Growing The Regions: Provincial Growth Fund Open For Business

The new $1 billion per annum Provincial Growth Fund has been officially launched in Gisborne today by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones. ... More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - First recipients of regional development fund announced
• BusinessDesk - Regional growth fund trickle becomes avalanche
• NZ Govt - One billion tree programme under way - Rail: $8m injection to reboot regional rail - Future focus on Upper North Island logistics - Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay: Tourism and forestry take centre stage - Northland: Tourism and jobs at heart of economic development - Manawatū-Whanganui: Port and Rail boost - West Coast: Future-proofing key to economic growth - Economic development a key aspiration for Māori in the Waikato
• Labour - Red letter day for the East Coast
• National - Is that it Mr Jones?
• ACT - Nats Supremely Hypocritical on NZ First Re-Election Fund
• CTU - Exciting opportunity to build good jobs for the future
• Far North Holdings - Far North economic development projects win funding boost
• Northport - Northland regional economic development announcement
• Local Govt NZ - Regions get boost with Provincial Growth Fund
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Regional fund is a taxpayer-funded lolly scramble
• Horizons Regional Council - $6 million announcement for economic development

22/2: Earthquake Memorial Service In Christchurch

"The theme of this year's service, 'Keeping their dreams alive" helps us look back at all that we've lost with a sense of hope and aspiration for the future,'' says the Mayor. "It also helps us to recall all those who came to our rescue and those who offered support at our time of need and what that meant to us." More>>

ALSO:

• Sir Maarten Wevers - Chair of Earthquake Commission has resigned
• NZ Govt - Independent advisor to speed up EQC claims - Better mental health support for Canterbury kids
• NZEI - Teachers welcome help for traumatised children
• Canterbury DHB - Canterbury DHB Welcomes More Funds For Children
• Statistics NZ - Canterbury rebuild seven years on
• Te Putahitanga o Te Waipounamu - Post-earthquake landscape still shaky, seven years on
• Letterboxes Campaign - A Good Start – Let’s Do This!
• Insurance Council - Insurers settle record number extreme event claims in 2017
• University of Canterbury - UC launches QuakeStudies 2.0
• Lincoln University - Breathe building competition failure examined
• NZ Police - Canterbury Police make the official move to precinct
• East Coast LAB - Talks offer opportunity to learn from Japan earthquake
• Out-Link - 22/2/2011: Christchurch earthquake kills 185 | NZHistory
• Scoop Canterbury Quakes Coverage - Christchurch Earthquake 22/2/11 - 2010 Christchurch Earthquake Response

Submissions Closing: Mangroves Bill 'Designed To Bypass RMA'

Forest & Bird is releasing emails which show the Mangroves Management Bill is intended to completely override the safeguards of the Resource Management Act (RMA). More>>

ALSO:

• Forest And Bird - Council hampering release of information on Mangroves Bill
• Office of the Clerk - Submissions sought on Mangrove Management Bill
• Thames Coromandel District Council - Mangrove submitters to be heard in Thames - Mangrove Management Bill open for public submissions - Image Two local district councils unite to fight mangrove spread
• NZ Govt - New Zealand’s wetlands at risk

EQC Shakeup: Chair Of Earthquake Commission Has Resigned

The Chair of the Earthquake Commission, Sir Maarten Wevers, has resigned following receipt of a letter from Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission, Dr Megan Woods expressing her displeasure with the performance of the Commission ... More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Independent advisor to speed up EQC claims
• RNZ - EQC overhaul: 'Being stuck in limbo is unacceptable'
• Insurance Council Of NZ - ICNZ statement on announcement of ministerial adviser in EQC
• IAG NZ - IAG New Zealand welcomes EQC announcement
• National - Brownlee thanks Sir Maarten Wevers

NZer Of the Year: Gender Pay Equity Activist, Kristine Bartlett – A Brilliant Choice

National Council of Women (NCWNZ) CEO and Gender Equal NZ Spokesperson, Dr Gill Greer says she’s delighted with news that equal pay champion, Kristine Bartlett, has been named New Zealander of the Year . More>>

ALSO:

• NZEI - Bartlett recognition bodes well for pay justice for women

Perceived Transparency: New Zealand #1 Least Corrupt Public Sector In The World

New Zealand's public sector is ranked the least corrupt in the world, according to Transparency International's 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released globally today. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Continued effort needed against corruption
• Serious Fraud Office - NZ's public sector ranked least corrupt in the world

Reviews: Three-Year Work Programme For Education

The work programme includes the NCEA review, a review of Tomorrow’s Schools, developing a future-focused Education Workforce Strategy, a continuous focus on raising achievement for Māori and Pasifika learners, an action plan for learning support, an early learning strategic plan, a comprehensive review of school property. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Māori achievement a priority for Education - Paving the way for Pacific success in Education - Modified Tertiary Education Bill passes 2nd reading
• National - Partnership Schools Board walk out sad news - Another day, another review announced by the Govt - More education ideology from Labour
• ACT - Seymour Invites Obama to Visit Charter School
• NZEI - Educators welcome reforms but need close consultation
• NZ Kindergartens - A new agenda welcomed
• Universities NZ - Governments education work programme welcomed
• Tertiary Education Union - Work with us to change tertiary education to benefit of all
• Early Childhood Council - ECC welcomes inclusive approach to education sector changes
• NZSTA - Enthusiastic response to government work plan from Trustees
• Child Poverty Action Group - CPAG welcomes new and improved Tomorrow’s Schools
• NetNZ - NETNZ and VLN Primary welcome Education Work Programme
• Industry Training Federation - We're looking forward to the education conversation
• Study Spy - Fees-free not wasted with new course comparison site
• Migrant Workers Association - Chinese Students demand action on latest school scandal

Gita Hits NZ: 'It Was Literally Like A Wall Of Water'

"We were looking at the river at 80 cubic metres at about 4pm thinking it was amazing that we'd dodged the bullet ... an hour and a half later it was 600 cubic metres, and it just kept going up to 900 from there." More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Full Coverage - Cyclone Gita Hits the Pacific And NZ
• RNZ - Climate Minister: New cyclone category may be needed - Detected faecal matter closes popular swimming spot
• MetService - Settled weather expected for Cyclone Gita clean up
• Canterbury DHB - Health Warning for swimming after heavy rainfall
• Insurance Council of NZ - First storm of 2018 costs more than $26m
• Emergency Management Canterbury - Cyclone Gita - CDEM Canterbury
• Nelson City Council - Swimming advisory after Ex-Cyclone Gita
• Nelson Tasman Civil Defence - Cyclone Gita Update: Thursday 22 February 2018 1700 hrs - Nelson Tasman - State of emergency remains in place
• Taranaki Civil Defence - 22/2 10.10am: Working on multiple fronts
• Taranaki DHB - Health advice during the New Plymouth water shortage
• New Plymouth District Council - New Plymouth District water update: 5:15pm 23 February 2018 - Response update from NPDC 5pm 21/2
• Kaikoura District Council - Kaikoura Update: Emergency Operations Centre Standing Down
• Horizons Regional Council - Cyclone Gita update #4
• Hawkes Bay DHB - Pandora Pond Swimming warning
• NZTA - Kaikōura SH1 - effect of Gita and timeline for repairs
• Timaru District Council - Timaru: Cyclone Gita – Update #6
• Marlborough District Council - Cyclone Gita – Marlborough Civil Defence Update No. 3
• Image Out-Link - earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions
• EARLIER - Gita Hits the Pacific - Scoop's World Section

America's Cup: Another Day, Another Cup Village Plan

A fourth option modelling what an America's Cup Village in Auckland might look like has arrived today as a planning deadline nears with no agreement in sight.More>>

Closing Or Selling Regionals: Fairfax Starts NZ Endgame

Fairfax Media Group will close or sell 35 percent of its New Zealand print titles as the Australian group pursues a digital strategy for the kiwi unit, now rebranded Stuff. More>>

Fletcher Building: Norris Steps Down As Chair After New $486M Loss Provision

Ralph Norris will step down as chairman of Fletcher Building after the company took a further $486 million provision for project losses at its Building + Interiors unit and said 14 of the unit's 73 projects, worth $2.3 billion, are loss-making or 'on watch'. More>>

ALSO:

• BusinessDesk - Latest Fletcher posts $273 mln 1H loss on B+I - Fletcher reiterated 'outperform' by First NZ - Formica may be non-core, saleable asset for Fletcher - Investors have 4-month wait for 'new-look' Fletcher Building - MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares dragged lower by Fletcher Building - UPDATE: Fletcher stock drops 13% as Norris steps down - Earlier Fletcher extends trading halt until Wednesday
• E tu Union - Scale of Fletcher debacle “gobsmacking”
• Specialist Trade Contractors' Federation - Sub-Contractors: Fletcher's Needs to Place Blame on Doorstep
• Save Our Unique Landscape - Embattled Fletcher Building to face protest tomorrow
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - We welcome refusal to bail-out Fletcher Building
• Out-Link - Ten numbers that tell the story of Fletcher Building’s astounding $660m loss | The Spinoff

WWF: Concerns With Suggestion To “Scrap” Fishing Monitoring

“Our Pacific neighbours, like Fiji and the Solomon Islands, are making this work with far less economic resources than New Zealand. There’s no reason the government can’t get this done by October.” More>>

ALSO:

• Forest And Bird - Fishing boss admits it's "commonplace" to not report bycatch
• Seafood Industry Council - Industry welcomes considered approach to cameras on vessels
• LegaSea - Cameras on boats - a vital step forward

Binoy Kampmark: Meddling For Empire - The CIA Comes Clean

One of the difficulties behind the podium stance of virtue taken by the US political establishment on Russian interference in the country’s electoral process is one of simple hypocrisy. More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Gun Debate, Here And In The US

Gun ownership in the US is a mystery to New Zealanders, and so is the constitutional fetish that surrounds it. However, the attitudes involved are not static and unchanging, even if it can feel that way in the wake of each new gun atrocity. More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Mueller Probe, And Russia’s Economy

In itself, the indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for interfering in the 2016 US wlll do little to change pre-existing views about the Robert Mueller investigation into Russia’s meddling in US presidential politics... More>>

UN Rights Office On Syria: The “Monstrous Annihilation” Of Eastern Ghouta

Since the Syrian Government and their allies escalated their offensive against opposition-held Eastern Ghouta on 4 February, there have been more than 1,200 civilian casualties, including at least 346 killed and 878 injured, mostly in airstrikes hitting residential areas... Ninety-two of these civilian deaths allegedly occurred in just one 13-hour period on Monday. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - NZ increases humanitarian funding for Syrian war victims
• UNHRC - Zeid urges international action as violence soars in Syria
• Image via Out-Link - Eastern Ghouta is another Srebrenica, we are looking away again | The Guardian

Cyclone Gita: 70% Of Tonga Population Affected

The full scale of destruction is beginning to emerge from Tonga in the aftermath of the severe tropical cyclone Gita. Around 50,000 people, or almost 70% of the country’s population, have been affected, a third of whom are children. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - PM to Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands - Further Cyclone Gita help - Emergency relief supplies to depart for Tonga - New Zealand to assist following Cyclone Gita - Cyclone Gita - thoughts with the Pacific, MCDEM staffer sent
• Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific - EU supports the victims of cyclone Gita in Tonga
• Govt of Tonga - Tropical Cyclone Gita: Tonga State of Emergency
• RNZ - Samoas clean up after being swamped by cyclone - Samoa assesses damage
• Council for International Development - The best thing you can do to help Tonga - send cash
• Charities - Oxfam - Tearfund - Rotary - Caritas - Habitat for Humanity - UNICEF - CWS - Rotary - Pacific Humanitarian Team
• Banks - ANZ - NZ Post/Kiwibank
• CLIMsystems - Tracking Models for Tropical Cyclone Gita
• Free calling - Spark - Vodafone - 2degrees donating income
• Digicel - Digicel Tonga’s network restoration well underway
• Heilala Vanilla - Foundation Provides Relief Support to ‘Eua, Tonga - Heilala Vanilla Update | Cyclone Gita
• Marlborough District Council - Mayor urges support for Pacific neighbours
• BusinessDesk - Tower says summer storms will cost about $5 million
• PCRIC - Record Insurance Payout for Tonga Following Cyclone Gita
• Paul Bayly - Pacific led climate change research is vital to development
• Image Out-Link - Tropical Cyclone Gita Slams Tonga : Natural Hazards

Gita: Samoas Clean Up After Being Swamped By Cyclone

Apia in the wake of Gita Photo: Rudy Bartley The clean up is continuing in the two Samoas after Tropical Cyclone Gita hit on Saturday morning. More>>

ALSO:

• Image Out-Link - Severe Cyclone Gita to track over southern Tonga, later Norfolk Island & NZ area (+8 Maps) | WeatherWatch.co.nz
• NZ Govt - Cyclone Gita - thoughts with the Pacific, MCDEM staffer sent
• Council for International Development - Cyclone Gita hits Pacific – Cash is the best way to help
• RNZ - Samoa assesses damage as Cyclone Gita strengthens
• MetService - A Cooler Drier Start to the Week Gives Way to Rain

Grand Coalition : Germany's two main political parties set to govern under Angela Merkel.

The liberal-conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) negotiated through the night in a marathon final push to nail down an agreement. More>>

Howard Davis Review: Sally Potter's The Party

Sally Potter remains one of Britain’s most determined independent film-makers, deliberately resisting the lure of mainstream attention in order to work entirely on her own terms. The Party is an undeniably engaging and droll divertissement from an independent filmmaker who has mastered her art without ever compromising it. More>>

Winter Games: NZ's Second Ever Winter Olympic Medal

Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson congratulates snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott on winning the bronze medal in the Women’s Big Air at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea today. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Sepuloni shows support for our Winter Games Paralympians
• Skate NZ - Skate New Zealand celebrates code jumpers at Winter Olympics
• UN - Olympic message of peace is universal, UN chief in Korea
• Image via Out-Link - NZ Olympic Team on Twitter

Howard Davis Preview: Terry Gilliam's Subversive Brazil

Full kudos to the Embassy Theatre for stepping up to the plate and hosting the Wellington Film Society, after the owners of the Paramount committed an unpardonable act of cultural vandalism when it shuttered the country's oldest movie theatre last year. The Film Society is opening their 2018 season with Terry Gilliam's brilliantly subversive Brazil on Monday, 26 February. More>>