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- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #22
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 24 through Sat, May 30, 2020 Editor's Choice Antarctic Ocean Reveals New Signs of Rapid Melt of Ancient Ice, Clues About Future Sea Level Rise A study of seafloor ripples ...3 hours ago - “It’s Muller Time!”… oh wait, maybe not: Is National’s Election bid doomed (again)?
It’s almost painful to watch. Let’s be honest, maybe a pleasure too, in some quarters, but painful nonetheless. Because the fact is, for a democracy to function properly, any sitting Government does need honest and proper Opposition so that it doesn’t get ahead of itself. That’s what we should ...18 hours ago - Coronavirus pandemic leads to profound cutbacks in fossil fuel useThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk A banner on the International Energy Agency website spells it out in bold font: “The global oil industry is experiencing a shock like no other in its history.” As the response to the coronavirus pandemic upends the lives of billions of ...1 day ago
- Whither the Media?
The ownership of newspapers and televison channels is in turmoil, and they want to redisorganise public broadcasting. *Three years ago, I expressed concern in a column about the future of the (traditional) media. Nothing has happened since to reduce the concern. It was based on an earlier column which ...2 days ago - A victory for freedom of information in Australia
Australia's High Court has ruled that the "palace letters" between the queen and then-Governor-General John Kerr are public records rather than private papers: Historian Jenny Hocking has won her High Court bid to access the letters exchanged between then governor-general Sir John Kerr and the Queen around the time of ...2 days ago - Radiation: Views of the Week May 30
SATURDAY MAY 30Six60: Live at Western Springs 2020 (TVNZ 1, 8.45pm). Remember live concerts? The day will come again, friends, when we will be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in an uncomfortable sweaty venue with people we don’t know. It will happen. Sometimes the sound of concerts drifts over to the ...2 days ago - Josephine Varghese: Impressed by Jacinda Ardern’s leadership during the pandemic? Meet K.K. Shaila...
New Zealand and its prime minister Jacinda Ardern have received international attention and praise, rightly so, for decisive leadership, clear communication and scientific management of the coronavirus pandemic. Observers point out that the nation has been through multiple crises under Ardern’s leadership – such as the Christchurch terrorist attack and ...2 days ago - While we were locked down…
…a lot of things unrelated to the pandemic were happening. Relatively little attention was given to some major events on the global stage, so I thought I would do a quick recap of some of the high (or low) -lights, starting with something familiar. The common theme throughout is human ...2 days ago - Labour’s MuldoonismLabour's talk of gutting the RMA to push through "shovel ready" projects to boost employment after the pandemic predictably has every half-arsed pipe-dream crawling out of the woodwork demanding special treatment. Today, it's the West Coast inbreds, who are demanding a host of laws be rescinded so they can dig ...2 days ago
- Poisonous Legacy: Why George Floyd Could Be Choked While The Whole World Watched.
2 days ago - Don’t ask, don’t tellSince the government announced its pandemic wage subsidy, there have been regular stories about companies taking it and then sacking or refusing to pay their workers - essentially committing fraud. But how often does this happen? The Minister just doesn't want to know: Government ministers are not receiving up to ...2 days ago
- Holding The Centre."You call that a conservative? Nah, this is a conservative!" New Zealanders are in the market for a quiet and reassuring small-c conservative political centrist. The critical question, however, is which politician is currently playing that role? Who has mastered the art of relaxed, informal and intimate political communication? Who ...2 days ago
- The Limits Of Kindness.I’VE OFTEN WONDERED if South African immigrants passing through towns like Kerikeri and Kaikohe ever wonder how we do it. In their homeland, through the bitter years of Apartheid, keeping the races segregated required pass laws, Alsatian dogs, tear gas, rubber bullets and, all-too-often, live rounds. Not here. Not in ...2 days ago
- Gender-critical material on Redline (Vol 2)
Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from July 31, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Sports categories must be by sex, not gender identity Queer theory glossary Woke misogyny and homophobia: a gay critique of trans ideology Another unfortunate experiment? New Zealand’s transgender health policy and ...2 days ago - All Renewable Energy Plan for EuropeSmart Energy Europe: A Plan to provide 100% of ALL ENERGY using Renewable Energy to Europe Introduction All Energy renewable energy systems are often commented on here at Skeptical Science. Many comments suggest that it will be difficult, expensive or impossible to use renewable energy to power the world. To ...3 days ago
- Chickening out on clean riversThe government released its Action for Healthy Waterways package today, ostensibly with the goal of cleaning up our rivers and making them swimmable within a generation. Doing that, of course, requires confronting the cow in the room: the dairy industry which causes most of the pollution. But while they've imposed ...3 days ago
- Why countries don’t count emissions from goods they import
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 I would like to know if New Zealand’s carbon emissions ...3 days ago - Austerity threatens our lives againPublic health specialists perform a vital role protecting us from disease, and they've just literally saved tens of thousands of kiwi lives from the pandemic. But it turns out that they are grossly underfunded and understaffed, and the government isn't doing anything about it: The number of doctors in public ...3 days ago
- This is what failure looks likeRemember KiwiBuild? Previously the government's flagship policy, it was supposed to build thousands of new homes every year for kiwi families. But instead of flooding the market, we've got a pathetic dribble: The Government's former flagship housing policy is so far behind schedule it will take more than 400 years ...3 days ago
- Unions respond to welfare injustice
Don Franks Now Covid-19 restrictions allow gatherings of a hundred, an urgent hui needs calling. A special conference of the Council of Trade Unions. Today, workers face the greatest attack on employment, pay and conditions since the depression, we need a strong united union voice. As it stands now, organised ...3 days ago - The case for red meatGeorge Henderson New Zealand schools have introduced a climate change resource that suggests children “eat less meat and dairy”, even though teachers will not know how much meat or dairy any child in their care has eaten. Opinion pieces in the papers have called for the reduction of meat and ...4 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #21, 202067 Articles Observations & observational methods of global warming & effects Dramatic decline of Arctic sea ice linked to global warming A rising trend of double tropopauses over South Asia in a warming environment: implications for moistening of the lower stratosphere Determining the anthropogenic greenhouse gas contribution to ...4 days ago
- Ian Powell: Too Many DHBs? The Wrong QuestionQuestioning the number of district health boards in New Zealand has got to the extent that “too many DHBs” has become a perceived truth requiring no further elaboration. It is rarely challenged by policy advisers, academics, and journalists. But when one drills down further it becomes clear that the number ...4 days ago
- NZ First’s policy of starving migrantsWhile the government has dealt with the pandemic spectacularly well, it hasn't been perfect. One big flaw in its response has been its treatment of temporary migrants. The government has the power to extend social welfare benefits to temporary migrants during a pandemic, and the Epidemic Response Act clearly expects ...4 days ago
- NZIGA
The emergence of a new National party leader, seemingly out of nowhere, has – not surprisingly – raised a number of questions as to who Todd Mulller actually is and what makes him tick. He has been an MP for some time but seems to have hidden his light under ...4 days ago - Equality comes to Costa RicaCosta Rica has become the first country in Central America to recognise same-sex marriage: The first same-sex weddings have taken place in Costa Rica, the first Central American country to equalise its marriage legislation. A lesbian couple became the first to tie the knot in a ceremony that took ...4 days ago
- Lining their own pocketsThere's a new twist in the Winston Peters secret donation story. It appears that a significant chunk of NZ First's secret laundered donations goes straight into the pockets of the people administering the scheme: Tens of thousands in donor's funds given to the New Zealand First Foundation were spent paying ...4 days ago
- Political Roundup: Where is Todd Muller taking National?Is Todd Muller the Ned Flanders of the National Party? This is how he’s been characterised by political commentator Gordon Campbell, who suggests the change in leadership is, in Simpsons terms, akin to swapping the scary and cruel Monty Burns for Homer Simpson’s compassionate but conservative neighbour. There’s almost a ...4 days ago
- Muller off to a shaky start
We all know that many so-called journalists and political commentators in New Zealand work directly or indirectly for political parties or for certain political factions. This was obviously the case when pundit for hire Matthew Hooton launched a campaign against then National Party leader, Simon Bridges, over their numerous polling ...5 days ago - National’s Army Is On The Move.5 days ago
- Climate Change: Still not seriousNew National Party leader Todd Muller has been interviewed about his policies, and has promised to restart offshore fossil fuel exploration if elected: The Bay of Plenty MP rolled former leader Simon Bridges last week, but says the party has not changed its stance on previous promises. "That is ...5 days ago
- Hard News: Lately in cannabisAnyone who keeps an eye on evidence around cannabis and public health will be familiar with the Christchurch Health and Development Study. It's one of two local longitudinal studies frequently cited with respect to cannabis and youth development. But in a new article in the New Zealand Medical Journal, it is ...5 days ago
- Labour betrays its traditions – and the most vulnerable – with two-tier welfare paymentsIn the age of covid we are Jacinda’s team of five million, except for some. There has rarely been a more blatant case of discrimination against beneficiaries than Grant Robertson’s announcement yesterday that people who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus will receive weekly payments of $490 per week for 12 weeks and $250 per week for part time ...5 days ago
- Our response to mosque attacks honours lessons learned 75 years agoIt was 75 years ago this month that Germany surrendered and the Allies celebrated VE (Victory in Europe) Day. Millions of people around the world had been killed and many more injured or captured. It was an end to war not just for Europeans, but their allies too, in countries across Africa. But its impact is ...5 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily – 26 May 2020Today’s content Redundancy scheme Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Opinion: Unemployment payment scheme shows Govt knows benefits insufficient Rachel Sadler (Newshu): Auckland Action Against Poverty says Government’s Income Relief Payments create ‘two tiers of unemployed’ people Marc Daalder (Newsroom): New benefit leaves out migrants, existing beneficiaries Mike Treen (Daily Blog): A welcome welfare package but the ...5 days ago
- Level 2 days
Well, we are out of lockdown, essentially. I did end up getting the wage subsidy while we were on levels 3 and 4 but I would have been fine if we didn’t. The first day of level 2, the Thursday, the office opened again for the people who weren’t able ...6 days ago - A weird reappointmentA couple of weeks ago, Parliament reappointed Peter Boshier as Chief Ombudsman for another five years. There's nothing weird about the reappointment - it was recommended by the Officers of Parliament Committee, and Boshier is generally recognised as having done a good job in office (though at the same time, ...6 days ago
- Graham Adams: ‘Boring’ Todd Muller sets a trap with a hatWatching Todd Muller make his first speech as the newly minted Leader of the Opposition after Simon Bridges’ defenestration on Friday brought to mind a headmaster addressing a school assembly. He showed no particular desire to ingratiate himself with his audience although the occasional flash of self-deprecating humour indicated a ...6 days ago
- Labour doesn’t care about the already poorThe government has announced another income support scheme for people affected by the economic aftershocks of the pandemic: a $490 a week tax-free payment for the newly unemployed, which you can get even if you have a working partner. Which is great, because its supporting people who need help, but ...6 days ago
- The Green listThe Greens have released their party list, and it contains a few surprises. The one that's getting all the news is that the membership are clearly fans of Chlöe Swarbrick, and she has worked hard to earn that. But they've also favoured incumbent protection over new blood, and in the ...6 days ago
- When scientists get political: Lead fluoride-IQ researcher launches emotional attack on her scientif...
age credit: Science and Politics – Skeptically.org It seems impossible to keep politics out of science. It’s a pity because politics can end up forcing science to produce the results desired by ... 6 days ago- When can COVID-19 be Declared Eliminated from NZ? New Modelling Study
Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Matthew Parry, Dr Ayesha Verrall, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Martin Eichner (author details*) This blog details a recent modelling study we conducted. In it we estimated that it would take between 27 and 33 days of no new detected cases of COVID-19 for there to be ...6 days ago- Honeycreepers in Hawaii
The 2015 Schol Bio paper included a question about a group of birds known as honeycreepers, specifically, the 56 species endemic to the Hawaiian islands. (Or, were endemic: 18, or perhaps 19, are still living; the others are extinct.) Students who’ve already had a look at this paper as part of ...6 days ago- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #21
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Climate Feedback Article Review... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... What a Week’s Disasters Tell Us About Climate and the Pandemic Extreme weather presents an even bigger threat ...6 days ago- Liam Hehir: Rise of the blank slate political leader
Todd Muller has made a good start to his leadership, though it would obviously be pretty stupid to extrapolate too much from the first couple of days. Nevertheless, as a matter of speculation, it is interesting to think what success on his part might say about the preferences of the ...7 days ago- Guest post: So, just who is Todd Muller?
A guest post by Hamish Price.“A leader is a dealer in hope.”— Napoléon BonaparteCatholics have a name for potential successors to a dead pope. Papabile. The small coterie of distinguished cardinals who have what it takes to step up. Todd Muller has always been one.I first met Muller at a National ...7 days ago- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #21
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 17 through Sat, May 23, 2020 Editor's Choice More than 80 killed in India and Bangladesh as Cyclone Amphan heaps misery on coronavirus-hit areas A man salvages items from ...1 week ago- Guest Post: So that’s the leadership sorted. What now for National?
Two poor political polls within the same week had seen National for the first time in over a decade dropping major support in the face of a competent and assured COVID-19 health response from the Coalition government. Step forward the relatively unknown Todd Muller, who by Friday afternoon had secured ...1 week ago- Radiation: Views of the Week
SUNDAY MAY 24The Luminaries (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). There are an awful lot of indeterminate accents in The Luminaries; even lead Eve Hewson seems undecided about being Irish, and she is Irish. Fair play, accents can go badly wrong, so perhaps not over-egging was a consideration. Marton Csokas, always impeccable, and Himesh Patel ...1 week ago- Radiation: Views of the Week May 23
SUNDAY MAY 24The Luminaries (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). There are an awful lot of indeterminate accents in The Luminaries; even lead Eve Hewson seems undecided about being Irish, and she is Irish. Fair play, accents can go badly wrong, so perhaps not over-egging was a consideration. Marton Csokas, always impeccable, and Himesh Patel ...1 week ago- Bye bye Bridges
Let’s be honest; Simon Bridges was a disaster of a political leader. If he wasn’t attempting to criticise the Government’s perfectly good policy initiatives that the public generally supported, he was fudging his lines after getting caught out in yet another lie. When Jami-Lee Ross said Bridges “is a flawed individual ...1 week ago- What the 2020 Budget Forecasts Mean
The media treat budgets as bit of a circus: lots of theatre and soon forgotten. For a serious economist they show how a team of economists is thinking about the wider economy. The 2020 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) was the most difficult forecasting exercise in the history of ...1 week ago- Fightback against job losses
Air NZ shed 1,300 workers, Fletchers about to sack 1000. Economists Strateg.Ease predict over 12,400 jobs gone by March next year in central Auckland alone. Here’s Don Franks during the 2008 election campaign when he stood for the Workers Party. He’s talking about fightback strategies, ideas that he believes are ...1 week ago- The new leader of the National party!
1 week ago- Hard News: Speaking as equals: the rise of Know Your Stuff
Five years ago, Know Your Stuff didn't have a name. They were just a group of people from the festival community who began testing party drugs onsite because they'd seen the consequences of people taking substances they couldn't identify or didn't understand. They didn't want to see people in their ...1 week ago- Labour is still underfunding our health system
Last week, an article on Newsroom made it clear how the funder / provider split - a core part of our public service - was used to enable underfunding. The government holds the purse strings, but dumps responsibility for its decisions on providers, so they get the blame for poor ...1 week ago- Monitoring and Forecasting the COVID-19 Pandemic in New Zealand Including the Successful Impact of t...
Dr Jaijus Pallippadan-Johny1, Dr John McDermott2, Rodney Jones1 and Michael Duddin1 (1 Wigram Capital Advisors, Auckland; 2Motu Economic and Policy Research, Wellington) In this blog, we introduce our modelling approach to estimating the transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrate the usefulness of ...1 week ago- NZ Politics Daily – 22 May 2020
Today’s content National Party leadership vote Tim Watkin (Pundit): Pharaoh Bridges Swamped By Pestilence And Poor Polls Richard Harman (Politik): D-day for Bridges Matthew Hooton (Herald): National’s only leadership choice is Muller (paywalled) Luke Malpass (Stuff): It’s a tough race when you are Mr 29 per cent – Simon Bridges faces extraordinary pressure Sam Sachdeva ...1 week ago- Leaders Without Power
The Illusions Of Power: Does Jacinda Ardern, like Abraham Lincoln, wake in the dark watches of the night still enveloped in the terrors of life-and-death decision-making? Maybe – maybe not. She’s a twenty-first century prime minister, not so susceptible, perhaps, to the deep religious feeling and romanticism that was such ...1 week ago- Pharaoh Bridges swamped by pestilence and poor polls
Well, that seals it. The supposedly more National sympathetic One News-Colmar Brunton poll has tonight delivered Simon Bridges’ National Party a worst result than the Newshub-Reid Research three days agoi.On tonight’s numbers Labour sits at an “unprecedented” 59 percent, while National has slumped 17 percent to 29 percent. Anything in ...1 week ago- Simon Bridges scraps hard for relevance and his leadership on a few fronts: 24 hours until decision ...
The National Party are quite simply a party out of time… Literally, insofar as the 2020 Election is concerned, and certainly in terms of their ideological positioning which has grown far more trenchantly extreme in the last few years in particular, under the leadership of both Simon Bridges, and Paula ...1 week ago- Political Roundup: Todd Muller has the momentum to become National’s leader
If tonight’s 1News-Colmar Brunton poll result is anywhere near the 31% recorded in Monday’s Newshub-Reid Research poll, Simon Bridges will surely be dog tucker when his caucus colleagues meet tomorrow to vote on the National Party leadership. The momentum is with newcomer Todd Muller, who seems likely to be installed ...1 week ago- Hard News: Psychedelic science: Microdosing and more
At last year's Splore festival Listening Lounge sessions, one of the most popular discussions was the one on psychedelic therapy. So for this year's festival, I brought back two of the participants from that panel – Dr Will Evans and Amadeus Diamond – and was delighted to be able to ...1 week ago- Microcopter money in Palmerston?
The government is reportedly looking at "helicopter money" - giving cash directly to people to spend - as a way of stimulating the economy in the wake of the pandemic. But its not just central government: Palmerston North City Council is looking at the same thing, though on a much ...1 week ago- New Zealand’s COVID-19 Tracer app won’t help open a ‘travel bubble’ with Australia anytime s...
Mahmoud Elkhodr, CQUniversity Australia New Zealanders finally have access to the government’s new tracing app to help people monitor their movements as lockdown continues to ease. As businesses can now open, the NZ COVID Tracer app allows people to keep a register of the places they visit. This “digital diary” ...1 week ago- Does National Still Need A Street-Fighting Man?
1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #20, 2020
68 Articles Physical science of global warming & effects A conceptual model for anticipating the impact of landscape evolution on groundwater recharge in degrading permafrost environments Empirical models for predicting water and heat flow properties of permafrost soils Circulation and tides in a cooler upper atmosphere: dynamical effects ...1 week ago- Recession hits Māori and Pasifika harder. They must be part of planning New Zealand’s COVID-19 re...
Tahu Kukutai, University of Waikato; Helen Moewaka Barnes, Massey University; Tim McCreanor, Massey University, and Tracey Mcintosh As schools and businesses reopen and attention shifts to the longer-term repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that Māori be involved in decision making more equitably than has so far happened. ...2 weeks ago- Free speech in pandemic and postmodern times
Dane Giraud from The Free Speech Coalition talks with Redline writer and editor Daphna Whitmore on cancel culture, gender ideology, postmodernism and irrationalism. They look at the free speech implications of issues like the Twitter mob, the Government’s proposed emergency police powers, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Free Speech interview ...2 weeks ago- Why we need to focus on increased consumption as much as population growth
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 Almost every threat to modern humanity can be traced simply ...2 weeks ago- Submit!
The Finance and Expenditure Committee is holding an inquiry into the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 which was rushed through Parliament last week, and has called for submissions. Submissions are due by Sunday, 28 June 2020. You can either submit online through the form above, or by posting dead ...2 weeks ago- Climate Change: Ambition in Spain
While the world is currently struggling with the pandemic, we have another crisis to deal with as well: climate change. Fortunately, not everyone has forgotten about it, with Spain announcing ambitious plans to go net-zero by 2050: Under the law, which still needs to be approved by Parliament, the government ...2 weeks ago- New study touted by anti-fluoridation campaigners actually indicates fluoridation is safe
Children used in this study were from Lintingkou town (a normal-fluoride/control area) and Dakoutun town (a high-fluoride area) in Baodi district of Tianjin, China. The towns are 25 km apart. Anti-fluoridation activists on ... 2 weeks ago- NZ Politics Daily – 20 May 2020
Today’s content National Party leadership challenge, Newshub/Reid Research poll Jamie Ensor (Newshub): Todd Muller, Nikki Kaye to challenge for National Party leadership – source 1News: Simon Bridges acknowledges coup attempt within his own party after disastrous poll Matthew Theunissen (RNZ): Simon Bridges to face National Party leadership challenge Jamie Ensor (Newshub): MPs will challenge for ...2 weeks ago- The Virus and The Election
When we see how the pandemic is being handled in the rest of the world, we can thank our lucky stars that we live here, in New Zealand, and under our current government, led by Jacinda Ardern. The latest polls suggest that this is exactly how Kiwis feel. But the ...2 weeks ago- Lake Brunner’s Mount Te Kinga to go Predator Free
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Hon Eugenie Sage, Minister of Conservation The West Coast forests of Mount Te Kinga at Kotuku Whakaoho/Lake Brunner are the latest predator free project to receive Government funding, announced Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher ...2 days ago - Green Party welcomes crucial financial support for creatives
The Green Party says new government support for creatives and artists is a vital lifeline for a sector struggling to survive the COVID crisis. ...2 days ago - Strongest ever water reforms mean swimmable rivers within a generationThe Green Party says major freshwater reforms announced today provide the strongest ever protections of our waterways, to help ensure the next generation can swim in the rivers of Aotearoa. ...3 days ago
- Greens work to secure inquiry into Wild West student accommodation sectorThe Green Party has begun the process for a Select Committee inquiry into student accommodation, which has been exposed during COVID-19 as an under-regulated sector that straddles students with unfair debt. ...4 days ago
- New Zealand joins global search for COVID-19 vaccineRt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Hon Dr David Clark, Minister of Health Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods, and Health Minister David Clark today announced a COVID-19 vaccine strategy, ...5 days ago
- Budget 2020: Five things to know
Budget 2020 is about rebuilding together, supporting jobs, getting business moving and the books back into the black. It’s an integral part of our COVID-19 economic response, and our plan to grow our economy and get New Zealand moving again. Here’s a quick look at the five top things you ...6 days ago - Coalition Government approves essential upgrades on Ōhakea Air BaseThe Coalition Government has approved $206 million in essential upgrades at Ōhakea Air Base. Defence Minister Ron Mark said the money would be spent on improving old infrastructure. He said safety issues would be addressed, as well as upgrades to taxiways, accommodation and fresh, storm and waste water systems. "This ...1 week ago
- Attributable to the Rt Hon Winston PetersRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First “I am not persisting with this case just for myself, but for all people who have had their privacy breached. Privacy of information is a cornerstone of our country’s democracy. Without it our society truly faces a bleak future. We now ...2 weeks ago
- Forestry Minister Shane Jones moves to protect sawmillsForestry Minister Shane Jones has introduced a Bill to Parliament that he says will "force more transparency, integrity and respect" for the domestic wood-processing sector through the registration of log traders and practice standards. The Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill had its first reading in ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP joins international call to cancel developing countries’ debtGreen MP Golriz Ghahraman is joining over 300 lawmakers from around the world in calling on the big banks and the IMF to forgive the debt of developing countries, in the wake of the COVID crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- Forestry Minister Shane Jones swipes back at billion trees criticsForestry Minister Shane Jones says concerns that carbon foresters are planting pine trees that will never be harvested are the result of "misinformation". "The billion tree strategy is an excellent idea, unfortunately from time to time it's tainted by misinformation spread by the National Party or their grandees, hiding in scattered ...2 weeks ago
- Budget boost for refugee families a win for compassionThe Green Party welcomes funding in the budget to reunite more refugees with their families, ensuring they have the best chance at a new life in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...2 weeks ago
- How Budget 2020 is supporting jobsThis year’s Budget is about rebuilding New Zealand together in the face of COVID-19. Jobs are central to how we’re going to do that.There’s a lot of targeted investment for employment in this year’s Budget, with announcements on creating new jobs, training people for the jobs we have, and supporting ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters says China didn’t want NZ to go into lockdownSpeaking to Stuff's Coronavirus NZ podcast, Foreign Minister Winston Peters revealed China tried to dissuade New Zealand from going into lockdown. “Without speaking out of turn, they wanted a discussion as to why we were doing it, because they thought it was an overreaction,” Mr Peters told Stuff’s Coronavirus NZ podcast. He also ...2 weeks ago
- Changes made to Overseas Investment Act to protect New Zealand assetsThe Coalition Government is making changes to the Overseas Investment Act to ensure New Zealand assets don't fall into the hands of foreign ownership in the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Associate Minister of Finance David Parker announced the Act will be amended to bring forward a national interest ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters: Trans-Tasman bubble to help tourism industry make swift recoveryA quick start to a trans-Tasman bubble could see the tourism industry make a swift recovery, according to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. "I believe tourism will turn around dramatically faster than people think," Mr Peters told reporters after Thursday's Budget. "Why? Because I think the Tasman bubble is [going ...2 weeks ago
- Rt. Hon Winston Peters: Budget SpeechRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First Please check against delivery https://vimeo.com/418303651 Budget 2020: Jobs, Business and Balance Introduction Acknowledgements to all Cabinet colleagues, and party ministers Tracey Martin, Shane Jones and Ron Mark, Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau and to caucus colleagues. Thank you for your support, your ...2 weeks ago
- Jacinda Ardern’s 2020 Budget SpeechRead Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Budget 2020 Speech. ...2 weeks ago
- Budget 2020: Next steps to end family and sexual violenceThe 2020 Budget includes significant support to stabilise New Zealand’s family violence services, whose work has been shown to be so essential throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. ...2 weeks ago
- Investment in housing gives more people access to the home they deserveThe Green Party says huge new investment in public and transitional housing will get thousands more families into the warm, safe homes they deserve. ...2 weeks ago
- Budget 2020: Huge investment in green nature based jobs jump starts sustainable COVID recoveryThe Green Party says the $1.1 billion environmental investment in this year’s budget to create thousands of green jobs will help jump start a sustainable recovery from the COVID crisis. ...2 weeks ago
- Grant Robertson’s 2020 Budget SpeechRead Minister of Finance Grant Robertson's Budget 2020 Speech. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters tells struggling migrant workers ‘you should probably go home’Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said today the Coalition Government told foreigners at the start of the Covid-19 crisis that if their circumstances had changed dramatically, they should go home. "And 50,000 did," Mr Peters said. Official advice to Cabinet revealed there is potentially 380,000 foreigners and migrant workers in ...3 weeks ago
- New Zealand First welcomes today’s Alert Level 2 announcementRt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the decision today to go to Alert Level 2 from midnight Wednesday, says Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters. Alert Level 2 will mean a return to work for the vast majority of New Zealand’s businesses. A return ...3 weeks ago
- Nurses to be protected after amendment to First Responders BillNurses now look set to get more protection from violence at work, under a proposed new law. This after NZ First MP Darroch Ball's "Protection for First Responders Bill", which introduces a six-month minimum sentence for assaults on first responders, will now also cover emergency department healthcare workers. The ...3 weeks ago
- Nurses to get more protection, added to ‘First Responders’ legislationDarroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Law and Order Spokesperson An amendment to the ‘Protection of First Responders Bill’ is being tabled which will see emergency department healthcare workers included in the legislation. “During this COVID-19 crisis we have seen reports of violence and specifically increased incidents of spitting towards ...3 weeks ago
- Govt supports King Country farmers to lift freshwater quality
Healthier waterways are front and centre in a new project involving more than 300 King Country sheep, beef and dairy farmers. The Government is investing $844,000 in King Country River Care, a group that helps farmers to lift freshwater quality and farming practice, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Yesterday ...2 days ago - Support for arts and music sector recoveryA jobseekers programme for the creative sector and four new funds have been set up by the Government to help our arts and music industry recover from the blow of COVID-19. Thousands of jobs will be supported through today’s $175 million package in a crucial economic boost to support the ...2 days ago
- Legislative changes to support the wellbeing of veterans and their familiesMinister for Veterans Ron Mark has welcomed the First Reading of a Bill that will make legislative changes to further improve the veterans’ support system. The Veterans’ Support Amendment Bill No 2, which will amend the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, passed First Reading today. The bill addresses a number of ...2 days ago
- Christ Church Cathedral – Order in CouncilViews sought on Order in Council to help fast track the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Hon Poto Williams, will be seeking public written comment, following Cabinet approving the drafting of an Order in Council aimed at fast-tracking the reinstatement of the ...2 days ago
- New Zealanders’ human rights better protected in new BillThe law setting out New Zealanders’ basic civil and human rights is today one step towards being strengthened following the first reading of a Bill that requires Parliament to take action if a court says a statute undermines those rights. At present, a senior court can issue a ‘declaration of ...3 days ago
- Deep concern at Hong Kong national security legislationForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today reiterated the deep concern of the New Zealand Government following confirmation by China’s National People’s Congress of national security legislation relating to Hong Kong. “New Zealand shares the international community’s significant and long-standing stake in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand ...3 days ago
- Government invests in New Zealand’s cultural recoveryThousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and heritage organisations have been given much-needed support to recover from the impact of COVID-19, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern announced today. “The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic,” Jacinda ...3 days ago
- Better protection for New Zealand assets during COVID-19 crisisKey New Zealand assets will be better protected from being sold to overseas owners in a way contrary to the national interest, with the passage of the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Bill. The Bill, which passed its third reading in Parliament today, also cuts unnecessary red tape to help attract ...3 days ago
- Cleaning up our rivers and lakesSetting higher health standards at swimming spots Requiring urban waterways to be cleaned up and new protections for urban streams Putting controls on higher-risk farm practices such as winter grazing and feed lots Setting stricter controls on nitrogen pollution and new bottom lines on other measures of waterway health Ensuring ...3 days ago
- Record year for diversity on Govt boardsThe Government is on the verge of reaching its target of state sector boards and committees made up of at least 50 percent women, says Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter and Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa. For the first time, the Government stocktake measures the number of Māori, ...3 days ago
- New appointments to the Commerce CommissionThe Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister and Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, has today announced the appointment of Tristan Gilbertson as the new Telecommunications Commissioner and member of the Commerce Commission. “Mr Gilbertson has considerable experience in the telecommunications industry and a strong reputation amongst his peers,” ...3 days ago
- Historic pay equity settlement imminent for teacher aidesThe Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do. “Teacher aides are frontline ...4 days ago
- Govt delivers security for construction subcontractorsSubcontractors will have greater certainty, more cashflow support and job security with new changes to retention payments under the Construction Contracts Act says Minister for Building and Construction, Jenny Salesa. A recent review of the retentions money regime showed that most of the building and construction sector is complying with ...4 days ago
- New Zealand and Singapore reaffirm tiesPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have marked the first anniversary of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership with a virtual Leaders’ Meeting today. The Enhanced Partnership, signed on 17 May 2019, provides the framework for cooperation across the four main areas of trade, defence and ...4 days ago
- JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE ON THE FIRST AN...On 17 May 2019, New Zealand and Singapore established an Enhanced Partnership to elevate our relations. The Enhanced Partnership – based on the four pillars of trade and economics, security and defence, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links – has seen the long-standing relationship between our countries strengthen over the ...4 days ago
- Government investment supports the acquisition of new Interislander ferriesState-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters has welcomed KiwiRail’s announcement that it is seeking a preferred shipyard to build two new rail-enabled ferries for the Cook Strait crossing. “This Government is committed to restoring rail to its rightful place in New Zealand. Bigger, better ships, with new technology are yet another ...4 days ago
- Better protection for seabirdsBetter protection for seabirds is being put in place with a new National Plan of Action to reduce fishing-related captures, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 outlines our commitment to reduce fishing-related captures and associated seabird ...4 days ago
- Milestone in cash flow support to SMEsAlmost $1 billion in interest-free loans for small businesses More than 55,000 businesses have applied; 95% approved Average loan approx. $17,300 90% of applications from firms with ten or fewer staff A wide cross-section of businesses have applied, the most common are the construction industry, accommodation providers, professional firms, and ...4 days ago
- Government protects kids as smoking in cars ban becomes lawThousands of children will have healthier lungs after the Government’s ban on smoking in cars with kids becomes law, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. This comes after the third reading of Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill earlier today. “This law makes it ...5 days ago
- Parliament returns to a safe normalThe special Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) has successfully concluded its role, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said today. The committee was set up on 25 March by the agreement of Parliament to scrutinise the Government and its actions while keeping people safe during levels 4 and 3 of lockdown. ...5 days ago
- Foreign Minister makes four diplomatic appointmentsForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced four diplomatic appointments: New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium, High Commissioners to Nauru and Niue, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “As the world seeks to manage and then recover from COVID-19, our diplomatic and trade networks are more important than ever,” Mr Peters said. “The ...5 days ago
- New Bill to counter violent extremism onlineNew Zealanders will be better protected from online harm through a Bill introduced to Parliament today, says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “The internet brings many benefits to society but can also be used as a weapon to spread harmful and illegal content and that is what this legislation targets,” ...5 days ago
- Mycoplasma bovis eradication reaches two year milestone in good shapeNew Zealand’s world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit ...5 days ago
- New payment to support Kiwis through COVIDFurther support for New Zealanders affected by 1-in-100 year global economic shock 12-week payment will support people searching for new work or retraining Work programme on employment insurance to support workers and businesses The Government today announced a new temporary payment to support New Zealanders who lose their jobs due ...6 days ago
- PGF reset helps regional economiesThe Provincial Growth Fund will play a vital role in New Zealand’s post-COVID-19 recovery by creating jobs in shorter timeframes through at least $600 million being refocused on projects with more immediate economic benefits, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The funding is comprised of repurposed Provincial Growth ...1 week ago
- Government exempts some home improvements from costly consentsGovernment exempts some home improvements from costly consents Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker ...1 week ago
- Concern at introduction of national security legislation for Hong KongForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand Government has reacted with concern at the introduction of legislation in China’s National People’s Congress relating to national security in Hong Kong. “We have a strong interest in seeing confidence maintained in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle under which Hong ...1 week ago
- Samoa Language Week theme is perfect for the post-COVID-19 journeyThe Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, says the theme for the 2020 Samoa Language Week is a perfect fit for helping our Pacific communities cope with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, and to prepare now for the journey ahead as New Zealand focuses on recovery plans and rebuilding New ...1 week ago
- Adult kakī/black stilt numbers soarA nearly 40-year programme to protect one of New Zealand’s most critically endangered birds is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī/black stilt recently recorded living in the wild, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. “Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s ...1 week ago
- Waikato-Tainui settlement story launched on 25th anniversary of Treaty signingThe story of the Waikato-Tainui Treaty process and its enduring impact on the community is being told with a five-part web story launched today on the 25th anniversary of settlement, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “I am grateful to Waikato-Tainui for allowing us to help capture ...1 week ago
- Taita College to benefit from $32 million school redevelopmentTaita College in the Hutt Valley will be redeveloped to upgrade its ageing classrooms and leaky roofs, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “The work is long overdue and will make a lasting difference to the school for generations to come,” Chris Hipkins said. “Too many of our schools are ...1 week ago
- Redeployment for workers in hard-hit regionsThe Government is allocating $36.72 million to projects in regions hard hit economically by COVID-19 to keep people working, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Projects in Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Rotorua and Queenstown will be funded from the Government’s $100 million worker ...1 week ago
- $35m to build financial resilience for New ZealandersA $35m boost to financial capability service providers funded by MSD will help New Zealanders manage their money better both day to day and through periods of financial difficulty, announced Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “It’s always been our position to increase support to key groups experiencing or at risk ...1 week ago
- New District Court Judge appointedDunedin barrister Melinda Broek has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Rotorua, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Broek has iwi affiliations to Ngai Tai. She commenced her employment in 1996 with Scholefield Cockroft Lloyd in Invercargill specialising in family and ...1 week ago
- $206 million investment in upgrades at Ohakea Air Force BaseThe Coalition Government has approved a business case for $206 million in upgrades to critical infrastructure at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, with the first phase starting later this year, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. The investment will be made in three phases over five years, and ...1 week ago
- Review of CAA organisational culture releasedTransport Minister Phil Twyford today released the Ministry of Transport’s review of the organisational culture at the Civil Aviation Authority. Phil Twyford says all employees are entitled to a safe work environment. “I commissioned this independent review due to the concerns I had about the culture within the CAA, and ...1 week ago
- New Board appointed at Stats NZEnsuring that Stats NZ’s direction and strategy best supports government policy decisions will be a key focus for a new Governance Advisory Board announced today by the Minister for Statistics, James Shaw. The new Governance Advisory Board will provide strategic advice to Stats NZ to ensure it is meeting New ...1 week ago
- New Principal Environment JudgeEnvironment Judge David Kirkpatrick of Auckland has been appointed as the Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Judge Kirkpatrick was appointed an Environment Judge in February 2014. From December 2013 to July 2016 he was Chair of the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel. Prior to appointment he ...2 weeks ago
- Digital connectivity boost for urban maraeA programme to connect marae around the country to the internet has received $1.4 million to expand to include urban marae in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The funding for the Marae Connectivity Programme ...2 weeks ago
- Govt increases assistance to drought-stricken Hawke’s Bay farmersThe Government will provide $500,000 to the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to help farmers facing one of the worst droughts in living memory, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Hawke's Bay's five local Government leaders asking me to contribute to the Fund. ...2 weeks ago
- The Unity Books children’s bestsellers for the month of May
What’s the best way to get adults reading? Get them reading when they’re children – and there’s no better place to start than the Unity Children’s Bestseller Chart.AUCKLAND1 The Noisy Book by Soledad Bravi (Gecko Press, $25, 0-2)An unusually long board book. What this means is it’ll take your toddler ...15 mins ago - An epic poem for Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 101
An epic poem by Motueka writer Cliff Fell in honour of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, one of the great founders of the Beat Generation, who recently turned 101. 101 Bows to Lawrence Ferlinghetti on the Occasion of His 101st Birthday Like one who writes the world into Heaven * or published ...22 mins ago - The story behind the album that just hit No 1 – 18 years after its releaseBlindspott’s self-titled debut album has just hit No 1 for the second time. Fiona Connor talks to the resurgent West Auckland band.Content with playing rock covers out of west Auckland garages, longtime friends Damian Alexander, Marcus Powell and Shelton Woolright never thought it was within their reach to write and ...28 mins ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: Many want to go to alert level one right now. I get that. But we’d be fools to rus...With New Zealand on the brink of zero known active cases of Covid-19, the clamour for an immediate move to alert level one is growing among politicians, media commentators, and many others. That’s understandable, but there are very serious reasons to be careful.We’ve had a string of days with no ...1 hour ago
- Live updates, May 31: First ever crewed space launch by a private companyFor all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this ...2 hours ago
- Our best chance to stamp smoking out
New Zealand is not succeeding in enabling and supporting people to quit smoking at the scale required to achieve Smokefree 2025. ASH's Deborah Hart outlines what we need to do. Most parents have experienced the plaintive cries from the back seat, “Are we there yet?” The heart drops. You wonder how ...5 hours ago - A short history of the New Zealand jerseyFrom the highs (Ralph Hotere’s turtle neck), to the lows (Bain), the jersey is as much a part of this place as the jandal or the Swandri, but it resists such easy nostalgia, writes John Summers. Whenever it comes time to lure tourists back to our shores again, we really must ...5 hours ago
- Why New Zealand must join the global call for a people’s vaccineLike other pharmaceutical products, a potential Covid-19 vaccine is at risk of being controlled by corporate interests. That’s why Oxfam’s Jo Spratt is urging all New Zealanders to join the international call for a vaccine that’s free for everyone.As we celebrate a long weekend and head further away from the ...5 hours ago
- Jakarta Six activists for Papua freedom convicted of treason set free
By Amanda Siddharta in Jakarta Six activists charged with treason in Jakarta for organising a protest rally for independence last August outside the presidential palace have been freed from prison. Five of the activists known as the Jakarta Six – Paulus Suryanta Ginting, Ambrosius Mulait, Charles Kosay, and Dano Anes ...12 hours ago - In the garden – and with the PM – with artist John Ward KnoxIn a photo essay by Justin Spiers and interview with Spinoff art editor Mark Amery, artist John Ward Knox introduces his Karitāne home and garden, and various projects – bees, pond, a portrait on silk of the prime minister from a live sitting. Ward Knox also answers one ...18 hours ago
- Dietary Requirements: Politics, poutine and quarantineDietary Requirements is The Spinoff’s monthly podcast in which we eat, drink and talk about it too, with special thanks to Freedom Farms. This month, we’re joined by The Spinoff’s resident poutine authority (and politics editor) Justin Giovannetti for our second together-but-apart Zoom pod.On this month’s Dietary Requirements, we’re still physically ...22 hours ago
- Channelling the goddesses: Wāhine Māori musicians on reclaiming traditionThere aren’t many women composing for taonga puoro. In fact, there aren’t many people like Te Kahureremoa Taumata and Khali Phillips-Barbara at all.Earlier in the year I was lucky enough to attend the Te Hā annual Māori writers’ hui, where I met (among many inspirational kaituhi Māori) a poet and ...23 hours ago
- ‘Stay home, stay safe, be kind’: What NZ can teach the world about covid-19New Zealand implemented one of the earliest lockdowns and has largely succeeded in eliminating the coronavirus under the leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Some of the country’s success has been attributed to her leadership, trust in science, and clear communication during the crisis. We get an update from Michael ...23 hours ago
- A day later, the culture sector and farmers (some, anyway) get a second helping of public funding
Just a day after announcing financial help for the culture community and for farmers, the Beehive brought news of even more money for those groups. In the case of the farmers, mind you, the help is focused on just one region. The Government is investing $844,000 in King Country River ...24 hours ago - James Tapp: Confronting Pākehā Privilege as a white male studentIt’s only been a year and half since I started university, but sometimes that’s enough time to realise more about the world than you could ever imagine. For me, the biggest thing, the one thing intertwined into every part of my life, is privilege. I’m a white male, and if ...24 hours ago
- Remote working could change how, and where, we earn a livingCovid-19 has given rise to a new era of remote working, potentially opening up more income, and regions, to New Zealand’s freelance economy. For many of us, the only obstacle that ever stood in the way of a prosperous life in Dunedin was its tiny job market. Now, thanks to Covid-19 ...1 day ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Covid19: Deaths and Cases in the last week of May 20201 day ago
- Perhaps we need Peters to temper the adulation and prevent the landslide re-election of the Ardern g...
Jacinda Ardern and her government have won global admiration for vanquishing the coronavirus. At home their ratings have soared. Polls show more than 80% of those sampled support the way the government handled the pandemic crisis. New Zealanders accept without a blink the virus is universal and ubiquitous, a threat ...1 day ago - Progressive Regulation Called For On World Vape Day
Today marks World Vape Day, with Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) joining the hundreds of consumers and consumer advocacy organisations worldwide in the celebration that we #LiveLifeSmokeFree. Saturday, 30 May will be celebrated around the globe ...1 day ago - English is my first language: On being Asian and writing in AotearoaGrowing up Asian in white New Zealand, Joanna Cho tried to find a mirror in books. I went to a proud, decile 10 high school that had few POC. I prided myself on being part of the “white” group. When my boyfriend in Year 9 broke up with me, because his ...1 day ago
- Live updates, May 30: Trump withdraws US from WHOFor all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this ...1 day ago
- Short story: The Pack, by Kathryn van Beek
"They'll never believe her": a disturbing story by Kathryn van Beek. Part of his brain tells him to piss in the bed. The other part tells him to get up. He swings his legs out from under the galaxy print duvet and plants his feet in a pool of vomit. ...1 day ago - Let’s not ignore the other pandemic
Might we be ignoring the other pandemic – slower-moving and less visible than COVID-19 - that afflicts NZ, asks Niki Bezzant Twenty years ago, Professor Jim Mann wrote an editorial in the medical journal The Lancet, entitled: Stemming the Tide of Diabetes. It may have been one of the first times ...1 day ago - Extra Time: Hale’s vexing wait for NRLW
As the Warriors men's team hit the field running again, Warriors women's captain Georgia Hale remains frustrated, waiting for the NRL women's competition to get the green light. On this week's Extra Time podcast, Hale says its difficult trying to stay focused on training when there's no guarantee the NRLW premiership season will ...1 day ago - NZ is on the brink of zero active cases. Who else is in the Covid-free club?Yesterday New Zealand recorded zero new cases for the seventh day in a row, and just one person still classified as an ‘active case’. How does that compare with other Covid-stamping countries?As we enter our first long weekend since the end of lockdown, we also prepare to join a small ...1 day ago
- The Screen Industry Workers Bill is good for our industry – Jennifer Ward-LealandThis week, parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee has been hearing submissions on the Screen Industry Workers Bill. Equity New Zealand president Jennifer Ward-Lealand explains why the actors’ union supports it. The Screen Industry Workers bill rolls back some of the worst aspects of the 2010 Hobbit Law, and we believe ...1 day ago
- Digital-only local newspapers will struggle to serve the communities that need them mostSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chrisanthi Giotis, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Communication, University of Technology Sydney This week News Corp Australia announced the end of the print editions of 112 suburban and regional mastheads – about one-fifth of all of Australia’s local newspapers. Of those, 36 ...1 day ago
- Scott Morrison strengthens his policy power, enshrining national cabinet and giving it “laser-like...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has won support for a major restructure of federal-state architecture which scraps the Council of Australian Governments, enshrines the “national cabinet” permanently, and pares down a plethora of ancillary ministerial bodies. The Prime ...2 days ago
- Labour Party MP Louisa Wall withdraws her nomination for Manurewa
Labour Party MP Louisa Wall has withdrawn her nomination for the Manurewa seat, which she has held since 2011. ...2 days ago - Trump’s Twitter tantrum may wreck the internetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia US President Donald Trump, who tweeted more than 11,000 times in the first two years of his presidency, is very upset with Twitter. Earlier this week Trump tweeted complaints about mail-in ballots, ...2 days ago
- Government to repay 470,000 unlawful robodebts in what might be Australia’s biggest-ever financial...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Terry Carney, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Sydney In a near-complete capitulation, the government will refund every alleged overpayment it has collected from welfare recipients under the discredited “robodebt” system of income averaging. Unveiling the automated system in mid-2016 then treasurer ...2 days ago
- Jokowi deploys army, police to enforce Indonesia’s coronavirus ‘new normal’By Marchio Irfan Gorbiano in Jakarta President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has announced that the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police will be deployed to guard crowded places in preparation for the so-called “new normal”. During a visit to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle MRT station with TNI commander Air Marshal ...2 days ago
- A week of upsets for both sides of political divideAnalysis: Winston Peters rattles the coalition cage, National's new leader gets the sort of start he didn't want and the government's unemployment relief plan raises some serious questions. ...2 days ago
- High Court ruling on ‘Palace letters’ case paves way to learn more about The Dismissal – and o...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney The High Court has ruled that Sir John Kerr’s correspondence with the queen comprises “Commonwealth records”. This means access to them is now in Australian hands and can no longer be vetoed by ...2 days ago
- Whoever invents a coronavirus vaccine will control the patent – and, importantly, who gets to use ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Stoianoff, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney With research laboratories around the world racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine, a unique challenge has emerged: how to balance intellectual property rights with serving the public good. Questions of patent protection ...2 days ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on JobKeeper, JobMaker, and Eden-MonaroSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan talks with Professor Caroline Fisher (remotely) about the week in politics, including the treasury’s miscalculation on JobKeeper, the prime minister’s promise to “make the boat go faster”, and the limitations of the coronavirus ...2 days ago
- Really Australia, it’s not that hard: 10 reasons why renewable energy is the futureSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Australia’s latest greenhouse gas figures released today show national emissions fell slightly last year. This was by no means an economy-wide effort – solar and wind energy did most of the heavy lifting. Emissions ...2 days ago
- After a storm, microplastics in Sydney’s Cooks River increased 40 foldSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hitchcock, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Canberra Each year the ocean is inundated with 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic washed in from land. A big proportion of this plastic is between 0.001 to 5 millimetres, and called “microplastic”. But ...2 days ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on saving Australia’s tourism and constr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As Australia slowly emerges from isolation, the nation’s economy is reopening, and even looking rather better than expected. But Australia still faces grim months ahead as unemployment numbers grow and the true extent of business ...2 days ago
- Review: Lady Gaga’s Chromatica sheds conflict for club-ready bangersLady Gaga’s sixth album, Chromatica, sees the popstar stepping back into big pop after the experiment that was Joanne, but at what cost, asks Sam Brooks.Since Lady Gaga’s last album, 2016’s critically shrugged off Joanne, the star has stepped as far away from her meat-dress persona as possible, collecting a ...2 days ago
- JobStart Policy No Substitute For Tax CutsThe National Party’s JobStart policy — under which businesses could claim $10,000 per new employee, for up to ten new employees — looks great on paper but would fail in practice, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman ...2 days ago
- Two Cents’ Worth: Rugby’s fight for survival
With million-dollar losses and huge staff cutbacks, there are fears rugby is in its death throes. Two Cents' Worth looks at the economics of our national sport. ...2 days ago - The coronavirus pandemic is boosting the big tech transformation to warp speedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zac Rogers, Research Lead, Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Governance, Flinders University The coronavirus pandemic has sped up changes that were already happening across society, from remote learning and work to e-health, supply chains and ...2 days ago
- National pitches $10k hiring bonus scheme
Put on the back foot over a lack of vision, National leader Todd Muller has announced the first policy under his rule - aimed at helping employees get back into work National has unveiled a proposal to provide $10,000 cash payments to businesses who hire additional employees, in what is ...2 days ago - Review Of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan To RestartThe Department of Conservation (DOC) and Ngāi Tahu in consultation with the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board have agreed to start a new review of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan. The process for reviewing both the ...2 days ago
- There is no specific crime of catfishing. But is it illegal?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University Twenty-year-old Sydney woman Renae Marsden died by suicide after she was the victim of an elaborate catfishing scam. A recent coronial investigation into her 2013 death found no offence had been committed by ...2 days ago
- Here’s how much public money each party will get for the electionNational and Labour have once again dominated the Electoral Commission’s broadcast allocation, reports The Spinoff’s minor party correspondent Alex Braae.The pot of money for political parties to spend on election advertising on radio, television and the internet has been divvied up for 2020, with Labour and National securing more than ...2 days ago
- What the Pace scheme did for meAs part of a $175 million arts package, a new $7.5 million ‘Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers’ programme was announced today, building on ‘the most successful aspects’ of the former Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (Pace) programme, which ran from 2001-2012. Former Pace-recipient Henry Oliver writes on what he ...2 days ago
- Who charted where: The hits of May 28, 2000, in the US and New ZealandIn the spirit of international cooperation and mutual chair dancing, Sam Brooks and New York City-based culture critic Mark Blankenship are revisiting the top 10 singles from key weeks in their respective countries. This week, Sam and Mark discuss the top 10 singles from the chart dated May 28, 2000 ...2 days ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – May 29 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Fresh water reforms, environment, conservation Richard Harman (Politik): Swimming together; the coalition agrees on freshwater reforms Collette Devlin (Stuff): NZ First claims win as Government softens freshwater reforms ...2 days ago
- Could taking hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus be more harmful than helpful?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew McLachlan, Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, University of Sydney A paper published in The Lancet has cast fresh controversy on the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The study’s authors reported they were ...2 days ago
- The Friday Poem: Dig deep! by Joanna ChoA new poem by Wellington writer Joanna Cho.Dig deep! I have to write a poembut I’m finding it quite hardso I call Jos and he says‘Dig deep!’ He is driving back from basketballin Palmy, where he trains three times a week. I say ‘I just wanted to run some ideas by you’and he ...2 days ago
- Predicting the pandemic’s psychological toll: why suicide modelling is so difficultSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University We’ve recently heard experts raise concerns about a looming mental health crisis, warning COVID-19’s psychological toll on Australians could be like a second wave of the pandemic. Suicide modelling from the University of Sydney’s Brain ...2 days ago
- Government backtracks on wage subsidy audit data, moves to weekly reportingThe government will start publicly releasing wage subsidy audit and repayment data weekly after it was revealed it was only being collected every three months. ...2 days ago
- The Beehive pumps out more millions – some of it for the cultural sector but a bigger lump to clea...Creative Kiwis and cockies are among the beneficiaries of government decisions announced yesterday. The creative crowd was given support amounting to $95 million (or so), announced by Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern, who said thousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and ...2 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending May 29The 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 Auē by Becky Manawatu (Makaro Press, $35)Winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, the most ...2 days ago
- Why is there so much furore over China’s Belt and Road Initiative?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Clarke, Associate Professor, National Security College, Australian National University There were certainly questions asked when Victoria first signed a memorandum of understanding to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2018, but it wasn’t until the past week that the ...2 days ago
- Minimum Wage Requirement Indicates Hamilton City Council Is Out Of Touch...2 days ago
- Government launches $175m arts and music recovery packageThe government has announced a $175 million package to boost the arts and creative sector in the wake of Covid-19. ...2 days ago
- Covid-XV: Rugby’s super-genius law change ideas, explainedThe brains trust at World Rugby have conjured up some optional law trials to obviate the risks of coronavirus. Scotty Stevenson is intrigued.The World Rugby Executive Committee yesterday announced that it had “approved 10 optional law trials which are designed to provide national member unions with Covid-19 transmission risk reduction ...2 days ago
- Lax reporting of wage subsidy audits will encourage fraudThe Government’s lax approach to monitoring wrongful wage subsidy claims sends a dangerous message, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “The Government must regularly release figures highlighting how ...2 days ago
- National Strategy For Careers And Employability Is The enduring Solution Grant Robertson Is SeekingIn announcing the Covid Income Relief Payment this week the Hon. Grant Robertson stated the Government is also considering an “enduring solution” to support New Zealanders experiencing job loss beyond the current crisis. The Career Development ...2 days ago
- AJF renews call for media freedom law while welcoming Smethurst movePacific Media Watch The Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom has welcomed the decision by the Australian Federal Police to drop charges against Newscorp journalist Annika Smethurst and has renewed its call for a media freedom law. The announcement, coming more than a year after the raids, underscores the need for unambiguous ...2 days ago
- There Is Enough Time For A Commuter Rail TrialWorkers at Dunedin Railways have rejected Dunedin City Council claims there is not enough time for a feasibility study and commuter rail trial this year. Keep Dunedin Rail Rolling spokesperson Dave Kearns says workers at DRL were bitterly disappointed ...2 days ago
- The Auditor-General’s Strategic Intentions To 2025We’ve published The Auditor-General’s strategic intentions to 2025 . Our strategic intentions describe the outcomes and impacts we are ultimately working towards, and the strategy we have developed to help get us there. Every three years, we publish ...2 days ago
- What a video game about a futuristic Tauranga can tell us about our presentA new first-person photography game set in a dystopian Tauranga under lockdown is the best work of Māori science-fiction this decade, writes Dan Taipua.Umurangi Generation is a first-person photography game set din the shitty future. Designed and developed by Naphtali Faulkner (aka Veselekov) the game has you move about a ...2 days ago
- Queen’s Birthday Holiday Irrelevant“Queen’s Birthday holiday is the most irrelevant public holiday on our calendar. It’s time for a holiday that actually reflects Aotearoa’s unique place in the world” said Lewis Holden, Campaign Chair of New Zealand Republic. New Zealand Republic ...2 days ago
- Reconciliation Week: a time to reflect on strong Indigenous leadership and resiliency in the face of...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement), The University of Queensland National Reconciliation Week is a time of reflection, talking and sharing of histories, cultures and achievements. It is a time to think about our relationships as Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This year’s ...2 days ago
- 4 ways our streets can rescue restaurants, bars and cafes after coronavirusSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University As Australia re-opens, the bars, cafes and restaurants that give life to our streets face a tough ask: stay open and stay afloat with just a fraction of the customers. From June ...2 days ago
- Vital Signs: Morrison’s industrial relations peace gambit is worth a shot. Even if it fails, it’...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week announced plans for a potential “grand bargain” on industrial relations. Speaking at the National Press Club, he framed the issue as one of boosting economic productivity: We must ...2 days ago
- Business Wrap: Sanford’s toothfish ache
A low toothfish catch hits Sanford's result, but it is less affected by Covid-19 as factories kept working in Level 4 and a high-margin strategy pays off ...2 days ago - Teacher Aides’ Pay Rise Helps Value Educating Disabled StudentsThe milestone pay settlement for teacher aides is both good news for gender pay equity and for valuing the education of disabled children, says Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero. “The pay rates have negatively impacted women disproportionately ...2 days ago
- The coronavirus has thrust human limitations into the spotlight. Will it mark the rise of automation...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Roberts, Professor in Robotics, Queensland University of Technology The coronavirus pandemic has caused a massive surge in global unemployment. It has also highlighted the increasingly valuable role of automation in today’s world. Although there are some jobs machines just can’t do, ...2 days ago
- Group B strep and having a baby: what pregnant women need to knowSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University Group B streptococcal (GBS) is a common bacteria that likes to live in the human gut and migrate down the rectum, vagina and sometimes to the ...2 days ago
- A fire extinguisher, a suit and 14 million plastic particles: after a storm, microplastic pollution ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hitchcock, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Canberra Each year the ocean is inundated with 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic washed in from land. A big proportion of this plastic is between 0.001 to 5 millimetres, and called “microplastic”. But ...2 days ago
- When can COVID-19 be Declared Eliminated from NZ? New Modelling Study
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