Why Russell Brown is wrong

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 10:58 pm, October 21st, 2010 - 69 comments
Categories: business, capitalism - Tags: russell brown

One of my biggest disappointments of the Hobitt dispute has been watching the way in which Russell Brown has been so quick to take sides against the actors union. Today he was at it again and, as much as I dislike cut and paste posts, I feel there are a few things that need to be corrected. So let’s start from near the start of Russell’s post:

Irish Equity changed that. Not by brinksmanship, boycott, or targeting high-profile productions, but by working out what needed to happen, and working towards it. It lobbied the Irish government for an amendment to competition law to allow collective bargaining — and last month, got that change.

The Screen Actors Guild has no case against the film being made in Ireland, and you can bet that the Irish union will not be attempting any stunts against the production.

NZ Equity might not have much show of persuading the present government to amend the law, but it never tried, even under the arts-friendly Clark government. Even now, it could have gone to Labour under Phil Goff, and stood a very strong chance of such a change becoming Labour policy.

Equity didn’t “not have much show” they had no show. Partly because they only got organised in the last days of the Labour government and partly because industrial relations are a lot more wild west here than they are in Ireland. Essential Russell is saying they should have embarked on a pointless, expensive and doomed to fail political campaign. WTF?

Instead, since its takeover by the Australian Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Equity has been so feckless that it failed to file reports for three years, until it was struck off the register of incorporated societies. New Zealand actors have a decent case for greater power and security in their industry. Their union – and the Australian union that was supposed to bring in a new era of professionalism – has failed them.

The registration was a bit rough but in a similar “crap at legal stuff” vein Peter Jackson has been claiming minimum standards are illegal. And yet Russell hasn’t made a big deal of that lack of “professionalism”. In fact he’s even repeated this bollocks.

Eighteen months ago, Equity refused an offer from the Screen Production and Development Association (Spada) to renegotiate the “Pink Book” code of conduct which covers actors’ pay and conditions and has been untouched since the MEAA moved in. Its precondition for any talks with Spada was that the existing system, which does generally work, be scrapped and replaced with collective agreements.

Yes, the same collective agreements which breach the law. Which is why – although the SAG member alert that signalled the boycott claimed (misleadingly) that it had been called because “the makers of feature film The Hobbit – to be shot in New Zealand next year – have refused to engage performers on union-negotiated agreements” – the actors union and the CTU eventually settled for a discussion with Spada about terms and conditions. The discussion the union refused to have nearly two years ago.

This is disingenuous. Collective agreements would be perfectly legal if producers employed film workers as fixed term and casual employees. The union resistance to negotiating the pink book was based on the fact it is not enforceable and the union wanted something better (hint: “something better” is what unions generally want). But, as I have pointed out in earlier posts, there are workaround ways that a union can negotiate for independent contractors. The producers of the Hobbit refused to do this. In fact they refused to even meet with the union until the ban was brought down.

To be fair to Russell the end result has been SPADA negotiations. That’s because the Hobbit producers successfully beat the union down from its position of wanting a Hobbit contract. I find it a little sickening that Russell uses this as a reason to stick the boot into the union again.

It actually got more farcical this morning when Kelly, in statement headed Facts on Hobbit, said

Following a meeting last week, which included Hon Gerry Brownlee, good progress is being made on developing an industry standard through improving the content and form of the current “Pink Book”.

So the union that has refused for years to renegotiate the Pink Book is … renegotiating the Pink Book? What brilliance.

Once again, the union has been forced to default back to the pink book negotiations. Personally I find Brown’s sarcastic attack on the union for trying to get a better deal for its members and not quite making it is disgraceful.

There were other things wrong with the union’s strategy, if it can be called that. The way the first meeting in Wellington was run was a disgrace – while anyone who turned up and called themselves a performer was allowed to vote in Auckland, the rules were changed in Wellington after the vote had begun to exclude non-Equity members. One actor trying to read a statement from Jackson (who had been refused permission to address the meeting) was shouted down and couldn’t finish.

Russell knows this isn’t true. He made this claim in an earlier post and was corrected by someone who was at the meeting. But he’s repeated it again. And was corrected again. That’s getting very close to knowingly lying.

Most notably, statements from organiser Frances Walsh clearly indicated it was seeking to negotiate a national agreement via The Hobbit (why else talk about wanting to negotiate rules on nudity in a film which features no nudity?) and Robyn Malcolm managed to say in successive sentences to John Campbell that they wanted “a fair deal for New Zealand actors working on the Hobbit”, but an agreement that was “not Hobbit-specific”. I’ve explained before why it would have been unethical for Jackson to put himself in that position.

There’s nothing unusual about using a negotiation with a big employer to create benchmark terms and conditions. It’s called pattern bargaining and it happens in every unionised industry in the country. It doesn’t mean that an agreement is negotiated with one employer that covers all employers in the same industry. In fact there has been no law to allow for such a thing since the awards were ended in 1990. If Peter Jackson had negotiated a deal with actors it would not have, could not have, set a legal precedent. And it certainly wouldn’t be “unethical” – that claim is simply hysterical.

By the time they’d settled for far less – and finally agreed to talk to Spada without showstopping preconditions — the damage had largely been done. Yes, if Ireland gets the gig, it will be because of its more-generous-than-the-others tax breaks. But the film was going to be made in New Zealand. The door for other countries was opened when MEAA executive Simon Whipp authorised the SAG member alert that brought the production to a halt by banning actors from working on it.

Russell’s got a strange thing against Simon Whipp, in a previous post he quoted a whole lot of industry scuttlebutt in a clear attempt to brand him as a troublemaker. I’ve never met Simon in my life, but I’ve also never met an effective union organiser that didn’t have someone calling them a troublemaker. Of course many of them have made “trouble” by simply insisting that workers are treated legally. Like I said, I don’t know Simon but neither does Russell. But unlike Russell I’m in no hurry to abuse the guy without knowing the full story. Nice to see that Russell is acknowledging the tax breaks though. Pity he’s too busy with his anti-union rant to think about the industrial/political/PR ramifications of that simple point.

If Warners thinks the industrial relations environment in New Zealand has become too risky and unpredictable, it has some cause for thinking so.

Risky? Compared to what? Unionised film workforces around the world? To be fair the film industry in NZ is a bit cowboy but that is very much a culture created by employers in that industry. If certainty is what’s wanted I’m sure the Hobbit producers could simply employ all workers as employees and then bask in the certainty, stability and predictability of NZ’s very stable employment law. But they haven’t. Seems a bit odd, no?

Exactly what happened with respect to the boycott supposedly being lifted on Thursday, that’s murky. The union claims to have agreed to the alert being rescinded, but consented to Warners’ request to announce it itself. The producers insist the ban was never lifted. It may be that someone has pulled a swifty on the union here.

Deal was done, boycott was lifted and a joint release was written. Then the producers went back on the deal and attacked the union. See what I mean about the employers creating an unstable environment?

But it was telling that the CTU’s Helen Kelly said on Nightline last night that the Equity meeting had been called for members to discuss “what they wanted in terms of terms and conditions”.

You’re saying that after all this — you still don’t know what you want?

It’s called a reportback meeting. It’s part of the democratic to and fro of unionism. Again I’m a little concerned by how incredulous Russell is when it comes to the union’s (very normal) processes but how credulous he is when it comes to the employers, for example:

It’s also generally not a good sign for a union leader, as Kelly did, to refer to the 1000-plus working people who met and marched in Wellington last night, most of them members of their own guilds and unions, as being in a “lynch mob” mood.

I saw this little protest and it was 150 absolute tops. I doubt many of them were in a guild or union as they were mostly dependant contractors being led by the guy who employs them. Which is not to invalidate their point but it was odd to see workers protesting against work rights. Especially as the industry contractors I know (who would all happily be employees if the law was applied properly) will tell you their biggest work issue is job security. Frankly the whole situation was ugly and I hope I don’t see such a thing again.

None of the other screen guilds have spoken in support of Equity, and they have privately assured both Spada and the government that they are on the side of the producers in this case. (NB: I can’t immediately verify what I’ve been told (by two people), and Writers’ Guild member Dean Parker tells me it’s not true, so I’m happy to withdraw that sentence.)

Again Russell rushes to run anti union gossip and then only backs down (and then only in a qualified manner) when he’s corrected by Parker (who has too much mana for Brown to snidely write off).

Even if the film can be hauled back here – and that’s the state of play – this will have badly damaged relations in the industry. And if the film really is lost, it will damage a lot more than that – the trade union movement included.

Firstly the film hasn’t gone anywhere so “hauled back” is a little hyperbolic. Secondly, the damage to relations in the industry has been lurking under the surface for many years; it’s only with this dispute that the sick culture of the industry has been put in the limelight. And thirdly the trade union movement will be just fine thank you Russell, despite your concern-troll melodrama.

69 comments on “Why Russell Brown is wrong ”

Comments are now closed

Colonial Viper 1

21 October 2010 at 11:06 pm

The CTU and Equity are losing the PR and key messaging battle. Hate to say it, but anytime you have to explain in this kind of detail, no one (hardly anyone) is going to get it. This is bad for the union movement at a time it should be gaining momentum. The comms strategy needs to be tightened up and a game changer looked for.

Key is going to try and look like the bloody hero of course.

Key/Brownlee/Finlayson allied with Jackson/Warner to
– Break the union
– Bash the union movement
– Come out smelling like roses

Key will love his opportunity to hobnob with big time Hollywood execs.

He will add the photos to his ‘When I was PM of NZ’ scrapbook.
- ZeeBop 1.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 8:53 am
  
  I disagree. It looks like the media is making the story worse, even pushing the rightwing alarm bell.
  
  The simple fact is contractors who if roder off the lot at a moment notice could go out and
  get a job in a cafe to make neds meet, so they could take the risk on four years ago, they
  could not now. A contractor who was seeing their homes increase in price, had access to
  cheap credit, could take on the risk side of the contract being offered by Peters.
  
  Now this is not going to go away. Rushing legislation through parliament under urgency,
  without concern any input from recessionary times means the laws we have are fickle and
  inappropriate for recessionary times.
  
  The simple fact is other countries do not rush half arsed into law making, tear up long
  running hard fought for citizen rights, and so are going to be able to assure global
  employers certainty of supply of Labour.
  
  The simple fact is that National and Key are completely clueless, the media has not
  got the depth of understanding, and we will lose as a result of our insipidly slow
  political and media establishment. They’ve spent so long saying no to progress
  that’s all they know how to do.
  
  Contracters cannot feasible promise to take on risks that expose them and their
  families to destitution in the event of a black swan boss sacking them on the spot,
  or worse being left to carry their own medical bills for a work place mishap.
  
  National will lose us the Hobbit and continue to insulate the elites from having
  to change and seize the opportunities of the new economy.
TightyRighty 2

21 October 2010 at 11:07 pm

why russell brown is wrong in a nutshell. He isn’t showing solidarity. Funny, neither is AE, so therefore they are wrong too. But they are conforming with the agenda, so IB will stroke their overly large ego’s and actor penor.
Robert Winter 3

21 October 2010 at 11:24 pm

I read Mr Brown’s comments today carefully, thought of responding, and then thought, why bother? He seems to have bought the Jackson-Government line, for whatever reason. But the issue is complex,not reducible to simple slogans, and will be used mercilessly by the Jackson-Key axis.
- Gosman 3.1
  
  21 October 2010 at 11:35 pm
  
  “Jackson-Key axis”
  
  Of you are so funny. I haven’t had this much fun for ages.
  
  Do you think Jackson and Key have meetings with Tojo and Mussolini to discuss strategy for this axis?
  - Colonial Viper 3.1.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 12:00 am
    
    Its in both Jackson and Key’s interests to break unions and break down workers rights.
  - Maynard J 3.1.2
    
    22 October 2010 at 3:42 am
    
    When George bush talked about the axis of evil do you think it was because he’d caught their leaders talking to Tojo and Mussolini?
    
    Or is it in fact part of normal lexicon, and the amount of fun you haven’t had in ages is born out of ignorance? Because something is bliss…now what was it. Oh who cares. x-factor’s on telly.
Carol 4

21 October 2010 at 11:28 pm

I use to read & like Brown’s column on Public Address, but stopped reading it a few months back. It generally seems MOR, and doesn’t say much I find relevant or enlightening any more, except maybe on some IT, techie issues.
Marty G 5

22 October 2010 at 12:20 am

Russell is the ultimate chardonnay socialist. They’re not actually leftists, they’re elitists and look with as much disdain on people trying to get a better go as the Right.
- pollywog 5.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 9:42 am
  
  …and he can’t handle constructive criticism or robust discussion.
  
  Most of that PA lot think they’re soooo bloody enlightened they don’t even realise it’s just a big ‘ol circle jerk of consensus reality. They don’t want their world view challenged, they just want it reinforced by like minds.
  
  I doubt russell has done a hard days work in his life . Hard news ???…pfffft
  
  Soft in the belly news for failed artists and frustrated intellectuals.
  - Gosman 5.1.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 9:51 am
    
    What is the definition of irony again?
    - pollywog 5.1.1.1
      
      22 October 2010 at 10:51 am
      
      dunno bout irony 🙂
      
      but what’s a word to describe the whole left/right ideological white middle class war thing being played out on line having little or no bearing on what the underclass think or have to do to get by in real life ?
Wgtnsouth 6

22 October 2010 at 12:59 am

“I saw this little protest and it was 150 absolute tops.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6vT4gvmYWg&feature=related
- Colonial Viper 6.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 1:14 am
  
  Yeah its easily several times that number marching. Friends, family, partners all thrown in too.
  
  NZ Equity have been seriously outmaneouvered on the PR front, and the Righties will be rubbing their hands with glee that they have managed to get workers to march against workers.
  
  So much for solidarity.
  
  Bet you that those marching have no idea what the concerns of Equity actually are, nor will they have been given any kind of balanced narrative by say, the managers at WETA. Who is owned by whom again? And who coincidentally also have nothing to lose from the location shoots going offshore.
  - pollywog 6.1.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 8:59 am
    
    Bet you that those marching have no idea what the concerns of Equity actually are…
    
    …and i bet you have no idea what sort of conditions and pay actors get that require holding a big budget film to ransom and try to gouge more money from the producers.
    
    have you ever worked in the industry ?
Adrian 7

22 October 2010 at 5:38 am

In this whole sorry shitfight everybody has forgotten that Guillermo del Toro walked away from the Hobbit because of the fucking STUDIOS. No unions in sight 4 months ago when he said he didn’t think it would even get made anywhere.
millsy 8

22 October 2010 at 6:36 am

All that is wanted is decent wages and conditions, and some sort of job security. Why is it too much for some people?
- pollywog 8.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 9:12 am
  
  Actors wages and conditions are PRETTY FUCKING DECENT as is, especially considering the ‘work’ they do !!!
  
  and the term of engagement is so limited for a film shoot that it barely covers the admin costs to shuffle the paperwork and accomodate actors or crew as employees.
  
  job security in the film industry…WTF ???
  
  Besides, that shit flew out the window back in the 80’s and will probably never return. Jobs for life in any industry with the union backing your negotiations in perpetuity…Dream on.
  
  Its a brave new world out here, survival of the fittest and you’re only as good as your last gig. I may not like it but thats just how it is and i got better things to worry about than some actors wanting a bigger share of the profit without putting up a stake in the film to start with.
  - Vicky32 8.1.1
    
    23 October 2010 at 12:35 am
    
    “Actors wages and conditions are PRETTY FUCKING DECENT as is, especially considering the ‘work’ they do !!!”
    Have you tried acting? It really is work, boring, annoying and terrifying by turns, which is why I haven’t done it for years!
    “Besides, that shit flew out the window back in the 80′s and will probably never return. Jobs for life in any industry”
    No one expects that, but basic job security is a right..
    Deb
Gosman 9

22 October 2010 at 6:36 am

So why hasn’t the Labour Party come out fully in support of the Union position then?

Where’s Phil Goff on this issue?
- millsy 9.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 6:44 am
  
  Why dont you want film workers to have decent wages and conditions, and guaranteed employment, and earn more than minimum wage?
  
  Why do you want slavery in this country.
  
  Go on…ANWSER ME?
  - Gosman 9.1.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 6:47 am
    
    Slavery???
    
    Is this the position you think the Labour Party should take on this issue then, that Peter Jackson was trying to reintroduce slavery?
    - millsy 9.1.1.1
      
      22 October 2010 at 6:55 am
      
      Well he effectively is.
      
      The low wage crap conditions model that Peter jackson wants for our film industry will only wreck living standards in this country, but youre OK with that. You dont mind single mother living in their cars so long as you get a tax cut.
      - Cnr Joe 9.1.1.1.1
        
        22 October 2010 at 7:55 am
        
        mexicans with cell phones – mwcp – y’now, when the LotR were being made here I saw this place as becoming a backlot of hollywood – but no, they don’t have mwcp, they have unions over there, and now Mactional want to change employment for Jackson Inc?
        Take it to Poland, lets get on with our lives
      - pollywog 9.1.1.1.2
        
        22 October 2010 at 10:55 am
        
        I’m gonna echo russell here millsy and say…
        
        ‘you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.’
      - salsy 9.1.1.1.3
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:24 pm
        
        Are you serious? Do you realise the NZAE dont have issues with pay and conditions? Do you actually understand the issue you are commenting on? The left needs bright and brave new minds, wake up people !
Gosman 10

22 October 2010 at 6:45 am

Would anyone on the left care to comment if they think placing a blacklist on the film was a good idea as a negotiating tactic?
- The Voice of Reason 10.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 6:56 am
  
  Yep, it worked. It got the bosses around the table and an offer on improved conditions, so as a tactic it was quite effective. The overall strategy, on the other hand, might have done with some tweaking.
Danyl Mclauchlan 11

22 October 2010 at 7:19 am

the trade union movement will be just fine thank you

I really hope this isn’t what people in the union movement are telling themselves. If the movie goes offshore then the public and the media are going to blame the unions and Helen Kelly will become one of the most hated people in the entire country. How do you think that’s going to benefit the other – very legitimate – industrial relations disputes she’s involved with, all of which require a degree of public support to succeed?
- IrishBill 11.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 7:33 am
  
  So your argument is that because the company has more power and better PR than the union the actors should just suck it up?
  
  And the trade union movement will be fine. It’s been around for over a hundred years and will continue to be around for another hundred. This is a blip in that history and over time the truth will come out. Probably after the government increases the tax break.
- lprent 11.2
  
  22 October 2010 at 8:10 am
  
  Regardless of how this exercise goes, I’d have to say that I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that we shouldn’t be wasting tax breaks on the film industry.
  
  It is quite apparent that SPADA and Jackson are playing a PR game and doing with bad faith. I suspect that they are inflating the whole union issue to strengthen their hand in hunting tax breaks. The question in my mind is why they’re bothering to go through all of this because the amounts of money in settling a agreement with the unionists is piddly. It just reeks like a distraction and a way to put pressure on the government for a better deal.
  
  My question is why? Are they having problems putting an economic case together?
  - Gosman 11.2.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 8:39 am
    
    Did you see Peter Jackson on Television yesterday? The guy looked like he hadn’t slept for days.
    
    This is obviously a very emotional matter for him which he cares about very deeply, (unlike say Helen Kelly it seems).
    
    Either that or he is an incredibly good actor but you would have to be the world’s biggest cynic to think that.
    - lprent 11.2.1.1
      
      22 October 2010 at 8:47 am
      
      Don’t watch too much TV due to lack of time..
      
      But I suspect having to negotiate with Brownlee will do that to you. That is one minister who is a bit light on doing the detail work. It’d be exhausting.
    - Marty G 11.2.1.2
      
      22 October 2010 at 9:17 am
      
      the guy’s got a hell of a lot of money to make on making NZ think the hobbit is going offshore. Follow the money.
  - Carol 11.2.2
    
    22 October 2010 at 9:28 am
    
    Yes, I am coming to question this too (ie tax breaks for overseas movies). More specifically, why is it so important to have Hollywood movies here? Do we need to help Hollywood maintain their dominance when times are uncertain for them too?
    
    Why not put the tax payer money into supporting the NZ industry in other ways, and with other partners? I thought we had a bit of an agreement for making movies with other countries (like South Korea) anyway.
    
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/movies/news/article.cfm?c_id=200&objectid=10356032
    (2005)
    
    New Zealand and South Korea have signed a bilateral arrangement for co-operation between the two countries’ film and television industries.
    
    The agreement was signed today by Prime Minister and Arts Minister Helen Clark and South Korean Culture and Tourism Minister Chung Dong-Chea in Pusan where Helen Clark is attending the Apec leaders’ summit.
    
    I think people should look more closely at the whole industry, locally and internationally, and re-consider the way forward.
    
    Why are so many Kiwis into worshipping Hollywood movies and US pop culture? There’s more going on in the world than that.
Carol 12

22 October 2010 at 7:38 am

The film is not being blacklisted. It is clear where all this is heading, confirmed by Key’s announcement:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4261375/Laws-to-change-to-save-Hobbit

As Gordon Campbell and Mallard said, the Warner’s rep wouldn’t be coming to NZ if the filming location had not been decided.

Key (and English) is pretty certain that Warners will be interested in talking. The Hobbit will not be going offshore. Key is being set up as the person to resolve this and it has been in the interest of all the main players to smear the unions, and make themselves look good.
- Gosman 12.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 8:43 am
  
  Do you believe in any other Conspiracy theories Carol?
  
  Perhaps you’re with Travellerev on 911 being an inside job. Or you might even think the US faked the moon landing.
  
  For your take on this to be true you would require the active collusion of the National Government, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsg, Philippa Boyens, Richard Taylor, and of course Warner Bros.
  
  Do you think that is remotely realistic?
  - Marty G 12.1.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 8:45 am
    
    it doesn’t take collusion – it takes opportunism from independently acting parties.
    
    and you’re a climate change denier, so don’t talk to us about conspiracy theories.
    - Gosman 12.1.1.1
      
      22 October 2010 at 9:14 am
      
      Ummmm… do you have any evidence I deny climate change?
      
      Stop making things up.
      - Marty G 12.1.1.1.1
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:17 am
        
        do you deny climate change?
        
        Gosman 12.1.1.1.1.1
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:26 am
        
        Nope. Never have and, so long as the Science is sound (as it currently is), never will.
        
        lprent 12.1.1.1.1.2
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:41 am
        
        He actually doesn’t. His attitudes tend towards the mitigation side of the response – which tends to indicate that he doesn’t understand the scale of the problem. But I’ve never noticed him as one of the anti-science bunch.
        
        But if you want to argue this, then how about in OpenMike or a more appropriate post?
        
        Note to myself: Why in the hell have I had to expend so much time defending G in the last few days? Tends to point to a lack of clarity in G’s posts about his own attitudes..
        
        Gosman …
        
        22 October 2010 at 10:18 am
        
        Awwww… thanks LP.
        
        So as to remove any temptation of either one of us taking this lovefest further I have decided to voluntarily ban myself from the Standard for a few weeks.
        
        I’ve had an overdose of fun the last two days anyway and don’t think I can take anymore.
        
        lprent …
        
        22 October 2010 at 10:53 am
        
        😈 It is all part of the moderators job to defuse potential assertion flame wars based on irrelevant suppositions about positions…
        
        Maynard J …
        
        23 October 2010 at 3:49 am
        
        Is that because you made a big deal about Kelly being a liar based on a press release, and now the Herald has seen emails that show the exact opposite and that the press release, taken by you as Holy Writ, seems to be a great big fat lie?
Danyl Mclauchlan 13

22 October 2010 at 7:50 am

And the trade union movement will be fine. It’s been around for over a hundred years and will continue to be around for another hundred.

Yeah, and how’s it doing now in terms of membership and influence compared to thirty or forty years ago?
- IrishBill 13.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 7:58 am
  
  What? When it was compulsory to be a member? I wouldn’t want to go back to those days at all. It’s doing better in terms of organisation and influence than it was ten years ago. I don’t think you can claim that taking a hit from the massive aggressive change in employment law in 1990 (which included removing the word “union” from legislation altogether) is a sign that the unions are going to disappear (although a few smaller ones did).
  
  The union movement has adapted to a more democratic voluntary environment pretty well. It was pretty bloody traumatic and required some significant changes to the ways things operated but it was managed and I don’t think they’re going away in a hurry now.
- Marty G 13.2
  
  22 October 2010 at 8:47 am
  
  unionisation rates have risen over the past decade.
  
  It’s strange that your analysis tends to be so simplistic and reactionary when you’re a scientist.
Carol 14

22 October 2010 at 8:01 am

My union has had quite a big increase in membership lately. I think it partly has to do with the supercity, and the need for many contracts to be re-neogtiated. It has taught many people the value of a union. Thanks, Rodney
Francisco Hernandez 15

22 October 2010 at 8:27 am

I’d hate to be saying this because I think Danyl, while being an immensely clever satirist of considerable talent is someone not smart enough to be avoid being duped by the crosby/textor lies of the last election. I see someone like Danyl as having plenty of tactical nous but no indepth strategical thinking.

But. Danyl is right on this issue.

At a time when the left was on the resurgent with a successful Labour Conference, at a time where 25,000 ordinary kiwis marched in support of fairness at works a silly ill-disciplined union has to cause bad PR like this.

From a PR perspective, and I’m sorry to say this. Helen Kelly has fucked up immensely.

We all know what’s going to happen from here on.

Smile and wave Key is going to step in, save the day and claim credit.

I’m not entirely sure why we’re attempting to defend the actions of AE, more and more they’re seemingly like a Militant-Tendency-esque faction of lose cannons (pun intended) that could potentially cause Labour to lose (geddit?) the next election.

catchpa: Bind. As in the CTU and Helen Kelly are caught in a bind.
- Carol 15.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 8:35 am
  
  I don’t think Kelly has f**ked up so much as being out-maneuvered by some pretty slick and wily operators. Kelly comes across to me as pretty straightforward, and aiming to trouble shoot the porblem, using well-used approaches and legal guidelines for dispute negotiation. But while she has been operating in gooid faith, others have been operating in bad faith, with the aim of getting what they want, one way or another.
  - Gosman 15.1.1
    
    22 October 2010 at 8:45 am
    
    By others you mean Peter Jackson.
    
    Did you see the guy on Television last night? He looked tired and upset, like he could see his life work slipping away. Not someone that is secretly working on some sort of ‘evil’ agenda.
    - Kaplan 15.1.1.1
      
      22 October 2010 at 8:57 am
      
      Oh cry me a river. Perhaps he should have negotiated much earlier, you know back before this got in the media, over the fraction of a fraction of a percent of the project budget that it would have taken to resolve this from the start.
      - pollywog 15.1.1.1.1
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:25 am
        
        Just so as i’m up with the play…
        
        Peter Jackson colluded with Simon Whipp to blacklist the movie and draw the govt into increasing the tax breaks while smearing the unions so John Key could step in, save the day and look good as the economy tanks.
        
        is that the current theory ?
        
        …and it wasnt about actors, being manipulated by an ozzy union, to want more money from profit sharing in the financial success of the movie by holding the NZ film industry to ransom ?
        
        sdm 15.1.1.1.1.1
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:40 am
        
        Yup thats the current theory. No doubt the unions will have another theory by the end of the day. How hard is it for them to say “we were wrong”
        
        Carol 15.1.1.1.1.2
        
        22 October 2010 at 9:40 am
        
        No, pollywog, there’s elements of coincidence and opportunism here, and some c**kups, plus probably some collusion along the way. There’s rarely fully orchestrated conspiracies. Things are usually far messier than that.
        
        But I think there have been struggles between major US studios and unions in recent times, with studios being in an uncertain state (the industry is having financial problems generally). Maybe some unions and Warners, though NZ was a good little place to draw the libne in the sand.
        
        The overall uncertain economic and financial climate is like a shadow in the background that has some influence too.
James 16

22 October 2010 at 11:46 am

The Hobbit wasn’t going overseas.

Industrial action happened.

Now it is.

What’s so hard about that equation?

The Actors and Helen Kelly had CONVINCED THEMSELVES it could never go overseas. And as it slowly looks more and more like it might, they want us to swallow this rubbish that it had nothing to do with them?

Give me a break.
Big Dog 17

22 October 2010 at 12:50 pm

I was moved by my comrades, particularly Polynesian, from the SWFU etc, at Parliament.
What Francisco said. Robyn “200K+” Malcolm etc are wet flakes.
It’s sad how some on the left suspend intelligence, and cravenly support any “union” action.
The world is much more complex than simple Manicheanism.
What my hero Jimmy Reid said: “Arthur Scargill’s leadership of the miners’ strike has been a
disgrace. The price to be paid for his folly will be immense. He will
have destroyed the NUM as an effective fighting force within British
trade unionism for the next 20 years. If kamikaze pilots were to form
their own union, Arthur would be an ideal choice for leader.”
A fine credo: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/still-irresistible-a-workingclass-heros-finest-speech-2051285.html
The Workers Party. A bunch of bourgeois students.
Tiger Mountain 18

22 October 2010 at 8:16 pm

Brownie and his attack poodle Craig Ranapia should hang their heads in shame. Public Address System has been allowed to become a film producers bulletin board in recent weeks. The roughest comment I saw went unremarked upon.

One Mr “Deep Red” commenting thus…“And even more unfortunately, unionists could well be viewed in the same light as kiddy-porn smugglers, with the matching egg-stained houses and broken noses to boot. Something I hope doesn’t come to pass.”

The ‘liberal’ PA work from homers true cuddly wuddly politics have been laid bare.
- pollywog 18.1
  
  22 October 2010 at 9:14 pm
  
  Thats the trouble when you’re an expert commentator from the sidelines without ever having played the game.
  
  seriously, what the fuck has RB ever done that’s worth shit except ‘dance about architecture’…PFFFFFTTT once a ligger, always a ligger.
  
  By siding with the moneymen he’s definitely improved his stock with the powerbrokers in the film and TV industry.
  
  That’ll help no end when it comes to blagging your way up the food chain at screen NZ. Can’t be too long before he’s troughing it up large, dishing out funds for Arts and Culture via the Film Commission or NZ on Air.
  
  I’m pickin after the NZ on Air music broadcasting review, they’ll separate music video funding from ‘radio hits’ and look for a panel of experts to decide which acts get to contribute to our musical visual record and our boy brown will be right in there lips at the ready, pursed to suck hard and long on the public tit.
  
  captcha : televisions
  - handle 18.1.1
    
    23 October 2010 at 1:57 pm
    
    Made any movies lately then, or just a sideline loudmouth? The chip on your shoulder about Brown is sad.
    - pollywog 18.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2010 at 2:31 pm
      
      Crawl back up russells arse, there’s a good lad…
      - handle 18.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2010 at 2:43 pm
        
        Smooth. So you haven’t grown up since being one of the few people ever banned from his site.
        
        pollywog 18.1.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2010 at 2:56 pm
        
        shit…what was it i was banned for again ?
  - handle 18.1.2
    
    23 October 2010 at 3:59 pm
    
    Arguing in bad faith and borderline defamation wasn’t it? This site’s moderators should probably take note.
    - pollywog 18.1.2.1
      
      23 October 2010 at 6:12 pm
      
      Nah thats bullshit…Your boy brown just expected all his negroes to be house ones and if not, thought he could tame us street ones.
      
      …honestly, you PA softcocks need to harden up.
    - lprent 18.1.2.2
      
      24 October 2010 at 7:32 am
      
      Moderating, we don’t really care what happens on other sites, just what happens on this one.. Apart from anything else, I have limited time and I don’t spend much time reading comments sections except for here

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kris_b: posted on 24 October 2010 at 6:33 am

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Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Point of OrderBy gadams1000
4 days ago

EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
Skeptical Science
4 days ago

Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
4 days ago

The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
PunditBy Brian Easton
4 days ago

A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
4 days ago

On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
4 days ago

New Zealand has never been closed for business
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
4 days ago

Release: Budget blunder shows Nicola Willis could cut recovery funding
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
Labour Blog
3 hours ago

Further environmental mismanagement on the cards
The Government’s resource management reforms will add to the heavy and ever-growing burden this Government is loading on to our environment. ...
Greens
7 hours ago

Release: RMA changes will be a disaster for environment
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour Blog
8 hours ago

Release: Labour supports urgent changes to emergency management system
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
Labour Blog
8 hours ago

Release: Labour calls for New Zealand to recognise Palestine
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Three strikes law political posturing of worst kind
The Government is bringing back a law that has little evidential backing just to look tough, Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Government cuts unbelievably target child exploitation, violent extremism, ports and airpor...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Three strikes has failed before and will fail again
Resurrecting the archaic three-strikes legislation is an unwelcome return to a failed American-style approach to justice. ...
Greens
1 day ago

Release: Environmental protection vital, not ‘onerous’
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Govt cuts doctors and nurses in hiring freeze
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Fast-track submissions period must be extended
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
Greens
4 days ago

Release: Progress on climate will be undone by Govt
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Release: Dark day for Kiwi kids as a third of Govt cuts affect them
News that 1000 jobs at the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki could go is devastating for future generations of New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Release: Alarm as Government signals further blow to school lunches
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Release: Quick, submit – stop Govt’s dodgy approvals bill
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Government throws coal on the climate crisis fire
The Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Public transport costs to double as National looks at unaffordable roading project instead
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Cost of living in Auckland still not a priority
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Greens look to fast-track submissions on harmful law
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homes
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on media
The action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Landlord Government leaves little hope for renters
The Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Opportunity to build a more sustainable economy
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust past
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environment
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to Government
Tens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention Office
Labour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

CCC issues warning over further climate delay
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Luxon targets are lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt priorities
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Methane target review is dangerous duplication
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled students
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Release: National must take mental health seriously
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwards
The Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cuts
New Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 hours ago

Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
9 hours ago

Overseas decommissioning models considered
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
10 hours ago

Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
10 hours ago

Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Trade relationship with China remains strong
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

$41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Judicial appointments announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Taupō takes pole position
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Government backing mussel spat project
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Government focused on getting people into work
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Inflation coming down, but more work to do
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Elon Musk says ‘disc replacement’ worked for him. But evidence this surgery helps chronic pain i...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 hour ago

The NSW treasurer says a slashed share of GST will cost his state $11.9 billion. But where did he ge...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 hour ago

Anti-gang laws faces heavy criticism at select committee
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 hours ago

PNG’s PM Marape to ‘give hand to his bro’ Albanese on Kokoda Trail
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
3 hours ago

Ministry of Social Development accepts 200 voluntary redundancies – PSA
The Public Service Association says further job cuts are likely. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 hours ago

Many Australians face losing their homes right now. Here’s how the government should help
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

French security forces in Nouméa ahead of two opposing marches today
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
4 hours ago

Just 1 In 6 Oppose ‘Three Strikes’ – Poll
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
Scoop politics
4 hours ago

Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko reveals the frightening talent of Ana Scotney
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
The SpinoffBy Madeleine Chapman
4 hours ago

Curious Kids: who makes the words? Who decides what things like ‘trees’ and ‘shoes’ are call...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

We’re only using a fraction of health workers’ skills. This needs to change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at am Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

Malcolm Evans: A new low in NZ media’s record of bias over Palestine
COMMENTARY: By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
5 hours ago

New Zealand Survey Finds 65 Percent Agree The Economy Is “rigged To Advantage The Rich And Powerfu...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
Scoop politics
5 hours ago

Is Olivia Rodrigo about to announce a New Zealand show? An investigation
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence. Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
6 hours ago

Govt Repeal Of Te Mana O Te Wai Condemning Rural Communities To Unsafe Drinking Water – Greenp...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Scoop politics
6 hours ago

Vastly bigger than the Black Summer: 84 million hectares of northern Australia burned in 2023
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

RMA Changes Welcome, But Must Go Further
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
Scoop politics
6 hours ago

Papua New Guinea: Slow Progress On Reforms And Ongoing Restrictions To Freedom Of Expression
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

Familiar laxity on show in Cyclone Gabrielle findings
Comment: An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
NewsroomBy Sam Sachdeva
7 hours ago

Existing roads could be tolled, officials tell Transport Minister Simeon Brown
Simeon Brown is being encouraged to look at charging for existing roads to relieve pressure on transport funding. ...
Radio NZ – political
7 hours ago

Independent Review And Interim Coverage Rates Highlight Successful Census
Approximately five million people will be represented in 2023 Census data – that’s more than 99 percent of the population. ...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

Is it time for anti-capitalists to embrace shopping? An argument with myself
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies
7 hours ago

The Criminal Bar Association Of New Zealand (CBANZ) Strongly Opposes The Proposed Return Of The Thre...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
Scoop politics
8 hours ago

No clear winner as lobbying to form next Solomon Islands government intensifies
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
8 hours ago

Government reveals first changes to Resource Management Act
Farming, mining and other industrial regulations are being scrapped and altered in a reformed RMA. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Space as a tool for change: Inside the innovation of two/fiftyseven
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond. By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
The SpinoffBy Claire Mabey
9 hours ago

TrueBliss react to their most iconic Y2K Popstars looks
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion. It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
The SpinoffBy Alex Casey
9 hours ago

Would you be happy as a long-term single? The answer may depend on your attachment style
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
10 hours ago

Gone in a puff of smoke: 52,000 sq km of ‘long unburnt’ Australian habitat has vanished in 40 ye...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
10 hours ago

Ecosystems are deeply interconnected – environmental research, policy and management should be too
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
10 hours ago

What if the Reserve Bank itself has been feeding inflation? An economist explains
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
10 hours ago

The cost of being: A frugal charity director with two teens and two houses
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
The SpinoffBy The Cost of Being
10 hours ago

Choice and control: people with disability feel safer when they can select their NDIS providers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
11 hours ago

Government chalks up ‘tough on crime’ point with resurrected three strikes law
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
11 hours ago

Israeli Ambassador To New Zealand’s Unchallenged On TVNZ Q+A Programme, Allowed To Spread Misinfor...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Scoop politics
12 hours ago

Selwyn residents fighting for homes after being told they need to leave them by 2039
And entire community has been told it'll be evicted - but some are feeling stressed and cannot afford to buy anywhere else. ...
Radio NZ – political
12 hours ago

Tax cuts: Finance Minister maintains commitment to no extra borrowing
Nicola Wills says tax cuts will be fully funded through reprioritising money and targeted revenue measures - and won't add to inflation. ...
Radio NZ – political
13 hours ago

End of Life Choice Act: Changes needed in review, say advocates
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Radio NZ – political
14 hours ago

Have gang numbers really ‘skyrocketed’ in recent years?
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand? What’s all this then? A rise in the number of gang ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
14 hours ago

Why Restore Passenger Rail has set its sights on stopping cruise ships
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
14 hours ago

West is best? How we stack up against Australia
Opinion: We’ve kicked the tyres on the perception NZ’s economy is in a parlous state compared to Australia. We take a quick tour of relative trends in GDP, housing markets, labour markets, trade, the fiscal situation, and the outlooks for inflation and interest rates. We find the cyclical positions of ...
NewsroomBy Mike Jones
14 hours ago

Political donor fails in final appeal over Chinese cultural defence
The Supreme Court rejects a bid to argue a Chinese New Zealander convicted of lying to the SFO did so for cultural reasons The post Political donor fails in final appeal over Chinese cultural defence appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Tim Murphy
14 hours ago

From ling to liquidation for New Zealand Coastal Seafoods
A former director of the Australia-listed company is asking tough questions about disclosure as local operations are liquidated The post From ling to liquidation for New Zealand Coastal Seafoods appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Andrew Bevin
14 hours ago

A new kind of city deal
Opinion: Making sure developers, local and central government, and landowners are all on the same page makes sense The post A new kind of city deal appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Dr Eric Crampton
14 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
14 hours ago

Rotorua kuia: ‘I’m disgusted at the investment of my own iwi in a luxury spa’
The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
NewsroomBy Dale Husband
14 hours ago

The de-railing of New Zealand
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
NewsroomBy Sharon Brettkelly
14 hours ago

Daily crossword, Tuesday 23 April
The post Daily crossword, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
14 hours ago

King of backs begins her Black Ferns reign
Black Ferns trailblazer Kendra Cocksedge was on the verge of tears when her young protégé, Hannah King, unassumingly broke the news. Three-time Rugby World Cup winner Cocksedge and Lincoln agriculture student King meet every few weeks over a hot chocolate, in an enduring mentorship that’s spanned years. “Before we even ...
NewsroomBy Suzanne McFadden
14 hours ago

New emergency services radio network plans off-track
A new radio network for emergency responders should already be up and running in Canterbury The post New emergency services radio network plans off-track appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Emma Hatton
14 hours ago

NZ’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters ‘defers’ recognition of Palestine
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News digital political journalist New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is putting off recognition of Palestine as a state, despite opposition Labour’s formal request that he make the move. Peters said diplomatic recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when not if”, but doing so now ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
19 hours ago

Three strikes 'political posturing' with 'grossly unfair results' – opposi...
The opposition has laid into the government's plan to reintroduce a "three strikes" regime, saying it's inequitable and there's very little evidence it works. ...
Radio NZ – political
22 hours ago

High Court reserves decision on Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for Children Karen Chhour
The Crown claims the Tribunal has acted in an unlawful and coercive manner, despite having the authority to summons Karen Chhour. ...
Radio NZ – political
24 hours ago

Elon Musk is mad he’s been ordered to remove Sydney church stabbing videos from X. He’d be more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has ordered social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to remove graphic videos of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney last week from the site. The incident ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Nearly 140 roles proposed to go at Customs and DIA
Nearly 140 roles are proposed to go at Customs and at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), a larger number than PSA announced this afternoon. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

More than coral: the unseen casualties of record-breaking heat on the Great Barrier Reef
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney John Turnbull, CC BY-NC-ND In past bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the southern region has sometimes been spared worst of the bleaching. Not this time. This year’s intense underwater heat has ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

New play The Exact Dimensions of Hell explores the chaos and contradiction of teenage girlhood – a...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Darren Gill/Mackey, Darling & Collaborators The relationship between witchcraft and teenage girls has been the subject of many books, films and television shows. Over time, the traditional image of witch as crone ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Bryce Edwards Analysis – Time for “Fast-Track Watch”
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure ...
Evening ReportBy Bryce Edwards
1 day ago

Far North mayor hits out at government's Māori ward changes
Moko Tepania says the government's plan is 'disheartening' when they are already on the back foot with issues facing the region. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Fast Track Approval Bill: Government watchdogs seek substantial curbs on ministers' powers
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says the role of ministers as decision-makers should be scrapped. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

The UK plans to phase out smoking. What does this new law mean for tobacco control in Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Becky Freeman, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney Andres Siimon/Unsplash There are no silver bullets, magic tricks or secret hacks to solving complex public health problems. Taking on the global tobacco industry and reducing the devastating consequences of ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

We mapped a massive explosion in space, showing how galaxies ‘pollute’ the cosmos
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam B. Watts, Research Associate in galaxy evolution, The University of Western Australia ESO/A. Watts et al., CC BY We breathe oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere every day, but did you know that these gases also float through space, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Watch: Three strikes policy to return with changes, PM announces
The coalition will reintroduce the sentencing law later this year - but it will be slightly different than last time. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Opioids more potent than fentanyl have been detected in Australia. So what are nitazenes?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Nielsen, Professor and Deputy Director, Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University Maxime Bhm/Unsplash A new group of drugs called nitazenes has been detected in Australia. They have been sold as heroin as well as other drugs like ketamine. Concerns ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Two people want to share the job of MP for Higgins. Is it constitutional?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor emerita, University of Sydney Image from Bradlow + Bock campaign Can the job of being a federal member of parliament be shared by two or more persons? Two prospective candidates for the inner-Melbourne federal seat of Higgins, Lucy ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Family law has been overhauled. With the new changes about to kick in, how will they affect children...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Rathus, Senior Lecturer in Law, Griffith University Shutterstock In October 2023, the federal parliament passed major changes to how children’s cases are decided under the Family Law Act, which kick in next month. Among other things, they repeal a ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Archie Moore’s Venice triumph: the sublime kith and kin is simultaneously somber and stirring
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wes Hill, Associate Professor, art history and visual culture, Southern Cross University Archie Moore in kith and kin 2024. Australia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024. Photographer Andrea Rossetti. © the artist. Image courtesy of the artist and The Commercial This article ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Activists defy Israel with Gaza-bound ‘freedom’ flotilla and humanitarian aid
By Salwa Amor in Istanbul Palestine solidarity activists are preparing a flotilla to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, vowing to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory on board the Akdeniz, a seven-deck passenger ship. Currently docked in Istanbul, the ship will carry 800 people from more than ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago

Auditor-General's Submission On The Fast-track Approvals Bill
We’d like your feedback: Our website includes a feedback form. Please tell us if you found our information useful. ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

More Frontline Cuts As Government Goes Soft On Organised Crime
The Government is putting at risk the defences of our land and sea borders against organised crime, and our online defences against child exploitation, terrorism and online crime with cuts to critical frontline roles at Customs and Internal Affairs. ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

Supermarket facial recognition failure: why automated systems must put the human factor first
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Rickerby, Lecturer, School of Product Design, University of Canterbury Getty Images The incident of a woman misidentified by facial recognition technology at a Rotorua supermarket should have come as no surprise. When Foodstuffs North Island announced its intention to trial ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Job cuts: Proposal for 79 roles to go at airports, ports
Workers from teams such as boarder operations, intelligence and compliance service delivery are on the chopping block, PSA says. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a good cry: All of Us Strangers (Disney+) It’s the dreamlike, emotional film that had viewers running from the cinema in floods of tears, and ...
The SpinoffBy New to streaming
1 day ago

Foreign Minister Winston Peters defers recognition of Palestine
The foreign minister says diplomatic recognition of Palestine is a matter of "when not if", but doing so now could impede progress towards a two-state solution. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Watch live: Three strikes policy to return with changes, PM announces
The coalition will reintroduce the sentencing law later this year - but it will be slightly different than last time. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Why Russell Brown is wrong

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