Search Results
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Comment:Open mike 28/03/2023
Date published: 4:19 pm, March 28th, 2023Oops - sorry yes please.
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Comment:Open mike 28/03/2023
Date published: 6:11 pm, March 27th, 2023A neighbouring property (rental, operated through a property manager) that has a tree on the boundary that is infested with Old Mans Beard, which spreads to neighbouring properties. Some years ago I complained to the Regional Council who were going to send...
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Comment:The real reason New Zealand's literacy standards are tanking *
Date published: 5:04 pm, March 27th, 2023A gather quite a few schools have used other (non-building) money to put up 'removable' partitions to create 2 temporary rooms when needed - they are fairly expensive as they need to fit well at both floor and ceiling. Perhaps there needs to be more school...
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Comment:Open mike 02/03/2023
Date published: 8:44 am, March 2nd, 2023That seemed to have enough ''reckons'' to qualify as a Hoskins rant, and enough dog-whistles for a Farrar-go Kiwiblog post. No I am not interested in learning more about uninformed opinions. I have received my papers, and I see they give me the option of ...
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Comment:Open mike 26/02/2023
Date published: 1:40 pm, February 26th, 2023Farmers leaching nitrate into soils in Canterbury are another industry that socialises its costs. I understand that we may be a little behind targets on emission reductions - now is the time to start moving emission trading settings to cover full costs - ...
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Comment:Open mike 23/02/2023
Date published: 2:01 pm, February 23rd, 2023Huntly to burn wood: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/131298611/huntly-burns-wood-instead-of-coal-during-short-trial That they are still using Huntly is a huge indictment on the structure of the electricity generation industry. I doubt that...
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Comment:Open mike 23/02/2023
Date published: 1:48 pm, February 23rd, 2023How pleased will they be after this: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131308473/adrian-orr-gives-the-political-class-a-wakeup-call-on-borrowandspend and see also 5 below
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Comment:What Chat GPT thinks of the Standard
Date published: 10:17 pm, February 18th, 2023I have thought that The Standard benefits from a fair but fairly sensitive moderation policy; in contrast to say Kiwiblog which appears to operate a moderation policy of "if it is not illegal then it is OK" Rather than comparing with WhaleOil I would be ...
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Comment:Open mike 14/02/2023
Date published: 12:27 pm, February 14th, 2023I cottoned on to BAU ("Business as Usual"?) but not FF - "Friendly Fire"?
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Comment:Open mike 11/02/2023
Date published: 9:08 am, February 11th, 2023Co-Governance. A lot is being said about co-governance, in the context of water services, and proposed arrangements to meet Treaty entitlements. Comparisons are made with a settlement under Key/Finlayson where National first used the term co-governance, ...
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Comment:Open mike 15/01/2023
Date published: 11:02 am, January 16th, 2023Who are these "super-confident hoards", and can you give references to the "pro 5-eyes propaganda our media so fervently feed us."? I do not recall seeing any such propaganda, but perhaps I do not follow the same sources as you . . .
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Comment:Daily review 22/12/2022
Date published: 8:45 pm, December 22nd, 2022Is there a setting that would enable me to see the whole width of the cartoons?
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Comment:The rise and rise of David Seymour's ACT
Date published: 2:43 pm, December 20th, 2022There is a tendency to see any party as being totally represented by the leader, but for larger and older parties there are expectations built on the past. Most of the comments above are based on left / right differences, but other factors can impact on ...
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Comment:Open mike 16/12/2022
Date published: 2:44 pm, December 16th, 2022Sabine, we have quite a complex system, and what may appear simple could have unintended consequences. If a certain level of income was free of tax, that would benefit all who earn above that amount, but may also mean that benefits for example would be ...
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Comment:Much ado about nothing
Date published: 10:32 am, December 16th, 2022I thought the initial reports said that Ardern had texted Seymour to apologise when it was brought to her attention in Hansard, and that was the first MPs had heard of the comment as it was only audible to Hansard. He then went out of his way to repeat the...
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Comment:Open mike 23/11/2022
Date published: 8:08 am, November 23rd, 20225 years may be just enough time to have a small number more specialists completing training in mental health than had been arranged by the previous government, but other health workers are in short supply - we do keep forgetting that Covid is still with us...
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Comment:Open mike 16/11/2022
Date published: 8:28 am, November 16th, 2022A while ago there was talk of how hard it is to get positive messages through in a world of highly partisan politics, disinformation, and the usual problems of gotcha media going for cheap shots and false balance . . . I suspect we get a lot of news and ...
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Comment:Open mike 17/10/2022
Date published: 2:55 pm, October 17th, 2022There was a suggestion on radio NZ (possibly a throw-away comment!) that both NZF and ACT are in favour of seeking to do away with the Treaty of Waitangi. Sorry I was driving and cannot recall the time when the comment was made.
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Comment:Open mike 06/10/2022
Date published: 2:39 pm, October 6th, 2022Thanks for the replies and links. I am better informed; and I suspect Farrar was "fermenting stinky mischief" again . . .
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Comment:Open mike 06/10/2022
Date published: 11:59 am, October 6th, 2022Is it time that some restrictions were imposed on departing Ministers? I am sure that Kris Faafoi is not the only Minister to get into lobbying for pay, but if there ever is a time to require a delay surely it is when it is a Minister from the current ...
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Comment:Open mike 02/10/2022
Date published: 3:31 pm, October 2nd, 2022Vancouver has just such a tax, see: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/empty-homes-tax.aspx There is a report available for the 2020 year. It seems to be a well thought out which is working - raising money to both cover costs and assist non-...
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Comment:Open mike 26/09/2022
Date published: 3:24 pm, September 26th, 2022Today seems a good day to fill out a voting form. Any suggestions for information about candidates in addition to: https://policy.nz/2022 https://thespinoff.co.nz/local-elections-2022/19-09-2022/a-first-time-voters-guide-to-voting-for-the-first-time https...
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Comment:Open mike 25/09/2022
Date published: 3:27 pm, September 25th, 2022Comparisons with previous administrations are not always easy; I am aware that there was hospital building during the time of the National Government; in Wellington a new Block was built at Bowen Hospital, and I think there was substantial work done at ...
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Comment:Open mike 21/09/2022
Date published: 11:33 am, September 21st, 2022If you were asked to vote on an issue (as the National caucus apparently was) do you think you should have been able to know something more than a decision by The Leader?
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Comment:Re-Nationalise Electricity Generators Now
Date published: 10:10 am, September 8th, 2022Would that it was the entire system. There are some large private providers - perhaps easy to dismiss as providing cosmetic services that should not be paid for by government, but they clearly do more than that. At times they lead the public sector - MRI ...
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Comment:Open mike 01/09/2022
Date published: 8:35 am, September 1st, 2022There was a website for the last local body elections that analysed candidates for political orientation - the blatant National Party candidates all say that they will keep rate rises low, but that does not catch all of them. Labour has endorsed candidates...
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Comment:Open mike 29/08/2022
Date published: 3:21 pm, August 29th, 2022rarely?
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Comment:Open mike 29/08/2022
Date published: 3:18 pm, August 29th, 2022I am intrigued at the number of people who seem to have a bizarre view that our government (a) is somehow able to and should be tracking NZ citizens that go abroad, perhaps particularly if they are on leave from the Defence Force, and (b) are somehow ...
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Comment:Open mike 22/08/2022
Date published: 11:02 am, August 22nd, 2022The real Bank for the NZ Government is the Reserve Bank - all Westpac does is link to the system for making payments to all the entities that government departments pay each day - and make sure that this is done at the lowest cost to the government.
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Comment:Open mike 22/08/2022
Date published: 10:59 am, August 22nd, 2022Yes, a failure by successive governments to fund it at similar rates to the capital raising by the other trading banks. National never regarded funding the Bank as more desirable than almost anything else - but they knew they could not afford to be seen to...
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Comment:Open mike 22/08/2022
Date published: 10:48 am, August 22nd, 2022The Government accounts being with Westpac is largely an accounting exercise. Think about a customer that has a current account that they keep only enough money in to cover payments out - they pay off their credit card every month so never pay penalty ...
- 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #13
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 26, 2023 thru Sat, Apr 1, 2023. Story of the Week AI Can Spread Climate Misinformation ‘Much Cheaper and Faster,’ Study Warns A new study suggests developers of artificial intelligence are failing ...43 mins ago - The Lay of the Land: Thoughts on Taieri Candidate Selection
New Zealand has its general election scheduled this October. This means the various parties are currently selecting their candidates, and as of yesterday, we now know the two major party candidates for the seat where I live (Taieri) – Ingrid Leary (Labour) and Stephen Jack (National). Leary’s ...10 hours ago - 5 Reasons why Provocateur Parker's mission to Aotearoa was doomed to failure
..By now, Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull (aka, Posie Parker) has come and gone. Her mission - to amplify a particularly pernicious form of transphobia (under the cloak of “women’s rights”) - an abject failure. As a marketing exercise to peddle her wares, it went well.A self-style "woman’s rights activist" Keen-Minshull/Parker has strident ...11 hours ago - NZ slaps more sanctions on Russia while welcoming Brits into the CPTPP (but the trade deal sours som...
Buzz from the Beehive We haven’t exhaustively put this proposition to the test, but we suspect there’s just one thing Nanaia Mahuta has mentioned more often than “sanctions” in her press statements. That would be “three waters”. Mahuta has popped up in the latest batch of Beehive press statements to ...15 hours ago - GRAHAM ADAMS: Posie Parker blows apart Hipkins’ anti-woke poseThe UK activist has changed the election-year dynamic. Graham Adams writes – Chris Hipkins’ initial success as Labour’s fresh Messiah after Jacinda Ardern’s resignation in January has largely rested on the promise that his party’s focus henceforth would be on “bread-and-butter” issues such as the cost of ...18 hours ago
- The faulty logic of Stuart Nash & the Ombudsman's opportunity
As the Stuart Nash email brouhaha has unfolded this week, and we’ve learnt more about how an email to donors was withheld from public view, I’ve kept being reminded of the classic example of faulty logic. You know the one: "All dogs have four legs, all dogs are animals, therefore ...20 hours ago - The hoon for the week that was to April 1This week Simplicity CEO Sam Stubbs joined us to talk about Simplicity Living’s big house building plans, starting in Auckland, and banks receiving billions of subsidies from the Government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and Aotearoa’s political economy covered on The Kākā for paying ...23 hours ago
- Leaked emails reveal plan to turn light-rail into a road tunnel
The NZ Herald reports: Leaked emails between senior officials at Auckland Light Rail, Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport have revealed a surprising twist in the long-running saga of the Auckland Light Rail project. A stack of emails between Auckland Light Rail and an unnamed senior official at Waka Kotahi, who ...1 day ago - Totally Normal XV: The Ethics of AI
Hi,I go between excitement about AI — and absolute terror. I’m terrified it will take our jobs — and also kill us. Not kill us on purpose… more in a gray-goo kinda way.And as I wrote about over two years ago, I’m excited it might be the only thing to ...1 day ago - 2023 More Reading: March (+ Writing Update)Completed reads for March: The Monk, by Matthew Lewis Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis The Golden Ass, by Lucius Apuleius The Castle, by Franz Kafka A Slip of the Tongue in Salutation, by Lucian of Samosata The Necrophiliac, by Gabrielle Wittkop The Song of Hiawatha (poem), ...1 day ago
- Jump onto the weekly hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm
Photo by Aziz Acharki on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again 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 with special guests: from ...2 days ago - Nord Stream terrorism, UN failure, and “Official Secrets”
Image Credit: Nord Stream operator decries ‘unprecedented’ damage to three pipelines The recent vote on the draft Security Council resolution seeking to establish an independent UN inquiry into the sabotage of the Russian-European-owned natural gas line, Nord Stream I and II, disappointed many observers. ...2 days ago- Incomes are lifted for many Kiwis and Maori mountain managers in Taranaki get $35m – but “Egmont...
Buzz from the Beehive The big bread-and-butter issue of pay packets and weekly incomes was at the core of three ministerial statements since Point of Order’s previous monitoring of the Beehive website. Andrew Little was earning his keep, meanwhile, by delivering a speech in which he discussed co-governance. He was ...2 days ago- Investigating the culture of secrecy
After yesterday's news that Stuart Nash deliberately and knowingly breached the OIA to cover up his corrupt disclosure of Cabinet information to his donors, the media now is focusing on the wider point: Nash's behaviour isn't isolated, but a symptom of the rot which has eaten away at transparency under ...2 days ago- Why Are We Making So Little Progress Towards Reducing Child Poverty?
There was great disappointment following the just released poverty figures for the year ended to June 2022. Whatever your take, we are not facing up to the real child poverty problems.Some say the poverty figures show no significant change, some say there was a small improvement. Some say that the ...2 days ago- A warm reception assured
2 days ago- Bryce Edwards: The Astonishing Government suppression of Nash’s email
It’s truly astonishing the way that the Government has been able to suppress evidence of business donors gaining special access to Cabinet information. Now that Stuart Nash has been fired from Cabinet for leaking sensitive information to individuals who funded his election campaign, the focus has shifted to why this ...2 days ago- ELE LUDEMANN: Biased labelling
Ele Ludemann writes – Have you noticed the media’s propensity to label people and groups in a way that shows negative bias? People speaking up for women’s right to their own spaces and fairness in sport aren’t feminists or women’s rights activists, they’re anti-trans or transphobic. The Taxpayers’ Union is often prefaced with the label right ...2 days ago- Ask Me Anything about the week to March 31
Photo by Magdalena Kula Manchee on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour (I’ll be online for an hour from 12.30 so pile them up), including:The Government’s latest climate back-tracks on diesel cars and ...2 days ago- Bridges, tunnels (& CO2) galore for Ford Ranger Man
All of the Government’s five options for improving Auckland’s links include or prioritise tunnels and bridges for cars, double-cab utes and trucks ahead of walking, cycling and rail. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government has brought forward plans to start building and/or drilling a second Waitematā harbour ...2 days ago- LINDSAY MITCHELL: Responding to Marama Davidson’s dogma
Lindsay Mitchell writes: Green’s co-leader Marama Davidson just keeps digging the hole she is in deeper. First she showed her bitter antipathy towards white CIS (same gender as birth) men. Then she walked it back to all men. On Tuesday night on TV1 News she said, “…overwhelmingly it ...2 days ago- Gordon’s Campbell on Auckland’s dysfunctional mayor, and air travel chaos
as Auckland’s cantankerous mayor stumbles from one crisis to the next, the hope is not that Wayne Brown will learn on the job – that’s almost certainly a lost cause – but that Aucklanders will manage to come together and limit the damage that he threatens to inflict on the ...2 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 31 March 2023
STUART NASH, OIA Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Stuart Nash scandal boils down to cock-up vs ‘conspiracy’ (paywalled) Marc Daalder (Newsroom): The opaque transparency of the OIA system Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Nash saga leaves Hipkins facing deeper questions of a stink in the Beehive Pete McKenzie (Newsroom): Evidence Stuart Nash breached official information ...2 days ago- Weekly Roundup 31-March-2023
Wow, it’s the end of March already. Here are a few of the smaller items that caught our attention over the last week. We need better trucks Newsroom reported on a Ministry of Transport report showing just how dirty our current truck fleet is. A heavy diesel truck costs ...2 days ago- Building Bridges.
Listening to RNZ yesterday, I heard that the government was making a major announcement about a second crossing of the Waitematā. I was fairly surprised.I’d have thought with it being election year the last thing the government would want to be talking about was a massive Auckland transport project. Especially ...2 days ago- An apt warning for a blogger
I cracked open a fortune cookie with a family group after dinner. My loved ones got warm, inspiring messages such as my son’s: ‘You will be successful in business and society’. Nice. I got this one: “Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.” By coincidence, I had already drafted a ...3 days ago- http://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/?p=21176
THOMAS CRANWELL: When ideology turns violent – the political and media backing behind the Posie Parker mob Thomas Cranwell writes – ——————————– Similar to other countries, the transgender movement in New Zealand is not a grassroots organisation but instead is an increasingly ...3 days ago- Greenhouse gassing the children at Kia Kaha Primary School
It is a lovely autumn morning.The sun is shining. The birds in Kōwhai park are twittering.There is music playing on Today FM.You can hardly tell that the children at Kia Kaha primary school are being greenhouse gassed.It is not just happening at Kia Kaha Primary School.It is happening to all ...3 days ago- Judicialising the climate struggle
The United Nations has asked the International Court of Justice for a ruling on climate change obligations: The UN General Assembly has adopted a Vanuatu-led resolution calling for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change and human rights. The resolution was tabled by ...3 days ago- Poor Old Mike Hosking
Poor old Mike Hosking! In today’s Herald, such is his visceral antipathy to our current government, that he is reduced to wrestling with himself in trying to understand how it is that despite its many failings – in his eyes at least – the Labour government is somehow ahead in ...3 days ago- A total no-brainer
Air pollution kills, and dirty diesel vehicles are a major source of it. Cleaning them up has enormous social benefits in avoided deaths and hospitalisations. How much? Billions of dollars: A report quietly released by the Ministry of Transport in July shows tighter regulation of vehicle imports for air ...3 days ago- Political propaganda dressed up as an opinion poll
Via one of my lovely Twitter sources, the sardonic and interesting @johubris … the following ‘poll question’ has been recently distributed: “Thinking about your life and your country now, what is the most important issue that you want to see the New Zealand Government addressing?” This qualifies as push-polling, which ...3 days ago- This cover-up needs to be a crime
On Tuesday night, former Forestry Minister Stuart Nash was sacked for corruption, after the Prime Minister discovered he had disclosed confidential cabinet discussions to his donors. Its since emerged that Jacinda Ardern's office knew of this disclosure, but didn't act on the obvious breach of the Cabinet manual, and didn't ...3 days ago- Buried beneath avalanche of new laws and bills there’s news from the Cyclone Taskforce (a month af...
Buzz from the Beehive Whoa, there – we can’t keep up! Suddenly, the PM’s ministerial team has unleashed a slew of press statements. Sixteen announcements have been posted on the Beehive website since our last check. This burst of activity (we wondered) might be the result of them responding positively ...3 days ago- Harbour Crossing Project now estimated to cost $15-25 billion
Big transport news today with the government beginning public engagement on options for the Waitemata Harbour Connections project. This project has had an incredibly long history, with previous versions somehow managing to be incredibly expensive, detrimental to most of the transport outcomes we are trying to achieve in Auckland, and ...3 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Is it time for an anti-corruption commission?
If ever there was an example of complacency about corruption and integrity in New Zealand politics it’s the fact that the Prime Minister’s Office knew back in 2021 that Cabinet Minister Stuart Nash was feeding privileged Cabinet information to business donors but did nothing about it. This is one of ...3 days ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #13 2023
Open access notables "Despite the potential for positive methane–climate feedbacks from global wetlands, most Earth System Models (ESMs) and Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) that informed the last Assessment Report of the IPCC do not directly incorporate this process." Publishing in Nature Climate Change, Zheng et al. unpack the implications of this ...3 days ago- NZ Politics Daily: 30 March 2023
Today’s content STUART NASH Richard Harman (Politik): How Nash got tangled up in “dirty politics” (paywalled) William Hewett (Newshub): Political pundit Bryce Edwards calls for anti-corruption commission, says Stuart Nash review needs to see if any MPs have ‘corrupt dealings’ Bridie Witton (Stuff): PM Chris Hipkins faces pressure to answer questions ...3 days ago- Dawn Chorus: Govt’s latest climate back-tracks
Among its ‘go slow’ on climate measures, the Government chose to delay tighter regulation of vehicle imports for air pollution for six years because it would have increased vehicle purchase costs. Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government continues to backtrack on moves to reduce emissions, with three news items ...3 days ago- How Nash got tangled up in “dirty politics”
Stuart Nash’s downfall appears to have had its beginnings with one of the players from the “Dirty Politics” scandals of 2014. Simon Lusk, a close associate of Cameron “Whaleoil” Slater, one of the key figures in Nicky Hagar’s “Dirty Politics” expose, has been associated with Stuart Nash. Lusk has ...3 days ago- 6 Months out from our election, the noise is not abating… and yes it is probably going to get wors...
Worried if this election will be shellacked by “the culture war”? That arrived ages ago. And, one side is definitely in panic mode, even if that’s not being admitted right now. Because of that, they’re reverting yet again to straight up… culture wars. Yes, fellow traveler, the Party who ...3 days ago- Plugging a video channel: All about Climate
All About Climate is a Youtube channel dedicated to communicating climate science and combating misinformation about global warming. It is run by Roshan Salgado D'Arcy - or 'Rosh' for short. He is a geology graduate with an MSc in climate change and is currently reading for a PhD in the communication of ...3 days ago- Of AIs, Ethics, and Sauronian Sonnets
ChatGPT is an interesting little beastie. I have only really started experimenting with it recently – not because I have any interest in using it for my own writing projects, but because I enjoy pushing and prodding the AI in strange directions. I have spent an inordinate amount of ...4 days ago- Climate Change: Labour is trying to kill us
The science of climate change is clear: we need to stop burning fossil fuels as quickly as possible, and we cannot burn even a fraction of those already discovered. So naturally, Labour is offering oil companies more exploration permits: The Government is offering companies another opportunity to search for ...4 days ago- Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player
4 days ago- Twin blows dent confidence in ministerial ranks, so will they affect morale among party faithful...
Is the government imploding? Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has had to sack one of his more effective (and likeable) ministers, while another (from the Green Party) has insulted many of the adult population. For his part, Hipkins had appeared to be shaping up well since he took over the ...4 days ago- An inquiry into freedom of information in Australia
Three weeks ago, Australia's Freedom of Information Commissioner - their equivalent of the Ombudsman - suddenly resigned, on the basis that the entire system was broken and he was unable to fix it. And now, the Australian Senate is holding an inquiry into the resignation, and the problems with Australia's ...4 days ago- A crime against democracy
Yesterday the government introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to the House. The bill is a response to Cyclone Gabrielle, and (like the Christchurch earthquake legislation) enables Ministers to amend laws by order in council across half the North Island, for five years. The list of laws allowed ...4 days ago- An Ugly Demonstration.
Mobbed! As Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s (Posie Parker’s) opponents surged forward, her only protecters were a handful of burly security guards who surrounded their client and began forcing a path through what was now a howling mob. At least one video recording shows the diminutive Keen-Minshull, a terrified rag-doll, eyes dulled by ...4 days ago- Four strikes and it’s out for Stuart Nash – now let’s see if Marama Davidson becomes a repeat ...
Buzz from the Beehive It looks like Marama Davidson must revile white sis males – or some other group of our population – three more times before she gets the heave-ho as one of Chris Hipkins’ ministers. That’s the conclusion to be drawn from the PM’s treatment of Stuart Nash, ...4 days ago- Gordon Campbell on the banning of Tik Tok
For a serial offender like Stuart Nash, it was inevitable that another skeleton would emerge from his closet, and end his ministerial career. This one though, was a whopper. Previously, Nash had tried to tell the Police how to do their job. He had also tried to tell the courts ...4 days ago- Bryce Edwards: Nash’s sacking means a deeper probe into Cabinet “insider trading” is required
Cabinet Minister Stuart Nash was sacked last night for violating Cabinet Collective Responsibility rules, when it was revealed he disclosed sensitive Government information to business supporters who had donated money to him. The breach of the Cabinet Manual was enough to land him in trouble, but the fact that it ...4 days ago- Te Hā Noa to Start Construction
Some good news last week with the Council confirming that Te Hā Noa – Victoria St Linear Park will go ahead and with construction starting on 11 April – though with a few fishhooks. Te Hā Noa, a renewed Victoria Street, is the next big project in Auckland Council’s Midtown ...4 days ago- Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Broken trust led to sacking
Stuart Nash’s assurances to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins that there were no further examples of him breaching the Cabinet Manual became meaningless with the release of emails from Nash sharing Cabinet discussions with business people. The Prime Minister had no choice but to sack Nash as a Minister with immediate ...4 days ago- A Quick Sean Plunket FAQ
Hi,Just a quick online-only update after yesterday’s newsletter, How Michael Organ Weaponised the Family Court... and Sean Plunket. First up — wow. Thanks for all the support, and to all those who shared their own personal stories in the comments. And welcome to any new Webworm readers.I just wanted ...4 days ago- Luxon demands Davidson apologise to white men!
Let that sink in for a moment - Christopher Luxon, who has spent the last year demonising Māori, wants Marama Davidson to apologise to white men.You will likely have seen the video, or read about it. Marama Davidson rushing along Princes St on Saturday evening, the road that runs between ...4 days ago- Dawn Chorus: Councils set to dump Wellington Light Rail
Stuart Nash, the great-grandson of former Prime Minister Sir Walter Nash, has lost his political career. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Stuart Nash was sacked for telling donors what happened in Cabinet. Wellington’s City and Regional Councils are going cold on light rail plans. Wayne Brown is under ...4 days ago- The links between Stuart Nash and NZ First
NZ First Leader Winston Peters is sympathising with Stuart Nash and defending him but dodging questions on whether he would be welcome in New Zealand First. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins last night sacked Nash from the Cabinet after an email he had sent to two of his campaign donors ...4 days ago- Sacked for corruption
So, after interfering with the police, and then interfering with immigration decisions, Stuart Nash has finally been sacked: Stuart Nash has been sacked as a minister, after Stuff revealed he had emailed business figures, including donors, detailing private Cabinet discussions. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed the people Nash emailed ...4 days ago- The climate landmine under our economy (a housing market with bits tacked on)
Nearly 25% of mortgages in Auckland are deemed at risk in a 1-in-100 year flood event. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Once a year, every year, from now on, in our not-so-slow-cooking climate crisis, there will be a moment when the most important number in Aotearoa’s own personal, national ...5 days ago- More Labour secrecy
In July 2022, the then-Minister for Public Services, Chris Hipkins, promised that he would reduce the number of secrecy clauses in new legislation. Today the government has introduced not one, but two bills that strengthen secrecy at the expense of transparency. The first is the Resale Right for Visual Artists ...5 days ago- You people are the best
Item One: About a confected crisis Please bear with me for a moment, readers outside Auckland, I wish to sound the klaxon. Auckland, we have until 11pm today to have our say. About what? About this, as copied and pasted from Pippa Coom’s Facebook page:The "austerity" budget is built on ...5 days ago- Hipkins gets an apology from Davidson for reviling “white cis men” – but if she apologised to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Yet again, the statement we were looking for could not be found on the Beehive website. Nor was it on the Scoop or Green Party websites. But – come to think of it – we are probably wasting our time by searching. Our quest is for the ...5 days ago- Approaching Gridlock: Arundhati Roy on Free Speech and Failing Democracy
The following is from a speech given by Arundhati Roy at the Swedish Academy on March 22, 2023, at a conference called Thought and Truth Under Pressure and reprinted from Literary Hub. I thank the Swedish Academy for inviting me to speak at this conference and for affording me the privilege ...5 days ago- Wood pulls a Dutton
After almost two decades of racism, Australia is finally getting off its "stop the boats" bullshit. But don't worry, racists - Michael Wood has your back! The Government wants to increase the time it can detain without a warrant people seeking asylum en masse from four days to 28 ...5 days ago- Labour dragging its feet on pay transparency
Last year, the Education and Workforce Committee recommended that the government legislate for pay transparency to prevent employers from secretly discriminating. This ought to be a bread and butter issue for Labour - discrimination sees women (and particularly Māori and Pasifika women) paid significantly less than men. But since then ...5 days ago- THOMAS CRANMER: Violent suppression of free speech – Kellie-Jay Keen’s assault by transgender ...
Thomas Cranmer writes – ———— An unruly mob in Albert Park has catapulted New Zealand into the global headlines with ugly images that may become iconic in the debate about the dangers of transgenderism. ———— Bravo Kellie-Jay Keen. She did the job that needed to be done. For all the ...5 days ago- Political Roundup: 28 March 2023
POSIE PARKER RALLY The Facts: New Zealanders are world leaders in respecting transgender men and women Chris Trotter (Interest): An ugly demonstration William Hewett (Newshub): Sir Peter Gluckman warns New Zealand’s social cohesion at risk, society needs to accept transgender people have rights Rachel Smalley (Today FM): How on earth did ...5 days ago- Extreme heat waves in Europe may be linked to melting Arctic sea ice
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global warming is melting the Arctic ice cap, and that’s having unforeseen effects on the world’s weather — even thousands of miles away from the North Pole. Some climate scientists have begun to link increasingly common heat waves in Europe to what is ...5 days ago- Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Integrity of politicians deserves scrutiny
Hot on the heels of the demotion of former police Minister Stuart Nash for breaching the Cabinet Manual, Radio New Zealand has revealed the close links between lobbyists and politicians- an area of New Zealand politics that is completely unregulated. The evidence in Guyon Espiner’s series Mate, Comrade, Brother, the ...5 days ago- Warkworth and the Cost of Sprawl
At the Auckland Transport board meeting today a series of papers really highlight the cost of sprawl. For the last few years, the Supporting Growth work has been looking at designing the strategic transport networks for future greenfield areas in the South, Northwest, North (around Dairy flat) and in Warkworth. ...5 days ago- How Michael Organ Weaponised the Family Court… and Sean Plunket
5 days ago- We couldn’t possibly comment
Only three days after Nanaia Mahuta had dinner with China’s Foreign Minister, New Zealand’s intelligence chiefs were talking about state actors interfering in New Zealand politics and using ethnic communities here for espionage purposes. Neither GSCB Director (and new SIS director) Andrew Hampton nor acting SIS CEO Phil McKee ...5 days ago- Mahuta’s talks succeed in warming up high-level relationships in Beijing, and she opens way for ...
In what has been one of her most important diplomatic mission, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has opened the door for a visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins later this year. Such a mission is regarded as vital with a new Prime Minister Li Qiang settling into office. ...6 days ago- Marama Davidson was reminded of the Maori numbers – maybe – before admitting mistake about who c...
Buzz from the Beehive Marama Davidson, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, has featured in media headlines after being hit by a motorcycle near the scene of the Posie Parker protest and for sharing an inflammatory opinion about the perpetrators of violence. On The Daily Blog, Martyn ...6 days ago - Incomes are lifted for many Kiwis and Maori mountain managers in Taranaki get $35m – but “Egmont...
- 1 April changes to lift incomes
Over a million New Zealanders will receive a little extra to help with the cost of living as a result of our 1 April changes. Around the world, inflation is causing costs to rise and we’re feeling it here at home. In tough times, we need to support those who ...1 day ago - Liveable incomes needed
With benefit changes coming into effect tomorrow, the Green Party is calling on the Government to lift benefits to liveable levels to make sure everyone has what they need to thrive. ...2 days ago - Come on National, is that the best you can do?A visionless National Party has stolen Government policy and rebranded it as their own. ...2 days ago
- Waitematā Harbour crossing options not good enoughRapid transit for the Waitematā Harbour crossing must be the priority - not more car lanes that will make congestion and climate change worse. ...3 days ago
- Greens celebrate passing of Organic Products and Production BillFollowing decades of work by the Green Party alongside the organics sector, people will finally be able to be confident that products labelled organic have met standards. ...3 days ago
- Greens back pay transparency open letterThe Green Party supports immediate Government action to close the pay gap as called for in an open letter released today by the Human Rights Commission and 50 other organisations. ...4 days ago
- Continued strikes show need for bold actionThe Green Party backs the demands of thousands of secondary and area school teachers striking today. ...4 days ago
- Greens welcome waste strategy release and workThe Green Party is today welcoming the release of the Government’s waste strategy, but says it has a big gap without action on the container return scheme for beverage containers. ...4 days ago
- Mass arrivals legislation a breach of NZ’s valuesThe Government’s decision to introduce ‘mass arrivals’ legislation goes against the values we all share of Aotearoa as a place where all people are treated fairly, the Green Party says. ...5 days ago
- Minster Davidson Must Resign After 'Violence' Comments
MINISTER DAVIDSON MUST RESIGN AFTER 'VIOLENCE' COMMENTS Marama Davidson should stand down as ‘Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence’ for the clear and outrageous statement she made at the Posie Parker protest that ‘white straight men’ are the cause of violence. Her offensive, racist, and sexist remarks ...6 days ago - In response to Newshub and Amelia Wade’s obvious and ham-fisted attempt at a typical and predicted...In response to Newshub and Amelia Wade’s obvious and ham-fisted attempt at a typical and predicted political hit job. As any politically aware reporter would know, any Cabinet subcommittee has a duty and obligation as a part of any government to respond to any UN declaration, in this case ...1 week ago
- ‘The Real State of the Nation’Good afternoon. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you today and in your busy lives turning up to this meeting. Forty five years ago, in Howick, often described as racist, and where few Maori lived because it had been a ‘Fencible’ settlement at the time of the Anglo-Maori ...1 week ago
- National’s education policy gets an FThe Green Party has marked the National Party’s new education policy and given it a fail, especially for its failure to address the underlying drivers of school performance. ...1 week ago
- Child poverty stats show need for actionThe Green Party is calling on the Government to immediately provide more support to families doing it toughest. ...1 week ago
- Greens ask Auckland MPs across party lines to speak up on Council budget proposalsAuckland Central Green MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to all Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland based Members of Parliament requesting their urgent attention to Auckland Council’s unprecedented slash-and-burn proposals. ...1 week ago
- IPCC report shows 2023 is a ‘now or never’ climate election“This is it; 2023 will be the last opportunity New Zealand has to get a government that will confront the climate emergency with the urgency it demands,” says the Green Party’s co-leader and climate change spokesperson, James Shaw. ...2 weeks ago
- Enough slow progress, 2023 is a fight for our futurePolitical parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised in their State of the Planet speech today. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call time on slow progressPolitical parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party after the election must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised today. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party co-leader James Shaw's State of the Planet speech, 2023You will never truly understand, from the pictures you’ve seen in the newspapers or on the six o-clock news, the sheer scale of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle. ...2 weeks ago
- More cost of living support for KiwisWe’re boosting incomes and helping ease cost of living pressures on Kiwis through a range of bread and butter support measures that will see pensioners, students, families, and those on main benefits better off from the start of next month. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens back teachers’ demandsThe Green Party backs the demands of the teachers’ strikers. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens will waste no time with Minister for Zero WasteThe error Labour Ministers made by stopping work on a beverage container return scheme will be reversed by the Greens at the earliest opportunity as part of the next Government. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens secure win for clean transportThe Green Party has made it easier for commuters to access e-bikes thanks to an amendment to tax rules. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens will always prioritise action on climate and inequality“Cabinet needs to do better - and today has shown exactly why we need Green Ministers in cabinet, so we can prioritise action to cut climate pollution and support people to make ends meet,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. ...3 weeks ago
- Bold action needed to help people eatBiggest increase in food prices for over three decades shows the need for an excess profit tax on corporations to help people put food on the table. ...3 weeks ago
- Flu vaccine to protect Kiwis this winter
From today, 1.8 million flu vaccines are available to help protect New Zealanders from winter illness, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Vaccination against flu is safe and will be a first line of defence against severe illness this winter,” Dr Verrall said. “We can all play a part ...20 hours ago - Congratulations to Professor Rangi Mātāmua – New Zealander of the YearAssociate Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Willow-Jean Prime has congratulated Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Ngāi Tūhoe) who was last night named the prestigious Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa New Zealander of the Year. Professor Mātāmua, who is the government's Chief Adviser Mātauranga Matariki, was the winner of the New Zealander ...2 days ago
- Further sanctions on Russian and Belarusian political and military figuresThe Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on political and military figures from Russia and Belarus as part of the ongoing response to the war in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Alekseevna Lvova-Belova ...2 days ago
- Ambitious new housing development for WhangāreiA new public housing development planned for Whangārei will provide 95 warm and dry, modern homes for people in need, Housing Minister Megan Woods says. The Kauika Road development will replace a motel complex in the Avenues with 89 three-level walk up apartments, alongside six homes. “Whangārei has a rapidly ...2 days ago
- CPTPP bolstered by decision on UK accessionNew Zealand welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Continuing to grow our export returns is a priority for the Government and part of our plan to ...2 days ago
- Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed (rua reo)Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown have today initialled the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Deed, named Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little says. “I am pleased to be here for this ...2 days ago
- Dates announced for 2023 Pacific language weeksMinister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds has announced the 2023 Pacific Language week series, highlighting the need to revitalise and sustain languages for future generations. “Pacific languages are a cornerstone of our health, wellbeing and identity as Pacific peoples. When our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated, our communities thrive,” ...2 days ago
- Over a quarter of New Zealanders to get cost of living relief from tomorrow880,000 pensioners to get a boost to Super, including 5000 veterans 52,000 students to see a bump in allowance or loan living costs Approximately 223,000 workers to receive a wage rise as a result of the minimum wage increasing to $22.70 8,000 community nurses to receive pay increase of up ...2 days ago
- Thousands of community nurses getting April pay boostOver 8000 community nurses will start receiving well-deserved pay rises of up to 15 percent over the next month as a Government initiative worth $200 million a year kicks in, says Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. “The Government is committed to ensuring nurses are paid fairly and will receive ...2 days ago
- Speech to Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and TOI Foundation breakfastTākiri mai ana te ata Ki runga o ngākau mārohirohi Kōrihi ana te manu kaupapa Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea Tihei mauri ora Let the dawn break On the hearts and minds of those who stand resolute As the bird of action sings, it welcomes the dawn of a ...2 days ago
- Government takes next step to lift artists’ incomesThe Government is introducing a scheme which will lift incomes for artists, support them beyond the current spike in cost of living and ensure they are properly recognised for their contribution to New Zealand’s economy and culture. “In line with New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the UK, last ...3 days ago
- NZ stands with Vanuatu on climate at UNNew Zealand is welcoming a decision by the United Nations General Assembly to ask the International Court of Justice to consider countries’ international legal obligations on climate change. The United Nations has voted unanimously to adopt a resolution led by Vanuatu to ask the ICJ for an advisory opinion on ...3 days ago
- More Police deployed to the frontlineMore Police officers are being deployed to the frontline with the graduation of 59 new constables from the Royal New Zealand Police College today. “The graduation for recruit wing 364 was my first since becoming Police Minister last week,” Ginny Andersen said. “It was a real honour. I want to ...3 days ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand committed to an enduring partnership with VanuatuForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met with Vanuatu Foreign Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila, today, signing a new Statement of Partnership — Aotearoa New Zealand’s first with Vanuatu. “The Mauri Statement of Partnership is a joint expression of the values, priorities and principles that will guide the Aotearoa New Zealand–Vanuatu relationship into ...3 days ago
- Government delivers levy change to support Fire and EmergencyThe Government has passed new legislation amending the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) levy regime, ensuring the best balance between a fair and cost effective funding model. The Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Levy) Amendment Bill makes changes to the existing law to: charge the levy on contracts of ...3 days ago
- Next steps for New Zealand’s organic regulationsThe Government has passed the Organic Products and Production Bill through its third reading today in Parliament helping New Zealand’s organic sector to grow and lift export revenue. “The Organic Products and Production Bill will introduce robust and practical regulation to give businesses the certainty they need to continue to ...3 days ago
- Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identitiesThe Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill, which will make it easier for New Zealanders to safely prove who they are digitally has passed its third and final reading today. “We know New Zealanders want control over their identity information and how it’s used by the companies and services they ...3 days ago
- Cyclone Taskforce focused on locally-led recoveryThe full Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Taskforce has met formally for the first time as work continues to help the regions recover and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle. The Taskforce, which includes representatives from business, local government, iwi and unions, covers all regions affected by the January and February floods and cyclone. ...3 days ago
- Law changed to protect subcontractorsChanges have been made to legislation to give subcontractors the confidence they will be paid the retention money they are owed should the head contractor’s business fail, Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods announced today. “These changes passed in the Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act safeguard subcontractors who ...3 days ago
- New congestion busting harbour crossing options unveiledTransport Minister Michael Wood has unveiled five scenarios for one of the most significant city-shaping projects for Tāmaki Makaurau in coming decades, the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing. “Aucklanders and businesses have made it clear that the biggest barriers to the success of Auckland is persistent congestion and after years of ...3 days ago
- New law enhances safety and security in the aviation sectorThe Government has passed new legislation that ensures New Zealand’s civil aviation rules are fit for purpose in the 21st century, Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan says. The Civil Aviation Bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single modern law ...3 days ago
- Coroners Amendment Bill passes third readingA Bill aimed at helping to reduce delays in the coronial jurisdiction passed its third reading today. The Coroners Amendment Bill, amongst other things, will establish new coronial positions, known as Associate Coroners, who will be able to perform most of the functions, powers, and duties of Coroners. The new ...3 days ago
- Review into Stuart Nash’s communications with donorsThe Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to conduct a review into communications between Stuart Nash and his donors. The review will take place over the next two months. The review will look at whether there have been any other breaches of cabinet collective responsibility or confidentiality, or whether ...4 days ago
- 600 more workers to support recoveryThe new Recovery Visa to help bring in additional migrant workers to support cyclone and flooding recovery has attracted over 600 successful applicants within its first month. “The Government is moving quickly to support businesses bring in the workers needed to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods,” Michael ...4 days ago
- Bills to vet school boards, contractors pass first readingBills to ensure non-teaching employees and contractors at schools, and unlicensed childcare services like mall crèches are vetted by police, and provide safeguards for school board appointments have passed their first reading today. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 3) and the Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Bill have now ...4 days ago
- Bill recognises unique role and contribution of Wānanga and Kura Kaupapa MāoriWānanga will gain increased flexibility and autonomy that recognises the unique role they fill in the tertiary education sector, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No.3), that had its first reading today, proposes a new Wānanga enabling framework for the three current ...4 days ago
- Foreign Affairs Minister talks to the Vanuatu Government on Pacific issuesForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Vanuatu today, announcing that Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further relief and recovery assistance there, following the recent destruction caused by Cyclones Judy and Kevin. While in Vanuatu, Minister Mahuta will meet with Vanuatu Acting Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Foreign Minister Jotham ...4 days ago
- Major investment to support the safety of frontline Police and communitiesThe Government is backing Police and making communities safer with the roll-out of state-of-the-art tools and training to frontline staff, Police Minister Ginny Andersen said today. “Frontline staff face high-risk situations daily as they increasingly respond to sophisticated organised crime, gang-violence and the availability of illegal firearms,” Ginny Andersen said. ...4 days ago
- Further laws passed to keep communities safe from gang offendingThe Government has provided Police with more tools to crack down on gang offending with the passing of new legislation today which will further improve public safety, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. The Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Bill amends existing law to: create new targeted warrant and additional search powers ...4 days ago
- Standard kerbside recycling part of new era for waste systemThe Government today announced far-reaching changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of waste, ushering in a new era for New Zealand’s waste system. The changes will ensure that where waste is recycled, for instance by households at the kerbside, it is less likely to be contaminated ...4 days ago
- New laws will crack down on gang profits and criminal assetsNew legislation passed by the Government today will make it harder for gangs and their leaders to benefit financially from crime that causes considerable harm in our communities, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan says. Since the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 came into effect police have been highly successful in ...4 days ago
- Stuart Nash dismissed from CabinetThis evening I have advised the Governor-General to dismiss Stuart Nash from all his ministerial portfolios. Late this afternoon I was made aware by a news outlet of an email Stuart Nash sent in March 2020 to two contacts regarding a commercial rent relief package that Cabinet had considered. In ...4 days ago
- Tax incentive to boost housing passes third readingLegislation to enable more build-to-rent developments has passed its third reading in Parliament, so this type of rental will be able to claim interest deductibility in perpetuity where it meets the requirements. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods, says the changes will help unlock the potential of the build-to-rent sector and ...5 days ago
- Law levels playing field for low-emissions commutingA law passed by Parliament today exempts employers from paying fringe benefit tax on certain low emission commuting options they provide or subsidise for their staff. “Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff, for instance by providing car parks,” Environment Minister David Parker said. “This move supports ...5 days ago
- 40 years of Closer Economic Relations with AustraliaToday marks the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), our gold standard free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia. “CER was a world-leading agreement in 1983, is still world-renowned today and is emblematic of both our countries’ commitment to free trade. The WTO has called it the world’s ...5 days ago
- Amendments to mass arrivals legislationThe Government is making procedural changes to the Immigration Act to ensure that 2013 amendments operate as Parliament intended. The Government is also introducing a new community management approach for asylum seekers. “While it’s unlikely we’ll experience a mass arrival due to our remote positioning, there is no doubt New ...5 days ago
- Progress on public service pay adjustmentThe Government welcomes progress on public sector pay adjustment (PSPA) agreements, and the release of the updated public service pay guidance by the Public Service Commission today, Minister for the Public Service Andrew Little says. “More than a dozen collective agreements are now settled in the public service, Crown Agents, ...5 days ago
- Further legislation introduced to support cyclone recoveryThe Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...6 days ago
- Duty relief for cyclone-affected businessesFurther assistance is now available to businesses impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, with Customs able to offer payment plans and to remit late-payments, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced. “This is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to assist economic recovery in the regions,” Meka Whaitiri said. “Cabinet has approved the ...6 days ago
- Thousands of sole parents to be better off after child support changesMore than 41,000 sole parent families will be better off with a median gain of $20 a week Law change estimated to help lift up to 14,000 children out of poverty Child support payments will be passed on directly to people receiving a sole parent rate of main benefit, making ...6 days ago
- Labor’s unexpected Aston win is body blow for Dutton
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The rout of the Liberals in Aston is a disaster for Peter Dutton. The party has defied history – in the worst possible way. This is the first time in more than a century ...6 hours ago - Labor wins Aston byelection; NSW election and Trump polling updatesSource: 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 Morgan Hancock/AAP With 44% of enrolled voters counted in today’s Aston federal byelection, the ABC has Labor expected to win ...7 hours ago
- Labor likely to win Aston byelection; NSW election and Trump polling updatesSource: 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 Morgan Hancock/AAP With 44% of enrolled voters counted in today’s Aston federal byelection, the ABC has Labor expected to win ...8 hours ago
- The faulty logic of Stuart Nash and the Ombudsman's opportunity
Analysis - When is a cabinet minister not a cabinet minister? The faulty logic of Stuart Nash has landed him and Labour in a heap of trouble but opened the door to serious reform of the Official Information Act, Tim Watkin writes. ...17 hours ago - Indonesian police move to stem rise in Papuan freedom fighter attacksJubi News in Jayapura Indonesia’s Papua police chief Inspector-General Mathius D Fakhiri has called for action to ensure that “security disturbances” in the Puncak Jaya highlands do not widen in the face of escalating attacks by pro-independence militants. “For Puncak, we will take immediate action,” he said. According to General ...18 hours ago
- What’s new to Netflix NZ, Neon and other streaming services in April
What are you going to be watching this month? We round up everything coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ+. The biggies Party Down (all seasons on TVNZ+ from April 1) Thirteen years is a long time between drinks and ...21 hours ago - Focus on Politics: New Police Minister in opposition's crosshairsGinny Andersen has landed a hot-potato portfolio and has been in Cabinet less than two months - the opposition will be eager to test her mettle this election year. ...21 hours ago
- Did people spontaneously applaud the Donald Trump indictment in a Rotorua cafe?The executive producer of Modern Family has issued an incendiary claim about New Zealanders cheering and clapping in public. Hayden Donnell gets to the bottom of things. The sitcom Modern Family is remembered as a “warm-hearted story about the unbreakable bonds of family”; a tale of radically different people overcoming ...21 hours ago
- ‘Holding back the tears’: Shapeshifter’s soggy summer of cancelled showsAs rain kept falling across January, February and into March, all band members cold do was sit at home cancelling festivals and posting sad Facebook messages to fans. The first post landed on January 3. As wild weather began hitting the country, campers around Northland packed up their tents ...22 hours ago
- Strong communities are essential when disaster strikes
Because pro-social behaviour emerges so often after disaster, community empowerment should be central to disaster mitigation and recovery Opinion: Cyclone Gabrielle caused major damage across the North Island. This unprecedented climate event created great uncertainty. People are wondering if, or when, they can return to their homes, the extent to ...1 day ago - Short story: Le fou et la folle, by Federico Magrin
"We, women, loving you; you, men, finding new women to love": a Francophile love story in NZ Louis woke up and found out Marine was not lying next to him in bed. He checked his phone – 5:30am. The aurora shone a bright gold on the windows of the detached ...1 day ago - The Week in Detail: From Posie Parker to processed foods
Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories. This week, we looked at how co-governance really works, Labour's record on climate action, what the new AUKUS nuclear submarine deal means for New Zealand, Posie Parker's visit to Auckland and the free speech debate, and the damage processed foods are ...1 day ago - 'Devastated': Today FM's Tova O'Brien is the canary in the economic mine
The radio workers were caught by the unexpected speed of the decline of NZ's consumer economy, since Christmas – and they won't be the last. Jonathan Milne reports. When broadcaster Tova O’Brien uttered the resounding words, "they’ve f***ed us", they resonated beyond the 1 percent audience share of a small talk radio operation ...1 day ago - Lake Onslow battery losing its charge
A New Zealand Battery Project centred on Lake Onslow in Central Otago is up against a cheaper North Island alternative Studies into whether a massive pumped-hydro scheme at Lake Onslow is New Zealand’s best bet for a secure energy future may have only four more months to run. While the ...1 day ago - The Detail's Long Read: Jungle Warfare
This is The Detail's Long Read - one in-depth story read by us every weekend. This week, it's Jungle Warfare, written by Ellen Rykers and published in New Zealand Geographic's March/April 2023 edition. You can find the full article, with photos by Adrian Malloch, here. Hundreds of pest plant species—many of them garden escapees—run rampant in ...1 day ago - The many lives of John-Paul FoliakiThe Red, White & Brass star talks spectacle, honouring family sacrifices and his debut lead role over a Tongan lunch in Otāhuhu. Name a creative pursuit and 28-year-old Tongan New Zealander John-Paul Foliaki will give it a go. That is, if he hasn’t already. Foliaki plays the lead role, Maka, ...1 day ago
- The stories of Katherine Mansfield, rankedTo mark 100 years since the great short story writer’s death, books editor Claire Mabey marathonned her collected works – these are the top 20. Reader, I did it. I read all of Katherine Mansfield’s short stories. Confession: I haven’t always been a fan. I have tedious memories of ...1 day ago
- Ekenasio steps into shoes of Magic giants
In her first season as an ANZ Premiership captain, Ameliaranne Ekenasio was nervous about filling the shoes of the legendary Magic captains before her. But, as Merryn Anderson writes, the quiet leader has the full respect of the side who voted her in. When the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic created history ...1 day ago - What went wrong in Peter Bol’s doping case? A sport integrity expert explainsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Ordway, Associate Professor Sport Management and Sport Integrity Lead, University of Canberra Lawyers for Australian 800-metre star Peter Bol say allegations the runner engaged in doping should be dropped after two independent labs found no evidence he used a banned substance. ...1 day ago
- ‘I feel vindicated’ – Vanuatu Daily Post in landmark work permit winVanuatu’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Trading Post Ltd, the owner of the Vanuatu Daily Post newspaper, BUZZ FM96 and other media outlets, in a case against the government’s refusal to renew the company’s former media director’s work permit. Dan McGarry, who served as a director of the ...1 day ago
- Stephen Jack Selected As National’s Candidate In Taieri
Balclutha-based farmer Stephen Jack has been selected by local party members as National’s candidate in Taieri for the 2023 General Election. “Taieri is my home and I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to campaign for a National Government ...1 day ago - Government announces new sanctions against Russia, BelarusThe government has announced another set of sanctions as part of its ongoing response to the war in Ukraine. ...2 days ago
- Week in Politics: For Labour's sake, Nash must goAnalysis - The Stuart Nash scandal has the potential to damage Labour's election chances, Marama Davidson creates controversy and Auckland's second harbour crossing to be built earlier than expected. ...2 days ago
- Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare JM Burns, Assistant Professor and Non-executive Director, Bond University Shutterstock The story of the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund, whose name and marketing misled thousands of customers into believing it was Indigenous owned and run, is a stark example of ...2 days ago
- PSA: Remember to change your clocks this SundayIt’s the biannual reminder to tamper with that pesky analogue clock you still have in your kitchen for some reason (or at the least your microwave/car stereo). This Sunday at 3am, we will all gain an hour of sleep as the clocks roll back ahead of winter. Get ready for ...2 days ago
- Ombudsman reopens investigation into Nash emailsThe Chief Ombudsman has reopened his investigation into a complaint over former minister Stuart Nash's emails. ...2 days ago
- Investigation into hidden Nash email reopenedThe chief ombudsman has elected to reopen his investigation into an email from former minister Stuart Nash to a pair of donors back in 2020. The email, which only came to light this week, quickly triggered Nash’s dismissal from cabinet. But in bad news for the prime minister Chris Hipkins, ...2 days ago
- And thus, the celebration of The Bulletin’s fifth birthday comes to an endLast week we celebrated The Bulletin’s fifth birthday with Spinoff members and staff at The Spinoff’s offices in Auckland. The Bulletin launched in March 2018 seeking to curate news and great journalism and email that to people for free each weekday morning. That hasn’t changed and it’s still going strong. ...2 days ago
- Minimum Wage Increase To Make Real Difference, Says NZCTUThe biggest increase in the history of the minimum wage will have a huge impact for workers on low wages, says the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. From tomorrow, the minimum wage will rise to $22.70, up from $21.20. This increase will benefit ...2 days ago
- Has GPT-4 really passed the startling threshold of human-level artificial intelligence? Well, it dep...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By George Siemens, Co-Director, Professor, Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, University of South Australia agsandrew/Shutterstock Recent public interest in tools like ChatGPT has raised an old question in the artificial intelligence community: is artificial general intelligence (in this case, ...2 days ago
- Synthony postpones Auckland show due to weatherAuckland’s wet summer is delivering one final blow just in time for the weekend. The Synthony festival, due to be held on Saturday at Auckland Domain and featuring performances by Shapeshifter, Dave Dobbyn and Kimbra, has been postponed following predictions of heavy rainfall across the day. More than 20,000 people ...2 days ago
- Open Letter To GovernmentWe would like to see a temporary by-pass of the major slip on State Highway 25A built to alleviate the concerns of the residents of the Eastern Side of Coromandel. Cyclone Gabrielle inflicted substantial damage to roading on the Coromandel Peninsula. ...2 days ago
- Review: Wellmania takes wobbly aim at the wellness industryAlex Casey watches Wellmania, the new Netflix comedy starring Instagram sensation Celeste Barber. The lowdown Based on the book by journalist Brigid Delaney, Netflix comedy Wellmania follows successful yet shambolic Australian food writer Liv Bealey (Celeste Barber) as she embarks on a quest to get well as quickly as possible. ...2 days ago
- Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier Reopens Nash InvestigationThe Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says he has reopened his investigation into an Official Information Act complaint about a decision by former Minister Stuart Nash. "The original enquiry was discontinued in May last year in discussion with the ...2 days ago
- NZNO Welcomes Pay Parity Move, Leaving Out GP Nurses RegrettableThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has welcomed this morning’s Government announcement to address pay disparities in the nursing and kaiāwhina workforces from 1 April. NZNO Chief Executive Paul ...2 days ago
- Britain to join CPTPP Pacific trade pact this yearThe British High Commissioner to New Zealand says the United Kingdom joining the trade deal is "wonderful news". ...2 days ago
- Ingredient of the week: BroccoliDon’t let broccoli’s virtuous goody two-shoes reputation put you off – these verdant and versatile florets make the perfect addition to tray bakes, salads, soups and more. I reckon broccoli’s “superfood” status has given it a bit of a bad reputation. Because it’s so healthy (and reasonably inoffensive), its nutrients ...2 days ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘escher x nendo’ by Michele LeggottA poem from Michele Leggott’s forthcoming book Face to the Sky. escher x nendo I hear you Eddie Woo coming clear across the galleries of intercochlear space you have the measure of these galaxies earthmeasure you have the measure of their difference earthmisia you translate one world artemisia and here ...2 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending March 31The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Doubleday, $26) The new, smaller format of Bonnie Garmus’ ...2 days ago
- Curious Kids: what happens if you don’t get enough sleep?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Blunden, Professor and Head of Paediatric Sleep Research, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock What would happen to a person if they didn’t get the sleep they needed? Hedya, age 11, Australia This is a really good question Heyda, because it ...2 days ago
- ‘The last year of my career has been wiped’: Today FM’s instant online erasureWithin hours of Duncan Garner telling listeners ‘It looks like the end of us’, the station’s website, social media and archives had been scrubbed from the internet. Right now across Auckland you can still see ads for Leo Molloy’s doomed mayoral campaign and electorate offices adorned with a smiling Jacinda ...2 days ago
- PM on Stuart Nash's email scandal: 'He should have told me about it'Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has spoken more about the Stuart Nash email scandal at a media conference at the Manurewa RSA today, saying Nash has been "ultimately held accountable". ...2 days ago
- Vanuatu hails ‘historic resolution’ in climate battle on the world stageBy Barbara Dreaver in Port Vila Vanuatu is in celebration mode after winning a significant battle on the world stage over climate change. In a United Nations resolution spearheaded by Vanuatu, the world’s top court will now advise on countries’ legal obligations to fight climate change. It also means the ...2 days ago
- FLNKS message to French PM about Kanak ‘humiliation’ over referendumBy Jan Kohout, RNZ Pacific journalist New Caledonia’s Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) say they will tell the French Prime Minister of the Kanak people’s “sense of humiliation” over the last independence referendum. The pro-independence alliance is set to talk to the French state from April 7-15. The ...2 days ago
- Watch: PM Chris Hipkins talks to media on eve of benefit increasesPrime Minister Chris Hipkins is visiting the Manurewa RSA meeting veterans who are among hundreds of thousands to receive higher payments from tomorrow. ...2 days ago
- Your weekend entertainment plan: The Big Door Prize, Unstable and The PowerThis is an excerpt from The Spinoff’s pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday here. If you want a middle-aged white man to play a disappointed-with-the-state-of-their-life middle-aged-white-man, you have two options: Jason Segel or Chris O’Dowd. Clearly, Segel was already busy ...2 days ago
- Four Million Milestone Reached For 2023 CensusOver four million people have returned their Individual Forms for the 2023 Census, Stats NZ said today. “This is a great milestone. We didn’t hit this milestone until 30 April in the 2018 Census. I would like to thank everybody who has been counted ...2 days ago
- Government To Cement In High Carbon FutureThe government's recent announcement of five high carbon options for the next harbour crossing has disappointed those concerned about climate change. TRAC, a rail advocacy collective, opposes the short-sighted decision, citing the urgent need to reduce ...2 days ago
- As the US pushes to make daylight saving permanent, should Australia move in the same direction?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guzyal Hill, Senior Lecturer, Charles Darwin University Shutterstock Sunday will mark the end of the Daylight Saving Time (DST) in eastern Australia, but there are many who would like to see it last longer or permanently. Twice a year, New ...2 days ago
- Call For Evidence On Aotearoa New Zealand’s Emissions Reduction Targets And Emissions Budgets, 31 ...He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has launched a call for evidence to support its work on Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions reduction targets and emissions budgets. This call for evidence is an opportunity for anyone to share information, data and ...2 days ago
- Kiwis May Not Be As Fraud Savvy As They Think: Visa StudyAs the move to digital commerce continues, fraudsters are counting on consumers to let their guard down and to supply personal information. And according to new research released today by global payments technology company Visa (NYSE: V), which ...2 days ago
- The predator-free story on NZ’s $5 noteOn the other side to Sir Ed is the scene of one of our greatest conservation triumphs. Allison Hess explains. Stuffed into your wallet or passed across the till, the New Zealand $5 note circulates largely unobserved. But if you were to take a closer look at the ubiquitous burnt ...2 days ago
- EPA Seeks Feedback On Tapping Into Global InformationThe Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is asking for views on which overseas regulators it will draw on for some hazardous substance assessments and reassessments. The recognised international regulators must regulate hazardous substances in a similar ...2 days ago
- What does Trump’s indictment mean for his political future – and the strength of US democracy?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Lecturer, RMIT University Alex Brandon/AP Events often seem inevitable in hindsight. The indictment of former US President Donald Trump on criminal charges has been a possibility since the start of his presidency – arguably, since close to the ...2 days ago
- Te Pūkenga Leadership Have FailedTe Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union is ready to fight for every job at Te Pūkenga, as members digest a series of shocking statements from their Chief Executive on RNZ’s Nine To Noon programme today. Peter Winder stated, amongst other things, ...2 days ago
- Clout-lighting: pranking your partner for likes is a surefire way to get dumped this April Fools’ ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology Media Whale Stock/Shutterstock What would you do to get more likes or shares on your favourite social media platform this April Fool’s Day? Would you blast an airhorn ...2 days ago
- Newsletter: March 31 2023 – Items of interest and importance todayNew Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s content STUART NASH, OIA Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Stuart Nash scandal boils down to cock-up vs ‘conspiracy’ (paywalled) Marc Daalder (Newsroom): The opaque transparency of the ...2 days ago
- Indigenous knowledge offers solutions, but its use must be based on meaningful collaboration with In...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tara McAllister, Research Fellow, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Shutterstock/Guy Hasler As global environmental challenges grow, people and societies are increasingly looking to Indigenous knowledge for solutions. Indigenous knowledge is particularly appealing for addressing climate change because ...2 days ago
- Law change allows Māori to more easily switch electoral rollsTommy de Silva explains an interesting new legal shift: Māori can now switch between the Māori and general electoral rolls more easily thanks to a law change. These new rules allow anyone of Māori descent to switch between the rolls whenever they please until three months before an election. That ...2 days ago
- Rule Change For Overseas VotingThe rules for overseas voting are changing from today for this year’s General Election to recognise the effect the pandemic has had on international travel. ‘This is a temporary change made by Parliament for New Zealanders living overseas who have ...2 days ago
- Luxon takes aim at red tape in ambitious plan to boost renewable energy productionThe National Party says its new renewable energy policy will double the amount of electricity produced from solar, wind and geothermal plants. ...2 days ago
- Trump to be arrested over porn star hush moneyIt’s a headline I never quite expected to write but in recent days have been wondering if I would have to. Former US president Donald Trump will be arrested after a New York grand jury voted to indict him over alleged hush money paid to former adult film star Stormy ...2 days ago
- Lawsuits, NFTs and super-mad Swifties: Ticketmaster’s problems, explainedEverything you need to know about the ticketing agency’s ongoing debacles. So Ticketmaster’s back in the news. Why is the company that should be spitting out concert tickets calmly and quietly sparking so many headlines? Where do you want to start? The lawsuits, the NFTs or the super-mad Swifties? It’s ...2 days ago
- Auckland Council Admits It Doesn’t Know The Impact Of Its Own Budget CutsAuckland Council has proposed significant budget cuts without assessing the potential impacts on the region’s environment and climate change efforts, an official response reveals. No assessment was made as Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown never asked for one, ...2 days ago
- Greenpeace Welcomes National’s Renewable Energy Policy, But Fossil Fuel Exploration And Agricultur...Greenpeace is welcoming the National Party’s new renewable energy policy - ‘Electrify NZ’ - with its focus on increasing renewable electricity generation to replace coal, gas and petrol-fuelled transport. But the organisation is calling on National ...2 days ago
- National promises to double renewable energy supplyThe National Party has pledged to “cut red tape” in the electricity sector through a new policy that it claims will double New Zealand’s supply of renewable energy. Dubbed “Electrify NZ”, the policy was unveiled this morning by party leader Christopher Luxon. “National wants a future where buses and trains ...2 days ago
- The Opportunities Party Launches A Petition To Establish An Anti-Corruption Commission...2 days ago
- New Zealand High School Teachers Hold Second One-day StrikeBy Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 30 March 2023 Original url: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/03/30/jspf-m30.html About 20,000 secondary teachers at public schools in New Zealand held a nationwide strike on March 29. It followed a much larger one-day strike on March 16 involving ...2 days ago
- Dunne's Weekly: The Week The PM Lost Control Of The AgendaIn his first two months as Prime Minister Chris Hipkins impressed for his directness, clarity and determination, and the assured way in which he transitioned into his new role. His everyman style, from the hoodie to the more than occasional meat pie, ...2 days ago
- Maritime NZ: Skippers Need To Be Alert And Pay Attention At All TimesRecreational craft users are being reminded of their skipper responsibilities following the sentencing of a boatie in Invercargill this week. A skipper was this week sentenced in the Invercargill District Court in relation to a grounding of their vessel on ...2 days ago
- Political editors panel: Nash's email calamity, and cis white menMorning Report - RNZ and the NZ Herald's political editors discuss potential law-breaking by a now-sacked minister, and Marama Davidson's comments. ...2 days ago
- Attention plant killers: new research shows your plants could be silently screaming at youSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alice Hayward, Molecular Biologist, The University of Queensland Shutterstock If you’re like me, you’ve managed to kill even the hardiest of indoor plants (yes, despite a doctorate in plant biology). But imagine a world where your plants actually told you ...2 days ago
- Telehealth has much to offer First Nations people. But technical glitches and a lack of rapport can ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Centaine Snoswell, Senior Research Fellow Health Economics, The University of Queensland Di Vincenzo/Shutterstock Telehealth has been a game changer for many First Nations people globally, including in Australia. It has allowed First Nations people to access health care close to ...2 days ago
- The Millionaires’ Factory lays bare the good and bad about Australia’s millionaire manufacturer ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Emeritus Professor of Finance, The University of Melbourne Allen & Unwin The Millionaires’ Factory, subtitled “the inside story of how Macquarie Bank became a global giant” by financial journalists Joyce Moullakis and Chris Wright is an impressive, informative ...2 days ago
- A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Luke, PhD candidate, CQUniversity Australia Amazon The recent death of a horse on the set of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the latest incident raising questions about how humans use horses for entertainment ...2 days ago
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