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Open mike 04/01/2025
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Open mike 03/01/2025
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Open mike 02/01/2025
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Open mike 01/01/2025
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2024 in review
by
mickysavage
Open mike 31/12/2024
by
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Wage theft – now that is a real crime
by
lprent
Open mike 30/12/2024
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The absurdity of National’s Gang Patch ban
by
mickysavage
Open mike 29/12/2024
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Open mike 28/12/2024
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Open mike 27/12/2024
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Open mike 26/12/2024
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The Pogues wrote the best Christmas song ever
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Open mike 25/12/2024
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On the tenth day of Christmas Chris Luxon took from me …
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Open mike 24/12/2024
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Government sabotages its Emissions Reduction Plan
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Open mike 23/12/2024
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Open mike 22/12/2024
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Much ado about nothing
by
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Festive Cheer, Hear Hear !
by
Mountain Tui
This govt. legislation will change our country like never before – learn about it like your country depends on it – because it does
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Open mike 21/12/2024
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Daily review 20/12/2024
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Open mike 19/12/2024
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Is Luxon on a roll?
by
Mike Smith
Daily review 18/12/2024
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Who would have thought that austerity would stuff up the economy
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Open mike 18/12/2024
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Daily review 17/12/2024
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When publicity stunts go bad
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Open mike 17/12/2024
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Police private trip to China – who to believe?
by
Mike Smith
Daily review 16/12/2024
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The real purpose of the Ministry for Regulation
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Labour loses confidence in the Speaker
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Open mike 14/12/2024
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Daily review 13/12/2024
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Luxon & Willis Double Down on Ferries Debacle
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Clusterfreak
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Open mike 12/12/2024
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Daily review 11/12/2024
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Foreign interference Bill ‘repressive tool’ to intimidate public: former minister
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Guest post
The unusual feature of Taxpayers Union’s latest Curia poll
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Atlas Network in New Zealand
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Open mike 11/12/2024
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Daily review 10/12/2024
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Maire Leadbeater “The Enemy Within”
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Mike Smith
Are Lester Levy and Shane Reti “cooking the books?”
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Unacceptable
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Open mike 07/12/2024
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Tax and the Splintering World
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Nigel Haworth
Creative accounting
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Open mike 05/12/2024
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AT is to be gutted
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Daily review 04/12/2024
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Luxon Takes A Beating
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RIP Dame Tariana Turia
And when a child is born into this worldIt has no conceptOf the tone of skin it's living inAnd there's a million voicesAnd there's a million voicesTo tell you what you should be thinking
Song by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour.The moment you see that face, you can hear her voice; ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
5 hours ago
Quality Ministers
While we may not always have quality political leadership, a couple of recently published autobiographies indicate sometimes we strike it lucky.
When ranking our prime ministers, retired professor of history Erik Olssen commented that ‘neither Holland nor Nash was especially effective as prime minister – even his private secretary thought ...
Pundit
By Brian Easton
24 hours ago
Tennis Court
Baby, be the class clownI'll be the beauty queen in tearsIt's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fearLet's go down to the tennis court and talk it up like, yeah (yeah)
Songwriters: Joel Little / Ella Yelich O ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
1 day ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #1 2025
Open access notables
Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored
, Ecker et al.,
American Psychologist:
Recent
academic
debate has seen the
emergence
of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the
arguments
used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting
...
Skeptical Science
2 days ago
My Year In Recall
What I’ve Been Doing:
I buried a close family member.
What I’ve Been Watching:
Andor, Jack Reacher, Xmas movies.
What I’ve Been Reflecting On:
The Usefulness of Writing and the Worthiness of Doing So — especially as things become more transparent on their own.I also hate competing on any day, and if ...
Mountain Tui
By Mountain Tūī
2 days ago
The forgotten story of Jimmy Carter’s White House solar panels
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by John Wihbey. A version of this article first appeared on Yale Climate Connections on Nov. 11, 2008.
(Image credits: The White House, Jonathan Cutrer /
CC BY 2.0
; President Jimmy Carter, Trikosko/Library of Congress; Solar dedication, Bill Fitz-Patrick / Jimmy Carter Library; Solar
...
Skeptical Science
2 days ago
Medley
Morena folks,We’re having a good break, recharging the batteries. Hope you’re enjoying the holiday period. I’m not feeling terribly inspired by much at the moment, I’m afraid—not from a writing point of view, anyway.
So, today, we’re travelling back in time. You’ll have to imagine the wavy lines and sci-fi sound ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
2 days ago
2024 Reading Summary: The List
Completed reads for 2024: Oration on the Dignity of Man, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola A Platonic Discourse Upon Love, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Of Being and Unity, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola The Life of Pico della Mirandola, by Giovanni Francesco Pico Three Letters Written by Pico ...
A Phuulish Fellow
By strda221
2 days ago
New Year Resolution: 2025 cannot simply be a repeat of what made 2024 an intolerable farce.
Welcome to 2025, Aotearoa.
Well… what can one really say? 2024 was a story of a bad beginning, an infernal middle and an indescribably farcical end. But to chart a course for a real future, it does pay to know where we’ve been… so we know where we need
...
exhALANt
By exhalantblog
3 days ago
2024 – Blog views by country
Welcome to the official half-way point of the 2020s. Anyway, as per my New Years tradition, here’s where A Phuulish Fellow’s blog traffic came from in 2024: United States United Kingdom New Zealand Canada Sweden Australia Germany Spain Brazil Finland The top four are the same as 2023, ...
A Phuulish Fellow
By strda221
4 days ago
2024 Reading Summary: December (+ Writing Update)
Completed reads for December: Be A Wolf!, by Brian Strickland The Magic Flute [libretto], by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Emanuel Schikaneder The Invisible Eye, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Owl’s Ear, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Waters of Death, by Erckmann-Chatrian The Spider, by Hanns Heinz Ewers Who Knows?, by Guy de Maupassant ...
A Phuulish Fellow
By strda221
4 days ago
2024 – A Year in Review
Well, it’s the last day of the year, so it’s time for a quick wrap-up of the most important things that happened in 2024 for urbanism and transport in our city. A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the blog and supported us in our mission to make ...
Greater Auckland
By Matt L
4 days ago
Nick’s Awards – 2024
Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…
Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
4 days ago
Webworm’s 2024 Year In Review
Hi,A lot’s happened this year in the world of
Webworm
, and as 2024 comes to an end I thought I’d look back at a few of the things that popped. Maybe you missed them, or you might want to revisit some of these essay and podcast episodes over your break ...
David Farrier
By David Farrier
4 days ago
Those Metal Motherfuckers: Cinema in the Year of AI
Hi,I wanted to share this piece by film editor Dan Kircher about what cinema has been up to in 2024.Dan edited my documentary
Mister Organ
, as well as this year’s excellent crowd-pleasing
Bookworm
.
Dan adores movies. He gets the language of cinema, he knows what he loves, and writes accordingly. And ...
David Farrier
By David Farrier
4 days ago
Xmas then and now.
Without delving into personal details but in order to give readers a sense of the year that was, I thought I would offer the study in contrasts that are Xmas 2023 and Xmas 2024: Xmas 2023 in Starship Children’s Hospital (after third of four surgeries). Even opening presents was an ...
Kiwipolitico
By Pablo
5 days ago
a/b/o and worldbuilding
Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do
not
apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m
...
The little pakeha
By chrismiller
5 days ago
YouTube’s Biggest Star “Mr Beast” Has Made a Massive Turd
Hi,
Webworm
has been pretty heavy this year — mainly because the world is pretty heavy. But as we sprint (or limp, you choose) through the final days of 2024, I wanted to keep
Webworm
a little lighter.So today I wanted to look at one of the biggest and weirdest elements ...
David Farrier
By David Farrier
5 days ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #52
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...
Skeptical Science
6 days ago
The End of the Horrifying Chris Luxon Painting Saga
Hi,
Webworm
has been following occasional artist (and
Webworm
writer) Josh Drummond’s unnerving portrait of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon since he first listed it on TradeMe.
Back on October 1,
Webworm
broke the news that
the painting had been removed from online auction site TradeMe for reasons that included not
...
David Farrier
By David Farrier
6 days ago
Climate Change Christmas
We’ll have a climate change ChristmasFrom now until foreverWarming our hearts and mindsAnd planet all togetherSpirits high and oceans higherChestnuts roast on wildfiresIf coal is on your wishlistMerry Climate Change Christmas
Song by Ian McConnellReindeer emissions are not something I’d thought about in terms of climate change. I guess some significant ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
6 days ago
KP 2024 year end review.
KP continues to putt-putt along as a tiny niche blog that offers a NZ perspective on international affairs with a few observations about NZ domestic politics thrown in. In 2024 there was also some personal posts given that my son was in the last four months of a nine month ...
Kiwipolitico
By Pablo
1 week ago
Madman Across the Water
I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you know
Songwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
1 week ago
Nikki Noboats adrift – have the wheels finally fallen off this inept government?
.
Acknowledgement:
Tim Prebble
Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..With each passing day of bad headlines, squandering tax revenue to enrich the rich, deep cuts to our social services and a government struggling to keep the lipstick on its neo-liberal pig ...
Frankly Speaking
By Frank Macskasy
1 week ago
A turn to the Big Stick.
This is from the 36th Parallel social media account (as brief food for thought). We know that Trump is ahistorical at best but he seems to think that he is Teddy Roosevelt and can use the threat of invoking the Monroe Doctrine and “Big Stick” gunboat diplomacy against Panama and ...
Kiwipolitico
By Pablo
1 week ago
Time is an illusion
Don't you cry tonight
I still love you, baby
And don't you cry tonight
Don't you cry tonight
There's a heaven above you, baby
And don't you cry tonight
Song: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin
“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”
, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
1 week ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #52 2024
Open access notables
Trends in Oceanic Precipitation Characteristics Inferred From Shipboard Present-Weather Reports, 1950–2019
, Tran & Petty,
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres:
Although ship reports are susceptible to subjective interpretation, the inferred distributions of these phenomena are consistent with observations from other platforms such as satellites and coastal surface stations.
...
Skeptical Science
1 week ago
Todd Stephenson and Stephen Rainbow: David Farrar’s Ideological Plant In The Human Rights Commissi...
In 2018,
David Farrar wrote a series of suggestions on Kiwiblog
as to how the far right might best promote freedom of speech as a method of limiting other civil rights (in this particular case, academic freedom, a campaign that has
just paid off this this month
as David Seymour ...
Sapphi’s Substack
By Sapphi
1 week ago
A Magical Time of Year
Because you're magicYou're magic people to me
Song: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
1 week ago
Climate Adam: 2024 Through the Eyes of a Climate Scientist
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist
Dr. Adam Levy
. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Skeptical Science
1 week ago
Merry Christmas To All Bowalley Road Readers.
Ríu Ríu Chíu
Ríu Ríu Chíu
is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band
The Monkees
not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
Bowalley Road
1 week ago
Merry Christmas: 2024
Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly
550,000 tons
of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...
Skeptical Science
2 weeks ago
Meri Kirihimete 2024
Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
2 weeks ago
Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tues, Dec 24
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:
Kāinga Ora
is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
A Birthday Wish!
Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.
I would love you to share one
Webworm
story you’ve liked this year.
The simple fact is: apart from paying for a
Webworm
membership (thank you!),
sharing and telling others about this place
is the most important ...
David Farrier
By David Farrier
2 weeks ago
Love, happiness, blur
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
More Than A Feilding
By David Slack
2 weeks ago
All I Want For Christmas
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it away
Songwriter: Twiggy Ramirez
Read more
...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
2 weeks ago
The 1 Good Thing Left In Journalism
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to
gift a full
Webworm
subscription
to a friend (or enemy) ...
David Farrier
By David Farrier
2 weeks ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Monday, December 23
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:
Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s
scoop via
RNZ
last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;
Maddy Croad’s
scoop via
The Press-$
this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;
Benedict Collins’
scoop last night via
1News
on a last-minute ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Skeptical Science
2 weeks ago
Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a life
There's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the village
Songwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
2 weeks ago
Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something
he also uses to try and de-platform
...
Sapphi’s Substack
By Sapphi
2 weeks ago
Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
Skeptical Science is partnering with
Gigafact
to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via
the tipline
. Are we heading ...
Skeptical Science
2 weeks ago
As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer:
https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/
As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
A Phuulish Fellow
By strda221
2 weeks ago
By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice:
As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After
...
Bowalley Road
2 weeks ago
Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā
Mōrena
. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
Photo by
CHUTTERSNAP
on
Unsplash
Every morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
2024 OIA stats
Over on Kikorangi
Newsroom
's Marc Daalder has
published his annual OIA stats
. So I thought I'd do mine:
82
OIA requests sent in 2024
7
posts based on those requests
20
average working days to receive a response
Ministry of Justice
was my most-requested entity, ...
No Right Turn
By Idiot/Savant
2 weeks ago
Climate Change: A perverse incentive
The government published its
first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement
yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is
missing any plan to actually meet our target
. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...
No Right Turn
By Idiot/Savant
2 weeks ago
Economic Bulletin December 2024
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
NZCTU
By Jack McDonald
2 weeks ago
NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
NZCTU
By Jack McDonald
2 weeks ago
ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hear
Songwriters: ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
2 weeks ago
Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā
Mōrena
. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in
The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus
podcast above and the daily
Pick ‘n’ Mix
below ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
Greater Auckland
By Greater Auckland
2 weeks ago
The Hoon around the year to December 20, 2024
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts
&
talking about the year’s news with:
on climate. Her book of the year was
Tim Winton
’s cli-fi novel
Juice
and she also mentioned
Mike Joy
’s memoir
The Fight for Fresh Water
. ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Politik
By Richard Harman
2 weeks ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables
An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century
, Li et al.,
Communications Earth & Environment:
Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance
...
Skeptical Science
2 weeks ago
Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon
Photo by
Mauricio Fanfa
on
Unsplash
Kia oraCome and join us for our weekly
‘Hoon’
webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this
link
on
YouTube Livestream
for our chat about the week’s news with myself
, plus regular guests
and
, ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”
“ONE OF THOSE
had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Bowalley Road
2 weeks ago
GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney.
“The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
NZCTU
By Stella Whitfield
2 weeks ago
Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm free
Songwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Nick’s Kōrero
By Nick Rockel
2 weeks ago
MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
The Kaka
By Bernard Hickey
2 weeks ago
The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.
This end-of-year review about the state of economic management –
the state of the economy was last week
– is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
Pundit
By Brian Easton
2 weeks ago
Back on Track
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.
NZ ranks low in global economic comparisons
New Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Mountain Tui
By Mountain Tūī
2 weeks ago
Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a
book called How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
Want to know how to do something big? Ask someone who has done it before! Professor
Bent Flyvbjerg
has spent his career studying
megaprojects.
In 2023, ...
Greater Auckland
By Guest Post
2 weeks ago
Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Werewolf
By ScoopEditor
2 weeks ago
Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to
...
exhALANt
By exhalantblog
2 weeks ago
Handling Democracy.
String-Pulling in the Dark:
For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public.
WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Bowalley Road
2 weeks ago
Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By
in so many word
s I mean the bit where you said,
Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and
...
More Than A Feilding
By David Slack
2 weeks ago
Open Government: The joke ends
The
Open Government Partnership
is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to
co-create regular action plans with civil society
, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an
Independent
...
No Right Turn
By Idiot/Savant
2 weeks ago
An unusual sort of press conference
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the
announcement by Erica Stanford
— on her own, unusually ...
Sapphi’s Substack
By Sapphi
2 weeks ago
National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards.
In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power.
...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago
Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako.
...
Greens
2 weeks ago
Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago
Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago
Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago
Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago
Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago
Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago
Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
Māori Party
3 weeks ago
Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago
Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago
Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago
Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago
Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago
Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago
He poroporoaki ki a Kahurangi Tariana Turia
Uia te pō, rangahaua te pō, whakamāramatia mai he aha tō tango, he aha tō kāwhaki? Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au, kei hea taku rātā whakamarumaru i te au o te pakanga mo te mana motuhake? Au te pō, ngū te pō, ue hā! E te kahurangi māreikura, ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
22 hours ago
New qualification a step forward for diabetes care
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago
New year, new medicines
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this government assumed ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago
Māori excel in New Year Honours 2025
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora e mua - Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead. Māori recipients in the New Year 2025 Honours list show comprehensive dedication to improving communities across the motu that ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago
Stay fire safe this summer in 2025
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago
Final-year Fees Free kicks off 1 January 2025
From 1 January 2025, first-time tertiary learners will have access to a new Fees Free entitlement of up to $12,000 for their final year of provider-based study or final two years of work-based learning, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Targeting funding to the final year of study ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago
Act on family violence and sexual violence over the summer season
“As we head into one of the busiest times of the year for Police, and family violence and sexual violence response services, it’s a good time to remind everyone what to do if they experience violence or are worried about others,” Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago
Be wise around water this summer
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Drive safely this summer
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
New intelligence oversight appointments
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
New housing developments able to progress more quickly
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Appointments to the ENZ board
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
More gangs added to Gangs Act list
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Judicial appointment announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
GDP data highlights importance of growth
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Government boosts support for avian influenza response
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Levelling the playing field for media advertising
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Inspector-General of Defence appointed
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Diverse skills in community trust appointments
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
A busy year in the House
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Beehive
By beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago
Pacific 2025: Vanuatu quake, Tongan and Kanaky shakeups, Trump questions set tone for coming year
Navigating the shared challenges of climate change, geostrategic tensions, political upheaval, disaster recovery and decolonisation plus a 50th birthday party, reports a BenarNews contributor’s analysis.
COMMENTARY:
By Tess Newton Cain
Vanuatu’s devastating earthquake and dramatic political developments in Tonga and New Caledonia at the end of 2024 set the tone ...
Evening Report
By Asia Pacific Report
4 hours ago
From a colonial hill town to Idris Elba’s island masterplan: what do these Sierra Leone developmen...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Milo Gough, Lecturer in History, University of Manchester
An artist’s impression of Idris Elba’s planned eco-city, Sherbro Island City.
Greenfield Planners Sdn Bhd / Sherbro Alliance Partners
Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, is celebrated as a city
founded to resettle freed slaves
in ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
8 hours ago
From a colonial hill town to Idris Elba’s island masterplan: what two Sierra Leone developments a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Milo Gough, Lecturer in History, University of Manchester
An artist’s impression of Idris Elba’s planned eco-city, Sherbro Island City.
Greenfield Planners Sdn Bhd / Sherbro Alliance Partners
Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, is celebrated as a city
founded to resettle freed slaves
in ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
8 hours ago
‘You’ll love it, but you’ll hate it’: Christian Cullen on becoming CTI’s most unlikely sta...
Summer reissue: Former All Black and recent Celebrity Treasure Island castaway Christian Cullen looks back on his life in TV.
First published October 12, 2024.
Every season of Celebrity Treasure Island brings with it a surprise breakout star, and often it’s the person you know the least about or have ...
The Spinoff
By My Life in TV
9 hours ago
Mike Johnson elected speaker of US House as Trump’s Republicans unite behind him
Two Republican opponents switched their votes to support him after more than half an hour of negotiations. ...
Radio NZ – political
9 hours ago
My emotion is my strength – Karen Chhour
“People comment a lot on how emotional I am.”The children’s minister says she’s always been an emotional person. It’s her way of coping with trauma.“Because if you bottle that up it turns into something quite nasty, right? It turns into anger, it turns into frustration, and you start to look ...
Newsroom
By Laura Walters
11 hours ago
Anne Salmond: Hunger Games in the Beehive
Comment:
There are times when fiction anticipates life, and dystopian nightmares become real.Who would have thought that in New Zealand, a relatively wealthy country that was once proudly egalitarian, a version of
The Hunger Games
would play out?That a government would cut thousands of jobs, deny desperate families emergency food ...
Newsroom
By Dame Anne Salmond
11 hours ago
The Secret Diary of .. New Year’s Resolutions
Christopher Luxon
Well, what I’d say to you about my New Year’s resolutions is that this year is going to be better than the last, probably, I mean I should think there’s a good chance of that happening, an even chance, there’s a narrow window, the odds are against us but ...
Newsroom
By Steve Braunias
11 hours ago
‘Grossly misleading to me and to the country’: the Lange-Douglas letters, unearthed
Summer reissue: The meltdown in the relationship between the key players in the fourth Labour government can be charted in an extraordinary exchange of correspondence.
The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please
read our open letter
and
...
The Spinoff
By Toby Manhire
12 hours ago
How many goddamn words should I be saying to my baby?
Summer reissue: I read yet another study about toddlers, screen time and language development, and it sent me off the deep end.
The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please
read our open letter
and
sign up to
...
The Spinoff
By Madeleine Holden
12 hours ago
What it takes to be an Olympian, and why you don’t have it
Summer reissue: This year Tori Peeters competed at the Paris Olympics in the javelin. Ten years ago, Madeleine Chapman thought she might be in the same position. She talks to Peeters about what it takes to go all the way – and mulls her own life decisions in the process.
...
The Spinoff
By Madeleine Chapman
12 hours ago
Remembering Young George, the barber who cut Auckland’s hair forever
Summer reissue: He earned 5c for his first cut in 1955, and $35 for his last in March. Duncan Greive recalls the life of his late barber, ‘Young’ George Dyas, who never stopped snipping.
The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these
...
The Spinoff
By Duncan Greive
12 hours ago
Daily crossword, Saturday 4 January
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Daily crossword, Saturday 4 January
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12 hours ago
Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 4 January
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By Newsroom Puzzles
12 hours ago
From a colonial hill town to Idris Elba’s island masterplan, what can two Sierra Leone development...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Milo Gough, Lecturer in History, University of Manchester
An artist’s impression of Idris Elba’s planned eco-city, Sherbro Island City.
Greenfield Planners Sdn Bhd / Sherbro Alliance Partners
Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, is celebrated as a city
founded to resettle freed slaves
in ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
15 hours ago
‘Suspend Israel ties’ plea to global medical professionals – Auckland hospital protest vigil o...
Asia Pacific Report
The UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, has called on “medical professionals worldwide” to suspend ties with Israel in an act of solidarity with the more than “1000 colleagues of yours” killed in Gaza over the past 14 months. Countless ...
Evening Report
By Asia Pacific Report
16 hours ago
A politician for the people: Dame Tariana Turia, 1944-2025
The co-founder of Te Pāti Māori and architect of Whānau Ora will be remembered as a skilled political tactician who dedicated her life to the wellbeing of Māori, writes Miriama Aoake. Part of the hesitation of entering politics for any sane person is surely compromise. Compromise is essential in the ...
The Spinoff
By Miriama Aoake
23 hours ago
Honouring Kahurangi Tariana Turia:
...
Scoop politics
1 day ago
‘She believed in people’ – Tributes from across political parties for Dame Tariana...
A stern but loving auntie, a woman of unshakeable principle, the very definition of a wāhine toa - those are just a few of the tributes flooding in for Dame Tariana Turia. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago
A year in The House: Law and order, deregulation and repeal
In its first year this Parliament has passed 46 new laws, with another 37 underway. We outline some of the government's major changes. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago
‘Crime against journalism’: Gaza journalists slam PA’s Al Jazeera ban
By Maram Humaid in Deir el-Balah, Gaza
Journalists gathered at Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital expressed outrage and confusion about the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) decision to shut down Al Jazeera’s office in the occupied West Bank. “Shutting down a major outlet like Al Jazeera is a crime against journalism,” said freelance ...
Evening Report
By Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago
Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab: The Palestine tragedy – why it should matter to you and our world
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific.
–
COMMENTARY: By Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab
As 2024 came to a close and we have stepped into a new year overshadowed by ongoing atrocities, have you stopped to consider how these events are reshaping your world? Did you notice how your future ...
Evening Report
By David Robie
1 day ago
Cook Islands ‘not qualified’ for UN membership, says prime minister
By Talaia Mika of the Cook Islands News
The Cook Islands will not pursue membership in the United Nations and the Commonwealth due to its inability to meet the criteria for UN membership and existing relationship with New Zealand, which fulfils Commonwealth membership requirements. Prime Minister Mark Brown has clarified ...
Evening Report
By Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago
Obit: Dame Tariana Turia has died
The former Labour Party MP and Te Pāti Māori co-founder was recognised for her commitment to Māori. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago
Division, abuse and rates pain: Local politics year in review
A rising tide of abuse, escalating costs and the clash between central and local government -
Marika Hill
looks back at local politics in 2024. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago
Dame Tariana Turia has died
The former politician suffered a stroke earlier this week. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago
‘One of the most important species for science’: how the humble fruit fly transformed 4 fields o...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Ary Hoffmann, Professor, School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne
Drosophila melanogaster.
Deep Scope/Shutterstock
The common fruit fly (
Drosophila melanogaster
), more correctly called the vinegar fly, is a frequent visitor to ripe fruit in households around the world, where ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Genius or charlatan? The strange tale of a 19th-century polymath who left a trail of controversy acr...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Alexandra Ludewig, Professor and Head of the School of Humanities, The University of Western Australia
The Burra Burra Mine, 1847.
Samuel Thomas Gill / State Library of NSW
About 20 minutes’ drive north of Geraldton, on Australia’s west coast, lies a hill ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Summer holidays haven’t changed much since ancient Greece and Rome (except maybe the sand wrestlin...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, The University of Melbourne Imagine a summer holiday at a seaside resort, with days spent sunbathing, reading books, exploring nature and chatting with friends. Sounds like it could be anywhere in Australia or ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
The elimination of cervical cancer in NZ is within reach in our lifetime – but not without funding...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Francesca Storey, Deputy Director Te Tātai Hauora o Hine – National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington After committing to a global plan to eliminate cervical cancer, New Zealand is lagging behind Australia and ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Why do some people’s hair and nails grow quicker than mine?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Michelle Moscova, Adjunct Associate Professor, Anatomy, UNSW Sydney
Jari Lobo/Pexels
Throughout recorded history, our hair and nails played an important role in signifying who
we are and our social status
. You could say, they separate the caveman from businessman. It ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Monarch butterflies are in decline in NZ and Australia – they need your help to track where they g...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Myron Zalucki, Professor in Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Kathy Reid
,
CC BY-SA
Monarch butterflies (
Danaus plexippus
) appear to be declining not just in North America but also in Australiasia. Could this be a consequence of global change, including ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Australia needs better ways of storing renewable electricity for later. That’s where ‘flow batte...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Maria Skyllas-Kazacos, Professor Emeritus, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney As more and more solar and wind energy enters Australia’s grid, we will need ways to store it for later. We can store electricity in several different ways, from pumped hydroelectric ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Unlocking the past: how NZ’s first jail tells a complex story of colonial identity
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
View of Kororāreka in the Bay of Islands, 1845, by George Thomas Clayton.
via Wikimedia Commons
,
CC BY
New Zealand’s first jail was a simple affair, just ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Is it important to read the explanatory labels next to artworks? We asked 5 experts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
– By Noor Gillani, Digital Culture Editor
Shutterstock
You’re standing at the centre of an expansive art gallery, overwhelmed by what’s in front of you: panel after panel of stupendous works – densely-written labels affixed next to each piece. These labels may offer ...
Evening Report
By The Conversation
1 day ago
Te Pāti Māori co-founder Dame Tariana Turia dies
Dame Tariana Turia has died aged 80 in Whangaehu overnight.The founder and former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori suffered a stroke earlier this week and was said not to have long left.A press release from Te Ranga Tupua said she had died in the early hours of Friday morning. “A mother ...
Newsroom
By Newsroom Staff
1 day ago
DoC’s big donation drive gets mixed reviews
An $80 million subantarctic pest eradication project is being backed by a high-profile conservation charity targeting wealthy individuals.Since it was established in 2000, NZ Nature Fund has raised $5 million for project-specific conservation work, including $1.2 million over the past year. Projects, often managed by the Department of Conservation (DoC), ...
Newsroom
By David Williams
1 day ago
Rust Belt vs the beltway: Vance’s memoir more relevant than ever
Opinion:
When it was first published in 2016, JD Vance’s
Hillbilly Elegy
was hailed by Britain’s
Sunday Times
as “the political book of the year”.
The Independent
described it as “an insight into Trump and Brexit”.
Hillbilly Elegy
is an autobiographical account of Vance’s life, growing up in a poor, white ...
Newsroom
By Peter Dunne
1 day ago
Positive sports fandom: netball fans show the way
Sport is a place where ‘real’ fans are often assumed to be men. Global research tells us that female fans of live men’s sport often face misogynistic and homophobic environments that include swearing, drunkenness and yelling negative comments and abuse at opponents and referees. In men’s sport, a quick skim through ...
Newsroom
By Toni Bruce and Dr Margaret Henley
1 day ago
Page-turning rural gothic: Ash by Louise Wallace, reviewed
Summer reissue: Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel.
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A famous poet once said to
...
The Spinoff
By Claire Mabey
1 day ago