my partner and I are off to the nz/aust cricket gala dinner tonight. i understand key and abbot will be there… hope i can still eat. tomorrow we are nzc guests for the match. havent been excited about a game for years but I am about this one.
Enjoy, Abbott is getting a few last junkets in before he is rolled for Malcolm. Keen to hear what the food was like having whanau slaving away producing it.
It was snapper… flesh side down in tomato sauce, lots of tomato sauce… fish tasted very fishy but mostly of tomato sauce. “celebrity” Chef should stick to being a celebrity, he wrecked the snapper. I had diplomats at my table who were, well, very diplomatic, but thought it was crap too.
i will have the tranny tuned in from 2pm for what, i think, is the most anticipated nz one dayer in a generation. i promise i will not mention your prediction re the english one dayer if you dont. đ
Abbot was over at John Keys favourite restaurant in Parnell last night. At least I presume they were. There were a hell of a lot of police and police bikes with flashing lights hanging around. Some obvious bodyguards hanging around outside the chocolate shop next door.
Who really wants to run around with all of that fuss?
I remember Helen Clark as PM pulling the dratted 50cc motorcycle out of the garage and pottering off to gym.
My question is – what in the hell are these guys compensating for?
Here is how I could have caused damage to prominent kiwi and aussies on friday night…
Invited to gala by email, waited for tickets. never came. Rang friday and was told could pick them up at sky convention centre at dinner.
arrived on green carpet, was asked for tickets. Told the lovely woman we were picking them up inside. She waved us to the desk. Desk entered name, couldn’t find it. Tried again. Said “just go up to level 5 and they will sort out your table. Went up to level five and mingled and had a drink and snack. Still no record of us so they showed us to a table. Half an hour later official party arrived. Never asked for ID. Clearly there was NO expectation of ANY security risk to either PM…
It is Children’s Day on Sunday with various activities around the country. This is the lead in to National Foster Care Week.
If you have friends who are foster carers please offer them some recognition for their much needed work on New Zealand society’s behalf. (hint: some babysitting so they can enjoy a date night / movie/ child free coffee might be well received but I am sure chocolates, flowers or wine wouldn’t be turned away either đ )
What should I do about white butterfly caterpillars on my cauliflower. They are growing next to the beans so I don’t want to put on anything toxic yo bees.
Can they both lose? We gave up a shitload of privacy with this World Cup used as a lame excuse. My opinion of cricket is that some drunk poms were sitting in a pub, having a competition to invent the most ridiculous game possible. Cricket won, they left the rules on a few beer coasters, but the retarded inbred offspring of a leading Tory family came across them and didn’t realise it was all a joke.
Nothing wrong with Rugby League, or even soccer. Good proletarian pastimes. Corinthians was the first British professional soccer club, allowing workers to play. The biggest club in SĂŁo Paulo is named after them.
Tennis, golf, and rugby union have all been tied up with support for oppressive regimes and racist tours. Fishing is good đ
Yeah cricket is bit dodgy, but no need to be a killjoy. Eden Park is full and the Black Caps are kicking Aussie arse. Key and Abbot are there for the photo ops. Acting like grumpy old men doesn’t help the Left at times like these. It’s a beautiful day in Auckland, wish I was at Eden Park too.
I’m attending a different function to that of the cricket. 16 hours walking around a track in the Relay for Life. (Note the word ‘relay’ for I won’t be walking all of that! We have a team of nine members).
The event is a fundraiser for the local Cancer Society. I will be walking in the Survivor’s lap, being now treated and clear for four and five years from two separate cancers.
There’s not much more important than a big game of cricket, but this is one of them- joining with our community celebrating life.
And celebrating the work of the Cancer Society, the skill of all the medical personnel and the Welfare State.
With regard to ‘fucking cancer’, there has been this month some great news regarding drugs that attack cancer cells by using the immune system. This is one link that leads into this area.
Yep I had a very little cancer, a basal cell carcinoma on my arm (nothing serious) that was treated with this stuff that attracted white blood cells to the area and got them to deal with it. Took about 4 weeks and it went completely. I thought at the time that there must be a similar approach to attack cancers that are more invasive.
There was a discussion here awhile ago about the lack of cicadas this year, I can assure any one interested that there a plenty at the Whangapoua camp ground.
Free Speech Union member Daphna Whitmore speaks with Dr. Bryce Edwards about the causes and manifestations of contemporary political polarisation. Edwards, a well-known political scientist, lecturer in Politics at Victoria University, and long-time supporter of free speech, copped a lot of flak for his coverage of the parliamentary protests which ...
Are our ethical standards in politics dropping? Recently there have been several appointments made by Government and related agencies that have raised questions about conflicts of interest or about whether correct procedures have been followed. However, not all scrutiny and criticisms are welcomed or embraced. Sometimes those that raise questions ...
Last week, Stuff asked Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis about compulsory te reo MÄori in primary schools. And as usual for Labour, he firmly rejected the idea, citing fears of a public backlash. Today, Stats NZ released data from the 2021 General Social Survey, showing us thatfears of that backlash ...
On The Horns Of A Dilemma: The essence of Maori Development Minister Willie Jacksonâs problem is that he can neither withdraw, nor water-down, the Draft Plan for implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without exposing the Labour Government to the most withering political fire from Maori. ...
Spotify has to be one of the most interestingly futile mouse-wheels of 21st century capitalism. Run, run, run goes the Spotify mouse but it never, ever makes a profit. For reasons set out below, it maybe never will. But it wonât be for wont of trying. Reportedly, Spotifyâs music library ...
The Right In Action: Nothing in politics is ever settled. The hands of Historyâs clock can go backwards, as well as forwards.IT REALLY WAS THE BEST OF TIMES. The brief recession of the late-1950s was over. The United States was led by a young, Harvard-educated war hero, with the dashing ...
Is New Zealand suddenly softening its more pro-Western foreign policy â and its tougher line on China? After months of inching towards the West, Jacinda Ardernâs set-piece speeches on her Europe trip last week seem to have been crafted to try and keep observers guessing. At the North Atlantic Treaty ...
Don Franks was interviewed by Dr Toby Boraman in December 2013 about his time working in the militant Ford car plant in the 1970s. In this first installment Don tells of some of the early organising that had been done before it became a site of significant industrial strength. (The ...
Picturesque Illusion: The early-Sixtiesâ picture-book tableau of cultural homogeneity wasnât real. The values cherished by Americaâs and New Zealandâs fundamentalist Christians only appeared to be widely shared. Beneath the veneer of happy conformity, the trials and tribulations of ordinary men and women went on regardless. Occasionally their troubles were overcome by ...
Natter about the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has reached even these distant shores, with much online ink being spilled about what our National Party Opposition intends to ...
Behavioural economics challenges our assumptions about the relevance of rational economic man.Paul Krugman tweeted that âbehavoural econ[omics] is the best thing to happen to the [economics] field in generationsâ. For the last 150 years much economic analysis has been based on homo economicus, an âeconomicâ man who is rational and ...
Thereâs huge public concern about the potential for the wealthy to translate their economic power into political power. In particular, thereâs a strong belief that governments in New Zealand tend to make laws to suit the interests of the rich. Whether itâs concern over Jacinda Ardernâs Government not implementing a ...
Metropolis George Grosz 1918A FEW HOURS AGO, I was sorting through a box of old papers when I came across these lyrics to a song Iâd composed nearly fifty years ago, at the tender age of seventeen! I have decided to share it with the readers of Bowalley Road as proof ...
Last night the government concluded a free trade agreement with the European Union. I'm pretty meh about FTAs, largely because they seem to be a backdoor for pro-corporate irregulation than actual trade now, so I wasn't enthusiastic to begin with (though on the plus side this one does at least ...
Completed reads for June: 4.50 from Paddington, by Agatha ChristieNarrations, by CononThe Vampire (poem), by Rudyard KiplingProgress and Poverty, by Henry GeorgeA Modest Proposal, by Jonathan SwiftThe Horla, by Guy de MaupassantSupernatural Horror in Literature, by H.P. LovecraftTowards Zero, by Agatha ChristieHickory Dickory Death, by Agatha ChristieThe Lady of ...
Looking into a distant mirror The academic publishing process is notoriously stately. Events in the rest of the world happen at their own swift pace as a given article makes its way through the publication pipeline. In the case of Russian climate scepticism: an understudied case, authors Teresa Ashe & Marianna Poberezhskaya submitted their work ...
A ballot for one member's bill was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill (ChlĂśe Swarbrick) Swarbrick's bill implements a number of past recommendations from government agencies and advisory bodies which for some reason (cough big booze ...
No Common Ground: The destructive and punitive impulses aroused by the abortion issue make a rational, let alone a civil, debate virtually impossible. Indeed, the very idea that those on both sides of the abortion issue might be decent and caring individuals, whose opposing positions are based on reasonable and ...
What Happened Next? After the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1954, overturned its earlier validation of âseparate but equalâ schools, hospitals, public washrooms, busses and trains for Blacks and Whites, and told the Topeka Board of Education that segregated education is in breach of the Fourteenth Amendment of ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Neha Pathak When spring creeps around the corner, pediatrician Aaron Bernstein starts counseling his Boston-area patients and their families about extreme heat action plans. “The first heat wave of the year is routinely the most harmful,” says Bernstein, who also directs Harvard’s ...
On 7 December 1941, Imperial Japan launched a war on the American people. It would forever become a date of infamy, said then US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, eightyone years ago.On 24/25 June 2022, conservatives launched their war on 166.24 million American women. That date, also, will forever live on ...
Stuff has a story this morning about the police juking the domestic violence stats, downgrading family violence crimes to "incidents" so they don't have to be investigated (and so Bad Number doesn't Go Up). That's appalling in and of itself, for the human consequences, and for what it says about ...
Today is a Member's Day, and it looks like its back to local legislation for a while. First up is the committee stage of the highly controversial Canterbury Regional Council (NgÄi Tahu Representation) Bill, which would allow unelected appointees (and a disproportionate number of them, at that) on ECan. This ...
Despite Christopher Luxonâs assurances to the contrary, there is no such thing as âsettled lawâ in New Zealand. Apart from the six provisions that are constitutionally entrenched, legislation can always be amended or overturned by a simple majority vote within our single chamber of Parliament. Luxonâs repeated use of the ...
This is a re-post from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. Please see this overview to find links to other reposts from Thinking is Power. ...
What a week, month even of deplorable headlines and hysterics we’ve had as a country – and given 2023 is closing in on us (a mere 6 months until Parties shift some gears into election mode really, not that some of them haven’t started already of course), we need ...
Over the weekend, the US Supreme Court followed through on its threat, and overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively outlawing abortion in much of the United States. People were outraged, in America and around the world. And in Aotearoa, this meant a lot of sudden questions for the National Party, which ...
Nothing is evil in the beginning… #TheRingsOfPowerpic.twitter.com/XffZtqp8Yw— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) June 27, 2022 We have ourselves a new breadcrumb (not a leak!) out of The Rings of Power. It is a fifteen second collection of clips from the original teaser-trailer, together ...
The repeal of Roe vs Wade by the US Supreme Court is part of a broader “New Conservative” agenda financed by reactionary billionaires like Peter Thiel, Elon Mush, the Kochs and Murdochs (and others), organised by agitators like Steve Bannon and Rodger Stone and legally weaponised by Conservative (often Catholic) ...
A Dangerous Leap Backwards: A United States forced to live by the beliefs and values of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries cannot hope to go on leading the âFree Worldâ, or compete economically with nations focused fearlessly on the future. The revocation of Roe v. Wade represents the American republicâs most ...
Now that the right of US women to abortion (formerly protected by Roe vWade) has been abolished, the important role of medication-induced abortion will come even more to the fore. Already, research by the Guttmacher Institute reproductive rights centre shows that over half of US abortions are obtained ...
The government is finally moving to improve transparency over party finances, lowering the donation disclosure threshold to $5,000. This is a good move, though it doesn't go as far as it should. And of course, there's a nasty twist: The rules for larger donations are also changing. Presently parties ...
A rare exposure in Western media of the fact that many residents of the Donbass prefer Russian rule to Ukrainian ultranationalist rule. I don’t know why anyone would take advice from UK’s lame duck Prime Minister and well-known buffoon Boris Johnson seriously, but he ...
Jacinda Ardern will need to deploy every aspect of her starpower if she is to have any hope of rescuing New Zealandâs faltering free trade negotiations with the European Union (EU). The Prime Minister has branded each of her four foreign trips so far this year as âtrade missionsâ â ...
It was sometime in the late 1990s that I first interviewed Alan Webster about New Zealandâs part in a global Values Study. Itâs a fascinating snapshot of values in countries all over the world and I still remember seeing America grouped with many developing countries on a spectrum that had ...
Today marks Matariki, the first “new” New Zealand public holiday since Waitangi Day was added in 1974. Officially the start of the Maori New Year, this is one of those moveable beasties – much like Easter, the dates will vary from year to year, anywhere from mid-June to ...
The takeaways from the just released data are:1. Any estimate of GDP is subject to error.2. The 0.2 percent decrease in the March 2022 quarter is not precise and will be revised, with the mild likelihood that it will eventually be higher.3. New Zealand has no âofficial' definition of a ...
Guided By The Stars? This gift of Matariki, then, what will be made of it? Can a people spiritually unconnected to anything other than their digital devices truly appreciate the relentless progress of gods and heroes across the heavens? The elders of Maoridom must wonder. Can Te Ao MÄori be ...
The internet is a wonderful thing sometimes. Yesterday, I ran across an AI program that generates images via prompt: https://huggingface.co/spaces/dalle-mini/dalle-mini So I have been doing the logical thing with it. Getting it to generate Silmarillion characters in bizarre situations. Morgoth playing golf, and so forth. But one thing I ...
Stashing renewable energy Do a little internet sleuthing on renewable energy via your favorite search engine and you'll find some honest critique and much more dishonest misinformation (aka disinformation) to the effect that photovoltaic and wind generation are fickle energy supplies, over-abundant in some periods and absent in others. There's ...
The current New Zealand First Foundation trial in the High Court continues to show why reform is required when it comes to money in politics. The juicy details coming out each day show private wealth being funnelled into some peculiar schemes in an attempt to circumvent the Electoral Act. Yet ...
As in so many other areas of public policy, attitudes towards overseas investment in New Zealand – and anywhere, for that matter – boil down in the end to ideology. For proponents of the âfree marketâ, there is really no issue. The market, in their view, must never be second-guessed; ...
Selwyn Manning and I discussed the upcoming NATO Leader’s summit (to which NZ Prime Minister Ardern is invited), the rival BRICS Leader’s summit and what they could mean for the Ruso-Ukrainian Wa and beyond. ...
New Zealandâs Most ProfitableâFriendâ Dangerous âThreatâ: This countryâs âFive Eyesâ partners, heedless of the economic consequences for New Zealand, have cajoled and bullied its political class into becoming Sinophobes. They simply do not care that close to 40 percent of this countryâs trade is with China. As far as Washington, London, ...
I have seen some natter around about how The Rings of Power represents the undue and unholy corporatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien. I won’t point out examples, but anyone who has seen YouTube commentary has a pretty good grasp of what I am talking about – the sentiment that ...
2017âs Queenmaker: Five years ago, Winston Petersâ choice ran counter to New Zealandâs informal, No. 8 wire, post-MMP constitution, which, up until 2017, had decreed that the party with the most votes got to supply the next prime minister. Had National not been in power for the previous 9 years, it ...
I've read some bad stuff about long covid recently, and Marc Daalder's recent Newsroom piece about what endemic covid means for Aotearoa got me wondering about whether the government was thinking about it. Mass-disability due to long covid has obvious implications for health and welfare spending, as well as for ...
Last year, a stranded kiwi criticised the MIQ system. Covid Minister Chris Hipkins responded by doxxing and defaming her. Now, he's been forced to apologise for that: Minister Chris Hipkins has admitted he released incorrect and personal information about journalist Charlotte Bellis, after she criticised the managed isolation system. ...
Gil-galad is an Elven Chad Gil-galad is an Elven Chad But Celebrimbor makes them mad Digesting leaks from Amazon Of Isildur and PharazĂ´n. The hair is short? The knives are keen. The beardless face of Dwarven Queen? With meteor and man-not-named The fandom temper is inflamed. Of Annatar ...
From the desk of Keir "Patriotic Duty" Starmer:âWe have robust lines. We do not want to see these strikes to go ahead with the resulting disruption to the public. The government have failed to engage in any negotiations.âHowever, we also must show leadership and to that end, please be reminded ...
Has swapping Scott Morrison for Anthony Albanese made any discernible difference to Australiaâs relations with the US, China, the Pacific and New Zealand ? Not so far. For example: Albanese has asked for more time to âconsiderâ his response to New Zealandâs long running complaints about the so called â501â ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The Biden administration in April 2021 dramatically ratcheted up the country’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions pledge under the Paris target, also known as its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Obama administration in 2014 had announced a commitment to cut U.S. emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels ...
Something I missed: the Central African Republic has abolished the death penalty: The National Assembly of the Central African Republic (CAR) passed a law abolishing the death penalty in the CAR on May 27, 2022. Once CAR President TouadĂŠra promulgates the bill, the CAR will become the 24th abolitionist ...
Walking On Sunshine: Nationalâs Sam Uffindell cantered home in the Tauranga By-Election, but the Outdoors & Freedom Partyâs Sue Grey attracted an ominous level of support.THE RIGHTâS gadfly commentator, Matthew Hooton, summed up the Tauranga by-election in his usual pithy fashion. âTonightâs result is poor for the National Party, catastrophic for ...
Te reo MÄori is Dr. Anaha Hiiniâs life purpose. Raised by his grandparents, Kepa and Maata Hiini, Anaha of NgÄti TarÄwhai, TĹŤhourangi, NgÄti Whakaue descent made a promise at the age of six to his late grandmother, Maata Hiini. âIâve always had a passion for MÄori culture. My first inspiration ...
Dr Carwyn Jonesâ vision is to see Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the law given equal mana. Carwyn who holds a PhD in law and society and currently teaches Ahunga Tikanga (MÄori Laws and Philosophy) at Te WÄnanga o Raukawa after 15 years at Victoria University of Wellington has devoted ...
Jacinda Ardernâs decision to attend the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Spain â but to skip the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda â symbolises the changes she is making to New Zealand foreign policy. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) starts today in ...
The outlook does not look that promising. Forecasting an economy is a mugâs game. The database on which the forecasts are founded is incomplete, out-of-date, and subject to errors, some of which will be revised after the forecasts are published. (No wonder weather-forecasting is easier.) One often has to adopt ...
by Don Franks It seems that almost each day now another ram raid shatters someone’s shop front and loots the premises. Prestigious Queen street is not immune, while attacks on small dairies have long stopped being headline news. Those of us not directly affected are becoming numbed to this form ...
Itâs hard to believe that when we created Sciblogs in 2009, the iPhone was only two years old, being a âYoutuberâ wasnât really a thing and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok didnât exist. But Science blogging was a big thing, particularly in the United States, where a number of scientists had ...
For 13 years, Sciblogs has been a staple in New Zealandâs science-writing landscape. Our bloggers have written about a vast variety of topics from climate change to covid, and from nanotechnology to household gadgets.But sadly, itâs time to close shop. Sciblogs will be shutting down on 30 June.When ...
Radical Options: By allocating the Broadcasting portfolio to the irrepressible, occasionally truculent, leader of Labourâs MÄori caucus, Willie Jackson, the Prime Minister has, at the very least, confirmed that her appointment of Kiri Allan was no one-off. There are many words that could be used to describe Ardernâs placement of ...
A Delicate Juggler? The new Chief Censor, Ms Caroline Flora, owes New Zealand a comprehensive explanation of how she sees, and how she proposes to carry out, her role. Where, for example, is her duty to respect and protect the citizenâs right to freedom of expression positioned in relation to ...
Good grief. Has foreign policy commentary really devolved to the point where our diplomatic effort is being measured by how many overseas trips have been taken by our Foreign Minister? Weird, but apparently so. All this week, a series of media policy wonks have been invidiously comparing how many trips ...
Where we've been Time flies. This coming summer will mark 15 years of Skeptical Science focusing its effort on "traditional" climate science denial. Leaving aside frivolities, we've devoted most of our effort to combatting "serious" denial falling into a handful of broad categories of fairly crisp misconceptions: "radiative physics is wrong,""geophysics is ...
Mercenary army of bogus skeptics on parade Because they're both squarely centered in the Skeptical Science wheelhouse, this week we're highlighting two articles from our government and NGO section, where we collect high-quality articles not originating in academic research but featuring many of the important attributes of journal publications. Our mission ...
In the latest episode of AVFA Selwyn Manning and I discuss the evolution of Latin American politics and macroeconomic policy since the 1970s as well as US-Latin American relations during that time period. We use recent elections and the 2022 Summit of the Americas as anchor points. ...
The Green Party is calling for urgent government action to ensure safe staffing levels in aged residential care facilities, as a new report today shows a strained workforce is under increasing pressure. ...
The Green Party backs the unions and community groups and Human Rights Commission calling for an urgent change in legislation to make pay gap reporting mandatory. ...
Weâre incredibly proud to be celebrating the launch of Whaikaha â Ministry of Disabled People. Whaikaha â Ministry of Disabled People will put disabled people, their whÄnau, carers, and supporters first, removing barriers that existed when there was no single agency. The Ministry will also be the first in Aotearoa to ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to scrap the Acceptable Standards of Health policy that discriminates against disabled migrants after former Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni acknowledged the policy âdisadvantagesâ disabled migrants on TVNZâs Q&A this morning. Â ...
Weâve secured a major free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) â a move thatâs set to boost exports by $1.8 billion per annum, enhance our economic security, and enable New Zealand businesses to grow, by unlocking one of the worldâs biggest and high value markets. The new ...
Our Government is committed to making sure that our health system works for all New Zealanders, no matter who you are or where you live. Transformation of our health system will take time, and the step weâre taking today â establishing Health New Zealand and the MÄori Health Authority â ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to announce its support urgently for a moratorium on deep sea mining under the high seas, after Pacific nations joined forces this week to demand change. ...
Weâre committed to ensuring that there is every opportunity for women and girls to succeed in Aotearoa New Zealand, with fewer barriers. Since coming into Government, weâve worked hard to support women and girls, by improving services like healthcare and tackling issues like the gender pay gap. Here are just ...
Political pressure from the Green Party has pushed the Government to supply free masks to kids and teachers in schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. ...
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and the European Greens have published a joint statement calling for the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement to support climate action, phase out fossil fuel subsidies, cut agriculture emissions, protect human rights, and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to guarantee that it will complete light rail and improve walking, cycling, and bus journeys across Wellington before digging new high-carbon tunnels. ...
The Green Party is urging Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker to commit to stronger ocean protection around Aotearoa and on the high seas while at the United Nations Oceans Conference in Portugal this week. ...
A strong Green voice in Parliament has helped reduce the influence large secret money will have in future elections and finally ensured overseas New Zealanders will retain the right to vote even while stranded by the Pandemic. But, the Government needs to go further to ensure our democracy works for ...
A new poll shows that the majority of people back the Greensâ call on the Government to overhaul the countryâs criminally punitive, anti-evidence drug law. ...
The US Supreme Courtâs decision on abortion is a reminder that we must take nothing for granted in Aotearoa, the Green Party says. âAotearoa should be a place where everyone, no matter where they are from, or who they love, can choose what is right for their body and their ...
Weâre proud to have delivered on our election commitment to establish a public holiday to celebrate Matariki. For the first time this year, New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own. ...
Proposed new legislation to reduce the risk that timber imported into Aotearoa New Zealand is sourced from illegal logging is a positive first step but it should go further, the Green Party says. ...
On World Refugee Day, the Green Party is calling on the new Minister for Immigration, Michael Wood to make up for the support that was not provided to people forced to leave their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...
This week, weâve marked a major milestone in our school upgrade programme. We've supported 4,500 projects across the country for schools to upgrade classrooms, sports facilities, playgrounds and more, so Kiwi kids have the best possible environments to learn in. ...
Weâve delivered on our election commitment to make Matariki a public holiday. For the first time this year, all New Zealanders will have the chance to enjoy a mid-winter holiday that is uniquely our own with family and friends. Try our quiz below, then challenge your whÄnau! To celebrate, weâve ...
The Green Party says the removal of pre-departure testing for arrivals into New Zealand means the Government must step up domestic measures to protect communities most at risk. ...
The long overdue resumption of the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota must be followed by an overhaul of the Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) scheme, says the Green Party. ...
Aotearoa New Zealand is sending a medical team and supplies to Niue to help it respond to new cases of COVID-19, following the opening of its border to quarantine-free travel last week. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Defence Minister Peeni Henare have announced a Medical Assistance Team will head to ...
More than 30,000 small businesses have participated in Government-funded digital training, which supports businesses to take advantage of digital tools and new opportunities through e-commerce, Minister for Small Business Stuart Nash announced today. âOver the last two years, many business owners had no option but to move to digital platforms ...
The latest Crown Accounts show a solid result, despite challenging international conditions â reflecting the Governmentâs careful management of the books. For the eleven months to the end of May 2022 the Operating Balance before Gains and Losses (OBEGAL) deficit was $7.7 billion, $5.5 billion below that forecast in Mayâs ...
New legislation aimed at tackling delays in the family justice system, will help improve the wellbeing of thousands of children caught up in Family Court disputes every year, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. The Family Court (Family Court Associate) Legislation Bill will see a number of Family Court Associates employed ...
New Associate Minister of Local Government Kieran McAnulty is today beginning a series of visits to all of the 55 rural and provincial councils across the motu. âLocal government plays a crucial role in our democratic system, ensuring people have a voice in the leadership of their community,â Kieran McAnulty ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien OâConnor have announced that Aotearoa New Zealand will ban the import of Russian gold. âTodayâs decision further signals Aotearoa New Zealandâs condemnation of Russiaâs flagrant violation of Ukraineâs sovereignty,â Nanaia Mahuta said. âIt underscores our intention of ensuring ...
The rollout of the new nationwide health system continued today with the launch of the countryâs first national public health system to fight disease and promote healthy lives. The Public Health Agency will lead and co-ordinate population and public health policy, strategy and regulation, while the national Public Health ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will lead a trade mission including over 30 New Zealand businesses to Melbourne and Sydney this week as part of the Governmentâs reconnection strategy to support export growth and the return of tourists post COVID-19. While in Sydney, Jacinda Ardern will also give an address to ...
Final stage of Accredited Employer Work Visa goes live today Offshore migrants can apply to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer Partners and dependents of work visa applicants can also apply for visas from today New Zealand has taken another significant step forward in our Reconnecting plan ...
Raising eligibility thresholds will provide a helping hand to more than 90,000 New Zealanders currently denied access to legal aid, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. âThe Government is committed to driving through legislative changes to strengthen our legal aid system. âEnshrining changes in legislation and regulations is necessary to give ...
Mihi Manawa maiea te pĹŤtanga o Matariki Manawa maiea te ariki o te rangi Manawa maiea te mÄtahi o te tau! Thank you for the invitation to join you today. Unfortunately I canât be there in person but I'm pleased that this is an opportunity for young MÄori and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London overnight, and together took a number of steps to strengthen the already close ties between our two countries, and promote our common interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. âThe UK is one of Aotearoa New Zealandâs oldest and closest friends and ...
Building a more secure, sustainable and prosperous future together: Joint Statement â Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Boris Johnson 1. New Zealand and the United Kingdom are old friends and close partners. Our relationship rests on a bedrock of history, shared values, and deep people-to-people links, extending across almost all ...
Director Sir Robin Niblett, distinguished guests. What an honour it is to be back in London, and to be here at Chatham house. This visit represents much for me. The reopening of borders and resumption of travel after a difficult few years. The chance to bring life to the UK ...
Manawa maiea te pĹŤtanga o Matariki Manawa maiea te ariki o te rangi Manawa maiea te mÄtahi o te tau! Introduction Iâm pleased to join you for my second address at the 56th Annual Otago Foreign Policy School. The topic for this year is Space. Given that we are in ...
New Ministry will officially be called Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People Public Service Commission have appointed Geraldine Woods as Interim Chief Executive Office for Disability Issues to be folded into the new Ministry In what is a milestone day, the Government has launched Aotearoa New Zealandâs first Whaikaha ...
Nine new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes have been approved funding. These programmes will provide work-readiness, training and employment initiatives for over 820 rangatahi NEETS (not in education, employment or training), across Aotearoa New Zealand. "He Poutama Rangatahi has proven to be a very successful initiative which supports rangatahi to overcome ...
Minister for MÄori Development Willie Jackson today announced the appointment of Crown representatives, Dr Charlotte Severne and Mr Bernie OâDonnell, to the Steering Committee that will determine the future of the IhumÄtao land. Â âIâm pleased to have made the Crown appointments. Both Dr Severne and Mr OâDonnell have extensive ...
I begin by thanking each of you for accepting appointment to these boards. Youâve each been on the Ministerial committee that established Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora - the MÄori Health Authority and I express my appreciation for the enormous task you collectively ...
Aotearoa New Zealand has reiterated its concerns over the continued erosion of rights, freedom and autonomy in Hong Kong. On the second anniversary of the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says developments in Hong Kong remain a cause for worry. âTwo years ...
The Europol Agreement signed is a significant milestone for New Zealand and the European Unionâs relationship, and reflects our shared principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today. The Prime Minister attended a signature ceremony in Brussels, as part of ...
¡      New nationwide public health system ¡      20 district health boards disestablished and deficits wiped ¡      82,000 health employees directly employed by Health New Zealand ¡      $24 billion health budget this year â up 43% since Labour took office in 2017 â in addition to separate funding for the new ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has announced appointments to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Board of Trustees of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura). âRobyn Baker ONZM has been appointed as the chair of the Teaching Council. She has considerable governance experience and is a ...
European Commission President von der Leyen and Prime Minister of New Zealand Ardern met in Brussels on 30 June 2022. The encounter provided an opportunity to reaffirm that the European Union and Aotearoa New Zealand are longstanding partners with shared democratic values and interests, aligned positions on key international and ...
Export revenue to the EU to grow by up to $1.8 billion annually on full implementation. Duty-free access on 97% of New Zealandâs current exports to the EU; with over 91% being removed the day the FTA comes into force. NZ exporters set to save approx. $110 million per annum ...
57,000 EVs and Hybrid registered in first year of clean car scheme, 56% increase on previous year EVs and Non Plug-in Hybrids made up 20% of new passenger car sales in March/April 2022 The Governmentâs Clean Car Discount Scheme has been a success, with more than 57,000 light-electric and ...
Police Minister Chris Hipkins congratulates the newest Police wing â wing 355 â which graduated today in Porirua. âThese 70 new constables heading for the frontline bring the total number of new officers since Labour took office to 3,303 and is the latest mark of our commitment to the Police ...
Members with a range of governance, financial and technical skills have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Board as part of the shift to strengthen the Bankâs decision-making and accountability arrangements. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021 comes into force on 1 July 2022, with the establishment of ...
New Zealand to remain at Orange as case numbers start to creep up 50 child-size masks made available to every year 4-7 student in New Zealand 20,000-30,000 masks provided a week to all other students and school staff Extra funding to schools and early childhood services to supports better ...
Aotearoa New Zealand will join Ukraineâs case against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which challenges Russiaâs spurious attempt to justify its invasion under international law. Ukraine filed a case at the ICJ in February arguing Russia has falsely claimed genocide had occurred in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as ...
The Government has taken another step forward in its work to eliminate family violence and sexual violence with the announcement today of a new Tangata Whenua Ministerial Advisory Group. A team of 11 experts in whÄnau MÄori wellbeing will provide the Government independent advice on shaping family violence and sexual ...
Te Mahere Whai Mahi WÄhine: Womenâs Employment Action Plan was launched today by Minister for Women Jan Tinetti â with the goal of ensuring New Zealand is a great place for women to work. âThis Government is committed to improving womenâs working lives. The current reality is that women have ...
The food and fibre sector acknowledged its people and leadership at last nightâs 2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, a time to celebrate their passion towards supporting employees by putting their health, welfare and wellbeing first,â Acting Minister of Agriculture Meka Whairiti said. âAward winners were selected from an extraordinary ...
Kia ora koutou katoa. It is a rare thing to have New Zealand represented at a NATO Summit. While we have worked together in theatres such as Afghanistan, and have been partners for just on a decade, today represents an important moment for our Pacific nation.  New Zealand is ...
Te Arataki mĹ te Hauora NgÄkau mĹ ngÄ MĹrehu a TĹŤ me Ĺ rÄtou WhÄnau, The Veteran, Family and WhÄnau Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy Framework âWe ask a lot of those who serve in the military â and we ask a lot of the families and whÄnau who support ...
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio has been appointed by the United Nations and Commonwealth as Aotearoa New Zealandâs advocacy champion for Small Island States. âAotearoa New Zealand as a Pacific country is particularly focused on the interests of Pacific Small Island Developing States in our region. âThis is a ...
An estimated 100,000 low income households will be eligible for increased support to pay their council rates, with changes to the rates rebate scheme taking effect from 1 July. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced increases to both the maximum value of the rates rebate, and the income threshold ...
A long-standing physical activity programme that focuses on outcomes for Maori has been expanded to four new regions with Government investment almost doubled to increase its reach. He Oranga Poutama is managed by a combination of hapĹŤ, iwi, hauora and regional providers. Â An increase in funding from $1.8 million ...
The Government is progressing a preferred option for LGWM which will see Wellingtonâs transport links strengthened with light rail from Wellington Station to Island Bay, a new tunnel through Mt Victoria for public transport, and walking and cycling, and upgrades to improve traffic flow at the Basin Reserve. âWhere previous ...
To Provost Muniz, to the Organisers at the Instituto de Empresa buenas tardes and as we would say in New Zealand, kia ora kotou katoa. To colleagues from the State Department, from Academia, and Civil Society Groups, to all our distinguished guests - kia ora tatou katoa. Itâs a pleasure ...
Inside PNG News Forty-Two Papua New Guinea Defence Force staff have arrived in Kavieng for the national general election operations. New Ireland Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Felix Nebanat said this brought the total number of joint security forces up to 400 in the province. Papua New Guineaâs general election ...
RNZ Pacific The president of New Caledoniaâs Southern Province Sonia Backès has been given a post in Franceâs reshuffled and enlarged 42-member government. The prime minister Elisabeth Borne appointed her as the secretary of citizenship within the interior ministry, which has integrated the overseas ministry. The reshuffle means that the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isaac Gross, Lecturer in Economics, Monash University Shutterstock There was no suprise in the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia lifting interest rates at its July meeting. The only question was by how much. Would it be a âregularâ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes âWord from The Hillâ, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. Michelle and Peter ...
The state-subsidised mainstream media have been found wanting in their coverage of Three Waters governance arrangements.  In this post, reproduced from his blog, BARRIE SAUNDERS exposes failings in the business press’s coverage of the nationalisation and property rights issues and their implications… IF THE GOVERNMENT gets its way, around $100 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Smith, Professor of English, University of Sydney Sydney Theatre Company/Prudence UptonReview: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, directed by Jessica Arthur for the Sydney Theatre Company âYou know when itâs the autumn of 1827, and youâre sitting in a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Lim, Associate Professor in Linguistics, Curtin University Of the worldâs 7,000 languages, it is estimated 50% to 90% will no longer be spoken in the next 50 to 100 years. The majority under threat are languages spoken by Indigenous peoples around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Beard, Associate professor, University of Sydney Shutterstock An unvaccinated toddler from the far north coast of New South Wales is in intensive care after catching respiratory diphtheria (diphtheria of the throat). A six-year-old close family contact is also infected. ...
On his Bowalley Road blog today, Political commentator CHRIS TROTTER says Maori Development Minister Willie Jacksonâs problem is that he can neither withdraw, nor water down, the Draft Plan for implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without exposing the Labour Government to the most withering ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University For the fourth time in 18 months, floodwaters have inundated homes and businesses in Western Sydneyâs Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. Recent torrential rain is obviously the immediate cause. But poor decisions by ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will almost certainly have earned a bounce  upwards  in her partyâs polling after her mission in Europe, where, as a result of her âCaptainâs Callâ, New Zealand has accepted the terms of the EU free trade deal. The outcome is  positive for some sectors, though not ...
The New Zealand Law Society Te KÄhui Ture o Aotearoa has welcomed a new Bill that will work towards reducing delays in our Family Court system. Delays in Family Court cases are one of the biggest issues for families and children who experience prolonged ...
Buzz from the Beehive Amidst a raft of statements that crow about government achievements and/or bray about new initiatives, Point of Order found an oddity:Â a statement from the newly minted Associate Minister of Local Government who intends to meet local government leaders around the country to talk about this, ...
The MindTheGap campaign is applauding New Zealand Cricket for its decision to award equal pay to men and women players. New Zealand Cricket has closed the pay equity gap for womenâs cricketers, with both men and women receiving the same pay for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist), The Conversation The US Supreme Courtâs annual term usually finishes at the end of June, so late June is when the most important decisions are likely to be announced. On June 23, the Court struck down ...
Those entering the line-up for 2022 local body elections in the Wellington region must face the issue at the top of mind for sports club members and parents of children playing school sport. Will they allow sport to become more affordable, or will they ...
Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the 11 months ending 31 May 2022 Please note the next Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand to be released will be for the full year ended 30 June 2022. It is anticipated that ...
T wo travellers returning to New Zealand from tropical getaways have been fined for failing to declare protected corals and shells they brought back into the country. C o rals and some shells found in Pacific Island nations are protected by the Convention ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Murray Goot, Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Relations, Macquarie University What does âthe average Australianâ look like? After every census, this is one of the questions people like to see answered. Average on one measure or on several? If the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niro Kandasamy, Lecturer in History, University of Sydney When Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe conceded ten days ago that the Sri Lankan economy has âcompletely collapsedâ, his words would have come as no surprise to the islandâs 22 million people. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Peetz, Professor Emeritus, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Shutterstock, CC BY-SA Uber Australiaâs historic agreement with the Transport Workersâ Union, on the need to regulate the gig economy, is the first step in fundamental reform of gig work. It suggests ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael David Barbezat, Research fellow, Australian Catholic University Netflix From Kate Bush to Russian villainy, Season Four of Stranger Things revives many parts of the 1980s relevant to our times. Some of these blasts from the past provide welcome nostalgia. Others ...
RNZ Pacific Voting in the Papua New Guinea general election begins today. Voters will elect 118 members of Parliament, including governors of the 22 provinces, from the 3600-plus candidates nominated. There are 6000 polling teams in the 22 provinces. There have also been reports that polling in the capital, Port ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby A man was held by Papua New Guinean security personnel in Hela Province on Saturday after he was found to have in his possession K1.56 million (about NZ$715,000) in cash carried in a suitcase. The man, who police identified as a local, allegedly told ...
COMMENTARY:By Benny Wenda We celebrated the 51st anniversary of the independence declaration of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) at Markas Victoria on July 1, 1971. The declaration, signed by Seth Rumkoren and Jacob Prai â who sadly passed away last month â was a direct rejection of Indonesian colonialism. ...
Analysis - Geoffrey Miller poses the question: Is New Zealand suddenly softening its more pro-Western foreign policy - and its tougher line on China? ...
The SOS cries of under-pressure GPs hit close to home for the country's only MP and practicing doctor, Shane Reti, who suggests three vital steps to help. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne Nico Smit/Unsplash, CC BY Restoring degraded environments, such as by planting trees, is often touted as a solution to the climate crisis. But our new research shows this, ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern does not expect a resolution on 501 deportations from her trip to Australia this week, saying it will take time to work through. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elodie Camprasse, Research fellow in spider crab ecology, Deakin University Julian Finn/Museums VictoriaAm I not pretty enough? This article is part of The Conversationâs series introducing you to little-known Australian animals that need our help. Every winter in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nina Lansbury, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland In Australia, most states have introduced initiatives to provide people who menstruate with free period care products in public schools. The Queensland governmentâs recent announcement of free period care ...
As consumers receive their winter power bills, many are puzzled and some are incensed that they are so high. There is a simple answer: wholesale prices are elevated (they have been  very high for some time and reached $215 a megawatt/hour last week). And thereâs a not-so-simple answer: The latter ...
New guidance published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) today advises most seismically vulnerable buildings are not imminently dangerous and can remain occupied while seismic remediation work is planned, funded and undertaken. ...
Buzz from the Beehive Measures to raise eligibility thresholds to help more than 90,000 New Zealanders that currently are denied access to legal aid were announced today Changes to the Legal Services Regulations 2011 and the Legal Services Act 2011 will give effect to $148.7 million of funding in Budget 2022. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tomas Fitzgerald, Lecturer in Law, Curtin University A brainy machine? Shakey, the worldâs first AI-based robot.SRI International It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that the machines are taking over. What is less clear is whether the machines know that. Recent claims ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brian Robert Cook, Associate professor, The University of Melbourne In the aftermath of destructive floods, we often seek out someone to blame. Common targets are the ânegligent local councilâ, the âgreedy developerâ, âthe builder cutting cornersâ, and the âfoolish home owner.â Unfortunately, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Rae, Associate Professor, English and Theatre Studies, The University of Melbourne Julio Donoso/Sygma via Getty Images I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else ...
Crombie Lockwood today announced a new partnership with Trees for Survival. Trees for Survival is a charitable trust which works with over 150 schools and local communities across New Zealand to grow and plant native trees along waterways and on erosion ...
Labour shortages, supply chain disruption and climate change are expected to be among the topics of discussion on the Prime Minister's Australian trade mission. ...
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions is pleased to support the #NotAnotherWinter campaign, which calls on the Government to take urgent action on pay transparency. The campaign, which was launched by Mind the Gap this week, calls on the Government ...
Aaron Martin, Principal immigration lawyer, New Zealand Immigration Law The Job Check has been introduced to ensure that there are no suitable New Zealanders who can do a job before it is offered to a migrant worker. But it comes with a requirement ...
âNew Zealand needs to make up its mind if it is open for business and remove any barriers to make it easy for people with the skills we need to come here to keep our schools, hospitals, hospitality and tourism ventures running,â says a frustrated ...
Responsible Campers Association has today announced they will seek a change to the law that allows defecation in public if a person believes they would not be observed doing so. Spokesman for the group, Bob Osborne explains; âAt the moment section ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phil R. Cummins, Professor, Geoscience Australia Brendan Esposito/AAP Earthquakes can be especially devastating for developing countries, where competing priorities can stymie resource allocation towards earthquake resilience. Even in tectonically active areas, where tectonic plates meet and scrape against one another, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University ‘Peace for our time’: British prime minister Neville Chamberlain displaying the Anglo-German declaration, known as the Munich Agreement, in September 1938.Wikimedia, CC BY-SA Can historians influence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Glasziou, Professor of Medicine, Bond University Engin Akyurt/Unsplash Since Australiaâs first Omicron wave after borders opened late last year, the pandemic has largely faded from the news and public perception. Gone are the daily briefings with updates on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julianna Santos, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne David Mariuz/AAP About 100 of Australiaâs unique land mammals face extinction. Of the many threats contributing to the crisis, certain fire regimes are among the most pervasive. In a new paper, we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maryanne Macdonald, Lecturer, Indigenous Education, Edith Cowan University Floods, fires and droughts in Australia devastate lives, destroy wildlife and damage property. These disasters also cost billions of dollars through loss of agricultural and economic productivity, environmental vitality and costs to mental health. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meena Jha, Course Coordinator, Information Communications Technology (ICT), CQUniversity Australia Shutterstock While face-to-face classes are back after the COVID disruptions of the past two years, our research suggests at least some Australian universities intend to continue with fully online assessment. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Shutterstock The dream that decentralised finance â or âDeFiâ â can free the monetary system from the clutches of governments and banks has helped launch 20,000 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Esther Suckling, Research Associate, Grattan Institute Mackay Regional Council Australiaâs mining and heavy industry sectors are on the cusp of a revolution as the world shifts to net-zero. Demand for traditional industrial commodities â coal, oil, and gas â is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Jorgensen, Senior lecturer in art history, The University of Western Australia Tracker Nat, holding his hat on the far left, with Paul Hasluck standing next to him, holding Nat’s shield in this picture from 1958. National Archives of Australia. NAA: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Dominey-Howes, Honorary Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Mick Tsikas/AAP Again, thousands of residents in Western Sydney face a life-threatening flood disaster. At the time of writing, evacuation orders spanned southwest and northwest Sydney and ...
By Hayden Donnell, RNZ Mediawatch producer Some said the US Supreme Courtâs controversial ruling on abortion was none of our business, because we donât have the same legal or political set-up, let alone its religious cleavages and cultural conflicts. Opinion leaders in our media didnât agree â and provoked a ...
By Theckla Gunga of Inside PNG Papua New Guineans, your future is in your hands, vote wisely. As the campaign trail wound up its last hours at the weekend, voters were being urged to keep their future in mind when choosing and voting this election starting tomorrow. Alvin Gia Huk, ...
By Stephen Forbes, Local Democracy Reporter Manukau Urban MÄori Authority (MUMA) is welcoming the governmentâs health reforms as an important first step to improving MÄori and Pasifika health in south Auckland. But some in the health sector say the jury is still out on what will be achieved in Counties ...
Power Play - The Prime Minister travelled to Brussels with two speeches prepared - one detailed a historic trade deal, the other why she would leave Brussels without one. ...
Green Party candidate for Wellington's Motukairangi-Eastern Ward Luana Scowcroft is launching her campaign at Hataitai Centre (the former Hataitai Bowling Club) at 7pm tonight, Saturday July 2nd. Luana says that council's short-term thinking, and ...
The government has just announced the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the European Union. One MÄori entity operating in the trade space, NgÄ Toki Whakarururanga, is not celebrating. âWe are aware that New Zealand negotiators genuinely sought ...
Buzz from the Beehive Down here on Earth â more particularly, in IhumÄtao â progress on doing whatever is going to be done to that disputed patch of land has been glacial. Newsroom drew attention to the dawdling in an article in April which noted that MÄori Development Minister Willie ...
PNG Post-Courier Today is officially the last day of campaigning in Papua New Guineaâs 2022 National General Election. Count tomorrow until Monday as rest days, but in politically charged PNG, anything is possible, including illegal last-minute clandestine campaigning. Polling is set to begin Tuesday, July 4, when millions will exercise ...
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk Greenpeace Aotearoa has condemned New Zealand for âstanding byâ while âdeep wounds are inflicted on its Pacific neighboursâ by silence over deep sea mining. Greenpeaceâs seabed mining campaigner James Hita made the critical statement today after a dramatic shift at the UN Oceans conference in Lisbon ...
Buzz from the Beehive Numbers, quotas and ratios have been high in ministerial considerations over the past 24 hours or so. Export revenue to the EU will grow by up to $1.8 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Harris Rimmer, Professor and Director of the Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese admitted at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Public Forum that some Australians may not understand why heâs at a NATO meeting ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Senior Research Fellow, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney When colonial Americans declared their independence on July 4 1776, they rejected more than British rule. They explicitly denounced the British form of government and the unlegislated norms, traditions and conventions ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Emma Larouche, from the University of Canberraâs Media and Communications team discuss the week in politics. They canvass the crossbenchersâ stoush with the Prime Minister over ...
"Aotearoa New Zealand remains concerned by the steady erosion of rights, freedoms, and autonomy that has occurred in Hong Kong as a result," the foreign minister said. ...
my partner and I are off to the nz/aust cricket gala dinner tonight. i understand key and abbot will be there… hope i can still eat. tomorrow we are nzc guests for the match. havent been excited about a game for years but I am about this one.
Enjoy, Abbott is getting a few last junkets in before he is rolled for Malcolm. Keen to hear what the food was like having whanau slaving away producing it.
Ok, ordered the fish…
It was snapper… flesh side down in tomato sauce, lots of tomato sauce… fish tasted very fishy but mostly of tomato sauce. “celebrity” Chef should stick to being a celebrity, he wrecked the snapper. I had diplomats at my table who were, well, very diplomatic, but thought it was crap too.
Have left room. Key is reading his blokey jokey speech and the white male crowd is guffaw in. .. am sitting with aussie foreign ministers employees…
Prawns and white bait entree was fabulous.
hi tracey, hope you have a good time at cricket.
i will have the tranny tuned in from 2pm for what, i think, is the most anticipated nz one dayer in a generation. i promise i will not mention your prediction re the english one dayer if you dont. đ
đ
Abbot was over at John Keys favourite restaurant in Parnell last night. At least I presume they were. There were a hell of a lot of police and police bikes with flashing lights hanging around. Some obvious bodyguards hanging around outside the chocolate shop next door.
Who really wants to run around with all of that fuss?
I remember Helen Clark as PM pulling the dratted 50cc motorcycle out of the garage and pottering off to gym.
My question is – what in the hell are these guys compensating for?
But that is political – please ignore it..
Not the one she put- putted around on in the 70s???
Oh yeah. It didn’t get retired until well into the 00’s.
We are told that terrorism is a real risk in NZ.
Here is how I could have caused damage to prominent kiwi and aussies on friday night…
Invited to gala by email, waited for tickets. never came. Rang friday and was told could pick them up at sky convention centre at dinner.
arrived on green carpet, was asked for tickets. Told the lovely woman we were picking them up inside. She waved us to the desk. Desk entered name, couldn’t find it. Tried again. Said “just go up to level 5 and they will sort out your table. Went up to level five and mingled and had a drink and snack. Still no record of us so they showed us to a table. Half an hour later official party arrived. Never asked for ID. Clearly there was NO expectation of ANY security risk to either PM…
It is Children’s Day on Sunday with various activities around the country. This is the lead in to National Foster Care Week.
If you have friends who are foster carers please offer them some recognition for their much needed work on New Zealand society’s behalf. (hint: some babysitting so they can enjoy a date night / movie/ child free coffee might be well received but I am sure chocolates, flowers or wine wouldn’t be turned away either đ )
What should I do about white butterfly caterpillars on my cauliflower. They are growing next to the beans so I don’t want to put on anything toxic yo bees.
Feed them to the chooks, prevention is best with mosquito netting to keep those buggers off all the brassicas next cycle.
Best way is to squash them by hand.
Read Patricia Grace’s story, Butterflies.
Thinking about Key and flag design and countriesand inglorious history in general. Everything that Eddie Izzard knows on this.
go the nz cricket team.
if yr an ozzie and you know it….
Can they both lose? We gave up a shitload of privacy with this World Cup used as a lame excuse. My opinion of cricket is that some drunk poms were sitting in a pub, having a competition to invent the most ridiculous game possible. Cricket won, they left the rules on a few beer coasters, but the retarded inbred offspring of a leading Tory family came across them and didn’t realise it was all a joke.
So then what about the other useless sports? Tennis, Golf, Rugby,
Nothing wrong with Rugby League, or even soccer. Good proletarian pastimes. Corinthians was the first British professional soccer club, allowing workers to play. The biggest club in SĂŁo Paulo is named after them.
Tennis, golf, and rugby union have all been tied up with support for oppressive regimes and racist tours. Fishing is good đ
Yeah cricket is bit dodgy, but no need to be a killjoy. Eden Park is full and the Black Caps are kicking Aussie arse. Key and Abbot are there for the photo ops. Acting like grumpy old men doesn’t help the Left at times like these. It’s a beautiful day in Auckland, wish I was at Eden Park too.
I’m not acting. I am a grumpy old man.
đ
I will be joining the grumpy old man club soon enough … aarggh
it’s ok…
..it has its’ upsides..
..you stop giving a fuck about what anyone else thinks about ya..
..(that’s one of them..)
I’m attending a different function to that of the cricket. 16 hours walking around a track in the Relay for Life. (Note the word ‘relay’ for I won’t be walking all of that! We have a team of nine members).
The event is a fundraiser for the local Cancer Society. I will be walking in the Survivor’s lap, being now treated and clear for four and five years from two separate cancers.
There’s not much more important than a big game of cricket, but this is one of them- joining with our community celebrating life.
And celebrating the work of the Cancer Society, the skill of all the medical personnel and the Welfare State.
Bless them all!
Good on you Mac1 – hope the sun shines. Enjoy the walk.
Have a good walk and fuck cancer.
Thanks both, Murray and Jenny.
With regard to ‘fucking cancer’, there has been this month some great news regarding drugs that attack cancer cells by using the immune system. This is one link that leads into this area.
http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/01/111531/killing-cancer-through-immune-system
We have a gorgeous day here, to be enjoyed. Life is rich and full and good.
Yep I had a very little cancer, a basal cell carcinoma on my arm (nothing serious) that was treated with this stuff that attracted white blood cells to the area and got them to deal with it. Took about 4 weeks and it went completely. I thought at the time that there must be a similar approach to attack cancers that are more invasive.
Dang I am sure the cricket has taken five years off my life …
Mine too, Mickey đ
A classic game. Thought it was in the bag when we reached 100 but Aussie pulled off some amazing bowling..
There was a discussion here awhile ago about the lack of cicadas this year, I can assure any one interested that there a plenty at the Whangapoua camp ground.
They seem really late this year. Christmas was a lot quieter then usual, but the neighbourhood is humming round here now (North shore, Auck).
Yes, noticed them for the first time about a week ago (North Shore). There seemed to be something missing before. Now I know what it was.