lot of criteria, a lot of boxes to be ticked" is said to be part of the reason. ...11 hours ago
- NZ Refugee Ahmed Zaoui Languishes In Jail In Algeria, No Trial Date On The Horizon
The New Zealand refugee and political activist was arrested at gunpoint in October. ...13 hours ago - PCE Condemns Govt’s Property Rights Approach To Environmental ProtectionGreenpeace Aotearoa says that it’s clear the Government’s approach to environmental policies is actively harming nature after the release of the Going With the Grain report today by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE). ...13 hours ago
- New Zealand Needs To Confront The Challenges Of Land Use ChangeGoing with the grain: Changing land uses to fit a changing landscape, sets out the multiple environmental problems facing rural New Zealand and makes suggestions on how to approach the land use change needed to prevent further degradation. ...13 hours ago
- Are some routes more prone to air turbulence? Will climate change make it worse? Your questions answ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Doug Drury, Professor/Head of Aviation, CQUniversity Australia Trinity Moss/Unsplash A little bit of turbulence is a common experience for air travellers. Severe incidents are rare – but when they occur they can be deadly. The recent Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from ...13 hours ago
- How risky is turbulence on a plane? How worried should I be?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Melnikov Dmitriy/Shutterstock The Singapore Airlines turbulence incident that has sadly left one person dead and others hospitalised has made many of us think about the risks of air travel. We’ll hear more in coming ...13 hours ago
- Labor takes a hit in Resolve polls in Queensland and VictoriaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted over four months from February ...14 hours ago
- Chickens, ducks, seals and cows: a dangerous bird flu strain is knocking on Australia’s doorSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne A dangerous strain of avian influenza (bird flu) is now wreaking havoc on every continent except Australia and the rest of Oceania. While we remain free from this virus for now, it’s only ...14 hours ago
- Chickens, ducks, seals and cows: a dangerous bird flu strain is everywhere but Australia, for nowSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne A dangerous strain of avian influenza (bird flu) is now wreaking havoc on every continent except Australia and the rest of Oceania. While we remain free from this virus for now, it’s only ...14 hours ago
- NZ Students Join Global Campus ProtestsThis nationwide protest expresses our unapologetic solidarity with Palestinians and our commitment to the Palestinian struggle for liberation. We refuse to be silent or complicit in genocide, and we reject all forms of cooperation between our institutions ...14 hours ago
- Oranga Tamariki warned of legal action if job cuts delay release of victims' recordsA law firm that works with survivors of abuse in state care says job cuts will further slow down the release of victims' records. ...16 hours ago
- Age verification for social media would impact all of us. We asked parents and kids if they actually...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Humphry, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, University of Sydney Shutterstock This month the Australian government announced a A$6.5 million commitment to trial an age-verification program that will restrict children’s exposure to inappropriate online content, including pornography and potentially social media. ...16 hours ago
- Age verification for porn and social media would impact all of us. We asked parents and kids if they...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Humphry, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, University of Sydney Shutterstock This month the Australian government announced a A$6.5 million commitment to trial an age-verification program that will restrict children’s exposure to inappropriate online content, including pornography and potentially social media. ...17 hours ago
- ‘France lost the plot’ – journalist David Robie on Kanaky New Caledonia riotsBy Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Liberation “must come” for Kanaky New Caledonia, says one of the few New Zealand journalists who have worked consistently on stories across the French Pacific territories. Journalist David Robie was arrested at gunpoint by French police in January 1987, and is no stranger to ...17 hours ago
- Someone must front cost of land-use changes to protect environment, report warnsSomeone will have to front the cost of land-use changes necessary to protect the environment, the government's top environmental advisor warns. ...17 hours ago
- Worried your address, birth date or health data is being sold? You should be – and the law isn’t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katharine Kemp, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney Jevanto Productions/Shutterstock Australians don’t know and can’t control how data brokers are spreading their personal information. This is the core finding of a newly released report from the Australian Competition ...18 hours ago
- Telstra says slashing almost a tenth of its workforce will help save $350 million. Why is the busine...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University On Tuesday, Telstra announced it will be cutting up to 2,800 jobs as part of a major restructure. Of these layoffs, 377 will take effect immediately from within the Telstra Enterprise ...18 hours ago
- Government confirms First Home Grants to be scrappedBut Housing Minister Chris Bishop has also announced $140 million in new funding for 1500 new social housing places from July next year. ...19 hours ago
- Reserve Bank holds official cash rate at 5.5 percentThe central bank has not moved the rate since May last year. ...19 hours ago
- He won Indonesia’s election in a landslide. Now, backroom meetings and horse-trading will determin...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Sherlock, Visiting Fellow, Department of Political and Social Change, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, won February’s presidential election in a landslide victory of nearly 59% of the nationwide vote, more than double ...19 hours ago
- ‘I’m looking for a man in finance’: how a sampled sound bite can turn a dance track into an ea...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Byron, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wollongong “I’m looking for a man in finance,” the TikTok user, @girl_on_couch, says blandly, looking around the room and then into the camera. “Trust fund. 6’5. Blue eyes. Finance.” In the caption, she urges someone ...19 hours ago
- ‘Anyone who’s written one will tell you…’: Jo Pearson on the picture book that nails itWelcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Jo Pearson, illustrator of Five Wee Pūteketeke (written by Nicola Toki) and owner of children’s bookshop and studio Pictura in Port Chalmers, Ōtepoti. The book I wish I’d written I Want my Hat Back by ...19 hours ago
- Don’t eat that! Food recalls, explainedWhat happens when contaminated food accidentally makes it onto consumers’ shelves? Shanti Mathias explains the process of food recalls. A small sign at the supermarket announcing a problem with a product you’ve never heard of in your life might be all you ever hear of a food recall. Or maybe, ...20 hours ago
- RSF calls on French authorities to guarantee journalist safety in Kanaky New CaledoniaPacific Media WatchThe Paris-based global media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for guaranteed safety for journalists in the French Pacific territory of Kanaky New Capedonia after an increase in intimidation, threats, obstruction and attacks against them. After a week of violence that broke out in the capital ...21 hours ago
- Diddy is just the latest in a long line of musical abusers. How should fans respond?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University The perennial question of what to do with musicians and their work when they are found to have been abusive has arisen again this week, as distressing video footage of rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs ...21 hours ago
- How much have First Home Grants really been helping buyers?They look like they're on the way out, but how much difference were they making? ...21 hours ago
- Strong Support For Disability FundingTwo thirds of Kiwis in a new poll want funding flexibility reinstated for disabled people and carers. ...21 hours ago
- Former justice minister Kiri Allan pleads guilty to crash chargesThe former justice minister was charged with careless driving and failing to accompany a police officer after a late-night crash. ...22 hours ago
- Greens Justice Spokesperson, Academics To Protest MegaprisonWHAT: Prison abolitionist community group People Against Prisons Aotearoa has called for a demonstration to protest the Government’s announcement of a $1.9 billion megaprison in Waikeria. The protest will call for the Government to cancel the prison ...22 hours ago
- If you want to actually help people in Gaza, don’t just block celebs. Do BDSSocial media stars are being targeted by a campaign aimed at drawing attention to the bombing of Palestinian civilians. Gabi Lardies looks at what the ‘blockout’ hopes to achieve, and the alternative way to boycott. On May 6, celebrities flocked to the Met Gala wearing tulle, crystals, lace and lamé. ...22 hours ago
- Government killing homeownership dreams, giving billions to landlords – Chris HipkinsThe government talks of funding social housing, while criticising Labour's spending on the same, its leader says. ...23 hours ago
- Coalition confirms $24m for Gumboot Friday charity I Am HopeThe move comes a week ahead of Budget 2024 and meets a commitment set out in coalition agreements. ...23 hours ago
- Turning the outback into post-apocalyptic wasteland: what Mad Max films tell us about filming in the...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melanie Ashe, PhD Candidate, School of Media, Film & Journalism, Monash University Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures The Mad Max films are set in an arid, barren, post-apocalyptic world known in the movies as “the wasteland”. This is a world of ...24 hours ago
- Lost: one police pistol, last seen high above a Manawatū weed patchNew Zealand police have a lot of guns, and every year one or two are briefly misplaced. Oscar Francis reports on an official investigation into a singularly striking case, that of a helicopter-borne constable who dropped their pistol into an illegal cannabis plantation. You know how sometimes you find yourself ...24 hours ago
- Mental Health Groups Call For Urgent Investment In Open Letter To MinisterAn alliance of mental health organisations is urging the Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey and the Coalition Government to invest in the Aotearoa New Zealand’s mental health system in an open letter. ...1 day ago
- We tracked secret Russian missile launchers in Ukraine using public satellite dataSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Bartley, Postdoctoral Fellow, RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, RMIT University In the occupied far east of Ukraine, Russian forces are aiming waves of missiles against Ukrainian civilian targets. Each of Russia’s state-of-the-art missile launch systems costs more than ...1 day ago
- Underage vaping is on the rise: here’s how young New Zealanders are finding it so easy to accessSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna DeMello, Research Fellow, University of Otago Getty Images Despite measures to reduce young people’s access to vapes, many countries are recording rising use by underage adolescents, especially since refillable “pod mods” and disposable devices have become widely available. In ...1 day ago
- Exercise, therapy and diet can all improve life during cancer treatment and boost survival. Here’s...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock With so many high-profile people diagnosed with cancer we are confronted with the stark reality the disease can strike any of us at any time. There are also ...1 day ago
- Education Ministry takes charge of school expansions as companies lose faith in PPP modelThe Education Ministry has taken back the job of financing, designing and building several school expansions, after companies said the public-private-partnership approach was too difficult. ...1 day ago
- Why Tauranga is going to the polls a year earlyBarring an unplanned byelection, the July 20 council election will be our only major election of the year, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...1 day ago
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Starting the lettuce countdown on US Speaker Johnson now the Ukraine package has a successful vote.
The truss tomato had a chance against the lettuce, the market is sometimes for turning, but the 112 who voted against the legislation may not be.
I think that mocking him by comparing his actions to those of Truss are terribly mistaken.
He is willing to give up the role of Speaker in order to do something that he believes to be right. If he loses the Speaker's job then so what?
If only we had more politicians like him.
Oh you propose Mike Johnson for nobility?
Mike Johnson of Louisiana has bragged that he doesn't believe in the climate crisis – even though his home state has been ravaged by it.
He is comprehensively against abortion in fact calling it "An American Holocaust".
He has repeatedly voted against aid to Ukraine. Apart from today,
He stridently opposes LGBTQ rights believing that gay rights would enable people to marry their pets.
He was also one of the architects to overturn the 2020 election. That means that the official second in line to the presidency “violated his oath to the constitution and tried to disenfranchise four states”, as the writer Marcy Wheeler neatly put it. He helped lead a legal effort to reverse the results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Johnson is bottom-feeding scum and his career should die n a ditch.
He has repeatedly voted against aid to Ukraine. …
You mean public aid for the armaments industry, the only people to derive any benefit from this proxy war. You seem to be on the same wavelength as Senator Lindsey Graham, who declared in January last year: "I like the path we're on. With American weapons and money, Ukraine will fight Russia to the last Ukrainian."
https://twitter.com/colonelhomsi/status/1609642934244200448?lang=en
Russia's army has killed over 20,000 Ukrainians, 1,200 of whom were children. Russia's army has also captured a further 28,000 Ukrainians. Those deaths were caused by Russian armaments through the Russian armed attack on Ukraine.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293492/ukraine-war-casualties
The only thing holding Russia back from conquering the entire of Ukraine is US and EU armament deliveries. And yes that requires the US and EU to pay armaments manufacturers.
There's New Zealand and Australian funding and armaments that go into that as well. Good use of my taxpayer dollar as well.
But there’s no need to take my word for it, when you can hear Zelynsky’s appreciation:
“We appreciate every manifestation of support for our state and our independence, our people and our lives, which Russia wants to bury in ruins.”
“Certainly, we will use American support to strengthen both our nations and bring a just end to this war – a war that Putin must lose.”
He added that the U.S. had “showed its leadership from the first days of the war.”
https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-u-s-house-passes-61-billion-ukraine-aid-bill/
The only thing NATO armaments can and have achieved is to put Ukraine in a demographic death spiral. Prolonging the fighting has gradually lost territory for at best a delayed settlement.
It's unfortunate NATO misscalculated and Russia reacted of course but at that point there is only so much to do which won't risk nuclear conflict. A sane super power (like the Kennedy administration) would have sought a truce by now.
May you never be asked to defend yourself.
If you do ever piss off David Tua don't try to settle it in the ring.
Which nations have lost territory since the UN has formed – providing collective security (includes border integrity)?
A UN rule since 1949 has been to not recognise territory gain made by war. This is based on the law of contract – no forced consent. Thus Russia could only gain Ukraine territory by their consent without any prior use of force or occupation.
A policy designed to deter military aggression.
That a UNSC member is engaged in this action should be seen as ground for expulsion from that body.
The Russian action is of the 1930's scale – Italy in Ethiopia and Japan in China etc. That broke the League of Nations.
It's unfortunate but UN procedures have little impact on super powers (even Russia). I'm perfectly ok with sanctions being applied to Russia beyond the end of the conflict, but at present the US is just mandating the sacrifice of Ukrainian's in it's supposed US geo-political interests.
The main reason I give for Zelensky still carrying on is he will likely be assassinated domestically if he tries to settle things. It's probably only the US which can broker a deal here, and they should repatriate him at that time.
It's unfortunate that Russia is ruled by a psychopath who cares not a jot for the suffering he causes in his quest to bring back the Soviet Union.
Johnson appears to have had his Road to Damascus moment.
His current actions certainly seem to show a change in at least some of his beliefs don't they?
From the Guardian we have the following
"“I am going to allow an opportunity for every single member of the House to vote their conscience and their will,” he said, adding: “I’m willing to take a personal risk for that, because we have to do the right thing. And history will judge us.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/20/republicans-ukraine-aid-package-congress
Can anyone point me to a decent, and preferably non partisan, analysis of what's changed politically, diplomatically or militarily to bring about Johnson's, and the House Republican's change on Ukraine.
The GOP members of the House voted 112-101 against the aid package.
Johnson has changed his mind and while he is Speaker that allows it to come to a vote.
There has always been enough votes for the aid, if it came to a vote.
He became Speaker after a prolonged uncertainty about agreement on the appointment, thus was averse to place the party or nation through that again by acting without GOP caucus united behind him – lest he had to resign and the party renew that process all over again.
A small minority will now call for a replacement – which might wake up Trump and have him leave a court room and put something on Truth Social.
Yeah, but what changed to make Johnson change his mind and force it to a vote.
Did some of the 101 that voted for it quietly threaten him with a vacate motion if he didn't? Just like MTG is threatening because he did.
Or has something fundamentally changed in American attitudes toward Ukraine, and / or Russia?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/21/us/politics/mike-johnson-turnaround.html
Jon Stewart considers the past 100 years in the ME
https://youtube.com/shorts/qM69_2lt0bw?si=ZPX3QikkdNRoKghn
Sparrows. Lately the usually prolific sparrows have disappeared. Bread tossed on the lawn stays until it rots. Has anyone else lost their sparrows. If they have died out then that would be a serious warning about food chains etc.
Could be a salmonella outbreak tends to run through a flock from time to time.
Scuddys are very prone to salmonella with their ground feeding, will wipe out the local population until others come in fill the gap.
But also they could have gone where the feeding was better. They could be off feeding off a farmer's seed paddock and will be back in a few weeks, rather plump, and wanting to know where their bread is.
Job sharing MP's.
It would make the hours workable for mothers and work life balance parenting fathers.
The two intend to work week on and week off – presumably this would be at the federal parliament and involve them using the same housing there (that requires the other to read up on matters before Select Committees while working as electorate MP – no caucus is involved in their case as "Independent").
An alternative would be to divide the job between MP in the electorate and MP in parliament.
A male claims one person doing all the work makes them the more committed candidate for the job (glass ceiling protection argument).
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/514844/bronwen-bock-and-lucy-bradlow-want-to-become-australia-s-first-job-sharing-mps
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/21/who-helps-with-the-emotional-toll-of-being-an-mp/
Because Republicans always stand up for the rights of ethnic minorities, right?
.
U.S. Congresswoman Suspected of Having “Russian Handlers” After Transcarpathia Amendment
[…]
Greene’s amendment included the following language: “No funding shall be made available to Ukraine unless restrictions on ethnic minorities’, including Hungarians in Transcarpathia, right to use their native languages in schools are lifted.”
Political pundit ‘Jay in Kyiv’ responded: “The amendment that Marjorie Taylor Greene just proposed to sabotage the Ukraine bill is something that is such a nuanced Russian disinfo narrative that it could have only come directly from her Russian handlers.
https://2paragraphs.com/2024/04/u-s-congresswoman-suspected-of-having-russian-handlers-after-transcarpathia-amendment/
In reply to Ianmac at 3.
Check the number of cats in your neighbourhood. As much as I love them, they are killing machines. Especially for small birds.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/04/calls-for-national-cat-act-after-entire-population-of-robins-wiped-out.html
Thanks Stephen. We have no cats but a couple stroll through as though they own the place. However, the sparrows who usually fly by or squat on nearby roofs are absent. I went on a 19 km bike ride today and watched out and saw but one. (I live in Blenheim by the way.)
I'd suspect they have been sidetracked by some farmer's seed crop that's just been harvested. Marlborough has a significant seed crop production, and the extent and verity of it can vary from year to year. They are most likely out of town feeding up.
Unfortunately there's also some rather unpleasant methods employed to keep birds off these crops before they are harvested.
Down here (Whakatipu) most of our birds are quite seasonal, heading off to better feed at various times of year.