Search Results
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Comment:Daily review 09/07/2020
Date published: 10:23 pm, July 9th, 2020I think one problem with debating complex, sensitive, and/or controversial issues is not that people are not able to do so, intellectually, if you like, but that many don’t have the undivided time and energy to put the considerable mental effort into it ...
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Comment:Daily review 09/07/2020
Date published: 9:24 pm, July 9th, 2020Please correct the typo in your e-mail address before you submit your comments, thanks. I’ve done it three times because your comments are held up in Auto-Moderation because of the typo.
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Comment:Trashing the country's Covid response for political advantage
Date published: 5:53 pm, July 9th, 2020The rest is speculation. QFT
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Comment:Trashing the country's Covid response for political advantage
Date published: 5:50 pm, July 9th, 2020Yeah, I did not expect anything different from you but denial and putting it back onto me. This is your MO, i.e. throwing it back at the commenter (e.g. obtuse, simpleton, take a good look in the mirror, et cetera). It’s called deflecting and is a form of ...
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Comment:Some Random impertinent questions about Michelle Boag's access to confidential medical information
Date published: 5:18 pm, July 9th, 2020Yes
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 5:18 pm, July 9th, 2020When they’re sixth generation or older.
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Comment:Trashing the country's Covid response for political advantage
Date published: 5:03 pm, July 9th, 2020When I hold a mirror up to you and you react to the mirror image it is evident that you are missing the point. I have no interest in joining your simplistic discussion, and I didn’t for your information and in case you got confused about that, but I do ...
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Comment:Trashing the country's Covid response for political advantage
Date published: 3:58 pm, July 9th, 2020It is fairly obvious where on the troll spectrum you sit. You argue like a simpleton, you reply like a simpleton, but you are not a simpleton because you run a successful multi-national business group. So, you come here just to annoy people? Don’t be so ...
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 2:55 pm, July 9th, 2020Misleading propaganda. They only looked at 20 countries, for starters. I have no time now to discuss the report. Maybe Stunned Mullet has something useful to add? https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/114928875/new-zealands-access-to-funded-medicines-...
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 1:50 pm, July 9th, 2020 -
Comment:Trashing the country's Covid response for political advantage
Date published: 1:49 pm, July 9th, 2020You’re obviously a simpleton who is comfortable with simplistic thinking and who expects others to be even simpler than you are. Most of your commentary on Covid and our response to the pandemic can be summed up as a binary opposite of death rate vs. ...
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Comment:Some Random impertinent questions about Michelle Boag's access to confidential medical information
Date published: 1:41 pm, July 9th, 2020I wasn’t thinking of her HD.
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 1:39 pm, July 9th, 2020GM beans are the best!
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 1:19 pm, July 9th, 2020Dennis wasn’t fooled.
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 1:18 pm, July 9th, 2020Respect!
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 1:17 pm, July 9th, 2020Your comment is risible!
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Comment:Open mike 08/07/2020
Date published: 1:13 pm, July 9th, 2020I don’t either, it is beyond mere mortals with only rudimentary computer skills. But I do like the idea of having an excuse for banning people ;-) I propose we include the indiscriminate use of non-breaking space too; it should become policy :D
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 1:08 pm, July 9th, 2020Bean counters only see beans, heaps of beans.
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 12:59 pm, July 9th, 2020An attempt at analysis, at least. All that, like EY’s figures, may be best regarded as just enormously speculative. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/122073190/fact-check-could-a-transtasman-bubble-really-raise-nzs-gdp-by-88b-by-christmas
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Comment:Open mike 08/07/2020
Date published: 12:48 pm, July 9th, 2020So true!
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 12:47 pm, July 9th, 2020We could not have done without your help so a Bigly thanks to you ;-)
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 12:36 pm, July 9th, 2020This is not robust debate, this is pathetic :-(
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 12:35 pm, July 9th, 2020Fine with me, but the original Q who was the country's most effective health minister in decades.
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 11:56 am, July 9th, 2020Actually, he has a mouth and a megaphone, and he knows how to use these very well.
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 11:21 am, July 9th, 2020I don’t know but in the comment above @ 11, there are 16 non-breaking spaces!!
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Comment:Some Random impertinent questions about Michelle Boag's access to confidential medical information
Date published: 11:15 am, July 9th, 2020I would not expect competence from a QC and former Solicitor General. They’re just hired to whitewash and spin away inconveniencies and remove ‘disturbances in the force’. /sarc Mind you, you’re completely wrong about who hired the QC. Hint: it is not ...
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 11:11 am, July 9th, 2020:D
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Comment:Some Random impertinent questions about Michelle Boag's access to confidential medical information
Date published: 11:09 am, July 9th, 2020https://ssc.govt.nz/resources/terms-of-reference-investigation-into-the-covid-19-active-cases-privacy-breach
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Comment:Open mike 09/07/2020
Date published: 10:53 am, July 9th, 2020Let’s have a look a the list, shall we? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Health_(New_Zealand)
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Comment:Some Random impertinent questions about Michelle Boag's access to confidential medical information
Date published: 9:04 am, July 9th, 2020Yes
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Comment:Some Random impertinent questions about Michelle Boag's access to confidential medical information
Date published: 8:56 am, July 9th, 2020What are the Terms of Reference of the enquiry and the time lines? Surely, MoH will know if Boag was on an authorised e-mail distribution list to receive said information.
- Josh Van Veen: Don’t give me culture: The appeal of Judith Collins
When Parliament sits next Tuesday, the Prime Minister will finally meet her match. Judith Collins and Jacinda Ardern are opposites in just about every respect. Yet they have the same basic appeal. Ardern and Collins are as much cultural icons as they are political leaders. Each represents a different side ...4 hours ago - Time for another dismissal?
The "palace letters" between Australia's then Governor-General John Kerr and the Queen were released today by the Australian Archives. From the bits I caught of the original press conference, they didn't sound so bad. But now people have had time to go through them properly, and they show an appalling ...6 hours ago - What National MPs need to weigh: Weeks v years… Collins’ high base v low ceiling
About 10 years ago when I was producing Q+A on TVNZ, first-term minister Judith Collins arrived for an interview with a staff member I hadn’t met. She kindly introduced us. “This is Tim Watkin,” she said. Adding after the briefest of pauses, “he writes mean things about me on Pundit”.Her ...7 hours ago - Get a grip NZ: Muller imploding the National Party in on itself is utterly predictable
The toxic implosion of National thanks to an internal culture of screaming bullshit, most of it completely supercharged in the last decade by a feckless, moronic, “smile and wave” Banker (lauded as “a businessman who will sort out politics!”) who mainlined Neoliberal economics and was literally called, by his own ...7 hours ago - Muller resigns, National in disarray
Todd Muller - National Party MPTodd Muller’s shock resignation today really only points to one possible conclusion; there’s further damning evidence linking him directly to National’s latest dirty political episode that will likely be unearthed during an official inquiry.Obviously Muller being directly involved in the leaking of COVID-19 patient’s private ...12 hours ago - Another Australian war crimeTen days ago we learned that the Australian government was attempting to prosecute Australian journalists for exposing Australian war crimes in Afghanisatan. Meanwhile, today we have news of another war crime - a massacre of civilians by Australian special forces: Australian special forces killed up to 10 unarmed Afghan civilians ...13 hours ago
- If you give the police a warrantless search power, they will abuse itIn the months following the Christchurch massacre, the police acquired a sudden interest in nazis and gun "enthusiasts" (both of which they had previously been ignoring because they were white), and started kicking in doors around Christchurch and seizing firearms, using warrantless search provisions in the Search and Surveillance Act ...14 hours ago
- Life in Level 1: Cunning Plans, Unanswered Questions
. . The last 24 hours in Aotearoa’s New Zealand’s politics has provided more drama than a week’s worth of “Shortie Street” episodes combined and binge-watched. It began approximately around 5.30 last night (7 July) with a disclosure by Clutha-Southland MP, Hamish Walker that he had leaked a list of ...17 hours ago - Our dirty ParliamentThe Serious Fraud Office has announced that it is investigating the Labour Party over donations it received in 2017. Which means the three largest parties in Parliament are all now either being investigated or prosecuted for donation fraud. The only parties who aren't are the Greens and ACT. As ...1 day ago
- CTG – July 2020 Newsletter
Read our latest newsletter here ...1 day ago - Better understanding bacterial blooms in New Zealand waterways
Dr Kim Handley, University of Auckland Just how do cyanobacteria live in their natural habitat, and how do they coexist with other bacteria and microbial life forms? And what difference will knowledge on this bacteria have on maintaining New Zealand’s water quality? One of the consequences of declining water quality ...2 days ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #28
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Climate Feedback Article Review... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Global temperatures could exceed crucial 1.5 C target in the next five years In this aerial view ...2 days ago - Saving lives IIThree months on, and looking at the state of the world - 13 million cases, 560,000 dead, and both rising - it is clear that New Zealand's lockdown saved lives. But it didn't just save us from the pandemic and prevent future deaths - it also significantly reduced our background ...2 days ago
- The Greens’ energy policyYesterday the Greens released their second big election policy - on energy. The short version is "more solar, less coal". They'd stick solar panels and batteries in every state house, and network them together to form a virtual power plant. They'd use grants to fund rooftop solar installations just as ...2 days ago
- National’s problem with privacy and privilegeNational has a problem. And it’s time they said it out loud. It can’t be dismissed as a one-off anymore or excused because ‘everyone does it’. No, it cuts deeper than that. National has an ethics problem. Especially when it comes to privacy and using ordinary people as pawns in ...2 days ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #28A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 5 through Sat, July 11, 2020 Editor's Choice Think Covid-19 Disrupted the Food Chain? Wait and See What Climate Change Will Do The pandemic has revealed deep flaws in the ...3 days ago
- Absolutely blasted mad July
The Council of Disobedient Women There is a regular segment in the Speak Up For Women podcasts called “Absolutely Blasted Mad Moment of the Week”. Each podcast the speaker and the host discuss a recent event that is the most insane thing they have seen in the gender critical space ...3 days ago - Dishonest Todd should step downTodd Muller - Dishonest National Party leaderIt seems that dishonest Todd Muller is, like many right-wing politicians, entirely morally bankrupt. I mean just look at the National Party’s leaking omni-shambles over the last week or so. They’ve imploded in a spectacular display of backfiring dirty politics, the likes of which ...4 days ago
- Radiation:
TUESDAY JULY 14Yorkshire Airport (Prime, 7.30pm). Bloomin’ ’eck, behind the scenes at Leeds Bradford Airport. Apparently, there is plenty of “northern charm”, although reaction in the UK ranged from “brilliant” to “patronising”. It is narrated by Hugh Dennis, whose middle name might be “Arch”.WEDNESDAY JULY 15Queen: Live at Wembley (Prime, ...4 days ago - Radiation: July 12 Views: Tom Sainsbury’s sex scandalMONDAY JULY 13Bodyguard (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). It's the final; if you haven't seen this already on Netflix, get ready, the ending is batshit.Unforgotten (Vibe, Sky 006, 8.30pm). I wonder if Sanjeev Bhasksar's character has got rid of that damn backpack in the third season of this cold case drama? Although, come ...4 days ago
- Muller and the “Leak”.
Simon Bridges must be the unluckiest person in New Zealand politics. When he was elected as leader of the National party, he also became Leader of the Opposition – a position, he was entitled to assume, that would require him to “oppose”. But the government he set out to oppose ...4 days ago - Spreading rock dust on fields could remove vast amounts of CO2 from airThis is a re-post from The Guardian by Damian Carrington Spreading rock dust on farmland could suck billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air every year, according to the first detailed global analysis of the technique. The chemical reactions that degrade the rock particles lock the greenhouse gas into ...4 days ago
- #Junkterrorbill in the Philippines...4 days ago
- Women speaking up
Check out Speak Up For Women’s new podcasts: Episode 3 In this episode Speak Up For Women spokeswoman Ani O’Brien (@aniobrien) is joined by Beth Johnson (@beth_nosnhoj) to discuss the proposal from Statistics NZ to change standard data collection policy to “gender by default” rather than sex. They discuss why the ...4 days ago - The Rules of Consultative EngagementDuring a recent public consultation on the future of Archives New Zealand, a key report was suppressed. The Ombudsman has ruled that the refusal was unjustified. Sadly, the consultation was over by the time of the the decision has been made. However, the law on the use of the ...4 days ago
- Woodhouse must resignNational MP - Michael WoodhouseUnbelievable! Michelle Boag also sent National’s Michael Woodhouse confidential emails about COVD-19 patients, and he continued to publicly attack the Government over these very same breaches of privacy.This is the biggest political self-own since the Act Party’s David Garrett admitted in Parliament that he used a ...5 days ago
- The law rhymesEveryone is paying attention today to the Supreme Court ruling that the President is not above the law and that Trump's tax returns can be given to a New York grand jury investigating him. But the Supreme Court decided another, far more important case yesterday, and effectively restored Native American ...5 days ago
- National Party policy announcement on roads and stuff
Transcript: National Party policy announcement on roads – 8 July, 2020 Muller: Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for coming. Reporter 1: Is Hamish Walker a racist? Muller: Hang on… you haven’t even said good afternoon to me yet. Reporter 1: Good afternoon Mr Muller. Is Hamish Walker a racist? ...5 days ago - Hard News: More on the repurposed hepatitis C drugs and their potential as a Covid-19 treatmentBack in April, I wrote about trials in Iran of a fixed-dose combination of two existing anti-viral drugs used to treat hepatitis C – sofosbuvir and daclatasvir – that could point to an effective treatment for Covid-19 symptoms.At the time, data from those trials was not available outside the hospitals ...5 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 10 July 2020Today’s content Tiwai Point to close Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Government subsidising practically everything plays hardball with Rio Tinto (paywalled) Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Sudden closure of aluminium smelter worst outcome for jobs, consumers and the environment Brian Fallow (Herald): Tiwai closure sad news – and an opportunity for the environment (paywalled) Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Rio ...5 days ago
- Weekly deaths declined in NZ’s lockdown – but we still don’t know exactly whyProf Nick Wilson, Dr Anja Mizdrak, Dr Jennifer Summers, Prof Michael Baker The pandemic-related lockdown is possibly the most dramatic public health intervention in NZ history. It helped achieve the elimination of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus in NZ. But it was also associated with 548 fewer total ...5 days ago
- A Party Of Honourable men?
Reprehensible: There is much that could be said about Michael Woodhouse, but what would be the point? Any man who willingly involves himself in a situation as reprehensible as the one depicted in the above photograph has already vouchsafed all that decent people need to know about his character. That there have ...5 days ago - Graham Adams: Euthanasia – Who speaks for the disabled?As the debate over assisted dying rages in the run-up to the referendum at the election on September 19, a persistent problem continues to dog the discussions. That is to say, a prominent spokesperson for a particular group takes a strong public stand in opposition without acknowledging that they don’t ...5 days ago
- Are Walker and Boag National’s (and the Media’s) Designated Villains?No Other Suspects? The mainstream news media was willing to print and broadcast harsh Opposition criticism of the Government, even though they knew that the source of the leaked information was a National Party MP. Even though, by pushing the story up towards the top of every news bulletin they were ...5 days ago
- Why Kurt Taogaga Had To Go.Sacrificial Lamb: If the stories about Mr Taogaga and the unauthorised release of confidential medical data had been deliberately orchestrated by Labour’s political opponents, their deflection of the news media’s attention away from the Prime Minister’s address to the Labour Party Congress could hardly have been more successful.THE LABOUR PARTY ...5 days ago
- Defending The Revolution.The East is Rent: The consequences of unleashing the young against the old; of elevating ideological rigor above reasoned debate; and of setting the present against the past; was a decade of unprecedented social stress and tension, interspersed with explosions of murderous mob violence and tragic material destruction. More than ...5 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: The Greens will be vital to Jacinda Ardern’s re-electionThe Green Party of Aotearoa-New Zealand could go from helping Jacinda Ardern run the country, to being turfed out of Parliament altogether in ten weeks. And that could see the end of Labour in government. Without them, Labour would likely have to do what no party has done since the ...5 days ago
- Labour lied about control ordersRemember the government's tyrannical Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill? Remember how it was rammed through Parliament, with a four-day submission period and a select committee process that was a democratic fraud? At the time, the government gave the impression that there was an urgent need for this legislation, that a ...5 days ago
- It’s all over TovaAttack journalist - Tova O'BrienWe all know that much of the mainstream media in New Zealand is terribly biased. They are in effect another branch of the National Party, and can often be even more prejudiced than their right wing bosses.In fact many right wing politicians moonlight as journalists and ...5 days ago
- Dancing on Tiwai’s graveThis morning, after years of threats and demands for subsidies, Rio Tinto announced that it would be closing the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. Good. Because as I've argued before, the best thing this foreign polluter can do is close. Doing so will free up 12% of our electricity supply, not ...6 days ago
- Boag rides to oblivionFormer National Party President - Michelle BoagAfter the complete botch job Hamish Walker made of leaking the private details of COVID-19 patients to the mainstream media last week, the best-case scenario for Todd Muller and the National Party would be if the news cycle went quiet about their involvement.But unfortunately ...6 days ago
- A transparency agendaOn Tuesday, after two years of pissing about, Justice Minister Andrew Little promised to rewrite the Official Information Act. It is unclear whether this was a government promise, or a Labour Party election promise - and Little played stupid games rather than giving a straight answer when asked directly. But ...6 days ago
- Black Rhino PhotoOne of the challenges of working on illegal wildlife markets, is you don’t really have scope to talk about your research into illegal wildlife markets. There is some stuff though that willbe coming out on Asiatic black bears in China, and before Covid19, I was delving more into rhinos. Which ...6 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #27, 202079 Articles Observations & observational methods of global warming & effects Six hundred years of South American tree rings reveal an increase in severe hydroclimatic events since mid-20th century (open access) Late summer temperature variability for the Southern Rocky Mountains (USA) since 1735 CE: applying blue light intensity to low-latitude ...6 days ago
- A hard core of Dirty Politics tactics never died when John Key left as PM. Surely that’s driven ho...
Some are surprised at this sudden brain implosion on the part of both Michelle Boag, former National Party President, and the National Party in general, in exposing the private, confidential details of COVID patients. Others…? Let’s be blunt: not so much. Too many of that Party have long operated with ...6 days ago - Dirty tactics backfire on NationalMichelle Boag - Former National Party PresidentWhen Todd Muller decided not to discipline Hamish Walker for his horribly racist press release last week, you had to wonder if his lack of proper leadership had something to do with a shared belief system? After all, the whiteness of the blue “team” ...6 days ago
- A good questionOn Twitter today, lawyer Felix Geiringer asked a good question: why are MP's exempt from the Privacy Act? The Act imposes its obligations on "agencies", and s8 of the 2020 Act states that this term does not include... a member of Parliament in their official capacity The 1993 Act, ...7 days ago
- What the world was like the last time carbon dioxide levels were at 400ppmClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz What was the climate and sea level like at times ...7 days ago
- UnbelieveableThat's the only way to describe last night's admissions by National MP Hamish Walker and former party president Michelle Boag that they were responsible for leaking the names of Covid-19 patients to the media. How could anyone possibly think that was a good idea? But I guess I'd forgotten what ...7 days ago
- The Dirty LeakSo now we know, beyond all doubt. The National party has no interest in joining the “team of five million” in our fight against the pandemic but its priority is to take every opportunity it can to damage the government. The cynicism is breathtaking. It was prepared to leak the ...7 days ago
- Saharan dust cloud was most intense in decades, and more, though milder, are comingThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters The massive dust storm that formed over the Sahara Desert in mid-June invaded the southeastern U.S. June 25-28, bringing dangerous levels of air pollution, low visibility, and colorful sunsets. The air pollution event over parts of Texas and the Gulf ...7 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 8 July 2020Today’s content National Party revealed as source of Covid-19 privacy leak Audrey Young (Herald): National’s failures on patient leak from top to bottom (paywalled) Luke Malpass (Stuff): National leader Todd Muller found wanting in first real test of moral leadership Jo Moir (RNZ): How the Hamish Walker Covid-19 patient detail leak played out Mark ...7 days ago
- The Political Roller-coaster in Full SwingIn 1987, as a British Labour MP, I was elected to the Shadow Cabinet by my colleagues and was asked by the party leader to direct Labour’s campaign in the general election of that year. The election was to take place at the height of Mrs Thatcher’s dominance and we ...1 week ago
- National lacks credibility on housing1 week ago
- Hard News: The cannabis referendum: the evidenceIf the government has not lined up behind a "Yes" vote in this year's cannabis referendum the way some reformers would have liked, one entirely laudable thing it did do was commission some science around the public's choice.That science landed today, in the form of the report from an expert ...1 week ago
- Rewriting the OIAAlmost two years ago, the government announced that it might take a look at OIA reform. After an attempt to do it in secret, they finally asked for public submissions, then summarised them for the Minister, who... sat on them for nine months. But today, after an almost two year ...1 week ago
- Opening New Zealand’s borders – an educational scenarioAssociate Professor Sara Walton At the heart of the discussion on opening up our borders is the dichotomy of health and the economy – both of which are actually intertwined, like many things with our economy, as this epidemic has shown. If we think about our country as a system, ...1 week ago
- IEA: Coronavirus ‘accelerating closure’ of ageing fossil-fuelled power plantsThis is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Josh Gabbatiss This year will see the largest ever drop globally in both investment and consumer spending on energy as the coronavirus pandemic hits every major sector, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The crisis is accelerating the shutdown of older fossil-fuelled ...1 week ago
- Press Release – Why is the Labour led government being so tardy about increasing main benefits to ......1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 6 July 2020Today’s content Labour Party Thomas Manch (Stuff): It might be ‘team’ Labour, but there’s little doubt about who’s the skipper, and ‘saviour’ Audrey Young (Herald): No ordinary Labour speech by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (paywalled) Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern asks NZ to move her towards a second term Richard Harman (Politik): Labour’s red glow Justin ...1 week ago
- “Pity it has taken so long for Governments to treat viruses in a better way”A short opinion piece – Friday 26th June 2020 Whilst our Government has treated many financial victims of the current Covid-19 virus with appropriate generosity, the same cannot be said for those of the two earlier “epidemics” in NZ. The “Covid-84” virus (also called “Rogernomics”) spread systemic greed, with the ...1 week ago
- Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand – Poverty Action PlanEveryone deserves a a decent life. We know this is possible with a fairer approach to income support and tax Read the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Poverty Action Plan here ...1 week ago
- Daily secrecyAfter a long break, the government is back inserting secrecy clauses in legislation. This time its the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3), which in its clause allowing Ministers to exempt purchasers of farm land from the usual rules also allows them to exempt an exemption from the publication requirement: ...1 week ago
- Submit!The Education and Workforce Committee has called for submissions on the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Bill. The bill is a rewrite of our currnet whistleblower laws, with minor tweaks - basicly status quo "reform". It needs significant improvement to be worth Parliament's time. The deadline for submissions has ...1 week ago
- Even the fishing industry wants camerasOver the past two years the government has repeatedly delayed a scheme to put cameras on boats to monitor Mew Zealand's pervasively criminal fishing industry. But it turns out that the industry actually wants cameras: Three of the country's biggest seafood companies have broken ranks with the rest of the ...1 week ago
- COVID-19 and the law in Aotearoa NZLouise Delany (public health lawyer) Health and emergency laws have played a critical role in this country’s successful elimination of community transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog details key aspects of the legislation and comments on issues around testing, payments by incoming travellers for quarantine costs, and mask use. ...1 week ago
- The long and winding rivers of social change
I like Andrew Curry’s succinct and insightful futures blog The Next Wave. His most recent post is about social change. In particular, the decadal-long periods usually required for changes in values. He highlights a 2016 paper by Inglehart and Norris, who examined whether economic insecurity or a “cultural backlash” ...
1 week ago - 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #27Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Stop making sense: why it's time to get emotional about climate change The science has been settled to the highest degree, so now ...1 week ago
- Radiation: July 5 Views: Murders, Devils and KinksMONDAY JULY 6Washington (History, Sky 073, 7.30pm). The brilliant Doris Kearns Goodwin is the executive producer of this six-part series about America's first president. It combines interviews with live action and is narrated by Jeff Daniels. It's engaging, said Salon.TUESDAY JULY 7The ABC Murders (Prime, 8.30pm). Sarah Phelps has done incredible things with ...1 week ago
- Bullied out of Parliament1 week ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #27A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 28 through Sat, July 4, 2020 Editor's Choice '2040': A funny, entertaining, upbeat climate documentary A timely Australian documentary takes a 'solutions' approach, with the filmmaker inspired by visions of ...1 week ago
- Todd Muller’s very low standardsRacist National MP Hamish WalkerEven before Todd Muller's coup ousted Simon Bridges by a single vote, it was patently obvious that the National Party promotes and stands for white privilege. In fact they’ve always worked to ensure the discriminatory status quo in New Zealand doesn’t change.So it’s no surprise that ...1 week ago
- The small numbers problem: distinguishing good luck from good performanceDave Heatley Zero community transmission. Just a handful of active cases, all in quarantine. New Zealand is in an attractive situation, at least compared to much of the world. The situation could be robust and enduring – or it might be fragile, just one border incursion away from a “second ...2 weeks ago
- Centralising Health CareIs the consequence of the Simpson Report proposals for restructuring the health system poorer accountability to people? When in doubt, centralise‘ has been a persistent theme in New Zealand public policy throughout our history. The current government is no exception. Here are some examples. - The regional polytechs have been ...2 weeks ago
- Hard News: Paula Bennett and the Scientology leafletsI wrote earlier in the week about the Scientology front organisations Drug Free World and Drug Free Ambassadors and their quite prominent role in anti-cannabis reform "coalition" assembled by Family First and a newloca branch of the American prohibitionist organisation SAM.It turns out Family First aren't the only ones helping ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand First Statement on Muller Resignation
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters acknowledged today the heavy price of trying to lead the National Party today. ‘One’s sympathy goes out to Todd Muller and his family. Todd is a good man, unlike most of his colleagues he does ...16 hours ago - Week That Was: Keeping New Zealand moving
We're keeping New Zealand moving, one progress-packed week at a time. Read below to find out how we're creating jobs, protecting the environment, looking out for the health of New Zealanders', and upgrading our critical infrastructure - and that's only this week. ...1 day ago - Week That Was: Keeping New Zealand movingWe're keeping New Zealand moving, one progress-packed week at a time. Read below to find out how we're creating jobs, protecting the environment, looking out for the health of New Zealanders', and upgrading our critical infrastructure - and that's only this week. ...1 day ago
- Government backs Northland innovation and enterprise parkHon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund is providing up to $19.5 million to boost innovative primary sector businesses and create training and job opportunities for Northland locals through the construction of an innovation and enterprise park at Ngawha, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones ...2 days ago
- Green Party unveils Clean Energy Plan
The Green Party is today unveiling part one of its plan for a fossil-fuel free Aotearoa, including an immediate ban on new industrial coal boilers. ...3 days ago - New Zealand First calls for tahr cull haltMark Patterson MP, Spokesperson for Primary Industry New Zealand First is supporting calls by hunters and the New Zealand Tahr Foundation (NZTF) to halt a large scale cull of Himalayan Tahr by the Department of Conservation in National Parks. The calls are supported by a 40,000 strong petition and the ...1 week ago
- Response to Spin-off allegationsRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today scoffed at suggestions that a team of six political operatives have been dispatched to New Zealand to assist his campaign. ‘As President Ronald Reagan once said, ‘there they go again.’ ‘The clickbait journos can’t ...1 week ago
- Jenny Marcroft MP to represent New Zealand First in Auckland CentralNew Zealand First is pleased to announce Jenny Marcroft as the party’s election 2020 candidate for the Auckland Central electorate. Jenny spent years working in Auckland Central, having spent a vast proportion of her broadcasting career there. She says she, "knows the place and knows the people." Ms Marcroft says ...1 week ago
- Creating jobs and cleaning up our riversNew Zealanders deserve healthy rivers and lakes that are safe to swim in - but they have been getting worse for decades. That's why, with our latest announcement, we're investing in projects that will help clean up our rivers and lakes and restore them to health, within a generation. ...1 week ago
- Jacinda Ardern: 2020 Labour Congress SpeechJacinda Ardern's speech to the 2020 Labour Party Congress. ...1 week ago
- Kelvin Davis: 2020 Labour Congress SpeechKelvin Davis' speech to the 2020 Labour Party Congress. ...1 week ago
- Week That Was: Another week of major progressThis week we moved into the second half of 2020 - and our Government delivered another week of big changes and major progress for New Zealanders. Read below for a wrap of the key things moments from the week - from extending paid parental leave, to making major investments in ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party opposes RMA fast-track bill that cut corners on environmental safeguards and public cons...The Green Party has opposed the COVID-19 Recovery Fast-track Consenting Bill which shortcuts normal consenting processes under the Resource Management Act (RMA), reduces public participation and narrows environmental considerations. ...2 weeks ago
- Site of new freight hub revealedHon Shane Jones, Minister of Regional Economic Development A regional freight hub for the lower North Island will be built just northeast of Palmerston North, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Government is investing $40 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to designate and buy land and design ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for Guaranteed Minimum Income to alleviate skyrocketing debt with MSDGreen Party Co-leader Marama Davidson is calling for the introduction of a Guaranteed Minimum Income to lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty and prevent more families entering into further debt with the Ministry of Social Development. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters: Facts matter when taxpayer money is on the lineThere has been renewed focus on New Zealand First acting as a handbrake on the Government after our decision to not support Auckland light rail. We are a handbrake for bad ideas, that is true, but our track record since 2017 has seen New Zealand First constructively also serve as an ...2 weeks ago
- Bill raising minimum residency requirement for NZ Super passes first readingMark Patterson MP, New Zealand First List MP New Zealand First’s Fair Residency for Superannuation Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament today. The Bill makes a significant change to NZ Super by raising the minimum residency requirement from 10 to 20 years, after age 20. “Currently, a migrant of ...2 weeks ago
- Harsher penalties for assaults on first responders one step closerDarroch Ball MP, Spokesperson for Law and Order A New Zealand First member’s bill in the name of Darroch Ball introducing a six-month minimum prison sentence for assaults on first responders has passed its second reading in Parliament. The new offence of "injuring a first responder or corrections officer with ...2 weeks ago
- Criminal Cases Review Commission delivers Coalition promiseFletcher Tabuteau MP, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the launch of the new Criminal Cases Review Commission, gifted with the name from Waikato-Tainui - Te Kāhui Tātari Ture, announced in Hamilton today by Justice Minister Andrew Little. “New Zealand First has long believed in and ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome huge new investment in sustainable projectsThe Green Party is celebrating over $800m in new funding for green projects, which will get people into jobs while solving New Zealand’s long-term challenges. ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand First demands answers from Meridian EnergyMark Patterson MP, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First is appalled that Meridian seems to have been unnecessarily spilling water from its dams to drive up its profits."While New Zealanders have been coming together in some of our darkest hours, we don’t expect power gentailers to waste water and ...2 weeks ago
- Getting New Zealand moving again: June 2020We wrapped up the first half of 2020 with a busy month, taking additional steps to support New Zealanders as we continue with our economic recovery. We rolled out targeted packages to support key industries like tourism and construction, helped create jobs in the environmental and agriculture sectors, and set ...2 weeks ago
- Māori union leader appointed to Infrastructure Commission boardHon Shane Jones, Minister for Infrastructure Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has welcomed the appointment of Maurice Davis and his deep infrastructure and construction experience to the board of the Infrastructure Commission. Mr Davis (Ngāti Maniapoto), is the seventh and final appointment to the board led by former Reserve Bank Governor ...2 weeks ago
- Click-bait journalism at its worstRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand’s click bait journalism is taking a turn for the worse, with yet another example of sensationalist, wilful-misrepresentation of the facts. “New Zealand First has worked constructively with its Coalition partner on hundreds of pieces of legislation and policy, and ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party proposes transformational Poverty Action PlanThe Green Party is today unveiling its Poverty Action Plan, which includes a Guaranteed Minimum Income to ensure people have enough to live with dignity. ...2 weeks ago
- PGF accelerates Rotorua projectsRt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Rotorua Museum redevelopment and Whakarewarewa and Tokorangi Forest projects will be accelerated thanks to a $2.09 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) boost, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher ...3 weeks ago
- Week That Was: Getting people into jobsThis week, we rolled out the next steps of our recovery plan, with new infrastructure investment, extra support for tourism operators, and a new programme to get Kiwis into agriculture careers. The global economic consequences of COVID-19 will continue to be a challenge, but we have a detailed plan to ...3 weeks ago
- Coalition commitment establishing Mental Health Commission deliveredJenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its final reading in Parliament today fulfilling a coalition agreement commitment. “This is an important step in saving the lives of New Zealanders and delivers a key coalition commitment ...3 weeks ago
- Whakatāne gets a $2.5m ‘turbo boost’Whakatāne has been given a $2.5 million boost to speed up previously funded projects and create more than 450 jobs in the next decade. Of those, the equivalent of 160 full-time jobs could be delivered in the next six weeks. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is in town to make ...3 weeks ago
- $2.5m PGF funding to speed up economic recovery in WhakatāneRt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $2.5 million to accelerate three infrastructure projects in Whakatāne, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “This package is about ...3 weeks ago
- Shane Jones calls out those holding drought-stricken Auckland ‘to ransom’ over waterInfrastructure Minister Shane Jones is throwing his weight behind a bid by the Auckland Council to fast-track the more than doubling of the city's water allowance from the Waikato River. And he's coming out strongly against anyone who plans on getting in the way of this campaign. "It is my ...3 weeks ago
- Another Green win as climate change considerations inserted into the RMAThe Green Party is thrilled to see changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that mean consents for large projects can be declined if they will have significant climate change implications that are inconsistent with the Zero Carbon Act and Aotearoa New Zealand’s Paris Agreement obligations. ...3 weeks ago
- New Navy vessel Aotearoa to arrive in New ZealandHon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence The Royal New Zealand Navy’s new ship, Aotearoa, set sail for New Zealand on 10 June from the Republic of Korea, and is due to arrive in Auckland tomorrow, announced Minister of Defence Ron Mark. “Aotearoa is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new fleet ...3 weeks ago
- Racing Industry Bill passes third readingRt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Racing Racing Minister Winston Peters has today welcomed the Racing Industry Bill passing its third reading, creating the legislative framework for revitalising the racing industry while limiting the need for future government intervention. “For too long our domestic racing industry has ...3 weeks ago
- Wellbeing infrastructure for Kaipara
A package of wellbeing infrastructure investments in Kaipara which focuses on improving the lives of the elderly and upgrading the iconic Kauri Museum has been announced by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones today. “These shovel-ready projects will have significant benefits for their respective communities and I’m pleased this funding ...14 hours ago - More support rolls out for SMEsMore support is rolling out for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the COVID Response and Recovery Fund, to help them adapt and innovate to deal with the impact of the virus. The Ministers for Economic Development and Small Business have announced a further $40 million for the Regional Business ...15 hours ago
- District Court Judge appointedStephen Clark, Māori Land Court Judge of Hamilton has been appointed as a District Court Judge with jury jurisdiction to be based in Hamilton, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Judge Clark graduated with an LLB from Auckland University in 1988 and was admitted to the Bar in the same year. ...1 day ago
- Hawke’s Bay Airport agreement protects jobs, safeguards terminal developmentThe Crown will provide a loan to Hawke’s Bay Airport to ensure it can trade through COVID-19 economic impacts, support the region’s recovery and protect up to 200 jobs. The Crown has a 50 percent shareholding in Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited (HBAL), with Napier City Council holding 26 percent and ...2 days ago
- Funding boost for four cultural eventsFour celebrated Māori and Pasifika events will receive up to $100,000 each in funding from the new Creative and Cultural Events Incubator fund, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford announced today. The four events that were successful in the inaugural funding round are: Kia Mau Festival, Wellington Māoriland Film Festival, Otaki ...2 days ago
- Inaugural launch of Kiribati Language WeekThe Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio is pleased to announce the inaugural launch of Kiribati Language Week as part of the 2020 Pacific language Weeks programme. “I am so pleased that this year we are able to provide resourcing support to the Kiribati community in Aotearoa which will ...4 days ago
- New support package for wildlife institutionsWildlife institutions affected by a loss of visitor revenue during the COVID-19 lockdown are set to receive government support with nearly $15 million of funding available announced Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. “Eco-sanctuaries, zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, and wildlife rescue, hospital and rehabilitation facilities provide crucial support for the recovery ...4 days ago
- 300,000 students to benefit from free mental health servicesThe Government is expanding and accelerating frontline mental health and wellbeing services at tertiary education institutes (TEI) to help students manage ongoing stresses related to COVID-19. “The lockdown has been hugely disruptive for students. Many of them have had to relocate and move to online learning, isolating them from their ...4 days ago
- Gang crime, meth harm targeted in WaikatoThe Minister of Police says a major operation against the Mongrel Mob in Waikato will make a big dent in drug harm and violent offending linked to organised crime networks. “Senior leadership of the Waikato Mongrel Mob has been taken out as a result of Operation Kingsville, which resulted in ...4 days ago
- Supporting victims and families to attend mosque attack sentencingThe Government is extending the border exception criteria to enable some offshore victims and support people of the Christchurch mosque attacks to attend the sentencing of the accused beginning on 24 August2020, says Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. “We want to support our valued Muslim brothers and sisters who were directly ...4 days ago
- Boost for community freshwater restoration projectsA project to support volunteer efforts to look after streams and rivers is getting a boost thanks to support from DOC’s Community Conservation Fund announced Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today. “The government is backing efforts to look after waterways with $199,400 for the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust from ...4 days ago
- More support for women and girlsMinister for Women Julie Anne Genter today announced that funding for the COVID-19 Community Fund for women and girls will be doubled, as the first successful funding applications for the initial $1million were revealed. “Women and girls across the country have suffered because of the effects of COVID-19, and I ...5 days ago
- Crown accounts stronger than forecast with higher consumer spendingThe Government’s books were better than forecast with a higher GST take as the economy got moving again after lockdown, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Crown Accounts for the 11 months to the end of May indicate the year end results for tax revenue will be stronger than forecast. ...5 days ago
- Govt releases plan to revitalise wool sectorA plan to revitalise New Zealand’s strong wool sector and set it on a new, more sustainable and profitable path was unveiled today by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. The newly-released report - Vision and Action for New Zealand’s Wool Sector - was developed by the Wool Industry Project Action Group ...5 days ago
- Funding for Predator Free WhangāreiCommunity efforts to create a Predator Free Whangārei will receive a $6 million boost, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The new funding, through Government company Predator Free 2050 Ltd, will create around 12 jobs while enabling the complete removal of possums over ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to review relationship settings with Hong KongForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced that the New Zealand Government is reviewing the settings of its relationship with Hong Kong. “China’s decision to pass a new national security law for Hong Kong has fundamentally changed the environment for international engagement there,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand remains deeply ...5 days ago
- Funding for Whangārei’s infrastructure projects revealedRegional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced details of a multimillion-dollar investment in Whangārei for infrastructure projects that will help it recover from the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 200 jobs are expected to be created through the $26 million investment from the Government’s rejuvenation package ...5 days ago
- Managed isolation and quarantine updateFollowing a second incident in which a person escaped from a managed isolation facility, security is being enhanced, including more police presence onsite, Minister Megan Woods said. “The actions of some individuals who choose to break the very clear rules to stay within the facilities means that more resourcing is ...5 days ago
- Funding for Kaipara district community waste programmesWaste reduction and recycling programmes in Kaipara are set to get a boost with Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage today announcing a $361,447 grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) Sustainable Kaipara. “The new funding will allow Sustainable Kaipara to partner with local schools, kura, community ...6 days ago
- Government will support the people and economy of SouthlandThe Government will support the Southland economy in the wake of multinational mining company Rio Tinto’s decision to follow through with its long signalled closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. “This day has unfortunately been on the cards for some time now, but nevertheless the final decision is a ...6 days ago
- New transformational tools for the Predator Free 2050 effortNew tools being developed to help boost Aotearoa’s Predator Free 2050 effort were unveiled today by Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau. A new rat poison, a camera with predator recognition software to detect and report predators, a new predator lure and a ...6 days ago
- New Armoured vehicles for New Zealand ArmyThe Coalition Government has approved the purchase of a fleet of Bushmaster vehicles to replace the New Zealand Army’s armoured Pinzgauers, Defence Minister Ron Mark has announced today. The new fleet of 43 Australian-designed and built Bushmaster NZ5.5 will provide better protection for personnel and improved carrying capacity. “The age ...6 days ago
- Community-led solutions to prevent family violenceThe Government’s three prevention frameworks to reduce family violence in Aotearoa were launched this week by Associate Minister for Social Development Poto Williams. The frameworks were developed in partnership with communities around New Zealand, and build on the work the Government has already begun with its new family violence prevention ...6 days ago
- Govt confirms investment in better radiology and surgical services for Hawke’s BayThe Government is pleased to confirm funding for improvements to radiology and surgical services at Hawke's Bay DHB, Health Minister Chris Hipkins says. "The Minister of Finance the Hon Grant Robertson and former Health Minister Dr David Clark approved funding for Hawke's Bay DHB’s redevelopment of their radiology facilities ...6 days ago
- Specialist alcohol and drug addiction services strengthened across New Zealand• New funding for four beds at Napier’s Springhill Residential Addiction Centre • A new managed withdrawal home and community service, and peer support before and after residential care at Tairāwhiti DHB • A co-ordinated network of withdrawal management services throughout the South Island • Peer support in Rotorua and ...6 days ago
- Coastal Shipping WebinarIntroduction, seafarers and POAL Good morning everyone, I am delighted to be online with you all today. Before I begin, I have to acknowledge that COVID-19 has disrupted the maritime sector on an unprecedented scale. The work of seafarers and the maritime industry is keeping many economies around the world ...6 days ago
- Support for resilient rail connection to the West CoastA $13 million investment from Government will create jobs and improve the resilience of the rail connection between Christchurch and the West Coast, Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones and Regional Economic Development Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau say. The funding comes from the tagged contingency set aside in Budget 2020 for infrastructure projects ...6 days ago
- Major investment in safe drinking waterThe Government is investing $761 million to assist local government upgrade under-pressure water services across the country, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The announcement was made at the site of the water bore that was found to be the source of the fatal ...7 days ago
- Supporting stranded seasonal workers to keep working with more flexible optionsRecognised Seasonal Employers and migrant seasonal workers stranded in New Zealand will be able to continue working and supporting themselves with more flexible hours and roles, says Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. The time-limited visa changes are: Stranded RSE workers will be able to work part-time (a minimum of 15 hours ...7 days ago
- Relief for temporary migrants, employers and New Zealanders who need workThe Government is making immediate short-term changes to visa settings to support temporary migrants already onshore in New Zealand and their employers, while also ensuring New Zealanders needing work are prioritised, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. We are: Extending temporary work visas due to expire by the end of 2020 ...1 week ago
- Freshwater commissioners and fast-track consenting convenor appointedProfessor Peter Skelton CNZM has been appointed as Chief Freshwater Commissioner and Alternate Environment Court Judge Craig James Thompson as Deputy Chief Freshwater Commissioner for the newly established Freshwater Planning Process (FPP). Environment Minister David Parker today also announced the appointment of Chief Environment Court Judge Laurie Newhook as the ...1 week ago
- Appointment of Judge of the High CourtAuckland Queen’s Counsel Neil Campbell has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Campbell graduated with a BCom and LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1992. He spent two years with Bell Gully Buddle Weir in Auckland before travelling to the United ...1 week ago
- Feedback sought – Commercial Film and Video Production FacilitiesThe Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal to better enable the development and operation of commercial film and video facilities in Christchurch. The Proposal, developed by Regenerate Christchurch in response to a request from Christchurch City Council, asks that powers under section ...1 week ago
- Govt launches bold primary sector plan to boost economic recoveryThe Government has launched a bold plan to boost primary sector export earnings by $44 billion over the next decade, while protecting the environment and growing jobs. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today released Fit for a Better World – Accelerating our Economic Potential, a 10-year roadmap to unlock greater value ...1 week ago
- Wellbeing of whanau at heart of new hubA new approach to prevent family harm that encourages greater collaboration across government and community groups is being celebrated at the opening of a new facility in Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today opened the Multi-Disciplinary Family Harm Prevention Hub Te Taanga Manawa in Lambie Road in Manukau. The facility ...1 week ago
- New Report on Auckland Port RelocationThe Government has released a major new report on the options for relocating the Port of Auckland’s freight operations while deferring any decision on the issue. “That decision needs to be informed by policy analysis that is still to be completed. As a result it will be up to a ...1 week ago
- Dual place names for Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula featuresThe history of Rāpaki is being restored through the inclusion of te reo in thirteen official place names on Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula and around Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō, the Minister for Land Information, Eugenie Sage, announced today. “I am pleased to approve the proposals from Te Hapū o Ngāti ...1 week ago
- Government and Air New Zealand agree to manage incoming bookingsBookings for seats on Air New Zealand flights into New Zealand will be managed in the short term to ensure the Government is able to safely place New Zealanders arriving home into a managed isolation or quarantine facility, says Housing Minister Megan Woods. “Last week Air Commodore Darryn Webb and I ...1 week ago
- $80 million for sport recovery at all levelsGrant Robertson has today announced the first major release of funding from the $265 million Sport Recovery Package announced at Budget 2020. “Today we’re setting out how $80 million will be invested, with $54 million of that over the 2020/2021 financial year for organisations from community level through to elite ...1 week ago
- Keeping ACC levies steady until 2022The Government is maintaining current levy rates for the next 2 years, as part of a set of changes to help ease the financial pressures of COVID-19 providing certainty for businesses and New Zealanders, ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. “New Zealanders and businesses are facing unprecedented financial pressures as a ...1 week ago
- Judith Collins is not what you think she is
Do not mistake tough for malevolent. The new National leader can take on whatever role is required of her politically and play it to perfection, writes Ben Thomas.The National Party faces the fight of its life. And so it has chosen as its new leader the toughest fighter in New ...23 mins ago - ‘Common goal – oust government’, says NZ’s new National leader Collins
By RNZ News New Zealand’s National Party has elected Judith Collins as its new leader to replace Todd Muller, with Gerry Brownlee as her deputy to take on the Labour-led coalition government in the September general election. Collins, 61, was first elected as an MP for Clevedon in 2002 and ...26 mins ago - National under Leader Judith Collins: Storied comeback or ignominious slump
Opinion - Collins has made clear for some time that she wanted the leadership. And now she has it. What will she do with it? Liam Hehir takes a look. ...48 mins ago - Recap: Todd Muller resigns as National Party leaderJudith Collins has been voted in by colleagues as leader of the National Party, with Gerry Brownlee as her deputy. Look back over the day's events here. ...1 hour ago
- More deaths in Victoria, as NSW COVID cluster triggers reactions in Queensland and South AustraliaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Uncertainty surrounding a cluster of COVID-19 cases linked to a Sydney hotel has prompted reactions from the Queensland and South Australian governments, as the Victorian situation continues to be critical. Victorian authorities on Tuesday reported ...2 hours ago
- Press Advisory On Judith Collins And The Book Dirty Politics
In recent days an incorrect story has been repeated in the news about how Judith Collins had to resign after the book Dirty Politics was published but was later exonerated and returned to Cabinet. In the interests of accuracy, it is worth correcting this ...3 hours ago - Judith Collins is National’s new leader
Judith Collins is the new leader of the National Party and a vote for deputy is underway. Newsroom understands that the electorate MP for Papakura has been selected for the leadership. It will mark the first time in 23 years the party has selected a woman to lead it. Collins takes over ...3 hours ago - New National Party leader is Judith CollinsThe National Party has elected Judith Collins as its new leader to replace Todd Muller. ...4 hours ago
- ‘Palace letters’ reveal the palace’s fingerprints on the dismissal of the Whitlam governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Associate Professor, 50/50 By 2030 Foundation, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra The “palace letters” show the Australian Constitution’s susceptibility to self-interested behaviour by individual vice-regal representatives. They also reveal the vulnerability of Australian governments to secret ...5 hours ago
- ‘Palace letters’ show the queen did not advise, or encourage, Kerr to sack Whitlam governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney For more than four decades, the question has been asked: did the queen know the governor-general, Sir John Kerr, was about to dismiss the Whitlam government, and did she encourage or support that ...6 hours ago
- What is love?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gery Karantzas, Associate professor in Social Psychology / Relationship Science, Deakin University From songs and poems to novels and movies, romantic love is one of the most enduring subjects for artworks through the ages. But what about the science? Historical, cultural and ...6 hours ago
- Meros is dead. Long live MurdochThe scamp of New Zealand publishing is laid to rest, for now. In 2005 I wrote and released a book called On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover. I gave myself the name Richard Meros.My real name is Murdoch. Some people think that sounds ...6 hours ago
- New Zealand politics’ shortest leadershipsTodd Muller may have only served 53 days as leader of the National Party but was his the shortest leadership? ...7 hours ago
- Green Party Energy Plan Will Damage NZ Economy...8 hours ago
- Review: High Fidelity brings new warmth to Nick Hornby’s music nerd love storyNeon’s gender-flipped version of High Fidelity features Zoë Kravitz in the role John Cusack made famous 20 years ago. And it works far better than you might expect, writes Catherine McGregor.By now we’ve all accepted the fact that every last artistic touchstone we hold dear will one day end up ...8 hours ago
- Cutting taxes for the wealthy is the worst possible response to this economic crisisSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Australia’s response to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is rightly considered one of the world’s best. At their best, our federal and state politicians have put aside the ...9 hours ago
- New Opportunities For Conservative New ZealandersTodd Muller’s brief leadership of the National Party ended this morning and his resignation creates opportunities for truly centrist, more stable and independent parties not under investigation by the SFO. Unfortunately this does point to some ...9 hours ago
- National Party leadership: Collins, Kaye, Bridges still in the runningAs National prepares to replace Todd Muller as leader, Simon Bridges, Judith Collins and Nikki Kaye are not ruling out going for the top job. ...9 hours ago
- Our cybersecurity isn’t just under attack from foreign states. There are holes in the government...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Damien Manuel, Director, Centre for Cyber Security Research & Innovation (CSRI), Deakin University Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed last month Australia is actively being attacked by hostile foreign governments. An advisory note posted on the government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre website said ...9 hours ago
- Malaysia’s media crackdowns are being driven by an insecure government highly sensitive to critici...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ross Tapsell, Senior Lecturer in the School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific., Australian National University The recent police interrogations of six Al Jazeera journalists in Malaysia – five of whom are Australian – was not about ...9 hours ago
- Muller’s ‘bolt from blue’ resignation leaves election hoardings standingANALYSIS: By Liam Hehir The detailed reasons for opposition National Party leader Todd Muller’s shock resignation are something we are not yet given to know. At this point, anything other than the statement made by Muller himself is nothing more than speculation. The announcement was a bolt from the blue ...9 hours ago
- Chocolate Fish, Red Herrings And BillionairesThe rich become that way because they work hard to provide the everyday things that our nation needs. So runs the story that underpins the economic system we live under. Its something that is so taken for granted, it often goes uncommented upon. It seems ...10 hours ago
- Here comes Judith: Could Crusher Collins take over the National Party leadership?In every discussion about who could lead the National Party since John Key resigned in 2016, one name has always figured high in speculation: Judith Collins.The controversial yet popular MP for Papakura has put her name forward twice – losing to Bill English and Simon Bridges. Since then, Collins has ...10 hours ago
- ‘There is a way through’: Mothers open up about maternal mental distressMaternal mental health is far more complex than most realise, and for many women, problems start well before the baby is born. Here, four women share their experiences of perinatal distress – and how to get through it. Josie Gritten has three littlies and she is a perpetual motion machine, a superwoman. One ...10 hours ago
- Former PM Jim Bolger ‘totally surprised’ at Muller resignationFormer Prime Minister Jim Bolger says the National Party needs to choose a new leader who is bold enough to talk publicly about tax increases and New Zealand's post-Covid economic future. ...10 hours ago
- Unclear That Loan Shark Pretty Penny Is Really Leaving New ZealandAt last Pretty Penny has met its judicial fate and been sent packing from New Zealand. Debtfix co-founder, Christine Liggins says; “Far from ‘helping everyday people’ as their tagline states, Pretty Penny was a thorn in the side of those who deal with ...10 hours ago
- National Party leadership: Who gets the hospital pass?Analysis - The National Party has been thrown into utter confusion by Todd Muller's resignation and now the caucus has to find someone prepared to take a hospital pass, writes Peter Wilson. ...11 hours ago
- Auckland Council Can No Longer Use The Weather As An Excuse To Hike Rates“The Council has been using the water crisis as an excuse to prime Auckland ratepayers for a painful 3.5% increase in rates. Supposedly, the crisis has introduced $239 million in new costs.” “However, the Government has now announced $196 million ...11 hours ago
- Is the PM a transformer? Or just a manager?
Todd Muller's resignation now puts Jacinda Ardern in the awkward position of having to say what she really, really wants to do with her second term. Bernard Hickey analyses her choices. Jacinda Ardern is reputed to have played a few Spice Girls tracks as a DJ at the Morrinsville College after-ball ...12 hours ago - Hawke’s Bay airport gets a Crown loan whereas an innovation park in Northland gets a PGF investmen...
Latest from the Beehive – While National’s Todd Muller was thinking hard about his future as leader, the government was getting on with the job of governing and redistributing taxpayers’ money. At least, we presume that’s what Muller was doing . He was also giving a highly instructive lesson in ...12 hours ago - Ahead of the New Zealand election, Todd Muller’s resignation is a National nightmare – and a sig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Massey University And then there was none. Early this morning the National Party caucus awoke to a nightmare. Todd Muller, their newly minted leader of some 53 days, had resigned his position. This is not just another ...12 hours ago
- With National in disarray, who will hold Labour to account?After Todd Muller’s shock resignation, a crushing electoral defeat for National looks all but assured. But is a historically weak opposition really something for the left to celebrate, asks Danyl Mclauchlan. It probably doesn’t matter who takes over as leader of the National Party. Todd Muller’s sudden resignation ...12 hours ago
- Parler: what you need to know about the ‘free speech’ Twitter alternativeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Audrey Courty, PhD candidate, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, Griffith University Amid claims of social media platforms stifling free speech, a new challenger called Parler is drawing attention for its anti-censorship stance. Last week, Harper’s Magazine published an open letter ...12 hours ago
- Muller’s resignation has election implications for the smaller parties as well as for the Nats
So is the election now a foregone conclusion? With Jacindamania still raging, and the National Party shattered by its own shambolic performance, it looks like a walk in the park for the Labour Party and its coalition partners. Certainly NZ First leader Winston Peters wasn’t slow to rub salt into ...13 hours ago - Emergency politics Toddcast: The National Party after MullerToby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas reel at the announcement that Todd Muller has resigned as leader of the opposition. At 7.30am, just 53 days after he replaced Simon Bridges as leader of the National Party, Todd Muller announced his immediate resignation from the job.How did it come to this, ...13 hours ago
- COVID 19 – Immigration Minister Drops Another Bombshell On Migrant FamiliesThe Minister of Immigration has dropped another bombshell today relating to temporary visa holders and their families, says Ms June Ranson, chair of the New Zealand Association of Migration and Investment (NZAMI). Having granted an automatic six-month extension ...13 hours ago
- The backyard furniture business with big plans for NZ’s sustainable building futureA success story of the New Zealand Made Products Facebook page, this Christchurch start-up has grown from a backyard workshop to a centre for sustainable architecture and building all in the space of a few months.Two Christchurch guys needed a table for their flat. So they built one out of ...13 hours ago
- Meng Foon says stereotyping races hurtfulThe Race Relations Commissioner says people must not assume someone's race by lumping them into one ethnicity group. ...13 hours ago
- National a party in disarray, in search of a leaderPower Play - Who will seize the day now National is a party looking for a leader? RNZ political editor Jane Patterson takes a look at a party that was supposed to be settling in to fight its election campaign. ...13 hours ago
- Police Raids Following Facebook Posts Ruled UnlawfulAn announcement today that three Police raids of firearm licence holders following the Christchurch Mosque shootings were illegal, raises questions about Police over-reacting to what people say on social media, according to the Council of Licenced Firearms ...13 hours ago
- What did Todd Muller achieve in his 53 days as National leader?Todd Muller has resigned as National Party leader, so what did he achieve after only 53 days in the role? ...14 hours ago
- 53 days: The very short and very stormy leadership of Todd MullerJust over seven weeks after he rolled Simon Bridges to become leader of the opposition, and with under 10 weeks to go to the election, Todd Muller has quit. Here’s a reminder of how it unfurled – and unravelled.May 21A Colmar Brunton poll for TVNZ puts National at 29%. It’s ...14 hours ago
- National precariously placed as Muller goes
Todd Muller's stint as National leader has been cut short by a commendable decision to put his own wellbeing first - but now the party must try to find a path forward to September 19 For all that National’s critics claimed to predict it, the news was a shock. Just ...14 hours ago - Three Searches Undertaken By Police Following Mosque Attacks Found To Be UnlawfulThe Independent Police Conduct Authority has found three searches conducted by Police following the 15 March Mosque attacks were unlawful. Following the attacks, Police identified people of interest to national security and set up an operation aimed ...14 hours ago
- CEAC Want Gov’t To Protect Communities Using ‘OECD/WHO/EU Standards Traffic NoiseCEAC want Gov’t to protect communities using ‘OECD/WHO/EU standards traffic noise for residential traffic noise Confirmation of reports to urban residents both from NZTA/Transit-NZ acoustical consultants have since 2001 warned residents that ...15 hours ago
- What A Mess – Change The Government“What a mess” said Hannah Tamaki. “Todd Muller’s resignation this morning is a further indication of the insidious problems hidden in the belly of New Zealand politics. With all three major political parties under investigation by the Serious ...15 hours ago
- Media Statement From Safeguarding Children/Tiakina Ngā TamarikiA recent media story highlighting the fact that a convicted paedophile has worked on a popular New Zealand children’s tv show reveals the serious inadequacies of current legislation which is supposed to protect our children, according to Safeguarding ...15 hours ago
- Electoral donation laws under scrutiny again after latest Serious Fraud Office investigationThe country's electoral donation laws are being questioned with a third major political party now the subject of a Serious Fraud Office investigation. ...15 hours ago
- Why Māori communities are more vulnerable to 5G conspiraciesMistrust in the government and generational trauma mean Māori communities are more at risk of falling victim to conspiracies relating to the 5G spectrum. Alice Webb-Liddall finds out what needs to be done to combat this dangerous misinformation.The real danger of conspiracy theories can sometimes be hard to grasp. When ...16 hours ago
- Todd Muller – a quick look at his backgroundNearly two months ago Todd Muller stepped up to wrestle the leadership of the National Party from Simon Bridges, he won. But after just 53 days, he has resigned. Here's a quick look at his background. ...16 hours ago
- PM Jacinda Ardern on Todd Muller resignation: ‘Politics is a difficult place’Todd Muller became the National Party leader in May and resigned today citing health reasons. PM Jacinda Ardern says politics is a difficult job. ...16 hours ago
- Live blog: Todd Muller resigns as National Party leaderTodd Muller has resigned as National Party after less than two months in the role. Follow all the latest updates here. ...16 hours ago
- Face Your Plastic Footprint – Coke ToldGreenpeace NZ is challenging Coca Cola to face up to its embarrassing contribution to ocean pollution for Plastic Free July. Coca Cola Amatil floods NZ with hundreds of millions of plastic bottles annually - the majority of which end up in landfill ...16 hours ago
- With Todd Muller out, who will take over as National leader?With just over two months to go before the election, National suddenly, shockingly finds itself in need of a new leader. Who are the potential candidates?Late leadership changes before an election aren’t unheard of in politics. The current prime minister is living proof of that, taking over from Andrew Little ...16 hours ago
- Election 2020 – National Party Leader Todd Muller Resigns – StatementSource: Statement by Todd Muller – New Zealand National Party I have taken time over the weekend to reflect on my experience over the last several weeks as Leader of the Opposition. It has become clear to me that I am not the best person to be Leader of the Opposition ...16 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – July 14 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Todd Muller resigns as National Party leader 1News: Todd Muller resigns as leader of Opposition, National Party in shock announcement Herald: Todd Muller quits as National Party leader ...16 hours ago
- Parler: the Twitter ‘alternative’ isn’t the free speech haven it claims to beSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Audrey Courty, PhD candidate, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, Griffith University Amid claims of social media platforms stifling free speech, a new challenger called Parler is drawing attention for its anti-censorship stance. Last week, Harper’s Magazine published an open letter ...16 hours ago
- The big reveal: Jenny Hocking on what the ‘palace letters’ may tell us, finally, about The Dismi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Hocking, Emeritus Professor, Monash University Forty-five years after they were written, hundreds of previously secret letters between the queen and the governor-general of Australia, Sir John Kerr, relating to the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 will be released in ...16 hours ago
- We could have more coronavirus outbreaks in tower blocks. Here’s how lockdown should workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor, Nursing and Deputy Head (Learn & Teaching), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University The recent lockdown of nine social housing towers in Melbourne’s north to contain the spread of COVID-19 led to widespread concerns for residents’ ...16 hours ago
- Is aggressive hotel isolation worth the cost to fight COVID-19? The answer depends on family sizeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francesco Paolucci, Associate Professor of Health Economics, University of Bologna, and Professor of Health Economics, University of Newcastle Australia has fared better than most countries in reducing its COVID-19 cases to very low numbers. However, on June 15, new clusters of infection ...16 hours ago
- Carbon pricing works: the largest-ever study puts it beyond doubtSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Burke, Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Putting a price on carbon should reduce emissions, because it makes dirty production processes more expensive than clean ones, right? That’s the economic theory. Stated baldly, it’s obvious, but there ...16 hours ago
- Todd Muller stands down as National Party leaderPolitics editor Justin Giovannetti reports from Wellington.National Party leader Todd Muller has resigned citing health reasons, only 53 days after he rolled Simon Bridges to take over the largest party in New Zealand’s parliament. The next general election is in 66 days.Muller’s short leadership was marked by disarray within the ...16 hours ago
- We need a new childcare system that encourages women to work, not punishes them for itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona David, Visiting Fellow, University of Western Australia In previous recessions in Australia, far larger numbers of men than women lost their jobs. This reflected realities at that time. Men had higher levels of workforce participation than women, and the construction and ...17 hours ago
- Fiction, fact and Hillary Clinton: an American politics expert reads RodhamSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon O’Connor, Associate Professor in American Politics at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney Curtis Sittenfeld has a knack of putting her readers in uncomfortable places in her fiction. In her short story Gender Studies she puts you in the ...17 hours ago
- Business Wrap: Queenstown rents slump
Queenstown rents fall at double digit rates in May and June. Nasdaq hits fresh record high as Tesla surges. UK set to ban Huawei from 5G rollout ...17 hours ago - Todd Muller resigns as National leader
After just over a month in the job, National leader Todd Muller has stepped aside National leader Todd Muller has resigned from the role a little over a month after deposing Simon Bridges, citing the heavy toll the job has taken on him and his family. In a brief statement, ...17 hours ago - Todd Muller resigns as National Party leaderTodd Muller says he's had time to reflect and that the role took a heavy toll on him and his family. ...17 hours ago
- Live updates, July 14: Todd Muller resigns suddenly as National leaderFor all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level one – read about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to donations from Spinoff Members. To support this ...17 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Labour’s turn to feel SFO heatGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Serious Fraud Office announces investigation into donations made to Labour, deportations from Australia to resume, and retail businesses up against it on rent.In a short statement released yesterday afternoon, the Serious Fraud Office made it clear that donations to the ...18 hours ago
- From TikTok to Tami: This is the 2020 APRA Silver Scrolls longlistThe 2020 longlist for the APRA Silver Scroll Awards – New Zealand’s premiere songwriting awards – have just been announced. Here’s the full list of the 20 finalists, with the songs themselves to listen to.This morning saw the announcement of the longlist for the APRA Silver Scroll, New Zealand’s most ...19 hours ago
- What the tahr decision actually says
It was claimed as a win but last week’s court decision on tahr control was mostly legal shots thumping harmlessly into a wall. David Williams reports ANALYSIS: Last Friday, hunting groups welcomed a “landmark” High Court decision, “halting” a controversial plan to “exterminate” all tahr in national parks and sharply ...19 hours ago - Ending ‘cancel culture’ no defence for democracy
Dr Neal Curtis explains why we shouldn't simply dismiss people trying to resist discrimination by calling them anti-democratic You may have heard a lot about ‘cancel culture’ recently, not least because of the 150 signatories to the Harper’s Magazine letter last week that supposedly cancelled cancel culture. ‘Cancelling’ is a ...19 hours ago - The Tiwai Point … data centre?
The closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter has left the door open for another electricity-intensive project to take its place at the south tip of the South Island. ...19 hours ago - The problem with sex, with animals
A complaint has been made to the Department of Internal Affairs against a book of short stories How do you know you’ve “made it” as a writer? Is it, as one friend recently commented on a photo of me holding my new book, when Facebook refuses to allow you to ...19 hours ago - Let me die how I’ve lived
Terminally ill man Stuart Armstrong responds to a first-person piece on assisted dying Newsroom ran last week, arguing people should have the option to choose a death that reflects their life and beliefs This week Serena Jones wrote an article describing her position on the upcoming referendum on the End ...19 hours ago
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