Open mike 16/06/2025
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6:00 am, June 16th, 2025 - 26 comments
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- Peter Thiel is Building an AI Driven Mass Surveillance State
Make no mistake: the United States is constructing the most comprehensive civilian surveillance apparatus in human history. And they're not even trying to hide it anymore. Under the Trump administration's enthusiastic blessing, tech behemoth Palantir Technologies is weaving together the digital breadcrumbs of every American citizen into a single, all-seeing artificial ...12 hours ago - Isn’t It Ironic?
And isn't it ironic?Don't you think?Songwriters: Alanis Morissette, Glen Ballard.Last week, parliament saw the tragic loss of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp, whose untimely death caused grief across the house. Less shocking, although still surprising, was the announcement that Tanya Unkovich, a NZ First MP, had resigned to ...15 hours ago - Butter Economics: The Great Kiwi Rip-Off Exposed
The dairy industry's spin machine has been working overtime lately, desperately trying to convince New Zealanders that paying through the nose for butter is somehow good for us.Media personalities like Ryan Bridge and industry apologists such as Dr Jacqueline Rowarth have been peddling this economic fairy tale with all the ...20 hours ago
- Constraining Fiscal Management
Why Government borrowing is limitedThis column started out to explain how the proposed structural outsourcing of public surgery was partly a consequence of the peculiarities of our fiscal borrowing practices. In summary, the restriction on the government’s debt level means seeking indirect ways to provide the required capital. One way ...1 day ago - AUKUS needs a third pillar: space
AUKUS is reshaping Australia’s strategic future, but its vision is incomplete. While the partnership’s first two pillars focus on submarines and advanced technologies, they rely on an often overlooked domain: space. If AUKUS is to ...1 day ago - Building Australian capability in the era of autonomous warfare
Far from being a prospect for the distant future, the era of autonomous systems on (and off) the battlefield is here. Mass is back in warfare, not through much larger armies, but through growing numbers ...1 day ago
- This is how 10 year olds talk
1. Who said this, and of whom? Occasionally he stumbled over the truth, but hastily picked himself up and hurried on as if nothing had happened.a. Jacinda Ardern, of David Seymourb. Winston Peters, of David Seymourc. Winston Churchill, of Stanley Baldwind. Chris Topher Luxon, of David Seymour2. How old would ...1 day ago - This has to stop
Another day, another crony appointment - this time, of former National candidate (and general racist arsehole) Paul Henry to the board of TVNZ. Coming in the wake of revelations that a member of the PM's science and technology advisory council got their job by sending the prime minister a text ...1 day ago - Australia’s innovation gap threatens national safety, not just economic prosperity
From grey zone coercion to regional surveillance competition, the Indo-Pacific is now in live contest. Yet our national innovation posture is not structured to mitigate emerging risks or leverage strategic possibilities. Innovation is now a ...2 days ago
- National’s Housing Hypocrisy: New Zealand Pays the Price
While Christopher Luxon's National-led government has been busy patting themselves on the back for delivering a whopping 25 state houses in Rotorua that apparently employed 300 people, they've quietly gone and axed another 70 desperately needed state house builds in Porirua East. Because nothing says "caring about ordinary Kiwis" like ...2 days ago
- Agricultural cooperation is in Australia’s and Indonesia’s best interests
Fostering people-to-people links between northern Australia and Indonesia could improve agricultural output in both countries. They share agri-environmental conditions, providing opportunities for enhanced partnership. Such an approach would also progress Australia’s underdeveloped economic ties with ...2 days ago
- Peter Bale, without Bernard Hickey this week, joins Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Jonathan Lyons and...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate.This week’s Hoon featured special guests:author, historian and a former colleague from Reuters, former Tehran bureau ...2 days ago - Australia’s classification system must balance secrecy and usability
In an era of escalating strategic competition, the effectiveness of Australia’s government and national security apparatus hinges on its ability to use information with precision and agility. Yet, the very systems designed to protect sensitive ...2 days ago
- Radio New Zealand Says It Did Nothing Wrong
Hi,Last time I sent you a Webworm, I was on my way to Manchester airport to fly back to the US, as Trump sidestepped Congress to send a barrage of missiles towards Iran. The US Defense Intelligence Agency says Iran’s mission to build a nuclear weapon has only been set ...2 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #26 2025
Open access notables Increased sea-level contribution from northwestern Greenland for models that reproduce observations, Badgeley et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The Greenland Ice Sheet has been thinning over the past several decades and is expected to contribute significantly to sea-level rise over the coming century. Ice ...2 days ago - Digital dai-ichi: with right balance, Japan can shape its hyperscale future
Japan’s digital rise hinges on adopting hyperscale cloud computing without ceding strategic autonomy—a balance it has yet to strike. Japan’s hyperscale strategy must walk a tightrope—balancing the immense benefits of cloud infrastructure with the imperative ...2 days ago
- If language is power, why is Australia going quiet?
In 1992, Paul Keating said, ‘Asia is where our future substantially lies’. Decades later, the rhetoric remains, but the follow-through is still lacking. Despite Australia’s pivot to the Indo-Pacific, our cultural competency is inhibiting our ...2 days ago
- The Terminator
This morning I watched The Terminator. This is the original 1984 Terminator where Arnie plays the villain, because, you know, accent. ...2 days ago - National’s Fossil Fool Fiasco Betrays Climate Commitments
New Zealand’s National-led government has once again proven its reckless disregard for our planet and our international reputation by abandoning the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA), a commitment made in 2021 to phase out fossil fuel production.This incredibly dumb decision, coupled with a $200 million fund to subsidise oil ...2 days ago
- US’s Iran strike may have strengthened Tehran’s nuclear resolve
Donald Trump could be having his Mission Accomplished moment. He said in a nationally televised address Saturday night, ‘Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key ...2 days ago
- Donald Trump’s Arms Push Betrays Global Needs
Donald Trump’s recent insistence that NATO countries increase military spending to 5% of their GDP is a reckless and self-serving manoeuvre that prioritises warmongering over humanity’s pressing needs. This demand, rooted in Trump’s cosy ties with American weapons manufacturers, threatens to divert trillions from critical global challenges like starvation and ...2 days ago
- Mount Isa’s closure is a strategic own goal for Australia
In the words of Billie Eilish, ‘I’m in love with my future… can’t wait to meet her.’ But for Mount Isa and Australia, that future is being quietly dismantled. The closure of Glencore’s copper mine ...3 days ago
- Is Trump Laying the Groundwork for U.S. Invasion of Iran?
The effectiveness of the United States’ recent military actions against Iran’s nuclear facilities have been cast into doubt by a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, revealing that Iran may have relocated much of its enriched uranium stockpile, including approximately 400 kilograms of near-weapons-grade uranium, to undisclosed locations before U.S. ...3 days ago
- NZCTU statement on Takutai Tarsh Kemp
The union movement is sending its love and condolences to the whānau of MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, following the shocking news of her passing. “We are heartbroken for Takutai’s whānau, hapū and iwi, for the people of Tāmaki Makaurau, and for Te Pāti Māori at this sad ...3 days ago - ASPI Defence Conference: Considering combat operations from the Australian homeland
‘We’re having to reconsider Australia as a homeland from which we will conduct combat operations’, the chief of the defence force, Admiral David Johnston, surprised some listeners by saying at ASPI’s annual defence conference on ...3 days ago
- Thursday 26 June
The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died at the age of 50, following a diagnosis of kidney disease. A bill that reintroduces the right of employers to penalise workers for “partial strikes” ‒ such as working to rule or refusing extra duties ‒ passed into law last ...3 days ago
- Honouring Takutai Tarsh Kemp
3 days ago - Wednesday 25 June
RMTU members have started industrial action at Napier Port amid negotiations for better pay for about 185 workers. The draft National Infrastructure Plan is challenging the government to “lift its game” on project planning, saying it has often been “short-term and reactive”. Record numbers of people are chasing a dwindling ...3 days ago
- Tuesday 24 June
About 50 theatre nurses and healthcare assistants at Whangārei Hospital are striking over their ongoing pay dispute with Health New Zealand. Delays in replacing a fire station in Tauranga at “significant” risk of partial collapse in an earthquake are putting people at risk and causing “intolerable” stress for union members. ...3 days ago
- Indo-Pacific contest demands an Australian Silicon Valley
Australia’s path to a sovereign, high-impact defence technology ecosystem will not start with quantum supremacy. It will start with deployable, verifiable systems that meet today’s threats. Against the backdrop of strategic contest in the Indo-Pacific, ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Exonerating Israel, And Demonising Iran
Now that the US and Israel have stopped bombing Iran, Israel can re-focus on its core business of starving children in Gaza, and killing their parents, medical staff, journalists and anyone else who strays across their line of fire. Since Israel shut the UN out of aid delivery, it has ...3 days ago - Beijing’s economic playbook for Taiwan: big carrots and small sticks
Beijing’s approach to economic coercion against Taiwan is less about brute force and more about baiting. While China has long threatened economic punishment to deter what it sees as separatist behaviour, the past several years ...3 days ago
- PSA: Duncan Webb reveals Finance & Expenditure Committee will only allow 30 hour max for RSB ora...
Article link to Webb’s statement: hereQuick Primer on the dangers of the Regulatory Standards Bill Seymour previously told RNZ that the 99.5% of Kiwis who opposed his bill during consultation were bots.“You’re smart enough to know that those 23,000 submissions, 99.5 percent of them, were because somebody figured out how ...3 days ago - The last time I saw Herr von Ribbentrop
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The 22 June strike by the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan risks replacing known quantities—monitored, visible sites—with a dangerous blind spot. Iran’s program may now shift into more inaccessible ...3 days ago
- Climate Change: National cheats the world
Back in 2022, Aotearoa joined the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, a group of countries dedicated to fighting climate change by phasing out fossil fuels. Because our oil and gas ban was only partial, affecting only new offshore exploration, with no phase-out date for existing permits, we were only an ...3 days ago
- Bookshelf: a history of Iran to reach for now
Understanding the unfolding geopolitical drama around Iran requires an understanding of its history. There is perhaps no better English language source for such a review than Abbas Amanat’s Iran: A Modern History, first published in ...3 days ago
- A new paper challenges the consensus on the cost-benefit analysis of community water fluoridation
Bill Osmunson, senior advisor ... 3 days ago- The Strait of Hormuz: what Iran sees as its trump card
In the wake of the US strikes on Iran, focus has shifted to how Tehran will respond. Its options range from direct attacks on US bases to exerting pressure on maritime trade through the Strait ...4 days ago- The Right to Stop Unsafe Work
As workers, we all have a legal right to stop any work that we believe will get us or anyone else hurt If you genuinely believe that you (or anyone else) are facing a serious risk to health and safety from an immediate or imminent hazard, you have a legal ...4 days ago- Joblessness deteriorates while government plays games with homelessness & climate
Complimentary articleSharon Murdoch$170m promised for EV chargers yet to materialise (Newsroom, David Williams)David Williams reports that despite National promising to ‘supercharge’ electric vehicle infrastructure with 10,000 chargers and $170m of investment, outside of Labour’s past allocation, National has set aside $0. In response, Chris Bishop said the promised 10,000 EV ...4 days ago- Australia’s fuel insecurity is not hypothetical
For more than a decade, commentators, analysts and industry have warned Australian governments about fuel vulnerability. Yet little has changed. Despite repeated reviews and rising geopolitical tensions, there has been little concrete action to strengthen ...4 days ago- Why South Korea won’t build the bomb
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Morena, folks, I’ve hit a bit of a wall at the moment, and I need to take a few days off. Before that, one of my favourites, as I’m a pretty nostalgic person, is my old standby of sharing ten social media memories from each of the last ten years ...4 days ago- What China thinks of NZ
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‘Australia is secure when Papua New Guinea is secure, and Papua New Guinea is secure when Australia is secure,’ said Billy Joseph, PNG’s Minister for Defence. It was an important reminder of the closeness of ...4 days ago- Working with Ukraine is how Australia can supercharge defence innovation
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The commitment at the 113th International Labour Organization conference to develop a binding Convention for securing decent work in the platform economy shows how disconnected and out of touch the New Zealand government is when it comes to employment rights. “This decision is a huge step towards establishing internationally recognised ...5 days ago- Keeping the Indo-Pacific onboard with the global anti-spyware movement
Launched in early 2024 by Britain and France, the Pall Mall Process is one of two global initiatives aiming to set norms to prevent the harmful proliferation of commercial spyware. But unless the process becomes ...5 days ago- As the US looks inward, transnational crime prospers
The world is entering a new golden age of transnational crime, and Australia is on its path. While the United States sharpens its focus on border control, fentanyl seizures and immigration crises, its long-standing global ...5 days ago- GDP outlook slashed as fresh cost-of-living shock arrives
Briefly in the news from Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Tuesday, June 24:ANZ economists have slashed their June quarter GDP growth forecast to 0.1% from 0.4% after a range of leading indicators sagged in June, and just ahead of another cost-of-living shock from an oil price ...5 days ago- Climate Adam – Silencing Science: Trump’s War on Our Climate
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Since President Trump took office in January 2025, he's declared war on climate change research. In this video, ...5 days ago- The Political Parties That Rallied Against The Regulatory Standards Bill
131,000 submissions eh? Second highest number in history, after the 300,000 + submissions that opposed the Treaty Principles Bill, eh?1You beaut, Aotearoa New Zealand.We really have to give credit to everyone that has been involved from Emeritus Professor Jane Kelsey, who was possibly the first to sound the warnings in ...5 days ago- Update on Submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill (2)
..NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS…Further to my blogpost yesterday (22 June), I shared my submission on David Seymour’s benighted Regulatory Standards Bill - aka, a sneaky Trojan wooden-horse ‘Corporate Bill of Rights’.Near the end of my text, I wrote:“I would implore Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori to repeal ...5 days ago- Piggy Muldoon Would Be Turning in His Grave
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The US strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities has ended 10 days of uncertainty and signalled a shift in the Middle East’s strategic dynamic. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tempered his rhetoric on ...5 days ago- Making the world a more dangerous place
Like much of the rest of the world, I've been watching in horror for the last week as nuclear-armed, genocidal Israel started a war of choice against Iran, bombing its military facilities and cities, then screaming like a Russian when its victim hit back. And now they've dragged the nuclear-armed ...5 days ago- The mounting arrogance of David Seymour
5 days ago- How Australia should understand Prabowo’s visit to Moscow
In the week when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met counterparts at the G7 summit in Ottawa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto went to St Petersburg to deepen ties with Vladimir Putin. The optics of the two ...5 days ago- A parliamentary purpose?
Rimmer's Regulatory Standards Bill is unpopular, and like his unconstitutional Treaty Principles Bill, has seen a massive outpouring of public opposition. So for the past week, he has been using his platform as deputy prime minister to publicly attack high-profile submitters, with a series of ads calling them "victim of ...5 days ago- Angry Tūī
Warning: Some images may be disturbing. Also, this is a personal rant so please ignore this newsletter if personal notes aren’t of interest. Thanks for your patience.I’m pretty angry today.Yesterday, I was told that I had a “political agenda” when making comments in a political discussion, and it floored me ...6 days ago- Submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill
The NZCTU opposes the Regulatory Standards Bill in the strongest terms. The “principles of responsible regulation” set out in the Bill reflect the marginal and extreme worldview of libertarianism, which prioritises individualism and private property rights above all else. These principles are out of step with the values most New ...6 days ago- Is Chris Luxon the Dumbest Prime Minister Ever?
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The TEU estimate that about 300 jobs are under threat at eight of the 16 polytechs, with restructuring plans expected shortly from two more. Three bus drivers in Tauranga have been assaulted by passengers in just five days, including one driver being punched and strangled for asking a man to ...6 days ago- R&D, too, is a fundamental input for defence capability
Machines alone don’t create an ability to fight a war. Recognising this, the Australian Defence Organisation classifies equipment as just one ‘fundamental input to capability’—alongside such things as people, training and supplies, all of which ...6 days ago- Sometimes You Bomb Iran
Sometimes you get out your B-2s and go bomb IranSometimes you get out your B-2s, it’s all part of god’s planWell, if you want that peace, you can’t be quietWhen there’s a picture of you hanging out on an islandSo you best be getting your B-2s and go bomb IranSong: ...6 days ago- Defence can’t ignore the economy, especially in northern Australia
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2023–24 Defence Industry Account has made clear that the Department of Defence is not just a strategic actor; it’s an economic institution with national and regional influence. But the data ...6 days ago- A housing supply shock in exactly the wrong direction
6 days ago- Luxon gets the China relationship back on track
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If the US really wanted to stop nuclear weapons proliferation in the Middle East, it would have long ago supported the moves to declare the region a nuclear weapon free zone, and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor it. Despite our anti-nuclear credentials, New Zealand has never ...6 days ago- 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #25
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, June 15, 2025 thru Sat, June 21, 2025. Stories we promoted this week, by category: Climate Science and Research (6 articles) Climate Crisis 'Evil Twin' Is Coming for ...6 days ago- America Goes To War
Hi,Just a short note I wanted to send out, and I guess just a place for us to all have a talk and a vent in the comments. I woke up just now, on the day I fly back to the United States, to the news that the US has ...6 days ago - The Strait of Hormuz: what Iran sees as its trump card
- Green Party pays tribute to Takutai Tarsh Kemp
The Green Party has paid tribute to Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp who sadly passed away early this morning. ...3 days ago - Government Sabotages Settlement: Te Pāti Māori Backs Te Whānau-Ā-Apanui
Te Pāti Māori stands in solidarity with Te Whānau-ā-Apanui after revelations the Government is looking to derail their almost completed Treaty settlement. Minister Goldsmith has stated that the Government will not budge on its position that the Crown is sovereign. They are seeking to remove the ‘sovereignty clause’ agreed to ...3 days ago
- Govt abandons Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance
Christopher Luxon’s Government pulling out of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is just the latest sign they care little for the climate crisis or cost of living it’ll exacerbate, says the Green Party. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s $200mill fossil fuel handout in breach of trade agreement
Legal advice commissioned by the Green Party shows the coalition Government’s $200 million “investment” in new gas fields is a clear breach of the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). ...5 days ago
- Release: Minister should fess up on cuts
Simeon Brown needs to be honest about how much more money he expects Health New Zealand to cut from its budget to get back in the black. ...6 days ago - Greens call on Govt to condemn US for attack on Iran
The Green Party is calling on the Government to condemn the United States for its illegal bombing of Iran and inflaming tensions across the Middle East. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s Complicity Puts Aotearoa at Risk: Te Pāti Māori Stands Against Global Military Aggressio...
Te Pāti Māori stands firmly against the rising tide of global military aggression. While the Luxon scrambles to appease Trump and Israel, we choose peace, sovereignty, and an independent foreign policy grounded in justice and truth. More than 56,000 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel over the past 20 months. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt overreach removes power from local councils
Ministers will now be able to override the decisions of councils and locally elected officials. ...2 weeks ago
- ECE funding review must centre tamariki
The Government’s review of Early Childhood Education funding, announced today, is a clear and appalling reflection of its priorities, with a ministerial group being directed to balance “quality and affordability for services”. ...2 weeks ago
- ERA changes hurt workers, pander to big business
The Green Party says proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act announced today by the Government will further undermine workers’ rights while pandering to big business. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt Bill strips vital job protections from workers
The Employer Relations Amendment Bill will make work even less secure for Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government is full of it on homelessness
The Government continues to deny its policies are contributing to homelessness in New Zealand, despite being told they are. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt’s private hospital contracts little more than Band-Aid
The Government’s directive to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts to perform elective surgeries is yet another step down the path of privatisation in our healthcare system. ...2 weeks ago
- Sick Leave is a Right, Not a Reward- Ngarewa-Packer
Te Pāti Māori is calling out the Government’s proposed changes to sick leave entitlements as a cruel step backwards that punishes low-income, part-time, single parents and essential workers. We staunchly support the concerns raised by PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, that this move will disproportionately harm wāhine, who are most ...2 weeks ago
- Greens show Willis’ fiscal straight-jacket is junk, validate case for strong public investment
The Green Party has released its fiscal strategy, demonstrating how we can and must invest in the real-world needs of our country, planet and people. ...2 weeks ago
- Concern over signs Govt will reduce sick leave for workers
The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to stand up for workers’ rights for once and rule out reducing sick leave entitlements. ...2 weeks ago
- Out of Sight, Out of Mana- Rotorua Lakes Council’s Callous Attack on Homeless Whānau
Te Pāti Māori Co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi, has slammed the Rotorua Lakes Council’s treatment of homeless whānau as “inhumane and disgraceful,” following the forced police removal of people sleeping outside the Salvation Army on Amohia Street yesterday. “Our most vulnerable whānau were woken by police, trespassed like ...2 weeks ago
- Biodiversity credit won’t fix damage done by Luxon Govt
The Green Party says the Government’s newly announced Biodiversity Credit scheme is a tiny positive that doesn’t undo the biodiversity harm caused by the Luxon Government. ...2 weeks ago
- New report confirms Oranga Tamariki is failing tamariki and Government is failing Māori
A new report, ‘Outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori and their whānau in the oranga tamariki system 2023/24,’ has confirmed that Oranga Tamariki is severely failing our most vulnerable Māori youth. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: PM must stop changes further failing children
Today’s damning report on Oranga Tamariki shows Māori children are being left with little chance of success, or even survival, after their experiences in the state care system, and Minister for Children Karen Chhour is making it worse. ...3 weeks ago
- Government rightfully sued over illegal climate ‘plan’
Last week, world-leading climate scientists called out the Government’s approach to agricultural emissions. This week, climate lawyers have sued the Government because its Emissions Reductions Plans do not add up. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Changes to stalking Bill important step for women’s safety
Parliament today took an important step to improve women’s safety with the Government moving closer to Labour’s position on how stalking should be defined in law. ...3 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Demands Safe Passage of Madleen to Gaza
Te Pāti Māori condemns the Israeli navy’s armed interception of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel carrying food, medical supplies, and international activists to Gaza, including Greta Thunberg. Communications of the Madleen have been cut, and there is no knowing if the crew are safe and unharmed. This is the ...3 weeks ago
- Greens call for safe passage of Madleen and Government to sanction Israel
The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel on course to Gaza, following the Freedom Flotilla being seized by the Israeli Military and urging the New Zealand Government to sanction Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestine. ...3 weeks ago
- Rich get much richer, driving inequality and poverty
The 2025 NBR Rich List makes immediately obvious the need for a fair tax system, says the Green Party. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Manawatū Gorge replacement opens toll-free
Thanks to a successful community-led campaign backed by Labour, Lower North Island locals are today celebrating the toll-free opening of Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway. ...3 weeks ago
- Indonesia Press Remarks – Remarks to media alongside Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono
Good Morning. It is a pleasure to be in Jakarta again today. Indonesia is an absolute priority for the New Zealand government, which is why we have now visited here four times since re-taking office as New Zealand Foreign Minister in late 2023. Indonesia is one of New Zealand’s oldest friends ...2 weeks ago - Foreign Minister visit strengthens ties with Indonesia
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ visit to Indonesia today has secured tangible progress in New Zealand’s relationship with Southeast Asia’s most populous nation. “Indonesia is an indispensable partner for New Zealand,” Mr Peters says. “Demonstrating our commitment to the relationship, this is our fourth visit to Indonesia in the past 18 ...2 weeks ago
- Joint Statement: By the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Indonesia and New Zealand at the 12th J...
His Excellency Sugiono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, convened the 12th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) on 13th June 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Ministers welcomed meeting in person, underscoring the importance ...2 weeks ago
- New modular units will expand bed capacity during hospital upgrades
At least four new rapidly deployable relocatable inpatient units will be rolled out across the country to ensure hospitals can continue delivering care to patients while major infrastructure projects are underway, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “These new inpatient units – part of the Government’s $1 billion Budget 2025 investment ...2 weeks ago
- Skilled trades on fast track to residence
The Government is tackling talent shortages in manufacturing and boosting New Zealand’s economic recovery by fast-tracking residency for skilled tradespeople. “We know how important skilled workers are to the resilience of the manufacturing sector. When we don’t have enough people to fill these roles, productivity slows, business growth stalls and the ...2 weeks ago
- High Court Associate Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Liz Gellert as an Associate Judge of the High Court. Associate Judge Gellert graduated from the University of Auckland in 2003 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts. She was a law clerk with David Williams KC before ...2 weeks ago
- $33 million into more classrooms for Central North Island Schools
The Government is delivering 32 more safe, warm and dry classrooms and a major school redevelopment for Kiwi kids living in the Central North Island. “As communities continue to grow, we remain committed to future-proofing our education system so parents have certainty about where to send their child to school. ...2 weeks ago
- Supercharging residential solar power generation
The Government is expanding the permitted voltage range for electricity networks, so Kiwis with solar panels can send more power back to the grid. Changes are being made to clarify that a building consent is not needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing buildings. Councils will be required to ...2 weeks ago
- Successful childhood immunisation programme delivering results
A successful programme to help Māori health providers lift childhood immunisation rates will be renewed, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. "The Immunising our Tamariki programme, originally launched in 2023 by Hon Dr Shane Reti, invested $50 million in Māori health providers to deliver targeted, community-based immunisation outreach. It aims to ...2 weeks ago
- Stronger forestry ties with India driving export growth
Forestry, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay, today announced at the Fieldays Forestry Hub, both inbound and outbound forestry trade missions with India this year, aimed at strengthening trade links, deepening industry ties, and unlocking greater value for both countries’ forestry and wood processing sectors. “India is one of the ...2 weeks ago
- Judicial Conduct Panel to inquire into Judge’s conduct
A Judicial Conduct Panel will inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken, Acting Attorney-General Paul Goldsmith says. “Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct at the Northern Club on 22 November 2024 was the subject of a preliminary examination by the Judicial Conduct Commissioner. “The ...2 weeks ago
- Prime Minister to visit China and Europe
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to China and Europe next week. He will be joined in Shanghai and Beijing with a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders. “China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner and a vital part of our economic story,” Mr Luxon says. The visit will focus on ...2 weeks ago
- Backing New Zealand’s native forest champions
Forestry Minister Todd McClay today congratulated the winners of the inaugural Growing Native Forests Champions Awards for driving real progress in native forest establishment and land use innovation. “This is what good land management looks like — native forests that support both the environment and the rural economy,” Mr McClay ...2 weeks ago
- Operation Gallant Phoenix deployment extended
New Zealand has extended its commitment the Operation Gallant Phoenix multinational intelligence mission in Jordan, the Government announced today. The deployment of up to 10 New Zealand Defence Force and Police personnel has been extended for two years until June 2027. “This operation is essential to our commitment to a ...2 weeks ago
- New and improved radiology services for Auckland City Hospital
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced funding for the first stage of a major project to upgrade and expand interventional radiology services at Auckland City Hospital. “This project will significantly improve access to radiology services for patients across Auckland and beyond,” Mr Brown says. “A $41.2 million investment will ...2 weeks ago
- Wool carpets for state houses a win-win
The return of wool carpets to state homes has been welcomed by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson. State housing agency Kāinga Ora announced today that from next month, a new supplier agreement will deliver woollen carpets for the fit-out of new state homes. “The ...2 weeks ago
- Government backs voluntary nature credits
The Government is supporting the expansion of a voluntary credits nature market through the running of pilot projects across New Zealand. Establishing a market that is durable, measurable and transparent will help farmers, landowners, iwi, and conservation groups unlock new income streams for looking after nature on their land, Associate ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand food and fibre exports on track to break new records
Farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and primary processors are driving New Zealand’s economic recovery with export revenue on track to surpass $60 billion for the first time, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced today at Fieldays. “The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report forecasts export earnings of ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand hits digital economy milestone
A key milestone in the push for a more connected digital economy has been reached, with over one million businesses now registered with a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN), Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says. “The NZBN is a simple idea with a big impact. It gives each ...2 weeks ago
- Double-digit growth for aquaculture exports
New Zealand’s aquaculture sector has experienced double-digit growth in export revenue over the past year, sending a clear signal that more is to come from the enormously promising sector, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The forecast export results were released today as part of the latest Situation and ...2 weeks ago
- Elective boost delivers over 9,500 additional procedures so far
More than 9,500 additional procedures have now been delivered as part of the Government’s elective boost, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This is what putting patients first looks like. We are focused on increasing delivery of elective treatments – across both public and private hospitals – to reduce wait times ...2 weeks ago
- Foreign Minister strengthens relationship with Italy
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has concluded a constructive visit to Italy, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations. Mr Peters and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met in Rome overnight and confirmed the strength of the bilateral relationship that New Zealand and Italy share. “New Zealand and Italy are long-standing ...2 weeks ago
- Partnership approach to FMD signed and sealed
A new agreement between the Government and key livestock industry groups marks a major milestone in New Zealand’s readiness for a potential foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “The Foot and Mouth Disease Operational Agreement confirms how Government and industry will jointly prepare for, ...2 weeks ago
- Public consultation begins on legal aid review
Public consultation begins today aimed at improving the legal aid scheme for those who cannot afford advice and representation, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We have a duty to ensure all New Zealanders have access to justice by means of a fair and open process. “To do so, we need ...2 weeks ago
- Solar on Farms: Unlocking farm cost savings
Energy Minister Simon Watts has announced the Government’s new Solar on Farms initiative, which will support farmers in taking the next step towards installing solar and battery systems, helping them reduce energy costs, increase on-farm resilience, and allow farmers to gain greater control over their power use, leading to increased ...3 weeks ago
- New Zealand Grass-Fed certification to take on global competitors
New Zealand is raising its game on the global stage with a new Grass-Fed certification scheme to help our red meat and dairy producers go head-to-head with competitors in premium international markets, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today at Fieldays. “International consumers are increasingly willing ...3 weeks ago
- Innovative pasture project to drive farmgate returns
The Government is backing a $17 million partnership with farmers to boost productivity, profitability, and sustainability by identifying the most resilient, high-performing pastures for New Zealand conditions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today at Fieldays. Minister McClay confirmed the Government will invest $8.269 million in the Resilient Pastures project through ...3 weeks ago
- Radiology backlog cleared at Taranaki Base Hospital
Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the clearance of a significant radiology backlog at Taranaki Base Hospital, calling it a practical outcome that puts patients first. “In March, more than 6,000 x-ray reports were sitting unprocessed at Taranaki Base Hospital. That was causing unacceptable delays for patients needing diagnosis and ...3 weeks ago
- Saying yes to more housing
City-shaping changes are coming to New Zealand’s largest city, ensuring that Auckland can fully harness the economic growth benefits of the new City Rail Link, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill (the Bill) has been ...3 weeks ago
- Primary Sector-Government partnership to boost rural health and resilience
The Government is stepping up support for rural New Zealand with a $4 million Rural Wellbeing Fund to expand investment in community-based initiatives, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced today at Fieldays. “The establishment of this fund is a result of advocacy by Federated Farmers Chair, Wayne Langford, who ...3 weeks ago
- Applications open for $30 million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund
Applications have opened for a $30 million fund for projects that will enhance the resilience of New Zealand’s coastal shipping connections and help boost economic growth, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced. The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will ...3 weeks ago
- Foreign Minister focuses on Pacific resilience during visit to France
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has taken part in two major international events in Nice, France this week, focused on Pacific resilience, prosperity and security. The sixth Pacific-France Summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, took place in Nice overnight. “The Summit brought together Pacific countries for discussions with France on ...3 weeks ago
- NZ places travel ban on extremist Israeli politicians
New Zealand has joined Australia, Canada, the UK and Norway in placing travel bans on two extremist Israeli politicians, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. The bans will prevent Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from travelling to New Zealand. “Our action today is not against ...3 weeks ago
- 6th Pacific-France Summit – Intervention by New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs
6th Pacific-France Summit Intervention by New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters Nice, France, Tuesday 10 June 2025 Thank you, President Macron, for convening this meeting today, the sixth Pacific-France Summit. We were privileged to have also been at the second Pacific-France Summit, during the Presidency of ...3 weeks ago
- Tourism Growth Roadmap speech to Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA)
Tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you for the warm welcome. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to MEETINGS 2025. First, I would like to acknowledge Mayor Wayne Brown attending MEETINGS 2025 today and a special acknowledgment to Ngāti Whatua Orakei for their pōwhiri and welcome. I would also like ...3 weeks ago
- More funding to grow international tourism
The Government is increasing funding for attracting overseas visitors and investing in tourism infrastructure as part of its new Tourism Growth Roadmap, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. “We’re investing $35 million to deliver the first stage of the Roadmap, which sets out the Government’s plan to double the ...3 weeks ago
- Major changes to proposed anti-stalking law
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is welcoming changes to toughen up the proposed anti-stalking law, including being triggered after two specified acts within 24 months. “This change better recognises patterns in stalking behaviour and time that can pass between incidents. For example, stalking that occurs around anniversaries would not be covered ...3 weeks ago
- Speech: APAC energy capital assembly, Singapore
I am delighted to be here in Singapore once again, to speak to you in my capacity as New Zealand’s Minister for Resources and Associate Minister for Energy. If you haven’t heard of me before today, I’m proud to declare myself the champion of New Zealand’s petroleum and minerals sector. ...3 weeks ago
- Speech to the Law Association 2025
Thank you all for the invitation to speak with you this morning. I have been looking forward to this opportunity. May is a busy month for the Government, and it is always a relief to have the Budget delivered. Today, I would like to speak about what I see as ...3 weeks ago
- Government backing rural resilience and wellbeing
The government is boosting support for rural resilience and wellbeing announced by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson. “We’re backing Rural Support Trusts by committing $3 million over the next four years, to help improve rural communities’ access to primary mental health services and specialist ...3 weeks ago
- Talks result in PNG and Bougainville signing ‘Melanesian Agreement’
RNZ Pacific The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have signed a deal that may bring the autonomous region’s quest for independence closer. Called “Melanesian Agreement”, the deal was developed earlier this month in 10 days of discussion at the New Zealand army base at Burnham, near Christchurch. Both ...5 hours ago - Eugene Doyle: Why Asia-Pacific should be cheering for Iran and not US bomb-based statecraft
ANALYSIS: By Eugene Doyle Setting aside any thoughts I may have about theocratic rulers (whether they be in Tel Aviv or Tehran), I am personally glad that Iran was able to hold out against the US-Israeli attacks this month. The ceasefire, however, will only be a pause in the long-running ...7 hours ago
- Pasifika Medical Association rejects claims public funds used inappropriately
Te Puni Kōkiri is launching an independent review into allegations that money was used inappropriately for Whānau Ora commissioning services. ...11 hours ago - ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 28, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 28, 2025. Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to fire at Gaza aid seekers – 70 killed across StripIsraeli soldiers have said that they were ordered to open fire at unarmed Palestinian civilians desperately seeking aid at designated distribution ...11 hours ago
- Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to fire at Gaza aid seekers – 70 killed across Strip
Israeli soldiers have said that they were ordered to open fire at unarmed Palestinian civilians desperately seeking aid at designated distribution sites in Gaza, a report in the Ha’aretz newspaper has revealed. The report came as 70 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip — mostly at aid sites belonging ...13 hours ago
- RFK Junior is stoking fears about vaccine safety. Here’s why he’s wrong – and the impact it c...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney The United States used to be a leader in vaccine research, development and policymaking. Now US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr is undermining the country’s vaccine program at the highest ...16 hours ago
- The secret to-do list of David Seymour
Monday * Attend my first press conference as Deputy Prime Minister and speak solemnly about international affairs to strengthen the perception I am a world statesman worthy of respect.* Name some worthy academic no one has ever heard of and hold them to ridicule. * RSVP to the birthday party for ...20 hours ago - How to ride a horse, if you don’t have a horse
Alastair Goodwin remembers standing in front of an obstacle course, hobby horse in hand, and questioning the choices that had led him and his co-founder to that spot. “We were the biggest sceptics … The couple of hours before we started we were just like, ‘What the hell are we ...20 hours ago
- Short story: Hearsay, by Owen Marshall
“Biscuits, Baking Needs, Breakfast products” the sign read above the supermarket isle into which Marianne Crawshaw turned her trolley, and it was there she saw Becky Allan. Usually Marianne preferred not to see friends when shopping, because it held her up and the Saturday supermarket day was always a busy one, ...20 hours ago
- The Weekend: The best food I ate in Singapore was toast
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. It’s almost too predictable that I would travel to Singapore for the first time, spend a week eating incredible Malaysian, Chinese and Indian cuisine and only want to write about the buttered toast. But if nothing else, my surprisingly extensive food writing ...21 hours ago - ‘So fulfilling’: Xavier Horan on making new spiritual comedy Dead Ahead
The star of new TVNZ comedy Dead Ahead takes us through his life in television. Few New Zealand actors can attribute their career to the early work of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Xavier Horan certainly does. As a young aspiring actor, Horan’s first ever audition – for a BBC documentary series ...21 hours ago
- The bridge builder: my mother Margaret Mahy
Bridget Mahy reflects on what it was like to grow up with the beloved writer and witness the construction of her stories. ‘Imagination is the creative use of reality’ My mother once described herself as a “slave to fiction”. From a very young age, her parents would find ...21 hours ago
- My capsule pantry: The realistic base for cheap and tasty meals
Keeping your pantry (and fridge and freezer) stocked with some solid staples will save you that last-minute trip to the supermarket – and save you money, too. One question I get asked all the time on Instagram, where I share cheap and realistic recipes as @alicetayloreats, is what’s in your ...21 hours ago
- ‘She had mettle’: Anne-Marie Te Whiu on poetry, weaving and whakapapa
Claire Mabey talks with poet, weaver, Atlantic Fellow and cultural curator Anne-Marie Te Whiu about her new collection of poetry, Mettle. Claire Mabey: Kia ora Ani, it’s very nice to be talking to you about your beautiful poetry collection, Mettle. Why did you dedicate the book to your younger self? ...21 hours ago
- Apologies to Team NZ in settlement over 2020 America’s Cup whistleblower affair
A bitter public and legal row over alleged but disproven financial irregularities in the run-up to the 2021 America’s Cup has been settled, with a string of apologies to cup defender Team New Zealand. A confidential settlement has been reached between the team (ETNZ), its event arm America’s Cup Event ...21 hours ago
- Govt set to announce special development deal with one city
The Government is on the cusp of declaring its first ‘city and regional deal’ to unlock growth potential around one major centre – most likely to be Tauranga. It hopes a deal can be a game-changer for the western Bay of Plenty region. Two other centres, almost certainly to include ...21 hours ago
- The ‘Godfather of Human Rights’ Ken Roth on genocide, Trump and standing up for democracy
By Richard Larsen, RNZ News producer — 30′ with Guyon Espiner The former head of Human Rights Watch — and son of a Holocaust survivor — says Israel’s military campaign in Gaza will likely meet the legal definition of genocide, citing large-scale killings, the targeting of civilians, and the words ...1 day ago
- The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white ...1 day ago
- 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Lumix In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa ...1 day ago
- Allegations public money used by Whānau Ora for ‘electioneering’ to be investigated
The use of public money by Whānau Ora commissioning services and whether contractual obligations were met are to be investigated. ...1 day ago
- Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology After 37 years at the helm, fashion industry heavyweight Anna Wintour is stepping down from her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue. It’s not a retirement, though, ...1 day ago
- Antoinette Lattouf win against ABC a victory for all truth-tellers
By Isaac Nellist of Green Left Magazine Australian-Lebanese journalist and commentator Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case win against the public broadcaster ABC in the Federal Court on Wednesday is a victory for all those who seek to tell the truth. It is a breath of fresh air, after almost two ...1 day ago
- The House: Parliament’s week ended early but was still packed full
Parliament's week ended early out of respect for Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp who died on Thursday. ...1 day ago
- 350.org Pacific Responds To NZ Withdrawal From Fossil Fuel Phase Out Alliance
While the NZ government has sought to promote a prosperous and resilient Pacific, this move is in direct violation of many agreements in place to protect the region from climate catastrophe. ...1 day ago - Caitlin Johnstone: The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Within the storytelling of Western politics and punditry there exists a fictional type of mental illness which only affects people the US empire doesn’t like. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, its crazy lunatic government will ...1 day ago
- NZ Flag Half-Masting To Mark The Burial Of Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, MP For Tāmaki Makaurau ̵...
The New Zealand Flag should be flown at half-mast all day on Tuesday 1 July 2025. This instruction applies to all Government Departments, buildings and naval vessels which have flag poles and normally fly the New Zealand Flag. ...1 day ago
- A strange bright burst in space baffled astronomers for more than a year. Now, they’ve solved the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clancy William James, Senior Lecturer (astronomy and astroparticle physics), Curtin University CSIRO’s ASKAP radio telescope on Wajarri Country. © Alex Cherney/CSIRO Around midday on June 13 last year, my colleagues and I were scanning the skies when we thought we had ...1 day ago
- Farmers Must Be Told The Truth About GE Ryegrass Performance
The AgResearch $25 million GE rye grass trials conducted from 2017-2022, found that the field trials results did not meet the expected performance end points. ...1 day ago
- Minister Stanford’s Reaction To Criticism Of Section 127 Is Unprecedented
The minister needs to understand that support is earned, not an entitlement. She says we are compromising ‘all the work she has done’, but the ’sideshow’ of section 127 is her creation, Elliot Ikilei, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson says. ...1 day ago
- Permanent test flight space will make Canterbury global aerospace innovation leader – Minister...
From 7 August, six areas will be permanently designated for aviation companies to test tech. ...1 day ago
- Do all Iranians hate the regime? Hate America? Life inside the country is much more complex and nuan...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Theobald, Postdoctoral researcher, Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame Australia From 2015 to 2018, I spent 15 months doing research work in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. As an anthropologist, I was interested in everyday life in Iran outside ...1 day ago
- ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 27, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 27, 2025. Travelling with food allergies? These 8 tips can help you stay safer in the skiesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Koplin, Evidence and Translation Lead, National Allergy Centre of Excellence; Chief ...1 day ago
- Travelling with food allergies? These 8 tips can help you stay safer in the skies
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Koplin, Evidence and Translation Lead, National Allergy Centre of Excellence; Chief Investigator, Centre of Food Allergy Research; Associate Professor and Group Leader, Childhood Allergy & Epidemiology Group, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland Anchiy/Getty Images With the school ...1 day ago
- Cats at 40: a dazzling cast – stuck in an outdated show
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Cummings, Lecturer in Singing, University of Sydney The star of the 40th anniversary production of Cats – which premiered at the Theatre Royal Sydney last week – is the performing ensemble. Some ensemble scenes, such as The Jellicle Ball, offered ...1 day ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘hemmed in like a boar between archers’ by Helen Lehndorf
A new poem by Helen Lehndorf. hemmed in like a boar between archers I was meant to be cleaning the house but there was a spiderweb on my side of the bed silver lurking right beside my dreaming head & then the blowfly that had soundtracked my insomnia flew into ...1 day ago
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The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $60) The Spinoff’s own Madeleine ...1 day ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney NASA, CC BY-NC-ND How do you measure climate change? One way is by recording temperatures in different places over a long period of time. While this works well, natural ...2 days ago
- The NDIA is changing how it pays for disability supports. What does that mean for rural communities?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Johnson, Lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship and Co-Founder of Umbo, University of Sydney Shutterstock Each year, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) reviews its pricing rules to ensure services funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) remain sustainable. This ...2 days ago
- 1 in 5 community footy umpires have been assaulted, while others cop death threats: new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alyson Crozier, Senior Lecturer, Exercise and Sport Psychology, University of South Australia Scott Barbour/Getty Images Umpires’ decisions often upset sports fans, especially during a close contest. At most games, spectators boo loudly, coaches throw their hands up in frustration and ...2 days ago
- Our first reactions to Virgin, Lorde’s brand new album
The Spinoff writers share their thoughts on Lorde’s fourth album. After returning from her typical four-year hiatus with a series of thrilling pop-ups, including one in the YMCA bathrooms in central Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand pop star Lorde released her fourth album Virgin at midnight last night. With an icy ...2 days ago
Today's Posts (updated through the day):
Rnz reporting that glysophate is on trial in Wellington..
(Much respect to those who have worked to make this happen..)
It kinda blows my mind that this cancer-causing muck is so widely used in nz..
Let's hope for a guilty verdict..and common sense to prevail…
Hi Phillip, I think it may have more to do with clearing the use of it for "clearing ground" of every living thing to grow modified bio engineered crops. So ….??
So the Prime Minister is considering cutting legal annual sick leave entitlements from 10 days to 5 days.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360605837/live-nz-politics-blog
You really have to wonder how he's going to get higher labour participation when he's basically telling anyone with a pre-existing condition or major injury to suck it up and live off their savings.
In case anyone needs reminding, we have about 200 people leaving for Australia per week, with an Australian headline unemployment rate of 4.1 compared to ours of 5.1 and a declining labour participation rate.
We are not lazy bludgers Mr Luxon. Hope you don't ever get sick.
What really gets me lately is how genuinely surprised and baffled the coalition seems when the public pushes back on their decisions. It’s as if they expected everyone to just quietly accept cuts to basic rights and support systems without question. Did they think people wouldn’t notice, or just wouldn’t care?
I do feel a bit of sympathy for our putative PM: constantly wheeled out to press conferences with the air of a substitute teacher facing down a year 12 maths class on a Friday afternoon, then forced to defend the latest nonsense from his putative partners.
It’s becoming increasingly clear this government doesn’t have much of a plan. Just a grab-bag of neoliberal, business-friendly pick’n’mix policies they’re hoping to ram through before people realise how little of it actually adds up.
And honestly, where is the communications plan? Who thought this was going to land well?
And all this at a historical moment when the world is grappling with Trump, Putin, and every despot in between. Meanwhile, we’re stuck with a merry band of muppets who can’t even rehash neoliberalism right, let alone progress towards fascism. At least Jim Bolger had greater charisma and intellectual firepower than an undercooked potato, even if he looked like one.
I do so hate to see a job done badly
Yeah same.
Mr Thumb has no idea.
If he were recovering from a workplace injury, a paper cut or sum such, no one would notice he wasn't there.
Van
HeislingVelden similarly, WorkSafe us what it says on the tin. Not a budget to be cut.From experience, Year 12s are a dream. Year 10s on the other hand!
Well, now Brooke is saying there is no plan to halve sick leave, but may make it proportional to hours worked, and is possibly looking to make other changes.
RNZ article on it.
Yup, B van V looking at halving sick leave is a separate matter.
That is not in the coalition agreement, but nor was their intervention to either block or diminish amount of pay equity claim provided.
Only apologists of the Coalition claim that it does exactly what it has promised in the Coalition Agreements (and during the election campaign) and are silent on the other actions. This is wilful blindness. It is just another example of the neoliberal mission-creep by the neo-authoritarian Coalition. There’s no specific consideration of unexpected consequences (mainly for poorer people and workers) and no long-term vision other than to leave it to the market & private sector to sort out (and make a profit off). The increasing privatisation of the health sector, no longer by stealth, is the clearest example of the mission-creep-by-design.
On the other hand, the sheer incompetence and uselessness might actually work in the Coalition’s favour. They come off less like authoritarian overlords and more like your pissed-up uncles Dave and Chris at the family BBQ.
Ranting about markets and freedom while you nod politely and go back to your potato salad.
Ironically, their public failures: often hilarious, always chaotic, may end up making them seem less scary and more palatable. Incompetence, it turns out, is a surprisingly effective disguise for ideology.
Intentional or not.
Indeed, I’ve commented here before that I think that Luxon not only allows but enables the coalition partners to play in their respective sandpits and the Coalition as a whole to progress its agenda of destruction & desecration. I’d go as far as to say that so far, this has been the most robust and most effective coalition under MMP. And the Regulatory Standards Bill will be their crown.
Corruption at play? In NZ?! NO!!! Private capital and a free market will sort it.
I’ve become more wary of using the word ‘corruption’ because where does it start? This government does seem to be relatively ‘relaxed & comfortable’ with the blurry boundaries between self-interest and conflict of interest and beyond. Rewards can be recouped in future, so hard to prove causality.
One thing that irks me is the hiding & redacting of official documents, often because of ‘commercial sensitivity’. I’d argue that the default setting should to be to share everything immediately and completely and only withhold/redact information in rare exceptional cases akin a court order for suppression of information (e.g., name suppression). The public of New Zealanders, taxpayers, and voters must have the right to scrutinise everything their government is doing.
"Prejudice the government's ability…"? It's probably all the cuts.
Careful now, RNZ.
Redistribution of taxpayers’ funds to the private sector is happening everywhere.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/16-06-2025/huge-rise-in-surgery-outsourcing-prompts-alarm-among-doctors
I don’t have much confidence in stiffer penalties because they won’t change the culture. Anyhow, who’s paying those penalties to whom with whose money?
Forgot this one, submitted by PsyclingLeft.Always.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-03-2025/#comment-2027893
It began as proportionality.
It's such a small issue, I wondered why they bothered.
Sick leave is about a days paid leave.
If they only work 2 hours (part-timer) they get paid for the 2 hours.
If they have 2, 4 hour jobs they get paid a days sick leave by each employer (at the 4 hours payment level).
Arguing for proportionality of sick leave (which is already proportional in that the value of a day off is daily pay) while also arguing for the general need for simplicity is quite a contradiction. Either the Holidays Act should be flexible and adaptive to individual circumstances, or it should be simple to administer and get right, but they are at opposite ends of the continuum and moving in one direction is moving away from the other.
The bizarre thing is there employees out there that vote for these wankers, turkeys and Christmas
Because… tax cuts!!!
And an inability for whatever reasons to do some basic research to make an informed vote.
https://petitions.parliament.nz/42946b74-b424-433b-3c1d-08dda627f55f/sign
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Done. Tabletennis
Watching Al Jazeera right now.
The guy reporting live from Tel Aviv just said that all military locations hit by Iranian missiles are subject to censorship and cannot be reported on. But, on the information released by the authorities, in the last few days around 200 missiles have been fired from Iran and 22 locations in Israel have been hit. On this basis the Iron Dome stops around 90% of the missiles, but it is far from failsafe.
"Iron Dome can potentially be overcome by swarms of many missiles that exceed its capability to intercept them, and by sheer numbers of attacking missiles during a campaign if not enough interceptors are available to counter them."
"…a 2020 analysis estimated a total cost of $100,000 to $150,000 for each interception."
So it costs around NZ$200,000 for each interception. Around NZ$40 million over the last few days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome
Lots of reporting that Iran downed 3 F35s too.
One of the hits was on the Defence Ministry (reported on Fox). Would also understand Iran has hypersonic missiles capable of evading missile defence, maybe not a lot, but enough they can choose what likely lands.
Missile defence is actually a multi system co-operation with different parts blocking a spectrum of missile capabilities. Using the wrong system on a different attack is largely an expensive waste.