Winston Peters Speech: The Gathering Storm Clouds: Ihumatao

Frequently around New Zealand you hear people say that politicians are all the same. It’s a convenient way to dismiss any careful investigation of the truth of that statement. New Zealand First since its inception has been committed to ‘one law ... More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Mana whenua reach decision on Ihumātao land
• BusinessDesk - Fletcher seeks urgent talks on Ihumatao stalemate
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - What The Hell Is Happening With Ihumātao?

National Agriculture Policy: Will Restore Farmer Confidence And Pride

A National Government will reduce regulatory burden and give farmers confidence for the future. Leader of the National Party Judith Collins and Agriculture spokesperson David Bennett announced National’s Agriculture policy in Gisborne today. “Agriculture ... More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Primary Sector Exports And Jobs Up Again
• Greens - Environment And Climate Will Be Decimated By National’s Dangerous Agriculture Policy
• Federated Farmers - Feds - Suitably Impressed At Week Of Positive Agriculture And Horticulture Policy Announcements
• Greenpeace NZ - National Promises Dirty Rivers And More Fuel For Climate Fires - Greenpeace

Shaw: Wealth Tax Not A Bottom Line For Green Party But They Will Push For It

Green Party co-leader James Shaw says one of his senior MPs misspoke under pressure when she said a wealth tax was one of the party's bottom lines. More>>

ALSO:

• ACT - Radical Green-Labour Government Puts Recovery At Risk
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Wealth Tax Demand: Only Jacinda Ardern Can Rule It Out

Auckland Transport: Successful Bridge Repair Opens Two Additional Lanes To Traffic

The opening of two additional lanes on the Auckland Harbour Bridge this morning will help relieve some motorway congestion for motorists heading home to the North Shore tonight. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Transport Agency - Engineers Assess Damage To Auckland Harbour Bridge After Truck Strike - Motorists Urged To Avoid Damaged Auckland Harbour Bridge
• Auckland Transport - Harbour Bridge: Public Transport A Great Option And Plan Ahead
• National - Second Harbour Crossing Needed Now, More Than Ever
• Auckland Business Chamber - Second Harbour Crossing Urgent
• RNZ - Snail's pace: Aucklanders face frustrating commute over Harbour Bridge

Statistics New Zealand: COVID-19 Sees Record 12.2 Percent Fall In New Zealand’s Economy

Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 12.2 percent in the June 2020 quarter, the largest quarterly fall recorded since the current series began in 1987, as the COVID-19 restrictions in place through the quarter impacted economic activity, Stats NZ said ... More>>

ALSO:

• National - New Zealand In Deepest Recession In Living Memory
• NZ Govt - Record Transport Investment To Help Economic Recovery And Save Lives
• Road Transport Forum - Trucks And Roads The Key To Economic Survival
• OECD - Building Confidence Crucial Amid An Uncertain Economic Recovery, Says OECD
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Weak Economic Recovery Means New Policy Settings Needed
• ACT - Labour Gives New Zealand The Worst Of All Possible Worlds

Climate: Scientists Release ‘Blueprint’ To Save Critical Ecosystems And Stabilize The Earth’s Climate

A group of scientists and experts produced the first comprehensive global-scale analysis of terrestrial areas essential for biodiversity and climate resilience, totaling 50.4% of the Earth's land. The report was published in Science Advances ... More>>

ALSO:

• Auckland Museum - Auckland Museum And Ngāti Kuri Receive $13.3m Iwi-led Collaborative Research Grant
• Extinction Rebellion NZ - Climate Roadshow Begins
• The Conversation - South Korea’s Green New Deal Shows The World What A Smart Economic Recovery Looks Like

MPI: Independent Review Launched Into Assurances For Safe Transport Of Livestock By Sea

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has launched an independent review of the assurances it receives for the safe transport of livestock by sea. MPI Director-General Ray Smith says Mike Heron QC has been appointed to lead the review, which is expected ... More>>

ALSO:

• Australasian Global Exports - Gulf Livestock 1 Lost In Typhoon Maysak
• SAFE - Sunken Ship And Export Company Have A Sketchy Past

Reese Erlich: Foreign Correspondent: Trump Plays Both Sides Against The Middle

Is he a hawk? Is he a peacenik? The President keeps us guessing . By Reese Erlich President Donald Trump has convinced Republican isolationists and hawks that he supports their views. That’s a neat trick, since the two groups hold opposing positions. ... More>>

Binoy Kampmark: Waiting For The Old Bailey: Julian Assange And Britain’s Judicial Establishment

On September 7, Julian Assange will be facing another round of gruelling extradition proceedings, in the Old Bailey, part of a process that has become a form of gradual state-sanctioned torture. The US Department of Justice hungers for their man. The More>>


Gordon Campbell: On The Sorry Plight Of The International Education Sector

Tourism and international education have been two of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic. They’re both key export industries. Yet the government response to them has been strikingly different. There has been nothing beyond a few words of ministerial condolence and a $51.6 million package (details below) to get the sector through the pandemic...
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Assange's Hearing: Latest Observations From Court

Despite severe restrictions on observers, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is the only NGO that has gained access to the hearing, and we’ve managed to monitor proceedings on most days. We will continue to do so whenever possible. Yesterday I was in court ... More>>

Climate Change: Record Northern Heat, Fuels Concerns Over US Wildfire Destruction

More than 78,000 acres of forest in the Sierra mountains in California has been lost due to wildfires. Photo: San Francisco Fire Department The northern hemisphere experienced its warmest August ever, the World Meteorological Organization ( WMO ... More>>

ILO: Impact On Workers Of COVID-19 Is ‘catastrophic’

COVID-19 has had a “catastrophic” impact on workers, the head of the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) said on Wednesday, with lost working hours higher than originally forecast, and equivalent to 495 million full-time jobs globally in the ... More>>

UN: WHO Warns Against Potential Ebola Spread In DR Congo And Beyond

Ebola is spreading in a western province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising fears that the disease could reach neighbouring Republic of Congo and even the capital, Kinshasa, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. ... More>>

Howard Davis: Roddy Doyle's Grim and Gritty Rosie

Although it was completed over two years ago, Roddy Doyle's first original screenplay in over eighteen years has only just arrived in New Zealand. It's been well worth the wait. More>>

Simon Nathan: No Ordinary In-Laws

The title of this short memoir by Keith Ovenden is misleading – it would be better called “Bill, Shirley and me” as it is an account of Ovenden’s memories of his parents-in-law, Bill Sutch and Shirley Smith. His presence is pervasive through the book. All three participants are (or were) eloquent, strongly-opinionated intellectuals who have made significant contributions to different aspects of New Zealand life. Their interactions were often complex and difficult... More>>