Hopefully, this post-legislative scrutiny will provide a chance to correct any excesses.
Posts Tagged ‘freedom of information’
No Right Turn on scrutiny of the COVID-19 Bill
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, May 21st, 2020 - 8 comments
- Māori and Pacific academics paid and promoted less
Glass ceilings are a reality for Māori and Pacific academics at New Zealand universities, according to new research. This group is already in the minority, making up just 5% and 2% respectively of the academic workforce, with less than 4% and 1% employed at professor level positions. These employment levels ...2 hours ago - Conflicted
Parliament passed the government's new top tax rate this morning. But as expected, National and ACT objected to it. And they particularly objected to the IRD's new power - not the one subject of a section 7 report by the Attorney-General - to require new information from trusts. So what ...3 hours ago - An important public purpose?It seems that Labour can't even pass a tax bill without intruding on human rights. The Taxation (Income Tax Rate and Other Amendments) Bill - currently going through the House under all-stages urgency - has attracted a negative report from the Attorney-General warning that it is inconsistent with the Bill ...6 hours ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48, 2020
Captivating paper on practical negative emissions Mineralization of CO2 is a tantalizing means of getting a grip on our accidental changing of the atmosphere. But serious challenges stand in the way of this being a significant means of CO2 removal. Researchers Corey Myers and Takao Nakagaki provide a quick synopsis of roadblocks to deployment, ...12 hours ago - Outliving his usefulness.
With his whining about the “stolen” election, Drumpf does not appear to understand a basic rule of politics: politicians are only valuable because of their utility to others. Once they stop being useful they become expendable, and political utility never lasts forever. With his transactional approach to everything, Drumpf should ...1 day ago - Climate Change: Hurry up and waitParliament is currently debating the declaration of a climate emergency. As part of this, the government is announcing that the public service will be carbon neutral by 2025. Which is fine, but on a similar scale to electric buses. Sure, it'll help (because every little bit helps). But its somewhat ...1 day ago
- Climate Change: Wellington failsLast year, Wellington City Council declared a climate emergency and committed to reducing emissions by 43% by 2030, as an interim step towards a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. So how are they going to get there? According to their own plans, they're not: Last year, Wellington ...1 day ago
- To Apologise For Your Country's History, Is To Admit That You Don't Understand it.
Retrospective Moralising: Ideas that have, generation after generation, been ingrained in the minds of children by their parents, taught in school textbooks, and articulated forcefully by teachers, preachers, politicians and journalists of every stripe, are extremely hard to kill. All the more so when the identity of those to whom ...1 day ago - I Published a Fake Paper in a ‘Peer-Reviewed’ JournalBradley Allf Back in April, I received a strange email from a pair of academic journals inviting me to submit my research to one of their latest issues. The email was written in a jarring mix of fonts, and riddled with formatting mistakes and bungled idioms. The editor who ...1 day ago
- Sagan om ringen (1971): The Swedish Lord of the Rings
As I have previously noted, I have a fondness for truly obscure Tolkien screen adaptations. Sure, there are Rankin-Bass and Bakshi, but while they have been eclipsed by Peter Jackson, no-one can call them unknown. The 1966 Snyder Hobbit, the 1985 Soviet Hobbit, and the 1993 Finnish Lord of ...1 day ago - Raise trust taxes too!The government today will introduce a bill to create a new top tax rate for those earning over $180,000 a year. This is good, but there are concerns that a large number of those affected will cheat, and funnel their income through trusts and other vehicles in order to evade ...2 days ago
- Why the way we approach transgender and non-binary healthcare needs to changeRona Carroll, University of Otago Demand for healthcare for transgender people is on the rise in New Zealand but training for health professionals to develop basic competencies is lagging behind. There is little teaching on gender and sexuality at either of New Zealand’s medical schools. It’s partly due to lack ...2 days ago
- Climate Change: Europe must defend itself in courtThe European Court of Human Rights has fast-tracked a case by young climate change activists challenging whether European states are doing enough on climate change. And now, 33 countries are going to have to defend their policies in court: In a sign of the urgency of the climate crisis, ...2 days ago
- November ’20 – NZ blogs sitemeter ranking
Image credit: Blogging for business: Your questions answered I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or the numbers seem very low please check this out. After ...2 days ago - Ancient sponges or just algae? New research overturns chemical evidence for the earliest animalsLennart van Maldegem, Australian National University; Benjamin Nettersheim, Max Planck Institute; Christian Hallmann, Max Planck Institute; Ilya Bobrovskiy, California Institute of Technology, and Jochen Brocks, Australian National University Sponges are the simplest of animals, and they may stand at the root of all complex animal life on Earth, including us ...2 days ago
- Bioethicists, Scientists and Politicians; Decision Making in a PandemicDr Ben Gray* To date New Zealand has come through the pandemic well. The role of political leadership and scientific input has been well covered. Part of this success was built upon having a clear ethical framework for managing a pandemic that had been developed in advance following the SARS ...2 days ago
- Fighting climate change: Cheaper than 'business as usual' and better for the economyThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections and has been adopted as the rebuttal to the myth 'climate change solutions are too expensive' at the short URL sks.to/costs The often-repeated and seldom-challenged view that climate change solutions are expensive and uneconomical has long dampened public support in the U.S. for even ...2 days ago
- 2020 Just Reading: November
Completed reads for November: Nutcracker, by E.T.A. HoffmannThe Mask of Anarchy, by Percy Bysshe ShelleyFire and Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones Hoffman’s Nutcracker is Ralph Manheim’s translation (illustrated by Maurice Sendak). ** A very quiet month in the reading department, though I made some decent progress with writing. ...3 days ago - What did we actually vote for and give a mandate to?
Well it may be 2020 but, looking around, this blogger is really connecting to the mindset my Great Grandmother had when she ran a boarding house for workers to escape to, in between fighting extremely hard against Governments and their many enforcers almost exactly a century ago, and why ...3 days ago - Labour finally does the right thingThe government has finally introduced a bill to double sick leave entitlements to ten days a year. Good. But its worth remembering that despite a global pandemic raging, Jacinda Ardern originally ruled this out, just as she has ruled out wealth taxes or a capital gains tax. Its unclear whether ...3 days ago
- Ready to be let down.The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the Christchurch terrorist attacks has tabled its report with the Governor General and Minister of Internal Affairs. The Report will be introduced to parliament and released to the public before Christmas. In the lead up to its release the office of the Department ...3 days ago
- The wrong conclusionBack in September, we learned (thanks to a whistleblower) that the SIS had looked the other way on child abuse. Today, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security released their report on the issue. Their verdict is basicly the Scottish one: "not proven". Why? Because there are no records showing the ...3 days ago
- Blaming anyone but themselvesLabour is increasingly under pressure over its refusal to implement a wealth tax or similar solution to end house hoarding. Their answer? Blame the public: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is putting some onus on the public for the housing crisis, saying the Government had tried taxation to ease the ...3 days ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #48Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Saudis and Europeans reach compromise on climate as G20 projects unity EU leaders endorsed Riyadh’s contentious “circular carbon economy” vision ...3 days ago
- Sport Must Be the Winner
The All Blacks’ win last weekend against the Pumas, and their reminder to us of how good they can be, brought a great deal of pleasure to thousands of kiwis. But we have also had evidence over recent days and weeks that sport is not always a generator of sweetness ...3 days ago - Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s surprising relationship with the Middle East
Geoffrey Miller looks at New Zealand’s growing relationship with the Middle East and North Africa – and contemplates its future Amidst New Zealand’s level 4 coronavirus lockdown in March, all but a handful of the country’s troops stationed in Iraq returned home, three months earlier than scheduled. The New Zealand ...4 days ago - And Then There Were Four: Book Publishing and Oligopoly
Most people would be surprised to learn that there are only five major English-language book publishers on the planet. Book-publishing isn’t as glamorously naughty as, say, the oil industry, so this concentration of industry power largely exists outside popular consciousness. Besides, the existence of imprints (trade names) disguises ...5 days ago - Media reaction: Boris Johnson’s ‘10-point’ net-zero plan for climate changeThis is a re-post from Carbon Brief The UK prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a long-awaited “10-point plan” laying out measures to scale up the nation’s climate ambition. These policy proposals and funding packages have been framed as a means to create jobs, promote a “green recovery” from Covid-19 and help ...6 days ago
- The secret advice on Labour’s RMA “fast-track”Back in June, Labour steamrolled the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Bill into law, using urgency and a sham select committee process which left too little time for submitters to respond effectively. The law created a separate "fast-track" process for resource consents for "shovel-ready" projects, which cuts the public out of ...6 days ago
- Transformation or Progress?
Why this government will not be transformative; do we want it to be?Half of the current cabinet could not vote in the 1990 election when the neoliberal government, among other things, attacked the foundations of the welfare state – an attack which has not been reversed. Only a quarter could ...6 days ago - Always more fish in the sea? Maybe not
The recent article by Andrea Vance on Stuff , ‘The way we protect the oceans is badly outdated. Will the Government change that?’ is timely, but needs further unpacking. For this is an important issue.In it, she rightly claims “We are far behind the rest of the world and failing ...6 days ago - Climate Change: Calling us on our bullshitUnder Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand is - rhetorically at least - pretending to be a leader on climate change. Meanwhile, our emissions keep going up and up, with the second-highest percentage increase among Annex I countries. And now, our friends are finally calling us on our bullshit: New Zealand's ...6 days ago
- Labour sells out kiwisSo, Labour has given in to the whining from farmers, and will be allowing 2,000 RSE workers into the country to pick their fruit, though with tighter conditions: they'll have to be paid a living wage and employers must pay for their quarantine. Which sounds good, until you remember that ...6 days ago
- Mining companies are required to return quarried sites to their ‘natural character’. But is that...Shaun Rosier, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand has more than 1,100 registered quarries. Some of these mined sites are small, rural operations, but a significant number are large and complex, and within a city’s urban boundaries. As part of the resource consent application for a ...6 days ago
- Up and Down with COVID-19: Could President Trump Be Right (Twice!) In The End?
We all witnessed President Trump in denial about COVID-19 at his political rallies. The mantra 'we have turned the corner' ('bigly', no doubt!), became a daily diet for Trump's base in the final days of the US presidential campaign, notwithstanding overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Similarly, he promised that a ...6 days ago - The Second Term (With Apologies To William Butler Yeats)Yearning and yearning for a comforting liarThe people will not hear the truth, nor trust the truth-teller;Stories fall apart, the centre is not real;Mere dull geometry to gull a duller world.Our poll-driven narrative is loosed, but everywhereThe target audience refuses to be wowed.The best shun social-media, while the worstStill tweet ...6 days ago
- Spit & Polish: A National Party Story.Consensus Politician: Following his victory in the 1960 general election, National’s second prime minister, Keith Holyoake, stretched himself out like a smug family cat over the sunny years of the early 1960s and purred. THERE’S A STORY about the National Party that always struck me as important. It concerns National’s ...6 days ago
- A Caucus Of Velvet Gloves.Uniformly Diverse: There is one very simple reason why this government, comprised overwhelmingly of members of the Professional-Managerial Class, will find it almost impossible to understand what the bottom half of New Zealand society needs: because it is supremely confident that it already does. NEW ZEALAND now boasts one of ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: An emergencySome good news today: Parliament will declare a climate emergency next week: The Government has revealed plans to pass a climate change emergency motion in Parliament next week. An attempt was made to pass one last term but NZ First opposed it. The motion itself would have no practical ...1 week ago
- NZDF should not be allowed to handle this in-houseYesterday we learned that an NZDF soldier with links to Nazi groups has been charged with espionage (along other things) and will be prosecuted via court-martial. Whether the charges are justified is for a court to determine, but it seems deeply inappropriate to use a military court for this. The ...1 week ago
- 5 reasons why banishing backpackers and targeting wealthy tourists would be a mistake for NZJames Higham, University of Otago and Hazel Tucker, University of Otago Raise your hand if you’ve ever travelled for weeks or months as a backpacker on a limited daily budget. Keep your hand up if you were made welcome in the places you visited on your OE, enjoyed chance encounters ...1 week ago
- The Adventures of Annalax: Volume XIIISo… Ember the Demon Thing. Not nice. Not nice at all. Annalax asked Alan the Wizard if he knew anyone who could possibly deal with this mess. Alan said a certain unhinged female acquaintance near the Mountains of Madness might have the sufficiently dodgy knowledge to pull it ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47, 2020"Don't make us stop the car." Climate change of a different kind: Examining the climate effects of a regional nuclear weapons exchange using a multiscale atmospheric modeling approach, investigated by Wegman, Lundquist et al. There's good news: the main proximate cause of the resulting global mess might last only about 4 ...1 week ago
- Taking the pissWhile the borders are closed, employers can still get visas for "essential" workers. But some of the jobs deemed "essential" don't seem to be: Applications were approved for 633 different jobs ranging from low skilled roles including taxi driver, cafe worker and cleaner, through to highly skilled jobs such ...1 week ago
- A Parliament that sounds like AotearoaI'm watching the swearing in of MPs today on Parliament TV, and pleased to hear the linguistic diversity in our Parliament. In addition to a good number of MPs doing their oaths or affirmations in Te Reo, there's also been Samoan, Tongan, Dutch, Korean, plus (as best as I can ...1 week ago
- Changing stuff…By Professor Peter Dearden, Director Genomics Aotearoa Science is an excellent way of allowing us to question test and understand the world we live in. But that knowledge also provides us with something else; the ability to change things, to solve problems, and to make life on earth a bit ...1 week ago
- Letter to the Reserve Bank
This is how you fix something. ...1 week ago - Gas-powered cars: Beginning of the end in California?This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bruce Lieberman Can California really do it? Can it completely ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in 15 years – 15 years – and lead the country toward a fossil fuel-free future? Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom says so. In a ...1 week ago
- The COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ: A brief photo-essay with 10 photosLuke Pilkinton-Ching, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Nick Wilson In this photo-essay of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ, each photo is accompanied by a brief comment on the pandemic impact or response. In some instances these images reflect success factors such as the relatively early introduction of border controls and the ...1 week ago
- A Phuulish Fellow Turns Five Years OldOn 25th November, 2015, this humble blog made its debut. Five years to the day later… it has evolved into something I could not have predicted. In the early days, of course, it was primarily about my own writing, and thoughts on the wider fantasy genre. Since then ...1 week ago
- Why some people find it easier to stick to new habits they formed during lockdownMatthew Jenkins, University of Otago and Elaine Hargreaves, University of Otago Periods of lockdown represent a massive disruption to people’s daily routines, but they also offer an opportunity to establish new habits. Our research focus is on what motivates people to change their behaviour, particularly when it comes to physical ...1 week ago
- ‘Courageous’ investment means innovation stays in NZ, not sold off overseasJessica C Lai, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Jesse Pirini, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand is in an economic recession and the government is trying to spend its way through it with direct investment to boost the economy and jobs. At ...1 week ago
- Aches on a plane – new findings on in-flight Covid transmissionOne of the good things about New Zealand pursuing an elimination strategy for Covid-19 (aside from the obvious) is that we are able to help answer some of the questions there are about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmits between people. Take air travel. As many people in the US start ...1 week ago
- Reading the roomIt looks like the government has finally read the room on the housing crisis, with Finance Minister grant Robertson writing to the Reserve Bank to tell them to start looking at controlling house prices: Finance Minister Grant Robertson has told Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr that it’s time to ...1 week ago
- Why the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is now a global game changerMichael Head, University of Southampton In the long dark tunnel that has been 2020, November stands out as the month that light appeared. Some might see it as a bright light, others as a faint light – but it is unmistakably a light. On November 9, Pfizer announced the interim ...1 week ago
- Graeme Edgeler: The Vague promise of a better tomorrow: Why a three-year Parliamentary term is good ...New Zealand is not the only country with a three-year term of Parliament, but there aren’t many others. Most countries have longer terms, with theoretically less of a democratic check on political power. Most other countries also have some combination of: a bicameral legislature, a supreme constitution, strong judicial review ...1 week ago
- “Goodfellas”: The Neoliberal National Party Shows Its Ugly Face.Unaccountable? A reasonable National Party member might have anticipated that a president who led his party to the second-worst defeat in its history would feel obliged to fall upon his sword in recognition of the scale of his failure. Such a member would have been disappointed. Peter Goodfellow (above) was ...1 week ago
- Big Eye Wide, But ShutA few days ago the US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the decommissioning of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. This story has been the subject of items in the mass media around the globe, and also in New Zealand. Cables supporting the massive horns and radio receivers above ...1 week ago
- From revolution to narcissism
For much of the 20th century the progressive movement was focused on real and crucial issues. What is called progressive now is a farce. ...1 week ago - The Church of Woke...1 week ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #47Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Warm Arctic, Cold Continents? It Sounds Counterintuitive, but Research Suggests it’s a Thing Scientists suspect that rapid warming in the ...1 week ago
- Ardern’s crocodile tears won’t fix the housing crisisPeople are getting very grumpy at the government's refusal to act on the housing crisis. Jacinda Ardern's response? To tell everyone she cares,/A>: Jacinda Ardern says one of the things that sets her Government apart from the National Party is Labour's concern over skyrocketing house prices. The median house ...1 week ago
- Victoria University of Wellington Alumni post-election panel discussionThe landmark 2020 New Zealand general election is going to be discussed and analysed for many years to come. for an early attempt at making sense of the results, VUW hosted a panel discussion on 4 November for Alumni to watch and participate in. The panel was chaired by Bryce ...1 week ago
- Modernity Bias: Daniel Greene’s Top Fantasy CharactersYouTuber Daniel Greene has put out a list of his personal favourite fantasy characters: It’s a decent enough list, for the most part (confession time – I have never read a Sanderson book). And it’s a purely subjective question anyway, what with different people having different preferences. ...2 weeks ago
- SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are about to ruin stargazing for everyoneSamantha Lawler, University of Regina I walk outside my rural Saskatchewan house before dawn and look up, expecting to have my breath taken away by the sheer number of stars overhead. I’m a professional astronomer, but I still appreciate naked-eye stargazing as much as an eager child. This is the ...2 weeks ago
- Hitler’s PlaybookNo one can now doubt that Donald Trump is making a determined and sustained attempt to overturn the result of a democratic election and to defy the will of the people. He is clearly determined to hold on to power, whatever the verdict delivered by the ballot box – even ...2 weeks ago
- 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #472020A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 15, 2020 through Sat, Nov 21, 2020 Editor's Choice The 'market' won't save us from climate disaster. We must rethink our system Expecting the free market to fix global warming ...2 weeks ago
- Capital Vol. 3 lectures: The Falling Rate of Profit
– Transforming Industry to Empire
This is the fifth lecture in the lecture series by Andy Higginbottom on superexploitation. Part one of the lecture series is here, part two is here, part three is here and part four here. (Unfortunately the first minute of the lecture where the content of the lecture is outlined was not recorded.) ...2 weeks ago - Ken Can’t Count: No, the New Zealand Election Wasn’t Rigged
As tempting as it may be to snigger at unsubstantiated allegations of United States election fraud… New Zealand can’t be smug. Every country has its dingbats, and 2020 has shown that we are no exception. I mention this, because over the past month or so, a committed little collection ...2 weeks ago - Meeting The Overwhelming Quantum Of Need: A Modest Proposal For Ending New Zealand’s Housing Crisi...Deja Vu: Architectural drawing of the planned mass housing development planned for Auckland in the mid-1940s. IT COULD BE DONE. This government could make a serious attempt to house the 20,000 people waiting for social housing before the next election. It would, however, require them to do something they have, ...2 weeks ago
- How to choose the right Christmas gift: tips from psychological researchAdrian R. Camilleri, University of Technology Sydney Christmas is a time of celebration, relaxation and gift giving. But choosing gifts can also make it a time of stress and anxiety. The wrong gift can actually do more harm than good. Here is some advice, based on decades of research, on ...2 weeks ago
- Fleeing to the Dawn: Published2020 has been rather quiet on the short story front, but I have found a home for another of my pieces. A 1700-word fantasy (arguably getting into vignette territory), titled Fleeing to the Dawn, is now out as part of the Autumn 2020 edition of Shorts Magazine. The ...2 weeks ago
- Observations of past climate change help rule out natural causes of current climate changeThis post is an updated intermediate rebuttal to the myth "climate is changing now because climate has always changed". It was written by Scott Knapp as part of the George Mason University class Understanding and Responding to Climate Misinformation, combining climate science and communication best practices to debunk common climate myths. The total rate of global ...2 weeks ago
- As Safe As Houses?
Stein’s law says that if something cannot go on forever, it wont. But does a speculative bubble matter? The cryptocurrency bubble can be left to itself (tax evasion and criminal transactions aside). Why shouldn’t we do the same for housing? There are two general reasons why we should be concerned ...2 weeks ago - Good riddanceAustralian polluter Beach Energy has announced that it is cancelling plans to drill off Dunedin next year. The exploration permit in question, 38264, has a "drill or drop" requirement and has to drill an exploratory well by October 2021. But more importantly, it expires in November 2021. PEPANZ, the polluter ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand declares climate emergency
New Zealand has declared a climate emergency, committing to urgent action on reducing emissions. ...1 day ago - Green Party to abstain from tax changes that will worsen house crisis in absence of tax on assets
The Green Party will abstain from a bill that will make slight changes to income tax brackets. ...1 day ago - Legal drug checking this festival season will help protect our young people: Green PartyThe Green Party are glad to see urgent law changes to ensure legal drug checking services by this summer festival season. ...2 days ago
- “The Government books are doing better than expected”: Grant Robertson on our economic r...This week we presented the audited Government accounts for the year to 30 June 2020. These always take a while to be audited and published. But this year, with all that is been happening they cover a time that seems long ago! ...6 days ago
- Greens call for decent working conditions for all horticulture workersThe Green Party is calling on the Government to ensure all people working in horticulture are paid liveable wages and have access to quality accommodation. ...6 days ago
- SPEECH: Opening the 53rd ParliamentE aku hoa i te ara o te whai, Kia kotahi tā tātou takahi i te kō, ko tōku whiwhi kei tō koutou tautoko mai. ...1 week ago
- Oranga Tamariki head should question whether she has trust of Māori communities“When considering whether to resign, Oranga Tamariki head Grainne Moss should question whether communities on the ground, particularly Māori, have trust and faith in her to do the job”, Green Party Māori Development spokesperson Dr Elizabeth Kerekere said today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party welcome Adrian Orr’s full and frank advice on taxWe welcome Adrian Orr signalling that he will provide advice to the Finance Minister on fiscal measures, include tax changes, to cool the housing market, Green Party Finance spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said today. ...1 week ago
- “We can do better”: Kelvin Davis talks tackling racism in education"Racism exists – we feel little and bad." Those were the unprompted words of one student during an interview for the Education Matters to Me report produced by the Children’s Commissioner in 2018. ...1 week ago
- Green Party respond to Government review of housing settingsIt is a positive step that the Government is looking at options to take the heat out of the housing market, and has written to the Reserve Bank to that effect, but they must be open to using all the tools available to them, Green Party Co-leader and spokesperson on ...1 week ago
- Speeding up recovery: fast-tracking projects to boost jobs, build housesWe’ve announced three additional projects to go through the fast-track resource consenting process. Read below for a quick rundown of what these projects are, what the fast-tracking process means, and why the Government is using fast-tracking as one way to create jobs sooner and accelerate our economic recovery from COVID-19. ...1 week ago
- Reports of prisoner abuse show need for prisons rethink and independent oversightReports of an asthmatic woman being bombed in her cell with pepper spray, being forced to lie face down on the ground to be fed, and having to show used sanitary items to guards to receive more, shows obscene human rights violations that need addressing, Green Party Corrections and Human ...1 week ago
- Green Party announce portfolio reshuffle with talented and energised caucus teamThe Green Party Co-leaders have announced their portfolio reshuffle for the 53rd Parliament. “The Green Party caucus offers a breadth of talent and energy to the Parliament this term. In ten MPs you have a small business owner, a human rights lawyer, an academic, a climate negotiator, a transport planner, ...1 week ago
- Nearly 50 percent increase in Kiwi apprenticesAs we recover and rebuild from COVID-19, we’re investing in major shovel-ready and long-term infrastructure projects up and down the country – creating thousands of jobs in the trades nationwide. ...2 weeks ago
- Celebrating World Children's DayThis World Children’s Day, we’re taking a look at all the ways we’re working to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. ...2 weeks ago
- Report of alleged war crimes by Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan a distressing reminder of th...The Green Party strongly condemns the revelation of alleged war crimes by the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan, with an alleged unlawful killing of 39 people by 25 Special Forces personnel. ...2 weeks ago
- SPEECH: 10th Anniversary of Pike River tragedyTēnei te mihi ki a tātau katoa e huihui nei i tēnei rā I greet us all who are gathered here today ...2 weeks ago
- Greens commit to ensuring strong oceans protection this termThe Green Party will work with Labour this term to ensure better protections for our oceans, Green MP Eugenie Sage said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Kiwis deserve fair prices at the supermarket2020 has been a tough year. Not only has COVID-19 presented unique challenges to the way we work, play and socialise, for many Kiwis the pandemic has also meant more of a strain on the back pocket. ...2 weeks ago
- Auckland COVID-19 case shows need for extended sick leave before busy Christmas periodThe case of an Auckland city worker heading to work with COVID-19 symptoms shows the need for urgent extended sick leave, Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Jan Logie said today. ...2 weeks ago
- NCEA Level 1 changes give students a broader foundation
The Government is making changes to NCEA Level 1 to ensure it remains a strong, credible qualification that supports young people into employment and further education, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Last term, the Government initiated a wide-scale review of the National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA), involving consultation ...4 hours ago - Crown accounts reflect positive economic trendThe Government’s books were again better than expected as the economy continued to recover post COVID lockdown, the Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Crown Accounts for the four months to the end of October were far more favourable than what was forecast in the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update ...8 hours ago
- Increase to supplier diversity through new procurement target for Maori BusinessMāori enterprises are in line for greater opportunities to do business with government agencies under an initiative to spread the benefits of the economic recovery. The Ministers for Māori Development and Economic and Regional Development have announced a new target to encourage public service agencies to cast the net ...18 hours ago
- Climate emergency declaration will be matched with long-term actionToday’s climate emergency declaration will be backed with ambitious plans to reduce emissions, the Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw today. “Our Government has put New Zealand at the forefront of climate action over the last three years. Declaring a climate emergency and backing this with long-term action to reduce ...1 day ago
- Celebrating the success of Prime Minister’s Oranga Tamariki Award winners28 young achievers who have been in the care of Oranga Tamariki or involved with the youth justice system have received Oranga Tamariki Prime Minister Awards in recognition of their success and potential, Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. At the awards ceremony in Parliament, Kelvin Davis congratulated the rangatahi ...1 day ago
- Public sector to be carbon neutral by 2025Public sector to be carbon neutral by 2025 Immediate focus on phasing out largest and most active coal boilers Government agencies required to purchase electric vehicles and reduce the size of their car fleet Green standard required for public sector buildings The Government has launched a major new initiative to ...1 day ago
- Government fulfils election undertaking on new top tax rateThe Government will today keep its election promise to put in place a new top tax rate of 39 per cent on income earned over $180,000. “This will only affect the top two per cent of earners. It is a balanced measure that is about sharing the load so everyone ...1 day ago
- Sir Robert Martin re-elected to UN CommitteeNew Zealand welcomes the news that Sir Robert Martin has been re-elected to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni. “Sir Robert has been a lifetime advocate for persons with disabilities and his experience brings a ...1 day ago
- New rules to protect Kiwis from unaffordable loansThe Government is making sure all consumers who borrow money get the same protections, regardless of where they get their loans. “Building on the work to crack down on loan sharks last year, we’re now making the rules clearer for all lenders to help protect borrowers from unaffordable loans” ...1 day ago
- New visitor attraction to boost tourismThe opening of the first major new tourism attraction since the global outbreak of COVID-19 closed borders to international travellers will provide a welcome boost to visitor numbers in our largest city, says Tourism Minister Stuart Nash. Mr Nash has this afternoon taken part in the official opening ceremony of ...2 days ago
- Govt moves on drug checking to keep young New Zealanders safer this summerThe Government will pass time limited legislation to give legal certainty to drug checking services, so they can carry out their work to keep New Zealanders safer this summer at festivals without fear of prosecution, Health Minister Andrew Little says. Next year the Government will develop and consult on regulations ...2 days ago
- Public Service Commissioner reappointedMinister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins announced today that Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes CNZM has been reappointed for three years. The Public Service Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. “Mr Hughes’ reappointment reflects the need for strong leadership and continuity to ...2 days ago
- Pōwhiri marks the start of a critical year for APECNew Zealand kicked off its APEC host year today, with a pōwhiri taking place on Wellington’s waterfront with local iwi Te Atiawa, and a number of Government ministers welcoming representatives from the other 20 APEC economies. “APEC is a hugely important international event, and New Zealand is hosting amidst the ...2 days ago
- Speech at APEC 21 Opening Pōwhiri9am, Tuesday 1 DecemberTe Whare Waka o Pōneke, Wellington Central He Mihi Kei aku rangatira no ngātapito e whā o te ao huri noa, tātou e huihui mai nei. Tēnā rā kōutou katoa. He tangiapakura ki ngā tini aituā kei waenganui i a tātou, ka tangi tonu te ngākau ki ...2 days ago
- Government extends business debt relief to October 2021To assist with the ongoing economic recovery from COVID-19, rules allowing affected businesses to put their debt on hold have been extended by 10 months. “New Zealand’s economy is recovering better than we expected, but the impacts of the pandemic are far-reaching and some businesses need continued support to keep ...3 days ago
- Bill introduced to support workers with 10 days sick leaveThe Government is delivering on a key commitment by introducing a Bill to Parliament to expand sick leave entitlements from five days to ten days a year, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today. “COVID-19 has shown how important it is to stay at home when people are ...3 days ago
- Progress on pay equity for DHB staffToday’s initial agreement between DHBs and the PSA on pay equity for clerical and administration staff is an important step toward better, fairer pay for this crucial and largely female workforce, Health Minister Andrew Little says. If ratified, the agreement between the Public Service Association and the country’s 20 District ...3 days ago
- Iconic Milford Track officially reopensOne of New Zealand’s premier hikes and a cornerstone of the Te Anau community, the Milford Track has officially reopened, “From today, hikers booked on the popular Great Walk will be able to complete the walk end-to-end for the first time since early February,” Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. ...3 days ago
- Support for farmers beefed up ahead of La NiñaFurther funding for feed support services and new animal welfare coordinators will help farmers who continue to feel the effects of an extended drought, says Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor. “In March this year, I classified the drought in the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chathams ...5 days ago
- Next steps for Christchurch Hospital campus redevelopmentCanterbury DHB will be better placed to respond to future demand for services and continue to deliver high quality care, with the next stage of the campus redevelopment programme confirmed, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Government has approved $154 million in funding for the construction of a third tower ...6 days ago
- Five Power Defence Arrangements Defence Ministers’ Joint StatementThe Defence Ministers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and United Kingdom reaffirmed their nations’ continued commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), and commended the achievements over the past 49 years as the FPDA moves towards its 50th Anniversary in 2021. The Ministers recognised the FPDA’s significant role ...6 days ago
- Jobs for Nature funding protects health of Hawke’s Bay waterwaysA joint Government and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council project will invest $4.2 million to protect local waterways, enhance biodiversity and employ local people, Environment Minister David Parker announced today. Over two years, the Hāpara Takatū Jobs for Nature project will fence 195km of private land to exclude stock from vulnerable ...6 days ago
- New Year border exception for seasonal workers in the horticulture and wine industries2000 additional RSE workers to enter New Zealand early next year employers must pay these workers at least $22.10 an hour employers will cover costs of managed isolation for the RSE workers RSE workers will be paid the equivalent of 30 hours work a week while in isolation From January ...7 days ago
- Government increases support for New Zealanders to work in seasonal jobsThe Government is offering further financial support for unemployed New Zealanders to take on seasonal work. These new incentives include: Up to $200 per week for accommodation costs $1000 incentive payment for workers who complete jobs of six weeks or longer increasing wet weather payments when people can’t work to ...7 days ago
- Government receives Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mos...Minister for Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti has today received the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques, and will table it in Parliament on Tuesday December 8. “I know this will have been a challenging process for whānau, survivors and witnesses of the terrorist attack ...1 week ago
- New Zealand Government to declare a climate emergencyThe Government will declare a climate emergency next week, Climate Change Minister James Shaw said today. “We are in the midst of a climate crisis that will impact on nearly every ...1 week ago
- Call for urgent action on Pacific conservationA declaration on the urgency of the global biodiversity crisis and the need for immediate, transformative action in the Pacific was agreed at a pan-Pacific conference today. The 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas is taking place this week across the Pacific. Minister of Conservation Kiritapu ...1 week ago
- Speech from the throneE aku hoa i te ara o te whai, Kia kotahi tā tātou takahi i te kō, ko tōku whiwhi kei tō koutou tautoko mai. Ko tāku ki a koutou, hei whakapiki manawa mōku. He horomata rangatira te mahi, e rite ai te whiwhinga a te ringatuku, me te ringakape ...1 week ago
- Keynote address to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand conferenceSpeech to the CAANZ conference - November 19, 2020 Thank you, Greg, (Greg Haddon, MC) for the welcome. I’d like to acknowledge John Cuthbertson from CAANZ, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue Naomi Ferguson, former fellow MP and former Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, other guest speakers and CAANZ members. I ...1 week ago
- Expert independent advisory group appointed to strengthen the future of Māori broadcastingA panel of seven experts are adding their support to help shape the future of Māori broadcasting, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson has announced today. “Today I will meet with some of the most experienced Māori broadcasters, commentators and practitioners in the field. They have practical insights on the ...1 week ago
- Government to review housing settingsNew Zealand’s stronger-than-expected economic performance has flowed through to housing demand, so the Government will review housing settings to improve access to the market, the Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “Our focus is on improving access to the housing market for first home buyers and ensuring house price growth ...1 week ago
- Crown accounts reflect Govt’s careful economic managementThe better-than-expected Crown accounts released today show the Government’s careful management of the COVID-19 health crisis was the right approach to support the economy. As expected, the Crown accounts for the year to June 2020 show the operating balance before gains and losses, or OBEGAL, was in deficit. However that ...1 week ago
- Community launch marks next step in addressing racism in educationThe launch of Te Hurihanganui in Porirua today is another important milestone in the work needed to address racism in the education system and improve outcomes for Māori learners and their whānau, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis says. Budget 2019 included $42 million over three years to put Te Hurihanganui ...1 week ago
- Government to consider recommendations on DNA use in criminal investigationsThe Minister of Justice has received the Law Commission’s recommending changes to the law governing the way DNA is used in criminal investigations. The report, called The Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations – Te Whahamahi I te Ira Tangata I ngā Mātai Taihara, recommends new legislation to address how ...1 week ago
- Speech to Wakatū Nelson regional hui on tradeFirst, I want to express my thanks to Te Taumata for this hui and for all the fantastic work you are doing for Māori in the trade space. In the short time that you’ve been operating you’ve already contributed an enormous amount to the conversation, and developed impressive networks. I ...1 week ago
- Speech to Primary Industries SummitThank you for the opportunity to speak to you today about the significant contribution the food and fibres sector makes to New Zealand and how this Government is supporting that effort. I’d like to start by acknowledging our co-Chairs, Terry Copeland and Mavis Mullins, my colleague, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, ...1 week ago
- Fast track referrals will speed up recovery and boost jobs and home buildingThe Government is taking action to increase jobs, speed up the economic recovery and build houses by putting three more projects through its fast track approval process. “It’s great to see that the fast-track consenting process is working. Today we have referred a mix of potential projects that, if approved, ...1 week ago
- Papakāinga provides critically needed homes in HastingsA papakāinga opened today by the Minister for Māori Development the Hon Willie Jackson will provide whānau with much needed affordable rental homes in Hastings. The four home papakāinga in Waiōhiki is the first project to be completed under the ‘Hastings Place Based’ initiative. This initiative is a Government, Hastings ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand ready to host APEC virtuallyPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern took over the leadership of APEC earlier today, when she joined leaders from the 21 APEC economies virtually for the forum’s final 2020 meeting. “We look forward to hosting a fully virtual APEC 2021 next year. While this isn’t an in-person meeting, it will be one ...2 weeks ago
- Revival of Māori HorticulturistsThe rapid revival of Māori horticulture was unmistakeable at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards, with 2020 marking the first time this iconic Māori farming event was dedicated to horticulture enterprises. Congratulating finalists at the Awards, Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson said growing large-scale māra kai is part of Māori DNA. ...2 weeks ago
- 6 unis had Hindi programs. Soon there could be only 1, and that’s not in Australia’s best intere...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher L. Diamond, Lecturer in Hindi, Australian National University La Trobe University is in talks to discontinue its Hindi program, along with Greek and Indonesian. In the mid-1990s, six Australian universities taught Hindi. If La Trobe ends its program, Australia will be ...20 mins ago - Pharmac probe unlikely to examine commercial details – Little
Work has started on setting up an inquiry into Pharmac but it's unlikely to have access to commercial information. ...30 mins ago - Film review: Thomas Banks’ Quest for Love tackles life as a gay man with disabilitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amie O’Shea, Lecturer, Disability & Inclusion, Deakin University Review: Thomas Banks’ Quest for Love, directed by Pip Kelly In Thomas Banks’ Quest for Love, Banks — a writer and comedian with cerebral palsy — addresses the additional taboos experienced by people with ...1 hour ago
- Back to the future: Ardern govt refashions a 2007 commitment to make the state service carbon-neutr...
The government’s declaration of a national emergency on climate change has taken symbolism in politics to new heights. It’s an art form perfected by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the bulk of New Zealanders, it seems, like it. Look at how she kept New Zealanders free of the Covid-19 virus ...2 hours ago - Why can politicians so easily dodge accountability for their mistakes? The troubling answer: because...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Aulich, Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, University of Canberra In recent days, the issue of government accountability was brought into sharp focus — again — when NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian admitted that community grants awarded primarily to councils in ...3 hours ago
- Oh look – 28 potential good-news stories about young people overcoming challenges (but Stuff has m...
The Dom-Post gave front-page treatment today to the government’s declaration of a climate emergency. This emergency – says Climate Change Minister James Shaw – will be backed with ambitious plans to reduce emissions. Another of yesterday’s press releases from the Beehive, about an awards ceremony, did not pass muster with ...3 hours ago - Feeling sore after exercise? Here’s what science suggests helps (and what doesn’t)Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Mosler, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, La Trobe University Have you been hitting the gym again with COVID restrictions easing? Or getting back into running, cycling, or playing team sports? As many of you might’ve experienced, the ...3 hours ago
- What we can learn from the stories of Kauri, Tohorā and Tiwaiwaka
Once plentiful, Kauri and Tohorā now face the threat of extinction. To save them we need to listen to the message of Tiwaiwaka, writes Donna Kerridge.We’ve heard it all before: New Zealand was a nation dependent upon whaling and logging for its economic survival and today we depend on farming, ...3 hours ago - Business is Boring: How Foodprint is helping reduce food waste by bringing the bargainsBusiness is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he’s joined by Foodprint founder and CEO Michal Garvey.Food waste is such a massive problem that ...3 hours ago
- Tax Bill An Outrageous Assault On Taxpayer Privacy – Sets Up Trust System For Wealth Tax
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming last minute inclusions in the Government’s tax bill which would force the IRD to collect information totally irrelevant for assessing income tax. Union spokesman Jordan Williams says, “The legal advice we ...3 hours ago - PODCAST: Iran Assassination & China V Australia Examples of a Deterioration of International Rel...PODCAST: Paul G. Buchanan and Selwyn Manning present A View from Afar. This week we discuss: How around the world, in international relations, we see examples of strategic hedging, miscalculation, escalation, reputation, and face-saving. Two of the most current examples of this are happening in the Middle East – ...3 hours ago
- Eliminating most homelessness is achievable. It starts with prevention and ‘housing first’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angela Spinney, Lecturer/Research Fellow in Housing and Urban Studies, Swinburne University of Technology The stereotype of a homeless person – those living in tents or sleeping in parks or doorways – is just the visible tip of the much larger crisis of ...4 hours ago
- Climate Change Is Claiming Lives – Lancet Countdown 2020 ReportEvidence from the latest Lancet Countdown report show that climate change induced shocks such as wildfires and heat waves are claiming lives now and unless urgent action is taken then health impacts will worsen, so it is timely our government has ...4 hours ago
- The gap at the heart of the Royal Commission on the Christchurch terrorist attacksThe inquiry is of real value, but predetermined terms of reference, a lack of transparency and an inherent conflict of interest limits its potential to deliver the scrutiny and change Aotearoa needs, writes Anjum Rahman, a member of the Commission’s Muslim Community Reference Group.The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the ...4 hours ago
- Accident Compensation Corporation Case Management: Progress On Recommendations Made In 2014...4 hours ago
- Māoritanga and motherhood: What influenced Anna Coddington’s new albumBeams is Anna Coddington’s fourth solo outing, and her first since the acclaimed Luck/Time dropped in 2016. We asked her to explain what’s changed since then, and what inspired this new batch of songs.1. Motherhood (Part 1: Sleep Deprivation)Before I became a parent, I thought I’d be okay with being ...4 hours ago
- Green Party MPs Once Again The Highest Spenders On Air TravelResponding to the release of MP expenses for July-September , New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Jordan Williams says: “Green Party MPs are burning taxpayer money and fossil fuels at a faster rate than any other party as they jet up and down the ...4 hours ago
- Christmas without the clutter: A better alternative to unwanted gift-givingWe’ve all bought or received gifts we know are never going to be used, which is why The Good Registry has created a way to channel those wasted funds into making a difference.Three years ago, Christine Langdon decided to give up a lucrative career in corporate communications to do something ...4 hours ago
- Government Must Partner With Māori On Climate ResponseThe Government deserves praise for making the declaration of a climate emergency one of the first actions of the new Parliament, but acting in partnership with Māori will be key to delivering meaningful action, says Māori Climate Commissioner Donna ...5 hours ago
- MPs have signed off on new 39% top tax rateThe new tax rate of 39 percent will apply to income over $180,000 a year, affecting the top 2 percent of earners. ...5 hours ago
- Launch An Independent Inquiry Into Pharmac Now Before More New Zealanders DieBackground 16 October 2018: Malcolm Mulholland, Chair of Patient Voice Aotearoa, along with women with advanced breast cancer, submitted a lengthy document that outlined the reasons why the Health Select Committee should hold an inquiry into Pharmac. ...5 hours ago
- Open Letter To The Prime Minister And Minister Shaw On Climate Emergency DeclarationTo: The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern and Climate Change Minister the Honourable James Shaw 3 December 2020 Dear Prime Minister and Minister Shaw, The New Zealand Medical Association welcomes yesterday’s (2 December 2020), announcement ...5 hours ago
- Don’t Lift The Minimum Wage, New Report WarnsWellington, 3 December 2020 - Calls to lift the minimum wage will not fix inequality and could end up hurting the most vulnerable – particularly during a recession, according to a new report by the New Zealand Initiative. The report is a response ...6 hours ago
- By declaring a climate emergency NZ’s Ardern needs to inspire hope, not fearANALYSIS: By David Hall, Auckland University of Technology; Raven Cretney, University of Waikato; and Sylvia Nissen There is no question that we must act, and act fast, on climate change. This week’s climate emergency declaration by the New Zealand government acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis and the need ...6 hours ago
- New Database Of 24,000 Pests To Protect AotearoaA new online tool, the Official New Zealand Pest Register (ONZPR), launched today, will help protect Aotearoa from more than 24,000 biosecurity threats and support exporters selling Kiwi produce to the world. The register is a one-stop-shop for ...6 hours ago
- LIVE VIDEO: Paul G. Buchanan + Selwyn Manning Discuss: Iran & Australia Targets of a Deteriorati...VIDEO: Paul G. Buchanan and Selwyn Manning present A View from Afar. This week we discuss: How around the world, in international relations, we see examples of strategic hedging, miscalculation, escalation, reputation, and face-saving. Two of the most current examples of this are happening in the Middle East – after ...7 hours ago
- Government's finance books stronger than expectedThe government's finances are in much better shape than expected, with strong domestic spending propping up the tax take. ...7 hours ago
- No more token tack-ons: Building mana into Auckland designTāmaki Makaurau is a city under construction, but are Māori and Pasifika architects and designers being given the opportunities they deserve?It seems everywhere you go in Auckland right now, there’s a new development of some sort. Whether it’s a new bridge, playground, some public housing or a refreshed streetscape, almost ...7 hours ago
- Diabetes treatment has an exciting breakthrough. Now the government needs to get on boardNew technology could transform the lives of thousands of New Zealanders with type 1 diabetes, but the lack of government funding leaves much to be desired, writes Nicholas Agar.I’m a type 1 diabetic writing this with a sense of excitement about a breakthrough in the treatment of my disease. When I ...7 hours ago
- Financial Statements Of The Government For The 4 Months Ended 31 October 2020Please find attached a copy of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the 4 months ended 31 October 2020. https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/2012/FSG_to_end_of_October_2020.pdf ...8 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – December 03 2020Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Today’s content Climate change Stuff: Editorial – Declaration’s value will be measured by action Bronwyn Hayward (Spinoff): NZ joins a groundswell in sounding the climate emergency alarm. Can it make any real difference? ...8 hours ago
- Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins urges patience over vaccine roll-out in NZThe Minister for Covid-19 Response says patience is required over the roll-out of New Zealand's first Covid-19 vaccines, but that the government will ensure no lags in the process. ...9 hours ago
- We can make a better post-Covid world for people with disabilitiesThe pandemic has shown us how we can do things differently. When we come out the other side, let’s ensure the 1 billion disabled people worldwide aren’t left behind, writes disability rights commissioner Paula Tesoriero. Worldwide, the response by governments to Covid-19 has emphasised that we are all in this together. ...9 hours ago
- SAFE Zeroes In On Rodeo With A New Petition Launching TodayThis Saturday, so-called ‘cowboys’ will put animals at risk of injury or death at the ‘Mad Bull’ rodeo in Otago and the WFL Bull Ride Martinborough. Two bulls were killed at the Mad Bull rodeo last year, and another was killed at the Martinborough ...9 hours ago
- Greenpeace Challenges Coke With Christmas AdsGreenpeace is launching a Christmas social media campaign linking Coca Cola with the killing of seabirds in New Zealand. This trio of hard-hitting videos aims to counter the soft drink giant’s seasonal advertising blitz. "This time of year ...10 hours ago
- Can the world economy continue to float on a cushion of debt?
Monetary policy is difficult. Economist Scott Sumner describes in his blog how the thinking of an intellectual giant like John Maynard Keynes evolved through three distinct phases in the 1920s and 30s. As the man himself is reputed to have said “When the facts change, I change my mind. ...10 hours ago - World Could Heat Up To 3.9 Degrees By 2100 On Current Policies, Putting Future Of Pacific Islands At...Under current policies, the world is projected to heat by a median estimate of 2.9 degrees by 2100, with a possible range of 2.1 to 3.9 degrees Celsius, according to a new report by Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Pacific nations are already facing ...10 hours ago
- Freaky ‘frankenprawns’: ancient deep sea monsters called radiodonts had incredible vision that l...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Paterson, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of New England Deep sea animals can be the stuff of nightmares. Many inhabit the ocean’s twilight zone (down to 1,000 metres depth), where sunlight has virtually disappeared, and have adapted their vision to this ...10 hours ago
- The floor is lava: after 1.5 billion years in flux, here’s how a new, stronger crust set the stage...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fabio A Capitanio, Lecturer in Geophysics, Monash University Our planet is unique in the Solar system. It’s the only one with active plate tectonics, ocean basins, continents and, as far as we know, life. But Earth in its current form is 4.5 ...10 hours ago
- Victoria’s hotel quarantine overhaul is a step in the right direction, but issues remainSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peta-Anne Zimmerman, Senior Lecturer/Program Advisor Griffith Graduate Infection Prevention and Control Program, Griffith University On Monday the Victorian government announced an overhaul of the state’s hotel quarantine program. The government has introduced a new oversight agency, COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, and crafted a ...10 hours ago
- ‘Severely threatened and deteriorating’: global authority on nature lists the Great Barrier Reef...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon C. Day, PSM, Post-career PhD candidate, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University The Great Barrier Reef is now in “critical” condition and the health of four other Australian World Heritage properties has worsened, according to a ...10 hours ago
- ‘Unjustifiable’: new report shows how the nation’s gas expansion puts Australians in harm’s ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Baxter, Fellow – Melbourne Law School; Senior Researcher – Climate Council; Associate – Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Australia’s latest emissions data, released this week, contained one particularly startling, and unjustifiable, fact. Against all odds, in a year ...10 hours ago
- How unis can use student housing to solve international student quarantine issuesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ziguras, Professor of Global Studies, RMIT University The arrival at Darwin airport on Monday of 63 students from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia on a charter flight from Singapore ended an eight-month hiatus in international student arrivals in Australia. ...10 hours ago
- Why Australian cities need post-COVID vision, not free parkingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Clements, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Sydney Many Australian cities have fallen back on offering free car parking to attract visitors back to the CBD after the pandemic. In contrast, cities around the world are ...10 hours ago
- In our own voices: 5 Australian books about living with disabilitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica White, UQ Amplify Associate Lecturer, The University of Queensland Fiction and non-fiction works about disability and Deafness are often hampered by stereotypical representations. A disability is frequently presented as something to “overcome”, or used to characterise someone (ever notice all those ...10 hours ago
- Live updates, December 3: Climate change emergency more than just virtue signalling – ShawWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for December 3. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.45am: Climate change emergency more than just virtue signallingThe climate change minister has rejected claims from Act and National that the government’s declaration of a climate emergency simply amounted to “virtue signalling”.Parliament voted in favour of declaring ...10 hours ago
- Auckland firms more positive for 2021
Auckland firms are less pessimistic about their prospects but want city leaders to keep economic development at the top of their minds going into the New Year A new survey of Auckland businesses finds 90 percent were negatively affected by the pandemic and lockdown but just 50 percent think their ...11 hours ago - 'We can break the cycle' – Marama Davidson
Our first Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Minister says the country's record isn't only unacceptable, it's unnecessary. ...11 hours ago - NZ Story: Promoting Our Kiwi Ingenuity
New Zealand's reputation globally is at a high point - exactly the right time to tell the world about our innovative spirit in a new series of videos, writes Rebecca Smith. Showing off isn’t in the Kiwi DNA, but sometimes there is a time and place to spin a good ...11 hours ago - The Bulletin: What comes next after climate emergency declarationGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: What comes next after climate emergency declaration, petition against parole for cop-killers delivered, and well-known fashion company under fire.The climate emergency has been declared, and has come with a set of new targets to boot. Yesterday after Question Time, parliament voted in ...11 hours ago
- Climate Change declaration: 'It's not just symbolic declaration'Climate Change Minister James Shaw says there's nothing token about the declaration of a climate emergency or the commitment for the public service to be carbon neutral in five years' time. ...12 hours ago
- Family and sexual violence strategy on the way
After 20 years, a national roadmap for family and sexual violence prevention is expected early next year. ...12 hours ago - Fighting at least four decades of status quoAfter the last government was unable to agree, Minister Marama Davidson has vowed to get a national strategy on family and sexual violence before Cabinet by March, as an "absolute priority" New Zealand has been without a national strategy or action plan to combat family and sexual violence since Te ...12 hours ago
- Milk prices, rising kiwi lower terms of trade
Business & Investing: The country's terms of trade go backwards due to global milk prices and the rising dollar, Plus office communication tool Slack is bought by Salesforce for more than US$27 billion ...12 hours ago - Anne Salmond: No downside in standing tall, together
Stuff’s apology for the inequitable treatment of Māori and tikanga Māori by Stuff and its media predecessors is so powerful, writes Dame Anne Salmond, because it recognises the Queen’s promise of equality and mutual respect for different tikanga In 1992 and 2010, as an anthropological historian, I was asked by ...13 hours ago - America is back, but Trumpism lingers
While Joe Biden’s victory means an America that’s “back in the game” of international cooperation, New Zealand and other multilateralist nations must reckon with the possibility of a Trumpian administration in 2025, Liam Schwarz writes As a victorious Joe Biden jogged onto stage following a long and nerve-wracking presidential race, ...13 hours ago - Public support for broader mask mandate
A new poll has found 75 percent of New Zealanders would support a mask mandate in public places as health experts say the current requirements don't go far enough. ...13 hours ago - Backyard Explorer: A stunning, desolate national treasure
'The pain fades. The memories endure.' Jim Kayes walks the immaculate Tongariro Crossing. The first aid kit was impressive and appropriate. At least, that’s what I thought. My daughter, who has just finished her first year studying para medicine, had a rather different view. “Dad, you don’t know how to ...13 hours ago - Young Violette has her pick of ivy league schools
Promising Kiwi thrower and water polo player Violette Perry is bound for one of the world's most famous universities to further her sporting pursuits and her passion for engineering. Yale, Harvard or Princeton? These were just some of the ivy league schools courting Violette Perry for 2021. The dual New Zealand youth representative, ...13 hours ago - Our health system: a comedy of errors
Anna Rawhiti-Connell is baffled by an irresponsible health system mixing up her identity two days before a scheduled surgery she knows nothing about - a standard of care and service we wouldn't accept from almost anywhere else Last week I got a text from the poor people who do my annual ...13 hours ago - What if we create a better world for nothing?
At times, it seems like this Government is thinking: "What if we do too much on climate change?" ...13 hours ago - Book of the Week: Going on a Bain hunt
Ex-Herald legend Phil Taylor reviews a book on the Bain killings by ace reporter Martin van Beynen The most striking photo in Martin van Beynen’s book Black Hands is of the Bain family home on fire. It was a controlled burn of the scene of the crimes, apparently carried out ...13 hours ago - I finally solved the housing crisis. Ask me howExperts have made the case for tax and interest rate adjustments to address the housing crisis in recent times. Hayden Donnell makes another, highly technical suggestion.There are as many ideas for fixing New Zealand’s housing crisis as there are houses in New Zealand. Political advisor Clint Smith has proposed limiting ...13 hours ago
- The Royal Commission won’t change the reality of being Muslim in New ZealandWhile the March 15 terrorist was not on the intelligence agencies’ radar, Haamid Ben Fayed has been. He hopes the inquiry will be a chance to address the systemic discrimination faced by Muslims in this country – but, as he tells Jo Malcolm, he doesn’t hold out much hope for ...13 hours ago
- A long, hot, possibly deadly summer
We could be in for a hellish wildfire season. Are New Zealanders prepared? Summer's around the corner and so is the height of the fire season ... it’s time to look at how prepared we are. In today’s podcast, The Detail's Jessie Chiang talks to Grant Pearce from Scion Rural ...13 hours ago - Humanity faces climate ‘suicide’ without US rejoining Paris Agreement
Joining China and other big polluters, Joe Biden’s pledge of “net zero” US emissions by 2050 brings the Paris Agreement goals “within reach”. Mark Hertsgaard reports “The way we are moving is a suicide,” United Nations secretary-general António Guterres said in an interview on Monday, and humanity’s survival will be ...14 hours ago - Pacific journalism, media and diversity researchers tackle challenges aheadPacific Media Centre Newsdesk Pacific journalism and media researchers have gathered “live” in Auckland and “virtually” from Australia, Indonesia, and the region to showcase their projects and initiatives – and they spoke of the key challenges ahead. Presentations at the AUT Pacific Media Centre-organised event yesterday included cross-cultural documentaries, an ...19 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Asia-Pacific expert Bates Gill on China’s endgameSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Chinese official Lijian Zhao’s tweeting an image depicting an Australian soldier holding a knife against a child’s throat and the subsequent angry exchanges is the latest incident in an exceptionally poor year for Australian-Chinese relations. ...19 hours ago
- No hope of Pacific travel bubble before Christmas – HipkinsA travel bubble with the Cook Islands will not be in place before Christmas. ...21 hours ago
- It isn’t right to say we are out of recession, as these six graphs demonstrateSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University It’d be wrong to say that we are out of recession, although that’s how the graph of Wednesday’s GDP numbers makes it look. Gross domestic product (the measure of everything ...22 hours ago
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- A political party out of step and out of time
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- Mother of slain officer Matthew Hunt petitions for harsher punishments for those who murder policeThe mother of a slain police officer has begged politicians to introduce harsher punishments for those who murder police. ...23 hours ago
- West Papuan leaders declare first steps for world’s first ‘green state’Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk West Papuan leaders have begun forming a “provisional government” in defiance of a crackdown by Indonesian security forces and have pledged that the Melanesian region will establish the world’s first “green state”. West Papuan civil society and political movements have opposed Indonesian colonisation of the region ...24 hours ago
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