Search Results
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Comment:Mick Lynch is a working class hero
Date published: 11:42 am, June 25th, 2022The man of the hour for sure. I love it that the Brits still use the term "working class" with pride. Our delusions of an egalitarian society don't seem to have shifted that much, like working in a call center is somehow "middle class" because you wear ...
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Comment:How Democracy Weakens
Date published: 5:04 pm, June 21st, 2022Global pandemics maybe...the rest is just ridiculous...and in actual fact a global pandemic only results in increased inequality if you actively let it...
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Comment:How Democracy Weakens
Date published: 2:22 pm, June 21st, 2022Maybe people had naively assumed it was incremental change for the better?
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Comment:Open mike 27/04/2022
Date published: 1:59 pm, April 27th, 2022I very much doubt they are that worried. We all know people (National, Labour and Green Party voters) avoiding tax either purposefully through Trusts and what not, or more under the radar through simple accountancy sleigh of hand. National voters are ...
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Comment:Open mike 06/04/2022
Date published: 12:38 pm, April 6th, 2022I was interested to read about these Russian soldiers/mercenaries today. The terrible thing is I have never heard of them and their atrocities before ..but then I see the line... "Images taken yesterday show a soldier wearing the insignia of the ...
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Comment:See you later Simon
Date published: 1:04 pm, March 15th, 2022Probably been offered a job as a Shift Manager at Tauranga McDonalds. Though actually, as someone who served at the Golden Arches Queen Street with poor old Mark "the-most-tragic-man-in-politics" Thomas at the helm, Simon would actually make quite a 'good'...
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Comment:Open mike 12/03/2022
Date published: 12:59 pm, March 12th, 2022Labour get labeled that anyway..so its not a consideration ..not to mention the embarrassing/insulting carry on that day in Parliament when they "hilariously" self identified as "Socialists" (see link) Labours problem is they appear to not have much in the...
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Comment:Open mike 07/03/2022
Date published: 11:04 am, March 7th, 2022"Foetal alcohol injuries in NZ 'could be five times higher' than some official figures suggest" Highly likely we live in a country with approximately 250,000 poor souls with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome...most of whom will be undiagnosed and unsupported, with a...
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Comment:Open mike 04/03/2022
Date published: 2:15 pm, March 4th, 2022The Protest we should be talking about... "CHEP Workers Win New Agreement After Weeks On The Picket Line" https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2203/S00050/chep-workers-win-new-agreement-after-weeks-on-the-picket-line.htm Well done to all involved ..obviously ...
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Comment:Russian atrocity time
Date published: 2:08 pm, March 4th, 2022So just to clarify...are there Nazis on the Moon or not??
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Comment:Real protestors do not burn kids playgrounds
Date published: 10:41 am, March 4th, 2022I think you missed ".its just they don't realise what they are actually protesting" in fact you seemed to have missed the whole point of what I said. And I realise in an ideal only nice sane law abiding morally upright people would be protesting ..but THE ...
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Comment:Real protestors do not burn kids playgrounds
Date published: 9:06 am, March 4th, 2022Its occurred to me that these people (who I admit do my head in) are "real" protestors..its just they don't realise what they are actually protesting...which is inequality, insecurity, lack of community...not to mention underfunded Health care, both ...
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Comment:Don’t give up New Zealand: omicron, vaccination protection, and why it's the wrong time to 'let it rip'
Date published: 5:54 pm, February 28th, 2022I would argue that Labour have in fact gone for "a show of Strong Leadership for political theatre" rather than the actual evolving science..science is not of one voice..there are a range of voices/opinion/evidence..and some voices are very good at telling...
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Comment:Don’t give up New Zealand: omicron, vaccination protection, and why it's the wrong time to 'let it rip'
Date published: 5:48 pm, February 28th, 2022I get the timing was a challenge..but I still think that with our fortress mentality and mandates, we were, in fact, in a position to time the vaccines for maximum effectiveness, rather than panic stations. We have these vaccines at the expense of poor ...
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Comment:Don’t give up New Zealand: omicron, vaccination protection, and why it's the wrong time to 'let it rip'
Date published: 3:34 pm, February 28th, 2022Unfortunately NZ has squandered the benefit of vaccinations by having too short an interval between the initial 2 shots, it should have been 12 weeks, which I only managed with some manipulation of the system ..and now speeding up the boosters, which ...
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Comment:Why do we* write Posts on The Standard?
Date published: 1:56 pm, February 26th, 2022"I get particularly upset when commenters accuse an Author of being a paid shill or propagandist." Well, I don't like to think of anyone here getting particularly upset...so if it helps soften the blow rest assured there are a number of contributors here ...
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Comment:Chloe Swarbrick Needs A Reset
Date published: 3:11 pm, February 10th, 2022The general consensus here seems to be let the CBD die...but I cannot think of any well thought of city that has let the CBD die ..without then suffering massive regret ...and then having to pump untold dollars to get the whole thing up and running again...
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Comment:Open mike 07/02/2022
Date published: 10:41 am, February 7th, 2022An interesting piece in the Herald today around Public holidays and their Deep unfairness ... "Crocker was on the Holidays Act Taskforce that reviewed that Holidays Act in 2019. He says one of the reasons the law doesn't account for non-traditional work ...
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Comment:He’s not the messiah …
Date published: 10:22 am, January 18th, 2022This guy is winning ..for one guy with a fairly small congregation, a mere drop in the bucket of the anti vacc/mandate crowd, he gets all the free publicity he could possibly want. To them he is the Messiah ..who also, incidentally broke Pharisees' laws ...
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Comment:It's Time.
Date published: 2:56 pm, January 10th, 2022Though, somewhat ironically, some of the most fervent anti mandate/passport/vaccine people I know, are fully connected on their phones to multiple apps , buy most items online whenever possible ..and think UBI is a great idea...go figure...
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Comment:The 2022 Economic Boom
Date published: 11:37 am, December 12th, 2021Whats with this "Business led" recovery...why not just a good old fashioned "Economic recovery"? 'cos you do know business doesn't exist, let alone succeed without Government and 'The People" creating the right environment..despite what the free-market ...
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Comment:Open mike 08/12/2021
Date published: 11:03 am, December 8th, 2021Thanks for the link....its a shame talking about inequality always gets sidetracked by arguments about the pros and cons of technology (re:Climate Change) ..when really the point is we need a radical reset of our economic, political and social settings .....
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Comment:Open mike 07/12/2021
Date published: 3:22 pm, December 7th, 2021I really need to step away from the interweb ..just now on my Facebook.. "This morning Marama Davidson MP launched Te Aorerekura, the first National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence in Aotearoa. This strategy will see Government, ...
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Comment:Some good news about Covid
Date published: 10:22 am, December 6th, 2021"the spread of Covid is declining and the Health system is holding up." ..well go figure! Maybe if the Health system was holding up under an increased spread it would be worth mentioning...though this version of "holding up"...my sympathies to all those on...
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Comment:Open mike 06/11/2021
Date published: 7:45 pm, November 6th, 2021That was him alright...late for work as per usual on a Saturday while he writes his thoughts to our dear friend Kim..
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Comment:Goudie blunders again
Date published: 2:49 pm, October 14th, 2021Thanks for illustrating my point. I had thought that The Standard could be one place for intelligent conversation..it is not the public face of the Governments covid response. It is meant to be a place where politically engaged people debate the merits or ...
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Comment:Goudie blunders again
Date published: 11:07 am, October 14th, 2021Why give her air space? A better conversation would be around how...yet again...Capitalism and supposed "Free- Market" forces, have, yet again, delivered us a far more expensive, far more problematic 'solution'. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/...
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Comment:Holding our covid nerve
Date published: 11:17 am, October 6th, 2021Many of us have moved on from this narrative of "unknowns" and "unpredictability". We have had this disease floating around the entire planet for a long time now. We broadly know enough to understand what will happen sooner rather than latter. People will ...
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Comment:Open mike 27/09/2021
Date published: 11:04 am, September 27th, 2021"Deluge Raises Doubts about Building Houses on West Auckland Floodplain." Hilarious headline in the Herald today..(.my italics)...highlighting both our lack of understanding, let alone progress or governmental (local and Central) policy in preparing for ...
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Comment:The problems for women with sex self-ID in law and society
Date published: 1:54 pm, September 13th, 2021"and now I’m really fucked off. The Department of Internal Affairs FAQ page attached to the Bill barely even mentions women, and there appears to be zero attempt by the government to explain what the issues are so women can consider them and be part of ...
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Comment:Open mike 08/09/2021
Date published: 10:05 am, September 8th, 2021The Taliban need to take a page out of Bidens book.... wait 64 days before even giving their first press conference... and only have 'friendly' journalists with pre approved questions...and certainly no questions on 'tricky' topics... https://thehill.com/...
- 2022 General Reading: June (+ Old Phuul Update)
Completed reads for June: 4.50 from Paddington, by Agatha ChristieNarrations, by CononThe Vampire (poem), by Rudyard KiplingProgress and Poverty, by Henry GeorgeA Modest Proposal, by Jonathan SwiftThe Horla, by Guy de MaupassantSupernatural Horror in Literature, by H.P. LovecraftTowards Zero, by Agatha ChristieHickory Dickory Death, by Agatha ChristieThe Lady of ...7 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #26 2022
Looking into a distant mirror The academic publishing process is notoriously stately. Events in the rest of the world happen at their own swift pace as a given article makes its way through the publication pipeline. In the case of Russian climate scepticism: an understudied case, authors Teresa Ashe & Marianna Poberezhskaya submitted their work ...19 hours ago - Drawn
A ballot for one member's bill was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill (Chlöe Swarbrick) Swarbrick's bill implements a number of past recommendations from government agencies and advisory bodies which for some reason (cough big booze ...1 day ago - Let’s Not Make 2023 About Abortion.
No Common Ground: The destructive and punitive impulses aroused by the abortion issue make a rational, let alone a civil, debate virtually impossible. Indeed, the very idea that those on both sides of the abortion issue might be decent and caring individuals, whose opposing positions are based on reasonable and ...1 day ago - See What Happens?What Happened Next? After the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1954, overturned its earlier validation of “separate but equal” schools, hospitals, public washrooms, busses and trains for Blacks and Whites, and told the Topeka Board of Education that segregated education is in breach of the Fourteenth Amendment of ...1 day ago
- How to stay cool in hot weatherThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Neha Pathak When spring creeps around the corner, pediatrician Aaron Bernstein starts counseling his Boston-area patients and their families about extreme heat action plans. “The first heat wave of the year is routinely the most harmful,” says Bernstein, who also directs Harvard’s ...1 day ago
- United States moves closer to theocracy – nothing to worry about in Aotearoa?
On 7 December 1941, Imperial Japan launched a war on the American people. It would forever become a date of infamy, said then US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, eightyone years ago.On 24/25 June 2022, conservatives launched their war on 166.24 million American women. That date, also, will forever live on ...1 day ago - The police lied in an OIA responseStuff has a story this morning about the police juking the domestic violence stats, downgrading family violence crimes to "incidents" so they don't have to be investigated (and so Bad Number doesn't Go Up). That's appalling in and of itself, for the human consequences, and for what it says about ...2 days ago
- Bigot schools are acting unlawfullyEarlier in the month we learned about institutionalised transphobia at Bethlehem College. The school is an "integrated school", meaning that it is state-funded while retaining a "special character". Stuff has now taken a look at several other similar schools, and found another three with institutionalised bigotry: Three more state-funded ...2 days ago
- Member’s dayToday is a Member's Day, and it looks like its back to local legislation for a while. First up is the committee stage of the highly controversial Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill, which would allow unelected appointees (and a disproportionate number of them, at that) on ECan. This ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on National’s ongoing problems with abortion
Despite Christopher Luxon’s assurances to the contrary, there is no such thing as “settled law” in New Zealand. Apart from the six provisions that are constitutionally entrenched, legislation can always be amended or overturned by a simple majority vote within our single chamber of Parliament. Luxon’s repeated use of the ...2 days ago - How to inoculate yourself against misinformationThis is a re-post from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. Please see this overview to find links to other reposts from Thinking is Power. ...3 days ago
- 2023 is closing in faster than we might realise… so can Aotearoa move on progress a bit faster per...
What a week, month even of deplorable headlines and hysterics we’ve had as a country – and given 2023 is closing in on us (a mere 6 months until Parties shift some gears into election mode really, not that some of them haven’t started already of course), we need ...3 days ago - The police still suck at the OIALast year, sparked by the contrast between the official OIA statistics police reported to PSC, and their actual performance experienced and seen over FYI, I asked some questions about their numbers - and discovered that their official statistics were a lie. Once you remove the routine traffic crash reports and ...3 days ago
- Still diggingOver the weekend, the US Supreme Court followed through on its threat, and overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively outlawing abortion in much of the United States. People were outraged, in America and around the world. And in Aotearoa, this meant a lot of sudden questions for the National Party, which ...3 days ago
- A Breadcrumb of Absence: “Nothing is evil in the beginning…”Nothing is evil in the beginning… #TheRingsOfPower pic.twitter.com/XffZtqp8Yw— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) June 27, 2022 We have ourselves a new breadcrumb (not a leak!) out of The Rings of Power. It is a fifteen second collection of clips from the original teaser-trailer, together ...3 days ago
- A Note of Caution.
The repeal of Roe vs Wade by the US Supreme Court is part of a broader “New Conservative” agenda financed by reactionary billionaires like Peter Thiel, Elon Mush, the Kochs and Murdochs (and others), organised by agitators like Steve Bannon and Rodger Stone and legally weaponised by Conservative (often Catholic) ...4 days ago - An Act Of National Self-Harm.A Dangerous Leap Backwards: A United States forced to live by the beliefs and values of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries cannot hope to go on leading the “Free World”, or compete economically with nations focused fearlessly on the future. The revocation of Roe v. Wade represents the American republic’s most ...4 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the Roe v Wade aftermathNow that the right of US women to abortion (formerly protected by Roe v Wade) has been abolished, the important role of medication-induced abortion will come even more to the fore. Already, research by the Guttmacher Institute reproductive rights centre shows that over half of US abortions are obtained ...4 days ago
- Two steps forward, one step backThe government is finally moving to improve transparency over party finances, lowering the donation disclosure threshold to $5,000. This is a good move, though it doesn't go as far as it should. And of course, there's a nasty twist: The rules for larger donations are also changing. Presently parties ...4 days ago
- Why should Ukraine listen to lame duck Boris Johnson?
A rare exposure in Western media of the fact that many residents of the Donbass prefer Russian rule to Ukrainian ultranationalist rule. I don’t know why anyone would take advice from UK’s lame duck Prime Minister and well-known buffoon Boris Johnson seriously, but he ...4 days ago - Geoffrey Miller: Can Jacinda Ardern’s starpower save New Zealand’s free trade deal with the EU?
Jacinda Ardern will need to deploy every aspect of her starpower if she is to have any hope of rescuing New Zealand’s faltering free trade negotiations with the European Union (EU). The Prime Minister has branded each of her four foreign trips so far this year as ‘trade missions’ – ...4 days ago - 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #25Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 19, 2022 through Sat, June 24, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): Skeptical Science New Research for Week #25 2022, To stop ...5 days ago
- Roe V Wade ruling shows why abortion is the answer to so many questions about US politics
It was sometime in the late 1990s that I first interviewed Alan Webster about New Zealand’s part in a global Values Study. It’s a fascinating snapshot of values in countries all over the world and I still remember seeing America grouped with many developing countries on a spectrum that had ...6 days ago - The First MatarikiToday marks Matariki, the first “new” New Zealand public holiday since Waitangi Day was added in 1974. Officially the start of the Maori New Year, this is one of those moveable beasties – much like Easter, the dates will vary from year to year, anywhere from mid-June to ...7 days ago
- SHOCK! HORROR! The New Zealand Economy is in Recession!!!!! Or are we?
The takeaways from the just released data are:1. Any estimate of GDP is subject to error.2. The 0.2 percent decrease in the March 2022 quarter is not precise and will be revised, with the mild likelihood that it will eventually be higher.3. New Zealand has no ‘official' definition of a ...7 days ago - Matariki: Thoughts and Questions.1 week ago
- Of Silmarillion Elves, Pavlova, and Motorcycles: Testing an AI
The internet is a wonderful thing sometimes. Yesterday, I ran across an AI program that generates images via prompt: https://huggingface.co/spaces/dalle-mini/dalle-mini So I have been doing the logical thing with it. Getting it to generate Silmarillion characters in bizarre situations. Morgoth playing golf, and so forth. But one thing I ...1 week ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #25 2022Stashing renewable energy Do a little internet sleuthing on renewable energy via your favorite search engine and you'll find some honest critique and much more dishonest misinformation (aka disinformation) to the effect that photovoltaic and wind generation are fickle energy supplies, over-abundant in some periods and absent in others. There's ...1 week ago
- Bryce Edwards: Wealthy can buy access to power – and politicians don’t want this changedThe current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The juicy details coming out each day show private wealth being funnelled into some peculiar schemes in an attempt to circumvent the Electoral Act. Yet ...1 week ago
- Ideology and Foreign Investment
As in so many other areas of public policy, attitudes towards overseas investment in New Zealand – and anywhere, for that matter – boil down in the end to ideology. For proponents of the “free market”, there is really no issue. The market, in their view, must never be second-guessed; ...1 week ago - Media Link: “A View from Afar” on NATO and BRICS Leader’s summits.Selwyn Manning and I discussed the upcoming NATO Leader’s summit (to which NZ Prime Minister Ardern is invited), the rival BRICS Leader’s summit and what they could mean for the Ruso-Ukrainian Wa and beyond. ...1 week ago
- From “Friend”, To “Threat” – In Just Five Years.New Zealand’s Most Profitable“Friend” Dangerous “Threat”: This country’s “Five Eyes” partners, heedless of the economic consequences for New Zealand, have cajoled and bullied its political class into becoming Sinophobes. They simply do not care that close to 40 percent of this country’s trade is with China. As far as Washington, London, ...1 week ago
- A Tale As Old As Time: Musings on the ‘Corporatisation’ of TolkienI have seen some natter around about how The Rings of Power represents the undue and unholy corporatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien. I won’t point out examples, but anyone who has seen YouTube commentary has a pretty good grasp of what I am talking about – the sentiment that ...1 week ago
- Uncomfortable Comparisons: If Labour’s Harking Back To 2017, Then It’s Not Looking For A Win.2017’s Queenmaker: Five years ago, Winston Peters’ choice ran counter to New Zealand’s informal, No. 8 wire, post-MMP constitution, which, up until 2017, had decreed that the party with the most votes got to supply the next prime minister. Had National not been in power for the previous 9 years, it ...1 week ago
- Treasury is ignoring long covidI've read some bad stuff about long covid recently, and Marc Daalder's recent Newsroom piece about what endemic covid means for Aotearoa got me wondering about whether the government was thinking about it. Mass-disability due to long covid has obvious implications for health and welfare spending, as well as for ...1 week ago
- A perfect exampleLast year, a stranded kiwi criticised the MIQ system. Covid Minister Chris Hipkins responded by doxxing and defaming her. Now, he's been forced to apologise for that: Minister Chris Hipkins has admitted he released incorrect and personal information about journalist Charlotte Bellis, after she criticised the managed isolation system. ...1 week ago
- Gil-galad is an Elven Chad: An Ode to the Leaks
Gil-galad is an Elven Chad Gil-galad is an Elven Chad But Celebrimbor makes them mad Digesting leaks from Amazon Of Isildur and Pharazôn. The hair is short? The knives are keen. The beardless face of Dwarven Queen? With meteor and man-not-named The fandom temper is inflamed. Of Annatar ...1 week ago - Dear striking British workers: F___ You! Love, the Labour Party
From the desk of Keir "Patriotic Duty" Starmer:“We have robust lines. We do not want to see these strikes to go ahead with the resulting disruption to the public. The government have failed to engage in any negotiations.“However, we also must show leadership and to that end, please be reminded ...1 week ago - Why the Ombudsman should not oversee Oranga TamarikiLast week the Social Services and Community Committee reported back on the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People's Commission Bill. The bill attracted an unprecedented three minority reports and universal opposition from other parties, but Labour is going to ram it through anyway. Among other things, ...1 week ago
- Gordon Campbell on the fate of Julian AssangeHas swapping Scott Morrison for Anthony Albanese made any discernible difference to Australia’s relations with the US, China, the Pacific and New Zealand ? Not so far. For example: Albanese has asked for more time to “consider” his response to New Zealand’s long running complaints about the so called “501” ...1 week ago
- What it would take for U.S. to meet its Paris commitmentThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The Biden administration in April 2021 dramatically ratcheted up the country’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions pledge under the Paris target, also known as its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Obama administration in 2014 had announced a commitment to cut U.S. emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels ...1 week ago
- One country at a timeSomething I missed: the Central African Republic has abolished the death penalty: The National Assembly of the Central African Republic (CAR) passed a law abolishing the death penalty in the CAR on May 27, 2022. Once CAR President Touadéra promulgates the bill, the CAR will become the 24th abolitionist ...2 weeks ago
- An admission of guiltStuff reports that the National Party opposes greater transparency for political donations because it might have a "chilling effect" on donors: National says officials have underestimated “the aversion of donors to being publicly identified”. The party says only a “small fraction” of donors who currently give between $1,500 and ...2 weeks ago
- Tauranga: A Predictable Result, With A Warning Attached.Walking On Sunshine: National’s Sam Uffindell cantered home in the Tauranga By-Election, but the Outdoors & Freedom Party’s Sue Grey attracted an ominous level of support.THE RIGHT’S gadfly commentator, Matthew Hooton, summed up the Tauranga by-election in his usual pithy fashion. “Tonight’s result is poor for the National Party, catastrophic for ...2 weeks ago
- Nurtured by and dedicated to te reo Māori
Te reo Māori is Dr. Anaha Hiini’s life purpose. Raised by his grandparents, Kepa and Maata Hiini, Anaha of Ngāti Tarāwhai, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue descent made a promise at the age of six to his late grandmother, Maata Hiini. “I’ve always had a passion for Māori culture. My first inspiration ...2 weeks ago - Striving for recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi motivates Dr Carwyn JonesDr Carwyn Jones’ vision is to see Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the law given equal mana. Carwyn who holds a PhD in law and society and currently teaches Ahunga Tikanga (Māori Laws and Philosophy) at Te Wānanga o Raukawa after 15 years at Victoria University of Wellington has devoted ...2 weeks ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Tale of two summits – why Jacinda Ardern said no to the Commonwealth, but yes to ...Jacinda Ardern’s decision to attend the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Spain – but to skip the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda – symbolises the changes she is making to New Zealand foreign policy. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) starts today in ...2 weeks ago
- 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 12, 2022 through Sat, June 18, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): White lies: Daily Telegraph’s excitement over bumper snow season skates ...2 weeks ago
- What is the Medium-Term Future for the New Zealand Economy?
The outlook does not look that promising. Forecasting an economy is a mug’s game. The database on which the forecasts are founded is incomplete, out-of-date, and subject to errors, some of which will be revised after the forecasts are published. (No wonder weather-forecasting is easier.) One often has to adopt ...2 weeks ago - Ram raids then and now
by Don Franks It seems that almost each day now another ram raid shatters someone’s shop front and loots the premises. Prestigious Queen street is not immune, while attacks on small dairies have long stopped being headline news. Those of us not directly affected are becoming numbed to this form ...2 weeks ago - Labour: $1 million a year is “too much” for transparencyBack in 2018 the government proposed an OIA review. After a ludicrious attempt to do it in secret, they finally held a public consultation, which made a clear case for reform. They then sat on it for a year, before announcing out of the blue that they planned to rewrite ...2 weeks ago
- Sciblogs gave scientists a platform before social media took overIt’s hard to believe that when we created Sciblogs in 2009, the iPhone was only two years old, being a ‘Youtuber’ wasn’t really a thing and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok didn’t exist. But Science blogging was a big thing, particularly in the United States, where a number of scientists had ...2 weeks ago
- Bidding farewell to SciblogsFor 13 years, Sciblogs has been a staple in New Zealand’s science-writing landscape. Our bloggers have written about a vast variety of topics from climate change to covid, and from nanotechnology to household gadgets. But sadly, it’s time to close shop. Sciblogs will be shutting down on 30 June. When ...2 weeks ago
- Jacinda Ardern’s Radical Reshuffle.Radical Options: By allocating the Broadcasting portfolio to the irrepressible, occasionally truculent, leader of Labour’s Māori caucus, Willie Jackson, the Prime Minister has, at the very least, confirmed that her appointment of Kiri Allan was no one-off. There are many words that could be used to describe Ardern’s placement of ...2 weeks ago
- Protecting Freedom/Preventing Harm. Can New Zealand’s New Chief Censor Do Both?2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on the Penny Wong visitGood grief. Has foreign policy commentary really devolved to the point where our diplomatic effort is being measured by how many overseas trips have been taken by our Foreign Minister? Weird, but apparently so. All this week, a series of media policy wonks have been invidiously comparing how many trips ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science tackles 'discourses of climate delay' and 'solutions denial'Where we've been Time flies. This coming summer will mark 15 years of Skeptical Science focusing its effort on "traditional" climate science denial. Leaving aside frivolities, we've devoted most of our effort to combatting "serious" denial falling into a handful of broad categories of fairly crisp misconceptions: "radiative physics is wrong," "geophysics is ...2 weeks ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24 2022Mercenary army of bogus skeptics on parade Because they're both squarely centered in the Skeptical Science wheelhouse, this week we're highlighting two articles from our government and NGO section, where we collect high-quality articles not originating in academic research but featuring many of the important attributes of journal publications. Our mission ...2 weeks ago
- Media Link: AVFA on Latin America.In the latest episode of AVFA Selwyn Manning and I discuss the evolution of Latin American politics and macroeconomic policy since the 1970s as well as US-Latin American relations during that time period. We use recent elections and the 2022 Summit of the Americas as anchor points. ...2 weeks ago
- Another referendum in Scotland?The Scottish government has announced plans for another independence referendum: Nicola Sturgeon plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence in October next year if her government secures the legal approval to stage it. Angus Robertson, the Scottish government’s constitution secretary, said that provided ample time to pass ...2 weeks ago
- Something is wrong in TaurangaOn Monday, Stuff reported that queer-supporting students at a Tauranga "Christian" school were subjected to chants of "kill the gays". This morning, a building hosting queer and trans groups was burned down in an apparent arson attack: A building used by Gender Dynamix – an organisation that aims to ...2 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on the price tag for closer US military tiesSo far, the closer military relationship envisaged by Jacinda Ardern and Joseph Biden at their recent White House meeting has been analysed mainly in terms of what this means for our supposedly “independent” foreign policy. Not much attention has been paid to what having more interoperable defence forces might mean ...2 weeks ago
- The most reliable hurricane models, based on their 2021 performanceThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters For those puzzling over the various hurricane computer forecast models to figure out which one to believe, the best answer is: Don’t believe any of them. Put your trust in the National Hurricane Center, or NHC, forecast. Although an individual ...2 weeks ago
- Proactive release: The documentsBack in April, Stuff was leaked a consultation copy of a cabinet paper on changes to proactive release policy. The full paper - The next steps in the public release of official information - was eventually released, but in the interim I filed an OIA request seeking information on the ...2 weeks ago
- Young people care about things that matterThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Scott Denning The excellent Julia Steinberger essay posted at this site in May provides a disturbing window into the psychology of teaching climate change to young people. It’s critically important to talk with youth about hard topics: love and sex, deadly contagion, school shootings, vicious ...2 weeks ago
- Applying genomics to the taxonomic dilemma of threatened albatrossesBy Imogen Foote (Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington) A lack of consensus among international conservation regimes regarding albatross taxonomy makes management of these ocean roaming birds tricky. My PhD research aims to generate whole genome data for some of our most threatened albatrosses in a first attempt ...2 weeks ago
- Misusing Tolkien and History: Loconte and Bellicosity
Joseph Loconte has clearly never met a War he didn’t like. A couple of years ago, he was using Tolkien to beat the drum at a time when war with Iran seemed imminent: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/dracones-et-bellum-tolkien-and-the-serpents-a-reply-to-joseph-loconte/ Now? He’s doing it again. This time, via wheeling out Tolkien analogies in the ...2 weeks ago - A durable U.S. climate strategy … or a house of cards?This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Richard Richels, Benjamin Santer, Henry Jacoby, and Gary Yohe Just when it seemed that real progress might be made on climate change, war has pushed climate concerns to the back burner. This shift in focus is understandable. War is affecting millions in ...3 weeks ago
- New look, but can Labour find a new focus?
Well, if that’s “minor” I’d be interested to see what a major reshuffle looks like.Jacinda Ardern has reminded New Zealand of the steel behind the spin in her cabinet refresh announced today. While the Prime Minister stressed that the changes were “triggered” by Kris Faafoi and Trevor Mallard and their ...3 weeks ago - The stench of corruptionA company gives a large amount of money to a political party because they are concerned about law changes which might affect their business model. And lo and behold, the changes are dumped, and a special exemption written into the law to protect them. Its the sort of thing we ...3 weeks ago
- Beating The Gangs.Active Shooters: With more than two dozen gang-related drive-by shootings dominating (entirely justifiably) the headlines of the past few weeks, there would be something amiss with our democracy if at least one major political party did not raise the issues of law and order in the most aggressive fashion. (Photo ...3 weeks ago
- The Recession New Zealand Has To Have?Going Down? Governments also suffer in recessions and depressions – just like their citizens. Slowing economic activity means fewer companies making profits, fewer people in paid employment, fewer dollars being spent, and much less revenue being collected. With its own “income” shrinking, the instinct of most government’s is to sharply ...3 weeks ago
- Gordon Campbell on the flaws in National’s pet solution to gangs and povertyIn the 50 years since Norm Kirk first promised to take the bikes off the bikies, our politicians have tried again and again to win votes by promising to crack down on gangs. Canterbury University academic Jarrod Gilbert (an expert on New Zealand’s gang culture) recently gave chapter and verse ...3 weeks ago
- Macho chest-beating won’t tame the gangs, but Poto Williams’ “softly, softly” approach just ...Misdirection: New Zealanders see burly gang members, decked out in their patches, sitting astride their deafening motorcycles, cruising six abreast down the motorway as frightened civilians scramble to get out of their way, and they think these guys are the problem. Fact is, these guys represent little more than the misdirection ...3 weeks ago
- A better health system for all
Our Government is committed to making sure that our health system works for all New Zealanders, no matter who you are or where you live. Transformation of our health system will take time, and the step we’re taking today – establishing Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority – ...3 hours ago - Māori voter choice a significant Green win
A strong Green Party voice in Parliament is helping deliver more choice and flexibility for Māori voters. ...22 hours ago - Moratorium on deep sea mining needed right nowThe Green Party is calling on the Government to announce its support urgently for a moratorium on deep sea mining under the high seas, after Pacific nations joined forces this week to demand change. ...22 hours ago
- How we’re delivering a better future for women and girlsWe’re committed to ensuring that there is every opportunity for women and girls to succeed in Aotearoa New Zealand, with fewer barriers. Since coming into Government, we’ve worked hard to support women and girls, by improving services like healthcare and tackling issues like the gender pay gap. Here are just ...23 hours ago
- Green Party secures free masks in schoolsPolitical pressure from the Green Party has pushed the Government to supply free masks to kids and teachers in schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. ...24 hours ago
- Alcohol harm minimisation bill pulled from biscuit tinAfter years of research and advocacy, Parliament will finally consider legislation to take meaningful action on alcohol harm, says the Greens. ...1 day ago
- Joint Statement: NZ and EU free trade agreement opportunity to support climate friendly and equitabl...The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and the European Greens have published a joint statement calling for the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement to support climate action, phase out fossil fuel subsidies, cut agriculture emissions, protect human rights, and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...1 day ago
- Get moving with Wellington light rail nowThe Green Party is calling on the Government to guarantee that it will complete light rail and improve walking, cycling, and bus journeys across Wellington before digging new high-carbon tunnels. ...2 days ago
- NZ not making waves at oceans conferenceThe Green Party is urging Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker to commit to stronger ocean protection around Aotearoa and on the high seas while at the United Nations Oceans Conference in Portugal this week. ...3 days ago
- Democracy reforms are a Green win but we still need to cap donationsA strong Green voice in Parliament has helped reduce the influence large secret money will have in future elections and finally ensured overseas New Zealanders will retain the right to vote even while stranded by the Pandemic. But, the Government needs to go further to ensure our democracy works for ...4 days ago
- Bin the Misuse of Drugs Act, most New Zealanders agreeA new poll shows that the majority of people back the Greens’ call on the Government to overhaul the country’s criminally punitive, anti-evidence drug law. ...5 days ago
- US abortion decision reinforces need to protect rights in AotearoaThe US Supreme Court’s decision on abortion is a reminder that we must take nothing for granted in Aotearoa, the Green Party says. “Aotearoa should be a place where everyone, no matter where they are from, or who they love, can choose what is right for their body and their ...6 days ago
- Migrant healthcare workers need fair pay as well as residencyMigrant nurses, aged-care and support workers need fair pay as well as equitable pathways to residency, not half-baked measures from National. ...1 week ago
- Support workers deserve better payCare and support workers deserve much better than the pay rates Labour is pushing through Parliament today. ...1 week ago
- Pay equity for kaiārahi i te reo celebratedRecognising te reo and tikanga Māori in schools starts with pay equity, says the Green Party. ...1 week ago
- Nurses could face pay cut under NationalA National Government would leave nurses behind, the Green Party says. ...1 week ago
- Celebrating our first Matariki public holidayWe’re proud to have delivered on our election commitment to establish a public holiday to celebrate Matariki. For the first time this year, New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own. ...1 week ago
- Stronger action needed to stop illegal loggingProposed new legislation to reduce the risk that timber imported into Aotearoa New Zealand is sourced from illegal logging is a positive first step but it should go further, the Green Party says. ...1 week ago
- Oranga Tamariki oversight bill must be withdrawnThe Government must withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation in the face of overwhelming opposition, the Green Party says. ...1 week ago
- Greens call on new Minister to make up for the refugee support not provided during pandemicOn World Refugee Day, the Green Party is calling on the new Minister for Immigration, Michael Wood to make up for the support that was not provided to people forced to leave their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must expand meth rehabilitation programme nationwide...2 weeks ago
- Major milestone in our school upgrade programmeThis week, we’ve marked a major milestone in our school upgrade programme. We've supported 4,500 projects across the country for schools to upgrade classrooms, sports facilities, playgrounds and more, so Kiwi kids have the best possible environments to learn in. ...2 weeks ago
- How much do you know about Matariki?We’ve delivered on our election commitment to make Matariki a public holiday. For the first time this year, all New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own with family and friends. Try our quiz below, then challenge your whānau! To celebrate, we’ve ...2 weeks ago
- Testing removal means domestic protections neededThe Green Party says the removal of pre-departure testing for arrivals into New Zealand means the Government must step up domestic measures to protect communities most at risk. ...2 weeks ago
- RSE overhaul needed to centre workers’ rightsThe long overdue resumption of the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota must be followed by an overhaul of the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme, says the Green Party. ...2 weeks ago
- Lessons must be learned from Delta responseLessons must be learned from the Government's response to the Delta outbreak, which the Ministry of Health confirmed today left Māori, Pacific, and disabled communities at greater risk. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must listen to child sector experts on Oranga Tamariki oversightThe Green Party is calling on the Government to withdraw the proposed Oranga Tamariki oversight legislation which strips away independence and fails to put children at the heart. ...2 weeks ago
- Petition calls on Auckland Mayor to pedestrianise Queen StreetGreen MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick, in partnership with the City Centre Residents’ Group, has today launched a petition calling on the Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff to pedestrianise Queen Street. ...2 weeks ago
- Hong Kong National Security Law
Aotearoa New Zealand has reiterated its concerns over the continued erosion of rights, freedom and autonomy in Hong Kong. On the second anniversary of the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says developments in Hong Kong remain a cause for worry. “Two years ...2 hours ago - Europol Agreement will assist New Zealand law enforcement in tackling serious crimeThe Europol Agreement signed is a significant milestone for New Zealand and the European Union’s relationship, and reflects our shared principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today. The Prime Minister attended a signature ceremony in Brussels, as part of ...2 hours ago
- New era for better health in Aotearoa New Zealand· New nationwide public health system · 20 district health boards disestablished and deficits wiped · 82,000 health employees directly employed by Health New Zealand · $24 billion health budget this year – up 43% since Labour took office in 2017 – in addition to separate funding for the new ...3 hours ago
- New chairs appointed to the Teaching Council and Te KuraEducation Minister Chris Hipkins has announced appointments to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Board of Trustees of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura). “Robyn Baker ONZM has been appointed as the chair of the Teaching Council. She has considerable governance experience and is a ...4 hours ago
- Joint media release on the occasion of the meeting between European Commission President von der Ley...European Commission President von der Leyen and Prime Minister of New Zealand Ardern met in Brussels on 30 June 2022. The encounter provided an opportunity to reaffirm that the European Union and Aotearoa New Zealand are longstanding partners with shared democratic values and interests, aligned positions on key international and ...12 hours ago
- New Zealand secures major free trade deal with European UnionExport revenue to the EU to grow by up to $1.8 billion annually on full implementation. Duty-free access on 97% of New Zealand’s current exports to the EU; with over 91% being removed the day the FTA comes into force. NZ exporters set to save approx. $110 million per annum ...13 hours ago
- Biggest Year for Clean Cars on Record57,000 EVs and Hybrid registered in first year of clean car scheme, 56% increase on previous year EVs and Non Plug-in Hybrids made up 20% of new passenger car sales in March/April 2022 The Government’s Clean Car Discount Scheme has been a success, with more than 57,000 light-electric and ...23 hours ago
- Police Wing 355 includes the highest ever proportion of Wāhine MāoriPolice Minister Chris Hipkins congratulates the newest Police wing – wing 355 – which graduated today in Porirua. “These 70 new constables heading for the frontline bring the total number of new officers since Labour took office to 3,303 and is the latest mark of our commitment to the Police ...23 hours ago
- New RBNZ board takes up role from 1 JulyMembers with a range of governance, financial and technical skills have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Board as part of the shift to strengthen the Bank’s decision-making and accountability arrangements. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021 comes into force on 1 July 2022, with the establishment of ...24 hours ago
- New measures to help manage COVID-19 as country stays at OrangeNew Zealand to remain at Orange as case numbers start to creep up 50 child-size masks made available to every year 4-7 student in New Zealand 20,000-30,000 masks provided a week to all other students and school staff Extra funding to schools and early childhood services to supports better ...1 day ago
- NZ to join International Court of Justice case against RussiaAotearoa New Zealand will join Ukraine’s case against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which challenges Russia’s spurious attempt to justify its invasion under international law. Ukraine filed a case at the ICJ in February arguing Russia has falsely claimed genocide had occurred in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as ...1 day ago
- New advisory group provides enduring Māori expertise for Te Aorerekura deliveryThe Government has taken another step forward in its work to eliminate family violence and sexual violence with the announcement today of a new Tangata Whenua Ministerial Advisory Group. A team of 11 experts in whānau Māori wellbeing will provide the Government independent advice on shaping family violence and sexual ...1 day ago
- Making work better for Kiwi womenTe Mahere Whai Mahi Wāhine: Women’s Employment Action Plan was launched today by Minister for Women Jan Tinetti – with the goal of ensuring New Zealand is a great place for women to work. “This Government is committed to improving women’s working lives. The current reality is that women have ...1 day ago
- Good Employer Awards celebrate food and fibre sectorThe food and fibre sector acknowledged its people and leadership at last night’s 2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, a time to celebrate their passion towards supporting employees by putting their health, welfare and wellbeing first,” Acting Minister of Agriculture Meka Whairiti said. “Award winners were selected from an extraordinary ...1 day ago
- PM's comments to NATO sessionKia ora koutou katoa. It is a rare thing to have New Zealand represented at a NATO Summit. While we have worked together in theatres such as Afghanistan, and have been partners for just on a decade, today represents an important moment for our Pacific nation. New Zealand is ...1 day ago
- Veterans Minister announces new focus on mental health for veterans and their whānauTe Arataki mō te Hauora Ngākau mō ngā Mōrehu a Tū me ō rātou Whānau, The Veteran, Family and Whānau Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy Framework “We ask a lot of those who serve in the military – and we ask a lot of the families and whānau who support ...2 days ago
- Minister to advocate for Small Island StatesAssociate Minister of Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio has been appointed by the United Nations and Commonwealth as Aotearoa New Zealand’s advocacy champion for Small Island States. “Aotearoa New Zealand as a Pacific country is particularly focused on the interests of Pacific Small Island Developing States in our region. “This is a ...2 days ago
- Increased support for households to pay local council ratesAn estimated 100,000 low income households will be eligible for increased support to pay their council rates, with changes to the rates rebate scheme taking effect from 1 July. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced increases to both the maximum value of the rates rebate, and the income threshold ...2 days ago
- He Oranga Poutama expanded into four new regionsA long-standing physical activity programme that focuses on outcomes for Maori has been expanded to four new regions with Government investment almost doubled to increase its reach. He Oranga Poutama is managed by a combination of hapū, iwi, hauora and regional providers. An increase in funding from $1.8 million ...2 days ago
- Wellington’s rapid transit option progresses to next stageThe Government is progressing a preferred option for LGWM which will see Wellington’s transport links strengthened with light rail from Wellington Station to Island Bay, a new tunnel through Mt Victoria for public transport, and walking and cycling, and upgrades to improve traffic flow at the Basin Reserve. “Where previous ...2 days ago
- Keynote remarks: Tech 4 Democracy Summit, MadridTo Provost Muniz, to the Organisers at the Instituto de Empresa buenas tardes and as we would say in New Zealand, kia ora kotou katoa. To colleagues from the State Department, from Academia, and Civil Society Groups, to all our distinguished guests - kia ora tatou katoa. It’s a pleasure ...2 days ago
- On June 28, 2022, a meeting took place in Madrid between the President of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who was visiting Spain to participate in the Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as one ...3 days ago
- More young Kiwis able to travel and work in SpainA six-fold increase in the Aotearoa New Zealand-Spain working holiday scheme gives a huge boost to the number of young people who can live and work in each other’s countries, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Jacinda Ardern and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón made the Working Holiday/Youth Mobility Scheme announcement ...3 days ago
- Supporting local government candidatesA significant barrier has been removed for people who want to stand in local government elections, with a change to the requirement to publish personal details in election advertising. The Associate Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty has taken the Local Electoral (Advertising) Amendment Bill through its final stages in Parliament ...3 days ago
- Govt passes law to protect consumers in banking and insurance sectorNew financial conduct scheme will ensure customers are treated fairly Banks, insurers and non-bank deposit takers to be licensed by the FMA in relation to their general conduct Sales incentives based on volume or value targets like bonuses for selling a certain number of financial products banned The Government ...3 days ago
- New law paves way for greater supermarket competitionLegislation that bans major supermarkets from blocking their competitors’ access to land to set up new stores paves the way for greater competition in the sector, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Dr David Clark said. The new law is the first in a suite of measures the Government is ...3 days ago
- Vaccine mandate for border and corrections workers to endThe Government has announced an end to the requirement for border workers and corrections staff to be fully vaccinated. This will come into place from 2 July 2022. 100 per cent of corrections staff in prisons, and as of 23 June 2022 97 per cent of active border workers were ...3 days ago
- New Zealand's Commonwealth relationships strengthened at CHOGMForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has concluded a visit to Rwanda reaffirming Aotearoa New Zealand’s engagement in the Commonwealth and meeting with key counterparts. “I would like to thank President Kagame and the people of Rwanda for their manaakitanga and expert hosting of this important meeting,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “CHOGM ...3 days ago
- Emergency monitoring centre opened to keep New Zealand saferMinister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty officially launched the new Monitoring, Alerting and Reporting (MAR) Centre at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) today. The Government has stood up the centre in response to recommendations from the 2018 Ministerial Review following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and 2017 Port Hills fire, ...3 days ago
- Waikato Expressway speed limit to change to 110km/hTransport Minister Michael Wood has welcomed the announcement that a 110km/hr speed limit has been set for the SH1 Waikato Expressway, between Hampton Downs and Tamahere. “The Waikato Expressway is a key transport route for the Waikato region, connecting Auckland to the agricultural and business centres of the central North ...3 days ago
- Government listening to sector on NCEAFollowing feedback from the sector, Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti, today confirmed that new literacy and numeracy | te reo matatini me te pāngarau standards will be aligned with wider NCEA changes. “The education sector has asked for more time to put the literacy and numeracy | te reo ...3 days ago
- Further Aotearoa New Zealand support for Ukraine$4.5 million to provide Ukraine with additional non-lethal equipment and supplies such as medical kit for the Ukrainian Army Deployments extended for New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) intelligence, logistics and liaison officers in the UK, Germany, and Belgium Secondment of a senior New Zealand military officer to support International ...4 days ago
- Electoral changes will bring greater transparency for votersChanges to electoral law announced by Justice Minister Kiri Allan today aim to support participation in parliamentary elections, and improve public trust and confidence in New Zealand’s electoral system. The changes are targeted at increasing transparency around political donations and loans and include requiring the disclosure of: donor identities for ...4 days ago
- Government invests to minimise gambling harmThe Labour government has announced a significant investment to prevent and minimise harm caused by gambling. “Gambling harm is a serious public health issue and can have a devastating effect on the wellbeing of individuals, whānau and communities. One in five New Zealanders will experience gambling harm in their lives, ...4 days ago
- More free flu vaccines and a second COVID-19 booster to groups at risk of hospitalisationThe Government has widened access to free flu vaccines with an extra 800,000 New Zealanders eligible from this Friday, July 1 Children aged 3-12 years and people with serious mental health or addiction needs now eligible for free flu dose. From tomorrow (Tuesday), second COVID-19 booster available six months ...4 days ago
- Government backs action to drive strong wool growthThe Government is investing to create new product categories and new international markets for our strong wool and is calling on Kiwi businesses and consumers to get behind the environmentally friendly fibre, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said today. Wool Impact is a collaboration between the Government and sheep sector partners ...5 days ago
- Veterans Minister pays tribute to service and sacrifice at Korean War commemorationAt today’s commemoration of the start of the Korean War, Veterans Minister Meka Whaitiri has paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of our New Zealand veterans, their families and both nations. “It’s an honour to be with our Korean War veterans at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to commemorate ...6 days ago
- Matariki projects star in latest round of Tourism Infrastructure FundMinister of Tourism Stuart Nash and Associate Minister of Tourism Peeni Henare announced the sixth round of recipients of the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF), which supports local government to address tourism infrastructure needs. This TIF round will invest $15 million into projects around the country. For the first time, ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister’s Matariki speech 2022Matariki tohu mate, rātou ki a rātou Matariki tohu ora, tātou ki a tātou Tīhei Matariki Matariki – remembering those who have passed Matariki – celebrating the present and future Salutations to Matariki I want to begin by thanking everyone who is here today, and in particular the Matariki ...1 week ago
- First Matariki holiday marked across New Zealand and the worldOho mai ana te motu i te rangi nei ki te hararei tūmatanui motuhake tuatahi o Aotearoa, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki, me te hono atu a te Pirīmia a Jacinda Ardern ki ngā mahi whakanui a te motu i tētahi huihuinga mō te Hautapu i te ata nei. ...1 week ago
- Unions Lodge Pay Equity Claim For Care And Support Workers
Unions representing care and support workers are lodging a pay equity claim today to raise pay rates for a majority female workforce that has always been undervalued. The pay equity claim is a crucial step in stemming the crisis the care and support ...1 hour ago - Hip flexors get weak when we sit too much – but simple stretches and strengthening exercises can l...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lavender, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia Shutterstock I am sure you’ve been told you should stand up and move away from your work stations or use a standing desk where possible. One of the ...2 hours ago - NZCTU Welcomes Labour Protection Advances Through The NZ/EU FTAThe New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has today welcomed the Free Trade Agreement established between New Zealand and the European Union says President Richard Wagstaff. "The Agreement includes a number of welcome steps to make trade more ...2 hours ago
- IHC: Flawed System Funding Community Programmes For Disabled Adults Must GoNew Zealand is once again calling on the Government to overhaul an outdated system that determines what community programmes disabled adults have access to based on flawed assessments they were given as children. A case note published this week from ...3 hours ago
- Meat and dairy industries very disappointed with New Zealand European Union trade deal
The meat and dairy industries are very disappointed with the outcome of the free trade deal struck between New Zealand and the European Union saying it falls far below their expectations. ...3 hours ago - National gives EU free trade agreement a six out of 10The Prime Minister will need to explain to farmers why there were not more gains in meat and dairy in the trade agreement with the EU, the opposition says. ...4 hours ago
- New Zealand’s Silence On Deep Sea Mining Risks Deep Wounds To Pacific RelationsIn a dramatic shift at the United Nations oceans conference in Lisbon this week, a series of Pacific Governments have formed an alliance to oppose deep sea mining in international waters but Greenpeace says the continued silence from the New Zealand ...4 hours ago
- Need To Do More To Reduce Plastic Pollution In WaterNew Zealanders are amongst the highest generators of plastic waste in the world and on top of this there is now concern about the level of microplastics in our water. As Plastic-free July gets underway, Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe ...4 hours ago
- Government: Cut The Spin And Give A Truthful Assessment Of The EU Deal“When will governments and trade negotiators realise they have more credibility if they tell the truth about free trade agreements (FTA) like the new deal with the European Union (EU), instead of their fancifully positive spin?”, asks Jane Kelsey, ...4 hours ago
- Leading Expert Makes Urgent Call For Change Following Malachi Subecz Child Abuse SentencingNational child abuse advocacy group - Child Matters - says yesterday’s revelation that authorities were never alerted to the extent of Malachi Subecz’s horrific injuries is a stark reminder that government legislation must change – and now. ...4 hours ago
- Ministry of Disabled People, Whaikaha, launchesThe new Ministry of Disabled People, Whaikaha, will be led by a non-disabled person - for now - after complications with recruitment. ...4 hours ago
- Is Australia in the firing line of a new Chinese campaign against the US?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh White, Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Testing Washington: Chinese President Xi Jinping. Li Gang/Xinhua via AP How can Australia navigate the tough and dangerous strategic environment in Asia today with ...6 hours ago
- New ad urges us to ‘take on winter’ by getting COVID and flu vaccines. But it misses some key th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Kaufman, Research Fellow, Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Engin Akyurt/Unsplash The federal government has released a new A$11 million ad campaign urging Australians to “take on winter” by getting COVID boosters and influenza vaccines, as well as ...6 hours ago
- We blew the whistle on Australia’s central climate policy. Here’s what a new federal government ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Macintosh, Professor and Director of Research, ANU Law School, Australian National University Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen is today expected to announce a much anticipated review of Australia’s carbon credit scheme, known as the Emissions Reduction Fund. In March, we exposed ...6 hours ago
- Could more online learning help fix Australia’s teacher shortage?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ken Purnell, Professor of Education, CQUniversity Australia On Thursday, thousands of teachers went on strike in New South Wales, over pay and “unsustainable” workloads. This comes amid increasing concerns about teacher shortages around Australia. The federal government has suggested enticing ...6 hours ago
- Pornography, the devil and baboons in fancy dress: what went on at the infamous historical Hellfire ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Esmé Louise James, Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Melbourne Netflix After a month of waiting, the season finale of Stranger Things season 4 has almost arrived on Netflix. This season, along with the nightmarish arch-villain Vecna, we have been ...6 hours ago
- New Zealand and European Union secure historic free trade dealMore than 91 percent of tariffs will be removed the day the deal comes into effect, while the value of NZ exports to the EU are estimated to increase by $1.8b a year by 2035. ...9 hours ago
- NZ designates American Proud Boys and The Base terrorist groupsRNZ News New Zealand has designated US groups the Proud Boys and The Base as terrorist entities. Set down in the government’s official journal of record — the Gazette — last Monday, 20 June, it was published publicly a week later but with no wider dissemination. The move — authorised ...14 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Election delivered bonanza of crossbenchers but what impact will they make?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra David Pocock, the progressive independent who broke the Liberals’ stranglehold on one of the two ACT Senate seats, wouldn’t have expected to find himself allied with Pauline Hanson before even being sworn in. But, ...15 hours ago
- Civil group appeals to Jokowi to cancel Papuan expansion plan to ‘halt conflict’Tabloid Jubi The Civil Organisations Solidarity for Papua Land has condemned Indonesia’s Papua expansion plan of forming three new provinces risks causing new social conflicts. And the group has urged President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to cancel the plan, according to a statement reports Jubi. The group — comprising the Papua ...16 hours ago
- Fiji, Palau and Samoa call for deep-sea mining moratorium at UN conferenceRNZ Pacific Palau, Fiji, and Samoa have announced their opposition to deep-sea mining, calling for a moratorium on the emerging industry amid growing fears it will destroy the seafloor and damage biodiversity. The alliance was announced just as a United Nations Oceans Conference began in Portugal this week. The moratorium ...16 hours ago
- Parliament adopts commissioner role to act as independent watchdogParliament will soon have an independent watchdog to investigate politicians' behaviour and improve the workplace culture. ...17 hours ago
- Ardern speaks to Zelensky, reiterates support and continued sanctionsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has just spoken to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone, expressing solidarity and support for his country. ...18 hours ago
- After Roe v Wade, here’s how women could adopt ‘spycraft’ to avoid tracking and prosecutionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dennis B Desmond, Lecturer, Cyberintelligence and Cybercrime Investigations, University of the Sunshine Coast Sashenka Gutierrez/EPA The art of concealing or misrepresenting one’s identity in the physical world has long been practised by spies engaged in espionage. In response, intelligence agencies ...19 hours ago
- Sky-high mortgages, 7.1% inflation, and a 20% chance of recession. How the Conversation’s panel se...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND Homeowners will face mortgage rates near 5.5% in a little over a year, according to a survey of 22 leading Australian economists. The ...19 hours ago
- Abortion regulation – in New Zealand and the USA – belongs in their democratically elected legis...
Guest column by Nicholas Kerr Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s comments about the US Supreme Court’s recent ruling on abortion inadvertently help explain why the court was right to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the issue to the states. She noted that New Zealand ...20 hours ago - JobSeeker eligibility changes: what you must do under the new ‘points-based activation’ systemSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mona Nikidehaghani, Lecturer in Accounting, University of Wollongong From Monday July 4 2022, Australian job seekers face a new social security system to police eligibility for support payments. It replaces the “Jobactive” system that required the “mutual obligation” of applying for ...20 hours ago
- Ban the bottle: 100,000 people sign petitionEnvironmental activists have presented a petition to ban single-use plastic bottles to Parliament today, with the backing of 100,000 signatures. ...20 hours ago
- ‘Draconian and undemocratic’: why criminalising climate protesters in Australia doesn’t actual...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn Gulliver, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Queensland A man who drove through a climate protest blocking the Harbour Tunnel this week has copped a A$469 fine, while multiple members of the activist group were arrested. The protest was among a ...21 hours ago
- Corrections Union Warned Chief Exec/minister Of More Assaults“Less than a month ago Floyd Du Plessis, the President of the Corrections Association (CANZ), wrote a letter to the Chief Executive warning of more assaults against prison officers if things didn’t change,” says Darroch Ball Leader of Sensible Sentencing ...23 hours ago
- It’s 2022. Why do we still not have waterproof phones?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ritesh Chugh, Associate Professor – Information and Communications Technology, CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock While manufacturers have successfully increased the water-repelling nature of smartphones, they are still far from “waterproof”. A water-resistant product can usually resist water penetration to some extent, but ...23 hours ago
- Luxon’s dilemma: when politics and morals don’t match in response to the overturning of Roe v Wa...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suze Wilson, Senior Lecturer, School of Management, Massey University Phil Walter/Getty Images The US Supreme Court’s recent ruling to throw out Roe v Wade is an issue of relevance to political leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand. The decision was ...23 hours ago
- New Zealand to back Ukraine at International Court of JusticeNew Zealand will present its legal view on Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations' international court, contesting the Kremlin's claim of genocide. ...23 hours ago
- Ministry For Disabled People Establishment Governance Group Pleased With Preferred Permanent Chief E...“The Public Service Commission have run a robust recruitment process for the permanent role of Chief Executive, Ministry for Disabled People. ...24 hours ago
- Bold ambitions – Govt aspires to rid us of bashers and the Security Council veto while building a...
Buzz from the Beehive The Government has declared or reiterated three bold ambitions, one of them (the elimination of family violence) probably unachievable. Whether progress is being made towards the ... 24 hours ago - Why are parents told to put their baby to bed ‘drowsy but awake’? Does it work?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Price, Team Leader / Senior Research Officer, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Shutterstock Most new parents and caregivers will know the phrase “put your baby down when drowsy but awake”. But some parents may find this just doesn’t work for ...24 hours ago
- Struggling to learn a language? 6 tips on how pop songs can helpSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Stavrou, English Language Instructor, University of Cyprus, and PhD Graduate, Charles Sturt University Traditional approaches to adult language teaching often use resources such as textbooks and generic learning materials that are less than inspiring for learners. New research shows ...24 hours ago
- One Hundred Thousand People Call For A Ban On Single-use Plastic BottlesAccompanied by a giant albatross sculpture made of reclaimed plastic bottles, Greenpeace has delivered a 100,000-strong petition to parliament calling on the Government to ban single-use plastic bottles and incentivise reusable and refillable alternatives. ...24 hours ago
- Covid-19: NZ to stay in orange traffic light settingCovid-19 Response Minister Ayesha Verrall says the country needs to remain at the orange traffic light setting as case numbers are starting to "creep up". ...24 hours ago
- Auditor-General's Annual Plan 2022/23Our Annual plan 2022/23 was presented to the House of Representatives today. This annual plan is a key accountability document for our Office. It describes the discretionary work we consider will help us to achieve our ultimate outcome – that Parliament ...24 hours ago
- Acting Chief Executive Ministry For Disabled People Appointed...1 day ago
- Covid-19: New Zealand to stay in orange traffic light settingHealth Minister Ayesha Verrall says the country needs to remain at this setting as Covid-19 case numbers are starting to "creep up". ...1 day ago
- The Hannah Clarke inquest reveals, yet again, significant system failures. Here’s what’s urgentl...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre; Associate Professor of Criminology, Faculty of Arts, Monash University AAP Image/Supplied by Department of Justice In 2020 the killing of Hannah Clarke and her three children – Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, ...1 day ago
- Australia’s temporary visa system is unfair, expensive, impractical and inconsistent. Here’s how...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University The election of the Albanese Labor government brings an opportunity to end one of the most detrimental elements of Australian refugee law and policy in the past decade: the use of temporary ...1 day ago
- NZCTU Welcomes Plan To Make Work Better For Kiwi WomenThe New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has welcomed the launch of the Te Mahere Whai Mahi Wāhine: Women's Employment Action Plan today. For too long, women have been disadvantaged in the world of work. While many improvements have been made over ...1 day ago
- Deputy PM Grant Robertson tests positive for Covid-19Grant Roberston said he had "fairly mild" symptoms and would remain acting prime minister, with Jacinda Ardern in Europe. ...1 day ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 27 June 2022The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...1 day ago
- Climate Leaders Coalition New Statement Of AmbitionStatement from Auckland Transport Interim Chief Executive Mark Lambert: Auckland Transport is proud to support the New Statement of Ambition being launched tonight by the Climate Leaders Coalition. We’re delighted that AT’s work to achieve the ...1 day ago
- New Zealand designates American Proud Boys and The Base terrorist organisationsNew Zealand has designated US groups the Proud Boys and The Base as terrorist entities. ...1 day ago
- Coalition Calls For Dairy Cattle Code Of Welfare Review To End Intensive Winter GrazingGreenpeace Aotearoa, SAFE, Animals Aotearoa, SPCA, and the New Zealand Animal Law Association have joined forces to call for an end to intensive winter grazing through the Government’s Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare review. The coalition says that as ...1 day ago
- Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Swift, Educational Experiences team lead (Senior Lecturer), ANU School of Cybernetics, Australian National University Shutterstock I love writing code to make things: apps, websites, charts, even music. It’s a skill I’ve worked hard at for more than 20 years. ...1 day ago
- When driving near a cycle lane, do you speed up or slow down? Where you’re from may influence your...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miguel Loyola, PhD Candidate on the Implementation of Sustainable Policies, ITLS, University of Sydney Shutterstock There are clear economic, environmental, safety and health benefits to getting people cycling more, but research shows would-be cyclists are reluctant to start without good ...1 day ago
- Triple vaccination seems to reduce the chance of long COVID – but we still need to prepare for a ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Baillie, Professor of Allied Health, University of Sydney Shutterstock COVID might be the largest mass casualty event in Australian history. And with one in 20 people with COVID still experiencing symptoms three months later, long COVID might even become Australia’s ...1 day ago
- Hear me out – we could use the varroa mite to wipe out feral honey bees, and help Australia’s en...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick O’Connor, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide A tiny parasitic mite that lives on the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) has breached Australia’s border quarantine and been detected in managed bee hives in New South Wales. This is bad news for Australia’s ...1 day ago
- Australia can help ensure the biggest mine in PNG’s history won’t leave a toxic legacySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Main, Visiting Scholar, Australian National University Shutterstock The COVID pandemic slowed mining activity across the Pacific. But as economic activity returns, an Australia-based company is poised to pursue what would be the largest mine in Papua New Guinea’s history. ...1 day ago
- Schools will now be required to support well-being, but the standards aren’t clear on what that me...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachele Sloane, Graduate Researcher and Tutor – Master of Education, Student Wellbeing Specialisation (MGSE), The University of Melbourne Shutterstock New Child Safe Standards come into effect in Victoria this Friday, July 1. The set of 11 standards builds on the ...1 day ago
- Mulled wine: how ‘Christmas in a cup’ went from ancient medicine to an Aussie winter warmerSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Morag Kobez, Associate lecturer, Queensland University of Technology shutterstock When the temperature drops in the southern hemisphere, you might like to stave off the chill with a big steaming pot of mulled wine, and fill your home with the comforting aroma ...1 day ago
- Jacinda Ardern tells NATO leaders Ukraine war must not fuel arms raceRussia's actions in Ukraine are an affront to the world but mustn't be allowed to create a more polarised, dangerous world, the prime minister says. ...1 day ago
- Ardern tells NATO leaders Ukraine war must not fuel arms raceRussia's actions in Ukraine are an affront to the world but mustn't be allowed to create a more polarised, dangerous world, the prime minister says. ...1 day ago
- Stand with Rappler, defend press freedom in PhilippinesEDITORIAL: By the Rappler team We will continue bringing you the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged. We will hold the line. Dear readers and viewers, We thought this day would never come, even as ...1 day ago
- Gavin Ellis: Heavy work ahead on Aotearoa NZ’s Public Media BillANALYSIS: By Gavin Ellis The Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media Bill — introduced to Parliament this week — will have a long journey before it is fit for purpose. The Bill gives effect to the government’s plan to replace TVNZ and RNZ with a new entity designed for the digital ...1 day ago
- What’s driving Uber’s historic agreement with the TWU on gig workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caleb Goods, Senior Lecturer – Management and Organisations, UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia Uber Australia has struck a historic agreement with the Transport Workers’ Union – a statement of principles that re-regulate work in the Australian rideshare and food ...2 days ago
- Local Government Elected Members Show Their Support For A Voting Age Of 16Today the signatures of 72 Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Councillors, Local board members, and the LGNZ Young Elected Members Committee will be handed to the Government in support of making the voting age 16 via an open letter organised by Make It 16. “Young ...2 days ago
- How can we reverse the vaping crisis among young Australians? Enforce the rulesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Grogan, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney E-cigarettes and vape products are illegally imported into Australia. Some claim not to contain nicotine, but do. Simon Collins/Shutterstock ABC TV’s Four Corners this week reported how unlawful sale of e-cigarettes ...2 days ago
- Enabling Good Lives disability support rollout costs unclear – ministerHowever, more work is needed to understand the cost of rolling out a new approach to disability support, Minister for Disability Issues Poto Williams says. ...2 days ago
- Call For Urgent Action As New Data Confirm High Rates Of Violence Against Disabled People...2 days ago
- Hospitality NZ Calls On Parliament To Send Easter Trading Bill To Select CommitteeHospitality New Zealand is calling for MPs across Parliament to send ACT MP Chris Baillie’s Member’s Bill on repealing Easter trading restrictions to a select committee so hospitality businesses can have their say on whether to stay open or ...2 days ago
- Govt warned of DHB staffing crisis over a year ago, letter revealsA letter signed by all 20 DHBs shows the government was warned of an impending staffing crisis almost a year ago. ...2 days ago
- A Different Kind Of Ministry Launching On 1 JulyOn 1 July an exciting new Ministry for Disabled People – will come into being to lead much-needed change. There is nothing that people will need to do on day one to continue receiving disability support services. “Many disabled people and whānau ...2 days ago
- Word from The Hill: Parliamentary ‘newbies’ inspect their workplace, with some complaintsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. Michelle and Peter Browne from ...2 days ago
- 1970s-style stagflation now playing on central bankers’ mindsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Shutterstock “Stagflation” is an ugly word for an ugly situation – the unpleasant combination of economic stagnation and inflation. The last time the world experienced ...2 days ago
- Transport plan (with an affordability proviso) is announced for the capital – but don’t look too...
The Ardern government has done it again, announcing a grandiose plan to reform Wellington’s transport system. The plan includes a long-overdue duplicate Mt Victoria tunnel, a rearrangement of the road around the Basin Reserve and a light rail operation from the city centre to the south coast, all in the ...2 days ago - PM condemns disinformation and upholds democracy in speech in Madrid – now let’s see what happen...Buzz from the Beehive Legislation to tighten things, legislation to relax things and a speech which reminds us of threats to our democracy – from the PM, we are delighted to note – feature in the latest posts on the Beehive website. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark has ...2 days ago
- EEO Commissioner Disappointed With Delay In Urgent Pay Transparency LegislationThe Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner has expressed disappointment over the delay in undertaking urgent action to address ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps across workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Government has committed to scoping ...2 days ago
- OP-ED: Reimagining ageing: Older persons as agents of developmentOP-ED by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). ...2 days ago
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