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Comment: Bene bashing
Written By: Booker - Date published: 1:31 pm, June 1st, 2019
For once, I agree with Simon Bridges! His assessment of Maureen Pugh in that leaked phone conversation was actually spot on ;)Comment: The Treasury website hack that wasn’t
Written By: Booker - Date published: 11:52 am, May 31st, 2019
I haven't been proven wrong - a mock-up website, used as a backup and as a sandbox for making web edits, can often use the same indexing system as the live site. I've worked on websites with this same set-up. According the public info, this is how the ...Comment: The Treasury website hack that wasn’t
Written By: Booker - Date published: 11:22 pm, May 30th, 2019
It required them to do 2000 searches over 48 hrs to glean and paste together enough detail. Pity there’s no reporters with half a brain who thought this through and asked Bridges how many person-hours of labour went into their amazing “scoop” of revealing ...Comment: The Treasury website hack that wasn’t
Written By: Booker - Date published: 2:59 pm, May 30th, 2019
Well, now the actual budget is out, who cares about Bridges leak (apart from Bridges himself of course). Which comes back to what was the whole point of that fiasco anyway - revealing a few tidbits of information that were going to be made public (in fact, ...Comment: The Treasury website hack that wasn’t
Written By: Booker - Date published: 1:21 pm, May 30th, 2019
According to this article switching years in the url isn’t what happened: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/390846/budget-breach-didn-t-break-the-law-treasury They relied on searches turning up preview information in the search results, not switching ...Comment: The Treasury website hack that wasn’t
Written By: Booker - Date published: 9:43 am, May 30th, 2019
“the media spent all day talking about how Simon Bridges said Grant Robertson said one thing and Grant Robertson said he said no such thing” This is exactly why I’ve increasingly turned away from mainstream NZ media. There’s absolutely zero thought process ...Comment: The Treasury website hack that wasn’t
Written By: Booker - Date published: 9:33 am, May 30th, 2019
Don’t be stupid, someone with obvious malicious intent performs a dedicated 2000 searches to glean summary search results from a website and the head of the agency should lose their job?! I’ve worked on web design and work with a web team to update content ...Comment: Daily review 28/05/2019
Written By: Booker - Date published: 11:45 pm, May 28th, 2019
It’s good that treasury have been so onto it and figured out what happened quickly and put it out publicly, stops National in their tracks and days of media coverage of speculation.Comment: Parliament’s culture
Written By: Booker - Date published: 3:24 pm, May 22nd, 2019
I don’t see what the big disagreement is about - in fact, it seems that everyone is on the same page on what they want (the rapist reported to Police) just not how to get there. The problem is it’s a report where people were assured they could ...Comment: The Brady Papers
Written By: Booker - Date published: 7:16 pm, May 10th, 2019
Interesting post. I started reading the Magic Weapons paper in order to see what all this was about. I say started as I never mustered the strength to keep going. I work in science and have spent about half my life training in or working in a university ...Comment: CGT Dumped
Written By: Booker - Date published: 3:15 pm, April 17th, 2019
Oh no. Here I was being all happy with the the way the government has been governing and then this comes out of the blue. In my mind it’s the first major drop of the ball since they’ve been in power. The only upside is the National won’t be able to CGT dog ...Comment: Caption contest
Written By: Booker - Date published: 5:17 pm, April 16th, 2019
And we have a winner :)Comment: Tough, swift leadership needed to police social media
Written By: Booker - Date published: 8:05 am, April 10th, 2019
This is a bit harsh. Obviously the government are disgusted at the livestream and are well aware of needing to change the system. The Australian law has been described as law in paper only and unworkable in the real world. Passing something like that isn’t ...Comment: But, Rugby!
Written By: Booker - Date published: 9:24 am, April 8th, 2019
It’s not so much the name, as their mascots being guys dressed up in medieval gear, swinging swords and riding out on horseback. Even before the mosque attacks I’d see that and go “ummm...okayyy, whose idea was this?”Comment: The Gun Club 2
Written By: Booker - Date published: 11:40 am, March 2nd, 2019
I was curious what these six countries were that didn’t arm police, so followed the link, but the article is completely unrelated?Comment: ‘Taxpayers union’ – too ‘stupid’ to understand tax?
Written By: Booker - Date published: 9:46 am, February 26th, 2019
Thanks to The Guardian we know one of their funders is big tobacco, but of course there must be others.Comment: Spare a thought for our poor impoverished landlords
Written By: Booker - Date published: 3:49 pm, February 25th, 2019
I see this just out today too: https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/383318/poor-housing-conditions-costing-taxpayers-more-than-145m I don’t know if the government were involved in the timing of this release, but if they were - well played. It leaves a ...Comment: Spare a thought for our poor impoverished landlords
Written By: Booker - Date published: 9:30 am, February 25th, 2019
First of all, genuine question, I don’t get how this different from the insulation requirements coming in on 1 July: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/insulation/ Basically from 2021 the addition is a heat pump (if not already present ...Comment: The Tax Working Group proposals
Written By: Booker - Date published: 6:33 pm, February 21st, 2019
Not representative either, never said it was. If you think either of these reflect a cross-section of wider NZ society you’re dreaming.Comment: The Tax Working Group proposals
Written By: Booker - Date published: 1:39 pm, February 21st, 2019
“I can’t see this being popular, from Kiwiblog” Kiwiblog of course being a reliable reflection of NZ at largeComment: Right wing environmental sock puppet party launched
Written By: Booker - Date published: 9:40 am, February 11th, 2019
As a scientist myself this idea that science and innovation is going to save us from climate change and resource depletion really grates. I’m glad Naomi Klein called it out as BS in This Changes Everything. I don’t know what’s worse - Vernon peddling the ...Comment: The Blue Green oxymoron
Written By: Booker - Date published: 2:03 pm, January 29th, 2019
“Any support will come from “bewildered and befuddled” Nat supporters” This. Unless, or until, the National party acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence that the climate is changing and human activity is the cause, any Blue-Green party or ...Comment: Open Mike 08/01/2019
Written By: Booker - Date published: 12:26 pm, January 9th, 2019
No I get thestandard.org.nz showing in the address bar as fully loaded, but nothing at all in the browser window.Comment: Open Mike 08/01/2019
Written By: Booker - Date published: 3:08 pm, January 8th, 2019
A site issue doesn’t mean it happens to everybody - it would be pretty obvious if no one could access these posts. I used to work in web design and maintenance. If it happens to one person chances are it happens to more who don’t report a problem because ...Comment: Open Mike 08/01/2019
Written By: Booker - Date published: 2:24 pm, January 8th, 2019
Sorry when I said “every now and then” I meant it doesn’t happen on every article on The Standard but just some of them. Some articles just come up as blank pages. In the past I’ve ignored it as it’s only been the odd article, but now there’s 3 in the last ...Comment: Open Mike 08/01/2019
Written By: Booker - Date published: 1:15 pm, January 8th, 2019
I get an error on some pages on The Standard where the page loads, but is completely blank. It’s always happened every now and then but is currently happening on the pages “Russell Brands New Year Revolutions”, “Julian Assange and the Barbara Streisand ...Comment: The Standard a decade on
Written By: Booker - Date published: 8:47 am, December 28th, 2018
Keep up the good work! Although I don’t post much the site is a daily source of news for me, and is sorely needed given the MSM long ago gave up.Comment: Labour’s budget wellbeing objectives
Written By: Booker - Date published: 8:12 am, December 15th, 2018
I doubt there’s 17 billion in additional taxes, sounds like he’s still stuck using Joyce’s math fail as a sound bite.Comment: Bryce Edwards: Just another political simpleton
Written By: Booker - Date published: 2:12 pm, November 5th, 2018
I used to read some of Bryce’s pieces - at least during the Key days it offered something a bit more neutral than the pro-National media. But yeah, now he seems to have become another one of the small pool of “go-to” political commentators that the MSM ...Comment: Brazil turns right
Written By: Booker - Date published: 10:40 pm, October 29th, 2018
Looking over this sun-thread it seems one point to keep in mind is that the Left/Right division is encumbered with slightly different weight in Latin America than here or in “the West”. During the military dictatorships there left-Wing groups were killed, ...
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- Spin (and obfuscation)
I came in this morning after doing some chores and looked quickly at Twitter before unpacking the groceries. Someone was retweeting a Radio NZ story with the headline “Reserve Bank’s budget to be slashed by 25%”. Wow, I thought, the Minister of Finance has really delivered this time. And then ...1 week ago - Little’s pitch
So, having teased it last week, Andrew Little has announced he will run for mayor of Wellington. On RNZ, he's saying its all about services - "fixing the pipes, making public transport cheaper, investing in parks, swimming pools and libraries, and developing more housing". Meanwhile, to the readers of the ...1 week ago - Our Rough Beast.
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, 1921ALL OVER THE WORLD, devout Christians will be reaching for their bibles, reading and re-reading Revelation 13:16-17. For the benefit of all you non-Christians out there, these are the verses describing ...1 week ago - What does India Want? What is New Zealand willing to give?
1 week ago
- President Trump is redefining America’s international role, and Australia has influence
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...1 week ago - Simeon Brown Gaslights Doctors
Yesterday, 5,500 senior doctors across Aotearoa New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to strike for a day.This is the first time in New Zealand ASMS members have taken strike action for 24 hours.They are asking the government to fund them and account for resource shortfalls.Vacancies are critical - 45-50% in some regions.The ...1 week ago - ACT’s “Tough on Crime” Facade Crumbles with Jago’s Appeal
1 week ago - Judith Collins’ Hypocrisy: War Drums Over Welfare
Judith Collins is a seasoned master at political hypocrisy. As New Zealand’s Defence Minister, she's recently been banging the war drum, announcing a jaw-dropping $12 billion boost to the defence budget over the next four years, all while the coalition of chaos cries poor over housing, health, and education.Apparently, there’s ...1 week ago
- Making the most of it
I’m on the London Overground watching what the phones people are holding are doing to their faces: The man-bun guy who could not be less impressed by what he's seeing but cannot stop reading; the woman who's impatient for a response; the one who’s frowning; the one who’s puzzled; the ...1 week ago - Maranga Ake
You don't have no prescriptionYou don't have to take no pillsYou don't have no prescriptionAnd baby don't have to take no pillsIf you come to see meDoctor Brown will cure your ills.Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.First, they came for the Bottom FeedersAnd I did not speak outBecause ...1 week ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday, April 16
The Health Minister says the striking doctors already “well remunerated,” and are “walking away from” and “hurting” their patients. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Wednesday, April 16:Simeon Brown has attacked1 doctors striking for more than a 1.5% pay rise as already “well remunerated,” even ...1 week ago - Strengthening Australia’s space cooperation with South Korea
The time is ripe for Australia and South Korea to strengthen cooperation in space, through embarking on joint projects and initiatives that offer practical outcomes for both countries. This is the finding of a new ...1 week ago
- They Can Only Talk About One Thing
Hi,When Trump raised tariffs against China to 145%, he destined many small businesses to annihilation. The Daily podcast captured the mass chaos by zooming in and talking to one person, Beth Benike, a small-business owner who will likely lose her home very soon.She pointed out that no, she wasn’t surprised ...1 week ago - National’s Inflation Shame: Kiwis Pay the Price
National’s handling of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is an utter shambles and a gutless betrayal of every Kiwi scraping by. The Coalition of Chaos Ministers strut around preaching about how effective their policies are, but really all they're doing is perpetuating a cruel and sick joke of undelivered promises, ...1 week ago
- Winston’s Mate Rhys Williams Has Been Unmasked
Most people wouldn't have heard of a little worm like Rhys Williams, a so-called businessman and former NZ First member, who has recently been unmasked as the venomous troll behind a relentless online campaign targeting Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle.According to reports, Williams has been slinging mud at Doyle under ...1 week ago
- Idiocy, Opportunity
Illustration credit: Jonathan McHugh (New Statesman)The other day, a subscriber said they were unsubscribing because they needed “some good news”.I empathised. Don’t we all.I skimmed a NZME article about the impacts of tariffs this morning with analysis from Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr. Kerr, their Chief Economist, suggested another recession is the ...1 week ago - US allies must band together in weapons development
Let’s assume, as prudence demands we assume, that the United States will not at any predictable time go back to being its old, reliable self. This means its allies must be prepared indefinitely to lean ...1 week ago
- I’ve been reading
Over the last three rather tumultuous US trade policy weeks, I’ve read these four books. I started with Irwin (whose book had sat on my pile for years, consulted from time to time but not read) in a week of lots of flights and hanging around airports/hotels, and then one ...1 week ago
- This is not the time for increasing Indonesia’s defence spending
Indonesia could do without an increase in military spending that the Ministry of Defence is proposing. The country has more pressing issues, including public welfare and human rights. Moreover, the transparency and accountability to justify ...1 week ago
- FSU Supports Chris Milne’s Right to Make Death Threats
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- Winston is inciting terrorism
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...1 week ago
- Winston is inciting terrorism
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...1 week ago
- Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...1 week ago
- Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...1 week ago
- The Government is cutting, just as the economic recovery is stalling
The economy is not doing what it was supposed to when PM Christopher Luxon said in January it was ‘going for growth.’ Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short from our political economy on Tuesday, April 15:New Zealand’s economic recovery is stalling, according to business surveys, retail spending and ...1 week ago - For a safer Symonds Street
This is a guest post by Lewis Creed, managing editor of the University of Auckland student publication Craccum, which is currently running a campaign for a safer Symonds Street in the wake of a horrific recent crash. The post has two parts: 1) Craccum’s original call for safety (6 ...1 week ago - Tuesday 15 April
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a different approach to economic development, as proposed in the CTU’s Aotearoa Reimagined programme. The number of people studying to become teachers has jumped after several years of low enrolment. The coalition has directed Health New ...1 week ago - As China’s AI industry grows, Australia must support its own
The growth of China’s AI industry gives it great influence over emerging technologies. That creates security risks for countries using those technologies. So, Australia must foster its own domestic AI industry to protect its interests. ...1 week ago
- Luxon’s Economic Mismanagement
Unfortunately we have another National Party government in power at the moment, and as a consequence, another economic dumpster fire taking hold. Inflation’s hurting Kiwis, and instead of providing relief, National is fiddling while wallets burn.Prime Minister Chris Luxon's response is a tired remix of tax cuts for the rich ...1 week ago
- Girls and Boys
Girls who are boys who like boys to be girlsWho do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boysAlways should be someone you really loveSongwriters: Damon Albarn / Graham Leslie Coxon / Alexander Rowntree David / Alexander James Steven.Last month, I wrote about the Birds and Bees being ...1 week ago - Australia can learn from Britain on cyber governance
Australia needs to reevaluate its security priorities and establish a more dynamic regulatory framework for cybersecurity. To advance in this area, it can learn from Britain’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which presents a compelling ...1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why The US Stands To Lose The Tariff Wars
Deputy PM Winston Peters likes nothing more than to portray himself as the only wise old head while everyone else is losing theirs. Yet this time, his “old master” routine isn’t working. What global trade is experiencing is more than the usual swings and roundabouts of market sentiment. President Donald ...1 week ago - Why is there no progress in Ukrainian war peace talks?
President Trump’s hopes of ending the war in Ukraine seemed more driven by ego than realistic analysis. Professor Vladimir Brovkin’s latest video above highlights the internal conflicts within the USA, Russia, Europe, and Ukraine, which are currently hindering peace talks and clarity. Brovkin pointed out major contradictions within ...1 week ago - Ani O’Brien has Zero Credibility
In the cesspool that is often New Zealand’s online political discourse, few figures wield their influence as destructively as Ani O’Brien. Masquerading as a champion of free speech and women’s rights, O’Brien’s campaigns are a masterclass in bad faith, built on a foundation of lies, selective outrage, and a knack ...1 week ago
- Australian policy does need more Asia—more Southeast Asia
The international challenge confronting Australia today is unparalleled, at least since the 1940s. It requires what the late Brendan Sargeant, a defence analyst, called strategic imagination. We need more than shrewd economic manoeuvring and a ...1 week ago
- EGU2025 – Picking and chosing sessions to attend on site in Vienna
This year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) will take place as a fully hybrid conference in both Vienna and online from April 27 to May 2. This year, I'll join the event on site in Vienna for the full week and I've already picked several sessions I plan ...1 week ago - Bookshelf: How China sees things
Here’s a book that looks not in at China but out from China. David Daokui Li’s China’s World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict is a refreshing offering in that Li is very much ...1 week ago
- The Mirage of Chris Luxon’s Pre-Election Promises
The New Zealand National Party has long mastered the art of crafting messaging that resonates with a large number of desperate, often white middle-class, voters. From their 2023 campaign mantra of “getting our country back on track” to promises of economic revival, safer streets, and better education, their rhetoric paints ...1 week ago
- To counter anti-democratic propaganda, step up funding for ABC International
A global contest of ideas is underway, and democracy as an ideal is at stake. Democracies must respond by lifting support for public service media with an international footprint. With the recent decision by the ...1 week ago
- What was the story re Orr’s resignation?
It is almost six weeks since the shock announcement early on the afternoon of Wednesday 5 March that the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Adrian Orr, was resigning effective 31 March, and that in fact he had already left and an acting Governor was already in place. Orr had been ...1 week ago
- Monday 14 April
The PSA surveyed more than 900 of its members, with 55 percent of respondents saying AI is used at their place of work, despite most workers not being in trained in how to use the technology safely. Figures to be released on Thursday are expected to show inflation has risen ...1 week ago
- How to spot AI influence in Australia’s election campaign
Be on guard for AI-powered messaging and disinformation in the campaign for Australia’s 3 May election. And be aware that parties can use AI to sharpen their campaigning, zeroing in on issues that the technology ...1 week ago
- David Seymour – Arsehole of the Week
Strap yourselves in, folks, it’s time for another round of Arsehole of the Week, and this week’s golden derrière trophy goes to—drumroll, please—David Seymour, the ACT Party’s resident genius who thought, “You know what we need? A shiny new Treaty Principles Bill to "fix" all that pesky Māori-Crown partnership nonsense ...1 week ago
- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and Pick ‘n’ Mix for Monday, April 14
Apple Store, Shanghai. Trump wants all iPhones to be made in the USM but experts say that is impossible. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories shortist from our political economy on Monday, April 14:Donald Trump’s exemption on tariffs on phones and computers is temporary, and he wants all iPhones made in the ...1 week ago - Unmasking the National Party’s Fascism
Kia ora, readers. It’s time to pull back the curtain on some uncomfortable truths about New Zealand’s political landscape. The National Party, often cloaked in the guise of "sensible centrism," has, at times, veered into territory that smells suspiciously like fascism. Now, before you roll your eyes and mutter about hyperbole, ...1 week ago
- Open Letter to Auckland Transport about Project K
This is a letter we will be sending to Auckland Transport to ask they return to the original consulted plans on the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project, after they released significant changes to designs last week. If you would like to be added as a signatory, please reach out to ...1 week ago
- The gas plan that’s sailing Australia into strategic peril
Australia’s east coast is facing a gas crisis, as the country exports most of the gas it produces. Although it’s a major producer, Australia faces a risk of domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply shortfalls ...1 week ago
- Amateur Hour!
Overnight, Donald J. Trump, America’s 47th President, and only the second President since 1893 to win non-consecutive terms, rolled back more of his “no exemptions, no negotiations” & “no big deal” tariffs.Smartphones, computers, and other electronics1 are now exempt from the 125% levies imposed on imports from China; they retain ...2 weeks ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 6, 2025 thru Sat, April 12, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...2 weeks ago
- World Domination
Just one year of loveIs better than a lifetime aloneOne sentimental moment in your armsIs like a shooting star right through my heartIt's always a rainy day without youI'm a prisoner of love inside youI'm falling apart all around you, yeahSongwriter: John Deacon.Morena folks, it feels like it’s been quite ...2 weeks ago - “I think I was, at that time, the only girl in Taranaki who ever wrote a line”
“It's a history of colonial ruin, not a history of colonial progress,” says Michele Leggott, of the Harris family.We’re talking about Groundwork: The Art and Writing of Emily Cumming Harris, in which she and Catherine Field-Dodgson recall a near-forgotten and fascinating life, the female speck in the history of texts.Emily’s ...2 weeks ago - Fact brief – Is the sun responsible for global warming?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is the sun responsible for global warming? Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, not solar variability, is responsible for the global warming observed ...2 weeks ago
- A Baptism in the Forest: Accepted
Hitherto, 2025 has not been great in terms of luck on the short story front (or on the personal front. Several acquaintances have sadly passed away in the last few days). But I can report one story acceptance today. In fact, it’s quite the impressive acceptance, being my second ‘professional ...2 weeks ago - Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to April 12
Six long stories short from our political economy in the week to Saturday, April 12:Donald Trump exploded a neutron bomb under 80 years of globalisation, but Nicola Willis said the Government would cut operational and capital spending even more to achieve a Budget surplus by 2027/28. That even tighter fiscal ...2 weeks ago - Budget 2025: delivering for whom?
On 22 May, the coalition government will release its budget for 2025, which it says will focus on "boosting economic growth, improving social outcomes, controlling government spending, and investing in long-term infrastructure.” But who, really, is this budget designed to serve? What values and visions for Aotearoa New Zealand lie ...2 weeks ago - The Other Side
Lovin' you has go to be (Take me to the other side)Like the devil and the deep blue sea (Take me to the other side)Forget about your foolish pride (Take me to the other side)Oh, take me to the other side (Take me to the other side)Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Jim ...2 weeks ago - It’s (past) time to get serious about funding Australia’s defence and security
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...2 weeks ago
- The Downward Spiral of Arise Church: Part 4
Hi,Back in 2022 I spent a year reporting on New Zealand’s then-biggest megachurch, Arise, revealing the widespread abuse of hundreds of interns.That series led to a harrowing review (leaked by Webworm) and the resignation of its founders and leaders John and Gillian Cameron, who fled to Australia where they now ...2 weeks ago - Whatever the CCP says, regimes don’t have the rights of nations
All nation states have a right to defend themselves. But do regimes enjoy an equal right to self-defence? Is the security of a particular party-in-power a fundamental right of nations? The Chinese government is asking ...2 weeks ago
- Countervailing Trumpian Sense
A modest attempt to analyse Donald Trump’s tariff policies.Alfred Marshall, whose text book was still in use 40 years after he died wrote ‘every short statement about economics is misleading with the possible exception of my present one.’ (The text book is 719 pages.) It’s a timely reminder that any ...2 weeks ago - Uncertainty, Hierarchy and the Dilemma of Democracy.
If nothing else, we have learned that the economic and geopolitical turmoil caused by the Trump tariff see-saw raises a fundamental issue of the human condition that extends beyond trade wars and “the markets.” That issue is uncertainty and its centrality to individual and collective life. It extends further into ...2 weeks ago - Strengthening South Korea’s national security by adopting the cloud
To improve its national security, South Korea must improve its ICT infrastructure. Knowing this, the government has begun to move towards cloud computing. The public and private sectors are now taking a holistic national-security approach ...2 weeks ago
- Workers’ Memorial Day 2025
28 April 2025 Mournfor theDead FightFor theLiving Every week in New Zealand 18 workers are killed as a consequence of work. Every 15 minutes, a worker suffers ...2 weeks ago
- Reset Pax Americana: the West needs a grand accord
The world is trying to make sense of the Trump tariffs. Is there a grand design and strategy, or is it all instinct and improvisation? But much more important is the question of what will ...2 weeks ago
- Poisoning The Well – It’s Not Just ACT
OPINION:Yesterday was a triumphant moment in Parliament House.The “divisive”, “disingenous”, “unfair”, “discriminatory” and “dishonest” Treaty Principles Bill, advanced by the right wing ACT Party, failed.Spectacularly.11 MP votes for (ACT).112 MP votes against (All Other Parties).As the wonderful Te Pāti Māori MP, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke said: We are not divided, but united.Green ...2 weeks ago
- The Pacific Response Group is making pleasing progress but needs more buy-in
The Pacific Response Group (PRG), a new disaster coordination organisation, has operated through its first high-risk weather season. But as representatives from each Pacific military leave Brisbane to return to their home countries for the ...2 weeks ago
- Friday 11 April
The Treaty Principles Bill has been defeated in Parliament with 112 votes in opposition and 11 in favour, but the debate about Te Tiriti and Māori rights looks set to stay high on the political agenda. Supermarket giant Woolworths has confirmed a new operating model that Workers First say will ...2 weeks ago
- A few wins, for now
2 weeks ago - Aotearoa Wins!
And this is what I'm gonna doI'm gonna put a call to you'Cause I feel good tonightAnd everything's gonna beRight-right-rightI'm gonna have a good time tonightRock and roll music gonna play all nightCome on, baby, it won't take longOnly take a minute just to sing my songSongwriters: Kirk Pengilly / ...2 weeks ago - Indonesia’s cyber soldiers: armed without a compass
The Indonesian military has a new role in cybersecurity but, worryingly, no clear doctrine on what to do with it nor safeguards against human rights abuses. Assignment of cyber responsibility to the military is part ...2 weeks ago
- Weekly Roundup 11-April-2025
Another Friday, another roundup. Autumn is starting to set in, certainly getting darker earlier but we hope you enjoy some of the stories we found interesting this week. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday we ran a guest post from the wonderful Darren Davis about what’s happening ...2 weeks ago
- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix Six for Friday, April 11
Long stories shortest: The White House confirms Donald Trump’s total tariffs now on China are 145%, not 125%. US stocks slump again. Gold hits a record high. PM Christopher Luxon joins a push for a new rules-based trading system based around CPTPP and EU, rather than US-led WTO. Winston Peters ...2 weeks ago - The Hoon around the week to April 11
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics and climate, including Donald Trump’s shock and (partial) backflip; and,Health Coalition Aotearoa Chair ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #15 2025
Open access notables Global and regional drivers for exceptional climate extremes in 2023-2024: beyond the new normal, Minobe et al., npj Climate and Atmospheric Science: Climate records have been broken with alarming regularity in recent years, but the events of 2023–2024 were exceptional even when accounting for recent climatic trends. ...2 weeks ago
- The US harms its image in the Pacific with aid cuts and tariffs
USAID cuts and tariffs will harm the United States’ reputation in the Pacific more than they will harm the region itself. The resilient region will adjust to the economic challenges and other partners will fill ...2 weeks ago
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- Why do Labor and the Coalition have so many similar policies? It’s simple mathematics
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriele Gratton, Professor of Politics and Economics and ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Sydney Pundits and political scientists like to repeat that we live in an age of political polarisation. But if you sat through the second debate between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ...20 hours ago - Feeling mad? New research suggests mindfulness could help manage anger and aggression
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Research Fellow, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney Kaboompics.com/Pexels There’s no shortage of things to feel angry about these days. Whether it’s politics, social injustice, climate change or the cost-of-living crisis, ...20 hours ago
- Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University The death of Pope Francis this week marks the end of a historic papacy and the beginning of a significant transition for the Catholic Church. As the faithful around the world mourn his passing, ...20 hours ago
- Mentoring Crucial For Success Of Overseas And New Secondary Teachers
A recent survey, carried out by PPTA Te Wehengarua, of establishing and overseas trained secondary teachers found that 90% of respondents agreed that mentoring had helped their development. ...21 hours ago - Chris Bishop makes announcement on Auckland’s Northwest Rapid Transit
The plans include a busway that can move up to 9000 people an hour either way. ...21 hours ago - Investitures At Government House Wellington
Other Honours recipients include country singer Suzanne Prentice, most capped All Black Samuel Whitelock, and Māori language educator and academic Professor Rawinia Higgins. ...21 hours ago
- ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 23, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 23, 2025. The ‘responsible gambling’ mantra does nothing to prevent harm. It probably makes things worseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University ...21 hours ago
- Labour wants Christopher Luxon to step in over Winston Peters’ comments on RNZ funding
"Threatening to cut funding is a form of censorship. It is totally and utterly wrong," Chris Hipkins says. ...21 hours ago
- The ‘responsible gambling’ mantra does nothing to prevent harm. It probably makes things worse
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Haelen Haagen/Shutterstock Recent royal commissions and inquiries into Crown and Star casino groups attracted much media attention. Most of this was focused on money laundering and other ...21 hours ago
- This election, Gen Z and Millennials hold most of the voting power. How might they wield it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University The centre of gravity of Australian politics has shifted. Millennials and Gen Z voters, now comprising 47% of the electorate, have taken over as the dominant voting bloc. But this generational shift isn’t just ...21 hours ago
- Only a third of Australians support increasing defence spending: new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Dunley, Senior Lecturer in History and Maritime Strategy, UNSW Sydney National security issues have been a constant feature of this federal election campaign. Both major parties have spruiked their national security credentials by promising additional defence spending. The Coalition has ...21 hours ago
- After stunning comeback, centre-left Liberals likely to win majority of seats at Canadian election
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne In Canada, the governing centre-left Liberals had trailed the Conservatives by more than 20 points in January, but now lead by five ...21 hours ago
- The Greens are hoping for another ‘greenslide’ election. What do the polls say?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Narelle Miragliotta, Associate Professor in Politics, Murdoch University Election talk is inevitably focused on Labor and the Coalition because they are the parties that customarily form government. But a minor party like the Greens is consequential, regardless of whether the election ...21 hours ago
- Victory for US press freedom and workers – court grants injunction in VOA media case
Asia Pacific Report The US District Court for the District of Columbia has granted a preliminary injunction in Widakuswara v Lake, affirming the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) was unlawfully shuttered by the Trump administration, Acting Director Victor Morales and Special Adviser Kari Lake. The decision enshrines that USAGM ...22 hours ago
- Gone By Lunchtime: Christopher, champion of the free trade world
As the PM talks trade with Keir Starmer, his deputy is busy, busy, busy. A prime ministerial speech and free-trade phone tree with like-minded leaders in response to Trump’s tarrif binge impressed many commentators, but not all of them: leading pundit and deputy prime minister Winston Peters was indignant ...23 hours ago - PSA Forces Changes To Restructure Of Data & Digital And Pacific Health
The settlement relates to proposed restructures of the Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora which were subject to litigation before the Employment Relations Authority set down for 22 April 2025. ...23 hours ago
- Scientists claim to have found evidence of alien life. But ‘biosignatures’ might hide more than ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Campbell Rider, PhD Candidate in Philosophy – Philosophy of Biology, University of Sydney Artist’s impression of the exoplanet K2-18b A. Smith/N. Madhusudhan (University of Cambridge) Whether or not we’re alone in the universe is one of the biggest questions in science. A ...23 hours ago
- Defence Ministry puts out tender for help strengthening systems ‘increasingly vulnerable’...
Its new Defence Capability Plan envisages spending between $100 million and $300 million on cyber upgrades in the next four years. ...23 hours ago
- Questioning Content Is Not Hate
A free and democratic society must allow citizens to question — especially when it involves influential figures with platforms that reach into education and public life. Dismissing every objection as bigotry is not progress; it’s intimidation. ...23 hours ago
- The Fold: Big job ahead for TVNZ’s news and content chief
Glen Kyne joins Anna Rawhiti-Connell to discuss the enormity of the task ahead for TVNZ’s new chief news and content officer, analyse the case laid out by Philip Crump on Monday for a Jim Grenon-led board at NZME and reflect on the recent anti-trust rulings against Google in the US. ...23 hours ago
- The Unity Books children’s book review roundup for autumn
The booksellers of Unity Books Auckland and Wellington review a handful of children’s books sure to delight and inspire readers of all ages. AUCKLAND Reviews by Elka Aitchison and Roger Christensen, booksellers at Unity Books Auckland The Sad Ghost Club: Find Your Kindred Spirits by Liz Meddings (Age 12+) This ...24 hours ago
- Statement On Spy Agency Probe Into RNZ ‘Russian Edits Scandal’ And IGSS Report
Conflating editorial endeavour that seeks accurate reporting and proper context in news stories with subjective support for foreign enemies is a smear, creates a chill factor within newsrooms and stifles open and informed public discourse over foreign ...24 hours ago
- What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Kirkland, Research Fellow in Psychology, The University of Queensland LOOKSLIKEPHOTO/Shutterstock Australia just sweltered through one of its hottest summers on record, and heat has pushed well into autumn. Once-in-a-generation floods are now striking with alarming regularity. As disasters escalate, insurers ...24 hours ago
- Regulation Minister David Seymour on ECE sector review
Cabinet is moving to simplify regulations for Early Childhood Education centres by the end of this year. ...1 day ago
- Te Pāti Māori MPs will not attend Privileges Committee hearing, citing lack of fairness and disreg...
Te Pāti Māori MPs have again declined to turn up to a hearing over their haka protest, but this time they have lodged a written submission in their absence. ...1 day ago
- Northland Expressway preferred routes: New road over Brynderwyn Hills to be built
A replacement for State Highway 1 over Northland's notorious Brynderwyn Hills will be built just to the east of the current road - a major change from the original plan. ...1 day ago
- NZ First leader Winston Peters defends gender bill during fiery RNZ interview
The NZ First leader has mounted a defence of his party's proposal to define "woman" in law when questioned over its enforcement. ...1 day ago
- Watch: Regulation Minister David Seymour on ECE sector review
David Seymour is due to speak to media about changes to be made to "outdated" rules in the early childhood sector. ...1 day ago
- Saving our taonga: Iwi unite to protect tuna and our waterways
Mass die-offs of our freshwater guardians expose a failing, fragmented management system. Iwi and hapū are calling for a unified, indigenous-led recovery plan. Although it’s a delicacy for many around the country, you won’t find any smoked tuna on the menu at my marae. Where I come from in the ...1 day ago
- What happens now that Pope Francis has died and should I just watch Conclave?
The conclave explained, a cinematic knowledge shortcut and very scientific musings about a possible curse. Gather round atheists, agnostics, apathetes, anyone who hasn’t seen Conclave and all who have successfully rinsed their religious education from their memories. Pope Francis, the first pope from Latin America, the first from the ...1 day ago
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to attend Pope Francis’ funeral
It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed he will also attend the funeral at St Peter's Basilica on Saturday. ...1 day ago
- Even experts disagree over whether social media is bad for kids. We examined why
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Knight, Associate Professor, Transdisciplinary School, University of Technology Sydney A low relief sculpture depicting Plato and Aristotle arguing adorning the external wall of Florence Cathedral. Krikkiat/Shutterstock Disagreement and uncertainty are common features of everyday life. They’re also common and expected features ...1 day ago
- Australian women are wary of AI being used in breast cancer screening – new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Pearce, Associate Professor, Health Economics, University of Sydney Okrasiuk/Shutterstock Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly relevant in many aspects of society, including health care. For example, it’s already used for robotic surgery and to provide virtual mental health support. In ...1 day ago
- These 3 climate misinformation campaigns are operating during the election run-up. Here’s how to s...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alfie Chadwick, PhD Candidate, Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University Australia’s climate and energy wars are at the forefront of the federal election campaign as the major parties outline vastly different plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle soaring ...1 day ago
- Infrastructure failures: Govt makes little headway on fixing weaknesses
Two widespread communications failures in the Northland storm and Otago within two days last week have again exposed the vulnerability of the country's critical infrastructure. ...1 day ago
- How a Nerf gun and a ceramic fish helped bring to life the lost call of the moa
In the mid 2000s, two Wellington musicians were given a curious task – to recreate the call of the long-extinct moa. So how do you replicate a sound that hasn’t been heard for hundreds of years? Emma Ramsay finds out. The call of the moa is a sound sure to ...1 day ago
- Kiwi entrepreneur sells $70m of drones to UK military, for use in Ukraine
What’s your biggest problem?That was the question British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon asked .They were at a military training camp in the south-west of England, inspecting Kiwi-engineered maritime and air drones produced by Tauranga-based Syos Aerospace. .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title { font-size: 1.2em; ...1 day ago - Port of Darwin’s struggling Chinese leaseholder may welcome an Australian buy-out
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Hawes, Associate professor of law, University of Technology Sydney Slow Walker/Shutterstock Far from causing trade frictions, an Australian buyout of the Port of Darwin lease may provide a lifeline for its struggling Chinese parent company Landbridge Group. Both Labor and ...1 day ago
- When rock music met ancient archeology: the enduring power of Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Barker, Head, Public Engagement, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney Sony Music The 1972 concert film Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii, back in cinemas this week, remains one of the most unique concert documentaries ever recorded by a rock ...1 day ago
- Gambling in Australia: how bad is the problem, who gets harmed most and where may we be heading?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Russell, Principal Research Fellow, CQUniversity Australia Mick Tsikas/AAP, Joel Carret/AAP, Darren England/AAP, Ihor Koptilin/Shutterstock, The Conversation, CC BY Gambling prevalence studies provide a snapshot of gambling behaviour, problems and harm in our communities. They are typically conducted about every five ...1 day ago
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