Seriously good fun
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6:25 pm, April 30th, 2009 - 5 comments
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Kia ora tÄtou kÄtoa. NgÄ mihi maioha ki a koutou Te Roopu Kakariki, ngÄ kaitautoko, e aroha ana I te kaupapa mo te taiao me te mokopuna. No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. I am so proud to be standing here tonight, at the end of an ...6 days ago - Election Night Speech – James ShawOn Election Night three years ago I stood up in front of you to say, âWe are still here!â Well, tonight, not only are we still here, we are the first support party in MMP history to have started and finished a term in government above the 5% threshold. We ...6 days ago
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- First COVID-19 vaccine purchase agreement signedThe Government has signed an agreement to purchase 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccines â enough for 750,000 people â from Pfizer and BioNTech, subject to the vaccine successfully completing all clinical trials and passing regulatory approvals in New Zealand, say Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods and Health Minister Chris Hipkins. ...2 weeks ago
- International statement – End-to-end encryption and public safetyWe, the undersigned, support strong encryption, which plays a crucial role in protecting personal data, privacy, intellectual property, trade secrets and cyber security. It also serves a vital purpose in repressive states to protect journalists, human rights defenders and other vulnerable people, as stated in the 2017 resolution of the ...2 weeks ago
- Ministry of Defence Biodefence Assessment releasedThe Ministry of Defence has today released a Defence Assessment examining Defenceâs role across the spectrum of biological hazards and threats facing New Zealand. Biodefence: Preparing for a New Era of Biological Hazards and Threats looks at how the NZDF supports other agenciesâ biodefence activities, and considers the context of ...2 weeks ago
- New Approaches to Economic Challenges: Confronting Planetary Emergencies: OECD 9 October 2020New Approaches to Economic Challenges: Confronting Planetary Emergencies: OECD 9 October 2020 Hon David Parkerâs response following Thomas Piketty and Esther Duflo. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, wherever in the world you might be. I first acknowledge the excellent thought provoking speeches of Thomas Piketty and Esther ...2 weeks ago
- Kaipara Moana restoration takes next stepA Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today at WaihÄua Marae between the Crown, local iwi and councils to protect, restore and enhance the mauri of Kaipara Moana in Northland. Environment Minister David Parker signed the document on behalf of the Crown along with representatives from NgÄ Maunga WhakahÄŤ, NgÄti ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand and Uruguay unite on reducing livestock production emissionsAgriculture Minister Damien OâConnor and Uruguayan Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Carlos MarĂa Uriarte have welcomed the launch of a three-year project that will underpin sustainable livestock production in Uruguay, Argentina, and Costa Rica. The project called âInnovation for pasture managementâ is led by Uruguayâs National Institute of Agricultural ...2 weeks ago
- 3100 jobs created through marae upgradesHundreds of marae throughout the country will be upgraded through investments from the Provincial Growth Fundâs refocused post COVID-19 funding to create jobs and put money into the pockets of local tradespeople and businesses, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and MÄori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced. âA total ...2 weeks ago
- Health volunteers recognised in annual awardsHealth Minister Chris Hipkins has announced 9 teams and 14 individuals are the recipients of this yearâs Minister of Health Volunteer Awards. âThe health volunteer awards celebrate and recognise the thousands of dedicated health sector volunteers who give many hours of their time to help other New Zealanders,â Mr Hipkins ...2 weeks ago
- Community COVID-19 Fund supports Pacific recoveryThe Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio says a total of 264 groups and individuals have successfully applied for the Pacific Aotearoa Community COVID-19 Recovery Fund, that will support Pacific communities drive their own COVID-19 recovery strategies, initiatives, and actions. âI am keen to see this Fund support Pacific ...2 weeks ago
- Community benefits from MÄori apprenticeshipsUp to 50 MÄori apprentices in Wellington will receive paid training to build houses for their local communities, thanks to a $2.75 million investment from the MÄori Trades and Training Fund, announced Employment Minister Willie Jackson today. âThis funding will enable NgÄti Toa Rangatira Incorporated to provide its NgÄ Kaimahi ...2 weeks ago
- Training fund supports MÄori jobseekersRapidly growing sectors will benefit from a $990,000 MÄori Trades and Training Fund investment which will see Wellington jobseekers supported into work, announced Employment Minister Willie Jackson today. âThis funding will enable Sapphire Consultants Ltd. to help up to 45 MÄori jobseekers into paid training initiatives over two years through ...2 weeks ago
- Ruakura Inland Port development vital infrastructure for WaikatoThe Government is investing $40 million to develop an inland port at Ruakura which will become a freight super-hub and a future business, research and residential development for the Waikato, Urban Development and Transport Minister Phil Twyford, and MÄori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The funding has been has ...2 weeks ago
- Appointments made to Defence Expert Review GroupDefence Minister Ron Mark announced today the establishment of an Expert Review Group to review a number of aspects of the New Zealand Defence Forceâs (NZDF) structure, information management and record-keeping processes. The Expert Review Groupâs work arises out of the first recommendation from the Report of the Governmentâs Inquiry ...2 weeks ago
- No active community cases of COVID-19There are no active community cases of COVID-19 remaining in the country after the last people from the recent outbreak have recovered from the virus, Health Minister Chris Hipkins said today. âThis is a big milestone. New Zealanders have once again through their collective actions squashed the virus. The systems ...2 weeks ago
- Clean energy upgrade for more public buildingsMore public buildings will be supported by the Government to upgrade to run on clean energy, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. Minister Shaw announced that Lincoln and Auckland universities will receive support through the Clean-Powered Public Service Fund to replace fossil fuel boilers. Southern, Taranaki, and ...3 weeks ago
- Schools back donations scheme for the second yearMore schools have opted in to the donations scheme for 2021, compared to 2020 when the scheme was introduced. âThe families of more than 447,000 students will be better off next year, with 94% of eligible schools and kura opting into the scheme,â Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. âThis is ...3 weeks ago
- Ruapehu cycle trails gets PGF boostThe spectacular Mountains to Sea cycle trail in Ruapehu District will receive $4.6 million in funding from the Provincial Growth Fund for two additional trails, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. âThis is an exciting development for the local community, and one that will provide significant economic opportunities ...3 weeks ago
- ASIC chair James Shipton steps aside after adverse finding by Auditor-General
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra James Shipton, chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Corporation, has stood aside after an adverse Audit Office report about $118,557 paid by ASIC on his behalf when he relocated from the US. The Audit ...5 hours ago - PCF Thanks Vaovasamanaia Rt Hon Winston Peters
The Pacific Co-operation Foundation (PCF) is calling for the people of New Zealand and the Pacific to recognise the significant contribution, made by outgoing Minister for Foreign Affairs Vaovasamanaia Rt Hon Winston Peters, to New Zealandâs diplomatic ...6 hours ago - Final debate likely changed few minds
It may have been far more civilised than the last one, but Trump vs Biden in today's US Presidential debate was a relatively low-impact event, writes Hayden Thorne The final Presidential debate before November 3âs US election saw a better structured, less personal and more policy-focused debate. Full credit is owed to ...8 hours ago - Election 2020: Green Party Negotiation Team Sets Its Terms of ReferenceBy Selwyn Manning – Editor, EveningReport.nz Selwyn Manning, editor of EveningReport.nz. The Green Party has settled on its negotiation team, agreeing to who will represent the party’s members when considering the shape and outcome of talks with the incoming Labour-led Government. The negotiating team has a similar make up to ...8 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily â October 23 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 Labour government Peter Dunne (Newsroom):Â At the highwater mark with little wriggle room RNZ: Caucus:Â Explaining The Red Tide: Kiwis hug Jacinda back as Labour breaks records Chris ...8 hours ago
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in NZ and he needs to meet Joe Biden the Island Bay octopus
American actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has revealed he’s living and working in New Zealand. What brought him here, and what can he expect from his visit?Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in Netflix’s new movie The Trial of the Chicago 7, but he could also be appearing in a suburb near you. Last week ...9 hours ago - Children may need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 too. Hereâs what we need to considerSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ketaki Sharma, PhD student, University of Sydney An ideal COVID-19 vaccine would not only protect people from becoming ill, it would also stop the virus spreading through the population. The best way to do this is to vaccinate as many people as ...9 hours ago
- Prisons No Place For MaoriThe Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon is pushing for prisons to be run by Iwi. This is reckless and ill thought out. Iwi-run prisons will transfer the punitive functions of the state to MÄori. Running prisons is leveraging off the oppression ...9 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: Crumbs between stones by Becky ManawatuA poem by Ockham Award-winning novelist Becky Manawatu.Crumbs between stonesTēnā koe XXXXI am writing to ask you some questions regarding a family harm incident which police responded to on Friday night. What time did the woman make the initial call? What time did police arrive at the scene? Was anyone ...10 hours ago
- The Gabba Grand Final: how Queensland fell in love with Australian Rules football againSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Georgakis, Senior Lecturer of Pedagogy and Sports Studies, University of Sydney The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to all major sports in Australia, but perhaps the most fascinating â and unlikely â change is the playing of the AFL grand ...10 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 23The 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.AUCKLAND 1 Aroha: Māori Wisdom for a Contented Life Lived in Harmony with our Planet by Hinemoa Elder (Penguin, ...10 hours ago
- The strange hijacking of RNZâs US debate previewIt’s normal to feature two different perspectives discussing a major US political set piece. Yet this morning RNZ’s flagship Morning Report hosted two unabashed Trump acolytes ahead of the final debate.At 2pm New Zealand time, the final debate between president Donald Trump and his challenger, Joe Biden, takes place in ...10 hours ago
- NZNO Escalates Primary Health Care Strike ActionThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has issued a strike notice today covering some 3200 Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and receptionist/administration staff across more than 500 practices and accident/medical centres nationwide. The first ...11 hours ago
- Live Export Report Is Tinkering Around The EdgesThe Ministry for Primary Industries has today released new requirements for the export of live animals by sea, following recommendations from a review into the animal welfare assurances MPI receives from exporters. The review was led by Mike Heron ...11 hours ago
- It isnât hard cheese if the EU gets its way with GIs, chef insists â but dairy exporters are lik...
Kiwi cheese-makers will be wondering which advice they should take from chef Simon Gault. This week he was saying they should stop trying to imitate brie and gouda and focus on producing uniquely New Zealand styles. His advice was given to people watching a webinar arranged by the European Union ...11 hours ago - Climate-protected citadels, virtual worlds only for the privileged: is this the future of inequality...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Finch, Adjunct Research Fellow, University of Southern Queensland Imagine visiting the Europe of 2048. The cities are strangely silent. Desperate communities in Paris, London and Berlin struggle in the shadow of hollowed-out buildings. The once-popular coastal resorts have also been abandoned, ...11 hours ago
- Congratulations To Labour But There Is A Lot Of Work To Be DoneCongratulations to Labour on an outstanding result in the recent elections. They now have the political capital to make a real difference to New Zealand says Peter Malcolm spokesperson for Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc âClosing the Gapâ The ...12 hours ago
- Vital Signs: Googleâs huge market share doesnât automatically make it a monopolySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW This week the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit accusing Google of using âanticompetitive tactics to maintain and extend its monopolies in the marketsâ for search and advertising. It is the most significant ...12 hours ago
- Soft Plastics Get Second Life But More Education NeededNew research as part of New Zealand Recycling Week, has shown that just 1% of Kiwis feel confident about knowing which plastics can be recycled. 75% of those surveyed also thought this lack of knowledge was preventing them from recycling more. This ...12 hours ago
- We found the miracle cure for imposter syndromeOn the Rag has been hard at work trying to come up with a foolproof method for overcoming imposter syndrome. This is what it’s come up with.In this month’s episode of of On the Rag, we decided to confront imposter syndrome, aka the horrible demon lurking in many of our ...12 hours ago
- FRIDAY POLITICS: A Potentially Costly Hole In The Government's Carbon-auctioning PlanBy editor ADELIA HALLETT | Green Party co-leader James Shaw is still in the running to retain his role as the countryâs climate minister â but that might mean clearing up a bit of a mess of his own making. The Governmentâs surprising decision, reported ...12 hours ago
- PNG landowners protest over deep sea tailings waste plan for K18b projectBy Jimmy Kalebe in Lae Landowners are unwavering in their opposition to the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) method for waste from Papua New Guineaâs proposed K18 billion (NZ$7.7 billion) Wafi-Golpu mine project. They travelled to Lae yesterday from various areas of Morobe which will be affected by the project. ...13 hours ago
- PakânâSave Whakatane Workers To Strike Over Lowest Supermarket Wages In Bay Of PlentyWorkers at PakânâSave in Whakatane are taking strike action today over fruitless negotiations with the store owner and low wage rates that fall below comparable industry standards and represent the lowest supermarket wages in Whakatane and the lowest-paid ...13 hours ago
- The Fold: Melodie Robinson on bringing live sport back to free-to-airFrom winning two world cups with the Black Ferns to heading up TVNZ’s sports and events department, Melodie Robinson’s career has been one full of remarkable firsts. She joins host Duncan Greive to talk about it on this week’s episode of The Fold.When the Ministry of Education decided to start ...14 hours ago
- How high-tech recycling could stop waste batteries becoming the next plastic crisisTo celebrate Recycling Week, Vanessa Young explains the essential role of nano-recycling in making the most of the tiny-scale but potentially harmful waste from batteries, circuit boards and more For most of us recycling means jars, bottles, tins (and the sprint to get the bin out as the truck comes ...14 hours ago
- Agreement With Iwi A Milestone For Local GovernmentLocal Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is hailing the first Mana Whakahono Ä Rohe or Iwi Participation Arrangement, between the West Coast Regional Council and Poutini NgÄi Tahu, as a milestone for local government that will empower local kaitiaki. ...15 hours ago
- Some School Anti-bullying Programs May Do More Harm Than GoodNew QIMR Berghofer analysis of research on school anti-bullying programs has concluded that programs that encourage student bystanders to intervene may inadvertently harm the children they are aimed at protecting. Lead author and psychologist Dr Karyn ...15 hours ago
- The reward for good pandemic leadership: Lessons from Jacinda Ardernâs New Zealand reelectionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suze Wilson, Senior Lecturer, Executive Development, Massey University The recent reelection of the Jacinda Ardern-led Labour government in New Zealand offers leaders elsewhere a potent lesson about how best to respond to COVID-19. Saving lives is, not surprisingly, a real vote-winner. Ardernâs ...16 hours ago
- Asian countries do aged care differently. Hereâs what we can learn from themSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angelique Chan, Executive Director of the Centre for Ageing Research & Education, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore This article is part of our series on aged care. You can read the other articles in the series here. Unlike in ...16 hours ago
- Set ground rules and keep it intimate: 10 tips for hosting a COVID-safe weddingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Russo, Associate Professor, Director Cabrini Monash University Department of Nursing Research, Monash University Spring and summer in Australia and the gradual easing of restrictions means we can expect weddings, with more guests, back on the calendar. However, any wedding you plan ...16 hours ago
- Why equal health access and outcomes should be a priority for Ardernâs new governmentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Derrett, Professor, University of Otago New Zealandâs public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic may be the envy of the world, but as the new government looks ahead, potentially with a more progressive lens, it will have to face several challenges ...16 hours ago
- Japan plans to dump a million tonnes of radioactive water into the Pacific. But Australia has nuclea...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tilman Ruff, Associate Professor, Education and Learning Unit, Nossal Institute for Global Health, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne The Japanese government recently announced plans to release into the sea more than 1 million tonnes of radioactive water from ...16 hours ago
- Googleâs huge market share doesnât automatically make it a monopolySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW This week the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit accusing Google of using âanticompetitive tactics to maintain and extend its monopolies in the marketsâ for search and advertising. It is the most significant ...16 hours ago
- A fad, not a solution: âcity dealsâ are pushing universities into high-rise buildingsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide Letâs talk about âcity dealsâ. The Australian government is. Its department of infrastructure website describes them as âa genuine partnership between the three levels of government and the community to work towards a ...16 hours ago
- Friday essay: why we need childrenâs life stories like I Am GretaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Douglas, Professor, Flinders University When a young celebrity writes a memoir or has a biography written about them, a common response is: they are too young. This child or adolescent cannot possibly have lived enough of a life, or have a ...16 hours ago
- Andrew Little to prioritise NgÄpuhi if retained as Minister
Labour's Andrew Little wants to give the Treaty Negotiations portfolio another crack, saying his priority will be to reach a settlement with the country's largest iwi NgÄpuhi if he's retained as Minister. ...16 hours ago - Live updates, October 23: How representative is our new parliament?Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 23. All the latest New Zealand news, updated throughout the day. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.45am: How representative is our new parliament?A report this morning from Massey University sociology professor Paul Spoonley explains that while our new parliament is far more representative than ...17 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Covidâs back in the community â but has it spread any further?Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: What we know – and what we don’t – about the Covid-19 community cases; an America’s Cup spat threatens how Aucklanders can watch; and late election donations are revealed.It’s now been five days since we learnt that Covid-19 was back in the ...17 hours ago
- Business & Investing: Second cannabis firm debuts on NZX
Medicinal cannabis shares start on a high, plus SEEK's job report shows the best month since the pandemic began ...18 hours ago - Brexit ho â is a deal in sight?
On again, off again. Then, after British PM Boris Johnsonâs statement that there was no point in continuing negotiations without movement from the EU, there are signals that a trade and economic deal might be possible in the next few weeks. We shall see. But itâs a good moment ...18 hours ago - Review: Borat Sagdiyev is back, but is it as funny now we know the punchline?Sacha Baron-Cohen’s most successful character returns to a pandemic-stricken middle America. The formula is the same, but its impact has radically changed, says Duncan Greive.In Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, more commonly known as Borat 2, the ...18 hours ago
- The best-selling books at Labour Weekend
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 Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press, $35) The author, not backwards in coming forwards on the Twitter machine: "My new novel Remote Sympathy has gone ...18 hours ago - Softball great leads White Sox into new innings
Roman Gabriel admits he often turns to his wife for advice in his new role as coach of the White Sox softball side, as they begin on their long road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. They were only 10 years old when they first met. One played softball for Marist ...19 hours ago - New Privacy Act designed for data innovation
A new privacy law comes into effect in New Zealand in a matter of weeks and businesses need to consider a privacy check-up to see if they are ready, writes Andrew Patterson If we think back to what we meant by privacy just two decades ago it largely focused on ...19 hours ago - Will NZ back Chris Liddell for OECD's top job?
NZ's 'man in the White House' could become our man at the OECD. ...19 hours ago - Second outbreak disrupted plans to push app
Health officials asked Cabinet to require businesses to display NZ COVID Tracer QR codes in July, but it took a second outbreak for the display of the codes to become mandatory. ...19 hours ago - Is new-look National really more socially conservative?
Analysis: As the vote looked set to swing to the left, National was expected to present a more socially conservative caucus. But thatâs not quite what happened, writes Laura Walters Nationalâs caucus has rebalanced to again represent the âbroad churchâ of opinions on social issues, even if it is a ...19 hours ago - We need to learn from Korea, fast
Beyond the Covid economic shock, New Zealand must focus on long term productivity - and for the best example, we should look to our free trade partner South Korea, writes Dr Murat Ungor. Itâs time for New Zealand to think about long-term growth We could learn important lessons about productivity ...19 hours ago - Time to take health inequities seriously
The lack of action on preventing and treating Type 2 diabetes and other conditions that badly affect MÄori and Pasifika must be addressed - for the sake of all, writes Dr Collin Tukuitonga For the money New Zealand spends on health care, the country has a world-class health system. In the ...19 hours ago - My life as a human guinea pig on the Oxford Covid vaccine trialAt the forefront of the race for a coronavirus vaccine are researchers at Oxford University, who are working ‘with great care and due haste’. Six months ago, several hundred volunteers began participation in a clinical trial of the vaccine. Among them was UK-based NZ journalist Richard Adams.I can’t talk now, I ...19 hours ago
- For National, umpteen tough questions â and one small ray of lightWhere to next for the National Party? Ben Thomas reviews the post-election wreckage.The National Party is undertaking a review of its campaign. Presumably this will not be to determine the cause of its historic defeat.The cause is well known. The cause screams out from the pages of The New York ...19 hours ago
- Kevin Hague: Labour and the Greens must work together. Nature canât waitThe crises of climate, biodiversity and Covid are urgent enough that politicians in both parties need to overcome their reservations and make it happen, writes former Green MP and Forest & Board CEO Kevin Hague.Forest & Bird is strictly politically independent. It’s not our role to say what is best ...19 hours ago
- Brave politics for a better future
Jacinda Ardern is a skilled politician who has won a historic victory, but now she needs to shows us a new use for political capital ...19 hours ago - SMEs to Ardern: give us more certainty
Newsroom talked to small business owners to find out what they want from the new Government. They want certainty, they want decisiveness - and they (pretty much all) donât want a wealth tax. Cecilia Robinson knows plenty about running small and medium sized enterprises - with or without a pandemic. ...19 hours ago - How a climate-concerned Government might act
How a new Government can show itâs serious about tackling climate change, this generationâs nuclear-free moment. David Williams reports Analysis: The Labour Party has swept to power, primarily because of its science-based approach to a global pandemic and its level-headed economic response. The ruling coalition told the so-called team of ...19 hours ago - West Papuans will not âbow downâ to Indonesia over independence wishBy RNZ Pacific The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it is adopting a provisional constitution for a democratic state. The organisation is seeking a referendum in West Papua on independence from Indonesia. The movementâs Legislative Council had been holding its third annual session in Jayapura. It decided that ...23 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Morrisonâs promised integrity commission canât hide behind COVID much longer ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government can act super-fast on integrity issues when it wants. On Thursday a Senate estimates committee was told the government-owned Australia Post bought Cartier watches worth $3,000 each for four senior employees as rewards. ...1 day ago
- Does the new Parliament look like us?Analysis - After the election, Parliament will be much more representative than it has been - but it still doesn't fully represent NZ's population, writes Paul Spoonley. ...1 day ago
- Misinformation, complacency to blame for low Waiariki turnout – Labour electorate committee ch...Preliminary election results show only 71 percent of East Coast and 54 percent of Waiariki enrolled voters turned out to vote. The nationwide average was 82.5 percent. ...1 day ago
- Skegg warns against âcomplacency, slacknessâ over Auckland covid fearsBy RNZ News Epidemiologist Sir David Skegg is concerned at the level of complacency the public and government is showing towards covid-19 since the country reverted to alert level 1. It comes following the revelations that an unknowingly infectious person visited an Auckland pub on Friday 16 October, as well ...1 day ago
- Gaming the board: Crown Resorts shows you just canât bet on âindependentâ directorsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Elms, Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Whatâs the difference between an independent and non-independent director? This question lies at the heart of the scandal embroiling Crown Resorts, Australiaâs largest gaming company, which owns casinos in Melbourne and Perth, and is seeking ...1 day ago
- How Kami is improving digital learning for millions worldwideBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he’s joined by Hengjie Wang and Alliv Samson, co-founders of Kami.If you have any school-aged kids ...1 day ago
- E-prescriptions are coming. But what are they? And is this the end of paper ones?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Bartlett, Associate Lecturer Pharmacy Practice, University of Sydney Electronic prescriptions (or e-prescriptions) are being rolled out in stages across Australia after being used in Victoria during the pandemic. E-prescriptions have been common in countries such as the United States and Sweden ...1 day ago
- Itâs time to talk about anxiety and depression in new dadsMen find it hard to seek help when they experience perinatal distress. Simon Day shares his story of postnatal anxiety and talks to parenting advocates about what fathers need to do when they’re feeling down. In late December 2019, our twin boys arrived two weeks earlier than expected. They were happy ...1 day ago
- How do we know statistics can be trusted? We talked to the humans behind the numbers to find outSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Vilkins, PhD candidate, Australian National University In April, as the coronavirus pandemic was gathering force around the world, reporters asked Brendan Murphy, then Australiaâs Chief Medical Officer, about international case numbers. In his answer, he made an interesting comment: The ...1 day ago
- To The Judge, If I Get Murdered; Please Let Me Keep My HumanityThe Defense said it was her fault, Grace Millane asked for it, rough sex was all it was. He televised her sexual history and the fact that she had requested an ex-boyfriend to choke her once. They acted like she did this to herself, it was crucifixion, she ...1 day ago
- Bob Brown is right â itâs time environmentalists talked about the population problemSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin D. Butler, Honorary Professor, Australian National University In all the talk of tackling environmental problems such as climate change, the problem of population growth often escapes attention. Politicians donât like talking about it. By and large, neither do environmentalists â but ...1 day ago
- Housing a sense of self: for migrant communities, bilingual school programs are about more than lear...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Ngo, Honorary Fellow, Deakin University Footscray Primary School in Victoria decided earlier this year to abolish its long-running Vietnamese bilingual program â where classes are taught in both English and Vietnamese. It will replace it with an Italian bilingual program. Vietnamese ...1 day ago
- Water Cremations One Answer To Growing Pressure On Cemeteries...1 day ago
- 600 Million Children Miss Out On Desperately Needed Support During Covid-19Save the Children NZ calls on new government to extend Best Start payments in light of global research as more families feel impact of COVID-19 A new report released by Save the Children is recommending governments commit to and implement universal ...1 day ago
- The Internet of Things is connecting our world so we can make better decisionsIoT is everywhere – we’ve just got to know where to look. Ben Fahy got a lesson on how to find it.Spark’s Tony Agar has a lot of explaining to do, which comes with the territory when you specialise in the Internet of Things. “I’ve had to explain to my kids ...1 day ago
- The power of the grand final crowd recalls ancient timesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eva Anagnostou-Laoutides, Associate Professor in Ancient History, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Macquarie University The year has been a strange one for sports lovers. Weâve seen athlete protests here and around the world. Where big gatherings have been permitted in the US, ...1 day ago
- Animals Will Be At Risk Of Injury Or Death During Rodeo Opening WeekendThe annual rodeo season opens this weekend with the Winchester Rodeo on Saturday, and the Methven Rodeo on Sunday. Like last year, animals will be at risk of injury or death. Two animals died last rodeo season, both at the âMad Bullâ rodeo in ...1 day ago
- The cost-cutting consultants cashing in at The WarehouseWith hundreds of jobs slashed and stores shuttered nationwide, BusinessDesk‘s Rebecca Stevenson looks into the controversial restructuring programme at New Zealand’s largest retailer.I still recall as an employee of the former Fairfax Media business seeing a report in The Australian in 2013 which filled me, a junior reporter with an ...1 day ago
- Queenslandâs LNP wants a curfew for kids, but evidence suggests this wonât reduce crimeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia One can always sense an election is looming when law and order becomes headline news. As Queenslanders head towards election day on October 31, the stateâs opposition leader Deb ...1 day ago
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