Search Results
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Comment:Open mike 09/06/2021
Date published: 6:18 pm, June 9th, 2021" The money you are trying to raise to pay for the nurses would have to come from …the nurses. " Yeah right. There are about 60,000 nurses working in NZ. Average pay is very roughly $70k. a 10% pay rise (compared to the 1.38% on offer) would cost roughly $...
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Comment:Open mike 09/06/2021
Date published: 11:43 am, June 9th, 2021Not a surprise, but leaked info from the US IRS confirms billionaires pay very low tax rates compared to ordinary people https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax ...
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Comment:Chris Bishop is tilting at Covid windmills
Date published: 6:53 pm, May 28th, 2021Ahh. Got it.
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Comment:Open mike 27/05/2021
Date published: 7:49 am, May 27th, 2021This is fascinating! A German study found richer people think they are relatively less rich than they are, while poorer people think they are richer than they are. Leading all of society to grossly underestimate the true extent of inequality that exists. ...
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Comment:Chris Bishop is tilting at Covid windmills
Date published: 7:25 pm, May 26th, 20210.3mL = 300 uL If the specific density is 1, then 0.3mL = 300 µg
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Comment:Open mike 18/05/2021
Date published: 9:03 am, May 18th, 2021Anyone trained to be a nurse should be being paid WAY over the minimum wage! And way over the living wage too. Remember - the minimum wage ensures poverty while the living wage is the absolute bare minimum for a dignified life.
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Comment:Latest poll - Collins dog whistling is not working
Date published: 12:51 pm, May 17th, 2021"the age of neo liberalism is coming to an end & thank God for that! " I wish! Labour are 100% a neoliberal government and party, in my opinion. Unwilling to take any significant action against inequality and believing that the uberwealthy hold all the ...
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Comment:Guest post - let the outrage continue!
Date published: 7:25 pm, May 13th, 2021The people on $40k argue about those on $65k...meanwhile those with billions are ignored, control nearly all the wealth and are free to contribute very little (with their interests carefully protected by Labour and National). Their wealth has sky rocketed ...
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Comment:Open mike 11/05/2021
Date published: 2:58 pm, May 11th, 2021And nothing (other than the brightline shift) on capital gains - the main source of income for the truly wealthy. Labour - hands off the billionaires, austerity for public servants on $61k.
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Comment:Open mike 04/05/2021
Date published: 2:25 pm, May 4th, 2021Thanks for this, I hadn't heard of it and it is very interesting - exciting even. Potentially, it is a safe and convenient way to store and transport large amounts of energy collected from intermittent renewable sources (solar, wind), allowing high ...
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Comment:Open mike 02/05/2021
Date published: 4:02 pm, May 2nd, 2021Yep, plenty of situations in workplaces that require compliance with health and safety, e.g. wear a hardhat, use eye protection, drive the forklift safely etc. People who refuse to comply are often held to account and if necessary, terminated, for their ...
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Comment:Too much too far?
Date published: 3:18 pm, April 23rd, 2021Wealth inequality ignored Poverty ignored I'm not so interested in the other stuff.
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Comment:Open mike 12/04/2021
Date published: 4:45 pm, April 12th, 2021Personally I like their dual leadership model.
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Comment:Daily review 29/03/2021
Date published: 11:30 pm, March 29th, 2021I'm astonished that Shane Reti - a family doctor - is not supporting an obvious move to make fluoridation available to more of NZ. It is a very safe and proven way to improve dental health, especially for children. The current local body approach allows ...
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Comment:About Grant Robertson’s bright line tax statement
Date published: 10:51 am, March 29th, 2021Sounds nice in practice. In reality you are likely signing yourself up for a lifetime of blacklisting for any future rentals.
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Comment:UBI experiment success
Date published: 11:51 am, March 8th, 2021Reduction in abatement rates is a good step in the right direction. Amazing that here in NZ we apply the highest effective tax rates to beneficiaries. Reading the Labour announcement, the reduction in abatement rates will "cost" $394m over five years (I ...
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Comment:UBI experiment success
Date published: 11:41 am, March 8th, 2021" NZ Super is effectively a UBI for over 65 yrs olds and it's been a stable feature of our political landscape now for decades. " Excellent point! It isn't such a foreign concept after all. Probably no coincidence that the beneficiaries of this have ...
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Comment:UBI experiment success
Date published: 11:37 am, March 8th, 2021" A GMI doesn't fully deliver on the unconditional universality aspect " I think it mostly does? The GMI is available to anyone, with no conditions other than their income being below a certain threshold. With a GMI you can afford to make the assistance ...
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Comment:Open mike 25/02/2021
Date published: 11:10 am, February 25th, 2021Absolutely. Good on David Parker for trying to investigate the true distribution of wealth in NZ. As he says in your linked article “I think governments need good data for wealth distribution,” Parker said. “It's accurate at the bottom, it's not accurate ...
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Comment:Open mike 07/02/2021
Date published: 2:22 pm, February 7th, 2021Not surprising that the variants so far are not yet tending to evade vaccines - there is little incentive for them to do so (yet!). After vaccination rates climb - and the selective pressure to evade vaccines increases - that's when vaccine-resistant ...
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Comment:Escape Velocity
Date published: 2:18 pm, February 7th, 2021Excellent and thought-provoking post. My first introduction to the Kaya Identity, which makes a lot of sense. Tend to agree that blanket opposition to nuclear energy is a really bad idea. Needs to be done right, but probably can be done right.
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Comment:"You can't vote that problem away"
Date published: 12:55 am, January 17th, 2021" Is there a term for when someone is shut down for telling the truth " er...'censorship' ?
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Comment:The Republican ostrich effect
Date published: 8:51 am, January 12th, 2021I thought both links were interesting and useful, thanks. Didn't watch all the Parler one, but got the drift!
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Comment:Shock horror, trickle down does not work
Date published: 6:45 pm, December 19th, 2020At first you won't think this has anything to do with this post....until about 1:20 https://youtu.be/JgsRzTxzC0U
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Comment:Shock horror, trickle down does not work
Date published: 12:00 pm, December 19th, 2020Good article. We actually have "flood up", where the wealth of the many rapidly accumulates to the wealthy few. What we need now is a government who will believe and act on the facts on trickle down. Rejecting the wealth tax has the same effect as tax cuts...
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Comment:The human Pangaea
Date published: 2:58 pm, December 9th, 2020A lot of fish and shellfish consumed in NZ are also native species. But a good observation that there is very little native terrestrial food consumed. Pukeko are an exception, as are muttonbirds (only sort of terrestrial!).
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Comment:Open mike 07/12/2020
Date published: 11:36 am, December 8th, 2020Paying more for goods is one of the things we need to do to pay people properly. The prices won't need to be double in many cases (for example going to $35/h from $20 is a 75% increase, and labour is only a proportion of the total production cost) Of ...
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Comment:Daily review 07/12/2020
Date published: 6:18 pm, December 7th, 2020New Poll! Left: 8% Centre-Right: 57% Right: 34% Well, my interpretation anyway
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Comment:Open mike 07/12/2020
Date published: 5:20 pm, December 7th, 2020Yet another article with employers complaining about the lack of low-paid RSE workers and saying they can't get NZ workers. At no point is the pay on offer mentioned or discussed, including under the subheading "What More Can Be Done?" One advert I found ...
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Comment:Open mike 04/12/2020
Date published: 8:45 pm, December 4th, 2020Meanwhile, the growers claim they aren't interested in cheap foreign labour and are doing everything they can for NZ workers - such as paying at least the minimum wage!! https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/432153/fruit-growers-doing-their-best-to-hire-...
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Comment:Open mike 03/12/2020
Date published: 7:30 pm, December 3rd, 2020"good for the economy" - the unthinking, inane justification for anything and everything. What does the economy care if things are "good for it"? Meanwhile things are very bad for many people. A problem when you make "the economy" more important than ...
- Hoping For Divine Intervention.
By Any Chance, Are These Two Related? Climate Change Commission Chair, Rod Carr, and Michelangelo's Jehovah. Is that the message hidden in the CCC's report? That only divine intervention can save the planet from the effects of anthropogenic global warming?ROD CARR reminds me of God. Seriously, that beard. From a ...9 hours ago - Re-Writing The Rules of the Game: Where Chile is Leading, Can Aotearoa-New Zealand Follow?People Power: Ending neoliberalism requires massive and militant action on the ground. Between 2019 and 2020, the young and the poor made Chile ungovernable. Engaging in running battles with the Police and facing-down the army’s bullets, they rendered the political class and its mainstream media mouthpieces increasingly irrelevant to what ...9 hours ago
- National is falling apart
You’ve really got to wonder what possessed MP Simon Bridges to blatantly lie about gang violence he claimed to have witnessed yesterday.Perhaps he was just a bit desperate for some attention being that the headlines haven’t be very flattering for the National Party lately.His belief that misleading the public and ...10 hours ago - How Are We Progressing with the War on Poverty?
Child Poverty Levels Are only Slowly Coming Down, What Next?Having settled on its macroeconomic settings, the Government then has to decide what to do with its revenue. In the 2021 Budget; it was largely committed to rolling forward existing spending, together with meeting some necessary commitments like dealing with covid ...1 day ago - They Are Us film should be madeRose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in controversial movie ‘They Are Us’Framing is always an important aspect of media reports, especially when it comes to politics. In fact the way a story is framed can often determine whether a topic gains popular support or receives widespread public outrage.That’s been the ...1 day ago
- The police lied to Parliament
Earlier today I blogged about the Ombudsman's final opinion on an OIA request for the police's "emissions-free fleet" strategy, in which the Ombudsman found that there never was such a strategy, and that the police repeatedly lied in an effort to hide that fact. But it turns out that I'm ...2 days ago - Spanish and Ukranian translations of The Debunking Handbook 2020
Since its publication last October, The Debunking Handbook 2020 has already been translated into 11 languages. Some of the translations have been created by volunteers who also help with Skeptical Science translations while others have been provided by outside or mixed teams. The Spanish translation was created by ...2 days ago - Tolkien and Anime: A Helm Hammerhand Adaptation
Now this is something I truly was not expecting. Warner Brothers is producing an Anime Movie of the story of Helm Hammerhand, titled The War of the Rohirrim:https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lord-of-the-rings-anime-movie-in-the-works-from-new-line-warner-animation-group-1234965985/ My first instinct was to check the date. No, not 1st April. This is for real: a Tolkien story – one ...2 days ago - There was never an “emissions-free fleet” strategyLast month, I did a post about my efforts to excavate the Police's "emissions-free fleet" strategy, and how my OIA request had been extended "for consultations", whizzed past its extended deadline, then refused as it would "soon be publicly available". My complaint to the Ombudsman gained an attempted explanation from ...2 days ago
- As more climate migrants cross borders seeking refuge, laws will need to adapt
Katharine M. Donato, Georgetown University; Amanda Carrico, University of Colorado Boulder; and Jonathan M. Gilligan, Vanderbilt University Climate change is upending people’s lives around the world, but when droughts, floods or sea level rise force them to leave their countries, people often find closed borders and little assistance. Part ...2 days ago - Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s relationship with Saudi Arabia faces increasing scrutiny
While New Zealand’s problematic but lucrative relationship with China gets lots of attention, there’s another important and similar relationship with Saudi Arabia that gets less attention. International analyst Geoffrey Miller explains why Riyadh is too important for Wellington to ignore. New Zealand’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Barney Riley, ...2 days ago - The Irish lough that offers a window into the deep seaJames Bell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Rob McAllen, University College Cork, and Valerio Micaroni, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Deeper than most scuba divers can safely work and above where most underwater robots are designed to descend lie some of the most ...2 days ago
- The economics of killing HuntlyRNZ reports that Genesis Energy's use of coal has spiked over the past few years, as they use to burn it rather than pay for gas: New Zealand has significantly increased its use of coal in recent years, despite its status as the worst, most polluting fossil fuel on ...2 days ago
- Media Link: “A View from Afar” on NZ security strategy and the end of neoliberalism in South Ame...
I have not had much time to blog in recent weeks but continue the weekly series of podcasts with Selwyn Manning. This week we discussed efforts to develop a comprehensive national security strategy for New Zealand that goes beyond Defense White Papers and annual reports from various security agencies, then ...2 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for...In promising to be New Zealand’s most open and transparent government ever, Labour has one key challenge: reform the Official Information Act. This vital piece of machinery for democracy is in terrible disrepair, and the Government has promised to rewrite it for the modern age, but so far are stalling ...2 days ago
- Hard Questions – Hard Answers.2 days ago
- Ian Powell: Lessons for NZ from Cuba, the Covid-19 vaccine powerhouse?What can New Zealand learn from Cuba about fighting Covid-19? Plenty, especially in terms of producing vaccines, according to Health commentator Ian Powell. As the Medical Director for the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Dr Bryan Betty is an important leadership voice for general practitioners. He is also ...3 days ago
- Daniel Greene and the Mechanics of Writing Sex ScenesYouTube fantasy commentator Daniel Greene has weighed in with a discussion of poorly written genre sex scenes: Now, the examples Greene cites are indeed poorly written… but they are not the sort of thing I see in published fantasy literature. Greene’s examples actually smack of fan-fiction, whereas ...3 days ago
- Another sign of MBIE’s captivityWhen the government asks the public to conserve electricity, its usually because we're on the edge of a supply crisis, and its necessary to ensure our own lights will stay on. And when it does that, people generally buy into it, because they can see the reason. But last month, ...3 days ago
- A republic is demographicly irresistableVia New Zealand Republic: younger kiwis support a republic (where "younger" is basicly "people under 50"): There's a bit more on NewsHub here. This is basicly like the support graph for Scottish independence, which seems to have become demographicly irresistable. Sadly, Jacinda Ardern - who implicitly claims to be ...3 days ago
- Good riddance to the Tasman MillLast night Norske Skog announced it will close the Tasman Mill at the end of the month, with the loss of 160 jobs. Good. This mill is a major source of emissions, and in 2019 we subsidised it to the tune of 238342 tons - meaning it was about 0.3% ...3 days ago
- Speaker: Adventures In Gender Identity
It started during a recent visit to a gynaecologist. Don’t worry, I’m fine. I felt an intense discomfort as I picked up my prescription and I knew immediately that this was gender dysphoria. I’d experienced it many times before but my understanding of it in the past was so narrow and ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #23, 2021LIfe cycle analysis of "Dirk" Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product through its life cycle encompassing extraction and processing of the raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, recycling, and final disposal. From: Journal of Environmental Management, 2010. -- Science Direct Continuing with getting ...4 days ago
- Climate Change: ScammedReading the Climate Change Commission's final advice, the obvious question is why their budgets are so much higher than those proposed in their draft (by about half a year's emissions over 14 years)? Simple: we're being baseline-scammed. The draft report set its budget based on 2018 emissions: But the ...4 days ago
- Musings on J.K. Rowling and That Issue
Oh dear. Today I will tentatively offer some thoughts on that issue that has been rumbling along for some time. J.K. Rowling’s truly… interesting… obsession with transgenderism. I realise that I am coming rather late to the subject, but honestly Rowling’s tendency for outbursts means that the issue will ...4 days ago - A mini-Official Secrets Act for the Reserve BankThe Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill. Part of the bill is a new confidentiality clause, restricting publication or disclosure of information obtained using the bank's information-gathering powers. The first-reading version was actually good, with explicit recognition of the OIA. So ...4 days ago
- Genomic solutions for a plant taonga: a high-quality rewarewa genomeIllustration credit: “Seven Sisters, Knightia excelsa” Jennifer Duval-Smith By Plant & Food Research High Quality Genomes project co-leader David Chagné The completion of the native rewarewa (Knightia excelsa) tree genome sequence is demonstrating New Zealand is now taking charge of producing genomes on its native species. These are species that ...4 days ago
- Climate Change: Committing to failure againThe Climate Change Commission released its final advice to the government today, and the media is full of reports about how "ambitious" it is. Bullshit. Because when you look at the budgets - the only thing in the entire document that actually matters and has legal weight - they tell ...4 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Jacinda Ardern’s opaque government by PROne of the most important, and scathing, critiques of Jacinda Ardern’s Government was published this week by senior political journalist Andrea Vance. She reveals how the current administration has become adept and determined at keeping information secret and the public in the dark about crucial issues. You can read her ...4 days ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day, the first since the Budget. Unfortunately it looks like most of the time will be taken up with boring committee stages. First up is Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki's District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill, followed by Louise Upston's Rights for Victims of Insane ...4 days ago
- A Failure of Tone: The National Party’s Week of Woe.Tone Deaf? From a party-political point of view (and what other point of view should a National Party MP be taking?) Paul Goldsmith’s comments regarding the “benefits” of colonisation merely played into the fast-solidifying narrative of National being a stale white bread party that can’t get out of its own way ...4 days ago
- How virus detectives trace the origins of an outbreak – and why it’s so trickyMarilyn J. Roossinck, Penn State Every time there is a major disease outbreak, one of the first questions scientists and the public ask is: “Where did this come from?” In order to predict and prevent future pandemics like COVID-19, researchers need to find the origin of the viruses that ...5 days ago
- Self-inflicted “poverty”Nurses are going on strike tomorrow in pursuit of better pay and higher staffing levels. So why isn't the "Labour" government paying them properly? Apparently, they're pleading poverty: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the nurses’ union wanted a 17 per cent pay increase for all nurses, but the Government ...5 days ago
- Surrendered IIGood news on the climate front: OMV's surrender of its exploration permits in the Great South Basin, announced last December, has finally gone through. But there's other good news as well: from the sudden hole in NZPAM's permit map, they've also surrendered a pair of permits - 51906 (Matuku) and ...5 days ago
- How much is the Greens’ reputation worth?$54,000, apparently: The Green Party says it won’t return two five-figure donations from a woman convicted of animal neglect which required several horses to be put down. Three weeks before being sentenced in the District Court for animal neglect described by the SPCA as amongst the worst it had ...5 days ago
- Power from the ocean: can we use bio-fouling organisms to help extract energy from waves?Craig Stevens, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research; Louise Kregting, Queen’s University Belfast, and Vladislav Sorokin, University of Auckland People living near the coast are familiar with the power of ocean waves. What we see when a typical wave breaks on a beach is the endpoint of a global ...5 days ago
- Cooling effect of clouds ‘underestimated’ by climate models, says new studyThis is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Ayesha Tandon Clouds could have a greater cooling effect on the planet than climate models currently suggest, according to new research. The paper, published in Nature Climate Change, aims to correct a “long-standing” and “unaddressed” problem in climate modelling – namely, that existing models ...5 days ago
- Perilous Treasures – acceptedIn a good bit of news, I’ve had another short story acceptance. My 1750-word (loose) Historical-Fiction piece, Perilous Treasures, will feature in the upcoming Summer Solstice edition of Eternal Haunted Summer (https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/). This one is a fictional elaboration on an earlier blog post of mine, specifically about ...6 days ago
- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Update #23Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 30, 2021 through Sat, June 6, 2021 This week we included links to some older videos which we think are still valuable because they provide some good basic information about climate science, like Kerry ...7 days ago
- The Adventures of Not-Annalax: A D&D Interlude
Session forty-nine. Recall the terrible situation the party was in at the end of the previous session: Annalax and Elknel fleeing for their lives through the forest, with the rest of the party being dragged away by Nightmare Creatures. Well, the DM had a cunning plan on how ...1 week ago - Unpacking Peggy McIntosh’s Knapsack
This article in Quillette by William Ray takes a look at the origins of the concept of white privilege. Ray was a volunteer in an imperialist army in the former Yugoslavia where he saw up close the horrors of identity politics being played out. [White Privilege is] the unquestioned and unearned ...1 week ago - Update of NZ fluoridation review timely and useful
Image credit: Kurt:S/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0). An updated New Zealand scientific review of community water fluoridation (CWF) finds that CWF in New Zealand is safe and effective. The new review, Fluoridation: an update on evidence, was published by the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Juliet Gerrard FRSNZ HonFRSC. It examines ...1 week ago - Who Poses the Bigger Threat: The Far Right, Or the Far Left?1 week ago
- Tampering with Tradition: The Regent Booksale On the Move
First Scribes Bookshop closing… now changes are afoot with the famous Regent Booksale. Clearly, second-hand book purchases in Dunedin will never be the same again.
I have written before about my annual midnight visit ... 1 week ago - A Boringly Benign Economy or Going Through a Concerning Climacteric?
What was the big change the Treasury saw in its budget 2021 forecasts?For much of the time, an economy is in a boringly benign phase. New Zealand seems to be in one at the moment. This is not the way the commentariat present it. To grab your attention they magnify ...1 week ago - Climate Change: Dereliction of dutyBefore the pandemic, air travel was one of the fastest growing causes of greenhouse gas emissions. Fully half of those emissions are caused by a global elite of super-emitting frequent flyers, so the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's proposal in February to discourage it with distance-related departue taxes seems like ...1 week ago
- We performed magic tricks on birds to see how they perceive the worldElias Garcia-Pelegrin, University of Cambridge Magic tricks can teach us about how the brain works. Magic capitalises on very specific blind spots in people’s attention and perception so the techniques that magicians use to trick audiences are particularly interesting to psychologists like me. Misdirection, for example, relies on the ...1 week ago
- How well your immune system works can depend on the time of dayAnnie Curtis, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences When microorganisms – such as bacteria or viruses – infect us, our immune system jumps into action. It’s highly trained to sense and eliminate infections and clear up any damage caused by them. It’s typically assumed our immune systems work ...1 week ago
- Rugby, concussions and duty of care: why the game is facing scrutinySeema Patel, Nottingham Trent University There’s growing concern about concussion-related injuries in contact sports like rugby and American football. Several high-profile collisions between participants and a growing body of research about their impact have drawn attention to the adequacy of the safety protocols in place to protect players. Since ...1 week ago
- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – The Low standards in the National PartyThe National Party has a major problem with standards, especially amongst its MPs and election candidates. The latest controversies involve the resignation of their longest-serving MP Nick Smith over an employment dispute, and allegations of abhorrent behaviour by election candidate Jake Bezzant. The party has been beset by a series ...1 week ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Trends emerge in New Zealand’s relations with ChinaNew Zealand’s evolving foreign policy – especially with China – is put under the microscope by international analyst Geoffrey Miller who says it’s important to look at the longer-term trends than just the latest twist in the story. This week’s meeting between Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison in Queenstown was ...1 week ago
- Liam Hehir: Reforming the National PartyThe National Party is currently facing questions about the quality control processes in its candidate selection. Liam Hehir reports on his experience at the grass roots of the party, and puts forward some suggestions for reform. On the question of whether the National Party has a culture problem, ...1 week ago
- This is obsceneWe all know multinational corporations cheat on their taxes, using complicated legal arrangements to funnel money through different jurisdictions to avoid paying anything to support the societies that host them. How obscene are such arrangements? This obscene: An Irish subsidiary of Microsoft made a profit of $315bn (£222bn) last ...1 week ago
- The change we need to seeTwo big transport announcements from the government this morning: first, they're killing Mill Road, another bloated superhighway with a terrible BCR. Secondly, Auckland will get a second harbour bridge for bikes and pedestrians. The net effect: fewer cars, more bikes in Auckland. This is the sort of change we need ...1 week ago
- Whakaari tragedy: court case highlights just how complex it is to forecast a volcanic eruptionShane Cronin, University of Auckland and David Dempsey, University of Canterbury While today’s pre-trial hearing over the Whakaari White Island tragedy revealed most of the 13 parties charged have yet to enter pleas, there is no disputing the basic facts. The December 9 2019 eruption struck when 47 people ...1 week ago
- Review: The Republia Times (2012)Many moons ago, I reviewed the original Crisis in the Kremlin (1991) and its 2017 re-make. Then I did The ReDistricting Game (2007), the availability which has, alas, suffered with the demise of Flash. Time for a review of another amusingly political video-game: The Republia Times.1 week ago
- The Many Faces Of Racial Terror.
Tulsa's Greenwood District Burning, 1 June 1921. In a frenzy of race hatred, a veritable army of whites descended on the prosperous African-American neighbourhood of Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and laid it waste. As many as 300 African-Americans were murdered by the rampaging white mobs, who came against their fellow citizens with ...1 week ago- Sucking Up and Kicking Down: The NZ Media Covers the Queenstown Summit.
Steady-On, Cobber: After the vicious attack on New Zealand’s prime minister and foreign policy, broadcast on Channel Nine’s “60 Minutes” programme, during which this country was accused of selling its soul and abandoning its Australian “mate” for a mess of Chinese pottage, most Kiwis would have greeted the Aussie media ...1 week ago- Jean Drage: Reviewing local government
Local government is about to go through a major reorganisation that will affect all our lives, with the Government’s three-year independent review into the future for local democracy. Researcher Jean Drage calls for some urgent debate about exactly what is needed from local government, and she warns against New Zealand ...1 week ago- Climate Change: No wiggle room
Farmers are constantly whining at the thought of having to take even minimal measures to reduce emissions. But according to Climate Commissioner Rod Carr they no longer have any choice: Dr Carr told hundreds of people - including farmers - at an agricultural climate change conference in Wellington today ...1 week ago- An accomplice to war crimes
That's the only way to describe MFAT, who are merrily approving weapons exports to help the United Arab Emirates' ongoing crimes against humanity in Yemen: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade approved the export of weapons systems sent to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite officials warning they ...1 week ago- Josh Van Veen: A Tale of two parties
On 22 May 1942, a failed prime minister sat down to record what would become one of the most influential and celebrated political speeches in Australian history. The previous year Robert Menzies had dramatically resigned after Federal MPs vetoed his grandiose plan to leave Australia and sit in Winston ...1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #22, 2021
CO2 and staple crop nutritional quality Dr. Kristi Ebi leads a diversely skilled author team to lend us a thought-provoking tap on the shoulder concerning our lack of full understanding of how increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will affect primary sources of food, particularly grains, and how we ...2 weeks ago- New Zealand relies on scientific research for good policy. It’s a pity the budget didn’t reflect...
Nicola Gaston, University of Auckland New Zealand’s government has been praised for listening to scientists as it continues to pursue its COVID-19 elimination strategy. But it’s difficult to find any signs of significant investment in science in the recent budget — or in fact previous budgets. It was with ...2 weeks ago- The real challenge to COVID-19 vaccination rates isn’t hesitancy — it’s equal access for Māor...
Jesse Whitehead, University of Waikato; Kate C. Prickett, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Polly Atatoa Carr, University of Waikato Reports of potentially higher rates of vaccine hesitancy among Māori and Pacific populations have seen the government target COVID-19 vaccine and information campaigns at those communities. ...2 weeks ago- This is what institutional racism looks like
Last month, a man was arrested for threatening to kill National MP Simeon Brown. Over the weekend a second man was arrested on the same charge. This is appropriate: threatening to kill is a criminal offence, and threatening to kill an elected representative an offence against democracy. But it appears ...2 weeks ago- Shakespeare in Sitcom: Upstart Crow (2016-2018?)
Over the past week, I have finished a re-watch of Upstart Crow, the BBC’s three-season sitcom based around William Shakespeare. I think it holds up pretty well – in fact, I enjoyed it more this time than the first time, since I was not dealing with the problem of ...2 weeks ago- We should not tolerate parties which tolerate this
In the wake of National MP Nick Smith's resignation on Monday night, people have finally been talking about what a scumbag he was. Newshub reports that his behaviour was an open secret around Parliament, something everyone knew about but no-one talked about, with people saying (anonymously, for fear of repurcussions): ...2 weeks ago- Coronavirus variants have new names: we can finally stop stigmatising countries
Ed Feil, University of Bath The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new naming system for the coronavirus that uses Greek letters to refer to the different variants. For the variants of concern, B117 (the UK or Kent variant) will now be known as alpha, B1351 (South Africa) ...2 weeks ago- Australia’s Eschatological Diplomacy.
Riders In The Sky: This extraordinary snapshot of a thunderstorm over Brisbane reveals nothing less than the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding the storm-clouds to Doomsday. The Australian Right's dangerous liaisons with the dark eschatology of Evangelical Christianity have turned Australian diplomacy - especially as it relates to China ...2 weeks ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – NZ and Australia play “happy families” in Queenstown
The level of orchestration and political acting was turned up a notch this week in Queenstown by prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison, who went to great pains to put on a highly contrived united front about their different orientations towards China. Clearly, both leaders were highly sensitive to ...2 weeks ago- Climate explained: why is the Arctic warming faster than other parts of the world?
Climate 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 is Arctic amplification? Do we ...2 weeks ago- A critical review of Steven Koonin’s ‘Unsettled’
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Mark Boslough Iwould normally ignore a book by a non-climate scientist promising “the truth about climate science that you aren’t getting elsewhere.” Such language is a red flag. But I’ve known the author of “Unsettled” since I took his quantum mechanics course ...2 weeks ago- The idea of ‘green growth’ is flawed. We must find ways of using and wasting less energy
Michael (Mike) Joy, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington As countries explore ways of decarbonising their economies, the mantra of “green growth” risks trapping us in a spiral of failures. Green growth is an oxymoron. Growth requires more material extraction, which in turn requires more energy. The ...2 weeks ago- NZDF gives the finger to the Burnham inquiry
Last year, the inquiry into Operation Burnham reported back, finding (among other things) that SAS and NZDF officers had deceived Ministers and the public, and that NZ soldiers had assaulted a prisoner. So will anyone ever be held accountable for that? Of course not: Two soldiers at the centre ...2 weeks ago - The Many Faces Of Racial Terror.
- Making cleaner cars accessible to more Kiwis
Today, we’re taking action in line with the advice of the Climate Change Commission to reduce our carbon footprint, so future generations have a fair go. Our Clean Car package, announced this morning, delivers on our promise to cut transport emissions. It will make it easier to make the switch ...6 hours ago - Green Party set to deliver open letter to Immigration Minister with 17k signatures
The Green Party will deliver its open letter asking the Minister for Immigration to fix the broken immigration system next week. ...1 day ago - Dr Elizabeth Kerekere receives her COVID-19 vaccinationToday, Green Party MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere received her COVID-19 vaccination from Tamaiti Whāngai COVID-19 vaccination centre, which had its official opening yesterday. ...3 days ago
- Our action on climate changeIn 2019, we established the Climate Change Commission to provide independent advice on climate change action and to hold this Government and future Governments to account. Today, the Commission's final advice was released. It sets out the total amount of global warming pollution Aotearoa must cut by 2035 to be ...4 days ago
- Our action on climate changeIn 2019, we established the Climate Change Commission to provide independent advice on climate change action and to hold this Government and future Governments to account. Today, the Commission's final advice was released. It sets out the total amount of global warming pollution Aotearoa must cut by 2035 to be ...4 days ago
- It’s time to get behind our nursesThe Green Party supports the 30,000 nurses striking today for better pay and safer working conditions. ...4 days ago
- Celebrating our oceansAotearoa New Zealand is surrounded by Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is central to our identities and to our ecosystems. The Big Blue both isolates us from other countries and connects us to our Pacific neighbours. We have the seventh largest maritime area in the world, ranging from ...5 days ago
- Caring for the land, caring for peopleHere in New Zealand, we have a remarkable natural environment, with unique ecosystems and native species. It’s taken millions of years for Aotearoa to develop this precious environment – and it’s up to us to protect it! In collaboration with communities across the country, we’re doing just that. ...1 week ago
- Caring for the land, caring for peopleHere in New Zealand, we have a remarkable natural environment, with unique ecosystems and native species. It’s taken millions of years for Aotearoa to develop this precious environment – and it’s up to us to protect it! In collaboration with communities across the country, we’re doing just that. ...1 week ago
- How much do you know about Aotearoa’s unique environment?Test your knowledge this World Environment Day! Think you’re a nature super-fan? Can’t tell a kauri from a kāmahi? To celebrate World Environment Day this week, we’ve put together a quiz to test how much you know about Te Taiao. Flex your nature muscles or learn something new about the ...1 week ago
- Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman receives her COVID-19 vaccinationToday Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman, who is immunocompromised, received her first COVID-19 vaccination at the Auckland CBD vaccination centre. ...1 week ago
- Greens welcome Auckland walking and cycling bridge, call for more climate focusThe Green Party is welcoming the Government’s renewed commitment to safe walking and cycling across the Waitematā Harbour, but warning that new highway investment puts our response to the climate change emergency at risk. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for Facebook to be held accountable for role in spreading disinformationThe Green Party is calling on the Government to hold Facebook accountable for its role in enabling behaviour which threatens democracy, by strongly regulating data privacy and the spread of dangerous disinformation. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for more protection of native whitebait species at risk of extinctionThe Green Party is pleased to see new whitebaiting measures, announced today, to establish a more consistent management regime across the country, but we must go further, faster, to protect our native taonga. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens’ Māori Caucus Te Mātāwaka call for Matariki Ahunga Nui to be expanded in school curricul...The Green Party are calling for an expansion of the current school curriculum on Matariki, so that a deeper understanding of how it relates to managing and harvesting food is explored. This push comes at the start of the Matariki season, the final year before it is set to become ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition for publicly-owned public transportThe Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to remove legislative barriers to public ownership of our public transport depots, vehicles and services. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens urge Government to stick to no new mines commitment in stewardship land review and reclassifi...The Green Party is urging the Government to stick with its 2017 commitment to no new mines on public conservation land, as the Government speeds up the review and reclassification process for stewardship land, which comprises a third of the public conservation estate. ...2 weeks ago
- Five things you might have missedYou’ve probably already heard that last week the Government released this year’s Budget. It’s something we’re really excited about (and if you are too, you can read more here), because we know it’s a key part of our plan to secure a strong COVID recovery. ...2 weeks ago
- Clean car package to drive down emissions
New rebates for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles start July 1 with up to $8,625 for new vehicles and $3,450 for used. Electric vehicle chargers now available every 75km along most state highways to give Kiwis confidence. Low Emission Transport Fund will have nearly four times the funding by 2023 ...6 hours ago - Progress towards simpler process for changing sex on birth certificatesThe Government is taking the next step to support transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, by progressing the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill, Minister of Internal Affairs, Jan Tinetti announced today. “This Government understands that self-identification is a significant issue for transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, and ...8 hours ago
- Crown speeds up engagement with takutai moana applicantsThe Crown is taking a new approach to takutai moana applications to give all applicants an opportunity to engage with the Crown and better support the Māori-Crown relationship, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says. Following discussions with applicant groups, the Crown has reviewed the existing takutai moana application ...1 day ago
- Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court opensThe Minister of Justice, Kris Faafoi, and the Minister for Courts, Aupito William Sio, have welcomed the opening of a new Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court in Hamilton. The AODT Court (Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua) addresses situations where substance abuse and offending are intertwined. “New Zealanders have told ...1 day ago
- EU and UK FTAs top of list for first ministerial trip since COVID-19Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor today announced details of his planned visit to the United Kingdom and European Union next week, where he will hold trade and agriculture discussions to further New Zealand’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The visit will add political weight to ongoing negotiations with both the EU ...1 day ago
- Arihia Bennett to chair Royal Commission Ministerial Advisory GroupTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett MNZM has been appointed chair of the newly appointed Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “Twenty-eight people from diverse backgrounds across Aotearoa have been selected for the ...1 day ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Medical Association General Practitioners' Conference, RotoruaKi ngā pou maha o te whare hauora o Aotearoa, kei te mihiTo the pillars of our health system I acknowledge/thank you Ki te ope hapai hauora o roto o tēnei rūma, kei te mihi To our health force here in the room today, I acknowledge/thank you He taura tangata, ...2 days ago
- Karangahape Road upgrades are streets aheadThe upgrades to Karangahape Road makes the iconic street more pedestrian and cycle-friendly, attractive and environmentally sustainable, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said at the formal celebration of the completion of the Karangahape Road Enhancements project. The project included widening footpaths supporting a better outdoor dining ...2 days ago
- Speech to APEC business eventE ngā tumu herenga waka, ākina ā ngaru, ākina ā tai ka whakatere ngā waka ki te whakapapa pounamu, otirā, ki Tamaki o ngā waka Tena koutou katoa… To the great leaders assembled, who guided your waka through turbulent times, challenging waters and you continue to navigate your respective waka ...3 days ago
- Pause on Quarantine Free Travel with Victoria extendedFollowing an assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria will continue for a further seven days, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. There are now 93 cases associated with the outbreak in greater Melbourne, spread over four clusters. Contact tracing efforts ...3 days ago
- Supplier Diversity Aotearoa Summit: Navigate 2021*** Check with delivery *** A mihi to all who have contributed to making today a success – starting with you! As you have explored and navigated government procurement today you will hopefully have reflected on the journey of our people so far – and how you can make a ...3 days ago
- Pukemiro School to closePukemiro Primary School near Huntly will close following years of declining roll numbers, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “I’ve consulted with the School Commissioner, and this decision acknowledges the fact that the few remaining students from last term are now settled at other nearby schools. “I want to thank ...3 days ago
- Govt acts to protect NZers from harmful contentNew Zealanders will be better protected from harmful or illegal content as a result of work to design a modern, flexible and coherent regulatory framework, Minister of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti announced today. New Zealand currently has a content regulatory system that is comprised of six different arrangements covering some ...3 days ago
- Consultation on exemption of new builds from proposed tax rulesThe Government has today confirmed new builds will be exempt from planned changes to the tax treatment of residential investment property. Public consultation is now open on details of the proposals, which stop interest deductions being claimed for residential investment properties other than new builds. “The Government’s goal is to ...3 days ago
- Speech for Predator Free 2050 ConferenceIntroduction E ngā mana E ngā reo E ngā iwi Tēnā koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēnā koutou He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei i raro i te kaupapa o te rā Ko Ayesha Verrall toku ingoa No ...3 days ago
- New stock exchange to help grow small businessesA new share trading market, designed as a gateway to the NZX for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has been granted a licence by the Government. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, David Clark said Catalist Markets Ltd will provide a simpler and more affordable ‘stepping stone’ for SMEs to raise capital. “This ...3 days ago
- Visa extensions provide certainty to employers and 10,000 visa holdersChanges to onshore visas will provide employers and visa holders with more certainty, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced. Around 10,000 Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visas due to expire between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 will be extended for another six months to ...3 days ago
- Border class exceptions approved for more farm workers and vetsThe Government has approved border class exceptions for an additional 200 dairy workers and 50 veterinarians to enter New Zealand, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “It is clear from conversations with the dairy and veterinarian sectors that they are facing workforce pressures. These border exceptions will go a long ...3 days ago
- More freezers and South Island hub to support vaccine roll-outA South Island hub and 17 new ultra-low temperature freezers will help further prepare New Zealand for the ramp up of the vaccination programme in the second half of this year, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. The new freezers arrived in New Zealand on 27 May. They’re currently being ...4 days ago
- Speech at the release of Climate Change Commission's final adviceGood morning – and thank you Prime Minister. Over the last three and half years we have been putting in place the foundations for a low-carbon Aotearoa that will be a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and prosperity for decades to come. In that future, many of our everyday tasks ...4 days ago
- Achievable blueprint for addressing climate change releasedReport says Government making good progress on emissions reduction, but more action required Meeting climate targets achievable and affordable with existing technology Economic cost of delaying action higher than taking action now Benefits from climate action include health improvements and lower energy bills All Ministers to help meet climate targets ...4 days ago
- Speech to release of Climate Commission final reportA few years ago in a speech in Auckland, I compared climate change to the nuclear free movement of roughly four decades ago. And I did so for a few reasons. Firstly, because the movement of the 1980s represented a life or death situation for the Pacific, and so does ...4 days ago
- Appointment of Judge of the High CourtAuckland Barrister Michael Robinson has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Robinson graduated with a BA and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1996, and commenced practice as a solicitor with Brookfields in Auckland. In 1998 he travelled to London ...4 days ago
- Government takes action to improve protections for subcontractorsThe Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Bill – which provides greater financial protection for subcontractors, has passed its first reading today. The Bill amends the retention provisions in the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA) to provide increased confidence and transparency for subcontractors that retention money they are owed is safe. ...5 days ago
- 1 million more Pfizer doses to arrive in JulyPfizer has scheduled delivery of an estimated 1 million doses of vaccine to New Zealand during July, COVID1-9 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “These consignments will double the total number of Pfizer doses we have received this year to more than 1,900,000 – enough to fully vaccinate almost 1 ...5 days ago
- Long-term home of the Independent Children’s Monitor identifiedThe Independent Children’s Monitor (Te Mana Whakamaru Tamariki Motuhake), which is currently located within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), will become its own departmental agency within Government. “Following the recommendations of several reviews, Cabinet agreed in 2019 to build a significantly expanded independent monitor for children in care,” Carmel ...5 days ago
- Racing Integrity Board members announcedThe new Racing Integrity Board will be up and running from July 1 to ensure high standards of animal welfare, integrity and professionalism in the racing industry. Racing Minister Grant Robertson today announced the appointments to the new Board: Sir Bruce Robertson KNZM – Chair Kristy McDonald ONZM QC Penelope ...5 days ago
- Govt crackdown on organised crime continuesA major operation against multiple organised crime groups with international links will make a significant dent in drug harm and violent offending linked to organised crime networks, Police Minister Poto Williams says. “I want to take an opportunity to congratulate the Police for their role in Operation Trojan Shield. This ...5 days ago
- Farm planning framework supports farmers into the futureA new framework, agreed between Government and industry, will make it easier for farmers and growers to integrate future greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater regulatory requirements into their farm planning, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. “The Good Farm Planning Principles Guide out today, provides guidance for how farmers can organise ...5 days ago
- Enhanced Task Force Green Approved for CanterburyThe Government has activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) in response to the Canterbury floods. The Minister of Social Development and Employment, Hon Carmel Sepuloni says $500,000 will be made available to help with the clean-up. The flooding in Canterbury has been a significant and adverse event damaging farmland, homes, roads ...5 days ago
- Connecting rangatahi to the soilA Jobs for Nature project to raise 480,000 native plants in nurseries across South Auckland will provide work for communities disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19, Acting Conservation Minister Ayesha Verrall says. The Mana in Kaimahi project is being run by Te Whāngai Trust Board and will establish ...5 days ago
- Roll out of high-resolution elevation mapping beginsThe first tranche of mapping data from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)-LiDAR project is now available to the public from Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. LiDAR data, which creates 3D baseline elevation information, will deliver multiple uses over the coming decades to councils and regional industries. “This mapping ...6 days ago
- Champions of Pacific education rewarded in Queen’s Birthday HonoursMinister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio said the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours list show that across Aotearoa New Zealand there were many champions of Pacific education. “Education is so vital to the success of Pacific people that it’s truly fitting that a number of educators have been honoured this ...6 days ago
- PM congratulates Queen’s Birthday Honours recipientsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has added her congratulations to the New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to their communities and the country in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List. “This group represents decades of services across many areas, and those honoured highlight how many New Zealanders are going above and ...6 days ago
- Change of status for Rangiriri kuraA change of status for Te Kura o Rangiriri sees it become a designated character school within the Māori-medium network, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis announced today. “This kura has been providing Māori immersion learning since 2003 in the historic town of Rangiriri, so I’m delighted that it is ...1 week ago
- APEC trade ministers’ unite on COVID-19 vaccine steps and rejuvenating the WTOAPEC trade ministers today committed to speeding up the cross-border flow of vaccines and related goods to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed the completion of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting chaired by Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor early this morning. “As we face the ...1 week ago
- Further consultation for Melville schoolsFormal consultation is set to begin on specific options for the future of schooling in South West Hamilton, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. “Recent engagement has shown that the schools and community want a change to Year 7-13 schooling for the area. “I am now asking the Boards of Melville ...1 week ago
- Primary schoolkids dig trees for Arbor DayA new Arbor Day initiative announced by Forestry Minister Stuart Nash will see thousands of primary school children get the chance to plant native trees in their communities. The initiative is open to more than 2,400 primary schools. It is a partnership between Te Uru Rākau/NZ Forest Service and the ...1 week ago
- NZ Upgrade Programme kept on trackThe Government is increasing its investment in the New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP) to support New Zealand’s economic recovery. Over two thirds of the projects will proceed as announced despite increased costs due to COVID, with modifications being made to others. “NZUP is already supporting over 1,000 jobs with 13 ...1 week ago
- New Northern Pathway gets green lightThe Government is committed to the Northern Pathway with its preferred option being a separate structure for walking and cycling alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. Geotechnical investigations and testing has determined that building a structure connected to the Auckland Harbour Bridge is not possible ...1 week ago
- Rebate scheme announced for buyers of new and used electric and hybrid vehicles
Buyers of new electric and hybrid vehicles will be eligible for government rebates of up to $8625, in a scheme announced today. ...6 hours ago - Mobility scooter seizure, verdicts of insanity and waka jumping before ParliamentThe House: Non-government bills changing laws around mobility device seizures, the wording of verdicts for insane offenders, and waka-jumping MPs have been worked on at Parliament. ...9 hours ago
- A farewell to Brokenwood detective Sam Breen, from the man who plays him
Nic Sampson has played beloved detective constable Sam Breen on The Brokenwood Mysteries for seven seasons, but it’s time to say goodbye.Due to a little incident called the global pandemic, I had to leave The Brokenwood Mysteries this season for the green pastures of my new home in the UK. ...9 hours ago - An ode for .. Paul Goldsmith
New Zealand's demi-official poet laureate Victor Billot composes an ode for National's colonial affairs spokesman Paul Goldsmith The Best of All Possible Worlds When I was quite young and small for my size I met this strange fellow who gave me a surprise. He popped up ...9 hours ago - The 'grandfather' of Wellington's homeless
*Content warning: this article discusses themes of sexual assault* Koro is one of the hundreds of homeless people living on the street of Wellington. What can the populace learn from his story? Federico Magrin spends some time with him. It’s dusk of an autumnal day in Wellington. The harbour ...11 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Sunday 13 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...11 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Sunday 13 June
...11 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Sunday 13 June
...11 hours ago - The Sunday Essay: What it means to miss Hong KongOn leaving one home for another, and lamenting a loss. By Sharon Lam. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New ZealandOriginal illustrations by Renée Jacobi.I have left Hong Kong many times. The day of departure was always the same, arriving at the check-in counter praying ...12 hours ago
- Drag Race Down Under power rankings: Welcome to the talent-free talent showThis week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under yanks a challenge from All Stars, with middling results.It may not always have been clear from my recaps, but I’ve generally enjoyed this season of Drag Race. Putting aside the issues with casting, this has been a refreshing set of queens ...19 hours ago
- Not enough GPs: Our Health Minister is on the case but we will have to wait to hear what he intends...
The latest Beehive news of most interest to business people is the detail of Trade Minister Damien O’Connor’s trip to London, Paris and Brussels to try to hasten progress on free trade negotiations. But the matter of concern to everybody – at least, it’s a matter that is likely to ...1 day ago - The story of March 15 needs to be told on the big screen. But not like thisA film on the Christchurch mosque attacks that has Jacinda at its centre is not the film the moment demands. The director and producers have the skills to make the right movie. The question is whether or not they have the courage to do it, writes Anjum Rahman.The director and ...1 day ago
- Review: Netflix’s Sweet Tooth is a slower, gentler sort of apocalypse thrillerThe New Zealand-shot show about a hybrid-human child journeying through a post-pandemic world hits some familiar plot beats – but its optimistic sweetness is all its own, writes Casey Lucas.The first responses to the trailer for new Netflix series Sweet Tooth often tended to include a dubious note: Do we ...1 day ago
- Hey Boba, Hi tea: A comic explainer on the joy of bubble teaDon’t know your 50% sugar hazelnut milk teas from your double Oreo cake cream with cheese foam? Liliana Mañetto Quick takes us on a tour of the wonderful world of bubble tea with a love letter to Wellington’s Hi Tea. ...1 day ago
- Learning to live by the maramataka: Pipiri – Māori New YearNau mai haere ki ngā whetū o te tau hou, kia Matariki me Pūanga. Click here to learn how to set the maramataka dial, and you’re on your way to setting the New Year dates!The bright tohu stars Matariki (Pleiades) and Pūanga (Rigel) will soon rise to indicate the New ...1 day ago
- Short story: The flying rats, by Michaela Keeble
"This must be how it feels to play professional sport": a story of colonialism and netball by Wellington writer Michaela Keeble We play netball every Wednesday in the lower grades of Wellington’s lunchtime league. We have a name but no team uniform, unless you count saggy leggings and stained t-shirts ...1 day ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Saturday 12 June
...1 day ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 12 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...1 day ago - Universities must 'indigenise' to meet Māori agendas
The University of Auckland's Te Kawehau Hoskins writes on the challenge faced by universities to ‘indigenise’ in order to be relevant for contemporary Māori agendas Our people have always valued higher learning and operated sophisticated systems of formal learning prior to, and beyond contact with the outside world. Māori were keenly ...1 day ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Saturday 12 June
...1 day ago - How Heath Franklin became ChopperThe Australian comedy character has been a mainstay of New Zealand screens and stages for more than a decade – but who is the man under the mo’? Alex Casey meets him. We haven’t even started the interview and he’s already said he will throw my phone in a nearby cup ...1 day ago
- Mr O'Connor goes to London (and Brussels)
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor is about to make the first overseas trip by a minister since the Covid-19 pandemic - will his effort be justified by gains in free trade talks with the UK and EU? Let it not be said that Damien O’Connor is unwilling to ...1 day ago - 51 new covid cases confirmed in Fiji with fast-growing Nadi cluster
RNZ Pacific Fifty-one cases of covid-19 have been confirmed in Fiji tonight, with 35 of them from the fastest-growing cluster at Nadi. This takes the total number of infections since the outbreak started in April to 900, with 684 active cases currently in isolation. The Health Ministry said two cases ...2 days ago - Former USP academic and author of Fiji coup books Robbie Robertson diesPacific Media Watch newsdesk Retired politics professor and historian Robert “Robbie” Robertson, 69, co-author of the book Shattered Coups about the 1987 coups led by then Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, has died in Melbourne, his family has confirmed. Dr Robertson wrote the book with his partner Akosita Tamanisau, then a Fiji ...2 days ago
- ‘It gives us nightmares,’ says PNG police officer dealing with domestic violenceAsia Pacific Report newsdesk “We take the pain and problems of victims home and it gives us nightmares many times.” A police woman serving at the Family Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU) of the Papua New Guinea’s Waigani police station in the capital Port Moresby has shared her experience of how ...2 days ago
- Five police officers among 39 new covid cases in Fiji as strategy unveiledBy Lice Movono, RNZ Pacific correspondent in Suva Five police officers are among 39 new cases of covid-19 in Fiji while the government announced late last night that 32 of the latest cases are from existing clusters. Another 11 cases were reported from the country’s main hospital in the capital ...2 days ago
- Media Council condemns ‘mob rule’ to intimidate female students, media at UPNGPacific Media Watch newsdesk The Media Council of Papua New Guinea has condemned an attack by male students at the University of Papua New Guinea on a media team covering a protest staged by female students on Tuesday, reports the PNG Post-Courier. The council said that the actions of these ...2 days ago
- Protect women accused of ‘sorcery’ and punish attackers, watchdog tells PNGAsia Pacific Report newsdesk The Papua New Guinean government should protect women accused of practicing “sorcery” from violence and hold the attackers to account, says the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. At least five women have been attacked in the past three months since March 2021 — one of whom ...2 days ago
- 97% of Indigenous people report seeing negative social media content weekly. Here’s how platforms ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Kennedy, Senior Lecturer In Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University Bullying and harassment are having devastating effects on young Indigenous people and their communities. Getty images Social media offers many benefits to Indigenous peoples, such as ways to establish and navigate identity, build ...2 days ago
- Do vegan diets make kids shorter and weaker?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of South Australia Shutterstock Research Checks interrogate newly published studies and how they’re reported in the media. The analysis is undertaken by one or more academics not involved with the ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for LabourOpinion - Labour has stalled on its promise to rewrite the Official Information Act, a vital piece of machinery for democracy that is in terrible disrepair, Bryce Edwards writes. ...2 days ago
- 97% of Indigenous people report seeing negative content weekly. Here’s how platforms can helpSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Kennedy, Senior Lecturer In Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University Bullying and harassment are having devastating effects on young Indigenous people and their communities. Getty images Social media offers many benefits to Indigenous peoples, such as ways to establish and navigate identity, build ...2 days ago
- Don't worry, NZ won't run out of vaccines next week
The saga of Matthew Hooton's latest NZ Herald column shows the trouble caused by poor fact-checking in Government and media alike, Marc Daalder writes On Thursday morning, the New Zealand Herald published a bombshell claim that Government data indicated the country was on the verge of running out of Covid-19 vaccines. No one was ...2 days ago - VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the G7 summit and the Biloela Tamil familySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Paddy Nixon discuss the week in politics. This week Michelle and Paddy discuss the G7 summit which is set to ...2 days ago
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is the most fun PS5 game yetGaming’s favourite furry-and-robot duo roars back into action with one of the best looking video games of all time, writes Sam Brooks.One of the saddest pivots in the last generation of gaming has been the slow move from gorgeous, family-friendly platformers towards action-oriented shoot-em-ups. There is pure joy to the ...2 days ago
- Matt Canavan suggested the cold snap means global warming isn’t real. We bust this and 2 other cli...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nerilie Abram, Professor; ARC Future Fellow; Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Deputy Director for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, Australian National University Steven Saphore/AAP Senator Matt Canavan sent many eyeballs rolling yesterday ...2 days ago
- The most endangered seals in the world once called Australia homeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Patrick Rule, Research Fellow, Monash University Peter Trusler, Author provided Monk seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals alive today, with just over 2,000 individuals remaining in the wild. These seals live in warm waters, specifically the ...2 days ago
- 80% Of Surveyed ECE Centres Say Pay Parity Deal Is Unaffordable
A survey of early childhood providers shows 80% can’t opt-in to the proposed six step teacher Pay Parity proposed by the Government. Only 40% of those surveyed are planning to opt-in to the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement pay scale the ...2 days ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending June 11The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz (Allen & Unwin, $33)The debut (crime, romance, feminist, political) ...2 days ago
- Commission Report Loses Sight Of Sustainable AgricultureThe Climate Change Commission's report, Inaia tonu nei, has addressed the need to make radical changes in transport, electricity and waste minimisation to prevent serious climate problems for the future. [1] However the report fails to consider ...2 days ago
- Taxpayers Should Not Pay For Hollywood PropagandaThe Taxpayers’ Union is condemning the prospect of taxpayer funding for a new film about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s response to the Christchurch mosque shootings. It is reported that the production team intends to apply for a Screen ...2 days ago
- The Friday Poem: Best recessed wall niche ideas, by Liz BreslinA poem from Liz Breslin’s new collection, In bed with the feminists.Best recessed wall niche ideasthe image is of a theta, a five, a plus + a threea theta is a world, split, is love over death, is the eighth letter, is the cracked her crypthand with h o p ...2 days ago
- Precedent Setting Hate Speech CaseThe Office of Human Rights Proceedings (OHRP) is bringing a case against the Attorney-General arguing current hate speech provisions under the Human Rights Act fail to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation. The gap was exposed in 2017 when a West ...2 days ago
- Auckland is the world’s ‘most liveable city’? Many Māori might disagreeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Henry, Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology www.shutterstock.com While I am always happy to celebrate any accolades my country and city might garner on the international stage, seeing Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau awarded the top ranking in a recent “most liveable ...2 days ago
- From The River To The SeaAlternative Jewish Voices has been thinking about that phrase, "from the river to the sea." Several weeks ago, Wellington had a series of big, many-lingual demonstrations seeking justice and safety for Palestinians. One was on the steps ...2 days ago
- Fishing And Shooting Public Overwhelmingly Opposed To Government InterferenceThe trout fishing and duck shooting public are overwhelmingly opposed to a proposal to inject Government appointees into Fish and Game. That is the interim result from an on-going survey by the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA) of ...2 days ago
- APEC leaders learn about waka and Aucklanders hear it cost $30m to encourage walking and cycling o...We confess to being bemused by some of the latest Beehive announcements and pronouncements. Auckland became a harbour of waka, in the PM’s remarks to APEC leaders who – we suspect – might not know what a waka looks like. Then there are moves afoot to protect us – from ...2 days ago
- ‘The parallels were freaky’: Toa Fraser on making Sweet Tooth in New Zealand during a pandemicThe director talks to David Farrier about filming Sweet Tooth in New Zealand as Covid took hold around the world, his mid- career pivot into TV, and why he chose to go public with his Parkinson’s diagnosis. This interview originally appeared on David Farrier’s newsletter Webworm.Right now, my love is ...2 days ago
- ‘Waiting to stab me’: new research reveals the threats and daily trauma judges face in their job...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin O’Sullivan, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, UNSW Shutterstock As a judicial officer, being subject to death threats not only for you but your family is a concern […] you are expected to simply soldier on and go to work the ...2 days ago
- The Most Open And Transparent Government Should Not Take A Year To Supply Official InformationThe fact that it took Radio New Zealand a year to get a response to an Official Information Act request about a heated bureaucratic turf war between the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries ...2 days ago
- Scorching takes on ‘Solar Power’: Lorde’s new single, reviewedA new Lorde single, heralding a new Lorde album, both called ‘Solar Power’. Sand between our toes, we listen to the tune and watch the video.It’s been a long wait: a full four years since Melodrama. But Lorde fans were rewarded for their patience this morning with a blast of ...2 days ago
- All you need to know about the new stock exchange for smaller NZ businessesA new stock exchange designed for SMEs – small and medium-sized enterprises – will open for trading in late June. Here’s how it will work.What’s all this then?A new stock exchange designed to provide New Zealand SMEs with a portal to become publicly listed is launching on June 21. Called ...2 days ago
- The Experts' Reaction Was Mute As No Rail Freight Over Truck Freight Mentioned Yet Globally Mos...‘Climate Commission’s Final Advice Calls For Step-up On Climate Action – Expert Reaction’ OUR REVIEW Considering the mass of experts assembled here to review with expert views on the Climate commissions final report to government it was another ...2 days ago
- Govt accused of double standards over health of state housesThe government has been accused of having one rule for private landlords and another for itself when it comes to meeting its own healthy homes standards. ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for ...Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. In promising to be New Zealand’s most open and transparent government ever, Labour has one key challenge: reform the Official Information Act. This vital piece of machinery for democracy is in terrible disrepair, and the Government has promised to rewrite it ...2 days ago
- The Bulletin: Pay talks set to resume after nurse strikeGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin for Friday June 11. Apologies for the delay, my alarm did not go off. Really! In today’s edition: The fallout from the nurses strike, Nick Smith leaves parliament with an apology and a protest targeting cyclists is slammed. Nurses and DHBs are ...2 days ago
- Government Work Load & Policy ImplementationWhen we think about government and its reason for being, we mainly think about development and maintenance of law & order and development and maintenance of infrastructure. So how does this all happen? Government makes decisions based on the will of the ...2 days ago
- Live updates, June 11: Rose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in new filmWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for June 11, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 8.20am: Rose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in new film Australian actress Rose Byrne is reportedly lined up to play our prime minister in a new ...2 days ago
- Proceed to your nearest (virtual) exit: gaming technology is teaching us how people respond to emerg...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruggiero Lovreglio, Senior Lecturer, Massey University Shutterstock Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) aren’t just for gaming anymore, they’re also proving to be useful tools for disaster safety research. In fact, they could save lives. Around the world, ...2 days ago
- Here’s how pharmacies could boost Australia’s COVID vaccine rolloutSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Jackson, Researcher, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Under Australia’s original COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan, community pharmacies were meant to be involved in administering vaccines from phase 2a. Phase 2a includes all adults over 50, among other priority ...2 days ago
- Tracking the transition: The ‘forgotten’ emissions undoing the work of Australia’s renewable e...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Saddler, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock World leaders including Prime Minister Scott Morrison will gather in the UK this weekend for the G7 summit. In a speech on Wednesday ahead of ...2 days ago
- Australian universities need to be more age-friendly — what does that look like in practice?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jed Montayre, Senior Lecturer (Nursing), Western Sydney University Shutterstock Longevity and healthy ageing programs worldwide have embraced the slogan “adding life to years”. Ageing well is driven by a combination of factors, including lifelong education and civic participation. That points ...2 days ago
- Our own Nomadland: the Australians caught in a COVID blind spotSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Davies, Professor of Human Geography, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock Australians have been told to stay home during lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While evidence of the efficacy of this approach as a public health strategy ...2 days ago
- Vital Signs: It’s not the Reserve Bank’s job to worry about housing pricesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Once again folks are pointing to the potential danger of Australia’s low interest rates. This week a poll of so-called “market economists” by ratings agency Fitch had only 12% of respondents in favour of the Reserve ...2 days ago
- Friday essay: a rare bird — how Europeans got the black swan so wrongSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Haworth, Senior Research Officer, Monash University Bernard Spragg/flickr The black swan is an Australian icon. The official emblem of Western Australia, depicted in the state flag and coat-of-arms, it decorates several public buildings. The bird is also the namesake ...2 days ago
- I really, really tried to like Meghan Markle’s book for childrenBut I failed, writes Catherine Woulfe, fresh from reading The Bench.When a book is published entirely because of who the writer is – and when that writer happens to be Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex – I think any reviewer should have to state their allegiances at the outset.So: I really like ...2 days ago
- Bare land included in $1bn tax crackdown on housing speculators
Treasury hikes long-run revenue forecasts to account for increased tax liability on residential property. ...2 days ago - Catalist launches share trading and capital raising market
The new market is aimed at companies valued at between $6 million and $60m, who are too small to list on the NZX. A new share trading and capital raising market has been launched aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Catalist has just received the necessary official approvals to allow public involvement. ...2 days ago - Changing South: Children's teeth a national crisis
Why are children as young as two having all their teeth taken out? Frank Film investigates the causes behind our national crisis in dental health. Clearance. The word brings to mind everything-must-go sales. Or clear-felling land. But in the world of dentistry “clearance” has a very different meaning. “Dental clearances ...2 days ago - New Zealand’s first ‘new wave’ mental health unit
The new Tiaho Mai mental health inpatient unit at Middlemore Hospital is the benchmark facility in the country. Newly released design guidelines for future builds will hopefully ensure its successes are replicated elsewhere, reports Oliver Lewis in part four of a series on mental health units in New Zealand. At the apex of the ...2 days ago - The Kiwi woman who changed basketball
For over four decades, Barbara Wheadon has helped to shape basketball - here and internationally - in her many roles, and has been recognised with the sport's highest honour. There aren't many who've impacted the sport of basketball in New Zealand, and around the world, like Barbara Wheadon. A leader, player, volunteer and ...2 days ago - Pain ahead to get Aucklanders out of cars
Aucklanders should prepare for upheaval as politicians back faster changes to transport options in the city to meet steep targets for cuts to transport emissions Auckland Council is backing faster moves to cut the use of private vehicles and expand funding for better public transport services in light of the big Climate ...2 days ago - This week's best-selling books
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias FICTION 1 Bug Week by Airini Beautrais (Victoria University Press, $30) Number one for the fourth consecutive week - a miracle for a collection of short stories. I interviewed ...2 days ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 11 June
...2 days ago - Ambitious waste targets call for major infrastructure changes
The Climate Change Commission’s final report to the Government calls for far greater reductions in waste and landfill emissions than the earlier draft Major changes to New Zealand’s waste infrastructure will be needed to meet the Climate Change Commission's report, released on Wednesday. The report recommends decreasing methane emissions from ...2 days ago
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