Posts Tagged ‘crime rate’
Falling crime
Written By: - Date published: 11:35 am, April 3rd, 2013 - 24 comments
Falling crime is good news – but the reasons are probably not the ones that occupy most of the politicians and the commentary.
Juking the stats?
Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, April 3rd, 2012 - 18 comments
The recorded crime rate has been dropping for two decades now mostly due to changing demographics. More good news this year with a 4.8% drop, mostly attributable to a 21% fall in Canterbury. But something’s a little off in these numbers. The number of offences recorded has fallen, yet the percentage solved has fallen even more. Shouldn’t less crime mean more resources to solve the ones that do happen?
- Government must learn from mask exemption mess
The current COVID-19 Order requires face coverings in some circumstances, for example in retail businesses at level 2 and on public transport at all alert levels. There is a medical exemption which, in practice, has been muddled. And, the hard work is being done by the people least resourced to do it. The government must learn from this ...53 mins ago - The Majority Is Always Wrong.
“No Minister”: Sir Humphrey Appleby’s working proposition was that government was far too important to be left to politicians – let alone the ordinary person in the street. To the silver-tongued Oxbridge mandarin, the top-down neoliberal revolutionary, and the uncompromising social-liberal public servant of 2021, majority rule will always be ...1 hour ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #43, 2021
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- Bryce Edwards: Government failure on water reform
The Government’s water reforms appear to be fatally flawed before legislation is even introduced to Parliament. The fact that the Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta is now pushing through unpopular reforms in the face of mass opposition and concern from nearly all quarters shows just how much she has ...20 hours ago - Obstacles Biden could face in changing approach to climate cost-benefit analysisThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Lexi Smith ABiden administration shift from cost-benefit analysis to cost-effectiveness analysis could allow President Biden to pursue more aggressive climate action. But any such shift also would face some administrative and legal challenges. While President Biden could act unilaterally to change cost-benefit ...22 hours ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 28 October 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Prof John Halligan, Emeritus Professor of Public Administration and Governance, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Australia “The emails from ‘NZ Politics Daily’ provides an indispensable service for an expat trying to keep abreast of events in New Zealand. As a comparative specialist I’m unaware of anything comparable in ...23 hours ago
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- “Close to useless”
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We must now accept that our national response to the Delta variant has not been as successful as our initial effort last year when the coronavirus first made an appearance. This, we can assume, is partly because the Delta variant is a more formidable opponent but also partly because our ...2 days ago - Monitoring CO2 indoors for improving ventilation as a Covid-19 control toolDr Ian Longley and Dr Julie Bennett* Poor ventilation in indoor settings is widely recognised as a risk factor for the airborne transmission of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Covid-19. Virus-laden aerosols can remain airborne for hours in indoor spaces with low levels of ventilation. In this blog, we discuss ...2 days ago
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National Party leader Judith Collins thinks the government’s traffic light system for emerging from Covid lockdowns is “confusing.” Perhaps she could be looking in the mirror because in recent weeks, National has hardly been a model of crystalline clarity. On RNZ this morning Collins was calling for the scrapping of ...2 days ago - Long read: reflections of a volcanologist as a science organisation faces charges in the wake of the...Ben Kennedy, University of Canterbury This week, a case review hearing sought to set a trial date – now likely in 2023 – for 13 organisations and individuals facing charges in the wake of the Whakaari White Island eruption of December 9 2019. The volcano erupted while 47 people ...2 days ago
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Selwyn Manning and I have created YouTube channels under our respective business names in order to promote the “A View from Afar” podcast series. The latest episode examines recent problems of global supply, production and exchange, using a micro-to-macro lens to discuss the interplay between economics, policy and politics in ...5 days ago - Dark Lord Musings: Why Sauron Joined Team Melkor
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You may find it somewhat amusing to see Brian Tamaki arrested again for organising another Destiny Church protest. After all, his largely nonsensical argument against the Government’s Covid restrictions is one thing, but those tattooed on eyebrows are really something else.However it’s no laughing matter. The self-proclaimed messiah is in ...7 days ago - Jacinda’s Choice: “Freedom Day”, Or Failure.Lining Up With The Right: Though Jacinda Ardern hasn’t endorsed the John Key-Act-National preference for 1 December as Auckland's “Freedom Day” in as many words, that is clearly the timeline she is working to. The Prime Minister of New Zealand cannot assure 1.6 million Aucklanders that they will be free ...7 days ago
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- NZ Politics Daily: 22 October 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Peder Gustafsson, Asia Correspondent, Swedish National Radio “As a Asia-Pacific Correspondent for the Swedish National Radio The newsletter from NZ Politics Daily is one of my best sources for getting information and keeping up with what’s happening in New Zealand. I appreciate the variety and breadth of the information ...7 days ago
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- Barbados elects its first presidentBarbados will officially become a republic at the end of November, and today they took an important step along the way: electing their first president. To make things easy on themselves in the transition, they simply elected their current Governor-General to the role: Governor General Dame Sandra Mason has ...1 week ago
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- Moving To The Right.1 week ago
- DrawnA ballot for five Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Education and Training (Freedom of Expression) Amendment Bill (James McDowall) Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Bill (Deborah Russell) Financial Professional Services Trading Advice Transparency Bill ...1 week ago
- National's failed firearms bill cost over $390,0001 week ago
- Waitemata Burning: Narrowing Down the Auckland Outbreak
So the Auckland Coronavirus Outbreak has been steadily increasing in case numbers. Not exploding, Melbourne-style, but definitely increasing. The question then becomes… how is this happening, and where is this happening? Well, I’m pleased you asked that. Because I do think we can mine the available data for clues. ...1 week ago - Wishful ThinkngIt should come as no surprise that the government’s critics, on the pandemic and other subjects, are from the political right. For many of them, the touchstone is purely political – if the policy is right-wing, it is “right”, and, if not, then it is by definition wrong. In no ...1 week ago
- The critically endangered Māui dolphin is a conservation priority – we shouldn’t let uncertaint...Rochelle Constantine, University of Auckland and Wendi Roe, Massey University The world’s rarest marine dolphin, Māui, is found only along the west coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Based on our surveys over the last two summers, during which we collected small tissue samples for DNA ...1 week ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 21 October 2021Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Mike Reid, Principal Policy Advisor, Local Government New Zealand “NZ Politics Daily is essential early morning reading in our organisation like LGNZ. To effectively represent our members we need to understand and respond to changes in the political landscape, particularly policy and political changes at the national ...1 week ago
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Could 1 December be Freedom Day? ...1 week ago- Gordon Campbell on juggling Covid, and France’s Trump-like populist
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Today’s NZPD testimonial from Joe Atkinson, Political Scientist, University of Auckland: “NZPD is an indispensable source for political junkies like me. It sorts the wheat out from the media chaff and saves a lot of time.” Anyone can sign up to NZPD for free at: https://democracyproject.nz/nz-politics-daily/ Today’s content Housing Zane Small (Newshub): How ...1 week ago- Many of New Zealand’s most popular websites use ‘dark patterns’ to manipulate users – is it ...
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Auckland. For a long been it’s been known to Maori as Tamaki Makaurau, a place of ‘many lovers’. In the past fortnight, though, Auckland has shaken out the rug and grabbed a drink to become Tamaki Pikiniki, a place of many picnics. The humble picnic is now, in many ways, a ...1 week ago- Are Covid vaccines becoming less effective?
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Today’s NZPD testimonial from Dr Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative “There is a dearth of quality journalism in New Zealand, and so I am grateful to NZ Politics Daily for sifting through our media to discover the gems of reporting and opinion editorials. It is a valuable contribution to ...1 week ago- Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, 1961–2021
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In the early 2000s, Argentinian victims of the Dirty War, denied justice due to a local amnesty, sought justice in Spanish courts, who obligingly convicted agents of that country's dictatorship of crimes against humanity under Spain's "universal jurisdiction" law. But Argentina wasn't the only country with a repressive dictatorship which ...2 weeks ago- Climate Change: A good move, but not enough
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Today’s NZPD testimonial from Kim Gillespie, Editor NZME Newspapers Lower North Island & Communities “I find the daily email great for giving me an overview of each morning’s big issues across the media landscape, and really appreciate the huge amount of work that must go in to compiling it each day.” Anyone ...2 weeks ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Celebrating and critiquing 25 years of MMP
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- Support measures for COVID-19 related commercial rent issues pass into law
Temporary law changes have been passed in Parliament enabling landlords and commercial tenants to agree a fair proportion of rent relief where a business has suffered losses due to the impacts of COVID-19. “The provisions passed into law in the COVID-19 Response (Management Measures) Legislation Bill strike a balanced response ...14 hours ago - Over 2,600 new police officers on the frontlineThe Government’s record investment in Police has resulted in 2,695 new police officers on the frontline with the graduation of 36 new officers from Wing 347 today, Police Minister Poto Williams says. “Police work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe, whilst also being vital to our COVID-19 ...17 hours ago
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- Mental Health Act Amendment Bill passes third readingThe Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, an important step to ensure patient safety until the whole Act can be replaced, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Today’s amendments eliminate indefinite treatment orders, which have been criticised as a serious breach of human rights,” ...19 hours ago
- ‘Humble’ onion to undergo extreme makeoverThe ‘humble’ onion is about to undergo an extreme makeover, with the Government investing $2.83 million in a programme to enhance the competitive advantage of New Zealand’s onion industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. Onions New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) ...19 hours ago
- 30-year-old RSI system to moderniseWide-ranging consultation on the future of New Zealand’s research system kicks off with Green Paper First step of multi-year system re-design All researchers and stakeholder voices encouraged to join conversation The Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper, has today been launched by Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan ...20 hours ago
- Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper Launch – Minister VerrallTēnā koutou e ngā mātāwaka. Tēnā koutou e te hau kāinga Te Ātiawa, tēnā koutou. Ko Ayesha Verrall ahau, Minita o te Karauna. Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ata. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa. Acknowledgements I would like to start by acknowledging ...20 hours ago
- Kiwi sustainable housing project featured at COP26A new low carbon housing initiative launched today by Kāinga Ora is one of only 17 worldwide initiatives to be showcased in the COP26 ‘Build Better Now’ virtual pavilion at UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Housing Minister Megan Woods announced. Ngā Kāinga Anamata has been identified by the United ...21 hours ago
- Tunes that captured kids’ hearts now available onlineA much loved school resource is now available for the next generation – a project that is being welcomed by Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti. Kiwi Kidsongs were distributed to schools every year for almost 20 years until 2010 and now 50 of the classics including Fish and Chips ...21 hours ago
- Clean energy upgrade for public sectorMore state sector organisations will be supported to switch to clean energy as part the Government’s plan for a carbon neutral public sector by 2025. The Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw has allocated another $13.2 million from the Government’s $220 million State Sector Decarbonisation Fund to purchase electric vehicles and ...22 hours ago
- New investment framework aligns with Govt’s 2050 carbon neutrality goalA new framework will align investment decisions by the Crown Financial Institutions (CFIs) to reflect the Government’s goal of a carbon neutral New Zealand by 2050. The Crown Responsible Investment Framework has been issued to the NZ Super Fund, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Government Superannuation Fund and the National ...22 hours ago
- Strategy to improve outcomes for women in prisonA new strategy developed together with women who have had direct experience with the justice system will help guide Corrections in improving the treatment of women in prison. The strategy - Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou - will set a new direction for Corrections in its ...22 hours ago
- Prime Minister attends East Asia SummitPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended overnight the 16th East Asia Summit hosted virtually by Brunei Darussalam. The East Asia Summit is a key forum for leaders to discuss pressing issues facing the region and provides a platform to manage strategic risks through cooperation and collaboration. “Our region continues to manage a ...1 day ago
- Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill passes first reading – Ka tutuki te pānuitanga tuatahi o te P...The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill passed its first reading in Parliament and a special Select Committee has been set up to consider the Bill and hear public submissions, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “We are fixing a public health system that has, for far too long, failed Māori and ...1 day ago
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – what next for the nuclear “grand bargain?” – Speech t...(Check against delivery) Kia ora tatou It’s my great pleasure to be here today at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. I welcome this opportunity to share with you the Government’s thinking on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT. Forged in the depths of the ...2 days ago
- Government helps sharpen the competitive edge of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industryThe Government is backing an innovative research and development programme to help accelerate the establishment of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry and boost export potential, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) is contributing nearly $760,000 to the $1.9 million, three-year programme ...2 days ago
- Restrictions eased in parts of Waikato at Alert Level 3; Northland to remain at Alert Level 2Restrictions in the Waikato will be eased slightly from midnight tonight, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “From 11.59pm tonight, people in the parts of Waikato at Alert Level 3 will be able to meet for outdoor gatherings between two households, with a maximum of 10 people,” Chis Hipkins ...2 days ago
- COVID-19 rent relief support measures refinedThe Government has landed on a balanced package of changes to improve rent relief measures for both landlords and tenants hit by COVID-19 restrictions, the Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi says. “Businesses in the Auckland region, and elsewhere under COVID Alert Level Three, have been doing it tough, and ...2 days ago
- Govt considers regulatory safeguards for three waters servicesPublic feedback is being sought on the regulatory safeguards required to ensure consumers and communities receive three waters services that meet their needs, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Dr David Clark announced today. “The future three waters system needs to promote consumer interests and ensure infrastructure is delivered in a ...2 days ago
- Appointment of new Te Pou Tupua welcomedEnvironment Minister David Parker and Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui chairperson Sheena Maru have welcomed the appointment of Keria Ponga and Turama Hawira as Te Pou Tupua. In a joint statement Sheena Maru and David Parker said: Today, Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui chairperson Sheena Maru Minister and Environment David ...2 days ago
- Don't freak out, ShakeOutMinister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan is challenging more people to join the almost 650,000 who have already signed up to take part in the nation-wide ShakeOut drill, happening tomorrow. “ShakeOut, New Zealand’s annual national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi, is a great opportunity for all of us to put ...2 days ago
- Government to protect vital public water services for future generationsLocal Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta today confirmed the Government will create four publicly owned water entities to ensure every New Zealander has access to affordable, long-lasting drinking, waste and storm water infrastructure without ballooning costs to households and families. “The case for change is too compelling to ignore. It is ...2 days ago
- Annual MFAT- NGO HuiTēnā koutou katoa, Talofa Lava and Warm Pacific Greetings to one and all— and in recognition of Tokelauan Language Week this week, Fakatalofa atu ki te koutou uma. Malo ni. Thank you for inviting me to join with you at the 2021 MFAT–NGO Hui. It’s a privilege for me to ...2 days ago
- Opening Address – Council for International Development and MFAT NGO HuiTuia te rangi e tu iho nei, Tuia te papa e takoto nei, Tuia te here tangata ki te here wairua kia rongo te pō, kia rongo te āo – Tīhei Mauri Ora! Kei ngā iti, kei ngā rahi i whakapau kaha ki te whakahaere i ngā mahi atawhai mo ...2 days ago
- Govt backs business to vaccinate workforcesVaccination will be required for all workers at businesses where customers need to show COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates, such as hospitality and close-contact businesses. New law to introduce a clearer and simplified risk assessment process for employers to follow when deciding whether they can require vaccination for different types of work. ...3 days ago
- Winners of the 2021 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence AwardsFrimley Primary School in Hawke’s Bay is the Supreme Award winner of the 2021 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The past year has been a real test for teachers, schools and local communities. But out of the challenge of ...3 days ago
- Government provides greater assurance to homeownersThe Government has provided greater assurance for homeowners with the introduction of a new code of ethics for Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs), Building and Construction Minister Poto Williams announced today. The Code of Ethics, which comes into force in October 2022, sets behavioural standards for LBPs to give both ...3 days ago
- Primary sector returns strengthen export-led recoveryFarmers’ hard work in leading New Zealand’s export-led recovery from COVID-19 is being rewarded with high prices forecast for milk and very strong returns for meat, says Trade and Export Growth and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Fonterra announced today a record predicted milk price of $7.90 to $8.90 for the ...3 days ago
- Supporting economic resilience in the Indo-Pacific – Speech to the Asia Forum(Check against delivery) Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, kia ora koutou katoa Thank you Farib. It is a great pleasure to be invited to speak at this event. I want to acknowledge the on-going work of the Asia Forum. Over many years – decades, in fact – you have been ...3 days ago
- RSI ‘state of the nation’ report publishedNew Zealand’s FCR cited research ratio is twice the world average Investment in R&D is increasing Case studies underscore how a science based COVID-19 response helped save lives In 2019, Māori and Pacific people represented 5 per cent of PhD graduates. The latest research, science and innovation system report card ...3 days ago
- Funding to translate science into real life solutionsThe Government is investing in ‘Te Tītoki Mataora’ the MedTech Research Translator, to deliver new medical tools - and meet both the demands of a global pandemic and of a growing and aging population. “COVID-19 has shown that we need to build a more resilient, productive, innovative and economically-sustainable health ...4 days ago
- Tokelau champions language and cultureCOVID-19 continues to be a powerful reminder of the importance of language and culture to the wellbeing of our Pacific communities, said the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. “Our Tokelau community in Aotearoa has responded strongly to the challenges of the global pandemic by getting vaccinated and supporting ...5 days ago
- Festival drug-checking services get a boostThe Government is financially supporting drug-checking services to help keep young people safe at this summer’s large festivals and events, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “This is not about condoning drug use, but about keeping people safe,” Andrew Little said. “There is clear evidence that having drug-checking services at festivals ...6 days ago
- Expanded vaccination order for health and disability, education and prison workersA newly-signed Order means most people working in three key sectors will very soon need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the sake of themselves, their workmates and their communities, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed. The extended COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2021 comes into effect ...6 days ago
- APEC finance ministers focus on inclusive, sustainable COVID recoveryAPEC finance ministers will continue to work together to respond to the effects of COVID-19 and ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery while capitalising on the opportunity to build a more resilient future. The New Zealand Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson chaired the virtual APEC Finance ...7 days ago
- Improvements to child and maternity facilities at Timaru Hospital on trackImprovements to child and maternity facilities at Timaru Hospital are well underway, and the next stage of the project will begin next month. Health Minister Andrew Little visited Timaru Hospital today to view progress onsite. “The improvements are part of South Canterbury DHB’s four-year refurbishment project and will create a ...7 days ago
- Govt responds to independent review into WorkSafeThe Government has clear expectations that WorkSafe must action the recommendations of the independent review into the regulator to improve its management of adventure activities following the tragedy at Whakaari White Island, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) today released the ...7 days ago
- Transforming New Zealand’s mental health legislationPublic consultation is now open for Aotearoa New Zealand to have a say on the repeal and replacement of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. “’He Ara Oranga, the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction’ made it clear that we needed to replace ...7 days ago
- Andrew Geddis: Our MIQ system is at a legal and humanitarian tipping point
The High Court has ordered MBIE to reconsider a refusal to grant an MIQ exemption. But the system as a whole may not be sustainable for long, writes Andrew Geddis, law professor at the University of Otago.The government’s announced changes to the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) system appear to ...2 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 29 October
...2 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 29 October2 hours ago
- Bernard Hickey: How one back-room power deal cost you up to $200 a yearThe language may be measured, but the Electricity Authority’s report into Rio Tinto’s cut-price electricity agreement is damning, writes Bernard Hickey.On January 14 this year a good chunk of the South Island, and Invercargill in particular, celebrated what appeared to be a big and surprise win. Rio Tinto announced it ...2 hours ago
- Medsafe's vaccine safety reports misused by anti-vaxxers
Anti-vaxxers have twisted publicly available safety data from Medsafe to falsely argue the Covid-19 vaccine is dangerous, raising questions about whether the data should be public in the first place. Marc Daalder reports. Only one death in New Zealand has been tentatively linked to the Covid-19 vaccine, but anti-vaxxers are twisting ...3 hours ago - Parents of special needs children at lockdown breaking point
A lack of external support in lockdown pushed parents of special needs children to the brink - now they are calling for more support from the Government With senior secondary school students in Auckland returning to campus this week, some parents in Auckland will be breathing a sigh of relief. ...3 hours ago - Overstayers deterred from jab after ID requests at vaccination centres
Despite apologies from the Government, overstayers in the Bay of Plenty are reporting they are still being asked for ID to get vaccinated. ...3 hours ago - NZ agrees to Mickey Mouse copyright law in UK trade deal
Walt Disney Corporation championed extended protections for its cartoon characters ...3 hours ago - Kiwi ultra runner defeats melanoma and the Sahara
Having survived stage three cancer, Hazel Harrison has put her physical and mental resilience to the test again, running for seven days through one of the world's most inhospitable places - the Sahara Desert. On an obsidian black night deep in the Sahara Desert, Hazel Harrison questioned whether she could ...3 hours ago - Chomping through the gobbledegook
Nelson MP Rachel Boyack's plain language bill is a major continuation of the on-going fight against bureaucratese. “Management is cognisant of the necessity of eliminating the vegetation from the periphery of the facility.” This is an actual sentence, written by an actual human being. What does it mean? It's ...3 hours ago - This week's best-selling books
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias FICTION 1 To Italy, With Love by Nicky Pellegrino (Hachette, $34.99) Incredible news story from Italy this week: Richard Gere will testify against far-right leader Matteo Salvini, ...3 hours ago - Govt's two months to make a $14.6b call on light rail
A third-time-lucky proposal for a multi-billion dollar light rail project across the Auckland isthmus reaches decision-point in December after a strong endorsement from experts Aucklanders will know by Christmas if the Government has the political cojones and a spare $14.6 billion in public monies to green light the long-promised city-to-Mangere ...3 hours ago - Asia-Pacific business leaders oppose vaccine travel mandate
Vaccination incentives rather than requirements before international travel are best, group says ...3 hours ago - Rod Oram: What about nature and biodiversity?
We'll hear a lot in the next fortnight about the environment but too little about nature and biodiversity, writes Rod Oram, and the scale and urgency of that crisis can't be handled in isolation ...3 hours ago - Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris: What difference does the vaccine make? Just look at thisThe data on case numbers and hospitalisations in New Zealand’s delta outbreak send a resounding message to anyone who doubts why Covid vaccines matter to protect against a deadly disease. We rely on readers to keep our Covid-19 coverage going. Support the Spinoff by joining members here.So now we have community ...7 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: The weather gets choppy with Joyce and Morrison’s climate contradictions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the press gallery at Parliament House, there’s a bell that years ago was rung regularly to alert journalists to press conferences and statements. Email has made it an anachronism. But shortly before 8am on ...7 hours ago - Speed of govt's move towards Pzifer's paediatric vaccines under scrutiny
New Zealand does not yet have a confirmed delivery for paediatric vaccines and the opposition is calling for more urgency. ...14 hours ago - Speed of govt's move towards Pfizer's paediatric vaccines under scrutinyNew Zealand does not yet have a confirmed delivery for paediatric vaccines and the opposition is calling for more urgency. ...14 hours ago
- Drying land and heating seas: why nature in Australia’s southwest is on the climate frontlineSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jatin Kala, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA felllow, Murdoch University Supplied, Author provided In a few days world leaders will descend on Glasgow for the United Nations climate change talks. Much depends on it. We know climate change is already ...14 hours ago
- Fewer than half of Australia’s 150 biggest companies have committed to zero emissions by 2050Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renzo Mori Junior, Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development, RMIT University Shutterstock Corporate Australia has of late become a strong voice for more action on climate change. Earlier this month the Business Council of Australia, which represents the nation’s 100 biggest companies, ...14 hours ago
- Unvaccinated travel makes mockery of Delta misery
Double-jabbed Kiwis are right to ask how it’s fair those with travel exemptions can enter Auckland without vaccine protection and return home with Covid in tow. If the Prime Minister is serious about different treatment for the unvaccinated, she should start with the Auckland border, writes political editor Jo Moir. ...14 hours ago - Vaccine requirements for travel: 'You can see the complexity'The government is considering requiring some travellers to be vaccinated to fly between regions, but warns there are complications to account for. ...15 hours ago
- The micro tools to help you study on the jobTechnology is rapidly changing our everyday lives. Two new courses at Tech Futures Lab allow you to keep up with the developments affecting your work, without taking time away from your job. Technology can be intimidating. Words like “blockchain” and “augmented reality” and concepts like big data and the Internet of ...15 hours ago
- Good Policy And Policy For Good: Public Investment Funds Are Going Net Zero
Mindful Money welcomes the announcement today by the Government and the Crown Financial Institutions (CFIs) to reflect the goal of a carbon neutral New Zealand by 2050. Mindful Money founder and CEO, Barry Coates commented: “This decision to align ...15 hours ago - With Labor gaining in polls, is too much Barnaby Joyce hurting the Coalition?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne AAP/Mick Tsikas A federal Resolve poll for Nine newspapers, conducted October 21-24 from a sample of 1,603, gave the Coalition 37% of the primary vote (down two ...16 hours ago
- Christchurch suburb’s high vax rate a silver lining
Christchurch’s Covid cases live in a highly vaccinated suburb of the city, a councillor says. David Williams reports By city councillor Aaron Keown’s telling, Bishopdale is pretty much average for Christchurch. But in ways that have become much more relevant today, the suburb in the city’s north-west, not far from ...16 hours ago - Slowly opening the door to MIQ
While the Government’s announcement of changes to MIQ today provides hope to overseas Kiwis trying to return home, the amount of freed up space will ultimately depend on the current outbreak’s rate of growth The MIQ system has been the focal point of no small amount of controversy since ...16 hours ago - Handout For Big Onion Undermines Free TradeResponding to the Government's $2.8 million handout to onion growers , New Zealand Taxpayers' Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, "This is an eye-watering display of protectionist subservience to New Zealand's influential onion lobby." "It ...16 hours ago
- The pou tokomanawa in the whare: Bringing te reo to life in the places we liveReclaiming te reo Māori is always hard, but the hardest work – and the most important – takes place within the home, writes Te Kuru Dewes, co-host of The Spinoff’s new te ao Māori podcast Nē? Te reo Māori is everywhere. While that riles up certain types who haunt comments ...16 hours ago
- If governments fail to act, can the courts save our planet?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By George Newhouse, Adjunct Professor of Law, Macquarie University Talei Elu The climate crisis threatens all life on our planet. Even the people who a few years ago were shouting from the rooftops that it was all a hoax have suddenly ...16 hours ago
- Stays in MIQ to be halved under NZ’s new system – 89 community casesRNZ News The New Zealand government revealed changes to MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) today, with stays halving from 14 to seven days, followed by isolation at home for three days. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield gave today’s update on the government’s response ...16 hours ago
- PM on Christchurch cases: 'We're always on high alert'Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Christchurch is not out of the woods yet, but the advice is that the new cases in the city can be managed under alert level 2 settings. ...17 hours ago
- The Chungking Legation: Australia’s first diplomatic mission to China, 80 years agoSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Bagnall, Senior Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania Frederic Eggleston presented his credentials to Chinese President Lin Sen (林森) at an official reception in Chungking on 28 October 1941 Sydney Morning Herald, November 12 1941 Gough Whitlam’s visit to China in ...17 hours ago
- The Problems, Progress, And Potential Of Performance ReportingOur paper The problems, progress, and potential of performance reporting was presented to the House of Representatives today. This paper builds on our recent research about the future of public accountability. It considers performance reporting in its entirety ...17 hours ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: FluTracking data is a huge help in tracking Covid. Here’s how you can helpComparing reports of flu symptoms with Covid testing rates provides a critical insight, explains Siouxsie Wiles.For almost two years, my family and I have been taking part in the FluTracking project. This fantastic initiative started in Australia in 2006 to use the power of the internet to track flu and ...17 hours ago
- COVID vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds are inching closer. Here’s what we know so farSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vasso Apostolopoulos, Professor of Immunology and Associate Provost, Research Partnerships, Victoria University Shutterstock Australian children aged five to 11 could begin receiving the Pfizer vaccine by the end of November, with the nation’s regulator currently reviewing the health and safety ...17 hours ago
- Early childhood educators feel burnt out and undervalued. Here’s what we can do to helpSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Levickis, Senior Research Fellow, REEaCh (Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood) Hub, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Australian early childhood educators feel burnt out and undervalued. Our research reports on more than 200 educators’ experiences during the COVID-19 ...17 hours ago
- NZ has yet to announce climate-warming pledge for Glasgow summit but RBNZ is developing guidance for...
The clock is ticking on global warming, the Dominion-Post warned this week ahead of the Climate Change Summit in Glasgow. The opening paragraph of the report was ominous: “Even after countries — excluding NZ — unveiled ambitious new pledges to cut emissions, it’s still not enough to achieve the global ...18 hours ago - Rising To The Challenge: A Ministry Of Green Works For AotearoaTwo of the biggest crises of our times - housing and climate change - could be the target of a new Ministry of Green Works that would integrate important responsibilities related to safeguarding Aotearoa’s future, according to a report released today ...18 hours ago
- Serious Concerns About Cruel And Inhuman Treatment At Forensic FacilityChief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says he is seriously concerned about the use of seclusion at forensic units in the Wellington region. He also says more must be done for an intellectually disabled client who has been living in effective seclusion for years. ...18 hours ago
- Covid-19 briefing: Stays in MIQ to be halved under new systemThe government is revealing changes to MIQ today, with stays halving from 14 to seven days, followed by isolation at home for three days. Watch the latest briefing here. ...18 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Covid19: Revaccinate Now, and address Influenza tooAnalysis Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. In its pandemic response, the New Zealand government has consistently been tardy, and then found itself playing catch-up, having to ‘go hard’ (indeed a ‘world-leading’ hardest) on account of its lack of preparedness. Further, having gone hard, there has always been an ambivalence about when ...18 hours ago
- Law Change Recognises Vaccinations Received Overseas By Border WorkersThree of the vaccines commonly administered overseas are now recognised by the Vaccinations Order that requires people working at New Zealand’s borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This follows a change to the legislation, which took effect at ...18 hours ago
- Watch live: Government Covid-19 briefing on MIQ, Christchurch casesThe government is set to reveal changes to MIQ today, and it comes after two new community cases of Covid-19 have been found in Christchurch. ...19 hours ago
- Working with us, not for us: strategies for being a better ally to First Nations peopleSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Matthews, Associate Professor of Medical Ethics, Bond University Shutterstock We write this article together – Kelly, a First Nations woman living on Kombumerri Country, and Richard, a Canadian white male settler living on the lands of the Minjungbal people ...19 hours ago
- Much ado about water, a bill to shake up the health system and an investment in pot (strictly for me...
The PM was strutting the international stage (virtually), the Minister of Agriculture turned to pot, the Minister for Emergency Management was limbering up for a shake-up, and the Minister for the Environment ... 19 hours ago - The case for a $250 payment for everyone who gets vaccinatedAct has a policy that is not nearly so radical as it appears: $250 to everyone who gets double vaccinated. Duncan Greive argues that to get to 90%, it’s worth a shot. It’s a truly jaw-dropping goal, as audacious as it is admirable: 90% vaccination rates across 20 DHBs. Audacious because ...20 hours ago
- Māori co-governance and Three Waters boundaries an 'historic' step
The decision to align the new water authorities with generations-old iwi boundaries highlights the challenging role for iwi Māori in the new water authorities' governance There's are things that Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau general manager Corey Hebberd doesn't agree with the local council on – like whether his iwi or neighbouring ...20 hours ago - Some Auckland local leaders still unvaccinated
A clutch of local board members remain unvaccinated in Auckland, and could soon be affected by a council vaccination mandate Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says there are "four or five" members of the city's 21 local boards who are not vaccinated - and if the council decides to make vaccinations mandatory for ...20 hours ago - Māori co-governance and Three Waters boundaries a 'historic' stepThe decision to align the new water authorities with generations-old iwi boundaries Lost amid the shoutings ... Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Corey Hebberd / Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau GM Ngai Tahu Judith Collins/Westland mayor Lianne Dalziel Corey ...20 hours ago
- Launch Of New Strategy For Women + Response To Release Of Independent Inspectorate ReportsThe Department of Corrections has today launched Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou, the organisation’s new women’s strategy for 2021-2025. The strategy was developed in consultation with a range of predominantly wāhine Māori, including ...20 hours ago
- Office Of The Inspectorate Releases Three Reports About Women In PrisonThe Office of the Inspectorate today released three reports which aim to focus and strengthen Department of Corrections’ efforts to make significant and lasting changes in its women’s prison network. “These reports examine the challenges that women ...20 hours ago
- West Papuans flee from ‘liberation’ conflict into remote PNG regionSPECIAL REPORT: By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific journalist Armed conflict in West Papua has caused an exodus of displaced people into one of the most remote parts of neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The latest flashpoint in the conflict is in the Indonesian-administered Bintang Mountains regency, where state forces are pursuing ...20 hours ago
- Inspectorate Report: Humiliation And Degradation Of Women PrisonersThe Prison Inspectorate has issued its Special Investigation: Report into the Management of Three Wāhine at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility [ARWCF]. The investigation was triggered by a complaint on behalf of three of our clients who were being held ...21 hours ago
- SPCA Targets Early Learners To Help Break Animal Cruelty CycleSPCA has launched its first ever resources for Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers and new entrant primary school teachers, in a bid to help more young Kiwis learn empathy towards animals and improve animal welfare. It’s no secret that animal ...21 hours ago
- Future Pathways Consultation Important To Aotearoa New Zealand’s Future...21 hours ago
- Outgoing Children’s Commissioner Says We Must Do MoreChild Poverty Action Group welcomes Judge Andrew Becroft’s impassioned speech yesterday in which he calls for a Michael Joseph Savage approach to eliminate child poverty. CPAG has appreciated his efforts to engage on all the complex dimension ...21 hours ago
- Some things need to burn: A review of Taranaki horror novel ButcherbirdIt’s the most distinctive cover of the year – a novel wrapped in screaming, electric green. Alexander Stronach finds the ghost story inside is just as intense. While I was reading Butcherbird, an old friend back in Malaysia found out about the Bain case. Apparently the true crime channels all caught ...21 hours ago
- University Of Canterbury To Be Carbon Neutral Sooner With $2.16m Funding BoostThe Minister for Climate Change James Shaw has today announced $2.16 million in additional funding to help the University of Canterbury become carbon net neutral by 2030. This will help the University of Canterbury (UC) expand the scope of a boiler ...21 hours ago
- Three Waters Proposal Should Be Flushed Down The DrainRatepayers and water users are being forced by the government to provide a guaranteed gold plated return to wealthy bank shareholders and New Zealand and overseas investors who will be salivating at the prospect. The spurious reasoning rolled out to try ...22 hours ago
- National, ACT promise to return water assets to councilsOpposition parties would return water infrastructure to councils, they say, and they doubt the proposed working groups will address concerns about governance, ownership and accountability. ...22 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – October 28 2021Editor’s 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 Three Waters, local government Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Three ...22 hours ago
- Australia aims to stymie China with $US1.6bn telecoms purchase in the Pacific
Australia is to buy the mobile phone networks of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu from Digicel Group based in Jamaica. Telstra Corp, the country’s biggest telecom operator, will pay $US1.6 billion for the deal backed by $US1.3 billion from the Government’s export finance agency. Commentators describe ...22 hours ago - Aue! It’s a new te ao Māori podcast from The SpinoffToday we launch Ne?, a new podcast by Māori, for Māori – and a dream that’s finally come true for co-host Leonie Hayden.Follow Nē? on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider. “Nē” is such a versatile, complex expression. It’s both a statement and a question, which variously means “really?”, ...23 hours ago
- Resource Management Amendment Bill – Don’t Bet Your House On It YetRecently, the Government announced it was introducing new legislation intending to increase housing supply in Auckland, greater Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, and Christchurch. The Bill proposes a new streamlined process, Intensification Streamlined ...23 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: Words Count MinisterJust three weeks ago the Minister of Local Government received the interim report of the Future for Local Government Review which the government had earlier commissioned. Predictably, she welcomed the report the way Ministers usually do, with the standard ...23 hours ago
- Why are birds’ eggs colourful? New research shows it’s linked to the shape of their nestsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kiara L’Herpiniere, PhD Candidate, Wildlife Biologist, Macquarie University Author provided Of all the vertebrates on Earth – that is, animals with backbones – birds are the only ones that lay colourful eggs. Scientists are still unsure why, but new research brings ...23 hours ago
- The bryozoan mystery: a new look at an old fossil reveals the origin of these tiny coral-like creatu...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn A Brock, Honorary Professor, Macquarie University Christian Schwarz, CC BY-NC Most groups of modern animals had their beginnings more than half a billion years ago in an amazing evolutionary event known as the Cambrian Explosion. This wasn’t the ...23 hours ago
- Accountability is under threat. Parliament must urgently reset the balanceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Tiernan, Adjunct Professor of Politics. Griffith Business School, Griffith University All Australians have a stake in our nation’s good governance. The past week has provided plenty of reasons to be concerned about the Morrison government’s disregard of core tenets of Australian ...23 hours ago
- Your unvaccinated friend is roughly 20 times more likely to give you COVIDSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Baker, Research Fellow in Statistics for Biosecurity Risk, The University of Melbourne As lockdowns ease in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, and people return to work and socialising, many of us will be mixing more with others, even though ...23 hours ago
- Scott Morrison’s deal with the Nationals must not ignore land stewardship – an attractive, low-h...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Martin, Director, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, University of New England Shutterstock The Nationals this week finally agreed to a plan of net-zero emissions by 2050. Farmers say they’ve done much of the heavy lifting on Australia’s emissions ...23 hours ago
- 40% of Australia’s unvaccinated population will soon be kids under 5. Childcare will be the next C...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Hurley, Policy Fellow, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University Shutterstock Once five to 11 year olds have access to COVID vaccines, children up to four years old will make up about 40% of Australia’s unvaccinated population. This will make Australia’s early ...23 hours ago
- Building more houses quickly is harder than it looks. Australia hasn’t done it in decadesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Gharaie, Associate Professor of Project Management, RMIT University Rich Kareckas/AP Thanks to HomeBuilder and the housing price boom, house building is experiencing its hottest year on the record. Over the space of a year the number of houses (not ...23 hours ago
- The Green Knight review: a wonderfully unsettling cinematic reimagining of the medieval story of Sir...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sabina Rahman, Sessional Academic in English Literature, Macquarie University A24/Eric Zachanowich Review: The Green Knight, directed by David Lowery. Nothing about The Green Knight, the new film from director David Lowery, is comfortable. From its opening scene, where Gawain ...23 hours ago
- The countdown is on to reinvent our outdated, unfit Mental Health ActThe next months present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to remake mental health legislation, and it could define the Ardern government’s legacy on this crucial issue, writes Anthony O’Brien, an expert in mental health nursing.Last weekend, four years after promising to reform the Mental Health Act, the government called for public consultations ...24 hours ago
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