Posts Tagged ‘black hole’
Black Hole
Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, April 11th, 2019 - 126 comments
The first image of a black hole has been released. It’s brighter than expected, but kinda underwhelming.
- The Mueller report
The redacted version of the Mueller report has now been released. If there was any doubt Mueller's opening statement is that the Russian Government ...1 hour ago - A Taxing and Spending Matter.
The power to tax and spend is at the heart of our constitutional democracy. In 1649 the English beheaded their monarch; one of their grievances was that he was levying taxes without parliamentary authorisation. The 1688 Bill of Rights, which ...23 hours ago - CGT: A bad idea finally put to bed once and for allThe decision of the Labour-led government to back away from a capital gains tax was a good move in a number of ways.read more ...23 hours ago
- Kid on swing embodies Kiwi dream by going back and forth and never getting anywhere
Charlie O’Brien, 16, has single-handedly destroyed the SEO value of every other Charlie O’Brien in New Zealand. Some fucking kid has sat on a swing for 32 hours and inspired hope in a nation otherwise desperate for a hero. Hate ...1 day ago - New research, April 8-14, 2019
A selection of new climate related research articles is shown below. This post has separate sections for: Climate Change, Climate Change Impacts, Climate Change Mitigation, and Other Papers. Climate change mitigation Climate change communication Perception of public opinion on global ...1 day ago - Our environment is in trouble
Statistics New Zealand has released their latest Environment Aotearoa report, and it shows that our environment is in trouble:New Zealand's environment is in a precarious state and facing an overwhelming number of threats, according to a sweeping government stocktake. The ...1 day ago - The cost of cowardiceHow big a mistake was Jacinda Ardern's cowardly act of rejecting fairer taxes, not just now but for the rest of her political career? Not only has it poisoned her own base against her and created a strong incentive to ...1 day ago
- Who owns England?Why do we need to tax land and wealth? Because otherwise we'll end up like England, where 1% of the population own half the country:Half of England is owned by less than 1% of its population, according to new data ...1 day ago
- CRL a step closer but more expensive
The City Rail Link, the country’s biggest transport project, just got $1 billion bigger but also few steps closer to reality as part of three “significant announcements” made yesterday....
2 days ago - Jacinda Ardern thuds back to earth thanks to NZF’s ‘carefully generated torpedo’ (...If not now, when? If not this, what? If not her, who? Those are the questions that must be bedeviling Labour and Green Party supporters as Winston Peters has not for the first, second or even third time, put his ...2 days ago
- Prime Minister John Key announces there will be no capital gains tax
Prime Minister John Key had just spent the last two hours making phone calls and preparing the final touches to his capital gains announcement. The clock had just passed 2pm, and he was slightly late. Nothing to be worried about, ...2 days ago - Labour-led government dumps idea of a Capital Gains Tax
People who chose to delude themselves about the progressive qualities of Jacinda Ardern and her Labour-led government must be feeling let down today. It has been made clear that there will be no Capital Gains Tax. Even something as minimal ...2 days ago - Don’t get fooled againRemember how in 2017 Labour campaigned on change? They were going to fix things, introduce a capital gains tax, make the rich pay their fair share for once. Yeah, fooled us all, didn't they? And they'll no doubt try and ...2 days ago
- This government does not deserve re-electionBack in February, Green co-leader James Shaw asked a good question: does the government deserve to be re-elected if they failed to implement a capital gains tax? Today, the government gave its answer: it does not. The government has ruled ...2 days ago
- A start on odious debtLast year, when the government finally admitted that the meth-testing industry was a scam and that they had wrongfully evicted hundreds of state housing tenants on the basis of bullshit "meth tests", it moved swiftly to compensate its victims. But ...2 days ago
- Folau’s Folly
The strife that Israel Folau has found himself in, following his statement that homosexuals and others are destined for hell, and calling on them to “repent”, has many consequences and ramifications – and not just for him and those whom ...2 days ago - Spies are just murderous scumFrom 1975 to 1989, the spy agencies of South America's right-wing military dictatorships cooperated in Operation Condor, a joint campaign of extermination against the continent's left. Roughly 400,000 people were imprisoned, 30,000 disappeared, and 60,000 murdered - kidnapped, tortured, executed, ...2 days ago
- The Future for Australian Coal
Problems Australia is the worlds’ largest exporter of coal, selling thermal coal for electricity generation and coking coal for smelting world-wide. In 2017 its export of this commodity was valued at over $40 billion, most of it produced in Queensland and New ...3 days ago - Tamaki Dr Safety propsals
At the end of last month Auckland Transport launched two consultations aiming to improve road safety in two of Auckland’s most iconic seaside villages – Mission Bay and St Heliers. AT say that between 2013 and 2017: Mission Bay had ...3 days ago - Climate Change: No future for farmingOver at The Spinoff, energy analyst Briony Bennett has an article about our pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050. Its going to be a difficult path, given the weather-dependence of our renewables and need for more electricity generation to power ...3 days ago
- A step forwardOne of the big problems with local government is gerontocracy: only 6% of local authority members are under 40, while 83% of them are over 50. This doesn't just mean that local government is unrepresentative, it distorts policy outcomes - ...3 days ago
- Hard News: Splore 2019 – Please Don’t F*ck This Up Part 3: Harm Reduction
This is the third excerpt from the panel looking at the next two years' pending drug policy reforms at the Splore Listening Lounge in February this year.Those reforms include a new amendment guiding police discretion in the case of drug ...3 days ago - Temporary Traffic Management – Auckland is awash with cones
This is a guest post from Dave Tilton of Parallaxx There will be people that read this that scratch their head daily when looking at Temporary Traffic Management (TTM). They will see the signs and cones, and Traffic Controllers ...4 days ago - Folau, diversity and the almighty dollar
by Daphna Whitmore A top Australian rugby player looks set to be sacked for quoting the Bible. Israel Folau has breached Australian Rugby Union (ARU) inclusiveness rules by saying that hell awaits homosexuals. Folau would be within his rights to ...4 days ago - 99% renewable is probably good enough for nowRadio New Zealand reports that getting from 99% to 100% renewable electricity is likely to be very expensive:A government body is poised to announce that a core of the country's energy policy will be prohibitively expensive to implement. [...] [The ...4 days ago
- 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #15
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... How a Few Small Fixes Could Stop Climate Change "We have ...4 days ago - The arrest of Julian AssangeThirteen years ago Wikileaks exposed to the world torture and cruelty at the US naval base in Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. More exposures followed showing abuses by US armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2010 video footage shot from ...5 days ago
- Aladdin and the Magic Modeshift
Accelerating Modeshift was the subject of a workshop for Councillors last Friday. (Credit: Cathy Casey, via Facebook):
Modeshift away from private car ...5 days ago - Tom Scott and Aramoana’s Long Shadow
From Tom Scott’s collection of cartoons, “Life in New Zealand” – his tribute to the Aramoana massacre on 13 November 1990 where a crazed gunman shot and killed thirteen people. . . The next one is a Public Service announcement ...6 days ago - Flashback Sunday: Peds Rule
Every weekend we dig into the archives. This post by Kent was originally published in July 2013.
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Apr 7 through Sat, Apr 13, 2019 Editor's Pick The world could transition entirely to cheap, safe renewable energy before 2050: ...6 days ago- New research, April 1-7, 2019
A selection of new climate related research articles is shown below. This post has separate sections for: Climate Change, Climate Change Impacts, Climate Change Mitigation, and Other Papers. Climate change impacts Mankind Potential impacts of climate change on dengue fever ...7 days ago- A shameful response to Turkey’s generosity at Gallipoli
. – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, first President of Turkey (b. 1881 d. 1938) . When President Atatürk uttered those words* in the plaque at the top of this page, it was an act of humanity, love, and generosity that few ...7 days ago- New funding model needed
With the consultation period for the Reform of Vocational Education nowclosed, the Government will be considering submissions ...1 week ago- State of the Tertiary Education Sector survey
Two years ago news headlines highlighted the pressure staff in tertiary education were under to elevate grades, and it seems pressures are still ...1 week ago- New minimum wage and living wage for 2019
This week saw New Zealand’s minimum wage increase and a new living wage rate announced. ...1 week ago- The Domestic Violence – Victims’ Protection Act 2018
The TEU supports the introduction of the Domestic Violence –Victims’Protection Act which builds in to law protections and support for victims ...1 week ago- With power comes responsibility
Lexie Matheson, AUT, looks at the latest harmful words of Israel Folau and what it means for the LGBTIQ community and all of us. ...1 week ago- Staff shocked at the depth of the financial and planning issues at Whitireia and Weltec
Staff at Whitireia and Weltec are making a stand for a quality vocational education system that places communities at its centre. ...1 week ago- Making The Tradies Pay.
1 week ago- Uber’s S1 and slowing growth
Uber released their S1, their prospectus for their IPO today. The biggest concern for potential investors is probably their falling growth rates, which makes it hard to model a future where the company can produce significant earnings to justify ...1 week ago- Places to go, people to see
While there's news today, I'm off to Wellington to attend Armageddon on the weekend. Normal bloggage will resume on Monday. ...1 week ago- Mar-19 Ridership
When it comes to tracking public transport ridership in Auckland, finding out the results for March is one of my favourite times of the year. March is usually the busiest month of the year thanks to a number of factors, ...1 week ago- Have We Abandoned the Egalitarian Society?
Eighty years ago, the First Labour Government imbedded New Zealanders’ aspirations for an egalitarian society in the welfare state it created. Thirty years ago, both the Labour and National Governments began an assault on that egalitarianism and the traditional welfare ...1 week ago- Code Pink, Madonna and Palestinian resistance
by Phil Duncan Code Pink, a US-based peace and social reform group, has issued a call to Madonna not to perform at Eurovision which, this year, is being held in Tel Aviv. They note, “Israel’s regime of military occupation, settler-colonialism ...1 week ago- How the SIS can protect NZ elections
The SIS has been appearing before the Justice Select Committee to discuss concerns about foreign interference in New Zealand elections. In the process, they suggested that something dubious has been going on around donations:"We do see foreign interference activity from ...1 week ago- Acting responsibly – recent governance lessons
In California the giant electricity utility PG&E requested bankruptcy protection. In New Zealand a former Prime Minister and her previous colleagues around the Board table of Mainzeal have been fined $36 million – although both sides are appealing that. Also ...1 week ago- Climate Change: The latest inventory
The annual inventory report[PDF] of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing a slight increase in emissions: Its small, and the government is blaming the weather (2017 was not a good hydro year), but it is still not ...1 week ago- “We are one class” – free movement for the workers of the world
by The Spark Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are fleeing for their lives, trying to gain entry into the U.S. Most are from Central America: El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, where there is some of the highest ...1 week ago- Are ramp signals fundamentally flawed?
Ramp signals – those traffic lights on motorway on-ramps that are designed to limit the number of vehicles that enter the motorway and thereby help keep traffic flowing, have long been a controversial transport initiative. They were first introduced on ...1 week ago- The Gap
There’s a lot of work going on at the moment trying to address the funding needs of hundreds of companies that are emerging from New Zealand. Investors, groups of investors and funds are all lifting their sights, raising and contributing ...1 week ago- Cheap at twice the price
In Parliament to day, opportunistic hologram David Seymour attacked the government's proposed gun buyback scheme, claiming that it would be costly and unsuccessful. Its success is obviously up to gun owners and police - and I would hope that they ...1 week ago- Immigration is people seeking a better life
by Don Franks Assumptions in an article on immigration numbers dropping show the crude capitalist values of our media. The question of immigration has always been a difficult balancing act for New Zealand’s political parties. On one hand, businesses need ...1 week ago- No wonder she didn’t want to answer
Last week, Parliament threatened the Chief Statistician with contempt to force her to produce basic statistics on last year's census. This morning, she finally produced them. And its become clear why she wanted to keep them secret: because the census ...1 week ago- Convenient Fictions
1 week ago- Climate Change: Business as usual
Remember when Jacinda Ardern called climate change "my generation's nuclear free moment"? From that tough talk, you'd expect urgent and real action to stop fossil fuels and reduce emissions. But when they banned offshore oil exploration, existing permits were left ...1 week ago- The case for allowing aid in dying in New Zealand
The End of Life Choice Bill, a member's bill in the name of David Seymour that would permit aid in dying, has been reported back by Parliament's Health Committee.read more ...1 week ago- Climate change poses security risks, according to decades of intelligence reports
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections A series of authoritative governmental and nongovernmental analyses over more than three decades lays a strong foundation for concern over climate change implications for national security. Most recently, the national intelligence community – ...1 week ago- New E-Scooter trial and rules coming
At the end of last year and beginning of this year e-scooters dominated the news cycles. I’m still not entirely why they got so much attention but media were absolutely obsessed with them. Perhaps this is a reflection of how ...1 week ago- Will the SIS double down on Islamophobia?
Yesterday the government announced the terms of reference for a royal commission of inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attack. Among other things, the inquiry will be examining the failure of intelligence agencies in allowing a violent Nazi to buy weapons ...1 week ago- New Zealand landlords have it easy
Landlords and house-hoarders are whining about the prospect of a capital gains tax forcing them to pay their fair share. But in Berlin, they have a different solution to controlling rising rents: forced expropriation:Thousands of Berlin residents took to the ...1 week ago- Reported back
The Justice Committee has reported back on the End of Life Choice Bill. As expected, they were unable to agree on a contentious piece of legislation, so they have recommended a few minor technical amendments, while leaving major policy questions ...1 week ago- Proper planning, not cuts demanded at Whitireia and Weltec
Staff at Whitireia and Weltec are making a stand for a quality vocationaleducation system that places communities at its centre. ...1 week ago- Expertise and resources the key to vocational education reforms
Ensuring students get access to expert teachers and industry practitionersis the focus of the Tertiary Education Union’s submission on the ...1 week ago- Doing what they promised II
The Finance and Expenditure Committee reported back on the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill, and recommended that it be passed with only minor amendments. There are new exemptions allowing commercial pest controllers and people with heirlooms to ...1 week ago- The secret closed trials of Soviet Russia. (And Aotearoa New Zealand)
. . History throughout the 20th century is replete with authoritarian regimes using closed, secret trials to persecute dissidents. Closed, secret trials give a veneer of legal “respectability” to an autocratic regime that wants to do away with its critics, ...2 weeks ago- Getting Light Rail to the Northwest in three easy steps
On Saturday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford held a public meeting in Henderson about transport in West Auckland and I was one of the speakers. At the event there was lot of discussion about rapid transit on the SH16 corridor where ...2 weeks ago- And over on The Irish Revolution
Several of us at Redline maintain separate blogs: the Irish Revolution (about Irish history and politics) and 100 Years of Trenches (anti-militarism, anti-imperialism, in particular in relation to NZ). Below are some recent highlights from the Irish revolution blog: Bernadette ...2 weeks ago- Skeptical Science at EGU 2019 – blogging from day to day
Just like last year, I travelled to Vienna to participate in the General Assembly of the European Geoscience Union (EGU) held from April 8 to 12. Different to 2018, I'll (try to) add to this blog on a daily basis, ...2 weeks ago- One way of fixing it
Last year, Auckland got a regional fuel tax to help pay for its new rail link. But in addition to expanding public transport, the tax has also delivered another benefit: pushing more people to use it:Auckland's regional fuel tax is ...2 weeks ago- Thailand’s dictatorship strikes back
Last month, Thai voters gave the finger to the country's military dictatorship, electing - against all odds - a majority opposition coalition to throw out the junta. But now the military has struck back, charging a major opposition leader with ...2 weeks ago- This is not how our public service should work
Our public service is supposed to work for us. While they are directly accountable to the government of the day, they are ultimately accountable to us through Parliament. A key mechanism for this accountability is the annual review process, in ...2 weeks ago- Russiagate: Lessons for the media. But will they listen?
How is this anything but a form of racism? Racism is never acceptable – and this coming from within the US intelligence community. Frankly, I don’t ...2 weeks ago- 2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #14
Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... Toon of the Week... John Cook in the News... SkS Spotlights... Coming Soon on SkS... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... How global warming ...2 weeks ago- Drury Structure Plan still not quite right
Back in January I highlighted a major risk that the Council was ruining the Drury growth area by preferring the position of a few landowners over years of previous technical analysis and common sense. Key to my concern was the ...2 weeks ago- Physician, heal thyself?
In the aftermath of the Christchurch atrocity, the political life of the nation must go on; for as W.H. Auden so eloquently put it, "even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course". Of course, for now much of this political life ...2 weeks ago- The Mueller reportThe redacted version of the Mueller report has now been released. If there was any doubt Mueller's opening statement is that the Russian Government ...1 hour ago
- Andrew Little leads NZ delegation on global anti-terrorism taskforce
Justice Minister Andrew Little leaves for the United States today to take part in a global task force that’s tackling terrorism and anti-money laundering. “I’m looking forward to leading the New Zealand delegation to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ...1 week ago - Third reading: Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment BillMr Speaker We have travelled a long way in eight days, since the bill was read a first time. It has been a punishing schedule for MPs and submitters and public servants who have played a role in this process. ...1 week ago
- Legal framework for gun buyback scheme announcedPolice Minister Stuart Nash has announced a legal framework for the gun buyback will be established as a first step towards determining the level of compensation. It will include compensation for high capacity magazines and parts. Mr Nash has outlined ...1 week ago
- Second reading: Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment BillMr Speaker, it is Day 25 of the largest criminal investigation in New Zealand history. Not a day, or a moment, has been wasted as we respond to the atrocity that is testing us all. That is true also of ...1 week ago
- First reading: Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment BillMr Speaker, as we meet today New Zealand is under a terror threat level of HIGH. As we meet today, Police are routinely carrying firearms, Bushmaster rifles and Glock pistols, in a significant departure from normal practice. As we meet ...2 weeks ago
- NZ-China economic ties strengthenedEconomic ties between New Zealand and China are being strengthened with the successful negotiation of a new taxation treaty. The double tax agreement was signed by New Zealand’s Ambassador to China and by the Commissioner of the State Taxation Administration ...3 weeks ago
- Tighter gun laws to enhance public safetyPolice Minister Stuart Nash has introduced legislation changing firearms laws to improve public safety following the Christchurch terror attacks. “Every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack will be banned,” Mr Nash says. “Owning a gun is a privilege not ...3 weeks ago
- The Mueller reportThe redacted version of the Mueller report has now been released. If there was any doubt Mueller's opening statement is that the Russian Government ...1 hour ago
- Call Government for OECD/WHO/EU standards for traffic noise
CEAC/ residents seek health/wellbeing protection by adopting OECD/WHO/EU urban traffic noise standards. Confirmation from several reports both from NZTA/Transit-NZ acoustical consultants have since 2001 warned residents that heavy traffic levels coupled with ...3 hours ago - DefendNZ releases Top 5 Reasons for MPs to Vote ‘NO’#DefendNZ releases Top 5 Reasons for MPs to Vote ‘NO’ – The End of life Choice Bill will never be safe #DefendNZ – a grassroots movement opposed to the End of Life Choice Bill – has listed their Top 5 ...1 day ago
- No CGT may offer opportunities to rethink policiesChild Poverty Action Group cautiously welcomes the government’s response to the Tax Working Group’s (TWG) final report . ...1 day ago
- We are the Rising Tide!The seas are rising - but so are we! Human wave for action on climate change. ...1 day ago
- ANZASW response to MSD decision on housing evictionsThe Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) welcomes Housing New Zealand’s (HNZ) decision to clear the debts of those who have been wrongfully evicted for alleged methamphetamine contamination at their homes. ...1 day ago
- Environment Report shows need for major reformThe Environmental Defence Society (EDS) welcomes the release of the latest report under New Zealand’s national environmental reporting regime. The report, Environment Aotearoa 2019 , was produced jointly by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats ...1 day ago
- ANZASW on response to Tax Working Group reportThe Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) notes the release of the government’s response to the Tax Working Group (TWG) report this week. ...1 day ago
- Environment Aotearoa yardstick welcomed by LGNZThe latest report providing metrics on the state of New Zealand’s environment is being welcomed by LGNZ’s Regional Sector as a way for councils to focus their efforts where it can make the biggest difference. ...1 day ago
- Regional Council welcomes report findingsBay of Plenty Regional Council has today welcomed the release of Environment Aotearoa 2019 by the Ministry for the Environment. ...1 day ago
- Taking Our Story to the WorldOn the 25th of May, 2019, seven committee members of the ANZASCS will be heading off to what is considered to be the most ‘unique city’ in the United States of America. ...1 day ago
- Prisons generally operating well say Inspectorate reportsCorrections acknowledges the release of the reports into Otago Corrections Facility, Rimutaka Prison and Auckland South Corrections Facility, completed by Corrections’ independent inspectorate. ...1 day ago
- Environment Report Confirms Regional Council FailureFish and Game welcomed the report on New Zealand’s Environment today and believe it is a performance review on regional councils and how they have completely failed to protect the environment. ...1 day ago
- City Rail Link cost blow-out: Public deserves better...1 day ago
- Environmental data improvement key in Environment reportEnvironment Canterbury has welcomed the Environment Aotearoa 2019 synthesis report as a significant milestone in the work to understand the state of our natural environment and the effects of climate change across New Zealand. ...1 day ago
- National environmental snapshot sobering readingHawke’s Bay Regional Council Chief Executive James Palmer has welcomed a national report released today on the state of our natural environment but says it makes sobering reading. Environment Aotearoa 2019 is jointly-produced by the Ministry for the Environment ...1 day ago
- Action must follow damning environment reportForest & Bird says the country must take bold action to reverse an environmental crisis, following the release of the Environment Aotearoa 2019 report. “We have more than enough information about how bad things are,” says CEO Kevin Hague. “New ...1 day ago
- Call For Kiwis to Restrict Single Use PlasticsKiwis are being asked to review and reduce their consumption of single use plastics this World Earth Day (April 22). ...1 day ago
- State of Environment report highlights need for better dataThe Resource Management Law Association (RMLA) welcomes the comprehensive report on the state of the environment released by the Ministry for the Environment today. ...1 day ago
- Nine top environmental issues facing New ZealandA new report shows the way we live and how we make a living are having a serious impact on our environment. ...1 day ago
- Reducing risks on the road needs better reflectionThe AA is asking all drivers to remember to look in the mirror as we head towards the Easter break. ...1 day ago
- “SOUR MILK” Protest at ParliamentYesterday afternoon, around 60 members of Extinction Rebellion Te Whanganui-a-Tara gathered in Parliament grounds to protest against intensive dairy farming, and the associated land damage, greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater pollution, health impacts ...1 day ago
- REINZ welcomes Labour’s CGT announcementThe Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) has today welcomed the announcement from the Prime Minister that Labour will not be adopting a capital gains tax (CGT), following feedback from the majority of New Zealanders that they do not ...1 day ago
- Inspection reports for three prisons releasedThe Office of the Inspectorate today released inspection reports for Auckland South Corrections Facility, Rimutaka Prison and Otago Corrections Facility. ...1 day ago
- Dunne Speaks: The Capital Gains Tax U-TurnIn my Newsroom Column last week about the proposed Capital Gains Tax I wrote that "Notwithstanding her own strong feelings in favour of a comprehensive capital gains tax, [the Prime Minister] needs to recognise the depth of public opposition ...2 days ago
- Closing the Gap statement on CGT decisionToday’s decision ruling out a Capital Gains Tax for New Zealand is hypocritical from a Government that campaigned on improving wellbeing, reducing inequality and governing on the basis of fairness, efficiency, and rationality, said Peter Malcolm, ...2 days ago
- No capital gains tax a relief for owners and tenantsRental property owners and tenants will be relieved that pressure from hundreds of thousands of voters and taxpayers forced the ideologically-driven Prime Minister to drop the ideologically-driven capital gains tax, Tenancies War spokesman Mike ...2 days ago
- Waikato Businesses pleased Government has dumped the CGTChris Simpson CEO of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce is pleased for the 55,000 businesses operating in the Waikato that the CGT has been dumped. ...2 days ago
- Praise for listening to feedback on CGT challengesChartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) today praised the Coalition Government for listening to feedback on the challenges of wide-ranging tax reforms and the importance of maintaining the integrity and simplicity of the tax system. ...2 days ago
- E tū very disappointed by CGT announcementE tū, the biggest private sector union in New Zealand, is very disappointed that the Government will not adopt any of the Tax Working Group’s recommendations on introducing a capital gains tax (CGT). ...2 days ago
- Tax Justice Aotearoa statement on CGT announcementTax Justice Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply disappointed that the coalition Government has not moved on capital gains tax and has failed to take up the challenge. ...2 days ago
- Early intervention initiatives not meeting needs of youngestEarly intervention initiatives not meeting the needs of our youngest tamariki, says Te Rito Maioha ...2 days ago
- Government upholds status quo over Capital Gains TaxThe Government's rejection of a Capital Gains Tax upholds the status quo it promised to change in the lead up to the election and Government formation. Auckland Action Against Poverty condemns the Government's decision to not fix our tax system ...2 days ago
- NZPIF applauds Government’s capital gains tax decisionThe NZ Property Investors’ Federation (NZPIF) applauds the decision not to introduce a capital gains tax” said Andrew King, Executive Officer of the NZPIF. “This tax would have no effect on the housing market except to make rentals more expensive. ...2 days ago
- NZPIF applauds Government’s capital gains tax decisionThe NZ Property Investors’ Federation (NZPIF) applauds the decision not to introduce a capital gains tax” said Andrew King, Executive Officer of the NZPIF. “This tax would have no effect on the housing market except to make rentals more expensive. ...2 days ago
- Govt makes the right call on CGTThe Road Transport Forum has welcomed the Government’s decision not to go ahead with a Capital Gains Tax. ...2 days ago
- Government makes right decision on CGTThe Government’s decision to not adopt the proposed capital gains tax (CGT) is the "right decision given the impact it would have had on business", says Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Leeann Watson. ...2 days ago
- The right call made on CGT, Feds saysThe decision not to proceed with a Capital Gains Tax is heartening evidence that the coalition government is willing to put well-reasoned and practical considerations in front of ideology, Federated Farmers says. ...2 days ago
- CGT decision: The opportunity cost of a lost opportunityToday’s announcement by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that the coalition government has completely ruled out all options for a capital gains tax for the foreseeable future is a lost opportunity for lasting tax reform says the Public Service Association ...2 days ago
- EMA says CGT decision is good news for SMEsThe EMA says it is relieved that the government has decided not to proceed with a capital gains tax because of the detrimental effect it would have had on the productivity and growth of small to medium-sized businesses. ...2 days ago
- Tax Axed!The Government has listened to the thousands of New Zealanders around the country who told it to Axe this Tax, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. ...2 days ago
- Government misses opportunity for a fairer NZToday’s announcement that the Government will not be supporting a Capital Gains tax is "hugely disappointing" says CTU President Richard Wagstaff. ...2 days ago
- Companies urged to show leadership in fleet safetyBrake, the road safety charity, is urging organisations with staff who drive for work to address their road risk and implement measures that help to reduce incidents. The charity is running a free online session for professionals with responsibility ...2 days ago
- After Christchurch, many NZers re-assess what’s importantAuckland, 16th April 2019 – A month on from the tragic attacks in Christchurch, Ipsos has released the findings of its most recent Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor, a regular survey of the most important issues facing New Zealanders. ...2 days ago
- Challenges Around Medicinal Cannabis EducationSETEK Therapeutics, a Taupo-based medical cannabis company has cautioned that public education and helping the medical profession to better understand medicinal cannabis will be a key challenge. ...2 days ago
- Wiping of debt for HNZ tenants step towards justiceThe Government's announcement that it will wipe the Ministry of Social Development debt accumulated as a result of wrongful evictions because of methamphetamine contamination policies is a step towards justice. Auckland Action Against Poverty welcomes this ...2 days ago
- Threat level change and release of attack response timelinePolice Commissioner Mike Bush acknowledges today’s change to the New Zealand threat level, and reaffirms Police’s commitment to keeping communities safe. ...2 days ago
- More than 3,000 submissions on high country management3,165 submissions have been received by Land Information New Zealand as part of the public consultation on proposals to improve the management of Crown pastoral land in the South Island high country. ...2 days ago
- Doctors’ Open Letter Gets 1,000th SignatureOrganiser Dr Sinead Donnelly, a Wellington-based Palliative Medicine specialist, says she is humbled by the response. “We started with just a very simple one-page website and it has snowballed through word of mouth and social media.” ...2 days ago
- Awareness of whistle-blowing legislation alarmingly lowPublic awareness of the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA) is very low, according to research undertaken on behalf of the Ombudsman. ...2 days ago
- Aerial 1080 improves kiwi chick survivalKiwi chicks in a North Island forest are more likely to survive following aerial 1080 to control pests a newly published long-term study shows. ...2 days ago
- The Mueller reportThe redacted version of the Mueller report has now been released. If there was any doubt Mueller's opening statement is that the Russian Government ...1 hour ago
- Chris Lilley’s Lunatics has deadpan cringe, great dialogue but is more mawkish than outrageous
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Cothren, PhD Candidate, Flinders University Chris Lilley was in strife almost from the moment he started filming his new mockumentary series Lunatics, which has begun streaming on Netflix. Last year, leaked ...2 hours ago - West Papuan boycott of Indonesian election successful, says campaign
File photo of a West Papuan rally in Denpasar, Bali, in 2017 … “growing confidence about independence”. Image: The Jakarta Post Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has claimed a successful boycott of ...6 hours ago - Shamubeel Eaqub: Good riddance to Capital Gains Tax and a (slightly) fairer system
The supporters and opposers were polarised in their vehemence, but international experience shows CGTs don't do that much. The political calculus simply did not work, Shamubeel Eaqub writes. ...8 hours ago - How Courtney Act turned reality television into activism
Alex Casey talks to Courtney Act, host of Bravo’s The Bi Life, about her brand of political activism in the most unlikely of places – reality television. I don’t know if there is some kind of EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, ...10 hours ago - How the UK is leading the world on flu research, ready to kick in quickly when the next pandemic hit...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Simpson, Professor of Population Health, Victoria University of Wellington The next influenza pandemic is a case of when, rather than if. In the last major influenza pandemic in 2009, 201,200 people ...10 hours ago
- Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 19
The only published and available best-selling 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 Home Fire: A Novel by Kamila Shamsie (Bloomsbury, ...11 hours ago - The Friday Poem: Objects 6 by Nikki-Lee BirdseyNew poetry by Piha poet Nikki-Lee BirdseyObjects 6 This time of year I try to think about what is better than beauty. Rose-pink clouds crowd the sky, crowd my page— I think of your face. I can’t fantasise like I did ...11 hours ago
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NewstalkZB is the big, hands-down winner in the latest commercial radio ratings - matched by its rivals only in Wellington where it was first equal with The Breeze. ...11 hours ago - Newstalk ZB’s unsentimental giant signs off with a tear in his eye
Long-serving Newstalk ZB Drive host Larry Williams has hung up the headphones at Newstalk ZB, where has been at since the Palaeolithic era. Alex Braae tunes in for the farewell broadcasts.Jack Tame and David Farrar were on The Huddle with ...12 hours ago - The Real Pod: In which the dancing stars are actually goodThe Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.In the hangover of Married at First Sight Australia, we are overjoyed to shimmy onto the shiny lino of Dancing With the Stars ...12 hours ago
- Jacinda Ardern named world’s second greatest leader by Fortune magazineAnd she’s the only elected leader in the top 10.Jacinda Ardern has been widely praised for her leadership following the Christchurch attacks last month, but now one American magazine has put a number on it, ranking the New Zealand prime ...12 hours ago
- Brigitte Morten: CGT was a political zombie from the startOpinion - It was all political games with the capital gains. This was a policy that was never going to be implemented in the way that Labour took to the 2017 election, Brigitte Morten writes. ...12 hours ago
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Eater of chocolate and master budgeter Madeleine Chapman lays out the recipe for a killer Easter egg hunt.Put on your Donnie Darko suit this weekend, sneak around in your own garden, then inevitably step on a marshmallow egg in August. ...13 hours ago - David Seymour critical of Jacinda Ardern’s grasp of economic policyThe ACT Party leader says the Capital Gains Tax backdown proves the prime minister is an effective marketer, but a lightweight policy maker. ...13 hours ago
- John Campbell’s roving days over
The move of TVNZ's high-paid star John Campbell to an off-peak and studio-bound role hosting Breakfast is baffling, Mark Jennings writes. ...13 hours ago - A day fishing with Clarke Gayford
Toby Manhire spends a day chasing kingis – and PM-adjacent yarns – with Fish of the Day host Clarke Gayford.This story originally ran in Barker’s 1972 magazine.Mid-week, mid-morning under a muddy grey January sky. We’re skimming into the Hauraki Gulf on a stupidly ...16 hours ago - The strangely aimless late career of John Campbell
The arrival of one of New Zealand’s most beloved broadcasters on breakfast TV is very perplexing, writes Duncan Greive Four years have now passed since #savecampbelllive, one of the most bizarre episodes in our recent media history, and one which sent ...16 hours ago - Grattan on Friday: The campaign with built-in R&R for votersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Politically speaking, the Easter break is a blessing for a jaded electorate, at least a partial rest for voters’ eyes and ears in a campaign ...20 hours ago
- Vital Signs: the ‘ball-tampering’ budget trick they don’t want you to know aboutSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW The first week of the federal election campaign has been dominated by heated disputes about the numbers behind both government and opposition policies. Both sides are ...1 day ago
- Time, money and method: three things to consider if you’re thinking about homeschooling your childSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Roy, Lecturer in Education, University of Newcastle This is the last article in our series on homeschooling in Australia. The series answers common questions including why homeschooling is on the rise ...1 day ago
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- Antibiotic shortages are putting Aboriginal kids at riskSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Asha Bowen, Head, Skin Health, Telethon Kids Institute At any time, almost one in two Aboriginal children living in remote areas will have a school sore. That means right now, there are ...1 day ago
- An Easter to reflect on our fragile home
Rod Oram writes of becoming an environmentalist out of love and pain. ...1 day ago - Australia’s epic story: a tale of amazing people, amazing creatures and rising seasSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Bird, ARC Laureate Fellow, JCU Distinguished Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, James Cook University The Australian continent has a remarkable history — a story of isolation, ...1 day ago
- What and where is heaven? The answers are at the heart of the Easter storySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Senior Lecturer in New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity This is the second in a two-part series on heaven and hell by Bible scholar Robyn Whitaker. You ...1 day ago
- What is hell, exactly? We might joke it’s other people, but the Bible has a more complicated answe...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Senior Lecturer in New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity This is the first in a two-part series on heaven and hell by Bible scholar Robyn Whitaker. You ...1 day ago
- Going to the beach this Easter? Here are four ways we’re not being properly protected from jellyfi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lynda Crowley-Cyr, Associae Professsor of Law, University of Southern Queensland The Easter long weekend marks the last opportunity this year for many Australians to go to the beach as the weather cools ...1 day ago
- In Abdul-Rahman Abdullah’s Pretty Beach, a fever of stingrays becomes a meditation on sufferingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ted Snell, Professor, Chief Cultural Officer, Cultural Precinct, University of Western Australia In our Here’s looking at series, experts explain prominent works of art. Abdul-Rahman Abdullah’s fever of stingrays glide menacingly beneath ...1 day ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 18 2019
Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – April 18 2019 Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. The Beehive and Parliament Buildings. Today’s content Capital gains ...1 day ago - Helen Clark, Don McKinnon front NZ chapter of US think-tank
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Secretary-General for the Commonwealth, Sir Don McKinnon, are throwing their political capital and global profile behind the establishment of the New Zealand chapter of a respected US-based think tank, the Aspen Institute. ...1 day ago - The IKEA effect: how we value the fruits of our labour over instant gratificationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Associate Professor in Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology There are some anecdotes just so good that almost every story about a particular economic principle begins the same. ...1 day ago
- Fight over vocational education rages on
Chris Hipkins says he needs to push on with vocational education reforms to do away with uncertainty, but the ITOs are begging him to slow down. ...1 day ago - Week in Politics: Labour’s biggest campaign burden scrappedAnalysis - Was Winston Peters solely responsible for sinking the capital gains tax, or did Labour realise that taking it into the next election could be fatal? Peter Wilson looks at a busy week in politics. ...1 day ago
- Fuji Xerox auditor keeps name suppression due
The names of the auditors of Fuji Xerox’s New Zealand subsidiary remain suppressed after an appeal hearing against a decision by an accountants’ disciplinary tribunal. ...1 day ago - CGT backdown: Revenue Minister not worried about tax turnoverThe Revenue Minister isn't concerned about the impact ditching a capital gains tax will have on the tax take. ...1 day ago
- Two Cents’ Worth: Disrupting the booze
Younger generations are drinking less. That's got to be good for our health, but not so good for business. ...1 day ago - Jokowi wins second term in Indonesia, CSIS-Cyrus quick count shows
1 day ago - Questions of leadership and power from the CGT wreckage
The CGT debacle has raised questions over Jacinda Ardern's ability to lead. ...1 day ago - Climate change is hitting hard across New Zealand, official report findsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University The major focus on climate change in Environment Aotearoa 2019, a stocktake on New Zealand’s environment released today, is a welcome change. The report ...1 day ago
- Joko Widodo looks set to win the Indonesia election. Now, the real power struggle beginsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Lindsey, Malcolm Smith Professor of Asian Law and Director of the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, University of Melbourne Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (known as “Jokowi”) looks poised to ...1 day ago
- ComCom to eye fuel profits by region, activity
The Commerce Commission says its assessment of competition in the retail fuel industry will include whether some geographies or parts of the business are more profitable than others. ...1 day ago - Curious Kids: How long would garden snails live if they were not eaten by another animal?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bill Bateman, Associate professor, Curtin University Curious Kids is a series for children. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au You might also like ...1 day ago
- Bryce Edwards: Signs Labour didn’t intend to implement capital gains taxCoalition supporters might feel there has been a failure of leadership over a capital gains tax, but there may not have been any real intention to implement one, writes Dr Bryce Edwards. ...1 day ago
- The mystery of Jamie Fraser’s wig: a special Outlander investigation
Yesterday Starz released a promo photo for Season 5 of Outlander, and the world shifted on its axis. And breaking news: Jamie Fraser’s wig is finally perfect, writes Tara Ward.We’re crossing live to the 18th Century, where Outlander hero Jamie Fraser has ...1 day ago - The myth of ‘the Queensland voter’, Australia’s trust deficit, and the path to Indigenous reco...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling Today we’re bringing you a special discussion about the federal election that took place at the launch of a book of Conversation essays, Advancing Australia: Ideas ...1 day ago
- New Zealand’s urban freshwater is improving, but a major report reveals huge gaps in our knowledgeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Environment Aotearoa 2019, a major report released today, provides the first snapshot since 2015 of New Zealand’s environment across ...1 day ago
- The rich get richer, the poor get poorer: The CGT failure is a story of modern NZ
Emily Writes was disappointed by yesterday’s capital gains tax news – but after years of government inaction on housing inequality, she wasn’t surprised.I found out that Jacinda Ardern had chucked plans to impose a capital gains tax through my group ...1 day ago - TIL Logistics in trading halt pending announcement after 6.5% decline
Trading in TIL Logistics has been halted pending an announcement after the stock dropped 6.5 percent this morning on unusually big volumes. ...1 day ago - How to get boozed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day this yearAround this time every year, the howls of agony echo around the country – from south to north, people who enjoy a drink in moderation have just realised that religious traditions have impinged on their freedoms. But forewarned is forearmed. We ...1 day ago
- New research, April 1-7, 2019
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