NZ And France To Seek To End Use Of Social Media For Terrorism

New Zealand and France announced today that the two nations will bring together countries and tech companies in an attempt to bring to an end the ability to use social media to organise and promote terrorism and violent extremism, in the wake of the March 15 terrorist attacks in Christchurch New Zealand. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - NZ, France will try to end use of social media for terrorism
• BusinessDesk - Meeting to stop social media's use in terrorism
• Earlier - Gordon Campbell on the policing of social media content
• ACT - Vague demand for social media clampdown concerning
• RNZ - Christchurch attacks: Families offered residency option - Firearms amnesty draws in hundreds of weapons

Christchurch Attacks: Families Offered Option To Stay Permanently

Immigration New Zealand has created a special visa category for those directly impacted by the shootings at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood mosque, as well as their families. More>>

ALSO:

• Lane Neave - New Residence Category for Victims of Mosque Attacks

Auckland: Consent Granted For Queens Wharf Cruise Ship Upgrade

In its decision, released this afternoon, Auckland Council says that although the upgrade will have a "range of adverse effects on the environment, both during construction and operation", these can be managed to an "acceptable" level. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Queens Wharf decision 'sinks Goff's campaign promise'
• Auckland Council - Consent granted for Queens Wharf upgrade

Welfare: Access To Hardship Grants Hits Record High

Figures from the Ministry of Social Development for the March 2019 Quarter showed that hardship assistance grants increased by $48 million in the past year... They also showed the emergency housing grants went from $6.6m to $23m, and there were 70,000 extra requests for assistance for food. More>>

ALSO:

• National - Emergency housing & hardship grants higher than ever - Jobseekers in Invercargill on the rise
• ACT - Welfare numbers up as anti-growth policies bite

Gordon Campbell: On Scrapping The Capital Gains Tax

As PM Jacinda Arden said yesterday, there was no point in Labour bringing a proposal into the House that it didn’t have the votes to get passed. Looking back, maybe she always felt this outcome to be inevitable... More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO - 'No mandate' for capital gains tax - PM
• BusinessDesk - UPDATE: No capital gains tax while Ardern leader - Government rules out implementing capital gains tax
• NZ Govt - Govt will not implement a Capital Gains Tax - Govt responds to Tax Working Group report
• National - Capital Gains Tax back down a win for Kiwis
• NZ First - Tax Working Group Report
• Greens - New Zealand needs a Fairer Tax System
• ACT - 483 days of uncertainty for nothing - Old man holds country hostage for 17 months, expects thanks
• Business Central - Shelving New Capital Gains Tax the Right Move
• CTU - Government misses opportunity for a fairer NZ
• Business NZ - CGT decision strengthens confidence in tax system
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Tax Axed!
• Auckland Action Against Poverty - Government upholds status quo over Capital Gains Tax
• NZ Property Investors Federation - NZPIF applauds Government's capital gains tax decision
• Canterbury Employers' Chamber Of Commerce - Government makes right decision on CGT
• Road Transport Forum - Govt makes the right call on CGT
• Federated Farmers - The right call made on CGT, Feds says
• EMA - EMA says CGT decision is good news for SMEs
• Public Service Association - CGT decision: The opportunity cost of a lost opportunity
• Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ - Praise for listening to feedback on CGT challenges
• E Tu - E tū very disappointed by CGT announcement
• Tax Justice - Tax Justice Aotearoa statement on CGT announcement
• Retail NZ - Capital Gains Tax Axing Good News for Small Business
• Peter Dunne - Dunne Speaks: The Capital Gains Tax U-Turn
• Closing The Gap - Closing the Gap statement on CGT decision
• Stop the War on Tenancies - No capital gains tax a relief for owners and tenants
• Waikato Chamber of Commerce - Waikato Businesses pleased Government has dumped the CGT
• REINZ - REINZ welcomes Labour’s CGT announcement
• Greenpeace NZ - State of Environment report reveals NZ’s dirtiest industry
• Aotearoa NZ Association of Social Workers - ANZASW on response to Tax Working Group report
• Irrigation NZ - Water tax decision and environmental improvements

Environment Aotearoa 2019: Report Warns Environment In Serious Trouble

The report says the way New Zealanders live and make a living is having a serious impact on the environment, and the benefits New Zealanders get from being in nature, though not measured or quantified, could be lost. More>>

ALSO:

• Statistics NZ - Nine top environmental issues facing New Zealand
• Science Media Centre - The state of Aotearoa's environment - Expert Reaction
• NZ Govt - Environment report reinforces need for Government’s plan - Proposed ETC improvements attract support
• Resource Management Law Association - State of Environment report highlights need for better data
• Greenpeace NZ - State of Environment report reveals NZ’s dirtiest industry
• Seafood NZ - Environment Report highlights seafood industry's improvement
• Deepwater Group - Seafood sustainability improves
• Forest And Bird - Action must follow damning environment report
• Hawkes Bay Regional Council - National environmental snapshot sobering reading
• Environment Canterbury - Environmental data improvement key in Environment report
• Federated Farmers - Better data will help us do a better job - Federated Farmers
• Land Air Water Aotearoa - Strong data networks for better environmental guardianship
• Fish and Game NZ - Environment Report Confirms Regional Council Failure
• NIWA - Environment report a clear picture of change
• Environmental Defence Society - Environment Report shows need for major reform
• Local Govt NZ - Environment Aotearoa yardstick welcomed by LGNZ
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council - Regional Council welcomes report findings
• Curtin University Of Technology - Curtin Professor appointed Chief Scientist
• Reserve Bank - Reserve Bank welcomes steps by global climate initiative

Provincial Growth Fund: Backing Growth In Gore

“Today’s announcements are a $1.6 million investment towards the Maruawai precinct project, which involves the redevelopment of the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and creation of the Maruawai Heritage Centre...” More>>

ALSO:

• BusinessDesk - Auditor-General ramps up scrutiny of the PGF
• Office of the Auditor-General - Management, monitoring, and evaluation of the PGF
• NZ Govt - PGF invests in Top of the South ocean economy - Great rides - Supporting our regions with $2.3 million investment
• Cawthron Institute - Cawthron welcomes funding for National Algae Centre
• Marlborough District Council - Council welcomes funding for Smart Services - Innovative Intergenerational Regional Strategy Announced

Inflation: Cigarette Price Rise Offsets Cheaper Petrol

The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.1 percent in the March 2019 quarter, due to higher prices for cigarettes, Stats NZ said today... In the year to March 2019, the inflation rate was 1.5 percent, down from 1.9 percent in the December 2018 year. More>>

ALSO:

• BusinessDesk - NZ 1st-qtr inflation comes in below expectations

Resignation Of Metiria Turei: Were Journalists 'just Doing Their Job'?

In our research we examined the role of journalism in animating the Turei controversy and the different perceptions of professional journalists and online commentators sympathetic to Turei’s left politics. ... More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Extradition Of Julian Assange

It isn’t necessary to like Julian Assange to think that his extradition to the US (on the charge of aiding and abetting Chelsea Manning) would be a major injustice... More>>

ALSO:

• Binoy Kampmark - Julian Assange as Neuroses - The Effort to Relabel Julian Assange - Shredding Asylum: The Arrest of Julian Assange - Terms of Asylum and Distraction: Moreno’s Assange Problem - Grand Jury Efforts: Jailing Chelsea Manning
• Caitlin Johnstone - How You Can Be Certain The Charge Against Assange Is a Fraud
• David Swanson - 10 Reasons Assange Should Walk Free
• United States Department of Justice - WikiLeaks Founder Charged in Computer Hacking Conspiracy
• Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ troubled by prosecution of Julian Assange
• Caitlin Johnstone - The Prosecution Of Assange Is Infinitely Bigger Than Assange
• Media Lens - Assange Arrest : 'So Now He's Our Property'
• Robert J. Burrowes - Defending Julian Assange; Defending the Truth

Gordon Campbell: Islamic State Meets The Searchers

The histories of the European children forcibly recruited into Native American tribal life during the 19th century do remind us of just how difficult the social re-integration of the children of ISIS is likely to be. More>>

Easter Bombings Kill Hundreds: UN, World Leaders Condemn Sri Lanka Attacks

More than 200 have been killed and hundreds injured by a series of explosions inside churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, as Christians gathered for services to celebrate Easter.. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Sri Lanka blasts: Vigil, letter of support from NZ - Sri Lanka attack 'devastating' - Grant Robertson
• NZ Govt - Prime Minister sends condolences to Sri Lanka
• Binoy Kampmark - Lethal Bungling: Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings
• Waitakere Indian Association - Waitakere Indian Association statement on Sri Lanka
• Islamic Women's Council of NZ - Condolences to our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka
• Jewish Council - Sri Lanka - Terrorist Attack

Rachel Pammeyrol Reports: Notre-Dame Severely Damaged In Fire

An accident during renovation works started the fire, according to preliminary investigation. The cathedral spire quickly collapsed and most of the roof was reduced to ashes... More>>

ALSO:

• Binoy Kampmark - Burning Gothic: Reflections on Notre-Dame de Paris
• Out-Link - How the far right is trying to turn Notre Dame into the next Reichstag Fire | The Spinoff
• Ramzy Baroud - Notre Dame of Gaza: Mosques and Churches are Also Burning

Dog's Brexit: UK MPs Vote Against Amended Deal

MPs in UK's House of Commons this morning have rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May's amended Brexit deal... If a no-deal option is rejected, MPs could get a vote on Friday on whether to request a delay to Brexit from the EU. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - UK MPs Vote Against No-Deal Brexit
• Gordon Campbell - Gordon Campbell on tax dodges, and the Brexit vote
• BusinessDesk - NZD slips against pound as British MPs prepare to vote - NZ dollar higher against British pound on Brexit jitters
• deVere - A second Brexit vote is the only credible solution

Climate Change: The World Talks While Kiribati Suffers

As public discussion on climate change and ways to arrest its impact continue around the world, one of many low-lying atolls in the Pacific wrestles with the issue right now. More>>

Tom Scott's Avantdale Bowling Club: The 10th Annual Taite Music Prize Announced

The Taite Music Prize 2019 ceremony also saw the presentation of the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut, Independent Spirit Award, and Independent Music NZ Classic Record award. More>>

ALSO:

• Out-Link - Avantdale Bowling Club: Track by track with Tom Scott | RNZ

Elisabeth Calder: Gifted Editor And Publisher To Receive Honorary Doctorate

The English editor and publisher who discovered some of the greatest writers of our times, including Salman Rushdie, Julian Barnes and Anita Brookner, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by the University of Canterbury (UC) at the University’s Arts and Science graduation ceremony on 18 April. More>>

Howard Davis: Charlie Parker With Strings - Live!

Hear these swinging rhythms with lush strings and a twist of bebop when Dick Oatts performs Charlie Parker with Strings accompanied by the New Zealand String Quartet and Jazz Ensemble, Musical Director Rodger Fox. More>>

Disaster Response: Canterbury Quakes - 'Widespread Adverse Effects' On Mental Health

The researchers noted that while support services such as free counselling exist, New Zealand's public health services are already under strain and even small increases in demand may result in a considerable extra burden for health workers. More>>