Seven years in the making. Twelve volumes, and 2.6 million words. The Chilcot report into Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war in 2003 is indeed a blockbuster, and it does dole out some harsh criticisms of former British PM Tony Blair – who led Britain into this disastrous action, which has led to so much death and suffering...
However, alongside this litany of criticisms of Blair’s style of government and decision-making, Chilcot has also given Blair a remarkable amount of wiggle room. More>>
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Declaring Their Beef: Airport Security Strike Met With Lockout Plan
Aviation security staff will hold two weeks of industrial action later this month, after unions and their employer were unable to settle a new collective agreement... More>>
First Negotiations Fail: Health Ministry Still Keen On Social Bonds
The Ministry of Health is still pursuing the government's social bonds pilots, claiming to have learnt a number lessons after the Wise Group withdrew from what would have been the first programme funded with such an instrument. More>>
Afghanistan: NZDF Commitment Extended And Increased
The New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) commitment of trainers to the Afghan National Army Officer Academy has been extended to June 2018... More>>
Gang Member's Prison Role: Ngāti Apa Disappointed With Corrections Minister
“We are disappointed, but not surprised, that the Minister has elected to take her advice on the issue of iwi representation from a political advocacy group, rather than iwi leadership," said Dame Tariana Turia of Ngāti Apa/Ngā Wairiki, Whanganui, Tuwharetoa, Ngā Rauru. More>>
Machine Learning: NZ Curriculum To Include Digital Technology
Digital technology is to be formally integrated into the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today at the NZTech Advance Education Technology Summit in Auckland. More>>
Houses And Homes: Post Cabinet Press Conference
The Prime Minister John Key began today’s press conference by summarising the announcements he made at the National Party conference over the weekend... More>>
Greens On Saudi Sheep Revelations: Key Has To Get Rid Of McCully
John Key needs to stand down Foreign Affairs Minister Murry McCully following an admission by Saudi businessman George Assaf that there was no threat of legal action over the live sheep import ban, the Green Party said today. More>>
Interest-Free Loans To Local Govt: $1b Fund For Housing Infrastructure
The Prime Minister today announced a new $1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the supply of new housing where it’s needed most, Finance Minister Bill English and Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith say. More>>
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Skodafone: Sky TV Shareholders Back Vodafone Deal
Sky Network Television shareholders have today voted in favour of a proposed merger with Vodafone New Zealand that will create a media and entertainment provider with combined 2016 revenue of more than $2.9 billion and more than 3.7 million separate mobile and fixed connections and television subscriptions. More>>
Housing: Values Rise At Fastest Pace In 12 Years
The average value of a New Zealand home rose 13.5 percent to $590,909 in June from a year earlier, ahead of May's 12.4 percent annual gain, and marking the fastest pace since 2004, according to state-owned valuer Quotable Value. More>>
Crown Accounts: 11 Month Surplus Exceeds Forecast
he New Zealand government posted a larger-than-expected operating surplus in the first 11 months of the financial year, although most key indicators were in line with budget projections, meaning the forecast full-year surplus is likely to be achieved. More>>
Auckland Port Study: Port To Ship Out – No Departure Date
Interest groups in Auckland and its waterfront chose a group of representatives to determine the future of the port. Their consensus is that the Port is going to have to move but not before a credible location is confirmed... More>>
Tax: GST Threshold For Online Purchases Won't Lower Before 2018
The government wants to lower the threshold on online purchases which qualify for GST from mid-2018, but says more work is needed and there will be no change without public consultation. More>>
North Canterbury: Government Extends Drought Classification
The government has extended a drought classification for the eastern South Island until the end of the year, meaning the area will have officially been in drought for almost two years, the longest period for such a category. More>>
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Lets imagine an industry that prides itself on its modern technology. Yet its basic service is a chronic source of anxiety to many of its customers, partly because (very occasionally) this industry suffers catastrophic accidents that kill everyone who is using a particular instance of its service at the time. More>>
Binoy Kampmark: Texas, Abortion And The US Supreme Court
The subject before the US Supreme Court justices in the case of Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt involved particular Texan regulations that were found to be an “undue burden” on a woman’s right to have an abortion. More>>
Gordon Campbell: On The Delusions Driving The “Leave” Option
Voting for “Leave” requires (a) a fantastically unbalanced view of the impact of immigration on modern Britain (b) a demonizing of the EU “regulations” that are commonplace within a modern economy and (c) a simple-minded optimism that Britain would not suffer any major damage to its economy, or to the status of the City of London. More>>
Gordon Campbell: On The “T” Word, And This Sunday’s Election In Spain
Once again, the RNZ news packages from the US and UK this morning underlined the striking difference in the treatment of the Pulse night club killings in Florida and the murder of the British Labour MP, Jo Cox. More>>
Werewolf: Getting Roasted, Kiwi Style
Roasting coffee beans is an essential step in the process from plant to cup. New Zealand does not grow any coffee, so it therefore imports 100% of its coffee supply from other countries. New Zealand does however roast a lot of coffee beans. More>>
Alastair Thompson: Jo Cox's Killing Looms Large As Brexit Heads Down To Wire
The mourning period for the brutally slain pro-remain Labour MP and mother of two Jo Cox was always going to be brief. Today, Sunday 19th June, with four days to go till polling, the Brexit campaign resumed. More>>
Gordon Campbell: On A Bad Week For Malcolm Turnbull, And The Queen
Malcolm Turnbull’s immediate goal – mere survival – is still within his grasp... In every other respect though, this election has been a total disaster for the Liberals. More>>
Gordon Campbell: On Bidding Bye Bye To Boris
Boris Johnson’s exit from the contest for Conservative Party leadership supports the conspiracy theory that he never really expected the “Leave” option to win the referendum – and he has no intention now of picking up the poisoned chalice that managing the outcome will entail... More>>
Mexico: Violence And Repression Of Teachers
The member organizations of Network for Peace express our indignation over the acts of repression that the Mexican State has carried out, through the police forces... In Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca, the conflict has resulted in murders of teachers and civilians as well as hundreds of wounded and dozens of people arrested. More>>
Gordon Campbell: On Britain's Pleas For Mercy
So… Boris Johnson is promising that he won't be holding a snap general election, if he's chosen as the next UK Conservative Party leader. Reportedly, he is even making that promise a feature of his leadership campaign, since a vote for Boris would therefore mean (wink wink) that his colleagues wouldn't have to risk their jobs and face the wrath of the British public until 2020. More>>
Gordon Campbell: On The Aftermath Of Brexit
Be careful of what you ask for. Now that it has woken up from its Brexit victory hangover, is Britain acting as if it has just won the World Cup? Hardly. More>>
UK Labour Statement: The Shooting Of MP Jo Cox
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party said: “The whole of the Labour Party and Labour family - and indeed the whole country - will be in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today. Jo had a lifelong record of public service and a deep commitment to humanity." More>>
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End Of Ramadan: Muslims Celebrate Eid Ul-Fitr
Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says Muslim New Zealanders today celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. More>>
General Education: Te Reo Māori Is For All New Zealanders — Minister
Minister for Māori Development Te Ururoa Flavell welcomes the start of Māori Language Week today and invites all New Zealanders to give speaking te reo Māori a go. More>>
Snell Sale Peters Out: Singlet Withdrawn From Sale
“We believe the item was offered for sale in good faith, but our inquiries have shown that the singlet is not the one worn by Peter Snell at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.” More>>
Bodega: Venue Closing At The End Of The Year, After 25 Years Of Music
"It is with considerable sadness that, for reasons beyond our control, we regret to announce the closure of Bodega’s doors at the end of this year, after 25 years of faithful and committed service to live music in Wellington." More>>
Scoop Review Of Books: Women At The Centre
In the first chapter of her epic History of New Zealand Women, Barbara Brookes places a version of the Māori creation story alongside that of the Pākehā colonists, setting the scene for how each society saw women. The contrast is startling. More>>
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Werewolf: Flying Blind