Seriously good fun
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6:25 pm, April 30th, 2009 - 5 comments
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- Experts warn exclusion from AUSUK pact could see New Zealand miss out on future catastrophic wars
PICTURED: US President Joe Biden deep in thought as he searches his brain for any memory of the person on screen. New Zealandâs exclusion from a tripartite security pact between the United States, Australia and the UK may not come as a surprise to many kiwis, but experts warn that ...5 hours ago - Big Challenges for the Government
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The Herald continues to hitch its wagon to David Seymourâs coat-tails. They donât seem to realise that Seymour is almost entirely an (inadvertent) creation of Judith Collins. If it werenât for the fact that Collins is performing so badly as National leader, Seymour would not be noticed. For those interested ...9 hours ago - Keep New Zealand Nuclear-Free â Stay Out of AUKUS!
11 hours ago - Making the Most of Masks
Dr Nitasha Rimar, Dr Lucy Telfar Barnard, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Lesley Gray, Prof Michael Baker Masks and vaccination have a central role in minimising the health and economic impact of COVID-19, regardless of the long-term strategy we use against the pandemic. These interventions depend on both good performance and high ...15 hours ago - NZ Politics Daily: 17 September 2021
Today’s NZPD testimonial from Simon Bridges, Parliamentarian âNZ Politics Daily is an essential news service for me, enabling me to cut through the constant noise and quickly see whatâs going on. Dr Bryce Edwards and NZ politics Daily are a big public good, keeping kiwis, even politicians, better informed.â Anyone can ...16 hours ago - The 'team of five million' isn't all of us. Are we doing enough for the others?
The âteam of five millionâ has become a well-worn but still powerful call to arms in the past 18 months as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield have tried to rally a sense of national unity in the fight to save lives in this Covid-19 pandemic. ...16 hours ago - Covid outreach disaster as online poll sees vaccination bus named âthe murder wagonâAshley Bloomfield says he doesnât want those hesitant about getting the vaccine to âbe distractedâ by the fact they come out of the murder wagon. The Government is dealing with a Covid outreach debacle today, after the decision to put the naming of New Zealandâs vaccination bus service to a ...1 day ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37, 2021
Go with real guilt, or imaginatively hide? This week's New Research includes a couple of interesting papers exploring the confused, noisy marketplace of ideas, volitions and impulses we call "the human mind," in connection with thinking about climate change and our responsibility for causing harm and remedy. We're all (surely?) ...1 day ago - Gesta Gertrudis: Volume IV
Time for another Gertrude update. Alas, due to personal issues involving the DM, this will be the last update from this campaign for some time. Until then, Gertrude shall be put on ice. Since Dunedin is no longer in lockdown, both these sessions were in-person. Session Seven/Sixty-Three Technically, ...1 day ago - Samoa’s opposition should be sworn in
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- Pattern recognitionGovernment defers introducing tougher winter grazing rules - again, RNZ, 26 August 2021: The government has pushed intensive winter grazing rules back by another six months. Intensive winter grazing is when livestock are feed fodder crops - when done poorly it can create a muddy mess leading to animal ...1 day ago
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- NZ Politics Daily: 16 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Chris Trotter, Political commentator: âNZ Politics Daily has become an invaluable resource for all those who practice, study and/or write about politics in New Zealand. So much so that I canât remember how I ever did without it.â Anyone can sign up to NZPD for free at: https://democracyproject.nz/nz-politics-daily/ Today’s ...2 days ago
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- NZ Politics Daily: 15 September 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Colin James, political commentator, author âBryce Edwards’ five-days-a-week digest of links to articles on policy and politics is a valuable resource, both on the day for those who need to know or are just plain interested and as an archive for those who need or want to track ...3 days ago
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- Plotting the Auckland Delta Outbreak
A graph of Auckland Delta cases since lockdown began: As one can see, we’ve been good at getting the adult cases under control – the recent daily spikes being disproportionately children. That suggests infections within families, rather than across families. So far, so good anyway, and sufficient to ...3 days ago - Submission on Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill
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Professor Frank Furedi, British academic, author, and commentator, discusses the speed with which the corporate world has internalised the customs/practices/language of the university- and what can be done about it. ...4 days ago - The hottest summer most Americans have ever lived throughThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson An 85-year-old record for summer heat set during the Dust Bowl has met its match. In 2021, the contiguous U.S. had its warmest meteorological summer (June-August) on record, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Records going back ...4 days ago
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- Reposted articles from Thinking is PowerIn early August 2021 we started to repost selected articles from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. This page lists the reposted articles in ...6 days ago
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Commentator Bernard Hickey has a pretty astute piece on New Zealand’s predicament in a Coronavirus world: https://thekaka.substack.com/p/dawn-chorus-time-to-stop-kidding The core of Hickey’s argument is that New Zealand can’t re-open its borders, because our health system would be shortly overwhelmed by the virus. Ergo, the borders must remain closed for ...6 days ago - Renting in New Zealand, a sick jokeby Don Franks Everything seemed right with the world yesterday. Sun shining and in Wellington level 2 we can emerge from our bubble and visit friends. While enjoying that freedom, I noticed two doors down from where we were, quite a lot of activity. An estate agent was carefully marshalling ...7 days ago
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- Should I take Ivermectin?
This guide will help you with that big decision ...1 week ago - Liberal-Conservatives and Social Democrats: The Future of MÄoriMichael Cullen set out his political philosophy in his autobiography. So has Chris Finlayson. His is having significant impact on MÄori development. Chris Finlayson was Minister for Treaty Negotiations (and Attorney General) between 2008 and 2017. (Alas, he was Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage for only six of those ...1 week ago
- Too many cows in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands has a water quality problem. Too many cows, producing too much shit and piss, which flows into the rivers and poisons them. But they also have a solution: forcing farmers to destock or sell up: Dutch politicians are considering plans to force hundreds of farmers to sell ...1 week ago
- Packaging generates a lot of waste â now Maine and Oregon want manufacturers to foot the bill for ...Jessica Heiges, University of California, Berkeley and Kate O’Neill, University of California, Berkeley Most consumers donât pay much attention to the packaging that their purchases come in, unless itâs hard to open or the item is really over-wrapped. But packaging accounts for about 28% of U.S. municipal solid waste. ...1 week ago
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- Cancel this odious debtWriting on Newsroom, Laura Walters makes a case for cancelling student debt: [A]t the moment, loan debt is hurting the economy, holding back everything from small business formation, to new home buying, and even marriage and reproduction. So rather than offering interest-free borrowing, or expecting people to refinance their ...1 week ago
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- Licensing bonanza in computational life sciences* Â By Florian Pichlmueller (University of Auckland) and Christina Straub (ESR) . 2min read GPL, MIT, BSD, CC â no they’re not a secret vocabulary, these are in fact acronyms for open source licenses that allow code to be freely used, modified and shared. And there are many more – take ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 9 September 2021Mall terror attack Andrew Geddis (Pundit):Â Why Not Just Send The Auckland Terrorist Back? Paul Buchanan (Kiwipolitico):Â The supermarket stabbing spree was not a terrorist act Hanlie Booysen (The Conversation):Â Social inclusion is important in Aotearoa New Zealand â but so is speaking honestly about terrorism Thomas Coughlan (Herald):Â Act and Greens agree on ...1 week ago
- Submission on Conversion Not-A-Therapy Bill.  . . . . References Legislation: Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill Other Blogs Boots Theory: End conversion therapy in Aotearoa . . . Liked what you read? Feel free to share. Have your own thoughts? Leave a comment. (Trolls need not bother.)rolls need not bother.) . = fs ...1 week ago
- Equality, Equity & The Great Race Of Life.Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis: For many â perhaps most â people, the word âequityâ is a synonym for the word âequalityâ. And, to be fair, this is very often the way politicians expect the word to be understood. But the assumption that âequityâ and âequalityâ mean roughly the same thing could ...1 week ago
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- Graham Adams: David Seymour is cast into hell⌠alongside Tova OâBrienTweets about giving Maori priority access to vaccines have blown up. Graham Adams assesses the damage. In his epic 14th-century poem Inferno, Dante depicted sinners who questioned established religion or whose heretical views damaged the fabric of society as trapped in burning tombs in the Sixth Circle of Hell, ...1 week ago
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- Musicians are urging us to vaccinate: the Australian federal government should learn from these movi...Andrea Fenton, Swinburne University of Technology A new ad has been released from the LIVE Alliance (Live Industry Venues + Entertainment) a music industry collective, under the guidance of advertising veteran Russel Howcroft. The campaign, Vax the Nation, is set to Powderfingerâs My Happiness. Here, the lyrics take on ...1 week ago
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- The supermarket stabbing spree was not a terrorist act.
Blood had not even been mopped up from the floor after the supermarket stabbing spree when the prime minister strode to the parliamentary theatre podium and declared it to be an act of terrorism committed by an individual following an extremist ideology. Within minutes of her pronouncement the media sped ...1 week ago
- Open letter calling for ACC to cover all birth injuries and trauma reaches 10,000 signatures
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- Our mihi to the ways te reo MÄori can unite and inspire through COVID
Kia ora e te whÄnau, and happy Te Wiki o Te Reo MÄori! Yes, itâs MÄori Language Week. And even though weâll be celebrating a little differently this year as we work to stamp out mate korona, there are still plenty of opportunities to embrace this taonga and advance our ...3 days ago - Alert Level 2: Everything you need to knowStamping out COVID-19 isnât easy, but together, we are stronger than the virus. Weâve made good progress, but the job still isnât done. We need to stay vigilant to stop the spread. Hereâs where you can find the essential information you need to stay safe at Alert Level 2. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for immediate student support, launches petitionGreen Party Tertiary Education Spokesperson ChlĂśe Swarbrick has launched a petition calling for immediate, meaningful support for students, saying the Governmentâs announced boost to the student hardship funds doesnât go far enough. ...1 week ago
- Greens say Govt investment in public transport, walking, cycling is not enoughThe Green Party welcomes the $6 billion being invested in public transport, walking and cycling through the National Land Transport Programme, as announced by the Minister of Transport today, however says it is nowhere near enough. ...2 weeks ago
- Greensâ Te MÄtÄwaka Caucus responds to ACT leaderâs racial sabotageThe Green Partyâs Te MÄtÄwaka is calling out ACT leader David Seymour for apparently targeting MÄori vaccination providers for political gain. Mr Seymour publicly shared vaccine booking information which was intended for MÄori communities. ...2 weeks ago
- Auckland Central MP welcomes relocated COVID-19 vaccination centre with increased capacityAuckland Central MP ChlĂśe Swarbrick welcomes the relocation of the City Centreâs dedicated COVID-19 Vaccination Centre from Elliot Street to a larger space on Graham Street, just up from Victoria Park, which will provide close to double the capacity. ...2 weeks ago
- Auckland Central MP welcomes City Rail Link hardship schemeAuckland Central MP ChlĂśe Swarbrick is welcoming the hardship scheme for small businesses impacted by the development of the City Rail Link, announced by the Mayor of Auckland and Minister of Transport today. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens urge more support for vulnerable families in lockdownThe Green Party calls on the Government to urgently provide relief for people and families doing it tough, as a new report from the Salvation Army shows the need for emergency food parcels and welfare support escalating. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call out racial profiling toward Pasifika CommunitiesThe Green Partyâs Te MÄtÄwaka spokesperson for Pacific Peoples is condemning the consistent racial overtone during this pandemic. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party will not attend Parliament during Alert Level 4The Green Party will not attend Parliament while Wellington is at Alert Level 4 this week. ...3 weeks ago
- Quarantine-free travel with Australia to remain suspended for a further 8 weeks
Suspension to be reviewed again mid to late November Decision brought forward to enable access from Australia to first tranche of around 3000 rooms in MIQ Air New Zealand working at pace to put on more flights from Australia from October   The suspension of quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia has ...12 hours ago - Extra support for Ethnic Communities to share vaccination informationExtra support is being made available to Ethnic Communities to help them share COVID-19 vaccination information within their communities, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan said. âWe know we need to get every eligible person in New Zealand vaccinated. A fund being launched today will allow for ...12 hours ago
- School holidays remain unchanged for Auckland regionSchool holidays in Auckland will continue to be held at the same time as the rest of the country, starting from Saturday, 2 October, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. âIâve carefully considered advice on the implications of shifting the dates and concluded that on balance, maintaining the status quo ...14 hours ago
- Government continues crackdown on gangs and organised crimeOperation Tauwhiro extended until March 2022 Since it was launched in February, Operation Tauwhiro has resulted in: Â 987 firearms seized $4.99 million in cash seized 865 people charged with a firearms-related offence Gangs and organised crime groups will continue to be relentlessly targeted with the extension of Policeâs successful ...15 hours ago
- Speech to Body Positive 'HIV Treatments Update Seminar 2021'E ngÄ mana E ngÄ reo E ngÄ iwi TÄnÄ koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngÄ mana whenua o te rohe nei. TÄnÄ koutou. He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei I raro I te kaupapa o te rÄ. NĹ reira tÄnÄ koutou katoa Acknowledgements Itâs a ...15 hours ago
- NZ economyâs strong momentum will support rebound from Delta outbreak; COVID fund replenishedThe economy showed strong momentum in the period leading up to the recent Delta COVID-19 outbreak, which bodes well for a solid economic rebound, Grant Robertson said. GDP rose 2.8 percent in the June quarter, following on from a 1.4 percent increase in the previous March quarter. This was a ...2 days ago
- Projects create benefits into the futureMaking a well-known lake swimmable and helping to halt the decline of the endangered hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins are among a suite of new projects being supported by the Governmentâs Jobs for Nature programme across the southern South Island, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. âItâs no secret that many of our most ...2 days ago
- Opening statement for WhÄriki Indigenous Small Business Roundtable Kei ngÄ tĹpito e wha o te Äo e rere ana te mihi maioha ki a koutou nĹ tawhiti, nĹ tata mai e tÄpiri ana ki tÄnei taumata kĹrero mo te ao hokohoko arÄ mÄ ngÄ pÄkihi mo ngÄ iwi taketake TÄnÄ koutou, tÄnÄ koutou katoa â Pai MÄrire. ...2 days ago
- New members appointed to KÄpuiaThe Government is adding four additional members to KÄpuia, the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Governmentâs Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. âIâm looking forward to having Pamela MacNeill, Huia Bramley, Melani Anae and Katherine Dedo  join KÄpuia and contribute to this groupâs ...2 days ago
- Timeline confirmed for Emissions Reductions PlanCabinet has agreed to begin consulting on the Emissions Reduction Plan in early October and require that the final plan be released by the end of May next year in line with the 2022 Budget, the Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw confirmed today. âCabinetâs decision allows organisations and communities ...2 days ago
- Pay parity pathway for early learning teachers confirmedPay parity conditions and higher funding rates for education and care services will come into force on 1 January, 2022, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government signalled this work in Budget 2021. âFrom 1 January, 2022, centres opting into the scheme will receive government funding and be ...2 days ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Conference 2021Kia Ora tatau katoa.  Ka tuku mihi ki nga nÄhi, He pou Hauora o Aotearoa, E ora ai tatou.  Whakatau mai I runga i te kaupapa o te ra Te NZNO conference.  Tena koutou tena koutou Tena tatou katoa  Good morning, and thank you inviting me ...3 days ago
- Government investment in farmer-led catchment groups sweeps past 150 mark171 catchment groups have now been invested in by the Government 31 catchment groups in the Lower North Island are receiving new support More than 5,000 farmers are focussed on restoring freshwater within a generation through involvement in catchment groups  Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land ...3 days ago
- Fight to protect kauri on trackThe Government is pitching in to help vital work to protect nationally significant kauri forests in Auckland, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. âEnsuring the survival of these iconic trees for future generations means doing everything we can to prevent the potential spread of kauri dieback disease,â Kiri Allan said. ...4 days ago
- Joint statement of Mr Bernard Monk; Hon Andrew Little, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry,...[Note: The Parties have agreed on terms to fully and finally settle the proceeding and will jointly issue the below statement.] At the heart of this litigation are the lives of the 29 men tragically lost at the Pike River mine on 19 November 2010 and to whom we pay ...4 days ago
- More financial support for businessesTodayâs decision to keep Auckland in a higher COVID Alert Level triggers a third round of the Wage Subsidy Scheme which will open for applications at 9am this Friday. âThe revenue test period for this payment will be the 14th to the 27th of September. A reminder that this is ...4 days ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand provides further humanitarian support for AfghanistanAotearoa New Zealand is providing a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. âThere is significant humanitarian need in Afghanistan, with the crisis disproportionately affecting women and girls,â said Nanaia Mahuta. The UN has estimated that 80% of the quarter of a million ...4 days ago
- Innovative te reo prediction tool announced in Te Wiki o Te Reo MÄoriA new MÄori language prediction tool will play a key role in tracking our te reo MÄori revitalisation efforts, Minister for MÄori Development Willie Jackson announced today. He Ara Poutama mĹ te reo MÄori (He Ara Poutama) can forecast the number of conversational and fluent speakers of te reo MÄori ...5 days ago
- Further Government support for people to access food and essential itemsThe Government is responding to need for support in Auckland and has committed a further $10 million to help people access ongoing food and other essential items, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced today. This latest tranche is targeted at the Auckland region, helping providers and organisations to distribute ...5 days ago
- Half a million Pfizer vaccines from DenmarkThe Government has secured an extra half a million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from Denmark that will start arriving in New Zealand within days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. âThis is the second and larger agreement the Government has entered into to purchase additional vaccines to meet the ...5 days ago
- Inland Revenue providing essential COVID support for businessesInland Revenue is seeing increased demand for Resurgence Support Payments and other assistance schemes that it administers, but is processing applications quickly, Revenue Minister David Parker said today. David Parker said the Resurgence Support Payment, the Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme and the Wage Subsidy are available at the same ...7 days ago
- New Zealand marks 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacksNew Zealand is expressing unity with all victims, families and loved ones affected by the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks, and all terrorist attacks around the world since, including in New Zealand. âSaturday marks twenty years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people ...1 week ago
- Speech to SPREP Environment MinistersTalofa Honourable Ulu of Tokelau Faipule Kelihiano Kalolo TÄnÄ koutou katoa and warm Pacific greetings from Aotearoa to your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. The new science released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on 8 August paints an alarming picture of the projected impacts of climate change on the ...1 week ago
- Additional Resurgence Support Payments to support businessBusinesses affected by higher Alert Levels will be able to apply for further Resurgence Support Payments (RSP). âThe Governmentâs RSP was initially intended as a one-off payment to help businesses with their fixed costs, such as rent. Ministers have agreed to provide additional payments to recognise the effects of an ...1 week ago
- More Dawn Raids scholarships announcedDetails of the âManaaki New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarshipsâ, a goodwill gesture that follows the Governmentâs apology for the Dawn Raids of the 1970s, were released today by Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio. âThese scholarships that are targeted to the Pacific will support the kaupapa of the Dawn Raidsâ ...1 week ago
- One-way quarantine-free travel for RSE workers starting in October One-way quarantine-free travel for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu starts in October New requirement for RSE workers to have received their first vaccination pre-departure, undertake Day 0 and Day 5 tests, and complete a self-isolation period of seven days, pending a negative Day 5 ...1 week ago
- Govt boosts Pacific suicide prevention supportApplications have opened for the Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund as the Government acts to boost support amid the COVID delta outbreak. âWe know strong and connected families and communities are the most important protective factor against suicide and this $900,000 fund will help to support this work,â Health Minister ...1 week ago
- Govt parks the expiry of licenses, WoFs and regosAs a result of the Delta outbreak, driver licences, Warrants of Fitness (WoFs), Certificates of Fitness (CoFs), vehicle licences (âregosâ) and licence endorsements that expired on or after 21 July 2021 will be valid until 30 November 2021, Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced today. âWhile this extension wonât officially ...1 week ago
- COVID-19 community fund to provide support for vulnerable women and girlsMinister for Women Jan Tinetti today announced a $2 million community fund that will provide support for women and girls adversely affected by COVID-19. âWe know that women, particularly those who are already vulnerable, are disproportionally affected by the kind of economic disruption caused by COVID-19,â Jan Tinetti said. ...1 week ago
- Next phase of support for Fijiâs COVID-19 response announcedA further NZ$12 million of support for Fijiâs COVID-19 response has been announced by Foreign Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta today. The package builds on previous tranches of assistance Aotearoa New Zealand has provided to Fiji, totalling over NZ$50 million. âFiji remains in a very challenging position in their response to ...1 week ago
- Robotic asparagus harvester aimed at addressing industry challengesThe Government is backing a $5 million project to develop a commercial-scale autonomous robotic asparagus harvester, Agriculture Minister Damien OâConnor announced today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) is contributing $2.6 million to the project. Project partner Robotics Plus Limited (RPL) will build on a prototype asparagus ...1 week ago
- Additional Pfizer vaccines to arrive tomorrowMore than a quarter of a million additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine are on their way from Spain to New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The additional doses will arrive in Auckland on Friday morning to help meet the current surge in demand for vaccination. âItâs been ...1 week ago
- Young people to have their voices heard in Youth Parliament 2022The dates and details for Youth Parliament 2022 have been announced today by Minister for Youth Priyanca Radhakrishnan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Youth Parliament is an opportunity for 141 young people from across Aotearoa New Zealand to experience the political process and learn how government works. ...1 week ago
- Boosting support for tertiary students affected by COVID-19Students facing a hard time as a result of COVID-19 restrictions will continue to be supported,â Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government is putting a further $20 million into the Hardship Fund for Learners, which will help around 15,000 students to stay connected to their studies and learning. ...1 week ago
- COVID-19: Immediate relief available for MÄori and iwi organisationsThe Government has reprioritised up to $5 million to provide immediate relief to vulnerable whÄnau MÄori and communities during the current COVID-19 outbreak Minister for MÄori Development Willie Jackson announced today. The COVID-19 2021 WhÄnau Recovery Fund will support community-driven, local responses to gaps in access and provision of critical ...1 week ago
- New beef genetics programme to deliver cows with smaller environmental hoof-printThe Government is backing a genetics programme to lower the beef sectorâs greenhouse gas emissions by delivering cows with a smaller environmental hoof-print, Agriculture Minister Damien OâConnor announced today. Informing New Zealand Beef is a seven-year partnership with Beef + Lamb New Zealand that is expected to result in more ...1 week ago
- Appointments to the New Zealand Qualifications AuthorityEducation Minister Chris Hipkins today announced new appointments to the board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Former Associate Minister of Education, Hon Tracey Martin, has been appointed as the new Chair for NZQA, replacing the outgoing Acting and Deputy Chair Professor Neil Quigley after an 11-year tenure on ...1 week ago
- Govt supports residential house building by allowing manufacture of building suppliesThe Government has agreed to allow some building product manufacturing to take place in Auckland during Covid lockdown to support continued residential construction activity across New Zealand. âThere are supply chain issues that arise from Alert Level 4 as building products that are manufactured domestically are mostly manufactured in Auckland. ...1 week ago
- Government invests in scientific research to boost economy, address climate change and enhance wellb...Research, Science and Innovation Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods has today announced the recipients of this yearâs Endeavour Fund to help tackle the big issues that New Zealanders care about, like boosting economic performance, climate change, transport infrastructure and wellbeing. In total, 69 new scientific research projects were awarded over ...2 weeks ago
- Transport to drive economic recoveryThe Government is investing a record amount in transport services and infrastructure to get New Zealand moving, reduce emissions and support the economic recovery, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. The 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) was released today which outlines the planned investments Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency ...2 weeks ago
- Womenâs police stations in Australia: would they work for âallâ women?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Porter, Senior Fellow (Indigenous Programs), The University of Melbourne Proposals to expand police powers, to criminalise coercive control and to establish specialist womenâs police stations have all occupied a prominent place in Australiaâs recent debate about responses to violence against women. ...3 hours ago - Forget nose spray, good sex clears a stuffy nose just as effectively â and is a lot more funSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland Shutterstock Medical news is full of stories about promising new treatments for challenging conditions, or for additional health benefits of routine behaviours and habits. Who doesnât want to feel ...6 hours ago
- âBloody fool!â: why Ripper the musk duck, and many other talkative Aussie birds, are exciting bi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Dalziell, Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University shutterstock Recently, two native Australian birds have stolen the limelight with their impressive vocal imitations. A superb lyrebird called Echo at Sydneyâs Taronga Zoo has produced a painfully realistic vocal ...7 hours ago
- The Week in Politics: Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate
Analysis - The government makes a big push to get as many people as possible vaccinated, the polls are bleak for Judith Collins and MIQ bookings are set to re-open, writes Peter Wilson. ...8 hours ago - VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the Anglosphereâs reassertion in the Indo-PacificSource: 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 revelation that anonymous donors covered some ...8 hours ago
- Why does my internet connection feel slow and jumpy, even when my internet speed is high?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vijay Sivaraman, Professor of Telecommunications and Internet Technologies, UNSW Jeshoots.com/Unsplash, CC BY-SA Of the 8.2 million homes and businesses active on Australiaâs National Broadband Network (NBN) in July 2021, 77% are now reported to be on a broadband plan that ...9 hours ago
- ECE relief teachers present COVID pay petition to Government
A union-backed petition to ensure ECE relief teachers are paid during lockdown, signed by nearly 5,000 teachers and supporters, was delivered to Government via Zoom this afternoon. The petition, addressed to Education Minister Chris Hipkins and received ...9 hours ago - Come on, Joel â more research should show that classism and the pox werenât the only exports sen...
ACTâ leader David Seymour (who is doing nicely in opinion polls) irked many people when he sent out priority vaccination access codes intended for MÄori. The critics (no surprises here) included Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who said the move was âdespicableâ and she would be writing to Speaker ...9 hours ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending September 17
The 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.The Auckland store remains benched but we have fingers crossed for an imminent move to level three, at ...10 hours ago - On the money: Kate Sheppard and the making of a New Zealand feminist iconSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Pickles, Professor of History, University of Canterbury Shutterstock In 1992 four New Zealand icons (and the queen) appeared on new banknotes. Part of creating national identity, these notable citizens were chosen to represent the pinnacles of achievement. Äpirana ...10 hours ago
- PSA Nurses and MERAS Midwives settle pay talksDistrict Health Boards are pleased to announce settlements have been reached in bargaining with PSA Nurses and with midwives covered by the MERAS â the Midwifery Employee Representation & Advisory Service. ...10 hours ago
- Câest fini: can the Australia-France relationship be salvaged after scrapping the sub deal?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Romain Fathi, Senior Lecturer, History, Flinders University YOAN VALAT/EPA French diplomatic language can be subtle. When Canberra announced its abrupt foreign policy change and unilateral decision to walk away from its contract with French submarine builder Naval Group, the French ...10 hours ago
- Itâs official: The AM Show has gone just as bonkers as BreakfastHow has Auckland’s long lockdown affected The AM Show? Tara Ward tuned in this morning to find out.Two weeks ago, Magic Talk radio host Ryan Bridge was announced as the new host of Three’s The AM Show, following the departure of long time presenter Duncan Garner. While TVNZ1’s Breakfast spends ...10 hours ago
- Yesterdaze: A vacation of interest
An equestrian, a judge and a lawyer united the Team of Five Million, as Judith Collins doth projected too much. James Elliott has the news of the week. About 70 percent of us have now had one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. About 35 percent of us have had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. And ...11 hours ago - Minister of Police is engaged in a relentless crackdown on the gangs â but look at how seized mon...Your Point of Order team delighted at the words chosen by Police Minister Poto Williams to brandish the governmentâs law-and-order colours. Her statement was headed Government continues crackdown on gangs and organised crime and kicked off by advising us that âŚÂ Operation Tauwhiro (did you know anything about it?) ...11 hours ago
- ORC team places second in Trans-Tasman competitionThe Otago Regional Council (ORC) Team, âIn Our Elementâ, won the New Zealand leg of the Australasian Management Challenge in May and competed remotely in the finals on 24 August, during alert level 4. ...11 hours ago
- Covid-19 briefing: Trans-Tasman bubble burst for another eight weeksThe trans-Tasman bubble is being suspended for a further eight weeks, the New Zealand government has confirmed today. Watch the latest government briefing here. ...11 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily â September 17 2021Editorâs Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content AUKUS Pact, Afghanistan, China Tess McClure (Guardian):Â Aukus ...11 hours ago
- Fitzgibbon is quitting politics but this doesnât mean Albanese can partySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University Joel Fitzgibbon and Anthony Albanese in parliament in 2018. Mick Tsikas/AAP One imagines the retirement of Joel Fitzgibbon at the next election simplifies things for Anthony Albanese, as he crafts a climate change ...11 hours ago
- Govt warned of dangers if US and China seek to join CPTPPItâs Our Future is reminding the Labour Government that it opposed the original Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), in light of reports the United States may consider joining the successor Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership ...11 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis â Indo-Pacific: The Worldâs New Geopolitical BuzzwordAnalysis by Keith Rankin, Keith Rankin. I have been watching the sudden rise to prominence of the word ‘Indo-Pacific’ these last couple of months. These last couple of days it may have been the most repeated word on Radio New Zealand. According to Wikipedia today, Indo-Pacific is “biogeographic region”, although ...11 hours ago
- Te reo MÄori and Welsh: Two indigenous languages, two stories of revivalBeaten for speaking the language; shame around speaking it; suppressed and ridiculed by the British. Sound familiar?Welsh is a dead language.This is what I’ve been hearing my entire life.I’ve always been aware of the comparison between my language and te reo Māori. Both, I knew, shared the precarious position of ...12 hours ago
- Covid-19 update: Govt gives latest details on current Delta outbreakDeputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay are providing a media update on the Covid-19 outbreak. ...12 hours ago
- How The Beths made lockdown movie magicNo one can go to a big gig right now, but a 2020 concert by The Beths has become the lockdown movie experience the country needs. How’d that happen?It was designed to be a brilliant night. After 12 shows around the country, The Beths were in some of the best ...12 hours ago
- When COVID patients are intubated in ICU, the trauma can stay with them long after this breathing em...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deb Massey, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing, Southern Cross University Shutterstock The current wave of COVID cases is leading to more hospital and intensive care (ICU) admissions. Frontline health workers and experts use the term âintubationâ for ...12 hours ago
- Back to the Rafters review: series reboot is full of heart and reflects changing timesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Sparkes, Senior Lecturer (Media Studies and Production), University of Southern Queensland Brook Rushton/Amazon Prime Soap operas have been around since television was invented. Often involving outlandish plots, exaggerated storylines and hyperbolic characters and dialogue, they labour each moment on ...12 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: WhÄngai, by Jessie PuruA new poem from Tāmaki Makaurau poet Jessie Puru.WhāngaiKoro picked him up from the office they moved him to still wet from the womb sucking on his tongue waiting for mīraka, mother still being stitched and sedated.Koro wanted to slap the social worker’s hand away from him he took him ...12 hours ago
- Do you think most people are trustworthy and helpful? How we measured âsocial cohesionâ and why ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Biddle, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Shutterstock COVID-19 has upended so many aspects of our lives in Australia, it can be hard to remember what life was like ...13 hours ago
- Power plan regulations change aims to ensure fairnessAbout 60 percent of homes can expect lower power bills as the government announces a plan to phase out regulations on "low-use" electricity plans, the minister says. ...13 hours ago
- Human Rights Commission says “Te Reo MÄori is a right”The Human Rights Commission will no longer consider individual complaints over the use of te reo MÄori or the term PÄkehÄ. ...13 hours ago
- âIt has nothing to do with LordeâLorde’s te reo Māori mini-album Te Ao Mārama has prompted passionate conversation in Māori communities, and exposed the complex layers of hurt and intergenerational trauma being carried by those without their language. Writer and poet Rangimarie Sophie Jolley explains it’s about more than pop music – it’s personal.Te Reo Māori ...14 hours ago
- Rules restricting boatingto stop spread of pest seaweedBiosecurity New Zealand is placing legal controls on parts of Aotea Great Barrier Island in a bid to contain the invasive seaweed Caulerpa brachypus , while the local Mana Whenua governance group on Aotea are supporting a dual response by imposing ...14 hours ago
- Authorities told to throw out flawed sea level estimatesCoastal property groups are recommending the government urgently update its faulty advice to local authorities on sea level rise. ...14 hours ago
- Commissioner warns against paper-based contact tracingPrivacy Commissioner John Edwards is concerned that people are gaining access to personal information from paper-based contact tracing registers and using it in ways that breach peoplesâ privacy. The Governmentâs introduction of mandatory record ...15 hours ago
- Greenpeace appalled by nightmarish waste to energy proposalA new proposal to build a waste to energy incinerator in Waimate to burn 350,000 tonnes of plastic, toxic sludge, nappies and other waste, is facing strong opposition from Greenpeace Aotearoa. ...16 hours ago
- Low fixed charge regulation removal good for Kiwis in needâThe Governmentâs decision to remove the low fixed charge regulation is a positive move which will stop many low-income households subsidising the electricity of better-off families,â Electricity Retailersâ Association Chief Executive Cameron Burrows ...16 hours ago
- New Conservative supports rights of Defence force personnelRecently, the NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) mandated that all personnel take the COVID-19 vaccine as a part of the baseline medical requirements for deployment in NZ and overseas. This decision has a far-reaching impact on service men and women ...16 hours ago
- Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries on the increaseBlazes have become more common in recent times due to the sheer number of lithium-Ion batteries simply being discarded in household bins. ...16 hours ago
- Commission supports legislation to ban conversion therapyThe Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (the Commission) appeared in front of the Justice Select Committee yesterday to speak to its written submission on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill (the Bill). ...16 hours ago
- Why NZ is unlikely to follow Australiaâs lead on social media defamation lawSome key differences in existing law mean that New Zealand media organisations remain generally safe from liability for comments posted under their content, writes Otago University law lecturer Alex Patu.Let’s face it, there’s a reason people say “never read the comments”: most commentary below social media posts is just the ...16 hours ago
- QLD police will use AI to âpredictâ domestic violence before it happens. Beware the unintended c...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heather Douglas, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is expected to begin a trial using artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the future risk posed by known domestic violence perpetrators. Perpetrators identified as ...17 hours ago
- Chief health officers are in the spotlight like never before. Hereâs what goes on behind the scene...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Harris, Senior Research Fellow, Deputy Director, CHETRE, UNSW Until COVID-19, few people knew anything about Australiaâs chief medical officer or the state and territoriesâ chief health officers. Now they are front and centre of the news cycle. But media coverage misses ...17 hours ago
- Tasmaniaâs salmon industry detonates underwater bombs to scare away seals â but at what cost?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Richardson, Professor of Environmental Law, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Australians consume a lot of salmon â much of it farmed in Tasmania. But as Richard Flanaganâs new book Toxic shows, concern about the industryâs environmental damage is growing. ...17 hours ago
- Destroying vegetation along fences and roads could worsen our extinction crisis â yet the NSW gove...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Shutterstock What do koalas, barking owls, greater gliders, southern rainbow skinks, native bees, and regent honeyeaters all have in common? ...17 hours ago
- Local, face-to-face support offers a lifeline for uni students in regional and remote AustraliaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathy Stone, Conjoint Associate Professor, School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Newcastle CUC Far West, Author provided For university students living out of reach of a campus and studying online, the growing presence of Regional University Centres is ...17 hours ago
- Vital Signs: weâre doing well despite Delta, but 3 major economic challenges loomSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW This week the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published its first âEconomic Survey of Australiaâ since 2018. It gives Australia good marks for a remarkably good economic response to the COVID pandemic, but warns ...17 hours ago
- Friday essay: Nevermind 30 years on â how Nirvanaâs second album tilted the world on its axisSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dean Biron, PhD in Cultural Studies; teaches in School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology For many of us back in 1991, it felt as if the planet tilted slightly further on its axis when Smells Like Teen Spirit â the lead ...17 hours ago
- ANZUS without NZ? Why the new security pact between Australia, the UK and US might not be all it see...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato We live, to borrow a phrase, in interesting times. The pandemic aside, relations between the superpowers are tense. The sudden arrival of the new AUKUS security agreement between Australia, the US and UK simply ...17 hours ago
- Live updates, September 17: âTrajectory of horrorâ â What National MPs are saying about their...Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 17, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Say hello at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz. 8.00am: ‘Trajectory of horror’ – What National MPs are saying about their own partyNational MPs have started leaking again after a horror few weeks for party leader Judith Collins.Newshub’s Tova O’Brien has heard from several ...17 hours ago
- NZâs weapon against vaccine misinformationThe Covid-19 minister says New Zealanders aren’t falling for misinformation like people overseas and an expert reveals why, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.There’s nothing holding back New Zealand’s vaccine campaign. That’s the message from Covid-19 minister Chris Hipkins after hundreds of thousands of extra Pfizer doses arrived in Auckland this ...17 hours ago
- Auckland has sold out of doughnutsStuck in level four, Aucklanders are smashing deep-fried dough balls into their faces like never before. Chris Schulz tries to get his hands on one.When Daniel Black begins listing flavours of his filled doughnuts, I tell him to shut up. He doesn’t listen. “We do a Belgian chocolate mousse and ...17 hours ago
- Undisclosed problem shifting billions in water debts from councils
Government officials admit they can't easily take over billions in ratepayers' water debts ...17 hours ago - Scepticism as government watchdogs launch review into LynnMall terror attackACT is calling the review of key agencies' actions "prejudiced" before it starts while the Greens are concerned about its scope and independence. ...19 hours ago
- Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 17 September20 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 17 September20 hours ago
- Normal feelings, or ADHD, ASD or PTSD? Social media is here to diagnose youPsychologists say more and more New Zealanders are self-diagnosing as neurodivergent or mentally ill. Josie Adams explores the social media communities encouraging them to do so. Put a finger down if you regularly: touch your face, make impulse purchases, have more than four tabs open on your browser, ignore texts, lose ...20 hours ago
- Bernard Hickey: Is a kinder, gentler sort of capitalism really possible?Many of the world’s top business figures claim they’ve had an ethical epiphany – but one that won’t stop them continuing to make huge profits. Bernard Hickey, who worked among many of these ‘masters of the universe’ for years, is sceptical.Follow When the Facts Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or ...20 hours ago
- The weird and wonderful world of Trade Meâs âfresh produceâ sectionFrom rude fruit and veg to past-its-best fast food, you’ll find it in this dusty corner of the internet. Olivia Sisson rounds up some recent highlights. When New Zealanders want to buy or sell something, Trade Me is the first port of call.In America, my home country, it’s Craigslist. While Trade Me ...20 hours ago
- Willie Jackson under fire from Maori Council
The NZ MÄori Council accuses its minister of interfering in its business and stopping its funding over claims made by losing candidates in the council's election. Aaron Smale reports. MÄori Development Minister Willie Jackson has received a scathing letter from the MÄori Council alleging, among other things, that he is ...20 hours ago - Sir Peter Gluckman: Beyond science, there are hard decisions ahead
Tough decisions we've had to make in order to protect NZ from Covid will pale in comparison to those we must make soon. Sir Peter Gluckman explains. Science has played an essential part in Aotearoa New Zealandâs response to this phase of the pandemic. Astonishing progress in vaccine development and ...20 hours ago - Arizona's realising her dream for wÄhine in sport
Born and raised in a rugby community, young Kiwi leader Arizona Leger is living her dream, working towards gender equality in sport across the globe. Arizona Leger has represented Aotearoa New Zealand around the globe, brainstorming with some of the worldâs brightest young minds. Whether sheâs discussing the rights of ...20 hours ago - Lorde's waiata
Is Lorde's new EP in MÄori a case of cultural appropriation, or are we looking at a generation comfortable with expressing themselves in te reo? Not many people were âin the knowâ before Aucklandâs international songstress Lorde dropped a new five-track EP â in te reo MÄori. The surprise ...20 hours ago - The best-seller books chart
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 The Last Guests by JP Pomare (Hachette, $34.99) The latest crime novel by the Melbourne-based New Zealand writer. 2 AuÄ by Becky Manawatu (Makaro Press, $35) Becky ...20 hours ago - Hundreds of the dead wait to be farewelled
Funeral directors are calling for a change of heart from Government when it comes to funeral and tangihanga restrictions as Auckland faces its extended lockdown Michele Murphy lost her father a week into lockdown. After two weeks in Auckland Hospital, 94-year old Bob passed away with only one family ...20 hours ago - Why New Zealand's being targeted for DDoS attacks
A recent spate of cyberattacks on NZ organisations almost feels like someone's out to get us. Ian Welch looks at why we might be being targeted - and what we can do to prepare. We have recently experienced repeated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on high-profile Aotearoa organisations such as Kiwibank, ANZ, ...20 hours ago - Government dropping ball on impact investment
The Australian government has put $8 million into getting social enterprises ready for investment funding. New Zealand must follow its lead, says impact investment expert ...20 hours ago - Collins the master of her own death spiral
The National Party looks to be kicking a leadership spill down the road, for now. That means Judith Collins has time on her side to stop her death spiral, writes political editor Jo Moir Two polls on Wednesday got National MPsâ phones ringing hot over the past 24 hours. Half ...20 hours ago - Rod Oram: Govt lacks integrity, skill and will on climate
The Ardern Government has two months to prove to New Zealanders and the world that it's serious about climate change, writes Rod Oram ...20 hours ago - AUKUS deal's awkwardness for New Zealand
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If you like this, check out more from the good people at Improv Everywhere. They even have branches (not very active!) in some NZ cities.
>Seriously good fun
Maybe, but lousy taste in music…
Lousy? Heresy! đ
Life should be like this everyday. We should all break into song and dance (and in time with one another). I love it.
Life’s a musical đ