Climate: Increasing Greenhouse Emissions Hit NZ

New Zealand is seeing impacts of excess greenhouse gas emissions in our climate and oceans, according to the latest national report from the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ about the state of the atmosphere and climate…More>>

ALSO:

• Environmental Defence Society - Gov Report Confirms Need for More Action on Climate Change
• Greenpeace - Government Must Put Search for New Oil On Hold
• WWF - Worrying Report Sparks Need for New Climate Law
• Fed Farmers - Transport, trees key factors in climate change response
• Business NZ - A sobering read: Our atmosphere and climate 2017 report

Wellington.Scoop: Arrests At Blockade Of "Weapons Expo"

“We encourage people in Wellington to get down to the Westpac Stadium now for a day of awesome peace action. There will be plenty of food, music and activities to keep us sustained through the day.” More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Minister of Defence’s industry awards announced
• NZ Police - Police disappointed with behaviour of protesters - Motorists advised to avoid Waterloo Quay - Update: NZDIA protest
• Peace Action Wellington - Peace actions continue amid concern about police tactics - Amazing day of peace action disrupts Weapons Expo - Activists successfully blockade Weapons Expo - Peace Activists Assembling to Block Wellington Weapons Expo - Activists gather to shut down Weapons Expo
• NZ Defence Industry Association - New Defence Industry Association calls for peaceful protest
• Oil Free Wellington - Oil Free Wellington supporting the blockade of Weapons Expo
• People Against Prisons Aotearoa - People Against Prisons to blockade weapons conference

Rorschach Restructuring: PSA Taking Inland Revenue To Court Over Psychometrics

The Public Service Association will be seeing Inland Revenue in Employment Court over its intention to psychometrically test employees reapplying for their roles at the department as part of its controversial Business Transformation restructuring plan. More>>

ALSO:

• Public Service Association - PSA welcomes Inland Revenue’s halt to psychometric testing

Media Mega Merger: StuffMe Hearing Argues Over Moveable Feast

New Zealand's two largest news publishers are appealing against the Commerce Commission's rejection of the proposal to merge their operations. More>>

Elsewhere:

• Fairfax axe for sports reporters another blow to journalism
• Reduced viewpoints in media merger not ComCom's concern
• Judge gets Facebook news primer in media merger hearing
• ComCom went outside its role in rejecting StuffMe merger
• Media merger appeal in court today

Approval: Northern Corridor Decision Released

The approval gives the green light to construction of the last link of Auckland’s Western Ring Route, providing an alternative route from South Auckland to the North Shore. More>>

ALSO:

• NZTA - NZTA welcomes draft decision on Northern Corridor

Crown Accounts: $4.1 Billion Surplus

The New Zealand Government has achieved its third fiscal surplus in a row with the Crown accounts for the year ended 30 June 2017 showing an OBEGAL surplus of $4.1 billion, $2.2 billion stronger than last year, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says. More>>

ALSO:

• BusinessDesk - RBNZ was a tidy earner under Wheeler

27-29 Sept: Social Enterprise World Forum Live Blog

1600+ delegates from more than 45 countries have came together to share wisdom, build networks and discuss how to create a more sustainable future using social enterprise as a vehicle. Attending the Forum were social enterprise practitioners, social entrepreneurs, policy makers, community leaders, investors, activists, academics and more from across the globe... More>>

HiveMind Report: A Universal Basic Income For Aotearoa NZ

Results from this HiveMind suggests that an overwhelming majority of Kiwis believe that due to changing circumstances and inefficiencies in the current system, we need a better system to take care of welfare of struggling members in our society. More>>

ALSO:

• Out-Link - Eric Crampton on 95bFM about a universal basic income | The New Zealand Initiative

Scoop Hivemind: Medical Cannabis - Co-Creating A Policy For Aotearoa

Welcome to the fourth and final HiveMind for Scoop’s Opening the Election campaign for 2017. This HiveMind explores the question: what would a fair, humane and safe Medical Cannabis policy look like for Aotearoa, NZ in 2018? More>>

ALSO:

• Julie Anne Genter - Access to Safe, Affordable and Legal Medicinal Cannabis
• Shane Le Brun - Do We Really Need “Pharma Grade” Medical Cannabis?

Rohingya Muslims Massacred: Restrictions On Aid Put 1000s At Risk

Amnesty: The Myanmar authorities’ restrictions on international aid in Rakhine state is putting tens of thousands of lives at risk in a region where mainly Rohingya people are already suffering horrific abuses from a disproportionate military campaign. More>>

ALSO:

• United Nations - Rohingya refugee crisis a ‘human rights nightmare,’ UN chief - Influx of Rohingya outpaces capacities to respond - Horrific accounts of sexual violence against Rohingya
• Burma Taskforce - Burma Task Force Commends US Ambassador Haley
• NZ Govt - NZ assistance for Myanmar humanitarian crisis
• Amnesty International - Myanmar: Official response to Rakhine crisis unconscionable - Myanmar Ethnic Minorities Face Range of Violations
• International Muslim Association of NZ - Injustices on Minority Muslims in Myanmar
• Syed Atiq ul Hassan - Full blown ethnic cleansing wiping out Muslim Rohingyas
• Fortify Rights - Myanmar: End Attacks in Rakhine State, Protect Civilians - Fortify Rights on violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State - Thailand: Provide Legal Status, Protections for Refugees
• Joint Press Release - Effort needed to stop ethnic cleansing of Rohingya people
• Burma Taskforce - Burma Task Force Deplores Burmese Military Bombing

Werewolf: Gordon Campbell On North Korea, Neo-Nazism, And Milo

With a bit of luck the planet won’t be devastated by nuclear war in the next few days. US President Donald Trump will have begun to fixate on some other way to gratify his self-esteem – maybe by invading Venezuela or starting a war with Iran. More>>

ALSO:

• Binoy Kampmark - Unnerving the Donald: North Korea’s Sixth Nuclear Test
• NZ Govt - North Korea nuclear test utterly deplorable
• United Nations - UN Secretary-General on North Korea's Latest Nuclear Test
• CTBTO Preparatory Commission - CTBTO on the unusual seismic event detected in DRPK

Victory Declared: New Stabilisation Funding From NZ As Mosul Is Retaken

New Zealand has congratulated the Iraqi government on the successful liberation of Mosul from ISIS after a long and hard-fought campaign. More>>

Legendary Bassist David Friesen Plays Wellington’s Newest Jazz Venue

Friesen is touring New Zealand to promote his latest album Another Time, Another Place, recorded live at Auckland's Creative Jazz Club in 2015. More>>

Howard Davis Review: The Father - Descending Into The Depths of Dementia

Florian Zeller's dazzling drama The Father explores the effects of a deeply unsettling illness that affects 62,000 Kiwis, a number expected to grow to 102,000 by 2030. More>>

Howard Davis Review: Blade Runner Redivivus

When Ridley Scott's innovative, neo-noir, sci-fi flick Blade Runner was originally released in 1982, at a cost of over $45 million, it was a commercial bomb. More>>